Warning: AU, heavy Frodo angst

Chapter 27

Frodo bowed as deeply as his head was allowed by the rope around his neck. He had never felt so low in his life. With bound hands and leashed neck, he felt like a person who had committed a crime and was now on his way to the shiriff's prison. He just wished they wouldn't meet anybody on their way.

It was like when Merry had called him a mad man awhile ago. He was so embarrassed although that was, of course, not true. But suddenly the other half of his mind protested.

'Merry has never called you that! He is your pal, isn't he?'

It was debated by his sane mind. 'He has, you fool! You were blinded by his treacherous words!'

Frodo's poisoned mind talked back, 'But it is true, isn't it, that Merry is the only one who cares for you? The others either leave you behind or do not do anything, like Ted here.' The childlike self glanced sideways to the man riding beside him, sadly. He rode so close and Frodo was sure there was kindness in his heart. Yet, he didn't do anything to save him.

'Of course he won't help,' snapped the real Frodo. 'Ted is Saruman's man. He won't help you not because he doesn't care, but because his jobs demands him not to!'

Frodo whimpered softly and shifted a little. That was misunderstood by the man behind him. Saruman thought Frodo was trying to do something. He jerked the rope, surprising the little hobbit.

Feeling the leash tightened, Frodo let out a small, strangled sound. Saruman then released his grasp, and Frodo coughed terribly.

"That will teach you!" The white-haired man snarled.

"W-what?" asked Frodo hoarsely.

"Quiet!" Saruman grabbed Frodo's hair. "Do you want me to cover your mouth AND your eyes, too?!" Oh, no! He wouldn't stand the dark! Frodo shook his head frantically despite Saruman's clutch.

The man nodded satisfyingly although he knew the hobbit couldn't see him. He finally let go off Frodo.

Ted observed the whole scene with a wrenched heart. What had happened? Why had Frodo acted strangely? He had suddenly sobbed without any particular reasons.

Ted guessed something had suddenly troubled Frodo's mind.

"My Lord," Ted dared himself to speak to Saruman. "Please. He doesn't look well."

His words made everything still all of a sudden. Even the wind seemed to stop blowing. Frodo tensed. He was the closest to Saruman and he felt the man went completely rigid. Would he blow up in anger?

"Who do you think you are, raising a voice like that against me?!" Saruman's voice sounded horrifyingly soft and low. Frodo shuddered.

"Don't make you regret yourself, Ted. I won't do anything to you - yet," Saruman said threateningly. "But if you say just one more word, I'll make your favorite halfling here suffer!"

Saruman didn't touch Frodo at all but chill washed over Frodo's heart. He stopped himself from thinking about Saruman's last statement. He didn't want to know what Saruman would do to him.

Still, he felt warm to know that Ted had tried to stand up for him. But the child in Frodo found his new fear. What would Merry do to him if he found out there was someone else who cared for him? He should have always remembered that he belonged to Merry, no matter what.

***

They continued their journey in silence. Every once in a while Frodo looked up. He noticed that the sky was turning dark grey. Frodo was afraid it would rain soon. He wondered if these people were planning to make a camp that night.

Suddenly a lightning struck. Soon it was followed by a thunder with its loud, cracking sound. Frodo gasped. He wasn't normally easily intimidated by a thunder. Not when he was safe at Bag End, in front of a warm fire.

Another thunder cracked. The rain began to pour. At first Frodo thought they would stop at once. He was mistaken. Saruman simply fixed his hood and so did Ted. Frodo didn't have his cloak anymore. He only had Merry's shirt. Only in a short time, Frodo got soaked all over.

He trembled heavily. The rain kept on falling and there was no sign Saruman would halt.

"P - p - p - please--" Frodo stuttered. "Can we--"

Saruman's reply was a tug on the rope. Frodo wavered. He almost fell from the horse. He shivered more violently. This was cold, freezing cold!

Unconsciously, he snuggled to Saruman's chest. The wizard yelled and roughly pushed Frodo forward. He tumbled along the horse's hairy neck and went still. He was too dizzy to get up. His head felt terribly heavy.

Ted shouted from afar.

"My Lord! We must stop! The rain is too heavy. We can't let him be like that. He will die!"

The gentle-hearted man dismounted his horse and half-ran to Saruman's horse while dragging his. He snatched the reign from Saruman, forcing the horse to stop.

"Ted!" The wizard thundered. The man didn't care. He turned Frodo around so that he could loosen the knot and slip the rope from the hobbit's head. Then he went carry Frodo away. Saruman boiled with anger.

"Don't do this, Ted! Or else!"

"He's sick!" growled Ted, lowering Frodo down on the ground, in a place shady enough so it wasn't too wet.

Frodo was barely awake. He wasn't aware of his surroundings, even his own chattering teeth. He felt so cold he got difficulty in breathing. Ted spread a blanket he took from his bag over the pale-faced creature; so pale the face turned yellowish and lips grayish blue.

"Do not untie him!" shouted Saruman.

Ted pouted his lips. It hadn't even crossed his mind. He just wanted to get Frodo warmed as soon as possible. He hadn't known hobbit race long enough to know anything about them and their resistance against bad weathers.

Meanwhile the rain began to stop. Good, thought Ted. Now he could start a fire and fix something hot for Frodo. A bowl of warm soup would be perfect.

Saruman couldn't believe his eyes seeing Ted started collecting small branches and arranged them neatly near Frodo's wrapped body. What would that jerk do this time? Make a fire? The man had to be insane! Who was Frodo so Ted thought he deserved such a treatment?

Saruman's eyes widened when he looked at the pot, wooden spoon, fresh meat, and herbs Ted was taking out of his bag.

"What is this! You are preparing him a meal?!"

"Clever," mumbled Ted.

"What did you say?" asked Saruman, terribly annoyed. When there was no reply from Ted, he added sharply,

"He'll pay for this! Remember that. The hobbit shall pay for this. As for you, I'm sure something will be waiting in Isengard."

Ted jumped up.

"No, he won't! Frodo will not pay for anything. Leave him alone!"

Saying nothing, Saruman turned around and left.
TBC