TITLE: "Brandywine"
AUTHOR: Mainframe
RATING: PG
PAIRING: None so far
Disclaimer: The Hobbits belong to J. R.R. Tolkien and are not of my creation and I make no money from this or other stories involving them, this is purely a non-profit fiction of my creation in honour of the book & movies. However this storyline is mine.
SUMMARY: It's been raining none stop for over a month in the shire and Bilbo is being driven mad by three young hobbits with too much energy to spend. But is his solution to the problem a wise one or could it led to disaster?
NOTES: O.k. The herbal remedies I make reference to are directly from the following texts: "The Green Pharmacy" by James A. Duke, PhD & "A Concise Guide in colour, Herbs" by Dr Frantisek Stary + Dr Vaclav Jirasek. Having had viral pneumonia myself as a child the symptoms are what I recall, however I have had to speed them up for my purposes, as viral pneumonia would usually take 4-7 days to get a grip of you and starts with aches to the body. Hope that helps! And to answer several peoples concerns NO this is not going to turn into a Mary-sue! Enjoy! Quick thanks to Rachelstonebreaker for betaring this chapter, 'Thank you!'
STORY WATCH: Llinos has updated "Recaptured" and it's a real emotional chapter, least I found it so, tissue warning! Jastaelf has just posted a new chapter in "Dark Leaf" Oh. My. God! It's good! And dun, dun, dun "The History of Us part 10" is up! And it's really, really riveting! Great work Daisy Gamgee!
Brandywine
1 Chapter 13: Burning
*Hot! Burning! *
Frodo felt the gentle caress of an ice-cold hand gliding across his face and neck; he shivered at its almost painful touch, yet leaned into it all the same, anything to escape the burning.
He opened his eyes with great effort but to no avail, the world before them would not come into focus and his head began to pound with the effort of trying. A dampened cloth brushed across his brow and cheek, whilst bringing cold relief, the material felt coarse against his sensitive skin. It washed over him repeatedly leaving a prickling sensation and a strong scent perfumed the air. He was vaguely aware that wherever he was, he was not alone. Two voices floated in and out of the fog, one he did not recognise, but the other was vaguely familiar. Both belonged to women.
He felt the weight of the blanket pulled from his unresponsive body and his shirt removed. He struggled as fear griped him, he didn't understand any of this and the last thing he wanted was to be naked.
"Easy Frodo were only tryin..."
"...Soaked through Mr Frodo, I'll get you another..."
"Can you hear me?"
".... Better if he don't...."
He began to cry. Where was he? Who were these two who took his clothes and why was it so dreadfully hot?
"There, there young sir..."
"...Frodo, it may help. Sir or Master is a bit to formal for the poor little mite right..."
"...Don't feel right, but I'll...."
***
"I don't feel right Miss Laura! He's my Master's lad and by righ' he'll...
"Bell please!" Laura's voice held none of it's customary humour "He's still a child and in desperate need 'o a hug, he don't know what's goin on an like as not, scared!" She frowned as she added "And don't call me 'Miss' all the time...I don't like being so formal" As she spoke, Laura pushed the study-chair she had been using away from the fire and back to its usual corner; she quickly darted to the end of the hall corridor and carried the old rocking chair through.
Bell managed to put a fresh nightshirt on Frodo's struggling form; he was as weak as a kitten she mused sadly, easily brushing aside his flailing arms. When she turned round she saw that Laura had already placed several of the cushions from the window-seat in the rocker and motioned her to sit.
"I've gotta change the linen, it's soaked right through. If ye can take him and try ta calm him down that would be helpful, the less strength he wastes fightin us, the more he'll have ta fight his fever"
Bell sat back in the rocker and made herself comfortable before accepting the limp child into her arms. She gently pulled the thin sheet round him and allowed his head to rest upon her left breast as she gently rocked the chair back and forth, in slow deliberate rhythm. Laura handed her a small glass of the lukewarm lemon and honey mixture and asked her to try and get him to sip it. Not too much though.
As she looked down into his soft pale face she couldn't help the smile that touched her lips, it was the first time she was seeing him as a child and not 'Mr Frodo'. He looked so fragile in her arms at that moment, as if should she grip too tightly, he might break. Yet this child was stronger then he seemed. She traced one of his delicate, limp arms from hand to elbow, these arms had been strong enough to pull her child and his cousin to safety.
He moaned and his eyes opened and fixed on her, for a split second her breath hitched and she ceased the rocking motion. His pallor was such that his cobalt-blue eyes, (which she had always found strange and unsettling in a nice way) now seemed to glow in the dusk of the morning light. She felt herself blush and was about to apologise to him for holding him thus, until his tiny broken voice breathed.
