FRODO AND THE FACULTY
Author's Notes : This is supposed to be just for fun. I have only just revisited Elijah Wood's movie "The Faculty" and while my mind was taken over, had the idea to write something humorous involving the Fellowship and the movie characters.
As I watched I was thinking, he gets into these roles where he is supposed to save everyone else and decided to take the fun out both.
This is a one off thing - just for entertainment and I hope that people who read this and think that the author has lost her marbles will still continue to read my other stories for LOTR which try and stick closer to the original story line.
The Fellowship can see and hear everything that is going on at the school, including making some interesting comments about the new image for Frodo and his use of colourful language. They cannot interact with him and he doesn't know they exist. Gandalf is only along as purely an advisor for the rest of the Fellowship on some of the more modern things about the human world that they encounter.
Where I can I have chosen a more appropriate method of using such colourful language - i.e. "F.k" and "Sh." where they are needed. I wanted to be mindful that a lot of people might be offended - others not and will make others up as I go along as needed.
I have exaggerated the personalities of all slightly but please don't be offended - just mean as a poke in fun at them all. You don't need to understand why it happens that Frodo is now a high-school kid, just believe it and read and ignore anything that doesn't usually fit our beloved hobbit.
The story begins after ROTK where Frodo is supposed to be famous for his deeds. Gandalf comes rushing in to tell them about Frodo's sudden disappearance and that he now dwells in a new world of humans that needs him to save the day again.
Story beginning.....
The members of the fellowship were the most relaxed they had been in a very long time. The quest was ended and after the city had been repaired enough to make it inhabitable again, there was time to rejoice in their few found peace and prosperity.
All except Frodo were currently gathered around a large dining table in the centre in one of the Great Halls, quietly talking amongst themselves and enjoying food, wine and song.
"How fairs your master these days Sam?" Aragorn asked, noting it was unusual for the hobbit to be separated from Frodo. "I haven't seen much of him today."
"He is physically well Mr Strider, but I fear that it has been most taxing on him mentally and emotionally. He spends a great deal of time on his own and demands that he is left alone as he comes to terms with what happened," Sam explained.
"We will save some food for him anyway," Merry said as he and Pippin were well on the way to making themselves very full. Legolas and Gimli just laughed at the sight of the hobbit's appetites. They had still not met a being that equalled their enjoyment and love of food or wine they noted, with several empty wine jars almost empty alone the table.
"He wouldn't eat breakfast this morning and was going to go to sleep last I seen before he told me to join you all here and let him have his solitude," Sam informed them.
The feast and talk soon came to an abrupt end when the large doors to the hall suddenly blew open and then closed again with a resounding slam. The Fellowship could now see the wizard Gandalf coming towards them at a great pace with worry etched on his face.
"Gandalf my friend, what urgent business brings you here in such haste?" the King asked casually.
"I am afraid I am the bearer of somewhat distressing news to you all," Gandalf began, looking directly at Aragorn and then Sam, knowing that what he had to say would affect them the most.
Sam could feel the hairs on the back of his neck raise with fear, already sensing that whatever Gandalf had to say involved Mr Frodo.
"Frodo has been attacked," Gandalf said, not sugar coating it. "He has disappeared."
"What!" Aragorn demanded, already to his feet and drawing his sword at the thought that the former ring-bearer still faced danger when he should be receiving the highest honours and praise.
"How did somebody get through the guards to his chambers?" Legolas asked, he too now on his feet along with everyone else previously seated at the table.
"I am afraid that there is a power much stronger than my own here at work my friends. I went to check on how Frodo was doing and all I found where these," he said, pulling out Frodo's clothes that he would have normally worn.
Sam immediately grabbed the clothes out of the wizard's hand "But if these are his clothes, then what have they done to Mr Frodo?" he finally asked, dread filling every pore in his small stout body.
"There is no sign of the ring-bearer, only what he had on. I found these on the floor near the doorway, as if he was already trying to flee his assailant," Gandalf said. "I have gained some information about what has happened to Frodo but I do not what the future holds for him."
"Quickly tell us Gandalf so that we may slay whatever holds him captive," Aragorn said ready to defend the ring-bearer with his life as he had pledged to do so before leaving Rivendell.
"It will not be that easy this time Strider. Frodo has been taken to another time and place, far from here with a purpose that he is to help save another world like he did Middle Earth."
"Where have they taken my master please Mr Gandalf," Sam asked, close to tears that he had not been near Frodo enough to prevent this tragedy.
"To the world of the big people known as "United States of America", where all who live there are humans like you Aragorn."
"Why do they want Frodo?" Legolas asked.
"Because the place where he is will be soon under a threat from being taken over by another race. He has no memory of Middle-Earth or the deeds he carried out here. Frodo has been given a new identity and new form as a human so that he will blend in more easily. He is also unaware of what his task is at present and I do not know when he will told."
"How is he to fight the enemy then if he does not know about it or who he is?" Gimli enquired.
"There is a new type of Fellowship to be formed that will see them all band together, much like we did. I must admit I see distinct similarities between the conflict in personalities in this group and those that existed when we were all brought together at the Council by Lord Elrond."
