Frodo's new home was very different from the one that was left at the Shire.
There was not much to be seen of it since it was rather dark, but it was rather tall from afar compared to a hobbit hole. Yet, it was still very long and low as one hole should be. There was no upper level and it had a roof of turf with round windows and a large door.
It was excluded from all other homes near so that no one would notice if one would leave or enter, let alone if anyone dwelt inside.
As they got closer, the windows were bleak and dark with the shutters locked close. Frodo knocked on the door and Fatty Bolger, who had helped Merry prepare the house, had opened the door. A friendly stream of light came out and they instantly felt the warmth of a fire leak outside. They all rushed inside and found themselves in a hall that had doors on either side and a passage that ran far ahead in the middle of the house.
"Well,' started Merry with his arms stretched wide. "What do you think? We have done our best in the short amount of time that we had. After all, Fatty and I barely got the last load yesterday."
Severus looked around and while the home was different from the one he got comfortable with, there still laid Frodo's things that were arranged more neatly than Severus thought Merry was capable of. He surprised to find that the few things that Severus had were also set up nicely along the bridge of the wall with some books. Some of his journals and nick-nacks that he had picked up throughout his years were placed well around the hall and he was sure that it would be the same around the house.
Overall, the place was welcoming and homey and Severus could not help but imagine the rest of his days in this home. He would not mind living here, but alas it was not something that was fated to happen for now, if ever.
Severus looked Frodo was sure that he felt the same way. In the end, Frodo cried out his delight, but Severus could hear his voice waiver ever so slightly.
With one look from Frodo, he could feel his unease bleed into Severus. It would be hard for Frodo to leave so soon and to explain such abrupt disappearance would not be easy. It is better to find an answer before they go to bed. Hopefully, they could discuss further plans before supper.
They hung their cloaks and the hobbits left their packs on the floor before following Merry down the passage and threw open the door on the far end. Severus rolled his eyes before waving his wand and levitated the packs neatly against the wall beside the door. From afar, he could hear Pippin yell out happily for a bath.
"Trust me to arrange things better than that!" said Merry as he placed a hand upon his chest and mocked offense. "We can't begin life at Crickhollow with a quarrel over baths. In that room, there are three tubs and a copper full of boiling water. There are also towels, mats, and soap. Get inside and be quick!"
With those words, all hobbits rushed inside gleefully and Severus snorted at their child play as he followed Fatty and Merry into the kitchen where they were finishing the final preparation for a late supper. There was not yet tea but fresh water and wine.
There was some singing and splashing in the baths and Severus waited patiently for the three hobbits to finish before supper could be finished and for him to take a clean bath himself. There would be no hot water left, he was sure, but he would do just fine with cold water and warm it up himself with a charm.
Soon the hobbits left the room one by one and Severus found that the floor barely ceased to be a small lake by the large puddle of water that wet the floor. Severus was almost tempted to make the lot clean it up themselves, but he merely sighed and magic the water away before filling his tube and taking a quick bath himself.
The rest were already in the kitchen which was warm and lit by the fire. Supper was plentiful and filling, but Severus ate very little- he was still full from what he had eaten earlier that night. He was still astounded by the amount of food these young hobbits could consume on a daily. Merlin forbid should they miss tea time or snacks for they would surely starve, thought Severus.
There was some small talk of the house and neighbors before Merry return to their travels.
"Now tell me all about it! I guess that you have been having adventures, which was not quite fair without me. I want a full account; and most of all I want to know what was the matter with old Maggot, and why he spoke to me like that. He sounded almost as if he was scared; if that is possible."
Frodo sent Severus a quick glance before he looked at his hands which he clutched almost painfully upon his lap.
"Well, we were all scared," said Pippin after a pause. "You would be too if you had been chased for two days by Black Riders."
"Black Riders?" asked Merry, taking a sip of beer.
"They're black figures that ride on black horses," answered Pippin before he told Merry all that had happened. Severus did not think it was wise for him to spill the whole thing,
but neither he nor Frodo made any efforts to stop him.
"If I didn't know any better, I would think you would be making the whole thing up. Would do you think about it Frodo?"
"Well Frodo has been very tight lip about the whole thing," said Pippin. "So far, all that we've got his Old Maggot's guess on it having to do with old Bilbo's treasure."
"It's only a guess," said Frodo rather quickly. Severus's lips thinned. "Maggot doesn't know anything."
"Old Maggot is a shrewd fellow," agreed Merry. "But he's giving us a lot more information than you are."
"I think," answered Frodo slowly, "that it was a good guess, as far as it goes. There is a connection with Bilbo's old adventures, and the Riders are looking, or perhaps one ought to say searching, for him or for me. I also fear, if you want to know, that it is no joke at all; and that I am not safe here or anywhere else.' He looked around at the windows and walls as if he was afraid they would suddenly give way. The others looked at him in silence and exchanged meaning glances among themselves.
