This is a one-shot about how Frodo feels during the Quest of the Ring. It owes a lot to quotes, from several poems, a book, and a song, to emphasize the points made...it's kind of an experiment, since I haven't done a LOTR fic or anything intended as a one-shot. R&R.
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"Little lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
,Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, wooly, bright..."
--The Lamb
Songs of Innocence
Frodo had once lived a happy life, frolicking as any young hobbit might, and he barely allowed the shadow of the unhappiness that was his parent's death to show. For that shadow would cast a pall over all he did, and across the other hobbits that were his friends and fam'ly, and he could not allow such a thing to happen--they did not deserve that.
"Gave thee such a tender voice,
making all the vales rejoice?"
--The Lamb
There were times, he supposed, that his introspection caused him to touch upon the remembrance of his grief, and it came back, wild and fierce, like a tiger...
"Tiger, Tiger, burning bright
in the forests of the night
What immortal hand or eye
could frame thy fearful symmet'ry?"
--The Tiger
Songs of Experience
Those times did pass, allowing him to enjoy what fragile innocence he had left...but now, even that was gone, for he had no innocence now, after embarking on this journey and living in fear, learning of the evils capable in the world. He had had to get used to it.
"You will, or your heart will break and you will die."
--Time of The Twins
What, after all, was the innocence of one compared to the peace of the world?
"What did you say?
That it's all for the best?
Ah, of course it is."
--Imogen Heap
Hide and Seek