Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They belong to J.R.R. Tolkien. I just like to write about them.
FrodoBaggins87 and Pharaohess----maybe your questions will be answered in this chapter.
Breon Briarwood--Shocking!!!I made you pass out.
I hope my readers were not disappointed in Chapter 8. Hopefully Chapter 9 will make up for it.
All Creatures Great and Small
Chapter 9
"Taken?!" Aragorn questioned raising his voice. Concentrating more on Boromir's disheveled look, anger flashing in his eyes. "Where were you? What were you doing when he was taken?" Aragorn accused Boromir, sticking his finger in the Gondorian's face. "You swore an oath to protect him!" he added more quietly but sternly, not wanting his voice to carry.
Sam jumped to Boromir's defense. "He didn't do anythin'. I mean, we were both knocked out. I saw somethin', but before I could get to Mr. Frodo, I...I...I failed him," he stammered, his pleading eyes looking up to Aragorn. Aragorn squeezed the gardner's shoulder encouragingly.
That did not make matters between Boromir and Aragorn any smoother. How could a grown man be knocked unconcious. He could see that a hobbit would not have a chance, not that Sam would not give his life in battle for Frodo, but what could have been used to render a soldier useless? "What exactly happened, Boromir?"
Boromir did not like being questioned of his actions, least not by a Ranger even if he was heir to the throne of Gondor. Just as angered as he was, his voice showed no indication as he spoke calmly,"I was sitting outside Frodo's room. Frodo and Sam were asleep. There was noone else in the common room. I thought I had seen a shadow for the briefest moment in the corner. Believe me if there was anyone there, I...I would have...The next thing I remember was being awakened by Legolas."
Sam made his input wringing his hands together in frustration, "that is what happened to me. One minute I was up about to throttle the stranger, then I woke up on the floor. Mr. Frodo was gone."
Gandalf had joined the group as Boromir explained what had happened to him. He stood there listening with great interest. "Well, now is the time to question anyone else who had been near the common room. To see if someone maybe had the same experience as these two," he concluded pointing his staff to Boromir and Sam.
"I cannot find this healer, Hawthorne. He was not in his tent at the time Frodo disappeared," Aragorn confided in the wizard. "He had invited me to look at his stores of herbs. These were in there," Aragorn said showing the odd purple herb to Gandalf. "Have you ever seen anything like this before?"
Gandalf studied the herb. "No, I have not," he concluded. "This healer, Hawthorn, took interest in our Frodo?" he asked. Aragorn looked surprised. "Merry and Pippin told me how he had helped Frodo through some pain last evening?"
"Yes. Very odd. I was going to ask you about it," Aragorn explained pulling the wizard out of earshot. Gandalf shook his head.
"Gather the rest of the Fellowship. We will look for Frodo. Start in the common room. He just cannot have disappeared without a trace," Aragorn gave a slight nod and headed back towards Legolas, who was standing with Boromir and Sam.
There was some commotion coming from around one of the tents. A group had gathered, shouting erupting. Aragorn could not see what all the excitement was about. As the crowd came towards the gathered Fellowship, Aragorn's eyes widened as he finally saw what the crowd had been hiding. In the center, Mr. Larson had hold on an individual half dragging, half carrying it to the middle of the settlement. Larson stood there with a smile on his face as he showed off his capture. Right in front of the Fellowship, stood the elusive 'Silver' creature Merry and Frodo had saved the day before.
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"What is going to happen him?" Merry questioned Aragorn as he returned to the Felloship's camp. After Frodo had been taken, Aragorn thought it more safe for the remaining hobbit's to stay with them instead of in Be'than's room for more than one reason.
"Mr. Larson is still going to give him over to these renegade Orcs. They are supposed to be coming tonight to collect their prize," Aragorn relayed.
"They cannot. Frodo risked his life to save him. We cannot let them do it, Strider!" Merry exclaimed as he tugged onto Aragorn's cloak, suddenly being surrounded by two more sets of small hairy hobbit feet.
As Aragorn looked into each of the hobbit's pleading faces, he told them,"I do not intend letting Mr. Larson carry out this barbaric exchange, but..." he paused as he noticed four more familiar pairs of booted feet stepping beside the hobbits,"our primary concern is finding Frodo and I think our special guest might have some knowledge of where he is. We just need a plan to sneak him away before the Orcs get here."
