Gollum's Revenge
Part three of 'The After Years' saga
By: Lady Elaine
Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me; they are all property of the literary genius, J.R.R Tolkien. Even Ilberic, Estella, and Diamond; you can find them in the family trees of the appendices.
Over the next few days the hobbits saw little, or none, of Aragorn. He had disappeared not long after escorting Sam back to Bag End, probably, Sam thought, to search for Gollum or to send a message back to his home in the South.
But his absence meant that Sam was alone with Rose when he told her what he had to do.
She was silent at first, holding little Elanor in her arms, and Sam knew that she was trying not to cry.
"I understand," she said at last and Sam was surprised by her answer. "I know you must go," she continued, blinking back burning tears, "you are very loyal, my Sam, and it would be tearing you in two if I told you not to go. But that doesn't change the fact that I don't want you to."
Sam hurriedly crossed the room and put his arms around her and Elanor, "I won't go," he said defiantly, " I will stay here with you forever and never leave your side. I won't go!"
Rose looked up at him and smiled a sad smile, "Yes you will," she said, reaching up to stroke his cheek, "you must go, I can see it in your eyes. I saw the same forlorn and determined eyes that day two years ago when you told me you were leaving with Frodo and might never return. You will go, Sam."
"I will come back," he whispered, "I swear I'll come back."
"Of course you will, my Sam," Rose whispered in return, "you always do."
****
The next day Aragorn returned, and with him came Legolas, Gimli, and the man called Valimar, who was sent to bring the two to the Shire. All four showed signs of days on horseback and were glad at the cozy settings of Bag End.
Merry and Pippin arrived a few hours latter, having received a message from Aragorn that told of their arrival.
The reunion was all but a happy one, and there was little speech exchanged until all that was left of the Fellowship was seated in the brightly lit room at the front of the house. The only one of this company who seemed in slightly high spirits was Gimli, who sat near the hearth with little Elanor on his knee.
She laughed gleefully as she was bounced up and down. "Look at the child!" Laughed the dwarf, "she likes me! Ooh, not the beard little one!"
Legolas, who sat near the open window, laughed, "Ah, you need a trim anyway, my friend!" he said.
Across the room Rosie stifled a laugh as she watched the dwarf with her daughter intently; she was still quite nervous around these strangers.
At his place by the window, next to Legolas, Aragorn stood, "Shall we get down to business?" he said. The room went quiet and Rose tensed.
Aragorn looked at her and smiled kindly, "If you don't mind, madam, it would not be appropriate for a lady to here what we must discuss."
Rose stood up defiantly, "I'm not going anywhere," she said, "whatever my Sam might have to face or wherever he might have to go, I have a right to know. And what if he should be killed, or hurt, or lost," her voce raised to a desperate shriek, "I'd like to know what did it and where it happened so I won't spend my whole life wondering-"
Sam stood up, from his place at her side, and seized her hands, "Shhh, my love," he said softly, "nothing will happen to me, your Sam has faced worse danger than this and come out of it still kicking! Stay if you like," he shot Aragorn a look at this and the man shrugged, he turned back to his wife, "but I will tell you exactly where I went and what happened myself, when I come back!"
She let out a little whimper and sat down hard in the chair, Sam sat down next to her and locked his fingers with hers.
Aragorn nodded, "Now then." he said, turning to Legolas, Gimli and Valimar, where he sat in the corner of the room, "You know much already, my friends, but you do not know all..." and he went on to give them an account of what he had told the others three days earlier.
When he was finished, Legolas was the first to speak, "And what of the three others we must recruit?" he asked.
"Ah, that is what we must now decide." Aragorn replied, "Who will the others be? Any suggestions? It will be better if the members are of some relation to our original companions. I do not know exactly how this legend works, but it is best not to take unnecessary chances.
"Gandalf, however, has no known relations, so," he turned to Valimar, "If you will, my friend, I would like you to join us. You have proved to be an honorable companion and a true friend, will you come?"
The man in the corner stood and bowed, "It would be an honor, my lord, I thank you."
Aragorn nodded, smiling, and Valimar sat down again. "Now, who for Boromir's position among us?"
"Faramir, of course!" said Pippin suddenly from his place next to Merry on the far side of the hearth.
"Of course!" said Aragorn, smiling, "I was thinking of him myself, do we all agree?" There were nods all around the room and Aragorn was satisfied, he turned back to Valimar, "You must play the messenger one last time, my friend," he said, "will you take a message to Faramir biding him come to the Shire?"
"Of course, my lord."
"But will he come?" asked Merry.
"If I know him," the Ranger replied, "he will not waste a moment in getting here as soon as possible. Yes, he will come."
There was a slight pause, then Sam spoke out timidly, "And what of Frodo's replacement?" he asked.
Aragorn looked at the hobbits, "That is up to you, my friends," he said, "you know the extensive family trees better than any that are here, and also those that are willing to come."
They thought for a moment, then Merry looked up, "Well," he said, "there are the Proudfeet in Michell Delving, I'm sure they will be-" he stopped, seeing Aragorn and Legolas prick up their ears and stiffen as if hearing something that only the trained ears of the Elf and the Ranger could have heard.
