August 3002 SR - Part One - Shadows of the Shire "We must be careful Frodo," Merry said, stepping up beside his friend. "The bounders have reported some unusual activity on the borders lately." Frodo had heard about the strange stories coming from the outskirts of the Shire and he had hoped they were only rumours. They only planned to stay out 2 nights and keep within safe distance of the Bounders. Usually Merry and Pippin wouldn't normally accompany Frodo on such a long journey, but Frodo convinced them to go with him and they had agreed. They made camp between some trees on the plains east of Hobbiton on the night of the 1st. Pippin had bought a good bunch of vegetables along for their supper, and would only grin and nod proudly when Frodo asked him where he'd got such fine vegetables. Merry knew, however, what terrible things Pippin had been up to. "Courtesy of Farmer Maggot I must say," he said. Pippin nudged Merry and glared at him. Merry pulled out the bacon and Frodo added the potatoes to their menu. Pippin began preparing the fire and Merry and Frodo went to the river nearby to get some water. As they were nearing the water Frodo saw a shadow on the other side of the lake, moving slowly along the river bank. As it was dusk, he could not see clearly what it was. He tugged at Merry's sleeve. "Merry," he whispered. "Don't move. Look there, on the other side of the river." Merry slowly turned his head to look in the direction Frodo was pointing. "Where, I can't see it." "There, over there by that big rock." Suddenly Merry hitched in a breath, he'd seen it too. "What is it?" "I don't know, but I think you were right about the Bounders, Merry. It's not safe to go wandering at night anymore." "Let's go back," Merry said as they slowly turned away and walked back towards where Pippin was. "Let's stay here tonight and keep watch, then return to Hobbiton tomorrow." Frodo agreed. When they reached their camp, Pippin was nowhere to be seen, only the smoke rising from the smouldering fire. "Pippin!" Merry said with a forced whisper, trying not to sound too loud, but loud enough for him to hear. "I hope he's ok. Where could he have gone?" Just then a figure came walking out of the trees, completely obscured by some unnamable object which it was carrying on the upper half of its body; a large cloak or something. Frodo and Merry tensed, as if ready to flee, before they heard Pippin's voice calling them. He was walking blindly, a big stack of wood in his arms. "Is that you Pip?" Merry said. Pippin dropped the pile of wood on the ground, then stretched his back out. Settling in an upright position he stared at Frodo and Merry. "You two look like you've seen a ghost. And where's the water? It's getting dark." Frodo and Merry looked at each other apprehensively. "And what was all that racket you were making over there. I heard somebody shrieking." "We didn't make any sounds!" Merry said defensively, his voice shaking. "But we saw a very strange. thing by the water on the other side of the bank. It was moving slowly from side to side, as if it was watching us," Frodo added. Pippin tensed at this news. "What? Then what was making that noise?" The hobbits all peered at each other nervously for a moment. "Something's watching us, I can feel it," Frodo said, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. Pippin leapt to Merry's side. "What shall we do?" "Well, it's too late to go back and we can't stay here," Frodo stated, matter-of-factly. "Well that gives us a lot of choice then, doesn't it," Merry said glaring at Frodo, his hands on his hips. "Ok. We'll stay here the night but only one of us can sleep at a time. I'll stay up and Pippin you can sleep for a few hours and then." "And what happens if that thing comes over here to get us?" Frodo's heartbeat quickened. "It was on the other side of the riverbank Merry. I don't think it can get to this side. We should be safe enough." "And what happens if we're not?" Pippin said shaking. Frodo put a hand on Pippin's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry Pip, we'll be ok." They sat down together beside the fire, watching the flames dance around the wood that Pippin had collected. "Merry, I'm hungry," Pippin moaned. "Yeah me too. Have we got anything to eat that doesn't need cooking." "Can't we just fry the bacon Frodo?" Pippin moaned. "No, we can't," Frodo said. "If we fry the bacon then whatever that thing was will smell it and come for us. I'm afraid we're just going to have to sit here and eat this bread until morning." "Remind me never to go on an adventure with Frodo again, Merry," Pippin grumbled. "I never want to go through such a thing ever again." "It's just bad luck I suppose," Frodo mumbled, his stomach rumbling.