"So he is to have help then," Aragorn said, thinking that not all hope had been lost.
"I am not so sure about that Aragorn, for it is hard to determine if they will be more of a hindrance to Frodo once he knows what he has to do. I do not know what these others look like, but I have a list of names that will help us discover who they are."
"Discover who they are, so we are to travel to this new world as well and assist the ring-bearer once again?" Aragorn asked.
"No Aragorn, as I said, my powers in such a matter are limited. We are to be observers only on this mission. We will see Frodo and will be able to hear what goes on, but I do not have the skills to enable us to take on a physical form that we can help him."
"I don't care what you say Gandalf, if we are going to this other world, than I say we do whatever we can to help my master Mr Frodo," Sam said, a little more harshly than he would have normally used towards the wizard.
"And we are going too," Merry and Pippin declared together, with the same determination they had used when they were included in the Fellowship from Rivendell.
"Are you coming too Gandalf?" Pippin asked.
"Yes Pippin I am, for I fear that there will be many new customs in this new world that you will find unusual or confusing. I have some knowledge of things and their purpose and will ask any questions as I can. I cannot promise that I will be able to answer all questions."
"How are we to recognize Frodo if his appearance has been altered?" Legolas asked.
"I believe that he is mostly unchanged except the fact that he is now human and not hobbit. His clothes no doubt will be different from those he would normally wear, but I am sure that we will all recognize the ring-bearer once we see him."
"Too right we will," Sam said out loud. "I'd know Mr Frodo anywhere, especially those blue eyes of his that have been described so many times. What is his name in this new world?"
"Um let me see," Gandalf said as he paused a minute and pulled out a piece of parchment that he had scribbled on. "Casey.... Casey Connor."
"Doesn't sound as good as Frodo Baggins," Merry said, thinking his cousin's new identity sounded a little more than weird.
"Okay are we all ready to go, for I do not know how much time we have," Gandalf said to all. "If there is any chance that Frodo finishes his task, then it may mean a way of coming back to us here in Middle Earth and things becoming normal once again."
With all the Fellowship gathered as close as they could to each other, Gandalf uttered a spell and tapped his staff on the floor three times. They all began to feel as if they were floating. Floating higher and higher and then nothing for a few seconds except blackness.
After what seemed a long time, the Fellowship members found their vision clearing and beginning to reveal their new surroundings. The terrain was certainly different to anything they had come across before, even during their travels to Mount Doom.
"Where are we?" Aragorn asked for everyone present.
"Herrington, Ohio, United States of America," the wizard declared.
All turned their attention to a large concrete looking building in front of them with grassy areas in the front. The sharp corners and squarish look of the building made it look harsh and cold.
"What is this place Gandalf?" Legolas asked as the surroundings became truly unfamiliar.
"It is a place for learning Legolas. Called a High-school, it is a place where all young males and females of the human race are required to attend to gain knowledge and to read and write. Frodo's age in this world is about the same all of those here."
"Doesn't sound all that bad then Gandalf," Sam commented as he thought that he would have liked to have gone to such a place. A place for learning sounded just like his master Mr Frodo.
The Fellowship now found themselves wandering through the various groups of people, taking in their appearances and their mannerisms as they went. They all breathed in relief that their stares and observations went totally unnoticed.
"These are the humans that the ring-bearer has been asked to help defend?" Gimli asked incredulously, cringing at those who seemed to have painted body parts or pieces of metal coming from various places as eyebrows and noses.
"Where is Frodo?" Merry asked.
"I do not know, but he will no doubt be around here somewhere," Gandalf replied.
"How are we to find him amongst this most odd looking group?" Gimli asked, noting that there were a great number of young people beginning to converge on the area. Sorting themselves into various groups. Some just girls, some had darker coloured skin, others were all boys in a group. Never had he seen so many different looking kinds gathered in one place before.
"Some of them are even more uglier than you my dear dwarf," Legolas commented with a laugh. Gimli looked to glare at him but then grinned himself, noting that what the elf said was entirely true.
Aragorn's attention was drawn to a large looking yellow carriage for a minute as it pulled up a short distance from them. "How is it that such a large vehicle is able to move without the use of horses or animals of burden?"
"In this world Aragorn, technology has advanced itself greatly from what we know in Middle Earth. They have a driver up front to steer and guide it as it goes, but underneath there is a engine made of metal that generates power and allows it to move otherwise unassisted. It is commonly called a bus."
"Very strange," Aragorn whispered. He now watched as many of these humans now began filing out of an opening on one side of the carriage.
"Is that him?" Sam asked as he too watched the teenagers file out of the bus and head towards the building. "He gotten a brief glimpse of a pale face and striking blue eyes that matched those of his master.
"Frodo!" Aragorn said as the group now made it's way closer to the doorway of the bus. They now saw a boy that did look like the ring-bearer.
"He's much taller anyway," was Merry's first comment.
"He's still got those blue eyes and that pale skin," Sam noted. "They don't seem to be feeding him still though," he added, as he gazed up and down Frodo's still lean frame.