Aragorn looked over at Legolas from where he stood in the center of the room, and the Elf nodded to the window. The Ranger made a motion with his hand that told Merry to keep talking, but the hobbit found that he was at a loss for words.
All eyes were on Aragorn as he walked quietly to the window.
Gimli put a protective arm around Elanor and reached for his axe as Aragorn, with a swift movement, shot his arm out the open window and pulled... a hobbit? Into Sam's sitting room.
Everyone stared in surprise at the young hobbit, who dangled from Aragorn's outstretched hand with a look of utter shock on his face.
Than Sam realized, with amusement that he himself had been caught eavesdropping at the same window only a few years back. 'How ironic,' he thought to himself, 'and I probably had that same look on my face too!'
There was a thump as Aragorn dropped the intruder to the floor and stepped back. The hobbit stood there trembling until the first question was asked, and this by Aragorn, "Well," he said, as casually as if a friend had suddenly dropped by unlooked for, "why don't you start by telling us who you are, and then we can move on to what you were doing outside Mayor Gamgee's window."
The hobbit drew himself up proudly as he answered, "I am Ilberic Brandybuck, son of Seredic Brandybuck," he hesitated for a moment, then continued, "and I want to join the Fellowship!"
A snort of amusement came from Gimli, and gasps of astonishment from the hobbits.
Merry stood up, "Strider," he protested, "I know his family, they are very respectable hobbits. Please don't be too hard on him, he knows nothing of our past dealings with the Riders and-"
"Not true, Mr. Merry!" exclaimed the new comer, and everyone looked at him, "I heard every little detail of your journey and the conspiracy from Fredegar and Estella Bolgar!"
Merry blushed at this, everyone who knew anything knew that Meriadoc Brandybuck was sweet on the young Estella Bolgar. Everyone, that is, except for Estella herself, Merry had yet to get up the courage to tell her.
Ilberic continued, "The only reason I knew about this meeting is because Estella told me about it yesterday; she having heard it from Merry," he turned pleadingly to Aragorn, "I meant no harm, sir, I only hoped to be a part of an adventure, like Mr. Bilbo and Frodo. Frodo is my third cousin you know, on his mother's side, so I would fit the part of being related to him. I am good with a long bow," he looked at Legolas, "not near as good as you, Sir Elf, but I killed a man in the Took rebellion last year! True I'm young, but only a year younger than my cousin Pippin there." He looked to Merry and Pippin, "I heard Mr. Bilbo's stories just the same as the rest of you, and I have heard more since. I might not know everything, but I know enough to know I want to help!"
Having finished defending his cause, the hobbit standing it the center of the room sighed and became silent.
"But Eric," said Pippin, using the name his friends usually called him, "you have no idea what you are getting yourself into, it's dangerous, far more dangerous than any rebellion! Strider, tell him!"
Aragorn looked amused, "Well, Ilberic, is it?"
"Oh, just Eric, sir, if you don't mind."
"Well then, Eric," said Aragorn, smiling now, "it is true what Master Peregrin said; this 'adventure,' as you call it, is indeed very dangerous," he paused. "But isn't it also true, Pippin," he said, turning to face the hobbit in question, "that you yourself did not understand the intensity of the danger when you and your accomplices," he indicated Merry and Sam with a wave of his hand, "decided to join Frodo on his quest?"
Pippin blushed and looked sheepishly at his feet.
"So," Aragorn turned to the rest of the company, "Any objections to Mr. Ilberic Brandybuck being welcomed into the Fellowship as Frodo's replacement?"
There was a pause, then Gimli shifted in his seat and cleared his throat.
"Gimli?" asked Aragorn.
"Oh, well I uh...no, no objections," he said turning to Ilberic, "I just wanted to say that in the past I have underestimated your kind before," he stole a sideways glance at the other hobbits, "and I wouldn't want to do it again, so... be welcome, friend."
Eric bowed, "I thank you, Master Dwarf," he said, "I hope I prove myself to you in the end."
"As do I," mumbled the dwarf under his breath, though no one heard him.
****
The next few weeks were hectic. Valimar had set off with the message for Faramir the day after their council, and wasn't due to return for some time. Legolas and Gimli left with Aragorn that same day and headed for Bree, hoping to hear news of the Riders, or a certain troublesome pest called Gollum. Pippin and Merry set off soon after toward their own homes to say their goodbyes to their families and to certain hobbit maids, for it was also widely known that Pippin secretly courted the fair Diamond of Long Cleeve.
Sam and Rose went off alone for a few days, no one knew where, though some say they went to visit the Elves. They merely wanted to take advantage of what little time they had left before that wicked day Sam would be taken from his wife.
Poor Eric was dubbed babysitter of little Elanor and keeper of Bag End while its master was away. For, being the most useless of the newly formed Fellowship, his responsibilities started small.
"Humph," he sighed to himself one day while watching his young charge play in the garden, "some adventure this is turning out to be, nothing exciting ever happens to me!" He looked up at the sky and sighed, another day nearly gone. He watched Elanor jump playfully over a bush and smiled. No matter how much the job irked him, he had to admit he loved children, always had. He expected Sam home any day now, and he was almost disappointed that he would have to return the child to her father.
