The Road to Middle-Earth

A fanfiction by MushrooomsPTook

Disclaimer: I own nothing. You might as well say it owns me!

Chapter Nine: Blistered

The sun was high in the sky when we got back on the path that led through the forest. It had taken us a bit to get our bearings back and recall the direction in which we had been going. It was quite a relief for all of us to be out of sight from the witch's house. Quite opposite from how we arrived on the doorstep, we left knowing that the only ominous threat here in this forest was the witch who resided in the house and not the forest itself. If the Cheshire cat was right about her departing from these woods, then she must have taken all the darkness with her, for the birds were singing cheerily and the sun beamed in between the trees. I wondered how we were ever afraid of this place; it was as if a terrible spell had broken. The duck, Charming, as Alice called it, told us about the history of how when the witch entered the woodland realm, the whole of the forest had gone silent, for she had killed many animals in order to tempt numerous children with an appetizing meal. Now that she was gone, there was much rejoicing to be heard.

Once we were well off and a good distance beyond the memory of our imprisonment, we came upon a dense part of the forest, where the trees grew particularly large and thick. Vines hung about nearly everywhere, and we marched through with some difficulty, but Charming seemed to know these parts quite well. He must have wandered about these woods often, because he was leading us to a fresh spring where we could fill our empty bottles. At times he would disappear completely, hidden by the mess of vines and branches.

Alice was walking behind the duck, I guessed in order to be close to her new friend. Tom followed, and I brought up the rear. I was falling immensely behind at one point, weighed down by the heavy backpack, a few extra pounds of flesh, and not to mention the vines and trees that made it nearly impossible to pass through. I nearly tripped when my foot caught on a tree root that had hidden itself among the dense forest floor. I bent down to free my ankle, when having removed some of the twigs and leaves, I caught sight of something red. Curiosity prompted my hand to pass over it, feeling the cold, hard surface. I brushed away some more dirt and noticed the brick pattern of this new discovery. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I realized that this was a road.

"Alice, Tom, uh—um—Charming!" I cried joyfully. "Guys, stop! I found it! I found the road to Middle-Earth!"

All three of my companions turned around and trotted back to where I stood. Alice was skipping happily, having heard the news. She clapped awkwardly with Gandalf's stick in her hands.

"Where is it?" she asked, looking hastily for the road.

"It's right here," I pointed with my foot. "It's underneath all this forest stuff. We just need to watch where we're going and make sure to follow it closely."

Tom stood on the patch of road that I had found. "Oh! Ye can feel the diff'rence all right."

"Here, Tom," I said. "Why don't you lead for a bit and we'll follow you!"

"'Right," he said and Alice followed him closely. I suspected that she was developing a bit of a crush for the boy, for she looked at him affectionately whenever he spoke.

We were going at a steady pace now, and the trees were becoming less thick. Everyone was in high spirits as we caught sight of the sparkling gem that lay flat on the earth. The stream.

As we turned off the road and bounded down to the running water, I took the backpack off my shoulders, relief setting in. I sat down on a nearby rock and was greatly surprised to find that I had been sweating. I sighed and sat there for a moment, welcoming the slow breeze. The others didn't wait for me as they knelt down by the water and scooped up water into their hands, hydrating their thirsty bodies. Charming repeatedly poked his bill in the water, gathering the water into his mouth awkwardly, but he was making such a mess, I wondered if he ever swallowed any.

Finally, having rested enough, I got up from the rock and took my place beside the children, first washing my face of the perspiration, and then taking in mouthfuls of cool, refreshing water. It was delicious.

After we had our fill, we all spread ourselves out, resting in the afternoon sun and welcoming the gorgeous sounds of the forest. I was very glad to have found the road and I felt more relaxed and less anxious to carry on. I decided we might as well take our time and enjoy rare treasures such as these.

After a short while, I retrieved our empty bottles from my pack and dipped them into the stream, filling them with water. Having rested and re-energized our bodies, I announced that it was time to move on. I put away the bottles and once again swung my burden around my shoulders. It was much easier now to find the road and we were soon on our way.

