Hello again, dears!

Oh my, this is a really long chapter... 3,300+ words (not including my author notes)!
I'm sorry if it may seem boring... Sigh... I really did try my best.

Now another thing I need to talk about, I have set up a poll on my profile. What is this poll about? It is A POLL TO DETERMINE WHO VALINA SHOULD GO WITH according to your preference. This poll will help me continue writing this story and to let me decide a romantic pairing for Valina and a canon character. I only have 3 characters: Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas. The reason why I don't have any others is because their time in the movie [Fellowship of the Ring] (since I only have one of the books, so I can't really rely on that) is scarce, unfortunely. So I can't really write about them unless I make them OOC by accident. I am leaning more towards Aragorn since a friend had pointed out that she wanted to read one where 'what if Aragorn didn't fall in love with Arwen? But someone else?' type of thing. I'm also not very keen to do a Legolas romance because, well, I've seen a lot now... But hey, I need to stretch out my ability to write, so why not? If that is what a majority of you want.
However, it is up to you and the poll.

I hope you enjoy reading this chapter, even if it is somewhat slow and boring...

I do not own Lord of the Ring or Final Fantasy X. They go to their respective owners. I do, however, own the original characters (Valina, Felix, Ian and Kiku) and the twisted plot.

Chapter Four - On The Road

Valina had never felt such peace during her time in The Shire. Although the night still gave her an eerie feeling, she had managed to find comfort with the hobbits. But Valina could not stop worrying for it was in her nature. Despite the free bright smiles passed from one hobbit to another, the smell of fresh baked goods in the morning and the lovely jokes that spread throughout the fields like wild fire, she still felt as if something awful was going to happen.

And Gandalf still hasn't returned... She thought glumly. It had been months since she had been assigned to stay with Frodo. Atleast six, if she remembered correctly. One and a half years away from Spira... That felt awfully long and another pile of worries came tumbling into her head as she began to think about little Yuna, Kiku, Felix, Ian and other people she had met in Spira. She had known one thing - she had suddenly disappeared from Spira and transported into Middle Earth. But what about the time there? Was one and a half years in Middle Earth like a hundred in Spira? Was she erased from existence or perhaps time was still? So many unanswered questions and so very few answers. Not even wise Gandalf could answer them, that much was for sure.

"How are you, Valina?" Frodo's voice interupted her thoughts.

She was currently seated near the window in the kitchen and dining room. During her stay, she had realised how much the hobbits ate and to the hobbits' horror, she was a stick compared to them. Merry and Pippin scolded her for not eating as much as she should- although she was pretty sure that the amount they ate was astounding. Frodo had managed to ease her eating schedule to be a bit spread out, though plenty. She usually nibbled a biscuit and had a cup of tea before stating that she was full.

"I'm fine, Frodo. Thank you for your lessons during my time here. They help me a lot when it comes to talking to others."

When Gandalf ad left, she had gone through a bit of a nervous time, which lead to her forgeting some of Westron she was taught. She had manged to slip in some Spirian and Westron into her speech and it had Frodo completely bewildered and confused. Frodo was paitent and helped her learn more and even gave her some books to read.

"It's not much." Frodo answered modestly before sitting down infront of her.

After some silence, he spoke again. "When do you think he'll be back?"

"... Soon, Frodo... Soon." He slumped considerably from her choice of words and she couldn't help but frown in disappointment for herself. "Would you... Would you like to listen me play?"

"Would you like to listen to me play?" He corrected before smiling. "And yes. I would like that."

Merry and Pippin had realised that Valina had a certain hobby... And that hobby was playing the flute. In Spira, Valina had learnt when she was very little and only played it because her mother used to play it. Yuna loved listening to her play, despite the fact that she wasn't very good at it. So when the two prankster hobbits presented her a wooden flute there were no words to describe how she felt. Delighted? Bewildered? In the end, she had decided to be delighted in knowing that the flute existed in Middle Earth and that she now had another little piece of home to add to her collection of her pouch. Unfortunely, the first few times she tried to play it was horrible. The flute looked the same as Spirian ones, but something was drastically different - she just didn't know what. Merry and Pippin had fled from the scene after the third try and Frodo hesitantly went after the fifth. Only Sam stayed with her and encouraged her to keep practicing. For that, she was thankful because in the end, Sam was the one who heard the first beautiful note instead of the banshee scream.

