DISCLAIMER:  Of course.  The characters don’t belong to me, I just get to think about them day and night.

_________________________

THE ISLAND

Chapter 5 - The Mind of Saruman

This was his chance. With everyone's attention on Frodo, Merry slowly backed away from the group, made his way to the remains of the cockpit, climbed in, and began to search. He had watched Aragorn bring the globe here and leave without it, so it had to be... with a sigh of relief, he spotted the round shape, wrapped in a spare cloak, hidden under the pilot’s seat. He quickly drew it out and sat next to it. He pulled off the cloak. On some level he knew that something unknown was approaching the camp, and that he should be with the others. He knew that Frodo meant to put on the mysterious Ring... and might be in danger. But there was no other thought in his head other than looking into the globe’s depths once again; nothing else mattered.

*~*~*~*~*

Foliage bent and the ground shook, but the Company could discern nothing before them. Suddenly all was silent, and Gandalf felt Frodo start to tremble, the hobbit’s breaths growing short and quick.

“Tell me what you see,” Gandalf urged, but the hobbit did not speak. “Frodo, you must tell me!”

“You are wrong,” Frodo whispered suddenly. “You will have neither the Ring nor me!” Seconds passed, then the wizard felt the invisible hobbit go limp. At the same time, the unseen creature was heard moving back into the jungle from whence it had come, until there was silence once more. Gimli, Aragorn, and Boromir lowered their weapons without ever having seen what had been approaching them.

Quickly, Gandalf found Frodo’s left hand and drew the Ring off the small finger. The hobbit was suddenly visible once more, apparently unconscious. The wizard hastily shoved the Ring back into one of Frodo’s pockets.

Aragorn ran back to the shelter and sat next to the unconscious hobbit cradled in the wizard's arms. “Sam, see if that water’s boiled yet. Quickly!” He pulled one of the fresh leaves from his pouch and whispered something, then crushed it in his hand. Into the steaming pot that Sam carefully set before him, the Ranger dropped the leaf.

“Oh,” Sam whispered. “That smells like...” He took a deep breath of the fresh, living fragrance. “It’s like the Shire on a warm spring morning.”

“Frodo,” Aragorn murmured. “Come back to us, now.” He held the steaming pot near Frodo’s face, and was relieved to see Frodo’s breaths deepen, and color begin to come back into his face. The hobbit’s eyes fluttered open, and he looked about, confused.

“That’s it,” Aragorn said quiely. “Deep breaths...”

“Help!” There was a sudden yell from the direction of the fuselage. “Someone help!”

“That’s Pippin,” Boromir said. He ran towards the remains of the plane with Legolas close behind him. Disappearing into the cockpit, he soon emerged carrying Merry. Legolas followed, leading a shaken Pippin by the hand.

"He was looking into that globe thing," Pippin said, "when he... he..."

“Set him down,” Aragorn said. “Whatever has occurred, this steam might do him good.” Merry’s eyes were open and staring, but he was completely unresponsive as Boromir lay him on the blanket. Pippin sat down between his cousins and Sam, looking frightened, and Gimli and Legolas exchanged puzzled glances. What had happened to Frodo and Merry?

Gandalf knelt at Merry’s head. “I should have realized that this might happen,” he sighed. Then, in a strong voice, he cried, “Meriadoc Brandybuck, come back!”

Merry shuddered and closed his eyes, then slowly opened them as if awakening from sleep. “Aragorn, forgive me,” he whispered, looking up into the Man's eyes.

"There is nothing to forgive," Aragorn said gently.

“You could not help yourself, Merry,” Gandalf said. “We will take better care to conceal the stone from now on.”

“What is happening here?” Boromir burst out. “An invisible creature, an invisible hobbit, and now these two are apparently suffering from trauma of some kind. I demand to know what has occurred!”

“I can tell you some of it,” Frodo said. He felt his pockets for the Ring, then relaxed when he located it. “Merry, are you all right?”

“Yes,” Merry replied. He turned to Pippin, sitting white-faced beside him. “I’m sorry I frightened you, Pip.”

“What did you see, Frodo?” Sam asked. “Why did it leave?”

Frodo turned to Sam with a small smile on his face. “Sam, you won’t believe it... it was an oliphaunt.”

“Truly?” Sam grinned with delight.

“An oliphaunt?” Pippin squeaked in amazement.

“A what?” Boromir asked.

“A story, so I thought,” Frodo explained. Gandalf sat him on the blanket next to Merry. “We have a rhyme, Grey as a mouse, big as a house, nose like a snake, I make the earth shake---”

Aragorn nodded. “They are called Mûmakil in the south, Boromir,” he said. “I thought them to be legend.”