The shadows were deepening in the garden when Eric decided that they should be getting inside. "Come Elen," he called, "it's getting late."
He had the child by the hand and was walking up the path to the house when he suddenly stopped and spun around, feeling, more than hearing something stir beyond the garden fence.
"Who's there?" he demanded, pushing Elen protectively behind him.
There was no answer.
Eric reached for his belt where his dagger hung. He didn't usually carry one, but Sam had given him this one before he had left saying only: "Shadows can be deceiving." He had just managed to pull the dagger out of its sheath when a dark shadow leapt at him from his left. Before he could react he was flung to the ground on his back with his attacker on top of him.
"Sssssss," hissed the creature, looking down at the hobbit with large, pale eyes, "what have we got here, my preciousssssss, hmm?"
"Who are you?" squeaked the hobbit through his fear. But he didn't really need to ask, he'd heard the stories of Gollum, the murdering outcast obsessed with the Ring, and hoped he'd never have to meet him.
"He issss not a Bagginssssss, my precious," Gollum hissed evilly, "No, Bagginses ssssmell bad to poor Gollum. But who issss it, my precious, hmm?" The creatures' hands wandered up to Eric's neck and began to squeeze.
Suddenly the forgotten Elanor let out a miserable wail, and she began to cry. This caught Gollum off guard and he turned in the direction in which the noise had come. In the split second that the creature was distracted, Eric lashed out with the dagger and sliced him cruelly along his unprotected arm.
Gollum screeched in agony and jumped back, grasping at his injured arm. At the same moment the hobbit jumped to his feet and stood with his dagger pointed at the creature in a trembling grasp. "S-stay where you are!" he said, his voice betraying his fear. But with a swift movement, which was surprising for such a sick looking thing, Gollum lunged out and grabbed Elanor. He pulled the child to him and began to sniff at her, licking his lips hungrily.
Eric stood frozen with fear for the child as his anger began to escalate, and with the anger came a fierce bravery that he never knew existed within him. With an almost involuntary movement, he lunged at Gollum, dagger poised to strike, and knocked him away from Elen.
The two wrestled together on the grass, all the while Eric was trying desperately to pierce his attackers skin with the blade that he no experience with. But what the young hobbit did not hear in those many stories, was how strong Gollum really was.
The creature had managed to pin Eric underneath him and was now attempting to unarm him. He clamped one of his strong hands on his opponent's throat and another on the hand that held the dagger. With all his strength he squeezed in both places; with a gurgling noise that sounded like it could have been a scream, Eric released the weapon. In response, Gollum took up the discarded dagger and plunged it deep into the hobbits shoulder. He cried out in pain and rolled away, to his relief he was not pursued.
But to his utter horror, he remembered Elen! He sat up with immense effort, as warm blood oozed from his wound, and turned in the direction where he had last seen Sam's daughter. Gollum was stooped over her, where she sat balling in the grass. His eyes were alight with an unsettling look and he was pulling at her hair with desperate hunger.
Eric cried out in alarm, but before he had a chance to act, another shadow came bolting out of the darkness. Even in the dim light, Eric was able to recognize Sam, as he unsheathed Sting with bright flash of light.
Sam rushed on the unsuspecting creature, but Gollum was able to react just in time; he pulled the small hobbit girl in front of him.
Sam stopped dead.
"You get away from her, you filth!" he snarled.
"Yessss," Gollum replied, "we remembers you, don't we precious. You isss the nasssty, ssssuspicious hobbit, yesss precious, he is the nasssty friend of Bagginsssss! We should have killed you when we had the chance!"
"I don't know how you survived the fate you fell to," Sam growled savagely, "but you are going to wish you never had!"
In his excitement, Gollum had not noticed that Eric had snuck up behind him. And just as he sensed something the hobbit grabbed him by the arms and yanked him away from Elen with all his remaining strength.
In response, Sam lunged toward him with murder emblazoned in his furious eyes. But Gollum wrenched out of Eric's grip and bolted into the darkness before either could pursue him.
Rose came running out of the shadows and scooped Elanor up in a tearful embrace. Sam was soon doing the same.
After a while Sam turned, at a grunt from Eric, and saw that he was on his knees clutching his wounded shoulder.
"Oh my!" exclaimed Rose, seeing the same thing, "You're hurt!"
Sam rushed over and knelt by him, "I am sorry, I did not realize you were injured!" he said, examining the wound.
Eric looked up at him and managed a weak grin, "Eh," he said, "it was worth it, for excitement like that!"
Sam smiled with amusement, "You won't be saying that when our little adventure is over," he said.
"At least I'll still have a story to tell when it's over with," Eric replied, wincing as Sam probed at his shoulder. His vision darkened and his head felt suddenly heavy on his shoulders. The last thing he saw before loosing consciousness, was Rosie smiling down at him gratefully.
****
Eric swam up from the depths of unconsciousness, the visions of the creature called Gullum vanishing in the absence of slumber. The sounds of voices, whispering in hushed tones by his side, reached his ears; he couldn't help but overhear.
