(A/N - Okay, guys. Here's what's up. I started school today (yes! I love it! lol), and I am a senior this year. Despite taking many college-level and advanced placement courses, I have a study hall all year 3rd period. It's weird because I haven't had a study hall since the 7th grade, but it's VERY good. The hard drive in my computer here at home needs replacing because it's preformance is totally shot, so we're getting a new one in a few weeks (I hope). Until then, the library in school will be open in a week or two, and I will be able to write from there until the one here is fixed. So just to let you know I have a legitamite excuse as to my delays, LoL. And I need a new USB flash drive because my orange one with all my stories and life on it is being held together with mask9ing tape right now, lol. So thanks! Enjoy!)
. Reviewers .
x) delusional anvil - New reviewer and nice name, lol. So excited! I'm SO happy about your review! I'm not used to all the compliments about having a great story, but I am glad that my writing is improving over these passed two years to get such feedback! A lot of people say this is a great FrodoOC, and I am glad to have you as another! Also excited to here that you like the flashbacks - they are so fun to write and so crucial at some points! They will be in the future, anyways, or they'll just give you a break from all the Ring drama, lol. Well, thank you so much for your review, and I hope you continue to read with us and review! Enjoy it!
x) TheLoneShe-Elf - I will keep writing, LoL. Once I start something this big, I can't stop it unless it's too horrible even for my eyes to look at, LoL. Glad you keep coming back for more! Have fun reading on! Thanks for your review!
x) Dragon-Slayer-of-the-4th-Realm - Oh please, LoL. i've got more than I can handle right now, too! No gripes from writer to reviewer - you guys keep me going and I have no place to threaten your life if you don't review, LoL. however, in the reverse situation, things are different, LoL. And look for me here always! I'll be here! Thanks and enjoy!
x) jennaalissa - Yes! Another person who uses random sayings and things for send-offs! Woot! LoL.. I love doing stuff like that. Anyhoo, glad to hear that you have been reading for a while now! I guess I've slowed down so much you can catch up now, huh? LoL.. Well, I hope you keep reading, because things only get more interesting and better from here on in. Thanks for the review, and enjoy the chapter!
x) bdrake07 - Is 2007 your graduation year? LoL... Cuz it's mine. I'd figure I'd ask with the name and all, but nevermind! Just glad to see yet another new name in the review bin! I'm also happy to see another person that likes the Angie and Frodo relationship thus far, but as far as Merry and Pippin go, I know in the end you'll feel satisfied with how it goes. They feel jealous sometimes, but othe emotions with be incorporated. Anyhoo, enough talk. I will let you read now! Thanks for the review, and enjoy!
x) Kenny - Omg, I updated 'I Love This Song!' How proud are you of me? LoL.. And as for Gold-Plated Gold, I'm thinking of doing something different with that now. Maybe not making it us that goes on the adventure, but having it be another set of friends. You know, because there's not a lot of response because no one will understand it if they don't read three huge other stores first. Plus, there's some things I wanna change, including making each section less lengthy! LoL.. Well, besides that, the last chapter was the same legnth as the others... All chapters for this story are 3200 words (1600 bottom and 1600 top), 3500 max. Maybe you're just over anticipating this chapter, LoL. Well, wait no more! It has arrived! Thanks forr reviewing and enjoy it!
x) Independentskater - Yes yes YES! LoL... I LOVE it! I'm sorry, but I do. I'm so happy to hear from reviewers like you that tell me I'm in character and have a great relationship and story building and have one of the best FrodoOCs on the site! It just gets me so motivated, LoL. And yet, you are another new reviewer! I'm getting so many and I love it! And I am so happy to have you as one of them! I REALLY hope you keep reading because I know you will just love it. Thanks for all the nice things you said, haha! Keep reading, thanks for reveiwing, and most importantly, enjoy the chapter!
x) Southern Charm83 - Yes, Merry and Pippin arrive in this chapter! Woot! LoL.. And I have read stories where people fall asleep in trees, wake up, forget where they are, and fall out. It's quite comical until I find out they're hurt. Observes moment of silence for people who get hurt falling out of trees when asleep Okay. Better. Now, yes! Merry and Pippin are coing and they shall add to it all, and I will write it all! And I know you're dying to read it all, LoL. So I'll let you do just that. Thanks for another review, and enjoy!
