I'm back. Sorry to disappoint you if you think I'm in a graveyard. The fact is I had a lot of problem with this chapter. I think some of you might have the same problem. Which part should write? Which one should skip? So I was kinda write – delete – undo delete – write – delete, like that. So it takes too long time for me to finish this chapter. I'm so sorry to make you wait too long.

To:

Rachel: er…what's behind me? Cake? Frodo? If it was cake, no thank you. I like it but I'm already fat. *sobs* But if it was Frodo, I would be happy to have a hobbity hug from him.

Serafina: You said the last time 'Oh, long expected part 4!' But with this chapter, I'm sure you will say 'Oh! How terribly so long I have to wait for you to write out!'. I would love to write more L/F fictions. But the problem is 'how long you will patient with me'. As you see, I'm a terrible writer to leave a fic a few months before start writing again. I know it's my fault only. I'm tried to write but the reality disrupt me. I can only assure you that as long as I live I will finish this fic which I hope in this year.

Gia: Thanks for reading Gia. I luv you. You are still with me since what…the chapter 8 of 'Innocent'. This is very comforting to me. Thank you.

Caster: I understand your feeling very well. It just feels like 'you like more than 1 year and a half and you just thinking to make it slash? Isn't it too long time for consider?' hahaha. Sorry about that. 'Innocent' is the experiment fic for me to justice to write more or stop there at the ending of 'Innocent'. Unexpectedly 'Innocent' is, for me, succeed. So it comes the sequel as many one asking to be a slash. Though I would love to go to slash right now, I can't. He is just twelve years old, too young for the slash. Please understand me. I hope you will still reading my fic even it's not slash.

Atsu Tenshi: Writer-block? Yes, it's very very terrible for any writers. And it happened with this chapter. I had no idea how much times I write-delete-write-delete. Urgh!

Mooncinder: Oh! No slash? Mmm…you really put me in the hard situation. Many people want slash and you don't want it. How to compromise between the two of you? Well, I only can guarantee you that this fic is not slash. But I can't guarantee for the sequel to 'Only Me'

Siw-wa: Thanks for reading Siw-wa. Have a good day.

Lilpip: Thank you. I like many of your stories too, though I don't have time to read it all. I just hope I will find more time to finish reading your fic. See ya.

Hersheyhugs: ^_^ It's good to know that you like my fic.

Chapter 4: Nightmare

Due to the low roof (for the big folk), Legolas and Lorin had to lowered their heads a little in order to avoid getting bumped on their heads. Legolas felt like he was in his sister's doll house. Everything was so small about half of the usual size he used to. The big smial like Brandy hall should have some untidiness here and there but it looked to be in order than Legolas gave credit for and soon he observed with his eyes and ears how. Esmeralda started giving young hobbits the errands to run. Three teenage girls were told to prepare the two biggest guest rooms for the elves. One boy was run to get the healer immediately. Then Esmeralda guided the unexpected visitors deeper into the hall, left the chaos behind. Legolas heard some females added more tasks to the children such as boiling the water and fetching clean towels while some talked about cooking more food.

Soon Legolas found himself in a bedroom. It furnished simply with one bed that accompanied by a small table nearby, the thick carpet on the floor, and a wardrobe. Three girls were cleaning the floor and the table, got rid of dust that resided here since the last guest gone. Lorin and Frodo helped Legolas sat on the bed while Esmeralda busied over the temporary beds for the elves. She asked one girl to bring her sewing box from the living room and told other girls to replace the old carpet that full of dust with the new one she just washed, and then put the clean sheet on top. One of the two was sent to prepare the next room for Lorin but the prince stopped her, saying that he would like to watch over his brother in the night.

As all the works were out of her hands and she could do nothing more except waiting for the healer, Esmeralda turned to the elves.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience but we don't have any beds that would suit you two."

"No. It must be us to apologies for all these troubles. For the bed, the carpet is thick enough to do us fine," Lorin told.

"I do not know how to thank you enough for rescuing Frodo from the Brandywine Water, not to mention about the caring you gave him a few years ago," Esmeralda led to the topic that will answer her question about the relationship between Frodo and the elves.

Whoever the elves were, it seemed Frodo was confident in them, or should say, in the wounded elf.

