Author's Note : I couldn't quite figure out how to finish this on a happy note, so I decided to use the D&R story a bit here so that I could end things on a happy note. Frodo should be happy for once especially since this whole fic has made everyone buy more tissues….There will maybe be … two more chapters after this. One with Aragorn and Arwen taking care of Frodo on the Road…and then his arrival in Rivendell.J
I'm planning a new fic, and was going to take a poll. Please email me or leave it in reviews. Which one do you want me to write first?
1) Between Moria and Lothlorien : Legolas and Aragorn are forced to stop the group in order to deal with something that ails Frodo. (Much ado about the Ring)
2) Young Frodo. (Age 32) Young Pippin (Age 10) Young Merry (Age 18) Young Sam (Age 17). The four hobbits get into trouble when Pippin slips into the Bywater pool in the middle of winter. A sudden snowstorm prevents them from getting back to BagEnd and they have to stay at the house of one of Sam's relations. The Widow Roper. A strange old lady hobbit. Frodo and Pippin -both- sick.
Arwen's POV
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CHAPTER 32 : Keeping Promises
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As the day went on, Frodo did in fact eat something in the morning, but towards the afternoon…he became fretful and anxious. He had slept…and had seemed to be on the mend. Gradually though he became distant…and less than cooperative. He wanted to be left alone. I could tell. Merilas and Legolas had done their best to comfort him, and indeed seeing her had helped. But…there was one other that he wanted to see, and I was not certain if risking it was necessarily a good thing. He could die on the journey in his condition.
"Arwen…he needs to go to Rivendell." Aragorn's voice was quiet…but steady..
"He is too weak…he may not make the journey." I shook my head softly. "We might bring her here…"
"You know that with Saruman still at large that is impossible. Your father will never permit it." Aragorn shook his head. "We must get him to Rivendell. And -soon-. Why not now…when he is comforted and able to travel?"
"We cannot leave Gondor…" I frowned slightly, I was not eager to take Frodo across the country in his current condition. He could worsen. He was stable for the moment.
"Yes we can." Aragorn nodded. "It has been arranged."
Frodo stirred in my arms, opening his eyes. "Arwen…" his voice was still hoarse. "Arwen I want to go…" his eyes gazed up at me, and I knew what was in there.
"But Frodo…you may not survive…"
"I don't want to die here." he shook his head furiously, "At least…at least …if we go…" he coughed, and I rubbed his back gently. "I will have tried…even if I die on the journey…and Sam…Sam needs to get home too…seeing Rivendell…will help him. Please…"
I looked at Aragorn, searching his gaze for a time. I was unsure. Unwilling to risk Frodo's life on a journey that he might not finish. I stroked his hair gently as the hobbit gazed up at me. He bit his lip…trying to hold back a wince, I was sure.
"Merilas and Legolas will want to return to Mirkwood soon, but I think we can convince them to go to Rivendell. Perhaps Elrond will be able to help." Aragorn reached over and took my hand in his. "You know…as well as I…who is in Rivendell that can help Frodo."
"Please, Arwen…I'll…" Frodo coughed again…he could not hold it back this time and tears sprang into his eyes from the pain. "I'll do my best…I can make it."
I looked down at Frodo then, and that was a mistake…for his eyes captured mine and held me there for a time. He'd been through a terrible ordeal, and we'd done our best here to heal him and take care of his wounds. But there was suffering in his eyes still that would never go away entirely. He was haunted by the events that had happened around him and to him. He needed….someone to understand him…without question, or judgment…and above all…unconditionally. His wounds ran deep, and some would always be with him. I feared that if he remained in Middle Earth…he would always feel the pain of them, and never truly heal. I wanted to help him, but there was only so much I could do. The rest he needed to do himself. Even if he had not been captured that one time…the Ring would have still left an imprint that no one in these lands could heal.
I let my hand cup his cheek, and one finger wipe away a tear, and then I looked at Aragorn who was gazing at me. "Let him make the choice, Arwen. It is his to make. We have done all we can for him."
"Frodo." I held him carefully. "This is very serious. The journey to Rivendell is long. You are still suffering from pneumonia. Its not completely taken control of you yet, but if we fail to be able to keep you warm between here and Rivendell the chances of death are high."
He swallowed, "I would rather take the chance of death on the way than to stay here and let death take me …without once seeing…without keeping my promise. I promised….Arwen. I have to go. Maybe…maybe I'll get better on the way. Sometimes the fresh air helps."
I sighed and realized that there really was nothing I could say that would persuade the Hobbit to stay put. I fluffed the pillows around him and smiled as best as I could. "Well Frodo." I glanced at the King and then looked back softly, at last…I relented. "We'll take you." My heart was heavy…but the look in Frodo's eyes was such relief that I smiled. At least…he would eat, and gain a little bit of strength before the journey.
"Thank-you." he closed his eyes and nestled back into the pillows, his lips turned up into a smile. His breathing was still irregular…and his voice hoarse and dry. I was not yet convinced he would make it. In fact…fairly certain he would not.
I tucked the covers around him and put a cool cloth against his warm neck and cheeks. The fever was beginning to subside today, probably due to the fact that Merilas and Legolas had been able to feed him earlier and get him some liquids. But he still needed more…and he needed most of all to be kept warm. Aragorn had said that Samwise was able to travel now, and the hobbits were all willing to make the journey with him.
He'd have quite an escort…certainly. But there was still the problem that if he caught a chill…I frowned to myself as he passed into a fretful doze. I only hoped that this was the right thing to do…and the best thing for Frodo.