"Mama?"
Her heart broke. Tears slid down her cheeks as she watched confusion play across his delicate features.
"Mama...it's too...." A wet cough cut his sentence short as it racked his frame; thankfully it passed quickly. Laura who had paused in her choir at the painful hacking resumed her work with more haste.
"Easy, easy...Frodo" She felt awkward addressing him in such a disrespectful manner, and hoped he didn't pick up on it. She adjusted his position so that his airway was more open, head tilted back against her arm, while her other reached for the glass.
"Try a little of this...Frodo" She pressed the rim to his parched lips, but he shied away from it stubbornly and despite her insistence he kept his lips pressed firmly shut.
Laura sighed; it was almost painful listening to Bell get her tongue round the name 'Frodo' without the 'Mr'. She pursed her lips as she slid a pillow into a fresh case, "Try talkin ta him as if he were yer own" She suggested.
Bell looked from Laura's kind, sympathetic face to the stubborn glare that had found a home on Frodo's; she chuckled at him despite herself, and resumed the gentle rocking motion again. Sam had not been a child to take ill often, (to hear his father talk you'd think never) but when he had, he would easily get frustrated and cranky, wearing a similar expression. Perhaps this would not be so difficult; after all there was only Laura and herself to bare witness.
Another coughing fit burst unexpectedly from his lips, it was much more savage then the one before and tears trickled from his eyes as he squeezed them firmly shut and tried to ride it out. His head lolled back onto Bells arm heavily; it had sapped the last of his strength, now he found he had to use all his concentration just to hold off the next attack, which was waiting to break free. He became aware of a second set of hands on him now, as he opened his eyes again, panting and sweating anew he felt strong hands at his back and chest.
Laura was rubbing in firm circles over his chest under his nightshirt, the movement was soothing and the pressure she was using was just enough to take the sharp edge off the ever-present need to cough.
"Now then my lad, we'll have none o that nonsense. This will easy yer throat. Shall we try again?" Bell said with authority. She surprised herself, but was delighted to see Frodo's lips part and watched as he clumsily sipped from the glass, every so often a drop escaping down towards his chin, only to be wiped away by Bells waiting hanky. Bell looked to Laura, her hand still pressed to Frodo's chest but no longer rubbing; Laura's eyebrows were raised and a small smile was on her lips but she said nothing, just smoothed back young Frodo Baggins damp curls as he drank the last of the lemon and honey mix.
Frodo gasped for air when the glass was emptied, such had been the effort, but was glad that he had complied, for he felt the sourness in his throat lessen and the vapour from whatever had just been rubbed into his aching chest was fast clearing the cobwebs from his muddled mind.
"T-thank...you, M-Mrs Gam-mgee" Frodo managed to rasp, it felt so good to be held by a mother again; even if it was not his own. He sighed and drifting off into contented sleep
Bell blushed so deeply that even as Laura lifted the sleeping child from her arms she remained seated, mouth gaping. Laura chuckled as she placed Frodo lightly on the fresh, crisp sheets, however she chose to leave the covers folded back at the end of the bed. Frodo needed to be kept cool and whilst Samwise and Merry were benefiting greatly from the rooms temperature Frodo was not. It was slightly warmer then Laura would have preferred for her young patient, but his body's temperature had to be brought down slowly at any rate; this just prolonged the process a bit.
"Easy Bell, tis a good sign tha' he recognised ye! It were more then I'd expected!"
Bell was very glad to hear that, however it didn't stop her from babbling, "B-b-but Miss Laura...the way I spoke ta him, it were..."
"Just what he needed ta hear!" She finished, balancing the damp cloth back on Frodo's brow. "Don't call me 'Miss'!"
"If you say so Laura, its just bein polite, I meant no disrespect" She said softly.
"I know love...but if you call me 'Miss' again I'll have ta start callin ye 'Mrs Gamgee'"
Bell couldn't suppress a chuckle at that, now that the shoe was on the other foot she had to agree, it didn't feel right. "As you wish".
Laura checked his pulse and listened to his chest once again, careful not to wake him. He sounded very congested, she could hear that from where she stood but his pulse thudded strong and steady.
Bell watched idly as Laura flitted between the boys. Sam was in a degree of discomfort as at some point during Frodo's episode he had turned onto his side and lain on his injured wrist. Bell was at his side in an instant and helped pull him onto his back. Laura examined the colour of his fingers and felt the bandage eliciting a small gasp from the sleeping child; his mother quietly soothed him as Laura continued her examination. She fetched an extra pillow and with great care placed Sam's wrist upon it, elevating it would help with the blood flow which Sam unwittingly had restricted, causing the swelling to increase around the bandages which now had to be loosened. At last Sam stopped squirming and fell back into a comfortable, deep sleep, his mother at his side. Laura herself was spent, she had endured far too many sleepless nights of late and the loss of Rosemary's baby still haunted her. She swooned as she rummaged through her bag for her burner and lavender oil.
