A Nice Walk

[lithoniel]

The merry little hobbit was walking along the road with her chestnut pony, Morning Star following. She sighed as she watched the busy hobbits, either shopping or chatting with other. She stopped and looked at her mare. "Look at the day, Morning Star! What a find day to walk and explore!". She inhaled the fresh Shire air through her nose and exhaled through her mouth. "Well, let's keep going".

She continued walking down the road, away from all of the chatting and laughing, to the peaceful setting the rippling brook and the nice emerald colored grass. She finally stopped and looked around. There were no other hobbits here so far to enjoy this setting. "A place to think....".

Loni sat on the grass and gazed to the brook. She heard the peaceful sounds of the water gently flowing and the breeze gently blowing. It blew her light brown curly locks and her pony's mane. Morning Star came right up to Loni and nudged her. Lithoniel looked back at her and smiled. She got up and stroked her softly. "Sorry girl...no treats today". A sigh escaped from her mouth as she turned to look at the beautiful scenery.

"If only my mother and father were here to see this beautiful place".

[Lily Took]

Lily was on her way out of Hobbiton, back to Tookborough. She had spent a lovely week with Pippin, who was helping Samwise Gamgee with something or another, and had enjoyed her stay in the stuffy town. However, it was high time that she be getting back to her own family, and no doubt some of the younger hobbits had already ravished her mushroom patch. But alas, that was a risk that she had been willing to take, and anyway, she could always grow more, and if that were the case, then she would hide them better next time.

The day proved warm and bright, and the smells and textures of the Shire were all but glowing as she walked down the dirt path. There was a girl, not too far ahead of the path, and she was toting behind her a pony, something that was rare seen in these parts of the Shire. Folk around here didn't take to kindly to such creatures, as they were dirty and large. That was something about Hobbiton hobbits; they wanted to feel bigger somehow, and so shunned everything big. Not at all like her father, who was always going off about how big things were at his edge of the Shire. But no mind; her father wasn't even there.

"Hullo there!" Lily called as she came closer, wanting to announce herself so she wouldn't scare the pony. For, even though she liked big things, they were still big, and being as such as had a kind of caution about her. Better to be safe than sorry, that was what Pip always said, anyway.

[lithoniel]

The hobbit lass turned around when she heard the voice of another hobbit. When she saw another lass, Loni smiled and replied back to the other hobbit. "Hello! I am Lithoniel, Loni for short and this is Morning Star". She gestured her hand toward her pony, who slowly walked up to the other hobbit and sniffed her hand in curiosity. "Oh....and don't worry about Morning...she's as gentle as a rabbit. Won't harm anybody".

She paused for a minute and looked at the beauty of the scenery before continuing. "So....what's your name, if you don't mind me asking".

[Lily Took]

Lily saw the pony coming towards her and she tried to shrink into her skin. Again, she did not like such big things when she was not accustomed to them. But, she could handle the pony as long as its owner was nearby to control the animal if it got out of hand. And the other lass seemed to have a handle on her beast, so Lily would risk getting closer to her in order to speak more comfortably.

She edged around the pony called Morning Star and walked even closer to Loni. This is when she stuck out her hand in Took-fashion and held it in midair. Whether or not this hobbit shook hands, or felt it to be too personal was up to her. But Lily was a Took and there was nothing she could do to change that, not that she really wanted to in the first place. (She loved her family and the line of Tooks.)

"I'm Lily, Lily Took. And of course I don't mind. It's a sensible question." She grinned, knowing that her brash actions might be too forward, even for a Took.

[lithoniel]

"Lily, a nice name. And it is very nice to meet you". She smiled and gestured for her to sit down with her on the grass. "It is really beautiful up here....seems like the most beautiful place in all The Shire. Though I have heard-", but she cut herself off just in time. She was going to say she has heard of places more beautiful than The Shire. Places that her parents described. "Erm....forget what I was going to say".

She didn't want to reveal that she was a hobbit different from other hobbits. She was a hobbit who seeked adventure, who heard stories about the elves from her parents. You could probably tell she was not that all hobbit because she usually brung her pony with her. Hobbits usually didn't have ponies with them unless they needed them for travel or to carry stuff. "So, what brings you out here?".

