He was lying on his bed, rain tapped against his window and thunder rumbled in the distance. He pulled his covers up until they covered his chin. He wished that the storm would go away.

Lightning flashed and flooded his bedroom with light. He screamed and flung his covers over his head as thunder boomed so loud that he felt his small bed shake.

Moments later his door opened and warm, orange light illuminated his room.

"Frodo? Are you alright lad?"
Frodo peeked out from under his covers and saw his uncle, Bilbo, standing beside his bed with a candle in his hands.

"Can you make the storm go away?"
The young hobbit pleaded as his small hands clung to his blanket.

Bilbo smiled and set the candle on the dresser beside his nephew's bed. Then he sat down beside him and gathered the little hobbit in his arms.

"Did I ever tell you about the time I was caught in a rainstorm? When I was on my adventure with the dwarves?"

Frodo shook his head as he clung to his uncle's shirt.
"Tell me."
He said eagerly.
Bilbo smiled and told Frodo of when he and the dwarves had been caught out in the rain shortly after their adventure began.

Frodo forgot all about the storm that raged outside. His uncle's arms held him protectively and his voice was warm and comforting.

He let himself become lost in the tale that Bilbo weaved, one that told of hungry trolls and the sudden appearance of Gandalf who saved them.

His uncle was so brave, he wasn't afraid of anything. As long as he was with him he'd be safe, nothing could ever happen to him.

Frodo's eyes grew heavy as he became lost in the world of sleep. That night he dreamed of storms and trolls that could not scare him because he was brave, just like his uncle.

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Frodo moaned as something moved him and began to wake him from his sleep. His head was pounding and every bone in his body was sore. He felt stiff and cold, every small movement sent a wave of agony rushing through him.

What happened?
Something cool was pressed against his forehead. He heard someone speak but he could barely hear what was being said.

"Last night.... three.... no sign
of.... fever.... can't wait...."
Who was talking? Frodo didn't know. He wanted to open his eyes but couldn't find the strength to do it. He was in too much pain....

Gratefully Frodo let the darkness wrap him in its calm embrace.

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Pippin willed his cousin to wake up, if he hadn't been told not to disturb him, he would have shaken Frodo awake.

The youngest hobbit was on his knees beside Frodo, who was wrapped in a blanket on the cold ground. Pippin could see him tremble every now and then, everytime his face had brightened as he waited for Frodo to finally awake, only to be disappointed when he stilled once again.

Pippin sighed dejectedly and turned his gaze away from Frodo. Last night had been a nightmare to him. Getting chased into Bree, almost being captured by those cruel men, getting captured by three men and a dwarf, and finally being chased out of Bree by the Black Riders.

He still remembered the blind terror he had felt when he was led blindly through the small village by a man whom he had believed was going to hurt him.

One black rider had been closing in on them when they managed to hide in between two buildings. Pippin's captor then led him out of Bree and into the wild. Pippin wished that they hadn't been separated, they had come across Frodo and that Strider fellow just that morning.

There was no sign of Merry or Sam. Pippin heard the voices of the two men rising as they debated about something not too far off. Seeing the two in the light of day somehow made them less threatening to Pippin.

He now knew that the man who had led him out of Bree was named Boromir and that he was close friends with Strider. Both had claimed that they and their companions had been sent to protect them, but Pippin wasn't sure if he should trust them or not.

He was still young and naive about the world and trying to decide whether two strangers are trustworthy or now was something that Pippin feared he would mess up.

If he decided to trust the men and they turned out to be enemies, everything they had done so far would be for nothing! Then again, if they were who they said they were and he chose not to trust them....

What if they're lying? What if they're after It and they don't really know Gandalf? Or maybe they're the reasons why he didn't show up in Bree!

At first, Pippin was confident that this was the truth, but then another seed of doubt became planted in his mind. These men had saved them from the Black Riders, and Strider was helping Frodo.

Pippin sighed and rubbed his forehead with his hand. He wished that someone would come along who could tell him the truth about these men, and whether or not he could trust them.

Part of Strider and Boromir's conversation reached Pippin's ears and he couldn't help but listen in on their discussion.

"We do not have time to wait anymore,"
It was Boromir who spoke,
"The Nine will be after us since we have Frodo, Gimli and Legolas know the way to Rivendell. They will get the other hobbits there safely."

Gimli and Legolas?
Pippin thought to himself.
I'm sure that Gimli is a dwarf name, but I've never heard of a man called Legolas, and did he say Rivendell?

"I do not doubt that they are capable of getting the hobbits there safely Boromir."
Strider said as he bandaged a small cut on his left hand.
"What fills me with dread is the thought of them having been captured last night. If the Nine have them they will either kill them, torture them for Frodo's whereabouts, or take them to Mordor and to Sauron himself."

Captured? No Merry and Sam couldn't have been captured!

"I have known Gimli long enough to see that he is more than capable of handling himself."
Boromir said trying to reassure his friend.
"I am certain that Legolas is too, they will be alright Aragorn. You will see."

Aragorn? I thought that his name was Strider! Is Boromir's name really Boromir or did he make that up too?

