CONTEST!! Here's my dilemma. As we all know, when Merry and Pippin are
taken by the Orcs they each have a wafer of lembas in their pocket. I've
already established in this story that the lembas is only doled out
sparingly and no one would just grab some and hide it. So how do I get the
lembas in their pockets on that crucial final day of the Fellowship (two
days from this chapter)? It has to be a reason that's consistent with the
story. I was going to skip the whole subject, but if you have an idea let
me know, and if I use it I'll give you full and exuberant credit! I'm
still working out Chapters 13-15, so there's time to think about it.
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 12 --- Cousins and Friends
Morning dawned thinly through the fog, which still drifted about the boats and obscured the eastern shore. Almost all had slept fitfully, in short spurts, huddling in the boats. Gimli and Legolas had insisted on keeping watch throughout the long night. Frodo had been unable to sleep at all.
"Legolas and I will seek out the ancient portage-way. Once we bring the boats and gear to it, it is a mile south, perhaps a bit more, until we may take to the River once more." Aragorn shot a concerned glance at Frodo, who still seemed to be in some pain and was looking weary from his sleepless night. The Ranger doubted Frodo would be able to carry anything, and he still wished Pippin would take it easy, but first the path needed to be found. They would decide later how everything could be accomplished.
"I do not wish us to split up," Aragorn continued, "But there is no choice. If we have not returned by tomorrow morning you must choose your course and leave here as best you can. Do not attempt the rapids, even in daylight. I assume our friend Gollum led the Orcs to us, so at least one person should stay on watch at all times. Hopefully this side of the River is still safe." He caught Frodo's eye and they looked at each other for a long moment, then Aragorn and Legolas walked away and disappeared into the fog.
Frodo stood up and stepped slowly onto the shore. He tried to hide the fact that his shoulder still felt somewhat stiff, but Sam and Merry were at his side in an instant.
"Frodo, you haven't had any sleep," said Merry, guiding him over to a dry patch of soft grass. "Rest while you can. You don't have to be so brave all the time you know, it's all right to say 'ouch' once in a while!"
Frodo laughed and let himself be lowered to the ground. Pippin promptly came over and sat next to him --- practically on top of him, actually.
"Your bruise is almost gone, Pip," Frodo said. "How are you feeling? You don't have to be so brave all the time either, you know."
"I don't feel brave at all, Frodo. I wish I was."
"Pippin," Frodo said softly, "You, Merry, and Sam are about the bravest hobbits who ever lived. Just think back to everything we've been through." He looked at Pippin closely, who seemed to be amazed by what he was saying. "Have I forgotten to tell you I'm so proud of you I could just burst? Oh Pip," he murmured, putting his arms around his cousin.
Pippin sighed and nestled into Frodo's arms. Merry thought he was growing up, and Frodo was proud of him.
"Mr. Frodo," Sam said, "What will we do if Strider and Legolas, well, don't come back?"
"I hope we don't have to find out," said Frodo with a frown. "We can't cross to the eastern shore, not yet anyway. We can't take the boats through the rapids, and we can't go back. But none of that matters. We couldn't abandon them, Sam. We'd have to follow them and try to find out what happened. Just leave the boats here, carry what we can, and find them."
"Frodo," said Merry, "We're a lot closer to Isengard now than we were before."
"We'd just have to be -----" Frodo suddenly smiled and looked down at Pippin, who had fallen asleep in his lap. "I wish I could do that," he said with a yawn. "I think Pip could sleep hanging upside down from a tree."
"He didn't answer your question, you know," said Merry. "About how he was feeling. He still has a little recovering to do." He looked at Frodo. "And so do you. Lie down and try to sleep. We may have a lot to do later."
"Yes sir," Frodo smiled. He lay down in the grass, taking Pippin with him, and managed to find a comfortable position. In a few minutes Merry and Sam were gratified to see that he had fallen fast asleep, Pippin still curled in his arms. Sam tucked a blanket around them both.
*****************
Pippin woke from a sweet dream to find himself under a blanket in Frodo's arms. He looked up.
"You had a good sleep," Frodo said with a smile. "You must have been dreaming of something nice."
"I was," Pippin yawned. "Something about a birthday party..."
