Disclaimers: See Prologue for more info.
o-o-o
There were so many tall trees and green ferns, and yet the trees didn't move. Frodo wondered about that, as he knew the Old Forest trees moved, or so the legend was told. And yet, his heart longed to be back in the Shire. If only Narnia's beauty came to Middle-earth….
….there was a path. There was a dirt road with chipped wood covering the area. And there was the wardrobe's door, hidden behind a grouping of bushes and trees. He had to follow it. And he did follow it, quietly making his way back.
"Hey! Where are you going?!" Mantok cried out in frustration. "You'll get yourself lost!"
"I know which way I'm going!" Frodo called back, rushing towards the path and to the wardrobe. It wasn't in the same place as before. What? How did… well, he had to cross it. Tension built with each step. Soon enough he was no longer followed, as the footsteps moved away. Yes, there was the smell of candlelight and the darkness enduring beyond. A friendly darkness that could only mean night waning. The trees vanished and the coats returned. He collapsed on the floor the second he hit the open door. To his surprise, his clothes had returned. His hobbit clothes. How did that happen? What was the date? How long had he been gone?
All he knew was that he was back in Bag End, safe and sound.
.
Bag End had the same odds and ends as before. There was a parlor complete with a fireplace as well as a table and chair, rugs, and two cushioned chairs. The study had a writing desk and a fireplace, with the added books, scrolls and maps of Middle-earth. Other rooms included bedrooms, bathrooms, a pantry and a cellar. It was quaint with the mixture of an assortment of books, maps, parchment papers scattered about the smial. It was Bilbo Baggins' home, whenever it suited him, but this was also Frodo's home, too, as Bilbo made him his heir.
Now, in the same room, there was also the wardrobe that led to Narnia. Frodo longed to see if the wardrobe held Narnia as it did the night before, but as he learned later in the morning, he had been gone for just a few minutes, not even an hour. That made no sense to him, and yet that's what happened. His heart raced when he saw the wardrobe, but there was another voice that stopped him. His eyes closed for a second, knowing then who it was.
"You're going through it again," Samwise Gamgee, the brown-haired hobbit, asked. Sam was Bilbo and Frodo's gardener, but he treated the two with the utmost respect. Frodo knew it best not to argue with him, but this was one such occasion when he might be wrong. "You can't understand what's in there."
Frodo faced him, keen on his interest in the wardrobe. "Why? Do you know what's in there?"
"No," Sam said, shaking his head. "No, and I don't pretend to. But if what you said is true about Narnia—" Frodo told him about the wardrobe during his morning walk. Even then, Sam's curiosity and fear wouldn't abate. "—do you think we'll find it?"
"Find what?" Frodo asked, testing him with calmness.
"Narnia," Sam said, bluntly. "Maybe it's in there."
"Let's find out," Frodo said, ready to open the door.
"And you should go." Bilbo entered the room. "Both of you. I'll wait here until you return."
"Uncle?" Frodo asked, surprised to hear his response.
"My boy, do you think I would deny you this adventure." He gestured with hand. "You two go. I'm sure Narnia's back in the wardrobe. Now open it. Don't wait here any longer."
Frodo nodded. His heart raced once more inside his chest. He breathed for a moment. The seconds of waiting drove him mad. His hand reached for the latch in the shape of a key. The latch turned and the door opened. A warm breeze filled the room. He smiled, knowing then what it was. He gestured forward as he entered the wardrobe.
"Come on, Sam!" he said, taking the lead.
Sam hesitated. Should he follow his master into the wardrobe? He wasn't coming back. Well, so much for waiting for an adventure to come. He hastened his steps, entering the wardrobe, but leaving the door ajar. He wasn't missing this adventure for one second and – oh! There were trees on the other side, and Frodo pointing with his index finger into the skies.
It was clear Frodo had seen something and Sam knew it to be true. A figure with brown hair and wearing a red dress appeared before the two hobbits. Who she was was unclear, but as he moved away from the trees and joined Frodo, Sam could see now the figure was a little girl, noticing them as well. She was quite the sight to see, but in a way, she was gazing at them, too.
One word came out from an older girl with dark hair and wearing a purple dress. "Lucy."
"Lucy," Frodo repeated, knowing then what he should do. "Hullo? Hullo, I'm Frodo and this is Sam. We come from Bag End, in the Shire, in Middle-earth. Where are you two from?"
"From Finchley," Lucy answered, smiling. "I've never seen you two before. What are you?"
"We're hobbits," Frodo said, greeting her promptly. That was the start of it all. The start of a friendship that would soon last a lifetime. He wasn't about to miss this chance for one second, no matter what.
o-o-o
Thanks for reading. :)