Pain And Pleasure

Notes: Cross between good and bad mood today, trying to get this thing going (working on getting a LOTR tattoo) this chapter is short and unfinished but at least I have good idea about where the plot is going now.

It's finished, the chapter that is

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The next morning Frodo was skipping his way through Hobbiton, a sense of fulfillment and all around pride filled his heart. Eagerly searching for Merry he came to the Green Dragon and found him singing under the table with his partner in crime Pippin.

‘Good day my dear cousins’ Frodo chirped when he came to them with a large mug of ale.

‘Good day Frodo’ Pippin replied.

‘The sun must be shining over Bag End today’ Merry smiled.

‘Indeed the sun is not shining over Bag End, dear Merry, it is shining over me’ he held up his mug ‘cheers’

‘And what happened to make the sun shine this cloudy day then’ Merry asked.

‘Ah now that is for me to know, and you to find out’ Frodo grinned and moved to Merry’s ear ‘meet me at Bag End alone this afternoon and all will be revealed’ he whispered.

‘What are you two whispering about’ Pippin whined.

‘Lad stuff’ Frodo told him.

‘And what am I then, a little lass’ he said in the most frustrating voice he could muster.

‘With a pretty ribbon in your curls’ Merry laughed.

Frodo completely ignored Pippin’s curiosity and spent the rest of the morning singing and drinking with his cousins.

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Later that afternoon Merry strolled up to Bag End as Frodo had instructed. Frodo was lying in the grass with his hands behind his head and chewing a long stem of a dandelion. Merry couldn’t resist the opportunity to creep up on him. He walked slowly and quietly up to him. Suddenly his face was hovering over Frodo’s, who jumped with surprise.

‘Now then are you going to keep secrets from me forever’ Merry asked.

‘I shall if you insist on creeping up on me’

Merry held out his hand and helped Frodo to his feet.

‘Come on then, out with it’

‘Do you want to know what has made me so happy Merry’?

‘Well considering I haven’t seen you this happy in a very long time, then the answer is yes’

Frodo turned and began to walk off.

‘Follow me then’

Merry followed without hesitation. Frodo was humming and whistling along the path, until they came to the borders of Hobbiton.

‘If you’re taking me out of town, don’t you think we should have brought packs’ Merry asked, a little out of breath from trying to keep up with the swift speed of his cousin.

‘We’re not going out of town Merry’

‘Then where are we going’?

Frodo stopped and pointed to the wood.

‘Are you serious’ Merry asked open mouthed and full of fear.

‘As serious as I am standing here’ Frodo replied.

‘I’m not going in there, don’t you know it’s haunted or something’

Come now Merry, you’re not scared of old folk tales are you’

‘No, of course not’ Merry insisted ‘it’s just…just…’

‘There is nothing to be afraid of in there, now come on, I want to show you something’

Before Merry could argue Frodo was already walking through the trees.

‘Oh Elbereth what am I getting myself into’ Merry sighed and then followed Frodo into the woods.

The eerie sound from the wind chimes could still be heard. Every step and every turn Merry stopped and looked around him, searching for anything out of the ordinary. Finally Frodo stopped and turned to him.

‘Merry, if you keep up at this pace we shall never get there’

‘This place is creepy Frodo’

‘There is nothing in here that’s going to hurt you, and if there was then I would protect you, now come on, chop, chop’

Merry couldn’t believe the fearlessness in Frodo’s voice, he though there must be something really exciting to be had in these woods, if he were that calm. Without another word Merry followed on, now keeping the same steady pace as the hobbit by his side.

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Soon they came to the house. Merry stared at it in awe.

‘How did that get here’ he asked.

‘The same way any home gets somewhere’ Frodo laughed as he walked up to the house.

He stood at the door of the Brothel and knocked on it. Then he turned to Merry.

‘Merry, whatever you might see, don’t be scared and just ignore it’

‘Why’ Merry asked.

‘Just trust me cousin’

The door opened.

‘Good evening young Sir, I take it you’re here to see Lilly’

‘Yes’ Frodo answered.

‘Well she’s expecting you, just go on up’

‘Thank you’

Frodo stepped through the door, followed by Merry. Merry’s curiosity got he better of him, he looked around at the half naked lasses and the many male creatures. He moved closer to Frodo and took hold of his arm.

‘Just ignore it’ Frodo told him.

Frodo was very relieved that they made it to Lilly’s chamber without being stopped and without bumping into Rosie. He did not really want to have to explain her presence to Merry. When outside the chamber Frodo knocked on the door.

‘Just a minute’ the familiar voice called.

Lilly opened the door. Frodo smiled and Merry’s eyes widened, she was indeed the most beautiful lass he’d ever seen.

‘Come in’ Lilly bade them

Frodo went straight in and sat on the bed. Merry however just stood by the door after Lilly closed it. Lilly then stood eying him up and down, she though him more handsome than Frodo, even though his yes were not as captivating as the afore mentioned hobbits.

‘Tell me Frodo are there and other lads in Hobbiton as handsome as this’ she smiled.

‘My cousin Pippin is a handsome lad’ Merry told her, taking a large golden locket from his jacket pocket. Inside was a portrait of Pippin. Lilly stared at it with wide eyes; she hadn’t thought it possible that there could be hobbits more beautiful than the ones in her company right now. Pippin’s crimson curls and bright green eyes fascinated her. Her heart skipped a beat and she found herself unwillingly falling in love with this beautiful creature.

‘He has not yet come of age though’ she heard merry say.

Reluctantly, Lilly snapped out of her trance.

‘Even if he were, you must never bring him here’ she warned them.

‘Why’ Frodo asked.

‘I know many that would give anything to corrupt such a beautiful creature, for his own safety, never bring him here’

Lilly reached out her hand and closed the locket in Merry’s hand. She then went and stood by the window, trying desperately to control her uneven breathing and the furious beating of her heart. She wanted nothing more than to kiss the lips of the hobbit in the picture, but her words had been true. It would be far too dangerous to bring him into her house. Fighting her feelings, she remembered her job and turned to Merry.

‘What is your pleasure young Master’