The story of the Lord of the Rings and it's characters was created by the genius J.R.R. Tolkien.
Chapter 8: Meeting Well Known Hobbits
Today was warmer and more sunny than the other days we had traveled. Gandalf said that we would be arriving in the shire today. The grassy areas had we came across were thick brown tree trunks growing out of it which had heavy green leaves that brightly reflected sun light. And the air was peaceful and soothing. I closed my eyes sitting next to Gandalf on his cart. Sparkle was comfurtly sitting in my lap. I listened to the peaceful nature be gladly interrupted by birds chirping here and there.
"It's very nice here." I commented. Gandalf nodded.
"Yes it is always so nice in the shire." He said. I looked at him excitedly.
"The shire? We're here?" I asked him. He nodded smiling.
"Well I can see why you like it here so much." I said with a smile.
"Yes, when I come back it is always so peaceful." He said smiling also. As we came by another large tree I saw a small boy with curly black hair reading a book with his legs over lapping. As our cart rode up next to him the boy looked up. Most likely hearing the slapping of the horses hooves. When I got closer look I was hit with a wave of déjà vu. Is that... Frodo? The boy walked over to us still standing on a higher level of grass. He frowned at Gandalf and put his hands on his hips and his book still and his hand.
"You are late." He stated to Gandalf with a lifted eyebrow. I made a small unnoticeable smile. Gandalf huffed.
"A wizard is never late. He arrives precisely when he is needed. " He said. Him and Frodo shared a long serious stare that carried a sarcastic atmosphere. Then Frodo smiled and they both broke started laughing. I smiled as Frodo jumped at Gandalf and hugged him. Sparkle jumped in surprise and sniffed the air around Frodo.
"Gandalf it is so nice to see you!" Frodo said excitedly.
"You too my boy." Gandalf said patting his back. When Frodo sat down between us he looked up at me with a small smile.
"Hello." He said to me. I smiled down at him while biting my lip. I never met a hobbit before. I raised an eyebrow at myself as I thought that. Meeting hobbits isn't something anyone does every day. It was really strange.
"Hi." I said shyly nodding at him while holding Sparkle. He looked at me curiously and in a shy way.
"Oh, Frodo this is Jessica. She will be accompanying me for some time." Gandalf said guiding the horse with the reins. Frodo then looked at me with a smile of understanding then looked back to Gandalf.
"You should see Bilbo he has a whole place in an up roar. He's forbidden anyone to come near the house." Frodo said with a smile. I just listened silently.
"Well perhaps a visit from an old friend will help him bounce back." Gandalf said. Frodo looked amused as we started to come across hobbit houses.
"You have been labeled the disturber of the peace." Frodo said happily.
"Really?" Gandalf asked as we passed houses in grassy hills. They had small picket fences around them and green bushes beside them. You could hear children screaming for Gandalf in the distance. And some people including an old fat man, well Hobbit, and his wife gave Gandalf the stink eye.
"Oh." Gandalf said. Frodo and I just smiled at him.
"They seem to know you well Gandalf. Should I be worried 'Oh disturber of peace'?" I said smiling. Frodo laughed while Gandalf gave me a huff. Then children started running be Gandalf knocked on the round news wooden door. Go away. I don't want to know any distant family or remove the relative
nothing to worry about." He said nodding his head looking forward. I look down at Frodo and we smiled at each other. Then we laughed as fireworks went off behind us. I held closer Sparkle because she was terrified of the sound of the fireworks going off.
After Frodo's and Gandalf's small reunion Frodo told us that he would be helping with the party and hopped off. As I looked away from Frodo's retreating form we stopped moving . I looked towards Gandalf and he looked down at me.
"We are here."He said. I nodded and got off of the cart and pu Sparkle on the ground and she shook her fur.
She stayed close to my side as we walked towards what I assume to have been Bilbo's home. The ground felt so hard to my feet from riding on the cart too long. We stood in front of the door of Bilbo's fence. There was a big sign on it. 'No family 'it said.
"What a welcoming sign." I said sarcastically. Gandalf raised an I eyebrow at me with the corner of his mouth turned up. Then he opened the fence and we walked into the yard. The house was very interesting. A house actually under a hill. I wondered how they dug it out and kept the hill in tact. As I was looking at the small home Gandalf knocked on the round,smooth, wooden door.