“They exist,” Frodo insisted. “I’ve never imagined any creature so large. A Man was riding upon it as if on a horse. But he wasn’t the one who...” He frowned, trying to remember everything. “The thoughts of another person came through him. The Man was only a servant of someone named Saruman.”

Gandalf sighed. “That is the wizard of whom I spoke. So he is here, as I feared.” He looked at Frodo. “Is it the Ring he desires?”

“Yes,” Frodo replied. “He sensed that I was aware of him,” he continued. “He saw us through some kind of globe, and was using it to project his thoughts through the Man who rode the creature. Such arrogance, Gandalf! He revealed so much to me, believing it made no difference to his plans.”

“Tell us,” Aragorn urged.

“He did this,” Frodo murmured, pointing to his injured leg. “When the plane came down, he used his magic to hurl broken metal toward me. He tried to... to pierce my heart with it,” he whispered.

“To what end?” Boromir asked, appalled.

“He felt...” Frodo looked up at Gandalf. “He believed that if I was injured or killed, the Ring would be revealed.”

"That murderous villain," Sam muttered.

“So this is the source of your fever,” Aragorn said thoughtfully. “The metal shards that pierced your leg carried Dark Magic with them."

“Yes,” Frodo agreed. “He wanted me dead, or too weak to resist when the Ring was taken.”

“But he’s not come to take it,” Sam said, puzzled.

“My thoughts exactly,” Legolas concurred. “If he controls an unseen creature, and has Men to serve him, why have we not been attacked? We would be hard pressed to defend ourselves against an invisible foe.”

“He didn’t think he’d have to,” Frodo said hesitantly. “He said... he had trusted that, by now, the Ring would have been revealed, and someone would have taken it from me and fallen under its spell. Perhaps a Dwarf, out of lust for gold... or a Man, out of lust for power. He was surprised that it had not yet occurred.”

“Nonsense,” Gimli snorted. “I have pledged to protect you with my life.”

“Does he believe Men to be so weak as to betray someone who cannot defend himself?” Boromir asked contemptuously. “I hope to meet this coward in battle.”

"Hobbits may not be warriors, Boromir, but we can defend ourselves at need," Merry said quietly.

“What else did you learn, Frodo?” Gandalf asked.

“He sees our 'alliance' as a fragile one." Frodo looked up at Legolas and Gimli. "Saruman believes that Elves and Dwarves cannot dwell in harmony, and that you will turn on one another."

"Then we will prove him wrong," Legolas declared. "Do you agree, my... friend?" he asked Gimli.

"I do," the Dwarf nodded slowly. "Our fathers found no common ground, but we must."

Frodo smiled, then looked at Gandalf. "He said that you are of no consequence, since you are unwilling to use Power as it should be used."

"He has truly fallen," Gandalf said grimly.

“Perhaps we should consider leaving this area,” Aragorn said unexpectedly. “Legolas and I discovered a cave that would be easier to defend than this open stretch of beach.”

“We cannot!” Boromir frowned. “Your Elvish ship may or may not be coming, Gandalf,” he continued, “but my father is surely on his way. We must remain where we can be seen by rescue.”

“If there is a cave, there may be much I can do to fortify it,” Gimli offered.

“But there’s fresh water here,” Pippin said, confused, “and fish.”

Frodo’s eyes widened in alarm.

“Stop arguing!” Sam glowered at everyone.

“Sam is correct,” Gandalf said. “Saruman wishes for dissention amongst us, above all else. We must not allow ourselves to be split up.”

Frodo suddenly looked weary, and leaned against Sam. "Saruman gloated that he knew the weakness of each of my ‘protectors’, and would draw each of you away until I was alone," he murmured. "He was about to do... something... when he was distracted. I don't know what new thing he saw, but suddenly his thoughts were no longer directed to me, and... everything went black.”

“I believe I know what distracted him,” Aragorn said thoughtfully. He looked at Merry, and everyone’s eyes turned toward the young hobbit.

** TBC **

Arrina:  “Lost” is a television show currently popular in the U.S. which started in September 2004.  It’s about a plane crash on a very mysterious island, with 48 survivors -- all of whom apparently have secrets and mysteries of their own.  Dominic Monaghan (Merry) is one of the stars.  I do apologize for the mean cliffie, and for any mean cliffies yet to come!  Sometimes a chapter just wants to end in one.

Avarwen:  And the invisible ‘thing’ is revealed!  (Unlike “Lost”, where I fear we’re never going to find out what it is.)  Your guesses were really wonderful, and I hope the logic for what’s happening seems reasonable.

