Alisaundre: Oh! Guess what? Pippin is capable of doing anything he wants,
right? ^_^
Blue Jedi Hobbit: Poor baby. Let me send you some jelly beans from Jakarta.
(pouring down colorful jelly beans---)
Endymion: Wargs are not people, right. How about the riders? (grin
nervously) Thanks again for yet another critical review.
Aelfgifu: Mmmh, I really, really need to learn more on writing scenes like
that. Honest! I felt like I didn't really put all my feelings into it. BTW,
RATM rocks! Have you ever taken a creative writing class?
Krista: Thanks a lot, dear. Though - please see my comments above. :D
QTPie: Oooh --- thanks very much you finally read my story. I feel honored!
I do hope you will still enjoy it as you read along. Pardon me if the
sentences in the story seem to stumble or don't go smoothly.
ShireElf: (grin) Just read along and you're gonna like 'Poor Frodo' for
more!
John Lennon Across the Universe: Mmmmm------- lovely Frodo! He's just too
beautiful! One of the reasons (or should I say - the only reason?) why I
wrote this story. And thanks in advance for sharing the Bumblebee
experience!
AN: OMG! More than 200 reviews!!!!!!!!! I would really like to send my most sincere gratitude to you all!!! I would've never been able to write these many chapters had they not been read and commented on. And my big thanks to my beloved beta and loyal support, Emma!! Dearest Readers, you should all read her story, Ring Around The Merry. (Or you have read it?? :))
Warning: AU, violence
Chapter 41
Merry shouted again. Frodo sent a panicked glance at Pippin, who, on the other hand, looked strangely calm. That bewildered Frodo, but he let it pass.
"We must go back right now, Pip! Merry is in trouble."
Frodo crawled in the shallow water, out of the river. But he felt a shadow looming from behind, and a moment later a hand suddenly clawed at his shoulder and strongly pulled him backward. Yelping, he landed hard on his back, hissing in both shock and pain.
Frodo looked up at his attacker, half angry half stunned.
"Pippin?" he whispered and started to his feet before a fist connected to his bare side. He tried to suppress a grunt but failed. With unbelieving eyes still locked at Pippin's towering figure, Frodo hunched over to lessen the pain.
"What - what is it, Pip?"
His cousin grinned evilly but then a shadow came over his face. His eyes shone in pain and anger. He stooped and grabbed Frodo's arms, pulling him up. Pippin suddenly looked so much bigger and stronger. Frodo flinched when a finger trailed down his cheek and then stopped, nudging up below his chin, forcing him to throw his head back.
"You might be lovable, Frodo. No, You ARE lovable. But I don't like to see how Merry finds you more special than me."
Frodo made an attempt to move back, away from Pippin's strong grasp and painful touch. It just resulted in a tighter grip and nails digging deeper into Frodo's skin.
"I'm nothing special to him," choked Frodo. "HE IS special to me. Merry is the only person who really wants me."
Pippin blew up in laughter as he heard a statement sounding so silly to him.
"Wants you? Whoever wants you?!" The comment felt like a stab to an old wound for Frodo. His eyes started to get watery.
"But again," Pippin stopped laughing, looking contemplative. "if he ever wants you, I will stop that! He once promised me about sharing power. I won't let you step in among us, me, Merry, and the power!"
Frodo didn't understand what Pippin was talking about, and he didn't care either. What was in his mind right now was that Merry needed his help badly. Pippin had held him too long.
He snatched his body away and when finding he was free, he turned around and started to run. Pippin's mind snapped back to reality and, wasting not a single second, he jumped over Frodo, sending his cousin hard to the ground.
Frodo felt his breath was knocked out of him when his body hit the riverbed and more so when his chin suffered from the same thing in a brief moment. His vision got blurred, and he tasted blood from his lips. Still, he didn't want to give up.
Pippin shouted angrily as Frodo tried to get to his knees. He kicked Frodo's back with his sturdy, hairy foot.
"No!" Frodo gasped. "Merry---"
"Let Merry have his lesson, too," hissed Pippin sadistically. "For trying to ignore me!" He twisted Frodo's left arm behind his back, making the weakened hobbit cry in pain.
"Aarggh, Pippin!"
"I hate you, Frodo," Pippin's voice was as sharp as a knife, slicing the cool air surrounding the river. "I hate you with all my heart."
Now he caught a handful of Frodo's curls and forced the head down. Frodo tried to resist by pushing his free hand to the riverbed. But the hand soon buckled down. The devilish Pippin was too strong for him.
Pippin pushed Frodo further down, into the water. Frodo squeezed his eyes shut and held his breath, his whole body tense knowing what was coming.
His tension turned into panic once he realized his had gone into the water. He unconsciously opened his eyes and mouth. The water streamed freely into his nose and mouth, and down his throat to his lungs. Frodo couldn't stand the burning sensation anymore and tried to shove his head up. Pippin leered cruelly realizing this and pushed even harder.
