Author's Notes: It's ready! Please see my bio settings for information on
the promised Yahoo! group for ailing Frodo fiction: the group is called
FrodoHealers, and I'm the moderator (FrodoAtBagEnd@yahoo.com). Anyone may
join, and I hope to see lots of fanfiction.net readers there! :) It IS in
the adult section of fanfiction, but only because that's where the LOTR
material was: I absolutely assure you, on my highest honour as a writer
and as a Tolkien devotee, that the group is slash-free and profanity-free,
and will NOT have graphic sexual content or similarly adult material: it's
basically PG to PG-13, like the movie, but with less violence. PLEASE feel
safe in joining; I wanted it to be with the other LOTR groups, but I assure
you, it's no worse than the books or the movies themselves are. :)
However, for those under 18, I might add that I *am* checking into whether
there's any way to adjust this so you'll be able to join without having to
deal with that. I'll keep you posted! Don't worry, all the messages will
still be on the site, so you won't have missed ANYTHING.
Plotwise, I expect one of the key pieces to come in the next chapter or two of this fic; it hasn't quite fit just yet, but it IS coming. Something rather special and somewhat key to the events of LOTR. . . . Regarding a secondary infection or relapse. . .tempting, but m'dear, I do have to save something for later chapters or my other tales, which I'm working hard to get posted! ;) Never fear - there is plenty of ailing Frodo coming your way! :) I have SEVERAL new fics planned, and when "Shadows in the Darkness" ends some chapters away, I will already have a new one running. . .another tale of illness from Frodo's tween years. :)
Sable is indeed listed as synonymous with black rather than brown in The New Roget's Thesaurus; in addition, while www.dictionary.com *does* give "a grayish yellowish brown" as one possible reading, it also includes "the color black" among the definitions, and that was indeed my intended meaning in describing the Riders' horses. :)
And the Frodo-coddling award for the week goes to darthmorgana! :) I think my favourite touch was the end of your review. . .how ADORABLE. . .little Frodo just loved that. :) Is the title of your upcoming Chapter Three based on the Enya song and CD of the same name, by any change? (I'm a major Enya fan and have been since 1994.)
For permission to reproduce, please contact frodobaggins@frodo.com
DISCLAIMER: The characters, places, and story of The Lord of the Rings are the property of J.R.R. Tolkien and consequently of the Tolkien Estate, with select rights by Tolkien Enterprises. This piece appears purely as fanfiction and is not intended to claim ownership of Tolkien's work in any way. Please e-mail me if you have concerns.
SHADOWS IN THE DARKNESS
Chapter Fifteen: A Bit of Comfort
"Good morning, my lad. . .how are you feeling?"
Frodo pondered this question for a moment, yawning as he curled up a bit, just beginning to awaken. Gently Bilbo tucked another quilt over him, for which the young orphan felt grateful.
"Exhausted. . .awfully weak, too. And achy. But a bit hungry. And I don't feel sick."
"That's wonderful!" His voice still soft, Bilbo smiled warmly, stroking Frodo's hair. "Shall I get you some breakfast, then? I'll only be a few minutes. And it's one of your favourites."
Interest sparked Frodo's curiousity, and he nodded. "Please. . .I'd like that."
"Good. . .there's my good lad." He put his hand against Frodo's forehead, checking the tweenager's temperature. "Still running a bit of fever there. . .after breakfast we'll give you a spoonful of medicine for that, get you nice and comfortable. The doctor says you mustn't exert yourself yet, nothing more than rest and some quiet things to do if you want amusement."
"That's all right. Too tired. . . ." Frodo yawned, curling further into a little ball. He still felt sleepy and tired, and resting in bed sounded better than anything else in the world at present, even food.
"All right." Bilbo smoothed the covers once more, bending to kiss the boy's forehead. "I'll only be a moment, my lad."
Frodo smiled drowsily, closing his eyes as he waited. The hole smelled good: sort of cinnamonish and gingery, like Primula's baking-days when he was small. He tried to picture her, an exercise he practised periodically to try and keep her memory vivid. He was always afraid it would eventually fade away. Thick, curly hair, the same dark shade as his own. . .clear blue eyes. . .a straight little aristocratic nose that looked less than entirely hobbit-like. . .very plump. Plump and warm, with an ample lap that always had room for him, even though at twelve he was getting to the age he shouldn't need a lap to curl up in. . .
"There we are! Here's your breakfast, Frodo. . .see how this looks. . . ."