"I think I may have an idea," Boromir spoke up and a tight circle was formed as the Fellowship listened intently.
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Frodo slowly woke as cool air blew over his uncovered body. He wondered where Sam was. He usually made sure there always a blanket on him. It was so quiet, he figured that Sam was so tired that he had fallen asleep. Sighing, Frodo started searching his waist to see if the blanket might have slid off, but a large hand stopped his hands as a heavy blanket was laid upon him. That same hand found its way to Frodo's forehead. Somehow he knew that the hand did not belong to Aragorn, or anyone else familiar for that matter. His eyes shot opened as enlarged blue orbs tried to adjust to the darkness that enveloped him.
"Just relax, you are still fevered," the voice said not coming into Frodo's eyesight. "We will not harm you."
The voice sounded strangely familiar. Frodo tried to raise his head to see who it was that was speaking, but the same hand guided his shoulder back down. "Where am I? Where are my friends? Sam!" Frodo hollered out, his breathing becoming distressed.
"Your friends will know where you are soon enough. We are here to help you, if you will let us, Frodo Baggins."
Frodo stopped cold. "How do you know my name? What do you mean help me? Who are you?" the questions sputtered out. Again raising his head gasping as a throbbing pain began in his leg.
"You are very stubborn. Please, lay back down. You will make your leg bleed again," the voice said soothingly as the large hand came back forcing Frodo down. This time Frodo felt sleepy at once making no further attempt to get back up.
"Please, tell me who you are," Frodo whispered struggling to keep his eyelids opened.
"All in due time, my young hobbit. Now go to sleep," the voice commanded. Frodo finally lost the battle,closing his eyes, his breathing even and deep, as the hand tucked the blanket around the savior of Middle-Earth.
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"Merry! Wait for me!" Pippin yelled out as his cousin hurried across the clearing towards the encampment.
"Hurry, Pippin, we have to be there before Boromir gives the signal," Merry panted as his cousin finally caught up with him. Aragorn, Boromir, Gandalf and Legolas had gone ahead to detain Larson from making his exchange with the Orcs. To convince them that if they were to help deter the Orcs from ever returning, would he let the prisoner go. Sam and Gimli had stayed at camp, packing their supplies. If all went well, they would be leaving soon.
"Merry?" Pippin was being serious now.
Merry already knew what Pip was going to say. He was just as concerned about their elder cousin. Who would want to take him? What was he going through? He needed care. Was someone caring for him? "I too am worried," he said trying to ease Pippin's fears,"I think this being can help Frodo. They seemed to have some kind of connection when Frodo released him. At least, that is what I am hoping."
Pippin listened to Merry, but his attention was soon distracted by several big figures. He could barely make out the shapes as they approached the building that Frodo had been taken from. Once the moon had appeared from behind the clouds, it's light reflected off the armour plating and the steel blades of the weapons they carried. Pippin gasped, grabbing Merry's vest.
"Pippin? What is it?" he questioned. When his cousin did not respond, he shifted his eyes following Pippin's gaze. Merry stiffened at what the moon's reflection revealed. Orcs. They were early. Boromir had not given his signal yet. "Oh no!" he hissed realizing most of the town had been gathered in there. "What are we to do now?"
Merry and Pippin looked on horrified as the Orcs entered the building. "Come on!" Merry coaxed. "We've got to do something."
Pippin found his voice again,"like what? Those are Orcs, Merry!" he reminded his cousin.
Merry grabbed onto Pippin's hand, forcing him to run with him. His mind was racing with ideas that would distract the Orcs, maybe giving Strider...
Screams were heard. Metal clashing, yells. One cry was very discernable. It was unmistakable. It had been Strider's. He had only heard it once before as they watched him battled the Nazgul, protecting Frodo's life. Then all was silence.
Merry and Pippin stopped, stepping behind one of the tents. The only sound was their rasping breaths, the beating of their hearts, waiting.
Hidden by the darkness, they saw the door open. Not expecting what their eyes revealed to them. Orcs came rushing passed the hobbits hiding place, unscathed. Noone else followed them. Not Strider brandishing his sword, Legolas with his bow, not even the great Wizard,Gandalf. Fear gripped them as the unthinkable happened. The members of the Fellowship had been slain.
