NOTE: I'm still on the east coast, but I unexpectedly got a chance to
upload another chapter. Yay! Many thanks for all your kind comments and
good wishes. I apologize that this chapter is all talk and no action, but
Chapter 7 should make up for it!
Erin-21, I hope you enjoy the Frodo/Boromir interactions coming up in Chapters 7 and 8.
Tathar, I do plan some Gimli/hobbit conversations, but it may be several more chapters before they come about. I think they're a rare and wonderful thing also!
Mistoffelees (our Pippin-lover), Chapters 7 through 11 (as I have them planned) should please you greatly.
DISCLAIMER: Of course. The characters don't belong to me, I just get to think about them day and night.
_________________________________
WHISPERS OF THE DRAGON
Chapter 6 --- Conversations on the River
"Boromir, are you listening to me?"
Boromir was brought back to the present with a jolt. The fifth night of their journey found their boat drifting some distance behind Aragorn's, sliding down the Anduin under a thin crescent moon and brilliant stars. Merry was seated next to him, paddling at need, while Pippin lay half asleep among the packs and baggage behind them.
"Forgive me, Merry. What were you saying?"
Merry spoke just above a whisper, as they had all grown used to doing. "You've been so still, with such an odd look on your face. You've done nothing but stare at.... Boromir, are you staring at Frodo? Are you angry with him about something?"
"No," the Man flushed and thought quickly. "No, not angry. I'm just still learning about hobbits, you know. Frodo has always seemed different, quite unlike the rest of you. He even *looks* quite unlike the rest of you."
He was unprepared for the response. "I know," Merry sighed solemnly. "It's a problem."
"A problem? Is Frodo considered so ill-favored then among the Shirefolk? It's difficult to believe."
"No, of course not. He's amazing looking, anyone can see that. Still..." Merry sighed again. Boromir was completely confused, but relieved the subject had been changed so quickly.
"Frodo's felt different all his life, you know," Merry continued. "Just being an orphan would have been enough. Then he was a Baggins among Brandybucks, then a Brandybuck among Bagginses... Bilbo saw to it that he was the best educated, best dressed, best everything. He stood out, lots of folks were jealous and mean. And of course he grew up to look like, well, *that*. Different, different, different. And all he ever wanted was to be a part of things just like anyone else."
"Then he got the Ring," piped up Pippin, who had been listening. "And now everything's hunting him and chasing him, it's like he's all lit up in the dark. More different than ever. Poor Frodo." Both hobbits fell silent for a moment, contemplating the cruel destiny that had been their gentle cousin's life.
"I was 11 when it started, remember Merry? At the Party? I felt so grown up being allowed to stay up that late.." Boromir stopped listening long before Pippin tired of recounting some extravagant party Bilbo had apparently thrown for himself.
"Here, Merry, I'll paddle for a bit," Boromir said softly, bringing their boat closer to Aragorn's and sinking back into his thoughts.
********************
Legolas could finally stand it no longer. "Dwarves are capable of the most peculiar sounds. What are you thinking and muttering about, Gimli?"
"Wizards."
"What about them?"
"How do we know it is only Saruman whom we must fear? What of the rest of the Istari, as you call them? Do they seek the Ring as well? If not, why do they not assist the Ringbearer in Gandalf's stead?"
Legolas stared at him, his paddle dipping automatically down and back, down and back. "Worthy questions, my friend, quite beyond my ability to answer. I suspect if any of the Istari could assist us they would have been called to the Council. We may meet them yet, although in what guise I cannot say."
********************
"I know what I heard, Mr. Frodo. And I know what I saw."
"I believe you, Sam." Frodo and Sam lay together in the rear of their boat, gazing back past the other boats, looking and listening.
"What's so fascinating back there, Frodo?"
Frodo got up and sat next to Aragorn. "We're being followed. Gollum."
"Ah yes," the Ranger said. "He's been on our trail since we left Lórien. I had hoped that with swift paddling and this icy water we could outdistance him, but apparently not. Did Sam hear him?"
"Yes," said Frodo. "And I've seen him. Several times, always at night."
Aragorn looked at him. "Frodo, I tracked that creature for months and know how difficult he is to see, even in daylight. Has he come that close to you then?"
Frodo looked down at his feet. "No, not close." He sighed. "Ever since the Morgul wounding I've been able to see quite well in the dark. I don't know why." He grew thoughtful. "The Ring doesn't want to be found by him again, but he's drawn to it. The Nazgûl could smell it, I think, and Gollum just..just knows where it is."