Opening his eyes, Frodo inspected the tray Bilbo set on the bed beside him. Steaming porridge, swirls of maple syrup and brown sugar visible in it. A glassful of apple juice. A cup of tea, sweetened with honey from the goldenish look to it. Two circle-slices of toast, with honey and jam beside the plate to choose from. It *did* look awfully good. . . . Weakly he sat up, allowing Bilbo to slide gentle arms behind him to help.
"I didn't think butter would be the best thing just yet; we don't want to upset your tummy again, do we? There's plenty of honey and jam for your toast, and if you'd prefer something else, soft-cooked eggs or a bit of custard, it won't take a moment. . ."
"This is fine, Bilbo, really. . .thank you. It smells good."
Bilbo fairly beamed, settling his young charge against the pillows. He started to take up the spoon, but Frodo shook his head in protest.
"I can do it. . .I want to try, at least for a bit."
For a moment his guardian hesitated, but at last he yielded, handing Frodo the spoon and sitting close by on the bed, ready to assist. Smiling, Frodo tasted the porridge. Mmm. . .maple syrup and brown sugar, with touches of cinnamon and nutmeg and ginger. It felt comfortably filling going down, not overly sweet. . .just right. Bilbo nodded toward the honey and jam for the toast, and Frodo pondered for a moment as he stirred the porridge, taking another spoonful.
"Mm - honey on one, I think, and raspberry jam on the other."
Looking quite pleased, Bilbo began spreading the requested toppings on carefully. "There's my good lad. . .you've been so brave, Frodo. I promise you'll feel much better soon. . .and in the meantime there are a few stories of my travels you've not heard! And perhaps Gandalf will tell you another story about dragons and princes. . .how does that sound? He's off and about this morning, actually, cooking up a bit of a surprise, I believe. Very fond of you."
Frodo smiled, pausing for a sip of apple juice. "I'd like that very much."
"Good, good!" Bilbo set down the slice of toast spread with honey and began spreading bright red jam over the second circle. "Now, then. . .let's see. . . ."
He paused suddenly, his expression serious. . .and one hand went to his pocket, as if touching something there. Brown eyes darkening, he studied Frodo for a long moment.
"Frodo, my lad. . .would you like to hear a very special story? If you finish what you can of your breakfast and promise me you'll try a little something again for second breakfast or elevenses, I'll tell you something that Gandalf forced out of me some time ago. You may as well know too, though I must have your word it'll go no farther. . .not to your cousins, not to the Gamgees, nowhere."
At once Frodo's interest was seriously awakened, and he nodded curiously. "Of course. . .I promise. I can keep secrets. . .you know I can. . . ."
A look of relief relaxed Bilbo's face, and he smiled gently. "I know, my dear boy. I know. Finish your breakfast now."
~To Be Continued~
Plotwise, I expect one of the key pieces to come in the next chapter or two of this fic; it hasn't quite fit just yet, but it IS coming. Something rather special and somewhat key to the events of LOTR. . . . Regarding a secondary infection or relapse. . .tempting, but m'dear, I do have to save something for later chapters or my other tales, which I'm working hard to get posted! ;) Never fear - there is plenty of ailing Frodo coming your way! :) I have SEVERAL new fics planned, and when "Shadows in the Darkness" ends some chapters away, I will already have a new one running. . .another tale of illness from Frodo's tween years. :)
Sable is indeed listed as synonymous with black rather than brown in The New Roget's Thesaurus; in addition, while www.dictionary.com *does* give "a grayish yellowish brown" as one possible reading, it also includes "the color black" among the definitions, and that was indeed my intended meaning in describing the Riders' horses. :)
And the Frodo-coddling award for the week goes to darthmorgana! :) I think my favourite touch was the end of your review. . .how ADORABLE. . .little Frodo just loved that. :) Is the title of your upcoming Chapter Three based on the Enya song and CD of the same name, by any change? (I'm a major Enya fan and have been since 1994.)
For permission to reproduce, please contact frodobaggins@frodo.com
DISCLAIMER: The characters, places, and story of The Lord of the Rings are the property of J.R.R. Tolkien and consequently of the Tolkien Estate, with select rights by Tolkien Enterprises. This piece appears purely as fanfiction and is not intended to claim ownership of Tolkien's work in any way. Please e-mail me if you have concerns.
SHADOWS IN THE DARKNESS
Chapter Fifteen: A Bit of Comfort
"Good morning, my lad. . .how are you feeling?"
