Hi, I'm jedi_baggins! Hobbit feet rock! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: As of yet in this fan fiction I only own Bregardan Cabinets, and Tago and Tibo Fairhand. I don't own that little song incert or LOTR. Though I want to if I ever get enough money. You think whoever owns it would be crazy enough to sell?
A/N: At the moment Frodo is about 21 and Merry is 8. He's been living in Brandyhall for 9 years, after his parents drowned in the Brandywine River. Now on with the tale!
Runaway
Chapter 1: It's Easier to Go
By: jedi_baggins
"It's easier to run, replacing this pain with something more. It's so much easier to go than face all this pain here all alone."- Meteora, Linkin Park
Frodo POV, On the Road, August 21, 1389 Shire Reckoning (S.R.), 5:55 A.M.
I'm running away, away from Brandyhall, away from memories, away from pain. Bilbo doesn't love me. If Bilbo did why was I at Brandyhall? I didn't exactly tell Bilbo what was going on, but Bilbo could've easily figured it out. No, Bilbo doesn't care. No one cares about me, not since my parents died.
It was raining that day. He ran along the path in blind rage and sorrow. I don't have a real home, sure I lived at Brandyhall but it isn't my home. Because a home is a place where you belonged. I don't belong anywhere. I don't fit in.
I tried and tried again but I am constantly rejected. I have to keep running. With all the people at Brandyhall it's likely my disappearance will go unnoticed for a few days. I have to be far from Buckland by then.
As I rush along the path I feel the silent tears streaming down my face. I miss my parents. Even after 9 years it still hurt. It had been really hard that first year, learning that no one was there to tell me stories, to counsel me after nightmares, to love me.
And then I moved to Brandyhall where things were supposed to get better. My aunts and uncles and cousins welcomed me at first, at least most of them. Then gradually they forgot about me in the hustle and bustle of their own busy lives.
But then my first and second, once or twice removed either way cousin, Bilbo started to visit me more often. I was so happy when Bilbo came to visit. I thought Bilbo came because he loved me like a son. But I thought wrong.
Dawn is coming fast. I begin to look for a secure place to sleep. I find a secluded place a small ways from the road, thick with trees. After eating a small "supper" I drift off into a fitful sleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bilbo, Arriving at Brandyhall, August 21, 1389 S.R., 9:30 A.M.
Today was a good day. He had just finished a pleasant ride from Hobbiton to Buckland and had decided to surprise Frodo with a visit. Bilbo was excited. He loved to visit his little cousin. Frodo had a wonderful imagination, a good heart, and spirit.
He knocked on the door and was greeted by little Pervincia Took.
"Hi Nuncle Bibo!"
"Hello Pervincia. Can I speak with your uncle Saradoc?"
She nodded and ran off. After a few minutes Saradoc greeted Bilbo with a hug. "It's good to see, Bilbo." "Good to see you too!"
"Did you come to see Frodo?"
"Yes."
"The lad will be overjoyed when he hears. Now you go and find the rascal."
"Thank you, Saradoc."
With that Bilbo went to look for Frodo in the usual places: the backyard, the library, the pantry. After looking for half an hour Bilbo began to worry. Then he went to Frodo's room.
It didn't look right somehow, a few very important items were missing. A family portrait drawn before Frodo's parents died and the two last gifts Frodo got from them. Bilbo knew Frodo took the utmost care of them and only took them somewhere else if he expected to stay overnight. Something wasn't right. An hour later.
"Saradoc, I can't find Frodo!"
"What! He didn't say anything about going anywhere. He's got to be around here somewhere."
"I've looked all over the place, asked practically everybody and I still can't find him! Was he at Breakfast today?"
"Well, No come to think of it."
"What about 2nd breakfast! Elevenses!"
"No but, Frodo doesn't normally have 2nd Breakfast or Elevenses. He's got a small appetite."
"Where could he be?"
