Chapter 9

Gandalf was startled awake. Unable at first to identify what has awakened him. He heard it again, a muffled cough. Gandalf quickly came to himself and realized night had passed into morning. As he turned to the bed he cursed himself for falling asleep.

On the bed Frodo was tossing back and forth and coughing against the tube in his mouth. Gandalf gently placed his hands on either side of Frodos head to stop the movement. "Shhh Frodo. Its all right. I'm here with you." Frodo stopped moving and his eyes fluttered open. Gandalf saw pain, confusion and fear clouding those big blue eyes. "Hold still and open your mouth" Gandalf said softly. Frodo did as he asked. Gandalf could see that the swelling was gone. "This will only take a second" Gandalf said as he swiftly pulled the tube out of Frodos mouth.

Frodo took a deep breath. "Gandalf", Frodos voice was barely above a whisper. "What happened?" Gandalf gave Frodo a questioning glance. not sure which event Frodo was referring to. Frodo continued "I remember Aragorn giving me something to drink and I couldn't Breath...and..." Frodo closed his eyes and two tears raced down his cheeks. "It's all right Frodo" Gandalf said gathering Frodo into a warm embrace "you became dehydrated and your tongue swelled" "I was so scared Gandalf, I thought I was going to die!" "Shhh Frodo. Its over now, the swelling is gone and not likely to come back again." Gandalf said soothingly as he settled Frodo back onto the bed.

There was a soft knock on the door and it opened to admit two very anxious figures. "Merry! Pippin!" Frodo cried. "Is it really you?" New tears sprang to Frodos eyes. "Frodo!!" Screamed Merry and Pippin simultaneously as they sprang at the bed. "Your finally awake!" Said Merry as Frodo pulled them both into an embrace. Frodo pulled back suddenly and a shadow clouded his face. "What is it Frodo?" Pippin asked sending a worried glance toward Gandalf. "Are you in pain?" Frodo shook his head and simply said "Sam". Gandalf understood at once. Frodo didn't know. He gently turned Frodo around as Merry said "Silly hobbit! Sams been right beside you all along!" Frodos heart soared. "He is alive!" Frodo said. "But...why isn't he awake? Is he all right Gandalf?" "Samwise will be just fine." Gandalf laughed. He is under an elven sleeping spell, he should awaken shortly." He then got up, went around the bed and spoke softly into Sams ear.

Just then the door opened again and in strode Raytheon with Aragorn close behind. "What in blazes is going on in here!?!?" Raytheon demanded to know. He was shocked to see Frodo sitting up let alone awake. Aragorn mirrored Raytheon's shock but remained silent. As Aragorn threw a questioning look at Gandalf Sam stirred. "Can't a tired Hobbit get any sleep around here?" All three hobbits jump him. "Sam! Your awake! Your all right!" Frodo called. "Of course I am!" Sam smiled and hugged Frodo close. Merry and Pippin threw their arms around Frodo and Sam and the four hobbits remained that way until Raytheon approached the bed and shooed Merry and Pippin off. "Open your mouth Master Baggins!" He demanded. "Lets have a look see." Frodo did as he was told. As Raytheon was checking Frodo for any sings of swelling Gandalf related the events of them morning. "Remarkable creatures, you hobbits." Raytheon said in disbelief. "I've never seen such healing abilities." The four hobbits simply looked at each other and smiled.

Fini..