The four hobbits regrouped at Needlehole's gate. Once they were together, Frodo led his friends back into the marsh. They journeyed across the road, before turning off into the green hills. Not a lot of trees could be seen in this area, but there were a lot of gnats that dropped by, annoying the hobbits.
They stopped. There was a cave, a large one with a gaping dark entrance. At first, Frodo couldn't hear anything but the wind and various slug sounds. Maybe he was hearing things.
Clang!
"Nooo!" a troll's deep voice resonated from inside the cave.
"Alright, the troll's in there." Frodo murmured to his friends. "Now, all we have to do is get it out." He glimpsed up at the sky. A cloud bank broke, sending in shafts of sunlight. In another couple of minutes, the clouds would surely be gone. He would have to hurry.
"Do we wait until the sun comes back?" Merry asked, curious.
"We'd be waiting forever if that troll doesn't show up," Pippin said.
"This is no time for games!" Sam murmured, annoyed.
"He's right." Frodo nodded. "We need to get that troll out. Hopefully, it's a stone troll like that gentle-hobbit said two days ago. Otherwise, we're in real trouble."
"I thought you said you defeated trolls in the past!" Sam asked, confused.
"I did. I have, but some days, I had help from the elves." Frodo said, facing his friends.
"You tell us this now!" Merry said, shaking his head.
"Look. Maybe this won't be any different." Pippin admitted, calmly.
"I trust his word!" Frodo said, pointing to Pippin.
Pippin smiled. "Aww! Thanks, cousin!" He paused. "What? Frodo, Merry, and I are cousins. I thought we all knew that."
"Well, my mother said I was related to a Brandybuck and a Took," Frodo said. "I guess that's us." He smiled at Merry and Pippin, pleased to see he had family members on this trip.
"We have no time. How do we defeat that troll?" Sam murmured, alarmed.
"We draw it out… now!" Frodo waved at them, drawing his sword from its sheath. "Come on! Before that troll gets any ideas." He added, staring up at the cloud bank, about ready to move away from the sun. He looked up at the heavens, saying, "Come on! We could really use your help, Ilúvatar."
He stopped at the side of the cave entrance. He looked back, finding Merry, Pippin, and Sam standing right behind him. Frodo returned his gaze to the cave. For a moment, he could hear the troll speak.
"I'm not going out there! The sun will turn me into stone!" The troll moaned, scuffling about in the cave.
"What do we do?" Pippin asked, whispering.
"Shh!" Merry shushed him.
"I've got a plan," Frodo whispered, sheathing his sword. He turned to the cave, announcing flat in the gruffest voice he could muster. "I hear the cloud bank is lookin' mighty splendid! I wonder if it'll stay there!"
"I don't plan on turning to stone!" The troll repeated. He asked, curious, "Is the sun behind the clouds?"
"Why yes, it is!" Pippin threw his voice out. "Why don't you join your fellow trolls?"
"Why you!" The troll bounded out of the cave. He looked around, but couldn't see anything. No! Wait! The sun!
.
Frodo gasped, watching the troll stiffen up. Its skin smoked, turning to grey. The troll stood before the cave, no longer moving, no longer breathing. Frodo relaxed. He felt sorry for the troll. He wondered if there was any chance he could have spared its life. Sadly, some things weren't meant to be.
He watched Merry, Pippin, and Sam act tough in front of the immovable troll. He smiled, glad to see they were having fun.
"Yah!" Pippin punched the immovable stone troll's leg. "Ow!" He retracted his fist, caressing it fondly.
"So, Frodo," Merry got his cousin's attention, "what's next? Where do we go?"
"I'm still heading to the Blue Mountains," Frodo said, determined. "If anyone wants to join me, you can. If not, I'll continue alone."
"You're not going alone!" Sam protested. "We're coming with you."
Frodo paused. "It won't be easy. I understand if you wish to stay in the Shire, where it's safe."
"Listen Frodo, we've come this far! We're not abandoning you now!" Merry said, determined.
Frodo chuckled. He hadn't expected this reaction. This truly was a splendid day! And yet, his thoughts turned to Bilbo and his brother Bingo. Were they safe? Were they out of harm's way? He'd been away from Rivendell for too long to know their fates.
"Then I suggest we move before something else happens," Frodo said with a warm smile. He walked back to Needlehole, surprised to see his friends walking beside him. He just hoped the road was safe, too. If not, they were all in peril.
*.*.*
Thanks for reading. :)