"Calm down, Bilbo. There's no need to panic. Frodo probably took breakfast outside this morning and stayed out there."
"But I already checked the backyard!"
"Don't worry! He probably went off grounds. He'll be back for lunch. Young hobbits always are."
"But"
"We'll ask Merry of his whereabouts if it'll calm your nerves. Frodo and Merry are good friends."
"Oh, alright!"
This wasn't good. Not good at all. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Merry POV, his bedroom playing blocks, August 21, 1389, 10:30 A.M.
I'm mad. Why can't I go have 'ventures with Frodo? He said I'm to little and I don't have a reason to run away. I'm not to little and I do to have a reason. I want to be with big cousin Frodo, have 'ventures, and show everyone that I'm big too.
He also told me that I have 'sponcibilities and have to be master of Buckland when I grow up. He told me I had take care of our baby cousin when he or she comes. Frodo told me that I have take care of him and make sure people don't pick on him and teach all sorts of stuff that Frodo taught me like how to pick the pantry lock or steal mushrooms and play pranks on his older sisters.
Frodo and me think it'll be a him because I need a little boy cousin to teach me 'sponcibility. I told Frodo that I needed a little boy cousin to play with and teach and that 'sponcibility got nothing to do with it.
Frodo told me that I taught him 'sponcibility. I asked him how and he said because big cousins protect little cousins. I didn't get it. He said I'd understand soon.
I told him that I should go with him because I needed to take care of him. He told me that I would miss my mum and dad. After he told me that I decided to stay but asked Frodo why he was leaving. Wouldn't he miss me?
Frodo said, "Of course I'll miss you but I need to go because I don't have a mum and dad like you."
"But you have Bilbo. He's your big cousin so he needs to take care you."
"I don't want to talk about it. If you really want to know ask Lotho." Lotho was visiting Buckland because he had a friend there. Frodo continued, "I got to go now. I'll miss you very much. I love you like brother, Merry. When our little cousin comes tell him about me and that I love him too. O.K.?"
"O.K., Frodo. I love you too. Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Merry." Then I gave him a hug and he slipped out my window.
Now, that its morning I wish I had gone with him. 'Ventures would be so much fun. I think I'll talk to Lotho cause I want to know what's going on. I don't like Lotho. I think he's nasty. I don't know what he has to do with anything.
Before I got up to talk to Lotho, I heard a knock on my door. I got up to answer it and there was Bilbo and my dad.
"Hi, daddy and Bilbo."
Daddy says, "Merry, do you know where Frodo is?"
"Why?"
I thought. Frodo told me not to tell anyone where he was going and to say he went to Tago and Tibo's if anyone asked.
"He went to Tago and Tibo Fairhand's house." Tago and Tibo were Frodo's friends from the northern outskirts of Bywater.
"With out telling me. That's not like Frodo."
Bilbo says, "Merry, why did Frodo leave without telling your father?"
I had to think for a second. "Tago and Tibo surprised him early this morning, invited him over, and said they wouldn't take no for an answer. You were all asleep and Frodo didn't want to wake you up so he told me cause I was up playing blocks. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner but I was still kinda tired and I forgot."
Daddy says, "Forgiven, lad." With that Daddy and Uncle Bilbo left. I gave a sigh of relief. It's a good thing I can think on my feet.
Now to find Lotho. I decided the best place to look would be outside because Lotho liked to play out there with that friend of his Bregardan Cabinets or Breg for short. I don't like Breg because he is mean to me and several other younger hobbits.
"Lotho! Lotho!"
"What is it ye want Brandy Brat."
That was him and Breg's nickname for me. I don't like to be called names and if I had thought I could stand a chance against them I woulda wopped 'em good. As it was they were tweenagers and I was just little Merry-lad.
"I would like to ask you a question."
"Did you hear that Breg? Little Brandy Brat has come down from his high position as heir to the Master of Buckland to ask a question of us lower- folk."
