(5)
Aragorn and Gandalf continued on the long journey from Minas Tirith to Rivendell. They had not talked for some time, concentrating only on riding hard and getting back as soon as possible.
Gandalf had been having strange feelings in his heart during the last two days. Feelings of darkness and evil were becoming stronger every mile, and he suspected that it had everything to do with Frodo.
"Gandalf, what are you thinking?" asked Aragorn some time into the day's journey.
"Something terrible is happening, Aragorn. I can feel it," was all he said, which was unusual for him in that respect.
"What?"
"We need to ride hard, and with all quickness."
Aragorn just nodded, and spurred his horse on. If Gandalf said something was amiss, he wasn't going to waste their time questioning it.
"What's happening?" asked Merry, watching Frodo struggle in Bilbo's arms.
"It's getting to him. He's in a lot of pain, even in his unconscious state," said Elrond, as he rushed over to Frodo's bedside to more carefully assess the situation before doing anything else.
At that moment, Legolas and Gimli rushed into the room, panting in an effort to get their breath back.
Legolas looked at Frodo. "Elrond, what has happened to him?" he asked worriedly.
"Merry, take them and explain everything, please," he said quickly. "Bilbo needs to stay here and help me."
Merry, knowing an argument would only make Elrond angry, left with Legolas and Gimli. As he left, he looked back once more at Frodo. His heart ached.
They went outside and sat near the river.
"Merry, please explain to us what's going on," said Legolas as they sat near the flowing water.
Merry slowly recounted the tale, from the very beginning at Bag End, that awful day three weeks ago, and telling everything that had happened up to that day. And, as always, Merry left out the details of Frodo's mutterings on the journey to Rivendell. He still just did not want to talk about them.
Legolas and Gimli sat in silence. Merry wished for the whole ordeal to be over, so that he and Frodo may return to the Shire, full of happiness once more. He wanted it to be over, wanted to be rid of the pain in his heart. Numerous sleepless nights had taken their toll on him, leaving bags under his young eyes and him being overtired and groggy. Legolas noticed this, and confronted the Hobbit.
"Merry, you look like you haven't had a proper sleep in weeks!"
"That's true enough."
"You should get some sleep. Even a light nap would be good!"
"But what if—"
"I promise we will come get you if something should happen with Frodo," Gimli assured, worried for both Frodo and Merry.
Merry looked skeptical.
"Go!" both Legolas and Gimli said quickly. Sensing that if he weren't to go then, Legolas and Gimli would forcefully put him into bed, and make sure he slept.
"Alright. You promised, remember?" Merry asked, making sure that he would not be forgotten.
"We remember! Please, Merry, you need it," Legolas reassured him. Merry trudged slowly off to try and find peace in sleep.
"Do you suppose Gandalf and Aragorn will be arriving soon?" wondered Gimli, in an effort to break the almost awkward silence.
"I do, since I'm sure Gandalf will have his Shadowfax, and Aragorn must have a horse that will go quite fast, at their need."
Legolas and Gimli returned once more to their silence.
A mist lay over the world. In the distance, he could see familiar shapes, shapes of his closest friends. He tried calling them, beckoning them to come nearer, but they didn't seem to hear. They remained the same distance away, though they called to him. He heard their strong voices, but could not utter another sound. He was completely mute.
He turned, and a shadow was overtaking him. He tried running, tried screaming, but to no avail. He was overtaken by the shadow, and no one in the distance had understood what had happened…
Elrond continued to treat Frodo, as Bilbo held him tightly, trying to control his shaking so Elrond could work. Then, as suddenly as he had violently started, Frodo stopped. He lay limp in Bilbo's arms.
"Elrond! Is he—" asked Bilbo frightfully. Elrond quickly checked.
"No, he is not. His unconscious state has deepened, though."
Bilbo sighed in relief, though his nerves will still sharp with worry. "Elrond, do you yet know if my boy will be okay?"
"I do not. I am sorry, Bilbo. If Frodo is to heal, we should know it soon, though. I have never seen something of this sort happen before. No one under my care has ever stayed in unconscious slumber this long. Three weeks… such a long time to struggle unconsciously."
"Elrond, I'm afraid," Bilbo said quietly.
