Author's Notes: I don't own anyone from Lord of the Rings. If I did Frodo wouldn't have gone on to the Grey Havens. Legolas would be teaching me how to use a bow and arrow. Aragorn and Arwen would have been married long before the Ring was found. I don't own any of the Inu-Yasha characters. If I did, Sesshomaru would be joining Legolas in teaching me how to use a sword. Enjoy.
Recently I got copies of the show and saw that the spelling of Sesshomaru is indeed spelled wrong. Forgive me but I was going by what I saw in the magnas. I did correct the spelling in all the chapters.
Chapter 2
The One Ring of Power
Frodo couldn't understand what was happening or why. He was as shocked as everyone else when Bilbo had disappeared but at least Tori managed to keep him calm about what was going on. He looked toward Bag End and saw Gandalf entering the house. "There's Gandalf, Lady Tori."
"Right." Tori started to push her way through the Hobbits while Frodo was trying to keep everyone calm. Finally Tori snapped. She unsheathed her sword and held it above her head. "I want everyone to get away from me now before I have to hurt someone." Tori's voice rang loud and clear. But that wasn't the reason that the Hobbits scattered.
Tori's sword had started to glow a soft lavender with her anger. Not one of the Hobbits knew what to make of this after all none of them had seen a sword do this. Tori sheathed her sword as she reached for Frodo's hand. Together they made their way through the crowd. Kirara had managed to keep Rin and Shippo from following them while shocking the Hobbits by turning into her full form.
"What do you think happened?" Frodo looked up at this strange lady that had literally dropped from the sky and into the Shire. "Do you think someone killed Uncle Bilbo?"
"Nah! There'd have been a body if that were the case." Tori slid the comb holding her hair out and let her hair swing free. "I'm only hoping that Naraku hasn't shown up here."
"Naraku? Who's that?" He noticed the anger in Tori's eyes.
"A half-demon that's trying to get all the shards of the Shikon No-Tama."
"The what?"
"Don't worry about it, Frodo." Tori gave him a slight smile. "For now let's focus on your uncle."
"Right." Frodo opened the door. "Uncle Bilbo!" Something glittered on the floor of the foyer.
Tori saw that it was a gold ring and had an urge to pick it up. She shook her head to clear the feeling from her head. Qui-Gon had taught her how to focus her mind to keep out temptations. "Where's Bilbo?"
"I don't know." Frodo looked into Bilbo's study and saw Gandalf staring in the fire.
Tori heard several words, one that was Precious. "Gandalf?" She walked across the room and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Gandalf!"
Gandalf jumped slightly and looked down at the ring in Frodo's hand. His eyes seemed to clear as he focused on the ring. "Bilbo's ring. He's gone to stay with the elves." He held out an envelope and Frodo dropped the ring into it. "He's left you Bag End and everything in it." Tori watched as Gandalf poured some wax onto the back of the envelope and pressed his pipe onto the wax. "I want you to put this somewhere secret and safe."
Tori watched Gandalf gather his staff and hat. "Where the hell are you going?"
"I have questions that need to be answered." Gandalf hurried to the door.
Tori grabbed his arm. "We've all got questions that need to be answered!"
Gandalf grabbed Tori's arm and hurried to the door. "I'm afraid that your quest to find your friends will have to be put on hold for a while, my lady."
"What do you mean? Does it have to do with that … that ring?"
"I'm afraid it might. Ask that you and the children stay here and protect Frodo."
Tori glanced back at the Hobbit staring at the envelope in his hands. "You don't think that someone here in the Shire would harm him, do you?"
"It's no one from the Shire. I will know when I have completed my research." Gandalf pulled his hat onto his head. "Just keep him and that ring safe."
"I'll do my best, Master Wizard." Tori gave Gandalf a bow before he hurried to his horse and rode into the night. She turned around to look at the shocked young Hobbit before her. "Come on, Frodo. Let's get you into bed but first give me a second." She stepped out into the clear night and cupped her hands around her mouth. "Kirara! Bring the kids back to Bag End!"
Kirara flew over the crowd of Hobbits and landed just outside the gate of Bag End. She let Rin and Shippo scramble from her back before changing back to her smaller size. Rin knelt down and scooped up Kirara.
"Is it time for bed, Reidou?" Rin looked up at Tori before letting out a big yawn. "'Cause I'm tired."
