Right, chapter 7
I hope you like this.
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'Bye Kavamir! Have a good time. And don't touch poison ivy!' Said his mum almost crying. She kissed him on the cheek and pinched his cheek. Kavamir put on a brittle grin and looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him. She pulled him into a bone-breaking hug and his eyes almost fell out of his sockets.
'Err…Bye Mum.' He choked weakly.
'Bye Baby. Please keep warm. Mummy loves you.' She said. She let him go and walked back to the cart. She pulled the reins and the horse trotted away. Kavamir looked behind him. Estel was killing himself with laughter.
'What's so funny?' said Kavamir rounding on him.
'Nothing, ah hah ha, ' Estel giggled, 'Mummy Loves you' he mimicked. Kavamir went to hit Estel, but he rolled out of the way just in time.' Who would have thought you where a Mummy's boy?' Said Estel.
'Don't you dare say a fucking thing!' said Kavamir angrily, 'She's just over protective that's all.'
'Kavamir, don't forget, "Mummy Loves you!"' said Estel, bursting into a new fit of giggles.
'Just fuck off Estel!' said Kavamir in a strop.
'Mummy wouldn't like to think her little baby swore' said Estel in a Mummy voice. Kavamir pushed him down to the ground and they had a man fight. ^*
Then Sam and Pippin arrived. Their Dad had given them a lift too. Pippin and Sam slipped off the cart and helped them by passing their bags down from the top of the cart. When they both had their bags he stepped down and hugged both of them. 'I'm going to miss you guys' He said.
'You too Dad.' Said Sam.
'Take care of Pippin for me' Said His Dad.
'Da-ad, I can take care of myself!' said Pippin flicking her hair back.
'Of course Pippin. Just you two be careful. There are many rare and dangerous animals in the wild still, and I don't want them getting rarer.' Sam and Pippin laughed and hugged him again.
'See ya in a month.' Said Pippin cheekily kissing him.
'See ya Pippin.' He replied. He also pulled the reins and the horse whinnied and trotted off.
When he had driven off Pippin and Sam slung their bags on their back and ran over to Estel and Kavamir.
'Hey, how're you guys. Ready to got?' Said Pippin, winking at Kavamir.
'Err…yes.' Said Estel.
'Definitely.' Said Kavamir, winking back. Pippin went red and shrank back slightly. Sam and Estel grinned. Then another coach pulled up and Merry stepped out with his bag. He instantly saw Kavamir and Pippin and shouted, 'Whattttttssup!'
'Yo Merry,' shouted Kavamir,' we're over here.'
'And you don't need to shout.' Said Pippin, flicking her hair back again.
'Whatever Pippin,' said Merry, smiling naughtily.
Then a bus came past and stopped. Ledron and Thorin got off the bus. Ledron grinned at them and ran up to them. Thorin trudged up to them, dragging his feet.
'Hey, we're all here.' Said Thorin.
'Except the teachers.' Said Estel.
'And Froda.' Said Sam. They looked at him. 'I wonder where the teachers are?' asked Sam, trying to change the subject.
'And Xandra. Where the hell is she?' said Thorin, 'What's she doing, straightening her hair before the trip?'
'No Thorin.' Said Estel coldly, 'She was called to her brothers School yesterday and she had to come and tell me last night.' Kavamir gave him a look that said, "You fucked?"
'No, before you ask, we haven't fucked.'
'Not yet? You've been going out for six months. That's practically long enough for you guys to have got married.' Said Kavamir, 'How can you have not fucked yet?'
'And I suppose you're a stud.' Said Estel, 'Mummy wouldn't have with that though.' He said putting on the mummy voice.
'Fuck you Estel!' shouted Kavamir and pushed him. Estel lay back, satisfied, laughing at him.
Froda chose this moment to walk around the corner. She saw them, gave them a look of contempt mixed with longing, and sat down about three foot away, as is the custom of the people when they are in a club without their friends. She slung the bag off her back and only now realised that they were all watching her. She gave them a "Go away" look and they did so.
She opened her bag and played with the toggle. It wound around her fingers like a snake as she made it perfectly clear that they could go on speaking, even thought she was there.
Thorin said, 'Really, did she go into your bedroom?'
Estel gave him a funny look and said, 'Well, yes.'
Pippin said, 'I always thought it was the guy who creeps into some one's bedroom late at night?'
' 'fraid not Pippin. In this case she did.'
'Oh.' She said in a small voice.
'Anyway, where are Mr Greenleaf and Mr Gimli?' said Merry, changing the subject seeing how potentially upset Estel was getting.
As narrative law dictates, they now turned up on a large cart together. They had a few bundles in the back and a suspicious looking bag of things. It wasn't as scary as what Mr Greenleaf was wearing.
