Title: Choose (Part 6/6 – version 1)  
Author: Elentari (elentari_elf@hotmail.com)  
Pairings: Frodo/Legolas

(series: Aragorn/Boromir, Frodo/Sam, 
Frodo/Merry, Frodo/Pippin, Frodo/Legolas)

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: I am not making any money 
from this. I did not invent these characters 
or their surroundings. And worst of all, I 
don’t own any of the hobbits! 
Authors Note: OK, am making it 
complicated. There are now two endings. 
This is version 1 (look, it’s there in the 
title!). This is partly to make the largest 
possible audience happy, and partly to 
make me happy as I changed what I 
wanted to happen half way through, by 
which time it was too late. So this is the one 
I started out with, which should be tidier 
and more in keeping with the plot. 
Unfortunately that damn pairings thing 
makes it hard to have any suspense, but it is 
useful in seeing if you’d prefer this ending or 
the second one. So, choose one or read 
them both! And give me feedback, you 
lovely people, because I love it and I’ll also 
know if I’m really a bit too ambitious to be 
trying to do this. Ready for the end? Here it 
is!


Part 6

“Where’s Sam?”

It was a while after they had left Lothlorien. 
Aragorn looked around.

“Never mind about Sam, Boromir, where’s 
Frodo?” he asked, frowning.

“Probably just wandered off somewhere,” 
Gimli grunted.

“I’d better go look for him,” Boromir said. 
“It would be a terrible thing to lose the 
Ringbearer now.”

“Yes, go,” Aragorn said. “So unselfish of 
you to offer to search for a hobbit when all 
of us will be resting. Such a kind heart.”

Boromir flashed Aragorn a warning glance.

“You’d better look for Sam as well,” said 
Pippin thoughtfully.

“Oh, I’m sure he won’t forget about Sam,” 
Aragorn said.

Boromir turned and left without dignifying 
Aragorn with a reply.

*	*	*

Aragorn sighed as he saw Merry and Pippin 
walk away from the group.

“I don’t understand. I thought Frodo chose 
Merry. Why then does he stay so close to 
Pippin these days?” he asked the dwarf and 
the elf.

“Merry? And Pippin?” Gimli said, 
surprised.

“Don’t tell me you hadn’t noticed!” Legolas 
gasped.

“Well...not really,” Gimli answered 
uncomfortably. “It’s probably just that I 
don’t spend all my time ogling the hobbits 
as some people do.”

*	*	*

There he was. The sunlight streamed 
through the leaves on the trees, dappling 
Sam with gold. He couldn’t see his face, as 
the hobbit was resting his head in his hands. 
He looked so desperately sad and alone, 
yet his beauty was not lessened at all. From 
the uncertain shadow spilt onto the ground 
to the tight curls nestling on his head, he was 
the vision of perfection.

He couldn’t contain himself any more. All 
the control he had exercised during the long 
months of the journey suddenly evaporated 
and he rushed towards the object of his 
devotion.

The last thing Frodo saw before he was 
knocked to the ground was Boromir 
desperately running over to him.

*	*	*

Legolas wandered over to Merry and 
Pippin, who were sitting a little away from 
the group and talking and laughing together. 
When they saw the elf coming towards 
them, they quickly shuffled apart and 
stopped whispering to each other.

“Come, there’s no need to act on my 
account,” Legolas laughed. “From the way 
you two have behaved over the last few 
days, an orc would have worked out that 
something was going on between you two. 
Do you really think an elf could have failed 
to notice?”

“Are we really that obvious?” Pippin asked. 
“Still, please don’t talk about it to any of the 
others. At least let us keep the pretence of 
secrecy.”

“You have my word,” Legolas promised, 
and sat down next to the couple. “Still, that 
was not what I came to ask you about.”

“What do you want? I doubt there is any 
way we can aid you,” Merry said.

“Frodo has been wandering off more 
frequently these days. He seems melancholy 
in some way. I know this is not from the 
effects of the ring, as his symptoms do not 
yet display such a strong desire for the 
object. He is your friend. Can you tell me 
what is troubling him?” Legolas asked.

Pippin glanced nervously at Merry. Merry 
chewed his lip in thought.

“I think I could tell you why,” he said at last, 
“but this can go no further than you. Do you 
understand?” 