"We...we had better check, shouldn't we?" Pippin asked Merry already coming to the same conclusion. Merry nodded.
They crept slowly towards the building expecting at any moment for the nightmare to end, when a pair of hands clapped them on their shoulders.
Pippin screamed first, turning around to see who it was that had snuck up on them. Relieved to see Gimli's bearded face, he pulled his cousin up off the ground as Sam appeared catching his breath.
"What's happened, lads? Where's Aragorn?" Gimli asked apprehensively as he too had seen the Orcs disappear into the distance.
"We do not know. We heard all this screaming, sword clashing, then nothing. The Orcs came out, but not anyone else," Merry rambled.
"Let's get in there! They may be hurt or worse," Sam declared.
Gimli failed at catching Sam's cloak as he ran past, making for the entrance of the common room. Pippin and Merry followed with Gimli bringing up the rear.
The remaining members of the Fellowship stopped dead in their tracks, appalled at the sight that laid before them. People everywhere, lying face down on the ground in pools of their own blood. Taking a deep breath, Gimli went in first. He was probably the only one left who was used to dead bodies lying about. He had been in many of raids taking Orcs by surprise. The reasoned with the hobbits love of life, they had never seen such bloodshed until they joined their cousin in his journey. Even then, Gandalf had made sure, up until now, that they avoided trouble such as this. Making his way through the sea of dead bodies, Gimli spotted the familiar braided blond hair belonging to Legolas, who now laid motionless before him. Next to him was Boromir's shield still attached to it's owner's arm his sword nowhere in sight. Strider lay beside him, his sword still in its sheath. Gimli never imagined that the future King of Gondor would have been brought down without even so much as him being able to draw his sword. He heard soft gasping noises as the hobbits crossed the room, stepping carefully over the bodies towards him. When Gimli turned back around to where he last looked, he observed a figure looming over him. He figured it had been Gandalf, since he had not seen him anywhere in the midst of the bodies. Relieved by the thought that a friend had still lived, he looked up "Gandalf..."
Gimli was tongue tied. It was not Gandalf standing above him, but it was the being that had been saved by Frodo instead. The dwarf noticed that there was blood all over him, and in his right hand he was brandishing a bloody sword he recognized instantly as Boromir's.
tbc....
FrodoBaggins87 and Pharaohess----maybe your questions will be answered in this chapter.
Breon Briarwood--Shocking!!!I made you pass out.
I hope my readers were not disappointed in Chapter 8. Hopefully Chapter 9 will make up for it.
All Creatures Great and Small
Chapter 9
"Taken?!" Aragorn questioned raising his voice. Concentrating more on Boromir's disheveled look, anger flashing in his eyes. "Where were you? What were you doing when he was taken?" Aragorn accused Boromir, sticking his finger in the Gondorian's face. "You swore an oath to protect him!" he added more quietly but sternly, not wanting his voice to carry.
Sam jumped to Boromir's defense. "He didn't do anythin'. I mean, we were both knocked out. I saw somethin', but before I could get to Mr. Frodo, I...I...I failed him," he stammered, his pleading eyes looking up to Aragorn. Aragorn squeezed the gardner's shoulder encouragingly.
That did not make matters between Boromir and Aragorn any smoother. How could a grown man be knocked unconcious. He could see that a hobbit would not have a chance, not that Sam would not give his life in battle for Frodo, but what could have been used to render a soldier useless? "What exactly happened, Boromir?"
Boromir did not like being questioned of his actions, least not by a Ranger even if he was heir to the throne of Gondor. Just as angered as he was, his voice showed no indication as he spoke calmly,"I was sitting outside Frodo's room. Frodo and Sam were asleep. There was noone else in the common room. I thought I had seen a shadow for the briefest moment in the corner. Believe me if there was anyone there, I...I would have...The next thing I remember was being awakened by Legolas."
Sam made his input wringing his hands together in frustration, "that is what happened to me. One minute I was up about to throttle the stranger, then I woke up on the floor. Mr. Frodo was gone."
Gandalf had joined the group as Boromir explained what had happened to him. He stood there listening with great interest. "Well, now is the time to question anyone else who had been near the common room. To see if someone maybe had the same experience as these two," he concluded pointing his staff to Boromir and Sam.
