(A/N – I want to thank all of you for the wonderful responses to the first chapter! I enjoyed reading them so much. I was indulged, really, haha. I have also reposted the first chapter changing some things just slightly, but nothing to affect the plot. I want it to be perfect spelling and grammatical wise, so that's all. Nothing major happened. I just want you to sit back, relax, and read your review response, then the new chapter. And leave a review to let me know what you though this time around! Much appreciated! Thanks! Also, I wanted to let you know that instead of Frodo going to Brandy Hall right after his parents' deaths, he went to stay with Bilbo immediately. So he is twelve now instead of twenty-one when they meet him, as you will see.)
. Reviewers .
x) Elwing-Evenstar – I'm so very glad that you are! Here you go, and thank you very much for reviewing! I hope to here more from you! Enjoy!
x) Merewen Celebrindal – Well, it's not exactly referring to that, lol. It's more of a 'catching up' if you will. But I guess I should have clarified, eh? My fault. And thank you for the compliment! I take them to heart! Thank you for the review, and I hope you like this chapter as well!
x) Southern Charm83 – Wow. Someone to talk plot with! Haha… To your first paragraph, yes; I love to ramble and explain things. I don't want to confuse the reader, but I'm afraid sometimes that I scare them away with this huge block of writing and then they skip it. And to be honest, I started this because I've never really read a story where a girl hobbit follows the Fellowship and ends up having feelings Frodo. It's always a girl falls into Middle Earth, and the hobbits are gone from the story except for a cameo or mention! I wanted to do something different than that because the hobbits fascinate me and they are the beginning of the tale. I wanted a story to revolve around them. I'm very happy to hear someone actually likes my writing style, too. I've been told it's different, but usually not in a positive way. But for this story, I think I'm writing as if I were there, which leads me to your bit of advice. I've gone back and reedited the first chapter to weed out those little words that escape into my writing sometimes. I apologize for that. I think that if you go back and look now, you'll be a little happier. And you have made me so happy even though I've typed more than a review response here, lol. Thank you so much for your review; it has really encouraged and helped me. I've been waiting for one like it a long time to inspire me. Thanks again, and enjoy the story!
x) ArwenEvenstar83 – Haha, I believe you've got something there! You will meet this mystery guest in this chapter, so I hope that helps! I'm happy that you like the little inserts of humor, too. I love to laugh and make people laugh, but I'm not the best stand up comedienne, so I stick to comical writing. And Merry and Pippin are so wrapped around Angie themselves, that they don't really notice her behavior around others except themselves. One-tracked minds, you see, lol. Another person to like my writing style, and I thank you for it! I am loving this! I was hoping this tone would either set off a good impression, otherwise it would overwhelm and people would run away. But I thank you for not running away! Haha… Thank you for staying to review and I hope you continue to read on! Enjoy this chapter and thank you for your input once again!
x) Raylene – Immaturity's all right; it keeps you in check with youth. I can get like that sometimes, too, but I'm a child at heart, so it doesn't bother me as much. Live young, live long! Anyways, yeah, Angie's got it rough, but don't all Mary Sues? Lol… It is also because of your eye-opener that I have gone back and reedited the first chapter after finding some misspelled words. Thank you for the leak, haha. Thing is, my family thinks I'm retarded because I write (except for my sister who doesn't really care for Lord of the Rings), and my friends don't care too much for Lord of the Rings, either. And the people I do know that like Lord of the Rings would be like 'why are you writing made-up stories?' so I don't bother. I'll catch it. I think it's the computer screen that does something to trick your eyes. Resolution and stuff can mess with you. Anyway, thank you so much for your review! I will try to email you sometime! I love meeting people on this site; it's like a whole other world. My escape is here, and my next chapter is below! I hope you like it! Enjoy!
.. You guys totally rock at the reviewing thing. Thank you SO MUCH! ..
-Dis/Claimer-
. Chapter Two .
.. The Fortress ..
Angie stole away back to her room after spending a few hours in the tree's high branches near Bilbo's hobbit hole. She hadn't slept all night. Instead, she anticipated the sunrise so much, she began to count the minutes until the sun's first light would be seen. She was curious of this new hobbit. Who was it? What was its name? Was it truly a hobbit or some evil creature? Oh, the things Merry and Pippin had made up...