x) Frodo's girl - My brother does nothing but play video games, but now that he's starting preschool September 6th, things shall change, LoL. And you know what? Half the time I go and reread things I have written a while ago and sit there and honestly do not remember writing that part of the story, LoL. Like, certain sentences and sections and stuff. Like, I'll sit there and be like, 'Aww, this is so cool!' and rememeber seconds later that I myself had written it, LoL. But as for now, I'm working on how far I can stretch my patience with my computer not working and school starting, so I'm busy. I'll update again sooner, I hope! Til then, thanks for a great dedication in your review, and I hope you keep rereading, LoL.
x) waterswind - I'm very glad that you do like it and even happier to see another new reviewer! I hope you continue to read on, because the story will only get better as it progresses! Thanks for you review! Please keep reading and enjoy!
x) Elwing-Evenstar - Well, as for Pippin going to Tuckborough, he's not, LoL. He's going to Buckland, too! Maybe the way I worded it was misleading... Anyhoo, yes! They will be leaving this chapter! Woot! And I'm glad you've had the patience to wait for more since I haven't had the time. Thanks for the great review, and please enjoy the chapter below!
.. If this '11-ppl-per-chapter' thing keeps up, I'll have to seperate the new reviews from the old ones, LoL ..
. Chapter Nine .
.. The Riders ..
Angie was more than thrilled as she raced back to her family's hobbit hole. She was going to Buckland to stay with her best friends, and her mom couldn't stop her so long as she got out quickly and quietly enough (which that was a cinch in Angie's eyes).
She crept through her strawberry patch after dashing across Hobbiton filled with excitement, opened her bedroom window, and slipped inside onto her bed. Then she heard sounds moving closer towards her bedroom door. She held her breath and looked up in horror as her mother's footsteps shuffled in front of her door, and her fist came banging two seconds later.
"Angie!" she called harshly (as she always did). "Open this door!"
Angie stifled a giggle in her hand as she gently stepped onto her floor and began to sprint around her room on her tiptoes to gather the belongings she would take with her on her trip to Buckland with her friends. After a few minutes, her mother's rant subsided in its usual defeat, and Angie was still hurriedly running around her room making sure she hadn't forgot anything she wanted or needed to bring with her.
Her eyes fell upon the small blue book that Frodo had lent her laying there all alone on the nightstand. Angie sighed in relief that she had caught sight of it before she left so that she could return it to him. She tucked it inside her basket, checked her room quickly a few more times, and then rushed up to her tiny bookcase.
It would only be right to return the favor. Though she had a small collection and a select few that she really enjoyed, she was determined to give Frodo a story worth his while like he had given her. Nothing looked too appealing on the bookshelf, so she turned to her desk where she found her favorite book.
"Perfect," she whispered, taking up the worn book that was decorated with several reds.
She smiled as she placed it next to Frodo's in the basket. Then she shook herself free of the moment, realizing that she had to hurry if she didn't want to miss her opportunity. She took up her sack and basket, climbing out of her room that was now stripped bare. She turned back to look at her room and said a silent goodbye to it before dropping down into her strawberry patch.
Her strawberries! Merry and Pippin may behead her if she didn't bring any for the trip at least since she couldn't grow them there! She sighed as she began to toss a few into her basket and made her way out of the garden. She had plenty by the time she was out, but it looked as if Merry and Pippin would have to find other means of life support since her strawberries were no longer an option clear out in Buckland.
The sun was sinking lower behind the hills as Angie ran swiftly and soundlessly across the grassy grounds to the Brandybuck's stay home. She saw her two best friends standing outside with their things surrounding them, and Angie ran up to them, thrilled that this was not a dream.
"Ang! You made it!" Merry said as he and Pippin each swung an arm out to catch her before she went flying through the closed door behind them. She smiled, setting her things on the stone walk beside her.
"Of course she made it," Pippin said. "Wouldn't let your old mum onto you, would you?" he asked. "She couldn't catch you with her swingin' broom anyways. You're too fast."
"Oh, I'm so excited!" she said. "Have Frodo or Sam arrived yet?"
"No, but Frodo should be on his way," Merry said. "He said he'd come at eight if he was to be here, and it's five til by dad's good ol' pocket watch."
"Pippin, I have to say that your little suggestion to Merry's mother was just what I needed," Angie said.
