Disclaimer: I am not J.R.R. Tolkien, nor do I claim to be. Therefore I do not own the LOTR characters or the original story. I am just borrowing them for my enjoyment, as well as yours. I will return them unharmed.

Summary: Some people believe that when you make a choice, an alternate universe is created. This alternate universe plays out what would have happened if you had chosen another path. What it, in the Caradhras, the Fellowship had chosen the Gap of Rohan rather then Moria? Would everything have gone "according to plan?" A look at their alternate universe - and its consequences.

Warnings: Severely AU. Some coarse language (not a lot, but some.)

Notes: Update will come slow in this. I do not intend to update everyday, although I am shooting for once a week. Please bear with me. Although I would rather be praised, I understand that my writing can be rather controversial and perhaps, at time, rather bad. Constructive Criticism is welcomed, however flames are not. Flamers are asked to please leave contact information so that they may be contacted later.

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So I found out that Viggo Mortenson is coming to my small hick town, and that he's going to be signing and talking about LOTR, as well as showing the extended version of FOTR. I am ecstatic!

Oh yes, the real reason for this note…I'm going to be copying some descriptions from the book, and part of Frodo's flashback sequence is from the movie. Again, I'm not J.R.R Tolkien, or Frances Walsh, Philippa Boyens, or Peter Jackson, nor am I affiliated with them in anyway. Thank you again for your understanding!

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Chapter 3: Hobbit Conversations

The wind was growing colder, and the howling that had sounded on the mountain was growing in volume again. The hobbits were shivering, despite the Elvish cloaks that they had wrapped tightly around themselves to block out the chilling breezes. Even Legolas was beginning to be affected by the cold, something that made Gandalf believe that there was more then just nature at work here.

"Come, Aragorn," said he; "let us rest for the night. We all grow colder as the day grows longer - even you can not deny that."

"Yes Aragorn," chimed in Boromir, who was holding Merry and Pippin up by their elbows to keep them from sinking into their exhaustion. "The hobbits are in dire need of rest, as am I."

Even Legolas, the elf who was forever running ahead of the others, forever laughing at their jokes of Elvish endurance, forever telling them "keep your chins up; 'tis just a bout of cold weather," chimed in. "Uma, Estel. Amin anta est. Lle anta est."

Aragorn looked around tiredly at his companions. Even Sam, the stout little hobbit who refused to let Frodo go anywhere alone, seemed to be begging for rest. He relented - "Alright then. But no fire; that will only bring more danger to us then we are already in, and I shall have none of it."

The Company silently rejoiced. They clamored off the path as silently as possible, and lay down their bedrolls to settle in for the night. The hobbits, as they had done since the first night of the journey, fashioned their bedrolls to create a small circle, surrounding Frodo from all possible sides. Aragorn and Boromir set up beside the four hobbits on the right. In some unstated way, they had become the giant protectors of the small beings.

Gimli and Legolas followed suit, placing their bedrolls on the left of the group. Although it was clear that Aragorn and Boromir were the hobbits first choice in protectors, the two would not shy away upon being called. Gandalf settled at the head of the group, like the chaperone of a hunting group, as if he was only there to make sure that the objective of the mission was not forgotten.

"Mister Frodo?" Sam's voice came from Frodo's left. He sounded as if he was struggling with an internal battle, one that he was not certain of the outcome. Frodo was just a tiny bit unnerved by the thought of Sam being unnerved - he was supposed to be Frodo's rock of comfort, not the other way around.

"Yes Sam?" he finally found himself asking.

"Why did you choose to come this way, Mister Frodo? Beggin' your pardon, but Mister Gandalf said that we could not afford to loose the time that it would cost us, and…and…and…" Sam was struggling to convey his feelings in a way that he was certain would not offended his master.

"What I believe Sam is trying to say is that if we can not afford the time to take this way, then surely the other way is shorter, and will get us there and back faster," Merry said, saving Sam from having to form logical words and sentences from his thoughts. "So why, dearest Frodo, have you chosen to take the longer route? And, an even better question would be, why the more dangerous route?"

Finally there came Pippin's small, unheeded voice from next to Merry. "Frodo," he said, "why is it that you have chosen to put us in danger? I would follow you anywhere, cousin, if it meant that I could keep you safe, but this path surely will lead to our deaths. Even Gandalf advised against taking it. So why, Frodo, - why?"

That was the last stick, straw, stone, and mortar to Frodo's carefully constructed mental wall. "Oh Pippin," he said, his voice and heart breaking to hear the fear and doubt in his little cousin's voice. The poor young hobbit wasn't even of age yet, but he was here, trying to protect Frodo from the world outside the safe little Shire they all were used to - trying to save Frodo in the only way he knew how. "Come here, little one."

Pippin crawled over Merry to settle himself into Frodo's lap. He missed his home, he missed the fields, the rivers, the smell of the grass freshly mowed. He even missed the teasing of his sisters. But no matter how much he missed the Shire, he kept telling himself that this was what his destiny was - to help Frodo destroy the Ring.