What I wouldn't give to see Lotho and Breg with black eyes.
Breg answered in a very intimidating way, "So I did. Well, Brandy Brat? Ask us the question and maybe we'll give ye the answer."
"I was talking to Frodo earlier and I said that since Bilbo is Frodo's big cousin he needs to take care of Frodo. Frodo said he didn't want to talk about it and that I should ask you if I really wanted to know. And so I'm asking you."
Lotho began, "Bilbo can't take care of Frodo because he's got to take
care of me."
"What?!?"
"I'm Bilbo's heir and I live nearer to him. Or did ye not notice the Baggins part of my last name?"
I looked at him in shock.
"Bilbo just takes a bit a pity on Frodo because he ain't got no parents."
I got out of my dazed state and felt rage building inside me. "You're lying!"
"Well that's hardly fair. Don't you think Breg? He ought to be grateful to me for enlightening him a bit. It's not my fault Bilbo loves me more than Frodo. And besides Brandy Brat if I was lying what could ye do about it?"
That's the last straw. I punch Lotho in the stomach.
"Ow! So that's how ye would have it, Brandy Brat"
Breg grabbs me from behind and holds me tight then Lotho punches me in the stomach. Blazing pain. I squirm out of Breg's grasp and run for the door and to my room where I lock my door.
How could Frodo believe those bullies? Lotho had to be making it up. Then again... When I first met Lotho their parents had been present and Lotho acted so angelic that I would've thought he was nice except for the fact that Lotho was Breg's friend.
Maybe Lotho fooled Bilbo into believing he was the perfect little boy. Or maybe he tricked Frodo. This was confusing.
What I'm going to do? Well, that wasn't the only reason Frodo left. After all there was Breg and the loneliness and not having any one to care for him and well, lot's of stuff. Better just make sure no one notices Frodo's run away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hmm. That was an interesting chapter. Well, please review. I think Merry is rather cute at this age. I'm so proud of him for punching Lotho. Go Merry! Much more to come. I'm out. jedi_baggins
Disclaimer: As of yet in this fan fiction I only own Bregardan Cabinets, and Tago and Tibo Fairhand. I don't own that little song incert or LOTR. Though I want to if I ever get enough money. You think whoever owns it would be crazy enough to sell?
A/N: At the moment Frodo is about 21 and Merry is 8. He's been living in Brandyhall for 9 years, after his parents drowned in the Brandywine River. Now on with the tale!
Runaway
Chapter 1: It's Easier to Go
By: jedi_baggins
"It's easier to run, replacing this pain with something more. It's so much easier to go than face all this pain here all alone."- Meteora, Linkin Park
Frodo POV, On the Road, August 21, 1389 Shire Reckoning (S.R.), 5:55 A.M.
I'm running away, away from Brandyhall, away from memories, away from pain. Bilbo doesn't love me. If Bilbo did why was I at Brandyhall? I didn't exactly tell Bilbo what was going on, but Bilbo could've easily figured it out. No, Bilbo doesn't care. No one cares about me, not since my parents died.
It was raining that day. He ran along the path in blind rage and sorrow. I don't have a real home, sure I lived at Brandyhall but it isn't my home. Because a home is a place where you belonged. I don't belong anywhere. I don't fit in.
I tried and tried again but I am constantly rejected. I have to keep running. With all the people at Brandyhall it's likely my disappearance will go unnoticed for a few days. I have to be far from Buckland by then.
As I rush along the path I feel the silent tears streaming down my face. I miss my parents. Even after 9 years it still hurt. It had been really hard that first year, learning that no one was there to tell me stories, to counsel me after nightmares, to love me.
And then I moved to Brandyhall where things were supposed to get better. My aunts and uncles and cousins welcomed me at first, at least most of them. Then gradually they forgot about me in the hustle and bustle of their own busy lives.
But then my first and second, once or twice removed either way cousin, Bilbo started to visit me more often. I was so happy when Bilbo came to visit. I thought Bilbo came because he loved me like a son. But I thought wrong.
