Disclaimer I don't own them, just wish that I did… sigh. They belong to the wonderful professor named J.R.R Tolkien…
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Chapter 2
The ranger looked in the Halfling's eyes. At first he had been surprised to see him. They normally didn't meddle in other people's business, certainly not when Big People were involved. But he recognised this one. This was Bilbo's nephew – Frodo he believed his name was.
Frodo was held in a cruelly tight grip by the big thug holding him and he was looking very intently into the rangers eyes, though his eyes seemed to lose focus by the second, trying to convey something to him. He thought he could see regret in the Hobbit's eyes.
The ranger dropped his sword and looked at the men surrounding him. "Don't harm the Halfling any further," he said as he stood there, weighing their chances of survival. "Leave him out of it; he's an innocent being."
"An innocent!" shouted the thug, "Look what he did to my mate! Damned rock thrower!"
The ranger looked at the fallen thug, looking at the bruise on the side of his head. Of course, he thought,a small smile curling the corners of his lips. If you have a Hobbit against you, you'd better run away fast before they find something to throw, or else…
"Okay, so he is not completely innocent, but there's no reason to use such force on him. You're twice bigger and stronger then he is. Let him down."
The thug holding Frodo looked at his captive. "Fine," he said, releasing his grip on the unconscious Hobbit. With a loud thud Frodo fell to the ground. "Happy now, ranger?"
The ranger said nothing; he just looked at the thug, anger burning in his grey eyes. The other man grasped a knife from his belt and bent down, holding the blade to the Hobbit's neck.
"You will cooperate, or I cut this one's throat. Understood?"
The ranger balled his fists but nodded.
"Yo, Smarty! Tie him up, but good! If he even resists a little, I'll cut this one's throat, so you needn't worry about him."
The one called Smarty went back a distance to some bags lying there. He searched inside and came up with several pieces of rope. Then he walked over to the ranger, looking at him with a challenge in his eyes. "Turn around!"
The ranger did so. Smarty grabbed his hands and bound them tightly behind his back. Then he hit the ranger in the back, hard, causing him to fall to the ground. Unable to break his fall the poor man landed flat on his front and he closed his eyes for a moment, recovering from the shock, thinking, Damn them! We rangers are supposed to protect the Shire. But I let my guard down for a small moment…
He wanted to struggle, to fight these men, but he couldn't. He felt his legs being tied, at his ankles and his knees, making him feel totally helpless. When I heard the rumours in Bree of these men I was intent to make them leave the area. But they had already entered the Shire, intent on their rampage and intent to rob and hurt some poor Hobbits. I could have taken them, had I been more alert…
He opened his eyes as he felt hands on his shoulders, turning him on his back.
"What should we do with you, ranger? I think you could tell us where all the good stuff is here in this little country, after all, you come here often."
"The Hobbits don't have anything that you consider 'good stuff'. They don't care for wealth; their greatest treasure would be a banquet with as much food as they can eat!"
The thug stooping over Frodo raised himself and kicked the Hobbit in his side. "I don't believe you," he said, "We've heard that the small people have treasures so big, you'd need many wagons to transport them. We want the treasures!"
They're not dwarves, you idiot! He wanted to shout, but refrained himself. The thug would only hurt Frodo more.
Suddenly, there was a weak coughing. The ranger looked at the Hobbit. He was starting to stir a bit. The thug looked down at the Hobbit. "Yo, Smarty! Get some more rope and tie this one up too!"
Smarty did as he was told, rolling Frodo on his front to tie his arms behind his back, then tying his legs and rolling him around again. He grabbed the Hobbit under his armpits and dragged him until he was next to the ranger.
Be careful you idiots! You're killing him with your rough treatment! Is what the ranger thought, but he said: "You're right, they do have great treasures. But they hide it near the borders of the Shire. I will take you there, but let the Hobbit go…"
"No, he goes with us to ensure your cooperation. With him around, you won't dare trick us. Now, since you've been such a good little ranger, we'll let you stay close to you little friend. Today we'll stay here, the dark has already come. Tomorrow, with the first light of dawn, you'll lead us to the treasures. What happens then, who knows? Maybe we'll kill you, maybe we'll leave you behind, all tied up as you are now."
The thug looked at his mates. The once that had been knocked out were regaining consciousness. "Come, Smarty, Draco. Let's see how the others are doing, these two won't be going anywhere anytime soon." The thug looked at the ranger. "If I were you I would rest all you can, you can't escape and you need to be in good condition to carry the Halfling tomorrow. Unless you want the Halfling to walk by himself?" With that, he left, following his companions and preparing for the night.
The ranger looked at the unconscious Hobbit, hearing his wheezing breath. What's wrong with you, little one? he worriedly thought, suspecting that it were his ribs that were causing the problems.His gaze strayed to the thug who had captured the Hobbit. You were much too rough on him… You nearly killed him, you bastard! There was no need for such force and you knew it! He longed to yell it out loud, but that would only serve in angering him. And knowing the nature of such men, he would take it out on the Hobbit.
He sighed, looking at Frodo again. It was a very brave thing you did, little one. Without you I wouldn't be alive right now. I just wished I had been more alert! Then I would have known one had sneaked away. Then, we wouldn't be in this position…
He sighed. No use going there. He couldn't change what had already happened.
How do I get us out of this?
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TBC