'Oh sweet Valor!' said Pippin, her face locked in an expression of disbelief.
'Since when has that been in style?' said Froda, her face locked in the same expression.
'I have a funny feeling that this trip is going to suck.' Said Thorin.
'No Thorin, this is trip is going to defy the law of Physics.' They looked at Ledron (Who had just said this), looking slightly more bemused.' This trip is going to suck and blow at the same time.'
'Yes' said Thorin, keeping the same expression of shock.
'Hello, all here on time?' said Mr Greenleaf cheerily. They all looked at him with exactly the same expression of bemusement.
Mr Greenleaf was wearing a green/grey tunic for about a hundred years ago with his hair tied back in a scrunchie. He wore knee length walking boots $$, and grey/Green tight trousers. On his back he had a quiver of arrows and his bow.
They looked at him, not able to move.
Finally Froda slapped herself and said, 'What the hell are you wearing? We maybe going far, but it doesn't mean that you have to dress up as a twat.'
Mr Greenleaf looked slightly hurt and said, 'Well Miss Baggins, these are my best camping clothes.'
Mr Gimli looked out of the side of the cart. He was wearing fairly normal clothes, a red checked shirt and blue jeans. He got out and said Gruffly, 'Pass me your bags.'
They did so. He secured them onto a cart and signalled for them to climb on. They did so, cautiously. Mr Gimli got back into the driving seat and nodded at Mr Greenleaf. Mr Greenleaf jumped from the pavement into the cart where they were all sitting. They all shrank away as he rounded on them, wearing a huge manic grin. The cart started to rock as Mr Gimli started the cart moving.
'Hey Guys!' he said, making every red blooded male on the bus cringe in fear, 'I hope you enjoy our camping trip. We'll be travelling by cart for two days and then by boat for about a week, so I hope you brought plenty of travel sickness tablets!'
This failed to raise a laugh. They all, even Froda, gave each other looks of fear.
'Uh….' Started Mr Greenleaf hesitantly as he was starting to feel nervous,' As you might know we'll be travelling to the havens….'
'Havens?!' shouted Ledron without thinking, 'We're going to the Havens? That is like totally cool, but not totally cool! I'm going now? I wanted to be able to have a life before I turn up there!'
'Don't worry Mr Ledron, this is not permanent, just a little trip to find out about elfish culture…'
'So why isn't Miss Ismene travelling with us?' said Froda. She knew all right, but she thought she would have a laugh on the way.
'Uh….' she could see Mr Greenleaf sweat.
Then Mr Gimli spoke up. 'Okay, it isn't, but you can learn about it on the way. Actually it's an excuse to get all the troublemakers out of school before an inspection. That makes you happy?'
'Err, no Mr Gimli.' Said Estel.
'I'm not a trouble maker!' aid Pippin, flicking her hair.
They all looked at her. No one was about to ask the obvious question.
'I'm not!' she said, like a child having a sulk. Kavamir and Merry laughed at her expression. She hit both of them on the arm, but they kept laughing. Then she looked out of the side of the cart and sulked.
Them Merry, still laughing hugged her, 'Of course you're not!' he said laughing.
'Yeah, we all know weren't behind the body in the library.' Said Kavamir through a fit of giggles. Pippin his him again, and he kept laughing and grabbed her around the neck. She was pulled back into a hug. She started laughing to, punctuated with whoops of joy.
'Right, before this bonding session goes any further,' said Mr Greenleaf, 'I've got tents, and I'll tell you who's sharing with who.'
'Great!' said Thorin, 'Who's Xandra meant to share with?'
'Xandra?' said Mr Greenleaf checking his list, 'She isn't on this trip, she cancelled last night, but before she left, she was meant to share with Pippin and Froda.'
'Yes!' said Froda and Pippin at the same time. 'I don't have to share with you now!' said Froda.
'Nor do I' said Pippin.
'Actually, you do have to share.' Said Mr Greenleaf.
'WHAT!' they said at the same time.
'I'm not sharing with that weird Goth girl!' said Pippin.
'I refuse to share with that dumb blond!' said Froda, looking at him forcefully.
'Err, I don't really think that you've got a choice.' Said Mr Greenleaf. 'It's school policy that boy and girls can't share a tent.'
'Does that mean that I can't have Pippin in my tent?' said Merry
'Not after lights out I'm afraid.' Said Mr Greenleaf looking at his list.
'So the school would rather we bummed each other?' said Kavamir.
'Please, let me finish the list!' said Mr Greenleaf. 'Right, Thorin. Ledron and Estel share a tent…'
'I have to share with Pretty boy?' said Thorin, totally contorted with anger.
