A.N/ Thank you so much for your amazing reviews/follows/favourites, they mean a lot to us! It is my birthday tomorrow so can I have a birthday present, pretty please? :) MWAHAHA, emotional blackmail... Anyway, in this chapter we join the original lotr storyline so here goes nothing!

Disclaimer: We own nothing :( I tried to get ownership but they declined my offer... Oh well :)

Chapter Fifteen – Déjà Vu

5 YEARS LATER

Seph's POV

I crept silently through the brush, listening intently to the sounds of the forest around me. A small scuffling caught my attention and I pushed aside a bush to reveal a group of three young rabbits. Smiling to myself I reached over my shoulder and slid and arrow from the quiver on my back. Placing the arrow on the string of my bow I pulled it taut. I aimed at the largest rabbit and was about to release when a large noise echoed through the forest. The rabbits shot off into the undergrowth and I placed the arrow back in my quiver with an angry huff.

I strode through the forest in the direction of the sound and was not at all surprised to see Merry and Pippin, standing in the centre of a small glade. Glaring fiercely I continued forward and picked them both up by their collars. Letting out terrified squeaks, they turned their heads and gave me smiles with quivering lips.
"W-Why hello there Seph," Merry managed.
"You scared off the game." They looked at each other wide eyed. After I had obtained my bow from a merchant passing through the village and trained myself to use it, scaring of the game had become a major crime and the two hobbits knew they were in for it.
"RUN!" Pippin yelled, dropping from my grasp and running in the direction of the town centre.
"WAIT FOR ME PIP!" Merry anxiously called after him as he too bolted from the glade. With a sigh I slowly made my way back to Bags-end. After Merry and Pippin have scared the game there is no chance of catching anything.

Opening the door I stomped in with a look fiery enough to make Mordor look cold. Looking up from his book in the smallest green armchair, Frodo gave me a knowing look.
"What did they do this time?" Turning my gaze on him, I caught his smiled. Frodo was one of the few people who could keep their cool when in the same room as an angry me.
"They scared the game." I growled before dropping my bow and quiver on the table and stomping off to Bilbo's study where I grabbed one of the old, long gone hobbits books of elvish literature and plonked myself, in an unladylike manner, on the floor.

My ears pricked as I heard the sound of the door opening, before clicking shut once more.
"I'm back!" I listened as Kels deposited the groceries in the kitchen and made way down the corridor.
"I suppose they scared the game again." I glared up at Kels who was looking down at me with a half-smile through the study door. We had both changed a lot over the past five years. We had both grown (though I was still on the short side) and our features had matured over the years. Kels was pretty in a natural way, not supermodel perfection but she had a special glow about her, an ability to make a person smile in the toughest of situations. Standing up I caught sight of my reflection in the hall mirror. If Kels was the house cat, I was the feral cat. Curly hair that stuck out in various directions after the time spent in the wind and a good tan from spending hours at a time out in the sun. My fingers were calloused from my constant archery practice and I had a pale white scar, barely visible, across my right cheek bone. I had come by it when I found some form of wild beast out in the forest. As a reckless fifteen year old that enjoyed a challenge I thought I could handle it and got a scar when it turned around and batted me in the face. Being who I am I declared it public enemy number one and shot it in the head. Turns out the beast had been eating Farmer Maggot's sheep so no one complained.

"Come on Seph. Let's go and find them." I grinned and clapped her on the shoulder. "But first," she added, looking down at my attire. "Get changed. I don't want another lecture from the Sackvilles about dressing properly." laughing I hurried into my room and swapped my breeches, cotton shirt and leather boots for a more suitable plain green dress before re-joining Kels in the lobby.
"Don't kill them too much." Frodo yelled from the living room as we departed.

Most of our afternoon was spent hunting for the two rascals. They had learnt something from previous incidents; I would come after them so they had to hide. We were ready to give up when my elven ears picked up a hushed whispering from the rafters above us in the mill.
"Is she gonna see us."
"I don't think so Pip." I slowly turned to face Kels who winked at me. She had heard them as well.
"We do not need to see you to hear you." I said loudly and was rewarded with terrified shrieks and two hobbits falling from the high beams in surprise.

That was three hours ago. We now found ourselves back in the green dragon with Pippin and Merry dancing on the table. I was rewarded by a sense of sudden déjà vu. I could not recall hearing this song before but it seemed familiar.
"Hey! Ho! To the bottle I go," sang the two hobbits.
"To heal my heart and drown my woe!
Rain may fall and wind may blow!
But there still be many miles to go!"
"Sweet is the sound of the pouring rain,
And stream that falls from hill to plain!
Better than rain or a rippling brook,
Is a mug of beer inside this Took!" The crowd began to laugh at the last line and I made my way over to Sam's table.