"Laura!" Bell steadied her and bad her sit down before she fall down.
"How long has it been? How many days?" She asked almost crossly as she observed for the first time the dark smudges under the young healers eyes.
"Two...maybe three days, I can't remember exactly." Laura confessed at length.
Bell was furious. "And how long did ye think ye could keep goin like this? How long?"
"As long as need be!" Laura shot back defensively. "I were the only healer this side o Hobbiton! I told ye before, I lost one patient tonigh' an I don't intend to loose no more!" Her accent thickening as it always did when she was tire or irate. But now that attention had been brought to her lack of sleep Laura felt it keenly and it must have shown, for Bell's expression softened as she reached out to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"It weren't yer fault ye know...at least ye tried. Ye gave him a fightin chance" She emphasized the words, determined that Laura not take this burden to heart.
"I know" She answered softly, but refused to look Bell in the eyes.
"I'm gonin ta make up the guest room over the hall there, you need at least a few hours an I'm already rested" She cut off Laura's feeble half-hearted protests "Yer no good to my boy or Mr Frodo or Mr Merry if yer too tired ta see which lad is which" She jested, still it held a serious undertone. "Laura if ye keep goin like this yer'll make a mistake, one we migh' all have ta life with, do ye understand what I'm tryin ta say?"
"Yes. Yes Bell yer right, I'm being foolish" She rubbed a shaking hand against her eyes and tried to focus. That really was the last straw; her eyes were now refusing to cooperate.
Ten minutes later saw Laura in bed, in the spare room. She was issuing Bell with various instructions about lavender oil and how as well as rubbing it onto the boy's chests, she also wanted it burned by their bed- heads. Then went on to warn her that should anything happen, or if she even suspected anything was wrong then to wake her immediately. Bell promised and Laura finally allowed herself to drift into an exhausted sleep.
Just before she nodded off she thought she heard Bell speaking in a hushed tone, just before sleep took her she realised Bell was singing a sweet Shire lullaby to her son.
Tbc~
AUTHOR: Mainframe
RATING: PG
PAIRING: None so far
Disclaimer: The Hobbits belong to J. R.R. Tolkien and are not of my creation and I make no money from this or other stories involving them, this is purely a non-profit fiction of my creation in honour of the book & movies. However this storyline is mine.
SUMMARY: It's been raining none stop for over a month in the shire and Bilbo is being driven mad by three young hobbits with too much energy to spend. But is his solution to the problem a wise one or could it led to disaster?
NOTES: O.k. The herbal remedies I make reference to are directly from the following texts: "The Green Pharmacy" by James A. Duke, PhD & "A Concise Guide in colour, Herbs" by Dr Frantisek Stary + Dr Vaclav Jirasek. Having had viral pneumonia myself as a child the symptoms are what I recall, however I have had to speed them up for my purposes, as viral pneumonia would usually take 4-7 days to get a grip of you and starts with aches to the body. Hope that helps! And to answer several peoples concerns NO this is not going to turn into a Mary-sue! Enjoy! Quick thanks to Rachelstonebreaker for betaring this chapter, 'Thank you!'
STORY WATCH: Llinos has updated "Recaptured" and it's a real emotional chapter, least I found it so, tissue warning! Jastaelf has just posted a new chapter in "Dark Leaf" Oh. My. God! It's good! And dun, dun, dun "The History of Us part 10" is up! And it's really, really riveting! Great work Daisy Gamgee!
Brandywine
1 Chapter 13: Burning
*Hot! Burning! *
Frodo felt the gentle caress of an ice-cold hand gliding across his face and neck; he shivered at its almost painful touch, yet leaned into it all the same, anything to escape the burning.
He opened his eyes with great effort but to no avail, the world before them would not come into focus and his head began to pound with the effort of trying. A dampened cloth brushed across his brow and cheek, whilst bringing cold relief, the material felt coarse against his sensitive skin. It washed over him repeatedly leaving a prickling sensation and a strong scent perfumed the air. He was vaguely aware that wherever he was, he was not alone. Two voices floated in and out of the fog, one he did not recognise, but the other was vaguely familiar. Both belonged to women.
He felt the weight of the blanket pulled from his unresponsive body and his shirt removed. He struggled as fear griped him, he didn't understand any of this and the last thing he wanted was to be naked.