In the many years Elrond had known this Hobbit, he had never known him to sound so frightened, or look quite so old. Elrond had grown fond of Bilbo, as he had grown fond of Frodo, and did not like the look of old age and worry that had become part of Bilbo in the past two weeks.
"We all are," Elrond said gently. "I am doing all I can, and there even may even be something else to be done when Gandalf arrives. Wizards are really surprising beings, and Gandalf the most so of all."
Bilbo didn't say anything. He held Frodo's hand tightly. It felt so cold; Bilbo reckoned he hadn't felt anything like it since… he really didn't want to go there at the moment. The memories of that horrible day, so many, many years ago were not pleasant, either.
Elrond noticed the expression on Bilbo's face change to someone remembering far off memories, and in Bilbo's case, painful ones. He wasn't going to press it, though, for the time being. He quietly stood up and left Bilbo alone with Frodo.
"Is this all the faster we can go?" asked Sam impatiently, as they made their way toward Rivendell.
"Sam, this is the fastest my poor pony will go! We're nearly there, I'm guessing."
"Mr. Pippin, what if—what if something has happened already?"
"Sam, please do not what-if me! You'll worry yourself to death."
"I can't help it, Mr. Pippin. It's all I think about!"
"Try to think of something else. Anything else. You just need to have faith in Elrond. Faith that he'll be able to save him, and that's faith that I have." Pippin was surprised at the words that came out of his own mouth. It seemed much more wise than most things he ever spoke.
"I do have faith, Mr. Pippin. I-I just can't stop worrying about it." Sam's voice was shaky. His heart was heavy, and his mind filled with worry. Pippin could see it in the Hobbit's face.
I've seen so much sorrow; I can tell when someone is upset.
Pippin didn't like that. If he had a choice, he would much rather be the young Hobbit who was looking forward to his coming-of-age party, and roaming the Shire with Merry and Frodo, and just enjoying life, instead of aging too fast, and being able to distinct sorrow before joy in someone's features.
"Let's stop. Maybe a quick bite will keep your mind off Frodo, for a few minutes even."
"Mr. Pippin! I couldn't! We have to get to Rivendell!"
"Sam! Our ponies need a break. If we don't stop, they're going to collapse and then it will take longer. Merry's ponies were not made for journeys like this one."
Sam reluctantly agreed, and they pulled off the road and into an area of shade. Pippin pulled some food out of his sack, and Sam passed him the water.
Sam ate, but Pippin had been wrong. Food hadn't taken his mind off Frodo. It had only made him think of him even more.
Gandalf and Aragorn pulled their horses up to the front of the Last Homely House, and rushed inside. An Elf, knowing their errand, ran ahead to inform Elrond, and Gandalf and Aragorn dragged their weary selves down to Frodo's room.
"Gandalf, Aragorn. It is indeed a blessing to see you," greeted Elrond from Frodo's side.
"What has happened since I was last here?" Gandalf asked quickly.
"He's not better, if that's what you wanted to know. I think he may have gotten worse. Two days ago, he started violently shaking. Then, as suddenly as the attack started, it stopped. He's been still since. I do not know what is going on exactly, but I know that he is not dead, but clinging to his very life. Hobbits are indeed stronger than any, man, elf, dwarf, or otherwise. Any of us would have been gone for sure by now."
Bilbo heard these words, and couldn't help a smile, small as it was. Hobbits were strong, as he and Frodo had proved, and Frodo was proving once more.
Aragorn knelt beside the young Hobbit. He ran his fingers gently through Frodo's curly hair. He immediately began to blame himself. He was the one responsible to make sure that the wound had been cleaned out. By right, it was his fault.
"It's not your fault," said Gandalf, knowing what he was thinking.
"How can you say that?" Aragorn said with bitterness in his voice. "I was the one responsible for the wound at Weathertop. I didn't properly clean it!"
"Stop it. If one blamed themselves for everything out of their control, we would all be puddles of self-hatred. Worry for Frodo, not for what you could have done."
Aragorn knew Gandalf's words were wise, and true. He was spurred from his thoughts at a loud gasp from Frodo.
"What's happening?" asked Bilbo, who had released Frodo's hand at the gasp.
"I don't know," said Elrond. "I fear the worst, though."
TBC
A/N: Cliffhanger, anyone? Hmm… So. Review. I'm gonna keep going this weekend! Hope you all are excited, or whatever. New chapter soon!
