The protagonist (Anastasia) and plot are the only part of this which belongs to me. Everything else belongs to their respective owners; namely J.R.R. Tolkien.

Italics - Thinking

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Chapter 1: Shrilling Phones and Spotted Toads

Middle-Earth, Shire, Bag End

There was a long silence. Gandalf sat down again and puffed at his pipe, as if lost in thought. His eyes seemed closed, but under the lids he was watching Frodo intently. Frodo gazed fixedly at the red embers on the hearth, until they filled all his vision and he seemed to be looking down into profound wells of fire. He was thinking of the fabled Cracks of Doom and the terror of the Fiery Mountain.

'Well!' said Gandalf at last. 'What are you thinking about? Have you decided what to do?'

'No!' answered Frodo, coming back to himself out of darkness, and finding to his surprise that it was not dark, and that out of the window he could see the sunlit garden. 'Or perhaps, yes. As far as I understand what you have said, I suppose I must keep the Ring and guard it, at least for the present, whatever it may do to me.'

'Whatever in may do, it will be slow, slow to evil, if you keep it with that purpose,' said Gandalf.

'I hope so,' said Frodo. 'But I hope that you may find some other better keeper soon. But in the meanwhile it seems that I am a danger, a danger to all that live near me. I cannot keep the Ring and stay here. I ought to leave Bag End, leave the Shire, leave everything and go away.' He sighed.

'I should like to save the Shire, if I could – though there have been times when I thought the inhabitants too stupid or dull for words, and have felt that an earthquake or an invasion of dragons might be good for them. But I don't feel like that now. I feel that as long as the Shire lies behind, safe and comfortable, I shall find wandering more bearable: I shall know that somewhere there is a firm foothold, even if my feet cannot stand there again.

'Of course, I have sometimes thought of going away, but I imagine that as a kind of holiday, a series of adventures like Bilbo's or better, ending in peace. But this would mean exile, a flight from danger into danger, drawing it after me, I suppose I must go alone, if I am to do that and save the Shire. But I feel very small, and very uprooted, and well – desperate. The Enemy is so strong and terrible.'1

Protagonist's POV

Again they're arguing. My foster parents, all they do is argue. I could fall off the face of the planet and they wouldn't notice because they're too busy arguing. Even when they are apart, they're on the phone arguing. I use that word too much. Quarrelling, disagreeing, at each other's throats. Those are acceptable synonyms. My foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, currently on the front porch of the house, can be easily heard by any species with a good sense of hearing. I'm situated across the rolling field, which they call their backyard, in one of the trees on the fringe of the forest. If it weren't for being non-human I wouldn't be able to hear them. Sometimes having super hearing, at least compared to that of a human, can be a bad. Although I do know when it isn't a good time to return to my new state proclaimed 'home.' How's that for a silver lining?

As if any family or building I'm place with could ever be called home. I've been here for a few months and, I've learned it's never a good thing to go near either Thomas after an dispute. That is just asking to get one's head bit off.

Middle-Earth, Shire, Bag End

He did not tell Gandalf, but as he was speaking a great desire to follow Bilbo flamed up in his heart – to follow Bilbo, and even perhaps find him again. It was so strong that it overcame his fear: he could almost have run out there and then down the road without his hat, as Bilbo had done on a similar morning long ago.

'My dear Frodo!' exclaimed Gandalf. 'Hobbits really are amazing creatures, as I have said before. 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 at a pinch. I hardly expected to get such an answer, not even from you. But Bilbo made no mistake in choosing his heir, though he little thought how important it would prove. I am afraid you are right. The Ring will not be able to stay hidden in the Shire much longer; and for your own sake, as well as for the others, you will have to go, and leave the name Baggins behind you. That name will not be safe to have, outside the Shire on in the Wild. I will give you a travelling name now. When you go, go as Mr. Underhill.

'But I don't think you need go alone. Not if you know of anyone you can trust, and who would be willing to go by your side – and that you would be willing to take into unknown perils. But if you look for a companion, be careful in choosing! The enemy has many spies and many ways of hearing.'1

Protagonist's POV

"Anastasia!" rang out across the field, losing volume as it progressed.

Middle-Earth, Shire, Bag End

Suddenly he stopped as if listening. Frodo became aware that all was very quiet, inside and outside. Gandalf crept to one side of the window. Then with a dart he sprang to the sill, and thrust a long arm out and downwards. There was a squawk, and up came Sam Gamgee's curly head hauled by one ear.