Gradually, the red-bricked road led us further out of the shadowy trees and into the heat of the sun. It was about an hour before we completed our journey through the forest, and having made it out of one disaster, I soon realized we were headed into another. The trees almost altogether disappeared, and the ground had gone dry and bare, save for the occasional patch of grass. We had left the fluffy clouds in the forest, and the sun's heat was prompting a desire to inhale large gulps of water. I knew, though, that with a heatwave coming on, it was wise to take only occasional sips.

To my relief, the sun began to set, slowly cooling our surroundings and getting ready to welcome the night. There would be no perfect spot to camp; nothing could be seen on the horizon, except a sea of sand.

I took my cue from the huffing and puffing of the company that it was time to stop. Thankfully, I still had my blanket and after setting down my backpack, I pulled it out and lay it flat on the desert floor, for a desert it was. We each took turns and passed the water around to take our share of sips. Charming was the first to nestle himself into the corner of the blanket. Tom and Alice followed suit, but I lied awake for some time, thinking about our destination. I was too tired to sleep, and I glanced at the road, wondering if this indeed was the road to Middle-Earth. After so many disappointments, I couldn't shake off the doubt that was creeping into my mind. I didn't want to think about it, but it seemed unavoidable, and it became relentless. Finding the road had been a ray of hope after the past few days, but if it didn't lead to Middle-Earth—if it led elsewhere...

My thoughts turned fuzzy as I felt feathers poking into my back. I turned my head at the interruption and could vaguely see the small form of Charming nestling next to me. I stiffened for a moment, momentarily wondering if the duck carried any diseases. No doubt, he looked like one anyway.

1The boy pulled his winter coat around him tighter and rubbed his hands together to keep them warm. He had been standing on the border of the little village for over two hours and evening was coming upon very quickly. Already the sun had set, adding a bite to the winter chill that hung about Hobbiton. Many times, he would tell himself to give up his quest and to turn back for the cosiness of Bag End. No doubt, Bilbo would start to have his concerns, and Frodo didn't want to upset the old hobbit. As it was, he was fairly reluctant to have his nephew go gallivanting around the Shire. But Frodo promised to stay within the border of Hobbiton, and besides, this was a special occasion. It was the night before Yule and rumors of Gandalf had been springing about all over the Shire. He hadn't seen the old wizard in a few years and he thought he would go crazy not seeing him, especially with all the talk of him visiting the Shire. He knew Bilbo was just as excited, though he would never admit it.

"Do you think he'll come?" Frodo had asked as Bilbo hung up the coats of their newly arrived guests. Merry and Pippin and their families had come from their homes a few days prior, and getting them settled in was the first order of business. Sam had been by earlier to assist the Bagginses in last minute arrangements, and even helped to bake some fresh cookies that Pippin's nose had naturally found.

"Oh," said Bilbo. "He may yet, lad. You never know with that fellow. Here one second, gone the next." But as Bilbo spoke to him, Frodo detected a twinkle of merriment in his eye. "Now, Frodo-lad, why don't you get some tea on? I'm sure everyone will be up for some, hmm?" Frodo sighed and questioned him about it no more until two hours ago when he asked to wait for Gandalf.

A chilly breeze passed through the hobbit's curly hair and Frodo shuddered, pulling his cloak around him in an effort to keep whatever warmth he had left. He sighed, wondering why Gandalf had to take his time in everything he did. He blinked. His eyes were getting heavy. He was just about to turn back when the distant neigh of a horse caught his sharp ear. It twitched the slightest, picking up the new sound.

"Gandalf!" he cried when he spotted the horse-draw cart. He tried to find the warmth in his legs as he sprinted out to meet the wizard.

"Hold on there," Gandalf pulled at the reigns, stopping the horse for a moment to peer into the wintery fogginess. "Is that Frodo Baggins?

"Yes, Gandalf, it's me!" The hobbit laughed as Gandalf helped him in the cart, and the two embraced briefly, neither wanting to stay out in the cold for much longer.

"What on earth was your uncle thinking, letting you out like this?"

Frodo laughed. "Gandalf, I'm 28 years old now!"

"Are you indeed?" The wizard eyed the boy up and down for a few seconds. "Well, a fine lad you've turned out to be. Last time I saw you, you had just moved in with the old rascal."

