A/N- Wow, the big 1-0. I can't believe that I've written ten chapters. First of all, I would like to thank you all for the lovely reviews. They have been wonderful. Keep up the good work!
Second of all, I would like to apologize that the past few chapters have been so unimaginative. I'm just trying to get to Bree, and once I get everybody there, the real fun begins. So, now that that end is in sight, I'm just trying to get there ASAP. So you'll only have to deal with a little bit more movie talk. Then Bree and a major plot twist!
So, sit back, enjoy the show, and please review!!!
Chapter 10- A Shortcut to Mushrooms
The three hobbits and wizard set out just as the first rays of the sun were lighting up the sky. Gandalf led the way with his horse, and Frodo, Anya, and Sam trailed along behind him. They walked until mid-morning, mostly in silence. Finally, they reached the spot where they would have to part ways.
"Be careful, all of you. The enemy has many spies: birds, beasts." Gandalf turned to face the hobbits with his last words of advice. "Is it safe?" he asked Frodo.
Frodo lifted his eyes to meet Gandalf's, standing so tall over him. He placed his hand over his vest pocket where he had placed the Ring. It had been an unspoken agreement between the twins that Frodo would be the one to carry the Ring.
Gandalf knelt before Frodo to look him in the eye evenly. "Never put it on; for the agents of the Dark Lord will be drawn to its power. Always remember Frodo…the Ring is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found." Gandalf straightened and patted Frodo's shoulder in farewell. He glanced at Anya and Sam, nodding slightly, then climbed on his horse and quickly rode off.
The hobbits stood in silence for a moment. A bird squawked nearby, causing Frodo to jump and look around skittishly. With a glance to Sam and Anya, he sighed, trying to settle his nerves, and then struck out in their own direction.
Because they had to stay off of the road, the hobbits were cutting across country to reach Bree. In a way that was nicer, because it gave them a chance to see everything that the Shire had to offer. In the following days the trio passed through farmland and wild fields, passed under waterfalls and through cornfields.
While passing through one such cornfield Anya found herself a little on edge, as though she were expecting something to happen. While they had all been mildly on guard while traveling, the fact that they were still in the Shire kept the hobbits from becoming too concerned about their safety. But while passing through Farmer Maggot's fields, Anya couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen.
Lost in her thoughts, Anya didn't notice that the trio had become separated in the large corn field. Hearing shouting up ahead, she rushed forward, nearly colliding with her brother as they ran in the direction of Sam's frantic calls.
"I thought I'd lost you," Sam said as the twins came into view.
"What are you talking about?" Frodo asked, mildly concerned by Sam's behavior.
"It's just something Gandalf said," Sam replied, trying to blow the whole thing off.
The twins, however, weren't going to let that happen. "What did he say?" Anya asked, peering at Sam with some concern herself.
"Don't you lose 'em, Samwise Gamgee. And I don't mean to," he answered.
Frodo laughed. "Sam, we're still in the Shire. What could possibly happen?"
Just then, a figure burst through the cornstalks, knocking Sam over. Frodo had just enough time to stare at him, confused, before someone came crashing into him as well. Anya jumped back, narrowly avoiding the tangle of hobbits at her feet.
As the hobbits fought to untangle themselves, Anya saw who had crashed into Frodo and Sam. She sighed, rubbing her forehead. Leave it to their cousins to show up at the most unexpected times.
"Frodo," Pippin said, surprised to see his older cousin underneath him. "Look Merry, it's Frodo Baggins."
"Hello, Frodo," Merry said as he helped Sam to his feet.
"Pippin," Anya half-growled, pulling Pippin off of her brother by his collar, while Sam helped Frodo to his feet. Merry and Pippin began to pick up what they had dropped when they had smashed into their friends.
"What's the meaning of this?" Frodo asked as Merry filled Sam's arms with vegetables.
"You've been into Farmer Maggot's crop!" Anya accused as the sound of barking dogs and shouting reached their ears. A sickle could be seen over the tall corn heading in their direction.
"You get back here!" Farmer Maggot shouted. Merry grabbed Frodo's vest and pulled him into the corn stalks. Pippin had already taken off and Anya followed. Sam stood frozen in place as the shouting continued.