"Those clothes don't look very warm," Legolas noted, taking interest in the t-shirt that Frodo wore and the jeans. They were not as elegant as the cloaks that they had received back in Lorien.
"The climate is somewhat milder here during the day Legolas," Gandalf said, trying to put an end to a few of their already gathering concerns.
"What is that strange object around his neck?" Pippin asked, noting that there was a large black strap keeping it in place.
"It is known as a camera Pippin. It seems that in this world people are able to keep images of themselves and others on pieces of shiny parchment for many many years. The camera takes the pictures by looking through a piece of glass. The art of taking such pictures is called photography and I believe that our young friend has a particular interest in the subject and is somewhat good at it."
"I am sure that my master Mr Frodo is good at a lot of things here," Sam said proudly. "I must say his hair looks very different that much shorter and the curls all gone."
"Remember he has to blend in here with everyone else Samwise," Gandalf said in reply.
"He looks happy enough," Aragorn said as they now began following their ring-bearer friend towards the front of the school.
Without warning, Frodo's progress was halted abruptly when an elbow suddenly struck him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground and raise his hand towards the problem area.
"Sorry" the stunned Fellowship heard Frodo say in apology as if it had been an accident of his own doing.
Nobody stopped to see if Frodo was hurt or not or needed assistance getting back on his feet. People passed around him as if he wasn't there, totally ignoring the blood that was evident on his face.
"Such treatment of the ring-bearer will not go unpunished," Aragorn declared, drawing a short sword out and preparing to inflict bodily injury to one who would cause Frodo pain. He gritted his teeth in frustration when he remembered that their presence had no effect on the outcome of what happened to Frodo.
"Crash and burn Casey," came the comment from a girl who had just passed by and witnessed the incident. She like the others, did not stop, and there was an almost pitying look on her face.
"Why does she have black eyes like that Gandalf?" Legolas asked, intrigued at the girl's face.
"It's called make-up my elf friend. Some females here where it in different ways, some to enhance their looks, others such as this one to hide themselves behind and keep others at a distance by trying to look threatening.
"How could they do that for no reason?" Sam said in disgust at watching his master.
Frodo looked to be no worse for wear and was about to get to his feet when his arms and legs were grabbed on all sides by four new assailants.
"No put me down!" Casey shouted, trying to wriggle out of their grasp. He looked forward and saw what they intended to do. "Get the f..k off me," he yelled again.
The Fellowship could do nothing to help their friend and cringed as they saw the teenager thrown bodily against a long tall pole in front of them. Not once, but three time before he was released and thrown back towards the ground, curling himself up slightly at the pain running through his legs and groin area.
"Welcome to the jungle," Casey said to himself as he got up and started walking slowly towards the school again.
A few minutes later, the Fellowship had followed Casey into the boy's bathroom at the school. The teenager tried to stem the flow of blood from his nose, angry at himself that he couldn't stand up any better for himself.
"F..k" they heard him stay angrily to nobody. Once to begin with and then a few in a row, tossing away the blood-soaked cloth.
"What does that word mean Gandalf?" Aragorn asked, noting that they had all heard various others saying it outside as well.
Gandalf's face took on a disapproving look at first in answer to the question "Lets just say that it is a curse word. Naughty word, not to be heard by those with tender ears," he remarked, looking towards Pippin.
"Normally I would tell you to put your hands over your ears Pippin, but since the word and others like it are used so prevalently in this world, than I will just say that once your cousin returns to us, we will need to have a stern talk with him about the use of most uncomplimentary words."
"I never heard Mr Frodo angry before and to say such words," Sam said. "I hope he doesn't get hurt again too soon."
This world is so strange Gandalf and for a reason unknown to us, Frodo has been brought here to save these people that seem to have little or no interest in him. This place seems to pose more of a threat to the ring-bearer than anything we could have faced back in Middle Earth," Gimli commented.
"I agree with you Gimli, but there is an evil feeling to this place that I can feel even now. It is still weak, but growing by the minute. I just wish I knew what the threat was," the wizard said.
Casey now left the bathroom and started heading down a corridor in the building. He stopped at a row of metal cupboards and opened one of them and took out a book and placing his camera inside before closing it.
Just as he closed the cupboard, a larger dark-skinned boy, much taller than Frodo deliberately walked passed, causing the leaner teenager to careen into them.
"Dweeb," came the words thrown at Casey.
The Fellowship could only suppress their growing outrage at the treatment of their friend. There was no way they were going to let these people get away with their abuse and lack of concern.
As the morning progressed, the members of the Fellowship became aware of many personality changes in their young friend that were only just beginning to emerge.
They heard the various insults hurled at him from others students and he seemed to give just as many back in return. There was also a few occasions where he was deliberately knocked against a wall or tripped over as he walked through the crowded corridors.
Aragorn was the most outraged and wished there was something he could do to help the teenager. But then there were a few things that happened in that first few hours that made them think that Casey wasn't as much of a target as he appeared to be. When it came down to it, he was just a part of some of the antics that were carried out against the teachers.