"...reminds me too much of when Mr. Frodo was injured at Whethertop, nearly died he did."
"Come now Sam," said another voice, Aragorn's by the sound of it, "you worry too much, this is nothing like the wound Frodo received. Our young Mr. Brandybuck was wounded by the same blade that you yourself carried through Mordor."
"Yes, but it was in that same shoulder where Frodo was stabbed!"
"It is merely a coincedence, my friend, do not let it worry you so."
"I know you are right, Strider, but it is that Gollum that has me worried, how could he have possibly survived the Fires!? The fall alone could have killed him!"
Aragorn sighed, "I am afraid that will forever remain a mystery. All I have are guesses, and even those I do not believe."
There was a pause; Eric stirred and opened his eyes. The room was bright with sunlight and the open window brought in a cool spring breeze.
"Ah," Aragorn exclaimed, "So you are awake at last!"
The hobbit turned and looked at him, "How long have I been asleep?" he asked.
"Nearly two days," came Sam's reply, "you had us worried."
Eric tried to sit up but the pain and stiffness in his wounded shoulder would not allow it. Then all the memories of the events of that night, and who he was trying to protect, came flooding back in a painful rush. He gasped and looked at Sam, "Elen, is she all right?"
Sam smiled, "Yes, she is fine, thanks to you," he said, "thank you for protecting her, you saved her life. I will forever be in your debt."
Eric blushed, he was much the same as Sam in this respect and Aragorn noticed it, smiling to himself. "I did very little," replied the injured hobbit, "if you had not come when you did-"
Sam held up his hand, "No, my friend, we will not speak of 'ifs'." He got up and crossed the room to the dresser near the door; he lifted something off it and strode back to the bedside.
He laid Sting across Eric's lap.
"I want you to carry this for a while," said Sam, in a shaky sort of voice. "It was Mr. Frodo's you know, and, for saving my daughter, it would be an honor if you, Frodo's successor, would carry it."
Eric turned his shocked expression up to meet Sam's gaze. To his surprise, Sam had tears in his eyes and they were unheedingly falling down his cheeks.
He had a sudden rush of sorrow for the older hobbit, knowing what sort of tragedy he must have been through and what it must have been like. He smiled, "It would be an honor," he said, taking Sam's hand it a warm grasp, "I just hope I will never have to use it!"
They all laughed then, even Aragorn, laughing the tension out of the room and making way for merry conversation. They talked well into the afternoon about less grievous things and of the goings on in the Shire. But after a while Eric fell into the deep slumber of one who has been wounded, and the other two left him to his rest.
****
Aragorn and the others had conveniently returned the morning after the attack, but with them they brought grave news, which they chose to withhold until after Eric had recovered.
"What do you mean they have already begun to attack!?" Sam bellowed, loosing the last bit of self-control he had left after the weeks of stress. Rose put a hand to her mouth in shock; she had never seen Sam so worked up! "I thought you said it would take them months, at least, to reorganize themselves!"
Aragorn bent his head in shame, to the surprise of the hobbits, who had never seen him do such a thing before. "I was wrong," he said shortly, "I am sorry, my friend."
At the rare show of humbleness from the man that they regarded as leader, Sam, as well as his friends, was caught off guard and felt his anger drain away like water to be replaced by a growing sense of respect. "Forgive me, my lord," he said bowing, "I spoke rashly," he sat down and was silent.
"So what must we do now?" asked Pippin from across the room.
"Hold, friend," replied the Ranger, "I have not finished. From what we heard in Bree, the Nazguls and their riders have resurfaced in the Rhovanion wilderland, near Mirkwood forest. There have been numerous attacks to the Elves there, and also to the town of Esgaroth and even a few on the Lonely Mountain."
Gimli gripped his axe handle in anger and frustration that he could not be there with his kinsmen.
"The Nine seem to have made the forest their safe haven for the time being," offered Legolas.
"Yes," said Merry, "but they never used to stay idle for very long, do they not realize that we will come after them? And why attack villages anyway, what's the point, what will they gain?"
"That's just it," Aragorn replied, "they know perfectly well that we will come, that is what they want us to do. The attacks are simply ways of drawing our attention to them; they are calling to us, daring us to stand against them!"
"Are they really that confident about their strength?" asked Eric timidly, "Or could they be bluffing?"
A flicker of a smile touched Gimli's face, "I like the way you think, young one; you have the true cunning of a dwarf!"
Eric smiled, grateful for the compliment.
"What you say could be true, lad," said Aragorn, "but to be sure, you all know what we must do."
Everyone nodded gravely.
"Right then, make ready, we leave at dawn!"
"But what of Faramir and Valimar?" Sam asked desperately.
"Not to worry, my friends," Aragorn replied, "I have already sent a message ahead. If it reaches them in time, they should meet us in Rohan in two weeks time."
The hobbits nodded solemnly, for the truth was, they were not yet ready to leave the safety of their homes when they had so recently returned to them. But with determination to end the suffering once and for all, they obediently began to prepare for the long journey ahead.