Frodo bit his lip and looked at Sam for a few seconds before his eyes met Severus's. There were no words spoken between them, but a whole conversation seems to pass by instantly. It was not up to Severus to make these decisions for Frodo. He did not think it is wise to spread such valuable information, whether or not Merry and Pippin are cousins and loyal to Frodo. Gandalf wanted them to make haste and be unseen for a reason. It would be dangerous for everyone. However, they were already part of the group, essentially. They would be tracked if worse came to worse, but was the true questioned lied with if it would be better for them to be fooled and remain obvious to the troubles around them or should they learn of the truths and be in constant danger because of it.
Pippin and Merry shared another glance as they waited patiently for Frodo to come to a decision.
Frodo sat a little straighter and spoke almost hesitantly.
"I can't keep it dark any longer. I have got something to tell you all, but I don't know quite how to begin."
"I think I could help you," said Merry.
Sam's, Frodo's, and Severus's head shot up to Merry in surprise.
"What do you mean?" said Frodo anxiously.
"Well, it's just this my dear Frodo. You are miserable because you don't know how to say good-bye. You meant to leave the Shire, of course. But danger has come on you sooner than you expected, and now you are making up your mind to go at once. And you don't want to. We are very sorry for you." Frodo opened his mouth and shut it again.
For a split second, Severus was shocked that Merry had figured something out. It was not that Merry was completely dimwitted, but he was not exactly the brightest person that Severus had come across. Severus had once watched him fight a door only to realize that he was meant to pull it open instead of push it. Not to mention that he almost started a fight with a tree when he had drunk too much at the bar on Pippin's birthday last year. But it would seem that Severus stand corrected and Merry was still as oblivious as he was a few nights ago and did not obtain any more intelligence in the short amount of time that they have been apart.
Soon afterward, Pippin and Merry laughed at their shock expressions.
"Dear old Frodo!" said Pippin. "Did you really think you had thrown dust in all our eyes? You have not been nearly careful or clever enough for that! You have obviously been planning to go and saying farewell to all your haunts all this year since April. We have constantly heard you muttering: ''Shall I ever look down into that valley again, I wonder'', and things like that. And pretending that you had come to the end of your money, and actually selling your beloved Bag End to those SackvilleBagginses! And all those close talks with Gandalf."
"Good heavens!" said Frodo playing along, relief was almost evident on his face. Severus did not miss how his fingernails seem to pierce his flesh. "I thought I had been both careful and clever. I don't know what Gandalf would say. Is all the Shire discussing my departure then?"
"Oh no!" said Merry. "Don't worry about that! The secret won't keep for long, of course; but at present it is, I think, only known to us conspirators. After all, you must remember that we do know you well, and are often with you. We can usually guess what you are thinking."
Severus snorted into his drink rather undignified, but nobody seemed to notice except for Frodo who offered him a smile. Sam, on the other hand, looked rather confused with the whole thing. His face looked like he was on the border of denying Merry's claim and keeping silent.
"Yes, yes," continued Merry looking rather pleased with himself. He was leaning against his seat and had his arms stretch far. "I knew Bilbo, too. To tell you the truth, I have been watching you rather closely ever since he left. I thought you would go after him sooner or later; indeed I expected you to go sooner, and lately, we have been very anxious. We have been terrified that you might give us the slip, and go off suddenly, all on your own as he did. Ever since this spring we have kept our eyes open, and done a good deal of planning on our own account. You are not going to escape so easily!"
"But I must go," said Frodo rather solemnly. "It cannot be helped, dear friends. It is wretched for us all, but it is no use for you to try and stop me. But please, since you have guessed so much, help me and do not keep me."
"Oh, but you do not understand, dear cousin!" said Pippin. "You must go and therefore we must, too. Merry and I are coming with you. Sam and Mr. Snape are excellent fellows. Sam here would jump down a dragon's throat to save you if he did not trip over his own feet. And I am sure that Mr. Snape could scare almost anything that you will come across- ah! No offense, Mr. Snape."
"None taken," said Severus dryly.
"My dear hobbits," said Frodo. "I cannot allow it. You speak of danger, but you do not understand. This is no treasure-hunt, no there-and-back journey. I am leaving deadly peril into deadly peril."
"Of course we understand," stated Merry firmly. "That is why we have decided to come. We know that the Ring is no laughing matter, but we are going to do our best to help you against the Enemy."
"The Ring?" cried Frodo. Severus had nearly spit out his tea but ended up coughing rather loudly and aggressively. Sam looked torn between patting him on the back or sitting still lest he wants to be turned into a toad.
