action.

[bronwe]

[ Frodo arrives rolling and tumbling across the floor.

There was a great shadow over him then, something with a terrible stench and legs too numerous to count. And now, light. He shields himself from the brightness and scoots back until he bumps against the wall, then scrambles to find shelter behind a couch. It hurts his eyes. The air is suddenly too clear, everything too clean. He fears it is a trick.

He speaks in a hush, afraid to alert the enemies but more afraid of being alone. ]

Sam? Where are you, Sam?

Comments

[bronwe]

[ He thought many more don't deserve his sympathy. Frodo frowns at him. ]

I wonder who does.

[majestic_leader]

Try the billions of people the Covenant killed wiping out human colony planets, for starters.

What about you, little guy, tell me about your world?

[bronwe]

[ Even then. He thinks Smeagol most certainly wants to wring both their throats. ]

I know little of it. Hobbits aren't known for going on adventures to discover the world.

[majestic_leader]

Hobbits? [Definite brow-creasing here.] What's a hobbit?

[bronwe]

[ He frowns a little. ] I am a hobbit. Some call us the Little Folk. I would not mind that either.

[majestic_leader]

Oh! So ... you're not a kid ... ?

[bronwe]

No, I will not be growing anymore, I can assure you. Hobbit-children are smaller.

[majestic_leader]

... oh ...

[Well this is definitely an embarrassing epiphany.] Sooooo, how old are you?

[bronwe]

I should turn 51 in September. [ Which reminds him... ]

What is the month?

[majestic_leader]

Holy shi-- [This runt was older then DeMarco.] Damn, man, you look good for half a century.

It's January, so you got some time.

[bronwe]

[ He gives a half-hearted smile. He knows the reason for that now. ]

Others have said so. I suppose I would have time to plan then.

[majestic_leader]

Yeah, you going to have a big shindig?

[bronwe]

No, 51 isn't so special an age. [ He seems a little embarrassed to admit that, even. ]

Would you?

[majestic_leader]

Well, usually the big party is at 50, but hey why not 51, yeah? I'll take a party any time I can get it.