AN: Just a note--for those that read the last chapter when it first came
up--well-I posted the wrong version! So if you don't remember reading my
notes to the reviewers, or the part where Merry forces Pip to apologize, go
back and read "Pippin's Punishment again--because I added lots of angst and
it might seem like a bonus chapter!
And I want to hear from more lurkers! I have the next 4 chapters done, and when I hear from some more lurkers, I'll be more likely to update quickly!
And to my loyal reviewers--you are the ones that keep this going and I love you all!!! A big thank you to those who gave me input--with special thanks to my beta, Aratlithiel, to Budgielover, for all her helpful nagging about "descriptive detail!" and Iorhael, for inspiring me to write my own evil Merry tale!!!
Disclaimer-All the characters belong to Tolkien, I make no money from it, and if I did, Evil!Merry would have it by now!
Chapter 15 _ Affection and Protection
The first thing Pip was conscious of as he drifted back toward consciousness was the feeling of being surrounded by warm water and caressed by a soft cloth. He closed his eyes again, imagining himself for a moment to be back at the Smials as a lad, being bathed by his mother's gentle hands. But no - this could not be. He was a grown hobbit-nearly come into his majority. He was an adult - wasn't he?
Pip vaguely understood that he was indeed in a tub being washed by someone. O how Pippin loved baths! As he lounged and splashed in the warm water, Pippin would always raise his voice in what had been one of Bilbo's favorite bathing songs. ['O! Water Hot is a noble thing!'] The memory of the clear high tenor of his own voice swirled and chased nonsensically through his bleary mind. Merry had mentioned having lovely hot baths ready for the weary travellers when they arrived at Crickhollw. But the baths had not happened that night. Something unexpected had come up. Could that really have been just.what? Last night? The night before? Pippin couldn't rightly remember.. it all seemed a lifetime ago. Pip tremored. This was all wrong somehow. He hurt. His backside hurt as it had never hurt before. Baths were not supposed to hurt. Why had he passed out?
"Awake, my love?"
Pippin once again opened his bleary eyes at the sound of the voice. Merry.
"You passed out, Pip," said Merry. I set you in the tub to rouse you."
Yes, yes...he remembered now. No baths, but...Pippin remembered smelling bacon and.mushrooms? Yes! Mrs. Maggot's Mushrooms! Oh, Frodo would be so pleased. Yes, they were going to help Frodo - going to help him carry his burden to.wait - no. No, Merry had decided to keep Frodo here and then.what? Pippin's mind raced to ropes and struggles and blows and.and...a belt. Merry's belt. He could still hear the whicker of the leather slicing the air above him. The memory of his own pathetic screams now drowned out the sound of his jolly voice singing that silly bath-song in his head. It all came crashing back with a force that would have knocked him off his feet had he been standing on them. Pippin's eyes flew open.
"You thrashed me!" cried Pip in an injured tone, tears welling anew.
"Disciplined," corrected Merry. "Just like I used to do when you were very small. But I had no choice, Pip. You do see that, don't you? You must promise never to mislead me again -at least not if you ever hope to regain my respect for you again."
These last words hit Pippin like a brick. He was in pure emotional agony. (Regain Merry's respect? Regain? Did that mean that he'd lost it? Oh, no, please! He understood now - had learned his lesson. Surely Merry could see the new perception in his eyes? Would forgive him, love him.respect him again?)
Merry sensed his cousin's distress and wiped away his tears with a warm rag. Pippin was a pitiful sight to behold.
"There, there little one," cooed Merry. "Punishment is over. You will have opportunities to make things right. But Pip, it is crucial that I am able to depend on your maturity from this point on."
Pippin visibly brightened-his hopes rekindled. Merry did see that Pippin understood - of course he did.after all, Merry was smart. All was not lost!
Merry cupped Pip's face in his hands, and watched with pleasure as Pip's pupils went big.
"So, Pip," asked Merry. "Can I depend upon your maturity? Can I?"
Pip nodded sadly, but with total sincerity. He knew he had made a dreadful mistake and if Merry was kind enough to forgive his errant cousin, then Pippin was determined not to disappoint him again. Merry leaned over and kissed Pip's forehead lovingly.
"Good lad! You'll grow up yet!"
Pip managed a fragile smile.
Merry smiled back, the darkness seemed to have fled from his features.
"Now lets get you out, sweetheart."