Merry spared Severus a glance briefly before he brought his focus back to Frodo
"Yes, the ring," said Merry. "My dear old hobbit, you don't allow for the inquisitiveness of friends. I have known about the existence of the Ring for years – before Bilbo went away, in fact; but since he obviously regarded it as secret, I kept the knowledge in my head, until we formed our conspiracy. I did not know Bilbo, of course, as well as I know you; I was too young, and he was also more careful – but he was not careful enough.'
"I saw him use it when I was younger. I was startled. And ever since then, I kept my eyes open. But you got to admit, Frodo, that it is very intriguing. I have spent many years spying. I had even read his secret book."
Frodo looked shocked beyond words, but Merry waved him off. "It was only once. I only got a quick look. It was quite hard to get. He never leaves it lying around. I don't suppose you got his book, do you Frodo?"
"No. It is not at Bag End. He must have taken it with him."
"Tis too bad," continued Merry. "No matter. I have kept his secret up until this spring with things got rather serious. Pippin and I formed our conspiracy and knew that all this meant business. It was very hard at first. You're not a very easy nut to crack; Gandalf being the same. Mr. Snape didn't make it all that easier either- constantly looming over us and watching us as if we were up to no good-"
"Well, it would seem that you were, indeed, up to something," interrupted Severus. Merry gave him a tight smile. "But even then, you two would never have come up to such conclusions, even with Bilbo's slip up. There had to be someone else who conspired with you."
Severus's eyes narrowed in suspicion before the fell upon Sam who looked a little pale. Soon Frodo's eyes followed his and found himself staring dumbly at Sam, a flicker of betrayal flashed in his eyes.
"Sam!"
"Yes, sir!" said Sam. "Begging your pardon, sir! But I meant no wrong to you, Mr. Frodo, nor to Mr. Gandalf nor to you Mr. Snape for that matter. He has some sense, mind you; and when you said go alone, he said no! take someone as you can trust."
"But it does not seem that I can trust anyone," said Frodo. Sam looked at him unhappily.
"It all depends on what you want," put in Merry. "You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin – to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours – closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo. Anyway: there it is. We know most of what Gandalf has told you. We know a good deal about the Ring. We are horribly afraid – but we are coming with you, or following you like hounds."
Severus watched Frodo, waiting. He looked scared but relieved beyond measure. But his nose was slightly scrunched up and he looked like he was thinking very hard on what to do. It was moments like these that Severus was almost tempted to take a closer look into Frodo's mind. He never did and he didn't suppose that he would start to do so now. In the end, however, Frodo seems to come to a rather hefty conclusion as he soon agreed to their coming.
They sang and dance. Severus watched them with a ghost of a smile. Frodo gazed upon him with flushing cheeks and a bright smile.
"In any case, I think we should go to be for we must leave soon."
"Do you really mean to start before the break of dawn?" said Pippin.
Severus rose from his seat, capturing the attention of the young hobbits.
"It is not safe for us to stay in a place too long, especially if those Black Riders are following us and know where to look. Gildor had advised us to not wait and even though some of us would wish to wait for Gandalf, it is not wise. Either we leave before they come or we wait for their arrival."
They sat quietly in thought before Frodo nodded in agreement. "I would like to wait for Gandalf, but I supposed it would be best we leave as soon as we can. We must not travel through the North gate since my leave will be known at once. We have to keep it secret to buy us some time, hopefully, a few days at least. Our only choice is to go off in an unexpected direction"
"You don't mean the Old Forest! That it is as dangerous as any rider!" cried Fatty
"No," said Severus firmly. "As dangerous as it may be, we will have to take our chances. Frodo is right. It is the only way to get off without being followed immediately. With some luck, we will have a good head start."
Either way, no matter what may be in the Old Forest, nothing can compare to the dangers that lay inside the Forbidden Forest. Severus had frequently visited during his Hogwarts years to get away from everyone, especially his last year when Lily had broken off their friendship. Even as a grown man, Severus would travel inside the forest to relieve some steam or to hunt for ingredients. He has had his fair share of dangerous in dark forests. He was sure that they would be fine, but he still does not know what lies inside them besides what he has gathered from legends and books.
With that in mind, Severus had chosen that Fatty should remain behind and report to Gandalf should he come this way. It was better to not leave a written message. Soon, they all prepared for bed. Severus left soon afterward once all the hobbits were inside their rooms.
Merry and Pippin had prepared ponies and bags for the trip before their arrival. True to their words, they have been preparing and seek to follow on this journey.
After a quick scout of the house, Severus checked the ponies and bags briefly before placing a feather light charm on the bags. With that done, Severus spent an hour placing upwards across the land and house. He focused more on the house but walked far out to place an alarm to alert him should anyone or anything be trespassing upon it. Once everything was done, Severus went into his own room where he packed his bag with extra supplies and got ready for bed himself. It would be a long journey ahead and he would need as much sleep as he could get. With that, Severus blew out the candles and disappeared into the night.