[Lily Took]

Lily followed the hobbit to the grass and sat down, taking her walking-pack off and setting it beside her. Absently she opened the flap and pulled out a bit of cheese, wrapped in cloth, and began munching on it, listening to the lass talk. She had the tendancy to eat while others were talking, and her mother found it quite rude. Of course, it had always made her father laugh, which only encouraged her behavior, causing it to become a habit. But the cheese was good, the sun was warm, and the grass smelled sweet, so Lily didn't really notice how rude she was being.

"Why am I out?" Lily laughed, despite herself. It was a silly question, no doubt, but she felt the need to humor this lass. "I was actually out visiting my cousin, Pippin Took, who is actually visiting Frodo Baggins up at Bag End. Since my Gaffer can't come out and get Pippin himself when he wants him, he usually sends me or one of my sisters."

Lily stopped short, thinking to herself exactly how forward she was being. She knew better than to go on and on like that with strangers, especially now that more and more "queer" fold were coming about, as her mother put it. As the trusting sort this was especially a problem for Lily, because she could and would open up her whole life to anyone who had a mind to listen. She really intended to work on that, really. It was just a matter of trying, which she didn't exactly like to do.

[lithoniel]

Loni didn't really care that Lily was eating while she was talking. Hobbits loved to eat, anyway. That's what hobbits do! It's hobbit nature to eat.

"Frodo Baggins, did you say?", inquired Lithoniel. "My, isn't he related to......to Bilbo Baggins? The one that went on the adventures?" She was probably asking too many questions, but she liked asking questions and getting answers. She is the kind of lass who is curious about different types of things. She wants to learn about the world around her. She loves asking questions and getting the answers to them. But was she asking too many questions? Questions that would make one think that this hobbit was up to something?

No. She can't be asking too many. That is just her. But by asking questions, this hobbit is slowly revealing that she was different from the rest. Then again, most of the hobbits in Hobbiton knew that she was different and didn't want to hang around with her. Some fear that they will get "bad ideas" from her and rubbish like that. Yeah right! You can't blame her for thriving for some adventure and excitement in the world of Middle Earth. So what if she was a little queer? So what if she strived for a sense of adventure? She is still a hobbit and kind of does what other hobbits do!

[Lily Took]

"My, isn't he related to......to Bilbo Baggins? The one that went on the adventures?"

"Why yes, yes he is."

Lily wasn't too surprised that Loni knew about Bilbo and Frodo, as they were a bit famous among hobbits. What made her feel special, though, was her relationship with the latter, for as it stood they already picniced together and talked with each other. Even if Pippin hadn't been her cousin Lily was sure that Frodo would have spoken to her that day by the water, though having Pip as a cousin sure helped.

Loni seemed embarrassed after she asked her questions, which Lily didn't understand. Perhaps it was because she herself liked asking questions, or maybe she didn't see anything wrong with the lass asking about Frodo (all hobbits nowadays were curious about Frodo). Whatever the hobbit's problem was, Lily was sure it was nothing of deep importance. Hobbits simply didn't think that way, at least, none of the hobbits she knew. If something was truely and deeply the matter no doubt Loni would be as cheery as ever, going on about it as if it meant nothing.

Lily's cheese was gone now, and she was content to listen to the sound of the birds chirping in the trees above her. For the time being, anyway. Soon her mind was wandering back to the hobbit and her questions, and she smiled sheepishly.

"Why do you want to know about Frodo? Have you met him before?"

[lithoniel]

"No. But I heard hobbits talking about the lad." She sighed as she said this. It was one disappointed sigh. In her opinion, hobbits shouldn't be gossiping about other hobbits. It was bad. She continued talking. "It's sad, really that hobbits are talking about him. They're saying pretty mean things about him. Why...I think I can..." But she stopped short. She was going to say that she could probably relate to Frodo and how he felt about others talking behind his back. Hobbits would talk about her and her family behind her back. She was too queer around here. Always thinking about going on adventures and the elves.