"And you?" Aragorn asked quietly.
Frodo glanced at Sam, who was watching him. "Except for a few moments here and there, it's not been out of my possession for 17 years. If it was, was taken.." Frodo could hardly bear the thought. "Yes, I would know where it is. I would pursue it as well."
"Don't worry, Mr. Frodo," Sam said encouragingly. "No one's getting at that thing until you're good and ready to get rid of it. That's what we're all here for, after all."
*******************
The hours passed slowly as dawn approached, and Pippin found it nearly impossible to sit still. He traded places with Merry and sat next to Boromir, casting about for some topic of conversation.
"Boromir, doesn't anyone *use* this river? There's no bridges, no boats, no people..where is everybody?"
Boromir put his arm around him. "You have seen battle, little one, but you have not yet seen war. The South is at war, Pippin. The eastern shore is either uninhabitable or held by the Enemy, and it has grown unsafe to dwell or farm too near the western shoreline. Perhaps someday the Anduin will be safe once again for bridges, boats, and people. Not yet. Not yet."
"Not until the Ring is destroyed, I understand. We just have to get Frodo to that mountain."
Boromir was about to speak when Aragorn began to paddle strongly toward the shore, to a small inlet beneath looming cliffs.
"Wake up, Merry," Pippin whispered. "It's time to make camp and get some sleep."
*******************
Frodo sat up suddenly, gasping for breath. Late morning. The familiar sound of sleeping friends breathing quietly around and near him. Stillness. He sighed. Only a nightmare.
"Frodo, are you well?" Legolas had walked quickly over to him from where he stood nearby. Frodo looked at him, still breathing heavily. "A bad dream, that's all," he whispered.
Legolas nodded and turned to go, but something in Frodo's look stopped him. He returned to the hobbit's side and knelt down. "Do you wish to talk?"
Frodo rarely shared any doubts or fears, and the Elf was somewhat surprised when Frodo nodded and slowly rose, walking toward the boats. Legolas followed, and they sat together on one of the wooden seats.
"I don't suppose Elves have bad dreams, do they?"
Legolas chuckled quietly. "Elves seem to dwell in two worlds, Frodo. Perhaps they are both real, perhaps both a dream. But no, nightmares such as mortals experience do not come to us." He waited. "Tell me."
"There was fire," Frodo whispered. "So hot. Not like Moria, it was...different. We were all there, yet I was alone. It was time, I had to, to destroy the Ring. It was time. We had made it to the fire." He was breathing hard, remembering. "I, I couldn't do it. I couldn't destroy it. I wanted to, I didn't want to, I.." He took a deep breath. "Gimli grabbed me, held me down. I was screaming, fighting. Somebody took the Ring from me and, and threw it in. Then there was just.. everyone looking at me with such disappointment, such anger. I felt only shame and grief and emptiness. I had failed." Tears were streaming down Frodo's face. "I failed everyone," he whispered, burying his face in his hands.
"Frodo," said Legolas softly, "Do you recall what you pledged to do, at the Council?"
"I, I said-----"
"You said you would take the Ring. Perhaps when we get to the fire, Frodo, it will not be your task to destroy it. Only to take it there."
Frodo said nothing, but Legolas knew he was listening.
"It was just a dream, perhaps another of Samwise's dragons trying to deceive you." He smiled. "We have traveled with you a long way, my friend. There is not a person here who does not honor what you are doing and marvel at your strength. If you turned back this moment, Frodo, we would not be ashamed of you or hold you in lesser esteem. We could never be disappointed in you."
"Thank you," whispered Frodo. He wiped his eyes. "Don't tell Sam. About the nightmare, I mean. He worries enough about me as it is."
"I will not. But Samwise knows and senses more than you may think, Frodo. You do not wish to weigh him down with added worry or care, but I suspect he would not be burdened by such things. To lend you strength brings him great joy and purpose. I do not believe you truly know the gifts that surround you." He grasped Frodo's chin and gently brought the hobbit's eyes up to meet his. "Do not let the shadow blind you to light, Frodo. It is all around you. It is within you. I think it will be enough to help you when you most need it."
Legolas stood up. "Try to sleep a bit more, your watch does not begin for many hours yet."
"I will."
The Elf watched Frodo walk slowly back to his bedroll and lie down. He didn't tell Frodo, but he was thinking that perhaps the nightmare had something of a future portent about it. Ring-bearer, Legolas thought, but perhaps not Ring-destroyer. Will that task fall to one of us?
