Men laugh and drink. Voices lifted in bawdy songs bounce off the walls. If Frodo looked (which he did), he'd find quite a number of his companions had been engaged in a drinking contest of some kind. Boromir was getting red faced as he tried to out drink Eomer (who still was not pleased with Boromir's affections toward Eowyn. That's big brothers for you, Frodo guessed).

He drank a little bit, content to watch as both Elves and Men contested against each other. Many thought Elves couldn't hold their alcohol, but that proved incorrect. Haldir, for instance, was having far too much fun with arm wrestling and his men were cheering him on.

"Come, Master Hobbit! A song!" One of the soldiers said.

"What?" Frodo asked, lifted onto a table.

"Just because you were raised by Dwarves doesn't mean your uncle didn't teach you a song or two!"

That was incorrect. Bilbo did sing to him when he was a child, but bawdy or drinking songs? Bilbo could be awkward when he liked, but he'd never be that awkward. He hadn't been to the Shire in years, either and the last time nearly got both of them killed.

But there was one song he could think of…if only…

There he is!

"Gimli!" he called. "Get up here!"

"What?"

"The Green Dragon song! Come! Join me!"

Gimli laughed and climbed on the table. They belted the song, kicking dishes out of their way and stomping their feet, tankards in their hands. At the end of the song, they chugged their ale and jumped down. Frodo patted his shoulder.

"Bet you can't drink an Elf under the table," he challenged.

"You'll live to regret that, Lad."

"We'll see."

"I'll make you put your money where your mouth is," Gimli said. "Legolas! Last one standing wins!"

Frodo laughed as Elves and Men surrounded them, placing their bets. Frodo slipped away, embracing the cool night air. He closed his eyes and inhaled, seeking out the peace he so desperately needed right now. The battle had been won, but there was more to come. He could feel it.

Perhaps I should continue on by myself, he thought. He didn't want any harm to befall his companions and he feared what could happen if the followed him to Mordor. It'd be better if he continued on alone.

Wouldn't it?

You won't win…

"Yes I will," he said. "By the grace of Eru Iluvatar I will succeed."

"Who are you talking to?" Frodo turned to look at Legolas. He swayed a little bit on his feet and leaned against a pillar.

"Just to myself," he reached for the Ring and lowered his hand again. "It weighs heavily on my mind. It seeks to make me doubt."

"Do you?"

"Sometimes. Not about succeeding. Success is the only option I have. But surviving…I want to survive more than ever these days, but I feel it is folly to hope to live after this."

"You will survive."

"You don't know that."

"Of course I do. You see, if you don't survive, I'll follow you with the lone purpose of kicking your ass."

Frodo chuckled. "Ghivashel, you're drunk."

Legolas hummed. "Maybe a little bit. Not as drunk as Gimli or Boromir are, of course, but just a little bit. Aragorn's probably just as drunk as they are and youaren't anywhere close to drunk."

"I'm afraid of what would happen if I did get drunk. Who knows? I might lose the Ring."

"That'd be bad," Legolas said. "Especially with whatever's following us."

Frodo's neck nearly snapped from the force of turning to look at him. "What? Something's been following us?"

"Has been for a while now. I don't know what it is. It reeks. Smells of a bog, maybe. Or the Misty Mountains. Maybe the Ring calls it."

"That's bad."

"Well it's not an Orc. I'll take comfort in that."

Frodo sighed. Whatever it was, he wouldn't be able to face it alone. Can't go alone then.

Legolas sat beside him. "What's wrong, Melleth nîn?"

Frodo leaned against Legolas, eyes closed. "Nothing I've not told you before," he said. "Could you just…please hold me for a little bit?"

Legolas' arm wrapped around Frodo's shoulders and his other hand took Frodo's hand in his. "Frodo, I love you."

"I love you too," Frodo said. "I always loved you."

Legolas kissed the top of his head. "Marry me."

Frodo looked up. "Legolas we just…"

"I know. I don't care."

"You're drunker than you think," Frodo said.

"I'll ask again when I'm sober," Legolas said. "Would you believe me then?"

"Still too fast."

"As optimistic as I like to be, I don't want to take any chances. If I wasn't drunk, would you say yes? Knowing we could die on this mission, would you throw propriety and tradition out the window and let us be bound together as husbands? Would you marry me?"

Frodo blinked and hid his face in Legolas' tunic in hopes of hiding his blush. His heart screamed yes, say yes. "Ask me when you are sober," he said instead.

"I will ask in the morning, then," Legolas said with a sigh. "But I will keep asking, drunk or sober, until you say yes, Frodo."