Several second passed and Pippin no longer felt Frodo's resistance. He tugged his cousin's head up and watched contently as Frodo gasped desperately for air. It was far from enough, the air Frodo drew into his lungs, when Pippin once again drowned him.
Frodo fought hard to turn his head from side to side. But again he failed. The grip on his hair became harsher and more hurtful. He slapped at the water in despair. Bubbles were coming out of his nose and mouth, to the surface. But Pippin still held him tightly, even longer this time.
Soon Frodo's body became lax. He was still struggling for a moment, but then he gave up. He went still completely.
Pippin released his grips on Frodo's arm and hair at once, and kicked Frodo a little but there was no response from him. Frodo moved just because he was floating in the water.
With no trace of guilt on his face, Pippin smiled wickedly and walked out of the river, leaving the seemingly lifeless form behind.
***
As he steeped toward Merry's place, Pippin worked hard to turn his face into an innocent one. Merry couldn't find out what he had done. He had to pretend that everything had been an accident, should anyone ever find Frodo's body.
Nearing the fire, Pippin came to realize that the situation had become so quiet. Merry no longer cried for help and there was no sound of his captors either. Pippin decided to hide behind the biggest tree to get a glimpse on Merry's attackers first. Who k new he might be able to find a way to get rid of them.
Slowly he peeped out, but was taken aback by what he saw. No less than ten big folks were surrounding Merry. And those men had not come by horses, as there was no single horse in sight. They must have come by - Pippin was taken aback even more when looking at the creatures he didn't believe to see!
They had to be the ugliest beings alive! And they were terrifyingly huge, too. Pippin had never heard stories about them, not even from Bilbo. He could only guess that they were a kind of wolf, but more hideous-looking. And there were hundreds of them, swarming over the forest and the hill as far as Pippin's eyes could see.
Nervously, Pippin took himself back behind the tree, praying that nobody spotted his movement. He cringed and shivered silently. How could they, he and Merry, escape from those beasts?
Then he heard Merry's voice again, though he couldn't catch the words. It was a bit bizarre for Pippin, as Merry didn't scream or sound afraid. Merry was laughing. That was it! He was laughing, and seemed to have a friendly chat with those men. Could that mean it was safe enough for Pippin to get out? He showed his head hesitantly, and stepped out of his hiding place.
The noise he made attracted everybody's attention. The men turned around and spontaneously unsheathed whatever weapons they had. Pippin cried in surprise and ran back to the tree.
"Merry!" he shouted in panic.
There were sounds of steps on the dried leaves on the ground, followed by Merry's cheerful voice.
"Ah, that must be my cousin, Pippin. He has just gone swimming with - ehm, in the river."
In the middle of his words, Merry decided not to reveal Frodo's existence yet. Somehow he also knew that Pippin was coming by himself.
"Come on out, Cousin. You need not be afraid. These men in fact, are going with us."
What? Pippin looked in disbelief at this sudden insanity displayed by his lovely cousin.
"Are you serious?" Pippin looked upset. So far Merry had always been the one to be relied upon. Had the time finally come to Pippin to be the most sensible hobbit who had to be responsible for everything?
TBC
AN: OMG! More than 200 reviews!!!!!!!!! I would really like to send my most sincere gratitude to you all!!! I would've never been able to write these many chapters had they not been read and commented on. And my big thanks to my beloved beta and loyal support, Emma!! Dearest Readers, you should all read her story, Ring Around The Merry. (Or you have read it?? :))
Warning: AU, violence
Chapter 41
Merry shouted again. Frodo sent a panicked glance at Pippin, who, on the other hand, looked strangely calm. That bewildered Frodo, but he let it pass.
"We must go back right now, Pip! Merry is in trouble."
Frodo crawled in the shallow water, out of the river. But he felt a shadow looming from behind, and a moment later a hand suddenly clawed at his shoulder and strongly pulled him backward. Yelping, he landed hard on his back, hissing in both shock and pain.
Frodo looked up at his attacker, half angry half stunned.
"Pippin?" he whispered and started to his feet before a fist connected to his bare side. He tried to suppress a grunt but failed. With unbelieving eyes still locked at Pippin's towering figure, Frodo hunched over to lessen the pain.
"What - what is it, Pip?"
His cousin grinned evilly but then a shadow came over his face. His eyes shone in pain and anger. He stooped and grabbed Frodo's arms, pulling him up. Pippin suddenly looked so much bigger and stronger. Frodo flinched when a finger trailed down his cheek and then stopped, nudging up below his chin, forcing him to throw his head back.
"You might be lovable, Frodo. No, You ARE lovable. But I don't like to see how Merry finds you more special than me."
Frodo made an attempt to move back, away from Pippin's strong grasp and painful touch. It just resulted in a tighter grip and nails digging deeper into Frodo's skin.
"I'm nothing special to him," choked Frodo. "HE IS special to me. Merry is the only person who really wants me."
Pippin blew up in laughter as he heard a statement sounding so silly to him.
"Wants you? Whoever wants you?!" The comment felt like a stab to an old wound for Frodo. His eyes started to get watery.
