Shadow Years

by Freline

Shortly before Bilbo disappears at his 111 birthday, Frodo is planning to get married, but then his future wife disappears without a trace, leaving him heartbroken as he thinks she ran away from their marriage. Years later, Merry and Pippin find her at Isengard, as a slave to Saruman. When she tells them her story, both are shocked about hearing what really happened to her.

4. Chapter 4

After Frodo was healed, Merry convinced him to come to Buckland for a while. They were accompanied by Pippin until they reached Bywater, where they said goodbye and continued to Brandy Hall. As the evening came, they stopped at Frogmorton for the night.

It was the first time since Loreana had disappeared that Frodo was sleeping without nightmares. By now he had come to the conclusion that she had simply been bored of him, but Merry and Pippin still believed that Lotho had something to do with it. Even if it was true, Frodo had realized that it was no use looking for her, by now she could be anywhere. He had accepted that she was gone and that it was time to move on. He spent most of the summer in Buckland, swimming in the Brandywine, going on vegetable raids with his cousins or simply sitting in the library. By the time summer turned to autumn, he returned to Hobbiton, after telling Merry that he would return for Yule. But he had also made a promise to himself that he would not stop looking for a wife, even if he would never forget Loreana, his first love.

But the second time he would take it slower, believing that the wedding plans had been too soon after they had both come of age and that was why she had run away in panic, not being ready for such a big commitment yet. While he had been at Brandy Hall, he had found two girls of the right age, that interested him. Both had been sent to Brandy Hall for apprenticeships as gardeners and he had invited them to Bag End, stating that were always welcome, which had flattered them.

When he arrived at Bag End, Sam was in the garden as always. He looked up, as Frodo entered and grinned at having his master home again finally. As the time for dinner came and Sam was still outside, Frodo opened a window and put the cooking pot in front of it, making sure that Sam could smell dinner. It had always worked whenever his friend was too busy and forgot the time. He came in a minute later, his stomach growling loud enough for Frodo to hear.

They had just finished eating, when someone knocked at the door with force. When Frodo opened, he saw Gandalf standing outside. At the wizard´s worried look he just stepped aside and let him come in. As usual, Gandalf wasted no time. Urgently he asked: "The ring I gave you after Bilbo left, is it still safe?" Frodo showed him the ring and Gandalf nodded. By the time they came back to the kitchen, Sam had produced a third plate with dinner. The wizard looked at it and shook his head, before he said: "Sadly, I can not stay, even if this smells delicious as everything made by hobbits. But I will be back soon. Until then, keep the ring hidden." Then he was gone, just as quick as he had come, leaving two very confused hobbits behind.

Loreana awoke in complete darkness. Her whole body hurt and when she tried to move her feet, she realized that she had been chained to a wall. With effort she pushed herself up to a sitting position. Then she laid her head on her lap and cried until she was exhausted and fell asleep. The next time she woke she saw a man with a whip standing over her.

A short distance behind him, near the door was a young woman with a tray of food. The man with the whip knelt in front of her, took her face into his hands and said in a warning tone: "From the looks of you, you have always been treated like a princess. My good friend Lotho, who has sold you to me, has told me that you were about to marry. You can forget your fiancee, you will never see him again. My daughter has need of a lady in waiting and I am hoping you are up to it. Otherwise, you are of no use to me and I will give you to the highest bidder at the next slave auction. I assure you, not everyone will be as kind as I am."

With that, he motioned for the woman to come closer and put the tray on the ground. Before he left, the man continued: "You will remain here for the next two weeks, while I make preparations to prevent your escape. I will let my daughter bring you food twice a day." Then they left the room and Loreana realized with horror that the young woman, who had appeared so frightened must have been the man´s daughter, not another slave, as she had originally assumed. If even the family of that man was so afraid of him, maybe she could use that to her advantage.