Well, I wasn't planning on writing any more to this story, but then I got a request to do so, so I thought, what the heck. I'll try it. And it's rather fun! :D So I'm continuing it so that Merlin goes and travels to the Shire, and we'll see what happens after that! Enjoy!

THWAP!

Merlin's eyes scrunched as he tried to ignore the pain that that particularly large branch had caused as it flung itself out of his grasp to slap his upper arm - hard. He doggedly continued forward, pushing his way through the ever-thickening branches, his mouth a thin line of determination. His brief chat with the Great Dragon did little more for him than the small entry in his magic book; it bad only brought him MORE questions. So now he was tramping through this forest who-knows-where, following the trail that appeared golden on the ground when he uttered a few words.

But wait! Just like that, his trail disappeared, about five meters in front of him. Not a trace remained; it cut off abruptly, as if someone had cut it with a sword. He knew, though, he could feel, that it was not truly gone. That left him two options; go forward, or go back. He took a steeling breath and pushed on.

One and a half feet from where the golden trail left off, his hand met resistance and he immediately pulled it back, pressing it against his chest as he peered forward. He saw absolutely nothing out of the ordinary, yet when he reached back out, it was still there. Slowly, carefully, he put both of his palms against the force. He pressed experimentally, adding more and more pressure. Before long, Merlin yelped and jumped back, pulling his left hand out of...whatever it was that had begun sucking it in. He held his hand up in front of his face, looking at it thoroughly to ensure it was still intact.

Hmm, he thought. His hand was perfectly fine. Which can only mean... he stopped, looking up with new wonder at the semingly empty space ahead of him. Again, he reached out, pushing through the invisible barrier before pulling his whole hand back and examining it. Nothing seems to be happening... Only one way to be sure. Merlin knew now that he was supposed to go through. Taking another deep breath, he walked forward, as confidently as he could. The foreign pressure pushed against his whole body before suddenly vanishing as he continued walking, tendrils of the force snaking away off his shoulders.

He opened his eyes, unaware until now that he had closed them at all. Immediately they went wide, for instead of a dark, dense forest, the sight that greeted Merlin was that of a blue sky and a bright sun illuminating a green, grassy field. The field was rolling with hills, each dotted with brightly colored doors and windows, each door perfectly circular with a shining doorknob in the exact center. Bright flowers grew everywhere, near walkways, on walkways, in gardens, even on the roofs of the little houses. Merlin stood, mouth agape, taking in everything. Then, calm as anything, a litte being appeared, casually strolling down the small road. He had a pipe with an extremely long stem clamped firmly in his mouth, his thumbs hooked on the waist-pockets of the red waistcoat he wore over his white, billow-sleeved shirt. In the last buttonhole of the waistcoat was looped a delicate golden chain, attached to what, Merlin could not guess. His hair was dark and curly, though not unkempt, but it was none of these characteristics that held Merlin's attention long. Instead, it was his disproportionally large, hairy, bare feet and the fact that this creature could not be more than three and a half feet tall that made him stop and stare. Even more than he already was, that is.

The hobbit, for that was the only thing it could be, would have passed Merlin without having ever seeing him if Merlin had not moved at that time. It was only a small movement, the shifting of a foot, but it was enough to break whatever enchantment had rendered him invisible. The hobbit yelped in surprise and jumped two feet into the air, staring straight at Merlin. Merlin did the only thing he could think of. He flashed the hobbit a smile and said, "Hi."

The hobbit bolted.

Alright. So, short, I know, but what did you think? The next bit is going to be a shift in PoV, to the Hobbit's point of view! Exciting! Who's the hobbit? Is he someone we know? Is he an original character? oooooo... :P

Until the next chapter!

~Mirnava