Frodo pondered this question for a moment, yawning as he curled up a bit, just beginning to awaken. Gently Bilbo tucked another quilt over him, for which the young orphan felt grateful.
"Exhausted. . .awfully weak, too. And achy. But a bit hungry. And I don't feel sick."
"That's wonderful!" His voice still soft, Bilbo smiled warmly, stroking Frodo's hair. "Shall I get you some breakfast, then? I'll only be a few minutes. And it's one of your favourites."
Interest sparked Frodo's curiousity, and he nodded. "Please. . .I'd like that."
"Good. . .there's my good lad." He put his hand against Frodo's forehead, checking the tweenager's temperature. "Still running a bit of fever there. . .after breakfast we'll give you a spoonful of medicine for that, get you nice and comfortable. The doctor says you mustn't exert yourself yet, nothing more than rest and some quiet things to do if you want amusement."
"That's all right. Too tired. . . ." Frodo yawned, curling further into a little ball. He still felt sleepy and tired, and resting in bed sounded better than anything else in the world at present, even food.
"All right." Bilbo smoothed the covers once more, bending to kiss the boy's forehead. "I'll only be a moment, my lad."
Frodo smiled drowsily, closing his eyes as he waited. The hole smelled good: sort of cinnamonish and gingery, like Primula's baking-days when he was small. He tried to picture her, an exercise he practised periodically to try and keep her memory vivid. He was always afraid it would eventually fade away. Thick, curly hair, the same dark shade as his own. . .clear blue eyes. . .a straight little aristocratic nose that looked less than entirely hobbit-like. . .very plump. Plump and warm, with an ample lap that always had room for him, even though at twelve he was getting to the age he shouldn't need a lap to curl up in. . .
"There we are! Here's your breakfast, Frodo. . .see how this looks. . . ."
Opening his eyes, Frodo inspected the tray Bilbo set on the bed beside him. Steaming porridge, swirls of maple syrup and brown sugar visible in it. A glassful of apple juice. A cup of tea, sweetened with honey from the goldenish look to it. Two circle-slices of toast, with honey and jam beside the plate to choose from. It *did* look awfully good. . . . Weakly he sat up, allowing Bilbo to slide gentle arms behind him to help.
"I didn't think butter would be the best thing just yet; we don't want to upset your tummy again, do we? There's plenty of honey and jam for your toast, and if you'd prefer something else, soft-cooked eggs or a bit of custard, it won't take a moment. . ."
"This is fine, Bilbo, really. . .thank you. It smells good."
Bilbo fairly beamed, settling his young charge against the pillows. He started to take up the spoon, but Frodo shook his head in protest.
"I can do it. . .I want to try, at least for a bit."
For a moment his guardian hesitated, but at last he yielded, handing Frodo the spoon and sitting close by on the bed, ready to assist. Smiling, Frodo tasted the porridge. Mmm. . .maple syrup and brown sugar, with touches of cinnamon and nutmeg and ginger. It felt comfortably filling going down, not overly sweet. . .just right. Bilbo nodded toward the honey and jam for the toast, and Frodo pondered for a moment as he stirred the porridge, taking another spoonful.
"Mm - honey on one, I think, and raspberry jam on the other."
Looking quite pleased, Bilbo began spreading the requested toppings on carefully. "There's my good lad. . .you've been so brave, Frodo. I promise you'll feel much better soon. . .and in the meantime there are a few stories of my travels you've not heard! And perhaps Gandalf will tell you another story about dragons and princes. . .how does that sound? He's off and about this morning, actually, cooking up a bit of a surprise, I believe. Very fond of you."
Frodo smiled, pausing for a sip of apple juice. "I'd like that very much."
"Good, good!" Bilbo set down the slice of toast spread with honey and began spreading bright red jam over the second circle. "Now, then. . .let's see. . . ."
He paused suddenly, his expression serious. . .and one hand went to his pocket, as if touching something there. Brown eyes darkening, he studied Frodo for a long moment.
"Frodo, my lad. . .would you like to hear a very special story? If you finish what you can of your breakfast and promise me you'll try a little something again for second breakfast or elevenses, I'll tell you something that Gandalf forced out of me some time ago. You may as well know too, though I must have your word it'll go no farther. . .not to your cousins, not to the Gamgees, nowhere."
At once Frodo's interest was seriously awakened, and he nodded curiously. "Of course. . .I promise. I can keep secrets. . .you know I can. . . ."
A look of relief relaxed Bilbo's face, and he smiled gently. "I know, my dear boy. I know. Finish your breakfast now."
~To Be Continued~