Well, it's been a long while. Haven't updated since January, as you all can see. Why? I got really busy with school. Ended up having to stay up until 1:30 a.m. nearly every night doing homework. So, obviously fanfic had to be set on the side. :( But now I'm back for good, at least until college in a year.

I actually have had this chapter in my inbox since March 25th, betaed by Iorhael, who really helped greatly with this chapter's coherrency. I appreciate it a lot, Iorhael! Thanks!

Response to reviews at the end of the chapter.

Taking Control

October 29, 1388 S.R., 10:33 a.m.

"And he was with her," wailed Primrose to Meradoc, who inwardly rolled his eyes. "He told me he loved her." She tightened and untightened her fists.

"Yes, I know, my dear. And, he will be talked to. He knows he is not to spend time with her." Meradoc was furious, but he managed to keep his voice low and controlled, though it had a bit of an edge to it. All these eight years Frodo had been nothing but obedient, but now he was being rebellious on a very important occurrence.

"We must do something," Primrose stated, thinking aloud. "I have to have him. I love him and no other. We must end up together. They said he practically pro –"

"Who is 'they' and what did they say?" Meradoc interrupted, quite annoyed.

"I – I sent two lads to spy on him." She shifted her weight nervously.

"You what!" Why had she done that? If Frodo were to find out –! "Do you realize what problems that would cause if Frodo were to find out?"

"But, I had to. They were so sickly sweet, happy together. I was worried. He practically proposed to her, the lads say, and he's to speak to her father as soon as possible."

"Not to worry; not to worry! She is promised to Wilcome Took, and if I know Tom Bywater, he'll never let Frodo have his daughter's hand." Meradoc sat down and motioned for Primrose to do the same. "All we need to do is figure out how to keep them apart. You and I shall occupy him. You with picnics and the like and I with chores around the smial and his compartment."

"But I told him I would let him be." She hung her head in mock despair.

"Primrose Brandybuck, you shall be his wife. I will set up your meetings if needs be. Hold your head high; never let it fall. You mustn't look too desperate." He stood as Primrose stood to leave. "Good day," he said.

"Good day, Master. Brandybuck." She curtsied politely and gave a deviant smile before waltzing from the room.

October 30, 1388 S.R., 10:43 a.m.

"Whoa there, Merry! Keep your eye on the ball and follow it, and you will catch it," Frodo instructed, a broad smile on his face. "Toss it here, lad." Merry obeyed. Frodo caught it. "And when you throw, place the ball back behind your head like this, pull back, take a step forward, and release the ball toward the person you are throwing to." As Frodo gave his dissertation on throwing a ball, he did each step in time.

Merry followed instructions to catch the ball, but he missed it by a foot. "I'll never be good at this," he complained, plopping onto the ground.

"Ah, now, never say 'never,' Mer. You know not what the future shall hold nor do I. Now, get up and try again," Frodo smiled.

Merry looked at his cousin with determination set deep in his face. He cocked his arm and threw. It landed in Frodo's hands after he dived for it. "Good throw, Merry," called Frodo. "Just a little higher next time." He smiled reassuringly at his cousin, but Merry suddenly looked agitated. His body tensed and he would not look at Frodo.

"Is something bothering you?" the older hobbit asked with concern, walking toward his cousin.

"Yes," Merry admitted.

Frodo lowered himself to be eyelevel with Merry. "What is it, lad?"

"You're going to marry Primrose, Frodo." Merry lowered his head.

"Not if I can find a way out of it."

"It would be horrible if you married her. She's mean to us…"

"Come, sit next to me." Frodo waited for Merry to sit down beside him on the grass before continuing. "I know what you mean, lad. Don't worry about me. Everything will work out fine."

Merry sat silently for a moment, and tears began to form as he blurted out, "And I heard somebody from Hobbiton has been poking around asking about you. There's talk he wants you to live with him and that he is a loon."

"Ah, Bilbo."

Merry looked at him questioningly. "Bilbo?"

"Yes, Bilbo Baggins. He is my cousin. Most call him a loon, and he lives in Hobbiton, so I guessed that perhaps the one you were speaking of was Bilbo." Frodo looked concerned. "Is that what is bothering you? Are you afraid I will leave?" Merry nodded, wiping his eyes. Frodo smiled softly. "Don't you worry, Merry. Even if I do leave, I will come and visit you as often as possible. It will be just like now, except I will not see you quite as often."

