Chapter 4 - The Prancing Pony
anime princess: Thanks for your review! I know, the books are wonderful, but y'see I've only read them once, and I've seen the movie 27 times, so I know it a lot better. It just made writing this easier to use the movie. I should get to know the books better. . .and who knows? Maybe there will be some interaction between Frodo and Lexi. . . ^_~
Warnings: AU
Disclaimer: I don't own LotR. But maybe one day I can meet Pete Jackson and then I can talk to him about it and then I'll *feel* like I own LotR. Don't know how that would make me feel that way. . .but knowing me, I would.
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By the time they had reached Bree, Meridol wanted to collapse. They had been walking nonstop for the past few days, only breaking to eat. How she wished she were back in the Shire, with her bed and her home to stay in. She remembered how happy she had been, how perfectly content she would be now to simply wake every morning and go find Merry, so that she could wake him from whatever nap or thought he was caught in. A smile crept onto her face at the thought, and she stole a glance at the Brandybuck walking next to her. Merry. . .
After the gatekeeper had allowed them to pass, Meridol found herself walking along a narrow, muddy street surrounded by tall Men. They all looked the same to her: brusque and intimidating. She moved closer to the others.
It wasn't long, however, before they came upon one building with a sign hanging off of it that read: "The Prancing Pony". Frodo glanced at the others, then hurried across the street and entered. Meridol closed the door behind her, as she was the last one inside. It was warmer and cozier in this place. It strongly reminded her of The Green Dragon, a tavern in Bywater that she worked at. The only difference was the huge Men that crowded the main room.
The others followed Frodo as he cautiously approached the counter. No one was visible from where they stood. "Excuse me?" Frodo called softly. A jovial looking man appeared, spotting them and smiling warmly.
"Good evenin', little masters!" he greeted. "What can I do for you? If you're seeking accomodation, we've got some nice, cozy, Hobbit-sized rooms available. Always proud to cater to Little Folk, Mr. . .?"
Frodo hesitated. "Underhill. My name is Underhill." Meridol raised an eyebrow. Why in the Shire was he calling himself that? The man considered the name as Frodo continued, "We're friends of Gandalf the Grey. Can you tell him we've arrived?"
"Gandalf? Gandalf. . ." the man muttered, searching his brain. "Oh, yes, I remember! Elderly chap! Big grey beard, pointy hat." Frodo smiled. "Not seen him for six months." The smile faded. He turned worried eyes back to the others. They leaned in closer together.
"What do we do now?" Sam asked. "We can't just stay here without Gandalf, can we?"
"Why not?" Pippin said. "I mean, if Gandalf was going to meet you here, Frodo, he'll probably show up sometime. He has to! It's not really like him not to."
"You're right, Pip," Frodo agreed. "We shall have to wait here until he arrives. Perhaps he just got caught up, wherever he is. . ."
* * *
So Frodo paid for a room for them to stay in with five beds: one for each of the male Hobbits, and one for the two girls to share. Meridol felt a bit irritated at this, but said nothing to the matter. It really wasn't her decision, as she wasn't the one with the money to pay for the rooms in the first place.
They were now seated around a small table, drinking and eating, but not really talking at all. Being a bit out of place as it was, they didn't feel all too comfortable with trying to engage in private conversation in this place. All of the Men looked rather suspicious. But there was one in particular that caught Meridol's eye: a shady sort of Man sitting by himself in a corner, smoking a pipe. Though his head was hooded, when the firelight caught his eyes, she could tell he was staring at Frodo. She hoped that he wouldn't start looking at her, as she knew she would crack under such a heavy gaze.
Merry had been at the bar for the past fifteen minutes or so, but he now scrambled back to the table, a tall drink in his hand. Pippin spotted it and a strange gleam appeared in his eyes. "What's that?" he asked eagerly.
"This, my friend, is a pint," Merry told him, taking a sip. Pippin's eyes widened.
"It comes in pints?" he questioned incredulously. Merry made a sound of confirmation. Pippin gave Frodo a determined look. "I'm getting one!" and off he went. No one protested. What harm could he do if he was drunk?
"I hope Gandalf gets here soon," Lexi said suddenly, breaking the silence. "I don't like it here. There are too many of these Big Folk wandering around. They make me feel uneasy."
"Aye, me too," Meridol agreed. "Especially that one over there." She nodded her head to the mysterious man in the corner. "He's done nothing but stare at Frodo since we've arrived."
Lexi looked to Frodo, who was now peering uneasily at the man, who simply sat smoking his pipe, eyes still locked on the Hobbit's table. "Maybe. . .maybe he's never seen a Hobbit before," Lexi thought aloud.
Meridol shook her head. "No. . .I think he knows. . ."
"Knows what?" Lexi inquired, taking a sip of her drink.
"About Gandalf." Meridol was about to continue, but Frodo interrupted, stopping the innkeeper as he passed.
"Excuse me. That man in the corner, who is he?" he asked politely.