'I have to share with that Dwarf?' asked Ledron, also angry.
'Yes, I'm afraid. You can swap tents, but until the end of the trip, you are in that group and you all look after that tent.' said Mr Greenleaf, uncomfortably.
'Oh man!' said Thorin with his head in his hands, 'This cannot be happening!'
'Right, and Kavamir, Samwise and Merodic are sharing a tent.'
'WOO! We strike lucky again!' shouted Merry, high fiving Kavamir. Froda saw Sam put his head in his hands and shake it.
'Okay, that's all I have to say except we set up camp at seven o'clock tonight and we get up at seven. ' Said Mr Greenleaf. He jumped out of the main part of the compartment and next to Mr Gimli who was steering the horses.
They sat silent for a moment, waiting for someone to say something.
'Oh sweet Valor!' said Merry quietly, 'I think he really is a poof!' They burst out laughing.
'I'm afraid not' said Kavamir doing his Mr Greenleaf voice.
'So guys, we have got to pull a prank on them!' said Pippin, opening her bag.
Froda ignored them and snuggled against the side of the cart and read the book. She had purposely chosen the slightly taxing book as she felt that she would have time to concentrate. It was a book in elfish about the downfall of the ring. She read and read, trying to bock out the noise of laughter and happiness, but soon the lulling rock of the cart made her tired, and she gradually fell asleep.
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Froda opened her eyes. She knew this place, it was her dream world. The sky washed against the ground like the sea and there was heat haze over the hill. She felt the sand. It was hot, like putting your hands in boiling water. Wait, it was boiling water! She took her hands out and found that she had a sponge in her hand. She dropped the sponge and looked up. Sam stood there, washing something.
'Sam,'she asked, 'What are you washing?'
'Our hope. Do you want to help wash it?' He held out his hand, and she took it. Then, like a demonic piece of jewellery the ring around her neck grew and grew and grew and finally it encompassed them.
'Sam?'
'Froda, it's your hope, it's what happened to us.' Then she saw all of them, Estel, Pippin, Merry, Thorin, Xandra, Ledron and Kavamir. They where all covered in blood and looked tiredly determined. Estel and Xandra turned to him. Their eyes where filled with tears and Xandra whispered, 'You must destroy the ring Froda, it's our only hope.'
Then she had left the desert and was standing on the top of a volcano. She was just inches from the edge. She watched the other side. A hobbit with short black curly hair stood there. He had similar feature to her, except the evil glint in his eye.
'THE RING IS MINE!' he screamed out into the abyss below. She saw another hobbit that looked exactly like Sam if he was older bleeding on the ground. She wanted to scream, to cry out and stop it, maybe even attack the black hared hobbit, but she couldn't.
She just watched. She felt tears running down her face. Then she saw a man run up to him. He was thin, starved, almost like a skeleton, but he had enough flesh to be alive. His hair was thin over his scalp, just enough to actually he classed as hair. But nothing was like his eyes. His eyes weren't like fire, they were on fire! His iris was just flame around a tiny pinpoint dot of a pupil. He had fangs, and indeed at this moment he bit off the finger of the black haired hobbit and shouted, 'My precious, my precious!'
Froda couldn't stand it any longer. Somehow she jumped over the hot flame and pushed the black haired hobbit over. He gasped, but then she pushed the skeleton into the river of fire. He screamed and that was the last of him. The black haired hobbit stood up and hugged her. 'Thank you, thank you, thank you!' He said, holding her close. She hugged him as well, they didn't let go for at least a minute.
Then she heard a voice. The black haired hobbit said,'Go on Froda, he's calling for you. Whatever happens with him, I'll always love you.'
Curious to find out who "He" was, she walked off leaving the two other hobbits. Suddenly the volcano disappeared and she was back in the dessert.
'Froda' the voice called, 'Froda…' She turned around. It was her dad. 'Froda' he called again.
'Daddy?' she said in a small voice. Then she laughed. She ran up to him to hug him, but just before she reached him, he disappeared, and she fell in the sand. She looked up, her mouth full of sand. She couldn't get up, she was too tired.
'Froda, Froda….' The voice called again.
'GO AWAY!' she shouted into the dessert, 'Just leave me alone!'
'Froda, Froda….'
Froda opened her eyes. The sky washed against the ground like the sea and there was heat haze over the hill. She felt the sand. Wait, it was boiling water! She took her hands out and found that she had a sponge in her hand. She dropped the sponge and looked up. Sam stood there, washing something.
'Sam,'she asked, 'What are you washing, again?'
