Disclaimer: AU Story. Why don't I own Lord of the Rings? *sigh* Well, until
maybe the Tolkien family takes pity on me, I do not own any of the
characters or places mentioned in this story. Please don't sue me! I know I
am cruel to them but I swear I will try to save them. Hope you enjoy!
Elf of Rivendell: Yay for the Fellowship! I am SO excited about The Two Towers. I have been wandering round in circles for half an hour, chanting the names of the characters. I swear! Hehe, nasty old Balin.
FrodoFan: So, friend, you get more. And, what do you think of Balin now?
Vana Everyoung: I think I'll stick close to Muse #2 for now. At least while George is still feeling dangerous.. LOTR MARATHON! What a fantastic idea! Is that really real? Hmm, well, I am kind of saving Frodo for now. But we shall see. FLY MY PRETTIES, FLY!
To Whoever Asked Me- (I can't find the review, sry!): Yes, I saw "Return to Middle-Earth" Did anyone else? It was amazing! Oh! He should be called Elijah Drool Wood!
~ Chapter Twenty-One ~
Morning came and pale filters of light spilled through the roof above the Fellowship. Frodo awoke to find Aragorn already packing up. He smiled when he saw the hobbit sitting up.
"Are you feeling better, then?" he asked, coming over. Frodo put a hand to his spinning head and thought about it.
"Yes," he said, "Yes I'm- I'm beginning to. I can speak far more easily. But my throat still feels dry and my muscles are sore."
The man smiled. At long last, the fever was abating. He handed Frodo some water to ease his throat then left to wake the others. He went to Legolas first and when the elf opened his eyes he said,
"Legolas, it is working!"
They rose to a cold breakfast but their hearts were warmed. Frodo was able to get up and eat himself though he could only manage a little. His stomach was still knotting and twisting. They set out an hour later. In lighter spirits then they had been in weeks. Sam helped Frodo along, wrapping his arms round his master's shoulders. They reached the end of the hall and entered a stone chamber. In it was a tomb and on the front were some lines in dwarfish. Gandalf peered at them then raised an eyebrow.
"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin. Lord of Moria."
Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas exchanged glances.
"It is a ruse," the Gondorian man said stubbornly. Gandalf nodded in agreement.
"Why waste your time building a hulking great tomb like that though?" Pippin asked aloud.
"Probably to divert attention from the emptiness of the mines," Aragorn answered wistfully, gazing round, "So that any who enter here-" his voice lowered to a dark tone, "-would not expect an attack. But we are being watched."
The hobbits looked alarmed and crowded closer together. Frodo, though, moved over to Aragorn.
"Is it Gollum?"
"No," the ranger replied, "No, we are being followed by others too. But, do not let that bother you for now, Frodo. I need to ask you a question."
"Alright."
Aragorn moved them away from the company to a corner where they were able to speak privately.
"Frodo, I know that the others will not approve of me asking this but I believe that you deserve to know. Last night- I had no right to do what I did. But, Boromir and I met Balin. He made us an offer to give us herbs- the cure for your poisoning- in exchange for our protection. I should have consulted you first and I am truly sorry. But it seems that Balin was speaking the truth and you are healing well. Now, what do you say about Balin? Remember, Frodo, this is your choice to make. Whatever you think is right, then I shall follow."
"You are not my slave!" cried Frodo, "And anyway, I've have had too many choices placed upon me. I do not wish to have to make another. But if you would like my opinion, I say that Balin should be protected. He has kept up his side of the wager, hasn't he? We owe him something. And, when I looked at Balin, all I saw was an old dwarf. I pitied him, Aragorn. Even though he had poisoned and wounded me, I did not see any evil in him. He is as much at the mercy of Sauron as we are."
Aragorn had a smile on his lips.
"I say that you are the wisest hobbit I have ever met, Frodo Baggins. I will do as you say. But how will we introduce him to the company?"
Frodo laughed- a sound that made the ranger's heart glow. It was so good to hear after all the suffering they had seen.
"I daren't! Sam would take him apart! It must be kept secret. We will conceal him.. er, somehow."
Suddenly, a small noise rang out around the chamber. Pippin was standing by the well, gazing in, seemingly spellbound. Gandalf rushed over to him.
"What on earth was that?"
"I threw a stone in.. I'm sorry if I.." started Pippin but Gandalf stopped him with a cry of frustration.
"Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"
The hobbit fell quiet and shrank back to the shadows, chewing awkwardly on his lip.
A drumroll.
The Fellowship started. Frodo looked round in a panic.
"What was that?" he hissed.
Another drumroll. Closer this time.
"Orcs!" Legolas cried.