"Go away! I don't want to know any distance family or removed relatives!" Someone who was most likely Bilbo said from the inside of the house. Gandalf looked at me with raised eyebrows then turn back to the door. I tilted my head to the side slightly smiling.
"How about an old friend." Gandalf said from the other side of the door. I heard footsteps moving towards the door then it opened. A small homely looking old man was on the other side smiling at Gandalf.
"Gandalf..." He said. His smile widened as he took Gandalf in."
Gandalf! My old friend!" He repeated and jumped into arms as Gandalf leaned down to give him a hug. Then he pulled back to look at him again. " Its been so long!" Bilbo said. Gandalf looked at him in the eyes.
"The years have been kind to your old friend." Gandalf said. Bilbo nodded then looked at me and lifted an inquiring eyebrow at Gandalf. So Gandalf began introductions putting a hand on the mid section of my back.
"This is Jessica..." He meant to finish my whole name but he didn't know it. I looked at him and back to Bilbo.
"I'm Jessica Jones." I said with a nod. "It's nice to meet you." I continued. He smiled at me for a few seconds before his eyes widened.
"It is s pleasure to meet you Ms...Jones. I'm Bilbo Baggans." He pronounced my name right but I could tell that it must have been foreign to his tongue by the face he made."Oh come in! Come in!" He said ushering us inside. Like Gandalf I needed to kneel to get inside . after making sure that sparkle followed us inside the house I looked around it. It was very beautiful yet homely. I felt more at home here then I did anywhere in the last two years.I chuckled a little when Gandalf hit head on a chandelier, but quickly hid my smile when he looked at me. Bilbo headed to another part the house.
"Would either of you like some tea?" He asked us loudly. I looked down the hallway he went down and saw a counter with a big well of orange-colored cheese. So he was obviously in the kitchen. I nodded at Gandalf.
"Yes please." He called. We walked into the kitchen. Sparkle waited for us at its entrance because I told her to stay there. I didn't think that it would be polite to have my dog wonder Bilbo's kitchen.
"Would any of you like anything to eat?" He asked us as he got a few slices of bread and cheese and sat them among other things on the table. There was fruit and thankfully meat there. The more I looked at the food the more I realized how hungry I was. I haven't eaten since this morning.
"Yes please!" I said nodding my head.
"Help yourself my dear." Bilbo said to me with a smile.
I went over to the counter in the center of the kitchen and started to make two turkey sandwiches and sliced them into rectangles,they were so small. Bilbo poured some water into two classes, and handed one to me
"Thank you Mr Baggins." I said grateful.
"Your welcome and call me Bilbo." He said then looked at Gandalf.
"Are you sure you don't want anything at all?"He asked taking some cheese and bread from the counter. I took a seat in a small yet surprisingly sturdy enough stool.
"No thank you." Gandalf said. Bilbo started to eat the cheese and bread.
"You don't mind if I... mumadgg oum?" He mumbled as he ate. I guess he was asking whether Gandalf minded if he ate while Gandalf didn't.
"Not at all." Gandalf replied. I stopped paying attention so I could enjoy my food. I saved the 4th piece for Sparkle and wrapped it in a napkin and put then in my side purse.I looked up from my place when we heard a knock at the door. *Bark!*bark! Sparkles barked at the noise. Bilbo pressed his self against the hallways round wall. An old man going to such lengths to avoid people. I thought as I let out a seemed quite humorous. Gandalf lifted his eyebrow at Bilbo as the knocking persisted.
"Bilbo!Bilbo Baggins! Are you in there!? Someone called from the other side. Bark!Bark! Sparkle barked again.
"Shuuush!" I hushed her. She put her head down and let out a tiny bark underneath her breath. I looked at her like a child who had done something underhanded.
"Stop." I said sternly as Bilbo started to ramble about how the villagers never gave him a moment's peace. Bilbo looked at me with embarrassment and gave me a smile after showing his anxiousness to get away from it the annoyances.
"Sorry." he said looking at me. I smiled back.
"Its okay."I said in a small voice and gave me a nod back and turned back to Gandalf.
"I want to see mountains Gandalf! Mountains!" He said then he started muttering about other things. Gandalf nodded at Bilbo and
turned to me.
"I'll be out the Bilbo for a while Jessica. Elders such as us always feel the need to reflect on life by smoking. Why don't you ask Bilbo about that bath that you've been talking about all week?" Gandalf said winking at me. I jumped up at the chance of getting clean again. As Gandalf turned around and left I walked fast over to Bilbo.
