Title - From One View to Another

Rating - PG

Summary - what do the Fellowship think of each other?

Notes Foreyule is December in the Shire Calendar. These characters belong to New Line and Tolkien. So don't sue.

Feedback - yes please! Be nice, this is my first fanfic. Email me at Scullym1uk@yahoo.co.uk

A translation of the observations of the Nine Walkers, being the Fellowship of the Ring who accompanied the Ringbearer on the Quest of Mt. Doom as noted in the Red Book of the Periannath

Chapter one as noted by the Ringbearer concerning his impressions regarding the other eight members of the Fellowship

Rivendell, 18th Foreyule 1418 by Shire Reckoning

This is a strange experience for a simple Hobbit. I, Frodo Baggins, have been entrusted with the Ring and must soon seek the Mountain of Fire in order to destroy It. Yet I will not be alone. My dear cousins, Merry and Pippin, as well as my faithful Sam will be with me, not to mention Gandalf, Strider, Gimli, Legolas and Boromir. It is slightly unsettling to me when I realised I will have to trust this group, three of whom I only met at the Council, with my life. Of course, I trust my fellow Hobbits, as well as Gandalf and Strider.

I trust Boromir the less, for whatever reasons, I do not know. Perhaps it is his patronizing manner. He alone out of the Fellowship treats me as if I am a wayward child that has been given valuable mithril jewels that can be easily destroyed by someone who does not know better. He insists that I take sword lessons with him, like he does with Merry and Pippin, but I have asked Strider - or Aragorn as I have learned his name is - instead. So Boromir deals with Merry and Pippin, and Aragorn is teaching Sam and I.

Aragorn treats me as an equal, and I am thankful for that. He frightened me greatly when we first met in Bree however I have come to appreciate that he is a noble man, and would never hurt me. Truly, I am blessed to have him on my side. Can you imagine my shock when I was told that he is actually the heir to the throne of Gondor! He shows a great deal of patience when he is teaching me sword fighting. Merry and Pippin watch simply to have a laugh at my, or even more at Sam's, expense.

Legolas is an enigma, one that interests me greatly. He is polite but somewhat aloof when talking to me. Yet he seems more relaxed when talking to Aragorn, or Gandalf. Perhaps it is the evil of the Ring. All Elves, with the exception of the Lord Elrond and the Lady Arwen, act that way around me. It is likely they can sense It, and have no wish to be corrupted by being long in Its presence. When Legolas does talk to me, he calls me Iorhael, which is my name translated in Elvish. He does this with all the Hobbits. So instead of Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin, we are Iorhael, Panthael, Gelir and Meril. Despite his aloofness he at least does not patronize me.

Gimli seems to like talking to us four Hobbits, and seems to always take our side when we argue with the Big Folk, saying that it is unfair for the Big Folk to talk down to the Little. He does not get along with Legolas, so it seems that he is merely taking our side simply to provoke the Elf. But it is also personal between them, as Legolas' father had Gimli's father imprisoned in Mirkwood during his adventure with Bilbo. I like Gimli; he has an interesting sense of humour and somehow seems unaware of the fact that he is smaller then Elves and Men.

Gandalf is the accepted leader of the Fellowship. Only Boromir seems to not trust him. I trust Gandalf with my life, yet I wish he would take this burden from my shoulders. He is wise, and seemingly knows all.

And what about my fellow Hobbits? I love all three of them deeply, and I doubt I would ever forgive myself if anything occurs to them on the Quest, mainly because it is my fault they are here. Sam is always fussing over me, which both amuses and annoys me. He is utterly devoted to me, and I am to him. His presence always brings me out of my dark moods. Merry is the Hobbit that I have grown up with, and I can tell him anything and trust that he will tell nobody, with the possible exception of Pippin. I have seen Merry grow from a spoiled child demanding sweets into an intelligent and brave adult; able to deal with all troubles that head his way with a cool mind. Uncle Saradoc must be proud of him. And not to forget little Pip. Oh by the Valar! I have realised that Pippin is only 28 - and is too young to go willingly to his death. Yet he is determined to go - and to stop him we would have to tie him up in a sack!

There, I have stated my opinions and feelings about the eight others that willingly travel with me to almost certain death.

No I have forgotten a member of the Fellowship - what of myself? I have no real physical strength, nor am I particularly brave or clever. I am simply Frodo Baggins, son of Drogo, Heir of Bilbo, Elf-friend and now Ringbearer. The Valar have chosen the wrong person for this monstrous task. Yet I must succeed.