Alright, this was only one-2 pages on word, I think it is around nine and a half now. I spent a total of three whole days working and editing it and It came out rather nice aprreciate it!
I do not own LOTR
After spending the rest of the afternoon trying to find something to wear, she had gotten ready and headed out. Contrary to the Hobbit tradition, she had gotten Bilbo a gift for his birthday, a lovely walking stick, finely carved out of a rich deep wood. When she presented it to him, he gave her a look of astonishment before smiling kindly and locking her in a bear hug.
After that, Marie looked around for familiar faces, and sat at a table next to Frodo and Sam.
"Oh Tigerlily, I didn't see you sit down! How are you doing?" Frodo asked her.
"I'm actually quite good, thank you for asking... you?" She fired back.
"Couldn't be better! Tigerlily, this is my friend and gardener, Samwise Gamgee." He pointed to Sam.
Marie knew who he was but had to pretend she didn't. She took his hand and said, "How do you do?"
"I'm okay." He muttered looking into his ale.
Marie whispered to Frodo, "Make him dance with Rosie Cotton!"
Just as Sam was about to get another ale, Frodo pushed him into the excitement, then Rosie grabbed him and started to dance. Marie winked at Sam and Frodo laughed. Marie's eye caught something then: two figures were moving towards Gandalf's Cart. "I shall return shortly." Marie excused herself and went after them.
AT THE CART
"Grab as many as you can!" Merry told Pippin.
Marie called out to them. "You aren't being very discreet you know. Anyone could just come over and see you both." She downed her glass of ale and smirked to herself as the pair jumped in shock.
"Do not fret, I will not alert your presence to Gandalf, but I should. Your pranking is mediocre at best with those small fireworks. I could do far better." Merry and Pippin exchanged looks.
"You really think so? Well see about that missy. Pip grab the big one, come on!" With that, the pair raced away, Dragon Firework in hands. Marie chuckled to herself and waited for the mayhem.
"My Dear Bagginses and Boffins... Tooks and Brandybucks... Grubbs, Chubbs... Hornblowers... Bolgers...Bracegirldes...and Proudfoots." Bilbo began the speech.
"Proudfeet!" Was shouted and people chuckled a bit.
"Today is my 111th birthday! But alas, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable Hobbits. I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and in like less then half of you half as well as you deserve." He said and the group was silent trying to figure out if that was an insult or not. Marie stood up and said. "Too right Bilbo!" Which got another cheer from the crowd that someone had solved the riddle.
"Thank you Miss Bramble. I uh...I have things to do. I've put this off far too long. I regret to announce this is the end! I'm going now; I bid you all a very fond Farewell. Goodbye." With that, Bilbo disappeared. Marie leapt out of the way of the madness, and raced over to where her present box lay. She practically beamed. The staff she gave Bilbo was gone. She saw Frodo looking around wildly before racing toward Bag End.
'Things have been set into motion, now all we need is to wait.' She thought, before walking unsteadily towards her house.
-YEARS LATER-
Marie awoke lazily, staring at the window out to the Shire. It had been quite a long time since the party, since Bilbo's departure, and Marie had grown used to the quiet, simple Hobbit life. She had struggled with settling herself at first, not having a job nor a way to gain income. After begging Frodo for aid, they spent many nights searching for a way for her to make money. After about a half a year of searching and bartering furniture for food; Frodo came upon a job for her when he ripped his jacket on his gate and she mended it quite nicely. She from then on worked at her house, fixing clothing and making all manner of fabric items to sell.
She had grown attached to many of the Hobbits, including Frodo, Merry, Sam, and Pippin, whom she went to the bar with as often as possible. She had even gotten a request for marriage from a distant cousin of Merry's. She had declined gently. Her life in Hobbiton was only temporary; she had a bag with supplies ready at every moment so she could be ready to head to Rivendell. She did not know if she would be going with Samwise, Merry, Pippin, or Frodo but she would head there regardless, which is why she had been practicing her stave skills. She did not have a sword, dagger, or bow at her possession, since Hobbits frowned upon such things, so Marie had bought herself a staff. It was sturdy and weighted well, which made it a fine weapon. She practiced upon chairs and the like in one of her storage rooms, so if by chance she did go with the Fellowship, she wouldn't be the weakest link there.
