A/N: alright guys, im getting more and more subscribers! yay! but i need more reviews please(: thanks guys! another long chapter yay!

DC: I own nothing except the girls

Chapter 5: A Shortcut to Mushrooms

I awoke the next morning to find me and Frodo nestled up next to each other. He must've felt me move, so he woke up to. We were both still half asleep, so he began to wrap his arm around me, we were both smiling. Suddenly, I snapped out of my daze and gasped, he did to. We both turned the other way as fast as we could, my cheeks were burning.

"Alright, whose ready to go?" I finally said breaking the EXTREMELY awkward silence.

Frodo and Sam moaned as they sat up, Frodo didn't even look me in the eyes.

We began to travel again, and we were starting to travel through fields of corn and other vegetables now.

"This is it." Sam said stopping. Me and Frodo turned around.

"This is what?" Frodo asked.

"If I take, one more step, it will be the furthest away from home, I've ever been." Sam said sadly with his head down.

Frodo walked to Sam and put a hand on his shoulder, "Come on Sam."

Sam took a step and sighed, with a new swagger in his step, he lifted his head and we continued walking.

"Mr. Frodo? FRODO!" Sam squealed as he ran to find us.

"What is it Sam?" Frodo asked when he found us.

"I thought I lost you!" I rolled my eyes, gimme a break!

"Why would you think that?"

"It's just somethin' Gandalf told me, and Miss Hadley."

"What was that?" Frodo said turning to me then back to Sam.

"He said, 'Don't you lose him, Samwise Gamgee and Karolyn Hadley.' And I, we, don't mean to." Sam said, nodding in my direction.

"Sam, were fine!" I said laughing a little bit.

"Were still in the Shire! What could possibly happen?" Frodo said. Of course, he jinxed us, three figures toppled over us all from the corn.

"Frodo!" Pippin squealed as he saw who he fell on.

"KAROLYN!" Diamond said as we sat up an hugged.

"Merry, it's Frodo Baggins!" Pippin said to Merry as Merry sat up from on top of Sam.

"Get off me!" Sam said throwing Merry off him and Pippin off Frodo.

"I was so worried I thought you were, well, I didn't know what happened!" Diamond said helping me up.

"I knew you would find me. What are you guys doing anyways?" I said as Sam was handed some vegetables.

"You've been into farmer Maggot's crop!" Sam screamed at the three. Suddenly, we heard an old man yelling at us.

Pippin grabbed Diamond's hand and she grabbed mine, as Merry pushed Frodo into the corn as we ran.

"I don't know why he's so upset." Merry said panting to Pippin as we ran. "It's only a couple of carrots!"

"And some cabbages." Pippin added in excitement. "And those three bags of potatoes that we lifed last week! And then the mushrooms the week before!"

"Yes Pip, but my point is, he's clearly overreacting!"

Pippin came to a stop, I ran into him, basically spooning him... Diamond, Merry, and Frodo soon followed. I sighed as I saw why Pippin stopped, then there was a jerk and we all tumbled down the drop. Frodo hit the ground first, then me, the Pippin, Merry, Diamond, and then painfully, Sam.

"Oh! That was close!" Pippin said as he saw he barely missed a pile of poop.

"I think I've broken something." Merry said, pulling out a snapped carrot from underneath him.

"Trust a Brandybuck and a Took, and you to Miss Zander!" Sam said as he shoved everyone.

"He knows?" Diamond whispered. I only nodded in reply.

"That was just a shortcut! A detour!" Merry said.

"To what!" I screeched.

"MUSHROOMS!" Pippin said.

Now, in the short time I had been in the Shire, I had grown to LOVE mushrooms. We all dove for the little patch we saw and began to stuff them in a bag. Frodo didn't follow us though, he made his way off to the side mysteriously, but I didn't pay attention that much. He was always being weird like that...

"I think we should get off the road." Frodo said to us.

Turning around, I gave him a puzzled look, no one else was listening. Finally, his eyes widened and he totally flipped out.

"GET OFF THE ROAD!" he shouted at us.

He grabbed me and Sam's wrists as Pippin grabbed Diamond's hand, Merry grabbed the bag of mushrooms. We all hid under a tree root. Merry, Pippin, and Diamond were all looking through the bag. I was in between Frodo and Sam, we were silent and still. Then, there was the sound of hooves above us. We all froze, and insects and spiders began to crawl everywhere. I about screamed when a centipede crawled over my leg, but Frodo covered my mouth. I looked over to see Diamond clinging to Pippin and Merry sitting still. Frodo removed his hand from my mouth and pulled out the ring. I looked behind us and saw the horse hooves were bloody, and it's rider was cloaked in black. It tensed up when Frodo pulled out the ring. He was about to slip it on when Sam reached over and stopped him. Merry threw the bags of mushrooms over way from us, the rider let out a shriek and took off.