** TBC **
Erin-21, I hope you enjoy the Frodo/Boromir interactions coming up in Chapters 7 and 8.
Tathar, I do plan some Gimli/hobbit conversations, but it may be several more chapters before they come about. I think they're a rare and wonderful thing also!
Mistoffelees (our Pippin-lover), Chapters 7 through 11 (as I have them planned) should please you greatly.
DISCLAIMER: Of course. The characters don't belong to me, I just get to think about them day and night.
_________________________________
WHISPERS OF THE DRAGON
Chapter 6 --- Conversations on the River
"Boromir, are you listening to me?"
Boromir was brought back to the present with a jolt. The fifth night of their journey found their boat drifting some distance behind Aragorn's, sliding down the Anduin under a thin crescent moon and brilliant stars. Merry was seated next to him, paddling at need, while Pippin lay half asleep among the packs and baggage behind them.
"Forgive me, Merry. What were you saying?"
Merry spoke just above a whisper, as they had all grown used to doing. "You've been so still, with such an odd look on your face. You've done nothing but stare at.... Boromir, are you staring at Frodo? Are you angry with him about something?"
"No," the Man flushed and thought quickly. "No, not angry. I'm just still learning about hobbits, you know. Frodo has always seemed different, quite unlike the rest of you. He even *looks* quite unlike the rest of you."
He was unprepared for the response. "I know," Merry sighed solemnly. "It's a problem."
"A problem? Is Frodo considered so ill-favored then among the Shirefolk? It's difficult to believe."
"No, of course not. He's amazing looking, anyone can see that. Still..." Merry sighed again. Boromir was completely confused, but relieved the subject had been changed so quickly.
"Frodo's felt different all his life, you know," Merry continued. "Just being an orphan would have been enough. Then he was a Baggins among Brandybucks, then a Brandybuck among Bagginses... Bilbo saw to it that he was the best educated, best dressed, best everything. He stood out, lots of folks were jealous and mean. And of course he grew up to look like, well, *that*. Different, different, different. And all he ever wanted was to be a part of things just like anyone else."
"Then he got the Ring," piped up Pippin, who had been listening. "And now everything's hunting him and chasing him, it's like he's all lit up in the dark. More different than ever. Poor Frodo." Both hobbits fell silent for a moment, contemplating the cruel destiny that had been their gentle cousin's life.
"I was 11 when it started, remember Merry? At the Party? I felt so grown up being allowed to stay up that late.." Boromir stopped listening long before Pippin tired of recounting some extravagant party Bilbo had apparently thrown for himself.
"Here, Merry, I'll paddle for a bit," Boromir said softly, bringing their boat closer to Aragorn's and sinking back into his thoughts.
********************
Legolas could finally stand it no longer. "Dwarves are capable of the most peculiar sounds. What are you thinking and muttering about, Gimli?"
"Wizards."
"What about them?"
"How do we know it is only Saruman whom we must fear? What of the rest of the Istari, as you call them? Do they seek the Ring as well? If not, why do they not assist the Ringbearer in Gandalf's stead?"
Legolas stared at him, his paddle dipping automatically down and back, down and back. "Worthy questions, my friend, quite beyond my ability to answer. I suspect if any of the Istari could assist us they would have been called to the Council. We may meet them yet, although in what guise I cannot say."
********************
"I know what I heard, Mr. Frodo. And I know what I saw."
"I believe you, Sam." Frodo and Sam lay together in the rear of their boat, gazing back past the other boats, looking and listening.
"What's so fascinating back there, Frodo?"
Frodo got up and sat next to Aragorn. "We're being followed. Gollum."
"Ah yes," the Ranger said. "He's been on our trail since we left Lórien. I had hoped that with swift paddling and this icy water we could outdistance him, but apparently not. Did Sam hear him?"
"Yes," said Frodo. "And I've seen him. Several times, always at night."
Aragorn looked at him. "Frodo, I tracked that creature for months and know how difficult he is to see, even in daylight. Has he come that close to you then?"
Frodo looked down at his feet. "No, not close." He sighed. "Ever since the Morgul wounding I've been able to see quite well in the dark. I don't know why." He grew thoughtful. "The Ring doesn't want to be found by him again, but he's drawn to it. The Nazgûl could smell it, I think, and Gollum just..just knows where it is."
"And you?" Aragorn asked quietly.
