Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings.

Oh, Those Irrepressible Hobbits

Frodo opened his eyes to find light.The firstlight that hadreached his eyes in days, or was it weeks? Time was getting all confused. The light blinded him.

"Where am I? What happened?" Frodo asked softly. His gaze was drawn to his mutilated hand,ummovingon the coverlet.

"So it's all true," he gasped, bringing up the still hand with its missing finger.

"Yes, yes, it's all true." An unexpectedvoice pierced Frodo's thoughts. "You're lucky to be here, Master Hobbit."

Frodo tore his gaze from his hand, and rested his eyes on someone he thought he would never see again. "Gandalf!" he exclaimed. "So I am dead."

"Dead?" chuckled the Wizard. "I think not. You have a little fire in you, my friend; as do all hobbits, it seems."

"But… if I'm not dead…? I thought you fell. I saw you fall!" Frodo whispered, eyes shining with tears long unshed.

"Yes, I fell; through fire, and water, and darkness besides. But I came back, just in time to help your friends in their time of need."

"Who else is dead? We heard about Boromir. Did you know he had a brother? He was a decent being, for a Man," Frodo seemed to have remastered the use of his tongue.

Gandalf laughed, "Slow down, young hobbit! Yes, Boromir fell, and it was a grievous loss. Yes, I know he has a brother. Faramir was a great help in the war." Gandalf's gaze went far away.

"War? I see there are many more tales to tell, other than mine," Frodo said. "But, please, tell me who else has fallen?"

"No one, much to our luck. The Fellowship remained for the most part unbroken. Bent, perhaps, but not broken."

"Gandalf," Frodo replied, hugging the old man, "it's good to see you again."

"So you're finally awake? Merry and I have been waiting for AGES," a familiar voice sounded from the door.

"Not ages, Pip, don't exaggerate," Merry admonished, "You've only been up and about for a day or so."

"Who are these giants I see?" Frodo laughed. "There'll be no more bullying you around, Pippin."

"And I'm glad of it!" Pippin exclaimed, jumping on Frodo's bed.

"I could still toss you, if I had half a mind," Merry grumbled, although he was smiling.

"Why, Frodo, you need a hair cut. And a bath. And a fingernail clipping. Did Sam take care of you at all?" Pippin asked.

"Fool of a Took, to use a wise man's words!" Frodo exclaimed. "Sam not take care of me? Why, the very idea! Any other problems that you find with my general appearance, Master Peregrin?"

"Well, now that you bring it up, your eyes look crusty. And your feet are cracked. And your hands are blistered. And your skin is burnt. Why, you're quite crispy in general. And did you really get that hungry?" Pippin held up Frodo's hand, the missing finger quite obvious.

Frodo turned from Merry to Gandalf, both clearly flabbergasted. Pippin burst out laughing at their faces. "You have all gotten so serious as of late. I make a simple joke, and leave you all staring at me like dead fish. It certainly makes a hobbit feel out of place! I'll be quiet now and leave you all to your worldly cares."

Frodo laughed, "Now don't get snappy with me, Pippin! Your jokes always do seem to go out of place."

"At least you didn't have to spend all this time with him. I'd have traded him any day for having reliable ol' Sam by my side." Merry ruffled the younger hobbit's hair.

"Sam is more than reliable. I wouldn't have made it without him," Frodo said sadly, looking over at his sleeping guardian.

Pippindestroyed the peacefulmoment. "Would you really have traded me for Sam, Merry?"

Merry laughed, a long clear sound that brought Frodo back from where his mind had retreated, the last climb to Mordor. "Of course I wouldn't have traded you, my little ass. Sam wouldn't have made me laugh, even if he had meant to."

Frodo smiled, "It's good to be back."

"Sorry to interrupt this reunion," Gandalf said abruptly, "but our little ring bearer needs his rest."

"Yes, the ring…" Frodo looked into the distance. "It is gone now. It will haunt me no more. Yes, I need rest."

Gandalf ushered the other hobbits out of the room. Pippin's happy smile faded.

"Will it ever stop weighing on him, Gandalf?" he asked, glancing back into the room, compassionately eyeingat the already sleeping figure.

"I don't know," Gandalf murmured, looking back as well. "I don't know if the ring will ever truly leave him."

Pippin shook his head, stepped forward, and stumbled. Merry caught him.

"I shouldn't have let you out of bed, Pip," Merry said, worry clouding his eyes. "You're not well either."

"I'm well enough," Pippin muttered, before stumbling once more.

Merry stood, resolute. "Back to your bed, young hobbit. Now. I told you I still could toss you." He frog marched the other hobbit back to his room, with Pippin complaining the whole way.

"I'm not TIRED. I feel FINE. That's a mere SCRATCH. Let GO of me!"

Gandalf shook his head.

Oh, those irrepressible hobbits…