Shafts of light streaked through the golden leaves above Corrus' head as he wandered through the Trollshaws. The Elves had cautioned him against wandering past the gates of Imladris, but he reasoned that as long as he was on the path, nothing bad could happen. The beasts and brutes would stay safely in the woods, while he would stay on the road.
What beauty this land had to offer! The green-and-gold foliage, the clear blue water at the Ford of Bruinen, and, of course, the people it was home to. Corrus had never met anyone quite like the Elves of Rivendell. Welcoming they were, and wise, yet they could be merry as well. Corrus had always taken Elves to be a serious sort, but it appeared he was wrong. He wondered if all Elves were like this.
While he mused on the temperament of Elves, he realized he had walked quite a distance. "Well, I'll just rest for a bit here before I go back," he said aloud. He found a large boulder in a shaded area next to the path, and leaned up against it, closing his eyes.
The boulder moved.
Corrus' eyes sprang open. He looked up at the boulder. It seemed as motionless as ever. Yet he had felt it move... hadn't he? Perhaps he was imagining things. He leaned against it again, pulling his hat down over his eyes.
The boulder moved again.
Corrus leapt to his feet. Yes, it had moved-- he was certain of it. He inspected the boulder carefully. Then his heart was in his throat as the boulder got to its feet.
What he had taken to be a boulder was actually an enormous troll. Grey-skinned and over twelve feet tall, it turned and stared at the little Hobbit before picking him up by the collar of his coat. With stinking breath, it asked, "Wot is you?"
Corrus couldn't find an answer. He stammered for a moment. "I-- I, er--" The troll snorted. "A eye-er! Never 'eard of a eye-er before!" Corrus shook his head. "N-no! I-- I'm a Hobbit!" The troll tilted his massive head. "A 'Obbit? Never 'eard of that either. Wot does 'Obbit taste like?" He opened his vast jaw, preparing to swallow the Hobbit whole. Corrus squeaked in fear. "N-no! I'm-- I'm very small! I wouldn't make a mouthful!" The troll stopped and closed his mouth, considering Corrus' words. Then he dropped him. All of the air left Corrus' lungs with a great whoof.
The troll seemed to be thinking. "You know where the Elves live, 'Obbit?" Without thinking, Corrus nodded. The troll gave a wicked smile, revealing blunt, grayish teeth, like rows of tombstones. "Then you take me to them, so's I can eat them!" Corrus' heart was pounding in his chest. Then he had an idea. "N-no! For-- For you have not found just any Hobbit! My name is Corrus, and I'm a powerful wizard!"
The troll threw back his head and laughed. "Wot? A wizard? You?" He laughed some more. Corrus nodded. Internally, he was terrified, but he was determined not to show it to this bully of a troll. He picked up an acorn off the ground. "S-see this acorn? I'll throw it at you, and it'll turn you to stone!" The troll only laughed harder. Corrus knew he'd dug himself in deep, but he mustered up his courage, and threw the acorn, right at the brute's face.
The Hobbit's aim was true, and it struck the troll right in his eye! With a great cry of pain, the troll stumbled backwards-- right into a patch of sunlight. In an instant, the troll had turned to stone-- just as the Hobbit had told him he would.
Corrus was shocked at this turn of events, but also very pleased with himself. He picked up the acorn and pocketed it. "I'm keeping you for good luck," he murmured. Then he turned and walked back down the path he came from, hurrying along a bit faster than before. Perhaps there was some truth to the Elves' warnings after all.
