Chapter Eight
I headed back to Bag End wearily, it was early in the morning when I finally decided to head home. I couldn't really ignore the fact that I was extremely depressed. Everything in my life was going wrong right now and to top it all off I had to leave the Shire. Sometimes I thought that life conspired against me. Even before my parents died I had not really had much chance to live like other hobbits. I was never very healthy and once or twice gave my mother quite a scare.
Reading the journals was making me even more depressed because I missed Bilbo. Sure, he hadn't always let me have my own way…but I loved him. He had been like a father to me and I couldn't understand why he'd simply left like that. Did he know how much it would hurt…how much it would remind me of when my parents had left? I never got a chance to say goodbye, I never got a chance to do anything other than accept what was happening.
But that was it wasn't it? That was my life…I leant on a fence and steadied my feet. The wine never really helped, it just … dulled the pain. I stumbled along the fence, breathing heavily. Sometime ago I had stuffed the wineglass into my pocket and began to wonder why Bag End seemed so far away. That was when I slipped and fell into a snow bank and groaned. I'd hurt something…
I staggered to my feet and then collapsed…pain shot through my right foot and I shuddered. As I lay there in the snow bank, shivering and in pain I glanced up to the sky and saw snow began to fall once again. Tears caught in my eyes as I tried to struggle, but completely failed to get to my feet, I tried to look at the ankle and paled when I saw the swelling. Frodo Baggins…you darn fool.
I looked up and down the road…no one would be up at this time of the morning. I shook snow from my hair…it was coming down a little faster now. There was nothing for it but to crawl to Bag End…otherwise I would sit here and freeze to death. I gritted my teeth and began to pull myself to the roadside, that's when I heard a female voice squeak in surprise.
"Sir? Sir…are you hurt?" I recognized the voice…and sighed with relief. It was Sam Gamgee's sister Marigold, young…about 31 I thought…but she had quite a bit of sense. I looked up at the figure who was looking quite as astonished as myself to find someone else on the road this morning. She wrinkled her nose a little…I think she smelled the wine…When I raised my head she gasped in surprise. "Mr. Baggins! Oh Dear…Oh Dear…let me help you." she hurried over and knelt beside me.
Marigold was a comely lass, of stocky build and dark-blonde locks that fell about her hazel eyes. She had her brother's look to her, but beyond that they were as different as carrots and cinnamon. "Hullo…" I managed weakly, my cheeks red with embarrassment to having been caught in such a disgraceful state.
"Goodness Gracious, Mr. Baggins, what happened…oh dear, your poor ankle, you must have slipped on that nasty sheet of ice. Here….take my hand and lean on me." she held out her small hand and I looked at her dubiously, she was not that big of a lass and I would easily clear a foot over her. "Come now, Mr. Baggins…I'm not as frail as one of them Bracegirldles…take my hand now." her voice held quite a bit of determination and I sighed and finally accepted her help.
"Marigold Gamgee…isn't it?" My words to me came out slurred and unsteady…but I was quite sure who -she- was. The lass nodded and to my surprise easily managed to help me rise. I winced, cringing at the pain and found that my fingers were not working properly. I draped my arm around her and she held me up miraculously.
"Yes, Mr. Baggins. That's it…lean on me now. Steady…" she glanced about, "Dear me the snow is starting to come down very hard. We have to get you home."
"Home…" I sighed softly, my head swimming, "Home is far away…"
She half carried…half dragged me up to Bag End as the snow kept falling heavier and heavier. Once we got there, she had to fumble in my pockets for the keys because I was too incoherent to do anything but giggle briefly when she found the wine glass. She shook her head, and at that moment I wondered…what had she to shake her head about? She was up this early too…and what was she doing outside and alone? I gazed at her…she really was a comely lass…and full of spirit.
Marigold unlocked the door and thankfully managed to get me inside and down on the nearest chair. I literally fell on it wincing in pain from my ankle. I didn't notice then…but the rest of me was pretty numb with cold. The fire in the fireplace was dying out as Marigold shut the door. This would never do…she should be alone in Bag End…with me…at this hour.