"Uh...Excuse me Bilbo. Is there a place where I could take a bath? I asked with hope. Bilbo turned to me.
"I'm afraid that our bath isn't big enough for a women." I felt disappointment smear my face as much as a week wroth of filth smeared my body."However you can bath in the river. I could get you some supplies to help you get clean." He said thoughtful. I nodded. I don't care if it is outside as long as the itchy nasty feeling of dirt is gone after I have finished.
"That would be great!" I said with a smile. Bilbo give me a small smile.
"Okay...let me get some things for you." He said walking then disappearing somewhere in the back on the house. I heard a door open and some things getting moved around.
"So how long have you've known Gandalf?!" He shouted from the back.
"Not long I met him the day we started traveling together actually!" I shouted back.
"Really, how strange! " he said and about a minute later he came back with a large towel and a bucket. He came up to me and handed me the supplies.
"Here you go. The bucket has a bar of soap inside it." He said heading towards the door.
"Thankyou ." I said. I looked down at Sparkle and told her to come on as I followed after him. As we walked outside and out of the fence we came by Gandalf and his cart. Gajdalf was putting weed in his pipe. I went to get the leash out of my book bag.
"I see you already off to start smoking." I heard a voice near me say. I turned around and that it was Frodo talking to Gandalf and his uncle.
"Of course Frodo my boy. When you are as old as we are it becomes a pass time. " Bilbo said. Gandalf nodded getting out a small yellow sack. it was most likely we inside of it. I thought shaking my head with a smile. I look in the car and grabbed my book bag then unzipped it and took Sparkles red leash out. After I zipped it back up and turned back the males. Bilbo looked at me then at Frodo.
"Uh, Frodo would you take Jes-ci-ka..." He sounded out my first name and turned to me to see if he said it right. I was...kind of right. He said it harsher then it needed to br said. I just nodded to. He smiled. "Yes would you take her to a private area to bathe in the river?" Bilbo said. It was starting to get embarrassing having him casually talk about my hygiene.
"Sure uncle." Frodo said then looked at me. Bilbo looked at me as well.
"Have you met my nephew Frodo?" He asked me.
"Yes. He met surprised Gandalf and I when we arrived." I said. Bilbo chuckled and Frodo and Gandalf smiled.
"Good, well he'll take care of you." As he neared the cart he whispered to me. "Don't worry Frodo's a good boy." I smiled slightly and picked up the bucket with the soap and the towel in it. Then I went over to Frodo. He looked a little shy.
"Follow me Jessica."he said looking at me for a moment. He gave me a small smile then started walking on the left path. It looked large and lead next to a woodsy area the was between a small river. As we walked I took my time to see the shire. The houses under the hills looked cosy and the grass made me want to put my feet on it. It was easy to imagine how the grass would caress my feet coldly and crunch in a likable way when I step on it. I looked towards the sky and smelled the air. It was woodsy and fresh. It felt so peaceful here, like there wasn't a single problem that existed even outside of this place. So peace. So happy.I remember when I used to be like that. Back when I was happy, with my mother and my sister, we were all happy. I felt my eyes start to burn from the salty water that dared to pour out my eyes because of my aching heart. I shook it off clenched my jaw. I have to shake those feelings away otherwise I would just breakdown. I felt my heart swelling. I knew then that I would just wait until I was alone bathing to let my feelings out until I feel better. But for now I sucked it up and walked with heavy heart. I looked at the road and the grass that ran beside it. As I focussed on the scenery a voice then caught my attention.
"If I may ask..." Frodo started to say beside me. I looked at him with uncertainty."Where do you come from?" He asked looking at me curiously. I still needed to be obscure. I didn't want to freak people out. I mean I'm from another world. Who would accept that as an answer, no one would believe that.
"Very far away." I answered with a slight smile. "I'm sure you've never heard of it."
"Oh ." He said nodding. "That would explain..."he mumbled.
"That would explain what?" I asked. He looked up at me a little embarrassed. He didn't mean for me tear that last part.
"Oh... It's just that... The way you're dressed is really different."
" Different?.." I asked then looked around at the hobbits that were watching up in their yards watching me and Frodo walk by. They have no shame. I sighed. I looked at the female hobbits and still didn't get a Frodo's meaning until I noticed that the women were all wearing dresses down to their shoes. I looked down at my black jeans.