'Our hope. Do you want to help wash it?' He held out his hand, and she took it. Then, like a demonic piece of jewellery the ring around her neck grew and grew and grew again and finally it encompassed them for a second time.
'Sam?' She said, 'I've seen this before!'
'Froda, it's your hope, it's what happened to us.' Said Xandra. Then she saw all of them, Estel, Pippin, Merry, Thorin, Xandra, Ledron and Kavamir. They where all covered in blood and looked tiredly determined. Estel and Xandra turned to him. Their eyes where filled with tears and Xandra whispered, 'You must destroy the ring Froda, it's our only hope. Froda, Froda…'
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'…Froda wake up, it's time for lunch!' Froda opened her eyes. She looked into the face of Mr Greenleaf. She looked into his warn brown eyes and his gentle smile. She shook her head and wiped her eye.
'What time is it?' she asked him.
'It's about one o'clock give or take a bit, and it's time for you to get up Mistress Sluggard.' He smiled again. She checked the ring around her neck, and got up from where she had been sleeping. Mr Greenleaf lifted her down from the cart as if she were a small child and said,'Go on Miss Baggins, join the others for lunch.'
She saw Ledron, Sam and Kavamir sitting around a fire feasting on burnt sausages. Ledron picked at the sausage on a stick like a society lady who had just been given a sheep's eye, but was too polite to refuse it.
She sat down next to him and picked up one of the sausages gingerly. She looked at it, then she plunged her teeth into it. It wasn't bad. Well, even a slice of pizza that had been under the sofa tasted good if you lived on sarnies for a week. She finished it off pretty fast and said, 'So went did we get here?'
'About half twelve.' Said Ledron, picking at his sausage. 'You were spark out. I suppose the excitement of the similarian was too much to take. I can't believe you were reading that! This is a school trip for Valors sake! You don't do work on school trips.'
'Err, I was reading that 'cause I didn't have anything better to do.' She said, avoiding saying that she wanted to find out about who was who at the havens.
'I suppose you wanted to know what was going on in the havens. Well, no one knows for certain, except the elves, like Me.' said Ledron with pride. 'Anyway, what are you doing reading elfish books? You're a hobbit, who speaks common tongue. You should not be reading elfish!'
'I do. It's sort of a hobby.' Said Froda, shrugging her shoulders.
'Hobby? Even I don't understand it!' said Ledron throwing his hands in the air. Froda laughed cautiously. Ledron smiled at her.
'Hey, Froda wake up yet?' said Estel walking out of some trees.
'Yeah,' she said. 'How long did'ya let me sleep?
'Well you seemed pretty frightened by what you were dreaming so we let you sleep until Mr Greenleaf noticed you were missing.' Said Kavamir,' You're not meant to wake people up from nightmares, or you kill them' said Kavamir conversationally. He plunged his teeth into the sausage. 'That's good sausage.' He said with a hillbilly accent.
Froda laughed at him and took another sausage from the fire. Ledron looked at his sausage and waved it so it flopped. He looked up from the sausage.
'Still eating that wiener Ledron?' asked Estel raising an eyebrow.
'It's a sausage?' he said, in mock surprise,' I thought it was a miniature dildo, or a small dead animal!' Ledron gave it a look of disgust. 'Anyone want my sausages?'
'Maybe not Ledron' said Sam. Then as if he had just noticed something he said' Where the hell are Mr Gimli and Mr Greenleaf? They were here only a moment ago.'
Froda fingered a sausage. 'I dunno, probably having a quick shag before we have to go on the road again.' She bit into the sausage. 'Who the hell cooked these sausages.' She said angrily as she spilt out a bit of sausage.' It is not possible to actually burn them on the outside and have them frozen on the inside!'
'Ask Mr Greenleaf,' said Sam, 'He's the one who cooked them. I don't know how he managed it, but he did it. He insisted that he could cook them. Mr Gimli insisted that they couldn't, and guess who was right?'
Froda laughed, 'Yeah, not only is he a queer elf, but a retard. What the hell is he wearing?'
'I know. When he gave them out I would have thrown them away, but he was looking so expectant and sweet, that I couldn't.' Said Sam. 'Come on, let's go for a walk. Maybe we'll find some mushroom or some growing berries.'
'That is the best offer I've had all day.' Said Froda getting up, discarding the sausage. They ran into the woods, looking out for places to hide and food. They soon found Pippin and Merry. They where with Thorin and were talking about things. Sam walked off to join them and Froda stood alone. Sam beckoned her, and she came. She sat down next to him, and joined in the conversation. Sometimes, Froda thought, it's nice to stop fighting and find out that you're like everyone else.
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I hope you liked that. I'm sorry, but I have to fit this in around work, so chapters might become a bit irregular. Please r and r, and enjoy!