"What would you like me to play, Mister Frodo?" She asked with a mustered regal tone to try make him crack a smile.

He did - a very bright and childish one at that. "The ones from your home." She still hasn't told him that her home was a whole other world. But Gandalf had always told her to keep her secrets unless Gandalf instructed her to tell a specific person. She never even told Elrond either. She had a slight fear of rejection, in which Gandalf never helped ease for he even told her that he was unsure on how others would react. He was living a long life and therefore, more open minded.

"Then I shall play the song, Someday The Dream Will End." She placed the mouth piece to her lips and brought life to the music. A calming low pitched melody danced admist the room, massaging ear drums and gently brushing past the open window, carried by the breeze and into the hills for others to listen to it's grace. The melody was calming like a peaceful dream, soothing their minds... entrancing them. But the melody was hidden with saddness too and it only grew stronger when the end drew nearer. If only she could hear the harps and other stringed instruments chorusing along, then the song would have been complete.

The song carried on, until finally, the last sweet note hung in the air, before disappearing beyond the valley like it's kin. She was so proud to know that she didn't get a single note wrong. She even fooled herself by thinking she had musical talent. Of course, she laughed at herself once she remembered it took hours of practicing the same song over and over again, torturing poor, paitent Sam in the process.

"That was really good." Frodo complimented.

I'll have to learn new songs soon... She thought before following the small hobbit into the fields, no doubt inviting Sam along the way.

She had found out that fishing was a rather fun hobby. Sitting by a stream with nothing but nature's harmony and the small chatter of her close hobbit friends was no doubt enjoyable. Frodo always had the best of stories to tell of Middle Earth, although she had a little bit of a problem when it came to understanding some of the terms, Sam's paitent teachings helped her along (sadly, she still got her past and present tenses mixed up). Thus, they would sit most of their time with their feet in the water and a rod in their hands. She knew the people living in The Shire were small, but she soon realised that the fish were a moderate size and not quite as small as she imagined them to be. Yes, fishing was a rather fun hobby.

If she was good at it.

However, she was not. So most of the time, she just humoured them by trying and waiting paitently for a small bite while Sam and Frodo would haul out some slippery goodness for dinner.

"Do you miss your home?" Sam asked bluntly, yet gently.

"Yes." Was her immediate answer. Because in all honesty, despite the peace and warmth she felt during her time here... It was not true happiness. If she continued to stay here, she was so afraid of forgetting Spirian and replace it with Westron. She did not want that at all. It was strangely reassuring whenever a hobbit passed by and commented on how she had a strange accent, which was of her own world.

"Then why don't you go back?" Upon realising how rude he sounded, he began stammering, "I-I mean, we like you here and all. I didn't mean to sound rude, but I'm just wondering why you stay here if you miss it so much?"

She laughed - a soft breathy sort of sound, "It's alright, Sam. I understand. I want to go home," Yet I also don't... "But it's really hard for me to go because there's so many mountains and forests I need to go through- maybe even an ocean if I remember correctly. I need to stay with Gandalf until my time is right." She explained, feeling slightly guilty for lying. But it was a little white lie and there was no harm in it.

A comfortable silence hung over them, each thinking of their own thing.

By the time sun had set, Frodo and Valina had finished eating dinner at Sam's house. The evening was cool with a heavenly breeze for the hardworking farmers.

"Evenin'." A hobbit greeted them as they walked past.

"Evening, sir." She replied politely while Frodo just gave him a pleasant smile.

She wasn't quite sure why they greeted her just when she's walking past. She was not used to it... But then again, Spirian people thoughts were clouded with worry, so even when they walked past eachother, some don't notice while other's just don't see the point. Of course, Valina quicky dismissed that idea and just thought that the hobbits were just generally friendly people. There was nothing to compare to... wasn't there?

"What are you thinking about?" Frodo asked.

She glanced at him for a moment. She and him had become close, although it was slow and almost painfully hard to accomplish, they had become friends. It was not that Frodo was a bad person nor his traits horrible, it was quite the opposite infact. She was the obstacle of their relationship. Valina had that small problem of forgetting Westron after Gandalf left and she became distressed which lead her to sulk. It was hard to believe at first, but her new hobbit friends were the ones that picked her up again. She still had that homesickness that could not be denied, but it was lessening... Slowly...

