Chapter 11
Recovery-slowly but surely
To Bilbo's relief Frodo began to show a great improvement within the next couple of days. The lad still had a sniffle but the fever had disappeared. Soon it was time for the Brandybucks and the Tooks to head for their homes. "I am sorry to have held you up in any way," Frodo told his Aunt Esmerelda as he saw her packing up her things. She walked over to his bed sat down and cuddled him.
"Oh Frodo.you know we would never have left you like this. We are all glad you are feeling better."
Frodo smiled as Bilbo came into the room holding a tray with fresh chicken-noodle soup, toast with raspberry jam and a cup of chamomile tea. "Here is your lunch, Frodo.you must regain your strength." Bilbo set the tray down on Frodo's lap.
"Bilbo.I wanted to thank you again for your kindness in letting us stay here," Esmerelda told the old hobbit smiling.
"Oh.anytime, Esmerelda. Anytime.you and your family are always welcome."
Merry and Pippin hurried into Frodo's room. "We hafta go home, Frodo," said Pippin sadly.
"I know." Frodo admitted after sipping his tea. "I'm glad you could come."
Merry threw his arms around his cousin. "You'll be strong again and then you can come to visit me at Brandy Hall!"
Esmerelda laughed and ruffled her son's head of thick curly hair. "You imp. Are your things packed? Your father wishes to get on the road as soon as possible."
Merry nodded. "Everything is packed, Mama. But do we really have to leave?"
"I'm afraid so, darling. Frodo needs time to recuperate from his bad cold."
"I do wish you could stay longer," Frodo admitted sadly. "I missed out on the fun."
Esmerelda kissed him softly. "We'll have to make up this holiday and have another party."
Bilbo gave a hearty laugh. "Wouldn't that be exciting? A post-Yule celebration."
Frodo broke into a fit of coughing and immediately his Uncle began rubbing his back in a gentle circular motion till it passed.
"Esme!" Saradoc stood in the doorway. "We'd best be going now. I can feel it in my bones that it might snow again.we don't want to get stuck again!"
"Yes we do!" they heard Pippin call from the hallway and they all laughed.
"Goodbye, Bilbo.and Frodo."
"Goodbye Uncle Saradoc." Frodo accepted a hug from him and a ruffle of the hair and sadly watched as his family headed out of his bedroom. Once again he had wasted the entireYule holiday. He heard his Aunts and Uncles saying their final goodbyes and then heard the opening and closing of the door to Bag-End and he looked down at his comforter. Almost immediately Bilbo returned to Frodo's room frowning at the lad's sullen expression.
"My dear boy.I'm sorry you had such a lousy holiday."
Frodo shook his head. "I'm sorry too."
"Would you like to come out into the parlor and rest on the couch? You can still enjoy the pretty decorations."
"What pretty decorations?" Frodo asked.
"Come with me, Frodo. Your Aunties and your Uncles wanted to give you a bit of holiday cheer." Bilbo lifted Frodo and carried him into the parlor. Frodo gasped: a large tree sat in the center of the parlor decorated with candles and pop corn tinsel and paper ornaments that Merry and Pippin must have made. The mantles were strung with pine, giving the room a fresh smell and around the tree lay numerous gifts.
"They did not want to stay and give you too much excitement.they know how embarassed you get when you have people watch you open your gifts," Bilbo admitted.
"It's beautiful." Frodo breathed.
"I'm glad you like it, my boy."
"I'm glad I am with you, Uncle." Frodo added as he sat on the couch taking everything in. Bilbo smiled back.
"I am glad you are here too."
~The end~
I thought I would end this story with this song:
I'm Alive
Celine Deon
When you call on me
When I hear you
Breathe
I get wings to fly
I feel that I'm alive When you look at me
I can touch the sky
I know that I'm alive When you bless
The day
I just drift away
All my worries die
I'm glad that I'm
Alive You've set my heart
On fire
Filled me with love
Made me a woman on
Clouds above I couldn't get
Much higher
My spirit takes flight
'Cause I am alive When you call on me
When I hear you
Breathe
I get wings to fly
I feel that I'm alive When you reach
For me
Raising spirits high
God knows that
That I'll be the one
Standing by
Through good and
Through
Trying times And it's only begun
I can't wait for the
Rest of my life When you call on me
When you reach
For me
I get wings to fly
I feel that When you bless
The day
I just drift away
All my worries die
I know that I'm alive I get
Wings to fly
God knows that I'm
Alive
To Bilbo's relief Frodo began to show a great improvement within the next couple of days. The lad still had a sniffle but the fever had disappeared. Soon it was time for the Brandybucks and the Tooks to head for their homes. "I am sorry to have held you up in any way," Frodo told his Aunt Esmerelda as he saw her packing up her things. She walked over to his bed sat down and cuddled him.
