Ruby decided, rather quickly, that Gandalf the Grey was an odd man.

While his familiarity with Frodo and the latter's relaxed nature around him effectively dampened most of Ruby's usual unsociable anxiety, there was something about him that simply unsettled her. Perhaps this was because the wizened wizard exuded an energy more akin to Aura than anyone else she'd yet come across in Middle-earth. Or perhaps he reminded her a little too much of Professor Ozpin.

Either way, her mild discomfort was hardly noticeable as she grasped Frodo's hand to steady herself and leapt into the wagon. Sweeping her skirt and cape under her knees, she perched comfortably on the wooden seat, arm encircling the post beside her. Trusting people was one thing, but a rickety cart that appeared about as ancient as the wizard himself was another matter entirely. However, as the reins were given a sharp jerk and they started off back toward town, Ruby realized she had little to fear and, gradually, her hold loosened.

"I see you've made yourself a friend, my dear boy," Gandalf began, peering over at her from beneath the brim of his tall hat. His inquisitive yet at the same time scrutinizing gaze had Ruby wishing she could slink away quietly, but with the confines of the cart and Frodo seated next to her, there was nowhere to go. She was certain her nervous disposition was foolish, though was equally aware that that didn't help her predicament in the slightest.

"Gandalf, this is Ruby Rose," Frodo cast her a broad grin as he cheerfully announced her name, but it faded slightly when he caught her apparent aversion.

"Indeed," the man smiled pleasantly, seeming strangely satisfied, as if she was one he had been expecting to meet. That's the thing about wizards, you see - you never know what they know, and they always know an awful lot; more than most, in fact. Of course, this did nothing but confuse poor Ruby, who silently jostled with the movements of the wagon, "A pleasure, Miss Rose. Though, I must ask how a young human girl such as yourself came to reside in the Shire."

Frodo swiveled to face Gandalf almost completely, though not without first giving Ruby a questioning look, seeking her approval in order to offer an explanation. Receiving a contented nod and encouraging smile in return, he began, "Ruby is… not of Middle-earth, Gandalf. She comes from another world, called Remnant. She's told Bilbo and I the most amazing stories…"

As Frodo carried on, Gandalf's thick brows crept steadily higher, until Ruby was certain they were attempting to escape his face altogether. However, no move was made to interrupt the Hobbit. He did not appear skeptical, which Ruby thought to be the strangest thing yet. One would think he'd believe her deranged, or at least not in the right state of mind, though he remained distinctly unfazed.

Rude as it may have been, she found herself staring at him, silver eyes wide with curiosity and no small degree of confusion. As one with Aura, she could sense, in a manner of speaking, the energy given off by others. In Remnant, every living being radiated Aura on a certain level, and thus it was commonplace and comforting in its familiarity. This is what allowed her, and her fellow Huntsmen and Huntresses, to detect the presence of the creatures of Grimm. The absence of such energy in Middle-earth had been jarring at first, and taken some time to grow accustomed to, as there was simply nothing. Though now, seated close to one who had been described to her as a 'wizard', Ruby was intrigued by what emanated from him. It was not Aura, but something almost… archaic.

Deep within the forests of Remnant, beside a great and mighty river, stood the small, fragile home of a cold, frail man. A lone wizard… Ruby shook her head at the remembered fairytale Yang had once told her. The comparison was ludicrous - surely there was no such thing as 'magic'. That was reserved for embellished tales and children's stories. Still, Ruby couldn't refute the similarity, and a bright smile tugged the corners of her mouth upward.

She was rather quickly brought back to the present, however, when Frodo's elbow nudged her side insistently. Giving a rapid series of blinks, she whipped 'round to meet her friend's concerned gaze,

"Are you alright, Ruby?" he inquired gingerly, as if tiptoeing about a particularly unpleasant topic. He was well aware that she sometimes got into one of her moods - be it she was thinking of home, or her sister and friends, or any number of things done or said. His worry was alleviated when the distant look in her eyes faded, and her previously chipper nature returned.

"Oh, yeah! I'm fine. All good here," she extended an arm towards him, locking her elbow as she stuck her thumb towards the sky in an emphasis of her affirmation. Dropping her hand idly back into her lap, she absentmindedly picked at a piece of lint sticking to her skirts.

