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

Italics – Thoughts/Thinking

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Chapter 6: Tom Bombadil and Ana?

Anastasia's POV

I ran through the trees, my paws hitting the ground with a relaxing rhythm and my muscles burning with the familiar pain of excessive exercise. I had been running since I had helped the short men, the hobbits, earlier. It now was well into the night and the moon was high illuminating the world as if it was daylight. I hadn't been running in any particular direction, just making sure to not run into anybody. The hobbits should be gone now, maybe I should see if my pack is there. I really need to get something else to wear since the trees shredded my clothing. Slowly I altered my course to the direction of the monstrous willow tree.

I slowed as I approached the area of the river which held the willow. The burning in my muscles had change to intense pain, which I was steadily ignoring as I listened for the hobbits. The trees creaked in the wind and the river bubble and burbled as it continued down steam. The nocturnal animals were moving about and some of the insects were singing, but other than that, it was silent. There were no hobbits in the area.

Slinking through the rest of the under growth I moved to where I was laying and spotting my pack no too far off. Shifting back into my humanoid form, I approached my pack carefully. No trees grabbed at me or whispered creepy poems to me. No people, hobbits or animals jumped out at me. I grabbed my pack and moved back to the river. I was hungry and dirty; both which were making my mood worsen. I have a high metabolism and no food for over twenty-four hours is not good for me. I'm starved, but smelling of my own blood and dirt is almost enough to make me not want to eat. I stripped out of my black clothing, which were past the point of rescuing, and into the cold river. I moved farther into the river, keeping my sense sharp, and enjoying the time to spend playing in the water.

After washing my body and hair, I spent hours playing in the river listening to the trees creak and groan. Most of the animals in the area were wary of my presence and chose to be silent. I'm an apex predator! King . . . er . . . queen of the forest! I celebrated my freedom dancing nude in the water and on the land, my body drying in the cool morning air as the eastern sky got brighter.

Frodo

'Good morning, merry friends!' cried Tom, opening the eastern window wide. A cool air flowed in; it had a rainy smell. 'Sun won't show her face much today, I'm thinking. I have been walking wide, leaping on the hill-tops, since the grey dawn began, nosing wind and weather, wet grass underfoot, wet sky above me. I wakened Goldberry singing under window; but naught wakes hobbit-folk in the early morning. In the night little folk wake up in the darkness, and sleep after light has come! Ring a ding dillo! Wake now, my merry friends! Forget the nightly noises! Ring a ding dillo del, my hearties! If you come soon you'll find breakfast on the table. If you come late you'll get grass and rain-water!'

Anastasia's POV

It had been days, maybe weeks since my encounter with the small folk and the willow tree. I was enjoying my freedom, doing what I wanted when I wanted. I terrorized the small creatures of the forest with just my presences, in either of my forms, and swam as much as I liked. I was an apex predator (Top of the food chain) and one of the few in the area. I killed larger prey with a crushing bite and smaller prey with a swipe of my paw. Occasionally I would hunt in my humanoid form and use my knives, keeping my skills and reactions sharp.

So far I hadn't met up with the hobbits or the one who was signing, and none or the trees attacked me or spoke to me. There was no civilization in the forest, besides the one house, further telling me I was no longer in the forest around the Thomas estate. The trees are older here and more connected. They have seen much and harbor anger to those not of the forest. I am curious of where I am. Maybe I should find a town and see if I recognize the name. Yes, that is what I shall do. I thought to myself as a paddled my way to shore and towards my pack.

Frodo

At last they set off. They led their ponies down the hill; and then mounting they trotted quickly along the valley. They looked back and saw the top of the mound on the hill, and from it the sunlight on the gold went up like a yellow flame. Then they turned a shoulder of the Downs and it was hidden from view.

Through Frodo looked about him on every side he saw no sign of the great stones standing like a gate, and before long they came to northern gap and rode swiftly through, and the land fell away before them. It was a merry journey with Tom Bombadil trotting gaily beside them, or before them, on Fatty Lumpkin, who could move much faster than his girth promised. Tom sang most of the time, but it was chiefly nonsense, or perhaps a strange language unknown to the hobbits, an ancient language whose words were mainly those of wonder and delight.

Anastasia's POV

The moon was low in the sky and the sun had just recently set as I approached a town with a wooden wall all around it. I could hear people moving about within the safety of the walls, along with many animals. As I sat hidden amongst the tree tops I watch some people knock on the gate then enter after a short conversation. The people were talking too quietly for me to hear them at this distance.

After sitting for a moment, I jumped out of the trees and darted to the wall. Using my momentum, I planted my foot on the slick wood and launched myself up and over the wall, landing in the mud on the other side. I quickly took cover in the depth of the shadows, making sure no one saw or heard me. I sat there for a while watching the people move about unaware of the predator in the shadows.

I slinked through the shadows and alleys staying in the shadows and out of sight as I tried to figure out the name of this place. I settled behind a barrel next to the inn and listened, hoping someone could name this place.

As I sat there in the cold mud; I gathered the names of some of the people and that these cloaked riders were looking for someone named Baggins.

"Who are you?" someone questioned from behind me. Startled I quickly turned around and came face to crotch with a man. Very impressive, you managed to sneak up on me. Well aren't you handsome, I thought as I dragged my eyes up to his shadowed face. A staring contest ensued shortly. Damn, I continued to stare; I must not have been paying attention if you managed to sneak up on me. I really need to be more aware of my surroundings.

"I saw you jump the wall! Who are you?" he questioned angrily, but quietly. He wasn't trying to attract attention to the two of us. A crash and a squawk arose behind me, followed by angry voices arguing. His head snapped up to look at the cause of the noise.

Aragorn's POV

Looking up from the girl at my feet, I realise that there had been an accident on the muddy street of Bree and both parties were blaming each other. The girl, I thought looking down. Where did she go! I frantically looked around, but she was nowhere in sight. Looking back down I noticed something had been wrote into the mud where she was squatting. A-N-A? Ana? She left her name? I thought as my eyes furrowed.

I had managed to sneak up on the girl when she was in the trees. When I got close she jumped out of the tree tops and ran at the wall, quickly disappearing over the top. At first I thought she had become aware of me, but realise she hadn't. She only wanted into Bree. After a moment I decided to follow her. This was hasty of me, but I was curious. She dressed similar to a ranger, but her clothing was unusual, and she moved to quickly and to silently. She was more like an elf, but her rounded ears betrayed that theory. She was also incredible thin; her bones sticking out making her appear frail.

Once over the wooden wall, she was nowhere in sight. After a moment I spotted a shadow disappearing down an alley and followed. Weaving through the shadows I followed until she settled behind a barrel in the alley of the Prancing Pony. I studied her as she studied the people on the street. She could be a foe of the hobbits Gandalf asked me to help, specifically, the one carrying the Ring. She didn't look like an enemy, but looks are deceiving. Wearing both black and natural colours of the forest she would be hard to keep an eye out for.

I approached the girl and startled her. Apparently she wasn't paying attention to her surroundings, which is a mistake; I thought as I disappeared into the outskirts of Bree. I still had hobbits to find.

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

These direct quotes came from the chapter called In the House of Tom Bombadil and Fog on The Barrow-Downs.

Does anyone have a guess to what Anastasia could be?

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 negative comments will be taken in stride.

Thanks!