Music above is titled Forest Of Forgetfulness and was, I believe, composed by Fantasy & World Music by the Fiechters.

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     Thorin walked alongside Gandalf, looking about warily. He had never been to the forest known as The Old Forest, especially since everyone else had seemed so spooked by it. They'd even called it haunted. Yet, he was being led through it by an elf and a wizard. He had to admit, however, that he would rather travel through this place than go through the Barrow-Downs.

     Valadhiel, who was in the lead, stopped and held a hand up to signal those behind her to stop. She glanced back at them, and once she'd seen that they stopped, she silently made her way forward, pulling her bow off of her back. She stared into the weeds as she pulled an arrow from her quiver, knocked it in, then held it up.

     Thorin furrowed his brow as he watched the elf, then he looked around. What dangerous creatures lived here? Wolves? Bears? He was sure it wasn't orcs, otherwise they'd have been mentioned by the people of Bree-Town.

     After a moment, a wolf leaped out of the bushes. As soon as it appeared, Valadhiel released the bowstring, shooting the foaming canine in the head. After it fell over, she walked forward, nudged it with her foot, then looked over at Gandalf and Thorin. "It's safe now."

     Gandalf walked forward, stopped next to Valadhiel, and looked at the canine. "It had gone mad." He commented aloud after noticing its mouth, then he cupped his hand around his staff, blew, then released a ball of fire onto the dead dog, which quickly consumed it. "Wouldn't want the disease to spread. The wolves around here are dangerous enough already."

     Valadhiel nodded, then she continued to walk. However, before she even made it three steps, she tripped over a tree root that had suddenly sprung out of the ground, and she gave a startled cry when it wrapped around her ankle and lifted her into the air.

     "What is happening?" Thorin asked after he, too, was grabbed by a root. He was still on the ground, though the root pinned his arms to his sides.

     "I was afraid this would happen." Gandalf commented, trying to wrestle his staff back from the tree, but to no avail. "We have made this particular tree angry."

     "Tree? Angry?" Thorin asked, looking at Gandalf as if he were crazy.

     Valadhiel clenched her teeth and kept trying to get free, but it only made the tree squeeze her even tighter. After a moment, she stopped struggling before she looked at Gandalf and Thorin. "All will be fine, just wait a moment."

     "How can you just say all will be fine when-" Thorin began, though cut himself off. "Is that singing?"

     "Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow;
     Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow." [1]

     Valadhiel smiled when she heard the masculine singing voice. "That is indeed singing, Master Dwarf." She replied, then she turned toward the sound and also began singing, though it seemed like a musical call of distress.

     "Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo!
     By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow,
     By fire, sun and moon, harken now and hear us!
     Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!" [2]

     Thorin looked at the elf, then he gave a look that implied he thought she was absolutely crazy. Angry trees? Singing in the distance? Singing a distress call? What was this madness? He was beginning to think they were all mentally ill!

     "Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow,
     Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow.
     None has ever caught him yet, for Tom, he is the master:
     His songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster." [3]

     Valadhiel smiled when she spotted the old man's blue jacket and yellow boots. It wasn't a very common color, but it allowed her to be able to see him easily, so she was thankful for the bright colors. She looked over at Thorin when he gave her an odd look, then she looked over at the singing man once again.

     "Let these three go, you naughty tree,
     Just what has gotten into thee?
     They have come from the town of Bree
     And are here to come home with me." Tom Bombadil sang when he reached the captured trio, looking at the tree as if scolding a child. Shortly after he sang these words, the tree gently set the trio down, gave the wizard his staff back, then planted his roots back into the ground before he ceased to move.

     "Thank you, Master Bombadil." Gandalf thanked the orange-bearded man as he looked at his staff, then at the jolly man. "I doubt I could have gotten us out of there."

     "I'm sure you could have, though I'm happy to assist." Tom replied with a bow to the wizard, then he looked at Valadhiel and Thorin before he smiled and turned around. "Goldberry will be glad to see you three. She sent me out to make sure you were still coming, and my River-maid doesn't like being out past dark."

     Thorin again gave both wizard and elf a questioning look, then he walked over to the short red-head before he murmured, "Who exactly is this?"

     "Though I've known him awhile, I still only know what I've heard. Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow, bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow." Valadhiel quietly replied. "Although, I do call him the lord of song at times. His songs drive off danger."

     "So I am the only one here that finds this ridiculous."

     "I suppose you would- though I'm rather surprised you dwarves don't know the power of music."

     "Please, come with me back to my house, we'll have some hot tea with my spouse." Tom Bombadil said in a sing-song voice before he walked away along the path.

     Thorin was about to say something to the elf before the crazy merry man spoke in his sing-song voice, then he sighed before following after the man, wizard, and elf. This had been and no doubt still would be an interesting night.

