action, dictated.

[bronwe]

[ The journal is often cruel, such as now.

There's only anxious breathing to be heard at first, a quick patter of bare feet and the sound of a room being torn apart; books tumbling to the floor, tea cups shattering and even the bed toppling over. Panic gives one unnatural strength. Soon there's a tiny voice muttering to itself, growing in volume and pitch. ]

No. No. No. Where is it? Who took it? Bilbo. The Lady. Who? How dare they? It's mine. It was given to me. I claimed it. It's mine.

[ Now the bookshelf falls to the floor, accompanying a frustrated groan after Frodo has exhausted every hiding place. Disheveled and visibly anxious, he patters out the door to wander the hallways with an uncharacteristic urgency. He must find it or else-- or else-- it frightens him more than death itself. ]


[ The message is brief and rashly written, the letters jumping all over the page unlike Frodo's commonly firm, flowing script. But he doesn't dare say it to her so the ink must speak on his behalf. ]

It's gone.

[ ooc; so it begins! ]

Comments

[Action]

[iaimtomisbehave]

[Unusual looking folks were not an uncommon thing for Mal to see, either here in Paradisa or back home. The distressed look was different, though. Mal pauses in his walk down the hall and looks down at Frodo, concerned.]

Son, you alright?

[Action]

[bronwe]

[ He whirls around as if shocked to find another person here, as if he expects there would be no one else beside him. ]

No. It's none of your concern is what.

[Action]

[iaimtomisbehave]

[Mal holds up his hands in a placating gesture, but his expression is hard.]

Whoa now. You're the one wonderin' around like you've had too much to drink. I's just offerin' to help.

[Action]

[bronwe]

[ Frodo's hand flies to his chest, as if guarding his heart but it was something absent he was seeking. ]

Help? Yes. I need to find the thief. Someone stole something precious from me and I must find it.

action;

[unexpected_adventures]

Frodo? What's wrong? [Bilbo's face was a mask of worry. What had happened and why was Frodo so distraught? What is so precious to Frodo that could cause such a reaction. Could it be?...]

Has someone taken the Ring?

action;

[bronwe]

[ If he at first appears distraught, now his eyes narrow in suspicion and no small measure of anger. ]

How did you know? I never told you. Did you take it from me?

Re: action;

[unexpected_adventures]

I just guessed it might be the Ring, since it's the most precious thing to me too. Not that I have it, of course, since the loss took care of that. I don't have it, Frodo. I'm sorry. [He turned out his pockets, just to prove it. Also, aren't you being a little possessive about it? It's just a magic ring.]

action;

[bronwe]

I-- [ How could he have spoken so harshly against Bilbo? ]

I'm sorry, Bilbo. I don't know what I must do.

Dictated forever

[indirectcause]

[Uh oh]

What have you lost?

forever!

[bronwe]

My-- a treasure. I can't lose it. It would be too terrible.

[indirectcause]

Okay, what sort of treasure? I'll help you look for it.

[bronwe]

No. You mustn't. Leave me be.

[forsometimenow]

Frodo? What's the matter?

[bronwe]

The Castle took something from me. Or someone. Someone stole from me.

[forsometimenow]

What was stolen?

[bronwe]

It's none of your-- [ Concern is what he means to say, but he isn't himself right now. Not at all. His voice softens. ]

I can't tell you. I can't.

Frodo Baggins

[inafadingcrown]

[And this is something that she has feared since he first arrived. She doesn't bother to write into the journal, opting instead to speak directly.]

Come to my rooms. This I would discuss in person.

action!

[bronwe]

[ Frodo is afraid --no, terrified to his very bones. He is frightened of life without the Ring, life with the Ring in someone else's hands, he can hardly bear the thought, then he is frightened of Galadriel too. They entrusted this to him and he accepted, but look what he's done. It's over. They've lost and it's all his fault.

He wastes no time to run to her quarters, taking little care to salvage his appearance and knocking with as much as urgency as if he means to scrape through the wood entirely. ]

Open the door. Please. It's me, Frodo.

[inafadingcrown]

[She opens the door immediately, look not so much angry as grave and serious- perhaps a little frightened, if one can read her well.]

Come in. [She shuts the door swiftly behind him and gestures to her couch.] Sit, please. [She makes no move to seat herself. Not yet. She's too busy watching him right now.]

Frodo

[gottaknockhard]

[Spike is just listening to this, perplexed because... well, he's never heard Frodo's voice get like that. But he knows what it's like to suddenly lose something important, which he must have. It's not like Spike hasn't seen hints before that he might not be entirely carefree.

For a while he debates letting him have his private freak out moment without spoiling it by letting him know how public it is -- until he hears someone else breaks that news for him. (Couldn't hurt now, could it?)]

Need a hand?

Spike

[bronwe]

[ He at least has enough sense still to notice that this is filtered and he almost relaxes, letting out a sigh before holding his breath anxiously again. What can he say? ]

Do you know-- is it possible for anyone to break into our rooms?

Frodo

[gottaknockhard]

[He has a thing about keeping things quiet. The least he can do is try to salvage Frodo's reputation for him.]

It's not uncommon. I'd be surprised if this is your first time. [...Not comforting...] What happened?

[Action]

[fuckelves]

[Thorin had been wandering in the area and heard the commotion. He peers in and stands silently for a moment as he watches Bilbo tear the room apart.]

[This behavior...it seems not unlike his Grandfather's Dragon Sickness...but it seems...darker.]

Lad. What are you doing?

[Action]

[bronwe]

[ By this time, Frodo's intent on tearing his books apart when he digs through the pile he has searched a thousand times already. Thorin's arrival has him scrambling to his feet and staring his way in fear. His voice is small and wary when he speaks. ]

What business is that of yours.

[fuckelves]

[Thorin is taken aback by Frodo's tone and the way he looks at him. He takes a single cautious step towards the Hobbit, his arms outstretched as if to show that he means no harm.]

Why do you look upon me in such a manner? Frodo, I am not here to hurt you...