Keep It Secret

Frodo frowned.  “What do you mean you left something in my bedroll?”

Aragron looked very stern and said in a low, husky voice.  “Not so loud.  I thought hobbits could move about unnoticed, making no sound as they walked and not talking above a whisper.  This is hardly a topic that I wish to discuss with the entire Fellowship.”  His serious eyes never left the hobbit’s face.

“I repeat,” Frodo said in a barely audible whisper.  “What do you mean you left something in my bedroll?”

Aragron didn’t speak for such a long time that Frodo thought the man wasn’t going to answer.  After all the fuss the Ranger had made about speaking quietly was it actually possible that he hadn’t heard Frodo?  Just as Frodo had decided that the conversation was over, Aragorn hissed nervously, “It’s of a personal nature.” 

Frodo was mystified.

“Something that I’d not be anxious for anyone else to find.”

“No one else is likely to be rummaging about in my bedroll,” Frodo said without the slightest trace of a smile.  “You are the only one among the Fellowship who has-“

Aragron groaned softly.  “It was the lure of the One, I suspect.”  He looked very embarrassed now.

Frodo refrained from smiling as he murmured.  “Some have called it that.”  He placed one hand over his own crotch briefly, gave the man a teasing half smile and then eased his hand away lest anyone should glance in their direction.

“I was speaking of the Dark Lord’s Ring,” Aragorn hissed, cheeks colouring slightly.

“Were you?” Frodo raised an eyebrow and gazed intently at the Ranger.

Aragorn rolled his eyes and said seriously.  “Just let me know if you find anything that belongs to me when you roll out your bedding the next time we camp.”

“Mister Frodo?”

“Yes, Sam?” Frodo answered without turning away from Aragorn.

“I was rollin’ up your bedding so’s to make it easier to carry and I found somethin’ but I don’t see how they can be yours.  Not meanin’ to pry or nothin’ but I think you’ve gone and packed someone else’s small clothing in with yours.  Meanin’ no disrespect or nothin’, Mr. Frodo but even you aren’t hobbit enough for these here.”  Sam said.

Aragron paled as he saw that Sam was holding his small clothing aloft for all present to see.  Still facing the Ranger, Frodo smiled wickedly and said, “It’s all right, Sam.  Just roll them up tightly inside of my bedroll and tonight when we camp I suspect that whomever misplaced them will return to claim them.”

“They’re in need of a good washin’,” Sam called out wrinkling up his nose as he spoke.  “You might not want them in with your things.”

Frodo nearly giggled but thought better of it seeing the look of pure anger in the Ranger’s eyes.

“Do as he says, Sam,” Frodo heard Merry suggest with a sharp laugh.  “Even if Frodo didn’t actually fill those out himself he probably caused someone else to stretch them to their limits.”

As Frodo watched in amusement, Aragorn turned and walked off toward the trees beyond the path.

“Are we leaving?  I haven’t had breakfast yet!  What did you say to Strider, Frodo?” Pippin complained.

“No talking! And try to keep up!” Aragorn called out from somewhere up ahead.  The others hurried to follow him. 

As Sam reluctantly attempted to stuff the mysterious small clothes into his own rucksack, Gimli came up beside of him and snatched them out of the hobbit's hand.  "I'll take those, laddy," Gimli said with an odd smile that made Sam very nervous.

Boromir, only a few steps behind the dwarf, frowned.  "One does not simply *take* strange small clothes!" he proclaimed.

"It's a gift!" Gimli declared and quickly stuffed them into his pocket.

“I’m hungry,” Pippin sighed.

“Frodo,” Gandalf said sternly as he walked past the hobbit.  “I do believe that I warned you  to keep it secret and safe!” 

"I thought you meant the Ring!"  Frodo objected looking stunned.  "And it was safe.  I used protection!"

"A very wise precaution," Legolas said patting Frodo on the shoulder.

'Now what does he mean by that?' Frodo wondered worriedly.

The End?

GW     03/05/2008