Merry rolled up his sleeves as far as they would go and gently scooped up the dripping wet Pip. Pippin felt so light and lax in his arms, it was difficult not to think of him as a little lad. His features were finely chiseled, no longer softened by the presence of the long-lingering Took baby fat. But Pippin's eyes belied something in him that was still achingly pitifully young. Pip had given himself over to Merry completely. He still required a mentor, and Merry promised himself that he would be that mentor.
Merry tipped Pippin down so that his feet could touch the floor. With a small gesture, Merry indicated for Pippin to put his weight on his feet and steady himself by holding onto the side of the tub. Merry would dry Pippin himself as the smaller hobbit stood unsteadily, shakily, and naked before him.
Merry now, for the first time since the punishment (necessary punishment, he chided himself), saw the full extent of the damage that had been caused, that HE had caused to Pippin's backside. Deep purple bruises were coming to the surface, like angry storm clouds against a pale sky. The bleeding had largely ceased, though the red welts that criss-crossed Pippin's tender flesh just seemed to grow more radiant when wet. These marks were all cruel witness to Merry's violence against his young cousin.
Merry understood that Pip's mistake had cost him dearly, but was shocked that he'd been capable of this level of damage. It was as if a spell had suddenly come over him. Merry had never punished Pip with a belt before, and certainly never drawn blood. From what dark place had this new violence surged up in him?
Conflicting feelings shoot through Merry as he toweled down Pip's mottled skin-Regret. Pity. Guilt? A vague memory surfaced in Merry. He'd once been Pip's protector. Had anyone else inflicted the cruel wounds upon Pip, Merry would have throttled them, maybe worse. But these wounds were the work of a monster within himself-a monster that it was becoming harder and harder to control. No, not a monster an inner voice corrected.a disciplinarian. Only discipline it whispered to him, nothing more. There was nothing worse here than discipline.necessary discipline.
Conflicting ideas battled for dominance in Merry's head. Merry the protector, yes - that was the idea that rose to the surface. The reason he'd done this to Pip. It was the reason Frodo and Sam were locked in the room down the hall. Merry would protect them all from forces they were too small to handle on their own. He'd drag them all, kicking and screaming, into a new world, secure from all the dark things that would cause them harm. After all, it was for their own good.
For now, he and Pip would slumber, as Merry had important plans for that night. He motioned Pip to walk toward the bedroom. Merry watched in horror as Pip took a single step, then crumbled to the floor in a heap of limbs and bruises. Pippin did not cry out, he just lay there, waiting for Merry to aid him. And Merry, dear Merry, did not let him down.
Merry took Pippin in his arms again, and carried him to his bed. Merry knew he couldn't dress him, yet -not without causing pain. Merry laid himself down next to his damaged cousin, now shivering from the cold, and wrapped Pippin in the warmth of his own body. Merry drew his arms around Pippin, not caring if his clothes were made damp in the process, and drew the thick blankets over both of them. Pippin's backside throbbed and bit at him, yet Pippin smiled. Pippin was right where he wanted to be - next to his Merry. He'd not fail Merry again. He'd be the perfect little Took.
* * * *
Frodo noted with dismay that the sun in the round window had been replaced by a dark sky peppered with stars.
I'll take over now, Sam," Frodo said drowsily as he crawled out of the bed. "You let me sleep through the day!"
Time was escaping them far too quickly and the urgency of their situation crashed home upon Frodo once more. In any other situation, Frodo would have considered it a lovely clear night. But Frodo looked toward this night with fear in his heart. He suspected Merry would make his move in the early morning hours when he or Sam would be most likely to sleep. Frodo was determined that they would be ready when the time came. Surely they could overcome this ghastly turn of events? They must.he must. There was nothing else for it. They must be prepared for what he dreaded was to come and move toward correcting these appalling circumstances when the opportunity presented itself. And that opportunity, Frodo suspected, would come very soon.
Wordlessly, Sam stood up from his post. He'd been more exhausted than he let on, but had no intention of waking Frodo so that h himself might retreat into slumber. Sam plodded over to the bedstand and fumbled for a candle and a match.
"How'd'ya sleep, Mr. Frodo?" yawned Sam.
"Much too long, thanks to you!" jibed Frodo in mock anger.
Sam struck a match, which glowed like the Star of Earendil against the relative darkness of the room. He plodded drowsily around the room and lit four candles until the match burned down to his fingers. Sam dropped the match with a hiss of pain and watched it fall to the floor like a dying thing then flicker out.