I hope you like this.
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'Bye Kavamir! Have a good time. And don't touch poison ivy!' Said his mum almost crying. She kissed him on the cheek and pinched his cheek. Kavamir put on a brittle grin and looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him. She pulled him into a bone-breaking hug and his eyes almost fell out of his sockets.
'Err…Bye Mum.' He choked weakly.
'Bye Baby. Please keep warm. Mummy loves you.' She said. She let him go and walked back to the cart. She pulled the reins and the horse trotted away. Kavamir looked behind him. Estel was killing himself with laughter.
'What's so funny?' said Kavamir rounding on him.
'Nothing, ah hah ha, ' Estel giggled, 'Mummy Loves you' he mimicked. Kavamir went to hit Estel, but he rolled out of the way just in time.' Who would have thought you where a Mummy's boy?' Said Estel.
'Don't you dare say a fucking thing!' said Kavamir angrily, 'She's just over protective that's all.'
'Kavamir, don't forget, "Mummy Loves you!"' said Estel, bursting into a new fit of giggles.
'Just fuck off Estel!' said Kavamir in a strop.
'Mummy wouldn't like to think her little baby swore' said Estel in a Mummy voice. Kavamir pushed him down to the ground and they had a man fight. ^*
Then Sam and Pippin arrived. Their Dad had given them a lift too. Pippin and Sam slipped off the cart and helped them by passing their bags down from the top of the cart. When they both had their bags he stepped down and hugged both of them. 'I'm going to miss you guys' He said.
'You too Dad.' Said Sam.
'Take care of Pippin for me' Said His Dad.
'Da-ad, I can take care of myself!' said Pippin flicking her hair back.
'Of course Pippin. Just you two be careful. There are many rare and dangerous animals in the wild still, and I don't want them getting rarer.' Sam and Pippin laughed and hugged him again.
'See ya in a month.' Said Pippin cheekily kissing him.
'See ya Pippin.' He replied. He also pulled the reins and the horse whinnied and trotted off.
When he had driven off Pippin and Sam slung their bags on their back and ran over to Estel and Kavamir.
'Hey, how're you guys. Ready to got?' Said Pippin, winking at Kavamir.
'Err…yes.' Said Estel.
'Definitely.' Said Kavamir, winking back. Pippin went red and shrank back slightly. Sam and Estel grinned. Then another coach pulled up and Merry stepped out with his bag. He instantly saw Kavamir and Pippin and shouted, 'Whattttttssup!'
'Yo Merry,' shouted Kavamir,' we're over here.'
'And you don't need to shout.' Said Pippin, flicking her hair back again.
'Whatever Pippin,' said Merry, smiling naughtily.
Then a bus came past and stopped. Ledron and Thorin got off the bus. Ledron grinned at them and ran up to them. Thorin trudged up to them, dragging his feet.
'Hey, we're all here.' Said Thorin.
'Except the teachers.' Said Estel.
'And Froda.' Said Sam. They looked at him. 'I wonder where the teachers are?' asked Sam, trying to change the subject.
'And Xandra. Where the hell is she?' said Thorin, 'What's she doing, straightening her hair before the trip?'
'No Thorin.' Said Estel coldly, 'She was called to her brothers School yesterday and she had to come and tell me last night.' Kavamir gave him a look that said, "You fucked?"
'No, before you ask, we haven't fucked.'
'Not yet? You've been going out for six months. That's practically long enough for you guys to have got married.' Said Kavamir, 'How can you have not fucked yet?'
'And I suppose you're a stud.' Said Estel, 'Mummy wouldn't have with that though.' He said putting on the mummy voice.
'Fuck you Estel!' shouted Kavamir and pushed him. Estel lay back, satisfied, laughing at him.
Froda chose this moment to walk around the corner. She saw them, gave them a look of contempt mixed with longing, and sat down about three foot away, as is the custom of the people when they are in a club without their friends. She slung the bag off her back and only now realised that they were all watching her. She gave them a "Go away" look and they did so.
She opened her bag and played with the toggle. It wound around her fingers like a snake as she made it perfectly clear that they could go on speaking, even thought she was there.
Thorin said, 'Really, did she go into your bedroom?'
Estel gave him a funny look and said, 'Well, yes.'
Pippin said, 'I always thought it was the guy who creeps into some one's bedroom late at night?'
' 'fraid not Pippin. In this case she did.'
'Oh.' She said in a small voice.
'Anyway, where are Mr Greenleaf and Mr Gimli?' said Merry, changing the subject seeing how potentially upset Estel was getting.
As narrative law dictates, they now turned up on a large cart together. They had a few bundles in the back and a suspicious looking bag of things. It wasn't as scary as what Mr Greenleaf was wearing.