"Get out of my field! You'll know the devil if I catch up with you!" Sam came to his senses suddenly and dropped the vegetables that he had been holding, then turned and followed the others into the stalks.
"I don't know why he's so upset. It's only a couple of carrots," Merry yelled.
"And some cabbages. And those three bags of potatoes that we lifted last week. And then the mushrooms the week before," Pippin helpfully pointed out.
"Yes Pippin," Merry replied, sounding irritated. "My point is… he's clearly overreacting!"
The four cousins came to a screeching halt as they reached the edge of the field, which happened to overlook a steep hill. Sam, however, didn't see them stop, and barreled into them, sending all five of them over the edge.
They finally came to a stop at the bottom in a massive heap, coughing and sputtering dirt and grass.
"Oh, that was close," Pippin said, his face only inches away from a pile of fresh cow dung.
"I think I've broken something," Merry groaned, reaching behind his back and pulling out a broken carrot.
"Trust a Brandybuck and a Took!" Sam grumbled as he straightened up.
"What? That was just a detour. A short cut," Merry explained, sitting up.
"A short cut to what?" Sam asked darkly, brushing off his clothes.
"Mushrooms!" Pippin exclaimed, spotting a small pile not far away. As he started to get up Sam and Merry pushed him back down as the three of them stumbled over themselves to reach the mushrooms.
Frodo and Anya brushed themselves off, making sure that they weren't missing anything nor had any hidden injuries. Looking around them, they both began to recognize where they had landed. Remembering Gandalf's warnings, they turned to the others who were bagging up the mushrooms.
"I think we should get off the road," Frodo said. The boys ignored him and continued what they were doing.
Anya glanced at Frodo, a bad feeling growing in her gut. They exchanged a look of caution and suddenly a strange shriek filled the air. Their gazes snapped back to the road. The road seemed to shrink around them as the wind rustled the leaves at their feet.
"Something's coming," Anya muttered, the bad feeling in her gut exploding into full alarm, although she wasn't entirely sure why. "Get off the road! Quick!" She urged forcefully, fear in her voice. The others complied and they all jumped off over the edge of the road, taking shelter under an alcove of tree roots. Merry, Pippin, and Sam continued to paw over their gathered mushrooms, but Frodo and Anya sat tensed, waiting to see what the danger was that they were both feeling strongly.
"Be quiet," Sam hissed suddenly, hearing hoof beats overhead and all of a sudden felt the abnormal silence that had fallen over the forest. They all grew still and silent as a snorting horse could be heard stopping over them.
Heavy feet hit the ground with a clang, and Frodo could see them through a small gap in the roots. Whatever it was knelt over the roots and sniffed deeply, like a bloodhound on the trail of its prey.
None of the hobbits moved. They could all sense the strange evil about this traveler. The worms and bugs around them squirmed and slithered faster than normal, burrowing deep into the earth as though trying to escape the presence of this thing.
As though being controlled by an unseen force, Frodo pulled the ring out of his pocket. He suddenly longed very much to put it on and disappear. Closing his eyes, he toyed with it for a moment, two wills battling inside of him. He knew that he couldn't put it on, and yet…Not really thinking about what he was doing, Frodo slipped the ring closer to his finger.
Looking at him suddenly, Anya realized what was happening. Sam also looked over at Frodo, and at the same moment both of them grabbed at him, breaking his trance. With a slight gasp, Frodo drew the ring back, clinching it tight within his fist.
Feeling the need to get away from whatever was above them, Merry threw a chunk of wood off into the distance. As expected, the creature heard the crash of the wood and took off after the sound. As soon as it had gone, Merry and Pippin took off running. Anya followed them, pausing only long enough to turn and see Sam haul a dazed Frodo to his feet, and they all took off running.
They paused some ways off the catch their breath, and Merry half fell, half collapsed onto the ground. "What was that?" he exclaimed. Only silence and heavy breathing answered his question as their eyes fell on Frodo's back. Anya watched her brother carefully as he stood there breathing hard. She walked to his side as he slowly unclenched his fist and stared at the ring, sitting so innocently in his hand. He felt sickened by what he had nearly done, and an expression of horror was written on his face. Slowly, he raised his eyes to meet Anya's, and with an unspoken agreement, they all continued into the forest.
