XXX.  Cue:  Misunderstood

This is written to fit in with situations and relationships described in “Second Mum” and “The Acceptable Sacrifice.”

Accusation

            The four Travelers looked up as Fred Oldbuck stopped by their table.  “Here you are!” he said loudly.  “Ran off and left us in the lurch--left us to the mercies of Lotho Sackville-Baggins and Marco Smallburrow and those Big Men!  Then the deputy Mayor sends folks to go through my store, looking for things Marco hid there.”

            He leaned over Frodo.  “Where were you when my family was being threatened?”

            But suddenly his eyes fell on the hand Frodo had wrapped about his beer mug, on the gap in his fingers.

            Merry glared, declaring, “He was saving the world.”