'Oh sweet Valor!' said Pippin, her face locked in an expression of disbelief.
'Since when has that been in style?' said Froda, her face locked in the same expression.
'I have a funny feeling that this trip is going to suck.' Said Thorin.
'No Thorin, this is trip is going to defy the law of Physics.' They looked at Ledron (Who had just said this), looking slightly more bemused.' This trip is going to suck and blow at the same time.'
'Yes' said Thorin, keeping the same expression of shock.
'Hello, all here on time?' said Mr Greenleaf cheerily. They all looked at him with exactly the same expression of bemusement.
Mr Greenleaf was wearing a green/grey tunic for about a hundred years ago with his hair tied back in a scrunchie. He wore knee length walking boots $$, and grey/Green tight trousers. On his back he had a quiver of arrows and his bow.
They looked at him, not able to move.
Finally Froda slapped herself and said, 'What the hell are you wearing? We maybe going far, but it doesn't mean that you have to dress up as a twat.'
Mr Greenleaf looked slightly hurt and said, 'Well Miss Baggins, these are my best camping clothes.'
Mr Gimli looked out of the side of the cart. He was wearing fairly normal clothes, a red checked shirt and blue jeans. He got out and said Gruffly, 'Pass me your bags.'
They did so. He secured them onto a cart and signalled for them to climb on. They did so, cautiously. Mr Gimli got back into the driving seat and nodded at Mr Greenleaf. Mr Greenleaf jumped from the pavement into the cart where they were all sitting. They all shrank away as he rounded on them, wearing a huge manic grin. The cart started to rock as Mr Gimli started the cart moving.
'Hey Guys!' he said, making every red blooded male on the bus cringe in fear, 'I hope you enjoy our camping trip. We'll be travelling by cart for two days and then by boat for about a week, so I hope you brought plenty of travel sickness tablets!'
This failed to raise a laugh. They all, even Froda, gave each other looks of fear.
'Uh….' Started Mr Greenleaf hesitantly as he was starting to feel nervous,' As you might know we'll be travelling to the havens….'
'Havens?!' shouted Ledron without thinking, 'We're going to the Havens? That is like totally cool, but not totally cool! I'm going now? I wanted to be able to have a life before I turn up there!'
'Don't worry Mr Ledron, this is not permanent, just a little trip to find out about elfish culture…'
'So why isn't Miss Ismene travelling with us?' said Froda. She knew all right, but she thought she would have a laugh on the way.
'Uh….' she could see Mr Greenleaf sweat.
Then Mr Gimli spoke up. 'Okay, it isn't, but you can learn about it on the way. Actually it's an excuse to get all the troublemakers out of school before an inspection. That makes you happy?'
'Err, no Mr Gimli.' Said Estel.
'I'm not a trouble maker!' aid Pippin, flicking her hair.
They all looked at her. No one was about to ask the obvious question.
'I'm not!' she said, like a child having a sulk. Kavamir and Merry laughed at her expression. She hit both of them on the arm, but they kept laughing. Then she looked out of the side of the cart and sulked.
Them Merry, still laughing hugged her, 'Of course you're not!' he said laughing.
'Yeah, we all know weren't behind the body in the library.' Said Kavamir through a fit of giggles. Pippin his him again, and he kept laughing and grabbed her around the neck. She was pulled back into a hug. She started laughing to, punctuated with whoops of joy.
'Right, before this bonding session goes any further,' said Mr Greenleaf, 'I've got tents, and I'll tell you who's sharing with who.'
'Great!' said Thorin, 'Who's Xandra meant to share with?'
'Xandra?' said Mr Greenleaf checking his list, 'She isn't on this trip, she cancelled last night, but before she left, she was meant to share with Pippin and Froda.'
'Yes!' said Froda and Pippin at the same time. 'I don't have to share with you now!' said Froda.
'Nor do I' said Pippin.
'Actually, you do have to share.' Said Mr Greenleaf.
'WHAT!' they said at the same time.
'I'm not sharing with that weird Goth girl!' said Pippin.
'I refuse to share with that dumb blond!' said Froda, looking at him forcefully.
'Err, I don't really think that you've got a choice.' Said Mr Greenleaf. 'It's school policy that boy and girls can't share a tent.'
'Does that mean that I can't have Pippin in my tent?' said Merry
'Not after lights out I'm afraid.' Said Mr Greenleaf looking at his list.
'So the school would rather we bummed each other?' said Kavamir.
'Please, let me finish the list!' said Mr Greenleaf. 'Right, Thorin. Ledron and Estel share a tent…'
'I have to share with Pretty boy?' said Thorin, totally contorted with anger.