Her pony neighed and pawed at the ground with impatience. She nudged Loni and pointed her nose at the water. Loni only laughed. "Ok, ok. I will bring you there. Want to head further to the brook? Morning Star seems like she could use a drink and it's nice there." But her pony was pulling and pawing. "Well, I guess Morning Star can't wait." She headed down to the brook and let her pony drink from it. "So, Lily.....how long have you known Frodo, anyway?" Here she goes again with asking questions. But again, she's one curious lass. It seems like that she can't stop. When will she stop?

[Lily Took]

Lily watched as the lass took her animal to the water. She didn't understand how Loni knew exactly what her animal wanted, because Lily hadn't heard any noise come from the creature. Perhaps she knew what the pony's head and feet moving meant, like how her brothers knew what the wag of their pup's tail meant. At any rate, the brook was not too far away from where Lily had sat down, and the lass let the creature take its fill of water. It was interesting to watch, anyway, that the pony responded to her slight touch like she responded to the toss of its head.

So, Lily.....how long have you known Frodo, anyway?"

How long had she known Frodo? Well, one of her first memories of someone outside her own family was of Frodo, he had come to her house to drop something up, and she had been very, very young. She had started following Pippin when she was 10, hiding whenever Frodo was around, and over the years she grew more and more bold, and finally spoke to him for the first time when she was 20. Of course, that was not so long ago, and over the last five years she had slowly begun talking to him more and more, though the majority of the talking was done by Pippin, as he was the one she followed around. So really she was only Frodo's friend through Pippin, in a way.

"I've only really known Frodo for a few years," she admitted. "Really, he and I are more close acquaintances."

[lithoniel]

The hobbit lass only nodded to her reply. "That's wonderful that you know him." She looked away from Lily and at the brook. She had that far off look in her eyes. A small sigh escaped her as she gazed off, wishing to just go off and have her own adventure, traveling to places like Rivendell or even Lothlorien. She looked back at Lily and asked her a question. "Lily, have you ever got that feeling where you want to just........I don't know, explore new lands?" She sighed again. Her face held no smile on it. There was a hint of a small frown lingering. "I feel that I just don't want to..." But she stopped.

Could she trust Lily to keep this to herself? The other hobbits lass did seem like a very trusting person to be around. before going on again, she asked her the question. Her face held seriousness in it as the words escaped from her mouth. "Lily, can I trust you to keep this to yourself? To keep this between us. It's just that...I tend to say things and other hobbits just don't seem to understand. I feel that I am somewhat shunned by the other hobbits around here. They think that I am too different from the rest of them." She stopped talking and waited for her answer. She wasn't sure yet, but she would have to wait and see.

Was she making Lily think that she is just too queer to hang around? Would Lily turn away from the adventurous hobbit lass?

[Lily Took]

Lily was a little taken aback by Loni's forwardness. Hobbits weren't usually so outwardly outspoken about things like change and travel. Okay, she'd admit it, she had noticed in her family, mostly cousins more or less, that they did not like the idea of change or the thought of leaving even Tookborough. According to her mother Lily was the odd-hobbit out, as she loved wandering over and through the Shire and out to Bree on occasion with her sisters, and often dreamed of going out and meeting the elves to the West, by the ocean. Would she ever manage to get to that point in her life, where she was brave enough to step foot out of the Shire? Probably not.

"Lily, can I trust you to keep this to yourself? To keep this between us. It's just that...I tend to say things and other hobbits just don't seem to understand."

"Of course you can!" Lily chimed. The smile that was natural to her face widened. "I love secrets, I love to keep them."

What could she say that Lily couldn't understand? Unless she was going to start talking in another language, Lily doubted that there wasn't anything this lass could say that would surprise her.

[lithoniel]

The hobbit lass sighed and let a warm smile appear on her face, but only for a little while. "Good. But I think you might want to sit down for this first. It might be pretty long." That smile disappeared after she said that word. She was actually going to tell another hobbit about her story. She couldn't believe that she actually found another to talk to. One that could maybe understand her. One that would stay friends with her even after she told Lily about where she came from and why she wished for such adventure in her life. Inside, she was just filled with joy that she can share with another. She never did this, for other hobbits would usually shun her out.