"Yes, it was out there, but a good suggestion," Merry commented. Pippin stood next to Angie rocking proudly on his toes again.
"Why thank you, my kind subjects," he said. "Feel free to grovel as well..."
Angie and Merry exchanged looks and together, they pushed him into the blueberry bush he was standing next to. They laughed as Pippin shrieked, fighting for his freedom of the blueberry bush. They were so caught up in their own laughter that none of them saw Frodo coming down the path with a bemused smile at the scene.
"What is going on here?" he asked, bringing his presence to their attention.
"Frodo!" Pippin shouted, his head popping out of the bush. "You made it! What about Sam? Is he coming?"
"I stopped along Bagshot Row, but it seems that Sam cannot make it, unfortunately," Frodo said with a regretful face. "The Gaffer's going to be needing him he said, and he also told me to have fun and said that he'll be here when we get back next summer."
"Aww, poor Sam," Angie said. She picked a blueberry out of Pippin's hair and popped it into her mouth quickly. "Well, we'll write him," she said matter-of-factly with a nod of her head.
"It's not nice to talk with your mouth full," Pippin said. He found it a little odd that she had just plucked a blueberry from his hair and ate it without a problem.
"I swallowed it," Angie said after doing so.
"Merry!"
"Yes, Mum?" Merry shouted back.
"Could you and Pippin come in here and help me finish packing these last few bags?" the voice of Esmerelda asked from within the hobbit hole.
"Sure!" Merry said. "Come on, Pip. We'll be back in a jiffy," he reassured Frodo and Angie before running inside with Pippin.
It was a long silence. Angie was glad that she finally got the opportunity to be alone with Frodo so that she return his book to him, but butterflies began to fill her stomach and make her a bit uneasy. She stopped wringing her hands and picked up her basket as Frodo started conversation to her relief.
"I haven't been to Buckland since Uncle Bilbo brought me here," Frodo said quietly. "I had some closer relatives after the accident, but Bilbo wanted me as his heir which still baffles me a bit."
"Well, at least you have other relatives that would take you in," Angie said with a short huff of laughter. "Um, I have your book."
She extended it to him, and he smiled as he took it from her slowly.
"You read just as fast as I do," he commented. "That's exceptionally good. Most hobbit lasses can't read, especially this young. Bilbo would say you have a talent."
Angie blushed as Frodo looked his book over and flipped through it.
"He has said that I excel in education much better than other hobbit lasses before," Angie told him. "But I don't want it to be something I should flaunt about in others' faces who don't have that privilege."
"Oh no, of course not," Frodo said, about to put his book away. But Angie held out her hand to stop him, and he looked up at her.
"Here," she said, placing the book in his hands. "It's one of my favorites, and I had to return the favor."
"Thank you," Frodo said as he tucked his own book and Angie's into his bag. "I'll take very good care of it, don't worry."
"I don't," she said, a pleased smile spreading across her face.
Suddenly, a loud series of thuds, crashes, and 'ow's!' came from inside the Brandybuck's stay home. Angie and Frodo's eyes got wide as they looked at the door. Angie let out a surprised scream as Merry, Pippin, and the bags they carried came flying out the door. They pummeled her to the ground after tripping over all the luggage which she was now pinned between.
"Ow! Get off!" she hollered. Merry jumped up as he and Frodo helped Angie out of the avalanche of baggage, but Pippin still flailed around hopelessly.
"Pippin, you bum!" Angie said, pulling his head out of the bags by his hair. "Were you trying to kill me?"
"No!" he choked. "The dog started chasing us! But really, if we did almost kill you, we'll have to remember that one, eh, Merry?"
"The dog?" Frodo asked. "You mean that harmless mutt that sits in your father's study not making a sound? He did this to you?"
"Oh yes," Pippin said sarcastically. "Any ravaging silent killer sounds good if you talk about it like that!"
"Stop your bellyaching, Peregrin," Esmerelda laughed as she came out of the hobbit hole, closing the door behind her. "The carriage has arrived!"
They all looked down at the end of the walk to see the large carriage there, and a warm feeling filled Angie. As she and her friends scooped up their bags and dashed for the carriage, her heart felt light as a feather now that she was free of her mother as far as she was concerned.
Once the coach had everything sorted out, the carriage began rolling down the hillside. Angie looked back in the direction of her home, waving goodbye to it, wishing it and her mother good riddance. The stars began to appear on the darkened half of the clear sky, and Angie stuck her head back inside the carriage, looking around at all of her friends. She locked eyes with Frodo momentarily and smiled; this was going to be better than she thought.