Part three of 'The After Years' saga
By: Lady Elaine
Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me; they are all property of the literary genius, J.R.R Tolkien. Even Ilberic, Estella, and Diamond; you can find them in the family trees of the appendices.
Over the next few days the hobbits saw little, or none, of Aragorn. He had disappeared not long after escorting Sam back to Bag End, probably, Sam thought, to search for Gollum or to send a message back to his home in the South.
But his absence meant that Sam was alone with Rose when he told her what he had to do.
She was silent at first, holding little Elanor in her arms, and Sam knew that she was trying not to cry.
"I understand," she said at last and Sam was surprised by her answer. "I know you must go," she continued, blinking back burning tears, "you are very loyal, my Sam, and it would be tearing you in two if I told you not to go. But that doesn't change the fact that I don't want you to."
Sam hurriedly crossed the room and put his arms around her and Elanor, "I won't go," he said defiantly, " I will stay here with you forever and never leave your side. I won't go!"
Rose looked up at him and smiled a sad smile, "Yes you will," she said, reaching up to stroke his cheek, "you must go, I can see it in your eyes. I saw the same forlorn and determined eyes that day two years ago when you told me you were leaving with Frodo and might never return. You will go, Sam."
"I will come back," he whispered, "I swear I'll come back."
"Of course you will, my Sam," Rose whispered in return, "you always do."
****
The next day Aragorn returned, and with him came Legolas, Gimli, and the man called Valimar, who was sent to bring the two to the Shire. All four showed signs of days on horseback and were glad at the cozy settings of Bag End.
Merry and Pippin arrived a few hours latter, having received a message from Aragorn that told of their arrival.
The reunion was all but a happy one, and there was little speech exchanged until all that was left of the Fellowship was seated in the brightly lit room at the front of the house. The only one of this company who seemed in slightly high spirits was Gimli, who sat near the hearth with little Elanor on his knee.
She laughed gleefully as she was bounced up and down. "Look at the child!" Laughed the dwarf, "she likes me! Ooh, not the beard little one!"
Legolas, who sat near the open window, laughed, "Ah, you need a trim anyway, my friend!" he said.
Across the room Rosie stifled a laugh as she watched the dwarf with her daughter intently; she was still quite nervous around these strangers.
At his place by the window, next to Legolas, Aragorn stood, "Shall we get down to business?" he said. The room went quiet and Rose tensed.
Aragorn looked at her and smiled kindly, "If you don't mind, madam, it would not be appropriate for a lady to here what we must discuss."
Rose stood up defiantly, "I'm not going anywhere," she said, "whatever my Sam might have to face or wherever he might have to go, I have a right to know. And what if he should be killed, or hurt, or lost," her voce raised to a desperate shriek, "I'd like to know what did it and where it happened so I won't spend my whole life wondering-"
Sam stood up, from his place at her side, and seized her hands, "Shhh, my love," he said softly, "nothing will happen to me, your Sam has faced worse danger than this and come out of it still kicking! Stay if you like," he shot Aragorn a look at this and the man shrugged, he turned back to his wife, "but I will tell you exactly where I went and what happened myself, when I come back!"
She let out a little whimper and sat down hard in the chair, Sam sat down next to her and locked his fingers with hers.
Aragorn nodded, "Now then." he said, turning to Legolas, Gimli and Valimar, where he sat in the corner of the room, "You know much already, my friends, but you do not know all..." and he went on to give them an account of what he had told the others three days earlier.
When he was finished, Legolas was the first to speak, "And what of the three others we must recruit?" he asked.
"Ah, that is what we must now decide." Aragorn replied, "Who will the others be? Any suggestions? It will be better if the members are of some relation to our original companions. I do not know exactly how this legend works, but it is best not to take unnecessary chances.
"Gandalf, however, has no known relations, so," he turned to Valimar, "If you will, my friend, I would like you to join us. You have proved to be an honorable companion and a true friend, will you come?"
The man in the corner stood and bowed, "It would be an honor, my lord, I thank you."
Aragorn nodded, smiling, and Valimar sat down again. "Now, who for Boromir's position among us?"
"Faramir, of course!" said Pippin suddenly from his place next to Merry on the far side of the hearth.
"Of course!" said Aragorn, smiling, "I was thinking of him myself, do we all agree?" There were nods all around the room and Aragorn was satisfied, he turned back to Valimar, "You must play the messenger one last time, my friend," he said, "will you take a message to Faramir biding him come to the Shire?"
"Of course, my lord."
"But will he come?" asked Merry.
"If I know him," the Ranger replied, "he will not waste a moment in getting here as soon as possible. Yes, he will come."
There was a slight pause, then Sam spoke out timidly, "And what of Frodo's replacement?" he asked.
Aragorn looked at the hobbits, "That is up to you, my friends," he said, "you know the extensive family trees better than any that are here, and also those that are willing to come."
They thought for a moment, then Merry looked up, "Well," he said, "there are the Proudfeet in Michell Delving, I'm sure they will be-" he stopped, seeing Aragorn and Legolas prick up their ears and stiffen as if hearing something that only the trained ears of the Elf and the Ranger could have heard.
