To Arms

Those who know me know Frodo is my usual plaything, but this idea just grabbed hold and wouldn't let go.

Disclaimer: Nope, these are not my characters, and I don't make any money with them. I just get to play around with them a bit.

Thanks for reading and remember to feed the author. Reviews will be pleasantly accepted, flames will be passed around to my friends and laughed at.

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I heard the call in Rohan, and I answered. It was all I could do. Gandalf had ridden ahead with you to Minas Tirith, to protect you as much as our mission. Then war marched upon their front gate and Rohan was called to aid. No soldiers were to be left behind, no one who wasn't a soldier allowed to go. I had to go. I had to protect you, so I took up the call to arms. My arms, which had always meant love and security to you, were to fight, to spill blood if possible.

You would probably think me daft for doing so, but how could I not. I held you in my arms when you were but a babe. Our mothers said we would be the best of friends. I didn't believe them. Small and scrawny you were, but such a scowl on your face, as if you wanted to be anywhere other than with me. Yet I made my vow anyway. You were my cousin. I would protect you always.

I did my best to shelter you through the years, even when you did not want sheltering. You fought against me at times. Many times. I had to learn that sometimes the best way to care and nurture someone was to let them go, even if it meant pushing you out of arms reach. So I released you from the safe confines of my arms to let you stand or fall on your own. You didn't realize it, but I stood or fell with you every time.

I had to let you go, to let you fight your own battles, but I was always there to back you up. Win or lose we would make our way home arm in arm. Partners in crime some would say. It was I who taught you the fine art of apple scrumping, of avoiding Farmer Maggot's dogs, and the best time to raid the pantries. I learned from the best, but Frodo had outgrown such foolishness by the time you were ready to learn. I would rejoice in every triumph, sadden at every failure. Yet you always kept your spirit.

I remember when our warm embraces become something else, something more. You had always had a passion for life, but now it was as if someone had set fire to your very soul, and how that fire burned! So intense was your ardor. Long nights spent in tangled bliss, unaware of anything but you…

Now I'm scared as I've never been before. You've answered your own call to arms. My Pippin, my little Pip, you're on a mission of so little hope. How can I protect you now? I don't like this, not one bit. I'm here, you're there, and there's nothing I can do but wait and hope and pray. Pray you come back to me. My arms feel so empty without your presence within. I understand why, truly I do, but heed another call now. Hear my call. Come back to me, to my arms, where you belong.