.. x x x ..
The first day of their journey had come and gone with Sam and Frodo still trying to talk Angie into going back to Hobbiton where she was much better off. She was getting very short with them as they persisted with their tactics, so Sam and Frodo finally let up realizing that she wasn't going back for anything now, even if she had left her head behind. Besides, she had brought a good many of her strawberries with her, so they didn't have reason to complain about her company.
That morning as the sun grew high into the sky, the three hobbits put space between them as they went through the thick of a cornfield. Frodo had the lead with Angie and Sam trailing not by much as they walked side by side, Sam trying one last time to get Angie to turn back.
"Miss Angie?"
"Sam, I'm not going back and that's final! We've discussed this!" she said with a short laugh.
"Yes, I know, but-"
"If you were in my position with everyone trying to hold you back so that you couldn't help Frodo, how would you-"
"Frodo," Sam said quickly, his eyes growing big. "Where's Frodo?"
"I'm sure he's not that far off," Angie said as Sam began to push forward on the path shouting Frodo's name. She rolled her eyes and trudged off after him as his shouts persisted until Frodo appeared from around the corner of the tall cornstalks. Sam sighed in relief.
"I thought I'd lost you, Mr. Frodo," Sam said.
"What are you talking about?" Frodo asked with an amused smile, looking past Sam at Angie.
"Just something that Gandalf said," Sam replied. "'Don't you lose him, Samwise Gamgee!' And I don't mean to."
Angie and Frodo came to either of Sam's sides with laughter present on their faces. Sam looked at both of them bending his brow in confusion as he asked, "What's so funny?"
"Sam, we're still in the Shire," Angie pointed out.
"Yes, Sam. What could possibly happen?" Frodo asked, not realizing that he had just jinxed them until he was pinned to the ground between it and the body of his cousin Pippin. Merry came flying out of nowhere next, taking down Angie and Sam.
"Frodo?" Pippin asked upon seeing his cousin under him. He looked over at his cousin. "Merry! It's Frodo!"
"Hello Frodo!" he said amusingly.
"Get off him!" Sam shouted, throwing Pippin off of Frodo. Angie got to her feet dusting off her dress when Pippin saw her.
"Angie! What are you all doing out here?" he asked. "What's the meaning of all this?"
Suddenly, they heard barking not too far off. All of their heads turned. That barking sounded oh too familiar...
"Hold this!" Merry said, dumping an armload of vegetables into Sam's arms.
"You've been in Farmer Maggot's crops!" Sam said angrily.
"Without me?" Angie asked them somewhat offended as the barking continued to get closer.
"Like we could find you when you're out here prancing around!" Pippin said as he pulled Frodo behind him as the began to run through the crops to lose the dog. Merry shoved Angie in front of him, leaving Sam there before he dropped the vegetables and ran after them.
"Dunno why he is so upset!" Merry said as they raced far from the path. "It's only a couple of carrots!"
"And some cabbages!" Pippin added, looking back to see if the three of them were still following him closely. "And those few bags of potatoes that we lifted last week-"
"Hey, I helped you with those!" Angie said.
"Never said you didn't!" Pippin said. "You also got the tomatoes from the week before, too, if you remember that one! You know, Merry, she did get those single-handedly. Maybe we shouldn't take the credit, though it seems Farmer Maggot doesn't care so long as he skins one of us!"
"Yes Pippin!" Merry said. "That's my point! He's clearly overreacting!"
"Clearly!" Angie huffed as if it were an understatement.
"Run!" Merry urged.
Just then, Pippin skidded to a halt at the top of a steep drop-off as Angie, Frodo, and Merry bumped into him softly. And just when they thought they were safe, Sam came barreling into them, sending them rolling down over rocks and roots until they landed soundly at the bottom emitting painful moans.
"Ooh! That was close!" Pippin said, referring to a pile of droppings inches from his face. Angie giggled somewhat; she hated it when she was trying to be furious at them and then they went and made her smile.
"Ow... I think I've broken something!" Merry groaned, pulling a large carrot out from under him that had snapped in half.
"Trust a Brandybuck and a Took!" Sam scolded as he sat up.
"What?" Merry asked innocently. "That was just a detour... a shortcut."