     Valadhiel walked alongside Bombadil and spoke with him, Gandalf close behind with Thorin, who listened to the conversation. They were talking about some tree named Old Man Willow, and he was once more weirded out by all of the crazy talk, especially when Gandalf jumped into the conversation. He began to tune it out after a moment, though he began listening again after the Tom fellow asked Valadhiel about the Barrow-Downs.

     "How many wights did you see?" Tom had asked, though his voice still carried a merry sound rather than a serious one.

     Valadhiel looked at him, then looked ahead when they came to a river. "There were a good amount of them in the Northern Barrow-Downs. They mostly stuck to their mounds, though. Barghests and rats along with a few other vicious critters."

     "What of the Southern Barrow-Downs?" Gandalf asked after a moment of silence.

     Valadhiel shuddered involuntarily when a crawling sensation went along her spine. "There are many more wights, and they're stronger. There are also more mounds, but even when taking that into consideration, there are many more. The barghests and rats are fewer there, thankfully."

Tom Bombadil nodded before he stepped into the river. "That's what I suspected, and now it's confirmed. With ever growing darkness, such should be expected." He commented in a sing-song voice. "Now come, step into the river! Cold it might be, no doubt you will shiver, but when we reach home you can sit by the fire and drink some hot tea."

     Valadhiel followed him into the river without hesitation, having been this way before. Sometimes one could walk alongside the river, but other times, the trees liked to plant themselves by the waters.

     Thorin still wasn't sure what he thought, but after even Gandalf climbed into the river, he followed after. He'd been through far worse than wading through water, and if they'd be able to dry by a fire later, then all would be fine. He glanced over at the elf after a moment, wondering what she'd been doing in a place such as the Barrow-Downs.

     After a moment, Tom Bombadil stopped. "Go on ahead, wandering trio, while I stay behind and watch Old Man Willow."

     Valadhiel, Gandalf, and Thorin went on ahead, the elf in the lead, Gandalf behind, and Thorin in the back. The poor, confused dwarf was wondering what all of this talk about the willow tree was. After they were back onto the shore, Tom Bombadil followed after them and back onto shore. Up the hill and to the right on a higher part of the hill was a cozy looking cabin.

     "Lead the way, Dear Valadhiel; I know that you know where I dwell." Tom cheerily called to her, staying in the back. He could keep an eye on any trees that might try to attack them from the back, whether playfully or with ill intent.

     Valadhiel gave a bow of her head to Tom before she led Thorin and Gandalf up the slope, then she turned onto the path to the right before leading them right up to the porch. She hadn't even reached the door before Goldberry had opened the door and poked a lantern out.

     "Goodness me, I was worried that something had gotten to you all!" The River-maid exclaimed, then she stepped aside to allow them all in. "Please, do come in! I have some hot tea all ready just now, and the fireplace is waiting to be of use."

     "We're all quite fine, I assure you." Gandalf replied, standing behind the short elf as he leaned on his staff. "Simply some late business we had to attend to."

     Valadhiel walked into the cabin, Gandalf following after, then she turned to see Thorin enter, then glanced away when Tom and Goldberry greeted each other with a kiss. They'd been together as long as she'd known them, and they still acted like love-struck teens around each other. As Goldberry rushed around preparing tea after getting them in front of the fire, Valadhiel was a little quiet, every so often smiling and thanking the maiden.

     After Thorin had been introduced, and after it had been decided the trio would stay in the cabin however long they needed to, Thorin thanked the couple before he turned to Gandalf. He was eager to hear the wizard's plan.

     Gandalf looked at Thorin after he'd been watching him questioningly before he began speaking. "Now, about this quest. As I mentioned, you will need a burglar. Someone skilled enough to get into the mountain undetected, someone who won't be heard or seen, and you need someone with a scent the dragon won't recognize."

     "I assume that you already have someone in mind." Thorin commented, then waited for the wizard to go on.

     "I do, as a matter of fact. A Hobbit by the name of Bilbo Baggins. It is true that Hobbits tend to never leave the Shire, but there have been exceptions. I assure you that this particular Hobbit is an adventurous one, and he is exactly who you need."

     "How do we find him?" Thorin asked after a small moment of silence, thinking about what the wizard had said. He wasn't so sure a halfling would be the best choice, but his father had always said that Gandalf always knew what he was doing, even if it didn't make sense. Plus, he made a good point. Old Smaug wouldn't recognize the scent of a Shireling.

     "I will make a mark on his door before you and all accompanying you return." Gandalf replied. "Valadhiel will return to your halls with you and lead you into the Shire. She has been about the place before on quests and knows it all like the back of her hand."

     Thorin and Valadhiel looked at each other, then back at Gandalf. "You're sending her with me?" The dwarf questioned. "An elf among a throng of dwarves? Surely there's another way."

     "It sounds like a perfect plan to me." Gandalf said, completely serious about this. "I won't be there, so I will send her in my stead. She knows the Shire, as I said before, and I am sure she misses Ered Luin."