Just a few short hours later, night had fallen, submersing the running hobbits in total darkness. Running through the forest cautiously, they kept a sharp eye out for the rider in black that had been casing them. They had caught a few more glimpses of him in the forest, but none as close as the first.
"Anything?" Sam called as they paused to look around.
Frodo had ended up at the head of the group, leading them through the forest. Since he was the oldest cousin and knew his way around the forest better than the others, he had taken the lead. Anya followed closely behind him, with the other three staying behind them.
"Nothing," Frodo replied, with a small sigh of relief.
"What is going on?" Pippin asked. He and Merry had already voiced similar questions several times, but Frodo and Anya felt it best to wait until they were out of immediate danger to say anything.
By now, however, Merry had begun to figure out at least a little of their problem. "That black rider was looking for something. Or someone." He stepped up to Frodo's side. "Frodo?"
Frodo gave Merry a look that was full of tired emotion. He desperately wanted to tell his dear cousin something, but now just wasn't the time. And he also knew that if Merry and Pippin knew what was going on, they would insist on coming along. It was bad enough that he had to lead his sister through this danger, but his two closest friends as well…Frodo could not stand to think of it. Not to even mention the fact that this was the future Thain and the future Master of Buckland that was at risk.
But Pippin's sudden shout saved Frodo from any immediate explanation. All of the hobbits hit the ground as a Black Rider was spotted nearby. As it rode off, Frodo realized that he may have to have his cousins' help in order to fulfill his goal.
"Anni and I must leave the Shire," Frodo said in a whisper. Merry looked at him sharply. Leave the Shire? That was pretty much unheard of. Thousands of questions raced through his mind, but Frodo's next words set the wheels spinning in a different motion. "We must get to Bree."
"Right," Merry said slowly, when suddenly his eyes lit up with an idea. "Bucklebury Ferry. Follow me."
One after the other, the hobbits took off running, following Merry to the ferry. Suddenly, a Black Rider appeared out of nowhere, cutting them off. For once however, the hobbits' small size worked to their advantage, for they were able to dodge and turn more quickly than the large horse.
"This way! Follow me!" Merry shouted, getting around the horse and running again. Pippin and Sam followed him. Anya and Frodo were having a harder time getting around the horse than the others. The horse and its rider seemed intent on Frodo, and seemed to know where he was and where he was going at all times. Anya had been following Frodo, trying to find a way around the huge horse. Finally, Frodo pushed Anya in one direction while he dove in the other. As he expected, the horse went after Frodo, giving Anya a chance to run for the ferry. Seconds later, Frodo made it around the horse and ran after his sister.
Merry, Pippin, and Sam ran towards the ferry and hopped over the short fence that stood in their way. They made it to the ferry and began to untie the ropes that bound it to the dock. They all began to yell for Frodo and Anya to hurry.
Just as Sam was getting to the ropes, Anya made it to the ferry, sliding to a stop behind Merry.
"Run Frodo, come on!" She shouted. Frodo was running hard, with the Black Rider hot on his tail.
"Go!" Frodo shouted as he neared the ferry. Sam pushed off of the dock and all of the hobbits yelled Frodo on. Sam held out his hand as they got further from the dock.
"Jump!" Pippin yelled as Frodo reached the end of the dock. Frodo jumped without even pausing and careened into Sam, sending them both to the floor of the ferry. He had jumped with so much force that his landing into Sam nearly pushed Anya off of the ferry, as she was standing almost directly behind them.
The horse slid to a stop on the dock. It neighed and the rider screamed as it turned and went back up the dock.
"How far to the nearest crossing?" Frodo asked breathlessly.
"The Brandywine Bridge. Twenty miles," Merry answered.
Sam pulled Frodo to his feet and all of the hobbits stared as the horseman started up the road and was joined by two others. Their hearts filled with dread as the riders let out an unearthly screech and rode in the same direction that they themselves were heading. As Merry and Pippin manned the ferry the others settled in for what was to be a very long ride.