Dawn is coming fast. I begin to look for a secure place to sleep. I find a secluded place a small ways from the road, thick with trees. After eating a small "supper" I drift off into a fitful sleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bilbo, Arriving at Brandyhall, August 21, 1389 S.R., 9:30 A.M.
Today was a good day. He had just finished a pleasant ride from Hobbiton to Buckland and had decided to surprise Frodo with a visit. Bilbo was excited. He loved to visit his little cousin. Frodo had a wonderful imagination, a good heart, and spirit.
He knocked on the door and was greeted by little Pervincia Took.
"Hi Nuncle Bibo!"
"Hello Pervincia. Can I speak with your uncle Saradoc?"
She nodded and ran off. After a few minutes Saradoc greeted Bilbo with a hug. "It's good to see, Bilbo." "Good to see you too!"
"Did you come to see Frodo?"
"Yes."
"The lad will be overjoyed when he hears. Now you go and find the rascal."
"Thank you, Saradoc."
With that Bilbo went to look for Frodo in the usual places: the backyard, the library, the pantry. After looking for half an hour Bilbo began to worry. Then he went to Frodo's room.
It didn't look right somehow, a few very important items were missing. A family portrait drawn before Frodo's parents died and the two last gifts Frodo got from them. Bilbo knew Frodo took the utmost care of them and only took them somewhere else if he expected to stay overnight. Something wasn't right. An hour later.
"Saradoc, I can't find Frodo!"
"What! He didn't say anything about going anywhere. He's got to be around here somewhere."
"I've looked all over the place, asked practically everybody and I still can't find him! Was he at Breakfast today?"
"Well, No come to think of it."
"What about 2nd breakfast! Elevenses!"
"No but, Frodo doesn't normally have 2nd Breakfast or Elevenses. He's got a small appetite."
"Where could he be?"
"Calm down, Bilbo. There's no need to panic. Frodo probably took breakfast outside this morning and stayed out there."
"But I already checked the backyard!"
"Don't worry! He probably went off grounds. He'll be back for lunch. Young hobbits always are."
"But"
"We'll ask Merry of his whereabouts if it'll calm your nerves. Frodo and Merry are good friends."
"Oh, alright!"
This wasn't good. Not good at all. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Merry POV, his bedroom playing blocks, August 21, 1389, 10:30 A.M.
I'm mad. Why can't I go have 'ventures with Frodo? He said I'm to little and I don't have a reason to run away. I'm not to little and I do to have a reason. I want to be with big cousin Frodo, have 'ventures, and show everyone that I'm big too.
He also told me that I have 'sponcibilities and have to be master of Buckland when I grow up. He told me I had take care of our baby cousin when he or she comes. Frodo told me that I have take care of him and make sure people don't pick on him and teach all sorts of stuff that Frodo taught me like how to pick the pantry lock or steal mushrooms and play pranks on his older sisters.
Frodo and me think it'll be a him because I need a little boy cousin to teach me 'sponcibility. I told Frodo that I needed a little boy cousin to play with and teach and that 'sponcibility got nothing to do with it.
Frodo told me that I taught him 'sponcibility. I asked him how and he said because big cousins protect little cousins. I didn't get it. He said I'd understand soon.
I told him that I should go with him because I needed to take care of him. He told me that I would miss my mum and dad. After he told me that I decided to stay but asked Frodo why he was leaving. Wouldn't he miss me?
Frodo said, "Of course I'll miss you but I need to go because I don't have a mum and dad like you."
"But you have Bilbo. He's your big cousin so he needs to take care you."
"I don't want to talk about it. If you really want to know ask Lotho." Lotho was visiting Buckland because he had a friend there. Frodo continued, "I got to go now. I'll miss you very much. I love you like brother, Merry. When our little cousin comes tell him about me and that I love him too. O.K.?"
