Thanks for the reviews! I know it was rushed, but I have that way about me at a stories beginning, something I don't think I can help.
Not everyone will know of their alchemy yet. Really, only Elrond and Aragorn. Aragorn and another know of Ed's body parts. Others will find out later.
Sorry about the odd cut off point. My computer was being weird and it was my first post on the site. I'm going to restart from the end. Just to make sense.
"Hey Alphonse. You miss me?"
"Brother!" Al stood next to the bed, towering over Ed. The smaller moved towards the window, but stayed semi close to Al. "I didn't know what had happened to you. I was worried."
"Meh, you don't have to be. I'm the Fullmetal Alchemist, a dog of the military. A little energy drain won't keep me down for long." He flexed his automail arm and looked at the young boy. "Who are you?" He jumped and turned to Ed.
"Brother, this is Frodo Baggins. Frodo, this is my older brother Edward."
"Hello. I hope you are feeling better. We do leave in the morning, and if you are to come with us-"
"What? Where are you going?" He turned to Al. "What is he talking about?"
"We landed here in Rivendell, though I'm not sure how it happened, and you had passed out. I didn't know what to do, and all these people were watching us…" he paused, taking a deep breath. "One of the men, Elrond, came forward. He offered to help, but then asked for out helping Frodo in return. I agreed." Ed felt his eyes widen and mouth gape. "I'm sorry, but I didn't know what else to do. I couldn't perform alch-"
"It's alright Al," said Ed hastily, pulling himself together. He turned back to Frodo. "What do you have to do?"
He hesitated, but then spoke. "We have to destroy the Ring of Power. The eleven of us must travel to Mordor and throw the Ring into the Mountain of Fire."
"So it's a group project…" Ed mulled over this, deciding since there was no choice, he might as well try to weasel out of going. "Why not just melt it or something equally permanent?" he asked. Bringing up fire, reminded him of Mustang, and a giddy feeling rose up at the thought of him freaking out that his best alchemist is missing.
"It cannot be destroyed like that. There is something protecting it, stopping any sort of weapon or material from destroying it save the lava that formed it." Frodo seemed to shy away after catching sight of Ed's metal limbs. Ed watched the creature's face grow paler at the glint he spotted.
"What are you?" He noticed the large, shoeless feet and pointy ears poking through his hair.
"A Hobbit, sir. We are a small race, pleasuring in ale and pipeweed. I am now just off of four feet in height."
"How old are you?" He had assumed he was young, but now knowing of the entire race growing small, he had to question it.
"20, sir." (A/N: I was not sure how old Frodo was, and I'm also basing it off the movie. Sorry!)
Ed grew wide-eyed at this revelation. He himself was 13 and only just off of four feet. He hoped there were no other Hobbit things on the journey to Mordor. "How many of you are going with us?"
"Myself and three others- Samwise, Merry and Pippin." Ed groaned inwardly. Of course, they were going to be his height and older. It was almost as bad as Al being about three feet taller. "Why is your arm and leg metal, Edward?"
"Ed please, Frodo. And…" he hesitated," I made a mistake. A long time ago. That's why Al's in the armor too." They both grew silent.
"I am sorry for asking."
"It's not your fault. Just your curiosity, and that's fine by me."
They all stood about in silence before Frodo broke in. "I think I should go now. We leave early and I should get ready."
"Sure. See you, Frodo." He walked to the door. "Hey," Ed called. "Um… don't mention my arm and leg. To anyone. If they know already, they know. Ok?"
Frodo nodded and left the room. Ed turned to Al. "So, no Nicholas Flamel?"
"Sorry brother. But now we have to go to this place… it even sounds evil. This won't be good."
"You got that right. It sounds like it'll take a while too." He placed his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling drowsily. "Can you make sure all my stuff is here, Al? I feel so tired…" his eyes began to droop.
"Sure brother." He moved to check the pile of clothing that belonged to Ed. Red cloak… black undershirt… black jacket… gloves… crap, thought Al. His brother's state alchemist pocket watch was missing. He turned to look and saw that Ed was fast asleep, snoring deeply. He moved as quietly as possible from the room and then moved quickly down the hall.
"Frodo!" he called, reaching the small, retreating figure.
"Yes, Al?" he asked, turning to face the tall suit of clanking armor.
"Have any of your friends been inside Ed's room?"
