Chapter 2

All of the sudden Frodo didn't seem to feel his fear and pain. All

he knew was rage and deep sorrow. He struggled against his

restraints violently. Frodo no longer cared about anything else,

especially the two devilish cousins in front of him. He didn't

care until a sudden agony in his stomach caught his breath. Merry

had delivered a harsh blow to it.

"Sam," he sobbed softly.

"Quiet, my dearest cousin," hissed Merry.

Frodo bowed his head and was trying to breathe normally when a hand

grabbed his curls and yanked his head backwards.

Frodo cried out in pain. He tried to avoid Merry's wicked eyes -

but couldn't. Finally just gazed fearfully.

"I saw you and Sam wandering out of the Shire, Merry barked. "Where

to, Cousin?" Abruptly Merry let go of Frodo's hair while tugging it

down. Frodo lifted his head slowly and stretched it a little. He

felt sore all over his neck. He willed himself not to say anything

to Merry and Pippin, convinced that the ring was behind his cousins'

ill manner.

His silence enraged Merry and he backhanded Frodo very hard, making

the tied form gasped. Merry continued to slap Frodo until blood

streamed from his nose and mouth. Frodo breathed heavily. He didn't

even have a chance to scream this time. Frodo flinched as Merry

walked to his side. He was barely aware of what was happening

around him. His head throbbed severely.

Merry whispered at his ear, "Or do you prefer for the black rider to

come and get you, Frodo?"

Frodo struggled weakly against his bonds.

"Please - " he said faintly. Then he noticed something flashing was

in Pip's hand. Was it a knife?

"Are you - are you going to kill me, too?"

Merry sneered. "Oh, not that easy, Beloved." He ran his fingers down

Frodo's bloodstained cheek. "You still owe me something."

Pippin disappeared to the back of the tree. If Frodo had wondered

what would happen next, he didn't have to wait long. The next thing

he felt was a sharp pain slicing along his right palm. Frodo let out

a shuddering cry that lasted for seconds. When he finally calmed

down, tears flowed freely down his cheek. He felt himself ready to

lose consciousness at any moment. Frodo was in deep, pure agony.

Unable to bear the pain it any longer, Frodo finally spoke.

"I --- Sam and I were going to Bree," muttered Frodo in a barely

audible voice. "But the business is our own."

Merry nodded. "That will be enough for now. We're going to Bree,

then. I'm sure we'll find out there about the business of

yours. "Pip!" He motioned his best pal to release Frodo.

Frodo tumbled to the ground the moment the rope that restrained him

went loose. He shut his eyes wearily. But even this "rest" was not

allowed. Frodo felt two pairs of hands grab his arms and drag him

away. He was shoved onto something soft. Frodo realized then that

it was Sam, or rather, Sam's body. He opened his eyes and snatched

his arms away from Merry and Pippin to hug Sam. He couldn't hold

back his tears. How could they be so heartless? Frodo felt the world

had turned upside-down. Frodo's arms were wrenched back again.

"No - let me go - "

"You don't suppose that we're going to leave you here, do you,

Frodo?" sneered Merry. "But Sam, well, probably, he has to wait

here." Merry aid nothing more as he fastened rope around Frodo's

wrists. "We're taking the Buckleberry ferry." Merry and Pippin

forced Frodo up. "But we don't want any trouble from you, so,

forgive us, cousin, we need to do this to you."

It sounded like a riddle to Frodo and he turned around to see what

his cousin really meant. But at that instant a damp cloth was

clamped over Frodo's mouth and nose. Besides the strong smell of

liquor Frodo knew was often consumed by his cousin, its contact with

his split corner of his lips made him gasp. Worse yet were the

overpowering fumes that made him feel light immediately. Frodo tried

to resist the liquor's effect upon his body but finally lost.