Disclaimers: I do not own The Lord of the Rings and the play, Cyrano de Bergerac. The Lord of the Rings and other Middle-earth works belong to J.R.R. Tolkien. The play, Cyrano de Bergerac, belongs to Edmond Rostand. "Cyrano," the 2021 movie, belongs to Edmond Rostand, Joe Wright, and Erica Schmidt. All original material (a.k.a. original characters [OCs], original locations, etc.) belongs to me, the authoress of this fanfiction story.

Warning! This chapter is Rated M for Mature. It is Rated M for sensuality.

Chapter One Summary: Folco Boffin asks Rosie Cotton to go to a play with him. Frodo Baggins and Folco end up in an argument, testing their friendship.

Sorry for the year-long delay. This fanfic, after the Prologue, suffered a behemoth writer's block! Thankfully, it finally got sorted out and is now posted, but that was a wild best of a writer's block! :( I'm glad it's over. :)

As for this chapter, Folco and Rosie's conversation was straightforward.

Concerning Frodo, I've had LOTR fans and fanfic writers say Frodo's only kind-hearted, that he wouldn't do anything wrong. That Frodo's purely a shy rabbit. I'm guessing this includes arguing with people.

I mean, did we watch the same movie and read the same books? Frodo has more emotions than just happy and sad. Frodo argues. He's not afraid to stand up for himself when something's wrong. I think I know this character far too well that he just does this.

I'm sorry, but I had to get this out, before someone else goes after me, due to Frodo arguing with Folco in this chapter. Hopefully, this clears things up. :)

Anyway, let's get going. :)

Chapter One:

Six Months Earlier

Six Months Earlier, Six Months Before the Quest of the Ring…

Bywater's market was brimming with profound life and love.

All around, hobbit children were playing in the town square. Elderly chaps were busy playing chess at a nearby oak table. Parents strolled in to take their children away from a huge fight, commencing right before their very eyes.

Yes, it was a lot of hustle and bustle, the likes of which could only be found in the village of Bywater.

Over by the Water, the grand lake found in the village of Bywater, a hobbit couple were busy catching fish for latest kill, their latest dinner or lunch, whatever way you called it.

Hobbit girls and hobbit boys swooned for each other, taunting each other to go and introduce themselves to each other. Girls wearing frills and lace, next to their rosy dresses, or even blue or earthen dresses, while the boys dressed in their best garb.

Yes, there was much to be said about Bywater's market. All the while, hobbits near and far, far and wide, selected the best crops and furnishings on this side of the Shire. All the while, a young lass came out of the Cotton family household, for their household was not far from Bywater's market.

Yes, there she was: Rosie "Rose" Cotton, the finest, most pretty hobbit maiden the whole of the Shire had ever witnessed. She made the gentle-hobbits swoon at the sight of her. None could compare her beauty with her grace, such as anyone could ever endure before.

Such is the nature of hobbits, for Rosie was a popular lass amongst the hobbits of the Shire.

As it happened, Rosie left her Cotton family household, heading straight for the village of Bywater. The Green Dragon's innkeeper was expecting her, for she worked hard at the inn, serving drinks and helping around the inn as its waitress. It was a very responsible job. So, she took it well, knowing what she would have to endure next in her life.

Dressed in her finest blue dress, Rosie tore off down the road and into Bywater's marketplace, where she spotted a group of familiar hobbit boys, hanging out together by the nearest table, playing games and even observing the public with their very eyes.

Among these hobbits, they were so named: Frodo Baggins, Samwise "Sam" Gamgee, Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck, Peregrin "Pippin" Took, Folco Boffin, and Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger. They smiled and laughed, jeering away with rambunctious activity.

Rosie waved to the six friends, spotting Folco and Samwise gazing at her with fond affection. She smirked, making her way inside the Green Dragon inn without another word from them, for they would join her inside the inn at some point during the day and/or at night, when the hustle and bustle became too unanimous to be left unannounced.

It was then Frodo spoke to Sam, intrigued with his relationship with Rosie. "You should go talk to her."

Sam turned his gaze to the dirt and pebbled ground, hopelessly in love with Rosie, but too shy to admit it. "Actually, Mr. Frodo, I'm not too sure about this one. I'd rather... ohh!"

Frodo nudged Sam's shoulder. "Why not? Be bold, Sam! Honestly. It's Rosie! There's no sense in denying it."

Folco huffed. He announced to his friends, "There's supposed to be a play tonight. Lotho's hosting it."

Sam sneered. "Lotho! Why that twit!" He shrugged, devising a plan in his mind over this play. He turned to Frodo, telling him, "Mr. Frodo, you wait here. Stick by Folco, just in case."