"But again," Pippin stopped laughing, looking contemplative. "if he ever wants you, I will stop that! He once promised me about sharing power. I won't let you step in among us, me, Merry, and the power!"
Frodo didn't understand what Pippin was talking about, and he didn't care either. What was in his mind right now was that Merry needed his help badly. Pippin had held him too long.
He snatched his body away and when finding he was free, he turned around and started to run. Pippin's mind snapped back to reality and, wasting not a single second, he jumped over Frodo, sending his cousin hard to the ground.
Frodo felt his breath was knocked out of him when his body hit the riverbed and more so when his chin suffered from the same thing in a brief moment. His vision got blurred, and he tasted blood from his lips. Still, he didn't want to give up.
Pippin shouted angrily as Frodo tried to get to his knees. He kicked Frodo's back with his sturdy, hairy foot.
"No!" Frodo gasped. "Merry---"
"Let Merry have his lesson, too," hissed Pippin sadistically. "For trying to ignore me!" He twisted Frodo's left arm behind his back, making the weakened hobbit cry in pain.
"Aarggh, Pippin!"
"I hate you, Frodo," Pippin's voice was as sharp as a knife, slicing the cool air surrounding the river. "I hate you with all my heart."
Now he caught a handful of Frodo's curls and forced the head down. Frodo tried to resist by pushing his free hand to the riverbed. But the hand soon buckled down. The devilish Pippin was too strong for him.
Pippin pushed Frodo further down, into the water. Frodo squeezed his eyes shut and held his breath, his whole body tense knowing what was coming.
His tension turned into panic once he realized his had gone into the water. He unconsciously opened his eyes and mouth. The water streamed freely into his nose and mouth, and down his throat to his lungs. Frodo couldn't stand the burning sensation anymore and tried to shove his head up. Pippin leered cruelly realizing this and pushed even harder.
Several second passed and Pippin no longer felt Frodo's resistance. He tugged his cousin's head up and watched contently as Frodo gasped desperately for air. It was far from enough, the air Frodo drew into his lungs, when Pippin once again drowned him.
Frodo fought hard to turn his head from side to side. But again he failed. The grip on his hair became harsher and more hurtful. He slapped at the water in despair. Bubbles were coming out of his nose and mouth, to the surface. But Pippin still held him tightly, even longer this time.
Soon Frodo's body became lax. He was still struggling for a moment, but then he gave up. He went still completely.
Pippin released his grips on Frodo's arm and hair at once, and kicked Frodo a little but there was no response from him. Frodo moved just because he was floating in the water.
With no trace of guilt on his face, Pippin smiled wickedly and walked out of the river, leaving the seemingly lifeless form behind.
***
As he steeped toward Merry's place, Pippin worked hard to turn his face into an innocent one. Merry couldn't find out what he had done. He had to pretend that everything had been an accident, should anyone ever find Frodo's body.
Nearing the fire, Pippin came to realize that the situation had become so quiet. Merry no longer cried for help and there was no sound of his captors either. Pippin decided to hide behind the biggest tree to get a glimpse on Merry's attackers first. Who k new he might be able to find a way to get rid of them.
Slowly he peeped out, but was taken aback by what he saw. No less than ten big folks were surrounding Merry. And those men had not come by horses, as there was no single horse in sight. They must have come by - Pippin was taken aback even more when looking at the creatures he didn't believe to see!
They had to be the ugliest beings alive! And they were terrifyingly huge, too. Pippin had never heard stories about them, not even from Bilbo. He could only guess that they were a kind of wolf, but more hideous-looking. And there were hundreds of them, swarming over the forest and the hill as far as Pippin's eyes could see.
Nervously, Pippin took himself back behind the tree, praying that nobody spotted his movement. He cringed and shivered silently. How could they, he and Merry, escape from those beasts?
Then he heard Merry's voice again, though he couldn't catch the words. It was a bit bizarre for Pippin, as Merry didn't scream or sound afraid. Merry was laughing. That was it! He was laughing, and seemed to have a friendly chat with those men. Could that mean it was safe enough for Pippin to get out? He showed his head hesitantly, and stepped out of his hiding place.
The noise he made attracted everybody's attention. The men turned around and spontaneously unsheathed whatever weapons they had. Pippin cried in surprise and ran back to the tree.
"Merry!" he shouted in panic.
There were sounds of steps on the dried leaves on the ground, followed by Merry's cheerful voice.
"Ah, that must be my cousin, Pippin. He has just gone swimming with - ehm, in the river."
In the middle of his words, Merry decided not to reveal Frodo's existence yet. Somehow he also knew that Pippin was coming by himself.
"Come on out, Cousin. You need not be afraid. These men in fact, are going with us."
What? Pippin looked in disbelief at this sudden insanity displayed by his lovely cousin.
"Are you serious?" Pippin looked upset. So far Merry had always been the one to be relied upon. Had the time finally come to Pippin to be the most sensible hobbit who had to be responsible for everything?
TBC