Tori closed the door behind them and turned the lock before placing one of the seals that Miroku had given her only the night before on the doorjamb beside the lock. "Yes. To bed with the both of you." Tori gave Shippo and Rin each a kiss and a hug before sending them on to their beds. "I'll be in to make sure you're okay in a minute." She watched as each child hurried into their rooms. She turned and looked down at Frodo. "Come on, Frodo. To bed with you." She draped an arm around Frodo's shoulders and led him to his room.
Frodo looked up the woman who had taken over the role of caregiver so quickly. "He always wanted to go back and see the elves again. Even to go back and see the Lonely Mountain one more time."
"Now he has that chance. Come on." Tori led Frodo into his room. "Get changed. I'll be back after I check on the children." She moved out the door and closed it softly behind her before going down the hall and looking in on Shippo and Rin. Both children were sprawled out on their beds. Tori toed her shoes off before making her way over to tuck them into bed properly. She smiled softly as Rin cuddled into one of her pillows. Tori hurried back to Frodo. She was worried that he was going to do something tragic. She needn't have worried. When she opened the door and saw Frodo holding the envelope. "Didn't Gandalf say to put that somewhere safe?"
"But where?" Frodo looked up at Tori.
"Give it here. I'll put it in one of the chests in the study. That way no one will ever find it." Tori held out her hand and Frodo placed the envelope into her hand. "Now you need your sleep. You'll most likely have company tomorrow."
Frodo scrambled under his covers and Tori made her way back to the door. "Good night, Lady Tori."
"Good night, Frodo." Tori closed the door and hurried to the study. She looked around at the four trunks in the room. I'll hide it now and no one will be the wiser. Tori opened the one sitting closest to the kitchen and buried the envelope under all the papers in it. She wearily climbed to her feet and went to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea.
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Several months had passed and Tori was behind the behind the counter at the Green Dragon filling the mugs full of ale for Frodo. She smiled as she gave them to him. "Take it easy with this stuff, Frodo."
"I will, Tori." Frodo made his way through the crowded barroom.
Merry and Pippin were dancing on one of the tables and singing. Everyone laughed as the song ended with Pippin downing a mug of beer. Tori watched them for a moment before filling up a few more mugs. She knew that Frodo would tell her the news but she worried constantly that someone would return and tell them that Gandalf was hurt or worse, dead. She had come into the Green Dragon one day and met with Rosie. They had hit it off so well that soon they were talking like old friends.
"We're going to need more ale soon, Rosie." Tori gathered a few of the dirty mugs and dropped them into sink and started to wash them thoroughly. "I'll go and get another barrel when I get these done."
"Thanks, Tori. You know, you don't act like a lady." Rosie wiped down the bar as Tori wiped her hands on her apron.
"Well, I wasn't raised as a lady. I was a normal person once." Tori smiled softly as she thought of her love. "Then I met Sesshomaru and we got married."
Rosie noticed the sadness in Tori's eyes. "You still miss him, don't you?"
"Yeah. I just hope he hasn't gone crazy looking for me." Tori laughed slightly as she moved toward the back room. "I'm going to get some more ale. When I get back we'll talk about you and Samwise."
Rosie blushed as she turned to look at the love of her life. "He doesn't even know that I exist."
Tori just grinned. "I bet you that he does." She disappeared into the back room. Quickly, she rolled a new barrel of ale out into the bar. She hefted it onto the empty stand and pounded the tap in while Rosie rolled the empty barrel into the back room. Tori started to wipe off her hands as Rosie came out of the back room. "What makes you think he doesn't notice you?"
"Well, whenever we're alone he ignores me or hurries off to do who knows what." Rosie watched Sam for a minute before turning back to her new friend.
"You know all he does when he comes over to Bag End is talk about you and how he's going to marry you some day." Tori's eyes twinkled brightly. "I know he likes you but he's scared to tell you."
"I guess." Rosie looked at the clock as it chimed midnight. "Time to close up."
"Right." Tori noticed that Mrs. Bracegirdle had already come in with Rin and Shippo. "I'll herd them out." Tori climbed onto one of the low tables, her head brushing the ceiling. "Okay, folks! Last call! You don't have to go home but you can't stay here!"
Tori climbed off the table as Rosie said good night to the customers. One of the young men dropped to his knees and started to spout poetry. Tori shook her head as she grabbed her pack and swung it over her shoulder.