"Oh, he's one of them Rangers," the innkeeper replied, his look a bit foreboding. "Dangerous folk, they are, wanderin' the Wilds. What his right name is, I've never heard, but 'round here. . .he's known as Strider." Frodo contemplated this as the innkeeper walked off to serve another table. Everyone at the Hobbit table turned as Pippin's voice traveled across the room from the bar.
"Baggins? Sure I know a Baggins!" he cried, turning to point at Frodo. "He's over there! Frodo Baggins!" He turned back around. "He's my second cousin, once removed on his mother's side, and my third cousin, twice removed on his father's side, if you follow me."
Frodo stood quickly, hurrying over to where his drunken cousin sat. Pippin, taken by surprise, swung around, sending Frodo stumbling backwards. He fell, a golden ring flying out of his hand. The man in the corner sat up. Frodo reached up to catch the ring. It slid around one of his fingers and. . .he was gone.
Lexi, Meridol, Merry and Samwise stared in awe. Pippin turned back around, a look of confusion and worry on his face.
"Where did he go?" Lexi asked, running to where Frodo had disappeared. "Pippin! What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything!" Pippin insisted. "One minute he was there, and then he was gone! I don't know what happened! But I didn't do a thing!"
"Well, you must've done something!" Meridol snapped. "Hobbits don't simply disappear out of thin air, you know!"
"Look!" Sam piped up suddenly. He pointed across the room. The man in the corner had gotten out of his seat, and was now leading Frodo up the stairs. Sam turned to the others. "Quick, get something to fight with! We've got to help him!"
* * *
About fifteen minutes later, the five Hobbits were crowded around the door that this Strider fellow had taken Frodo into. Each had something in their hands: Merry had candles, Pippin a stool, and Meridol and Lexi each had a utensil from their table. Sam, however, was the only one without anything. He was too angry and eagar to get Frodo back to worry about such things.
"All right, on the count of three, we'll burst in, alright?" he said quietly. The others nodded. "One. . .two. . .three!" They burst through the door. Strider spun around, unsheathing a sword and pointing it at them. "Let him go! Or I'll have you, longshanks!" Sam shouted.
Strider sighed, putting the sword away. "You have a stout heart, little Hobbit. But that will not save you." He turned to Frodo. "You can no longer wait for the wizard, Frodo. They are coming."
Meridol leaned over to Lexi. "I told you he knew about Gandalf."
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A/N: I hope you like it! I know it's been a while since I've last updated, but I hope to get back to updating more often. But I also have two other stories that I have to work on, so I'll try to make some sort of system. Also, if anyone knows how to make words bold and italic and stuff, please tell me how. Ok, well, please review now! Merci!
anime princess: Thanks for your review! I know, the books are wonderful, but y'see I've only read them once, and I've seen the movie 27 times, so I know it a lot better. It just made writing this easier to use the movie. I should get to know the books better. . .and who knows? Maybe there will be some interaction between Frodo and Lexi. . . ^_~
Warnings: AU
Disclaimer: I don't own LotR. But maybe one day I can meet Pete Jackson and then I can talk to him about it and then I'll *feel* like I own LotR. Don't know how that would make me feel that way. . .but knowing me, I would.
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By the time they had reached Bree, Meridol wanted to collapse. They had been walking nonstop for the past few days, only breaking to eat. How she wished she were back in the Shire, with her bed and her home to stay in. She remembered how happy she had been, how perfectly content she would be now to simply wake every morning and go find Merry, so that she could wake him from whatever nap or thought he was caught in. A smile crept onto her face at the thought, and she stole a glance at the Brandybuck walking next to her. Merry. . .
After the gatekeeper had allowed them to pass, Meridol found herself walking along a narrow, muddy street surrounded by tall Men. They all looked the same to her: brusque and intimidating. She moved closer to the others.
It wasn't long, however, before they came upon one building with a sign hanging off of it that read: "The Prancing Pony". Frodo glanced at the others, then hurried across the street and entered. Meridol closed the door behind her, as she was the last one inside. It was warmer and cozier in this place. It strongly reminded her of The Green Dragon, a tavern in Bywater that she worked at. The only difference was the huge Men that crowded the main room.
The others followed Frodo as he cautiously approached the counter. No one was visible from where they stood. "Excuse me?" Frodo called softly. A jovial looking man appeared, spotting them and smiling warmly.
"Good evenin', little masters!" he greeted. "What can I do for you? If you're seeking accomodation, we've got some nice, cozy, Hobbit-sized rooms available. Always proud to cater to Little Folk, Mr. . .?"
Frodo hesitated. "Underhill. My name is Underhill." Meridol raised an eyebrow. Why in the Shire was he calling himself that? The man considered the name as Frodo continued, "We're friends of Gandalf the Grey. Can you tell him we've arrived?"
"Gandalf? Gandalf. . ." the man muttered, searching his brain. "Oh, yes, I remember! Elderly chap! Big grey beard, pointy hat." Frodo smiled. "Not seen him for six months." The smile faded. He turned worried eyes back to the others. They leaned in closer together.
"What do we do now?" Sam asked. "We can't just stay here without Gandalf, can we?"