Sam glanced down at the charred match and noted the dry but edible leftovers of Pippin's snacks. Without a second thought, Sam concluded that these would go to Frodo. He collected up the plate of two and a half stale crumpets sitting in a pool of congealed blackberry juice and handed it to Frodo.
"Clean forgot about these, Mr. Frodo," said Sam. "They're a tad dry, I'm afraid, but better than naught at all!" I don't suppose we'll be getting much in the way of supper."
Frodo smiled and took the treats gladly.
"Thank you Sam!" said Frodo warmly. "Now it is your turn to sleep. You've taken more than your share of the watch, and I'm determined to make it up to you!"
Sam blushed and lumbered over to the bed, clearly exhausted. Frodo, meanwhile, placed himself in front of the door, crumpets in hand, and placed a pillow between his head and the door.
Sam eased himself into the bed. From where he lay, he could keep one protective eye on Frodo while the other got to the business of much needed rest. As he pretended to sleep, Sam peeked out from the curtains of his lashes and cast his eyes upon his Master. Frodo's face was a thing of beauty in the warm light of the candles.
Though Frodo was 50, he looked no older than he had at his coming of age at Bilbo's birthday party 17 years before. His features contained delicate elven beauty. Untold strength and wisdom were in his eyes. Yet something about Frodo was heartbreakingly fragile. Sam could not find the right words, not even in his mind. All that he knew was that he wanted to protect Frodo from all of the forces that would do him harm, his cousins not the least of them. If Sam had thought on it just a little harder, the right words, simple and true, would have come to him. Sam loved Frodo.
Of course. How simple. Sam let his thoughts drift along this soothing direction and his body soon followed into the blessedness of sleep.
TBC
___________________________________________________________________
And now a word to my sponsors!!!
Rachelstonebreaker-I am so honored you took the time to review, because I am absolutely enamoured with your portrayal of hobbit life!!!
Blue Jedi Hobbit- Yep--I think therapy will be in order. Are you volunteering, or do you have a special certain hobbit you'd like to nurse back to emotional health? ;)
Camilla-Gamgee-Took--Sorry to be so mean to your favorite character! As you can see-Pip finally got some comfort, just from a bad source!
Katherine the Great--your comments are great! Sorry about the slash (blushes) but I really appreciate that you still found it in your heart to read and review with such intelligent feedback!!
Alisaundre - I'm glad the images worked for you--and as I said, I love it when people give my quotes they liked because it lets me know what is working. For goodness sake, I'd hate another power outage stop you from writing to me and giving your great feedback!!
Budgielover - Once again, thank you for the kind words for this chapter-- especially considering that I literally could not have done that last chapter 14 scene without you! Please keep reading!
Pointy-eared archer--I think you may have to transfewr your pity to Frodo soon, though Pippin will have some Sam problems to deal with soon enough!
John Lennon across the universe-Thank you! Yes--Sam will be the only character that wont get screwed up--but he will have plenty of angst-- especially when he is put in a situation where he cannot help Frodo. And Merry will use that devotion with devestation (emotional) effect on both hobbits!
Natta--Here's a kleenax! Sorry you are mad at Merry!
Calla- Oh--Don't feel down! I am glad to see you posting on Merry Pip lovers too! Merry is very conflicted and I want to make the audience feel for him too!
MBradford--wow! Your evil hobbit fic kicks butt!!! I loved your angst-o- meter comment! LOL!!!!
QTPie - The best PIp angst you've read? (blushes) Wow! That made my day. I've got much more where that came from!
Tesekian--Welcome! Pip will have his own demons to fight here. I love your Pip in all your stories, and I hope you don't get too mad at him breaking down! Please keep reading and update your stories soon!
Amrunofthesummer country-- So glad youdecided to step in! Evil Merry is addicting! Thank you for your comments, and please keep talking to me!
Sue--Yours was the first review before I put up the final version of the chapter--so I hope you take another look because the endind changed! And thank you for de-lurking!
Krista--I hope this entertains you too! Thank you!
Iorhael! I just love Nasty Hobbitsess to pieces!! I hope you continue to give me feedback, and I can't wait to see what you have in store for poor Frodo!
endymion--Ah--more requests for hobbit therapy! That could be a story in itself!
kyotyred--Another person de-lurks! Oh--welcome welcome! So glad you like it- -and you'll keep reviewing--yes???