"Seven years ago," Frodo sighed, thinking up all the memories.

"Well, you're doing well living up to your Tookish blood. Taking up with wizards, going out in temperatures even trolls would dare not venture... I do believe you're taking after Bilbo quite well!"

"Oh nonsense," Frodo laughed and slapped the wizard's arm playfully. "Although, our latest adventure has turned out to be quite unexpected, even for Bilbo."

"Oh?" Gandalf raised an eyebrow at the young hobbit, who fixed his gaze on the snow-laiden path before him.

"We've had a couple of visitors these last few days."

Gandalf chuckled. "More dwarves, no doubt."

Frodo shook his head silently. "No. Not dwarves."

Gandalf looked down at the hobbit curiously. "Frodo?"

"Gandalf, they're human."

I stirred awake suddenly and felt as if someone had opened an oven. I was burning up and sweating, and the desert floor was releasing even more heat through the blanket. I got up, dusting off the stray beads of sand, and immediately dug into my backpack for some water. I was terribly thirsty. I knew our situation was serious when I saw how much water we had left. There was not a thing in sight, and if we didn't get water again soon...

I gently roused the others and gave them a bit of water. To my surprise, everyone except Charming gave out a groan of distress. We clutch our stomachs and this feeling, though familiar enough, seemed foreign and out of control. Only one thing was on my mind. Food. I grabbed my backpack and as if I had turned into a heathen, tore back the zipper and dumped out all the contents. Tom, Alice, and I grabbed at the food that lay sprawled and we began filling the emptiness in our bellies that had caused so much pain.

Charming looked on in shock and disgust—as if he had the audacity to understand the meaning of that word—and slowly slipped in his bill among the battle for a hunk of bread. He nibbled contently, getting crumbs all over the blanket. After the war had settled and we had each eaten according to our hunger, I put away the rest of the food. I stood up and an overwhelming headache rushed over me, most likely from eating too quickly and too much. The children staggered to their feet and I began to wad up the blanket as Tom and Alice stepped off. But Tom yelped in pain and fell to his knees.

"Tom, what's wrong?" I asked, stuffing the blanket into my backpack and swinging it onto my shoulders.

"My...my feet. It's so hot!"

I forgot that Tom was barefoot; he never complained about walking through the forest without any shoes. But this was a whole different situation that called for desperate measures.

"Oh, Tom," I spoke sympathetically. "I'm so sorry. Um, perhaps I can try and carry you for a bit."

Tom blushed immensely and looked as if he was about to protest, but when he got to his feet again, he cried out again and I didn't hesitate to pick up the child, grunting and shaking as I tried to steady myself under his weight. There was quite a difference between his weight and Alice's, and I wished very much that it had been Alice who had gone barefoot. But as wishing didn't help the situation, I tried to use what strength I had to gather him in my arms. He looked very uncomfortable and I tried to ignore my own discomfort as I was pulled both ways, from the weight of the backpack on my shoulders to the weight of Tom sagging in my arms.

I took careful steps getting back to the road and Alice and Charming followed, watching with uncertainty. Very little was said at this point on and I was glad of it. I couldn't carry Tom very well and talk at the same time. If there was speaking, it came from Alice and her words were normally directed to Charming. She was telling him about Middle-Earth and Bilbo, Frodo, and Gandalf and what she was going to do when she got there—if we ever got there. I was melting under the sun and this was one rare occasion in which I didn't want to talk—or hear—about Middle-Earth.

We hadn't gone a far distance when I had to set Tom down, my back was aching me and I was gasping for air.

"Tom, do you—do you think you could..." I panted, "c-could walk for a...bit?"

Tom nodded and he walked slowly, testing the road with his bare feet. He grimaced at the steps but pushed me away when I went to pick him up again.

"I'll manage," he said.

It was a miserable day, worse than the day we entered the forest, and even Alice had gone silent. The sun was unrelenting, and throughout the day I would gather up Tom, and carry him for a short while. The rest of the time he marched on bravely, trying to hide his pain from me.

We had spent the second day in the desert and the sun was setting again. But this time I could see something on the horizon. I couldn't tell exactly what it was, but anything was better than where we were at present.

