Blue Jedi Hobbit: Er - I dont know for sure if it was intentional. Just
want to try something different, I guess. In fact, I asked a friend about
using 'I' style while I've never used it before. She was not certain
either.
QTPie: I'm trying my best to write on!
Krista: Good luck with your exam! BTW, I'm also continuing my study and the exams will be coming in a week or two. But I'd rather writing this than study! :)
MBradford: Thanks very much!
Aelfgifu: Even if Merry does punish Pippin, I'm sure I would never be able to write as amazingly as your Merry-punishing-Pippin. ^_^
Alisaundre: I read here and there and went inside my head, and - pop! Here came the elixir! Glad you liked it!
Endymion: I know some people might not believe such an experience. The explanation in my religion is different, too.
Warning: AU
Chapter 44
"Frodo, you're back!" Merry hugged Frodo tightly until the hobbit's body was lifted up from the ground. Merry seemed to ignore the galons of water flowing out of Frodo's mouth.
"Leave him alone," said the man to Merry, who then reluctantly pulled himself back.
Frodo coughed hard continuously, still throwing out the river water he had gulped down. Yet he still felt as if he were going to blow up. Frodo turned to Merry, his dimming blue eyes full with tears.
"It - hurts," choked Frodo feebly. Again he coughed terribly, throwing his head back in misery. Merry couldn't stand it. Once more he took Frodo to his arms. The pained hobbit leaned his head to Merry's chest thankfully.
"Please stay, Merry."
"Of course, Frodo. Everything will be fine. Don't worry, beloved." Merry stroked his hair tenderly. "The most important thing is that you are alive."
Pippin shot his eyes widely at that sight, squirming against the hold of two men. This couldn't be happening!
"Merry!" he shouted angrily, yet desperately. But the older hobbit ignored him, busy listening to the leader's explanation.
"...... apparently had warmed his body, enough to free his lungs from the clutches of the coldness of the water."
Frodo seemed to be listening, too, with his half-closed eyes. He felt the pain in his chest lessen. What was left was tiredness. His body felt like turning into jelly, boneless, without any will power to stay awake. He didn't even care when Merry tried to find out what had really happened from him. Frodo simply looked away. How was he supposed to remember? He couldn't remember anything. And he still couldn't even when his eyes accidentally met Pippin's threatening glance. What was that supposed to mean?
Frodo hitched a little when he was suddenly snatched off of Merry's warm embrace and pulled up by his arms by the men's leader. He moaned softly as everything seemed to spin around. Then the hobbit landed none too gently on the man's shoulder. A hoof went involuntarily out of his small lips.
"He comes with me," grunted the man, turning away. Merry's jaw dropped. "You can keep that one," nodded the man at Pippin's direction.
Pippin smirked devilishly as the two men released him. But he immediately closed his mouth when catching Merry's sharp glare at him.
Terror slowly crept in him, making his breath difficult. Merry knew. He had got to be! Or at least he could guess that he was the one to be blamed for what had come to Frodo. Shivers ran down his spine. He forced himself not to think of what was in Merry's mind now, things he would do to his short- minded cousin - HIM!
But it seemed whatever Merry would do to him could still wait. Pippin took a relieved breath as Merry turned away from him the next second to run after the man.
"Hey, you!" Pippin heard Merry shout and saw him run as fast as his small and short legs could bring him.
Merry stopped at the sight of the man mounting Frodo on one of the wargs - the wolf-faced beast - and gasped loudly. The other men and orcs around looked at him horrifyingly.
"Ah, I almost forgot about you," said the man casually, while dressing up Frodo with his garment, leaving the hobbit looking silly in the size more than doubled for him. Frodo seemed to be in a daze himself, not quite aware of what was happening with him. Looking at the strange faces of the orcs earlier, he even thought he was still in a dream. But seeing Merry, a word was formed on his lips, soundlessly.
'Mer - ry'
Merry saw that, and he stepped forward, only to be stopped by a hand on his breath.
