A/N: Thank you to everyone that reviewed! I'm so sorry that we didn't update sooner but we were flooded in a sudden tidal wave of homework. I promise that we will update sooner this time and you all have the right to kill us if we don't. I would like to get at least five more reviews on this chapter if possible, it means the world to us! Constructive criticism is also welcome.

Disclaimer: Me no own, you no sue...

Chapter Seventeen – An Obsession with Lilies

Seph's POV

We arrived at the other side of the river when the first rays of morning sunlight where just touching the sky, turning it to gold. Making our way down a small path we came to a wall. The path split off in two different directions but Merry went forwards to the wall and pushed aside a bush, revealing a hole.
"Through we go!" exclaimed Merry. "Unless you're 'avin' second thoughts of course!"
This appears to be a book and film medley. We met Pippin and Merry like the film but we're going through the old forest, like the book. Oh well, if we are...
"Seph!" I looked up and frowned.
"You disturbed my internal monologue!" Kels snorted in 'friendly' derision and I frowned even more.
Picking my pack up from the floor I strode through the gap in the wall, closely followed by Kels and the hobbits.
"Are the stories about this place true?" asked Pippin.
"I don't know what stories you mean," Merry answered. "If you mean the old bogey-stories that Gaffer used to tell us, about Goblins and wolves and things of that sort, I should say no. At any rate I don't believe them. But the forest is queer..."
"Merry you're freaking him out!" Kels exclaimed.
"Merry was just trying to say that the trees are aware of everything around them, more so than other trees," I explained to Pippin who nodded before complaining about the lack of breakfast.
"What I wouldn't do for some nice takeaway scrambled eggs right now," he muttered to himself, kicking a stone to amuse himself.
"We need to head for Bonfire glade," Frodo explained. "After that there is a fairly easy path all the way to Bree, we just need to follow this track."
After about half an hour more of walking Kels began to whistle and came up with her own little tune.
"When the trees move, dun du dun dun,
You're gonna get lost, doo doo doo doo."
"Kels!" I turned to look at her and glared savagely, she returned a grin and shrugged. We constantly had to change paths as the trees appeared to move and block the way. Pippin finally had enough and began to yell curses, running around in a circle. Putting a hand out to stop him I gave him the serious look.
"That's just making it worse Pip." Which indeed it was. More trees moved to bar our way and we had to walk further to get around them. Merry suddenly gave a whistle of relief and pointed ahead.
"Well, well!" he said. "These trees do shift. There is the Bonfire Glade in front of us (or I hope so), but the path to it seems to have moved away!" The light grew clearer as we went forward. Suddenly we came out of the trees into a wide glade, the sun was higher in the sky than I had anticipated, I had clearly underestimated the amount of time we had been walking in that god forsaken forest. A clear path was open on the other side and we continued, lighter hearted. Soon however the air became hot and stuffy and the trees appeared to be closing in again. It was deathly silent and all that could be heard was the loud footsteps and breathing of the hobbits, mostly Sam. Our feet of course were completely silent, a great perk of being an elf. Trying to lighten the mood I began to sing the song that Kels had been humming yesterday. However I sang the version that Kels and I had created after doing the show as our end of year play.
"We're off to see the wizard! The wonderful wizard in grey!
His clothes are grey, his hair is grey and even his mood is grey!" I sang with vigour and Kels joined in.
"If ever a wizard in grey there was, the wizard in grey is one because, because, because, because, because, BECAUSE! Because of the wonderful things he does! (while wearing grey clothes of course) Yes we are off to see the wizard! The wonderful wizard in grey!" We chuckled but soon our sounds once again faded to silence. Just behind us a large branch fell from an overhanging tree with a crash on the path and the trees inched closer.
"I should not sing any more at present." said Merry. "Wait till we do get to the edge, and then we'll turn and give them a rousing chorus." Kels chuckled and nodded, the others did not answer. We were all feeling pretty depressed and Frodo was beginning to think that coming this way was a bad idea.

Later that day we climbed to the top of a small hill.
"That is the line of the Withywindle." explained Merry, pointing. "We don't want to go that way! The Withywindle valley is said to be the queerest part of the woods - the centre from which all the queerness comes, as it were."
"We are totally, completely and absolutely lost." I muttered half-heartedly, ruffling Sam's hair.
"No we aren't!" exclaimed Pippin. "We are going to follow the north path!"
"It's no use." I cursed the ground. "The damn trees don't care where WE want to go, only where they want us to go." Kicking a stone I followed the others down the path. We had not followed it far when the hobbits noticed that the path was turning to the right. Not much time after that the path began to quickly descend.
"We appear to be heading for Withywindle," commented Frodo. "Not at all the desired direction." After several discussions in which I played no part, we headed north. The land beneath our feet was constantly changing and the hobbits soon lost all sense of direction.
"The path is already chosen," I whispered. I smiled down at Frodo who was looking up at me for encouragement. "The path leads to no," (serious) I added mentally, "harm. We might as well follow."

