The Unlikely Ones<br>
Chapter Four:  Throw Caution to the Wind<br>
a Lord of the Rings fanfiction<br>
by Van Donovan<br>
joy@crackerboxpalace.com<p>

	<dd>They stood standing on the hill in each others arms for a long time while Merry felt
himself growing more confident in his decision and Frodo feeling happier than he had in a
very long time.  The wind was still howling around them and the warm coat was crumpled at 
their feet, but neither of them seemed to mind the cold.  Frodo listened to Merry's heart as
it beat and smiled to know it was fluttering as fast as his own.  "This seems unreal."  He
murmured into Merry's shoulder.  Merry's hand on his head dropped to his back and Frodo felt
quite comfortable as he could feel Merry taking a breath to reply to him.<br>
	<dd>"It does seem a little surreal."  He chuckled and Frodo felt it more than heard it.  
"You gonna be all right?"  He softly asked into Frodo's ear and felt the affirmative nod 
against his breast.  He smiled.<br>
	<dd>"Yes."  Frodo pulled back just enough to look up into Merry's eyes again, studying 
them as if searching for something.  "Are you . . . are you sure about this?  Us?"<br>
	<dd>Merry disarmed him with a smile, crooked and sheepish like from his youth.  "I'm sure,
Frodo.  I'm not sure your parents will be so confident, however."  Frodo closed his eyes and
sighed at that.  He would deal with his parents later, for now all he cared was that he had
Merry's love back.  He was reeling with the thought, in fact, and the remembrance of their
first kiss.  It had been everything and more than he had ever imagined.  His hand loosened
and he reached up to touch Merry's cheek.  The older hobbit just stood there, letting him 
and Frodo relished in the simple touch.<br>
	<dd>He traced the contours of Merry's proud jaw and his fingers danced over his chin. 
Merry smiled at Frodo's simple wonder and the younger hobbit's fingers trailed to the crease
formed at the corners of his lips from the smile.  Then he trailed them to his brow and to
his eyes, where laughter had burned crow-feet into their corners.  "Pointing out every 
wrinkle, are you?"  Merry teased and Frodo blinked realizing that was just what he had been
doing and blushed.  It didn't show in the moonlight but Merry could tell he was embarrassed.<Br>
	<dd>"No, no, I didn't mean it like that," Frodo protested and Merry's hands relaxed about
Frodo's waist, leaning back a bit to look at him.  "I've just studied your face for so long,
to finally be able to touch it . . . to see that you really are real, and letting me; it's
nice."  He lowered his hand, resting it on Merry's shoulder.  "But I'll stop."<br>
	<dd>"I don't mind," Merry said looking at him.  "Touch is one of the best ways to get to
know someone."  Frodo's eyes sparkled at him.  "I'm sure we'll get into the field of touch
quite well another night."<br>
	Frodo's eyes widened in shock at Merry's playful tone.  The older hobbit's laughter
rumbled between them as he bent down looking at Frodo.  "What?  You think you can be my
lover and not expect me to want more than just a few kisses?"  He was playing with Frodo,
trying to make the situation light, but Frodo was still overcome with the change in him.<br>
	<dd>"I . . . I thought you might need more time.  I'm only twenty-two and I didn't want to
make you," he was silenced as Merry kissed him.  He let out a soft moan because it meant not
only was Merry loving him now, he was loving him fully.  His body cried out with joy and 
hope and he kissed him back.  It wasn't as fierce as their first kiss because the initial
shock was over and they could enjoy each other more now, but he would not have protested if
Merry had lowered him to the ground right over the roof of Bag End and had his way with 
him then and there, but they only kissed.<br>
	<dd>When Merry pulled away after a few moments to catch his breath, Frodo whispered: "Will
you take me back to Buckland with you?"  His fingers tightened on Merry's shoulders, knowing
if the answer was 'no' he would lose Merry, at least for awhile.  Merry regarded the hobbit
in his arms fondly and nodded.<br>
	<dd>"I'll talk to your father, see what I can cook up."  He broke into a smirk.  "I feel
guilty taking you from Bag End with it's amazing gardens though."  Frodo laughed and shook
his head.<br>
	<dd>"Dad and Merry and Pippin will take over while I'm gone."  How long would that be? 