Frodo laughed. "Are you trying to remind me that you turn 29 soon? I don't know where we'll be, Pip, but we'll figure out some way to celebrate. I liked being 29," he mused, "Such fun, not a care in the world.."
"Frodo, do you think much about home?"
"I certainly do," Frodo said. "The thought of our beautiful Shire safe and sound.... sometimes that's *all* I think about."
"I wonder where they all think we've got to?"
"Well," Frodo thought about it. "Gandalf said at the Council that he found the Crickhollow house broken into and empty, so Fatty most likely escaped the wraiths. Word may have gotten back from Bree that we left there with a Ranger, but that's probably the last anyone heard of us. Elrond certainly wouldn't have risked sending a message back to the Shire about us." He sighed. "They all might think we're dead, Pip, killed by a Ranger or lost in the Wild. No one is likely to miss *me* I suppose, but your family, and Sam's, and Merry's must have sent out search parties and such." He pulled Pippin closer. "We'll just have to get back home safely and astound them all, won't we?"
"We will, I know we will."
Frodo sat up. "Of course, with Bag End sold and Crickhollow ransacked, I might have to come live with you. Think your sisters would mind?"
Pippin smiled. "I can't think of anything they'd like better, Frodo. You'll have to fight them off with Sting." He sat up also and looked around. It appeared to be around noon. Merry and Gimli were keeping watch and Boromir was stretched out nearby, asleep. Sam was standing near one of the boats, apparently having just filled Frodo's pack with something fairly bulky. He heard what they were talking about and came over to them.
"It's hardly the place for a Baggins, sir, but you'd be welcome at Number 3 Bagshot Row." He grinned. "Of course you'd have to fight my sisters off with Sting as well!"
Frodo laughed delightedly. "I suspect I'm a bit old for any of them, but it's nice to know I won't be out in the cold!"
"Now that Frodo's living arrangements are taken care of, we shouldn't have any more worries on this journey!" Legolas appeared out of the fog behind them, chuckling as he walked past.
Frodo turned red, aiming a kick at Pippin who scuttled out of the way with ease. "You started it, Frodo!"
Aragorn came past, pleased to see that Pippin seemed back to his old self. He noted that Frodo slightly favored his left arm as he rose to his feet.
Waking Boromir, Aragorn spoke to the group. "We found the portage-way, it lies somewhat back from the River at this point. The terrain is rather rough before we can reach it and may make for a wearying day. It is then somewhat more than a mile south to where the rapids end and we can take to the boats once again."
As one, the Company unloaded the boats. Sam brought Frodo over to the pack he had filled for him. "Here, sir."
Frodo frowned at the bulky pack. "Sam, I don't think------" He lifted it and was surprised at how light it was. "Sam?"
"It's the lembas. Someone has to carry it after all, and I don't think you should manage anything heavy just yet." Sam looked around at the piles of gear. "We will need several trips, I would think.... You can carry the coils of that Elven rope next, if you like. They're wonderfully light." He looked at Frodo sternly, a half-dozen arguments ready on his tongue should there be any protest. To his surprise, Frodo just shook his head and smiled.
"Thank you, dear Sam," he said softly. "What would I ever do without you?"
Aragorn nodded approvingly at Sam, then turned to Frodo. "At least there won't be any danger of Pippin getting lost in the fog, I doubt he'll let that lembas out of his sight!"
******************
While everyone was busy sorting out the gear, Sam drew Merry apart from the others. They stood side by side at the River's edge, peering into the gloom.
"He'll need to decide soon. What do you think?"
"Boromir says it's impossible," said Merry quietly, "But Gandalf thought we could do it. I cannot imagine he would have sent Frodo off with the Ring if there was no hope at all. I don't know, Sam." He closed his eyes, remembering. "The maps with Mordor in them were pretty sparse. Maybe whoever made them didn't go too far in. I doubt anyone really knows exactly what's over there."
"There's wraiths over there," said Sam. "And that Gollum, and Orcs, and who knows what else. But he's likely to make a run for it anyway, try to go alone."
"I know. But he can't jump over the River. As long as he doesn't get his hands on one of the boats I don't think he can get away from us."
"The Ring, though.... He could put it on and disappear."
"He wouldn't do that."
