I'm still alive! Yep, and I'm come back. Sorry for the delaying everyone. I was so busy with my study that it was so hard to grasp at anything. And well, after this chapter I will go to New Zealand for ROTK premiere! Yadda yadda…I'm SO HAPPY!
However, I have bad news for you. After I came back from New Zealand, I will be busy like hell until…mmm…maybe the 20th of December. Please, don't ask me to write the next chapter sooner than this.
From all the 29 reviews of 'Only Me', it's so amazing to see that many of you think it's gonna be a slash fic. Geez, what are you guy's thinking? Frodo just 12 years old while Legolas is somewhere between 2,500 and 3,000. I couldn't make it a slash. It's impossible! BUT I will consider about making it slash in the sequel to this story. That's all I can tell you.
Well, it's time for reply my readers, I think
Tidus2529: I was really headache about how to make things going on between Legolas and Frodo. Possible things come up such as make Frodo angry at Legolas and acted coldly at him or Frodo grew up and acted as adult and etc, less say about Frodo and Legolas' reaction, hah!
Elvin Flame: It's good of you to be with me in this story as well as the last one. For Lorin's reaction, I'm afraid you must wait for a period. Legolas promised to not say about the promise with anyone and he shouldn't break it easily, isn't he?
Blackunicorn: This fic is not going to be a slash, at least not in this story. But it may start at the next story if I still alive to write more of Legolas/Frodo. LOL
Atsu Tenshi: You share the same thinking with me about 'a few of Legolas/Frodo'. I really want to read them soooooo much that I have to write about them ^///^. Is Frodo still remembering the promise? No. not here. Long time will pass before he remembers and I hope you will still be here with me when that time comes.
Gia: Next chapter is ready to serve you, my dear. Hope you will be fine.
Rachel: *Hug back* Thanks for the huggie, gal but you don't have to *struggle to breathe* hug me so tight like this. Nah, I'm kidding.
Immortalis_Vespers: Thanks for your compliment *blush*. I don't think my work is the Best Legolas/Frodo fic. I have seen many fic of this couple that are far better than mine outside FF.net. I'm just trying my best to weave the relation between them. Well, sorry to disappoint you, this fic is ot gonna be slash.
Abyss: Well, you really are amazed me for you are like the fifth or the sixth person who asked me about this. NO. No slash in this fic, that is my intention.
Okay, let's start reading. Have a good time and I will see you again next chapter.
Note: Disclaimer at such can see at the prologue. No beta, all mistake are mine.
Chapter 3: This is the first time I see elves
Lorin managed to strap all the bags on to his own horse. The trusting brown eyes looked at him and whinnied a little as if to question for the change of him to be full load while his friend had nothing on his back.
"Don't be jealous for he must take his master, I and the little one on his back." Lorin caressed the long face lovingly before turned back to his brother who waited patiently not too far. The hobbit and the elf were engaging in a conversation that he found very interesting. Who would think that Legolas could baby-sit a child so well? If the time could turn back, he would have gone to Imladris with Legolas 7 years ago.
Lorin helped Legolas on his feet before lifted him to the unburdened horse. The youngest prince of Mirkwood hissed a little when the sudden pain ran through his arms by the movement. Soon the hobbit was on the horse's back, in front of Legolas. The hobbit grasped the main in his hand tightly, afraid to fall down from such a high like this. He had been fallen from a pony and the pain from that accident still fresh in his mind. Frodo started a bit when he felt a hand on his waist before he relaxed himself when realized that it was Legolas'. The elf secured his good arms on Frodo while the hobbit leaned his head back and let it rest on Legolas' chest. It really amazed Lorin when considered that the two merely reunited no more than 2 hours ago. But it looked like they never been apart each other at all.
Lorin turned to order his own horse to follow them, not worried a bit since his horse was trained to listen to its master always in any situation. He then mouthed behind Legolas and slid his arms under his brother's injured arms -very careful to not touch it; otherwise Legolas must be in pain- and wrapped it around Frodo's waist. This way he would be certain that the hobbit would not slide down the horse while it galloping.
Lorin nudged the horse's side to the direction of Brandy Hall of Buckland.
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Not too long, the elves and the hobbit reached the North Gate of Buckland. The guard that should watch over the door was not at its post which Frodo felt it was weird. However, it might because that he had rushed to do some urgent business and forgot to assign the job to the others in his absent. Since the guard was not in the eyesight, they let themselves through the gate and trudged on the dusty lanes towards Brandy Hall where Rorimac, Frodo's grandfather resided in.
The nearer they were to the hall, the more sound they heard. Usually there were a little lousy in Buckland around the day; the sound of children play games; the chattering sound of housewives suggesting others how to make the best meal; the clip-clap sound were far away in the farm over the hill. However, these sounds were disappeared today, replaced by the yells of many hobbits as if the war broke through this place.
The scene before them did not far from what they had imagined. It looked like all hobbits; children, adults, elders were gathered in the courtyard of Buckland. Children looked confused and scarred while the adults wore worried expression. Male hobbits were discussing over something, let their wives prepared the thing, that Frodo observed, that was necessary for the short journey.
A brown haired girl saw them first; her face turned white as if she saw ghost.
"Frodo!" She cried; got the attention from the worried adults. All the eyes looked at the newcomers, some with relieved to see Frodo save and sound, and some with surprise and suspicious at the two elves behind the young Baggins.