He'd happily spend the rest of his life with Merry, if he could, but that wasn't very 
plausible; he was the eldest son, and that obligated him to marry and bear children and
no doubt inherit Bag End.  He didn't want to think about that now though.  He had eleven
years before he had to worry about getting married and who knew what could happen in that
amount of time?  Besides, he had five brothers and seven sisters; it wasn't like they would
run out of heirs or grandchildren.<br> 
	<dd>They stood like that for several long moments more and then Merry loosened his grip
and said, "We'll catch our death of cold if we stay out here much longer."  True enough,
the sky was darkening as clouds were flittering across the moon.  It would probably be
storming by morning.  Frodo nodded and released Merry and bent to retrieve the coat he
had dropped for him.  "Thanks," Merry said, taking it back.  There was an awkward moment
of silence, and then Frodo pulled away, starting down the hill again.<br>
	<dd>Merry followed him and they were careful about shutting the front door and slipping 
inside.  The fire in the hearth was out, for everyone else had gone to sleep, but still
they were quiet and cautious as they padded down the hallway to their respective rooms.  It
was strange for Frodo to lead Merry to his own bedroom and yet not be able to go in after
him.  He stood in the hall looking up at Merry, trying to find the words to express himself
and yet fearing to speak should someone hear them.<br>
	<dd>"It's late, Frodo," Merry whispered softly and gently stroked Frodo's cheek, "get you
to sleep, lad."  He smiled and bent to kiss him lightly.  "I'll talk to your father tomorrow
about Buckland."  Frodo nodded, then watched as Merry opened the door to his bedroom, gave
him one last smirk and shut the door behind him.<br>
	<dd>Frodo stood in the hall for a long time just staring at the door.  Part of him half
wondered if everything that had just happened hadn't been a dream.  The other half knew it
had been real and was still trying to comprehend it all.  He just shook his head and smiled
to himself, then turned around and walked to the room he was sharing with his little 
brothers and set about getting to sleep.<p>


	<dd>Merry awoke in the morning to the rumbling of distant thunder.  Sure enough a storm
had approached during the night and was now busy watering the fields.  It was also cold in
his room and so he was slow about getting up and getting dressed.  The smells of breakfast
were already wafting down the hall and he marveled at Rose's ability to get up so early 
every morning to make breakfast.  He pulled his house robe about himself as he padded into
the kitchen and blinked when he realized Rose wasn't the one cooking breakfast.  Frodo was.
Sam was sitting at the head of the breakfast table smoking and reading through his log book
and little Merry and Pippin were talking in their seats beside him.  A large bowl of fruit
was on the table and Pippin was happily peeling one while swinging his legs.<br>
	<dd>"Well this is a surprise," he said with a stifled yawn as he came into the room.  He
gave Frodo what he hoped was a normal nod of greeting and took his seat near Sam.  "Rosie's
not sick, is she?", he inquired.<br>
	<dd>Sam looked over and smiled.  "No, not at all.  Woke up this morning and Frodo-lad was
already busy cooking.  I daresay I'm glad to see him back in good spirits."<br>
	<dd>Merry chuckled to himself, for it suddenly seemed obvious why Frodo would wake up 
early after going to bed so late to give his mom a break from cooking and be in good spirits
again: he was buttering his parents up so they'd let him go to Buckland with him.  Which, of
course, meant Merry needed to ask Sam if he could take him back to begin with.  "Say, Sam," 
he said after a moments silence.  Sam was drinking something warm that steamed and only 
lifted his eyebrows in response to Merry's question, "Frodo-lad and I were talking last 