The afternoon wore on as we continued our journey, downwards. The brook beside us grew strong and noisy and we followed it through a dim lit gulley, we quite suddenly found ourselves out of the gloom. The bank loomed behind us and in front was a wide space covered in grass and reeds. In the centre of it wound a beautiful river, bordered with ancient willow trees.
"Dangerous trees," muttered Kels and I nodded my head in agreement.
"Well, now at least I have some notion of where we are!" said Merry. "We have come almost in the opposite direction to which we intended. It's the River Withywindle!"
"Ten points for the astute observation," I muttered as the hobbits ran off. We followed a small path on the edge of the river until Merry almost collapsed.
"It's no good!" Merry exclaimed. "Can't go another step without rest. Must have a nap. It's cool under the willows," Frodo complained and I backed slowly away from said trees until I was some distance away. I watched curiously as, one by one, the hobbits and Kels drifted off to sleep under the willow. I watched dazed as a tree root threw Frodo into the water, at which Sam woke up and dragged him out. The argued slightly before turning to me.
"What are you doing over there in the heat Seph?" called Frodo.
"Two things!" I yelled back. "One! I come from Greece Frodo! I do not mind this weather. And two! I am staying away from that dangerous tree which threw Frodo into the water and has just swallowed Merry, Pippin and Kels!" Suddenly realising what I had just said I leapt up and ran over to the tree, dragging Kels out of the crack, her lower legs were in it but the rest of her was out. Pippin and Merry had disappeared completely.
"Try a fire!" yelled Sam as he and Frodo tried to get the other two out. I was splashing water on Kels face. She was still rather dazed, wouldn't you be after being swallowed by a tree? I heard Merry scream and I stomped out the fire that Frodo had started.
"That tree will squeeze them in two if you do that!" Frodo, who was at a complete loss, began to run along the path screaming for aid. Suddenly a loud low voice could be heard singing.

"Hey dol! Merry dol! Ring a dong dillo!
Ring a dong! Hop along! Fal lal the willow!
Tom Bom, jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!"

Sam and Frodo froze, not quite sure what to make of this new voice. Then of course the voice started up again.

"Hey! Come Merry dol! Derry dol! My darling!
Light goes the weather-wind and the feathered starling.
Down along under Hill, shining in the sunlight,
Waiting on the doorstep for the cold starlight,
There my pretty lady is, River-woman's daughter,
Slender as the willow-wand, clearer than the water,
Old Tom Bombadil water-lilies bringing,
Comes hopping home again. Can you hear him singing?
Hey! Come merry dol! Derry dol! And merry-o,
Goldberry, Goldberry, merry yellow berry-o!
Poor old Willow-man, you tuck your roots away!
Tom's in a hurry now. Evening will follow day.
Tom's going home again, water lilies bringing.
Hey! Come merry dol! Can you hear me singing?"

Then, hopping and dancing along the path came a man, taller than the hobbits definitely, but shorter than even me (I'm 5 3', no laughing! Being an elf didn't seem to change my height, or more accurately the lack of it) so he wasn't your average man. He was wearing an old, battered hat with a tall crown and a long blue feather stuck in the band. He had a blue coat and a long brown beard, his eyes were blue and bright, and his face as red as a ripe apple but creased with laughter. In his hand was a leaf covered in white lilies.
"Help!" yelled Frodo and Sam running towards him.
"Whoa! Whoa! Steady there!" said the man and both hobbits stopped short like an invisible wall was stopping them going any further.
"Why hello there Tom!" Kels exclaimed walking to the hobbits. "Our two friends are stuck in the willow tree! Could you help!"
"What?" shouted Tom Bombadil, leaping into the air. "Old man Willow? Nought worse than that eh? That can soon be mended. I know the tune for him. Worry not halflings and the blessed children of Manwe." Setting the lilies down he skipped up to the willow and began to sing. Merry began to kick and Tom hit the tree with a fallen branch. Tom continued his shouting but I was too stunned to listen.
'The blessed children of Manwe.'
That is what he had called us. We ourselves had named us the blessed 'Beni' but 'Children of Manwe' -that was new…
Suddenly there was a tearing creak, Pippin and Merry leapt from the newly formed cracks in the tree like they had been kicked.
"Thank you!" we all exclaimed.

Tom chuckled and looked at our faces one by one. "Well my little fellows and children of Manwe, you shall come home with me! The table is all laden with yellow cream, honeycomb and white bread and butter; Goldberry is waiting! Time enough for questions around the supper table." He said, looking at me. With that, he picked up the lilies and began to skip off. Hoisting a still dazed Pippin up onto my back we followed after him as fast as we could. However he slowly got further and further away until even his music disappeared. Just then, Tom's voice suddenly sang out once more.

