A/N: As promised, I have begun a Hobbit Fic. Review and tell me what you think of it so far! Au revoir!

Things you should probably know... that will make more sense in the future:

1.) My name is Collie. And before you say it, I have already heard the 'isn't Collie that dog breed?' question. The answer to that would be yes. Why my parents named me that, I have no idea. They either have a twisted sense of humor or they were feeling creative on the night I was born.

2.) If you ever have the chance to watch the Hobbit, do so. It saves a lot of trouble if you ever end up in the situation I was dragged into. Key word being dragged— no way would I have ever volunteered for what happened.

3.) If future-Collie could write a note to present-Collie (A.K.A: ME!), I would write of three things: #1. Never, never, assume that your family is anywhere near relatively normal. They could be the FBI, the Mafia, or worst of all they could be... dwarves. #2. When a wizard asks a question, think on it for a few minutes. If you answer wrong... then too bad so sad, because whatever happens in this story could happen to you. And #3. Never try to outsmart said wizard. He knows almost everything, which in this case was true only because he was behind everything that happened to me.

4.) Random notes may pop up from the future-Collie. She likes to make an appearance in order to help readers remember certain things and for the plot to run more smoothly in certain cases.

5.) Always remember that no one is born a hero. Much like no one is born a leader, a fighter... or even a writer. I was none of these, and I still deny that I am, no matter what those pesky new relatives say.

6.) People make mistakes and sometimes, no matter how stupid or hurtful those mistakes are, we have to let them go. Forgiveness can be simple, but it's definitely not easy.

In a little town with a very big name...

I was doing inventory— which is dull, mind-numbing, and takes an eternity to finish. And unfortunately, it was what I was currently working on during my Christmas break.

Nestled somewhere into the Cumberland Plateau of North Alabama, there was a little town where the only new buildings were small fast-food joints, and perhaps the odd house that was being built. But before those establishments, there was a place the locals called 'the square'.

It was old... far older than I was, anyway. But then again, I am a mere sixteen years old. The county courthouse sat in the middle of this odd part of town, and surrounding it were several brick buildings that had been constructed in the 1910's. They were once all that this town was, but now that the businesses had grown, the commercial companies who had once been housed there had built other places to room their blooming corporations.

Mom and Pop shops had replaced the larger stores, dividing the buildings into several different office spaces. Some of the original emporiums still remained though, and it just so happened that I was in one of them— counting how many pairs of work boots and jeans were on the shelves.

"I have a pair for $24.98.', I muttered, scribbling the number down on the inventory form. "But there's only one..." I almost called for the store manager, but remembering that it was against the rules to yell across the store, I quickly began my search for him instead.

"Jay? There's only one pair of the—"

"The Carhartt hunting gear?', Jay interrupted. "That style seemed to be quite popular this season."

"Well duh.', I said sarcastically underneath my breath, peeved at being cut off. "They were camouflage pants and it's the season for killing Bambi's cousins!"

"The rest are upstairs.', he continued, ignoring my irritable expression. "Speaking of which, would you mind restocking that shelf after your lunch break?"

I gulped, begrudgingly accepting the task with a watery smile. It will suffice to say that I was borderline terrified of the upstairs warehouse. Remember what I said about the buildings being built in the 1910's? That is long enough ago that there have been rumors... legends even, of the upstairs being haunted. It's ridiculous, of course, but it doesn't help my paranoia.

Snatching my coat, I walked out the department store's door, fully expecting a cool blast of air to hit my face.

"Welcome to Alabama.', I grumbled as I realized the air was warm and muggy. "Where it's snowing one day and seventy-degrees the next."

"Good evening, Collie dear!"

I grinned quietly to myself before returning the greeting and walking towards one of the mom and pop shops that just so happened to be the family business. My mother did most of the work in the bakery, though she allowed her own mother to help— she said it gave Gram a sense of purpose.

"Hello, Gram-Gram!', I responded, using my elderly grandmother's pet-name. "How's business today?"

She quickly set the broom she had been using to sweep the bake shop's front stoop to the side, motioning me to come inside.