'I have to share with that Dwarf?' asked Ledron, also angry.
'Yes, I'm afraid. You can swap tents, but until the end of the trip, you are in that group and you all look after that tent.' said Mr Greenleaf, uncomfortably.
'Oh man!' said Thorin with his head in his hands, 'This cannot be happening!'
'Right, and Kavamir, Samwise and Merodic are sharing a tent.'
'WOO! We strike lucky again!' shouted Merry, high fiving Kavamir. Froda saw Sam put his head in his hands and shake it.
'Okay, that's all I have to say except we set up camp at seven o'clock tonight and we get up at seven. ' Said Mr Greenleaf. He jumped out of the main part of the compartment and next to Mr Gimli who was steering the horses.
They sat silent for a moment, waiting for someone to say something.
'Oh sweet Valor!' said Merry quietly, 'I think he really is a poof!' They burst out laughing.
'I'm afraid not' said Kavamir doing his Mr Greenleaf voice.
'So guys, we have got to pull a prank on them!' said Pippin, opening her bag.
Froda ignored them and snuggled against the side of the cart and read the book. She had purposely chosen the slightly taxing book as she felt that she would have time to concentrate. It was a book in elfish about the downfall of the ring. She read and read, trying to bock out the noise of laughter and happiness, but soon the lulling rock of the cart made her tired, and she gradually fell asleep.
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Froda opened her eyes. She knew this place, it was her dream world. The sky washed against the ground like the sea and there was heat haze over the hill. She felt the sand. It was hot, like putting your hands in boiling water. Wait, it was boiling water! She took her hands out and found that she had a sponge in her hand. She dropped the sponge and looked up. Sam stood there, washing something.
'Sam,'she asked, 'What are you washing?'
'Our hope. Do you want to help wash it?' He held out his hand, and she took it. Then, like a demonic piece of jewellery the ring around her neck grew and grew and grew and finally it encompassed them.
'Sam?'
'Froda, it's your hope, it's what happened to us.' Then she saw all of them, Estel, Pippin, Merry, Thorin, Xandra, Ledron and Kavamir. They where all covered in blood and looked tiredly determined. Estel and Xandra turned to him. Their eyes where filled with tears and Xandra whispered, 'You must destroy the ring Froda, it's our only hope.'
Then she had left the desert and was standing on the top of a volcano. She was just inches from the edge. She watched the other side. A hobbit with short black curly hair stood there. He had similar feature to her, except the evil glint in his eye.
'THE RING IS MINE!' he screamed out into the abyss below. She saw another hobbit that looked exactly like Sam if he was older bleeding on the ground. She wanted to scream, to cry out and stop it, maybe even attack the black hared hobbit, but she couldn't.
She just watched. She felt tears running down her face. Then she saw a man run up to him. He was thin, starved, almost like a skeleton, but he had enough flesh to be alive. His hair was thin over his scalp, just enough to actually he classed as hair. But nothing was like his eyes. His eyes weren't like fire, they were on fire! His iris was just flame around a tiny pinpoint dot of a pupil. He had fangs, and indeed at this moment he bit off the finger of the black haired hobbit and shouted, 'My precious, my precious!'
Froda couldn't stand it any longer. Somehow she jumped over the hot flame and pushed the black haired hobbit over. He gasped, but then she pushed the skeleton into the river of fire. He screamed and that was the last of him. The black haired hobbit stood up and hugged her. 'Thank you, thank you, thank you!' He said, holding her close. She hugged him as well, they didn't let go for at least a minute.
Then she heard a voice. The black haired hobbit said,'Go on Froda, he's calling for you. Whatever happens with him, I'll always love you.'
Curious to find out who "He" was, she walked off leaving the two other hobbits. Suddenly the volcano disappeared and she was back in the dessert.
'Froda' the voice called, 'Froda…' She turned around. It was her dad. 'Froda' he called again.
'Daddy?' she said in a small voice. Then she laughed. She ran up to him to hug him, but just before she reached him, he disappeared, and she fell in the sand. She looked up, her mouth full of sand. She couldn't get up, she was too tired.
'Froda, Froda….' The voice called again.
'GO AWAY!' she shouted into the dessert, 'Just leave me alone!'
'Froda, Froda….'
Froda opened her eyes. The sky washed against the ground like the sea and there was heat haze over the hill. She felt the sand. Wait, it was boiling water! She took her hands out and found that she had a sponge in her hand. She dropped the sponge and looked up. Sam stood there, washing something.
'Sam,'she asked, 'What are you washing, again?'
'Our hope. Do you want to help wash it?' He held out his hand, and she took it. Then, like a demonic piece of jewellery the ring around her neck grew and grew and grew again and finally it encompassed them for a second time.
