"You almost put on?" she yelled, "How did you even take it out of your pocket? The enemy was above your head and you exposed the One Ring?" Frodo looked at Morantwen in surprised anger.
"I didn't mean to."
"Oh, sure! Of course you did not! You just subconsciously pulled out the Ring to put it on and disappoint Gandalf who trusted you to keep the Ring safe, which I have to admit, you succeeded in doing so wonderfully, and of whom thought a hobbit could manage to go to Bree with the most harmful item in Middle-Earth safely! Is that right?" After a moment, Frodo turned his head away. Morantwen looked away too. She was ashamed of herself.
"It did something to you too," he whispered shakily, "I know you didn't really mean that," he faced Morantwen, "did you?" Morantwen looked at him.
"I...it just...I am so afraid. I had heard stories of the Fall of Lord Sauron and the loss of the One Ring. I had heard men talking about the Last Battle. The gore...and the mutiny. I never wanted to see anything like that happen. Rumor grew of Sauron regaining his strength. And then...my trance didn't make it better at all. Then, when I found out you had the One Ring...I was so worried. I can fight with the best ability and to the end, but I cannot bear watching ones that I care about die. The artistry painted by my people portraying that successful yet horrifying battle was at every corner I turned in the Hall of Nrida, the royal hall of our people. After my mother died, in battle, surprisingly enough, I knew what it was like to feel... pain. Most elves I knew were living carefree, painless lives. I was busy having nightmares about dying at the arm of the Deceiver. No one knew. I couldn't tell-couldn't trust-anyone. Not even my father. I am possibly the only elf with problems in and outside Middle-Earth. Problems that aren't quick-answered, life-or-death situations. I have to suffer."
Frodo turned to look at Sam and the others. They were having the time of their lives. Suddenly, Sam looked at Frodo. Frodo, surprised, tried to smile and apparently succeeded in do so. Sam turned and went back to skipping rocks in a nearby river. Morantwen looked up at the sky and laughed quietly. Frodo looked at her questionably.
"If I suffer so much, then why do I feel so...happy, at the moment? I think I just needed to get away for a while. But"- She stopped and looked at Frodo.
"How are you feeling? Hmm?" Frodo looked at Morantwen and actually smiled. He scratched his head and looked at his fellow halflings.
"Well, surprisingly good. Worry seems to melt away at the moment. I realize... I've taken things for granted in life. It's not all about ale and tobacco. Or singing songs at parties that are always occurring. Or... eating and sleeping. It's about, like, for instance, Sam. He respects nature more than most hobbits could imagine. I've seen it. He takes time in planting and pruning. He'll take fifteen minutes just staring at a violet. It's people like that that are overlooked and made fun of. But it's people like that that are essential to life. Merry and Pippin, well...they're a whole different story. They are annoying but are the humor in life. I'm pretty sure the Shire would be boring without them. But...me. Where do I fit in?" Frodo closed his eyes and laid back.
"I just don't belong. There no reason I should stay in the Shire. There's nothing for me and nobody that wants me."
"Don't say that," whispered Morantwen, "They wouldn't be the same without you."
"You never heard the conversations spoken behind my back in pubs and...everywhere pretty much. What was their word? Oh yes, Cracked is the word for Bagginses. 'Bilbo Baggins, cracked, he is,' they say. 'And Mr. Frodo here, he's cracking.' I try to keep the mood up, keep the jokes running. But it's startin' to get to me. Ever since Bilbo left, my life has been going downhill. I've lost a significant amount of joy. I don't know."
Morantwen placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled broadly.
"Frodo. I know how you feel," she whispered, turning back to look at the sky, "But you cannot let your feelings stall your goals. Do not put yourself last but do not put yourself first. Your problems will be solved before the end. But it will not be now. Come, we should be going." Morantwen stood and helped Frodo up. Frodo walked to Sam and his cousins.
"Come on, Sam," he whispered in his ear, "we can't keep Gandalf waiting." Sam looked at Frodo questionably.
"What about Merry and Pippin? Are you going to tell them? Are they coming?" Frodo looked at Merry and Pip.
"No and yes. I'm not going to tell them but they are coming. They've probably got nothing better to do anyway."