"Why not?" Pippin said. "I mean, if Gandalf was going to meet you here, Frodo, he'll probably show up sometime. He has to! It's not really like him not to."
"You're right, Pip," Frodo agreed. "We shall have to wait here until he arrives. Perhaps he just got caught up, wherever he is. . ."
* * *
So Frodo paid for a room for them to stay in with five beds: one for each of the male Hobbits, and one for the two girls to share. Meridol felt a bit irritated at this, but said nothing to the matter. It really wasn't her decision, as she wasn't the one with the money to pay for the rooms in the first place.
They were now seated around a small table, drinking and eating, but not really talking at all. Being a bit out of place as it was, they didn't feel all too comfortable with trying to engage in private conversation in this place. All of the Men looked rather suspicious. But there was one in particular that caught Meridol's eye: a shady sort of Man sitting by himself in a corner, smoking a pipe. Though his head was hooded, when the firelight caught his eyes, she could tell he was staring at Frodo. She hoped that he wouldn't start looking at her, as she knew she would crack under such a heavy gaze.
Merry had been at the bar for the past fifteen minutes or so, but he now scrambled back to the table, a tall drink in his hand. Pippin spotted it and a strange gleam appeared in his eyes. "What's that?" he asked eagerly.
"This, my friend, is a pint," Merry told him, taking a sip. Pippin's eyes widened.
"It comes in pints?" he questioned incredulously. Merry made a sound of confirmation. Pippin gave Frodo a determined look. "I'm getting one!" and off he went. No one protested. What harm could he do if he was drunk?
"I hope Gandalf gets here soon," Lexi said suddenly, breaking the silence. "I don't like it here. There are too many of these Big Folk wandering around. They make me feel uneasy."
"Aye, me too," Meridol agreed. "Especially that one over there." She nodded her head to the mysterious man in the corner. "He's done nothing but stare at Frodo since we've arrived."
Lexi looked to Frodo, who was now peering uneasily at the man, who simply sat smoking his pipe, eyes still locked on the Hobbit's table. "Maybe. . .maybe he's never seen a Hobbit before," Lexi thought aloud.
Meridol shook her head. "No. . .I think he knows. . ."
"Knows what?" Lexi inquired, taking a sip of her drink.
"About Gandalf." Meridol was about to continue, but Frodo interrupted, stopping the innkeeper as he passed.
"Excuse me. That man in the corner, who is he?" he asked politely.
"Oh, he's one of them Rangers," the innkeeper replied, his look a bit foreboding. "Dangerous folk, they are, wanderin' the Wilds. What his right name is, I've never heard, but 'round here. . .he's known as Strider." Frodo contemplated this as the innkeeper walked off to serve another table. Everyone at the Hobbit table turned as Pippin's voice traveled across the room from the bar.
"Baggins? Sure I know a Baggins!" he cried, turning to point at Frodo. "He's over there! Frodo Baggins!" He turned back around. "He's my second cousin, once removed on his mother's side, and my third cousin, twice removed on his father's side, if you follow me."
Frodo stood quickly, hurrying over to where his drunken cousin sat. Pippin, taken by surprise, swung around, sending Frodo stumbling backwards. He fell, a golden ring flying out of his hand. The man in the corner sat up. Frodo reached up to catch the ring. It slid around one of his fingers and. . .he was gone.
Lexi, Meridol, Merry and Samwise stared in awe. Pippin turned back around, a look of confusion and worry on his face.
"Where did he go?" Lexi asked, running to where Frodo had disappeared. "Pippin! What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything!" Pippin insisted. "One minute he was there, and then he was gone! I don't know what happened! But I didn't do a thing!"
"Well, you must've done something!" Meridol snapped. "Hobbits don't simply disappear out of thin air, you know!"
"Look!" Sam piped up suddenly. He pointed across the room. The man in the corner had gotten out of his seat, and was now leading Frodo up the stairs. Sam turned to the others. "Quick, get something to fight with! We've got to help him!"
* * *
About fifteen minutes later, the five Hobbits were crowded around the door that this Strider fellow had taken Frodo into. Each had something in their hands: Merry had candles, Pippin a stool, and Meridol and Lexi each had a utensil from their table. Sam, however, was the only one without anything. He was too angry and eagar to get Frodo back to worry about such things.
"All right, on the count of three, we'll burst in, alright?" he said quietly. The others nodded. "One. . .two. . .three!" They burst through the door. Strider spun around, unsheathing a sword and pointing it at them. "Let him go! Or I'll have you, longshanks!" Sam shouted.
Strider sighed, putting the sword away. "You have a stout heart, little Hobbit. But that will not save you." He turned to Frodo. "You can no longer wait for the wizard, Frodo. They are coming."
Meridol leaned over to Lexi. "I told you he knew about Gandalf."
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A/N: I hope you like it! I know it's been a while since I've last updated, but I hope to get back to updating more often. But I also have two other stories that I have to work on, so I'll try to make some sort of system. Also, if anyone knows how to make words bold and italic and stuff, please tell me how. Ok, well, please review now! Merci!