Frodo meant to tell Pippin of all the things he was scared of, why he had chosen this path, how happy he was the other three hobbits were accompanying him, but instead he found himself reminiscing. "Do you remember bumping in to Sam and I the day we left the Shire?" he asked.

"Of course," Pippin said, a little surprised. "Merry and I had just finished stealing - "

"Borrowing," Merry interjected.

"I mean borrowing some of Farmer Maggot's crops when…"

~Flashback~

Pippin burst from the side of the cornfield and knocked right into Frodo. Startled, he propped himself up on his elbows to see who it was as Merry, who had been close behind, came rushing out from where Pippin had made a break in the row of corn and knocked right into Sam. Both were carrying an armful of vegetables.
"Frodo? Merry! It's Frodo Baggins!" Pippin cried in pure delight.

Merry pushed himself up from the ground and off of Sam. "Hello Frodo!" he cried, bending down to pick up the vegetables that he'd dropped.

"Get off him!" Sam cried, hauling Pippin off Frodo. "Mister Frodo? Are you all right?"

"Yes Sam," muttered Frodo impatiently before turning to Pippin. "What's the meaning of this?"

Pippin didn't answer, but instead he looked to Merry. "Hold this," Merry commanded, handing some of his vegetables to Sam. He turned to Frodo to explain when the hobbits heard a dog barking, followed by an angry, yelling voice.

"You've been into Farmer Maggot's crop!" Sam yelled, turning a pale shade of while.

"Run!" Pippin exclaimed, grabbing Frodo. Merry hightailed it after them, leaving Sam standing there. When he realized what he was doing, he dropped them and ran as fast as his legs would carry him.

~End Flashback~

"And then we had the experience with the Black Riders, which, I might add, scared the living daylights out of me…" Pippin finished his story. "But what does that have to do with anything?"

Frodo, however, wasn't paying attention. He turned his attention to Sam. "Do you remember what you said to me before we began our journey to Bree, Sam?" he asked.

"Yes I do, Mister Frodo," Sam answered.

"Please recount for us the tale," Merry begged. He wasn't sure what Frodo was getting at quite yet, but there must be some reason to all the "remembering."

"Very well then," Sam replied. "It was the mornin' that we left, and Mister Frodo had begun his breakfast. He looked over to me and said…"

~Flashback~

"You still mean to come with me?"

"I do."

"It is going to be very dangerous, Sam. It is already dangerous. Most likely neither of us will come back."

"If you don't come back, sir, then I shan't, that's certain," said Sam. " 'Don't you leave him!' they said to me. 'Leave him!' I said. 'I never mean to. I am going with him, if he climbs the Moon, and if any of those Black Riders try to stop him, they'll have Sam Gamgee to reckon with,' I said. They laughed."

"Who are they, and what are you talking about?"

"The Elves, sir. We had some talk last night; and they seemed to know you were going away, so I didn't see the use of denying it. Wonderful folk, Elves, sir! Wonderful!"

"They are," said Frodo. "Do you like them still, now you have had a closer view?"

"They seem a bit above my likes and dislikes, so to speak," answered Sam slowly. "It don't seem to matter what I think about them. They are quite different from what I expected - so old and young, and so gay and sad, as it were."

Frodo looked at Sam rather startled, half expecting to see some outward sign of the odd change that seemed to have come over him. It did not sound like the voice of the old Sam Gamgee that he thought he knew. But it looked like the old Sam Gamgee sitting there, except that his face was unusually thoughtful.

"Do you feel any need to leave the Shire now - now that your wish to see them has come true already?" he asked.

"Yes sir. I don't know how to say it, but after last night I feel different. I seem to see ahead, in a kind of way. I know we are going to take a very long road, into darkness; but I know I can't turn back. It isn't to see Elves now, nor dragons, nor mountains, that I want - I don't rightly know what I want: but I have something to do before the end, and it lies ahead, not in the Shire. I must see it through, sir, if you understand me."

"I don't altogether. But I understand that Gandalf chose me a good companion. I am content. We will go together."

~End Flashback~

"And then we met up with Mister Merry and Mister Pippin, and one thing led to another…" Sam's voice trailed off as he came to the end of his tale. Frodo gave Sam a small smile before turning his gaze to Merry. "And you, Merry…do you remember when you and Pippin were being taught to fight by Boromir?"

Merry smiled fondly at the memory, and began to recount that tale. "Aye. He said that even hobbits must learn to fight…"

~Flashback~

"Come on. Good," Boromir, said as he dodged Pippin's blows with the sword. Suddenly his blade slipped, and he nicked Pippin's hand. Pippin cried out in pain, and Boromir began to apologize profusely. "Sorry! Sorry!" Pippin, as a response to his apologies, kicked him in the shin. "Ahh!" Boromir screamed.

