2: The Dragon
Two days later, Pippin found himself in Farmer Maggots fields, surprised to see that he had traveled so far. He crept into through fields, pushing the tall green life out his path as he trotted toward the vegetable garden to get some of farmer maggots best mushrooms. They generally made him sleepy if he ate one too many. He poked his head out of the corn field, spotting no signs of the vile farmer or his dogs. Moving quickly he fell to his knees unbuttoning his green jacket pockets. The young hobbit began grab what mushrooms he could, eating several while stuffing the others into his jacket pockets.
What bothered the Hobbit was the warning sign in his head; It was telling him to turn back and run while he still could. This was all too easy. A fowl smell wafted through the air. Pippin ignored it, continuing to shove mushrooms into pockets until there was no more room in them. He sighed noticing their were still many more mushrooms he could have gotten. If only he brought a basket! "Merry doesn't know what he's missing!" He snickered buttoning his pockets. "These mushrooms are as good as mine! No Farmer Maggot and his dogs to stop me now!"
Frodo traveled through the tall grass searching for his cousin. He carefully studied the footprints on the ground recognizing them as the Took's footprints. He sighed inwardly whipping is forehead, the throbbing pain of his hangover ensued. If only he hand't drank so much of that ale Merry offered him! He wouldn't have this problem. Speaking of which, Frodo was wishing he'd brought Merry or Sam along with him. The search would much easier and less time consuming. "Peregrin Took!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, growing tired of searching for his younger cousin. "Pippin, where on middle earth are you!"
Pippin froze in horror; Had he just heard his cousin's voice calling out to him? His mind wondered in panic if Maggot knew he was here. And if farmer Maggot heard Frodo, then there would be no doubt in that crazy Hobbit's mind that he wouldn't be too far behind. Grabbing two tomatoes from the tomato patch beside the mushrooms, Pippin dashed off into the corn field just as Farmer Maggot's dogs spotted him. They gritted their teeth as if they were smiling. The duo barked furiously, leaping over the wire fence after Pippin. The sound of the farmer's angry shouts and the fierce barking of dogs only fueled Pippin's determination to escape. He dashed off in the direction he hoped would be benifical in loosing the tiro. The Took was practically running blind through the corn field.
He glanced over his shoulder to find the corn behind him was moving. Pippin made another turn and rushed into Frodo, they fell entangled together crashing through the stalk that surrounded them. This not helpful in Frodo's case, his headache woresened. Pippin climbed off the moving body with a wince. "Oi," He moaned, clutching the sides of his head. The throbbing pain in his head increased then faded gradually. "What hit me?" His vision was blurred and disoriented, he was seeing double of everything in front of him, including a head of brunette-hair. "Frodo?" he muttered, once his vision had returned to normal.
"Aye!" Frodo whispered, grabbing his cousin's hand. "C'mon Pippin! We mustn't get caught!" Pippin followed Frodo through the corn field and into the woods. They ran until they were sure farmer maggot sought them no longer. Their pace slowed into a casual stride, the two continued deeper into the woods hoping Maggot would not wish to venture so deep into the woods in search for stolen Mushrooms and tomatoes. Strangely enough, the dim sunlighting of the woods reminded Pippin of the all tales of the old forest Merry told him about as a small lad.
Being as small as he was, Pippin was naturally frightened. Merry teased him about it whenever he got the chance. He wanted to prove to Merry that he was no chicken. So he stayed and listened to the frightening tale still as a statue on his older cousin's lap listening to his eerie voice. Frodo lead Pippin into a clearing of the woods, he turned and ducked behind a tree. Pippin was unwillingly jerked along with him, swearing inwardly that his arm felt as if it would come out of it's socket. Frodo gave him a brief glare, his facial expression was clearly indicating he was sore at his cousin. Pippin titled his head to the side with a grin.
Frodo placed his hand against the tree, his other arm hanging limply at his side as he caught his breath. Pippin rested his against the tree, both arms hanging limply at his side, his heart thudded wildly in his chest. He looked around the forest; Behind them the sun light was a lot stronger, the trees didn't look dreary and all too dead. The little patches of grass looked alive, more greener. In the dimmer part of the forest the grass looked in need of sunlight, as did the trees which seemed to horbor a gray color; Their leaves fell leaving the their branches naked. The same foul air that Pippin smelled before returned, once again he ignored it.
