Title: Despair (16/16)
Author: Niphrandl
Rating: PG13

Characters: Gandalf, Frodo, Boromir, Aragorn, Pippin, Merry, Sam, Legolas, Gimli
Summary: This story takes place after Gandalf confronts the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm and before the fellowship reaches Lothlorien. It is told from Frodo's POV initially.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. I make no money nor do I receive any public recognition for writing this. This is just my bit of fan fiction. Thanks Easterlily!

Despair Chapter 16

After I had finished the medicinal tea and Aragorn had changed mine and Pippin's bandages we set out again. Merry and Sam were again carrying me. Pippin was walking beside me holding my hand. He must have been feeling better because he was regaling me with stories of his and Merry's misadventures at Brandy Hall. I was beginning to feel drowsy from the medicine and soon found myself lost in dreams of home. When I next awoke the company had stopped for lunch.

"How are you feeling Master Baggins?" asked Gimli.

"Hungry" I replied with a smile.

I heard Sam cry out

"He's awake?"

He came over with a cup of warm broth and a few slices of apple. "Beggin your pardon Mr. Frodo, but Strider would not let me wake you up when we stopped. He said you needed your rest. How are you feeling?"

"Fine Sam" I replied. "Hungry."

Sam smiled and sat down next to me preparing to feed me lunch. I stopped him with a light touch on his arm. "Do..Myself this time." I said.

"Are you sure Mr. Frodo?"

I nodded.

Sam put a piece of cloth around my neck to act as a napkin then handed me the broth. Then he sat back and watched me eat, making small talk the whole while.

When lunch was finished Aragorn again checked the bandages. He determined that Pippin was healing nicely and would no longer need bandages. My wounds, however, were still weeping so they were rewrapped.

We set off again toward the spot where we would make camp for the night. Aragorn and Boromir were carrying me this time to give Merry and Sam a break and Legolas was leading the company toward the spot he had scouted out.

Merry, Sam and Pippin were walking just behind us quietly chattering among themselves. I looked up at Boromir and saw him looking down at me with an almost hungry look in his eyes. I became frightened, this man scared me. When he noticed me looking at him he cleared his throat and looked away.

'He wants the Ring' I thought to myself. A pang of jealousy ran through me at that thought. I reached up and placed my hand over the pocket it was in.

'He can't have it! It's mine!'

Just then Boromir misstepped and jostled the liter. I shuddered as if waking out of a nightmare.

"I'm sorry Frodo, are you all right?" Boromir asked Aragorn was looking back at him.

"I'm fine" I said and we continued on our way.

We reached the camp site just as the sun was setting. I was gently set down under a large tree. Sam came up to me.

"You just rest here Mr. Frodo, the rest of us will set up came and I will bring back something to eat."

"All right Sam" I said and smiled at him.

He smiled back and turned to help with camp.

A few moments later Pippin came over and sat down heavily. I looked at him, he was pouting.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"AW!! Aragorn is acting like a mother hen! He won't let me do anything to help!"

I started to chuckle.

"Yeah, Mother hen." I said and started clucking like a chicken. Pippin gave me a surprised look and we both burst out laughing. This elicited strange looks and smiles from the rest of the company.

It was well after dark when we finished supper. Aragorn again checked Pippin's wound and changed my bandages.

"You are both healing quite well" he said. "I suggest we get to sleep right away and get an early start tomorrow. We will reach Lothlorien by nightfall."

After the watches were set, the camp settled down for the night. I was awakened during the night with an uncomfortable feeling of being watched. I looked around expecting to see Boromir watching me. What I saw scared me even more.

Two pinpricks of light in the underbrush.

'Gollum' I said to myself.

I heard a soft hiss and then they disappeared.

I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. It was Aragorn. He was stealthily approaching the spot where the lights had been.

I sat up to say something and Aragorn quickly quieted me with a finger to his lips. Then he disappeared into the night. He came back a few moments later.

"Gollum?" I asked.

"Yes" he replied. "He has been following us for a couple of days now. I have been trying to snare him but he is too quick."

My hand went to my vest pocket.

"Do you think he will try to take the Ring?" I asked.

"He wants it, there is no question about that. I think that as long as you are with others he won't dare try anything. Now try to get some sleep Frodo, we travel nonstop tomorrow."

The morning dawned bright and clear. I could hear birds singing. A sound none of us had heard since leaving Rivendell. We ate quickly, then Pip and I chatted quietly while the others took care of camp. We set off as soon as that was done. We continued walking throughout the morning. True to his word, Aragorn would not let us stop for anything. We snacked on dried meat and fruit along the way. Then just after the noon hour Aragorn stopped and pointed to something in front of us.

There is was.

Lothlorien.

The Golden Wood.

We had made it at last.

The End