"He's scared. Scared to go alone and scared to take any of us with him. He was so shaken up when Pippin was hurt, he can't bear to think of anything else happening to one of us. He'll want to go alone, just like back in the Shire." Sam sighed. "I'm scared too."
"So am I."
"We can't let him see it," Sam said. He turned to look at Frodo.
"He won't," said Merry, his eyes resting on Pippin.
** TBC **
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 12 --- Cousins and Friends
Morning dawned thinly through the fog, which still drifted about the boats and obscured the eastern shore. Almost all had slept fitfully, in short spurts, huddling in the boats. Gimli and Legolas had insisted on keeping watch throughout the long night. Frodo had been unable to sleep at all.
"Legolas and I will seek out the ancient portage-way. Once we bring the boats and gear to it, it is a mile south, perhaps a bit more, until we may take to the River once more." Aragorn shot a concerned glance at Frodo, who still seemed to be in some pain and was looking weary from his sleepless night. The Ranger doubted Frodo would be able to carry anything, and he still wished Pippin would take it easy, but first the path needed to be found. They would decide later how everything could be accomplished.
"I do not wish us to split up," Aragorn continued, "But there is no choice. If we have not returned by tomorrow morning you must choose your course and leave here as best you can. Do not attempt the rapids, even in daylight. I assume our friend Gollum led the Orcs to us, so at least one person should stay on watch at all times. Hopefully this side of the River is still safe." He caught Frodo's eye and they looked at each other for a long moment, then Aragorn and Legolas walked away and disappeared into the fog.
Frodo stood up and stepped slowly onto the shore. He tried to hide the fact that his shoulder still felt somewhat stiff, but Sam and Merry were at his side in an instant.
"Frodo, you haven't had any sleep," said Merry, guiding him over to a dry patch of soft grass. "Rest while you can. You don't have to be so brave all the time you know, it's all right to say 'ouch' once in a while!"
Frodo laughed and let himself be lowered to the ground. Pippin promptly came over and sat next to him --- practically on top of him, actually.
"Your bruise is almost gone, Pip," Frodo said. "How are you feeling? You don't have to be so brave all the time either, you know."
"I don't feel brave at all, Frodo. I wish I was."
"Pippin," Frodo said softly, "You, Merry, and Sam are about the bravest hobbits who ever lived. Just think back to everything we've been through." He looked at Pippin closely, who seemed to be amazed by what he was saying. "Have I forgotten to tell you I'm so proud of you I could just burst? Oh Pip," he murmured, putting his arms around his cousin.
Pippin sighed and nestled into Frodo's arms. Merry thought he was growing up, and Frodo was proud of him.
"Mr. Frodo," Sam said, "What will we do if Strider and Legolas, well, don't come back?"
"I hope we don't have to find out," said Frodo with a frown. "We can't cross to the eastern shore, not yet anyway. We can't take the boats through the rapids, and we can't go back. But none of that matters. We couldn't abandon them, Sam. We'd have to follow them and try to find out what happened. Just leave the boats here, carry what we can, and find them."
"Frodo," said Merry, "We're a lot closer to Isengard now than we were before."
"We'd just have to be -----" Frodo suddenly smiled and looked down at Pippin, who had fallen asleep in his lap. "I wish I could do that," he said with a yawn. "I think Pip could sleep hanging upside down from a tree."
"He didn't answer your question, you know," said Merry. "About how he was feeling. He still has a little recovering to do." He looked at Frodo. "And so do you. Lie down and try to sleep. We may have a lot to do later."
"Yes sir," Frodo smiled. He lay down in the grass, taking Pippin with him, and managed to find a comfortable position. In a few minutes Merry and Sam were gratified to see that he had fallen fast asleep, Pippin still curled in his arms. Sam tucked a blanket around them both.
*****************
Pippin woke from a sweet dream to find himself under a blanket in Frodo's arms. He looked up.
"You had a good sleep," Frodo said with a smile. "You must have been dreaming of something nice."
"I was," Pippin yawned. "Something about a birthday party..."
Frodo laughed. "Are you trying to remind me that you turn 29 soon? I don't know where we'll be, Pip, but we'll figure out some way to celebrate. I liked being 29," he mused, "Such fun, not a care in the world.."
"Frodo, do you think much about home?"
"I certainly do," Frodo said. "The thought of our beautiful Shire safe and sound.... sometimes that's *all* I think about."