     "Surely an elf wouldn't want to be amongst dwarves." Thorin muttered in response.

     "As I believe I have mentioned before, I am capable of speaking for myself." Valadhiel commented, looking from the wizard to the dwarf. "If you will have me, Master Thorin, I would love to accompany you to the Blue Mountains. It's been a long time since I've been there." After speaking, she looked away from both of them and stared into the fire, whispering, "A very, very long time."

     Thorin looked at the elf when she spoke, then at Gandalf once more before he sighed. "Very well. You will come with me to my halls in Ered Luin. But I will warn you that my people are not very fond of your kind."

     Valadhiel smiled, though continued to stare into the fire. "Yes, I am aware of that." After a moment of silence, Tom Bombadil and Goldberry came walking back into the room, sitting in some armchairs behind a small table, all behind the fireplace.

     "Vala, you never did tell us the results of your last quest." Goldberry commented. "Did you ever find that woman's lost husband?"

     Valadhiel got up from where she'd been sitting on the floor by the fire, turned around, then looked down and bit her lower lip before she spoke. "I found him, though not under good circumstances. He'd been turned into a wight."

     "What of the family that had been waiting in the area near the exit to Bree?" Tom Bombadil asked, looking saddened by the news. Still, however, he wouldn't let it keep him down. It was okay to be joyful even during times of sadness. After all, there was so much to be sad about, that if one didn't focus on joy, one would be in a constant state of sorrow.

     "I gave them the news, then asked that they leave the Barrow-Downs." Valadhiel replied, finally looking up at the couple rather than down at her feet. "So they left, and they said they will never come back."

     "Good. It is rather foolish to stray into the Barrow-Downs without knowing just what you'll face." Goldberry said before she got to her feet with a yawn. "Good night, you three. Tom and I would love to stay and continue conversing, but it is late, and I am sure that we all need some sleep."

     Everyone bade each other a good night and good rest before the couple left. They didn't bother with showing them to guest rooms, as Valadhiel had already offered to show Thorin and Gandalf to a room they could stay in. She was very familiar with the cozy cottage.

     "Well, I think it is about time I retire for the night." Gandalf commented, getting to his feet.

     "The spare room you will be staying in is down the hall and to the left, Mithrandir." Valadhiel said in response, then she smiled up at him. "Goodnight, mellon nin." [my friend.]

     "Goodnight, Valadhiel. Goodnight, Master Thorin." Gandalf said, giving a bow of his head to the two of them before he walked away. Soon, he was in the room and had closed the door behind him.

     There was a moment of silence before Thorin spoke up. "I take it that you and Gandalf have known each other for at least some time." He got to his feet and sat in one of the armchairs.

     Valadhiel, who had walked over to the other armchair, looked at Thorin as she sat down before she nodded. "Aye, we have known each other for a long, long time. I wouldn't still be here had it not been for him."

     Thorin raised his brow slightly when he noticed that she used the word "aye'. It wasn't something he had ever heard an elf use before. He knew she was more than just an elf, but usually even the half-elven used proper speech. "I see. And how long would a long time be?"

     Valadhiel smiled, her eyes twinkling in the glow of the fire. "Since I was a child, and that was thousands of years ago."

     "I know elves are immortal, but I never would have imagined you were that old."

     "Most wouldn't due to my height, especially if they know about the elven life cycle." Valadhiel looked over at the window when she heard a long, mournful howl. She sighed softly before she got to her feet. "I believe I'll retire for the night. Today has been a long day."

     Thorin nodded before he got to his feet. He himself had had a rather long day, and he was ready for some shut eye. "Where will I be staying for the night?"

     "Your room is just across from Gandalf's. The first door in the hall to the right."

Thorin gave her a polite nod of his head before he left, making his way into the hall before he entered the room he was to be staying the night in.

     Valadhiel gave a polite nod in response, and once she heard the door to Thorin's room close, she turned and walked into the kitchen before going to the stairs. She made her way up the short flight of stairs and into a round room with a single window at the end of it. There was a bed mat, a lantern, a night table, a dresser, a closet, a round table in the right back corner, a coat rack, and in a very small separate room to the right was the bathroom. That room had a door, though the bedroom did not, as it hadn't originally been a bedroom.

     Valadhiel set her weapons on the table, hung her satchel on one of the coat racks, then she took her armor off before she went to the bathroom and cleaned herself up before she got into her night clothes. Once she was fully clothed, she grabbed her hairbrush and brushed out her fiery red hair as she stood by the window, looking out at the beautiful moon.

That night, she fell asleep to the sounds of crickets and wolves, and fell into a peaceful, unusually dreamless, sleep.

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[1]: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Part I: The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 7: In The House Of Tom Bombadil, Page 135
[2]: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Part I: The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 7: In The House Of Tom Bombadil, Page 145
[3]: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Part I: The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 8: Fog On The Barrow-Downs, Page 153