The first had happened during the first lesson of the day. The Fellowship were gathered at the back of the classroom, determined to keep a close eye on their young charge. Frodo was sitting in about the middle of the classroom, his attention drawn into a book that he held in front of him.
A teacher now walked into the classroom and walked up to the board, writing something on the blackboard behind her. Some of the students were looking at her strangely as if they had never seen her before.
"Who the hell is this?" Casey asked himself in a whisper.
"Good Morning Class, your regular teacher Mr Walker couldn't be here today so I will be your substitute teacher," the woman informed them.
"Yeah right!" Casey said and in addition to every other student in the classroom, proceeded to pack up his books and belongings and head out of the classroom.
"Do they not hold any respect for adults Gandalf?" Legolas asked, noting that Frodo had shown little respect for the new teacher.
"In this world my friend, these teenagers don't take well to changes in their routine. They hate being here to begin with and when something like this crops up, they show their displeasure in numbers," Gandalf replied.
The Fellowship followed silently behind Casey, wondering where he was headed to next.
A few comments could be heard from the other students as they passed by.
"Can you believe they wanted to put that baby sitter with us today?" said one boy to his friend.
"Yeah Drake must think we are going to be her little puppets," said the other.
The next incident that the Fellowship witnessed was entirely derived by Frodo and one of the other students as they approached the grassy lawns around the buildings.
"Can you believe this sh..t," Frodo said out loud. "The sign says don't walk on the grass."
"Yeah and it's not even good for smoking," said a taller boy behind Casey.
"Trust you to think of an alternative use for it Zeke," Casey accused him sarcastically.
"At least they still have one enjoyable pastime in this world Gandalf," Merry said cheerfully at the mention of smoking. He couldn't see any pipes nearby but maybe all wasn't totally lost in this world.
"Come on Case, lighten up, your just too tense these days," Zeke said as he pretended to cuff him across the head.
"Up for some fun are you Zeke?" Casey asked with a gleam of mirth in his eyes.
"Anytime your ready," Zeke answered, happy to follow the younger boy's lead.
"Zeke is one of the names that appears on this list," Gandalf now informed the others. "He is to be one of those helping Frodo when it is needed.
As it turned out, Zeke and Casey took an alternative route to their classes and turned up 10 minutes later than everyone else after the class had started.
The two started heading towards the back of the classroom as if nothing had transpired but were quickly halted by the teacher addressing them.
"Mr Connor," came a demanding voice from behind that made Casey jump slightly.
"Mr Tate," Casey answered in his usually soft voice as if he had done nothing wrong.
"Don't play games with me you little bas..d," the teacher said as he attempted to grab a fist full of the teenager's shirt.
"Why are you late to my class and don't even think of lying to me or I will have you in detention so long that your grandkids will be graduating before you," the teacher snarled.
"The college has a lot of areas that Principal Drake is trying to grow grass on. They are roped off so we weren't supposed to walk on them," Casey answered casually.
"There are signs on the rope that say we have to walk all the way around Mr Tate, so that's what Zeke and I did - the fence line of the school is some 500 metres beyond the back of the buildings. We walked "All the way around" just to get to class."
"I going to nail you're ass to the wall one of these days Connor," Tate now hissed back. "Mark my words, nail your ass to the wall," he said a bit louder.
"But if you do that Mr Tate, you will have to kiss it better," Zeke chimed in which sent both he and Casey and the rest of the class into wails of laughter.
Gimli couldn't help but laugh at the tactics that Frodo had used. He got some glares from some of the other Fellowship members but he didn't care, the kid had shown some guts and apart from that it had been just darned funny.
It was only an hour later before the team of Casey and Zeke were at their little stunts again, this time Zeke seeming to take the lead. Whilst in wood-shop class, the two of them had discretely made a hole in the floorboard and concealed what they were doing with a desk.
They appeared to be paying attention to the class, but as some of the other students watched more closely, they saw Zeke now pour an entire bottle of adhesive into the hole itself. Then as the class wore on, they used their feet to scrap any little particles of wood and sawdust that they could get off the floor into the hole.
Once the class was ended and the students exited the room, keen to see exactly where all of the wood and dust had gone to, they were all most amused to see that the classroom had been directly over the teachers car park. And upon closer inspection they saw that the adhesive and wood shavings had all fallen onto the roof of one car in particular: Mr Tate's.
About half way through the day, it appeared time for students to sit down and eat. This is where Zeke and Casey parted company for a time, Zeke headed towards his car to meet a few future clients and Casey headed towards the sports oval with a small brown paper bag in his hand and his camera slung around his neck.
TO BE CONTINUED
I just added the extra parts in - these actually come from my own high- school days (quite a while ago now).
It was me and my classmates that did the walk around the fence line gag and the grass except we did it for almost a week before the teachers asked why we were late for every single class.
The wood-shaving incident is also true except for the name of the teacher we did it too.
And the substitute teacher as well - that was the funniest thing we ever did - she walked in and announced she was the substitute teacher - we all got up and walked out.
This was the sum total of my delinquency during high school I have to say - for the rest of the time I was a quiet and reserved. This all took place in our first year of high-school.
Still nuts and will update again soon.