Aratlithiel--My lovely beta! Thank you for helping me whap out the last chapter (hee hee! Bad pun!). I hope this one is angsty enough too! You already know how this is going to go, so keep those ideas coming and POST MORE FICS!!!!
And I want to hear from more lurkers! I have the next 4 chapters done, and when I hear from some more lurkers, I'll be more likely to update quickly!
And to my loyal reviewers--you are the ones that keep this going and I love you all!!! A big thank you to those who gave me input--with special thanks to my beta, Aratlithiel, to Budgielover, for all her helpful nagging about "descriptive detail!" and Iorhael, for inspiring me to write my own evil Merry tale!!!
Disclaimer-All the characters belong to Tolkien, I make no money from it, and if I did, Evil!Merry would have it by now!
Chapter 15 _ Affection and Protection
The first thing Pip was conscious of as he drifted back toward consciousness was the feeling of being surrounded by warm water and caressed by a soft cloth. He closed his eyes again, imagining himself for a moment to be back at the Smials as a lad, being bathed by his mother's gentle hands. But no - this could not be. He was a grown hobbit-nearly come into his majority. He was an adult - wasn't he?
Pip vaguely understood that he was indeed in a tub being washed by someone. O how Pippin loved baths! As he lounged and splashed in the warm water, Pippin would always raise his voice in what had been one of Bilbo's favorite bathing songs. ['O! Water Hot is a noble thing!'] The memory of the clear high tenor of his own voice swirled and chased nonsensically through his bleary mind. Merry had mentioned having lovely hot baths ready for the weary travellers when they arrived at Crickhollw. But the baths had not happened that night. Something unexpected had come up. Could that really have been just.what? Last night? The night before? Pippin couldn't rightly remember.. it all seemed a lifetime ago. Pip tremored. This was all wrong somehow. He hurt. His backside hurt as it had never hurt before. Baths were not supposed to hurt. Why had he passed out?
"Awake, my love?"
Pippin once again opened his bleary eyes at the sound of the voice. Merry.
"You passed out, Pip," said Merry. I set you in the tub to rouse you."
Yes, yes...he remembered now. No baths, but...Pippin remembered smelling bacon and.mushrooms? Yes! Mrs. Maggot's Mushrooms! Oh, Frodo would be so pleased. Yes, they were going to help Frodo - going to help him carry his burden to.wait - no. No, Merry had decided to keep Frodo here and then.what? Pippin's mind raced to ropes and struggles and blows and.and...a belt. Merry's belt. He could still hear the whicker of the leather slicing the air above him. The memory of his own pathetic screams now drowned out the sound of his jolly voice singing that silly bath-song in his head. It all came crashing back with a force that would have knocked him off his feet had he been standing on them. Pippin's eyes flew open.
"You thrashed me!" cried Pip in an injured tone, tears welling anew.
"Disciplined," corrected Merry. "Just like I used to do when you were very small. But I had no choice, Pip. You do see that, don't you? You must promise never to mislead me again -at least not if you ever hope to regain my respect for you again."
These last words hit Pippin like a brick. He was in pure emotional agony. (Regain Merry's respect? Regain? Did that mean that he'd lost it? Oh, no, please! He understood now - had learned his lesson. Surely Merry could see the new perception in his eyes? Would forgive him, love him.respect him again?)
Merry sensed his cousin's distress and wiped away his tears with a warm rag. Pippin was a pitiful sight to behold.
"There, there little one," cooed Merry. "Punishment is over. You will have opportunities to make things right. But Pip, it is crucial that I am able to depend on your maturity from this point on."
Pippin visibly brightened-his hopes rekindled. Merry did see that Pippin understood - of course he did.after all, Merry was smart. All was not lost!
Merry cupped Pip's face in his hands, and watched with pleasure as Pip's pupils went big.
"So, Pip," asked Merry. "Can I depend upon your maturity? Can I?"
Pip nodded sadly, but with total sincerity. He knew he had made a dreadful mistake and if Merry was kind enough to forgive his errant cousin, then Pippin was determined not to disappoint him again. Merry leaned over and kissed Pip's forehead lovingly.
"Good lad! You'll grow up yet!"
Pip managed a fragile smile.
Merry smiled back, the darkness seemed to have fled from his features.
"Now lets get you out, sweetheart."
Merry rolled up his sleeves as far as they would go and gently scooped up the dripping wet Pip. Pippin felt so light and lax in his arms, it was difficult not to think of him as a little lad. His features were finely chiseled, no longer softened by the presence of the long-lingering Took baby fat. But Pippin's eyes belied something in him that was still achingly pitifully young. Pip had given himself over to Merry completely. He still required a mentor, and Merry promised himself that he would be that mentor.
