The Road Goes Ever On (Adopted By Frodo Baggins:Book 4)

You're A Part Of This World

"The Ents cannot hold back this war. We must weather such things as we have always done."

"How can that be your desicion?!" grumbled Merry.

"This is not our war." answered Treebeard.

"But, your a part of this world, Aren't you?! Aren't you?!" Merry shouted.

Merry looked back at Pippin and me. My dark green eyes were filled with tears, which rolled down my pale cheeks.

I turned around and Pippin placed a gentle hand on my back.

"It will be alright, Brianna." he inspirited.

"No, it won't." I whimpered. "Imagine if the world crumbled and fell....into complete darkness."

"We are going to win this war." Pippin encouraged.

"Mordor is stronger than us." I concluded. "There's no way that we will win."

"You must help! Please!"Merry begged Treebeard. "Please!"

"You are young and brave, Master Merry. But your part in this tale is over. Go back to your home." Said Treebeard.

Merry frowned and picked his coat up from the ground. He walked away in dismay.

Pippin followed him. I stayed behind with Treebeard.

"Maybe Treebeard is right." said Pippin. " The world is too big for us.What can we do in the end? We've got the Shire. Maybe we should go home."

Merry stopped, turned and faced Pippin. "The fires of Isengard will spread. And the woods of Tuckburough and Buckland will burn. And all that was once green and good in this world will be gone. There won't be a Shire, Pippin."

"Treebeard, you have to change your mind." I persuaded. "Won't you give Merry and Pippin another chance? Look how far we've got. We can't give up now."

"There is only so much we Ents can do, my dear, Brianna. And there is only so much you can do. You should leave."

"I'm not leaving, Treebeard."

Treebeard looked perplexed.

"I'm Frodo Baggins' daughter." I informed. "That's right! I'm the Ring-bearer's daughter!" Treebeard's eyes lit up in amazement.

"You are? Well, Bless my bark!"

"Right now, my father is headed all the way to Mordor with the fate of the entire world hanging from his neck! I have every right to be here and so do Merry and Pippin. Merry wants to fight for the ones that he loves....So do I! You can't give up. Not now. There is still hope for Middle-Earth."

Treebeared was completely bewildered. "I am so very sorry. Please, accept an old Ent's apology. You may be young, but you are right."

"Can Merry and Pippin come back?" I asked, politely.

"Certainly." answered Treebeard.

I ran after Merry and Pippin. When I caught up with them, I told them that Treebeard allowed them to stay.

"You told him what?" asked Merry and Pippin.

"That's right. We can stay." I grinned.

"How did you get him to change his mind?" asked Merry.

I smiled back at the two hobbits and didn't say a word. "Come on, I think Treebeard is waiting for us."

Merry and Pippin followed me from behind. When we made it back to Treebeard, he picked us up and set us down on his branches and we headed off.

As we travelled, Pippin begged Treebeard to stop. "Wait! Stop! Stop! Turn around! Turn around! Take us south!"

"South?" Treebeard was bewildered.

"South? But, that will lead you past Isengard!" warned Merry.

"Yes. Exactly." Said Pippin. "If we go south we can slip past Saruman unnoticed. The closer we are to danger, the farther we are from harm. It's the last thing he'll expect."

"Hmm. That doesn't make sense to me." boomed Treebeard. "But then, you are very small. Perhaps your right. South it is then. Hold on, little Shirelings. I always like going south. Somehow it almost feels like going downhill."

"Are you mad?!" exclaimed Merry. "We'll get caught!"

Pippin shook his head. "No, we won't. Not this time.

There was a glimmer of hope in my eyes. "I'm coming, Frodo." I whispered to myself. "I'm coming."