Chapter Three Disclaimers: Frodo Baggins, Rorimac Brandybuck, Saradoc Brandybuck, Brandy Hall, and Buckland come from J.R.R. Tolkien's book trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. Neida | The Seductress and Gale Boffin are my original characters.

Warning! This chapter is Rated M for underage sexual themes, alluding to ghost sex, and rape.

Chapter Three Song(s): "The Upside," song by Lindsey Stirling, featuring Elle King.

Chapter Three Summary: Shortly after Neida vanishes, Frodo is visited by spirits, who keep grabbing him. Just after he and Rory take Frodo's belongings back to Brandy Hall, Frodo encounters a young spectral figure around his age.

Sorry for the few months' delay. This chapter was really tough to write, mostly in part because I knew there would be spirits hanging around Frodo. So, I tried to keep this to underage sexual themes, but some of it alludes to ghost sex. Hopefully, this is okay, and it works. I was struggling to think of any other way to write this chapter.

That said, enjoy. :)

Chapter Three:

Haunted by Spirits

Frodo couldn't shake the feeling that something very wrong was about to happen to him. He looked up from where he sat inside the open wooden pavilion.

He wanted to find Neida, talk to her about this. But he couldn't. Neida had fled the scene.

Disappointment filled Frodo's heart. One thing did not make sense: why did he have this sudden urge to be with ghosts, to be with spectral figures that were no longer part of this world? It chilled him to his bones. He didn't want to have anything to do with spirits.

Something about Neida must be attracting these desires to him? But then, he had this thought before. Oh dear! Why was it happening to him again?

"No! No," Frodo spoke, feeling the morning air creep over him.

Wait. Morning air? Frodo spun around towards the lush, green grassy hills of Buckland. Footsteps approached, but there was no person attached to these feet. The very air unnerved him. He had to get out of here, and fast! But where could he go?

"Ehh! Ahh!" Frodo was pulled by invisible hands away from his seat. He clawed at the air, attempting to make the spectral figures stop, to leave him alone. For a moment, he was dragged against the nearest post.

A button at the top of his shirt nearly came undone. Frodo reached for the button, stopping the spirits from unbuttoning the top part of his shirt. He charged off, before another word was spoken.

He just barely made it inside Brandy Hall, when he felt spirits clawing at him. He held onto his shirt, doing his best to keep calm. Soon, he collapsed on the floor, feeling spirits touch his clothes, before dashing away on him.

The moment the spirits were gone, Frodo lay on the floor in a crumbled heap. Fear overwhelmed him. He didn't know how long he lay there on the floor, before finding his way to a standing position. If not a wobbly standing position.

Much to his surprise, he could hear voices coming from down the hallway.

No! Not again! He ran off before another word was spoken.

Quietly, he made his way into the guest room that was now his own. He closed the door behind him, finding his way over to his bed to sleep.

"Eh!" Frodo jumped, feeling spirit hands touch him, but not doing anything to him. Frodo held onto his shirt, keeping himself safe from being touched by spirit hands in that way.

Somehow, the hands calmed down, resuming instead to hug him, to hold him. Frodo's eyes widened at the feeling of ghostly hands pressed against him. They were comforting him. He closed his eyes, finding sleep eventually crawl over him, unaware of the spectral figures now laying on top of him.

~o~

Frodo awoke a few hours later.

He felt so strange, as if ghostly hands had touched him. His eyes shot open, as he observed his clothes: his clothes looked fine. No unbuttoned shirt or trousers. He sighed, relaxing as though he'd just experienced something good. But he couldn't pin down what it was he felt.

It was... odd.

He sat up, wanting more than anything to get off the bed and explore Brandy Hall. He looked up as his bedroom door opened, revealing Rory Brandybuck, come to see him.

Rory sat on Frodo's bed, contemplating what he was about to say, "We're heading to your parents' house to grab your things. Then we're heading off to the notary to get you officially adopted. You're a Brandybuck now, Frodo, even though you are a Baggins."

Frodo lowered his head in shame, wondering if he should tell Rory what he thought happened to him as he slept. No. It was probably nothing. What spirits would be after him? Unless... Neida. Of course. He should have known she'd be up to her old bag of tricks!

"Do you understand what I'm telling you, son?" Rory asked, curious about him.