Aragorn and Gandalf continued on the long journey from Minas Tirith to Rivendell. They had not talked for some time, concentrating only on riding hard and getting back as soon as possible.
Gandalf had been having strange feelings in his heart during the last two days. Feelings of darkness and evil were becoming stronger every mile, and he suspected that it had everything to do with Frodo.
"Gandalf, what are you thinking?" asked Aragorn some time into the day's journey.
"Something terrible is happening, Aragorn. I can feel it," was all he said, which was unusual for him in that respect.
"What?"
"We need to ride hard, and with all quickness."
Aragorn just nodded, and spurred his horse on. If Gandalf said something was amiss, he wasn't going to waste their time questioning it.
"What's happening?" asked Merry, watching Frodo struggle in Bilbo's arms.
"It's getting to him. He's in a lot of pain, even in his unconscious state," said Elrond, as he rushed over to Frodo's bedside to more carefully assess the situation before doing anything else.
At that moment, Legolas and Gimli rushed into the room, panting in an effort to get their breath back.
Legolas looked at Frodo. "Elrond, what has happened to him?" he asked worriedly.
"Merry, take them and explain everything, please," he said quickly. "Bilbo needs to stay here and help me."
Merry, knowing an argument would only make Elrond angry, left with Legolas and Gimli. As he left, he looked back once more at Frodo. His heart ached.
They went outside and sat near the river.
"Merry, please explain to us what's going on," said Legolas as they sat near the flowing water.
Merry slowly recounted the tale, from the very beginning at Bag End, that awful day three weeks ago, and telling everything that had happened up to that day. And, as always, Merry left out the details of Frodo's mutterings on the journey to Rivendell. He still just did not want to talk about them.
Legolas and Gimli sat in silence. Merry wished for the whole ordeal to be over, so that he and Frodo may return to the Shire, full of happiness once more. He wanted it to be over, wanted to be rid of the pain in his heart. Numerous sleepless nights had taken their toll on him, leaving bags under his young eyes and him being overtired and groggy. Legolas noticed this, and confronted the Hobbit.
"Merry, you look like you haven't had a proper sleep in weeks!"
"That's true enough."
"You should get some sleep. Even a light nap would be good!"
"But what if—"
"I promise we will come get you if something should happen with Frodo," Gimli assured, worried for both Frodo and Merry.
Merry looked skeptical.
"Go!" both Legolas and Gimli said quickly. Sensing that if he weren't to go then, Legolas and Gimli would forcefully put him into bed, and make sure he slept.
"Alright. You promised, remember?" Merry asked, making sure that he would not be forgotten.
"We remember! Please, Merry, you need it," Legolas reassured him. Merry trudged slowly off to try and find peace in sleep.
"Do you suppose Gandalf and Aragorn will be arriving soon?" wondered Gimli, in an effort to break the almost awkward silence.
"I do, since I'm sure Gandalf will have his Shadowfax, and Aragorn must have a horse that will go quite fast, at their need."
Legolas and Gimli returned once more to their silence.
A mist lay over the world. In the distance, he could see familiar shapes, shapes of his closest friends. He tried calling them, beckoning them to come nearer, but they didn't seem to hear. They remained the same distance away, though they called to him. He heard their strong voices, but could not utter another sound. He was completely mute.
He turned, and a shadow was overtaking him. He tried running, tried screaming, but to no avail. He was overtaken by the shadow, and no one in the distance had understood what had happened…
Elrond continued to treat Frodo, as Bilbo held him tightly, trying to control his shaking so Elrond could work. Then, as suddenly as he had violently started, Frodo stopped. He lay limp in Bilbo's arms.
"Elrond! Is he—" asked Bilbo frightfully. Elrond quickly checked.
"No, he is not. His unconscious state has deepened, though."
Bilbo sighed in relief, though his nerves will still sharp with worry. "Elrond, do you yet know if my boy will be okay?"
"I do not. I am sorry, Bilbo. If Frodo is to heal, we should know it soon, though. I have never seen something of this sort happen before. No one under my care has ever stayed in unconscious slumber this long. Three weeks… such a long time to struggle unconsciously."
"Elrond, I'm afraid," Bilbo said quietly.
