THE INVASION OF ARAGORN by Gypsie Rose (gypsierose3000@yahoo.com)
Chapter 1: A Ringbearer's Journey
Frodo was unable to sleep, despite the fact that he was lying in a comfortable bed for the first time in many nights. The firelight flickered gently on the sleeping forms of his three companions, and there was no sound to be heard except a slight rustling of the breeze outside. Strider had gone out somewhere, perhaps half an hour ago; Frodo would have felt safer to have the Man nearby, in case the Black Riders returned.
But, he realized with growing anxiety, no one could really protect him from those horrifying creatures. They had all been truly lucky thus far; how long would it be before their luck ran out? Frodo realized guiltily that he was the one responsible for placing his friends in danger. And what would they do without Gandalf to guide them?
Frodo tossed restlessly. In the bed next to his, a movement told him that Sam was also awake. "Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked softly. "Can't you sleep?"
"He should not concern himself so," came a gruff voice from the dark.
Strider leaned regally into the firelight from a shadowy corner of the room. The shadows played perfectly along his high cheekbones, making his chisled features seem, to the hobbits, to be far superior to those of a mere Ranger.
Frodo's heart leaped with joy. Strider had returned!
"Actually, Frodo, I've never left. I can choose not to be seen if I wish, you know."
The hobbits gaped in amazement.
"Sam," said Frodo, answering his companion's earlier question, "You should try to get some rest. I'm sure we'll have to leave early in the morning."
"You should be restin' too, Mr. Frodo," responded Sam earnestly.
"Yes, yes, you both should rest," Strider insisted, his rich voice gravelly, but noble. "I will be certain to come up with a plan for us by morning. And I shall also keep a keen eye on the door."
Frodo smiled at Sam. "I'll rest if you will, Sam," he whispered, and lay back again. *Gandalf, where are you?* he wondered. He felt lost without the wizard's familiar presence and kindly guidance.
"As I said earlier, neither of you should fear. I shall lead you to safety in Gandalf's absence, for I somehow sense he's in danger," said Strider confidently.
"Do you think we can trust this 'Strider' person?" Sam whispered to Frodo. "He claims to be a friend of Gandalf, but we've got no proof for all that."
"My hearing is superior as well, Samwise Gamgee," Strider hissed. "And you really have no choice, do you? Besides, I am your only protection from the evils that trail you. It's best if you both get that sleep we agreed on earlier."
"I--er--perhaps--" Frodo began.
"Do not fret, Frodo." Strider's gruff voice contained a delicate hint of a sorrowful concern for the hobbit that made Frodo's heart ache to hear it. "Just sleep now. All will be well."
"Don't you have a plan for us, Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked urgently.
"He doesn't need one," Strider insisted, wondering silently what the wizard saw in these obviously dimwitted hobbits. "I've got it covered."
*******
In a coffeshop somewhere near Chicago, one author glared at the other.
"Frodo's supposed to be coming up with the plan!"
"Frodo isn't capable of that kind of planning. Strider has the necessary experience."
"What do you mean, Frodo's not capable? He led the group as far as Bree, didn't he?"
"Yeah, but this is where Gandalf's supposed to take over, and since he's incompetently gotten himself captured, Strider needs to step up. Frodo, you ain't in the Shire anymore, kiddo."
"Look, you promised we could try writing about someone *other* than Aragorn for a change."
"I know. It's about Frodo. But Aragorn is there, so he should still be playing in character. He's protective and noble and all, so he's just acting his part."
"I was trying to get him out of the picture! You were the one who decided he had to be there."
"He's there in the original, so he needs to be there in ours. He would never leave the poor little hobbits alone."
"Okay. Fine. We'll end the scene there. But next scene, Frodo gets to plan things on his own, all right?"
"Sure."
"Meet you here again next week?"
"Okay. Or IM me."
*******
Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam lay back, equally unable to sleep and envying Merry and Pippin their snores, as Strider continued to talk.
"The Nazgul, the Nine, are very dangerous, my hobbit friends. They are slaves to the Dark Lord Sauron, and they must do his foul bidding whenever he so desires it. This is why I gathered you to this room, under my hawklike watch, so that you would be safe from them. I would be very unhappy if I should fail you and Gandalf in this. I must try to prove my worth...must try. You understand that this is a dangerous world we live in, hobbits. Not safe, like your Shire was. I am surprised at Gandalf's judgement in placing such a severe burden on you, Frodo."
Frodo twiddled his thumbs and stared at the ceiling. Sam made a loud puffing noise of boredom.
"So, as I said before," Strider continued, "take good rest tonight, my hobbit friends. You will not see another night like it for quite a while, I gather."
"I'm sorry, Sam," Frodo whispered. "I am *trying* to come up with a plan. But I don't remember Strider being so talkative before now."