"So, they were right. You will leave me."

"Who is 'they'?" Frodo asked.

"The people over there," Merry explained, pointing with one hand while rubbing one eye with the other.

Frodo arched his eyebrow. "Which people?" he asked, for there was no one where his cousin was pointing.

"They're hiding," Merry answered simply. "They are behind that tree."

"Stay here, Meriadoc," Frodo commanded, standing while craning his neck. He began to walk over to the trees to which his cousin had indicated. "I still don't see anyone, Merry," Frodo said, turning from where he stood, halfway between Merry and the two trees.

"They are hiding," Merry repeated. "Look closer."

Frodo turned back and began again toward the trees. "Hullo?" he said upon nearing them. "Is anyone there?"

"Not anyone, someone. Two 'someones' to be exact," said the one who seemed to be leader, emerging from behind the tree.

Frodo stilled, furrowing his brow. "What is this that you have been telling my cousin? Telling him that I am going to leave him."

"You will." He began to walk toward Frodo.

"Why and when? How would you know more about me than I know about myself?" Frodo looked deep into their eyes, keeping a safe distance away from the taller one whose face hid in the shadows. "How?"

"Come with us."

Frodo looked back at Merry and then to the lads again. Should he? It seemed to him that it would be the only way to find the answer to his question. "Show yourself," he demanded, fists clenched at his side.

"Show myself? I'm not that dimwitted. Reg, show yourself to him." He pushed his younger comrade forward toward Frodo.

Frodo looked over the lad who appeared no older than nineteen. He looked afraid, almost too uncertain. He also looked very familiar. Frodo eyed the other. How old was he? How strong? Could he withstand him if he tried to harm him? "How can I be sure you will not harm me?"

"You don't. Now, if you don't want us to scare your young cousin, I would suggest you come with us. We will take you by force if needs be.

Not wishing to make a scene before Merry, Frodo turned toward his cousin, who was now standing. "Merry," he began, slight fear showing in his eyes, but too minute for his cousin to see, "I need to go somewhere. I'll return before luncheon."

"I'll tell my papa."

"Go ahead." Frodo turned back to the two lads. "All right, I will."

The two shared a pernicious smile and began to walk. "Follow us," the leader said.

12:14 p.m.

"Where is that lad?" Saradoc asked Meradoc. "Have you seen heads or tails of Frodo since ten? My Merry said that he said he would return before luncheon. It's about a quarter past twelve and he still has yet to return."

Meradoc looked at him innocently. "I do not know. Where did he say he was going?"

"My son said he went with two lads who were hiding behind the trees and had said that the lads had told him earlier that Frodo would leave him for a loon from Hobbiton." Saradoc looked over at his wife, who was deeply worried. He tried to smile comfortingly but failed miserably.

"Bilbo Baggins?"

"That would be my deduction. But, Bilbo would never send two lads to deliver this news. He could have Frodo in a heartbeat, and he knows that. He knows Frodo has admired him since they first met."

"So you are proposing he was kidnapped?" Meradoc asked incredulously. "It is merely a quarter past. Why jump to such rash conclusions?"

"Frodo has never been this late to any meal, especially when he missed one already." Saradoc picked up his cup of tea from the table and took a sip. "That is why I am concerned."

"Perhaps he is with that Dahlia Bywater, having too much fun for his own good."

"Frodo is naught but a gentlehobbit, and who should know it if not you? He lives with you, and he would never act differently. He was trained in the way he should go when he was young. He will not depart from the way his parents raised him to go." Saradoc could not believe how willing Meradoc was to make Frodo look badly. "I am going to go get the shiriffs."

"Wait, wait, Saradoc, always impulsive, you are. Give the lad some time. He'll return soon enough." Meradoc did not know what was going on within Saradoc's mind, but he was not one to worry. He always tried to look positively, and when one did not make things work out properly in a positive manner he would be easily anger. He did not stand for worry.

"Saradoc, maybe he is right," Esmeralda told her husband, laying a hand on her husband's shoulder. Meradoc's calm tone had placed a sense of experience behind him, soothing her worries slightly. "Give him until one. Then, call for the shiriffs."

"Alright, dear," he replied, allowing her to embrace him as he laid his head on her shoulder.