"Frodo wasn't a burden at all. He was so sweet more than any child I have ever met. We had a very great time together in Rivendell, I mean an elvish kingdom. He was quite amazing, eager to hear things that happened in the world, and willing to study. Really unique hobbit, I would say."

"That's truth," Esmeralda agreed. If she noticed the boy's redden cheeks, she did not comment about it which Frodo felt grateful as he fidgeted with Legolas' button absentmindedly. He did not like the idea of different of the others for it meant that he would be the target of the gossip. Since his first adventure with Bilbo Frodo found that he was rather lonely. The parents in hobbitton did not want their children to play with Frodo for they thought that he would bring some kind of bad behaviors to them. Only Took and Brandybuck relatives that welcomed him warmly every time he came to visit. Now with two elves with him, Frodo wondered his relationship with his kin would be the same. But that did not matter. For him, Legolas was important more than them. He would not trade Legolas for anything. He willing to stay close to Legolas and be gossiped as long as possible rather than stayed away from him.

The room silent for a while before a girl bustled in with the sewing box in her hand. Esmeralda received it from the girl and told all young hobbits including Frodo to go having dinner. The girls obeyed eagerly while Frodo stubbornly stayed beside Legolas on the bed.

"I'm not hungry, auntie. If you don't mind, I'd love to stay here with them." Frodo said. If it was other time, he would go to the dining hall immediately. But now Legolas here and wounded which made him anxious very much. At this moment, even the most delicious food in Middle Earth could not pull him away from the elf. After the many years of departure, he afraid that he was dreaming and any minute he would wake up to find that Legolas and Lorin were not here. All the events that had happened were the imagination from his lonely heart.

"Though you aren't hungry, you should have something in you little stomach. You are quite thinner than hobbit standard now. I wouldn't let anyone says that I'm incapable to raise my nephew," Esmeralda said sternly. "At least, some broth."

"Alright. I will eat later when the healer finished fixing Legolas' wound."

"Good," Esmeralda did not want to argue about Frodo's habit of eating right now though it worried her endlessly to see Frodo much thinner than hobbit standard. She started cutting Legolas' tunic with a pair of scissors. Meanwhile Frodo pulled the fluffy pillow on the bed to hug, head rested on it as he watched Esmeralda administration. Slowly he slumped down on the bed, curled around the pillow. All adventures he had this afternoon finally took its toll and he dozed off in a minute.

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Frodo observed the sky above with scrunched eyes to avoid the bright of the sun. To his disappointment, it was no clouds there like it had been for a few days. He lowered his eyes to the road and continued his walking to the field. He had no idea why Legolas went out of the cool smial to the place that had no shadows to hide from the hot radiant of the sun. Moreover the elf was still recovering from the wounds. He should be getting rest rather than running around like this.

Soon he reached the destination. And the reason he went out here was there under a big tree. Frodo walked closer and saw that the elf was not alone. He was circled by the hobbits children that were younger and older than him. Legolas saw him almost immediately.

"Come Frodo. We are talking about the adventures I had," Legolas invited him to join but Frodo shook his head.

"You should go back to Brandy Hall, Legolas. It's time for meal and you need your rest."

"Don't fret about my lunch. I just had it with them a moment ago, Frodo. And for the rest, I think I would be quite fine here," Legolas said and turned to chat with the hobbits surrounding him, not paying attention on Frodo anymore.

Frodo felt his throat tightened a bit at Legolas' action. He did not want to make the elf irritate at him but he had to for Legolas' profit.

"But…but it would be better if you in the smial. My aunt could look after you properly. Beside overexert yourself might slow the recovering speed."

Legolas raised one eyebrow a little as he listened to Frodo's words. He stood up and looked annoyingly at Frodo.

"Oh stop that Frodo. I'm grown up and quite capable to look after myself. Why don't you leave me alone with these interesting children?"

Those words cut into Frodo's heart but Legolas seemed to unnoticed it for he turned to a girl.

"You just told me that it has beautiful scenery nearby. Would you like to show me?"