night about gardening and things, and I was thinking it would be nice to have the gardens 
in Brandyhall revived to be as splendid as these here.  Indeed, it would do my heart some 
good to see new things growing about my hole.  Do you suppose you could spare him for some 
time?"  It was simple and plainly asked, but Sam obviously wasn't taken with the idea.<br>
	<dd>"That's an idea, Merry," he said with a shrug.  "I'd hate to lose him here myself, 
but come spring I don't see why he couldn't stay with you for a few weeks."<br>
	<dd>Merry's retort came out a little too quickly and Frodo, by the fire, dropped his spoon
with a clatter.  "He could come now!"  Sam raised an eyebrow, and thunder roared outside as
if to make Merry's point all the more invalid.  Merry sat back with a weak laugh.  "I mean,
why wait until Spring?  I can show him around the town, introduce him to people and get him
started planting even now.  It's only February, but the rains won't last for too long."<br>
	<dd>Sam's eyebrows furrowed and Frodo was suddenly beside him putting a very heavy laden
plate of food in front of his dad.  "I would very dearly like to go, father." He said, his 
voice light and his eyes full of hope.<br>
	<dd>"I want to see Brandyhall too!" said little Daisy who had just entered the room with
Rose following behind.<br>
	<dd>"What's this?"  she inquired looking about.  "Are we moving to Buckland?"<br>
	<dd>Merry and Frodo exchanged glances and Merry got to his feet.  "Well hullo Rose and
good morning."  He kissed her cheek and she his.  "Sam and I were just discussing the 
possibility of Frodo-lad coming to live with me in Brandyhall for a while.  I should love
to have the talented hand of a Gamgee doing my gardening and keeping me comfort."  Rose
smiled at Merry and looked to Sam as if for his opinion.<br>  
	<dd>"I don't see why not," she said and Frodo blinked having expected his mother to have
been the one the most against his leaving.  "You'd just better take care to keep him from
making a fool of himself with those hobbit-lasses there."  But in truth she was hoping he
would meet someone nice there, for she liked the hobbits up by the Brandywine better than
those that tended to live around Hobbiton.<br>
	<dd>"I will Rosie."  Merry said with a laugh and Frodo returned to the stove positively
beaming with happiness as he finished serving everyone breakfast.<br>
	<dd>It continued to rain all day and into evening when it finally stopped just before sun
down allowing for a ruddy light to wash over the house before it set.  Frodo had been busy
most of the day packing, for although his parents had only agreed to letting him stay in
Buckland for a few weeks, he wasn't planning to come back any time soon.  Merry, as much as
he would have liked helping Frodo pack, had been asked by the other children for another
recount of his fight with the Witch-king of Angmar, Lord of the Nazgûl, and how he and the
Lady Éowyn had slain him.  This lead into discussions about Gondor and Rohan and soon after
the youngest had drifted off to sleep little Merry, Pippin, and little Rose were crowded
about, discussing King Elessar and the various politics of the kingdom.<br>
	<dd>Rose was making traveling lunches for Merry and Frodo for their trip tomorrow and
Rose and Sam were listening to Merry's stories while they worked on papers and sewing and
things.  Finally even Pippin got to yawning and Merry decided to shoo them off to bed and
turn in himself since he planned to get an early start in the morning.  He wanted to get
his pony back at Bywater and it might take him awhile to get that far and round the beast
up, especially if it was still raining.  He kissed the kids and gave them hugs for he did
not plan to see them again, and then he spoke his thanks to Rose and Sam once more and with
their smiles in his mind he returned to his room.<br>
	<dd>The lanterns were dark as he stepped into the room and shut the door behind him but
before he could light them he heard a noise and realized Frodo was sitting on his bed.
