Shortcut to Mushrooms
"Come along Samwise, Keep up!" Gandalf called behind him to the poor hobbit, as the group continued on their way along the forested path. Mina glanced back at the struggling hobbit, as he strained to carry his bulging pack.
"Oh Sam, I told you to pack light." She teased as she turned and grabbed some of the encumbering pots and pans and shoved them as best she could onto her own. "My goodness did you bring your whole kitchen? What did you think you'd need all of this for anyway?"
"You never know." He defended himself, blushing slightly as he helped her situate the items more comfortably on her back. "I didn't want to risk forgetting anything. Just watch you'll be thanking me later."
"Sure Sam, whatever you say." She giggled rolling her eyes, though she winked to let him know she was only kidding. Luckily he laughed to, and the two friends linked arms and, working to help support one another,. hurried to catch up to the rest of their friends.
"Be careful all of you. The enemy has spies in his service: birds, beasts." Gandalf warned once they had, before turning to look directly at Frodo and semi-whispering, "Is it safe?" To which the young hobbit nodded and patted his jacket pocket gently. Mina still didn't understand the whole business of the Ring, but she knew the very idea of having such a powerful weapon of Mordor with them unnerved her; especially since she had personally witnessed Bilbo handling it many times while she was working at his home, though she had never told any of her friends. By the looks of things Jessamine was even more affected by its presence.
"Never put it on for the agents of the Dark Lord will be drawn to its power. Always remember, Frodo, the Ring is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found." The old wizard continued. drawing Mina from her thoughts as he mounted his horse and with one final nod of farewell rode off into the distance. She watched him go for what seemed a long moment, before turning to glance at her friends. They all seemed to have the same look of nervous anticipation that she felt welling up in her heart.
"Well what are we waiting for then? Let's start walking." Jessamine finally said, with a forced smile which earned her a real one from Frodo. And with that he took up his walking stick and continued on their journey, the rest of them following close after him. They walked for what felt like ages, and for the first time in her life she was grateful for her long hours working at the mill that had somewhat prepared her for such a strenuous journey; particularly now that she had this extra load upon her back.
They eventually came to a cornfield when Sam suddenly stopped in his tracks, bringing Mina to a halt beside him (as his arm was still linked with hers). "What's wrong Sam?" She asked, glancing up curiously at him and causing both Frodo and Jessamine to turn their attention as well. "Why'd you stop?"
"This is it." Sam replied, his voice soft and forlorn as he took in his surroundings.
"This is what?" Mina pressed, even more curious than she had been before.
"If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been." He told her, and at that moment as she looked back at the path which they had been following so diligently it finally struck her; the reality that she was really leaving home, something that both thrilled and frightened her at the same time.
"Come on Sam." Frodo said smiling gently at his dear friend as he came and took him by the other arm. Together he and Mina helped him (Sam) take this one most important step, while Jessa turned and watched her dearest friends and cousin with a certain pride. "Remember what Bilbo used to say? It's a dangerous business Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."
After a long day of travel the weary group finally set up camp. Sam and Jessamine immediately set about to cooking a fine meal of bacon, tomatoes, and sausages while Frodo lounged in a tree limb (reading one of Jessamine's books that she had insisted on bringing along with them; she was the book worm out of the group if you haven't realized that yet) and Mina started preparing makeshift beds out of whatever soft material she could find.
"Mmm… Sam. It smells delicious. Thank goodness you thought to bring the pans." Jessamine told her cousin graciously, smiling softly to herself as he turned to beam at her with pride.
"Thanks Jessa. I'm glad someone appreciates my forward thinking." He replied, shouting this last in a certain hobbit lasses direction.
"Hey, I'm just thankful Jessamine's the one cooking the bacon. I really don't feel like trying to choke down ash tonight, thank you very much." Mina returned with pretend indignation that made both Jessa and Frodo laugh.
"I quite agree. That's why I'm not letting you anywhere near this fire." He returned smugly, and at this even Mina couldn't hold a straight face anymore and burst into gales of laughter as she threw a handful of leaves in his general direction; missing him by about a yard.
"Agreed!" With that they all returned to their business, and they fell into a comfortable companionable silence. That is until Mina once again cried out, her voice filled with excitement. "Hey Jessa! Is that what I think it is?"
"Yes!" Jessa squealed, after pausing from her work long and taking a moment to listen to the sweet high voices whose song was being carried over the breeze. "Sam, Frodo! Wood-Elves!" They all dropped what they were doing instantly, and rushed up to the nearest ridge where they lay side by side and watched a procession of elves passing slowly through the forest.
"They're so beautiful." Mina breathed her voice matching the pure awe in her eyes.