In the many years Elrond had known this Hobbit, he had never known him to sound so frightened, or look quite so old. Elrond had grown fond of Bilbo, as he had grown fond of Frodo, and did not like the look of old age and worry that had become part of Bilbo in the past two weeks.
"We all are," Elrond said gently. "I am doing all I can, and there even may even be something else to be done when Gandalf arrives. Wizards are really surprising beings, and Gandalf the most so of all."
Bilbo didn't say anything. He held Frodo's hand tightly. It felt so cold; Bilbo reckoned he hadn't felt anything like it since… he really didn't want to go there at the moment. The memories of that horrible day, so many, many years ago were not pleasant, either.
Elrond noticed the expression on Bilbo's face change to someone remembering far off memories, and in Bilbo's case, painful ones. He wasn't going to press it, though, for the time being. He quietly stood up and left Bilbo alone with Frodo.
"Is this all the faster we can go?" asked Sam impatiently, as they made their way toward Rivendell.
"Sam, this is the fastest my poor pony will go! We're nearly there, I'm guessing."
"Mr. Pippin, what if—what if something has happened already?"
"Sam, please do not what-if me! You'll worry yourself to death."
"I can't help it, Mr. Pippin. It's all I think about!"
"Try to think of something else. Anything else. You just need to have faith in Elrond. Faith that he'll be able to save him, and that's faith that I have." Pippin was surprised at the words that came out of his own mouth. It seemed much more wise than most things he ever spoke.
"I do have faith, Mr. Pippin. I-I just can't stop worrying about it." Sam's voice was shaky. His heart was heavy, and his mind filled with worry. Pippin could see it in the Hobbit's face.
I've seen so much sorrow; I can tell when someone is upset.
Pippin didn't like that. If he had a choice, he would much rather be the young Hobbit who was looking forward to his coming-of-age party, and roaming the Shire with Merry and Frodo, and just enjoying life, instead of aging too fast, and being able to distinct sorrow before joy in someone's features.
"Let's stop. Maybe a quick bite will keep your mind off Frodo, for a few minutes even."
"Mr. Pippin! I couldn't! We have to get to Rivendell!"
"Sam! Our ponies need a break. If we don't stop, they're going to collapse and then it will take longer. Merry's ponies were not made for journeys like this one."
Sam reluctantly agreed, and they pulled off the road and into an area of shade. Pippin pulled some food out of his sack, and Sam passed him the water.
Sam ate, but Pippin had been wrong. Food hadn't taken his mind off Frodo. It had only made him think of him even more.
Gandalf and Aragorn pulled their horses up to the front of the Last Homely House, and rushed inside. An Elf, knowing their errand, ran ahead to inform Elrond, and Gandalf and Aragorn dragged their weary selves down to Frodo's room.
"Gandalf, Aragorn. It is indeed a blessing to see you," greeted Elrond from Frodo's side.
"What has happened since I was last here?" Gandalf asked quickly.
"He's not better, if that's what you wanted to know. I think he may have gotten worse. Two days ago, he started violently shaking. Then, as suddenly as the attack started, it stopped. He's been still since. I do not know what is going on exactly, but I know that he is not dead, but clinging to his very life. Hobbits are indeed stronger than any, man, elf, dwarf, or otherwise. Any of us would have been gone for sure by now."
Bilbo heard these words, and couldn't help a smile, small as it was. Hobbits were strong, as he and Frodo had proved, and Frodo was proving once more.
Aragorn knelt beside the young Hobbit. He ran his fingers gently through Frodo's curly hair. He immediately began to blame himself. He was the one responsible to make sure that the wound had been cleaned out. By right, it was his fault.
"It's not your fault," said Gandalf, knowing what he was thinking.
"How can you say that?" Aragorn said with bitterness in his voice. "I was the one responsible for the wound at Weathertop. I didn't properly clean it!"
"Stop it. If one blamed themselves for everything out of their control, we would all be puddles of self-hatred. Worry for Frodo, not for what you could have done."
Aragorn knew Gandalf's words were wise, and true. He was spurred from his thoughts at a loud gasp from Frodo.
"What's happening?" asked Bilbo, who had released Frodo's hand at the gasp.
"I don't know," said Elrond. "I fear the worst, though."
TBC
A/N: Cliffhanger, anyone? Hmm… So. Review. I'm gonna keep going this weekend! Hope you all are excited, or whatever. New chapter soon!