"I thought you'd never come," he said with a soft voice as he got to his feet. Merry was 
amazed the way his stomach somersaulted over the boys words.  He felt hands on his before 
he could quite see and he let Frodo lead him into the room.  It was dark and his eyes were 
not yet adjusted to the light change.<br>
	<dd>"Sorry," Merry mumbled as Frodo moved his hold on his hands, putting them around his
middle as he slid up against him, "had to say goodnight to everyone."  His voice grew softer
as he spoke, for Frodo was running his hands along his chest and distracting him quite
thoroughly.  "Mmm, been patiently waitin' I see," he chuckled softly.<br>
	<dd>Frodo was turning him around now, his hands reaching up to behind Merry's neck to pull
him down for kissing, "I've been very good today," he said in a rough whisper as Merry's
lips danced over his, "now I want to be very naughty."  He kissed him hard, fingers tangled
in his hair as he turned his head and took Merry's lower lip between his teeth and gently
tugged.  Merry let out a faint sound, a cross between a moan and a whimper, and his mouth
opened to Frodo.<br>
	<dd>The touch of their tongues sent electric shivers through Merry and suddenly he was
kissing back as hard as Frodo was, needy and wanting and getting it all from the one before
him.  His hands were fumbling over the slighter hobbit's back as he felt Frodo pushing him
back and down.  Frodo broke the kiss and left Merry panting for breath, staring up at the
ceiling.  Only then did he understand that Frodo had nimbly gotten him down on the bed and
was now skillfully unbuttoning his shirt.  He submitted to the boys desires with a throaty
laugh and said, "Done this before then, mm?"  It didn't bother him, for he had had plenty
of lovers between then and now, but Frodo was young and he had just assumed inexperienced.<br>
	<dd>"No," Frodo breathed, crawling over top him as he finished the last button and slid
his hands under the shirt, pushing it open.  He leaned over Merry looking into his eyes and
and offered a smile.  "But I know what I want."  Merry let the boy do as he pleased, knowing
there would be no hope in trying to stop him now anyway.  They'd just have to be quiet about
it then.  Frodo's eyes left Merry's face to the sea of brown-grey peppered hairs he'd 
uncovered under the shirt.  He trailed his fingers through it, grinning as Merry's nipples 
hardened at the ticklish touch.  "You're so hairy."  He said with an obvious grin in his 
voice.  He liked it.<br>
	<dd>"I take it you're not then?"  Merry said, lifting his head to appraise his seducer.
In answer, Frodo pushed down his suspenders and pulled off his own shirt, revealing a young
hobbit chest with only the beginning wisps of chest hair.  Merry flushed softly realizing
just how young Frodo really was at the sight.  "They'll grow."  He said with a laugh, then
reached a hand up to run it across Frodo's stomach and chest.  Frodo obviously enjoyed the
attention for the incredibly dorky grin on his face.  "What would your parents say if they
could see us now?" he said with a bemused grin.<br>
	<dd>Frodo straddled him and pressed up against all the places that would make his mother
blush and captured Merry's lips again.  "Nothing so bad as what they'd say if they saw us in
another thirty minutes."  They kissed for a long time as they let their hands wander freely
over each other's bodies.  Frodo had never been with anyone before, old or young, male or
female, so he was completely amazed by every little fold and wrinkle in Merry's skin.  
Merry had never been with someone so young and supple so he marveled over the smoothness of 
Frodo's skin and the slightness of his built; Estella had been twice Frodo's size and far 
less aggressive.<br>
	<dd>Before long they were working against each other but getting little satisfaction for
their breeches.  Frodo had buried his face in the pillow by Merry's head, his mouth pressed
to the soft slope of Merry's neck where he let out an endless string of heavy breaths into
Merry's ear.  Merry, who was an experienced lover, although not with boys, knew that they 
were either going to never get anywhere and end up frustrated all night or that he needed to
take charge for a little, or at least explain what Frodo needed to do.<br>
	<dd>But he had doubts: maybe the lad knew and just didn't want to yet?  Perhaps he was
afraid?  Then again, the way he was moving against him made it seem like he knew all too
well what he was doing.  Besides, he had said quite a few things already that made Merry
believe he knew what he was up to.  Merry's hand trailed to the small of Frodo's back and he
brushed his fingers along the waist band of Frodo's breeches.  He wasn't entirely sure how
to go about this with another male, but things weren't going anywhere with clothes still on,
so he cupped the top of Frodo's pants and tugged on them.  Frodo murmured softly and raised
up until he was sitting on Merry's hips.  He then untied the knot at his navel and with 
Merry's help they pulled his pants off.<br>
	<dd>There was a moment's silence as Frodo sat back, bared and aroused and Merry's eyes gave
him a look over.  Frodo was biting his lower lip as if suddenly nervous or self-conscious
and Merry moved to sit up, putting his arms around the younger hobbit.  His head bent to 
cradle beside Frodo's and he softly crooned.  "Hey, hey, don't let me rush you."  Frodo's
hands were light on his back as he held him in return.<br>
	<dd>"Merry," he said in a whisper, and Merry was all ears, "this is perfect.  Everything
is just perfect."  He turned his head until his nose bumped Merry's and then they were 
kissing once more.  Merry felt renewed and confident again and he easily shifted his weight
until he had put Frodo's back against the mattress and he was the one bending over the lad.