I folded out the blanket once more and we had supper here and took some sips of the water. Alice was the unlucky one. When the second bottle came her way, she had only a few drops before saying, "It's all gone. The water's gone." She fell into silent sobs and pulled her knees to her chest, burying her face. I didn't comfort her, for I was sprawled out on the blanket, too exhausted to do anything, and I had a feeling that no words of comfort could make it any better. So she was left to her own devices until Tom scooted over and put an arm across her shoulders. We all remained awake for a long while, allowing the heat of the sun to release from the sands. I didn't know what time I fell asleep, but the last thing I remember was Tom and Alice huddled together, Tom whispering words of comfort, and Charming cradled in Alice's arms.

When I woke up, Tom, Alice, and Charming were already eating. I was disappointed that I hadn't monitored the meal, for we were running low on that now too. I gathered a couple of vegetables and a bread roll and slowly munched on them. They tasted dry though and I wished for some water. It was a disappointing breakfast, but it was the best that we could do.

I got up and had the children step off the blanket before rolling it up. Tom nearly doubled over when his bare feet touched the blistering sand. I sighed, pulling on the backpack.

"Come on, Tom," I said, my voice dry. My lips were chapped and I gasped as I took the boy into my arms. I didn't have a firm grasp of him, though, and he fell out of my weak arms before I tried a second time, this time clutching my teeth in an effort to produce more strength than what I had.

"Alayna," whimpered Alice.

"What?" I didn't bother trying to hide my frustration.

"I'm thirsty."

"Yeah, well so am I. You'll have to wait, Alice."

Alice looked to Charming for comfort, but the duck wisely kept his mouth shut. We walked at a slower pace than the day before, and I couldn't help feeling like we were forever away from the mysterious form that lay on the horizon. Sweat glistened on my forehead and it dripped into my eyes, stinging them. I set Tom down on his feet after a while and he continued to limp behind us. It was only a few minutes when he collapsed. I couldn't stop the tears from swelling in my eyes as I went back for him. I tried to pull him to his feet, but he wouldn't move. I bent down and tried to pick him up, but it was too much. I toppled over. I was spent. Alice and Charming looked at one another, unsure what to do. After a few moments of silence, Alice walked over to me and pulled the backpack off my shoulders. She took out the blanket and helped both Tom and I to lay down on it. I was vaguely aware of her sitting down next to me.

When I woke up, the sun wasn't as bright and I thought things had clouded over. I opened my eyes to see Alice, lying lifeless next to me. I shook her gently and she stirred, but it was a few minutes before she opened her eyes. When she did, though, she looked past me in concern.

"Wh...What's that?" she asked, slightly lifting her head.

2I turned around and saw the gigantic image of a tsunami of sand heading rapidly towards us.

"Sandstorm!" I croaked. "Tom, get up! Hurry!" I pulled him up weakly by his hand and hurried to get Alice on her feet. I grabbed the backpack without bothering to stow away the blanket and ran as fast as I could, Alice on my heels and Tom limping behind. There was really no where to run, as our blurry destination was too far away to reach. Looking back, I saw that the sand had eerily taken a shape of something large—an animal perhaps. It had a huge head and it glistened as it rushed towards us. I cried out as the storm overtook us, and I shielded my mouth so as to try and keep from inhaling the sand. I didn't have time to warn Alice or Tom. But in a few seconds, it was over with anyway.

When I came to, I thought I was seeing a mirage. We were lying just in front of whatever had stood on the horizon only moments before. I opened my mouth, then closed it, and then opened it again. I looked back behind me and saw a puff of sand settle to the ground. It didn't make any sense, but I was too overwhelmed to be grateful, shocked, or scared. In front of us was grass, deep green grass, and on it stood a little white bridge that lead to more lush grass. And beyond that, waiting for us, was a clear, crystal pond. I broke down into sobs. We were saved.

A/N – It seems like there are a few children's stories that have some kind of a desert in them, so I decided to add my own version to the list. I will probably be posting up the next chapter within the next couple of days, so stay tuned, and as always, please R&R! 3

1Soundtrack Fellowship of the Ring (Howard Shore), "Concerning Hobbits"

2Soundtrack The Mummy Returns (Alan Silvestri), "We're in Trouble"