CHAPTER 2

When we finally came to the steepest part of our route I had to help the hobbits up for the steps were far too deep for their short strides.  I saw Frodo pause, his face fallen, as he realised that he may need to be carried.  He had not yet the strength in his arms and legs to make the climb, even with a hand up from me.  Then I watched him take a deep breath and square his shoulders, accepting that it had to be endured if he was to follow us.  I was grateful when I saw Legolas suddenly move forward to climb beside him, diplomatically slipping a hand on Frodo's back to help at the most difficult parts; his action masked by Frodo's body and unnoticed by the other hobbits as they waited at the top.

Merry ran forward to catch me up.  "Good morning, Master Merriadoc."  He smiled at my formality and reposted with, "Good morning, my lord Aragorn."  I chuckled, knowing that he would soon slip back into calling me Strider.  He always did, and to be truthful, I didn't mind.  Strider had fewer responsibilities than Aragorn.  For a while we walked in silence and I guessed he was building himself up to something.  He finally decided on a formula that suited him.  "Gandalf says that you grew up here.  You must have been very happy.  It's very beautiful."  Very happy?  Yes, sometimes I had been very happy here and at other times I had been very sad.  "It is beautiful.  But it is a beauty that has to be protected.  It is not created solely by nature.  This is one of the few places that can hold out, still, against the darkness," I replied.  "I wanted Frodo to see it before we set out; to see what was at stake."  

"Lord Elrond is your foster father, isn't he?"  I began to get a glimmer of where this conversation was heading.  "We are distantly related.  He took my mother and me in when my father died."  I could feel him digesting that piece of information; however his next comment surprised me.  "That's a bit like Bilbo and Frodo, isn't it?"  I had never considered us having that in common.  We had both suffered grief at an early age and we were both thrust into a destiny that may change us for ever.  "I suppose it is, Merry, although I was only two when my father died.  I know only what others have told me about him.  I understand Frodo was about twelve when his parents died.  It must have been a greater wrench for him."  Again there was a silence as he chose his words.

"Lord Elrond probably talks to you a lot, being your foster father."  Ah, now the conversation was veering back in the direction I had suspected it was going in the beginning.  "He is always there, when I need him.  Yes.  Although he has a great many other responsibilities to claim his time."  Here it comes.  "Has he told you who will be filling the last two places in the fellowship?" 

"No, he has not, Merry.  I don't think he has made his decision yet."

"You know, Frodo would never have made it this far without me and Pippin.  I think it's unfair to separate us now."  There now, he had said it and I could sense him relax, knowing that he had got it out in the open.  "You are right, Merry.  He needed your strength.  But the journey before him is long and much more difficult that the one you have taken thus far.  He will need people able to defend him."  It was a hard thing for me to say and I knew it hurt him.  "I know I'm no good with a sword but I would defend Frodo with my bare hands if I had to.  He is dearer to me than…..than myself.  And he will need more than swords to support him.  He will need people who will love him, whatever happens."  He had a point.  These hobbits were different to men.  Their confusing family trees were a reflection of their personalities.  They were intertwined with each other.  To cut one hobbit off from the rest of his people would almost be to kill him.  It was a wonder to me that Bilbo survived, but then Bilbo had always been an exceptional hobbit.  "I will mention it to Elrond.  But I suspect he will have already considered it.  He has not lived all these years without gaining a great deal of wisdom in these matters."    Merry seemed happy that I would at least talk to Elrond.  "Thank you, Strider."  Pippin ran up to join us at that point so there was no further opportunity to pursue the conversation.  Something of which, I am ashamed to say, I was grateful.

It appeared that Frodo's conversation with Legolas was the signal the other hobbits had been waiting for, because after that I noticed all of them talking with Legolas at some point.  The Prince of Mirkwood even initiated a conversation with the normally reticent Sam.  By mid day the divisions between elf and hobbit seemed to have broken down somewhat, culminating in a rather amusing discussion over lunch between Legolas and Merriadoc about the foibles of their respective fathers.  It seemed they had much in common. 

I had hoped to have lunch at our destination but Legolas had signalled that Frodo looked to be tiring, and mindful of Elrond's warning, I found a secluded glade in which to eat.  Frodo did look a little weary and I considered giving him some of the tonic, but decided that if I could get him to eat a sandwich and drink some wine he would probably be alright.  He looked as though he was going to refuse at first but then he sighed and took the sandwich I offered.  I noticed Legolas watching us and wondered what he was thinking.

After lunch, it was only a short walk, to the lookout point that I had wanted to show them.  When we arrived I was gratified to see that it affected them in the same way it had me, when Elrohir and Elladin had brought me here all those years ago.  It was an image of my home that I carried with me always:  The steep grey rock of the mountain sides, clothed in trees, dressed now in their autumn finery with the many waterfalls and cascades, wreathed in rainbows; that crashed down to the river far below.  I had been only sixteen and we had brought a picnic then too, only we had eaten it here, with the view of the valley as a glorious backdrop.