Frodo glanced at Sam, who was watching him. "Except for a few moments here and there, it's not been out of my possession for 17 years. If it was, was taken.." Frodo could hardly bear the thought. "Yes, I would know where it is. I would pursue it as well."
"Don't worry, Mr. Frodo," Sam said encouragingly. "No one's getting at that thing until you're good and ready to get rid of it. That's what we're all here for, after all."
*******************
The hours passed slowly as dawn approached, and Pippin found it nearly impossible to sit still. He traded places with Merry and sat next to Boromir, casting about for some topic of conversation.
"Boromir, doesn't anyone *use* this river? There's no bridges, no boats, no people..where is everybody?"
Boromir put his arm around him. "You have seen battle, little one, but you have not yet seen war. The South is at war, Pippin. The eastern shore is either uninhabitable or held by the Enemy, and it has grown unsafe to dwell or farm too near the western shoreline. Perhaps someday the Anduin will be safe once again for bridges, boats, and people. Not yet. Not yet."
"Not until the Ring is destroyed, I understand. We just have to get Frodo to that mountain."
Boromir was about to speak when Aragorn began to paddle strongly toward the shore, to a small inlet beneath looming cliffs.
"Wake up, Merry," Pippin whispered. "It's time to make camp and get some sleep."
*******************
Frodo sat up suddenly, gasping for breath. Late morning. The familiar sound of sleeping friends breathing quietly around and near him. Stillness. He sighed. Only a nightmare.
"Frodo, are you well?" Legolas had walked quickly over to him from where he stood nearby. Frodo looked at him, still breathing heavily. "A bad dream, that's all," he whispered.
Legolas nodded and turned to go, but something in Frodo's look stopped him. He returned to the hobbit's side and knelt down. "Do you wish to talk?"
Frodo rarely shared any doubts or fears, and the Elf was somewhat surprised when Frodo nodded and slowly rose, walking toward the boats. Legolas followed, and they sat together on one of the wooden seats.
"I don't suppose Elves have bad dreams, do they?"
Legolas chuckled quietly. "Elves seem to dwell in two worlds, Frodo. Perhaps they are both real, perhaps both a dream. But no, nightmares such as mortals experience do not come to us." He waited. "Tell me."
"There was fire," Frodo whispered. "So hot. Not like Moria, it was...different. We were all there, yet I was alone. It was time, I had to, to destroy the Ring. It was time. We had made it to the fire." He was breathing hard, remembering. "I, I couldn't do it. I couldn't destroy it. I wanted to, I didn't want to, I.." He took a deep breath. "Gimli grabbed me, held me down. I was screaming, fighting. Somebody took the Ring from me and, and threw it in. Then there was just.. everyone looking at me with such disappointment, such anger. I felt only shame and grief and emptiness. I had failed." Tears were streaming down Frodo's face. "I failed everyone," he whispered, burying his face in his hands.
"Frodo," said Legolas softly, "Do you recall what you pledged to do, at the Council?"
"I, I said-----"
"You said you would take the Ring. Perhaps when we get to the fire, Frodo, it will not be your task to destroy it. Only to take it there."
Frodo said nothing, but Legolas knew he was listening.
"It was just a dream, perhaps another of Samwise's dragons trying to deceive you." He smiled. "We have traveled with you a long way, my friend. There is not a person here who does not honor what you are doing and marvel at your strength. If you turned back this moment, Frodo, we would not be ashamed of you or hold you in lesser esteem. We could never be disappointed in you."
"Thank you," whispered Frodo. He wiped his eyes. "Don't tell Sam. About the nightmare, I mean. He worries enough about me as it is."
"I will not. But Samwise knows and senses more than you may think, Frodo. You do not wish to weigh him down with added worry or care, but I suspect he would not be burdened by such things. To lend you strength brings him great joy and purpose. I do not believe you truly know the gifts that surround you." He grasped Frodo's chin and gently brought the hobbit's eyes up to meet his. "Do not let the shadow blind you to light, Frodo. It is all around you. It is within you. I think it will be enough to help you when you most need it."
Legolas stood up. "Try to sleep a bit more, your watch does not begin for many hours yet."
"I will."
The Elf watched Frodo walk slowly back to his bedroll and lie down. He didn't tell Frodo, but he was thinking that perhaps the nightmare had something of a future portent about it. Ring-bearer, Legolas thought, but perhaps not Ring-destroyer. Will that task fall to one of us?
** TBC **