A/N: This was posted for Marigold's challenge 12. The starting sentence she gave me was "Well, what do we do now, " Here is what came of it:

To the End of All

"Well, what do we do now, Frodo?" inquired Merry with fear in his eyes.

"What do you mean, ‘What do we do’?" Frodo replied. "You took the brooch from the store shelf. You need to talk to your mum." Frodo sighed. He had been reprimanding his younger cousin for the last ten minutes since he had come to him with news that he had taken a pretty brooch from the store for his mother. Frodo had, after asking some questions, realized that Merry had taken it without paying for it and had commenced scolding. Now, his cousin had tears in his eyes, but Frodo did not believe they were of repentance, but merely fear.

"Frodo?"

Frodo shook his head, warding off the fond memory of his younger years along with the sleep from which Merry had taken him. He was in an even more serious situation now with more responsibility. No longer was he the older cousin who was expected to guide the younger in the right way. Now, he must protect him; he must lead him on this hopeless, perilous journey. "Pardon?" he requested, running a hand through his tangled mass of hair.

"What do we do now?" Merry repeated. "Now that we’ve gone and volunteered for this Quest?"

Frodo shook his head mournfully. "I don’t know, Mer. I do not know. Shall we come back in the –" He ended in the middle of his sentence and nodded as though he had resolved something important. "We shall destroy this Ring, be rid of it, as soon as possible, and return to the Shire."

"Frodo, will you stay with me through it all?" Merry inquired, reminding Frodo of all those years ago through his expression.

"I shall, Merry, to the end of all, if I can help it."

"Thank you, Frodo." Merry snuggled close to his older cousin for warmth. Nothing could happen to him, not with his brave, fearless cousin with him.

>The End<

"But, Cousin Frodo, I cannot tell Mummy, if it is something wrong! She’ll spank me." Merry made puppy dog eyes.

Frodo’s heart nearly melted, but he recovered. "She may very well do so, but you took it. You need to face the consequences." Frodo hated having to be strict with his cousin, the lad he always played with, and he was sure Merry was partially feeling afraid because of that. "Meriadoc, I still love you, and your mum will too. You talk about wanting to be grown up all the time, and this is something a grown up would do. A grown up would face the consequences of his actions."

Merry looked up at his older cousin, face set as though in thought. "Will you come with me?" he asked earnestly.

"I shall walk with you to the dining hall, lad. It’s not too far out of my way." Frodo smiled. "I am going to see the new baby, Peregrin." He paused to give Merry’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Join me after your talk?"

"Yes, Cousin Frodo. If you come rescue me."

Frodo laughed and tousled young Merry’s hair. "I will come rescue you after an adequate amount of time."

"Thank you, Frodo!" he exclaimed, wrapping his arms around Frodo’s waist in an embrace.