Stardreamer offered the prompt, "Do you ever feel... useless?" asked Merry. "I mean, we fought in the Great War of the Ring, and we drove the orcs out of the Shire, and now sometimes everything seems kind of boring."

AN ORDINARY LIFE

I don't own the hobbits. I don't own any of the other amazing creatures, or the Shire. I only have my own imagination. The rest belongs to JRR Tolkien and this is fanfic.

"Do you ever feel... useless?" asked Merry. "I mean, we fought in the Great War of the Ring, and we drove the ruffians out of the Shire, and now sometimes everything seems sort of boring." He picked his way over a muddy patch in the trail.

Frodo followed in his footprints. "I find that I quite enjoy 'boring' nowadays."

Sam allowed Pippin to precede him. The four adventurers had stolen a few days to be together and it was Frodo who had suggested they go for a walk in the woods near Bywater Pool. It had been raining for several days but today the sun had arisen in a bright blue sky.

"I've never liked, 'boring' either. But I think I prefer this to fighting in a battle." Pippin hitched his small pack higher, not in the least surprised when Sam added, "I'm with Mr Frodo on this. Borin' will suit me fine."

For several minutes they continued in a silence punctuated only by their breathing and the sweet trill of birdsong. It was as they were settling down on a fallen log to eat their sandwiches that Merry spoke again.

"I'll give you that 'boring' can be good but what about feeling useless?"

Sam began peeling a hard boiled egg. "Well, I don't feel useless. We still got some trees to plant and now Bag End is cleaned out there's Mr Frodo's things to bring back from Crickhollow."

"Oh Sam. You don't have to keep running around after me." Frodo accepted the peeled egg nonetheless, pausing to dip it in a little pot of salt placed ready by Sam.

"I wouldn't feel right, leavin' you to sort out all that on your own," Sam asserted as he peeled another egg.

Pippin snorted. "He won't be on his own, Sam. Merry and I are going to cart back the furnishings and we can help Frodo arrange them."

"You have things of your own to see to in Tookborough and Buckland. Just send them with the carter. I'm sure I can call on neighbours to help if needed." Frodo poured cider for them all. "You two are the least useless of all of us. People look to you for leadership."

Sam frowned. "They're lookin' to you for leadership too, Mr Frodo. Don't forget you're still Deputy Mayor."

"Then, that just proves my point. We're none of us useless," Frodo announced with finality.

There was a short pause and then Pippin asked, "So, does anyone fancy going to search for the Entwives?"

END