The girl nodded eagerly and led Legolas out of the field, followed by the other children. Frodo watched them left numbly. He did not understand why it turned out like this. The Legolas he remembered was so kind and attentive at him all the time. Maybe he did something wrong to Legolas. Well, he better apologized the elf as soon as possible. So Frodo ran to the direction the group had disappeared. He soon found himself in front of the hedge that separate Buckland and the Old Forest. His heart pounded fast as he thought the possibility of them entering the Old Forest. It was the least favorite place for him. He had been gone in there once in daytime looking for mushroom and never repeated his action again. The plant in other places might be very quiet but it was peaceful. Unlike the Old Forest, he could feel the very strong ominous in the air. Moreover sometimes he could even heard evil things mumbled from the trees. But now Legolas and the youngsters were in there. He must get them back before they were lost which was very easily. Frodo ran along the hedge for awhile until he found the secret passage and got through it.

The uneasy feeling crept into Frodo's mind as he finally entered the Old Forest. He felt he was intruding the uninvited place. All trees looked like it was cursing him, shooing him out. Yet he walked deeper into the forest on the path that no one knew who built it. He was supposed to see them by now but it looked like they disappeared in the air, no footprint, no voices, nothing at all.

"Legolas! Tolco! Mami!" He called them at the top of his voices. Still all around him was quiet. Panic consumed his heart as he thought about all Old Forest tales he had heard, and all were bad.

"Legolas! Legolas! Where are you?!"

Frodo ran deeper into the forest, never stopped calling the elf and the youngling hobbits.

Then suddenly, he heard sound of something big moved behind him. He turned out immediately and found that it was the biggest spider he had ever seen in his life. He tried to dodge out of its way but it was too late, the poisonous fang stabbed on his stomach. All the nerves in his body were frozen immediately, he could not move at all. He saw with terror as the spider started binding him with its webs.

'Legolas! Legolas, Help ME!'

Frodo yelled in his mind and all of sudden, the spider disappeared and before him was the familiar face, Legolas.

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Lorin blinked in the darkness, confusing what had awoken him in the middle of the night. He watched the low roof of Brandy Hall a moment before he realized that Frodo who lay beside him was thrashing around. No doubt that was the reason that pulled him of his dream.

"Lorin, you awake?" So Legolas awoke as well. Even in his state of injury, Legolas never let his guard down which proved that his brother was really a good solider.

"Yes," Lorin replied and sat up. He reached the bedside table, fumbled around until he founded the matches. Soon the room was lighted with the candle light. He looked at the hobbit that lied between him and Legolas first. Frodo was thrashing around and tangled his limbs in the sheet that it made him looked like a chrysalis. The boy was sweated all over, his face contorted in terrible fear and hurt.

"Frodo, Frodo, wake up. Frodo," Legolas tried to wake the hobbit. His good hand shook Frodo lightly.

Not to long, Frodo woke up with startled. The tears broke up as he looked at Legolas with such relief.

"Legolas!" Frodo cried and tried to get up but the sheet restrained him from his moving. Lorin had to come helping Frodo loosed the sheet from his body. But Frodo did not wait. The only thing that could move freely was his head and the boy nestled it in Legolas' lap and cried quietly as Lorin untangled the sheet.

"Shh…it's just only nightmare." Legolas soothed the distress hobbit; his fingers combed the boy's damp hair lovingly. He looked at Lorin's eyes, asking for help. Lorin was the oldest brother and had helped nana took care of him when he was but an elfling. He must at least knew better how to sooth the child.

Lorin pulled Frodo from Legolas' lap and sat him up. He cuffed the hobbit's damp cheek and wiped the tears out.

"Frodo, listen to me. It was only a nightmare. Nothing and no one will harm you while I and Legolas are here."

Frodo nodded and turned back to snuggle Legolas. He then looked around a bit confusingly.

"How am I here? I thought I was in my bed."

"You fell asleep while we were waiting for the healer. Your aunt wanted to take you to your bed too. But you are too heavy for her to carry. Beside, you clutched at my fingers tightly that it seemed impossible to take you away from him. So we decided to let you sleep with us tonight," Legolas explained. His fingers still combed through Frodo's hair. He frowned a bit when he touched the damp forehead.

"You are a bit warm, Frodo. You must be exhausted from the nightmare and the crying. Let's sleep."

Frodo nodded in agreement let Lorin tucked him in. Actually he wanted Legolas to do it. However it was a bit too harder with only one good hand. So Frodo waited until Legolas lied down to cuddle the elf which thankfully was the good side arm. Soon the room went dark and the three said goodnight to each other.

Frodo tried hard not to think about the very bad dream he had ever heard. Legolas would never neglect him. Never. Frodo chanted inwardly before he fell asleep again.

To be continued…