She stayed in her room for sometime until some light finally began to break over the Hill. She had been waiting for it for hours, and now she could finally sneak off safely without her mother knowing. Again she slid out through the window (for she would not dare walk the paths of the hallways before dawn with her mother angry with her. She would be accused of being out, as it usually went), and from there went to the hobbit hole of Peregrin Took, her best friend.
"Pippin?" she asked quietly as she crept under his window. "Pip?"
She looked inside and saw him curled in his little hobbit bed snuggly. His breathing was steadying and loud, so she decided to go in to wake him. Through his window she slinked, and on light feet she ran swiftly to his bedside.
"Pippin! Wake up!" she whispered, shaking his shoulder vigorously. "Come on! Up! Let's go!"
"Ehh... go away, Merry..." he moaned.
"No, it's Angie!"
"Nasty...hmph... blackberries..." he muttered. "Aren't even ripe yet-"
PUMF
"Ow!" Pippin said as he sat up. "Hey! Angie! Long time, no see!"
"Shh! Come on!" Angie whispered, throwing aside the pillow she had just biffed him with.
"Where are we goin'?"
"To get Merry," she said. "I'll tell you both then."
"Tell us both what?"
"Come on!"
"Can I have breakfast first?"
"Pippin!"
"Alright! Fine! But I don't do well on an empty stomach..."
"You always have an empty stomach," Angie said as he pulled on his pants and she fixed the sheets on his bed. "And an empty head."
"Filled with brilliance," he said, putting his finger up in the air dignantly and looking bravely out into space.
"What about the mushrooms from last night?"
"Oh, I tripped on the way home while I was still with Merry..."
Angie now felt really angry at his stupidity. All of those delicious smelling mushrooms gone to waste...
"Enough of your nonsense," Angie said, pulling him to the window. "We must find Merry."
"I think he went back to Buckland last night," Pippin said. "Or maybe he's going tonight."
"Stop confusing yourself and come on!"
"But I'm still hungry!"
"Ugh..."
Angie led the way to the hobbit hole to where Merry had returned after the great pumpkin smashing. It took them quite some time to find the room Merry had sought refuge in after hearing his mother scream like mad when they found out what he had done. They opened his window, but did not go inside.
"Merry! Merry, come out!" Pippin called quietly.
Merry stirred and faced his window while still lying in his bed.
"What is it?" he whispered.
"I'll tell you later! I want you to see!" Angie said.
"Ang, is that you?" Merry asked.
"Yes! Come on!"
"Can we have breakfast first?"
"No! Let's go!"
"See! He's hungry, too!" Pippin said, pointing at Merry.
Angie only groaned and held her forehead in her hand as they waited for Merry to get ready.
Angie took them to the tree by the river. They climbed to the very top where Angie had been hours before watching the strange happenings at Bilbo's hobbit hole. Only several of the windows were lit now from when she had last seen it. She pointed at his home, and Merry and Pippin were lost in confusion.
"What about old Bilbo?" Merry asked. "Is he ill?"
"No," Angie said. "Last night... he had someone come in with lots of bags and belongings."
"Well he's had company before, Ang," Pippin said. "Nothing new 'bout that. Bilbo's always got his door open to anyone."
"But it was a young hobbit," she said. "I had no clue Bilbo had family around here. For the exception of you two being distant relations, I mean."
"Neither did I, come to think of it," Merry said.
"Aw, it's probably no one," Pippin said. "Just a relative of no importance, I bet."
"Like you?" Merry asked.
"Still, I want to know who - or what - it is," Angie, said.
"Bit nosey, aren't you?" Pippin asked, plucking a fresh peach off of the bough of the tree branch next to him and biting into it.
"No, just curious."
"Curiosity's bad, Ang. Not good for you at all..." Pippin said with his mouth full. "Hey... you know, these peaches aren't half bad..."
"You really have room to talk, Pip," Merry said. "About curiosity, I mean. You're just as bad."
"What?" Pippin asked as if offended.
"I say we go down and meet this new fellow," Merry continued. "It looks as if Bilbo's all ready to entertain for the day, so what's say we drop in, eh?"
"But it's early," Angie said. "Sun's not even reached over the hills yet."