"What?" Frodo asked, stunned. "Where are you going? Oh!" He looked back at Sam.

It was too late!

For Sam dashed off without another word.

Merry and Pippin looked on at their friend, bemused over him and his antics.

Merry at once told his friends, "Let Pippin and I join Sam. He may need us as backup."

"Yes, Lotho would prove most disastrous," Pippin stated, rushing off with Merry after Sam.

Folco smirked, devising a plan.

Frodo looked on, contemplating over what was happening. "Folco, what is going on?"

"Excuse me, Frodo. I have to ask Rosie out for a midnight courting," Folco stated, rushing off inside the Green Dragon inn.

Frodo looked on at his surroundings. Bywater market was dreadfully busy, crowded, and full. And he couldn't stand to be without his friends.

Frodo turned to Folco, joining him inside the Green Dragon inn.

~o~

Folco slammed the front green, round door shut.

He smirked, delighting in the stillness of the tavern. Not many hobbits were getting a drink right now, let alone eating any food. It was perfect! For Rosie was busy washing mugs, preparing them for the next round of beers, ale, mead, and cider that would proceed to enter these mugs, fill them up, too.

Much of the Green Dragon inn's interior was made of a dark wood. Even the floor had dark wooden floorboards. It was peaceful, that much was clear. Quiet, too.

Perfect for a round of ale, if one could ever indulge in such pleasures.

But Folco wasn't here for a stiff drink.

Nay! For Folco had his eyes set on Rosie Cotton.

All at once, without realizing Frodo had entered the Green Dragon inn seconds after him, Folco stormed near the bar stand, from which he stunned Rosie.

"So, Rosie, I hear there's to be a play tonight at Methel Stage. Care to join me?" Folco asked her, curiously.

Rosie shook her head in amusement. She asked him, "How many drinks have you had this morning?"

Folco pressed his hand against his chest, taken aback by her words. "Why would I do that?"

Rosie sighed. "Well, you usually have a drink or two, before you propose your grand idea."

Frodo chuckled, taking a seat a nearby table and muttering to himself, sarcastically, "And he's had one too many drinks, at that."

Folco rolled his eyes. His lip quivered, but his stance was firm. He tried again, wooing Rosie on the spot. "Rosie, would you consider going to the play tonight with me?"

Rosie smirked, enjoying herself. "Alright, I'll go with you."

Folco stared at her in amazement mixed with amusement.

Frodo was shocked.

"You will?" Folco asked Rosie, surprised she said 'yes' to him.

"You will?" Frodo asked, confounded with what was going on around him.

Rosie nodded, staring at Folco now, also in amusement. "Alright, impress me. But this had better be a good play, and not one of those rant monologues Lotho Sackville-Baggins usually pulls off."

Folco raised a hand, delighting in this. "I can assure you, this will be most pleasant."

Rosie sighed, delighting in him. "You had better be right. I'll see you tonight." She returned to wiping the beer mug in her hand with a wet washcloth.

Folco whispered, rather loudly. "I can assure you, Rosie, it will."

"That's wonderful! See you then," Rosie said, walking away.

"Right," Folco stated, finding his way over to Frodo, who looked most disdainful. "What?" Folco asked Frodo, contemplating his decision. "She's my girl. Rosie wouldn't betray me. Trust me. She's not that kind of girl. So loyal."

"You know I was fixing Sam up with Rosie. Don't you know that?" Frodo asked, peeved.

Folco blew a raspberry, laughing in amusement. "Sam? That shy rabbit! He'd barely asked Rosie out on a date, and Rosie hasn't even bothered with Sam. Finders keepers, Frodo!"

Frodo shook his head. "You're going to regret this."

"Watch. You'll see I'm right," Folco said, laughing up a storm.

Frodo crossed his arms, telling him, "No. You'll see I'm right. And then, we'll test our friendship. Trust me on this one."

Folco looked at him now, suspicious. "You wouldn't abandon our friendship."

"Just wait and see, Folco. Trust me, this isn't over," Frodo said, concerned about him.

"We will wait and see indeed. Yes, we will." Folco hoped then that Frodo was wrong, but then who knew what would happen to their friendship, if Sam found out about this mess.

How was that? I think Frodo stayed in character, although I think I read somewhere that Frodo and Folco's friendship doesn't last. So, here we have the origin story behind how this happened.

Next chapter: we will focus on the play at Methel Stage, and all the excitement and misadventures that happen there. :)

Thanks for reading. More chapters to come. :)

~Aria Breuer

.x.

Footnotes:

Methel Stage can be found in the Massive Multiplayer Online, or MMO, video game, "The Lord of the Rings Online".