~
To date, that was probably my favourite chapter to write. That and chapter 18. Enjoyable writing and I'm not even torturing Frodo. Oh darn it.
Elf of Rivendell: Yay for the Fellowship! I am SO excited about The Two Towers. I have been wandering round in circles for half an hour, chanting the names of the characters. I swear! Hehe, nasty old Balin.
FrodoFan: So, friend, you get more. And, what do you think of Balin now?
Vana Everyoung: I think I'll stick close to Muse #2 for now. At least while George is still feeling dangerous.. LOTR MARATHON! What a fantastic idea! Is that really real? Hmm, well, I am kind of saving Frodo for now. But we shall see. FLY MY PRETTIES, FLY!
To Whoever Asked Me- (I can't find the review, sry!): Yes, I saw "Return to Middle-Earth" Did anyone else? It was amazing! Oh! He should be called Elijah Drool Wood!
~ Chapter Twenty-One ~
Morning came and pale filters of light spilled through the roof above the Fellowship. Frodo awoke to find Aragorn already packing up. He smiled when he saw the hobbit sitting up.
"Are you feeling better, then?" he asked, coming over. Frodo put a hand to his spinning head and thought about it.
"Yes," he said, "Yes I'm- I'm beginning to. I can speak far more easily. But my throat still feels dry and my muscles are sore."
The man smiled. At long last, the fever was abating. He handed Frodo some water to ease his throat then left to wake the others. He went to Legolas first and when the elf opened his eyes he said,
"Legolas, it is working!"
They rose to a cold breakfast but their hearts were warmed. Frodo was able to get up and eat himself though he could only manage a little. His stomach was still knotting and twisting. They set out an hour later. In lighter spirits then they had been in weeks. Sam helped Frodo along, wrapping his arms round his master's shoulders. They reached the end of the hall and entered a stone chamber. In it was a tomb and on the front were some lines in dwarfish. Gandalf peered at them then raised an eyebrow.
"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin. Lord of Moria."
Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas exchanged glances.
"It is a ruse," the Gondorian man said stubbornly. Gandalf nodded in agreement.
"Why waste your time building a hulking great tomb like that though?" Pippin asked aloud.
"Probably to divert attention from the emptiness of the mines," Aragorn answered wistfully, gazing round, "So that any who enter here-" his voice lowered to a dark tone, "-would not expect an attack. But we are being watched."
The hobbits looked alarmed and crowded closer together. Frodo, though, moved over to Aragorn.
"Is it Gollum?"
"No," the ranger replied, "No, we are being followed by others too. But, do not let that bother you for now, Frodo. I need to ask you a question."
"Alright."
Aragorn moved them away from the company to a corner where they were able to speak privately.
"Frodo, I know that the others will not approve of me asking this but I believe that you deserve to know. Last night- I had no right to do what I did. But, Boromir and I met Balin. He made us an offer to give us herbs- the cure for your poisoning- in exchange for our protection. I should have consulted you first and I am truly sorry. But it seems that Balin was speaking the truth and you are healing well. Now, what do you say about Balin? Remember, Frodo, this is your choice to make. Whatever you think is right, then I shall follow."
"You are not my slave!" cried Frodo, "And anyway, I've have had too many choices placed upon me. I do not wish to have to make another. But if you would like my opinion, I say that Balin should be protected. He has kept up his side of the wager, hasn't he? We owe him something. And, when I looked at Balin, all I saw was an old dwarf. I pitied him, Aragorn. Even though he had poisoned and wounded me, I did not see any evil in him. He is as much at the mercy of Sauron as we are."
Aragorn had a smile on his lips.
"I say that you are the wisest hobbit I have ever met, Frodo Baggins. I will do as you say. But how will we introduce him to the company?"
Frodo laughed- a sound that made the ranger's heart glow. It was so good to hear after all the suffering they had seen.
"I daren't! Sam would take him apart! It must be kept secret. We will conceal him.. er, somehow."
Suddenly, a small noise rang out around the chamber. Pippin was standing by the well, gazing in, seemingly spellbound. Gandalf rushed over to him.
"What on earth was that?"
"I threw a stone in.. I'm sorry if I.." started Pippin but Gandalf stopped him with a cry of frustration.
"Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"
The hobbit fell quiet and shrank back to the shadows, chewing awkwardly on his lip.
A drumroll.
The Fellowship started. Frodo looked round in a panic.
"What was that?" he hissed.
Another drumroll. Closer this time.
"Orcs!" Legolas cried.
~
To date, that was probably my favourite chapter to write. That and chapter 18. Enjoyable writing and I'm not even torturing Frodo. Oh darn it.