"Ah, come on," Pippin said. "Was your bright idea after all..."
"But-"
"You can't stop us!"
"Pippin!"
"Come and get us!" Merry laughed.
They started to race down the tree, and Angie came after them keeping a close space between her and them. She was catching up pretty fast. So fast, Merry and Pippin skipped the last few branches and fell out of the tree altogether and bounded up to Bag End's large green door.
"Merry! Pippin! NO!" Angie whispered urgently.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
She stood a few feet from the door as Merry and Pippin smiled back at her with the satisfaction of having outrun her. Though they knew that wouldn't be the case later when she had them on the ground screaming bloody murder, they wore big grins as they listened to Bilbo approach the door.
"Who is it?" his kind voice asked.
"It's Merry, Pippin, and Angie!" Merry said. "We were wondering if we could have a story now if that's all right with you, sir."
"A story?" Bilbo asked. "Well, that does sound nice."
He opened his large green door welcoming them, and behind him a figure no taller than the rest of them peeked round Bilbo's side, but then ducked back again.
"A story by the fire with a nice breakfast to go along with it," Bilbo said with a great smile. "That does sound very cozy, doesn't it, Frodo?" he asked, turning to the little hobbit behind him. He wouldn't answer, so Bilbo pressed on.
"This is my nephew, Frodo," he said. "He's come here to live in Bag End with me. Frodo? We have company," he said. "These hobbits stop in often to hear stories. You like them, too."
The little hobbit came round to Bilbo's front. Bilbo put his hands on his shoulders lightly and smiled hoping for something to happen between them. His hair was dark and his eyes were a wonderful blue. He looked at them with no change in his expression, and Merry and Pippin smiled and stepped forward.
"Cousin Frodo!" Pippin said. "So good to see you!"
Angie looked at them totally confused. Cousin Frodo? They went up to him and Frodo's face lightened ever so slightly, but it went away when he saw Angie again. Bilbo looked at Angie who stared back at Frodo with puzzled eyes. There was a long silence, so Bilbo persisted with keeping talk going.
"We'll all hear one!" he said suddenly. "This is just what we all needed, I think. Come in, friends," he said, letting them in. "Now how about the one where I came across those gruesome trolls? You all enjoy that one..."
For the first time, Angie felt quite out of place and unwelcome in Bilbo's home. She scooted along behind Merry and Pippin slowly and quietly while looking around their path to the warm fireplace. Right inside the door were most of the bags she had seen that night; a lot of them were a bit ragged and old. She wondered about this Frodo, she really did.
"Here we are," Bilbo said, leading them inside. The room had its usual soft glow and warmth with golds and oranges flickering on the walls. The big rug they always would sit on had an open book lying in the center of it. Angie bent her eyebrows, went over, and picked it up.
"Frodo, pick up your things now," she heard Bilbo say.
She looked up from the brown book she held as another hand fell on it. Frodo smiled politely and relieved her of the book. She watched him place it back on the shelf next to the fireplace as Bilbo made his way to the kitchen. She met Frodo's eyes momentarily, but then he went to follow Bilbo into the kitchen to make their breakfast they would savor during their story.
With curiosity still running through her, she walked quietly out of the room and up the hall to the kitchen. She peeked in and saw Frodo reaching out of a cupboard for plates on a high stool. Suddenly, he began to stumble back. Before Angie could think, she ran up behind him and steadied him to avoid a lot of distraction on Bilbo's part from the pantry.
"Careful," Angie said, taking the plates from him and setting them on the counter. "Are you all right?"
Frodo nodded. He returned a grateful smile as Bilbo came into the kitchen whistling.
"Oh, don't worry about that, dear," he said. "Frodo and I will take care of breakfast, you just go sit with your friends and we'll be in soon with that story."
"But-"
"Go on," Bilbo said, coaxing her out of the kitchen. "There's a girl..."
Angie went reluctantly back down the hall. Oh, that Bilbo. He's so nice, but why did he have to get in her way now?
.. x x x ..
Angie ran to the tree by the river - Her favorite tree to look out over the Shire in other than the wonderful Party Tree. She slipped up to the trunk where a lone purple violet grew at its base. From there, she went three steps to her right where a rough handmade door was set into the tree's large trunk. She opened it and went inside. Down a small set of crooked stairs made by the stones and roots, she made her way under the tree to their hideaway the five of them had named 'The Fortress.'