Mrs. Bracegirdle was talking to Frodo and Sam as Tori left the bar. "Now you boys take good care of Lady Tori."
"I'm afraid, Mrs. Bracegirdle, that I'll be the one taking good care of them." Tori shifted her pack slightly before grabbing Rin's hand. "I take it the children behaved."
"Of course. They're always angels when they're not at home." Mrs. Bracegirdle hurried away as Tori smiled.
"Such a sweet woman. Come on. Let's get home." Tori marched the children, Frodo, and Sam along the path that led to Bag End.
The four that resided at Bag End waved goodbye to Sam before they went into the Hobbit hole. Tori flung out her arm when she noticed that the door was swinging open in the wind. Slowly she drew her sword as she approached the door. Since the day that Bilbo had disappeared she had taken to wearing it around the Shire. Most of the Hobbits knew that she wouldn't use it unless she were attacked. Now she held the sword at the ready as she pushed the door open the rest of the way and started in to see what had decided to enter the house she had sworn to protect. Rin and Shippo stayed outside the door until Tori told them that it was safe to come in. Frodo, meanwhile, had followed Tori into the house. He was worried that she would get hurt while protecting him and the children. Neither of them saw anyone but as they turned into the study they saw the papers from several of the chests scattered around the room and a fire was crackling warmly in the grate.
"Who did this?" Frodo started toward the fireplace as Tori cautiously made her way to the chest nearest to the kitchen.
Tori knelt next to the chest and saw that the lock hadn't been tampered with. "It looks like whatever they were looking for wasn't here. Let's get this…" She grabbed Frodo and drug him behind her when she heard something drop in the foyer. "Stay here." Her voice could barely be heard but Frodo knelt close to the chest as Tori slowly moved toward the foyer. She raised her sword above her head and jumped into the foyer. She barely stopped the downswing of the sword when she saw who was standing in the darkness. "Gandalf! You scared me half to death."
"I see you are taking your job seriously, my lady." Gandalf moved into the study as Tori slid her sword back into its sheath.
"Of course I am. You did ask me to protect him. Besides Kagome would kill me if I showed without Shippo." Tori made her way to the front door and ushered the children and Kirara into the house. She closed and locked the door before replacing the sutra once more. I've been getting a lot of use out of those things. I'll have to get more from Miroku soon. She noticed Frodo and Gandalf talking.
"Where did you put the ring, Tori?" Frodo looked over at the now relaxing woman.
"In the one chest Gandalf didn't open. Why?" Tori watched as Frodo opened the chest and started to rummage through it.
Frodo pulled out the sealed envelope and handed it to Gandalf, who threw it into the fire. Tori and Frodo started forward. Tori only wanted to see what would happen next while Frodo was worried about the ring. Gandalf waited for the paper to burn and the ring heated for a moment or two. He grabbed the tongs for the fireplace and picked up the ring.
"Hold out your hand, Frodo." Gandalf waited for a reaction but noticed that Tori had moved several steps back away from them. "It's quite cool." He dropped the ring into Frodo's outstretched hand and turned to face the fire once more. "Tell me what you see."
"Nothing." Frodo turned the ring carefully.
"No writing?" Gandalf seemed to let out the breath he was holding.
"There's noth… Wait. I see some form of Elvish but I can't read it." Frodo looked up at the slumped form of Gandalf.
"There are few that can. It's the language of Mordor which I will not utter here."
Tori stepped forward as Frodo closed his hand around the ring. "Mordor? What the hell is going on?"
"It says in the common tongue, 'One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.'" Gandalf turned to look at Frodo and Tori. "We need to talk."
"I'll say." Tori turned around and looked at Shippo and Rin. "Give me a few minutes to put the kids to bed."
"We'll get a pot of tea ready." Frodo and Gandalf disappeared into the kitchen.
Tori led Rin and Shippo to her room. "Listen very closely. I want the two of you to gather everything we will need for a journey. We're going to be leaving either tonight or in the morning."
"But what about Mr. Frodo?" Rin looked up at her mother.
"He'll be coming with us. Just pack our things. He'll get his own. Whatever you do, do not come out of this room until I call you." Tori watched the kids nod for a moment before racing back to the kitchen. "They'll be asleep before too long." She sat at the table as Frodo poured them some tea. "Now, what the hell is going on?"
"Over three thousand years ago, there were eleven rings forged…" Gandalf paused as he looked around the kitchen.