She had been thinking so long she didn't realize that someone had been at the door for the last several minutes. A voice calling out made her jump. "Tigerlily! Are you at home?" It was Samwise, as that day the pair were going into the forest to find herbs. Marie hurriedly got ready and opened the door. "Sorry Sam, I was in a far room of the house. Now, I had a somewhat late start, so what would you say to a second Breakfast?"
(Gandalf's POV)
I had spent many months In the Library of Minas Tirith, searching for a scrap of evidence as to what Marie had told me that fateful morning had any indication with reality. I took a drink of my glass as I scanned the old script. I had found it! I began to read with renewed hope. The text was ill news, but it was the news I had been searching for. I was about to return the unread parchment to its respectful places when another caught my eye. It was written in the hand of Elrond, lord of Rivendell. I picked it up and read it carefully.
The year is thirty-four thirty-nine of the second age in middle earth. I have seen a dark evil upon the land. The darkness in Mordor is restless and will awaken again. However, I saw a glimmer of hope. A band of comrades, though they were clouded from my sight, gave the world a chance to destroy the evil that was not defeated before. I also saw something terrifying. A stranger, not from our Earth as we know it, walks our lands. She is currently shaded as to her location; however the extent of her power was a chilling thing. She has the ability to become any Race in our Middle Earth, save one. Though the Ents are an ancient race, she lacks the power to become one of the treeherders.
Also I have seen her as beasts, from her world, they were creatures foreign to me, and they were human and animal both! She has the knowledge where as I do not, of what will come to pass for our World. She cannot act upon it however, for the repercussions would be vast and terrible. The vision stayed clear in my mind for several weeks, so I give it to you, the race of Men, as well as what she appears as first, so you may see who will help give hope to Men.
I looked to the drawing and choked on my smoke slightly. It was a very accurate drawing of Marie
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WHEEE DONE!
Fans: GRRR!
Uh I guess not...
(Back in the shire)
The sun was setting and cool nights were coming for Hobbiton as the five Hobbits left the pub. Marie was walking in between Frodo and Merry, right in the middle of the four men. She scrounged around in her pocket of her apron until she found a pipe, some Longbottom leaf, and a match. The four men watched bewildered as she made her pipe and lit it, exhaling the smoke and sighing.
She looked around at the four staring at her as if she had grown an extra head. "Is there a problem with my smoking habits gentleman?"
Samwise looked amazed. "A woman that goes out drinking with us, smokes, and is right pretty! There never 'as been a lass like you in the entire Shire."
Marie ruffled Sam's hair. "I think you've had a bit too much to drink Sam. It's perfectly normal for Women to smoke."
Merry winked at her as he circled an arm around her waist. "Yes but it is hard to find pretty lasses that do. I'm half-convinced you are a man in disguise!"
They all got a good chuckle out of that one. "No, I am quite positive that I am a woman, Merry. Now I do believe we passed the road to Buckland just now."
The whole group turned around and walked back to the fork in the path, and wishing the pranking duo off, the others headed up the road once more.
Frodo and Marie waved Sam off and Marie followed Frodo to his door. "If you don't mind I forgot some of my sewing supplies, I'm just going to pick them up then be on my way. Okay?" Frodo nodded and the pair walked into the house. Frodo looked confused, but walked in slowly and silently. Gandalf grabbed him and he jumped. "Is it secret is it safe?!"
Frodo went over to a chest as Gandalf stood guard; he found it and handed it to the Wizard. Gandalf placed it in the fire
"What are you doing?!" Frodo asked, and then freaked out a bit as Marie touched his shoulder reassuringly.
"Do not fret Frodo; Gandalf knows what he is doing." Marie convinced Frodo.
Gandalf pulled the ring out of the fire and handed it to Frodo. Frodo seemed reluctant to take it. "It's quite cool." Gandalf reassured Frodo.