Aragorn reached over and laid his hand on my shoulder, rubbing it gently. He smiled then…and I knew it was the only thing we -could- do.
* * *
I'm planning a new fic, and was going to take a poll. Please email me or leave it in reviews. Which one do you want me to write first?
1) Between Moria and Lothlorien : Legolas and Aragorn are forced to stop the group in order to deal with something that ails Frodo. (Much ado about the Ring)
2) Young Frodo. (Age 32) Young Pippin (Age 10) Young Merry (Age 18) Young Sam (Age 17). The four hobbits get into trouble when Pippin slips into the Bywater pool in the middle of winter. A sudden snowstorm prevents them from getting back to BagEnd and they have to stay at the house of one of Sam's relations. The Widow Roper. A strange old lady hobbit. Frodo and Pippin -both- sick.
Arwen's POV
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER 32 : Keeping Promises
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As the day went on, Frodo did in fact eat something in the morning, but towards the afternoon…he became fretful and anxious. He had slept…and had seemed to be on the mend. Gradually though he became distant…and less than cooperative. He wanted to be left alone. I could tell. Merilas and Legolas had done their best to comfort him, and indeed seeing her had helped. But…there was one other that he wanted to see, and I was not certain if risking it was necessarily a good thing. He could die on the journey in his condition.
"Arwen…he needs to go to Rivendell." Aragorn's voice was quiet…but steady..
"He is too weak…he may not make the journey." I shook my head softly. "We might bring her here…"
"You know that with Saruman still at large that is impossible. Your father will never permit it." Aragorn shook his head. "We must get him to Rivendell. And -soon-. Why not now…when he is comforted and able to travel?"
"We cannot leave Gondor…" I frowned slightly, I was not eager to take Frodo across the country in his current condition. He could worsen. He was stable for the moment.
"Yes we can." Aragorn nodded. "It has been arranged."
Frodo stirred in my arms, opening his eyes. "Arwen…" his voice was still hoarse. "Arwen I want to go…" his eyes gazed up at me, and I knew what was in there.
"But Frodo…you may not survive…"
"I don't want to die here." he shook his head furiously, "At least…at least …if we go…" he coughed, and I rubbed his back gently. "I will have tried…even if I die on the journey…and Sam…Sam needs to get home too…seeing Rivendell…will help him. Please…"
I looked at Aragorn, searching his gaze for a time. I was unsure. Unwilling to risk Frodo's life on a journey that he might not finish. I stroked his hair gently as the hobbit gazed up at me. He bit his lip…trying to hold back a wince, I was sure.
"Merilas and Legolas will want to return to Mirkwood soon, but I think we can convince them to go to Rivendell. Perhaps Elrond will be able to help." Aragorn reached over and took my hand in his. "You know…as well as I…who is in Rivendell that can help Frodo."
"Please, Arwen…I'll…" Frodo coughed again…he could not hold it back this time and tears sprang into his eyes from the pain. "I'll do my best…I can make it."
I looked down at Frodo then, and that was a mistake…for his eyes captured mine and held me there for a time. He'd been through a terrible ordeal, and we'd done our best here to heal him and take care of his wounds. But there was suffering in his eyes still that would never go away entirely. He was haunted by the events that had happened around him and to him. He needed….someone to understand him…without question, or judgment…and above all…unconditionally. His wounds ran deep, and some would always be with him. I feared that if he remained in Middle Earth…he would always feel the pain of them, and never truly heal. I wanted to help him, but there was only so much I could do. The rest he needed to do himself. Even if he had not been captured that one time…the Ring would have still left an imprint that no one in these lands could heal.
I let my hand cup his cheek, and one finger wipe away a tear, and then I looked at Aragorn who was gazing at me. "Let him make the choice, Arwen. It is his to make. We have done all we can for him."
"Frodo." I held him carefully. "This is very serious. The journey to Rivendell is long. You are still suffering from pneumonia. Its not completely taken control of you yet, but if we fail to be able to keep you warm between here and Rivendell the chances of death are high."
He swallowed, "I would rather take the chance of death on the way than to stay here and let death take me …without once seeing…without keeping my promise. I promised….Arwen. I have to go. Maybe…maybe I'll get better on the way. Sometimes the fresh air helps."
I sighed and realized that there really was nothing I could say that would persuade the Hobbit to stay put. I fluffed the pillows around him and smiled as best as I could. "Well Frodo." I glanced at the King and then looked back softly, at last…I relented. "We'll take you." My heart was heavy…but the look in Frodo's eyes was such relief that I smiled. At least…he would eat, and gain a little bit of strength before the journey.
"Thank-you." he closed his eyes and nestled back into the pillows, his lips turned up into a smile. His breathing was still irregular…and his voice hoarse and dry. I was not yet convinced he would make it. In fact…fairly certain he would not.
I tucked the covers around him and put a cool cloth against his warm neck and cheeks. The fever was beginning to subside today, probably due to the fact that Merilas and Legolas had been able to feed him earlier and get him some liquids. But he still needed more…and he needed most of all to be kept warm. Aragorn had said that Samwise was able to travel now, and the hobbits were all willing to make the journey with him.
He'd have quite an escort…certainly. But there was still the problem that if he caught a chill…I frowned to myself as he passed into a fretful doze. I only hoped that this was the right thing to do…and the best thing for Frodo.
Aragorn reached over and laid his hand on my shoulder, rubbing it gently. He smiled then…and I knew it was the only thing we -could- do.
* * *