Merry tipped Pippin down so that his feet could touch the floor. With a small gesture, Merry indicated for Pippin to put his weight on his feet and steady himself by holding onto the side of the tub. Merry would dry Pippin himself as the smaller hobbit stood unsteadily, shakily, and naked before him.
Merry now, for the first time since the punishment (necessary punishment, he chided himself), saw the full extent of the damage that had been caused, that HE had caused to Pippin's backside. Deep purple bruises were coming to the surface, like angry storm clouds against a pale sky. The bleeding had largely ceased, though the red welts that criss-crossed Pippin's tender flesh just seemed to grow more radiant when wet. These marks were all cruel witness to Merry's violence against his young cousin.
Merry understood that Pip's mistake had cost him dearly, but was shocked that he'd been capable of this level of damage. It was as if a spell had suddenly come over him. Merry had never punished Pip with a belt before, and certainly never drawn blood. From what dark place had this new violence surged up in him?
Conflicting feelings shoot through Merry as he toweled down Pip's mottled skin-Regret. Pity. Guilt? A vague memory surfaced in Merry. He'd once been Pip's protector. Had anyone else inflicted the cruel wounds upon Pip, Merry would have throttled them, maybe worse. But these wounds were the work of a monster within himself-a monster that it was becoming harder and harder to control. No, not a monster an inner voice corrected.a disciplinarian. Only discipline it whispered to him, nothing more. There was nothing worse here than discipline.necessary discipline.
Conflicting ideas battled for dominance in Merry's head. Merry the protector, yes - that was the idea that rose to the surface. The reason he'd done this to Pip. It was the reason Frodo and Sam were locked in the room down the hall. Merry would protect them all from forces they were too small to handle on their own. He'd drag them all, kicking and screaming, into a new world, secure from all the dark things that would cause them harm. After all, it was for their own good.
For now, he and Pip would slumber, as Merry had important plans for that night. He motioned Pip to walk toward the bedroom. Merry watched in horror as Pip took a single step, then crumbled to the floor in a heap of limbs and bruises. Pippin did not cry out, he just lay there, waiting for Merry to aid him. And Merry, dear Merry, did not let him down.
Merry took Pippin in his arms again, and carried him to his bed. Merry knew he couldn't dress him, yet -not without causing pain. Merry laid himself down next to his damaged cousin, now shivering from the cold, and wrapped Pippin in the warmth of his own body. Merry drew his arms around Pippin, not caring if his clothes were made damp in the process, and drew the thick blankets over both of them. Pippin's backside throbbed and bit at him, yet Pippin smiled. Pippin was right where he wanted to be - next to his Merry. He'd not fail Merry again. He'd be the perfect little Took.
* * * *
Frodo noted with dismay that the sun in the round window had been replaced by a dark sky peppered with stars.
I'll take over now, Sam," Frodo said drowsily as he crawled out of the bed. "You let me sleep through the day!"
Time was escaping them far too quickly and the urgency of their situation crashed home upon Frodo once more. In any other situation, Frodo would have considered it a lovely clear night. But Frodo looked toward this night with fear in his heart. He suspected Merry would make his move in the early morning hours when he or Sam would be most likely to sleep. Frodo was determined that they would be ready when the time came. Surely they could overcome this ghastly turn of events? They must.he must. There was nothing else for it. They must be prepared for what he dreaded was to come and move toward correcting these appalling circumstances when the opportunity presented itself. And that opportunity, Frodo suspected, would come very soon.
Wordlessly, Sam stood up from his post. He'd been more exhausted than he let on, but had no intention of waking Frodo so that h himself might retreat into slumber. Sam plodded over to the bedstand and fumbled for a candle and a match.
"How'd'ya sleep, Mr. Frodo?" yawned Sam.
"Much too long, thanks to you!" jibed Frodo in mock anger.
Sam struck a match, which glowed like the Star of Earendil against the relative darkness of the room. He plodded drowsily around the room and lit four candles until the match burned down to his fingers. Sam dropped the match with a hiss of pain and watched it fall to the floor like a dying thing then flicker out.
Sam glanced down at the charred match and noted the dry but edible leftovers of Pippin's snacks. Without a second thought, Sam concluded that these would go to Frodo. He collected up the plate of two and a half stale crumpets sitting in a pool of congealed blackberry juice and handed it to Frodo.
