Okay, I think we are past the slow, but chaotic, chapters. However, the chaos hasn't ended yet. Rest assured there will always be chaos with this group of heroes, as well as villains. Anyway, I'm sure you are as excited as I am about finishing up Part I, in this story, and moving on to Part II. I have waited a long time to begin this journey and, with it about to start, I am baffled on what will happen next. Of course, I cannot determine what goes on in this story, anymore than you the readers. Quite literally, the characters took over most of this story. I was just the writer jotting everything down. Somehow, I have come around with very few rewrites, after the first three chapters, which is a relief.

Due to the fact that I was stuck after Chapter 17 on ideas, I had help from ValueMyHeart and Silvered Anna, who both gave me ideas that helped generate more ideas for possible scenarios, coming up to the final revision that you can read after these notes.

The track "Celtic Monk", composed by Gast Waltzing, is played during Frodo's hard days of training. The theme for the broken short sword – when you reach that part in this chapter – is "Song From Secret Garden", composed by Secret Garden.

Chapter Eighteen:

Preparations

The next two weeks were grueling. Every morning, minutes before dawn broke the horizon, Frodo was sent to the training grounds – a grassy green field with tall, dark wood walls, surrounded by the edges of the field – to practice with a bow, arrows in a trainer's quiver, and ranged targets that stood inanimate on wood posts. There, he found Susan, who was ready to instruct him on proper methods of archery. This part of Frodo's training was tough, as he hadn't learned how to use a bow or arrows, when he was at Middle-earth.

After two hours of archery training, Frodo was left alone to rest, wash, and eat whatever food Remy cooked that morning. At one in the afternoon, during those two weeks of training, Frodo was sent to the underground tunnels, where he met Jack Sparrow in a wide stone room. Most of the room was covered with a deep pool of water, but along the edges, where he and Jack stood, the water was shallow. Here, Jack Sparrow taught Frodo how to swim, which was a tough feat to accomplish. These swimming sessions occurred every other day, as did Frodo's sword training with Edmund and Harry, who had improved in his ability to wield a sword.

Almost every evening, after dinner, Frodo met with Anakin Skywalker inside his large tent, where the hobbit trained his mind against trancelike spells. These mind defensive sessions weren't easy, and Frodo nearly failed, in the first week of this training, to block Anakin out of his mind. Anakin pressed Frodo hard to practice, but Frodo knew there was something wrong with the Jedi. There had to be something about Anakin's past that he was keeping secret; however, Anakin kept tight-lipped when Frodo started asking questions that, in turn, received very few answers.

Either way, Frodo knew his training would continue, long after he left the Evenshire Camp.

Frodo wandered through the underground tunnels and rooms, during his spare time. He knew he didn't have much time to himself, so he used some of this time to his advantage. During his wandering, Frodo stumbled across a stone antechamber that was lit by torches. Towards the centermost part of the room stood a statue of a woman with wavy hair, a fair face, and holding a stone basin. Nestled on the basin, lying on a silvery-blue blanket, was a short sword with its blade broken. The shards were placed neatly next to each other.

When Frodo approached the statue and the basin, he stared at the broken short sword for a long time. He was surprised to see all five pieces of the sword's blade. In spite of having a flashback of Aragorn's sword Andúril, when it was in this condition, Frodo noticed three scripts engraved on the sword's blade and the hilt's crossguard. The top script was written in Middle-earth dwarfish, the large middle script was in Middle-earth elvish, but the bottom script was in a language Frodo did not recognize. As he picked up the hilt, which still had the bottom blade fixed to the crossguard, as well as the grip and pommel, he noticed how much lighter it was compared to his short sword Sting. He wondered how strong the sword…

"I have seen many swords. Andúril, once called Narsil, is a powerful sword that could even keep a dead army in line," explained Aslan, entering the stone antechamber.

Placing the hilt back, carefully, on the blanket, Frodo asked, "Do you know the name of this sword?"

Aslan nodded. "The name the short sword was given, before it was broken by the witch Maleficent, was Seeker. I am certain, after the sword is re-forged, it will receive another name."

Curious, Frodo asked, "Aslan, do you think I would be worthy to… wield this sword?"

Aslan paused. "Maybe, but first you need to prove you can handle the villains. You have made progress, but your need for healing is stronger." He added, "I knew a Halfling once. He used this sword against Maleficent and failed. I hope you can succeed where the hobbit lost. For now, be grateful you do not have to face her."

"I know, but… Aslan?" asked Frodo, stunned to see the Lion leave the antechamber. Returning his gaze to the broken sword, Frodo asked the weapon, "Seeker. That was your name. I wonder what your purpose is against a villainess." He silently left the antechamber. As he left, he heard elves singing about Gandalf.

