Chapter 4: Troubles…
Hollin, clear blue skies in the air, with not a cloud in sight open grasslands and rock outcrops here and there for as far as the eye can see . . . and how horrible it was indeed. The wind, now slightly warmer in the day, blew giant drafts at them, threatening to blow the hobbits away as well as their precious supplies. The grasslands gave them no cover from any possible enemies. And Aragorn was now putting on extra precautions simply because he did not hear any song birds in the air! It was winter! What sort of sane bird would be out here in the middle of winter?! It would be far better to fly further south, where the warm weather was, than to stay here. With a forlorn sigh, Pippin continued to trudge along next to his cousins.
"Come on Pippin, it's not that bad. At least we have fire and food." said Merry, trying to cheer the young hobbit up. "And you see, Frodo's not complaining!" The Brandybuck pointed to the small hobbit jumping ahead of them, as if merrily trying to chase invisible sprites in the wind while still staying close to the fellowship.
"He has no reason to complain. Sam gave him an extra share of stew and his own bread half. Strider gave him a ride on his shoulders and Legolas is telling him elvish stories. Gandalf is even letting him ride on Bill! They're spoiling him!" pouted Pippin.
Merry smiled, "Ah, you have a point Pip." Pippin nodded, he was glad that his cousin agreed with him on the subject. But Merry went on. "Why should Frodo have all the attention? Even though the poor lad had never really had a chance at a real childhood since his parents died leaving him alone in Brandybuck Hall until Bilbo came and adopted him. No, the attention should go to all the other hobbits, who had perfectly happy lives and all the spoiling and attention they could ask for since they were to be the Thain of the Shire or Master of Brandybuck Hall."
"That's not what I meant!" exclaimed Pippin hurriedly, "It's just that . . .that . . ."
"You aren't used to be feeling left out?" asked Merry.
Pippin nodded guiltily and looked down at the ground as they walked on. "Frodo and you were always there to play with me, you both were always there for me. Even when I was just a little hobbitling. You a lot more than the others, Merry, like a big brother that I'd never had with all my sisters around and me being the only boy in the family. And ma and pa looked after me a lot. They taught me my letters and showed me you."
Merry smiled gently at Pippin and wound an arm around his shoulders, "Yeah Pip, Frodo and I were always there for you weren't we? Now don't you think we should let Frodo have some time to be a kid? Just for the tinsiest weensiest bit?" Pippin nodded again.
Merry's grin broke out even bigger and he leaned close to Pippin's ear and whispered, "And to think . . . all the blackmail material we can collect for all of this?!" Pippin giggled and laughed, his cheerful mood returning once more.
"That means he'll have to do what we tell him to do, right?" asked Pippin.
"Of course Pip, whatever will he do without us?" chuckled Merry.
*
"And to think . . . all the blackmail material we can collect for all of this?!"
Sam narrowed his eyes as snatches of Merry and Pippin's conversation were carried to his ears from the conversation that Merry and Pippin were having. He hadn't heard anything before that, but it was obvious that they were up to something. He huffed and watched Frodo who was still playing just ahead. Blackmail Mr. Frodo indeed! Well, we'll just see who's going to be blackmailing who in the end. No one's going to try and make a fool out of Mr. Frodo! I'll make sure of that! Vowed Sam firmly.
*
Boromir eyed the two hobbits that were huddled together, and talking softly as they walked slightly behind. Didn't he know their names? Weren't they Merry and Pippin? He glanced at the swords that hung at their sides; most likely useless to them, especially if they did not know how to wield them against enemies. Of all the things that could make them even more like excess baggage! Tthey can't even defend themselves at all against an attack. Harrumphed Boromir to himself, it seemed that no one else was making any attempt to teach them either. Well, best have them start sooner than later, and he was now the only that had that on his mind.
He gave a small smile to himself. This would be like teaching his brother how to fence all over again, but this time, there were two! "But I am not taking a liking to those little Halflings," he said to himself, Aragorn turned his head towards him and grinned, "I am not." protested Boromir, but it was more to assure himself than it was Aragorn. Oh, why bother with it at all. He could at least try to tolerate the little creatures.
* *
"Mmmm, you almost make sausages better than Cousin Bilbo does!" declared Frodo around a mouthful of the said food. Grease smeared the sides of his mouth and his fingers glistened with them as well.
"Well you know, he is a Gamgee, and they're all reasonably well to do cooks. Trained in the art of culinary when young, that's what my pa used to say." said Pippin taking his eyes away from Merry who was practicing blocking blows from Borormir's large sword, to gaze longingly at the food and smelling the aromatic aromas in the air.
"We would all be eating right now, but no! The Man from Gondor just has to force us to start learning how to defend ourselves. 'Boys work better when hungry' Boromir says. Humph! Well I shall contradict that," groaned Merry good naturedly as it was Pippin's turn again.
Frodo giggled and put down his plate and ran over to Merry. "I wanna try! I wanna try! I wanna kill dragons and goblins just like Cousin Bilbo!" he cried, jumping up and down, attempting to take the sword from Merry's hands.