"It's a little difficult to take you seriously when you're inebriated, âzyungel," Frodo said, standing. He kissed Legolas softly. "Go to bed, Legolas. I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow."

"Goodnight, my love," Legolas mumbled, kissing Frodo's fingers, "May your dreams be sweet."

Frodo smiled. "And may yours as well." He stepped away from Legolas and went to his room, leaning against the door.

If I wasn't drunk, would you say yes?

Knowing we could die on this mission, would you throw propriety and tradition out the window and let us be bound together as husbands?

Would you marry me?

Frodo slid to the ground. Why did you have to ask me that now of all times? He thought. This isn't fair!

#

"Boromir and I will go to Gondor. If it is necessary, we light the beacons," Gandalf said. "If it comes to pass, Rohan must be ready to come."

Théoden shook his head. "Why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours?" he asked.

"We did not come because we had none to spare, my lord," Boromir said. Théoden turned to him. "Our armies are constantly at battle with Mordor. We never get a moment of peace these days. I wish I could say I can apologize on behalf of my father, but I cannot."

Théoden stared at him. "You have a noble heart, Boromir son of Denethor. My quarrel is only with your father. If I learned anything from knowing you it is that you are a better man." Boromir tried to contain the beam. "So if your father does not take action, what will you do?"

"My brother and I will act against his wishes if necessary," Boromir said. "It took a while, but I learned he was wrong and that doing what is right sometimes means having faith even when there seems to be no hope at all."

Théoden nodded. "Then Rohan will answer if Gondor calls."

Gandalf looked pleased.

"What of the others?" Boromir asked, turning to Frodo.

"We'll figure it out," Frodo said, "But we may need to take a new route. I told Sauron nothing, but he may have been able to get a glimpse of my plans if I got a glimpse of his. We've lost the element of surprise." He looked around. "Does anyone have a map?"

Théoden sent for one to be brought. Once one was brought and laid on the table, the Fellowship gathered around it. "We were going to take the route through Udun," Aragorn said, pointing at it. "But that would not fare well if the enemy is aware."

"What about here," Frodo asked, ponting at Cirith Ungol. "Could we sneak in through there?"

"Possibly," Aragorn said tentatively. "But it takes us too close to Minas Morgul for my liking."

"We're few enough in number," Gimli said. "And we'll be fewer when Gandalf and Boromir leave. We could do it if there's a way in."

"It's also too close to Gondor," Gandalf said. "Boromir, your father still desires the Ring, does it not?"

"Yes, but I promise, if this is the route you wish to take, I will clear the path for you."

Gandalf shook his head. "I do not like taking that road. Foul things live in that cave. Recall what plagued Mirkwood a few years back? The mountain has the same monster."

Legolas turned to him. "Spiders?"

"Just one. A great and terrible child of Ungoliant resides there."

Frodo bit his lip. "Spiders fear Sting," he said. "So I bear no fear toward spiders, no matter how big they are. Getting inside is my biggest problem right now. So can we worry about the spider when we get to the spider?"

The reluctance didn't make him feel any better about the new route. But where else could they get into Mordor? He doubted there were many passages into that land. No one tried to get into Mordor after all.

They broke for breakfast but Legolas escaped outside. Frodo followed him. "Aren't you hungry?"

"Not particularly," he said. "I don't like this."

"Well neither do I, but unless there's a safer route into Mordor we might not have much choice. If I was confident that Sauron doesn't know which road I intend to take then I'd not change anything."

Legolas rubbed the back of his neck, mumbling to himself. Frodo watched him, unsure of what to do to ease him. Legolas turned to him and grabbed his hand, pulling him into a corner away from prying eyes.

"I don't want to be bothered by the Men. You know how they can be."

Frodo stared at him, quite confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Last night you told me to ask you again when I was sober," Legolas said. Frodo blushed. "So I ask you again, melleth nîn: will you honor me by being my husband?"

Frodo bit his lip, staring at Legolas. He didn't want to die, but he'd be a fool to assume he'd live after the quest. He swallowed. "Yes. Today. While Gandalf is still here. I get the feeling that Théoden is not likely to accept or understand…"

Legolas grins and presses a kiss to Frodo's lips, lifting Frodo in his arms. Frodo tugged on Legolas' hair, earning a moan from him.

Husband. The word sent shivers down his spine. The kind he could grow used to.

AN: I know it's gotten pretty fast (hasn't even been ten chapters since they started courting and all…), but given the nature of the quest I figured common sense might get thrown out the window. *Ducks and hides*