JULES
Author's Notes : This is supposed to be just for fun. I have only just revisited Elijah Wood's movie "The Faculty" and while my mind was taken over, had the idea to write something humorous involving the Fellowship and the movie characters.
As I watched I was thinking, he gets into these roles where he is supposed to save everyone else and decided to take the fun out both.
This is a one off thing - just for entertainment and I hope that people who read this and think that the author has lost her marbles will still continue to read my other stories for LOTR which try and stick closer to the original story line.
The Fellowship can see and hear everything that is going on at the school, including making some interesting comments about the new image for Frodo and his use of colourful language. They cannot interact with him and he doesn't know they exist. Gandalf is only along as purely an advisor for the rest of the Fellowship on some of the more modern things about the human world that they encounter.
Where I can I have chosen a more appropriate method of using such colourful language - i.e. "F.k" and "Sh." where they are needed. I wanted to be mindful that a lot of people might be offended - others not and will make others up as I go along as needed.
I have exaggerated the personalities of all slightly but please don't be offended - just mean as a poke in fun at them all. You don't need to understand why it happens that Frodo is now a high-school kid, just believe it and read and ignore anything that doesn't usually fit our beloved hobbit.
The story begins after ROTK where Frodo is supposed to be famous for his deeds. Gandalf comes rushing in to tell them about Frodo's sudden disappearance and that he now dwells in a new world of humans that needs him to save the day again.
Story beginning.....
The members of the fellowship were the most relaxed they had been in a very long time. The quest was ended and after the city had been repaired enough to make it inhabitable again, there was time to rejoice in their few found peace and prosperity.
All except Frodo were currently gathered around a large dining table in the centre in one of the Great Halls, quietly talking amongst themselves and enjoying food, wine and song.
"How fairs your master these days Sam?" Aragorn asked, noting it was unusual for the hobbit to be separated from Frodo. "I haven't seen much of him today."
"He is physically well Mr Strider, but I fear that it has been most taxing on him mentally and emotionally. He spends a great deal of time on his own and demands that he is left alone as he comes to terms with what happened," Sam explained.
"We will save some food for him anyway," Merry said as he and Pippin were well on the way to making themselves very full. Legolas and Gimli just laughed at the sight of the hobbit's appetites. They had still not met a being that equalled their enjoyment and love of food or wine they noted, with several empty wine jars almost empty alone the table.
"He wouldn't eat breakfast this morning and was going to go to sleep last I seen before he told me to join you all here and let him have his solitude," Sam informed them.
The feast and talk soon came to an abrupt end when the large doors to the hall suddenly blew open and then closed again with a resounding slam. The Fellowship could now see the wizard Gandalf coming towards them at a great pace with worry etched on his face.
"Gandalf my friend, what urgent business brings you here in such haste?" the King asked casually.
"I am afraid I am the bearer of somewhat distressing news to you all," Gandalf began, looking directly at Aragorn and then Sam, knowing that what he had to say would affect them the most.
Sam could feel the hairs on the back of his neck raise with fear, already sensing that whatever Gandalf had to say involved Mr Frodo.
"Frodo has been attacked," Gandalf said, not sugar coating it. "He has disappeared."
"What!" Aragorn demanded, already to his feet and drawing his sword at the thought that the former ring-bearer still faced danger when he should be receiving the highest honours and praise.
"How did somebody get through the guards to his chambers?" Legolas asked, he too now on his feet along with everyone else previously seated at the table.
"I am afraid that there is a power much stronger than my own here at work my friends. I went to check on how Frodo was doing and all I found where these," he said, pulling out Frodo's clothes that he would have normally worn.
Sam immediately grabbed the clothes out of the wizard's hand "But if these are his clothes, then what have they done to Mr Frodo?" he finally asked, dread filling every pore in his small stout body.
"There is no sign of the ring-bearer, only what he had on. I found these on the floor near the doorway, as if he was already trying to flee his assailant," Gandalf said. "I have gained some information about what has happened to Frodo but I do not what the future holds for him."
"Quickly tell us Gandalf so that we may slay whatever holds him captive," Aragorn said ready to defend the ring-bearer with his life as he had pledged to do so before leaving Rivendell.
"It will not be that easy this time Strider. Frodo has been taken to another time and place, far from here with a purpose that he is to help save another world like he did Middle Earth."
"Where have they taken my master please Mr Gandalf," Sam asked, close to tears that he had not been near Frodo enough to prevent this tragedy.
"To the world of the big people known as "United States of America", where all who live there are humans like you Aragorn."
"Why do they want Frodo?" Legolas asked.
"Because the place where he is will be soon under a threat from being taken over by another race. He has no memory of Middle-Earth or the deeds he carried out here. Frodo has been given a new identity and new form as a human so that he will blend in more easily. He is also unaware of what his task is at present and I do not know when he will told."
"How is he to fight the enemy then if he does not know about it or who he is?" Gimli enquired.
"There is a new type of Fellowship to be formed that will see them all band together, much like we did. I must admit I see distinct similarities between the conflict in personalities in this group and those that existed when we were all brought together at the Council by Lord Elrond."