And so she began. "My parents often used to go visit the elves. And so did there parents before them. I guess it runs in the family. Lithoniel is an elvish name meaning 'ash-tree'. My brother and sister also had elvish names. Well, when my parents had my older sister, they moved down to the Barrow-Downs. I guess they figured that they wanted us to be closer to other hobbits.......other hobbits didn't usually accept them, for they came from lands that were foreign to them. My parents just ignored them and continued to raise us like any other hobbit parent." She paused and smiled when a fine memory started to come up. "They would tell us wonderful stories about the elves. About how they are more fair than any other race in Middle-Earth. They would sing beautiful songs to us when they would bring us to bed."

"I have always been amazed by their stories. I was the one who often asked them questions about them. My sister was, however different. She wanted to be more like the other hobbits. So she would ignore them or leave to do other duties when they started their stories. My little brother was in the middle. I guess I was more like my mother and father than my sister or my brother. I was the one who wished to see the elves. I was the one who was more interested in ponies and other creatures. I was the one who would venture not too far from the hobbit hole so that I can pretend I was on my own little adventures." She sighed.

"My parents are now dead. "They died a few years ago when I was still in my tweens. So my sister watched both my brother and I until I was old enough to leave because I was annoyed with her. She would try to get me to stop. But I wouldn't. So now my brother is with my sister and I moved to Hobbiton. And I still have that yearning to just go out into the world. To see the elves that my parents would talk about so many times." She ended her life story and looked up at Lily. How will she react now?

[Lily Took]

Lily didn't know what to think of the story. About halfway through she had finished her meal, and sat staring at the lass weave her tale. It was a fantastic story to be sure, something that rivialed Master Bilbo's works, but nothing lived on the Barrow Downs save for the Wrights, and they were harvesters of souls, taking the innocent from their path and capturing them. Lily knew the land well, as she passed it on her way into Bree, and the mists that rose from those hills gave her chills even thinking about it. This hobbit could not have lived happily on the Barrow Downs; this hobbit could not have lived on the Barrow Downs and still be here to tell the tales.

"You say you lived in the Barrow Downs?" Her voice was quiet after the story, but she cleared her throat a little and pressed on. "Only the Wrights live on the Downs, they are the only ones who are able to survive the evils there. My great-uncle Burl once ventured out on the Downs, and came back a few hours later, white as a ghost sputtering something about the fog. Are you sure it was the Downs you were on, and not the land surrounding them? There is a touch of hosipitible land just outside the Downs, between the forest and Bree, but as far as I am aware no one has tried to tame it."

Confusion was setting in. Who was this hobbit in front of her? Obviously not of the Shire, that was for sure. An Elvish name indeed, and contact with the elves... Lily knew enough from her father and Bilbo's stories that the elves didn't like anyone but themselves. Aside from Bilbo, and any Bree-hobbits, Lily doubted that the elves had seen any other hobbits. Elves were like the four-o-clock flower, and only came to bloom at a certain time of day, in a particular direction, and quite possibly only if they felt like it. No one could tame the four-o-clock flower, as no one could tame an elf. At least, that was what her father had told her, and she quite believed her father. This started a seed of doubt in Lily's mind about Loni; was this lass farce?

[lithoniel]

Loni thought and thought. She was pretty sure that she lived on the Barrow-Downs before, but there is always a possibility of her being wrong. She shrugged at the other hobbit's question. "I'm...pretty sure it was on the Barrow-Downs." There was a little bit of uncertainty in her voice though. No, she was not really sure if it was actually on the Barrow-Downs. But why does it matter? It was a long time ago.

She wondered if Lily believed in her story. All of it is certainly true, save for the mistake she must've made with the Barrow-Downs. Her family did visit the elves generation after generation, but it stopped with her mother and father. She was part of the fallohide breed of hobbit, fair in skin and almost elvish like, in a way.

