“Well?” Merry asked, breaking the silence, “are you going to tell us who it is?”
“There is no need to decide so quickly,” Aragorn assured Frodo. “This is a weighty matter.”
“I’ve made my choice,” Frodo repeated. “I just need to know one thing.” Unexpectedly, he whispered a question into Aragorn’s ear. The ranger drew back and looked at Frodo for a long moment before slowly nodding.
“I don’t advise that you give the Ring to Aragorn,” Gandalf said. “Saruman would never believe---”
“Not Aragorn,” Frodo said, “but not Sam or Pippin, either.”
“Who, then?” Sam asked, puzzled.
“Boromir.”
“What?” Boromir cried out. “You would trust me, after what I said to you about Gondor’s need for the Ring?”
“Boromir, you also said, ‘not even if I saw it lying upon the sand, untended, would I take it,’” Frodo reminded him. “Aragorn assures me that Men of Gondor are truth-speakers, and that you would rather die than go back on a sworn word.”
“He is correct,” Boromir said quietly.
“Frodo,” Gandalf said, “It must be Sam or Pippin. Saruman would not believe I would give the Ring to any other person.”
“Perhaps not,” Frodo countered, “but after the attack, there might not have been time for you to ‘give’ it to anyone. Saruman’s minion would have reported back that the Man enspelled was standing over my body. Why would it surprise him to learn that someone so easily controlled would take the Ring from a dead halfling, or flaunt it in the seeing stone?”
“Those who are arrogant, expect arrogance from others,” Gimli agreed, stroking his beard thoughtfully.
“But wouldn’t someone have tried to take the Ring from Boromir?” Merry asked.
“Frodo is correct,” Aragorn said suddenly. “Saruman knows that Gandalf would not take the Ring from anyone by force, and the rest might fear to challenge such a warrior -- or be too filled with grief over Frodo’s ‘death’ to think of it, until it is too late.”
“Gandalf,” Legolas chuckled, “Frodo’s logic is flawless. With the One Ring lying at his feet -- how could the Steward’s son resist taking it?”
“Hmmm.” Gandalf smiled slowly at Frodo. “Outsmarted by a Baggins. Why does this not surprise me?”
Frodo grinned, but his smile faded as he turned to look at Boromir. “You would have to agree,” he said quietly. “What are your thoughts? You have sworn you would not take the Ring; would you be able to return it, if given to you freely?”
Boromir said nothing for a moment, then finally nodded. “Frodo,” he said gravely, “if you trust me in this, and have the strength to see the One Ring in the possession of another… I will return it. I swear it.”
“You look disappointed, Pip,” Merry said.
“I am,” Pippin sighed. “I wanted to see what it’s like to be invisible.”
“An invisible, mischievous Took,” Gandalf muttered. “I do not believe the world is ready for such a thing.”
“Who’s mischievous?” Pippin asked indignantly. “I’m completely---” The youngster’s declaration was cut off when he began coughing again.
“Let us take no action until morning,” Aragorn advised. “Frodo and Pippin need a good night’s rest, and some of us have plans to make.”
“I’ve been sleeping all day,” Frodo protested, but Aragorn shook his head.
“Rest,” the ranger said firmly.
“And I don’t need...”
Aragorn just looked at Pippin, and young hobbit closed his mouth suddenly.
“You’ll have to teach me how you do that,” Merry said to Aragorn admiringly.
While Sam and Merry made sure Frodo and Pippin were comfortable, and Legolas and Gimli cleared the remains of the meal, Boromir, Aragorn, and Gandalf stepped aside for a quiet talk.
“Boromir, what do you say to all of this?” Gandalf asked.
“I am honored that Frodo should trust me so,” Boromir said honestly. “Do you feel that he has made a poor choice?”
”No,” Gandalf admitted. “I am impressed with it. Frodo seems to understand Saruman as well -- or better -- than I do. When Saruman so arrogantly revealed his thoughts to what he must have perceived as a weak and frightened halfling, he may have sealed his own doom. No, it is not Frodo’s choice that concerns me, but Frodo, himself.”
“What do you mean?” Aragorn asked.
“To relinquish any object of power, for even a short time, is no small thing,” Gandalf said quietly, “but the One Ring is another matter entirely. To have possessed it for so many years, and see it in the hands of another...”
“You do not believe that Frodo will be able to let it go? Even for a few moments?” Boromir asked.
The wizard sighed. “I truly do not know. That is one of the reasons I believed it would be best for Sam or Pippin to receive it; Frodo has known them all of their lives, and would feel a measure of safety with them.”
“I believe he can do it, if he feels secure and trusts in us completely,” Aragorn said thoughtfully, looking back at the shelter. “The hobbits are a remarkable race, Gandalf. I do not think we will ever know everything of which they are capable.”
“I completely agree,” Gandalf said with a smile. “And the more I think about this, the more I agree with what Frodo has decided. There is always a chance that giving the Ring to another hobbit would somehow plant a seed of doubt about that person in Frodo’s mind that would never entirely fade. This way, the bond between the hobbits remains strong...”
“...and he will doubt only me,” Boromir finished the thought. “I will return the Ring to Frodo, Gandalf. I swear it on my life.”
“I believe you,” Gandalf said, clapping the Man on the shoulder.
“As do I,” Aragorn concurred. “Be at peace, Son of Gondor. Saruman believes our Company has been greatly weakened -- by the death of some and grief of those remaining... and most likely fear and distrust of a power-mad companion.” He grinned at Boromir.
“There is much to think about,” Gandalf said. “Once Frodo and Pippin are settled for the night, the rest of us must set our plans. We must be prepared for anything Saruman might do, or try -- and Frodo will need all the support we can give him.” He turned his gaze to Boromir. “As will you.”
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