2:04 p.m.

"What do you want from me?" he asked.

"We want nothing from you. We work for someone very close to you. He will be here soon." The hobbit pulled back a curtain, and Frodo, who lay on the ground where they had thrown him, propped up on his elbows, shielded his eyes. It was the only stream of light that had met his eyes since they had apprehended him.

"Whom do you work for?" Frodo asked as soon as the curtain had been placed back over the window. A yellow light followed his eyes wherever he looked. He shut them tightly to get rid of it.

"A person you are close to," the lad repeated.

"Why do you do this to yourself? You and your friend? This lad could be getting you into trouble. I'm the nephew of Meradoc Brandybuck and Saradoc and Esmeralda Brandybuck. Do you really think they will let you get away with this? You understand the one you work for can turn around and blame it all on you, say that he was only coming to visit, and you had taken me. He can act flabbergasted and pin it on you. Lads, you need to let me go. There is no way you will get away with this. He will put blame on you. Please, listen to me!" Frodo was desperate, but he stood up to be menacing. He was a foot taller than the timid one, but the other was even taller than him. "Listen to me!"

"Who do you think you are?" asked the taller lad.

"Frodo Baggins, son of Drogo Baggins, nephew of Meradoc and Saradoc Brandybuck, cousin of Bilbo Baggins, and nephew of the Thain. That is who I have always been and who I will remain."

"Yes, you are Master Baggins, then. Good. That means we have done our job. We will leave you now to await him." He turned. "Come along, Renegade."

"Renegade? Is that you?" Frodo asked, and the lad in question turned around. "We used to be such good friends. You always wanted to be around, and I enjoyed your company. Has so much changed in a year that you would now allow yourself to stoop this low?"

Renegade's eyes fleeted to his companion and back to Frodo, but before he could speak the other answered, "Yes, Frodo Baggins. He has changed." Renegade looked helplessly at Frodo. "He met me and the one who has commanded that we do this."

Frodo chose to ignore the lad's comments. "Renegade?"

"I-" he began but was dragged out by his companion.

The door was shut behind them, and as the room became blindingly dark, Frodo heard yelling. He sat down on the hard, sloping dirt floor. How long would it be before the one they spoke of came?

3:17 p.m.

Frodo looked up as he heard the door open, hurrying to hide in the shadows. "Frodo Baggins?" called a deep voice angrily. "Show yourself."

"Come and find me," Frodo replied. He was not about to let himself be free to whatever the lad might try to do.

"If that is how you wish to play it, you will regret it, my friend," replied the lad.

Frodo heard his heavy footsteps fall – closer and closer. He backed further into the shadows and prepared to tackle. "I'm afraid you will," Frodo tackled down the lad, tacking on sarcastically, "my friend." He gritted his teeth as he punched. "What did you think you would accomplish?" Frodo asked as soon as the other was tired enoughfrom struggling to not be much of a threat. "Royal Brandybuck, what was it?" he asked as he tied the other's hands with a scrap of rope around a pole, leaving Royal in the sitting position he was in.

Royal looked up. "You refuse to marry my sister. Do you have any idea how heartbroken she is? I have to hear her sobbing every night. "

Frodo opened the window, his eyes hurting from the darkness. "Could you not have spoken with me without abducting me? I thought I was doing her a favor, Royal. Isn't it better for her to marry one who returns her love? She deserves that. I – I don't love her, Royal. "

"Frodo, she loves you. She won't listen to reason. I've never seen her care so much about one person that her happiness depends on it since mother and father died. Please, just do as you are asked, for her sake." Royal looked out the window.

"For her sake I am not marrying her. She would be unhappy in the marriage. There would be no guarantee I would ever love her, not if I am forced into it. Would you want that for her?" He sat against the wall across from Royal and leaned his head back.

"No, but I don't want to see her like this."

"She will heal in time. She will find love, and she'll be happy again. I know it's natural to want to find someone to cling to that makes you feel safe and happy again after such a loss as you both have suffered recently, but you cannot let her confuse her feelings as love." Frodo stood. "I have to get back to Brandy Hall. If I untie you, do you promise not to attack me?"

"Yes," Royal muttered, not looking in his captive turned captor's face.

