Aleana and Aragorn

Chapter 4

***Aleana POV***

After Frodo makes sure I am quite alright, he runs towards Bag End, shouting Bilbo's name. I follow him and we rush into Bag End. Frodo stops and picks up something at his feet as I close the door behind us. We look to see father staring into the fire, locked deep in thought. He was muttering something to himself.

"He's gone, hasn't he," Frodo asks quietly as he steps into the living room. My heart breaks at his voice, "he talked for so long about leaving...I didn't think he'd really do it." 

He walks up to father, stopping before him, but father is still somewhere in his own mind. 

"Gandalf," Frodo asks, breaking father free of his thoughts. Father turns and his eyes lock onto what Frodo was holding. I lean forward and my eyes widen when I see the ring in Frodo's hand. Was that Sauron's ring? Father hurriedly sorts through Bilbo's papers while answering Frodo.

"He's gone to stay with the Elves. He's left you Bag End," father holds out the envelope he has found and Frodo drops the ring into it, "along with all his possessions." 

He seals the envelope with wax before handing it Frodo and rises, gathering his things. 

"The ring is yours now," he continues, "put it somewhere out of sight."

"Where are you going," Frodo asks.

"I have some things I must see to."

"What things?"

"Questions. Questions that need answering," father exclaims, "Aleana, my child, stay with Frodo."

I nod in understanding as Frodo still continues to question father, confused as to all that was happening, though I wasn't entirely sure either. 

"You've only just arrived! I don't understand..."

Father is already at the door and he turns to us. 

"Neither do I. Keep it secret, keep it safe," and with that father hurries out the door, leaving us standing there. Frodo looks to me in confusion and fear seeing father so flustered and though both emotions were present in me, I kneel before Frodo and look him in the eyes, offering a small smile. 

"Do no worry Master Frodo, all will be fine, I am sure." 

After a few seconds he nods. The next few days pass with no more unexpected events and father still had not returned. I sit in the clearing Frodo had once taken me too, mulling over my thoughts, when Frodo pops up before me. 

"Why don't we go to the inn, I could use a drink," he asks and I smile in agreement and we head down there where we meet Sam. Frodo grabs a drink, taking a seat beside Sam and forgetting for the moment all that had happened. I however do not, for my mind draws me back to that room, back to him. What had he meant when he had called me my love? Was he really Sauron, or merely an imposter? And what of the ring? Had it caused my vision? Many thoughts swam through my mind and I was so lost that I did not hear Frodo call me until he was shaking me. 

"Yes," I ask, once shaken out of my daze and looking at Frodo. 

"Are you truly alright Aleana," Frodo asks concerned.

"I am, do not fret. Merely lost in thought. Was there something you wanted?"

"I'm heading back to Bag End, would you like to accompany me?"

"Of course," I stand and follow him back to his home. The walk back is quiet, both of us unsure of what to say as the previous events had left us quite confused. Before long, we have reached Bag End, but as we enter, I immediately place a hand on Frodo's shoulder, stopping him from walking further in. Something was amiss, I could sense it. All was quiet and we both peer uneasily into the darkened living room. 

Suddenly a large figure looms out of the shadows, reaching for Frodo. Frodo lets out a startled cry pushing away from the figure and myself and I lose my balance as he does so, falling to the ground. Frodo spins around to face his assailant and father steps into the moonlight. His clothes are dirty and ragged from traveling and his hair and beard are longer and unkempt. Paranoia blazes in his eyes.

"Father," I exclaim, picking myself off from the ground, "what in the name of the Valar do you think you are doing giving us a scare like that?!"

Father however ignores me, turning to Frodo.

"Is it secret? Is it safe," he whispers urgently. 

Frodo nods before lighting the living room and pulling the envelope out of an old chest. Father was still acting suspicious, alert, and without a word he grabs the envelope and tosses it into the fireplace. I stand and walk up to stand beside a very bewildered Frodo.

"What are you doing," Frodo cries.

Flames instantly consume the envelope, revealing the ring as it sinks into the red hot embers. Father reaches into the fire with a pair of tongs and lifts the ring out.

"Hold out your hand, Frodo...it is quite cool," father drops the ring into Frodo's hand, "what can you see? Can you see anything."

"Nothing...there's nothing," Frodo answers, but pausing, "wait..."

I move closer, looking at the ring and notice as fiery letters begin to appear, glowing red as if burning from within.

"These are markings," I look up at father in confusion.

"It's some form of Elvish," Frodo states, "I can't read it."

"There are few who can," father sounds ominous, "the language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here."

"Mordor," both Frodo and myself exclaim, looking to father.

"In the common tongue it says, 'one ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.'"

I suck in a deep breath at the words as they strike a fear in me unlike any other. Though I had wished to be wrong, I had been right. There indeed was an evil at play here and it rested on Frodo's palm: the One ring of Sauron. 

A/n: What do you guys think so far? I know you want Aragorn already and I promise it is coming soon! But hope you are enjoying so far!

Comment and vote!

Thank you!