"But they're song sounds so sad." Jessamine whispered her heart both breaking and soaring to the hauntingly beautiful melody. "Where do you think they're heading Frodo?"
"They're going to the harbor beyond the White Towers. To the Grey Havens." He answered turning to meet her gaze, his gorgeous blue eyes filled with wonder and sadness at the reality.
"They're leaving Middle-earth." Sam realized sounding completely devastated, perhaps even horrified at the thought.
"Never to return." Frodo affirmed in an almost reverent tone.
"Never?" Both girls gasped, unable to even try and comprehend such a thing. The boys just nodded their heads, and they all fell silent as they continued to silently watch the lovely company continue on their journey.
"I don't know why- it makes me sad." Sam finally said, and each of them agreed as they waited a moment more before turning and heading back to camp.
It was late into the night and Jessamine lay back in her own little makeshift 'bed' listening to the noise of Frodo's and Sam's soft and steady breathing, both completely lost in sleep. Mina on the other hand she could hear tossing and turning like no other.
"Everywhere I lie there's a dirty great root sticking into my back!" She huffed in exasperation after a few more minutes of constant wriggling.
"Just shut your eyes, and imagine you're back in your own bed, with a soft mattress and a lovely feather pillow." Jessa suggested as she turned to smile sympathetically at her dear friend. She nodded in return, and taking a deep breath lay back down and closing her eyes lay still for a long moment.
"It's not working Jessamine. I'm never going to be able to sleep out here." She sighed in defeat.
"Me neither, Mina. Me neither." Was Jessamine's only reply.
It was towards the middle of the next day and the group was in the middle of a cornfield and they did their best to try and stick together, but it wasn't long before Sam looked up and suddenly found himself all alone in the seemingly endless waves of corn. "Mister Frodo? Frodo! Frodo!" He called out in a panic, rushing around the next bend in the path where his three friends stood waiting for him.
"We're right here Sam." Jessa told her cousin in the gentlest tone she could manage, though it was all she could do to hide her rising amusement at his peculiar almost paranoid behavior.
"Yeah, glad to see you're so concerned about Jessa and I as well." Mina added pretending to be extremely offended.
"I thought I'd lost you." He continued, wisely ignoring her comments at the moment and focusing in on his best friend.
"What are you talking about?" Frodo asked curiously, and Jessamine could tell just by looking at him that he felt much the same way she did.
"It's just something Gandalf said." Sam admitted, beginning to grow more and more sheepish about his actions, but wanting to defend them anyway.
"What did he say?" Frodo asked, suddenly more solemn and curious.
"'Don't you lose him, Samwise Gamgee!' And I don't mean to." He replied in the most firm, devoted, and emphatic tones that almost made Jessamine shiver. It was simply so beautiful, perhaps a bit strange, but beautiful as well. She was glad Frodo had her cousin here to watch out for him; if his task truly was as dangerous as Gandalf had first predicted, he'd need all the friends he could get to see him through, and she was determined to be one of them.
"Oh Sam, you're sweet. But really, we're still in the Shire! What could possibly happen?" Mina pointed out, though her tone was not at all reprimanding, as she came to stand beside him reaching for his arm as she had yesterday. Suddenly they heard a rustling sound coming from the corn right to the side of them, and as she turned to get a closer look Jessa saw a streak flying out into the path and heading straight toward Mina.
"Watch out!"
"Hey Violet!" She heard Ebony call out to her, as the younger girl ran to catch up to her friend. "What are you up to this fine morning?"
"Oh nothing. Just checking the pond for Mina." Violet told her as soon as she had reached her, trying to shrug the whole thing off but neither of them were fooled.
"Still no sign of her?" Ebony pressed, her face beginning to fall and crease with the same worry that Violet felt filling her heart.
"Nope. Or Jessamine, Frodo, or Sam." She replied with as nonchalantly as possible, before sighing in defeat. "I'm starting to get really worried. Where in Middle-Earth could they be?"
"I have no idea." Ebony admitted sadly. "Probably off on some grand adventure."
"Without us?" Violet exclaimed in absolute shock at the idea. "How rude!"
"I know, but what else would make Mina run off into the blue without even letting her dad or grandpa know where's gone." Ebony pointed out logically. "I swear the Old Noakes was going to murder Pippin when he came over the other day, certain he'd 'kidnapped' his granddaughter as another one of his silly pranks."
"Poor Pippin." She tried to sympathize, but it wasn't long before both girls were practically rolling on the ground laughing at the idea of Pip being beaten by the old protective hobbit; the one and only time he actually hadn't done anything wrong.