Right now, she was not sure if it was a good idea to tell this hobbit about her story. Does she even understand it? Sure, it may sound unbelievable, but it's true. Then again, these hobbits never ventured far from the Shire. Loni believed in the stories that her parents told her about the elves and about how they used to visit them, but there is a possibility of them lying to her, just telling stories of old fallohide hobbits who used to visit the elves. "My parents told me the stories...and the songs," she tried to assure Lily, trying to get her to believe her.

Can she really trust Lily? The hobbit did look like a trusting one. Will she still be not sure of this story that she just told? "Maybe she has to take it all in slowly or..." Loni wasn't sure. She is no magical creature that can read minds or know their every thought, but she does feel an uncomfortable feeling about all of this.

[Lily Took]

Lily was too tired to really question the validity of the hobbit's words, so she simply smiled and nodded. It was nice to know that she had a kindred spirit in the Shire, someone besides Frodo who longed to see more than what was presented before them. In fact, the change was very refreshing, and Lily smiled as the girl balked and turned seemingly shy. After quickly packing up her meal she got off the ground and bravely approached the pony.

"Well, it doesn't matter where you come from. It's nice to know that someone besides myself, and isn't directly related to myself, has a love of travel. Most hobbits nowadays are too content to stay at home, which is nice, because the world is very big and we are very small, but...."

She trailed off, not thinking of her manners. Her mother was always having to remind her that she rambled. She blushed, then smiled faintly. After a quick breath and a moment to think, she finished her thought.

"But there are more places than the Shire, more people than we know about. I think it's fascinating that there are creatures unlike any I've ever seen just beyond the mountains."

[lithoniel]

"Somebody has to take that step forward to travel to other places if they want to see them, in my opinion." But she wasn't sure if she should take that step forward and actually go see the other creatures that reside in this vast world of Middle-Earth. "Bilbo took that step...now who else will take that step? To be brave enough to venture away from the safety of the Shire and explore the very wonders of this magical world?" It was like she was talking to herself when she was saying this. She was really thinking aloud. For a minute she forgot the other hobbit was here beside her and gazed off away from her. "Maybe it is time to take that very step..."

But she didn't take any steps. The hobbit remembered that there was another lass here with her. She came back to reality and blushed a little in embarrassment for speaking her thoughts. "Yes, right. You are right. It would be fascinating to see those creatures that live away from the Shire...it would be like an adventure. But of course, there is the safety of the Shire to consider. There might be many dangers that hobbits know nothing of, though I am not sure exactly what kinds of dangers there could be." Loni said this in a thoughtful tone.

By now, the pony was done feeding and drinking and noticed the other hobbit advancing toward her. Loni noticed this too. Hobbits didn't like big creatures, horses or any other kind of equine for that matter. They only used such beasts for long travel or farming. "She's finally done with her meal, and looks pretty satisfied about it. You know, Morning Star is somewhat like a hobbit. This girl has a fondness for food and treats." She let a chuckle escape her and patted the mare's furry chestnut neck.

[Lily Took]

(Apologies; muse for Lily seems to have escaped me of late.)

"She's finally done with her meal, and looks pretty satisfied about it. You know, Morning Star is somewhat like a hobbit. This girl has a fondness for food and treats."

Lily had not forgotten about the pony, but instead and worked up the bravery to get close to it. Not that she was afraid of such an animal, but she did not like the idea of a creature she was unfamiliar with. Add to that the fact that the pony was twice her size, and probably four times her weight; Lily did not want to die of crushing. However, she felt that she had mustered up enough courage to get close enough to the neck to touch it.

"Do you think she will mind if I touch her?"

Lily's voice was timid, and she did not intend them to be. Her feet moved closer to the pony, inch by inch, until she was standing beside Loni. She could hear the wheezing breath of the animal, and feel the warmth coming off of its skin. Now that she was close enough, she could see the tiny details and patterns on the pony, and it was very beautiful indeed. She didn't want to wait for a response so she simply reached out her hand and placed it on the marbled fur, letting the animal breathe in and out, and raise her hand with it. Simply wonderful!

"Farm ponies are not as lovely as this," Lily said quietly, not moving. "They are for work, not pleasure."