"So he is to have help then," Aragorn said, thinking that not all hope had been lost.
"I am not so sure about that Aragorn, for it is hard to determine if they will be more of a hindrance to Frodo once he knows what he has to do. I do not know what these others look like, but I have a list of names that will help us discover who they are."
"Discover who they are, so we are to travel to this new world as well and assist the ring-bearer once again?" Aragorn asked.
"No Aragorn, as I said, my powers in such a matter are limited. We are to be observers only on this mission. We will see Frodo and will be able to hear what goes on, but I do not have the skills to enable us to take on a physical form that we can help him."
"I don't care what you say Gandalf, if we are going to this other world, than I say we do whatever we can to help my master Mr Frodo," Sam said, a little more harshly than he would have normally used towards the wizard.
"And we are going too," Merry and Pippin declared together, with the same determination they had used when they were included in the Fellowship from Rivendell.
"Are you coming too Gandalf?" Pippin asked.
"Yes Pippin I am, for I fear that there will be many new customs in this new world that you will find unusual or confusing. I have some knowledge of things and their purpose and will ask any questions as I can. I cannot promise that I will be able to answer all questions."
"How are we to recognize Frodo if his appearance has been altered?" Legolas asked.
"I believe that he is mostly unchanged except the fact that he is now human and not hobbit. His clothes no doubt will be different from those he would normally wear, but I am sure that we will all recognize the ring-bearer once we see him."
"Too right we will," Sam said out loud. "I'd know Mr Frodo anywhere, especially those blue eyes of his that have been described so many times. What is his name in this new world?"
"Um let me see," Gandalf said as he paused a minute and pulled out a piece of parchment that he had scribbled on. "Casey.... Casey Connor."
"Doesn't sound as good as Frodo Baggins," Merry said, thinking his cousin's new identity sounded a little more than weird.
"Okay are we all ready to go, for I do not know how much time we have," Gandalf said to all. "If there is any chance that Frodo finishes his task, then it may mean a way of coming back to us here in Middle Earth and things becoming normal once again."
With all the Fellowship gathered as close as they could to each other, Gandalf uttered a spell and tapped his staff on the floor three times. They all began to feel as if they were floating. Floating higher and higher and then nothing for a few seconds except blackness.
After what seemed a long time, the Fellowship members found their vision clearing and beginning to reveal their new surroundings. The terrain was certainly different to anything they had come across before, even during their travels to Mount Doom.
"Where are we?" Aragorn asked for everyone present.
"Herrington, Ohio, United States of America," the wizard declared.
All turned their attention to a large concrete looking building in front of them with grassy areas in the front. The sharp corners and squarish look of the building made it look harsh and cold.
"What is this place Gandalf?" Legolas asked as the surroundings became truly unfamiliar.
"It is a place for learning Legolas. Called a High-school, it is a place where all young males and females of the human race are required to attend to gain knowledge and to read and write. Frodo's age in this world is about the same all of those here."
"Doesn't sound all that bad then Gandalf," Sam commented as he thought that he would have liked to have gone to such a place. A place for learning sounded just like his master Mr Frodo.
The Fellowship now found themselves wandering through the various groups of people, taking in their appearances and their mannerisms as they went. They all breathed in relief that their stares and observations went totally unnoticed.
"These are the humans that the ring-bearer has been asked to help defend?" Gimli asked incredulously, cringing at those who seemed to have painted body parts or pieces of metal coming from various places as eyebrows and noses.
"Where is Frodo?" Merry asked.
"I do not know, but he will no doubt be around here somewhere," Gandalf replied.
"How are we to find him amongst this most odd looking group?" Gimli asked, noting that there were a great number of young people beginning to converge on the area. Sorting themselves into various groups. Some just girls, some had darker coloured skin, others were all boys in a group. Never had he seen so many different looking kinds gathered in one place before.
"Some of them are even more uglier than you my dear dwarf," Legolas commented with a laugh. Gimli looked to glare at him but then grinned himself, noting that what the elf said was entirely true.
Aragorn's attention was drawn to a large looking yellow carriage for a minute as it pulled up a short distance from them. "How is it that such a large vehicle is able to move without the use of horses or animals of burden?"
"In this world Aragorn, technology has advanced itself greatly from what we know in Middle Earth. They have a driver up front to steer and guide it as it goes, but underneath there is a engine made of metal that generates power and allows it to move otherwise unassisted. It is commonly called a bus."
"Very strange," Aragorn whispered. He now watched as many of these humans now began filing out of an opening on one side of the carriage.
"Is that him?" Sam asked as he too watched the teenagers file out of the bus and head towards the building. "He gotten a brief glimpse of a pale face and striking blue eyes that matched those of his master.
"Frodo!" Aragorn said as the group now made it's way closer to the doorway of the bus. They now saw a boy that did look like the ring-bearer.
"He's much taller anyway," was Merry's first comment.
"He's still got those blue eyes and that pale skin," Sam noted. "They don't seem to be feeding him still though," he added, as he gazed up and down Frodo's still lean frame.
