Chester perked up, his nostrils picking up various scents. Scents that included a baby, an older hobbitess, and the smell of a chess board. He barked, attempting to get his master's attention… sadly, it didn't work! Oh well. Back to sniffing!

Wait. There was that cat with spotty spots! The cat hissed at him. He couldn't resist barking back. The cat wouldn't stop hissing. But Chester wouldn't give up! He would try to be friends with that cat, if it was the last thing he did—

"Chester, what are you doing?" Frodo murmured aloud to his dog.

What was he doing? Chester knew full well what he was doing! He wanted to play! That was all! Couldn't he and the cat be buddies?

"Rolf!" Chester barked again at the cat, preparing to jump around in order to appease the cat. Still, the cat continued hissing and batting at him! Was the dog not playful enough?

"Come on, Chess. That cat doesn't want to play with you," Frodo said, yanking his leash.

Ow! Chester thought, continuing his barking. Did Frodo have to yank so hard? Oh! The Sussex Spaniel wanted to play!

"Rolf! Rolf!" He yapped. NO! He was moving farther away from the cat! That wasn't fair! Why did Frodo have to torture him like this?

Ooh! What was that smell? It was bacon! Cooked, crispy bacon. His muzzle charged towards the delectable dish. Oh, he wanted it so badly! Just one tiny morsel!

"Hey! That's my bacon!" a gruff elderly hobbit said, pulling the bacon away from him.

Aw! Come on! Chester wanted a bite!

"Come on, Chess! Leave that poor hobbit alone," Frodo said, leading Chester over to another area of the market.

Oh! He wanted the bacon. Now, he was hungry. Chester could eat anything – except fish! Oh, why did it have to be fish? Those little morsels… well, they did look delicious… no, no, NO! He mustn't think about fish. So, why did he want one?

"Rolf!" Chester yapped to his master, encouraging him to buy the fish.

"Sir," Frodo got the fishmonger's attention, "I'll have two fishes, please."

"Right!" The fishmonger readied the fish, placing them in a basket and handing it over to Frodo. Chester barked! Good. He was going to have fish for lunch. How sweet!

"Thank you," Frodo said, smiling. Chester looked up at him. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all; at least, he had Frodo by his side! Oh, now he wanted some meat, some fresh boar ribs or something more impressive – like chicken!

"This'll be our lunch, Chess," Frodo said, turning to his dog.

Chester barked in recognition. It was nice to be noticed!

"Let's go home!" Frodo said, thanking the fishmonger, while moving the basket away from Chester's nose. That wasn't fair! Chester wanted the whole fish! Did it hurt that he had a good appetite?

Wait. There was something fishy in the air – and no! Chester did not mean the fish! Oh, OHHH! There was that Lotho Sackville-Baggins! Oh, how he hated him! He growled, showing the hobbit his teeth! If Frodo was in peril, he'd save him from that vicious Lotho!

No dog was ever going to separate from their master. He'd make sure of it.

"You keep your dog away from me!" Lotho cried out, as Frodo and Chester made their way past the market and down the road to Hobbiton.

"It was nice seeing you, too, Lotho!" Frodo said, cheekily.

Chester sneezed. Oh, he needed to calm his sinuses… with food! He wanted that fish! Oh, how was he to get it? Well, he'd think of something! If not, then he would beg! He was getting that fish either way, whether Frodo wanted to believe it or not.

*.*.*

Thanks for reading. :)