Return to our Destiny.

16. Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit.

The next day, Sméagol comes back with two dead rabbits and drops them on Frodo's lap. Frodo is startled by this and really groggy as Sméagol grins at him. "Look! Look! See what Sméagol finds!" he says as he laughs. Sméagol picks up one of the rabbits and breaks its spine in front of Frodo. Frodo flinches and is visibly disgusted. But the creature doesn't see it. "They are young! They are tender and nice. Yes they are! Eat them. Eat them." he says as he digs in.

As Sméagol bites the rabbit. Sam rushes over and takes the rabbits, one off of Frodo's lap and the other from Sméagol's hands. "Make him sick you will, behaving like that. There's only one way to eat a brace of coneys." Sam scolds. Sam then started to skin and properly prepare the two rabbits. But Sméagol watches despondently. He liked them as they were, the smell of the spices and herbs don't please him.

"Argh! What's he doing! Stupid fat hobbit. You ruins it!" he groans at Sam who stirs the pot. "What's to ruin? There's hardly any meat on them." Sam argues back, Sméagol moans. A faint sound catches Frodo's attention. Getting up and moving towards it, Sam doesn't realize Frodo has walked off. "What we need is a few good taters." Sam says as he knows potatoes would make the stew perfect.

"What's taters? Precious, what's taters? Huh?" Sméagol gasps as he watches Sam. "Po-ta-toes! Boil them, mash them, stick them in a stew. Lovely big golden chips with a nice piece of fried fish." Sam explains then mused on about other dishes that he misses from home. Sméagol isn't amused and says as much with his noise of disapproval. "Phooh!" Sam looks at him and his face softens a bit, "Even you couldn't say no to that." he said and Sméagol scoffs.

"Oh yes we could! Spoiling nice fish!" He insults lightly before he crawls to Sam. Startling the cooking Hobbit. "Give it to us raw — and wriggling! You keep nasty chips!" Sméagol wiggles his head to emphasize his statement before backing up, Sam frowns defeatedly, "You're hopeless." Frodo decides to follow the source of the sound. And Sam realizes that Frodo has walked off. "Mister Frodo?" Sam calls to him, looking around.

***

Nearby Frodo lies down and sees an army of the Easterlings marching. Sam and Sméagol find him. "Who are they?" Sam asks not expecting an answer. But Sméagol give the young hobbit one. "Wicked men; servants of Sauron. They are called to Mordor. The Dark One is gathering all armies to him. It won't be long now. It will soon be ready." Sam frowns and looks at the creature, "Ready to do what?"

"To make His war. The last war that will cover all the world in shadow." Sméagol adds, Frodo realizes they've been watching too long and gets up as he says, "We've got to keep moving. C'mon Sam." Frodo says but then calls to Sam as he realizes the young hobbit wasn't following him. Large beasts appear. "Mister Frodo! Look! It's an Oliphant! No one at home will believe this." Sam says amazed, Frodo can't help but be amazed as well.

The calling sound is heard again and Sméagol backs away in fear. "Sméagol?" Frodo calls having seen out the corner of his eye the creature retreat. Suddenly the Easterlings are attacked from the bushes. The Hobbits watch as a man shoots an Easterling off of an Oliphant. The body falls near the hobbits. "We've lingered here for too long. C'mon Sam!" Frodo calls as he rushes out ahead of Sam, but as Frodo is rushing out he runs right into a hooded figure.

Sam draws his blade as Frodo is gripped onto and manhandled, Sam tried to rush over to help but it thrown down, and Frodo it thrown next to him. A sword point keeps Sam down, while Frodo was able to get back up but he was knocked back over again before Sam shouted out something he hoped would keep them alive. "Ah! Wait! We're innocent travelers!" Sam says panicked.

A tall man, 6'4" by the look of it steps out around the men keeping the hobbits pinned, "There are no travelers in this land, only servants of the Dark Tower." the leader says walking by Frodo who is now back on his feet and being held against the chest of one of the men, Frodo decides that a half truth is best in that moment, "We are bound to an errand of secrecy. Those that claim to oppose the enemy would do well not to hinder us." he says.

The leader frowns for a moment, "The enemy?" the leader then turns to the dead Southron and flips him over with his foot. "His sense of duty was no less than yours, I deem. You wonder what his name is, where he came from, and if he was really evil at heart. What lies or threats led him on this long march from home. If he would not rather have stayed there in peace. War will make corpses of us all. Bind their hands." the leader says before giving his orders at the end.