Aragorn looked over at Legolas from where he stood in the center of the room, and the Elf nodded to the window. The Ranger made a motion with his hand that told Merry to keep talking, but the hobbit found that he was at a loss for words.
All eyes were on Aragorn as he walked quietly to the window.
Gimli put a protective arm around Elanor and reached for his axe as Aragorn, with a swift movement, shot his arm out the open window and pulled... a hobbit? Into Sam's sitting room.
Everyone stared in surprise at the young hobbit, who dangled from Aragorn's outstretched hand with a look of utter shock on his face.
Than Sam realized, with amusement that he himself had been caught eavesdropping at the same window only a few years back. 'How ironic,' he thought to himself, 'and I probably had that same look on my face too!'
There was a thump as Aragorn dropped the intruder to the floor and stepped back. The hobbit stood there trembling until the first question was asked, and this by Aragorn, "Well," he said, as casually as if a friend had suddenly dropped by unlooked for, "why don't you start by telling us who you are, and then we can move on to what you were doing outside Mayor Gamgee's window."
The hobbit drew himself up proudly as he answered, "I am Ilberic Brandybuck, son of Seredic Brandybuck," he hesitated for a moment, then continued, "and I want to join the Fellowship!"
A snort of amusement came from Gimli, and gasps of astonishment from the hobbits.
Merry stood up, "Strider," he protested, "I know his family, they are very respectable hobbits. Please don't be too hard on him, he knows nothing of our past dealings with the Riders and-"
"Not true, Mr. Merry!" exclaimed the new comer, and everyone looked at him, "I heard every little detail of your journey and the conspiracy from Fredegar and Estella Bolgar!"
Merry blushed at this, everyone who knew anything knew that Meriadoc Brandybuck was sweet on the young Estella Bolgar. Everyone, that is, except for Estella herself, Merry had yet to get up the courage to tell her.
Ilberic continued, "The only reason I knew about this meeting is because Estella told me about it yesterday; she having heard it from Merry," he turned pleadingly to Aragorn, "I meant no harm, sir, I only hoped to be a part of an adventure, like Mr. Bilbo and Frodo. Frodo is my third cousin you know, on his mother's side, so I would fit the part of being related to him. I am good with a long bow," he looked at Legolas, "not near as good as you, Sir Elf, but I killed a man in the Took rebellion last year! True I'm young, but only a year younger than my cousin Pippin there." He looked to Merry and Pippin, "I heard Mr. Bilbo's stories just the same as the rest of you, and I have heard more since. I might not know everything, but I know enough to know I want to help!"
Having finished defending his cause, the hobbit standing it the center of the room sighed and became silent.
"But Eric," said Pippin, using the name his friends usually called him, "you have no idea what you are getting yourself into, it's dangerous, far more dangerous than any rebellion! Strider, tell him!"
Aragorn looked amused, "Well, Ilberic, is it?"
"Oh, just Eric, sir, if you don't mind."
"Well then, Eric," said Aragorn, smiling now, "it is true what Master Peregrin said; this 'adventure,' as you call it, is indeed very dangerous," he paused. "But isn't it also true, Pippin," he said, turning to face the hobbit in question, "that you yourself did not understand the intensity of the danger when you and your accomplices," he indicated Merry and Sam with a wave of his hand, "decided to join Frodo on his quest?"
Pippin blushed and looked sheepishly at his feet.
"So," Aragorn turned to the rest of the company, "Any objections to Mr. Ilberic Brandybuck being welcomed into the Fellowship as Frodo's replacement?"
There was a pause, then Gimli shifted in his seat and cleared his throat.
"Gimli?" asked Aragorn.
"Oh, well I uh...no, no objections," he said turning to Ilberic, "I just wanted to say that in the past I have underestimated your kind before," he stole a sideways glance at the other hobbits, "and I wouldn't want to do it again, so... be welcome, friend."
Eric bowed, "I thank you, Master Dwarf," he said, "I hope I prove myself to you in the end."
"As do I," mumbled the dwarf under his breath, though no one heard him.
****
The next few weeks were hectic. Valimar had set off with the message for Faramir the day after their council, and wasn't due to return for some time. Legolas and Gimli left with Aragorn that same day and headed for Bree, hoping to hear news of the Riders, or a certain troublesome pest called Gollum. Pippin and Merry set off soon after toward their own homes to say their goodbyes to their families and to certain hobbit maids, for it was also widely known that Pippin secretly courted the fair Diamond of Long Cleeve.
Sam and Rose went off alone for a few days, no one knew where, though some say they went to visit the Elves. They merely wanted to take advantage of what little time they had left before that wicked day Sam would be taken from his wife.
Poor Eric was dubbed babysitter of little Elanor and keeper of Bag End while its master was away. For, being the most useless of the newly formed Fellowship, his responsibilities started small.
"Humph," he sighed to himself one day while watching his young charge play in the garden, "some adventure this is turning out to be, nothing exciting ever happens to me!" He looked up at the sky and sighed, another day nearly gone. He watched Elanor jump playfully over a bush and smiled. No matter how much the job irked him, he had to admit he loved children, always had. He expected Sam home any day now, and he was almost disappointed that he would have to return the child to her father.
