CHAPTER 6
Bilbo stirred the pea and ham soup again and listened carefully for the sound of the bathroom door opening. Frodo had been in there for a long time, but then, not only had he been very grimy, but he was also very sore. Farmer Brownlock had worked him hard, not unreasonably so, but Frodo was not used to such hard manual labour and when he came through the door Bilbo had taken one look at the lad and ordered him off to the bathroom, with instructions to take a long soak.
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Feeling the effects of a long day himself, Bilbo had finally left Frodo's bedside at about midnight. The tweenager appeared to be sleeping normally at last and Bilbo was in need of his own bed, deciding that he was far too old to sit up in a chair all night. He may as well have done so, however, because he spent most of the rest of the night lying awake in case Frodo stirred.
At about four o'clock he heard the young hobbit get up and leave for Deep Coomb Farm. How Frodo had known the time, Bilbo could not guess, as he had forgotten to set the alarm on the mantle clock, but Frodo had dutifully turned up on the Brownlock's doorstep at 5 o'clock. To his surprise, Mr and Mrs Brownlock gave him breakfast, before Mr Brownlock led him off to the milking parlour.
Frodo was rather pleased that the Brownlocks did not have a large dairy herd. Not only did he discover that he did not have a talent for milking but he had been given the job of helping Mr Brownlock's oldest son, Tom, with cleaning up the milking parlour afterwards.
There had been many other dirty and unpleasant jobs throughout the long day but he was never asked to do anything that the Brownlocks did not, and was often set to help one of the many children in their daily tasks. No mention was made of the reason for his visit and everyone treated him as though he were one of the family, including him in their conversation and inviting him to share their meals. Rather than make him feel better, this only served to make him feel more contrite, for he was not sure that if the roles had been reversed he would have been so gracious.
The young hobbit learned many valuable lessons that day that he would remember throughout his life. His main one being that becoming a gentlehobbit had nothing to do with wealth or position. Frodo decided that Mr Brownlock was more of a gentlehobbit than he would ever become.
At the end of the day, Mrs Brownlock had hugged him and pressed a large covered basket in to his hands. For a moment, Frodo was frightened that it would be mushrooms. It would be several months before the young hobbit regained his love of that particular delicacy. When he lifted the cloth, however, he found some fresh cured bacon, a clutch of soft bread rolls and a small round of butter. He thanked them and headed off home, feeling much lighter in spirit.
Unfortunately it had rained, heavily, on the way home and when Frodo arrived back at Bag End he was tired and soaking wet.
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The opening of the bathroom door was accompanied by a cloud of steam and Bilbo called from the kitchen. "Come and get your supper, Frodo. I've added some of that nice bacon to the pea soup and we can have those lovely soft bread rolls with it."
"I'm coming, Bilbo."
The older hobbit's eyes twinkled as he set out the bowls. It was nice to be 'Bilbo' again, instead of 'Uncle Bilbo'.
When Frodo came to the table, Bilbo noticed a change in the lad. It seemed to his uncle that a new peace had settled over him. His uncle chuckled, however, when that peace was broken by a loud sneeze from his nephew. Now that he looked carefully Bilbo could see a slight pinkness to the tip of the lad's nose. It looked like Frodo was in for a summer cold.
Bilbo filled his nephew's bowl with the thick, fragrant soup and passed him the bread and they both tucked in to their meal. Afterwards they shared the washing up and then went to sit by the fire in the parlour. Bilbo lit his pipe and blew the occasional smoke ring and Frodo picked up his book and lit one of the small oil lamps to read by. Bilbo did not pry into his nephew's day and Frodo was grateful that he did not. It would take him some time to settle things in his mind.
Bilbo looked up to find Frodo staring in to the fire, the open book left unread on his lap.
"A penny for them?" he offered.
Frodo blinked. "I'm sorry, Bilbo. Did you say something?"
"A penny for your thoughts, lad? You were a world away for a moment, there." Bilbo smiled.
Frodo laughed, softly: a sound that lifted Bilbo's heart. "I was just looking at the fire and I was reminded of your journey to Smaug's mountain. I was wondering if I will ever have an adventure like that, one day. I would so like to meet elves." He looked up at his uncle. "I love to hear tales about the times when they were the rulers of our world, before they began to leave, over the sea. I wonder if I will ever see one before they all go."
The germ of an idea began to form in Bilbo's head. "Well now, I can't guarantee that you will ever meet one but you can read their stories in the books in my study. All the ones on the top shelf have come from Rivendell."
"But I can't read elvish, Bilbo." Frodo sneezed again and blew his nose, loudly.
"That's easily remedied. If you've a mind to learn I'll be quite happy to teach you."
Frodo slammed his book shut and his eyes grew wide. "Oh, yes please, Bilbo. When can we start?"
Bilbo chuckled, pleased to see some spirit returning to the young hobbit and gratified that he wanted to learn. Part of his reason for wanting an heir was so that he could pass on his knowledge and share it with someone. "Woe there! It's a little late at night to be starting such a weighty task. And, if that clock is correct, it is your bed time, anyway. We can start in the morning, if you still want to."
"I hadn't realised it was that late." With not a word of complaint, Frodo turned down the lamp, set his book aside and made to leave. "Goodnight, Bilbo." On a sudden impulse he bent down and gave his uncle a quick hug. Bilbo blinked back a tear, but Frodo had already turned to leave the room.
"Goodnight, Frodo, my lad. And, Frodo?"
"Yes, Bilbo?"
"First lesson. The term, 'elvish' covers several languages. You will be learning, Quenya."
"Thank you, Bilbo." Bilbo heard him repeat it several times as he walked to his bedroom. "Quenya."