"Oh... I guess I do dress really different from people here huh?"I asked with a smile.
"Yes you do." He said smiling and nodding. I chuckled and looked down at Sparkle. she bounced slightly as she walked. She is so adorable. I looked back up as I heard her shiny,blue, flower dog tag jingle and the steps we made on the solid dirt road. After a while we went off-road and into the grass. As we passed full green oak trees I saw a deeper part of the river in the distance. I could tell by how dark it were a cluster of big bushes that was around that part of the river. When we got close to the dark green bushes I turned to Frodo.
"Well I should get back to helping with the arrangements of the party."He said honestly. I nodded.
"Alright, thank you for bringing me here." I said. He smiled.
"You're welcome." He said. "I guess I'll see you later when I pick you up to take you back."
"Yes." I said nodding.
"Alright bye."He said walking away then jogging through the grass. I smelled the air through my nose. As the air filled my lungs I became emotional again. The emotions that overflowed my heart wanted to pour out of me. I went behind the bushes with Sparkle wareing a stern expression on my face and watched the smooth water tremble.I put on Sparkles leash and tied her to a bush's branch, then I started to get undressed. In the distanced the water glittered under the sun. Tears started to blur the image until they overflowed and made hot strikes down my cheeks. Why did this have to happen? I asked myself. The more I tried to hold on to my strength, the more it slipped away. The situations get harder and dense. I wanted to go home. Back to my family. Back to the familiar Miami. I thought about how I spent the days in my room trying to keep myself busy enough to not notice my emotions because the corner that I had been forced into. I used to imagine myself as far away as I could be from Tallahassee. And here I am far away from Tallahassee as anyone could be far from any place, and i'm still not happy.
I shook my head sadly. I came up to the shore and put in the front of my foot in. It was really cold so I decided to ease my whole foot in to adjust to the temperature. The cold water was slightly shocking to my skin but slowly became as manageable as the air around my face. But the water started to become to adjustable. It became warmer and warmer till I saw steam arose. I quickly snatched my foot out of the water looking concerned at it.
"What...the...?!" I said to myself. Then a small ball of orange light appeared in front of my face. "Uhh!" I said loudly. *Bark! *Bark!* *growl* *Bark! Sparkle was trying to scare it away. I backed up as much as I could away from the ball of light. But it was as fast as the wind and flew right into my face. I closed my eyes tightly as my senses numbed and my throat burned. Then my fingers and toes curled as if my nerves were stunned. And not a second later...It was gone. I opened my eyes and quickly got up. Looking around at the river bushes, the river and the at the trees in the distance and found nothing. I looked at Sparkle and saw that she looked excited. What just happened? Did I just have a mental breakdown. That's probably it. I've been very stressed and away from home. On top of that I haven't had a bath in a week. I closed my eyes and started to breathe slowly to calm my nerves.
" I'm gonna be okay... Nothing happened it was just my overactive Imagination. I just need a bath, and to relax." I murmured to myself. I shook my arms and turned around. Then I inched closer to the water again. I looked at my reflection in my face. I feel ok. I turned my face side to side. I looked ok. I thought about what just happened a little more. The short memory was fleeting so fast that I just wrote it off. Maybe the Sun rays got caught in my eyelashes. I really just overreacted. My anxiousness swelled then went away.
"I can't believe I just freaked out over nothing. That would've been so embarrassing if someone had seen that. " I said to myself. I grabbed the bucket and put the towel on a big branch that was on a bush nearest to me. I looked back at the river apprehensively. I walked towards it and let my feet touch the water. It was still warm. I watched a lot of natural mystery shows. I'm sure there's a perfect logical explanation why the water just trying to warm there always is for this kind of thing. It's just temperature. I just got lucky that it was warm for me, now I can relax. I kept walking into the water until it reached my knees. I had goose bumps on my thighs and I started to shake. I shouldn't worry about how I freaked out. It'll just cause me to worry more. All I need to do just is relax. I kept telling myself. I closed my eyes and shook off the worry. I continued to go into the water until it was above my breast. I sighed. It's felt so nice. My was stress was leaving as the heat started to relax my muscles. Finally...
Hello every body! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I worked really hard on this. Please review and tell me what you think! I like to read all of your reviews! Legolas will kiss your feet If you do! P.S. I've been thinking about discontinuing this story. It's not really reviewing to well. But I'll see what happens in a chapter of two.