"What can you see? Can you see anything" The Wizard asked as he got up and paced near the Hobbit.
"Nothing. There's nothing. Wait..." Frodo said as he examined the ring. Gandalf froze.
"There are markings. It's some form of Elvish, I can't read it. "He informed Gandalf.
"There are few who can. The language is that of Mordor which I will not utter here." The Old man said.
"Mordor..." Frodo muttered nervously.
"In the common tongue, it says:
One ring to Rule them all,
One ring to find them,
One ring to bring them all,
And I the Darkness bind them." Gandalf looked over at Marie as her voice blended with his to say it.
CHANGE IN POV! MARIE'S
The three of you were seated by Frodo's table. The lights were on and Frodo was making tea. The object of the discussion was laying quietly on the table, reflecting everything in a warm glow. You were sewing the buttons on Frodo's vest, taking small breaks to puff on your pipe as the pair talked about the Ring and its history. Then Frodo grabbed the ring and headed into the hall. "No one knows that it's here do they." Frodo said. Getting no response he turned to Gandalf.
"Do they Gandalf?" The wizard sighed. "There is one other who knew Bilbo had the Ring. I looked everywhere for the creature Gollum. But the enemy found him first. I don't know how long they tortured him, but amidst the endless screams in inane babble they discerned two words: Shire. Baggins."
Frodo's eyes widened. "Shire. Baggins! But that would lead them here!"
You got up as you finished the vest to hear Frodo say, "What must I do?"
You abandoned your pipe to help Frodo pack. Gandalf gave him instructions as he did so. Gandalf looked at you a moment. "Oh I forgot...Frodo. Tigerlily is no Hobbit."
You looked up at him. "I'm not?"
"No, you are in fact a powerful being, able to change races at will! You can also foresee what will come to pass. I do not know if these powers will erupt in times of need, or if you have always had them, but be careful for if the enemy finds you, it would fall ill for us all."
You and Frodo both look like you were told that Gandalf was a Girl, mostly you though. You were a powerful being!
CHANGE IN POV!
"I would highly recommend that you go with Frodo to Bree. Can you be ready by dawn?" Marie smiled widely. "I can be ready in fifteen minutes Gandalf."
"That is even better, come now, you need to-" Gandalf was cut off by a rustling in the bushes.
'That'd be Sam' Marie thought as Gandalf dragged him inside.
-Dawn-
After giving them all warnings, Gandalf rode off, leaving the three Hobbits to the road...er...well journey. Marie was excited, Sam was scared, and Frodo was angst filled already. They had been traveling from sunrise to sunset, and Sam had stopped at a scarecrow.
"This is it. If I take one more step, I'll be as far away from home, I've ever been." He said sadly.
Frodo cheered him up considerably, talking of Bilbo; and the trio stopped under a tall tree to make dinner. "Say Tigerlily, how did you know that what Bilbo said at the party was a compliment?"
Marie grinned around her pipe. "Knew you'd ask that sooner or later. Well it was quite easy. He said he likes less then half of all the hobbits at the party only half as well as they deserve to be liked by him. Which means less than half the Hobbits there deserved to be liked a whole lot more!"
Sam scratched his head, "You made me even more confused than I already was." Which sent Frodo and Marie into laughter.
Next day
Sam had come into a free space of the cornfield to find it utterly deserted. "Mr. Frodo?" He called. No reply. "Frodo?! Frodo!" He raced ahead a bit. Frodo walked a bit backward to meet the other Hobbit. They had their touching moment before Frodo looked around. "Say, where's Tigerlily?" They heard a rustling out of the corn and Marie scrambled out, clutching a slightly bleeding limb. "Oh thanks a bunch you two, you have a sugary moment and abandon me to trip and fall onto a rock. My gratitude is boundless."
Both muttered apologies before helping Marie bandage her arm scrape. Marie then backed up a bit. "Why are you backing up Marie, we are in the Shire, what could possibly happe-ooph!" The males were plowed over by Pippin and Merry.