"Oh no, you don't! Maybe you can try when you're a bit older, Mr. Frodo. Them swords look mighty sharp and 'eavy for a 'obbitling like you." said Sam pulling Frodo back to the rock ledge.
"But I have a sword at home. Cousin Bilbo said he got it from a friend named Balin when he came to visit so I could learn how to kill goblins," protested Frodo as Sam sat him down.
*
Legolas smiled as the gardener proceeded to try and convince the young Ringbearer to at least wait a few years. The little one was indeed adventurous and curious, no doubt gaining that quality from his dear 'Cousin Bilbo'. He remembered the news that he had gotten after returning home from a trip to Rivendell of all the havoc the thirteen dwarves had made. Meeting the hobbit gave him a whole new prospective of the dwarves and the 'trouble' they had caused. The Battle of Five Armies had certainly created big news in the land of Mirkwood for years to come, no doubt.
But it was certainly amazing to finally meet the old hobbit and hear the tale of his journeys from his own mouth.
He turned to see Mithrandir currently debating with Gimli, the dwarf, and frowned. But it was another matter to finally meet the son of a dwarf that had been imprisoned in his father's dungeons, another matter indeed. Sixty years certainly did not give enough time to settle old time grudges.
An indignant cry pierced the air, followed by a sincere enough apology. But apparently, the latter was ignored. A grunt was heard and mock battle cries and laughter soon followed. Legolas suppressed his own grin as he turned just in time to see Aragorn being flipped over by the two hobbits. He turned back to watch the afternoon sun over the mountains.
That is strange; I do not recall seeing that before, frowned Legolas mentally as he saw a small dark wisp of cloud enter his vision. Foreboding feelings began growing in his mind, "Aragorn!" he called out urgently and he pointed towards the source of his uneasiness.
All looked up, "What is that?" came the innocent question as Frodo stood up, shielding his bright blue eyes against the sun's glare.
"Ah, nothing but a whiff of cloud." replied the dwarf nonchalantly. Whatever dwarves are like, they certainly aren't the smartest beings, thought Legolas, biting back a retort to fire at the dwarf, who glanced back at him, as if awaiting one, so he could throw one back at him.
The Valar was with him as the Man interrupted, "But then it is traveling fast…and against the wind."
Legolas looked back again at the cloud. But it was a cloud no more. Instead, it was flecks of dots flying swiftly towards them on black wings. "Crebain from Dunland and Fangorn!" he cried out.
"Everyone! Hide!" shouted Aragorn.
As all began grabbing their things, Frodo stood still and cocked his head in curiosity, "Crebain? What are those?"
"Mr. Frodo! Quick hide!" shouted Sam, prepared to jump out of his bushes to rescue his master.
Sensing the sudden urgency, Frodo jumped from the rock ledge and began running towards the nearest hiding place (which was where Aragorn was) when he tripped again. The little hobbit went sprawling against the hard stone with a fwumph!
Frodo seemed like he was about to cry in a moment, when suddenly the tears stopped and the hurt disappeared from his eyes, replaced with sudden awe and fascination. A small hand reached out to grab something in front of him. The Ring had slipped out of his underneath his shirt. Still in awe, he sat up and looked at it in the light of the sun. "Wow," he whispered, "What a pretty ring." As if mesmerized, he began to put it on.
"No! Frodo don't!" shouted Aragorn, but it was too late. The little one disappeared as soon as the Ring went around his small finger.
*
The crebain circled around the formation of rocks. Something in their minds told them that what their master was searching for was near. With a sudden crow of victory, a small regiment of them dived down towards the direction of the feeling. Arrows unexpectedly started firing up at them, but by now, the whole flock had come down. Extended talons and beaks grasped the form of something small and began lifting up. There was a cry of shock and fear and a small being with wide blue eyes appeared in their clutches. In surprise, the birds nearly dropped their prize, but were able to stop themselves. Well, perhaps their master would praise and reward them if they brought back something of interest. So off they flew, towards the direction of the black tower, as arrows whizzed around them.
*
Aragorn and Legolasjumped up onto the rocks, still shooting their arrows towards the flock of birds, bringing them down, one-by-one. But they soon were out of even the Elven Prince's range, with Frodo in their clutches…and the Ring.
Was the fellowship to fail like this so quickly? Was this quest to be over so soon and so hideously? If Saruman were to get the Ring then there was no doubt that the news would soon get to Sauron's ears and then doom of Middle Earth will be sealed.
"Mr. Frodo! Where are they taking Mr. Frodo!?" cried out Sam, "We have to go after them!"
"They'll reach Isenguard and the wizard before we even get within leagues of them, there is no use in starting chase" growled Boromir, kicking one of the corpses of the dead carrion in frustration, "They have the Ring. We have failed, not only Middle Earth, but the Ringbearer as well."
"No, they don't have the Ring," came the voice of Pippin. All turned to the young hobbit.
"What are you talking about, laddie?" asked Gimli.
"They don't have it," said Pippin again.
"And why do you think that?"
There was a pause and Pippin held out his hand timidly, a small ring of gold showed in the palm of his hand, "Because I have it."