"Run along home, now…Th-Thank-you." My teeth chattered as I gazed at her. She was bundled up in thread-bare sweaters and scarves but at least she had the sense to dress warmly. Her cheeks were rosy pink from the cold outside and she shook her head furiously.
"I wouldn't think of it." she marched straight over to the fire place, "I'll just put a log on the fire and set you up comfy and then I'll go fetch Sam. Just you sit there, now and don't you be doing anything foolish like trying to get up." Her voice was stern…and I smiled a little.
"Yes, Ma'am…" I watched her as she put a few more logs in the fire and then came back over to me. She found a wooden chair and a footrest and brought them over. The fire now rose warm and full and I was thankful of the heat. She took off her gloves and rubbed her hands together a bit, watching me in concern. I chuckled a little to myself, because I had a feeling I knew what she was thinking. She was literally in the lion's den. I was as harmless as a mouse, though with all the rumors about hobbit on, I wasn't surprised at her reaction.
"Put your foot up here, Mr. Baggins, and let me take a look at it." she directed calmly. I did as I was instructed and she smiled softly. I leaned back and let her tend to my foot …and as she did, I gazed at the fire…and remembered another lass…
--begin flashback--
"Frodo." Chloe shook her head in amusement as I gazed at her. We were lying in my bed and her arm was wrapped around me in comfort. The fire in my room was burning steadily and despite the hell of the last few days I was finally feeling warm and cozy. They had had their hands full with me for I had not kept anything down until recently, Chloe had tried her best to get me to take even the easiest of food, but nothing had stayed down…until she directed Bilbo to prepare a strange mixture of spices in a simple chicken broth. She had patiently dipped bread into the broth and placed tiny pieces into my mouth while I chewed and swallowed hesitantly.
She'd told me stories of the wood, and calmed me enough that I would eat. The bread was soft enough that it had trickled easily down my throat and there was something in the broth that was making me a little lightheaded and drowsy. Bilbo had come in earlier and tried to tell Chloe to leave me to sleep, but I wasn't having any of that. I was warm for the first time in days and my stomach didn't feel like it was going to heave. After I ate the broth…she had given me some of the medicine that had been left behind from the last time I had a fever like this.
After I had laid down for a while and been calm I found that I was finally comfortable enough that I could sleep, my voice hoarse still though and my throat numb with pain I whispered, "Chloe…thank-you…I…like you…please don't go away…." My eyes drooped as I struggled to keep them open.
"I like you too Frodo." she had said, and for some reason…that had lifted my heart and I smiled weakly. "Sleep now, and don't try and talk." she directed gently.
I obliged and finally drifted off to sleep, wondering..wondering if she would still like me later.
"Frodo…" I heard a voice calling urgently.
---end flashback--
"Mr. Baggins……Frodo…Mr. Frodo…are you alright?" Marigolds urgent tone shook me back to reality and for a moment I thought she was Chloe….a little deliriously I reached out to touch her face…even through fingers that were numb with cold.. I wanted Chloe. "Mr. Baggins?" her eyes were wide and her lips trembled. Full lips…I cursed that I was too weak to move…and my hand dropped down.
"Go on now…" I managed to get out, suddenly my temper was rearing its ugly head, and my eyes were showing their disappointment when I realized who she was. I glared at her for not being the one I wanted. "Go on home little girl…I'll be alright. Thank-you. You've done enough." I reached into my pocket and plucked out a few silver coins, dropping them into her stunned hand.
She dropped the money on a nearby table and rose steadily, her eyes flashing though she was trying to remain calm and polite. Well now…a Gamgee with spirit. I smiled at her sardonically. "I don't want your money, Mr. Baggins. I was just trying to help you." she wrapped her scarf around her neck, "Clearly…YOU don't want to be helped." she could not resist snaping. As she did, her cheeks flamed with color and and she strode over to the door, opening it…to a blast of snow and wind that literally sent her sprawling. She let out a yelp and jumped to her feet. Quickly, she rushed to the door and shut it, latching it with a panting breath.
"It seems." I tried hard to be as stoic as I possibly could. "You're my guest for the night." The absolute -last- thing I wanted was someone else in Bag End tonight.