"I cannot find this healer, Hawthorne. He was not in his tent at the time Frodo disappeared," Aragorn confided in the wizard. "He had invited me to look at his stores of herbs. These were in there," Aragorn said showing the odd purple herb to Gandalf. "Have you ever seen anything like this before?"
Gandalf studied the herb. "No, I have not," he concluded. "This healer, Hawthorn, took interest in our Frodo?" he asked. Aragorn looked surprised. "Merry and Pippin told me how he had helped Frodo through some pain last evening?"
"Yes. Very odd. I was going to ask you about it," Aragorn explained pulling the wizard out of earshot. Gandalf shook his head.
"Gather the rest of the Fellowship. We will look for Frodo. Start in the common room. He just cannot have disappeared without a trace," Aragorn gave a slight nod and headed back towards Legolas, who was standing with Boromir and Sam.
There was some commotion coming from around one of the tents. A group had gathered, shouting erupting. Aragorn could not see what all the excitement was about. As the crowd came towards the gathered Fellowship, Aragorn's eyes widened as he finally saw what the crowd had been hiding. In the center, Mr. Larson had hold on an individual half dragging, half carrying it to the middle of the settlement. Larson stood there with a smile on his face as he showed off his capture. Right in front of the Fellowship, stood the elusive 'Silver' creature Merry and Frodo had saved the day before.
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"What is going to happen him?" Merry questioned Aragorn as he returned to the Felloship's camp. After Frodo had been taken, Aragorn thought it more safe for the remaining hobbit's to stay with them instead of in Be'than's room for more than one reason.
"Mr. Larson is still going to give him over to these renegade Orcs. They are supposed to be coming tonight to collect their prize," Aragorn relayed.
"They cannot. Frodo risked his life to save him. We cannot let them do it, Strider!" Merry exclaimed as he tugged onto Aragorn's cloak, suddenly being surrounded by two more sets of small hairy hobbit feet.
As Aragorn looked into each of the hobbit's pleading faces, he told them,"I do not intend letting Mr. Larson carry out this barbaric exchange, but..." he paused as he noticed four more familiar pairs of booted feet stepping beside the hobbits,"our primary concern is finding Frodo and I think our special guest might have some knowledge of where he is. We just need a plan to sneak him away before the Orcs get here."
"I think I may have an idea," Boromir spoke up and a tight circle was formed as the Fellowship listened intently.
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Frodo slowly woke as cool air blew over his uncovered body. He wondered where Sam was. He usually made sure there always a blanket on him. It was so quiet, he figured that Sam was so tired that he had fallen asleep. Sighing, Frodo started searching his waist to see if the blanket might have slid off, but a large hand stopped his hands as a heavy blanket was laid upon him. That same hand found its way to Frodo's forehead. Somehow he knew that the hand did not belong to Aragorn, or anyone else familiar for that matter. His eyes shot opened as enlarged blue orbs tried to adjust to the darkness that enveloped him.
"Just relax, you are still fevered," the voice said not coming into Frodo's eyesight. "We will not harm you."
The voice sounded strangely familiar. Frodo tried to raise his head to see who it was that was speaking, but the same hand guided his shoulder back down. "Where am I? Where are my friends? Sam!" Frodo hollered out, his breathing becoming distressed.
"Your friends will know where you are soon enough. We are here to help you, if you will let us, Frodo Baggins."
Frodo stopped cold. "How do you know my name? What do you mean help me? Who are you?" the questions sputtered out. Again raising his head gasping as a throbbing pain began in his leg.
"You are very stubborn. Please, lay back down. You will make your leg bleed again," the voice said soothingly as the large hand came back forcing Frodo down. This time Frodo felt sleepy at once making no further attempt to get back up.
"Please, tell me who you are," Frodo whispered struggling to keep his eyelids opened.
"All in due time, my young hobbit. Now go to sleep," the voice commanded. Frodo finally lost the battle,closing his eyes, his breathing even and deep, as the hand tucked the blanket around the savior of Middle-Earth.
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"Merry! Wait for me!" Pippin yelled out as his cousin hurried across the clearing towards the encampment.
"Hurry, Pippin, we have to be there before Boromir gives the signal," Merry panted as his cousin finally caught up with him. Aragorn, Boromir, Gandalf and Legolas had gone ahead to detain Larson from making his exchange with the Orcs. To convince them that if they were to help deter the Orcs from ever returning, would he let the prisoner go. Sam and Gimli had stayed at camp, packing their supplies. If all went well, they would be leaving soon.