For a few hours after Pippin had come back with the wood, all 3 hobbits were sitting around the fire talking about rumours of the Shire when a sudden splashing sound over by the river cut their conversation short so fast they could barely remember what they were talking about. Frodo averted his eyes slowly towards the river on the far side of the trees. The water, which could barely be heard rushing downriver on it's endless journey to the sea, was making splashing sounds more audible than before. The hobbits tensed even more. "Wh. what's that noise?" Pippin said, his voice trembling. Merry was speechless. Frodo got to his feet bravely and peered out infront of him with one of the fire sticks they'd prepared in his hand, extended out infront of him. He couldn't see anything for the darkness of the night had stolen all visible objects not more than 10 feet away. And there was a thickening fog settling in around them. "Wolves? Trolls perhaps? A ghost?" Merry whispered finally finding his tongue. "I don't know, but I can't see anything, and the splashing sound has stopped. There's nothing," Frodo said, stepping back towards his friends and sitting down quietly. "But I think we should quieten down now. And listen out for any other noises." They continued chatting in whispers for a few hours before Pippin yawned sleepily. Frodo told him to go to sleep and that he and Merry would keep watch. Pippin feel asleep almost immediately beside Merry, using a pack as a pillow. Merry turned to Frodo. "What do you think is going on?" He said warily. "I don't know, but whatever it is I don't think we should be wandering out at night anymore. And I'm glad you two are with me," he smiled at Merry. Merry smiled back, glad also that Frodo wasn't out here alone. And then without warning Frodo began to speak of a completely different matter. "Merry, why did you tell me about May Gamgee?" It had been several weeks now since Merry had said to Frodo that May was asking for him at the bar. She hadn't really been asking for him, but Merry had heard May and Rosie talking by the water mill a few days before. The girls didn't see him and were talking away quietly to each other, unawares that Merry was hidden from view on the other side of the wall. May was saying very nice things about Frodo. At first Merry didn't know who she was talking about. "He has such handsome eyes," May exclaimed excitedly. "And I thought he looked very charming when I saw him dancing around Merry and Pippin on the table at the Green Dragon yesterday eve." Rosie giggled. "May! You're not talking about Frodo Baggins are you?" May blushed. "Yes Rosie, I am." "May darling he was probably drunk that evening!" "I know that! But he's still a fine Hobbit, and being a descendant of Bilbo Baggins makes him all the more interesting. Despite what the rumours are saying about him being cracked and all."

"Oh that! Oh nothing. It was just I'd heard her asking about you." He said nonchalantly. "Where did you hear this?" Merry smiled at his friend. "Is this why you've been so out of sorts lately? You're not falling for her are you?" "No Merry! Of course not! What a silly thing to say! I was just curious about her, that's all." Merry grinned sheepishly at Frodo and he turned away from him so that he couldn't see his face, for he had become quite flushed at the thought of May.

Frodo woke with a start. It was daylight and he could smell the rich aroma of fried bacon and tomatoes. He sat up quickly and turned to see Merry and Pippin crouched greedily over the fire. "Good morning Frodo!" Merry said. "Breakfast?" Frodo leapt up and sat beside Pippin at the fire. He looked warily around him at the sunshine coming down through the bows of the trees above. There seemed to be no evidence of the terrifying events of the night before. Pippin served up the bacon and tomatoes and the hobbits hungrily scoffed down the food and then lay back each with pipes and smoked for a long while, alone with their thoughts.

Later they began their journey back to Hobbiton directly, without a mere consideration of spending one more night out in the woods. That evening, Frodo entertained his friends to a fine party with lots of food and drink.