I wandered through the Shire for hours, trying to clear my mind. I wanted so badly to reason away what I knew to be true but I just couldn't. Eventually I gave up and are my way back to Bag End intent on trying to get some rest. I quietly opened the door and slipped inside.

"Ara, come here. I need to speak to you." Gandalf's voice called out from the kitchen and I made my way there, sighing. He motioned for me to take a seat and I did so ready to listen.

"My dear, I have a request to make of you. I ride for Minas Tirith at once for I have need to look in the library there. I ask that you remain here and watch over Frodo. I feel as if something bad is about to happen, but I don't know what."

I looked down at the table, thinking. "You wish to find proof that the ring Bilbo had, and now Frodo has, is the One Ring, don't you?"

Gandalf frowned and nodded. "Yes. I know you believe it to be and I fear it is so, but I wish for proof to know for certain. I shall not be gone long. Take care of Frodo while I am away."

I looked up at Gandalf and nodded before getting up to give him a hug. "Then go my friend. May your road be easy and without peril."

He smiled at me and stood up, making his way to the door. I followed after and watched him saddle his horse. Turning to look at me, he gave a small wave and kicked his horse, riding into the night.

...

Weeks passed as Frodo and I waited for Gandalf to return. In that time I learned much about the young hobbit and grew to care for him. We would often sit for hours talking, occasionally joined by his friends Sam, Merry, and Pippin. I made sure Frodo kept the ring safe and hidden away.

Finally one night as Frodo and I sat down to eat dinner there came a knock at the door. I got up to answer it, wondering who would be calling so late at night. Pulling open the door, I smiled and hugged the visitor. "Gandalf!"

Gandalf hugged me back and walked into the hole, headed for the kitchen. "Hello Ara. Frodo, where is the ring your uncle left you? Go get it."

Frodo waved to Gandalf and walked out of the room. We followed him to the living room and watched as he dug out of a chest the envelope that held the ring. He offered it to Gandalf who took it and tossed it into the fire. Frodo gave a startled cry and rushed to the fireplace. "What did you do that for?"

Gandalf picked up the fire poker and used it to pick up the ring. "Hold out your hand Frodo. It's quite cool." Frodo held out his hand and dropped the ring into it. "What do you see? Can you see anything?"

Frodo examined the ring and shook his head. "Nothing. There's nothing."

Gandalf and I sighed in relief. Maybe I was wrong. Frodo continued to stare at the ring. I smiled and turned to leave the room, but stopped and shuddered as his voice called out in shock. "Wait... there are markings. It's some form of Elvish, I can't read it."

Gandalf and I looked at each other, exchanging a silent conversation. He didn't know my identity, but he knew I knew the language inscribed on the ring. "There are few who can. The language is the that of Mordor, which I will not utter here."

Frodo looked back and forth between Gandalf and I. "Mordor?" He sounded confused, as if he didn't truly understand what was being said.

I sighed and spoke up. "In the common tongue 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.'"

Frodo stared at me, horrified. I sighed and steered him into a chair, then sat beside him in another chair. I waited to let Gandalf explain.

"It is the One Ring, forged by Sauron in the fiery pits of Mount Doom. For sixty years, the Ring lay quiet in Bilbo's keeping, prolonging his life, delaying old age. But no longer, Frodo. Evil is stirring in Mordor. The Ring has awoken. It's heard its Master's call."

Frodo shook his head, beginning to sound hysterical. "But he was destroyed. Sauron was destroyed."

I frowned and looked over at Frodo. "No, Frodo. The spirit of Sauron endured. His life force is bound to the Ring and the Ring survived. Sauron has returned. His Orcs have multiplied. His fortress of Barad due is rebuilt in the land of Mordor. Sauron needs only this Ring to cover all the lands with a second darkness. He is seeking it, seeking it, all his thought is bent on it. The Ring yearns to go home, to return to the hand of its Master. They are one, the Ring and the Dark Lord. Frodo, he must never find it."

I tried to hide my fear at the thought of Sauron returning to full power. The world didn't need a repeat of what life was like before his fall. He couldn't get the Ring. We wouldn't let him.

"But no one knows it's here, do they Gandalf?" Panic was etched all over Frodo's face at the thought of evil entering his beloved Shire.

Gandalf frowned and looked away from him, staring off into space as he spoke. "There is one other who knew Bilbo had the Ring. I looked everywhere for the creature Gollum, but the enemy found him first. I don't know how long they tortured him, but through the endless screams and inane babble, they discerned two words: Shire and Baggins."

"Shire? Baggins? But that would lead them here!" Frodo held out the Ring to Gandalf and shuddered. "Take it Gandalf!" Gandalf backed away and shook his head. "Take it!"

Gandalf sighed. "No, Frodo."

"You must take it!"

"You cannot offer me this ring!"

Frodo kept holding his hand out, begging Gandalf to take it. I sat in my chair watching. "I'm giving it to you!"

Gandalf took another step back and looked troubled. "Don't... tempt me Frodo! I dare not take it. Not even to keep it safe. Understand, Frodo. I would use this ring from a desire to do good... But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine."

Frodo sighed and turned to me, offering me the Ring. "Then you take it Ara! I don't want it! Please!"

I scrambled out of my chair, falling backwards onto my hands and knees. I crab walked backwards as Frodo continued to approach me. "No! I can't! I don't want it either! You don't know what you are asking of me." I was terrified at even the thought of possessing something that was of Mordor.

He kneeled down beside me as my back hit the wall, Ring still sitting on his palm. I was trapped. I stared at it, mesmerized. Slowly my hand began to reach for it and I wrenched it back, looking away from it. "Get it out of my sight!"

Frodo stood up and sighed, turning back to Gandalf. I cowered against the wall as they continued to talk. I had wanted to take it, to taste the power it offered. As if in a haze I noticed another voice had joined in. Looking up, I saw Sam had joined Frodo and Gandalf. Mustering up my strength, I crawled out of the room and fled down the hall to mine, curling up on the floor and falling into a fitful sleep.

...

I was rudely shaken awake what felt like a mere few minutes later. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and stared up at Gandalf. He offered me a hand and helped me stand up.

"Ara, I am going to talk with Saruman. I want you to go with Frodo and Sam to wait for me at the Prancing Pony in Bree. Can you handle that?" He looked at me, concerned. I nodded and hugged the wizard tightly.

"I will keep them safe."