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Chapter 2: Gandalf
Jessica sat in front of the fire waiting for Frodo to return from the Green Dragon, it was starting to get dark. She heard the door open. She turned around, hoping to see Frodo, but was met by a staff hitting her head.
She whined as the pain coursed through her head. She saw her attacker step into the light of the fire and Jessica saw that it was Gandalf.
"I'm sorry my dear lady," he apologized, crouching down and gently rubbed Jessica's head.
As he rubbed Jessica felt the pain slowly disappear. "Thanks," Jessica said.
Gandalf nodded. "Do you know where Frodo hid the ring?" he asked her.
Jessica shook her head. "I have no idea," she said. "If you're going to search, I won't join in. If Frodo asks, I was hit when you were rushing around and I was dazed," Jessica said as she slowly sat down, the effects of the staff attack still strong.
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Frodo entered Bag End and looked towards the fireplace where Jessica had taken to lying when she waited for him. He saw her, but something was wrong, it didn't look as though she was breathing, he walked to her side slowly hardly taking in the sight around him. He shook Jessica. She opened her eyes and moaned as pain hit her.
"Confound it all!" she said and to Frodo she slipped into an unheard language. "Soufflez-le tout ! Si je m'obtiens des mains sur lui je volonté - je volonté - je volonté - je volonté - l'OH le souffle! Je ne peux pas penser directement avec ceci le mal de tête soufflé!" When in actual fact she was saying this; "Blast it all! If I get me hands on him I'll - I'll - I'll - I'll - Oh blast him! I can't think straight with this blasted headache!"
Frodo looked around and saw that Bag End was in ruin. A hand clasped his shoulder. Frodo spun around to look at the owner of the hand. Gandalf stepped forward into a shaft of moonlight, he looked worse for wear; his hair long and unkempt, his clothes dirty and ragged from much travel.
"Is it secret? Is it safe?" Gandalf asked Frodo.
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Jessica hobbled along beside Frodo as he pulled the envelope out of an old chest near the entrance. Gandalf was behind her, alert and suspicious. Without a word, Gandalf took the envelope and tossed it into the fireplace.
"What are you doing?" Frodo asked bewildered.
Flames instantly set alight the envelope, revealing the ring. It sank into the red hot embers in the fireplace. Gandalf reached into the fireplace with a pair of tongs and pulled it out.
"Hold out your hand, Frodo," Gandalf said. "It is quite cool."
He dropped the ring onto Frodo's hand. Jessica watched as Frodo's hand dropped a bit.
Jessica felt tired, she lay down on her stomach and relaxed, letting the voices of Frodo and Gandalf lull her to sleep.
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Jessica felt Frodo roughly wake her up. "Come on Jessica, we need to get packed," he said once Jessica woke up.
Jessica nodded. "You go get ready, I'll meet you in a minute," Jessica said as she stiffly stood up.
She hobbled over to Gandalf. "Are you alright?" he asked her.
"I think so, that hit you gave me was harder than we both thought," she said.
Gandalf nodded. "You must leave, and leave quickly. Get out of the Shire," he said to Frodo who was nearby.
"Where? Where shall we go?" he asked, meaning Jessica and himself.
"Make for the village of Bree," Gandalf said. Jessica looked at him, he seemed to be making plans.
"Bree? What about you?"
"I will be waiting for you at the Inn of the Prancing Pony."
Frodo packed food into his knapsack. "And the Ring will be safe there?"
"I don't know, Frodo. I don't have any answers. I must see the head of my order. He is both wise and powerful. Trust me, Frodo. He'll know what to do."
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