[mark12_30]

Ah. There was a nice comfortable grassy spot in the sun, with a treetrunk he could lean against. Frodo hefted Pippin off of his shoulders, set him on his feet, and called out to Sam's other children. "Don't go far, and stay together."

"Why are you sitting down, Mister Frodo?" Pippin asked.

"I've got a letter to read, lad, " Frodo said. "Sit beside me, if you'd like. How much can you read?"

"I'm learning to write my name, " Pippin announced proudly.

"Well, you're off to a fine start, " Frodo nodded with approval. Not too far away, Merry-Lad, Frodo-Lad and Rose were laughing and arguing over a frog they had found in the stream; Frodo-lad was trying to frighten Rose with it, but Rose wanted to hold it and keep it as a pet.

Frodo waited 'til Pippin had sat down close to him and gotten comfortable in the sun, and then he unfolded the note and began to read. As Pippin watched, Mr. Frodo grew serious, and a little sad.

Frodo raised his eyes. Bywater pool was a brief gambol away, with the sunlight shimmering on the breezily rippled surface. The boys would enjoy it, he thought.

He looked up, to see Elanor gazing down at him expectantly.

He lifted the letter again, and very carefully folded most of it back, so that only two sentences remained in Cami's spidery script (how very like Bilbo's, he thought.) "Elanor, I'd like you to read these two sentences for me, " Frodo said, motioning her to sit down beside him. Wide-eyed, she obeyed. She read clearly and carefully, and Frodo smiled.

"I plan to check on Lorien tomorrow. If he follows my advice, he will be staying in one of the deserted burrows on the far side of Bywater Pool."

Rose showed up with the frog, dripping a little. "What are you reading?"

Frodo considered her. "Wipe your hands, and give me the frog, and you'll read it too, " he said. Rose grew very excited. She passed the frog to Mr. Frodo, and rubbed her hands on the grass, and presented them.

"No, too muddy. Your hands must be cleaner than that when you read, " Frodo admonished her. "Go rinse them again."

Rose ran off, and Elanor and Frodo shared a smile. She returned with very clean hands. Frodo gestutured at Elanor, who carefully handed her the still-folded letter, and Rose sat with furrowed brow and slowly read the two sentences. Merry-Lad and Frodo-Lad had come over to see what was going on. Frodo-lad looked over her shoulder, and Mr. Frodo smiled as Frodo's lips moved and he sounded out the words, not waiting for Rose to finish.

"I know where those are, Mr. Frodo, I know, I can show you, " Frodo-Lad proudly announced. "Let's go and see him!"

"Do you? Splendid. Well, how does a trip to Bywater Pool sound to the rest of you?" There were enthusiastic nods all around. "Well, then, Mr. Frodo Gamgee, you lead the way. But first-- Rose, does this frog have a name?"

Rose shook her head.

"Don't you think you should give it one?"

Rose nodded. "But I don't know what to call him."

"Well, perhaps we'll think of a good name as we go. Ready?"

Frodo-lad strutted in the lead as they all trooped off.