The hobbits slept peacefully all night, unaware that their five comrades had begun to quietly take turns keeping watch. The next morning, the tasks of keeping the camp going -- food gathering, cooking, washing, filling water jugs, gathering firewood, limited exploring -- had already begun to fall into an efficient routine.
After breakfast, Aragorn agreed that Frodo could trying walking around for the first time, as the hobbit’s fever was finally gone, and his injured leg healing well.
“Really, you two,” Frodo complained good naturedly to Sam and Aragorn, “you don’t have to shadow me everywhere I go.” He took another step -- his first experience walking in the soft, warm sand -- and tried to pull his arm out of Sam’s tight grip.
“Let him go, Sam,” Aragorn sighed. Sam did so, reluctantly, and Frodo walked a few halting steps on his own, delighted to be free of the confining shelter. He made his way to the surfline and stood for awhile, transfixed by the Sea and by the way the outgoing waves made the wet sand slip away from his feet... and how the returning water felt so warm and soothing. However, walking back up the beach was difficult, as the still-painful leg threatened to give way -- both from the effort of walking through the deep, shifting sand, and the unaccustomed exercise.
“No,” Frodo insisted when Aragorn hurried over to help him. “I can do it.” Gritting his teeth, he limped slowly but determinedly back to the shelter before collapsing on a blanket, pale and shaking.
“Stubborn hobbit,” Gandalf muttered. Legolas, whose keen hearing had picked up the words, smiled at the wizard.
“What better guardian of the Ring than one whose heart is innocent, but whose will is strong?” the Elf asked quietly, and Gandalf nodded in agreement.
Sam brought Frodo some water just as Pippin marched over and plunked a pan of freshly-caught fish in front of his elder cousin.
“It’s time you started helping out around here,” Pippin declared. He sat next to Frodo and handed him a small, sharp blade that Gimli had fashioned. “Scaling and gutting fish is an art, but I’m sure I can teach you. You can take another walk when you’re finished.”
“Finished?” Frodo asked in amazement. “Peregrin, there must be a dozen fish in here.”
“We’d better get started, then,” Pippin advised. Aragorn covered a chuckle with a cough and walked away, approving the young hobbit’s ploy to keep Frodo busy -- and off his feet.
So intent had everyone been on Frodo’s small excursion, or their various tasks, that no one realized, for quite some time, that Merry was no longer on the beach.
~*~
“I’ll go,” Aragorn said grimly. The companions had called and searched the immediate area, but Merry was not to be found. Gandalf had even checked that the palantir was still safely hidden, and it was. Finally, Aragorn had found the faint trail of fresh footprints, leading into the jungle. “I can most easily track Merry.”
“Take me with you!” Pippin pleaded. “If Merry’s in trouble---”
“Perhaps that is a good idea, Aragorn,” Gandalf said thoughtfully. “I can only assume that Merry is responding to some command or suggestion that Saruman placed in his mind, and he may not be thinking clearly. If he will listen to anyone, however confused he may be, it would be Pippin... or Frodo.”
“I will not allow Frodo to walk that far -- not yet,” Aragorn insisted, silencing Frodo’s protest. “I will take Pippin.”
“I will accompany you,” said Legolas, rising gracefully to his feet. “Perhaps the trees will tell us what your tracking skills cannot.”
“Bring him back safely,” Gimli said. “I need to teach that hobbit a lesson for concealing his chess-playing skills from me. I will not rest until I have bested him.” He spoke gruffly, but the others could sense the concern in the Dwarf’s voice and manner.
“Three warriors are a greater force than two,” Boromir said to Aragorn. “I will come, as well.”
“You cannot,” Aragorn said quickly. “Do you not remember what Frodo related of Saruman’s speech with him? The wizard boasted that he would draw away each of the Ring-bearer’s 'protectors' until he was alone.” Frodo frowned, listening to the Ranger’s words. “You must remain here, Boromir, with Gandalf, Gimli, and Sam. Be alert to anything out of the ordinary. Do not let one another out of your sight.”
Legolas retrieved his bow and quiver from where they rested among the salvaged goods, and Aragorn stowed several water bottles and his medical bag in a pack he slung across his shoulder.
“Let’s go,” Pippin said impatiently, anxious to be off. “Merry could be hurt, or lost!”
“Stay between us, Pippin,” Legolas said as Aragorn began to follow Merry’s trail into the foliage. “We must walk silently.” Pippin nodded, and the three hunters set off.
“Merry wouldn’t just wander off,” Sam said worriedly.
“I agree,” Gandalf said. “But Saruman’s arm is long. He sensed the Ring’s presence from a very great distance, and brought down a plane -- and injured Frodo -- with his Dark Magic. We must be vigilant.”
“Do not fear, Frodo,” Boromir said, sitting beside the hobbit. “They will find Merry, and we will safeguard you -- and what you bear.” He spoke as if to himself. “A fallen wizard cannot be permitted to wield the One Ring -- not when Gondor’s need for it is so great.”
Frodo frowned. “What are you saying?”
Boromir looked down at Frodo. “It is clear that you and I were destined to meet,” he declared, “and that the Ring was revealed to the heir of Gondor at the appointed time. Evil pursues you, Frodo, and it need not be so. Why must you continue to bear this burden? Do you not think I have thought long on this, while you were ill? When my father arrives, you can pass on the Ring to him, as is meant to be, and return to your home in peace.” His eyes held Frodo’s with an eager glance. “Would you not show it to me again?”
Sam saw something in the Man’s face that suddenly frightened him, and Frodo looked up at Boromir in alarm.
“Do not be too eager to interpret destiny, Son of Gondor,” Gandalf said gravely. “History has shown us that---”
"A ship!" Boromir cried out suddenly. "It flies the banner of the Steward!" He leaped to his feet and began running to the surfline.
"Where?" Sam asked, shading his eyes. "Gandalf, do you see a ship?"
"I do not," the wizard said.
"Nor do I," Gimli said. "Boromir!" he bellowed, "there is no ship!"
"Are you blind?" Boromir yelled back. "My father approaches!"
"On your feet, Frodo," Gandalf said quietly. "You too, Sam. Something clouds Boromir's reason, and sends him a false vision."
Frodo stood up, and Sam came instantly to his side. "You were right, Frodo. That villain said he would draw everyone away from you."
"Boromir," Frodo yelled, "you are deceived! Come back!"
"Gimli, be ready," Gandalf said grimly, standing between the hobbits and the jungle. "There is some devilry at work here, and we must prepare to face it."
top