Wow, I can't believe how many people actually read this story. It amuses me. What doesn't amuse me is that everyone made the assumption that Frodo did in fact do it. To my knowledge I have not changed anyone's character, so does Frodo really seem like the lying type?

Right, I thought not.

Anyway, I hope you like this chapter. I thought it was funny, but then, I thought it was funny.

Yeah.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Tolkien franchise. That, unfortunately, belongs to Tolkien's cheap ass grandson.

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After a long day of traveling, the Fellowship decided to make camp. Boromir, Merry, and Pippin went to get firewood, while Aragorn and Legolas went hunting. At the camp, Gandalf and Gimli were deep in conversation, while Sam cut up vegetables he had picked up along the way to be grilled. Frodo was sitting on the edge of camp, stewing.

He had spent the entire day trying to figure out how those shoes had gotten into his pack. He hadn't woken during the night, and he thought he would have been disturbed if someone had put all those hard uncomfortable objects into the pack he had been using as a pillow. He knew he hadn't done anything to the other's shoes. Yet they didn't believe him.

And where had that giggling come from? Frodo sighed, and went to help Sam with dinner.

~~~~~

When Boromir and the other hobbits got back, Boromir was yelling at Merry and Pippin, who looked as though they could burst out laughing any moment.

"You could have told me!" he yelled at them. He looked like his nose had been bleeding, and his eyes were blackening beautifully.

"What's going on?" Gimli asked, looking curiously at Boromir's nose. Aragorn and Legolas, who had returned with a pair of fat pheasants, gave Boromir questioning looks.

Boromir blushed "Nothing rea-"

"Boromir walked into a tree branch." Pippin said and dissolved into laughter, Merry joining him.

"It was -hahahah- right at nose height, too, heeheehahaha!" Merry said.

"You saw it and you didn't tell me!" Boromir said, his face flushed with anger.

"Yes,-whoohahahaha- we did!" Pippin said. "We said,-hee hee-'Duck' and -hee hee- you said -hahahah- 'Where?' Whoohahahahahaha!" The entire camp dissolved into gales of laughter.

~~~~~

That night Legolas took first watch. For a long while, he merely sat, looking at the stars, thinking of nothing in particular. Then, sometime after midnight, Legolas stood and stretched, and then walked over to Gimli, who had the second watch. As he walked he noticed something odd. Usually all the hobbits slept next to each other, so they looked like four little bumps on the ground. But one of the bumps was missing. The one that was missing was one of the bumps in the middle. And if he knew the hobbits right, the two bumps in the middle should be Frodo and Pippin. So one of those two were wandering around at night. And he hadn't heard them.

"I know I am not going deaf." Legolas said to himself, but wiggled a finger in both ears just to make sure. He walked over to Gimli.

"What's that Mr. Bunny Rabbit?" the Dwarf was muttering in his sleep.

Legolas stifled a laugh and shook the Dwarf. "A minute more ma." Gimli muttered, and rolled onto his back. Legolas sighed, then a malicious grin crept onto his face. He carefully reached down and held Gimli's nose. After a few seconds the Dwarf woke up, gasping for air. He turned to Legolas, who was trying to look concerned and failing miserably.

"What did you do that for?" Gimli whispered furiously.

"I didn't do anything," Legolas said, eyes wide and innocent. "I came over here to wake you for your watch, and you weren't breathing, so I shook you and you took that big gasping breath and woke up. I think you have a sleeping disorder."

"No one your age should look that innocent," Gimli grumbled, but got up.

"I'm going to take a look around before I rest," Legolas said to him as he walked away.

"Oh that's right," Gimli muttered, as he sat down in front of the fire and poked it. "You don't sleep."

~~~~~

Legolas hadn't seen the missing hobbit in the camp, so he assumed it was in the forest. Not it, he, Legolas corrected himself. The little copse of trees was quiet, except for the occasional nightingale singing in the trees, and the night sounds of small rodents in the underbrush.

Then he saw a shadow in the trees ahead, coming toward the camp. Soundlessly Legolas climbed into the lower branches of the tree above him, becoming one with the shadows. He could not longer see the shadow, but he could hear it, it's steps cracking branches and twigs in the undergrowth.

Legolas waited until the shadow was right underneath him, and then he jumped down, landing silently behind the small figure, who was obviously a hobbit. "What are you doing out so late?"

Legolas asked.

The hobbit started violently, and turned quickly. With the aid of his keen eyes and the moonlight, Legolas could see that it was Pippin, looking sleepy-eyed and tousel-haired. "Legolas!" Pippin said, gasping. "Don't do that to me!"

"I'll ask you again," said Legolas. "What are you doing outside of camp this late?"

"Going to the bathroom!" Pippin said irritably. "I am allowed to pee aren't I?"

Legolas blushed. "Yes, of course, I'm sorry, I-"

"Whatever." Pippin said, and walked in the direction of camp, yawning. A red-faced Legolas followed after him.

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There, that should have made you laugh. And if it didn't it's not my problem that you're a weirdo.

Reader Response (yay!)

Chimbo Baggins: I love enthusiastic readers! And I hope this one was funny too!

Thorn Dew'Pearled: You'll find out who stole the shoes when the story gets there.

Elf_Watcher: Believe me, those stories annoy me as much as they annoy you!

Jillian: Why does everyone think Frodo took the shoes?

NoComment: I loved that! "!!? whaa?? duck-mage?" That was so funny. And I don't care if you prefer Rhone&Nori, I like this story!

Tevish Szat: *Blink Blink* Did you read the story? I said very specifically that the giggle came from Frodo. Pay attention Tevish!

Ryu-Kat: That was my objective. I was trying to put them in a ridiculous situation and have them be perfectly serious about it all. That kinda fell apart in this chapter.

Well, I'd appreciate it immensely if you all reviewed, but I know that not all you are especially dependable.

Come on.

Prove me wrong.