Chapter Thirty Seven
"Daisy! Frodo!" Nina's heart leapt into her throat the very moment she saw merry walking out of the forest, carrying the twins in his arms. Pippin was behind him, carrying a dead animal of some sort over his back, which made Nina a little nervous as to how and why that animal got there. Seeing the twins were unhurt she sighed a sigh of relief . . . until she spotted her husband walking out of the trees, carrying a hurt Lömadia in his arms.
"Lömadia?!" Nina got up quickly and rushed towards the hobbits. "What happened?!" she cried, as she heard the sobs from the twins.
"L-Lömadia took us on an adventure . . . she said she would protect us but a pig with horns on its face came and hurt her Mama!" Daisy cried.
"Oh my goodness, darlings, are you hurt?!"
"They're fine, Nina, honestly" Merry said. "Just shaken up. Pip and I managed to kill the boar before it hurt Lömadia further"
"Lömadia is hurt?!" Nina could not believe her ears as she stared at Frodo, who had stood still and was hugging his daughter tightly to him. This must be serious.
She walked slowly towards the husband. "F-Frodo?" she stammered.
Frodo looked to his wife and smiled weakly. "Its fine, Love," she said quietly. "Our children are fine"
Lömadia looked to her mother, and Nina saw the tears.
"I'm alright Mama" she sobbed. "Papa, Uncle Merry and Uncle Pippin saved me"
"Frodo, what happened?"
"They were attacked by a wild boar . . . it managed to wind our child and bruise her shoulder. Apart from that and a twisted ankle, she's fine"
"Oh Lömadia," Nina cried, hugging her daughter. "You could have been killed . . . and then what would your Mama and Papa do?!"
"I'm sorry Mama, truly" Lömadia sobbed again.
"It's alright Little One, what's important now is that you're all safe with us" Nina kissed her daughter's cheek softly. Frodo held Nina's hand, and carried Lömadia in his other arm as they headed back to the camp soundly.
"Is she alright?" Holly asked nervously.
"She's fine" Frodo answered, placing Lömadia on the ground and wrapping a blanket around her.
The twins crawled into Nina's arms as she soothed them gently. Portia and Nissa were holding Krystal and Samwise, trying to coax them to sleep.
"I think we should boil up some Athelas" Merry said. "It would help them to sleep and drive away what pain Lömadia is feeling" "Yes, yes, that would be a good idea Meriadoc" Frodo said quietly, never taking his eyes of his daughter.
Merry jumped up and headed back into the forest, Pippin and Sogrin at his heels. They later came back with some Athelas and boiled it over the fire. The strong aroma of the medicine made the children grimace slightly. No matter, they would need the tea.
Pippin poured it equally amongst three cups and handed one to Frodo and Daisy who was coaxed by Nina to drink it to get better. Lömadia, on the other hand would not.
"Lömadia, dear, come on and drink this. It will stop the pain" Frodo coaxed, trying to hand her the cup.
"It's smells bad and that means it tastes bad" Lömadia answered. "I don't want to drink it Papa"
Frodo helped Lömadia sit up and élan against him, not taking her excuses.
"Drink it," he said gently, handing her the cup. "For Papa?"
Lömadia heaved out a huff in defeat. She admired and loved her Papa dearly, as she did her Mama. She took the cup and began to drink it fast, as to get it all over and done with. Frodo laughed breathlessly as her little nose scrunched up at the taste, but she drank none the less. The tea worked quickly on them, for as soon as Lömadia, Frodo and Daisy lay down, they fell into a deep sleep.
"I reckon we should get the children safe in the cart" Friagrin whispered. "I shall stay on watch first . . . you all get some sleep"
Nina smiled to her brother, who, like Sogrin, had matured a great deal since being in Rivendell. But despite their new found mature-characters, they still had their cheeky, mischievous side like Merry and Pippin.
//
The next morning, Lömadia seemed a lot better . . . but Frodo and Nina had winced upon checking her shoulder. The red mark had now turned into a big, purple bruise.
"It doesn't hurt anymore Papa. That smelly tea made it better" Lömadia assured her parents.
Pippin and Merry jumped onto the front of the cart and grabbed the reins. The pony started to move forward after a bit of swearing and tugged as it tried to eat more of the green grass.
The remainders of the boar had made quite a nice 1st and 2nd breakfast for the hobbits. They all sat in the back of the carriage, patting their full tummies. Frodo and Daisy were a lot better after the ordeal with the boar, but would not leave their mother's side. Frodo, meanwhile kept by Lömadia's side, aiding her, nursing her, making sure she was comfortable. Nina smiled as she watched her husband drift off into sleep again next to Lömadia, who snuggled up to her father.
"By Elbereth, I shall never cease to be amazed at how good a father Frodo Baggins is!" Holly exclaimed. "I never thought he had it in him when we were younger. But just look at him, he really cares a great deal about the ones he loves"
"That he does," Nina smiled as the twins fell asleep at her side. 2Though I fear he cares a great deal too much"
Faramir had jumped onto the front of the cart next to Pippin, who hugged his son to him and let him drive for a little while.