"Speaking of Pippin, he, Merry and I are going to…. 'visit' Farmer Maggots fields. Would you care to join us?" Ebony asked once they had finally stopped laughing. Violet hesitated for a moment as she thought about the numerous chores she was supposed to get done before heading down to the Green Dragon later that night; but then an image of Rosie, with that pitiful lovesick look on her face, constantly sighing and asking everyone if they thought 'her' Sam would come back for her soon.
"Yes." She said with fervency. "Definitely."
"Great, come on. They'll be waiting for us down by the river." With that the two girls took off down the road to meet their beloved friends before heading off to 'visit' Farmer Maggots place. It didn't take long for Violet to forget about all of her worries as they laughed and talked, while gathering up as many vegetables as they could possibly carry. She was especially grateful for Merry, who seeing her mood never left her side for a moment but did everything in his power to cheer her up; reminding her of the reason why he of all hobbits was her greatest friend and confidante.
All was going well on their little exploit until Pippin, being the extremely 'brilliant' hobbit that he was, decided to try and sneak his way into the part of the field right beside the Farmer's house where the best of the crop was kept. Of course he was caught and soon all five of them were literally running for their lives as they sought to escape the man's wrath. "You just had to do it, didn't you Pip?" Merry complained as he ran, struggling to keep hold of his delicious goods while he did so. "Couldn't leave good enough alone."
"Well I got the carrots didn't I?" He defended himself whilst gasping for air. "And besides, the chase is the funnest part."
"Yeah, until you get caught!" Violet pointed out, giving her friend a long look as if to emphasize her point.
"Would you three quit arguing and just run!" Ebony exclaimed, struggling to keep up with her slightly taller friends.
"I quite agree Bonnie. In fact, I'll race you." Pippin replied as he put on a burst of speed right through the edge of the cornfield, flying straight into an unsuspecting hobbit as he burst through its edge, causing the two to tumble to the ground. "MINA!"
Violet was only a few paces behind him, and was so distracted at the sight of Pippin tackling their best friend, she too found herself colliding with another poor unsuspecting hobbit. "Frodo? Merry! It's Frodo Baggins." She cried out as soon as she realized exactly who it was.
"Hello Frodo!" Merry greeted him, from where he stood with Ebony at the edge of the path, grinning smugly at the startled group.
"Get off her!" Sam scowled at Pippin as he practically picked him up and threw him off Mina and helping her to her feet. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, thank you Sam." She assured him smiling gratefully for his assistance, before turning and practically tackling Pippin with a hug.
"What's the meaning of this?" Jessa asked as she helped both Frodo and Jessa to their feet, while taking in the group and their loot.
"Hold this." Ebony told Sam dumping her load of vegetables into his surprised arms, completely ignoring the question as she turned to give both of her friends and 'cousin' (technically Merry was more closely related to Frodo than her and Pippin being his actual cousin, but she didn't really care) hugs.
"You've been into Farmer Maggot's crop!" He (Sam) accused his eyes going wide with the realization.
"Pippin!" Mina reprimanded, pulling away so she could look her bewildered best friend in the eyes. "And you didn't invite me?!"
"We couldn't find you." He defended. "We've only torn apart all of Bywater and Hobbiton searching for you."
"Yeah, what are you all doing out here anyway?" Ebony asked with innocent curiosity.
"Hoi! You get back here! Wait till I get this through you! Get out of my fields! You'll know the devil if I catch up with you!" They heard a voice yelling out behind them before anyone could even think to answer.
"Run for it!" Violet cried grabbing Jessamine's hand and pulling her along as she raced after Merry who had already taken off through the fields on the other side of the path, the rest following suit.
"Dunno why he's so upset. It's only a couple of carrots!" Merry insisted vying for his innocence in the whole matter.
"And some cabbages." Violet reminded him.
"And those few bags of potatoes that we lifted last week." Ebony joined in.
"And the mushrooms the week before." Pippin finished, making Frodo, Sam's and Jessamine's eyes go wide at the group's accomplishments.
"Yes Pippin! My point is, he's clearly overreactin'." Merry argued, just as they could hear barking not too far behind them.
"Run!" Jessa needlessly screamed, and so the group did, right to the edge of a ledge which (thanks to Ebony) they ended up tumbling over and landing in a huge heap on the ground below.
"Ooh! That was close." Pippin remarked, wrinkling his nose at the piece of dung lying not too far from his face.
"No kidding." Mina mumbled from her spot right beneath him, at the bottom of the pile, her face pressed firmly into the dirt.
"Owww! I think I've broken something." Merry moaned as he reached behind him and pulled out a poor cracked carrot.
