Letter One--Frodo

It was a crisp fall day when Frodo awoke to the sound of a clamor coming from Bag End's kitchen. Startled, he jolted out of bed, and hurried in his nightclothes to see what had happened.

Rubbing his eyes of sleep, he padded into the large room, and his mouth dropped open at the sight that greeted him.

Frodo's favorite cousin, Merry Brandybuck, stood at the stove cooking what appeared to be his best effort at a breakfast: smoking sausage and browning eggs. Frodo could smell the ashy aroma coming towards him and wrinkled his pointed nose.

"Good morning, Frodo!" Called Pippin happily. "Merry and I are making breakfast!" Frodo's cousins were staying with for the day while their parents went to market and visited their Hobbiton friends, so his life had certainly been more frantic as of late.

"I can...see that, Pippin-love," Frodo smiled. "Would you care for some help?" Merry thought for a minute, and then nodded. Frodo joined his cousin at the stove and prepared to salvage their burnt food.

Soon Frodo had managed to convince Merry, that although he appreciated his efforts to cook, the scrambled eggs were better left abandoned. Most of the sausages could be saved, and Pippin delighted in helping prepare the thick toast with gobs of butter. Frodo cooked some wonderful omelets with mushrooms, and the three cousins sat down soon after, and began to eat and talk with hobbity relish.

"Oh, Frodo," Merry said conversationally, his mouth full of food, "I almost forgot to mention, Pip and I got the morning post for you." Pippin smiled proudly.

"Thank you, lads. Where did you put it?" Merry handed Frodo the small pile while his cousin sifted through it. There were only three letters. One was from, to Frodo's mild embarrassment, his Aunt Menegilda back at Buckland. It was a recipe for her famous chicken broth, one of the only things that seemed to help his dreadful head colds. The recipe was a secret, and Bilbo had been one of the few privy to it, but Frodo had never learned it, himself. He smiled, and opened the next letter. It was from Lobelia. He scowled, and immediately threw it in the rubbish. But the last letter caught his eye, and he picked it up curiously.

The envelope was blank, except for his name elegantly written in gold script, and was on fine parchment flecked with tiny bits of silver. Merry and Pippin oohed and aahed while Frodo gingerly opened it, and began to read.

My Dearest, the letter began,

I suppose I must begin with an apology. I should have written you sooner, and I know I should get right to explaining why I have not.

As I assume you know, I am in Rivendell. Lord Elrond is a most gracious host, and I have settled in quite nicely. My room is larger than the whole of Bag End, it seems! It is certainly unusual to be surrounded day in and day out by things that were made for the Big Folk, and not hobbits such as ourselves. But, as usual, I digress.

I suppose time passes differently in Imladris than it does in the Shire. There is an elvish way about it, you know, and you seem to forget the passing of days and hours. The elves are used to it, but your old uncle is not, and before I knew it almost two weeks had passed without a word to you. I cannot apologize more profusely, my dearest boy, and I have requested a calendar and pocket watch from Lord Elrond so this unfortunate situation will not happen in the future. I'm afraid that I am becoming increasingly forgetful, and did not remember to bring either with me on my journey.

I truly wish you could see Rivendell, my lad. It looks much the same as it did when I saw it for the first time, but sadder, somehow. The leaves are a muted red and gold, and I have never before seen autumn touch this elven city. A truly curious thing.

But enough about me. How are you doing, now? I miss you dreadfully, and I think of you at every spare moment. There are quite a few of those here, let me tell you. Tell me everything you are up to. I do not care if you find it mundane, I never realized how much I miss home, and any news of it will be greatly appreciated.

I'm afraid there is not much more to say, as the comings and goings here are few, and I have spent most of my time on the journey, in my room, or with Lord Elrond. I cannot wait to finally discover my way around this maze that is Imladris, and to meet the sons and lovely daughter Elrond talks so highly of. I speak of you to him often, and he seems just as interested in the Shire folk as I am in the elves!

Once again, I miss you more than I can say. Send my fondest regards to the Gamgees, especially your Sam and the dear Gaffer. And make sure those cousins of yours stay out of mischief!

Your Own Uncle Bilbo

Frodo put the letter down, grinning from ear to ear. Merry and Pippin both began talking at once, as Frodo had been reading it to them.

Frodo sighed happily, and sat down while they continued on, half listening. He touched the letter reverently, his mind already forming a reply.

FIN

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A/N: Sorry this is so short! I promise future chapters will be longer, as
the story finds its flow. ^_^

---Mel