A/N: Sorry this took a while to update! I had writer's block *tear* Anywho, these characters aren't mine… actually, YES THEY ARE!!! Mine! All mine! Muahahaha! *random person walks over* *SLAP!* Thank you, random person…Please review! Once again, thanks to all who bothered to review so far…it means a lot! Thanks!

The Uruk-Hai Arrive

The newly arrived children were enjoying showing off their magical powers to the amazed Hobbits. Merry and Pippin sat watching, eyes wide and uncomprehending. Sam stood protectively close to Frodo, but seemed to be greatly enjoying the show none the less. Frodo even seemed to come out of his misery once and a while, long enough to smile wanly at the different arrays of colors and sounds the trio produced. The air was filled with tentative giggling.

"This has been a display of exceedingly good luck." Legolas said to Aragorn. The two of them we perched upon a large log towards the outside of their encampment. Aragorn nodded, then clapped his hands at another trick Hermione had performed. Legolas smiled, eyes twinkling.

Frodo stood up. Sam instantly came to his side, but Frodo shook his head. "Stay here, Sam. You are enjoying yourself! I merely wish to take a walk, and I don't need protection from the trees. I'll be back soon, don't fret, Samwise Gamgee." With that said, he raised a hand to Aragorn and Legolas before turning and walking into the woods, following Boromir's footsteps.

Ron, Harry, and Hermione paused their tricks and watched him go. Hermione looked at Aragorn, her brow furrowed in worry. Harry joined her gaze, emerald eyes wide and vulnerable.

"Well?" Pippin asked Ron gently.

"Well what?"

"Are you going to continue?" Merry prompted.

"I suppose…" Ron said, then prodded Harry in the back, grinning. Harry turned around (as did Hermione) and, after a brief pause, they resumed with their tricks (the ones they had always dreamed of using in Snape's class, but never quite daring to).

~*~*~*~

Several hours passed. Harry's watch didn't work on Middle Earth, so they didn't know what time it was. All they were aware of was that they were getting hungry.

When they pointed this problem out to Aragorn, he smiled lightly and replied, "Can't you magic yourselves some food?" before tossing them some meat, apples, and a flask of spiced wine to share. Watching them eat, he remarked, "Children. They are so much like hobbits…" before shrugging and resuming mild conversation with Legolas.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, Frodo met up and was chased away by Boromir.

"I think I shall see where our final hobbit has disappeared to…" Aragorn said at last, then walked away, leaving the group to themselves.

That was the last time Ron, Harry, and Hermione saw Aragorn looking mildly calm and happy. Then he was gone, off to find Frodo.

~*~*~*~

The remaining group ate, joked, and generally enjoyed each other's company. Legolas and Gimli constantly picked at each other, reminding Harry so strongly of Ron and Hermione that he laughed until tears streamed down his face. He grinned at Ron and Hermione, who obviously didn't see any connection between themselves and the elf and the dwarf.

Merry and Pippin watched Legolas and Gimli gleefully, enjoying every minute of seeing the exotic beings act…hobbitly.

This carried on for quite a while, but it was suddenly interrupted by Boromir's trumpet. It brayed several times before stuttering to a halt.

Legolas jumped to his feet. "That was Boromir's horn. There is trouble! We must find Frodo!" he cried briefly, then disappeared into the trees. Gimli raced after him.

"Oi, come with us!" Merry instructed Harry and his friends, then he too left into the trees, closely followed by his friend and the trio.

They ran until Harry tripped. He fell, his glasses spilling from his face. Merry and Pippin took no notice, but Hermione and Ron stopped and knelt by his side. Harry spat leaves and dirt out of his mouth, relocated his glasses, and sat up. "I wish I had my firebolt." He muttered, and his friends nodded sympathetically.

As Harry stood up, he heard a soft voice drifting through the trees. "The decision is yours to make, Frodo."

"That's Aragorn!" Hermione hissed.

They heard crunching in the trees near them, and Frodo appeared. He stared at them, then softly said, "Please do not tell the others I have gone. If you wish, tell Samwise that I'll shall miss him." He turned to go, looked back once, then dashed off.

"Let's go." Harry said, and began running in the same direction as Frodo.

"B-but," Hermione sputtered, "shouldn't we stay and relay the message?"

Ron rolled his eyes, then grabbed her arm and hauled her off after Harry.

~*~*~*~

By the time they reached the shore, Frodo and Sam were in the elvish boat, paddling away. Sounds of battle rang from the woods behind them, and two small hobbits were rapidly paddling away in front of them.

"What do we do?" Ron asked Harry, his voice squeaking mildly. As far as he could tell, both of the choices were impossible. To him, it was like choosing between kissing Snape and poking a sleeping Horntail in the eye with one of her own eggs. "What're we gonna do?"

A/N: Hope you liked this chapter! Let's have a vote: Stay with Aragorn and co., or go with Sam and Frodo? Which would you like to see? Drop me a review (hint, hint) and an email at BigNI96544@aol.com (note how I didn't say "or" lol). Please? With sugaries on top? BTW: if you like aliens and British accents, check out Dreamcatcher! It's a REALLY good movie (right up there with LOTR and HP in my opinion- then again, I'm also a SK freak). Thanks for not giving up on this story; it's not abandoned yet!