Author's Note: Alright, I'll start this with saying that...I love Shakespeare, and I love Tolkien, and when you smoosh 'em together, you get...Tolspeare, or Shakien...O_o...Or maybe just lots of love triangles, misunderstandings, and other deliciously good and yummy stuff. There will probably be a lot of slash, seeing as it would be hard to do het relationships with only, like, 2 available girls. So, WARNING: If you don't like slash, as in male/male relationships, then DO NOT READ THIS. Honestly. It would be DUMB. Oh, and this is mook verse. Movie AND book. Cuz I like some movie stuff, and some book stuff. And plus, it might, JUST MIGHT, make everyone a bit happy...
Setting: Oh, you know, that space of undefined time between Council of Elrond and Caradhras. October 25-January 11. (Gotta love Appendix B)
Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings.
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The quest was treacherous. The task, near impossible. The consequence if the task failed was perilous, and Frodo Baggins tried not to think about that right now. It would keep him from much-needed rest.
The day had been tedious and tiring. The Council of Elrond was long and heated, and it ended in the decision that Frodo knew was inevitable: He was to carry the One Ring to Mount Doom, in Mordor. He didn't want to imagine this. The Ring was heavy enough in Rivendell, and he had already acquired a wound that would never heal. He knew there would be several more before the journey was over.
The young hobbit rolled over in the oversized bed he slept in. It smelled sweet, like flowers after rain, or maybe cakes baking in the winter. Honey on a hot day. Frodo sighed. Why couldn't he just stay here forever?
A sharp pain hit his shoulder and he moaned, then jumped nearly off the bed, for he heard a sharp gasp. Frodo cried, "Who's there?"
A face came out of the darkness, shadows cast eerily over its features. Frodo backed away from it, fearing the worst...spies of Sauron...aids of Saruman...The figure placed an icy cold hand on Frodo's arm, and spoke.
"I-I'm so terribly sorry, Mr. Frodo," came the soothing voice of Samwise Gamgee, "I was just...I wanted to...I thought you were 'sleep, I need to check on you, is all. Make sure you're okay and ev'rythin', you know..."
Frodo could not see the red on Sam's tanned face, but heard it in his voice nonetheless. "Oh, Sam..." Frodo said, smiling. "It's fine, perfectly fine. You just frightened me. I don't feel comfortable in the dark anymore..."
"Neither do I, Mr. Frodo," Sam said, smile-speaking.
"Sam...where've you been? You're frozen!" Frodo asked, noticing the cold hand still on his arm.
"Oh!" The gardener quickly took his hand back, startled and more flustered than he was before. "I was...oh, you know...Off talking with...your uncle there, Mr. Bilbo, he's...I've always liked him, you know. And it's cold out, and his room is far from mine, and, well..." Sam trailed off, backing away from the side of the bed.
"It's late," Frodo pointed out. "Why are you up?"
"Well, you are," Sam said, then: "Oh! Mr. Frodo, I'm sorry, I shouldn't've--"
"SAM! Please, stop apologizing. You make a good point."
Frodo felt Sam smile. "I should be leavin' now. You go on to sleep, Mr. Frodo. It's late." And with that, Sam left.
The young hobbit turned over in his bed again, feeling happier. 'I'm so lucky to have Sam with me...And all the others, too.' he thought. He breathed in the sugar smell again, and fell fast asleep.
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Frodo awoke to birds singing and the rustle of leaves. The sun shone through the gauzy curtains and cast a warm, orange-yellow light in the room. Slowly, slowly, he placed his feet on the cold wooden floor. Then he saw it.
An envelope fluttered to the floor.
He looked at it quizzically, wondering where it could possibly have come from. Bending over, he picked it up, and carefully, carefully, opened the seal and removed the folded piece of paper.
"Dear Frodo,
"I can't hide my feelings for you. I think I feel something for you that isn't considered right among many, but I feel it just the same. Frodo Baggins, I feel that I'm quite in love with you. I needed to let you know, because if I didn't tell anyone, then I fear I would lose my mind.
"But you'll understand why I am not telling you my name, I hope. I did not want you to feel uncomfortable around me, because I know you do not feel how I do. We need to be comfortable around each other for our long journey ahead.
"With Love."
"This is for me?!" Frodo mumbled to himself. "A...a...a love letter...for me?!"
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A/N: Go exposition! So, do you like it? Sorry if you don't, but please no flames. I don't handle criticism very well...Like, you can tell me where I need to fix things, but don't say it sucks...:-/...Even if it does...Oh, and sorry the title sucks, I'm sure I'll think of a better one further in.