“If it will affect the fellowship or the path we 
must take...” Legolas said doubtfully.

“Oh, that is highly unlikely,” Merry assured 
the elf. “But some things I will tell you are 
highly personal and, ah, intimate, so I would 
rather they reached nobody else’s ears.”

“Then I can promise to keep this 
conversation secret,” Legolas swore 
solemnly.

“Right then,” Merry began, “I won’t go into 
too many details, but just before we got into 
Lothlorien, Pippin, Sam and I talked and 
discovered that we all really liked Frodo. 
When we told him, he devised a 
competition to test us.”

Merry faltered for the first time and looked 
up to the elf to see if he was following.

“Yes,” Legolas said quietly, “go on.”

“Well, what he wanted us to do was to 
come to him on separate nights and have 
our way with him – he would be blindfolded 
and wouldn’t know which one of us was 
which. Then he’d choose which night he 
liked best. Anyway, I was third and I went 
to his room. However, I didn’t want to go 
through with it for several reasons, and after 
explaining, I left him. The next day, he 
chose me. I was delighted, of course, but 
after we’d talked for a while, it became 
clear that somebody had come in after I’d 
left and had sex with him. Apparently it was 
fantastic. So, it couldn’t work between us 
and I think he’s pining for this mystery 
person. He had no idea who it was.”

Legolas deliberated on this for a few 
moments. So they had realised that there 
was somebody else. He shouldn’t have 
interfered. 

“You don’t seem very surprised,” said 
Pippin disapprovingly.

Legolas woke from his thoughts.

“It takes a lot to shock an elf,” he smiled at 
the young hobbit.

He rose slowly to his feet.

“Thank you for being open with me. None 
of this will reach any of the others,” he said.

“I am grateful to you for that. I cannot 
imagine that you could do anything to help 
Frodo? It pains us to see him like this,” 
Merry said.

“Perhaps. Do you have any idea who this 
person could have been?” Legolas asked.

“Me? No, I find it hard to see who would 
have done such a thing. Nobody except us 
hobbits knew of the situation before hand, 
and it seems unlikely that anybody passing 
his room would just come in and take him,” 
Merry said.

“I think it was an elf,” Pippin said 
thoughtfully.

“What?” Legolas asked, amused.

“Oh, sorry, I forgot who you were,” the 
young hobbit said. “Just that’s the only 
explanation I can think of. An elf of 
Lothlorien was passing, perhaps one who 
had liked Frodo from afar. Maybe he heard 
what Merry and Frodo said to each other, 
and worked out what was going on, then 
decided he could get away with going in 
once Merry had slipped out.”

“It does seem unlikely,” Legolas said. 
“Would you have a problem with me talking 
to Frodo?”

“Oh,” Merry said, suddenly worried. “Oh, I 
don’t know. I’d rather you didn’t mention 
we had said anything about it if you did. 
Think of some other plausible explanation if 
possible. You know, being a sensitive elf 
and the like. But if you think that is the best 
thing to do to help him – you have my 
permission.”

“Thank you. I will not use any of the 
information you have told me lightly.”

With that Legolas turned and walked into 
the forest, taking the path Boromir had a 
few minutes before. The two hobbits 
watched him, uneasiness growing. 

*	*	*

“Boromir?”

“FRODO?!?” 

It was hard to tell which of the two was 
more surprised.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Frodo 
asked.

He was pinned to the ground under 
Boromir’s weight.

Oh, shit. Now he’d have to come up with a 
plausible explanation.

Although maybe Frodo would understand...

“It’s just that...ever since I’ve joined this 
fellowship, I’ve wanted...”

“Yes?” said Frodo, irritated. He was really 
uncomfortable. Why couldn’t Boromir leave 
him alone when he was upset? Did he fancy 
him as well?

It was no use. Of course Frodo wouldn’t 
understand. 

“I’ve wanted...the ring,” he said feebly. It 
sounded foolish and false to his ears.

“Oh,” said Frodo in an understanding voice. 
Well. The ring. At least he could identify 
with that, although it was still rather 
annoying. 

Boromir, seeing that Frodo seemed to be 
swallowing his story, continued with more 
enthusiasm. 

“Yes, the ring. It calls to me. At night. Yes. 
And it would be really useful to, um, help 
Gondor. Just let me take it there. It will be 
much more valuable to us than it is to you.”