"Yeah, I've read about them. There was even a poem that Frodo showed me. 'Three Rings for Elven-kings under the sky, Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die, One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them In the Land of Mordor where the shadows lie.' But I thought it was all a legend." Tori picked up her cup and took a sip.
"It is no legend. Three thousand years ago a last alliance of men and elves fought on the slopes of Mount Doom. Isildur son of the king of Gondor took up his father's sword and cut off the One Ring. However the Ring can only be controlled by Sauron. He was the one that forged the great rings. Isildur went back to Gondor however he was betrayed by the Ring and was murdered. It was lost for 2500 years before it was found again." Gandalf looked at Frodo.
"Gollum found it. He hid in the Misty Mountains for 500 years before Bilbo found the ring." Frodo looked over at Tori who was trying to process this information. "Bilbo told me that he and Gollum figured out riddles…"
"Who the hell cares? What about this Sauron guy? Is he still around?" Tori slammed her fist into the table.
"Sauron was destroyed when the Ring was cut from his hand but I believe he is calling for his Ring once more." Gandalf glanced at the Ring sitting on the table.
"Well we're the only ones beside Bilbo that knows about the Ring." Frodo looked at Gandalf.
Gandalf sighed as he shook his head. "No. One other knew that Bilbo had the Ring. I looked everywhere for the creature Gollum but the enemy found him first." Tori clenched her hands into fists, knowing what Gandalf was going to say next. "Amidst the torturing and screams were two words. Baggins. Shire."
"That would lead them here!" Tori jumped to her feet hitting the table with her fists.
Neither she nor Gandalf had noticed that Frodo had grabbed the Ring. "We'll put it away and never speak of it again."
Tori grabbed Frodo's shoulders. "Frodo, it's too late. They already know where the Ring is."
Frodo turned to Gandalf and held out the Ring. "You take it, Gandalf."
"You cannot offer me this ring." Gandalf started back away from Frodo.
"But you have to take it!" Frodo continued to try and give the Ring to Gandalf.
Tori grabbed Frodo by his shoulders as she knelt down so she could look in his eyes. "He can't take it. Don't you see, Frodo? If he took it he could do great harm even if he were using it for good."
Frodo sighed as he looked down at the Ring in his hand. He looked up at Gandalf. "What do I have to do?"
Tori rose to her feet and glared at Gandalf. "What do we have to do?"
"You don't…" Frodo gave her a weak smile.
"I know I don't. I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to you. Besides, my friends are out there somewhere fighting to keep Mordor at bay. I'm not letting them have all the fun." Tori smirked slightly. "Besides I still want to show up dog breath."
"Who?" Frodo and Gandalf looked a bit confused.
"Inu-Yasha." Tori giggled slightly as she watched Gandalf shake his head. "Now what are we doing?" She hurried back to her room and brought the children and Kirara back with her. "What are you waiting for, Frodo?"
Frodo jumped slightly and hurried to get his pack ready while Gandalf started to help. "Make for the village of Bree."
"Bree? Will the Ring be safe there?" Tori was shoving some food into another bag while Frodo finished packing his bag.
"I do not know. I will meet you there." Gandalf handed Fordo a shirt.
Tori dropped the cake she had been wrapping. "What the hell do you mean you'll meet us there? Where are you going?"
"I'm going to speak to the head of my order. He is both wise and powerful." Gandalf watched as Frodo swung his packed bag up onto his shoulder. "Hobbits are amazing creatures. You can learn all there is about them in a month and yet they surprise you continually."
Tori nodded slightly as she heard something outside of the window. Her voice was barely a whisper as she turned to face Gandalf. "Gandalf. I think we have company." She pushed Frodo to the floor as she pulled out her sword.
Gandalf tightened his grip on his staff as he made his way to the window. In one movement he had struck something with his staff and hauled a body into the room. He slammed the body onto a table that was sitting near the window. "Damn it all, Samwise Gamgee! Have you been eavesdropping?"
"No…" Sam was stuttering so bad that Tori could barely make out what he was saying.
Tori shoved Gandalf away from the frightened Hobbit as Frodo climbed to his feet. "Sam, tell me what you heard."
"I heard about a Dark Lord, a Ring, and the end of the world." Sam looked between Tori holding her sword and Gandalf glaring at him. "Please don't hurt me."
"No…" Gandalf looked at Tori for a moment and smiled when she nodded slightly. "I believe we have another job for you."