"I heard that, Frodo Baggins," Strider barked from his corner.
Chapter 1: A Ringbearer's Journey
Frodo was unable to sleep, despite the fact that he was lying in a comfortable bed for the first time in many nights. The firelight flickered gently on the sleeping forms of his three companions, and there was no sound to be heard except a slight rustling of the breeze outside. Strider had gone out somewhere, perhaps half an hour ago; Frodo would have felt safer to have the Man nearby, in case the Black Riders returned.
But, he realized with growing anxiety, no one could really protect him from those horrifying creatures. They had all been truly lucky thus far; how long would it be before their luck ran out? Frodo realized guiltily that he was the one responsible for placing his friends in danger. And what would they do without Gandalf to guide them?
Frodo tossed restlessly. In the bed next to his, a movement told him that Sam was also awake. "Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked softly. "Can't you sleep?"
"He should not concern himself so," came a gruff voice from the dark.
Strider leaned regally into the firelight from a shadowy corner of the room. The shadows played perfectly along his high cheekbones, making his chisled features seem, to the hobbits, to be far superior to those of a mere Ranger.
Frodo's heart leaped with joy. Strider had returned!
"Actually, Frodo, I've never left. I can choose not to be seen if I wish, you know."
The hobbits gaped in amazement.
"Sam," said Frodo, answering his companion's earlier question, "You should try to get some rest. I'm sure we'll have to leave early in the morning."
"You should be restin' too, Mr. Frodo," responded Sam earnestly.
"Yes, yes, you both should rest," Strider insisted, his rich voice gravelly, but noble. "I will be certain to come up with a plan for us by morning. And I shall also keep a keen eye on the door."
Frodo smiled at Sam. "I'll rest if you will, Sam," he whispered, and lay back again. *Gandalf, where are you?* he wondered. He felt lost without the wizard's familiar presence and kindly guidance.
"As I said earlier, neither of you should fear. I shall lead you to safety in Gandalf's absence, for I somehow sense he's in danger," said Strider confidently.
"Do you think we can trust this 'Strider' person?" Sam whispered to Frodo. "He claims to be a friend of Gandalf, but we've got no proof for all that."
"My hearing is superior as well, Samwise Gamgee," Strider hissed. "And you really have no choice, do you? Besides, I am your only protection from the evils that trail you. It's best if you both get that sleep we agreed on earlier."
"I--er--perhaps--" Frodo began.
"Do not fret, Frodo." Strider's gruff voice contained a delicate hint of a sorrowful concern for the hobbit that made Frodo's heart ache to hear it. "Just sleep now. All will be well."
"Don't you have a plan for us, Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked urgently.
"He doesn't need one," Strider insisted, wondering silently what the wizard saw in these obviously dimwitted hobbits. "I've got it covered."
*******
In a coffeshop somewhere near Chicago, one author glared at the other.
"Frodo's supposed to be coming up with the plan!"
"Frodo isn't capable of that kind of planning. Strider has the necessary experience."
"What do you mean, Frodo's not capable? He led the group as far as Bree, didn't he?"
"Yeah, but this is where Gandalf's supposed to take over, and since he's incompetently gotten himself captured, Strider needs to step up. Frodo, you ain't in the Shire anymore, kiddo."
"Look, you promised we could try writing about someone *other* than Aragorn for a change."
"I know. It's about Frodo. But Aragorn is there, so he should still be playing in character. He's protective and noble and all, so he's just acting his part."
"I was trying to get him out of the picture! You were the one who decided he had to be there."
"He's there in the original, so he needs to be there in ours. He would never leave the poor little hobbits alone."
"Okay. Fine. We'll end the scene there. But next scene, Frodo gets to plan things on his own, all right?"
"Sure."
"Meet you here again next week?"
"Okay. Or IM me."
*******
Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam lay back, equally unable to sleep and envying Merry and Pippin their snores, as Strider continued to talk.
"The Nazgul, the Nine, are very dangerous, my hobbit friends. They are slaves to the Dark Lord Sauron, and they must do his foul bidding whenever he so desires it. This is why I gathered you to this room, under my hawklike watch, so that you would be safe from them. I would be very unhappy if I should fail you and Gandalf in this. I must try to prove my worth...must try. You understand that this is a dangerous world we live in, hobbits. Not safe, like your Shire was. I am surprised at Gandalf's judgement in placing such a severe burden on you, Frodo."
Frodo twiddled his thumbs and stared at the ceiling. Sam made a loud puffing noise of boredom.
"So, as I said before," Strider continued, "take good rest tonight, my hobbit friends. You will not see another night like it for quite a while, I gather."
"I'm sorry, Sam," Frodo whispered. "I am *trying* to come up with a plan. But I don't remember Strider being so talkative before now."
"I heard that, Frodo Baggins," Strider barked from his corner.