But the Fortress was unoccupied from the looks of it. Angie lit a small torch by the entrance and looked around. The wooden table in the center of the room had cards scattered all over them. Merry and Pippin had been here...
Or they were still -
"ANGIE!"
"AHH!"
She spun around to see that they had popped up from the other end of the table. Angie had her hand on her chest regaining control of her breath while Merry and Pippin were on the other end of the table laughing themselves to their knees.
"You two!" she shouted in anger.
"What about us?" Pippin asked as they kept laughing. Angie walked around the table with a stern glare at them, and then she punched them both in the arm.
"Ow!" Merry yelped.
"What, forget she could hit or something?" Pippin asked, clutching his arm.
"That's for this morning by the way," Angie said with a satisfied look at the both of them.
"Ooo... thanks for that," Merry said, straightening up. "So what did you need us for? Your revenge?"
"No," she said. "Gandalf's in the Shire and he's brought his fireworks for the celebration tonight. I need to tell Sam."
"Has he?" Merry asked evilly. Angie knew that tone all too well. Pippin now had the same sly grin creeping onto his face, and Angie smiled herself.
"What's running through your mischievous mind this time, Meriodoc?" she asked. "Another dastardly deed guaranteed to get us in trouble?"
"As always," Merry said.
"Oh, your twisted plans..." Angie said. "I'm in."
"Of course!" Merry said. "Anyways, I say we swipe one of them later tonight and have some fun! If you know what I mean..."
"And you know when we say 'we,' we mean, you," Pippin said.
"What?" Angie moaned. "But I'm always doing your dirty work!"
"Yes, but you enjoy it," Merry said.
"I know," she said. "It's been that way - and it'll be that way - for a long time."
"Exactly," Merry said, nodding firmly.
"Besides," added Pippin as he leaned in sideways and looked up at her, "how can you say no to this hobbit?"
"Or this one?" Merry asked, sliding in next to her.
Angie laughed as they stood up again.
"I already said I would," she said. "You two just couldn't do it without my help is all..."
"We could to," Merry said, somewhat offended.
"Yeah, right..." Angie said, provoking him.
"You know what, I'll tell you somethin', Ang-"
"Oh hush, Merry!" Pippin said. "Besides, it may be Bilbo's party, but we're entitled to as much fun as he is."
"I think that was the original purpose," Angie said. "Anyways, have you seen Sam? I wanted to tell him about Gandalf. That's why I'm here to begin with, not to scheme with you about the party tonight."
"Scheming's fun!" Pippin said.
"I agree," Angie laughed, "But all I want is a simple 'yes' or 'no'! Have you seen Sam?"
"Nope," Merry said, sitting down. "Haven't since yesterday. Maybe he's with Frodo."
"I was just with Frodo on Gandalf's cart," Angie said. "Bumped into him while reading and then Gandalf came."
"Well, go figure then," Pippin said, pulling. "They're bound to show up here sooner or later, Ang, so what do you say to a nice rest?"
Angie raised an eyebrow at him as he lounged back into his wooden chair until it stood on its hind legs. He put his arms behind his head and closed his eyes as he puffed at his pipe. She looked over at Merry who had an evil glint in his eye to go over and push him off the chair.
"That's okay," she said. "Maybe Merry will take me up at cards."
"Cards! Great!" Pippin said suddenly, sitting upright in the chair. "I'll deal!"
Over the course of the next two hours, the three of them had played five different card games to pass the time and were now on the verge of following their earlier plan of dozing off for a bit. Pippin was almost out as he swayed threateningly in his seat, and Merry's head was thrown back as he stared at the ceiling with his eyes shut. Angie had her chin in her hand propped up on the table, and her other hand was rapping on the table lightly.
"Maybe I should go look for Sam..." Angie said finally with a sigh of boredom.
"Aw, leave it," Merry said. "Any time now..."
"How long have you been saying that and they still haven't shown up?" she asked.
"Any time now..."
Angie grew tired of this and stood up out of her chair before she could let the drowsiness reach her in full. She really didn't want to sleep now, even if it would leave her more refreshed for the party that evening.
