Chapter 11
The Road Goes On
May and Sapphira seemed excited to go on this adventure. Blair was very unsure of the journey. As they came across a river, they spotted a fallen tree.
"Looks like we have a bridge." Basso mused. As she made their way across, May paused.
"This branch feels weak…" She hesitated. Frodo took her hand to offer balance. The two made it safely across the river.
Frodo wasn't sure why he asked May to come with them…and he secretly had hoped she would say no. But something felt like he could trust her. Still…even all that Sam had done for him…he wasn't sure if he could face his friend to tell him something bad had happened to his sister… That moment, Frodo vowed to protect May no matter what. It certainly offered a distraction from his pain.
As Blair and Ferdibrand walked across, the group heard a creaking noise. The tree cracked and the two hobbits fell into the river. Ferdibrand quickly grabbed Blair and pulled her out of the water.
"Don't worry, ma'am!" He declared boldly.
"I'm fine!" Blair growled and crawled out of the river. "I don't need a Took to rescue me all the time!"
"I thought you felt differently." Ferdibrand replied, placing a hand on his chest, pretending to be hurt. "After all, we danced together."
Blair blushed furiously before hastily storming off. Frodo gave Ferdibrand a hopeful smile.
The journey was easier after that. The hobbits made light conversation for the most part. Hildifons began to sing. Milo joined in, then Basso. The three ancient hobbits were joined by Bilbo, Frodo, and May.
Later, they made a camp and settled for the night. May kept rubbing her eye, while Hildifons and Milo began to play with cards. Blair left her cloak up to dry.
"Miss Gamgee, are you all right?" Basso asked.
"Hm? Oh, yes. Something is just bothering my eye. It may just be my allergies."
"If I may, could I perhaps look at your eye?" Basso asked. "I have an invention that allows me to see closer."
"I think that would be fine." May replied, clearly interested. Frodo came to sit beside them.
Basso took out the interesting contraption that allowed him to see better, like a magnifying glass. He looked into May's eye.
"No swelling... No red... It's just an eyelash. That's good to know you're not having an allergic reaction to anything."
"Wait, you're having an allergic reaction?!" Blair gasped. "Oh no! What's wrong? What can I do? Are you all right? Where does it hurt?!"
"Miss Sandydowns, please don't overwhelm her with all these questions." Basso insisted.
"I'm used to it." May reassured.
"Well my friend is injured!" Blair said. "You think I'm going to stand by and do nothing?! I have every right to be concerned!"
"I think your cloak is dry." May said blankly.
"Oh, that's right! I was waiting for that. Thank you for reminding me, May." Blair turned to check her cloak.
"I know how to distract her." May whispered to Basso.
"All right..." Basso said. "Let's get that eyelash out. Just a few drops of water..." Basso took out a vile. He had May look upward at the sky as he put drops of water in her eye.
Blair walked over to her cloak and took it down from the branch. She spotted a bat flying through the trees.
"Ah! Bat! Bat! Bat!" Blair shouted as she began to run around the camp in a panic. Ferdibrand chased after her, attempting to reassure her there was no reason to panic.
"Eek! There's a spider!"
"Hildifons, you're cheating!" Milo said. The two were playing cards while Blair continued to run around- only to see more wildlife.
"Rat! Rat! Rat!"
"No, I'm not!" Hildifons said.
"Yes, you are, I saw that! You're cheating!"
"Oh yeah, what's this?" Hildifons pulled cards out of Milo's sleeve. Milo smiled sheepishly. All the while Blair was attempting to calm down, Sapphira was giggling at the scene, sitting next to Bilbo.
"Being on an adventure is more fun than I thought!" She mused happily.
"I almost got it…" Basso said, pouring droplets of water into May's eye. Frodo sat next to her and watched the funny scenes of the other hobbits. "I got it! It's out!"
Basso held the eye lash in his palm. May grabbed his wrist and glared down at the culprit.
"Eyelash, you were supposed to keep things from going into my eye! What am I supposed to do now?! You were last line of defense and you betrayed me!"
"How eye-ronic." Frodo mused.
"You take your puns and get out of here, Mr. Frodo!" May snapped at him.
"There's no need to…lash out." Frodo said.
"Ugh!" May snapped again, pushing Frodo over, making Basso laugh.
"This place..." Blair cried, sitting by the fire. "It's crawling with animals!"
Frodo slipped a small parchment into the pocket of May's jacket before heading off into the woods.
"Of course," Ferdibrand replied to Blair. "It's called the forest."
May reached her hands into her pockets and pulled out the parchment. She read it and stood, heading in the direction Frodo went. She walked into the forest to find Frodo pacing. He turned and looked at her when she approached him.
"Hello May, what brings you here?"
She held the note out to him. He took it and read aloud.
"'Dear May, when you have a moment, come find me. Frodo Baggins.' I wonder who could've written that."
"What do you want?" May asked.
"Just wanted to see how you were doing. I haven't seen you in a while."
"I'm doing fine. I haven't seen you in a while either." May said.
"How is Sam?" Frodo asked.
"Happier than I've ever seen him." May replied.
"I see." Frodo said.
"Is that all?" May asked.
"No." Frodo said. "Did you read the book?"
"Y-yes..." May said. "How did you know?"
"That look on your face when you saw me." Frodo said. "At first I couldn't figure out why you looked at me like that. But now I'm wondering if you thought I was dead."
"I did..." May admitted. "The story said you left... I thought you left... So… you could..." May couldn't go on. She began to tear up.
"May?" Frodo asked, walked toward her. May hastily wiped her tears and backed away.
"I'm fine." May said, keeping her feelings in check. "I'm just tired. I really should get some rest." She headed back toward the camp.
I've been looking forward to this chapter! Hope you guys enjoyed!