I expected Pippin to be the first to comment but Sam surprised me. "Well there's an eye opener, as my Gaffer always says."  That seemed to break the spell, for Pippin rushed towards the edge, to see how far down it was.  I knew that, in common with many hobbits, he didn't take heights too well so I caught him before he reached it.  I don't think he realised just how far below the valley floor was.  Merriadoc rescued him from my grasp, and I tried not to smile as I watched Legolas, knowing from previous conversations, that he had his own family memories of older brothers and cuffed ears.   I pointed out some of the features to them then; naming the waterfalls and pointing out some of the smaller buildings and, after about half an hour of question and answer we all settled down in the warmth of the autumn sun. 

I stole a glance at Frodo, by my side.  He was sitting with his legs drawn up, hands clasped loosely around his ankles and chin resting on his knees and I watched as his eyelids slid shut and he started to tumble slowly towards me.  I was just getting ready to catch him when he sensed the motion and his eyes flew open in alarm, planting a hand at his side to stop himself.  He looked around quickly to see if anyone had noticed and when he got to me he realised he had been caught.  "Why don't you lie down for a little while, Frodo?  We will not be leaving for a couple of hours.  I will wake you in time."  I saw that straightening of the shoulders that he did so often and knew I was in for an argument.  "I'm all right Stri…, I mean, Aragorn."  I sighed.  "Frodo, you have been very ill for a long time.  You nearly died, you know.  Your body needs rest if you are going to be ready for the difficult journey ahead.  No-one will think badly of you."  I watched him consider my statement and hoped that my mention of being fit enough for the journey would swing his decision.  Capitulating gracefully, he lay down on his back and closed his eyes, finally giving in to my logic.  Within minutes his breathing had evened out.  I felt guilty for having made him walk so far, but I wanted him to see, wanted them all to see, what was at stake.  I touched fingers to the pulse point at his wrist and found a slow steady rhythm, the skin warm and dry to the touch.  Having no other means to shelter him from the suns glare I shifted position so that my shadow covered his face. 

Merry and Sam held a murmured conversation about cloud shapes and I had great difficulty not laughing as they fell into a good natured argument about the shape of an oliphaunt.  Behind me Pippin had decided to attach himself to Legolas.  For a moment I thought of rescuing him, but then I decided to see if the elf could deal with it himself.  I could sense Legolas squirming at first, but then he sounded amused and surprised by turns.  It was my turn to be surprised, however, when Pippin talked him into showing him how to climb trees.

When they left Merry and Sams' voices gradually sank, the sentences growing farther apart, until the only sound was of three hobbits breathing and the drone of bees harvesting the last of the pollen from the orgiliath bushes behind us. I let them rest for a while, for Frodo's sake; only waking them when I became worried that we would not be back at the house before dark.  It was autumn and the evenings were drawing in.  I did not want Frodo exposed yet to the cold, damp autumn night air.  Our Ring bearer looked much better after his nap but I made him take a dose of the medicine anyway.  I knew its contents and it would certainly do him no harm.  As Sam and Merry were packing we were assailed by one of the most raucous sounds it has ever been my misfortune to hear.  Its' source proved to be Pippin, who breezed in, with a wincing Legolas in tow.  If I found the sound of the whistle too shrill I did not want to think what it was doing to elven ears and could not imagine what had possessed Legolas to give it to him.  Apparently, Pippin at least had been having great fun and, to hear him tell it, he had climbed to the top of a large oak tree.  I caught Legolas stifling a laugh at that one.  I was very surprised when the young hobbit showed me the knife Legolas had given him.  I knew it had been a present from the king and I wondered if Pippin knew its sentimental value to his new found friend.  He must have made quite an impression on the prince.

The walk back down to the house was much noisier than the trek up, something that I would hardly have thought possible.  Not needing to concentrate so hard on the route I was able to take a more active part in the various conversations and there were many.  We were all talking as though we had been together for weeks instead of days.  There was no division now between hobbits and big people.   I found myself talking to Sam one minute and Merry the next and I noticed that Legolas too was much more animated, answering questions about his home from Merry, teaching Pippin a tune on the whistle or talking earnestly with Frodo.  It was just as we reached the gate, and Frodo was deep in serious conversation with Legolas, that Pippin burst out of the bushes and let out a shrill blast on his whistle, right in Frodo's ear.  Legolas yelped and covered his own ears and three hobbit voices shouted, in unison, "Peregrin!"  Pippin took off, shrieking, across the lawn, with the three other hobbits close behind, shouting all manner of threats about what they would do when they caught him.  From behind me I heard Legolas' silver laugh.  As the sound of the hobbits faded amongst the shrubbery at the far end of the lawn I, too, found myself laughing, with relief.  Not only had the day been a success, but I had actually enjoyed it.

Now if I could just find Gandalf and have a word about Legolas and Gimli, this Fellowship of the Ring may actually work.

THE END.

Sorry to disappoint all those who wanted to see other POV, but I have trouble climbing into hobbit heads.  Just one of those things.