Oh, lovely! I love how Frodo can at the same be firm and yet understanding. I like this exchange especially:

"I do not ask for great things, master hobbit, only that you travel like travellers and be aware of the danger that you face."

"We're all well aware of the danger, thank you very much."

"Then you would do well to –"

"Show it? To frown all the time, and not to say more than two words together for fear they might put someone in a better mood? If you ask us to do that you're asking us not to be hobbits anymore."

Strider, typically, grimaced. "It was not my choice to make this journey with four Halflings."

Frodo found it remarkably easy to glower back at him. "Nor was it our wish to leave the Shire in the first place, let alone be robbed of our ponies and chased out of Bree in the company of the most disagreeable of Men."

Heee! I like surly!Strider mellowing out a bit, and I lovelovelove this part

"Are you taking over again? Will there be second breakfasts from now on?"

Pippin still looked embarrassed and did not even smile at the joke. Frodo took his hand. "No," he said to all of them, "but there will be second chances."

Thanks so much for this! So much goodness in so few paragraphs. :D