Disclaimers: See Chapter 1 for more info.

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If there was one thing Frodo knew was that time didn't stand still. Not for him. The second he picked up a wooden stave and practiced fighting with Elladan and Elrohir, time sped up. The next six years flew by fast. Between studies and combat training, Frodo found himself becoming a quick and agile hobbit. He didn't remember a better childhood, which already felt like a lifetime.

By the time the clock caught up, Frodo was twelve years old. There were times he spent with his parents, but overall, he couldn't deny hanging out with the twins. He wanted to be like them, fighting the Enemy with their swords and their bows.

Frodo rushed up to them one morning, while they took their horses out of the stables.

"Please, let me come with you." Frodo said, exhilarated.

"Frodo, you're just learning how to use a sword." Elrohir warned him.

"I'm still good." The hobbit boy said, intrigued. "Why can't I come?"

"We have business with the Rangers. I'm afraid you would get bored." Elladan said, winking at him. "Don't worry, Frodo. You'll have the opportunity to fence. Elrohir and I will make sure of it. You'll complete your training!"

"I was kind of hoping today…." Frodo was interrupted by a scream. "What was that?"

"Your mother." Elladan said, patting his shoulder. "Go on."

The hobbit lad sprinted off towards the nearest waterfall. His parents weren't there. Instead, there was an elvish woman with dark hair and fair green eyes watching him closely.

"Are you looking for someone?" The elvish woman asked.

"I'm looking for my parents." Frodo said. "Do you know where they are?"

"They're at the Last Homely House!" An elvish man with brunette locks said to him.

"Right. Thanks." Frodo ran down the road. He had to reach his parents, see if they were okay. Yes! There was the lake and there were his parents, sinking in the water. The boat tipped over. What? NO! Surely, they would come up for air. They… they weren't coming up. He needed to find someone… oh! There was Glorfindel, swimming across the water. He flipped the boat over, while pulling up two figures. They weren't moving. Glorfindel returned the boat to shore, depositing the lifeless bodies on the beach. "Oh no."

Glorfindel looked up at him, a tear dripping down his face. "I am sorry, lad."

"Mama? Papa!" Frodo rushed up to his parents. They opened their eyes for a second, and then closed them. Their last breaths were drawn. No! His parents were… dead. He sank on the sandy beach. No! He could have saved them! He could have… how did this happen?

"Frodo?" Bilbo asked, getting the lad's attention.

Frodo didn't move. He didn't want to. He sat there with his parents' lifeless bodies. He couldn't leave them… not here. What would he do? The world felt so empty.

"Come on, Frodo." Bilbo pulled the lad to his feet. "Let's go inside."

"No! I'll stay here." Frodo said, doing his best not to shed a tear. The effort failed. Tears streamed down his face. No! He had to be brave.

"Come on!" Bilbo led the lad away from the lake, retreating inside the Last Homely House. Frodo's fingers went numb. He couldn't think straight. By the time they had entered Frodo's room, Frodo jerked away from Bilbo.

"I've got to help them! I've got to! Don't you understand?" Frodo choked back more tears. He spun around to see a figure, his look alike, staring right at him. Frodo stopped crying, his thoughts drawn to the shadowy figure. Was the shadowy figure growing up with him? That was impossible… no! The shadow boy vanished in a cloud of mist. It was just Frodo and Bilbo now.

"Frodo!" Bilbo called, placing a hand on Frodo's shoulder. "I know this is hard. I know the doppleganger's following you. You have to listen." He sighed. "It was a mistake to bring you and your parents here."

"My parents died because I wasn't fast enough to save them." Frodo said, somber.

"No." The older hobbit shook his head. "Your parents were good people. They did everything they could to keep you here."

"Was I a mistake?" The younger hobbit asked, shakily.

"Frodo." Bilbo turned him around. "You are not a mistake. You're just raised differently from other hobbits. You'll live here in Rivendell. We'll continue your training. I'll teach you letters." He said last, "Things will stay as they are. I promise I won't let anything harm you. I'll keep you safe."

Frodo sighed. He'd seen enough death for one day. All he wanted to do was rest. He moved towards the stone balcony, resting his arms against the railing. He didn't want to go anywhere. He didn't need to. This was his home now. He would ensure that nothing would come to hurt him or his family again. He just didn't know how true those words were until it was too late.

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Thanks for reading. :)