The Two Worlds

††Chaptee Fourteen††

††Chapter Fourteen††

As the hobbits traveled it seemed as if the forest would never end. The trees would thin out and when they thought it had ended the trees grew dense once again.

"I feel as if I am in that large forest in Bilbo's adventure." Frodo said to no one in particular.

"Agreed." Sam murmured.

At around noon the hobbits stopped for lunch and Sam cooked the left over potatoes he had found two days ago. Again, the wood was was wet and green which caused the fire to smoke horribly. The thick column of grey smoke spiraled up into the tree tops where it floated into the sky. After some time a loud, thumping noise could be heard close by.

"What's that noise?" Frodo asked.

"Do you guys feel that?" Cody asked right after Frodo.

"Feel what?"

"I can feel the vibrations in the ground. Something big is traveling by and there is more than one of them. Come one."

"Cody-" but she had already scampered off into the trees and out of sight. "Come one Sam."

"What are we going to do with this girl Mr. Frodo." he asked jokingly.

"I have no idea." he laughed.

When they finally caught up to her she was laying on her stomach at the edge of a steep cliff. Large creatures and men marched forward on the plain below them. When they were at her side she turned to look at them and quickly hissed, "Get down before we're seen!" while pulling on their cloaks.

"Oliphaunts!" Sam cried.

"Sh!" Frodo shushed.

As they watched in awe a trumpet was sounded and a stampede of men on horses raced towards the lines of Oliphaunts. Battle cries rang up and the riders charged the men on foot. They would not stay and fight though, instead, they would race through the line and by pass them and then turn back around to do the same thing.

"I do not think we should stay here." Cody whispered, "I can feel someone coming." Neither Frodo or Sam said anything to acknowledge that she had spoken. "We need to leave now!" Before she could turn to go she felt a sharp blade at her neck. She froze to the spot and noticed that a blade was pointed at both Frodo and Sam.

"What do we have here, three halflings?" Someone asked, "What is your name?"

"Her name is Cody Proudfoot." Frodo answered for her.

"I asked her for her name, not for you to answer for her."

"But sir, she cannot hear you, she's deaf."

"Is that so?"

"Yes sir."

"And how did this happen to her?"

"That is a long story sir and even I don't know the full of it."

"Then come! I have plenty of time to hear your story!" it was then that the blades were sheathed and put away. Cody still laid on the ground in fear for she did not know what was going on. Her eyes were wide and filled with terror.

"Cody, it's okay." Frodo soothed and helped her up. When she saw him she embraced him in a hug and began to shake slightly. "You're safe now, no one is going to hurt you here." he whispered even though he knew she couldn't hear.

"Will she be alright?" a man asked him.

"Yes she is just a bit shaken, that is all." Frodo said suddenly feeling very protective of her. He held her tighter until the man nodded and disappeared into the trees.

"Who are these men Frodo?" she asked.

"I do not know, the leader, I'm guessing, looked so much like Boromir." he said but then realised he had not looked at her when he said that.

"What about Boromir?"

He pulled her away and gave her a very confused look, "You can hear me?"

"I only caught the very last word, it was like the faintest of whispers but I still heard it." realisation spread across her face when she said this, "My hearing is returning!" she squealed.

"Master Hobbit, are you coming?" the leader asked.

"Yes, yes, sorry to keep you waiting."

The hobbits were taken back to their camp where several other men were looking around their make shift camp. Two of them had bows drawn and were standing watch along the perimeter. The others had their hands on their sheathed swords and paced back and forth. The leader was sitting in the middle with Sam already across from him.

"Now, about how you came to be here."

"Before I tell you anything I would like to know your name."

"I am terribly sorry, I'm being rude, my name is Faramir son of Denethor and brother to Boromir."

"Boromir! We knew him sir." Sam said carelessly.

"Is that so, so you must know of his fate."

"What do you mean?" Frodo asked cautiously.

"I will tell you after hearing your own story."

"Very well." Frodo said.

"Not your story, her's."

"And why must you hear my story sir?" Cody asked.

"Because I would like to know how you became deaf. And I am guessing that you will partially know some of his story as well." he replied pointing to Frodo.

"Only part of it sir. He will have to fill in the gaps for me."

"So be it!" he cried. And with that Cody leapt into the story of the journey of the Ring.