Frodo looked up at his uncle, nodding to him. "Of course," he stated with a shrug.

Rory nodded, cautious towards him. He stood up, coaxing Frodo, "Well, come on. You'd best get dressed. We'll be heading off soon." He walked towards Frodo's door, closing it behind him.

Frodo trembled. Already feeling alone, more alone than ever. And the spectral hands returned, placing an invisible hand against his right shoulder. He sighed, fear taking over him once more.

No! He had to do something, but what? There was no way of escaping the spirits. Unless... he grabbed his shirt, keeping it buttoned, as he stood up. He couldn't stand this. The spirits kept pawing at him. He had to leave his bedroom, now.

Oh, how was he to get anymore sleep after this?

Frodo turned his gaze towards his chest. Did he have to do this, with spirit hands tugging at him? Then he remembered something: he didn't bring any clean clothes. He sighed, darting out of his bedroom, before another word was spoken.

He stopped in the hallway, feeling the spirit hands leave him.

Odd. It was all very odd behavior.

Frodo looked up, turning to Rory, who understood. All at once, Rory approached the lad, kneeling before him. Rory admitted, plainly, "I can see you only brought what you have with you. We'll stop by your parents' house, get you your clean clothes, as well as your dirty ones. I trust those will need washing?"

Frodo sighed, nodding in understanding.

Rory smirked, knowing Frodo didn't want to be left alone right now. He stood up, urging Frodo to walk with him. "Right. Come with me, son. We'll see about grabbing your belongings."

"Thank you, Uncle Rory," Frodo stated, joining Rory and his family in the dining hall, from which second breakfast was to be had.

~o~

The auction at Frodo and his parents' house began at noon sharp.

By the time Frodo had grabbed his belongings, with help from his relatives, Frodo found himself getting out of there, before another word was spoken. He didn't know where his adventures would take him, but one thing was clear: he could no longer spend time at what was his parents' house.

Another hobbit family would likely own the hobbit hole. But for now, Frodo was at least glad he would get to stay at Brandy Hall with his relatives.

Frodo smiled at Rory, finishing gathering up Frodo's things and storing them inside his new bedroom. "Thanks for doing this for me, Uncle Rory. I couldn't..."

Rory couldn't help but let out a belting laugh. "...Think nothing of it. Now, shall we head to the notary. Buckland has one. It's in Saradoc's office. Surely, you knew that."

Frodo shook his head. "Well, I had this feeling he'd be serving under you. But I didn't..."

"...quite the inquisitive lad. Aren't you, Frodo?" Rory said with a staunch smile on his face. "This way."

"Right, I just..." Frodo's attention diverted elsewhere. A young hobbit girl passed by his gaze. She looked beautiful, but she also looked like another spirit. Frodo turned his gaze back to Rorimac, who only smirked at him.

"You interested in girls, young lad?" Rorimac asked, curious about him.

"What?" Frodo asked, cautious. He turned his attention to the hallway. Quietly, he spotted the spectral figure: a girl his age, donned in a bluish-grey hobbit dress. She looked so beautiful, so divine, too.

It almost unnerved him. The way he approached her worked well to his advantage. He stood behind her, grabbing her right shoulder to get a glimpse of her.

He caught her name: Gale Boffin, a new girl or soon to be one.

Gale merely looked at him in wonder, before zipping right through him.

Frodo sighed, feeling attracted to her.

"Frodo, are you coming?" Rorimac asked, getting Frodo's attention at once.

Frodo looked back, charging at his Uncle Rory, as they made their way to the notary. It wasn't long before the papers were signed and Frodo was officially adopted into the Brandybuck family.

Frodo got to keep his surname Baggins, out of respect to himself and to his parents. Of course, it was a respect to the Baggins family, too. Frodo wouldn't have had it any other way.

Chapter Three Outro Song(s): "Masquerade," song from "The Phantom of the Opera."

.x.

How was that?

This chapter honestly wasn't one of my favorite chapters to write, but I pushed through and so, we finally have this chapter posted. :)

I'm currently brainstorming the next chapter, figuring out whether Frodo will be older in the next chapter or still twelve years old. So, we'll see what happens.

Thanks for reading. More chapters to come. :)

~Aria Breuer