Author's Note: I'm a little worried about the lack of reviews, though the story alerts made me happy, so thank you, guys. (Insert goofy grin.) If there are things that need improving, don't be afraid to mention them! I can handle harsh critiques.

Warnings: This chapter is pretty tame… Angst, very vague pre-slash,

The Stations of the Cross:

First Station

The kings of the earth rise up and the princes conspire together against the Lord and against his Anointed. I will proclaim the decree of the Lord; the Lord said to me: "You are my Son; this day I have begotten you. Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession." (Ps 2:2, 7-8)

~*~*~

Frodo felt the warmth before he could see the source. It was the heat of a midday sun, a blanket of light in the form of arms holding him to a trim torso.

He stirred out of the half-consciousness and immediately began to struggle and one of his hand tried to reach the ring he felt under the mithril, pressed to his chest by one of the large tanned arms.

"Enough," he heard from a male voice, one that decidedly did not belong to an Orc, behind him. "Please, I mean you no harm."

Like a frightened animal, he stopped his frantic efforts and trembled in the Man's grasp, is breaths becoming heavier, chest heaving against the restraints.

"Release me," he pleaded softly. Now instead of the sky collapsing on him, he felt as if the arms would crush him. They certainly felt strong enough to. "If you indeed mean me no harm, you must release me." He shut his eyes and imagined the Shire, with its open fields and long blades of grass tickling at his ankles and scent of wild flowers.

He was startled when the person removed his arms and the fantasy-Shire darkened back into the woods lying somewhere between his home and what he believed would be his final resting place. He turned to see who his captor was -- and met the green that he chose for his mental sanctuary. It made him stop for only a moment, but when he remembered himself, he scrambled to his feet.

Before he managed to find his footing and turn, the stranger held out his hand and cried, "Wait!"

And the power that when out of him with that gesture made Frodo stagger and fall back to the ground. He gasped and pushed himself back with the heels of his hands but couldn't find the strength to stand again.

"Wha- What are you?"

Surprise, hurt, then resolution bloomed on the Man's face. He moved forward again, and something about that look on his face made Frodo gasp and try to turn -- but still his legs wouldn't cooperate, and he tried crawling on his forearms and knees, only for his entire front to be pressed into the ground by the stranger's body.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into Frodo's dark hair before, for the second time that night, he lost himself to darkness.

~*~*~

When Frodo woke again, the Man was sitting across from him with his arms cross and legs out in front of him, tearing a blade of grass to bits with his bottom lip between his teeth and a gaze that saw nothing. For the first time, Frodo studied the Man: he didn't look as imposing as Aragorn or Bor-- or any other Man he had seen. His frame was wiry, but clothed in the dark material, and with that expression on his face and his tense demeanor, he looked like a snake preparing to strike. He had only glimpsed the scar on his head under the wisps of dark hair covering it when he notice Frodo had wakened.

His hands rested on his lap and he offered a smile. "Are you alright now?" he asked gently.

Frodo pressed his lips together and nodded.

"I'm sorry for frightening you. I forgot that my magic affects Hobbits more than Men," he added sheepishly.

The Hobbit debated whether he was too scared to be curious, but decided that he hadn't been hurt yet, so it must be safe to ask:

"So you're a Wizard, then?" He didn't allow himself to think on the image the word had brought up.

The stranger looked immensely pleased that Frodo was attempting conversation. "No," he chuckled and shook his head, "I mean, I do have magic… but I don't use a staff, I don't look like any other Wizards, and I don't use their spells… But as you can tell, I am no Man. The Valar sent me here." At that proclamation, the smile on his face changed from slightly hesitant to bitter.

"I am destined to conquer Sauron."

Frodo unconsciously brought a hand up to the chain upon which the Ring hung.

"But I have -- " He stopped himself, unsure whether to allow such information to him, but he nodded, apparently already privy to the weapon.

"Yes, and you play but a part in his ultimate destruction. Years ago, he anointed me as the one with the power to vanquish him," he spat, "He condemned me to a life as a murderer or death by his hand."

Frodo swallowed and tried to understand what the stranger was trying to share with him. He weaved his fingers through the grass under him and tugged at the blades pensively. Through all the tales he had heard of Sauron, all the things told to him, he had never heard of one such as this stranger -- Then he realized he hadn't learned his name.

"But… who are you?"

The stranger's brow creased as if he didn't know the answer himself. "Who do you think I am?"

"… I don't know for sure just yet…" He started hesitantly, and at the crestfallen gaze he received, he blurted, "But I know what you will be."

"Oh? And what's that?"

"A hero."

He frowned and shook his head slightly at the notion. "You say so."

"And after what you've said yourself, you doubt that?" Frodo argued, moving to his knees and leaning closer to the stranger.

"I… You don't know the full story. You don't know what shame has kept me from the books of history and legend," he tried to explain, his face twisting with the memory and experience that Frodo had yet to learn of.

The Hobbit put a hand on his. "Then tell me."

He grasped the small hand and studied it for a moment, until Frodo thought he had dismissed the request, but was relieved when he started, "When I was a child, Sauron tried to kill me… and he failed. But before his Fall, he came to me… "

~*~*~

I. M. Sinclair

10:25 a.m.

April 5, 2010