* * *
I headed back to Bag End wearily, it was early in the morning when I finally decided to head home. I couldn't really ignore the fact that I was extremely depressed. Everything in my life was going wrong right now and to top it all off I had to leave the Shire. Sometimes I thought that life conspired against me. Even before my parents died I had not really had much chance to live like other hobbits. I was never very healthy and once or twice gave my mother quite a scare.
Reading the journals was making me even more depressed because I missed Bilbo. Sure, he hadn't always let me have my own way…but I loved him. He had been like a father to me and I couldn't understand why he'd simply left like that. Did he know how much it would hurt…how much it would remind me of when my parents had left? I never got a chance to say goodbye, I never got a chance to do anything other than accept what was happening.
But that was it wasn't it? That was my life…I leant on a fence and steadied my feet. The wine never really helped, it just … dulled the pain. I stumbled along the fence, breathing heavily. Sometime ago I had stuffed the wineglass into my pocket and began to wonder why Bag End seemed so far away. That was when I slipped and fell into a snow bank and groaned. I'd hurt something…
I staggered to my feet and then collapsed…pain shot through my right foot and I shuddered. As I lay there in the snow bank, shivering and in pain I glanced up to the sky and saw snow began to fall once again. Tears caught in my eyes as I tried to struggle, but completely failed to get to my feet, I tried to look at the ankle and paled when I saw the swelling. Frodo Baggins…you darn fool.
I looked up and down the road…no one would be up at this time of the morning. I shook snow from my hair…it was coming down a little faster now. There was nothing for it but to crawl to Bag End…otherwise I would sit here and freeze to death. I gritted my teeth and began to pull myself to the roadside, that's when I heard a female voice squeak in surprise.
"Sir? Sir…are you hurt?" I recognized the voice…and sighed with relief. It was Sam Gamgee's sister Marigold, young…about 31 I thought…but she had quite a bit of sense. I looked up at the figure who was looking quite as astonished as myself to find someone else on the road this morning. She wrinkled her nose a little…I think she smelled the wine…When I raised my head she gasped in surprise. "Mr. Baggins! Oh Dear…Oh Dear…let me help you." she hurried over and knelt beside me.
Marigold was a comely lass, of stocky build and dark-blonde locks that fell about her hazel eyes. She had her brother's look to her, but beyond that they were as different as carrots and cinnamon. "Hullo…" I managed weakly, my cheeks red with embarrassment to having been caught in such a disgraceful state.
"Goodness Gracious, Mr. Baggins, what happened…oh dear, your poor ankle, you must have slipped on that nasty sheet of ice. Here….take my hand and lean on me." she held out her small hand and I looked at her dubiously, she was not that big of a lass and I would easily clear a foot over her. "Come now, Mr. Baggins…I'm not as frail as one of them Bracegirldles…take my hand now." her voice held quite a bit of determination and I sighed and finally accepted her help.
"Marigold Gamgee…isn't it?" My words to me came out slurred and unsteady…but I was quite sure who -she- was. The lass nodded and to my surprise easily managed to help me rise. I winced, cringing at the pain and found that my fingers were not working properly. I draped my arm around her and she held me up miraculously.
"Yes, Mr. Baggins. That's it…lean on me now. Steady…" she glanced about, "Dear me the snow is starting to come down very hard. We have to get you home."
"Home…" I sighed softly, my head swimming, "Home is far away…"
She half carried…half dragged me up to Bag End as the snow kept falling heavier and heavier. Once we got there, she had to fumble in my pockets for the keys because I was too incoherent to do anything but giggle briefly when she found the wine glass. She shook her head, and at that moment I wondered…what had she to shake her head about? She was up this early too…and what was she doing outside and alone? I gazed at her…she really was a comely lass…and full of spirit.
Marigold unlocked the door and thankfully managed to get me inside and down on the nearest chair. I literally fell on it wincing in pain from my ankle. I didn't notice then…but the rest of me was pretty numb with cold. The fire in the fireplace was dying out as Marigold shut the door. This would never do…she should be alone in Bag End…with me…at this hour.