Merry cried, "Get him!" The two hobbits jumped on Boromir, crying things such as, "For the Shire!" and "Hold him down! Hold him down!!"

Aragorn and Boromir laughed at the hobbit's antics, and then Aragorn walked calmly over to the fighting bunch. "That's quite enough gentlemen," he said, laying a hand on each of the hobbit's shoulders. Merry and Pippin, in turn, grabbed Aragorn's legs and pulled him down to join the pile.

"You've got my arm…you've got my arm!"

~End Flashback~

"That was one of our wonderful times. We defiantly showed him what hobbits are made of, didn't we Pippin?" Merry was still smiling as he finished recounting the tale.

"Yes, yes you did," Frodo replied.

"Do you care to admit defeat yet, Boromir?" Merry called to him. "Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf saw the whole thing. Aragorn was even involved. So will you admit it?"

"Never, young hobbit!" Boromir cried. The rest of the Company gathered around the four hobbits. "We shall fight again soon, after the Ring has been destroyed…and I will be the victor."

"In your dreams!" Merry retorted.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen," Gimli chided softly. "I believe our Ringbearer still hasn't recalled his memory yet."

"Nor has he stated what all this 'remembering' has to do with our questions," Sam commented.

"Alright, alright," Frodo said with a smile. "My memory is of the council…"

~Flashback~

The argument died down. Gandalf closed his eyes as he heard Frodo's statement, and the members of the council slowly turned towards Frodo, astonished at his outburst.
"I will take the Ring to Mordor. Though-- I do not know the way," Frodo said, his voice quivering slightly. Gandalf walked towards him, and smiled at him gently, as if trying to ease his fears.

"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear," he said. Then he placed his hands reassuringly on Frodo's shoulders as Aragorn rose.

"If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will." Aragorn knelt before Frodo, as if he were a King, and placed his sword on outstretched hands towards Frodo. "You have my sword."

"And my bow," came Legolas' voice. He stood next to Frodo, smiling at the little man.

"And MY axe," said Gimli, not to be outdone by an elf, of all creatures. He glared up at Legolas as he took his place next to Frodo, in front of the elf.

"You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor shall see it done." Boromir approached the group, looking warily at Aragorn while trying to keep a small smile on his face for Frodo's sake.

Elrond opened his mouth to speak, when there came a noise from behind the bushes. "Heh!" a voice called out. "Mister Frodo isn't goin' anywhere without me!" 'Twas Sam, and he stood next to Frodo, arms crossed over his chest, his look daring anyone to challenge his statement.

"No indeed. I believe it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." Elrond looked at Sam, slightly amused at the hobbit's actions. Sam looked away, blushing.

Elrond opened his mouth to begin speaking once more, when he was again interrupted. "Oy! We're coming too!" Merry and Pippin cried out as they raced from their hiding spots to join Sam and Frodo in the little group.

"You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" Merry stated firmly.

"Anyway, you need people of intelligence on the sort of mission. Quest. Thing," Pippin said, trying to be as convincing as possible.

Merry looked at him, barely able to contain his laughter. "Well, then that rules you out Pip."

Elrond mused. "Nine companions…to match the nine Ringwraiths. So be it! You shall be the Company of the Ring!"

Pippin smiled. "Great!" Then he paused. "Where are we going?"

~End Flashback~

"…And so far no one has been let down yet by this Company," Frodo finished.

"Well that's all well and good, Mister Frodo, but, begging your pardon, you still haven't told us what all this remembering has to do with anything." Sam's brow was furrowed in confusion.

"Why it had quite a lot to do with it," Frodo said. "Sam, I may have chosen the longer and more dangerous route, but I know that we will be safe. This company has had many a good time, many a good laugh, many a good trial of our will, but we are still here. This 'remembering,' as you called it, only served as a reminder of that. And, I suppose, as a way for me to tell you all how happy I am that I do not face this task alone."

"And you will never have to, young hobbit," Legolas said softly. "Of that the Elves shall make sure. You have been deemed an "Elf-friend" and therefore shall you never be alone in life."

Frodo smiled up at him. "For that I am thankful, but I shall never be any happier then I am now."

Gandalf looked at Frodo, astonished. "Master Hobbit, we have yet to destroy the One Ring, and you say you shall never be happier? That is quite a confusing statement."

"Oh, but not at all, Gandalf," Frodo replied. "You see, although we still have yet to complete are mission, we are together, one bunch, relying on each other, to do just that. We are living in harmony, and for that I will not only always be thankful, but I will forever be joyed by the sight of it."

"You do seem to have a point," Aragorn said to Frodo. "But now we must rest. Soon we shall have to continue on our journey, and without rest we shall not get very far."
"Aye, I do agree with you there," Gimli said. "Goodnight, young hobbits."

"Goodnight," the hobbits chorused. Then each member of the Company returned to their bedroll and drifted off to sleep, under the twinkling of the stars.