"It's Frodo!" Pippin exclaimed as Sam hauled him off of Frodo. Marie looked at the sickle in the air, then back to the boys, only they weren't there anymore! "Figures." She muttered before scooping up some dropped vegetables and sprinting to catch up.
She had caught up with the four but slowed down as they went head over heels down onto the road below. Marie didn't fall; she raced down the steep hill with her stick as leverage and smirked at the four on the ground. "That is what you four deserve, leaving me like that."
"Trust a Brandybuck and a Took." Sam muttered.
"What? That was just a detour, a shortcut!" Merry said indignantly, brushing off his vest and jacket.
"Shortcut to what." Sam mumbled.
"Mushrooms!" Pippin exclaimed and the three raced over to get them. Frodo looked the road. "We need to get off the road!"
Marie grabbed Merry and Pippin by the ears and pulled them away from the mushrooms and over to the hollow in the Tree, Sam and Frodo followed suit. Then the Nazgul came. They all were silent as the grave, and when Sam stopped Frodo from putting the ring on, Merry tossed the bag of mushrooms so they all could escape. They had been running nonstop since then, keeping an eye out for Nazgul or anything unusual.
"I must leave the Shire. We must get to Bree." Frodo whispered.
"Right. Bucklebury Ferry. Follow me." Merry got up and began to run as did the others. The Nazgul charged up out of nowhere, pinning them all in different directions.
Merry managed to get everyone but Frodo and Marie, who were getting cornered. "Frodo run!" Marie told him sharply. "I can take care of myself."
He did, and as the Nazgul turned the horse, she swung her walking stick with all her might at one of the Horse's legs, causing it to buck and freak out. It slowed the Nazgul down enough to give her time to race off after Frodo. He managed to make it, but Marie plunged into the water a few feet short.
"Quick, turn about; we need to get her out of the water!" Pippin exclaimed worriedly. Everyone hoped that they could get her out in time, but their hope began to fade as they saw no bubbles.
They started to pole back a bit when a voice next to them sent them jumping. "What are you all doing?!"
They all looked to the left to see Marie swimming along, trying to clamber onto the raft.
"You can swim?" Pippin asked incredulously.
"Yes, but it is not of any importance to anyone at the moment Pippin. Merry, you will have to lead us to Bree." She instructed, looking at the retreating Nazgul with worry.
BREE!
It had begun to rain by the time that the Hobbits had made it to the Gates of Bree. Frodo looked around quickly before scampering to the gates and knocking upon the door nine times. The gatekeeper opened the top hole and peered about, before reopening the second hole with a "What do you want?"
"We're headed for the Prancing Pony." Frodo answered. The door opened and he looked down upon them all.
"Hobbits. Five Hobbits! What business brings you to Bree?" He exclaimed.
"We wish to stay at the inn. Our business is our own." Frodo answered as Marie looked around behind her for any sign of motion in the dark.
"Alright young sir. I meant no offence. It's my job to ask questions after nightfall. There's talk of strange folk abroad. Can't be too careful." He explained as he let them all in. The five Hobbits trudged through the mud toward the inn, almost getting run over by a Carriage as they did.
'I wish I had my height back, this town is no place for a Hobbit.' Marie thought miserably as she walked behind the other four, by far the wettest. She looked around quickly as a burst of nauseous ness set in. "You four head on in please, I need to catch my breath a bit." She told them before staggering off. She slid against an alley wall as it started to spin. She closed her eyes and willed it to go away. Surprisingly it did and she got up. She looked around frowning. Everything was...different. She picked up her stave and gasped. It was small now. She had changed!
She felt her ears. 'Not pointy, hmm. I must be human again.' She reasoned, and then looked down at her outfit. Her once loose outfit was now far too tight on her, as she was having problems breathing. She looked around, and seeing a young man relatively her height, enticed him over into the alleyway. A crack was heard as well as several sounds of shifting cloth from the pitch dark alleyway, and Marie walked out; now dressed in brown trousers and a white long sleeved shirt, with a dark hide overcoat. She put her stave and cloak in her pack and lastly wrapped his dark cloak over her and walked inside the Prancing Pony.
