Chapter One Summary: God leaves Bertha in Archet, Bree-land. While in Archet, Bertha discovers her desire to become a hobbit rogue. However, she meets a familiar face, who shows her a different, yet similar, path.

Sorry for the near six-month long delay. I was reposting fanficton stories and poetry over on Archive Of Our Own. I did manage to cross-post this fanfiction story over on Archive Of Our Own. So, now I feel the need to continue cross-posting this fanfic on this site as well as on Archive Of Our Own, or AO3. :)

So yes, we're back to this story. Lots of excitement happens here. Also, we have another quote. That said, enjoy. :)

Chapter One:

Archet

"Can a human become an angel?

"Every person living today is an incarnated fallen angel. To become a divine angel again, we are given many lifetimes on Earth to regain our virtue so that we can become a pure angel."

- Shawn Murphy, Author on Philosophy and Religion, answered on Quora

-X-X-X-

The Village of Archet stood out in Bree-land. The village was set apart from the rest, and yet it was close to the Villages of Combe, Staddle, and Bree-town. Archet had its own training grounds, inside its village walls, with guards posted on either side of the gate leading into the forests of Archet.

There was a hunting lodge, a ruin watchtower with stars etched into the stone floors, a lake where the hunting grounds was located, as well as another ruins fortress, whereas Bertha discovered soon after, was guarded and protected by the bad spirits that she found running across the field, standing just outside the gate at the Village of Archet.

The grounds were grassy, green, and hilly, with trees, bushes, and a pond somewhere close to the farmland, which the spiders were protecting and guarding.

.

The moment Bertha followed the LORD through the doorway, leading into the Village of Archet, the first thing she saw were the training grounds. While she spotted the Mad Badger Inn, she was surprised there was a training area to begin with.

Just what was she supposed to do? Fight with swords? With weapons? With her staff, if she had a staff?

Granted, she was still donned in the clothes she bore since leaving the stained-glass realm. She wondered if she would gain an assortment of new clothes, armor for her to wear, while she stayed in the Village of Archet.

She turned towards the LORD, hoping for an answer. She was surprised He was leaving her. "You're leaving me? Again!" She looked at Him in shock. She hoped this was the last time that the LORD frequently left her.

The LORD met her gaze, turning around and facing her. He told her, bluntly, "Bertha, I'm always with you, even if you cannot see me."

"But how do I know that? What can I do?" Bertha asked, worried about Him leaving her again.

The LORD sighed, pointing out, "You'll have to trust me. I will be with you always. Don't worry. I won't be gone." He changed the subject on her, "Get to know the locals. I'm sure we can find someone to train you as a sage. Good luck." He added, "I will guide you on your journey. Don't give up, and don't lose hope. I'll be back soon." He vanished, leaving Bertha alone.

~o~

The training grounds was a good place to stop by. There was nothing but an open field covered with dirt. There was also plenty of training dummies to spare. The training dummies were stuffed with hay and bore silver armor. The warriors, sages, shield wardens used the training dummies to defend themselves.

The training dummies looked sturdy enough for Bertha to take down. Of course, she wanted to be a sage. Now, she was going against this. She wanted to be useful. But how? Hmm… she wondered.

"Miss, would you like to be a smuggler? A rogue? A burglar?" a hobbit trainer asked her. He was blunt, his hair was spiked up, as his blond hair was streaked back against his pale-skinned head.

Bertha snapped her head, staring at the hobbit trainer now. A rogue? A smuggler? A burglar? Either choice sounded interesting. She nodded several times, grinning in satisfaction.

"I'd like to join the rogues. What do rogues entail?" Bertha asked, curiously.

The hobbit trainer shrugged.

Bertha caught a glimpse of his armor. He wore a lion's head symbol, stained red, on his tunic. She wondered what that was all about. Perhaps it was the same Lion she encountered in the stained-glass realm. She didn't know. It sounded right.

"Ahem!" the hobbit trainer cleared his throat. He smiled at her, already enjoying her company. "Which do you prefer? A rogue? A smuggler? A burglar?"

"Oh! I wish to be a rogue," Bertha said, convinced this was the occupation she wanted. She grinned, asking him, "Does it pay well?"

The hobbit trainer looked at her with keen eyes. He honestly thought it was funny. He laughed, enjoying himself even more.

Bertha stayed, confused. "What?"

The hobbit trainer waved his hands, saying to her, "Nothing." He added, full of himself, "Of course, they pay. If you have the right money."

Bertha looked at him, wide-eyed and horrified, "Oh! Do you want me to pay you?"

The hobbit trainer shook his head. "What? Oh no! Not me! You're here to learn." He paused, looking at the training dummies. "Well, let's get you started." He stood up, passing a knife to her. The knife rested in its brown leather sheath. "Here. For you."