"Those clothes don't look very warm," Legolas noted, taking interest in the t-shirt that Frodo wore and the jeans. They were not as elegant as the cloaks that they had received back in Lorien.
"The climate is somewhat milder here during the day Legolas," Gandalf said, trying to put an end to a few of their already gathering concerns.
"What is that strange object around his neck?" Pippin asked, noting that there was a large black strap keeping it in place.
"It is known as a camera Pippin. It seems that in this world people are able to keep images of themselves and others on pieces of shiny parchment for many many years. The camera takes the pictures by looking through a piece of glass. The art of taking such pictures is called photography and I believe that our young friend has a particular interest in the subject and is somewhat good at it."
"I am sure that my master Mr Frodo is good at a lot of things here," Sam said proudly. "I must say his hair looks very different that much shorter and the curls all gone."
"Remember he has to blend in here with everyone else Samwise," Gandalf said in reply.
"He looks happy enough," Aragorn said as they now began following their ring-bearer friend towards the front of the school.
Without warning, Frodo's progress was halted abruptly when an elbow suddenly struck him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground and raise his hand towards the problem area.
"Sorry" the stunned Fellowship heard Frodo say in apology as if it had been an accident of his own doing.
Nobody stopped to see if Frodo was hurt or not or needed assistance getting back on his feet. People passed around him as if he wasn't there, totally ignoring the blood that was evident on his face.
"Such treatment of the ring-bearer will not go unpunished," Aragorn declared, drawing a short sword out and preparing to inflict bodily injury to one who would cause Frodo pain. He gritted his teeth in frustration when he remembered that their presence had no effect on the outcome of what happened to Frodo.
"Crash and burn Casey," came the comment from a girl who had just passed by and witnessed the incident. She like the others, did not stop, and there was an almost pitying look on her face.
"Why does she have black eyes like that Gandalf?" Legolas asked, intrigued at the girl's face.
"It's called make-up my elf friend. Some females here where it in different ways, some to enhance their looks, others such as this one to hide themselves behind and keep others at a distance by trying to look threatening.
"How could they do that for no reason?" Sam said in disgust at watching his master.
Frodo looked to be no worse for wear and was about to get to his feet when his arms and legs were grabbed on all sides by four new assailants.
"No put me down!" Casey shouted, trying to wriggle out of their grasp. He looked forward and saw what they intended to do. "Get the f..k off me," he yelled again.
The Fellowship could do nothing to help their friend and cringed as they saw the teenager thrown bodily against a long tall pole in front of them. Not once, but three time before he was released and thrown back towards the ground, curling himself up slightly at the pain running through his legs and groin area.
"Welcome to the jungle," Casey said to himself as he got up and started walking slowly towards the school again.
A few minutes later, the Fellowship had followed Casey into the boy's bathroom at the school. The teenager tried to stem the flow of blood from his nose, angry at himself that he couldn't stand up any better for himself.
"F..k" they heard him stay angrily to nobody. Once to begin with and then a few in a row, tossing away the blood-soaked cloth.
"What does that word mean Gandalf?" Aragorn asked, noting that they had all heard various others saying it outside as well.
Gandalf's face took on a disapproving look at first in answer to the question "Lets just say that it is a curse word. Naughty word, not to be heard by those with tender ears," he remarked, looking towards Pippin.
"Normally I would tell you to put your hands over your ears Pippin, but since the word and others like it are used so prevalently in this world, than I will just say that once your cousin returns to us, we will need to have a stern talk with him about the use of most uncomplimentary words."
"I never heard Mr Frodo angry before and to say such words," Sam said. "I hope he doesn't get hurt again too soon."
This world is so strange Gandalf and for a reason unknown to us, Frodo has been brought here to save these people that seem to have little or no interest in him. This place seems to pose more of a threat to the ring-bearer than anything we could have faced back in Middle Earth," Gimli commented.
"I agree with you Gimli, but there is an evil feeling to this place that I can feel even now. It is still weak, but growing by the minute. I just wish I knew what the threat was," the wizard said.
Casey now left the bathroom and started heading down a corridor in the building. He stopped at a row of metal cupboards and opened one of them and took out a book and placing his camera inside before closing it.
Just as he closed the cupboard, a larger dark-skinned boy, much taller than Frodo deliberately walked passed, causing the leaner teenager to careen into them.
"Dweeb," came the words thrown at Casey.
The Fellowship could only suppress their growing outrage at the treatment of their friend. There was no way they were going to let these people get away with their abuse and lack of concern.
As the morning progressed, the members of the Fellowship became aware of many personality changes in their young friend that were only just beginning to emerge.
They heard the various insults hurled at him from others students and he seemed to give just as many back in return. There was also a few occasions where he was deliberately knocked against a wall or tripped over as he walked through the crowded corridors.
Aragorn was the most outraged and wished there was something he could do to help the teenager. But then there were a few things that happened in that first few hours that made them think that Casey wasn't as much of a target as he appeared to be. When it came down to it, he was just a part of some of the antics that were carried out against the teachers.