Azla:  I am weaving LOTR ‘canon’ into this story, but in (hopefully) fresh and unexpected ways.  And sorry about the cliffies... sometimes chapters just demand to end in those teetering, annoying things!

Beth:  Tiny bits of “Lost” are scattered throughout this story, and when you see the TV episodes, you might recognize where I’ve woven them in.  I would have to put a warning at the top of every chapter for readers to avoid everything.  However, “Lost” is a complex and multi-layered show that will probably run for years -- with mystery piled upon mystery.  My story will be finite (probably less than 20 chapters), with a definite ending.  I don’t think anything I could write could ruin your enjoyment of the show, but you’re welcome to come back to this story after you’ve seen the whole first season of “Lost”, if you don’t want any hints or “spoilers” at all.

Caroly:  Thank you!  Mysterious islands lend themselves to unusual stories.

Cindy:  Glad you’re enjoying the story.  You’ll be appalled to hear that I’ve never seen “24” -- or a lot of other popular shows.  The more fanfiction I try to find time to write, the less TV I have time to watch!

Dayna:  Gandalf heard you; he was very careful not to let go of Frodo.

Elven Kitten:  Your reviews are so enthusiastic, they make me bouncy!

Eregriel Gloswen:  The character similarities to “Lost” are mild at best, but it’s fun finding subtle ways to weave the show into this story.

esamen:  Thank you for your concern.  I’m well and happy -- just way too busy!  (I actually have two new stories I want to start, and no time yet to start them.)  “I always feel like I'm part of a wonderful group of friends when I read a shirebound story” -- what a lovely thing to say.  One of the reasons I started writing fanfiction in the first place was to feel “part of” a creative community, with all the give-and-take and communication we can share with one another.

Fallenangel126:  Merry’s encounter with the palantir was an attempt to bring an “addiction” to his character (as a parallel to Dom’s “Lost” character).  It’s fun to bring a fresh perspective to what the LOTR characters encounter.  I do hope “Lost” appears in the UK (and everywhere else) soon!

Grey Wonderer:  Oooh, no one ever called me ‘tricksy’ before (that I can remember).  What a treat!

Jeff’s favourite skittle:  Thank you so much!  It’s a challenge to blend Middle-earth and modern-earth, and I truly appreciate your enthusiasm.

Julia:  Your guesses were good ones!

Lana:  Yay, thank you!

lindahoyland:  I’m glad this feels “fresh and exciting”.  I don’t know quite what this is, but it sure is fun.

lovethosehobbits:  And I’m having a blast writing it!  Thank you.

ManniElf18:  Thank you!  How wonderful to be able to share this very different type of story.

my-fool-of-a-took:  I’m updating as quickly as I can!  *types furiously*

QuinlanRamsey:  One of the things I love most about LOTR is how such different people bond together to accomplish “the impossible”, each contributing whatever he (or she) has.  I’m thoroughly enjoying bringing those qualities into such a different type of story.  Thank you.

Patty:  I think our dear Samwise should go to work for the airlines, improving their food services!

Pearl Took:  That Merry!  He just had to look, didn’t he?  :)

Pip4:  I didn’t know what would happen with these two very different stories, either!  But apparently you can put our beloved characters in any situation, and they learn to adapt.  :)

PlatinumRoseLady:  Eeee, if you think this is scary, hold onto your hat when I start working on my Barrow-wight story.  I hope to begin posting it next month, if RL cooperates.

Raven Aorla:  Since I haven’t yet written as far as the rescue, we’ll all find out together!

Roger Gamgee:  Thank you!  It’s a challenge to bring the LOTR characters into a totally new environment to keep things fresh and different, and try to weave in bits of “Lost” at the same time. 

sephiroth7:  I appreciate knowing how you feel about my writing and this story, and I hope you’ve moved on to something that you will enjoy reading.  Writers of fanfiction certainly can’t please everyone.  In the future, however, it would be considerate if you could refrain from using profanity in a review of something that’s G-rated, no matter how much you dislike the story.

Shadowfax2931:  I didn’t let Merry wander too far!  I imagine this island to be west of the Grey Havens (the port from which Frodo and the Elves sail at the end of the movie).  In Chapter 2, Gandalf says, “I believe that we are some distance beyond the Havens. The long-ago drowning of the lands west of Middle-earth left islands, remote and uncharted. This is one of them.”

smalldiver:  Don’t expect the events or dialogue in this story to mirror book or film.  This is a new situation for our Fellowship, and their actions (and reactions) -- although in character -- may not be precisely what you anticipate.  I’m just “going with the flow”.  :)