One of Frodo's hands was on Merry's back and the other was running through the older hobbits
curly hair, while one of Merry's arms was on the bed beside Frodo's head to help support
himself and the other was trailing along Frodo's side.  He felt Frodo stiffen as his hand
brushed the boy's thigh and he raised himself up so he could trail his hand across the top
of his thigh and along the inside like a feather.<br>
	<dd>Frodo was breathing heavier with each touch, his hands pawing at Merry's back now as 
he anticipated the next step he was going to take.  His knees bent up a little as if to
guide the wandering hand lower and then Merry brushed something that made his whole body
shiver.  He mewled into Merry's neck and the older hobbit slipped his hand around his full
length and with one smooth stroke had Frodo's mind reeling.  It wasn't that Frodo had never
touched himself before, because he had, it was just that he always knew what was coming and
when and how when he did it himself.  There was also the fact that Merry's hands were much
bigger and coarser than his own, which lead to an entirely different experience.<br>
	<dd>Of course, the fact that Frodo had been fantasizing about Merry nine times out of ten
when he took to dealing with himself made the whole deal all the sweeter, for despite all 
his tweenaged longings he had never honestly expected it to come to pass.  His fingers dug
into Merry's shoulders as he arched his back to move up into Merry's grasp.  Merry's deep
chuckling in his head was like music to him and he sought Merry's lips again hungrily.  Soon
Frodo had found a rhythm with his hips that complimented Merry's hand ministrations perfect.
He was whimpering as he clutched to Merry, feeling tension and heat building in him as the
older hobbit gradually raised the tempo and his kisses grew fewer and fewer as he tossed
his head trying to control himself.<br>
	<dd>Since Merry couldn't get much reaction from Frodo's lips anymore, he found himself
trailing kisses along the boy's jaw line and neck, stopping in places to give extra attention
to various spans of flesh, nipping at them until they were rosy and flushed.  He marveled 
over the pale expanse of skin that made up Frodo's chest, tracing its contours with his lips
as his hands were otherwise occupied.  He worked his way to Frodo's navel, sitting up as he
did, but keeping careful watch on his hand as it rubbed Frodo's length.  Then he started 
back, closing his mouth over one of the pink nipples there and relishing in the sharp intake
of breath the boy beneath him made as he began to roll his tongue about it.<br>
	<dd>"Merry," Frodo ragged, clutching tighter and Merry knew he was close and gave up the
nipple and returned to Frodo's lips.  The boy was making a lot of noise as it was, and if he
let him have his way the whole hole would wake up with his orgasm.  He covered Frodo's lips
with his own and felt Frodo's body reaching a frantic frenzy.<br>
	<dd>"Shh, shh," he breathed, trying to calm the young hobbit but Frodo's ears were 
deafened by the desires burning in his loins.  Frodo jerked once, stiffening and let out a
strangled cry which Merry muffled with his lips, feeling Frodo spilling out into his hand.
He jerked once more as he emptied and then collapsed flat, panting heavily.  Merry pulled up
after Frodo finished, trying to catch his breath himself.  They exchanged a few light kisses
as Frodo tried to catch his breath.  Merry looked at his hand and shook his head with a
rueful smile.  He reluctantly got up and crossed to the table under the window where a wash 
basin was kept while Frodo recovered.  He cleaned himself up quickly and dried his hands on
his pants as he moved back to Frodo.<br>
	<dd>Frodo curled into him as he crawled back into bed with him, but he did not seemed to
be interested in fooling around anymore, for he was slick with sweat, exhausted and 
fulfilled.  Which was fine and dandy for Frodo, but it left Merry with a very large erection
and no one to help him shake it off.  He kissed Frodo a few times in hopes he would reawake
the boy's passion, or help him remember he had a lover who was still unfulfilled beside him,
but Frodo didn't seem to even be awake anymore.  Merry sighed and rolled over, brushing
Frodo's damp lock from his brow and giving him a light kiss there.<br>
	<dd>Then he sat up and pulled down his pants, moving to take care of his own erection 
himself, since he'd never get to sleep if he didn't.  He half expected-half hoped that Frodo
would awaken and help him out, but he was done before the boy so much as stirred.  It was
not quite how he had intended to spend his first night with Frodo. Still he stood up to pull
his pants back on and resignedly walked back to the basin to wash his hands clean again.