By the end of Frodo's fourth week at the Evenshire Camp, Aslan called the hobbit and the six heroes, accompanying Frodo on his quest, inside his tent for a final meeting. The Lion figured he would need to speak with all seven heroes, before the middle of July, about the impending dangers that awaited them, and the worlds that needed support from the heroes. In spite of various disputes, most of them given by Jack Sparrow, Aslan had the final say.

"Enough!" shouted Aslan, silencing the group. Calming down, he told them in unison, "I will not see you all debate over past issues, tearing apart this group before you have begun your quest." He then said, "Now, there is a small village, past the Silent Forest and not far from the Merswold Camp, where you can gather fresh supplies, food, water, and take shelter. Once you have decided on a course to take to the Merswold Camp, return to the Evenshire Camp with your findings."

"When do we leave?" asked Frodo, curious.

"The villains are growing restless and more wickedness is headed this way, straight into the heart of the Silent Forest. I suggest you all leave as soon as you are ready. You may not have another chance, once you leave the Camp," explained Aslan, gravely.

"How far is this village? What is its name?" asked Edmund.

Aslan answered, "The village is called Prevale, run by both Halflings and animals. They made an agreement a few years ago, which should guarantee you safe passage through the village."

Edmund said, sarcastically, "What a surprise."

"What happens if the animals at Prevale are angered? Do they work with the crazed animals?" asked Harry, keeping his concerned gaze on the Lion.

"Yes," answered Aslan, "as long as you avoid conversations with the animals, they shouldn't become suspicious. I heard Amor has friends and family in the village of Prevale."

Edmund grunted, "That helps."

"That is all I will say of Prevale." Aslan changed the subject. He faced the seven heroes, as he spoke, "Now, continue your training sessions with Frodo until I tell you when you must leave the Evenshire Camp."

"When will you tell us?" asked Frodo.

"When the time comes, Frodo Baggins," said Aslan. He ended the meeting soon afterwards. As the heroes left the tent, Aslan told him, "Frodo, wait a moment." Once Edmund left the Lion's tent, Aslan faced Frodo and said, "I know you have great caution towards Anakin Skywalker. I know his fate, but you should attempt to learn more about him and his past. You may need that information, when you see him again."

"What do you mean?" asked Frodo, baffled.

Aslan said, "Frodo, I know what I am doing." He ended the brief conversation, "Return to your tent. I will see you in the morning to confirm when you and the others shall leave the Camp." He told him last, "Until then, good night." He watched Frodo nod, before the hobbit left Aslan's tent in quick procession.

Early the following morning, Aslan told Frodo that he and the six heroes would leave the Evenshire Camp in three days, moments into the sunrise. Although the Great Lion called off the training sessions, so Frodo and the others could pack for their journey to the Merswold Camp, Frodo met with Harry and his friends, Ron and Hermione. All three played a rough game of Triple Chess, which led Frodo to learn the complex game. After a few rounds, Frodo had the hang of Triple Chess, beating the two wizards and the witch, single-handedly. Once Frodo and Hermione finished the last round, Ron and Harry stopped Frodo from playing another game, at least for that evening. Frodo, realizing how much time passed, said 'good night' to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, before heading back to his tent.

When he returned to his tent, Frodo dressed and pulled back the sheets on the bed. Sleep crept over his eyes, the second his head hit the soft feather pillow. In swift seconds, Frodo entered a strange dream, stranger than what he had dreamt during his first week at the Evenshire Camp:

A well-lit bonfire stood in the center of an opening, hidden somewhere inside a deep, dark, silent forest. As Frodo stopped in mid-step, he saw a gathering of faces, belonging to both men and women. He only recognized a few in the crowd, circling the bonfire. He right away spotted the witch from his previous dream, wearing the same purple-and-black robes and dragon horns, nestled on top of her head. A black crow circled around the witch, as she pointed her black staff towards the hot reddish-orange flames, causing their colors to change to a deep red.

The creature that came out of the fire was nothing Frodo had before witnessed. The creature had charcoal skin, sharp claws for fingers and toenails, and eyes that looked exactly like the Sauron's lidless Eye, with black dragon irises and fiery orange pupils. This creature took one glance at Frodo, glaring sinisterly as the hobbit was revealed before the assembly – Frodo soon realized – of villains and villainesses. Before he fled, Frodo was captured by two tall Orcs from Mordor and dragged towards the wicked beast. He was forced to his knees as the creature took one last glimpse of him. The creature, using his sharp claws, stabbed Frodo on the back of the neck…

Frodo awoke, feeling sharp pain against the back of his neck. He took several deep breaths to calm his heart rate down. This new dream – now he could call the recent dreams, of the past four weeks, nightmares – startled him into another epiphany: were the villains and villainesses bringing Sauron, and other eviler villains and villainesses, back from the Shadow World? He feared the worst as he fell back to sleep. He didn't have any new dreams, just a growing sense of dread.

Two more stars shot across the dark blue sky, right at midnight. Most of the Evenshire Camp's inhabitants had drifted off to sleep.