"Shortcut to what?" Angie asked miserably, trying to get to her feet with her large pack weighing her down.
"Mushrooms!" Pippin shouted as he, Merry, and Sam scrambled for a small patch or mushrooms lying at the base of the hill.
Angie rolled her eyes before looking around for Frodo who she saw standing in the middle of the road looking in the direction of the East end. Curious, she approached him, but he spoke suddenly, and she stopped in her tracks.
"I think we should get off the road," he said quietly before turning to them. Angie was standing behind him as the others fussed over the mushrooms near to where they had fallen. Suddenly, a faint, piercing shriek could be heard coming from the East. Alarmed, Frodo shouted, "Get off the road! Quick!"
Even though they had just joined in on the middle of the journey, not knowing its purpose and such, Merry and Pippin obeyed Frodo's plea, feeling an unheard of danger bearing down on them as well. Frodo grabbed Angie's wrist quickly and pulled her off of the road under an overhanging root of a large tree as Merry, Pippin, and Sam settled down next to them. The hooves got closer, increasing their fear until they had stopped. Then it was in full swing.
Angie closed her eyes feeling the largest lump in her throat that she could ever recall having. It must've been one of those agents of the Dark Lord Gandalf had mentioned. She looked over at Frodo as he looked up through a gap between the root and road. He pushed himself back into the earth more, giving Angie that feeling that her fear was realized and above them. He wants the Ring, she thought as he began sniffing and hissing about a foot above their heads.
Earthworms and other insects began to come out of the ground all around Frodo. Suddenly, a strong, lulling trance overtook him. His finger wandered towards that of the Ring. Frodo could not overpower the urge as his finger moved closer to it, and the voices all around him blurred but the message was still clear: put on the Ring.
As the dark figure loomed above them, Sam felt as if he could never be happy again. He looked over at the others. Merry and Pippin were biting their lips and Angie was looking out into space with a dreadful look on her face. But Frodo... Frodo had the Ring out! It was about to slip itself onto his finger when Sam reached over to stop it. To his relief, Frodo was snapped out of the trance and hid the Ring out of sight as Merry reluctantly threw their bag of spoils off in the direction the Black Rider had come from.
The Black Rider whirled around in the sound's direction and swept away hurriedly to find it as the hobbits dashed from under the overhanging root and fled a short distance. Frodo had to admit that that encounter was much too close for his liking, even though he had a feeling that there would be calls even closer than that.
As they stopped to regain their breath from the run and the fear that had taken hold on them, Merry asked with much intent on finding out more on the subject, "What was that?"
They all looked to Frodo who said nothing. He tucked away the Ring again, a feeling of angst sweeping over him briefly. He turned to his friends with a heavy weight of responsibility on him.
"We make for Bree," Frodo said, walking passed them.
"Whoa, wait a minute," Merry said. "What was that... that thing?"
"I don't know," Frodo lied. "Obviously it poses as a threat on our road, so let's make haste."
"Road?" Pippin asked. "We don't even know what's going on here! Where are you going? Why?"
"We are heading to the Prancing Pony Inn to meet Gandalf," Frodo said shortly. "That is all I can tell you for the time being. Perhaps later, if Gandalf permits, you can learn more of the reasoning behind all of this. But for now, we have to go. If you wish to come, walk in silence; those... things are dangerous."
Without question, they followed Frodo until nightfall came. Merry and Pippin's curiosity was starting to get the best of them, but if they wanted to know more, they would have to hold their tongues until their audience with Gandalf in Bree. Reasoning behind the journey? What could that possibly mean? Why would Gandalf have Frodo, Sam, and Angie travel all the way to Bree in the first place? Couldn't they discuss whatever it was at Bag End in the Shire? Or in the Green Dragon if they had to discuss it over a drink? Or maybe Gandalf couldn't travel that far because of some sort of 'business' he was always venturin' on... or perhaps-
"Over here!"
At the sound of Angie's hiss, they crossed the road and hid behind a tree as a nearby Black Rider atop the hill stood silent, as if waiting for something.
"Anything?" Pippin asked.
"Nothing," Frodo acknowledged.
"What is going on?" Pippin asked for the thousandth time.
"That Black Rider was looking for something," Merry said, glancing a Frodo who felt his eyes piercing him. "Or someone. Frodo?"
. Please Review .