"Please let's go!" I shouted. "Frodo get up!" I said pulling him up from his daze.

We ran for miles on end, without a break. Diamond kept asking me questions, and I didn't blame her, it probably was confusing.

"What is going on?" Pippin finally asked out of breath as we took a short break.

"That black rider was looking for something, or someone, Frodo?" Merry said to a very scared Frodo.

"Get down!" Pippin screamed, we all dropped to our stomachs.

"I have to leave the Shire. Sam, Karolyn and I must get to Bree." Frodo said turning to Merry, who was deeply concerned.

"Right..." Merry paused, thinking, when his eyes suddenly widened, "Buckleberry ferry! Follow me!" Merry led the way as we , a black rider pulled out in front of Frodo, blocking his way. Diamond and I screamed as we began to run faster. Everyone was running towards the ferry we had just spotted. Frodo began to run towards us. We untied the ropes holding the small ferry to the dock. We all looked up to see Frodo being chased by a black rider. The ferry slowly started to float away, and we all began to freak out because we knew Frodo was still on shore.

"Hurry! Frodo!"

"No! HURRY!"

"COME ON FASTER!" I shrieked.

"JUMP!" we all shouted at the same time.

Frodo jumped from the dock and landed on top of me. He was panting and really scared.

"Your okay, oh my god your okay." I said as we sat up.

"Where's the nearest crossing?" Frodo asked.

"Brandywine bridge. Twenty miles." Merry replied. A shriek was made by the rider as it sped away, it was joined by a few more riders. Oh no, more riders? This day couldn't get any better...

I looked over to see Diamond and Pippin cuddled next to each other. Did they have a little thing going on? Whatever it was, it was cute, I'd just ask later. We finally got to the bridge and came upon a small town. We walked to the gate and Frodo knocked on the door. An old man opened the window, which was too high for our heads, and made his way to a lower window.

"What do you want?"

"Were heading for the inn of the Prancing Pony."

The man stepped outside to get a better view, I gasped and scooted back into Sam. Everyone backed away when he opened the door, he was so much taller than us!

"Hobbits! SIX hobbits! Two lasses no less, what business brings you to Bree?"

"We wish to stay at the inn! Our business is our own." Frodo snapped back at him in a hurry.

"Alright young sir, I meant no offense! It's my job to ask questions after nightfall. Theres talk of strange folk abroad. Can't be to careful!" the man said as he led us into the town. It was small, and rainy outside. A cart drove through the middle of our group and we all stumbled backwards. I guess me and Diamond were more used to the big people than the other boys were, since we used to actually BE the big people. The men were so big, and some were really scary looking. You could tell there were some drunkards in the town.

I ran up to Frodo and clutched his arm, "I don't think we should be here... It gives me a creepy feeling." I said.

"It's fine, Gandalf said to come here, and we should trust his word. He wouldn't tell us to come here if it wasn't safe." even Frodo looked worried a little.

We found the inn and made our way inside. The people were huge, and it reeked of beer and smoke. A man at the front desk greeted us with a warm smile that made me feel right at home.

"Good evening little masters, and misses I see! If your seeking accommodations, there's some nice cozy little hobbit size rooms available! Mister, um?"

"U- Underhill. My name's Underhill." Frodo said hesitantly.

Diamond and I sniggered at each other, it was kinda funny! Pippin and Merry couldn't stop grinning either, I think because of all the beer they saw...

"Underhill..." the man replied suspiciously.

"Were friends of Gandalf the Grey. Could you tell him we've arrived?"

"Gandalf? Gandalf... Oh yes! I remember him! Elderly chap... Long grey beard and big pointy hat!" we all smiled in agreement and hoped that this guy had seen him, but to no avail of course. "Not seen him for six months!"

"Oh crap..." I mumbled.

Frodo turned around and we all huddled together. Diamond and I looked at each other worriedly, and Sam was obviously freaked out.

"What do we do now?"

"Alright! Were real busy tonight missy, so be hurryin' off now! Got six hobbits like you out there, maybe you could try talking to them!" Barliman said to Ginger, who was sweating like crazy from the hot kitchen.

She nodded (ungratefully) and grabbed her apron and tray. Opening the door from the kitchen, she stepped out into the crowded room of drunk men and smoke. Pushing her way through, she didn't really care much to see these hobbits, all she wanted was to take orders and be done with her shift soon.

"Can I take your order sir?" she asked, tapping a young man on the shoulder. He was sitting alone at the bar.

He turned around, he was one of them hobbits! She scanned his appearance, he was short, big hairy feet, and pointed ears. He had sandy red hair and was rather attractive, actually, he was really cute. He grinned at her and asked for a quart of ale.

