"I should like to save the Shire, if I could - though there have been times when I thought the inhabitants too stupid and dull for words, and have felt that an earthquake or an invasion of dragons might be good for them. But I don't feel like that now. I feel that as long as the Shire lies behind, safe and comfortable, I shall find wandering more bearable: I shall know that somewhere there is a firm foothold, even if my feet cannot stand there again."
It’s one of the last things he’s come to expect in such a grim place. Frodo Baggins had loved to wander when he had still lived in the Shire, the distant borders of it, among the starlight and the elves. Never had he felt so bereft of his element once green grass had turned to dark earth and the sun had faded beneath black mountains. Never had he missed nor been able to recall it so much.
The nature of life.
Somehow as he wandered, he’d come to such a place. Through each area, at least three of them in a day, he found more energy than he’d had in ages. He knew why, and mixed feelings rose, trying to threatening the budding wonder that came once he saw the sixth area.
Blue sky…green fields, as if it were home, somehow. A hobbit was fond of good earth, green and sunlight, and Frodo was no different, no matter how ‘mad’ his countrymen viewed him when he remained in Bag End.
For a moment all he could do was stare, his hand slackening on his walking stick, azure eyes rapt with wonder.
“This…”
Was a little bit of home.
Despite all the Ring had taken from him in senses, his hearing was still keen enough to note that someone was approaching, and the Ringbearer, (ringless, but bearer still), stopped in the road, feet just about to touch and savor the green that met his line of sight.
Someone was coming.
And was it friend, or foe?
Slowly, hesitantly, he turned his head to meet it. Whoever ‘it’ was.
( ✿ ) Loosening her scarf so that it fell towards the center of her chest, Two took in a deep, satisfying breath of the warm afternoon air. “Ahhhh! It feels so nice out today!” Closing her eyes tight, slender arms were thrown in the air as she rocked on the heels of her boots and released a content sigh. “It’s too bad no one wanted to enjoy it with me!” Though the Intoner had asked each of her sister’s to spend the day with her, all had declined for one reason or another. It was pretty disappointing, but she didn’t have the heart to fault them for being busy! That wouldn’t have been very nice!
Oh, but there was always him, right? He seemed like someone who might enjoy a good walk! Shaking out her bouncy locks, the Intoner shrugged her shoulders and grinned, imagining the sort of tantrum he’d throw if she showed up knocking. Maybe another time! Hands falling back at her sides, the girl would start forward again with determined, bouncing strides. She’d been cooped up in her little shack for far too long and it was time to get some well-deserved exercise, with or without company!
A few minutes in to her power walk, the Intoner stopped as sparkling hues caught sight of what looked to be a youth who, unfortunately, was all by himself! Without a second thought, Two jogged over to him, scarf catching on the gentle breeze. “Oh no! Where are your parents?! Hmmm! I don’t see anyone else around here!” Two lifted her head, looking side to side, before crouching down in front of the boy. With hands cupping her knees, the Intoner’s crown canted, a bright smile drawn on her face. With a soft, careful voice, the songstress spoke directly to him. “Did you need some help finding your way home?”
Although, now that the girl got a good look at him, the boy definitely didn’t have the face of a child. In fact, his features struck her as someone really mature! But, then… why was he so small? She’d never encountered someone with such a curious appearance! Lifting herself back to her feet, a closed fist found a place above her right breast, knuckles brushing against bare skin. Though confused, and maybe a bit embarrassed, she would not allow herself to be swayed! Child or not, Two would help this stranger!
Frodo stood little to no chance at the approaching woman. Hair as bright as the blue between clouds, she all but bounced towards him, sending a familiar stab of unease at fast-moving individuals. He’d become so accustomed to running that instincts moved faster than the mind did, at times.
Baffled, the hobbit listened to her stream of words, at the mention of his parents. Now everyone in the Shire knew at a young age Frodo Baggins’ parents had drowned in the river, but the hobbit knew this wasn’t what she meant by the statement. It was the implication that had him raising a dark eyebrow, marveling at how quickly used to being mistaken for a child he was. It made sense, didn’t it? He might have chuckled if he wasn’t so startled.
“Ah no that’s –" How to explain? His parents were quite dead, had been for more than forty years now, and the last Baggins didn’t go out of his way to regale his fellow citizens with woeful tales from his life. They all had them, so why add to the burden?
Up close he found that her clothing was..odd, quite revealing and a little improper as he pointedly kept his blue eyes on her own, a matter of propriety and respect. He wasn’t exactly a prude but no one possibly ran about in that clothing..not where he came from.
Studying her features was better for him anyway, for it was an open and kindly face, incapable of telling a lie, he felt. She was very childlike, painfully young to be in such a dark place, kneeling down on the street as if offering her full attention to him.
What a gentle person, he thought to himself, unable to stop the small, grateful spread that touched the edges of his mouth. A sweet child, no doubt. Human, he assumed, though he was naive on the matter of what being she truly was. No, he had little to fear.
For it seemed he’d done her a great confusion; sitting there, staring into his old, tired eyes and finding something that wasn’t quite a child.
”I think you might have the wrong ‘child’, Miss, “ Frodo spoke gently, as kindly as she had spoken to him. ”For no child am I, but a Hobbit, a tiny race not from here. Quite older than I look, though I imagine that is a surprise. I am mistaken for a child quite often.“
”And if anything I’m quite lost, actually. I only know that I didn’t expect to find a place so green, and in that I’m very happy to be lost, as weird as you might call it!“ The voice that came from his lips was clearly a man’s voice, no child’s at all. He hoped he hadn’t confused her too much..
