Sorry for the delay. I was updating and finishing my fanfic, The Search for Horcruxes. :)

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Bingo Baggins sat on a wooden bench, just outside the Last Homely House. Thoughts of his twin brother dwelt in his mind. He felt guilty for driving Frodo away. Was it for revenge? This shouldn't have happened! Frodo shouldn't have left Rivendell! It was all Bingo's fault, and he knew it!

Bingo hadn't left Rivendell straight away. He stayed behind to help Lord Elrond out. It wasn't much, but at least it kept the brown-haired, blue-eyed hobbit sane—

Flames flickered in and out of the hobbit's hands. He tried closing his fists, in an effort to cease the magic… then it stopped. He knew it! He had magic, the kind of powers that only elves and wizards possessed. But how? He thought hobbits didn't have magic! Was it always dormant inside him?

That wasn't the only thing on his mind. He and his twin brother were connected, in ways even Bingo didn't understand. Had they always been connected, even when Bingo was a doppleganger? Something brought them together. Something! There was a reason behind this, but what? Was it twin telepathy or the kind where twins always knew what the other was feeling? No. Bingo had that feeling all the time.

No. It was something else.

The only conclusion he came up with was to explore Eregion. He would have to go on horseback, if he did that. But no. He could attempt teleportation. If it worked, if the magic did as he willed, then he could travel at a much faster speed. It also meant that he could find his brother a lot faster, get him back to Rivendell before something happened to them.

"Still thinking about him?" Lida, a dark-haired, elven teenager, asked. She sat down on the bench with him, looking out at the rippled lake-water. "I know it's hard. Frodo will be fine."

"No, he won't!" Bingo cried. "He's troubled. I can feel it."

"How?" Lida asked, curious. "How do you know?"

Bingo grinned. "Twin telepathy." He said, truthful, "I fear for him. I know that he needs, but…" he lowered his head, "…I did a terrible job being his brother. I was wrong! I know I should hate myself for what I did!" He faced her, concerned, "I don't know what I'd do if he were dead."

"He'll survive." Lida said, calmly. "You'll see to that."

"I have to find out about this connection, whether it'll kill me and Frodo, if one of us dies." Bingo said. "I don't want him to die, not when there's a war coming!"

"What war?" Lida asked, confused. "You don't know that there'll be a war."

"You see," Bingo chuckled, "that's where you're wrong!" He faced her, determined. "You see… when I became flesh and blood, something happened. I was shown the future, what will happen to me and Frodo. He's got to be a part of this war! Nothing can stop that from coming!"

"What about you?" The elven girl asked, concerned.

"It's best that I don't say what happens. If I tell you, then it'll mess up the future." He said, serious.

"Maybe it's better that you don't say anything." The elven girl stood up. "We wouldn't want to disappoint the future!"

"Lida, don't be that way!" Bingo replied, concerned.

"What do you think you'll find in Eregion?" Lida asked. "You've been prattling on for weeks, and yet you still haven't left. What are you hiding?"

"I'm going to find out about this connection between me and my brother." Bingo stood up, facing her. "I know I've made a mess of things. I want to right my wrongs! Eregion may hold the answers we seek."

"Come on." Lida pointed to the Last Homely House. "I think we should head inside—"

Dong!

"Come on, Bingo!" Lida ran toward Elrond's house. "We don't want to be late!"

Bingo sighed. Sometimes he wondered about that girl and her carefree nature. He didn't need it, but there she was: helping him out with tasks! How she could stay carefree, in spite of what was happening? Even Frodo was carefree, when they grew up in Rivendell. Of course, if he hadn't gained Frodo's looks and bright blue eyes, then he wouldn't be able to talk to girls and women! Or maybe he was asking too much of himself!

Regaining his composure, Bingo followed Lida back to the Last Homely House. There was no way he would miss this last dinner in Rivendell. No way, no how!

.

As he entered the Hall of Fire, with its stoking fireplaces, Bingo spotted the group of elven teens that had caused Frodo so much pain. Bingo stomped his foot in intimidation. The elven gang looked at him once, before moving to the other end of the hall. He would have another duel with them later. He no longer needed them, especially after he became flesh and blood, and Frodo was healed of his injury. It was a miracle that Frodo was still alive, for death would have taken him sooner.

Bingo sat down at Lord Elrond's table. Lida joined him, sitting between him and her mother. Bingo grinned, happy to see that she was safe. He admitted that he was growing fond to her, like a father to his daughter. Maybe that was all there was.

"So Bingo," Lord Elrond said, "I hear that you want to travel to Eregion."

"I will leave tonight." Bingo answered. "I don't plan on staying much longer."

"I see." Elrond was displeased. "Well, I hope you can stay for one more night. The wild is no place for a hobbit."

Bingo chuckled. "I've been a doppleganger before I became flesh and blood." He added, "I may have magic. I just need to control it."

"Indeed, but that will take time to manifest." Elrond answered, sinking his teeth into a slab of cooked meat. He smiled. "Do not fear, Bingo! I think you are a brave hobbit, who knows about Rivendell and all its intricacies, but you may not know enough about Middle-earth's dangers." He added, keenly, "I know you can do this, but you have to be mindful. The Rangers are scattered throughout Middle-earth. I won't be around to protect you."

"But you are keeping me here tonight." Bingo said, calmly.

"I just want to see you're safe." Elrond said, concerned. "You're not the first doppleganger to have entered these lands. There are thousands of them. And when they present themselves, they always bring death." He added, between bites, "You are stout-hearted, young Bingo, but there is more you need to learn."

"That's why I have to go to Eregion." Bingo said. "I'm going, whether you like it or not!"

"Then I wish you luck," Elrond said, "but please spend one more night here? You can leave in the morning. Before dawn, if that is your decision."

"Thank you." Bingo said, eating his venison in peace.

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Thanks for reading. :)