"For me?" Bertha asked, confused. When she was in the stained-glass realm, carrying a weapon was far behind her. Now that she was here… well, carrying a knife might be a good idea.

The hobbit trainer nodded, saying to her, "Yeah, for you. Well, take it. You'll need it."

Bertha sighed, taking the weapon and strapping the leather belt around her waist. She pulled out the knife, asking the hobbit trainer, "So, what now?"

"Oh! Here. Choose your target!" the hobbit trainer said, waving his hand to reveal the training dummies. "Your choice."

Bertha sighed, nodding as she took her stance in front of one of the training dummies. She took a breath, brandishing her knife. She side-swiped the training dummy. Its straw flung in the air as Bertha hacked at it, using her own moves to beat the training dummy.

The training dummy stayed in one place. Bertha attacked it further. She was just about to keep hacking and slashing at it, when soft hands grabbed her by the arms, pulling her away from the training dummy.

"That's enough!" it was Frodo. Frodo Baggins! He was stopping her from attacking the training dummy!

Bertha snarled, growling, "I had him! I was right there." She collapsed on her knees, taking Frodo down with her. She breathed in and out, hesitant towards him. Frodo took her weapon, leaving it on the ground for safe keeping.

"What were you trying to prove?" Frodo whispered, making her feet comforted by his soft hands running up and down her pale-skinned arms. Bertha sighed, falling onto his chest. She stayed there. It was beautiful. It was such a beautiful moment… so, why did Bertha feel like falling asleep in Frodo's arms?

"Well," the hobbit trainer blurted out, startling Bertha. As Frodo stood up, helping Bertha to her feet, the hobbit trainer continued to speak to her, "I must say you fought bravely. I think you're ready for a new weapon! Here. Your choice," the hobbit trainer said, showing a variety of weapons on his table.

Bertha sighed. She couldn't remember seeing weapons on the table. But then, she had been fighting the training dummy. She was still in the mood to attack it, when Frodo stopped her. That's when the hobbit trainer must have showed off his weapons. They were just for her!

Hmm… what weapon would Bertha choose?

Hmm… Bertha looked at her options: there was a knife, a sword, a mace, a great sword, and an axe. Each weapon looked unique. They reminded her of how far she'd come as a hobbit rogue.

She looked up at the hobbit trainer, saying to him, "What would you prefer? I am a rogue, right?"

"Are you?" Frodo asked, getting her attention. He shrugged, saying, "You can be both, you know? A rogue, a smuggler…" he shrugged again, smiling at her, "a burglar. It's one in the same."

"It is? I'm a rogue, you know," Bertha said, as Frodo chuckled.

Frodo patted her back, rubbing it, as he said, "I love you, Bertha. I hope you know that."

"Is that all?" Bertha asked, embarrassed.

Frodo smirked, saying to her, "Why yes, yes, it is. Didn't you notice?"

Bertha looked at him, before looking away, "I didn't notice."

"Well," the hobbit trainer stated, huffing, "it's up to you, you know. Good luck."

"It's up to you." Frodo stated to Bertha. He whispered in her ear, "I would choose the sword. But that's me."

Bertha eyed the sword in its brown leather sheath. She'd been eyeing it ever since she saw it. The sword was the first thing she saw, when she came to the table. She picked up the weapon, pulling it out from its sheath. She tested the weapon, noticing the sword was perfectly balanced.

Perfect! Just what she needed. She sheathed it, handing the hobbit trainer her knife.

"Excellent! Once you put that sword on your belt, you'll be good to go," the hobbit trainer said. Bertha strapped the sword and its belt around her waist.

Frodo smirked. He told the hobbit trainer, "Thank you." He faced Bertha, telling her, "Come on. Let's go."

"I'll see you later!" Bertha said, as Frodo led her away from the training arena.

"I'll see you often. You get new skills from me, you know!" the hobbit trainer said, great joy in his heart.

That got Bertha's attention. "Oh, really?" she looked at the hobbit trainer, just as Frodo led her away from the training grounds.

"Come on. Let's get something to eat," Frodo said, turning Bertha around, as he led her straight to the vendors, selling food and drinks. He smirked, handing a wine glass, filled with red wine, over to her. "For you. Cheers!" He tapped her wine glass, his own filled to the brim with white wine.

Bertha looked at him, before taking a swig of her drink. The wine tasted good, but she felt like she could drink water. She looked at Frodo, telling him, "Happy hunting!"

Frodo chuckled, pointing out to her, "It's good. Thank you."

"You're welcome," Bertha said, taking another swig of her drink.

Thanks for reading. More to come. :)