The shadows were deepening in the garden when Eric decided that they should be getting inside. "Come Elen," he called, "it's getting late."
He had the child by the hand and was walking up the path to the house when he suddenly stopped and spun around, feeling, more than hearing something stir beyond the garden fence.
"Who's there?" he demanded, pushing Elen protectively behind him.
There was no answer.
Eric reached for his belt where his dagger hung. He didn't usually carry one, but Sam had given him this one before he had left saying only: "Shadows can be deceiving." He had just managed to pull the dagger out of its sheath when a dark shadow leapt at him from his left. Before he could react he was flung to the ground on his back with his attacker on top of him.
"Sssssss," hissed the creature, looking down at the hobbit with large, pale eyes, "what have we got here, my preciousssssss, hmm?"
"Who are you?" squeaked the hobbit through his fear. But he didn't really need to ask, he'd heard the stories of Gollum, the murdering outcast obsessed with the Ring, and hoped he'd never have to meet him.
"He issss not a Bagginssssss, my precious," Gollum hissed evilly, "No, Bagginses ssssmell bad to poor Gollum. But who issss it, my precious, hmm?" The creatures' hands wandered up to Eric's neck and began to squeeze.
Suddenly the forgotten Elanor let out a miserable wail, and she began to cry. This caught Gollum off guard and he turned in the direction in which the noise had come. In the split second that the creature was distracted, Eric lashed out with the dagger and sliced him cruelly along his unprotected arm.
Gollum screeched in agony and jumped back, grasping at his injured arm. At the same moment the hobbit jumped to his feet and stood with his dagger pointed at the creature in a trembling grasp. "S-stay where you are!" he said, his voice betraying his fear. But with a swift movement, which was surprising for such a sick looking thing, Gollum lunged out and grabbed Elanor. He pulled the child to him and began to sniff at her, licking his lips hungrily.
Eric stood frozen with fear for the child as his anger began to escalate, and with the anger came a fierce bravery that he never knew existed within him. With an almost involuntary movement, he lunged at Gollum, dagger poised to strike, and knocked him away from Elen.
The two wrestled together on the grass, all the while Eric was trying desperately to pierce his attackers skin with the blade that he no experience with. But what the young hobbit did not hear in those many stories, was how strong Gollum really was.
The creature had managed to pin Eric underneath him and was now attempting to unarm him. He clamped one of his strong hands on his opponent's throat and another on the hand that held the dagger. With all his strength he squeezed in both places; with a gurgling noise that sounded like it could have been a scream, Eric released the weapon. In response, Gollum took up the discarded dagger and plunged it deep into the hobbits shoulder. He cried out in pain and rolled away, to his relief he was not pursued.
But to his utter horror, he remembered Elen! He sat up with immense effort, as warm blood oozed from his wound, and turned in the direction where he had last seen Sam's daughter. Gollum was stooped over her, where she sat balling in the grass. His eyes were alight with an unsettling look and he was pulling at her hair with desperate hunger.
Eric cried out in alarm, but before he had a chance to act, another shadow came bolting out of the darkness. Even in the dim light, Eric was able to recognize Sam, as he unsheathed Sting with bright flash of light.
Sam rushed on the unsuspecting creature, but Gollum was able to react just in time; he pulled the small hobbit girl in front of him.
Sam stopped dead.
"You get away from her, you filth!" he snarled.
"Yessss," Gollum replied, "we remembers you, don't we precious. You isss the nasssty, ssssuspicious hobbit, yesss precious, he is the nasssty friend of Bagginsssss! We should have killed you when we had the chance!"
"I don't know how you survived the fate you fell to," Sam growled savagely, "but you are going to wish you never had!"
In his excitement, Gollum had not noticed that Eric had snuck up behind him. And just as he sensed something the hobbit grabbed him by the arms and yanked him away from Elen with all his remaining strength.
In response, Sam lunged toward him with murder emblazoned in his furious eyes. But Gollum wrenched out of Eric's grip and bolted into the darkness before either could pursue him.
Rose came running out of the shadows and scooped Elanor up in a tearful embrace. Sam was soon doing the same.
After a while Sam turned, at a grunt from Eric, and saw that he was on his knees clutching his wounded shoulder.
"Oh my!" exclaimed Rose, seeing the same thing, "You're hurt!"
Sam rushed over and knelt by him, "I am sorry, I did not realize you were injured!" he said, examining the wound.
Eric looked up at him and managed a weak grin, "Eh," he said, "it was worth it, for excitement like that!"
Sam smiled with amusement, "You won't be saying that when our little adventure is over," he said.
"At least I'll still have a story to tell when it's over with," Eric replied, wincing as Sam probed at his shoulder. His vision darkened and his head felt suddenly heavy on his shoulders. The last thing he saw before loosing consciousness, was Rosie smiling down at him gratefully.
****
Eric swam up from the depths of unconsciousness, the visions of the creature called Gullum vanishing in the absence of slumber. The sounds of voices, whispering in hushed tones by his side, reached his ears; he couldn't help but overhear.