Not wanting to be too trusting, Frodo opened the door wide enough for him to make a run for it if need be. Then, he returned and knelt down enough to reach the rope and untie it. The perpetrator rubbed his wrists, and Frodo made his way out, blocking his eyes from the sun. How was he going to explain his long absence now?

3:35 p.m.

"Papa! Papa!" Frodo heard Merry shout as he ran off toward the inside of the smial. "Papa! Frodo's back!"

Frodo cringed. He knew he might be in trouble, especially when from behind he felt a tapping on his shoulder and he turned to face his Uncle Meradoc. "Hullo," greeted Frodo with a voice like a hobbit child who has been caught with his hand in a jar of jam.

"Frodo, I hope you have a good explanation for this absence of yours. The shiriffs are looking for you. We now have to send some of the servants out to call them back in. Explain." He tapped his foot impatiently.

"I was kidnapped," Frodo answered bluntly, hoping his uncle would believe him.

"Kidnapped!" his Aunt Esmeralda shouted from the doorway. Aghast, she ran to hug him tightly. "By whom? Are you feeling all right? Come, come inside," she babbled as she led Frodo into the smial.

Frodo allowed himself to be ushered inside all the way to the dining area of the small smial kitchen, glad for his aunt's intervention. At least now, perhaps his uncle would give him a chance to speak. "Royal Brandybuck had me kidnapped. It appears that his sister has taken the news of my loving Dahlia a bit too hard, and he overreacted by choosing to confront me in an authoritative manner. But he will hopefully not try that again, considering that I turned the situation around. His lads, you see, weren't smart enough to bind my hands, for which I am thankful. And yes, Aunt," he added as Esmeralda joined them with a tray holding tea and small cakes, making sure to serve her nephew first, "I am feeling quite fine now that I am away from him and know who to look out for now. I'm just frustrated with myself for falling so easily into their trap. It will not happen again."

Saradoc, who had been standing in the doorway, leaning against the wall, sat down. "So, I wasn't overreacting then. What I mean is I logically had concluded that with the information that Merry had given, considering that my son isn't yet learned in reading emotion on one's face, and this just confirms it."

Esmeralda placed a hand on her husband's back and rubbed it gently.

"You have good instincts, then, Uncle," Frodo teased.

"Now don't you tell me you're still teasing me about the day I watched Merry and you for the first time alone. Now that was a nightmare."

"Oh?" Esmeralda asked, arching an eyebrow. "Is there something you forgot to tell me all those years ago, love?"

"Oh, it's nothing, dearest." He smiled feigning innocence.

"If your definition of 'nothing' is leaving a toddler lad with full use of his legs unattended in a room who manages to find his way to the cellar!" Frodo announced, jumping out of his seat and running off, his uncle close in pursuit.

Cilmessë: Thank you for your thoughts. I do realize that hobbits don't become adults until 33, and that a hobbit who is 21 would be a teenager in our terms. Teenagers do have crushes, fall in love, etc. Plus, if a hobbit were to do an arranged marriage it would be more likely to be set up within the tweenage years. Thing is, it's fanfiction so whether or not hobbits did arrange marriages on occasion or not is up to the author. My main point was to not only move the plot along but also develop Meradoc as a character, show his stubbornness. Anyway, that was my logic. I do appreciate your pointing that out though. :) Thanks for reading!

Cilmessë: Thank you for your thoughts. I do realize that hobbits don't become adults until 33, and that a hobbit who is 21 would be a teenager in our terms. Teenagers do have crushes, fall in love, etc. Plus, if a hobbit were to do an arranged marriage it would be more likely to be set up within the tweenage years. Thing is, it's fanfiction so whether or not hobbits did arrange marriages on occasion or not is up to the author. My main point was to not only move the plot along but also develop Meradoc as a character, show his stubbornness and Primrose as well. Anyway, that was my logic. I do appreciate your pointing that out though. :) Thanks for reading!

FrodoBaggins87: Actually with the chapter I'm working on currently I am having some problems writing. I could use all the help I can get. :) Just e-mail me if you're still interested in helping. Thanks for reading!

Canadian Coco Chick: Hi! Thanks for your review. :)

Frodo Fan125: Thanks!

Thank you all again for reading. Hope you continue! And I'm sorry for it taking so long this time around to end up getting a chapter up. It shouldn't take nearly as long as it did this time. If it starts to look like it, send me an e-mail at my new address frodobaggins88 at gmail dot com.