"Uh - huh," the leader waved his forefinger, disagreeing of Merry's movement. But he motioned his man to stay away from the hobbit.
"Deal is deal. I gave you back the other halfling and I got this one here. And by the way, are you coming with us?" he asked, still in his nonchalant manner. "I'm sure your little pony back there won't be able to catch up with us. You know, you can always ride with us."
Merry's lips trembled with fear. How could he be sure these folks were going to keep their words? His fingers slowly crawled toward his pocket. The Ring. That was actually that they wanted. They wouldn't want Frodo anymore if he gave the Ring to them, would they?
"Wait!" He heard himself squeak. Without even realizing it, the Ring had curled up in his palm, which was shot wide open to the man.
"Take it! Take this thing. This is all your lord needs. Now let go off Frodo!"
***
"Strider! I can feel it now!" cried Sam, standing up, legs wide apart. "The earth is shaking!"
"I know," replied the ranger. "I've known it for quite a long time now. And whatever they are, they are getting nearer."
Ted was awakened and leaned on his elbows. He seemed like to say something but decided otherwise. His face turned red. Strider caught the changes in his face.
"You have something to say, Ted?"
Sam walked toward the two. What was happening?
"What is it, Strider? Something's wrong?"
Strider shrugged.
"Maybe. Maybe not. But I believe Ted knows something about the growling at the ground."
Ted shifted restlessly. His eyes darted alternately from Strider to Sam. He denied Strider's words.
"I don't! Why should I?"
Strider kneeled down beside Ted's lying form.
"I don't know. But if you knew something, you'd better say. The sooner the better. This is a matter of life and death!"
Sam dropped down, and grasped Ted's both hands, squeezing them in his own. His voice croaked.
"Mr. Frodo is in a grief danger, Mr. Ted! Please, what are they? Some kind of evil thing?" he shivered.
Ted looked at Sam in the eye, finally giving in.
"I don't know for sure, Sam," he said slowly. "But I heard something about these orcs-"
"Orcs!" Sam's eyes went huge.
"- that can go very fast riding these wargs," continued Ted. Sam tilted his head. This he had never heard before.
"W - wargs?"
"Yes. They don't ride on horses, but wargs. They look like wolves but bigger, much bigger."
"How big are they?" This time it was Strider.
"More or less the same as horses but much sturdier. And their strong, short, big legs make them stronger than horses."
"Oh, no!" Sam hid his face in his hands. This was all too scary. They had to find Frodo as soon as possible. Sam sobbed. What would those creatures do to his master?
Strider stood up suddenly.
"Strange," he mumbled. "I can't hear and feel them anymore. Are they stopping?
Sam paled, gulping down. That could only mean one thing: they had found Frodo!
"Oh, Strider! We should go now!" howled Sam. "If Frodo is not too far, we must be able to catch up with him soon."
As Ted had got much better this time, Strider agreed to get going. He helped Ted go up his horse and then led the small group in its long and tiring quest.
It was after several moments of walking that the group felt something below their feet again. They looked at each other in horror. The wargs were moving again!
***
Huh?!
Merry's mind was brought back to reality. What had been in his mind - giving away the Ring in exchange to Frodo? He had to be out of his mind! He might have pity for that broken hobbit. But giving up his biggest chance to conquer and be the master of Middle Earth? That would be the most ridiculous thing ever!
" - you can always ride with us." Merry could still hear the man's words. "And of course your pitiful little friend behind you, too," the man continued on, while coiling a length of rope around Frodo's waist and tied the end of it at the warg's saddle.
"Sorry. I know you won't try to run away," he patted Frodo at the head. Frodo flinched a little. "But I don't want to risk it. This way you may try to jump anytime you like. You will just end up being dragged by our little warg here. That can be very painful, you know."
Frodo just whimpered. His mind was still clouded.
Merry turned around to find Pippin's pathetic face. He was enraged again.
