Divided we fall - by Cunien.

Another chapter, my aren't you lucky!

If you read the chapter for the hour or so it was up last night, then I apologise, but it just wasn't making me happy and I couldn't sleep, so I had to get up and remove it! It hasn't been changed, just split up into 3 smaller chapters, with the flashback beginning here and closing at the end of chapter 7. So if you read it last night you may want to skip chapters 6,7 and 8 until I catch up!
Thankyou, and sorry for any inconvenience!

I just realised that I haven't put a disclaimer on these chapters! Oops! Well I suppose it's pretty obvious that I don't own Lord of the Rings. Shame - I would have sold the film rights, don't you think it would make a damn fine movie?!

(I have to apologise, I just wrote a really cool chapter, and then my computer froze and I LOST IT ALLLL!!!!! GAAAaaaahhhhh! s'not fair!)

ahem

Dawn.

You never leave me alone Pippin! he burst out.

Pippin stepped back, the hurt plain on his face, filling his gold flecked green eyes so that Merry thought his heart would break at the sight.

I'm sorry Pip, you know I didn't mean that. It's just that even best friends need to have a few moments apart. Merry smiled weakly, but his cousin wouldn't meet his eyes.

You'd just rather spend time with lasses or... or Fatty or someone else wouldn't you? It's just because I'm younger isn't it?

Pippin's tone was so crushed that Merry felt tears spring to his eyes. Normally, whenever his cousin felt this upset, Merry would be filled with a hot anger that he could barely contain. He would take Pippin in his arms and kiss his curls, and swear vengeance on however had upset him so.

But this time he couldn't do that.
This time it was he who had upset him.

Frodo, who had been sitting at the other side of the kitchen table, watching this whole exchange from the moment it began looked from one cousin to the other, bewildered. This had certainly never happened before.

Pippin stood up with a defiant little squeak, seeming to have come to some conclusion, and marched angrily out the door, trying his best to ignore Merry's desperate apologies.

Fine! If Merry wanted to be left alone, then that's what Pippin would do!

Frodo stood up too, with a look of stern disprovable and disappointment that he seemed to be able to do better than anyone else.

That wasn't very nice Merry.
Merry nodded glumly.

Now I am going for a walk. I think you should be left alone to think about what you have said.

Frodo took his coat from the stand, and picked up a book that was lying on a dresser nearby.



And he left Merry alone to his thoughts.

*

Frodo sat and thought about nothing.
It was such a blessed release! To let his mind sink into a dull nothingness.
No more quest, no more Fellowship, no more Ring. No more Frodo.

He would have remained there all night without even realising. He was deaf and dumb and blind, and if he could have managed to dredge his mind out of the deeps at that moment, he would not have cared anyway.

Frodo didn't notice as a shadow detached itself from the darkness near the base of a rock wall nearby, illuminated by the faint light of the dawn. Why should he notice? He was deaf and dumb and blind.

A shaking hand touched his shoulder, but still he did not realise. There was no more quest, no more Fellowship, no more Ring. No more -



A voice was calling his name, and then another joined it, more insistent now. The hand squeezed his shoulder, and Frodo was pulled back to the present with a jolt. His mind was dragged, unwilling, from the deep, womb-like nothingness. Why were they doing this? Didn't they know that the nothingness was where he wanted to be, more than anything in the world?

Two worried faces floated in front of his, but he did not want to look at them right now. He concentrated instead on the hand, moving his head a little to look at it. Frodo felt he must deal with one thing at a time, so that he could soon return to the welcoming nothingness.

The hand was weathered and old, the skin callused and worn. A fine,
mesh-like tracing of blood was grained into the pores and lines.

Without realising it, Frodo's eyes began to wander up the arm, towards the face. But before he could glimpse more than a blur he slammed them shut so tight that the world seemed to close in on him for a moment, even through his closed lids.

Here, use these. said a third voice.

An acrid smell burnt it's way into Frodo's nostrils, and he flailed out, his eyes opening wide. The small vial of foul smelling herbs flew through the air, scattering like confetti on the pink snow of morning.

Well, you shan't be using those again, Boromir. But you are with us now Frodo, so they worked at least. said a voice behind him.

Everything was too bright and clear all of a sudden. The face directly in front of Frodo swam into focus, burning itself onto his retinas and making his eyes water.

Hullo Mr. Frodo. You didn't think you'd be getting rid of me so easy now did you?

He suddenly felt as though he might faint, and wavered a little. Everything was too clear and bright and real. It was nothing like the glorious dull blankness that he still yearned for.

A strong arm steadied him, and this time he let himself look at the face above him.

I should have know you would come back. Well, you have never been able to follow my advice to the letter, have you? Gandalf looked down at the hobbit, and smiled gently



TBC...

Thanks to all those who haven't forsaken me and this fic - your reviews and encouragement is
welcome and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.