The first had happened during the first lesson of the day. The Fellowship were gathered at the back of the classroom, determined to keep a close eye on their young charge. Frodo was sitting in about the middle of the classroom, his attention drawn into a book that he held in front of him.
A teacher now walked into the classroom and walked up to the board, writing something on the blackboard behind her. Some of the students were looking at her strangely as if they had never seen her before.
"Who the hell is this?" Casey asked himself in a whisper.
"Good Morning Class, your regular teacher Mr Walker couldn't be here today so I will be your substitute teacher," the woman informed them.
"Yeah right!" Casey said and in addition to every other student in the classroom, proceeded to pack up his books and belongings and head out of the classroom.
"Do they not hold any respect for adults Gandalf?" Legolas asked, noting that Frodo had shown little respect for the new teacher.
"In this world my friend, these teenagers don't take well to changes in their routine. They hate being here to begin with and when something like this crops up, they show their displeasure in numbers," Gandalf replied.
The Fellowship followed silently behind Casey, wondering where he was headed to next.
A few comments could be heard from the other students as they passed by.
"Can you believe they wanted to put that baby sitter with us today?" said one boy to his friend.
"Yeah Drake must think we are going to be her little puppets," said the other.
The next incident that the Fellowship witnessed was entirely derived by Frodo and one of the other students as they approached the grassy lawns around the buildings.
"Can you believe this sh..t," Frodo said out loud. "The sign says don't walk on the grass."
"Yeah and it's not even good for smoking," said a taller boy behind Casey.
"Trust you to think of an alternative use for it Zeke," Casey accused him sarcastically.
"At least they still have one enjoyable pastime in this world Gandalf," Merry said cheerfully at the mention of smoking. He couldn't see any pipes nearby but maybe all wasn't totally lost in this world.
"Come on Case, lighten up, your just too tense these days," Zeke said as he pretended to cuff him across the head.
"Up for some fun are you Zeke?" Casey asked with a gleam of mirth in his eyes.
"Anytime your ready," Zeke answered, happy to follow the younger boy's lead.
"Zeke is one of the names that appears on this list," Gandalf now informed the others. "He is to be one of those helping Frodo when it is needed.
As it turned out, Zeke and Casey took an alternative route to their classes and turned up 10 minutes later than everyone else after the class had started.
The two started heading towards the back of the classroom as if nothing had transpired but were quickly halted by the teacher addressing them.
"Mr Connor," came a demanding voice from behind that made Casey jump slightly.
"Mr Tate," Casey answered in his usually soft voice as if he had done nothing wrong.
"Don't play games with me you little bas..d," the teacher said as he attempted to grab a fist full of the teenager's shirt.
"Why are you late to my class and don't even think of lying to me or I will have you in detention so long that your grandkids will be graduating before you," the teacher snarled.
"The college has a lot of areas that Principal Drake is trying to grow grass on. They are roped off so we weren't supposed to walk on them," Casey answered casually.
"There are signs on the rope that say we have to walk all the way around Mr Tate, so that's what Zeke and I did - the fence line of the school is some 500 metres beyond the back of the buildings. We walked "All the way around" just to get to class."
"I going to nail you're ass to the wall one of these days Connor," Tate now hissed back. "Mark my words, nail your ass to the wall," he said a bit louder.
"But if you do that Mr Tate, you will have to kiss it better," Zeke chimed in which sent both he and Casey and the rest of the class into wails of laughter.
Gimli couldn't help but laugh at the tactics that Frodo had used. He got some glares from some of the other Fellowship members but he didn't care, the kid had shown some guts and apart from that it had been just darned funny.
It was only an hour later before the team of Casey and Zeke were at their little stunts again, this time Zeke seeming to take the lead. Whilst in wood-shop class, the two of them had discretely made a hole in the floorboard and concealed what they were doing with a desk.
They appeared to be paying attention to the class, but as some of the other students watched more closely, they saw Zeke now pour an entire bottle of adhesive into the hole itself. Then as the class wore on, they used their feet to scrap any little particles of wood and sawdust that they could get off the floor into the hole.
Once the class was ended and the students exited the room, keen to see exactly where all of the wood and dust had gone to, they were all most amused to see that the classroom had been directly over the teachers car park. And upon closer inspection they saw that the adhesive and wood shavings had all fallen onto the roof of one car in particular: Mr Tate's.
About half way through the day, it appeared time for students to sit down and eat. This is where Zeke and Casey parted company for a time, Zeke headed towards his car to meet a few future clients and Casey headed towards the sports oval with a small brown paper bag in his hand and his camera slung around his neck.
TO BE CONTINUED
I just added the extra parts in - these actually come from my own high- school days (quite a while ago now).
It was me and my classmates that did the walk around the fence line gag and the grass except we did it for almost a week before the teachers asked why we were late for every single class.
The wood-shaving incident is also true except for the name of the teacher we did it too.
And the substitute teacher as well - that was the funniest thing we ever did - she walked in and announced she was the substitute teacher - we all got up and walked out.
This was the sum total of my delinquency during high school I have to say - for the rest of the time I was a quiet and reserved. This all took place in our first year of high-school.
Still nuts and will update again soon.
JULES