"Frodo!" A midwife hobbit cried and ran toward him, did not care about the horses or the elves. Her eyes focused on Frodo only. Some dried tears still presented on her cheeks and she ran toward them with utter speed Frodo ever seen.
Lorin dismounted the horse quickly and lifted Frodo down to the ground. In a minute, Frodo was consumed by his female relative almost completely that Lorin could see only a patch of Frodo's black hair under the woman's chin.
The hugging went for a while before she pushed Frodo out a little. Many emotions collided in her eyes; frighten, fear, and happy.
"You are such a naughty boy! Make me worried like that. When Andy ran back to the Hall and told us that you tripped into the river, my heart almost stopped. Everyone had to abandon any works to find you. I…I…" She stammered and then tears broke down again. She pulled Frodo into a bear hug as if fear that Frodo would disappear in the air if she ever let him go.
"I was so afraid that horrible thing would happen to you like it did with Primula and Drogo. I never forgave myself for did not stop them to go into that cursed boat that day. Oh, Frodo. Don't do this to us again, never ever again."
"I'm sorry, Aunt Esme," Frodo whispered and hugged his aunt tighter. Aunt Esmeralda was so kind to him. It might because she did not have her own little one yet and so considered Frodo as hers. Bilbo had said that Aunt Esmeralda wanted to adopt him, however, he was so heartbroken after the tragedy of his parents and it seemed that he would likely to go after his parents if he stayed longer in Buckland. Therefore, Bilbo became to be his guardian and did his duty well to teach Frodo many interesting outside the Shire, especially the elves.
Frodo pushed himself from Esmeralda's embrace for he just remembered the elves that accompanied him to Brandy Hall. Legolas was standing on the ground beside Lorin and the horse, tried his greatest ability to compose himself under the investigating eyes of the adults and the curious eyes of the children. Lorin had his arm wrapped around Legolas' waist in order to support his brother while he looked at the exchange words between Frodo and Esmeralda; did not know what to do.
"Aunt Esmeralda, these are my friends, Legolas and Lorin," Frodo introduced and added more details when he saw the questioning in his aunt's eyes. "I met Legolas at Rivendell 7 years ago with Uncle Bilbo."
"Greeting Miss Esmeralda," Legolas said while Lorin only bowed his head.
"Nice to meet you, master elves," As a Took, she was raised among the adventure tales of her relatives and living in Buckland made her mind opened to any possible things. Thus, the sight of the elves could not timid her at all. "I see that you are hurt. Please come inside my smial and I will have someone look at it."
"And you may stay with us as long as you want."
Frodo stopped pulling his button's shirt immediately; he looked at his aunt unbelievable and hugged her with all his love.
"Thank you, Aunt Esme. You are so good to me."
Esmeralda embraced her nephew back before pushed him out and watched Lorin unpacked the bags from his horse. Many hobbits still crowded around the courtyard, watched strength guests curiously. Many hobbits seemed to want to help but the graceful of the elves shied them. Thus, they content to only watch them. Only one hobbit with sandy hair walked toward the elves and helped carried some bags.
"Your horses will have a good care here, however, outside the stable because we do not have the stable that would suit to your horses. By the way, I'm Saradoc, Frodo's uncle and Esmeralda's husband," Saradoc smiled a little.
"I'm Lorin. Nice to meet you, master Saradoc. For the horses, you just tethered them in the place that has grass and under the big tree that could shelter them from rain if it happened to fall."
"Your horses will get them, I assure. Please follow me."
Saradoc and Esmeralda led the way to the Brandy Hall. Lorin wrapped his arm around his brother's waist to support him while Frodo walked another side of Legolas; looked up at Legolas every one in a while as if to make sure that Legolas was alright.
Behind them, Lorin heard the almost inaudible footsteps followed them. He glanced back and saw that it was the children. Some ran away, some looked at other directions, and some hid behind their friends though their eyes peeked out
"This is the first time I see elves."
"Me too. Everyone is."
"They are so beauty. If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up."
"Silly. It's not a dream. It's the truth."
"How can you be so certain when you are the person who told me that there had no such thing like the elves?"
"Because I never seen them. So I thought there were no elves!"
"Shhhh… do you want them to know that we are following?"
"Oh! Stop all of you and be quiet."
"Do you think how old are they?"
"I bet no more than 30."
"I bet they are over 100."
"Don't be silly. If they are more than 100 years old, they would lay in the graveyard by now."
"Don't you remember that Bilbo said elves do not age? So they might be like a thousand year old."
"That's…"
"That's enough, children." Saradoc said and turned back to see the herd of boys and girls behind them sternly. "Go home, it's dinner time now and I'm certain that your little stomachs should be growled by now."
After that word, a loud growl emitted from a boy's tummy. He looked mortified and found the small pebbles on the ground quite interesting immediately.
"See you tomorrow, Master Saradoc." Some of the children said and ran back to their smials. The rest of the group that were Frodo's cousin ran inside the Brandy Hall.
"I apologize for the children. They are so curious sometimes," Saradoc said. He did not know what the elves thought about the children. But for him, they were quite precious little halflings that brought joy to his life. It was so sad that he and Esmeralda did not have their own child yet. But he hoped it would come soon.
"That's quite alright, master Saradoc," Lorin replied. It seemed to be like he had expected. Hobbits were amazing race indeed, especially children. And he admitted that the little one beside Legolas was the most interesting.
This trip must be really fun and it would be much better if Legolas did not injure.
To be continued…