She gave him a smile, "Nothing." Hoping to reassure him that she was content here, in The Shire, with him, Sam, Merry and Pippin. Why am I so conflicted...? She thought hopelessly.

Once they arrived at the entrance of the house, Valina immediately noticed the slightly open door before pushing Frodo behind her. Was she frightened? Definitely. But she had promised both Gandalf and Bilbo that she would look after Frodo. So she stepped forward, fully aware that without her staff, her magical abilities reduced to almost a third, but it would have to do.

The door quietly creaked open as they entered, desperately trying to keep their footfalls quiet. She was no elf, but it was good enough for the invader to dismiss if he or she was distracted with stealing... The room was quiet, dark and papers scattered the floor. They were looking for something... She thought grimly before turning to Frodo. "Stay here Frodo." She whispered and before he could protest, she quietly yet hurriedly moved away to check the other rooms.

The shadows crept and she could no longer hear Frodo's breathing for she was a room away now. She peered around, hoping that the invader found no interest in their humble abode and ran elsewhere. She stood there for a good minute, before relaxing.

Suddenly a hand landed on her shoulder and she gasped before grasping it with her right hand while her left prepared to cast a spell. She sharply turned her head, her left hand held a blazing ball of deep orange and red fire as she prepared to attack.

Only to halt when she saw Gandalf's tired face. "Gandalf!" Her tone was of relief.

"Is it secret? Is it safe?" He asked, almost desperate.

They sat within the room with Frodo holding the envelope from months ago. On Gandalf's instruction, she lit a fire with flint and stone rather than the magic she tried to keep secret. Even when she summoned such a small amount of magic, she knew that it would take a toll on her if she kept using magic to do her bidding.

Gandalf had snatched the envelope from Frodo and threw it into the fire and watched closely as the paper slowly burned away revealing the shimmering gold. He used metal tongs to take it off the fire.

"Hold out your hand, Frodo. It's quite cool."

Frodo did as he was told and the ring dropped onto his palm. "What do you see? Can you see anything?" Gandalf inquired.

The hobbit looked closely and Valina wondered how small the markings (atleast, that's what she assumed Gandalf was looking for) really were. "Nothing. There's nothing."

The wizard let out a sight of relief and she wondered why he was so on edge. He was always so calm and that left Valina wondering what ever could be the matter with such a ring? "Wait... There are markings." A pause as Frodo rotated the ring slowly. She could see some type of scripted markings shine golden and reflect onto Frodo. "It's some form of Elvish, I can't read it."

Gandalf became very grave and grim. "There are few who can. The language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here."

"Mordor?" Both Frodo and her repeated.

"In common tounge it reads: "One ring to rule them all. One ring to find them. One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them." Gandalf muttered.

They had moved to the kitchen with the ring lying on the table. They all stared at it with a tense atmosphere hovering over them. Then, Valina laid eyes on Gandalf. "This is the one ring forged by the dark lord, Sauron, in the fires of Mt Doom... taken by Isildur from the hand of Sauron himself."

"Bilbo found it... In Gollom's cave."

"For sixty years the ring lay quiet in Bilbo's keeping, prolonging his life, delaying old age... But no longer, Frodo. Evil is stirring in Mordor. The ring has awoken. It has heard it's master's call."

"But, he was destroyed... Sauron was destroyed." Frodo stated, looking between her and the wizard.

Valina knew nothing of the ring. She had no clue who Sauron was. Gandalf had only told her stories of different species on Middle Earth, nothing specific about the history nor the wars the people of Middle Earth had to endure. Yet, now she felt slightly worried for not asking Gandalf for such stories. Who is Sauron? She thought. Although she knew full well that he was someone evil from the tone in their voices as they said his name.

"No, Frodo. The spirit of Sauron has endured. His life force is bound to the ring and the ring survived. Sauron has returned. His orcs have multiplied... His fortress of Baradur is rebuilt in the land of Mordor. Sauron needs only this ring to cover all the lands in the second darkness. He is seeking it- seeking it all his thought is bent on it. For the ring yearns, above all else, to return to the hand of it's master: they are one, the ring and the dark lord. Frodo, he must never find out."

"Alright!" Frodo said as he suddenly scooped it up and began hurrying to the living room with them following. "We put it away, we keep it hidden! We never speak of it again. No one knows it's here, do they?" Valina noticed Gandalf how he shifted uncomfortably.