"We have, pints!" Genevieve said stuttering, this guy was SOOOO cute.

"PINTS?" the guy exclaimed. Genevieve nodded and smiled at him. He stuck out his hand, and smiled at her.

"Meriadoc Brandybuck. Call me Merry though, please! Miss, uh-"

"Nicks. Genevieve Nicks."

"Nicks?" Merry questioned with one eyebrow raised. "You have a lovely first name though, Miss Nicks." he added smiling at her.

"Thanks. I'll get you that pint!" she said. Before she left, he raised his hand to his lips and gently pecked it.

Turning around, not realizing the beaming Merry grinning like an idiot, she whizzed off to the kitchen. She was in such a hurry that she ran into someone who had stood up. Everyone roared into laughter, and Genevieve sat up.

"I'm so sorry!" she quickly apologized.

The figure she landed on turned around, it was another hobbit! And a girl hobbit to! But, this one looked familiar...

"Genevieve?" the girl asked.

"Oh my god, DIAMOND!" she squealed. The girls screamed and pulled each other into a hug, almost crying from being so happy!

"I thought you died! I was stabbed, and next thing I know, I end up in an inn all fine and dandy! Oh my god where is Karolyn, Laura, or, or Ginger!" Genevieve asked with a worried look.

"Don't worry, Karolyn is fine! She's actually-"

"GENEVIEVE!" Karolyn screamed as she pulled her friend off the ground into a hug. Frodo, Sam, and Pippin were all staring at them now, with small smiles on their faces.

"There are more people from your world that are here?" Frodo asked.

"Oooh yes there are! There are five of us to be exact, I, we, don't know where the other two are though..."

"Your, not from here?" Pippin asked dumbfounded.

"Yes, sorry I didn't tell you. We'll explain later." Diamond apologized patting his back.

"Well I've gotta go and get someone else's order. I'll be back."

Genevieve got Merry's order, and about five minutes later, he came back and sat next to Pippin. "What's that?" he asked wide eyed.

"This my friend, is a pint!" he replied licking his lips.

"It come in pints? I'm getting one!" he quickly stood up and began to make his way to the bar.

"But you've had a whole half already!" Sam called after him.

"Get me one to!" Karolyn cried after him, she had never had alcohol before and now she was old enough to, as far as she knew. Diamond asked for one to, and they both soon joined Pippin at the bar.

"Small world..." Genevieve said as she sat down next to Merry, she had now finished her shift.

"I'm Frodo, Frodo Bag-, I mean, Underhill. And you must be Genevieve." Frodo said introducing himself and smiling at her.

"I'm Samwise Gamgee, call me Sam." he smiled as he took a sip of his drink.

"And I see you met my cousin Pip, and your two friends, again." Merry said taking a gulp of ale.

"Yeah, I missed them."

Sam whispered something to Frodo, who in return looked behind him at a man sitting at a booth in the corner. He was cloaked in black, smoking. He didn't look up, he didn't even twitch. Genevieve had never seen this man at the inn before...

"Excuse me, that man in the corner, who is he?" Frodo stopped Barliman to ask.

"He's one of then rangers." he said in a disgusted tone. "Dangerous folk they are, wondering off in the wilds, what his right name is I've never heard but around here, he's known as Strider." Barliman said walking away quickly. Strider continued to smoke and stare as he sat alone.

"Weird dude..." Genevieve said.

"Strider..." Frodo mumbled.

He began to mess with something in his hands and he began to close his eyes. Frodo could faintly hear his name being called out, by a misty, dark voice. But a familiar voice brought him back to reality... "Baggins! Sure I know a Baggins! Frodo Baggins! He's over there!" Pippin said pointing to Frodo, obviously drunk. All the men at the bar, including Butterbur who didn't look to happy, all turned around to look at Frodo. Karolyn and Diamond gasped and attempted to shush Pippin, but Frodo got to him before they could.

"PIPPIN!" Frodo said lunging at him.

"Frodo!" Pippin snapped back at him, pushing him backwards. Frodo tripped over someone's foot, and was sent hurtling to the ground. The ring flew out of his pocket and into the air.

"OH NO!" Diamond and Karolyn shouted simultaneously. Pippin and Sam gasped, and Merry stood up. Everything seemed to go in slow motion. Genevieve followed Merry to the commotion, completely confused.

"Frodo!" Karolyn screamed as he stuck his hand up to catch the ring, and vanished without a trace.

YES THEIR IN BREE NOW!:D and have reunited with one friend! one down, two more to go... okay this took a me like 2 days to write, expect the nest chapter friday or saturday, maybe sunday. i really enjoy writing this story, i feel like im in them! i wish i were in the movies... elijah wood is AMAZING!

-Mrs. Frodo Baggins

Kendall

Mirabella Millstone of Bywater