"Forgive me Boromir, I just fear for their safety, and I would hate to force these two to go on without their friends."
Strider, or Aragorn as he was apparently named, finished bandaging his hand and stood to his feet with Boromir following his lead.

"There is another thing that has been bothering me about last night."
Aragorn continued as he and Boromir began to approach the two hobbits. Pippin pretended that he had been looking at Frodo the whole time instead of eavesdropping.

But he couldn't help overhearing the rest of their conversation.
"The man we fought at the inn said that his master wants the hobbits."
Aragorn continued.
"That means that someone knows of their errand and what one of them carries, but I do not know who it could be."

Someone knows about It?
Pippin shuddered at the thought.

"It could not be Sauron, why would he send his most feared servants and a band of criminals after the Ring? It does not make sense to me."
Boromir stated furrowing his brow.

They know about the Ring....
Pippin didn't know if that was a good thing or a very bad thing.

"I would consider the possibility, but I think that it is highly unlikely that they were sent by Sauron. There is another player in this game Boromir, and if we do not find out who it is-"

Pippin wondered why they had stopped talking when he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. When he turned his head his eyes brightened as Frodo awoke.

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Frodo finally forced his eyes to open and embrace the harsh, unforgiving glare of the sun. His head was still pounding and it felt as if someone had repeatedly struck him with a heavy boulder.

"You're awake!"
He recognized the voice and carefully turned his head to meet the delighted gaze of Pippin.
Frodo smiled at his cousin to assure him that he was well.
"Good morning Pippin. That was some night wasn't it?"

Pippin's face fell which confused Frodo. What was wrong with him?
"Pippin? Is something bothering you?"
Pippin sighed and shook his head.

"Merry and Sam are missing."
Fear pierced Frodo's heart like a shard of ice. Merry and Sam were missing? How could this have happened?

"How are you feeling Frodo?"
Frodo turned in the direction of the new voice as his eyes widened in fear. Strider, and the auburn haired man from the inn were standing over him and Pippin with their hands on the hilts of their swords.

"We are not going to hurt you Frodo."
Strider said kneeling down beside him.
Pippin pressed closer to Frodo's side. Frodo narrowed his eyes as he studied the two men skeptically.

"Who are you?"
He demanded, trying to sound as intimidating as he could.
"My true name is Aragorn, but to most I am known simply as Strider. My friend is Boromir of Gondor, he has been my friend for many years. We were sent by Gandalf to bring you and your friends safely to Rivendell if he was unable to come himself."

Frodo was struggling to decide whether or not to believe him. He spoke as an honest man, but at the same time, there was something unsettling about his weather-beaten appearance. Not to mention Frodo had seen him firsthand in close combat, he knew that this man was dangerous.

"Where are our friends?"
He asked noticing the subtle exchange that passed between the two men.

"When we last saw them they were in the hands of our other two companions. I do not know where they are, only that they will meet us on the road to Rivendell."
Aragorn replied.

Frodo wondered why Pippin suddenly shifted uncomfortably and appeared to be nervous. What was troubling him now?

"Who were the other two?"
He turned his attention back to Aragorn.
"The man and dwarf, who are they?"

To Frodo's surprise, Aragorn actually laughed. What had he said that was funny?

"They are two of the greatest fighters in Middle Earth."
Aragorn explained once he had ceased his laughter.
"And the most stubborn, their names are Legolas and Gimli if you must know, and trust me Frodo Sam and Merry are quite safe with them."

Legolas and Gimli? Now those were odd names, Gimli seemed to be the dwarf's name, but what kind of a name was Legolas?

"What happened to me? Why am I so sore?"
Frodo asked.
"You were nearly struck by lightning Frodo. You should consider yourself lucky. If you had been but two steps closer you would not be lying here right now."

That explains all the pain.
Frodo thought dryly. He saw the other man, Boromir, standing with an impatient look on his face.

"We have lingered here for too long Aragorn. If we are going to go then we have to go now."
He said it in a way that made Frodo feel uneasy.

"I fear that we cannot stay here any longer Frodo."
Aragorn said interrupting his thoughts.
"The Nazgul were separated during the storm, but it will not be long before they regroup and come after us once again. Can you walk on your own?"

Frodo didn't want to move, yet hearing that Black Riders would be coming was enough to make him try to get up and walk.

Pippin helped by grabbing his arm and letting him lean against him. He closed his eyes and gasped at the effort. It hurt and was uncomfortable, but he was sure that he could walk on his own.

Aragorn stood up as well and went to retrieve a small bag that lay a few feet away.

"Are we sure that we can trust them Frodo?"
Pippin whispered nervously into his ear.
"What if they kill us? Or try to take It?"

Frodo sighed. He was so tired, he just wanted to rest and be done with this whole ordeal.

"We don't have a choice Pippin. We don't know how to get to Rivendell on our own, and those riders will be back. We have to hope and trust that they were sent by Gandalf."

Pippin looked uncertain but he didn't argue with his cousin.
"Are you both ready?"
Boromir asked them.

Frodo nodded and with Pippin offering him support, the two men and two hobbits ventured further into the wild.

All the while Frodo worried about Sam and Merry, wondering where they were and praying that both of them were alive and safe.