"Do they, Gandalf...?" Frodo's voice wavered with uncertainty and she felt fear freeze of her heart as well.

"There is one other who knew that 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 admist the endless screams and insane babble, they discerned two words... Shire and Baggins."

The hobbit looked absolutely horrified, "Shire! Baggins! That will lead them here!" He shouted. He then thrusted the ring towards Gandalf with fear within his blue eyes. "Take it! Take it, Gandalf!"

The wizard shook his head slightly, "No, Frodo..." He mumbled, almost pleading.

"You must take it!"

Valina gently placed a hand on Frodo's shoulder, still trembling with the thought of evil coming their way. But if Gandalf refused the ring, then she must also help him. "No, Frodo. Listen to Gandalf." She whispered, trying to soothe him.

"You cannot offer me this ring."

"I'm giving it to you!" His voice raised higher and he agressively shrugged Valina's hand off his shoulder.

"Don't tempt me, Frodo. I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe. Understand, Frodo. I would use this ring from a desire to do good, but through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine." His gaze was sad and his tone soft, as if explaining to a child- in which Valina guessed was what Gandalf thought of Frodo.

"But it cannot stay in The Shire!"

"No!" Gandalf said. "No. It can't."

She turned to face Gandalf, trying to keep herself from trembling. "What must we do?" She whispered, grasping onto Frodo's shoulder again. This time, Frodo welcomed it with his hand over her's.

Valina didn't have much to pack. She had two pairs of the same outfit- the one of which she was wearing. Her staff and pouch was what she carried on herself rather than a knapsack and she hurried to help Frodo. She helped him stuff things within his bag, prepare food for the journey and help find cloaks for them both.

They had planned to make for Bree whilst Gandalf took haste to find advice from the head of his order. The journey sounded very similiar to the one she was on in Spira. She felt clenched her fists just thinking about it. The journey was dangerous and the only reason why she survived was because of her Guardians and her own powers. She was starting to worry of what would happen if she were to fail. Frodo had no way to defend himself and she could only do so much without drawing attention and causing a rift between herself and Frodo.

"My dear, Frodo. Hobbits really are amazing creatures. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet, after a hundred years they can still surprise you." Gandalf said with a gentle, fatherly smile. He then turned to her and placed a hand against her smooth cheek. "And you, my dear Valina. You are so young in years and ways of this place. Yet you are so brave and kind. Sometimes I wonder what you are truly capable of." His tone was fond, the same tone she had come to love like a granddaughter to a grandfather.

A rustle of bushes interupted their tender moment and Gandalf ordered them to stay down. The gray wizard moved closer to the bushes beneath the window before slamming his staff down onto the intruder. Valina heard a distinct yelp of pain before Gandalf hauled the figure into the room and against the floor.

"Confound it all! Samwise Gamgee, have you been eavesdropping?" His voice steaming with anger.

Blonde hair and small figure, oh, it truly is Sam! She thought with relief.

"I ain't been dropping no eaves, sir! Honest. I was just cutting the grass under the window there, if you follow me..."

Their banter continued before Gandalf raised his head to give them both a smile. Valina didn't quite understand until he commanded Sam to start packing. What? But they'll both be in danger then! She dreaded and tried to tell Gandalf, but he assured her that with Sam coming along, Frodo would be much happier. He also said it was much safer with more people.

They were quickly on the road, tracking across in hopes to exit Hobbiton. Gandalf left them when they were in a wooded area, only leaving the three of them. Sam, Valina and Frodo continued on their way, but Valina couldn't help but wonder why her heart felt so heavy. It was not as if she hated adventure, infact she enjoyed exploring different places as long as she had companions along- in this case, Sam and Frodo. So why was she feeling like this?

She suddenly realised that it was the exact thing she felt when she was leaving Besaid Island to go on her pilgrimage.

Determination and uncertainty.

Remember to do the poll on my profile, okay? You can also voice out your thoughts through a review, I would really appreciate that. I really hope you're enjoying the chapters so far... Even if it isn't really up to the main part. I'm also starting school tomorrow... Ugh... In three weeks I have exams, so I might not write as quickly.

Thank you for reading this chapter and I hope you have a good day!

-Lolimochi.