Frodo opened his mouth to voice a protest, as she was currently leaning toward the contrary of her statement, but Gandalf spoke before he had the chance to utter a single word, "Interesting indeed, my boy. Tell me, Miss Rose. By what happy circumstance did you find yourself in our world in the first place?"

"I, uh… well, I… umm…" Caught off guard by the question suddenly directed her way, Ruby mused uncertainly to herself for a full quarter minute, occasionally giving a nervous chuckle.

"I don't know," she finally decided with a slight shake of her head, raven tresses swinging with the motion. She wasn't inclined to explain herself further, so she lapsed back into a steady silence, turning aside to gaze at the passing barley fields. Both the wizard and Frodo seemed to accept this, and the Hobbit quickly struck up the conversation anew,

"What news of the outside world, Gandalf? Tell me everything!"

"What, everything? Far too eager and curious for a Hobbit. Most unnatural," said Gandalf. The pair shared a smile, though the joking nature of the condescending tone was lost on Ruby. In fact, it had her leaning forward, frown deep set and creased into her youthful features.

"Since when is it a bad thing to be curious?"

Ruby never got an answer to her question, for it simply made Frodo laugh merrily, the wizard in their company chuckling as well with a peculiar twinkle in his eye. Feeling rather put out, Ruby pouted, folding her arms tightly over her chest, not fond of being the butt of some unknown joke.

Her displeasure did not last long, however. "Well, what can I tell you? Life in the wide world goes on much as if it has past age. Full of its own comings and goings, scarcely even aware of the existence of Hobbits…" Gandalf paused to observe the peaceful scene laid out before him, a warm, fond smile lightening his wizened face, "for which I am very thankful."

The cart rattled over the stone bridge, crossing the Water before the road widened as they approached the bustling market. Those gathered looked up, exclaiming in wonder and excitement as the cart bearing Gandalf, Frodo and Ruby rolled past the Green Dragon Inn. The young girl wondered for a moment what was so interesting, and then she remembered that Gandalf had not been in the Shire in years.

"Ruby! Ruby Rose!"

The voice that arose from the sea of rounded faces and clouds of pipe weed smoke was shrill and firm, and so unexpected that the red-clad reaper jumped a good foot off the wooden bench. A Hobbit was suddenly hurrying along beside the wagon, crows feet crinkling as she narrowed her gaze at the two seated beside her. Glower fading, she smiled brightly at Ruby and took hold of her wrist,

"Ruby, dear, Farmer Hayward is having some trouble unloading his crop for the party tonight. He's been asking after you all morning. Won't you come help?"

"Oh! Yeah, sure!" Ruby pushed herself upright, again taking hold of the cart's post to keep herself steady. At the last second, she remembered herself and turned, looking with sheepish innocence to Gandalf, "U-um… excuse me. It was nice to meet you."

Spotting the woman at last, Gandalf nodded and offered a bright smile, "Ah. Likewise, Miss Rose."

Ruby hopped off the cart, the jolt as she landed causing her no trouble, and immediately turned to wave exaggeratedly at the retreating form of her friend,

"I- uuuh. I'll see ya later Frodo!" She called, cupping a hand about the side of her mouth in an attempt to make the sound travel farther. She received a small return of the gesture. Satisfied, she turned to the Hobbit woman and grinned.

Chuckling to himself, Frodo reassumed his forward-facing position, gazing past the shambling old pony toward the party field. Expecting Gandalf to ask about all the commotion, he looked up at the wizard. The words on his tongue died upon seeing his worried expression, bidding him to pause a moment before a new question took place of what he had been about to say,

"Gandalf? What is it?"

Apparently shaken out of his trance, the old man blinked twice and gave a smile that Frodo could easily tell was forced, "It's nothing, my boy," he reassured, subtly tightening his hold on the reins in hand to which he gave an encouraging flick as the steed began to slow.

There was, indeed, something bothering the wise wizard. It was not Ruby specifically, nor the circumstances under which the young girl had found herself. Rather, there was simply an unsettling air about her - something Gandalf could not quite put his finger on. He was certain it was folly; she was, at any rate, a child, and one at that that stirred in him a great deal of protectiveness. It was evident that Frodo felt the same. However, he could not shake the feeling that something else was at work here. Something that even Ruby may not yet have been aware of.

After all, how often does one come across a being with silver eyes?