'Well, well, bless my beard!' said Gandalf. 'Sam Gamgee is it? Now what may you be doing?'

'Lor bless you, Mr. Gandalf, sir!' said Sam. 'Nothing! Leastways I was just trimming the grass-border under the window, if you follow me.' He picked up his shears and exhibited them as evidence.

'I don't,' said Gandalf grimly. 'It is some time since I last heard the sound of your shears. How long have you been eavesdropping?'

'Eavesdropping, sir? I don't follow you, begging your pardon. There ain't no eaves at Bag End, and that's a fact.'

'Don't be a fool! What have you heard, and why did you listen?' Gandalf's eyes flashed and his brows stuck out like bristles.

'Mr. Frodo, sir!' cried Sam quaking. 'Don't let him hurt me, sir! Don't let him turn me into anything unnatural! My old dad would take on so. I meant no harm, on my honour, sir!'

He won't hurt you,' said Frodo, hardly able to keep from laughing, although he was himself startled and rather puzzled. 'He knows, as well as I do, that you meant no harm. But just you up and answer his questions straight away!'

'Well, sir,' said Sam dithering a little. 'I heard a deal that I didn't rightly understand, about an enemy, and rings, and Mr. Bilbo, sir, and dragons, and a fiery mountain, and – and Elves, sir. I listened because I couldn't help myself, if you know what I mean. Lor bless me, sir, but I do love tales of that sort. And I believe them too, whatever Ted may say. Elves, sir! I would dearly love to see them. Couldn't you take me to see Elves, sir, when you go?'

Suddenly Gandalf laughed. 'Come inside!' he shouted, and putting out both his arms he lifted the astonished Sam, shears, grass-clippings and all, right through the window and stood him on the floor. 'Take you to see Elves, eh? He said, eyeing Sam closely, but with a smile flickering on his face. 'So you heard that Mr. Frodo is going away?'

'I did, sir. And that's why I choked: which you heard seemingly. I tried not to, sir, but it burst out of me: I was so upset.'

'It can't be helped, Sam,' said Frodo sadly. He had suddenly realized that flying from the Shire would mean more painful partings than merely saying farewell to the familiar comforts of Bag End. 'I shall have to go. But' – and here he looked hard at Sam – 'if you really care about me, you will keep that dead secret. See? If you don't, if you even breathe a word of what you've heard here, then I hope Gandalf will turn you into a spotted toad and fill the garden full of grass-snakes.'1

Anastasia's POV

Sharply my head snapped up at the sound of my name and out of the book I chose to lose myself in. Now focused on my surroundings I can hear the phone in Mr. Thomas's work shed shrilling loudly, awful inventions which need a lower pitch and a new sound, and the approach of a car as it turns onto the gravel driveway of the Thomas estate.

"Come here, Anastasia! We have company!" Mrs. Thomas calls from her location on the front porch. Huh, she hasn't moved. Oh no, she must have been expecting this company and was waiting. Quickly I dart across the field, moving too quickly to be human, and into the old farm house through an open window. Soundlessly I slink upstairs avoiding all the floorboards which creak, I'm not supposed to be out of my room and outside enjoying the warm day. I checked to make sure Mrs. Thomas wasn't looking in the screened front door, and since she is not, I dart up the stairs and out of sight.

After setting the book on the bed lent to me by the Thomas's, it's not my bed and never will be, I walk down stairs at a normal human speed; making sure to step on the creaking floorboard announcing that I'm leaving my room.

Middle-Earth, Shire, Bag End

Sam fell on his knees, trembling. 'Get up, Sam!' said Gandalf. 'I have thought of something better than that. Something to shut your mouth, and punish you properly for listening. You shall go away with Mr. Frodo!'

'Me, sir!' cried Sam, springing up like a dog invited for a walk. 'Me go and see Elves and all! Hooray!' he shouted, and then burst into tears.1

1 Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. London: Allen & Unwin, 1954. Print.

This is near the end of the chapter The Shadow of the Past and is a direct quote from the book.

The page number comes from a black, soft cover version and will not be the same for every copy.

I would appreciate comments and criticism with suggestions for improvement. Any reviews will likely keep the story going and me writing. All reviews will be considered in future and past chapters, and all criticism will be well-thought-out. All negative comments will be taken in stride.

Thanks!