"Merry?" Pippin was being serious now.
Merry already knew what Pip was going to say. He was just as concerned about their elder cousin. Who would want to take him? What was he going through? He needed care. Was someone caring for him? "I too am worried," he said trying to ease Pippin's fears,"I think this being can help Frodo. They seemed to have some kind of connection when Frodo released him. At least, that is what I am hoping."
Pippin listened to Merry, but his attention was soon distracted by several big figures. He could barely make out the shapes as they approached the building that Frodo had been taken from. Once the moon had appeared from behind the clouds, it's light reflected off the armour plating and the steel blades of the weapons they carried. Pippin gasped, grabbing Merry's vest.
"Pippin? What is it?" he questioned. When his cousin did not respond, he shifted his eyes following Pippin's gaze. Merry stiffened at what the moon's reflection revealed. Orcs. They were early. Boromir had not given his signal yet. "Oh no!" he hissed realizing most of the town had been gathered in there. "What are we to do now?"
Merry and Pippin looked on horrified as the Orcs entered the building. "Come on!" Merry coaxed. "We've got to do something."
Pippin found his voice again,"like what? Those are Orcs, Merry!" he reminded his cousin.
Merry grabbed onto Pippin's hand, forcing him to run with him. His mind was racing with ideas that would distract the Orcs, maybe giving Strider...
Screams were heard. Metal clashing, yells. One cry was very discernable. It was unmistakable. It had been Strider's. He had only heard it once before as they watched him battled the Nazgul, protecting Frodo's life. Then all was silence.
Merry and Pippin stopped, stepping behind one of the tents. The only sound was their rasping breaths, the beating of their hearts, waiting.
Hidden by the darkness, they saw the door open. Not expecting what their eyes revealed to them. Orcs came rushing passed the hobbits hiding place, unscathed. Noone else followed them. Not Strider brandishing his sword, Legolas with his bow, not even the great Wizard,Gandalf. Fear gripped them as the unthinkable happened. The members of the Fellowship had been slain.
"We...we had better check, shouldn't we?" Pippin asked Merry already coming to the same conclusion. Merry nodded.
They crept slowly towards the building expecting at any moment for the nightmare to end, when a pair of hands clapped them on their shoulders.
Pippin screamed first, turning around to see who it was that had snuck up on them. Relieved to see Gimli's bearded face, he pulled his cousin up off the ground as Sam appeared catching his breath.
"What's happened, lads? Where's Aragorn?" Gimli asked apprehensively as he too had seen the Orcs disappear into the distance.
"We do not know. We heard all this screaming, sword clashing, then nothing. The Orcs came out, but not anyone else," Merry rambled.
"Let's get in there! They may be hurt or worse," Sam declared.
Gimli failed at catching Sam's cloak as he ran past, making for the entrance of the common room. Pippin and Merry followed with Gimli bringing up the rear.
The remaining members of the Fellowship stopped dead in their tracks, appalled at the sight that laid before them. People everywhere, lying face down on the ground in pools of their own blood. Taking a deep breath, Gimli went in first. He was probably the only one left who was used to dead bodies lying about. He had been in many of raids taking Orcs by surprise. The reasoned with the hobbits love of life, they had never seen such bloodshed until they joined their cousin in his journey. Even then, Gandalf had made sure, up until now, that they avoided trouble such as this. Making his way through the sea of dead bodies, Gimli spotted the familiar braided blond hair belonging to Legolas, who now laid motionless before him. Next to him was Boromir's shield still attached to it's owner's arm his sword nowhere in sight. Strider lay beside him, his sword still in its sheath. Gimli never imagined that the future King of Gondor would have been brought down without even so much as him being able to draw his sword. He heard soft gasping noises as the hobbits crossed the room, stepping carefully over the bodies towards him. When Gimli turned back around to where he last looked, he observed a figure looming over him. He figured it had been Gandalf, since he had not seen him anywhere in the midst of the bodies. Relieved by the thought that a friend had still lived, he looked up "Gandalf..."
Gimli was tongue tied. It was not Gandalf standing above him, but it was the being that had been saved by Frodo instead. The dwarf noticed that there was blood all over him, and in his right hand he was brandishing a bloody sword he recognized instantly as Boromir's.
tbc....