"Easy Frodo were only tryin..."
"...Soaked through Mr Frodo, I'll get you another..."
"Can you hear me?"
".... Better if he don't...."
He began to cry. Where was he? Who were these two who took his clothes and why was it so dreadfully hot?
"There, there young sir..."
"...Frodo, it may help. Sir or Master is a bit to formal for the poor little mite right..."
"...Don't feel right, but I'll...."
***
"I don't feel right Miss Laura! He's my Master's lad and by righ' he'll...
"Bell please!" Laura's voice held none of it's customary humour "He's still a child and in desperate need 'o a hug, he don't know what's goin on an like as not, scared!" She frowned as she added "And don't call me 'Miss' all the time...I don't like being so formal" As she spoke, Laura pushed the study-chair she had been using away from the fire and back to its usual corner; she quickly darted to the end of the hall corridor and carried the old rocking chair through.
Bell managed to put a fresh nightshirt on Frodo's struggling form; he was as weak as a kitten she mused sadly, easily brushing aside his flailing arms. When she turned round she saw that Laura had already placed several of the cushions from the window-seat in the rocker and motioned her to sit.
"I've gotta change the linen, it's soaked right through. If ye can take him and try ta calm him down that would be helpful, the less strength he wastes fightin us, the more he'll have ta fight his fever"
Bell sat back in the rocker and made herself comfortable before accepting the limp child into her arms. She gently pulled the thin sheet round him and allowed his head to rest upon her left breast as she gently rocked the chair back and forth, in slow deliberate rhythm. Laura handed her a small glass of the lukewarm lemon and honey mixture and asked her to try and get him to sip it. Not too much though.
As she looked down into his soft pale face she couldn't help the smile that touched her lips, it was the first time she was seeing him as a child and not 'Mr Frodo'. He looked so fragile in her arms at that moment, as if should she grip too tightly, he might break. Yet this child was stronger then he seemed. She traced one of his delicate, limp arms from hand to elbow, these arms had been strong enough to pull her child and his cousin to safety.
He moaned and his eyes opened and fixed on her, for a split second her breath hitched and she ceased the rocking motion. His pallor was such that his cobalt-blue eyes, (which she had always found strange and unsettling in a nice way) now seemed to glow in the dusk of the morning light. She felt herself blush and was about to apologise to him for holding him thus, until his tiny broken voice breathed.
"Mama?"
Her heart broke. Tears slid down her cheeks as she watched confusion play across his delicate features.
"Mama...it's too...." A wet cough cut his sentence short as it racked his frame; thankfully it passed quickly. Laura who had paused in her choir at the painful hacking resumed her work with more haste.
"Easy, easy...Frodo" She felt awkward addressing him in such a disrespectful manner, and hoped he didn't pick up on it. She adjusted his position so that his airway was more open, head tilted back against her arm, while her other reached for the glass.
"Try a little of this...Frodo" She pressed the rim to his parched lips, but he shied away from it stubbornly and despite her insistence he kept his lips pressed firmly shut.
Laura sighed; it was almost painful listening to Bell get her tongue round the name 'Frodo' without the 'Mr'. She pursed her lips as she slid a pillow into a fresh case, "Try talkin ta him as if he were yer own" She suggested.
Bell looked from Laura's kind, sympathetic face to the stubborn glare that had found a home on Frodo's; she chuckled at him despite herself, and resumed the gentle rocking motion again. Sam had not been a child to take ill often, (to hear his father talk you'd think never) but when he had, he would easily get frustrated and cranky, wearing a similar expression. Perhaps this would not be so difficult; after all there was only Laura and herself to bare witness.
Another coughing fit burst unexpectedly from his lips, it was much more savage then the one before and tears trickled from his eyes as he squeezed them firmly shut and tried to ride it out. His head lolled back onto Bells arm heavily; it had sapped the last of his strength, now he found he had to use all his concentration just to hold off the next attack, which was waiting to break free. He became aware of a second set of hands on him now, as he opened his eyes again, panting and sweating anew he felt strong hands at his back and chest.
Laura was rubbing in firm circles over his chest under his nightshirt, the movement was soothing and the pressure she was using was just enough to take the sharp edge off the ever-present need to cough.
"Now then my lad, we'll have none o that nonsense. This will easy yer throat. Shall we try again?" Bell said with authority. She surprised herself, but was delighted to see Frodo's lips part and watched as he clumsily sipped from the glass, every so often a drop escaping down towards his chin, only to be wiped away by Bells waiting hanky. Bell looked to Laura, her hand still pressed to Frodo's chest but no longer rubbing; Laura's eyebrows were raised and a small smile was on her lips but she said nothing, just smoothed back young Frodo Baggins damp curls as he drank the last of the lemon and honey mix.