"...reminds me too much of when Mr. Frodo was injured at Whethertop, nearly died he did."
"Come now Sam," said another voice, Aragorn's by the sound of it, "you worry too much, this is nothing like the wound Frodo received. Our young Mr. Brandybuck was wounded by the same blade that you yourself carried through Mordor."
"Yes, but it was in that same shoulder where Frodo was stabbed!"
"It is merely a coincedence, my friend, do not let it worry you so."
"I know you are right, Strider, but it is that Gollum that has me worried, how could he have possibly survived the Fires!? The fall alone could have killed him!"
Aragorn sighed, "I am afraid that will forever remain a mystery. All I have are guesses, and even those I do not believe."
There was a pause; Eric stirred and opened his eyes. The room was bright with sunlight and the open window brought in a cool spring breeze.
"Ah," Aragorn exclaimed, "So you are awake at last!"
The hobbit turned and looked at him, "How long have I been asleep?" he asked.
"Nearly two days," came Sam's reply, "you had us worried."
Eric tried to sit up but the pain and stiffness in his wounded shoulder would not allow it. Then all the memories of the events of that night, and who he was trying to protect, came flooding back in a painful rush. He gasped and looked at Sam, "Elen, is she all right?"
Sam smiled, "Yes, she is fine, thanks to you," he said, "thank you for protecting her, you saved her life. I will forever be in your debt."
Eric blushed, he was much the same as Sam in this respect and Aragorn noticed it, smiling to himself. "I did very little," replied the injured hobbit, "if you had not come when you did-"
Sam held up his hand, "No, my friend, we will not speak of 'ifs'." He got up and crossed the room to the dresser near the door; he lifted something off it and strode back to the bedside.
He laid Sting across Eric's lap.
"I want you to carry this for a while," said Sam, in a shaky sort of voice. "It was Mr. Frodo's you know, and, for saving my daughter, it would be an honor if you, Frodo's successor, would carry it."
Eric turned his shocked expression up to meet Sam's gaze. To his surprise, Sam had tears in his eyes and they were unheedingly falling down his cheeks.
He had a sudden rush of sorrow for the older hobbit, knowing what sort of tragedy he must have been through and what it must have been like. He smiled, "It would be an honor," he said, taking Sam's hand it a warm grasp, "I just hope I will never have to use it!"
They all laughed then, even Aragorn, laughing the tension out of the room and making way for merry conversation. They talked well into the afternoon about less grievous things and of the goings on in the Shire. But after a while Eric fell into the deep slumber of one who has been wounded, and the other two left him to his rest.
****
Aragorn and the others had conveniently returned the morning after the attack, but with them they brought grave news, which they chose to withhold until after Eric had recovered.
"What do you mean they have already begun to attack!?" Sam bellowed, loosing the last bit of self-control he had left after the weeks of stress. Rose put a hand to her mouth in shock; she had never seen Sam so worked up! "I thought you said it would take them months, at least, to reorganize themselves!"
Aragorn bent his head in shame, to the surprise of the hobbits, who had never seen him do such a thing before. "I was wrong," he said shortly, "I am sorry, my friend."
At the rare show of humbleness from the man that they regarded as leader, Sam, as well as his friends, was caught off guard and felt his anger drain away like water to be replaced by a growing sense of respect. "Forgive me, my lord," he said bowing, "I spoke rashly," he sat down and was silent.
"So what must we do now?" asked Pippin from across the room.
"Hold, friend," replied the Ranger, "I have not finished. From what we heard in Bree, the Nazguls and their riders have resurfaced in the Rhovanion wilderland, near Mirkwood forest. There have been numerous attacks to the Elves there, and also to the town of Esgaroth and even a few on the Lonely Mountain."
Gimli gripped his axe handle in anger and frustration that he could not be there with his kinsmen.
"The Nine seem to have made the forest their safe haven for the time being," offered Legolas.
"Yes," said Merry, "but they never used to stay idle for very long, do they not realize that we will come after them? And why attack villages anyway, what's the point, what will they gain?"
"That's just it," Aragorn replied, "they know perfectly well that we will come, that is what they want us to do. The attacks are simply ways of drawing our attention to them; they are calling to us, daring us to stand against them!"
"Are they really that confident about their strength?" asked Eric timidly, "Or could they be bluffing?"
A flicker of a smile touched Gimli's face, "I like the way you think, young one; you have the true cunning of a dwarf!"
Eric smiled, grateful for the compliment.
"What you say could be true, lad," said Aragorn, "but to be sure, you all know what we must do."
Everyone nodded gravely.
"Right then, make ready, we leave at dawn!"
"But what of Faramir and Valimar?" Sam asked desperately.
"Not to worry, my friends," Aragorn replied, "I have already sent a message ahead. If it reaches them in time, they should meet us in Rohan in two weeks time."
The hobbits nodded solemnly, for the truth was, they were not yet ready to leave the safety of their homes when they had so recently returned to them. But with determination to end the suffering once and for all, they obediently began to prepare for the long journey ahead.