Title: Choose (Part 1/6) Author: Elentari (elentari_elf@hotmail.com) Pairings: Aragorn/Boromir, suggested: Frodo/Merry, Frodo/Pippin, Frodo/Sam Rating: PG-13 Summary: Merry, Pippin and Sam all have feelings for Frodo. Frodo devises a competition to choose one. Gimli, Boromir and Aragorn bet on the results. Disclaimer: These characters aren’t mine, they’re Tolkien’s. Authors Note: Feedback plz! This is my first one! PART 1 “Mr Frodo! Mr Frodo, sir!” Frodo had wandered away from the camp, as he often did in the evening. He turned around, and was met with the sight of three excited hobbits. “Yes, Sam? What is it?” Frodo asked irritably. He had never really like Sam – he was always following him. There was a long pause. “What’s going on?” Frodo was suspicious. It wasn’t like Sam, Merry or Pippin to shut up. “Sam,” whined Pippin, “you said you would.” “I know,” said Sam, “but I can’t.” “Look,” said Frodo angrily, “will someone please tell me what’s happening?” There was another pause. “Bloody hell,” grumbled Merry. He walked up to Frodo and looked him in the eye. “It just...you see, ever since we started this journey, all three of us have started...having feelings for you...” Frodo jumped. He had not been expecting that. “...and the thing is,” piped Pippin, “we want you to choose.” “Choose?!?” asked Frodo? “Yeah,” said Pippin. “Which one of us you like.” Frodo sat on a rock. The other hobbits sat obediently in front of him. Choose? He looked at the expectant hobbits. He didn’t like Sam that much, true, but Merry and Pippin? They were his cousins, for Lady’s sake. But now he looked at them...they did have nice legs and feet and hands and eyes and hair and arses...and who knew what they looked like under their clothes? Frodo felt himself stiffen at the thought. However, he remembered his audience and quickly crossed his legs. “How the hell am I supposed to choose? I’ve known you all for ages, and I never thought of you like that...I mean, Merry and Pippin, you’re cousins, and Sam, you’ve got Rosie. I can’t choose.” Sam scowled. Merry and Pippin blushed. Frodo looked at them, and suddenly had an idea. “But I’m flattered,” he continued. “I like all of you equally, but I’m sure there’s a way I can choose. The thing is, I don’t know how good your bedroom skills are, and that’s obviously an important factor in this decision. Pippin gasped. “So you can all have a competition. When we get to Lothlorien, on separate nights, each of you will come to my bedroom and have your way with me. I’ll be blindfolded and won’t know who you are. Then I can decide who I like best!” Frodo smiled saucily at Merry and Pippin. “It’s a great idea!” said Merry eagerly. “Yeah,” Sam sighed. “I’m up for it.” “I’ll do it too!” squealed Pippin. “OK, then, it’s settled,” said Frodo. “You go and decide which nights you’ll come to me.” “OK, Mr Frodo. Bye, sir!” said Sam as he ran back to the camp, dragging Merry and Pippin with him. “Love ya!” Pippin shouted. Frodo stood up and thought about what was about to happen. He smiled to himself and walked leisurely back to the camp. * * * Gimli stood up. He was sick and tired of being mistaken for a rock. He had just followed the ringbearer for some harmless spying and suddenly those three hobbits had appeared from nowhere and ruined the moment. And then, Frodo hadn’t even noticed he was there and sat on him. SAT on him! Although, of course, that wasn’t an entirely unpleasurable experience! And the conversation had been very interesting...Gimli wondered who Frodo would choose. He felt a bet coming on. * * * Merry, Pippin and Sam sat around the campfire. Pippin was holding three sticks. “So, whoever picks the longest stick goes first, and whoever picks the shortest stick goes last,” he explained. Merry and Sam picked sticks from the proffered bundle. Merry got the shortest and Pip got the longest. The game was on. * * * “...and that’s what happened!” Gimli finished. Legolas, Aragorn and Boromir stared at him wide-eyed. “Kinky!” said Boromir. “Why are you telling us?” “OK, I had this idea...we bet on who Frodo picks,” replied Gimli. “What do we win?” asked Aragorn. “The fellowship member of our choice!” Gimli answered excitedly. “No,” said Legolas firmly. “That won’t work. It’s got to be out of the members betting. Can you imagine trying to explain to, say, Pippin, if you win and choose him as your prize?” The other three conspirators agreed, even Boromir, who was secretly lusting after Sam. “OK, so who’s betting on who?” said Gimli. “Aragorn?” Aragorn thought for a moment, before reaching his decision. “Merry,” he said. “Merry? OK,” said Gimli. “Boromir?” “Sam,” Boromir replied loyally. “OK. Boromir’s backing Sam,” said Gimli, oblivious of the embarrassment he was causing Boromir through his choice of wording. “Legolas?” “Count me out,” said Legolas. “I’m not going to bet on something like this.” “Right...well, your choice. I’ll bet Pippin then,” said Gimli, remembering the way Frodo had hardened against his back as the ringbearer had looked at Pippin. “But I also had another thought...one of us should watch and report back,” he continued innocently. Everyone stared at him with respect. “Great,” said Aragorn. “Well, as leader of this fellowship, I think I should...” “YOU? No, I was thinking of me...after all, it was my idea...” interrupted Gimli. “Wait a second,” said Boromir. “I get such a small part in this book; I should be having some fun!” It was obvious that an argument was about to break out, but luckily Legolas stepped in. “Look, I’ll do it. I’m non-biased, and there’s no way anyone’d catch me,” he said. Everyone grudgingly agreed to this. “Right,” said Gimli. “It starts the first night in Lothlorien.” They all went to their separate beds. Aragorn walked beside Boromir and leaned over and whispered in his ear. “If I win...” he murmured. As Boromir gasped in excitement, Aragorn licked his ear, and traced his finger down his back. Boromir turned round for more, but Aragorn just smiled and walked the other way to his own bed. * * * The next day, Aragorn announced they would be walking as fast as they could so they could reach Lothlorien within 48 hours.