Frodo's Friend: Part 3

Late Evening, The Road over the Misty Mountains

Well… We all had a very adventurous day to-day! The shouts had come from Master Peregrin and Master Meridoc! They had spotted three very large trolls down in a clearing and ran back to Strider, Sam and Frodo, afraid. The group had descended to the clearing, nervous. After Strider hollered that the, 'old stone' get up and broke a stick across it's neck, that the group burst out laughing, even Frodo, in his condition. He then said something about the hobbits forgetting their family history with Gandalf tricking three trolls who were arguing how to best cook 13 dwarves and one hobbit. Merry called for a bit of song. Frodo suggested Sam could pull something from his memory. After some urging, Sam obliged and began to sing. I'll write down the song he sang before I forget it.

Troll sat alone on his seat of stone,

And munched and mumbled a bare old bone;

For many a year he had gnawed it near,

For meat was hard to come by.

Done by! Gum by!

In a cave in the hills he dwelt alone,

And meat was hard to come by.

Up came Tom with his big boots on.

Said he to Troll: 'Pray, what is yon?

For it looks like the shin o' my nuncle Tim,

As should be a-lyin' in graveyard.

Caveyard! Paveyard!

This many a year has Tim been gone,

And I thought he were lyin' in graveyard.'

'My lad,' said Troll, 'this bone I stole.

But what be bones that lie in a hole?

Thy nuncle was dead as a lump o' lead,

Afore I found his shinbone.

Tinbone! Thinbone!

He can spare a share for a poor old troll, For he don't need his shinbone.'

Said Tom: 'I don't see why the likes o' thee

Without axin' leave should go makin' free

With the shank or shin o' my father's kin;

So hand the old bone over!

Rover! Trover!

Though dead he be, it belongs to he;

So hand the old bone over!'

'For a couple o' pins,' says Troll, and grins,

'I'll eat thee too, and gnaw thy shins.

A bit o' fresh meat will go down sweet!

I'll try my teeth on thee now.

Hee now! See now!

I'm tired o' gnawing old bones and skins;

I've a mind to dine on thee now.'

But just as he thought his dinner was caught,

He found his hands had hold of naught.

Before he could mind, Tom slipped behind

And gave him the boot to larn him.

Warn him! Darn him!

A bump o' the boot on the seat, Tom thought,

Would be the way to larn him.

But harder than stone is the flesh and bone

Of a troll that sits in the hills alone.

As well set your boot to the mountain's root,

For the seat of a troll don't feel it.

Peel it! Heal it!

Old Troll laughed, when he heard Tom groan,

And he knew his toes could feel it.

Tom's leg is game, since home he came,

And his bootless foot is lasting lame;

But Troll don't care, and he's still there

With the bone he boned from its owner.

Doner! Boner!

Troll's old seat is still the same,

And the bone he boned from its owner!

Now, that isn't any old song, no sir. Master Gamgee just came up with it all on his own. After the lovely song, the journey continued along the Road that had been taken by Bilbo, Gandalf and Co. many years before.

As a night-rest spot was being searched for, behind me, I heard hooves. Black Rider hooves. I veered off the Road and peered out from behind a large elm. As I listened, I suddenly heard small bells ringing from the saddle. I couldn't keep the grin off my face. It was an Elf! Glorfindel! I stayed put behind the tree but stuck my head further around the trunk. When he rode even to me, the horse stopped, he turned and smiled at me. I smiled back, pointed ahead of me towards the Road, the smile dropped from my lips, whispered, "Elvellon." and nodded solemnly.

Glorfindel nodded back and looked at me questioningly. I shook my head and told him in Elvish, "Don't tell them I am here. Please, hurry. Elvellon has been struck with the weapon of the Enemy."

Glorfindel gave me a sad smile and said, "Then I will see you at Rivendell, later?"

I nodded and told him, "I still owe you a song and dance. We shall even the score after the Council of Elrond. Go now, Glorfindel. Good bye."

He smiled and continued trotting ahead. Once he left, I grabbed my pack and silently ran to through the trees. Whence I reached the heather patch where the travelers had been hiding, I saw Glorfindel talking with Strider and the hobbits. O, it seems that the rune Strider found wasn't mine but was Glorfindel's… Hmmmm… But, if that is so, then who found mine… Uh oh… This is very, very bad…

Two days later, The Road before the Ford

We have been travelling since Glorfindel joined us. Twice we have stopped to rest. While the others sleep/ rest, I go up to Glorfindel and tell him what I have heard or seen. So far, nothing. Frodo is slipping further away from us. It's just heart-wrenching to see him in his agony and the helpless, saddened looks on his friend's faces. Glorfindel was beyond correct when he said healing the wound was not in his power, but was in only Lord Elrond's powers. Galadriel or Celeborn might have fixed Frodo up… But Elrond is closer by far. Back to Glorfindel, without his help and the painful reason for my secrecy from the group, Frodo might not have made it as far as he has. Just a few more hours and he'll be in Rivendell. I am going to head up closer to them. I am too far behind to analyze the condition Elvellon is in. Maybe after I do that, I'll dart ahead and scout out the Ford. It may be possible that spies for Sauron have gotten past the Elves, or close to them. I'm off to find the Road.