He searched Frodo’s eyes. Surely he 
wouldn’t say yes? That would produce 
some difficulties.

“Oh, just bugger off,” Frodo said at last, 
and reluctantly put the ring on. It looked like 
that would be the only way to escape 
Boromir, who had clearly gone totally mad.

“Wait!” Boromir called. 

He was immediately hit in the stomach. He 
doubled over, more from surprise than pain.

“Frodo! Frodo, wait! I can explain!” he 
cried, realising what a stupid thing he’d 
done to pretend to want the ring. What had 
he been thinking?

“Don’t leave, please!” he called.

But it was too late. Filled with remorse, 
Boromir started to stumble back to the 
group.

*	*	*

“Sam, is that you?” 

“Mmm? What? Who’s there?” Sam said, 
scrambling to his feet.

“Have you been sleeping there all this 
time?” Pippin asked.

“Not sleeping. Guarding,” Sam said 
dangerously.

“It’s just that Boromir’s gone to look for 
you and Frodo,” Pippin explained.

“Mr Frodo? Where’s he gone?” Sam said, 
suddenly alert.

Pippin shrugged.

“I’ll find him! Don’t worry!” Sam 
announced bravely, and rushed off into the 
forest.

Pippin sighed in exasperation as he watched 
his companion disappear. 

“That’s four of them running around in that 
forest. It’ll be ages before we manage to set 
off again with all of them getting lost!” he 
said to Merry.

“So? Just means we have more time with 
less people around, my dearest,” Merry 
said, putting his arm around Pippin, who 
smiled and snuggled against his love. 

*	*	*

When he was sure that Boromir had gone, 
Frodo took the ring off. He was tired of the 
fellowship, tired of all the complications and 
difficulties. He knew he had to destroy the 
ring, but there were too many distractions 
amongst other people – he was going to 
have to destroy it alone.

“Frodo, is that you?”

Frodo sighed. Never a moment of peace! 
He turned reluctantly.

“Legolas?” he said surprised. “What do you 
want?”

“I need to talk to you. I need to tell you 
something about the person who came on 
the third night,” Legolas said seriously.

Frodo took in a sudden gasp. 

“How do you know about that?” he asked.

Legolas sighed sadly.

“You’ll hate me for this,” he said, “but I 
must tell you.”

“Hate you?” Frodo asked. “Impossible, I’m 
sure. What is it?”

“Gimli overheard you talking to Merry, 
Pippin and Sam about the competition you 
would have,” Legolas started reluctantly. 
“He told us – Boromir, Aragorn and I – and 
they had a bet over who you would 
choose.”

“What?” Frodo asked, amazed. 
“That’s...that’s despicable. But – you say 
they. Did you not bet?”

“No,” said Legolas shortly.

“Then you seem to be my only friend. I see 
no reason to hate you,” Frodo said slowly.

“Wait, you have not heard it all yet. Gimli 
suggested that somebody should watch you 
each night and report back. I was 
nominated because I would be unbiased 
and have the stealth of an elf,” Legolas 
explained.

“You mean...you watched...” Frodo 
couldn’t complete his sentence. “Oh, 
Legolas. Oh.”

“I’m so sorry. I wish I hadn’t done it. I feel 
really terrible about it,” Legolas apologised.

“I don’t know what to think,” Frodo 
admitted. “I should be mortified, furious, 
something like that. But really, I just don’t 
care.”

Legolas said nothing, ashamed.

“So I suppose I must forgive you. In one 
way you can still be useful to me – please 
tell me, as you must know, if it wasn’t 
Merry on the third night, who was it?”

Legolas said nothing for a few seconds, and 
looked deep into Frodo’s startlingly blue 
eyes.

“It was me,” he said softly.

“You?” Frodo asked. “Why?”

“Because I couldn’t help myself,” Legolas 
said, letting go of his dignity. “I’ve never 
been in love before. Then I met you in 
Rivendell. What could I do? There was no 
possibility of telling you. Then on that last 
night, I just couldn’t stop myself. It was a 
terrible thing for me to have done, and I’m 
truly sorry. I only hope you can forgive me 
for any pain I have brought on you.”

