Our Adventure
By: Nevaeh Elenath

Chapter 1
Cousin Frodo

“You idiot, Merry! We’re not any closer to Bag End than we were five minutes ago,” I snapped at my younger cousin, who was being considerably annoying ever since we left Buckland.

He grinned, “Are we there yet?” he asked. I just shook my head, and slid into the back of the wagon. My dad would tolerate him for a few minutes, I was going to take a nap. We woke up early that morning just so we could get to Bag End before nightfall. I fell into a well-welcomed sleep.

“Reginard! Wake up, we’re there!” came a bright and cheery voice. I opened my eyes groggily, and yelled, Merry’s face was mere inches from mine.

“Don’t do that!” I scolded, he grinned mischievously. “Why couldn’t Pippin come?”

“Because he’s sick, has a nasty cold,” said the semi-evil 20-year-old, getting out of the cart.

“Lucky him,” I muttered, “he doesn’t have to tolerate your nonsense for a few days.” I clambered out of the wagon, and helped unload our things. It was slightly dark. Luckily my dad was only staying the night, and leaving. I was stuck with Merry for a whole three weeks. But Frodo would be there, so I would live. Hopefully.

Merry knocked on the door energetically. Bilbo answered the door. “Master Merry! Master Reginard, we’ve been expecting you, come in! I’ll help you with your things,” he said greeting us. He helped us carry all of our things into the hobbit hole, I gasped, this was big for a regular home, that housed only two hobbits.

“Reg! Merry!” came a well-known voice. Frodo was standing in the hallway, looking rather well dressed, more gentle-hobbity than I had ever seen him. His bright blue eyes were filled with the same mischievous, happiness that I had always seen.

“Frodo!” Merry said, giving him a massive hug. “I’m so happy to see you! I’m terribly sick of Reg.”

“I heard that,” I said teasingly. Frodo and I embraced like brothers, we hadn’t seen each other for about a year. “Wow Frodo you’ve grown, you look good in all those fancy clothes.” He just laughed, a sound I was very glad to hear. “Collomia wanted to come and see you so badly, but she has to finish her studies.”

“C’mon, I want to show you where you’ll be sleeping,” Frodo said smiling. We followed, Merry telling him all about Pippin being sick. I only half listened.

“Poor Pip, he never likes to get sick,” Frodo said, as he walked into a room, “this is where your sleeping Reg, I’m right next door, and Merry you’re on the other side.”

I dumped my stuff onto the bed, and gazed around the room. It was quite nice, I sat on the mattress, ah, feather stuffing. I grinned, “I like it.”

Merry rushed off to get settled in his room. I had never seen the young Brandybuck so energetic. Frodo rolled his eyes, and followed. I decided to put some of my clothes in the dresser so I would have at least a little organization.
* * *
I lie in my bed listening to Bilbo’s snores mix in with my dad’s. I chuckled, no one snored like my dad.

“Ouch! Merry! That was my foot!”

“Sorry,”

I wasn’t the only one awake, Merry and Frodo were awake too. I got out of bed, and walked into Frodo’s room. There was Merry sitting on his bed. “Hello lads,” I said grinning.

“You awake too?” Merry asked, “I can’t sleep with all that snoring, your dad’s a thunder storm!”

Frodo laughed, “I agree, I’ve never heard anyone snore that loud.”

“Well, he’s snored like that ever since . . .” I stopped, unexpected tears were welling in my eyes, I turned away. Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I looked over, there was Frodo smiling sadly. I wept into his shoulder, he held me like an older brother. He knew the feeling of pain that I was suffering. My mother had died just last spring, she was taken by a few ruffians, to show them the way to the Shire, she led them in the opposite direction, and they undoubtedly killed her. I took a shaky breath, and tore away, Merry was beside too.

“It’s alright,” he whispered, “I know that one day you’ll see her again, she’s not lost forever.”

“Thank you, I’m alright, honestly,” I said wiping the rest of my tears away. “Let’s go to bed, we have an adventure to plan tomorrow.”