This is a new story that I hope to be much longer. There will be violence so if you aren't comfortable with that I would recommend avoiding this.


Rain pattered on the ground.

It mixes with the fluid that was already there, spreading the red dye over the pavement. Two people were tied against some posts, the rain barely bothering their already soaked skin.

The crowds had diminished and their eyes were allowed to finally close. Their hands, being tied so close together, gripped eachother's for support.

Rain pattered on the ground.

A-WARM-WELCOME

"Master Frodo! Come over here! Dinner's ready!"

Sighing, Frodo turned around. He allowed his hand to drop from his collar where it had ventured unbidden. Slowly he moved towards his the fire where Sam had called him from. Everyone else was already there.

Gimli and Legolas were exchanging insults, to which no one was surprised. They had even tried to rope in the two humans, Legolas wanting Aragorn to confirm something, and when he did, Gimli complained about him being bias. Then Boromir got called in. Gandalf was watching, an expression of content on his face.

The rest of the hobbits, they were swapping stories of their past pranks, trying to convince each other that they did the most, the best and the funniest pranks.

In all honesty, it was Merry and Pippin doing that, Sam was waiting for Frodo, steaming bowls in his hands ready to give out. Joining them, Frodo sat down and Sam handed everyone a bowl.

The meal was excellent. Not quite what he was used to in the Shire but excellent nevertheless. Though that may be because it was the first hot meal in three long days.

"Mister Gandalf,"

Sam's voice cut through everyone's conversations and he turned slightly pink from the attention on him.

"Um…"

Gandalf looked upon the hobbit with absolute calm and Sam relaxed somewhat.

"Well you see, we are running out of supplies quite now and the animals that are caught aren't really sufficient if you pardon me. So, I was wondering if there was anywhere nearby to stock up if you get my meaning. I don't mean to cause trouble if it's not possible, for I know this is supposed to stay on the low. I just…"

Sam trailed off, his head tilted down in embarrassment.

What he said was true. In the winter months all they had to go on were the animals Legolas or Aragorn had come across as foraging was near impossible, and even then they were becoming scarce. Frodo wondered how Gandalf would react.

Everyone knew their mission was important and no one wanted to jeopardize it in any way, but to do that they needed to survive.

Surprisingly Gandalf smiled.

"I knew supplies were short, fortunately, the path we need to take brings us through a nearby village where we can…"

Gandalf stopped abruptly as his hat jerked off of his head backwards.

The surprise on his face alone would've made anyone laugh, but the fact that it was Gandalf and that something like that would happen to him, had all of the fellowship on the floor.

Their laughter only increased tenfold when, upon going to retrieve his hat, it pulled away from him again.

Eventually he collected his hat and set it upon his head. He took a few seconds longer, surveying the area, before walking back to where they were all doubled over. Frodo couldn't stop the tears from streaming down his face.

Without warning he then walked up behind Legolas and Aragorn, who were sat next to each other, and pulled them to their feet, Aragorn by his hair and Legolas by his ear.

Aragorn spluttered is surprise and the elf next to him yelped in pain.

"Ai! Mithrandir! What was that for?"

"Gandalf! What are you doing?"

Once in their feet Legolas tried to remove Gandalf's unrelenting grip to no success, grimacing in pain. Aragorn had his hands on top of his head in a vain attempt to stop his hair from tugging at his skull.

"I think you know the answers to both of those questions yourself!"

Pippin, who was looking on confused, chimed in.

"Well we don't! What's going on?!"

Pulling the two to face him, causing more grumbles and cries of pain, he stared down at them.

"Now was this the time for one of your foolish tricks?"

Everyone looked confused, then laughed at the innocent expressions on the elf and human's face.

"What makes you think it was us?"

Legolas spoke first, Aragorn joining in a moment later.

"Exactly! The hobbits were just talking about their best pranks! Not us!"

"Hey!"

Pippin and Merry shouted in response.

"We would do no such thing!"

"No! Not after the firework incident hey Pip!"

Gimli hooted in laughter, glad to see the elf in a pickle, and Boromir smiled at the hobbit's antics.

Bringing his arms up to the accused's response, Gandalf raised his eyebrows and turned to Legolas.

"You forget, Thranduilion, that you have done this before in my presence…"

"Then why do you accuse me!?"

He turned to face the dúnadan, from which the cry had erupted.

"Why, it was a two person job and your knots are very distinctive."

A moment's silence passed.

Then the accused made eye contact and started laughing again. Sighing, Gandalf released the two trouble makers from his grip where they proceeded to collapse to the floor in fits of giggles, completely overcome.

Frodo looked nervously to Gandalf, but was relieved to find there was a glint in his eyes and a slight twitch at the corners of his mouth.

After a while the laughter died down. Aragorn's chuckles being the last to fade.

"Mithrandir. I must wonder how you fell for it."

Looking sternly at the elf, who was cradling his ear in his palm, then replied.

"It was many years since you pulled that stunt on Celeborn my dear elf. And I assumed you and Haldir would've learned your lesson."

Aragorn turned to Legolas.

"You've done this to Celeborn!"

"Haldir's idea."

The words left the elf's moth as soon as Aragorn ceased speaking. Far too quickly to stop the human's smile from growing. In fact, it only provoked a snort.

"Gandalf…"

Frodo looked on curiously.

"Why did you pull them up in different ways. It can't of been very fair."

Frodo had previously had his hair pulled and knew how painful it was. He couldn't see how yanking on someone's hair equaled pulling someone's ear.

"Exactly Mithrandir! Why didn't you pull my hair instead? Leave my ears alone! I'm not an elfling anymore!"

Pippin pounced at the opportunity to ask more questions.

"What do you mean!"

Aragorn smiled and pinched the tip of Legolas' other ear, resulting in another yelp from the elf and one human getting bludgeoned.

"Ow! Let's just say that elf ears are sensitive to more than just sounds."

Merry, interested in the prank and how he could recreate if he ever got the chance. However, upon asking, Gandalf shut it down before an answer could be given. Frodo smiled at his attempt to dissuade the hobbits from causing anymore trouble.

Despite his attempts, Legolas still leaned in and whispered.

"It's something to do with ropes and water."

Then he moved away before Merry and Pippin could ask for more details or Gandalf did something more severe then just grab his ear.

Frodo was almost overwhelmed by the events and knew Sam was as well, therefore he was very glad when Boromir tried to restore sense.

"Gandalf, where did you say we were going?"

The wizard answered whilst beginning to get ready to leave.

"A small village called Órinor."

"Órinor!"

The exclamation had come from the dúnadan. Both his and Legolas' faces had lost all traces of humour.


Well, that was the first chapter! Please comment if you enjoyed it. In fact comment even if you didn't! I would like to know if my writing needs to improve. (Because that's obviously not something I worry about!) I have changed a few mistakes that were made already! I hope you enjoyed it. I hope to have the next chapter out in a week. Give or take a few days!