Frodo gasped for air when the glass was emptied, such had been the effort, but was glad that he had complied, for he felt the sourness in his throat lessen and the vapour from whatever had just been rubbed into his aching chest was fast clearing the cobwebs from his muddled mind.
"T-thank...you, M-Mrs Gam-mgee" Frodo managed to rasp, it felt so good to be held by a mother again; even if it was not his own. He sighed and drifting off into contented sleep
Bell blushed so deeply that even as Laura lifted the sleeping child from her arms she remained seated, mouth gaping. Laura chuckled as she placed Frodo lightly on the fresh, crisp sheets, however she chose to leave the covers folded back at the end of the bed. Frodo needed to be kept cool and whilst Samwise and Merry were benefiting greatly from the rooms temperature Frodo was not. It was slightly warmer then Laura would have preferred for her young patient, but his body's temperature had to be brought down slowly at any rate; this just prolonged the process a bit.
"Easy Bell, tis a good sign tha' he recognised ye! It were more then I'd expected!"
Bell was very glad to hear that, however it didn't stop her from babbling, "B-b-but Miss Laura...the way I spoke ta him, it were..."
"Just what he needed ta hear!" She finished, balancing the damp cloth back on Frodo's brow. "Don't call me 'Miss'!"
"If you say so Laura, its just bein polite, I meant no disrespect" She said softly.
"I know love...but if you call me 'Miss' again I'll have ta start callin ye 'Mrs Gamgee'"
Bell couldn't suppress a chuckle at that, now that the shoe was on the other foot she had to agree, it didn't feel right. "As you wish".
Laura checked his pulse and listened to his chest once again, careful not to wake him. He sounded very congested, she could hear that from where she stood but his pulse thudded strong and steady.
Bell watched idly as Laura flitted between the boys. Sam was in a degree of discomfort as at some point during Frodo's episode he had turned onto his side and lain on his injured wrist. Bell was at his side in an instant and helped pull him onto his back. Laura examined the colour of his fingers and felt the bandage eliciting a small gasp from the sleeping child; his mother quietly soothed him as Laura continued her examination. She fetched an extra pillow and with great care placed Sam's wrist upon it, elevating it would help with the blood flow which Sam unwittingly had restricted, causing the swelling to increase around the bandages which now had to be loosened. At last Sam stopped squirming and fell back into a comfortable, deep sleep, his mother at his side. Laura herself was spent, she had endured far too many sleepless nights of late and the loss of Rosemary's baby still haunted her. She swooned as she rummaged through her bag for her burner and lavender oil.
"Laura!" Bell steadied her and bad her sit down before she fall down.
"How long has it been? How many days?" She asked almost crossly as she observed for the first time the dark smudges under the young healers eyes.
"Two...maybe three days, I can't remember exactly." Laura confessed at length.
Bell was furious. "And how long did ye think ye could keep goin like this? How long?"
"As long as need be!" Laura shot back defensively. "I were the only healer this side o Hobbiton! I told ye before, I lost one patient tonigh' an I don't intend to loose no more!" Her accent thickening as it always did when she was tire or irate. But now that attention had been brought to her lack of sleep Laura felt it keenly and it must have shown, for Bell's expression softened as she reached out to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"It weren't yer fault ye know...at least ye tried. Ye gave him a fightin chance" She emphasized the words, determined that Laura not take this burden to heart.
"I know" She answered softly, but refused to look Bell in the eyes.
"I'm gonin ta make up the guest room over the hall there, you need at least a few hours an I'm already rested" She cut off Laura's feeble half-hearted protests "Yer no good to my boy or Mr Frodo or Mr Merry if yer too tired ta see which lad is which" She jested, still it held a serious undertone. "Laura if ye keep goin like this yer'll make a mistake, one we migh' all have ta life with, do ye understand what I'm tryin ta say?"
"Yes. Yes Bell yer right, I'm being foolish" She rubbed a shaking hand against her eyes and tried to focus. That really was the last straw; her eyes were now refusing to cooperate.
Ten minutes later saw Laura in bed, in the spare room. She was issuing Bell with various instructions about lavender oil and how as well as rubbing it onto the boy's chests, she also wanted it burned by their bed- heads. Then went on to warn her that should anything happen, or if she even suspected anything was wrong then to wake her immediately. Bell promised and Laura finally allowed herself to drift into an exhausted sleep.
Just before she nodded off she thought she heard Bell speaking in a hushed tone, just before sleep took her she realised Bell was singing a sweet Shire lullaby to her son.
Tbc~