"Well, I'm going out," she said, starting up the entrance tunnel as she looked back at them. "I'll see you - oomph!"
She looked up at what she had run into, and she froze when she saw it was Frodo. He seemed amused that she had just run into him.
"Ooo... careful," he said with a smile, touching her arm lightly and momentarily. "Going somewhere?"
"Just to find Sam," she replied as she turned to go back to her seat. "Wanted to tell him about Gandalf."
"I already told him," Frodo said.
"Already told me what?" a voice from the top of the tunnel asked. Two seconds later and Sam appeared in the doorway looking around at them all. "About Gandalf?"
"See! I told you they'd come," Pippin said, standing with wavering legs beneath him. "It's about time the two of you showed up."
"He's already found out, Pippin," Angie said. "Frodo has told him."
"Oh... well..."
"You've been here this whole time?" Sam asked.
"Yeah," Merry said. "Nothin' wrong with that, is there?"
"No, o' course not," Sam said. "I just came here to rest. I've been tendin' to Mr. Bilbo's gardens all morning. Thought you'd all know that. I've been doin' it since we've met."
"Well, you'll be prancing around in honor of Bilbo tonight," Pippin said. "That is, if you're still able to after yesterday."
"Shut up," Sam said. "I almost broke my arm because of you two."
"We apologized!" Merry said.
"Oh, like that's gonna cure me..."
The shouting went on for a few minutes between them. Frodo and Angie were on opposite ends of the Fortress, but every time they made eye contact they would laugh at their bickering friends. Angie rolled her eyes. Fall into the River one time and the arguing lasts forever...
"I think I'm going to go for a little bit," Angie said to Frodo as she walked towards the entrance tunnel. "I'll see you later."
And before Frodo could say a word, she was up and out the tunnel. It had happened so fast! Why had she run off like that?
"And you still owe me that pint, Merry," Pippin said.
"Do not! I paid that back to you at least three times!"
Now it had gotten to the point where they were arguing over nothing!
"Stop!" Frodo yelled. "Cut it out!"
"And you needn't talk, Sam-"
"STOP!"
They did so and turned to Frodo.
"Did you say something?" Merry asked.
"No, just that your arguin's managed to get Angie to leave."
"She left!" Pippin asked, dropping Merry who was almost choked by him. "Angie! Come back!"
"You know, I'd really wish she'd stop running off like that," Merry said, sitting in his chair. "She never used to before..."
"And we never used to think she was the most beautiful hobbit in the Shire before," Pippin added as they both began to get all dreamy-eyed over her.
Frodo and Sam shook their heads and rolled their eyes, only Frodo secretly agreed wholeheartedly now. This is why he wanted to kill them. One of the many serenades of Angie coming from those two was about to be heard. Between them, Frodo and Sam had agreed that they had covered almost every inch of Angie in describing her beauty, wit, ect.
"Where have you been, Pip?" Merry asked. "She always was."
"Maybe we lay it on too thick sometimes," Pippin suggested. "You think that's why she ran off?"
"You two aren't her friends," Sam said suddenly. "You're her stalkers."
"We are very good friends," Merry said, standing up. "Can't help it if we like her along the side..."
"Yeah," Pippin added. "Might ask her a question here in a few years, if you catch my drift..."
"Not if I do first," Merry said with a flaring look in his eyes over at Pippin.
"If you're such good friends, you wouldn't have pushed me into the River to save her yesterday!" Sam argued. "I can't swim."
"Well gosh, Sam! None of us can swim..." Merry said. "Hobbits usually can't. They're sort of born that way."
Frodo had heard this already. They started with the shouting again, so he decided to use a page out of Angie's book and try to sneak out unnoticed amongst their shouting. He wanted to catch up with Angie, but he didn't go out as he had planned.
"Where you headin' off to now?" Sam asked as Frodo laid his first foot on the lowest rock.
"Uh... going to see Bilbo and Gandalf," he lied, thinking quickly. "I'm sure Bilbo will need the help tending to Gandalf."
He stood there a moment hoping they would accept that and let him go, but they looked at him with the expression that they knew something else was the purpose for his leaving. But just so they wouldn't have time to figure it out, Frodo gave a quick "See you later," and he went out of the Fortress.
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