'Sam?' She said, 'I've seen this before!'
'Froda, it's your hope, it's what happened to us.' Said Xandra. Then she saw all of them, Estel, Pippin, Merry, Thorin, Xandra, Ledron and Kavamir. They where all covered in blood and looked tiredly determined. Estel and Xandra turned to him. Their eyes where filled with tears and Xandra whispered, 'You must destroy the ring Froda, it's our only hope. Froda, Froda…'
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'…Froda wake up, it's time for lunch!' Froda opened her eyes. She looked into the face of Mr Greenleaf. She looked into his warn brown eyes and his gentle smile. She shook her head and wiped her eye.
'What time is it?' she asked him.
'It's about one o'clock give or take a bit, and it's time for you to get up Mistress Sluggard.' He smiled again. She checked the ring around her neck, and got up from where she had been sleeping. Mr Greenleaf lifted her down from the cart as if she were a small child and said,'Go on Miss Baggins, join the others for lunch.'
She saw Ledron, Sam and Kavamir sitting around a fire feasting on burnt sausages. Ledron picked at the sausage on a stick like a society lady who had just been given a sheep's eye, but was too polite to refuse it.
She sat down next to him and picked up one of the sausages gingerly. She looked at it, then she plunged her teeth into it. It wasn't bad. Well, even a slice of pizza that had been under the sofa tasted good if you lived on sarnies for a week. She finished it off pretty fast and said, 'So went did we get here?'
'About half twelve.' Said Ledron, picking at his sausage. 'You were spark out. I suppose the excitement of the similarian was too much to take. I can't believe you were reading that! This is a school trip for Valors sake! You don't do work on school trips.'
'Err, I was reading that 'cause I didn't have anything better to do.' She said, avoiding saying that she wanted to find out about who was who at the havens.
'I suppose you wanted to know what was going on in the havens. Well, no one knows for certain, except the elves, like Me.' said Ledron with pride. 'Anyway, what are you doing reading elfish books? You're a hobbit, who speaks common tongue. You should not be reading elfish!'
'I do. It's sort of a hobby.' Said Froda, shrugging her shoulders.
'Hobby? Even I don't understand it!' said Ledron throwing his hands in the air. Froda laughed cautiously. Ledron smiled at her.
'Hey, Froda wake up yet?' said Estel walking out of some trees.
'Yeah,' she said. 'How long did'ya let me sleep?
'Well you seemed pretty frightened by what you were dreaming so we let you sleep until Mr Greenleaf noticed you were missing.' Said Kavamir,' You're not meant to wake people up from nightmares, or you kill them' said Kavamir conversationally. He plunged his teeth into the sausage. 'That's good sausage.' He said with a hillbilly accent.
Froda laughed at him and took another sausage from the fire. Ledron looked at his sausage and waved it so it flopped. He looked up from the sausage.
'Still eating that wiener Ledron?' asked Estel raising an eyebrow.
'It's a sausage?' he said, in mock surprise,' I thought it was a miniature dildo, or a small dead animal!' Ledron gave it a look of disgust. 'Anyone want my sausages?'
'Maybe not Ledron' said Sam. Then as if he had just noticed something he said' Where the hell are Mr Gimli and Mr Greenleaf? They were here only a moment ago.'
Froda fingered a sausage. 'I dunno, probably having a quick shag before we have to go on the road again.' She bit into the sausage. 'Who the hell cooked these sausages.' She said angrily as she spilt out a bit of sausage.' It is not possible to actually burn them on the outside and have them frozen on the inside!'
'Ask Mr Greenleaf,' said Sam, 'He's the one who cooked them. I don't know how he managed it, but he did it. He insisted that he could cook them. Mr Gimli insisted that they couldn't, and guess who was right?'
Froda laughed, 'Yeah, not only is he a queer elf, but a retard. What the hell is he wearing?'
'I know. When he gave them out I would have thrown them away, but he was looking so expectant and sweet, that I couldn't.' Said Sam. 'Come on, let's go for a walk. Maybe we'll find some mushroom or some growing berries.'
'That is the best offer I've had all day.' Said Froda getting up, discarding the sausage. They ran into the woods, looking out for places to hide and food. They soon found Pippin and Merry. They where with Thorin and were talking about things. Sam walked off to join them and Froda stood alone. Sam beckoned her, and she came. She sat down next to him, and joined in the conversation. Sometimes, Froda thought, it's nice to stop fighting and find out that you're like everyone else.
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I hope you liked that. I'm sorry, but I have to fit this in around work, so chapters might become a bit irregular. Please r and r, and enjoy!