"Oh Frodo.you know we would never have left you like this. We are all glad you are feeling better."
Frodo smiled as Bilbo came into the room holding a tray with fresh chicken-noodle soup, toast with raspberry jam and a cup of chamomile tea. "Here is your lunch, Frodo.you must regain your strength." Bilbo set the tray down on Frodo's lap.
"Bilbo.I wanted to thank you again for your kindness in letting us stay here," Esmerelda told the old hobbit smiling.
"Oh.anytime, Esmerelda. Anytime.you and your family are always welcome."
Merry and Pippin hurried into Frodo's room. "We hafta go home, Frodo," said Pippin sadly.
"I know." Frodo admitted after sipping his tea. "I'm glad you could come."
Merry threw his arms around his cousin. "You'll be strong again and then you can come to visit me at Brandy Hall!"
Esmerelda laughed and ruffled her son's head of thick curly hair. "You imp. Are your things packed? Your father wishes to get on the road as soon as possible."
Merry nodded. "Everything is packed, Mama. But do we really have to leave?"
"I'm afraid so, darling. Frodo needs time to recuperate from his bad cold."
"I do wish you could stay longer," Frodo admitted sadly. "I missed out on the fun."
Esmerelda kissed him softly. "We'll have to make up this holiday and have another party."
Bilbo gave a hearty laugh. "Wouldn't that be exciting? A post-Yule celebration."
Frodo broke into a fit of coughing and immediately his Uncle began rubbing his back in a gentle circular motion till it passed.
"Esme!" Saradoc stood in the doorway. "We'd best be going now. I can feel it in my bones that it might snow again.we don't want to get stuck again!"
"Yes we do!" they heard Pippin call from the hallway and they all laughed.
"Goodbye, Bilbo.and Frodo."
"Goodbye Uncle Saradoc." Frodo accepted a hug from him and a ruffle of the hair and sadly watched as his family headed out of his bedroom. Once again he had wasted the entireYule holiday. He heard his Aunts and Uncles saying their final goodbyes and then heard the opening and closing of the door to Bag-End and he looked down at his comforter. Almost immediately Bilbo returned to Frodo's room frowning at the lad's sullen expression.
"My dear boy.I'm sorry you had such a lousy holiday."
Frodo shook his head. "I'm sorry too."
"Would you like to come out into the parlor and rest on the couch? You can still enjoy the pretty decorations."
"What pretty decorations?" Frodo asked.
"Come with me, Frodo. Your Aunties and your Uncles wanted to give you a bit of holiday cheer." Bilbo lifted Frodo and carried him into the parlor. Frodo gasped: a large tree sat in the center of the parlor decorated with candles and pop corn tinsel and paper ornaments that Merry and Pippin must have made. The mantles were strung with pine, giving the room a fresh smell and around the tree lay numerous gifts.
"They did not want to stay and give you too much excitement.they know how embarassed you get when you have people watch you open your gifts," Bilbo admitted.
"It's beautiful." Frodo breathed.
"I'm glad you like it, my boy."
"I'm glad I am with you, Uncle." Frodo added as he sat on the couch taking everything in. Bilbo smiled back.
"I am glad you are here too."
~The end~
I thought I would end this story with this song:
I'm Alive
Celine Deon
When you call on me
When I hear you
Breathe
I get wings to fly
I feel that I'm alive When you look at me
I can touch the sky
I know that I'm alive When you bless
The day
I just drift away
All my worries die
I'm glad that I'm
Alive You've set my heart
On fire
Filled me with love
Made me a woman on
Clouds above I couldn't get
Much higher
My spirit takes flight
'Cause I am alive When you call on me
When I hear you
Breathe
I get wings to fly
I feel that I'm alive When you reach
For me
Raising spirits high
God knows that
That I'll be the one
Standing by
Through good and
Through
Trying times And it's only begun
I can't wait for the
Rest of my life When you call on me
When you reach
For me
I get wings to fly
I feel that When you bless
The day
I just drift away
All my worries die
I know that I'm alive I get
Wings to fly
God knows that I'm
Alive