"Been some strange folk crossing the Shire," said one of the hobbits in a low, gruff voice,
"Dwarves and others of a less than savoury nature." I closed my eyes. Where had I heard this from?
"War's bruin'," put in gaffer. "The mountains are teemin' with goblins." My eyes snapped open with a start. The book, the story was beginning.
"Far off tales and children's stories, that's all that is." Added a sandy haired hobbit with a voice that sounded like someone was holding his nose. "You're startin' to sound like that old Bilbo Baggins. Cracked he was."
"Young Mister Frodo here, he's crackin'," grinned gaffer.
"And proud of it. Ain't that right Seph." I chuckled.
"Aye. Truer words were never spoken."
"Cheers gaffer." Frodo passed me a mug of ale and I quickly downed it. I was now legal since My eighteenth birthday had passed by just over a year ago and had turned nineteen about a month ago. Drinking contests were fun in the Shire. Elvish toleration for alcohol made us the life of the party and a sure bet if you wanted to make cash. After another hour the three of us (Kels, Frodo and I) made our way back to Bags-end.

"Something isn't right." I whispered as we opened the door. The house was almost pitch black and it was eerily quiet. I turned to see the cause of a creaking sound and saw that the window was wide open and the wind was causing the curtains to billow and the paper on the table to fly away. Making our way down the corridor slowly we all tried to shake of the shivers that were travelling up our spines and the ominous fog that seemed to shroud the hobbit hole. We stood and looked around in the darkness. Suddenly a hand grabbed Frodo's shoulder and we all turned quickly. I felt my heart rate slow when I saw that it was only Gandalf and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Is it secret?" He whispered. "Is it safe?" Frodo hurried over to a chest in the corner of the room and removed an envelope while Mithrandir continued to jump at the slightest noise. Gandalf immediately grabbed the letter from Frodo's hand and threw it in the fire.
"What the hell?" hissed Kels, a look of shock on her face. Leaning close to her ear I whispered for only her to hear.
"It has begun." She turned to me, looking distraught and nodded. I watched as Gandalf removed the ring (which was obviously the contents of the envelope) from the fire.
"Hold out your hand Frodo." doing as the istari commanded the dark haired hobbit reached out his hand.
"It is quite cool." reassured Gandalf before dropping the ring in his outstretched palm.
"What can you see?" Gandalf asked him, standing up from where he was crouched. "can you see anything?"
"Nothing. There's nothing." Gandalf began to breathe more evenly.
"Um... Sorry to interrupt." Kels said. "But I think Frodo should look again." Gandalf stared at us wide eyed. He looked more scared than a mouse that has been cornered by a cat.
"Wait." Frodo whispered. "There are markings, some form of elvish. I can't read it."
"There are few who can. It is the language of Mordor which I will not utter here."
"Mordor." Frodo managed and took a step back so he was pressed up against Kels and I.
"Yes." I muttered.
"In the common tongue." Gandalf began. "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."

"This is the one ring." I said as we sat down at the table and Gandalf pulled out his pipe.
"Forged by Sauron in the fires of Mount Doom." Added Kelly, both of us stealing Gandalf's lines which caused him to glare at us slightly but a grin made its way onto his face.
"Stop stealing my lines."
"A little humour in a dark time helps the soul."
"Whose words are those?" asked Kels.
"Mine." I sat back in my seat and dozed off a bit as they continued the conversation which I had heard so many times before. I could hear them walking around and Frodo freaking out slightly.
"Seph!" I jolted awake, leapt up and ran to my room to gather my stuff.
"Let's get packing people!" I grabbed my cloak, some spare garments, dried food from the cupboard and filled my water skin, packing it all in my old, much worn, bag from home. Stopping a second I smiled at the memories it brought back and thought for a moment of Di and Fin before chucking my iPod in my bag and turning my mind to more pressing matters. I changed into my elvish hunting gear and grabbed my bow, slinging my quiver over my back and re-joined the others as they discussed our destination.
"Make for Bree." I continued to ignore them as I knew it all already. Gandalf started off about Sauruman and I rolled my eyes.
"Seph."
"What? Oh... Goodbye." Gandalf chuckled and gave me a smile. He handed me a medical pack and I grinned up at him.
"Thanks." I smiled hugging him. "I wish we could have met again under better circumstances."
Suddenly a sound was heard outside the window and Gandalf stepped forward.
"Stupid Samwise." I muttered and Frodo looked up at me and rolled his eyes.
Gandalf reached through the window, dragged Sam in, pinned him to the table and began the interrogation.

"Samwise Gamgee. Have you been eavesdropping?"
"I ain't bin droppin' no eaves sir."
"Mithrandir." He turned his head to me. "Save the questions. He heard it all."
"Please don't turn me into anything unnatural."
"No?" He raised a bushy eyebrow and Frodo, Kels and I grinned. "I have thought of a better use for you." Gandalf sat Sam down and explained our mission (well the bits Sam hadn't overheard) and Frodo helped me pack an extra bag for the chubby hobbit. Walking to the front door I opened it slowly and we all stared at the empty road outside, lit by the midnight stars.
"This is the last time we will see this place for quite a long while." I breathed and turned to look at Gandalf
"I hope you looked after Thor!" He nodded and smiled.
"He will be awaiting you in Bree." I then looked down at Frodo. His face was set in a firm line and I could not help but feel sorry for my little brother, he had no idea of the events to come.
"Let's get this over with." whispered Frodo. And so we took the first steps on our adventure, continuing on as the sun began to peek over the horizon. The journey had just begun.

A.N/ Review? Pretty pretty please? Birthdays are nothing (at least no fun) without presents :)