"Clean forgot about these, Mr. Frodo," said Sam. "They're a tad dry, I'm afraid, but better than naught at all!" I don't suppose we'll be getting much in the way of supper."
Frodo smiled and took the treats gladly.
"Thank you Sam!" said Frodo warmly. "Now it is your turn to sleep. You've taken more than your share of the watch, and I'm determined to make it up to you!"
Sam blushed and lumbered over to the bed, clearly exhausted. Frodo, meanwhile, placed himself in front of the door, crumpets in hand, and placed a pillow between his head and the door.
Sam eased himself into the bed. From where he lay, he could keep one protective eye on Frodo while the other got to the business of much needed rest. As he pretended to sleep, Sam peeked out from the curtains of his lashes and cast his eyes upon his Master. Frodo's face was a thing of beauty in the warm light of the candles.
Though Frodo was 50, he looked no older than he had at his coming of age at Bilbo's birthday party 17 years before. His features contained delicate elven beauty. Untold strength and wisdom were in his eyes. Yet something about Frodo was heartbreakingly fragile. Sam could not find the right words, not even in his mind. All that he knew was that he wanted to protect Frodo from all of the forces that would do him harm, his cousins not the least of them. If Sam had thought on it just a little harder, the right words, simple and true, would have come to him. Sam loved Frodo.
Of course. How simple. Sam let his thoughts drift along this soothing direction and his body soon followed into the blessedness of sleep.
TBC
___________________________________________________________________
And now a word to my sponsors!!!
Rachelstonebreaker-I am so honored you took the time to review, because I am absolutely enamoured with your portrayal of hobbit life!!!
Blue Jedi Hobbit- Yep--I think therapy will be in order. Are you volunteering, or do you have a special certain hobbit you'd like to nurse back to emotional health? ;)
Camilla-Gamgee-Took--Sorry to be so mean to your favorite character! As you can see-Pip finally got some comfort, just from a bad source!
Katherine the Great--your comments are great! Sorry about the slash (blushes) but I really appreciate that you still found it in your heart to read and review with such intelligent feedback!!
Alisaundre - I'm glad the images worked for you--and as I said, I love it when people give my quotes they liked because it lets me know what is working. For goodness sake, I'd hate another power outage stop you from writing to me and giving your great feedback!!
Budgielover - Once again, thank you for the kind words for this chapter-- especially considering that I literally could not have done that last chapter 14 scene without you! Please keep reading!
Pointy-eared archer--I think you may have to transfewr your pity to Frodo soon, though Pippin will have some Sam problems to deal with soon enough!
John Lennon across the universe-Thank you! Yes--Sam will be the only character that wont get screwed up--but he will have plenty of angst-- especially when he is put in a situation where he cannot help Frodo. And Merry will use that devotion with devestation (emotional) effect on both hobbits!
Natta--Here's a kleenax! Sorry you are mad at Merry!
Calla- Oh--Don't feel down! I am glad to see you posting on Merry Pip lovers too! Merry is very conflicted and I want to make the audience feel for him too!
MBradford--wow! Your evil hobbit fic kicks butt!!! I loved your angst-o- meter comment! LOL!!!!
QTPie - The best PIp angst you've read? (blushes) Wow! That made my day. I've got much more where that came from!
Tesekian--Welcome! Pip will have his own demons to fight here. I love your Pip in all your stories, and I hope you don't get too mad at him breaking down! Please keep reading and update your stories soon!
Amrunofthesummer country-- So glad youdecided to step in! Evil Merry is addicting! Thank you for your comments, and please keep talking to me!
Sue--Yours was the first review before I put up the final version of the chapter--so I hope you take another look because the endind changed! And thank you for de-lurking!
Krista--I hope this entertains you too! Thank you!
Iorhael! I just love Nasty Hobbitsess to pieces!! I hope you continue to give me feedback, and I can't wait to see what you have in store for poor Frodo!
endymion--Ah--more requests for hobbit therapy! That could be a story in itself!
kyotyred--Another person de-lurks! Oh--welcome welcome! So glad you like it- -and you'll keep reviewing--yes???
Aratlithiel--My lovely beta! Thank you for helping me whap out the last chapter (hee hee! Bad pun!). I hope this one is angsty enough too! You already know how this is going to go, so keep those ideas coming and POST MORE FICS!!!!