"Hop along, my little friends, up the Withywindle!
Tom's going on ahead candles for the kindle.
Down west sinks the Sun: soon you will be groping.
When the night-shadows fall, then the door will open,
Out of the window-panes light will twinkle yellow.
Fear no alder black! Heed no hoary willow!
Fear neither root nor bough! Tom goes on before you.
Hey now! Merry dol! We'll be waiting for you!"

"And it's getting bloody dark!" I sang - and in truth it was. As soon as his song had finished the sun had sunk down behind the trees. The hobbits began to stumble (all except Pip who of course was on my back) and Kels and I grabbed their arms. We could still see fine. We were all very tired and our legs became lead blocks, strange noises sounded in the undergrowth and the trees around us looked like gnarled faces. Just as we were all about to collapse from weariness, the trees came to an end and the mist disappeared. The river, now smaller and swifter, leapt to meet our feet (especially Merry's) and the stars shone like flashlights in the sky.
The grass under our feet was short and smooth as if it had been cut recently. The trees were clipped and the path was now plain before us, well-tended with stone borders. it wound up a grassy hill which shone silver in the starlight until, at the top, it reached a house, twinkling lights in the windows. We quickly hurried up the path towards the light. Suddenly, a yellow beam flowed out brightly from the door as it opened. There was the house of Tom Bombadil. We picked up pace, half of our exhaustion and fears had already fallen from our shoulders and the songs of Tom floated through the door. Then another clear voice, sweet and beautiful, flowed out to meet us as we neared the door and stepped into the threshold.

We found ourselves in a long room with lamps swinging from the rafters. In a chair at the other end of the room sat a woman, her golden hair her waving down her back. she wore a green dress with a golden belt shaped like water-lilies.
"Enter good guests!" she said and we all took another shaky step forward as I lowered Pippin to the floor where he wobbled for a moment. Before we could say anything she bounced up and ran laughing towards us.
"Come dear folk!" she exclaimed taking Frodo's hand. "Laugh and be merry! I am Goldberry, daughter of the River." She then leapt past us. "Let us shut out the night!" she said. "For you are still afraid, perhaps, of mist and tree-shadows and deep water, and untamed things. Fear nothing! For tonight you are under the roof of Tom Bombadil."
"Fair lady Goldberry!" Frodo said. "Now I understand the joy that was hidden in the songs we heard." and he began to sing one of Bombadil's songs. Suddenly he stopped, surprised that he had sung it and Goldberry laughed sweetly. Ignoring their conversation I looked around. A small fire was crackling away merrily in the fire place and there were white lilies in many a place. On the mantelpiece, in a vase, in a bowl of water on the table...
Well someone is obsessed with lilies.

The hobbits and Kels took their places in the low reed chairs around the table as Goldberry busied herself with preparations.
"I see you have noticed my love of lilies, daughter of Manwe." Goldberry smiled as she skipped past. "You are quite the lily yourself." I snorted slightly and shook my head.
"If you mean a lily that has been scarred by passing animals and wilted by the sun then yes, I am a lily." Goldberry began to giggle.
"That is not what I meant at all. You are very beautiful! So is your friend."
"You are much mistaken milady."
"No, I don't believe I am. Your face is fair and your soul is fairer. You would not have been chosen if that was not so."
"Chosen for what?" but she had already skipped away. I turned to Kels who shrugged.
'I don't know' she mouthed and I sighed, taking my place next to Pippin.
"I think your beautiful!" said Pip. "You are very beautiful, just as beautiful as Goldberry. Both of you are and you are fun as well which is even better." I giggled and ruffled his hair.
"Whatever ya say Pip."
"It's true!" said Sam going beet red.
"Yeah!" exclaimed Merry. "You are beautiful." I rolled my eyes and so did Kels.
"Thanks for the compliments guys." She said with a smile. Frodo turned and began to speak with Goldberry who was staring at me with a knowing smile the whole time. A door opened and in came Tom. He had a conversation with Goldberry but I spent my time inspecting my skin which had somehow become dirty and horrible. Suddenly Tom began to speak very loudly and I looked up to see what was happening.