"It's been okay.', she replied softly, handing me a sandwich from the food showcase. "I sold all of the fried pies, so you'll have to make do with a cookie after you finish eating."

"You really don't have to do that, Gram.', I chuckled. "I'm going to start growing bigger if you keep feeding me all these goodies."

"Hm. Maybe I should feed you more... you are rather short for your age."

"I meant outwards.', I sniggered. "I'm quite done growing upwards."

"Oh, I don't know about that, Collie. You might grow another inch."

I shook my head while I laughed lightly.

"No, Gram. I think I'll be a dwarf for life."

Her eyes darkened for a moment at the word dwarf.

Whoops. I forgot about the talk mom gave me... That little 'chat' was worse than the birds and bees.

"Dwarfs.', she sniffed derisively. "That was what your grandfather called himself before he left me and your mum to fend for ourselves. Said he was off to find some god-forsaken land called Erebor— offered to take me with him, too. I turned him down flat and told him that if he ever wanted to come back I would welcome him, but I sure wasn't going to go traipsing off in search of a fictional realm."

I sighed inwardly as she retold the story of Gramp's 'faithlessness'. He had went crazy, according to Grandma, after he had read the Hobbit and heard the story of the dwarves' quest in the eighties. If I had been Grandma, I would have just followed him no matter how much sense he made. But apparently it was a touchy subject, so I left well enough alone.

For obvious reasons my brothers and I were not allowed to read or watch the Hobbit— which, of course, only made us want to defy the odd rule. I, rebellious teenager that I was, had managed to sneak peeks at the school library but I never could understand the story, so I skipped out on the entire thing. Didn't feel like I was missing much anyway.

My brothers made sure to fill me in, though. They had even went so far as to sneak out of the house to watch the movies. I say this in the most loving way possible: My brothers are nerds.

I passed the yellowed newspaper clippings that were fastened to the wall with sewing pins, of all things. They must have been there for ages: one of the dates read 1923.

"Breathe, Collie. It's nothing to be scared of... Jay said the pants were near the back... oh good Lord."

I held in a shaky breath as the floor underneath me (if this unsteadiness can be called that) creaked eerily as my footsteps passed over it. The stairs had been in decent condition, but the floor to the upstairs warehouse was definitely not in it's prime.

Empty metal clothes racks and the odd mannequin cast weird their weird shadows across the floor as I crept through the room. I tried not to wet myself as the shape of a mannequin in grey robes seemed to come out of nowhere.

"EEEKKK!', I yelped, back pedaling fast enough that I tripped and plopped onto my butt. "Jay really needs to move that creepy thing.', I complained as I rubbed my sore rear.

"I am not a thing. I am Gandalf. And Gandalf means... me."

"Jay robbed a wax museum!', I yelled jokingly down the stairs behind me. "He's got a talking Gandalf upstairs!" I peered nervously around the statue, fully expecting to see other characters from the Peter Jackson movies.

"You are a very strange figure."

"Just who are you calling stra— I'm talking to a statue. This place gets weirder and weirder.', I mumbled to myself as I turned around to go back downstairs. "The freaking statue is talking!"

"May I ask what you see when you look around?"

I quirked an eyebrow as I spun to face the statue. Jay has always had the tendency to play a few practical jokes on his employees— *cough*me*cough* —but this time he has gone a wee bit too far.

"Geez. You sure are realistic; I wonder how Jay set up the wiring... or maybe you're a cosplayer from that festival that's going on today..." I glanced up at the statue's face. "Are you real? Or are you just a statue?"

"I am quite real, child. Will you answer the question?"

"I don't know. Will you stop talking if I answer, Jay?"

"I am Gandalf."

"Oh-kayyy... I'm going to back away slowly now..."

I turned and bolted down the stairs, throwing the rules to the wind and yelling for Jay to get his butt in the break room and explain why there was a man in a costume upstairs.

"There is no one up there, Collie. I checked everywhere."

"Everywhere?', I inquired suspiciously, eyeing the usually cheery middle-aged man in front of me.

"Yes.', he sighed, giving me a baleful glance. "Maybe I should call a doctor." Jay reached for the phone.

"No. Really, I'm fine. It was probably just the lighting..."