"Oh periwinkle. And I had dib's." Violet sighed as she pulled herself free, and reached to help him up as well.
"Trust a Brandybuck and a Took!" Sam muttered as he was brushing himself off, before bending to help first Ebony then both Pippin and Mina to their feet, seeing as Jessamine and Frodo had already managed themselves.
"What? That was just a detour, a shortcut." Merry argued innocently.
"A shortcut to what?" Sam shot back.
"Mushrooms!" Ebony cried with delight and immediately all of the hobbits except for Frodo and Jessamine dashed forward to claim their prize.
In fact Violet was just in the middle of taking a bite of her fourth mushroom (having already filled her pockets to the bursting point) when she thought she heard Frodo faintly say, "I think we should get off the road." Then much more firmly, "Get off the road! Quick!"
Merry immediately grabbed her hand and dragged her under a large overhanging tree root/log with the others, where they silently sought to hear whatever it was that had so frightened Frodo. That is except for Merry and Pippin who kept jostling one another in an attempt to get comfortable.
"Shh!" Sam implored them, though they completely ignored him.
"Stop it! Be quiet!" Mina hissed authoritatively immediately bringing both boys to a stop in a way that made Violet smirk. Leave it to Mina to handle those two. The only person she could think of who might have done it better was herself. Her smirk disappeared however, as she heard and saw signs of some great black rider dismounting his horse and coming right toward their hiding place. She could almost feel some horrifying evil radiating off of whomever or whatever it was that approached, and she could scarcely breathe for the tarrying tension that filled the air.
Jessamine felt much the same way, and seeking strength and reassurance she turned to face Frodo and was shocked to see a look of pain and horror in his eyes. He reached into his pocket and gradually began to put on the ring, but she stopped him just in the nick of time, reaching out to firmly place his hand within her own. He turned and smiled at her in grateful surprise, and she managed to smile in return though her skin was burning where it touched the dreaded ring.
Just at that moment Merry made a brilliant move, throwing his sack full of vegetables into the forest, causing the Rider to whirl away and follow after the sound. The frightened assembly took advantage and made their break for it, sprinting as far as they dared before stopping and gasping for breath.
"What was that?" Violet demanded looking directly at Frodo as she did so. He didn't answer, but just stared at the Ring lying so harmlessly on his palm.
"Anything?" Sam whispered to Frodo from their spot hiding behind a cluster of trees. The group had continued their process of darting and hiding throughout the Forest, in their attempts to avoid the Black Riders as they called them clear until nightfall.
"Nothing." He replied solemnly.
"What is going on?" Ebony persisted looking very confused and even frightened, though she was clearly doing her best to be brave.
"That Black Rider was looking for something… or someone." Merry agreed narrowing his gaze suspiciously at his cousin. "Frodo?"
"Get down!" Jessamine hissed just as the creature rode past them appearing to be leaving the area behind.
"I have to leave the Shire. Sam, Jessa, Mina and I must get to Bree." Frodo finally admitted turning to meet Merry's gaze.
"Right. Buckleberry Ferry. Follow me." Merry decided, instantly leaping to his feet Violet right on his heels and once again darting off deeper into the wood; this time with a specific destination in mind. It wasn't long before the another Black Rider suddenly appeared along their path and gave chase as they did their best to divert him and make their way to the river.
"Run! This way, follow me! Run!" Pippin cried reaching out to take both Ebony and Mina's hands pulling them along as best he could not willing to let either girl go until they had actually reached dock. Mina immediately dived into the water, swimming to the other end of the Ferry in order to be ready to help pull it along as soon as the boys had it untied.
"Get the rope Sam! Violet help Pippin push off." Merry ordered, uncoiling his own mooring rope while Violet and Pippin used long poles to shove off, Mina heaving on her side for all she was worth.
"Frodo!" Sam called out while Ebony screamed "Jessamine!", as they turned and saw their best friends and cousins still running for his life, the black riders right on his heels.
"Go Jessamine, go! I know you can run faster than this. Get to the ferry!" Frodo pleaded more anxious for her safety than that of his own.
"I'm not leaving you!" She insisted stubbornly, reaching out to once again firmly take his hand to prove her point.
"Hurry!" The others all shouted from their spot atop the ferry that was gradually floating away (even Mina had climbed on board by this time).
"Jump! Jump!" Violet demanded knowing it was her friends only hope. Luckily they did as she suggested, leaping onto the raft in the nick of time.
"How far to the nearest crossing?" Frodo asked once he had regained his breath, and Violet looked up at Merry the same question clearly showing in her eyes.
"Brandywine Bridge: Twenty miles." Was his solemn reply.