Chapter 9 – Undone

"It's Bilbo's ring, I said to Merry," said Pippin, eyes affixed on Elrond. "But Merry said that it was part of Frodo's wickedness. Merry said Frodo was the one who stole it from Bilbo. He was the thief, and the cause that drove Bilbo out of Bag End, out of the Shire. Merry said Frodo had always been a queer boy even before he left Brandy Hall. In fact, that was one of the reasons why his guadians finally let Frodo go to stay with Bilbo, Merry said."

The last words were spoken so softly that people were forced to strain their ears to catch them. Pippin's heart broke as he told the story, recounting it before all these big folks that undoubtedly cared for his abused cousin. Telling it again made Pippin feel as if he were reliving all those darkened hours and he was not sure if he still could continue. Or even if he wanted to.

Merry said. Merry said. Merry said.

What Merry said was always true, was it not? In his mind Frodo felt as if he were surrounded by four high walls, closing tightly around him and high above him were criss-crossed metal bars intertwined so close to one another that he could not see out without difficulty, and could not be seen by others without effort. To Frodo, almost no light seemed to seep through.

In his mind Frodo felt as if a length of cord was strangling him.

Frodo wanted to scream to these people that all of Merry's words were true, yet he could not. There was a part in his mind that stopped him from doing so because… because it knew that it was not true.

It was not true that Frodo took the Ring. It was not true that Bilbo left because of him. It was not true that Bilbo took him from Brandy Hall because he was such a nuisance.

They were all not true because the truth was Merry was the thief himself, and he had robbed Frodo of the Ring. His Ring. He was supposed to feel enraged by this, a feeling he distantly recalled. So distant that Frodo could not tell if he really had it, and it had started to fade away just like the small section in his mind that had stayed true all this time. Sane. Untouched. But it all slowly crawled to the darkest corner in Frodo's head as Pippin started again with what Merry had said, and that, of course, had to be true.

This is not happening, Frodo shivered and sank lower under his blanket. His hands clasped at it so fast that the nails pricked painfully into his palms. And those have never happened, pleaded Frodo silently at Pippin's tales. Merry had never drugged him or confined him in a dark place. Merry had never starved him or denied him water. Merry. Cared. For. Him. Why was it so difficult for them to accept that? Why would they not leave him alone with this peace of mind?

But – why all those sorrow and deep regret in his cousin's grayish green eyes? Why did Merry lay crumpled against the wall at the far side of the room?

Frodo's eyes never wavered from his cousin's ever since Pippin begun, and though it was beyond his comprehension, Frodo could clearly perceive how Merry slowly turned into a wretched, worthless hobbit. And Frodo's muddled mind started to untangle itself.

"Frodo was tied on a chair, wrists secured behind his back, a piece of cloth serving as a blindfold. We left Frodo in that condition for long hours until it was clear to us that he was beginning to get disoriented." Pippin felt sick but he knew he had to go on. He was the only person in this room who knew exactly what had befallen Frodo, and who was sensible enough to reveal it. Pippin had to be strong for Frodo – and for Merry as well.

"And then Merry started to show him how unworthy he was. So unworthy that everyone left him. Bilbo, Gandalf, even his own parents. Frodo's father and mother decided to sneak out in the middle of the night so that their only son could not find out directly."

"That's not true!" A voice banged loudly before Pippin's last word vanished. Bilbo. "How could he say that! Drogo and Prim did not sneak out."

Aragorn's hand snaked around the hobbit's arm and Bilbo snapped to his side. His face was flushed.

"We know that, Bilbo," calmed Aragorn in a low voice. "Let Pippin finish it, shall we?"

The old hobbit's rasped breaths gave the reply before Bilbo finally nodded his agreement.

But everything was lost on Frodo but Pippin's words. Frodo's eyes darkened. His brows tightened. Sweat beaded on his face, mingled with tears on his cheeks.

Pippin stole a glance at Aragorn fearfully and nodded several times as the ranger signaled him to carry on. The hobbit reached for the neck of his shirt, trying to loosen it a bit.

"When Frodo gratefully accepted meals from Merry's hands, Merry thought he had succeeded in driving everyone else from his cousin's mind So Merry was totally abashed when Frodo said that Sam and not Merry was his only friend. Sam!. Merry was enraged beyond words. And so he unclasped his belt and… and…" Pippin brought his hands over his face and he wept pitifully, almost drowned in hysteria.

Pippin did not realize into what state his words had brought Frodo, and neither did Elrond and all the rest. They should have noticed it, though, how Frodo's face turned paper-white. The hobbit did not say or do anything. He simply sat there on his bed and stared at nothing. It was in his mind things were relived and for Frodo, they all seemed just as real as whatever was happening in this room. If not more real.

"I'm not Sam, Frodo! I'm Merry! M E R - R Y, MER-I-A-DOC!"

"Yes, me! I'm the only friend you have, Frodo! Not that lowly
gardener of yours who's been rotting in the ground for days. You
have to accept that!"

"Who is your friend, Frodo?!"

"Who is your friend!"

"Sam...?"

"NO!"

Frodo blinked hard. He almost felt all the lashing of the belt again. He flinched and squirmed, and when realizing he was free from any bonds, Frodo threw his blanket away and bolted out of bed, taking everyone by surprise.

Frodo reached Merry in such a speed that even Merry was left aghast, and took that cousin of his in the arms, shaking them violently.

"What made you do that, Merry!" screamed Frodo. "You are my cousin and you will always be my friend. You know that!" Merry crouched even tighter. He flailed vainly in an attempt to rub his wet cheeks.

"I know Sam is my loyal servant but he is nothing compared to you. And you are right. After I lost Bilbo, Gandalf, and my parents, I have no one to turn to. Save you, Merry!"

That hit Merry right in the pit of his stomach. After all this revelation – to find that Frodo was still insensible.

It was Merry's turn now to knock some sense into Frodo, and this time it would be the real sense.

"No, Frodo! Bilbo and Gandalf never left you. They may not be present around you but they never left you. Your parents might have, but the reason they were gone was not the one I told you. I – I don't know the real reason, Frodo."

Merry's voice weakened and he slumped back to the wall.

"And it was not true that Sam means less to you than I do. It is he who is your one true friend. Not me."

Frodo froze. It began to dawn in him that he had been tormented so badly by nobody but his cousin for nothing but lies. LIES. He tore away from Merry and gathered himself up, pressing his knees up to his chest and starting to rock back and forth.

TBC

To the reviewers!

Yahiko: Yes, I think I have to write this story for I have been so mean to Frodo in NH. I need to make him and me whole again. I'm amazed to find you think it's very good. Thanks!

endymion2: That's all right. I mean, everyone has his/her own things to do. Pippin hardly has to do anything. He merely tells and leaves the rest to Frodo himself.

Skye12: You're so nice! It makes me concerned too as to why my reviews are getting less and less. I don't know if it has to do with the writing itself. If that's the case, I'd better do something about it. But if it's because of my slow updates, there is nothing I can do about. LOL. Just kidding.

FrodoBaggins87: Hmm. I wonder if this chapter is active enough for you or not. I hope you like it!

AN: My gratitude goes to Emma, who always gives me moral supports concerning writing. You're such a dear! Another thing, I know I usually don't really care about reviews – oh, really? – but I think I'm dying right now to know if people really read this. Be an angel and tell me, all right? #shower you with Frodo's kisses#