“Forgive you? For what?” Frodo asked. 
“When the three hobbits told me they loved 
me, I knew I could never return their love 
as I was infatuated with you. Such grace, 
such elegance and beauty I have never 
known before. Since Merry told me that the 
third night was not him, I have hoped it was 
you. I knew – or thought I knew – that 
what I wished was impossible. But now you 
tell me this. I cannot pretend to be 
disappointed.”

Legolas stood absolutely still for the tiniest 
moment. Then, as it dawned on him, he 
knelt down and captured Frodo in the most 
passionate kiss yet.

When they broke away, Legolas smiled.

“Now everything is perfect,” he said. “You 
will no longer be sad, and we can be a 
proper fellowship again, and once the ring is 
destroyed, as it surely will be, after that...”

Frodo shook his head.

“I’m sorry, I can’t stay with the fellowship,” 
he said.

“What? Why not?” Legolas cried.

“Boromir wants the ring,” Frodo revealed.

“Boromir? Surely not,” Legolas said 
disbelievingly.

“I cannot stay and tempt him. I must go to 
Mount Doom alone...or perhaps...” he said 
hopefully.

Now it was Legolas’ turn to shake his head.

“I cannot leave the fellowship. It would be 
wrong of me. I see that you must, however, 
although it breaks my heart,” he told the 
hobbit.

“So it ends before it has started,” Frodo 
said despondently. 

“Maybe there will be a time, when all this 
evil is over,” Legolas said, although there 
was little hope in his voice. “Now you had 
better go before anyone else finds you and 
stops you.”

Without conversation, Legolas helped 
Frodo into a boat and set it up, ready for 
him to go. Just as they were finished, a 
figure appeared in the distance.

“It’s Sam!” Frodo cried. “He’ll not let me 
leave if I don’t go now!”

“I’d better disappear before he sees us 
together,” Legolas said quickly. “Goodbye, 
dearest Frodo, and I wish you the best luck 
in the world.”

“I’ll not forget you out there,” Frodo 
promised solemnly. He tenderly kissed the 
elf’s soft lips. “Now go! I will see you 
again.”

“I hope your words will prove true. 
Goodbye,” Legolas said, and with one last 
desperate look back, he melted away into 
the trees.

Frodo quickly pushed off from the bank 
and the boat started to drift to the middle of 
the river.

Sam saw the movement and ran towards it.

“Mr Frodo! Stop! Don’t leave! I won’t 
leave you!” he called.

Frodo paid no attention, knowing that 
although company would be welcome, he 
could not risk Sam’s life as well.

He expected Sam to stop at the bank and 
realise that Frodo would not turn back, but 
instead, the desperate hobbit kept running 
into the water.

“Sam!” Frodo cried, alarmed. “You fool, 
you can’t swim!”

But it was too late. Sam disappeared under 
the icy water. Frodo cursed the persistence 
of the hobbits and steered the boat towards 
the disturbance near the bank. When he 
could see Sam struggling under the clear 
water, he reached down and pulled him into 
the boat.

Sam spluttered and shook the water off 
himself.

“Mr Frodo – you saved my life...” he said in 
amazement.

Frodo sighed.

“Well, you’re here now. I hope you realise 
the severity of the situation, Sam. I need to 
destroy this ring, and only death can stop 
me. There will be countless dangers along 
the way, and chances are neither of us will 
come away alive,” Frodo said seriously.

Sam looked at him levelly.

“As long as I am with you,” he said firmly.

Well, that was that. It seemed nothing 
would discourage Samwise Gamgee. Frodo 
had to admit, he admired the hobbit’s 
fortitude, and his company would certainly 
be pleasant.

“My dear Sam,” he laughed, “I’ve never 
had a friend as determined and stubborn as 
you!”

Sam smiled unwillingly, breaking the 
formality between the two of the hobbits. 
After that, they talked all the while for the 
rest of the boat journey and, although a 
relationship was impossible, Frodo realised 
slowly that Sam was the best possible 
companion and his dislike of him quickly 
evaporated. Sam himself did not realise that 
Frodo’s view of him had changed so much, 
he only knew that he was happiest when he 
was with his master and he didn’t mind not 
having his love as long as he had his 
friendship.

Legolas watched the scene until the boat 
was far along the river. Then reluctantly he 
turned and went back to the group, 
preparing for their misgivings at the news 
that Frodo, the Ringbearer, had left with 
Sam. 

***the end***

(now read version 2!)