Disclaimer: I own none of the following characters or the world in which they live. Tolkien owns such.
A/N: The following tale sort of came out on its own, a manifestation of many things we deal with today. I realize that some of the story may be hard to follow or not make sense at some parts. You needn't comment on this (or you may if you like) but I wanted to point out that life is like that. Many things that happen make the least bit of sense and have nothing to offer us later, they just are.
A tale of friendship and dark paths.
Being the Prologue of….
To Tread the Path of Darkness
Frodo glanced down at the Ring. He drew up his legs, shivering slightly in the cold but refusing to acknowledge that this action was to hide the Ring from the Fellowship, not to banish the chill. Sam sat several feet away but was preoccupied in his own task of preparing a meager meal that he did not pay any attention to his master. For this, Frodo was glad.
Ever since their departure from Rivendell, the eldest hobbit could detect eyes watching his every movement. Sam was constantly at his side seeing if his master needed this or that or if Mr. Frodo was sure he didn't want to rest a bit longer or perhaps have a few extra helpings of soup. Frodo knew he meant well and he loved Sam dearly but felt himself being smothered and didn't exactly know how to tell Sam to, well, back off.
It wasn't just Sam, though, but all the Hobbits. Pippin was going out of his way to make certain his cousin talked and Merry, though quiet and subtler than the other two, would now and again sit himself purposely down and comment upon the not-so beautiful day. If Frodo had given these actions a bit more thought he would have realized that these were to the Hobbits' normal characteristics. Sam always fussed over his master and Pippin always talked (though he was perhaps not so inclined to let others do the same) and Merry often would make certain remarks that had nothing to do with anything and only said such because he could. It wasn't his cousins nor his Sam that had changed, but Frodo himself. Unfortunately, the elder Hobbit's eyes were closed to this and open only to the Ring.
Frodo looked over at Aragorn and seeing he was preoccupied with other matters, looked hurriedly to Gandalf. To his satisfaction he saw the wizard deep in thought, his back to the Fellowship, thinking on things that none could tell. In one quick motion, Frodo unfastened the silver chain from about his neck and hurriedly brought it down to hide behind his upraised knees. He looked about to make sure none had noticed and when he saw that none had, Frodo opened his balled hand and gazed curiously at the golden band.
He had never really looked at it; save the first time Gandalf had voiced his fears. But the wizard had been present and had watched his every movement and read every flicker of emotion upon the Hobbit's tender face. Frodo had never faced the Ring, just It and him.
The weight in his hand was not so heavy, he reflected, feeling its coldness on his palm. There was nothing odd about It, nothing unique that he had not seen before. Frodo clutched It between thumb and forefinger and turned It this way and that. In fact, he mused, It appeared too normal, too plain . . . too innocent. Who would claim that an object able to rest so comfortably in a halfling's small hand would have the power to devastate Middle-earth?
Frodo's fingers closed over It and a small smile played at the corner of his mouth. 'It has come to me,' he thought. 'How very odd. Such a powerful thing and It has come to a Hobbit hidden within the quiet Shire.'
His gaze once again fell to Aragorn, who spoke softly to the Elf Legolas. A smile touched the Ranger's lips and the Elf laughed lightly.
Frodo frowned, his gaze falling back to his balled fist. 'Such a thing would better be held by Aragorn or even Legolas. Certainly Gandalf would be more suited.' Raising his eyes, Frodo saw Aragorn shake his head at the Elf as Legolas said something in his own tongue. Frodo, somewhat learned in the Elf Speech, caught several phrases but could not focus on their conversation. He watched their merriment for several moments longer, then turned aside.
~*~