"I wonder where they all think we've got to?"
"Well," Frodo thought about it. "Gandalf said at the Council that he found the Crickhollow house broken into and empty, so Fatty most likely escaped the wraiths. Word may have gotten back from Bree that we left there with a Ranger, but that's probably the last anyone heard of us. Elrond certainly wouldn't have risked sending a message back to the Shire about us." He sighed. "They all might think we're dead, Pip, killed by a Ranger or lost in the Wild. No one is likely to miss *me* I suppose, but your family, and Sam's, and Merry's must have sent out search parties and such." He pulled Pippin closer. "We'll just have to get back home safely and astound them all, won't we?"
"We will, I know we will."
Frodo sat up. "Of course, with Bag End sold and Crickhollow ransacked, I might have to come live with you. Think your sisters would mind?"
Pippin smiled. "I can't think of anything they'd like better, Frodo. You'll have to fight them off with Sting." He sat up also and looked around. It appeared to be around noon. Merry and Gimli were keeping watch and Boromir was stretched out nearby, asleep. Sam was standing near one of the boats, apparently having just filled Frodo's pack with something fairly bulky. He heard what they were talking about and came over to them.
"It's hardly the place for a Baggins, sir, but you'd be welcome at Number 3 Bagshot Row." He grinned. "Of course you'd have to fight my sisters off with Sting as well!"
Frodo laughed delightedly. "I suspect I'm a bit old for any of them, but it's nice to know I won't be out in the cold!"
"Now that Frodo's living arrangements are taken care of, we shouldn't have any more worries on this journey!" Legolas appeared out of the fog behind them, chuckling as he walked past.
Frodo turned red, aiming a kick at Pippin who scuttled out of the way with ease. "You started it, Frodo!"
Aragorn came past, pleased to see that Pippin seemed back to his old self. He noted that Frodo slightly favored his left arm as he rose to his feet.
Waking Boromir, Aragorn spoke to the group. "We found the portage-way, it lies somewhat back from the River at this point. The terrain is rather rough before we can reach it and may make for a wearying day. It is then somewhat more than a mile south to where the rapids end and we can take to the boats once again."
As one, the Company unloaded the boats. Sam brought Frodo over to the pack he had filled for him. "Here, sir."
Frodo frowned at the bulky pack. "Sam, I don't think------" He lifted it and was surprised at how light it was. "Sam?"
"It's the lembas. Someone has to carry it after all, and I don't think you should manage anything heavy just yet." Sam looked around at the piles of gear. "We will need several trips, I would think.... You can carry the coils of that Elven rope next, if you like. They're wonderfully light." He looked at Frodo sternly, a half-dozen arguments ready on his tongue should there be any protest. To his surprise, Frodo just shook his head and smiled.
"Thank you, dear Sam," he said softly. "What would I ever do without you?"
Aragorn nodded approvingly at Sam, then turned to Frodo. "At least there won't be any danger of Pippin getting lost in the fog, I doubt he'll let that lembas out of his sight!"
******************
While everyone was busy sorting out the gear, Sam drew Merry apart from the others. They stood side by side at the River's edge, peering into the gloom.
"He'll need to decide soon. What do you think?"
"Boromir says it's impossible," said Merry quietly, "But Gandalf thought we could do it. I cannot imagine he would have sent Frodo off with the Ring if there was no hope at all. I don't know, Sam." He closed his eyes, remembering. "The maps with Mordor in them were pretty sparse. Maybe whoever made them didn't go too far in. I doubt anyone really knows exactly what's over there."
"There's wraiths over there," said Sam. "And that Gollum, and Orcs, and who knows what else. But he's likely to make a run for it anyway, try to go alone."
"I know. But he can't jump over the River. As long as he doesn't get his hands on one of the boats I don't think he can get away from us."
"The Ring, though.... He could put it on and disappear."
"He wouldn't do that."
"He's scared. Scared to go alone and scared to take any of us with him. He was so shaken up when Pippin was hurt, he can't bear to think of anything else happening to one of us. He'll want to go alone, just like back in the Shire." Sam sighed. "I'm scared too."
"So am I."
"We can't let him see it," Sam said. He turned to look at Frodo.
"He won't," said Merry, his eyes resting on Pippin.
** TBC **