Not Quite Dead

Forcefully Thrown

Haerelneth arrived about the same times as Gandalf did. If fact she completely ran into his wagon. She was running on the path when BAM! A cart. Gandalf halted and turned to the back. There lied his dear friend, sprawled out on the bed of the cart. "Haerelneth! What are you doing in there?" He questioned. He received a groan as she flipped herself onto her back and looked up at the old wizard.

"Nothing dear. I just thought the wagon would be perfect for ramming into. Don't mind me. Continue what you were doing ." She huffed and sat up. Gandalf chuckled lightly and started the wagon again. This caused Haerelneth to jerk back. She groaned again before going to sit on the bench up front with Gandalf. "How do you fair?" She queries. Her hood was still drawn over her head, hiding her face and hair from the world. "I fair well." He replied, "How are your travels?" 

Haerelneth hesitated but before she could answer the cart stopped right next to a hill where a young looking Hobbit stood. He had curly brown hair and crystal blue eyes. His arms folded in front and he had a stern expression resting on his face. "You're late," he claimed. Hairnet caught a mischievous gleam in Gandalf's eyes as he spoke to the Hobbit. He does not turn to look at the hobbit. "A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to." He stated and looked up to the hobbit in the end. 

They had a stare off and Haerelneth shook her head when they both began to break. Soon Frodo jumped into Gandalf's arms and gave him a huge hug. "It's wonderful to see you Gandalf!"  He exclaimed happily. Gandalf smiled, "Oh! Didn't think I 'd miss your Uncle Bilbo's birthday?" He started the cart again and Frodo settled into the empty seat next to Gandalf. Frodo then took notice of the mysterious person sitting on the other side of Gandalf. "Gandalf who's this?" He queried.

Gandalf quickly looked to the girl. She quickly nodded her head and turned back to the road. "Frodo, this is Haerelneth. She is a good friend of Bilbo's'." Frodo, pleased with the answer, turned back to the road. Gandalf spoke up not even a minutes later. "So how is the old rascal? I hear it's going to be a party of special magnificence." Haerelneth chuckled at this and gazed at the scenery pass by. Frodo looks up at Gandalf and laughs "You know Bilbo." he begins, "He's got the whole place in an uproar."

Both chuckle at Frodo's words. "Well, that should please him." Gandalf states and Haerelneth nods in agreement. "Half the Shire's been invited." Frodo continues, "And the rest of them are turning up anyway." This time the whole group laughs. Frodo's face then drops "To tell you the truth, Bilbo's been a bit odd lately. I mean, more than usual. He's taken to locking himself in his study. He spends hours and hours poring over old maps when he thinks I'm not looking." Frodo sighs "He's up to something." 

Gandalf and Haerelneth glance at each other then quickly look away and gaze at the scenery. Catching what they did, Frodo looks back at the road. "Alright keep your secrets." Gandalf grunts in response and Frodo continues. "But I know you have something to do with it." Gandalf's head pops up "Good gracious me!" He exclaimed causing Haerelneth to laugh. "Before you came along we Bagginses were very well thought of." Gandalf was somewhat curious "Indeed?" Frodo begins explaining, "Never had any adventures or did anything unexpected."

"If you're referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out the door." Gandalf states. Haerelneth snorts and elbows his side. Frodo shakes his head. "Whatever you did, you've officially been labeled a disturber of the peace." At this Gandalf looked slightly put off. "Oh really?" 

Suddenly the cart is being chased by small Hobbit children. Each of their faces lights up and they jump around. "Gandalf!" They cried over and over again. "Fireworks?" A grumpy looking Hobbit stands outside raking his wife soon comes at and they watch the cart in disapproval. The children finally stop following "Aww..." they say in dismay. Frodo and Haerelneth both look to the old wizard. He pretends to ignore them. When they were a good couple feet away, sparks flew. The fireworks went off and cheers could be heard from the children. Even the grumpy old man laughed until he saw the look on his wife's face. He then when back to his grumpy face. Frodo smiled at Gandalf as Gandalf laughed at the sound of the children. 

"Gandalf, I'm glad you're back," Frodo said as he got off the moving cart. Gandalf took out his pipe and called back. "So am I, dear boy! So am I." Haerelneth smiled warmly and her gaze fell to Gandalf. "I love the Shire." She proclaimed and look back to the world ahead. "It's so quiet and peaceful." She paused for a moment, "Oh and for the record, it was not a little nudge out the door. It was more like very forcefully thrown." This caused Gandalf to burst out laughing and soon it caught to Haerelneth. "That it was my dear," Gandalf said after they had calmed down.  

Author's Note

I DO NOT own Lord of the Rings. All rights go to the author.

I am almost done with school! Well at least for the school year. I have a week left of school. Hope you liked this chapter. 

Kat (Doctorsscarf)