"Run along home, now…Th-Thank-you." My teeth chattered as I gazed at her. She was bundled up in thread-bare sweaters and scarves but at least she had the sense to dress warmly. Her cheeks were rosy pink from the cold outside and she shook her head furiously.
"I wouldn't think of it." she marched straight over to the fire place, "I'll just put a log on the fire and set you up comfy and then I'll go fetch Sam. Just you sit there, now and don't you be doing anything foolish like trying to get up." Her voice was stern…and I smiled a little.
"Yes, Ma'am…" I watched her as she put a few more logs in the fire and then came back over to me. She found a wooden chair and a footrest and brought them over. The fire now rose warm and full and I was thankful of the heat. She took off her gloves and rubbed her hands together a bit, watching me in concern. I chuckled a little to myself, because I had a feeling I knew what she was thinking. She was literally in the lion's den. I was as harmless as a mouse, though with all the rumors about hobbit on, I wasn't surprised at her reaction.
"Put your foot up here, Mr. Baggins, and let me take a look at it." she directed calmly. I did as I was instructed and she smiled softly. I leaned back and let her tend to my foot …and as she did, I gazed at the fire…and remembered another lass…
--begin flashback--
"Frodo." Chloe shook her head in amusement as I gazed at her. We were lying in my bed and her arm was wrapped around me in comfort. The fire in my room was burning steadily and despite the hell of the last few days I was finally feeling warm and cozy. They had had their hands full with me for I had not kept anything down until recently, Chloe had tried her best to get me to take even the easiest of food, but nothing had stayed down…until she directed Bilbo to prepare a strange mixture of spices in a simple chicken broth. She had patiently dipped bread into the broth and placed tiny pieces into my mouth while I chewed and swallowed hesitantly.
She'd told me stories of the wood, and calmed me enough that I would eat. The bread was soft enough that it had trickled easily down my throat and there was something in the broth that was making me a little lightheaded and drowsy. Bilbo had come in earlier and tried to tell Chloe to leave me to sleep, but I wasn't having any of that. I was warm for the first time in days and my stomach didn't feel like it was going to heave. After I ate the broth…she had given me some of the medicine that had been left behind from the last time I had a fever like this.
After I had laid down for a while and been calm I found that I was finally comfortable enough that I could sleep, my voice hoarse still though and my throat numb with pain I whispered, "Chloe…thank-you…I…like you…please don't go away…." My eyes drooped as I struggled to keep them open.
"I like you too Frodo." she had said, and for some reason…that had lifted my heart and I smiled weakly. "Sleep now, and don't try and talk." she directed gently.
I obliged and finally drifted off to sleep, wondering..wondering if she would still like me later.
"Frodo…" I heard a voice calling urgently.
---end flashback--
"Mr. Baggins……Frodo…Mr. Frodo…are you alright?" Marigolds urgent tone shook me back to reality and for a moment I thought she was Chloe….a little deliriously I reached out to touch her face…even through fingers that were numb with cold.. I wanted Chloe. "Mr. Baggins?" her eyes were wide and her lips trembled. Full lips…I cursed that I was too weak to move…and my hand dropped down.
"Go on now…" I managed to get out, suddenly my temper was rearing its ugly head, and my eyes were showing their disappointment when I realized who she was. I glared at her for not being the one I wanted. "Go on home little girl…I'll be alright. Thank-you. You've done enough." I reached into my pocket and plucked out a few silver coins, dropping them into her stunned hand.
She dropped the money on a nearby table and rose steadily, her eyes flashing though she was trying to remain calm and polite. Well now…a Gamgee with spirit. I smiled at her sardonically. "I don't want your money, Mr. Baggins. I was just trying to help you." she wrapped her scarf around her neck, "Clearly…YOU don't want to be helped." she could not resist snaping. As she did, her cheeks flamed with color and and she strode over to the door, opening it…to a blast of snow and wind that literally sent her sprawling. She let out a yelp and jumped to her feet. Quickly, she rushed to the door and shut it, latching it with a panting breath.
"It seems." I tried hard to be as stoic as I possibly could. "You're my guest for the night." The absolute -last- thing I wanted was someone else in Bag End tonight.
* * *