"Pip, what's the matter with you?" Frodo chided, leaning onto a tree, his chest heaving with every breath he took. Pippin was confused by his cousin's outburst, he shook his head as an indication of this. Frodo took a sharp intake of breath before continuing. "You almost got us killed by those dogs, or worse … beaten by Farmer Maggot!" Frodo proclaimed. Shifting his position, he leaned up against the tree beside his cousin, brushing his bangs back. Peregrin's eyes were full of mischief, he sought to come up with a decent enough answer to his cousin's question. Frodo regarded the hobbit quickly before turning his attention back to examining the forest. Pippin's mouth curled into a confidant smile. "I doubt we would've been caught. Farmer Maggot's all show!" He answered lazily.
Frodo shook his head with a dry chuckle. "Maggot may be all show, but his dogs aren't," Frodo mumbled. "Must you always be in trouble?" Frodo arched an eyebrow awaiting the Took's answer. Pippin shrugged. He hardly called it trouble making; It was just a spot of fun and perhaps the latter. "Yes, and no," Pippin replied. The Took lowered himself to the ground, pulling his legs up. He rested his elbows upon his knees and played with a loose thread on his blouse's sleeve. "Yes and no?" Frodo repeated. He stared at him oddly. "It's just a spot of fun, Frodo," Pippin interjected.
Frodo laughed despite himself and the situation before them. His blue eyes sparkled with amusement, Pippin watched Frodo through the corner of his eye. "You're quite right. That is what you do, no one can change that," He sighed, sitting down beside him. Pippin burst into laughter, slowly becoming aware of the movement across from their position. His mouth fell open slowly at the sight several trees being pulled from out of ground, knocking down others. The thundering crash of trunks hitting the ground startled both hobbits. They rose from the ground slowly their breathing uneasy from the scare. Frodo waited for the noise to return when foul smell reached his nose. Ford's nostrils flared at the smell, it burned the hairs of his nose. "What is that smell?" He gasped, rubbing his nose. Pippin shook his head feverntly, the smell was not unknown to him for he smelled it before in Farmer maggot's crop and not a moment ago.
The sound returned again only this time it was behind them, the thundering noise of trees being ripped from the earth and crashing to the ground hardly motivated the halflings into motion. Frodo staggered backwards bumping into Pippin who's eyes were darting left from right in some vain attempt to locate the cause of the destruction of the forest. A roar filled the air made the Took to go frozen with fear. Frodo wasted no time on trying to find out what was causing destruction to the trees. Frodo grabbed his cousin by the wrist, no sooner than he did Pippin wrenched out of the brunette's grasp and rushed down the hill. Frodo bolted after him.
"Its a troll! A flying troll! Run for your life Frodo!" Pippin rushed down the hill as it became steeper. This made it difficult run too fast without kneeling forward; The hobbits stumbled over their own feet which struggled not become entangled on the forest floor. The unpleasant smell that wafted through the air began to take on an all too familar trait of scent the further down the hill they went. Thunderous booming of trees being destoryed did not cease as the two came to the end of the hill; They stumbled to a near halt but kept moving. "Pippin wait!" Frodo cried, picking up his speed. "It's not a flying troll! There's no such thing!"
The two hobbit's ran through the forest hoping not be crushed by falling trees. A gale force wind swept down from the heavens sweeping through the untouched trees, knocking Frodo forward onto the ground. The breath was knocked out of his lungs, he rolled across the ground disturbing the dirt beneath him. The wind lost none of its strength once it reached Pippin his cousin footsteps; It knocked the younger hobbit off his feet onto his back. The dried leaves on the ground blew overhead, the trees swayed in the direction of the wind. It ceased just as fast as it began.