"What are you doing here? I don't want to see your ugly little face anymore. Go away! Stay away from me!"
TBC
QTPie: I'm trying my best to write on!
Krista: Good luck with your exam! BTW, I'm also continuing my study and the exams will be coming in a week or two. But I'd rather writing this than study! :)
MBradford: Thanks very much!
Aelfgifu: Even if Merry does punish Pippin, I'm sure I would never be able to write as amazingly as your Merry-punishing-Pippin. ^_^
Alisaundre: I read here and there and went inside my head, and - pop! Here came the elixir! Glad you liked it!
Endymion: I know some people might not believe such an experience. The explanation in my religion is different, too.
Warning: AU
Chapter 44
"Frodo, you're back!" Merry hugged Frodo tightly until the hobbit's body was lifted up from the ground. Merry seemed to ignore the galons of water flowing out of Frodo's mouth.
"Leave him alone," said the man to Merry, who then reluctantly pulled himself back.
Frodo coughed hard continuously, still throwing out the river water he had gulped down. Yet he still felt as if he were going to blow up. Frodo turned to Merry, his dimming blue eyes full with tears.
"It - hurts," choked Frodo feebly. Again he coughed terribly, throwing his head back in misery. Merry couldn't stand it. Once more he took Frodo to his arms. The pained hobbit leaned his head to Merry's chest thankfully.
"Please stay, Merry."
"Of course, Frodo. Everything will be fine. Don't worry, beloved." Merry stroked his hair tenderly. "The most important thing is that you are alive."
Pippin shot his eyes widely at that sight, squirming against the hold of two men. This couldn't be happening!
"Merry!" he shouted angrily, yet desperately. But the older hobbit ignored him, busy listening to the leader's explanation.
"...... apparently had warmed his body, enough to free his lungs from the clutches of the coldness of the water."
Frodo seemed to be listening, too, with his half-closed eyes. He felt the pain in his chest lessen. What was left was tiredness. His body felt like turning into jelly, boneless, without any will power to stay awake. He didn't even care when Merry tried to find out what had really happened from him. Frodo simply looked away. How was he supposed to remember? He couldn't remember anything. And he still couldn't even when his eyes accidentally met Pippin's threatening glance. What was that supposed to mean?
Frodo hitched a little when he was suddenly snatched off of Merry's warm embrace and pulled up by his arms by the men's leader. He moaned softly as everything seemed to spin around. Then the hobbit landed none too gently on the man's shoulder. A hoof went involuntarily out of his small lips.
"He comes with me," grunted the man, turning away. Merry's jaw dropped. "You can keep that one," nodded the man at Pippin's direction.
Pippin smirked devilishly as the two men released him. But he immediately closed his mouth when catching Merry's sharp glare at him.
Terror slowly crept in him, making his breath difficult. Merry knew. He had got to be! Or at least he could guess that he was the one to be blamed for what had come to Frodo. Shivers ran down his spine. He forced himself not to think of what was in Merry's mind now, things he would do to his short- minded cousin - HIM!
But it seemed whatever Merry would do to him could still wait. Pippin took a relieved breath as Merry turned away from him the next second to run after the man.
"Hey, you!" Pippin heard Merry shout and saw him run as fast as his small and short legs could bring him.
Merry stopped at the sight of the man mounting Frodo on one of the wargs - the wolf-faced beast - and gasped loudly. The other men and orcs around looked at him horrifyingly.
"Ah, I almost forgot about you," said the man casually, while dressing up Frodo with his garment, leaving the hobbit looking silly in the size more than doubled for him. Frodo seemed to be in a daze himself, not quite aware of what was happening with him. Looking at the strange faces of the orcs earlier, he even thought he was still in a dream. But seeing Merry, a word was formed on his lips, soundlessly.
'Mer - ry'
Merry saw that, and he stepped forward, only to be stopped by a hand on his breath.