"O.K., Frodo. I love you too. Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Merry." Then I gave him a hug and he slipped out my window.
Now, that its morning I wish I had gone with him. 'Ventures would be so much fun. I think I'll talk to Lotho cause I want to know what's going on. I don't like Lotho. I think he's nasty. I don't know what he has to do with anything.
Before I got up to talk to Lotho, I heard a knock on my door. I got up to answer it and there was Bilbo and my dad.
"Hi, daddy and Bilbo."
Daddy says, "Merry, do you know where Frodo is?"
"Why?"
I thought. Frodo told me not to tell anyone where he was going and to say he went to Tago and Tibo's if anyone asked.
"He went to Tago and Tibo Fairhand's house." Tago and Tibo were Frodo's friends from the northern outskirts of Bywater.
"With out telling me. That's not like Frodo."
Bilbo says, "Merry, why did Frodo leave without telling your father?"
I had to think for a second. "Tago and Tibo surprised him early this morning, invited him over, and said they wouldn't take no for an answer. You were all asleep and Frodo didn't want to wake you up so he told me cause I was up playing blocks. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner but I was still kinda tired and I forgot."
Daddy says, "Forgiven, lad." With that Daddy and Uncle Bilbo left. I gave a sigh of relief. It's a good thing I can think on my feet.
Now to find Lotho. I decided the best place to look would be outside because Lotho liked to play out there with that friend of his Bregardan Cabinets or Breg for short. I don't like Breg because he is mean to me and several other younger hobbits.
"Lotho! Lotho!"
"What is it ye want Brandy Brat."
That was him and Breg's nickname for me. I don't like to be called names and if I had thought I could stand a chance against them I woulda wopped 'em good. As it was they were tweenagers and I was just little Merry-lad.
"I would like to ask you a question."
"Did you hear that Breg? Little Brandy Brat has come down from his high position as heir to the Master of Buckland to ask a question of us lower- folk."
What I wouldn't give to see Lotho and Breg with black eyes.
Breg answered in a very intimidating way, "So I did. Well, Brandy Brat? Ask us the question and maybe we'll give ye the answer."
"I was talking to Frodo earlier and I said that since Bilbo is Frodo's big cousin he needs to take care of Frodo. Frodo said he didn't want to talk about it and that I should ask you if I really wanted to know. And so I'm asking you."
Lotho began, "Bilbo can't take care of Frodo because he's got to take
care of me."
"What?!?"
"I'm Bilbo's heir and I live nearer to him. Or did ye not notice the Baggins part of my last name?"
I looked at him in shock.
"Bilbo just takes a bit a pity on Frodo because he ain't got no parents."
I got out of my dazed state and felt rage building inside me. "You're lying!"
"Well that's hardly fair. Don't you think Breg? He ought to be grateful to me for enlightening him a bit. It's not my fault Bilbo loves me more than Frodo. And besides Brandy Brat if I was lying what could ye do about it?"
That's the last straw. I punch Lotho in the stomach.
"Ow! So that's how ye would have it, Brandy Brat"
Breg grabbs me from behind and holds me tight then Lotho punches me in the stomach. Blazing pain. I squirm out of Breg's grasp and run for the door and to my room where I lock my door.
How could Frodo believe those bullies? Lotho had to be making it up. Then again... When I first met Lotho their parents had been present and Lotho acted so angelic that I would've thought he was nice except for the fact that Lotho was Breg's friend.
Maybe Lotho fooled Bilbo into believing he was the perfect little boy. Or maybe he tricked Frodo. This was confusing.
What I'm going to do? Well, that wasn't the only reason Frodo left. After all there was Breg and the loneliness and not having any one to care for him and well, lot's of stuff. Better just make sure no one notices Frodo's run away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hmm. That was an interesting chapter. Well, please review. I think Merry is rather cute at this age. I'm so proud of him for punching Lotho. Go Merry! Much more to come. I'm out. jedi_baggins