"Tom, Tom! Your guests are tired and you had near forgotten!" he exclaimed, chiding himself. "Come now, my merry friends, and Tom will refresh you! You shall clean grimy hands, and wash weary faces; cast off your muddy cloaks and comb out your tangles!" I sighed in relief and stood up, following him down a short passage. He then directed the hobbits to the left room, and Kels and I to the right. We entered a low room with a sloping roof with walls of clean stone and a flagstone floor. There were two beds with thick, comfortable mattresses (some type of memory foam) and there were blankets piled on the floor, to the side. Against the other wall were basins filled with water, some hot and some cold, and we wasted no time in stripping down to our undergarments so we could scrub ourselves. I could almost feel the dirt sliding off of my body as I washed and my skin seemed newly revitalised. I applied a moisturiser to my skin, which had been left on the side, and scrubbed vigorously through my hair with another lotion which they had kindly labelled 'for hair'. I looked to my right to see Kels doing the same. After drying our bodies off we both slid into the beds and had a quiet nap. When we awoke I saw that two dresses had mysteriously appeared on one of the beds. Grabbing the silver dress I slid it down over my head. It had a sweetheart neckline, trimmed with midnight blue ribbon and flared at the waist. The sleeves were long, flaring at the elbow and continuing on a bit past my fingers. I turned to see that Kels was wearing a similar dress but with a square neckline and the fabric of the dress was gold. She twirled slightly and the skirt billowed out.

Making our way back down the hall we entered the dining room to see that the hobbits were already there. There was a collective gasp and I looked around trying to see what the problem was. Frodo laughed and led us to our seats.
"You two look beautiful." I looked over at Kels and she looked at me. Her skin seemed to almost glow from the inside and her brown eyes seemed slightly golden. Even her hair looked like liquid chocolate, running smoothly down her back. If I had said that she didn't look like a supermodel earlier then I took it back now. I looked to my own reflection in the mirror and stared. That couldn't be me. My skin appeared to be glowing as well and my hair looked more golden than caramel in the light of the lamps. My normally murky blue eyes were crystal clear and had taken on an almost turquoise sheen.
"What was in that lotion?" I said, turning slowly to Goldberry who giggled.
"Lilies." I raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
"Other natural ingredients." She said, eyes twinkling. Rolling my eyes I turned to Sam.
"Pass the honeycomb please!"

Dinner was a long and merry meal, despite the fact that the hobbits ate like only a hobbit that had missed five out of seven meals that day could eat, there was never a lack of food. The drink appeared to be water yet it gave the joy of wine and soon we were all singing merrily.
"There's a little ditty, they're singing in the city,
Especially when they've been on the gin or the beer." I began to sing.
"If you've got the patience, your own imaginations,
Will tell you just exactly what you want to hear.
Oom pah pah, Oom pah pah, that's how it goes,
Oom pah pah, Oom pah pah, everyone knows,
They all suppose what they wanna suppose,
when they hear Oom pah pah."
This continued until, at last, Tom and Goldberry rose and cleared up the table. We were all told to stay quiet as we were placed in large armchairs with footstools for our legs in front of the fire. All of the lamps were put out except one and a pair of candles on the mantelpiece. Goldberry glided across, holding a candle and smiled, wishing us each a good rest. She turned to leave but I reached out a hand to stop her.
"Milady." she turned back and smiled gently.
"Yes?"
"You call us daughters of Manwe and you say we are chosen. What do you mean?"
placing her candle on the table beside me she knelt down.
"You have always thought your coming here was a mistake but I tell you now that it was not. You are the children of Manwe and you were chosen to come here. All that has happened has come pass for a reason though it may not be clear just yet."
"Do I have super powers then?" I asked wearily.
"I know not what 'super powers' are but you will find everything out in good time. You have a part to play in this. A part that even I cannot comprehend." Kissing my forehead she stood up. "Sleep well," and with that she turned and left. Kels turned to me and smiled.
"Well that was an awful lot to take in."

I grinned back and closed my eyes.

"Did you hear me calling or was it just chance that brought you at the moment?" I heard Frodo ask Tom who had remained in the room.
"Eh, what?" he replied and I giggled under my breath. "Did I hear you calling? Nay, I did not hear: I was busy singing. But I would not call it chance, as the lovely Goldberry said, everything happens for a reason." Tom sang another little song and I opened my eyes slightly to see his silhouette outlined by the fire.
"Tell us," Frodo said. "about the Willow-man. What is he? I have never heard of him before."
"No, don't!" exclaimed Merry and Pippin simultaneously. "Not now! Not until morning." I nodded my head in agreement. Tom led us back to our room I snuggled into my bed. Down pillows and blankets of white wool.
"Worry not daughter of Manwe," I heard Tom murmur from the door as I drifted off. "No nightmare shall haunt you here."

Waking suddenly in the middle of the night I looked to see what the disturbance was. Pippin stood at my bedside wide eyed.
"I-I-I dreamt that willow had me!" I smiled and let him in under the covers.
"Now, now little brother. T'was only a dream. Remember that nothing bad will get in here." He nodded and soon he fell back asleep, breathing deeply. Kels got up from her bed.
"I'm going to check on the other three," she whispered as she slipped from the room. Closing my eyes and laying back down, I rolled over so I was facing the wall. The slow rhythm of Pippin's breathing lulled me back to sleep. I lost consciousness before Kels returned.

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P.S. would you like us to make the chapters longer or are they a good size?