Chapter 21

Carefully, Strider traced the footsteps on the ground. He was able

to recognize two different hobbit steps, all starting from the inn

towards the woods. Strider followed them silently with Sam

following behind him in equal silence. Frodo's gardener was afraid

that if he made any sounds, it would ruin the ranger's concentration.

Sam jumped in surprise when Strider stopped with a grunt. He gazed

at the man questioningly.

"Why only one left?" Strider muttered to himself, unaware of his

companion.

"What?" Sam started. "You mean you saw two before and now only one?"

Strider nodded.

"Two hobbits?"

Strider nodded again.

"Yes. There are other steps here but they don't belong to a

hobbit. It's easy for me to tell those of a hobbit from the ones of

a man. A hobbit's steps are unique, and not too many here."

That meant there had been only a small number of hobbits wandering

around here and Sam was sure Frodo, Merry, and Pippin were among

them. Sam scratched his head roughly, making the light brown curls

go even more untidy.

Why only two hobbits? And now just one? Shouldn't it be three?

And whose steps were they? Sam wished desperately that those were

his master's.

***

Frodo choked back his scream. Phil was dead! Ted had thrown the

knife far from behind and it killed Phil at once. It seemed that

Ted was dead serious when saying that Frodo had to be kept unhurt.

Ted was also the one trying hard to cure Frodo's stab wound.

Whatever came to him later in Isengard, Frodo was under Ted's

protection for the time being. Frodo was sickened to think that he

needed to be thankful for this. Yet, the sight of a dead man lying

before his very eyes left him trembling violently.

Frodo's knees grew weak and if not because of a pair of strong hands

that held his upper arms from behind, he would have fallen down.

Frodo panted severely and felt terribly ill. His mind went to the

horrifying nightmare.

"He could have killed you," said Ted slowly. "I know Phil. He was

rude to whomever he was with, a lass or a lad. The fact that you

are so fair and good looking only made everything worse."

Ted shortened the distance between him and Frodo. The paled hobbit,

forgetting his bonds, jerked back but fell back into the other man

who was still clutching him. Frodo was terrified. Whatever Ted had

said to persuade him, the man was capable of ending another man's

life. Frodo couldn't decide which one was worse, a man who tortured

another or a man who murdered someone else.

"Why did you flinch?" growled Ted. "I'm NOT the one who was trying

to hurt you!"

"Leave me alone," Frodo struggled desperately. "Let me go!"

"That's impossible, Frodo Baggins," hissed the man behind him in his

ears.

Frodo froze at the sound of his real name. Never had he revealed

his real name to anyone since he was out of the Shire. But this man

knew his complete name.

Frodo tried hard to turn around and when he shot a glance at the

man, he gasped in shock. How could it be? The man looked

completely different from how he had looked just several minutes

before. His dark, scruffy hair had become fair and long. The

scraggly beard on his face was gone completely, now the face clean

and shiny. And what more surprising were the clothes. His worn-out

and shabby outfit had transformed to an elegant gray attire. Even

Ted let his jaw drop widely.

"Sar - Saruman?!" he exclaimed unbelievingly. "But I saw you in

Isengard when I left years ago - with Phil and DAVID!"

***

After his initial, hysterical reaction of having been able to get a

hold of the Ring, Pippin slowly went confused. All right, so, he

got the Ring. The One Ring. The Ring of Power. Then what?

Nothing seemed to happen or change. There was no lightning

striking, or a noise rumbling from deep beneath the earth. Now, how

could he know if he had become powerful or not?

Pippin was strolling back towards the inn, fondling the Ring in his

fist. It felt cold and distant yet smooth and soothing. But still

nothing happened.

"Why worry, little one? You have me."

Suddenly Pip heard the voice again. He quivered, not because of

fear but because of joy and excitement.

"I am at your service, sir," added the voice.

Pippin's eyes widened.

"But how? I don't feel anything so far though I have the ring of

power."

"ARE YOU QUESTIONING MY POWER, LITTLE MASTER?!"

The voice was thundering but still with a slight hint of

tenderness. Pippin shrank back.

"No! I'm terribly sorry! I didn't mean to -"

"No need to apologize, my dear," cut the Ring softly. "Now, pray

tell me your desire."

Pip told it what he really wanted in the world. He tilted his head

when he thought he heard a strange noise. It seemed like the Ring

was chuckling to itself!

"Hey!" Pip yelled angrily. "What is the matter with being a master

of farmers?!"

"Nothing, nothing," replied the Ring, still laughing merrily.

TBC