She walked right past the four Hobbits to the bar, and as she did she heard this. "He'll be here, he'll come." From Frodo. Then Sam muttered. "It's not just 'im I'm worried about. Where did Tigerlily get off to?" Luckily, Merry came back with a Pint and distracted them all, and got Sam onto Strider. Marie ordered an ale and watched the pair talk to the Innkeeper about him. After he left, Marie got up and made her way over to Aragorn's table.
She sat next to him, keeping her hood down. He glanced over at her, seemingly shifting his weight, but Marie knew he had a hand on his sword. She kept herself calm and said softly. "I am looking for Strider."
"Then you have found him." He replied, not taking his eyes off of the room.
"The four Hobbits over there, the ones you have been staring at, they are in grave danger. The Nazgul are hunting them and they need to be taken to Rivendell. Gandalf the Grey was supposed to lead them, but he has been delayed and the sooner they leave the better. One of the Hobbits carries a very dangerous possession. You know of what I speak. You are the heir of the one who betrayed Middle Earth and took it with him." Marie could feel him growing tense beside her as she continued, "They have another companion, a female Hobbit, and she has not arrived as of yet. I will try to locate her and help you take them to Rivendell." With that Marie left him to his business, and sat at the bar again, waiting for Pippin to let Frodo's identity slip. She did not have to wait long, as Pippin soon got talking to the men at the bar, and it all unraveled from there. Aragorn drug Frodo away and the other three Hobbits made to follow, but Marie stopped them. "Do you wish to go up against an armed man with nothing? Surely you have more sense then that young Hobbits."
The three shared a look. "She's got a point there." Merry said, grabbing a candlestick, as Pippin grabbed a chair.
"Yes, but you would not have had to even go after this man if you had had an ounce of common sense to begin with." She muttered and pointed up the stairs, and the three male Hobbits raced up them, Marie following slightly behind. She got up in time to see Sam threaten Aragorn. "Or I'll 'ave you, Longshanks." Marie snorted in laughter, and Aragorn gave an amused sigh before putting away his sword.
"You have a stout heart little Hobbit. But that will not save you." He said before turning to Frodo. "You can no longer wait for the Wizard Frodo. They're coming."
Marie nodded to Aragorn and said, "Your friend Tigerlily is waiting for you all in an inn across the way, it would be wise if we made our way over there now." She walked out of the room and Aragorn ushered the Hobbits out, Pippin muttering to Merry. "Who's she?"
The Hobbits had dropped off to sleep one by one; even Frodo had settled into a light doze once Marie had cornered him and told him her true identity. She sat next to Aragorn and watched outside the windows. "I have yet to see this female Hobbit." Aragorn said to her.
"You know of Lord Elrond's gift of foresight do you not, Strider?" Marie said, seemingly out of the blue.
"I do, but what of it?" He asked.
"Many years ago, after Isildur betrayed the world, he prophesized of a being. He wrote down the prophecy and gave iit to the race of Men. I have it in my poessesion. Would you care to see it?" She handed him the Race-changer parchment.
As he read she explained. "I am the race changer, but I do not know how to change, as I have only done it once, and it was purely by accident. I was told to accompany the four to Rivendell."
Aragorn sighed and handed the parchment back to her. "This is n unexpected turn of events, but all the same, w shall go on with it. Perhaps you should try-" Thier discussion was cut off as the Nazgul screeched awoke the Hobbits and the human pair explained to the Hobbits the Ringwraith history.
"Before you all return to sleep, I need to tell you I will be accompanying you instead of Tigerlily for the rest of the Journey." The Hobbits were confused, but nodded slowly and went back to sleep.
"You should sleep also, the road is long and we will not be stopping often." Aragorn said to her.
"Alright, but I will take second watch, if you do not wake me up, you shall feel my wrath." She joked at the end bafore curling up on the floor with her cloak and dropping off into a restless sleep.
Chapter four coming up!
Read and reivew or I will sick my demons on you.