Chapter Six - We Will Follow You

Frodo pulled back on the pony's reins as he approached his two young cousins lying underneath the boughs of the willow tree, obviously fast asleep. His traveling companion steadied his own stallion, bringing the horse to a halt.

"I did not realize hobbits could travel with such swiftness! It was just yesterday evening that I saw them near your East Farthing Road." Remarked the Elf.

"We can travel with haste when we have a mind to." Frodo answered. "Thank you, Rhiannen. I can go on from here."

"As you wish. Do have any word for me to take back to Imladris?"

Frodo thought on this many times. What would he tell Bilbo if ever he were given the chance? At first he thought to send word of how much he missed the old hobbit. But no, that would only put Bilbo on edge and make him think he left behind a tween instead of an adult hobbit, Master of his own home. Finally he shook his head at the Elf, "No, thank you, Rhiannen. You are kind."

"Fare you well, then, Frodo Baggins. We shall meet again." Rhiannen turned his horse around and whispered something in its ear. The horse snorted, eager to run.

Frodo watched horse and rider turn back the same way they came and disappear into the woods. He slid down from his pony and went over to Merry. "Merry!" Frodo softly called to his friend. "Merry!"

Merry felt something nudging his shoulder, rousing him from a sweet slumber. He opened his eyes, trying to focus on the face that hovered over him. "Frodo?"

"It's me, dear cousin."

"But...how did you get here?" Merry was now awake, leaning on his elbow and rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hand. "I thought you would be at Woody End."

"I was, but I've finished my business there and so now I've found you."

"Found me?" Merry shook his head. "You couldn't have found us, and so quickly. Something...or someone had to have led you here in the middle of these woods."

Frodo ignored his cousin's guess, rummaging around in his pack for nothing in particular.

Merry sat up and continued in a low voice, so as not to awaken Pippin. They both completely forgot that Pippin could feign sleeping very well. "Well?"

"Well, what?" Frodo kept on searching through his bag.

"Who are they?"

"Merry, I do believe you're not yourself right now. You've just awoken from a long afternoon nap."

Merry took the bag out of Frodo's grasp. "I am not mad, and don't insinuate that I am. First, you run off and leave us behind on the East Road--all for the sake of getting your sack to the Woody End. Pippin and I were nearly mauled by watchdogs last night and then right afterwards we saw an Elf appear out of thin air. Now after a whole day of travel--for us--you also appear...out of nowhere it seems! What kind of game are you playing with us?"

Frodo snatched his bag back from Merry, "Games? I am not playing any sort of games!"

"Then tell me the truth! What is going on?"

Frodo sat with his back against the willow. "I told you before, Merry, I have been charged to not tell."

"What if you were in deep trouble? What then?"

"But I wasn't in any trouble, and I remember telling you so." Frodo replied.

"That's the problem, Frodo; you wouldn't tell us even if you were. The only way for us to know you weren't in any trouble was to follow you, and you must know that we will follow you into a dragon's lair if need be!"

"Yes." Frodo paused and became quiet in his response, fingering the leather string on his pack. "Yes. I know you both would, and sometimes that's why I don't lead you lads everywhere, though that wasn't the situation this time."

Merry's was calming down; he could see Frodo was genuinely apologetic for separating himself from the group, in spite of other possibilities that Merry felt he could've taken. "Frodo,...I...we...love you and care about you. Will you not let us have our small part in doing that?"

Frodo didn't know what to say to that. He reached over and embraced his friend and buried his face into the warmth of Merry's hug, "I will."

Then Frodo loosed his hold on his cousin, "It astounds me to know that I have the dearest of friends, right here...and yet so young."

"We keep you young at heart!" Pippin was now stirring.

"I thought you were asleep." Frodo smiled, "I should have known better!"

"I was asleep," Said Pippin, brushing the dust off of his shirt, "but I woke up...oh, about the time Merry first woke up." Then he added, "But don't think you'll ever be able to give us the slip again like you did yesterday, Frodo. We'll be on the look out from now on!"

Frodo smiled at his two cousins, he indeed felt lucky to have two wonderful cousins as the best of friends. "Have you two eaten?"

"Yes, we have had lunch," said Pippin, "but we could do with another! That might help put things to right."

The hobbits feasted not only on provisions from Woodhall, but unbeknownst to Merry and Pippin, they also feasted on bread made by the Elves.