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(Track 02-A Shadow Of The Past)

"Good night, Ms. Brianna. Good night, Mr. Frodo." "Have a pleasant evening, Sam." I was feeling drowsy and tired. Thank goodness we were home.

As we entered Bag End, everything was completely dark. I couldn't see a thing. I heard a strange creaking noise coming from the living room. "Frodo? Where are you? I can't see!" Someone planted their hand firmly on my
shoulder. "Frodo? Frodo?" "Is it secret?! Is it safe?!" There was a tall, bearded man standing in front of me. "Wh-Wh-Who are you?"

"My name is Gandalf. Gandalf the Grey. Who might you be?" "My name is Brianna." "That's a very odd name for a hobbit." "I'm not a hobbit." "What is your business here?" "I live here with Frodo."

The old man raised his bushy eyebrows in surprise and scratched at his beard. "Where are your parents?" "I don't have any. Frodo took me in and I've been living here for quite some time. I'm his adoptive daughter."

"Enough of this foolishness, I'm going to take you back to your real home." "But, this is my real home!" The old wizard shook his head in disbelief. "Please, believe me! This is my real home!"

"I'm over here, Gandalf." Said a voice. Frodo had come over to greet the old wizard. "I am terribly sorry, Gandalf. I forgot to introduce you to my lovely daughter, Brianna. I wanted to introduce her to you but I never really had the chance." "Frodo adopted me." I added.

"I see. How long has she been living here with you?" Asked Gandalf. "Almost a year, now." Answered Frodo.

"Isn't that right, Brianna?" I nodded my head in agreement. "Why are you here, Gandalf?" "It's about the ring." "What ring?" I asked. "I don't understand." "Where is it?" Asked Gandalf, who was growing impatient. "Do you still have it, Frodo?"

Frodo nodded his head and went to search for the ring. He came back with a sealed envelope. Gandalf seized the envelope and threw it into the fireplace. "What are you doing?!" Cried Frodo. Gandalf grabbed a pair of tongs that were sitting near the blazing hot fireplace. The wizard pulled the ring from the ashes.

"Hold out your hand, Frodo. It's quite cool." Gandalf released the ring from the tongs and it landed in the palm of Frodo's hand. "Can you see anything?" "No. There's nothing. Wait...."

I moved in closer towards Frodo, watching him examine the magic ring. An old transcript suddenly appeared on the ring. It seemed to be some sort of old language.

"There are markings. It's some form of elvish. I can't read it." "The language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here." Wait a minute, did Gandalf jut say Mordor?

"Mordor?! The ring came from Mordor?" "It did not come from Mordor, my dear Brianna. It was forged there. In the fires of Mount Doom."

"Mount Doom?" "Come, we shall speak about it eleswhere."

The three of us headed to the kitchen. I was sitting quietly at the table beside Gandalf, watching Frodo pour the both of us a cup of hot tea.

"So, what else do you know about the ring?" I asked. "The ring was forged by the dark lord Sauron." "Sauron?" "Yes." "If Frodo has the ring, then where did Bilbo find it?" "Bilbo found it....in Gollum's cave." Murmured Frodo.

"Gollum? Who's Gollum?" I asked. "Gollum was once a hobbit, a Stoor hobbit. He was once known as Smeagol, before he became corrupted by the ring." "What is a Stoor?"

"The Stoors are a breed of hobbits. They are known as the river-folk of the Shire." "How did Sméagol find the ring?" "A long time ago, Sméagol had gone fishing with his cousin, Déagol in the Anduin River. Déagol was dragged into the river and found something buried beneath the cold, wet riverbed." "The ring?"

"Indeed. After he found the ring, he took it into his own and he wanted to keep it for himself. Sméagol had noticed that Déagol was hiding the ring from him. When Sméagol saw the Ring, he stared at it with great desire. "Give it to us, Déagol, my love." He said. "Why?" Said Déagol. "Because it's my birthday and we wants it." Sméagol seized at the ring, but Déagol did not let him have it. Sméagol grew into a barbaric rage and strangled Déagol. Unfortunately, Sméagol had murdered him and had stolen the ring."

"What ever happened to Déagol?" I asked.

"Déagol's body was never found." "What happened to Sméagol? What happened to the ring?"

"Sméagol was being consumed by the ring. The ring gave him everlasting life." Said Gandalf.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I asked.

"It is a terrible power to posses." Gandalf replied. "Sméagol was being corrupted by the ring."

"So, he took it deep into the Misty Mountains. For many years, he lived there in misery and darkness."

"He turned into Gollum!" I cried.

"Yes. He did." Gandalf nodded his head.

"Bilbo found him! I remember Frodo telling me a story about how he was on a quest with Thorin Oakenshield and his company and they were discovered by a hoard of goblins. Bilbo fell down a cliff and that's where he found Gollum. Right, Frodo?"

Frodo fixed his gaze on me. He seemed fearful and worried about something.

"Did I say something wrong, Frodo?" I asked.

"No, my dear. You did not. "

"Don't you remember, Frodo? Riddles in the Dark?"

"Yes, I remember." He whispered.

I looked up at Gandalf in surprise. "Gandalf, what does any of this have to do with Frodo?"

"Sauron's life force is bound to the Ring. Any one who posses it will be hunted down." "By who?" "The servants of the dark lord."

"Shouldn't we do something?!" I urged. "You two must make for the village of Bree. I know of someone who might be able to help."

"Who?" Asked Frodo.

"You shall find out soon enough." "The ring will be safe there?" "I do not know, Frodo. I do not know. Come, we should make haste."

"Shouldn't we pack first before we head out?" I asked. "If it is necessary." Answered the old wizard. "Frodo, I have to get a few things before we leave. I shouldn't be long."

I quickly ran to my room and lifted a small suitcase from underneath my mattress.