"Uh - huh," the leader waved his forefinger, disagreeing of Merry's movement. But he motioned his man to stay away from the hobbit.
"Deal is deal. I gave you back the other halfling and I got this one here. And by the way, are you coming with us?" he asked, still in his nonchalant manner. "I'm sure your little pony back there won't be able to catch up with us. You know, you can always ride with us."
Merry's lips trembled with fear. How could he be sure these folks were going to keep their words? His fingers slowly crawled toward his pocket. The Ring. That was actually that they wanted. They wouldn't want Frodo anymore if he gave the Ring to them, would they?
"Wait!" He heard himself squeak. Without even realizing it, the Ring had curled up in his palm, which was shot wide open to the man.
"Take it! Take this thing. This is all your lord needs. Now let go off Frodo!"
***
"Strider! I can feel it now!" cried Sam, standing up, legs wide apart. "The earth is shaking!"
"I know," replied the ranger. "I've known it for quite a long time now. And whatever they are, they are getting nearer."
Ted was awakened and leaned on his elbows. He seemed like to say something but decided otherwise. His face turned red. Strider caught the changes in his face.
"You have something to say, Ted?"
Sam walked toward the two. What was happening?
"What is it, Strider? Something's wrong?"
Strider shrugged.
"Maybe. Maybe not. But I believe Ted knows something about the growling at the ground."
Ted shifted restlessly. His eyes darted alternately from Strider to Sam. He denied Strider's words.
"I don't! Why should I?"
Strider kneeled down beside Ted's lying form.
"I don't know. But if you knew something, you'd better say. The sooner the better. This is a matter of life and death!"
Sam dropped down, and grasped Ted's both hands, squeezing them in his own. His voice croaked.
"Mr. Frodo is in a grief danger, Mr. Ted! Please, what are they? Some kind of evil thing?" he shivered.
Ted looked at Sam in the eye, finally giving in.
"I don't know for sure, Sam," he said slowly. "But I heard something about these orcs-"
"Orcs!" Sam's eyes went huge.
"- that can go very fast riding these wargs," continued Ted. Sam tilted his head. This he had never heard before.
"W - wargs?"
"Yes. They don't ride on horses, but wargs. They look like wolves but bigger, much bigger."
"How big are they?" This time it was Strider.
"More or less the same as horses but much sturdier. And their strong, short, big legs make them stronger than horses."
"Oh, no!" Sam hid his face in his hands. This was all too scary. They had to find Frodo as soon as possible. Sam sobbed. What would those creatures do to his master?
Strider stood up suddenly.
"Strange," he mumbled. "I can't hear and feel them anymore. Are they stopping?
Sam paled, gulping down. That could only mean one thing: they had found Frodo!
"Oh, Strider! We should go now!" howled Sam. "If Frodo is not too far, we must be able to catch up with him soon."
As Ted had got much better this time, Strider agreed to get going. He helped Ted go up his horse and then led the small group in its long and tiring quest.
It was after several moments of walking that the group felt something below their feet again. They looked at each other in horror. The wargs were moving again!
***
Huh?!
Merry's mind was brought back to reality. What had been in his mind - giving away the Ring in exchange to Frodo? He had to be out of his mind! He might have pity for that broken hobbit. But giving up his biggest chance to conquer and be the master of Middle Earth? That would be the most ridiculous thing ever!
" - you can always ride with us." Merry could still hear the man's words. "And of course your pitiful little friend behind you, too," the man continued on, while coiling a length of rope around Frodo's waist and tied the end of it at the warg's saddle.
"Sorry. I know you won't try to run away," he patted Frodo at the head. Frodo flinched a little. "But I don't want to risk it. This way you may try to jump anytime you like. You will just end up being dragged by our little warg here. That can be very painful, you know."
Frodo just whimpered. His mind was still clouded.
Merry turned around to find Pippin's pathetic face. He was enraged again.
"What are you doing here? I don't want to see your ugly little face anymore. Go away! Stay away from me!"
TBC