Frodo coughed roughly as he took greedy gulps of air into his body, his lightheadedness began subside while he climbed to his feet. Hastily he brushed the dirt off his clothing then made hast toward Pippin, who laid jsut a few feet away from him. Frodo was surprised to at how fast his cousin moved when frightened. Pippin wasn't the greatest sprinter out of the four of them; Merry could beat him in a race easily. Frodo came to an abrupt stop next to Pippin, his body slammed up against a tree stump. He gave a pained grunt, his hands throbbed since they took most of the brunt of his stop.
Above, a winged beast awaited the two hobbits to spring out into the open.
Pippin pulled himself off the ground and leaned up against the tree next to Frodo hoping he was okay; He grabbed a hold of Frodo's wrist and pulled him up a little more. Frodo groaned his face twisted in pain, his hand automatically laid itself on his back. "Are you all right, Frodo?" Peregrin asked. Frodo nodded wearily taking Pippin by the wrist and running as fast as he could the with pain in his back.
The same wind returned along with the roar they previously heard, but not as strong. It pushed them along the path of trees, Frodo glanced up through the tree's leaves. His eyes fell upon a huge mass he recongized as dragon. Frodo and Pippin hurried their pace out into the open field with the wind in their hair. Frodo gazed upwaed, the beast was not anywhere in sight, his uneasiness was strengthened ten fold. "Faster Frodo!" Pippin cried, picking up his speed. Before they knew what happened or could react the dragon swooped down from the clouds toward the ground, its wings tucked against its sides. In one fell swipe of his claw grabbed a chunk of the ground along with Pippin and Frodo.
Frodo screamed looking down, he was unable to comprehend how high an altitude they were climbing as the ground became farther and farther away. The hobbit held onto Pippin's arm for dear life, they dragon gave a mightly lurch causing Frodo's slip to loosen. "O Elbereth! Gilthoniel! Pippin!" He cried. The wind whipped through his hair and clothes, the ring dangling on the chain still, moving in wave like motion in the wind.
Pippin did not hear his cousin over his own screaming, his sole purpose was trying to wiggle out of the dragon's hold around his waist, his hands pressing against the dragon's clawed foot. His eyes were clamped shut to keep the dirt from his eyes. Everything was a blur to the young hobbit as they moved quickly through the air. Tears ran down his face only to swept into the wind. Pippin wailed despite the fact his cousin couldn't hear him at all.
Frodo tried to keep his grip on his cousin's arm but his fingers continued to slip, he heard a part of Pippin's sleeve tearing. Pippin's wailing ceased slightly when the sound of tearing. He moved one hand from the dragon's foot and extended it to his cousin. Frodo looked up, trying with all his might to grab Pippin's hand, but his missed. Every time he missed the sleeve became more detached . "Grab m-my hand, F-Frodo!" The young Took stammered, trying to extend his arm closer to Frodo. "Hurry!"
The second Frodo had lifted his hand up to Pippin again. The jacket's sleeve tore away. Frodo fell away from Pippin and dragon. Pippin tried to grab him, he missed. Pippin went numb with disbelief, he watched his cousin fall away from him. "Frodo!" He wailed. With one huge flap of its wings the dragon soared higher into the sky.
Frodo felt sharp pain go through him as his body fell through the branches of the trees. The branches slapped at his face, cutting into his clothes, arms and legs. Frodo hit the ground hard, he was left breathless from the impact.
Back at Bag-End, Sam was in the garden watering the plants muttering things to himself (mostly concerning plants), Merry smoked his pipe watching him outside the small gates that surrounded the bed. A sudden chill befell him, the Brandybuck's brow furrowed in confusion at the uncomfortable sensation of distress hanging in the air. Sam ceased with watering the plants as Merry stood removing the pipe from his mouth. "Something troubling you, Mr. Merry?" Sam asked resuming his plant-watering.
Merry shook his head thinking he was beginning to fall off his rocker, he rested himself back on the ground. "Its' nothing, Sam, I thought I heard something," He said placing his pipe between his teeth once more, inhaling the smoke. Sam's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, his eyes searched the dusty road as far as he could see. There was nothing beyond the winding road he could see, that was troubling, in the least. "I think your hearing things, Mr. Merry," Samwise muttered. Merry scoffed rolling his eyes.
TBC