"I don't think so… why?"
"Ed's pocket watch is missing," he explained. "It's his, well… job where we come from. It gives his position and lets people know who he is." If he lost it, Ed would more then likely loose his certification, losing any chance they may get to return to normal.
"We can always check. Come on," said Frodo. The two moved through the halls out to the main garden area. Out in the middle stood two Hobbits, about Frodo's size. They appeared to be studying something intently between them. Al and Frodo moved closer.
"No Pippin, it goes that way," said the taller one.
"But Merry, I'm sure it opens like this…" replied the smaller one.
"Merry? Pippin? What have you got there?" asked Frodo walking to them, Al beside him. The jumped and turned to face them, hiding their hands.
"Nothing Frodo. And how are you? Ready for tomorrow?"
"Better prepared then you appear to be. If you become spooked just because I say something to you, just imagine the creatures you'll face and the reactions you'll have."
"Excuse me," broke in Al. The two jumped yet again and stared at the talking hunk of metal. "Have you seen a pocket watch? It belongs to my brother."
"Pocket watch?" Merry answered. He seemed to hesitate before answering again. "Oh, you must mean this." He pulled out Ed's state pocket watch. "Yes, we found it outside one of the windows. We didn't know who it belonged too." He handed it to Al. "Here we are… back to its owner. Happy we could help."
Al nodded in thanks and returned to Ed's room. Frodo gave the duo a disapproving look and turned away.
"Merry, why do you think the watch thing was so important?" asked Pippin. "It didn't even open, let alone do anything else."
"I'm not sure Pippin, but we will find out. He is coming with us," said Merry with a determined look in his eye.
The next day Ed woke to the early morning sunshine. Normally he would continue to sleep, but someone had roused him in an unorthodox manner.
"What did you say, Alphonse?" He glared at his brother beside him.
"I said 'Wake up, shrimp'."
"You'd better take that back NOW you tin can. I can release you like that," he growled, snapping his fingers. The chair Al was leaning against turned into a cushion and he lost his balance.
"C'mon brother, wake up. We have to leave soon."
"Yeah, I remember. Just let me get my…" he looked at the foot of the bed to find his clothes already waiting. He smiled at Al. "Thanks." Al nodded.
After Ed put on his clothes, he stood unsteadily from the bed. His left foot slid across the floor, but he quickly regained his balance.
"Dammed automail," he grumbled.
"Are you alright brother?" Al asked quickly, sounding worried. Ed smiled.
"I'm fine. You know it takes more then a little slip to make me lose it." He pulled on his white gloves and adjusted his red robe. Carefully, Al picked up the state pocket as they exited the room. Ed braided his hair tightly, thinking over what they had just gotten themselves into.
Five minutes later, the entirety of the group was assembled at the gates to Rivendell. Ed stared open mouthed at the landscape, having no previous knowledge or visual aid of the area. The brothers stood off to one side of the Fellowship. Next to them stood Boromir of Gondor, then Gandalf the Gray ("Wizard? Magic's just an illusion!" said Ed quietly.), and Aragorn. In the front stood Legolas Greenleaf ("An elf! Are those really real?"), a dwarf named Gimli (I'm dwarf height!" grumbled Ed), and the four Hobbits. Elrond stood before them.
"…No oath nor bond lay upon you to go further then you will. May the blessings of Elves, and Men and all free folk go with you." He declared, looking at each person standing before him. His eyes lingered on Aragorn, Frodo, and Ed and Al. He seemed to give them all a silent blessing. Ed did not feel there was anyone to bless them, so he turned away and dove into other thoughts. Will alchemy still work here? He asked himself suddenly. He would have no other defense if not.
One by one, the eleven exited the gates, Frodo first with the rest single file afterwards. Ed and Al were second to last, Aragorn the only behind them. He shared a moment with one of the female elves in the small assembly. Ed caught this.
"Who is she?" he asked as they walked. "The one you were saying a silent goodbye to."
"She is… very special to me," he answered, voice hardly above a whisper. "How is your arm and leg? You look as though you are limping."
"I am. I've never been off my feet that long since the automail went on. It's what my metal is called," he explained at Aragorn's lost look at the word "automail". "Since I was off my feet for two days, my balance is a little off. I'll get better."
Aragorn nodded and stood beside him and Al as the group walked along silently through the rural lands before them.