"You said a statue talked to you, Collie. I think that perhaps I should at least call your mom..."

"Look.', I began, crossing my arms as my feet found a defensive position. "You try living with six brothers and tell me you don't see *things* every once in a while. If there's nothing up there—', I swallowed the bile that rose in my throat, along with my anxiety. "—I'll go get the pants."

"Are you certain...?"

"Yes.', I huffed. "It was probably just momentary madness. Happens a lot with my family."

(Note from Future-Collie: Remember what I just said. Madness does run in my family. It's important, in a weird sort of way.)

Jay gave a humorless chuckle before waving me in the direction of the stairs. As I climbed the dreaded steps, my life flashed before my eyes. Not in the way of 'this is the last few minutes I'm on this earth' either. Instead, I was thinking of every single horror movie I have ever watched where the victim creeps up the stairs... to be murdered at the top.

I shivered slightly at the thought, rubbing my arms to chase away the goosebumps that had appeared as I arrived in the warehouse again.

"I am glad you have decided to make another appearance.', someone stated in a wry tone. "You frightened me for a moment when you ran down the stairs."

"AH!', I yelped loudly while yanking something out of my pocket and pointing it at the creepy dude who had randomly appeared again.

"Collie?', Jay yelled up the stairs. "Are you alright?"

"NO! HE'S BACK!"

"Who?"

"HIM! GET UP HERE!"

The store manager's bald head slowly appeared, followed by the rest of him.

"Who? The statue?"

"DUH!"

He shook his head. "There is no one there, Collie. It is your imagination playing tricks on you."

"But he is—"

"What's in your hand?', Jay asked suddenly, grabbing that appendage and studying the small bottle encased in my palm.

"Pepper spray.', I ground out, tears forming in my eyes that he didn't believe me. Jay suddenly laughed aloud, turning the container so I could read the label. It was breath-spray.

"I will call your mom and ask her to pick you up." The manager quickly left me alone again, whistling lightly as he clomped heavily down the stairway in his steel-toed boots.

"Why can't he see you?', I sniffled. "Am I crazy?"

"No. He cannot see me because he was not meant to. You, however, were. I will ask you again, young Collie, what do you see in this room?"

"Rotten wood and cracked plaster.', I whispered, looking around at the old and decaying woodwork.

"I see a hundred years of history. And that, my dear, is why I am here. The difference between your view and mine is that I see the struggles and heartache of the people who came before you, while you only see something that needs to be thrown away and rebuilt. You need to learn of the sacrifices of your ancestors, and perhaps you will learn some important lessons along the way." The man identified as 'Gandalf' watched me wearily for a moment, biting his upper lip slightly as he mused over something.

"Yes, I think it will be good for you.', he declared at last, his eyes gaining a sparkle as his mouth twitched. "And most amusing to me."

"What will?"

"An adventure."

Why the heck does this sound so familiar?

"Nope! The number one rule in my house is that you do not ever follow a stranger. Ever.', I replied in a false sense of calmness, stressing the last word of my statement.

"I am hardly a stranger, my dear girl! I have known your grandfather Frerin since he was a dwarfling!"

"A WHAT!?', I spluttered, rubbing my throat as I choked on my own spit. "He was—"

"A dwarf.', Gandalf said gleefully. "Though how he ended up in the future I have no idea."

"A dwarf? Do you honestly expect me to believe that?"

"Indeed."

"And you also expect me to follow you to... wherever my grandfather came from?"

"Arda, though it is now apparently called Earth. A rather odd place it is now... though that should be expected, considering how it has been several millenniums since the Third Age."

"I'm not going back in time!" I stopped short for a moment, staring accusingly at Gandalf. "You're not... Dr. Who's brother are you?"

"I am many things, Collie, but that is not one of them. Now come, we must leave now if we are to meet with the company."

"Company?"

"Of dwarves, child!"

"I'm not going!', I snapped back before flouncing down the steps again.

"Do not open the door!', Gandalf called out gently.

I ignored his warning and flung the door open.

"What on earth?', I stammered as I tripped in surprise on the last step and fell into green grass.

"I believe you mean 'What on Middle Earth'."

Crap.