"Pippin seems that way also. Funny, I never imaged Pippin as a father figure" Nina chuckled slightly to Holly.
"Nor did I!" Holly admitted. "I dare say Eglantine Took will not be too pleased . . . she always wanted Pip to marry Diamond of Long Cleeve"
"Perhaps she will have a change of heart seeing you both have a son"
"Perhaps so will your parents" Holly cocked her eyebrows to Nina with a slight smile. "I know you worry about their reactions, but does it truly matter? We are all happy and contented. Do not let them trouble your heart further"
Nina smiled, Holly being as understanding as always.
//
Within three days of travelling they had reached Bree, much to the delight of Butterbur who could not believe how much Lömadia had grown and that Mr Underhill had yet more children. Nob could not get enough of them either, giving Frodo, Nina, Pippin and Holly a well deserved break as he cared for and played with every one of them.
Lömadia had healed quite well, though the bruising had remained and she could not walk properly on her ankle. Frodo guessed it was as good as a sprain or a fracture and intended on taking her straight to the Proudfoot's as soon as they returned to the Shire.
After a night pf pints and well cooked food and hospitality, the hobbit retreated to their rooms, exchanging goodnights with one another. When Frodo and Nina retreated to their room, they were happy to find that all their children we're sleeping silently and peacefully after being tucked in by Nob.
"He does love children doesn't he" Nina smiled, slipping into the bed beside Frodo and leaning into his embrace.
"That he does," Frodo smiled. "I do think our children love him too"
"Frodo?" Nina whispered as Frodo's eyes began to close.
"Yes, Melamin?"
"Where will we live when we return? We cannot ask for Sam and Rose's hospitality in Bag End can we?"
A smile, for some reason appeared on Frodo's lips. "No, no we cannot"
"Then where shall we live?" Nina bit her lip. "Brandyhall?"
"No, not at Brandyhall" the smile stayed on Frodo's face and Nina touched his lips lightly with her fingertips.
"Then where?" the last whisper came out as only a breath.
"We are going to live in Hobbiton, in a beautiful hole that Samwise has kindly brought for us. I shall pay him back the debts, of course, though I wanted it to be a surprise for you and the children"
Nina smiled, placing a soft kiss on Frodo's lips. "I love you" she sighed, snuggling up against him and his arms came around her. Nina heard 'I love you too' from Frodo, though it was only a silent breath as he was swept away into a deep slumber.
"Daisy! Frodo!" Nina's heart leapt into her throat the very moment she saw merry walking out of the forest, carrying the twins in his arms. Pippin was behind him, carrying a dead animal of some sort over his back, which made Nina a little nervous as to how and why that animal got there. Seeing the twins were unhurt she sighed a sigh of relief . . . until she spotted her husband walking out of the trees, carrying a hurt Lömadia in his arms.
"Lömadia?!" Nina got up quickly and rushed towards the hobbits. "What happened?!" she cried, as she heard the sobs from the twins.
"L-Lömadia took us on an adventure . . . she said she would protect us but a pig with horns on its face came and hurt her Mama!" Daisy cried.
"Oh my goodness, darlings, are you hurt?!"
"They're fine, Nina, honestly" Merry said. "Just shaken up. Pip and I managed to kill the boar before it hurt Lömadia further"
"Lömadia is hurt?!" Nina could not believe her ears as she stared at Frodo, who had stood still and was hugging his daughter tightly to him. This must be serious.
She walked slowly towards the husband. "F-Frodo?" she stammered.
Frodo looked to his wife and smiled weakly. "Its fine, Love," she said quietly. "Our children are fine"
Lömadia looked to her mother, and Nina saw the tears.
"I'm alright Mama" she sobbed. "Papa, Uncle Merry and Uncle Pippin saved me"
"Frodo, what happened?"
"They were attacked by a wild boar . . . it managed to wind our child and bruise her shoulder. Apart from that and a twisted ankle, she's fine"
"Oh Lömadia," Nina cried, hugging her daughter. "You could have been killed . . . and then what would your Mama and Papa do?!"
"I'm sorry Mama, truly" Lömadia sobbed again.
"It's alright Little One, what's important now is that you're all safe with us" Nina kissed her daughter's cheek softly. Frodo held Nina's hand, and carried Lömadia in his other arm as they headed back to the camp soundly.
"Is she alright?" Holly asked nervously.
"She's fine" Frodo answered, placing Lömadia on the ground and wrapping a blanket around her.
The twins crawled into Nina's arms as she soothed them gently. Portia and Nissa were holding Krystal and Samwise, trying to coax them to sleep.
"I think we should boil up some Athelas" Merry said. "It would help them to sleep and drive away what pain Lömadia is feeling" "Yes, yes, that would be a good idea Meriadoc" Frodo said quietly, never taking his eyes of his daughter.
Merry jumped up and headed back into the forest, Pippin and Sogrin at his heels. They later came back with some Athelas and boiled it over the fire. The strong aroma of the medicine made the children grimace slightly. No matter, they would need the tea.
Pippin poured it equally amongst three cups and handed one to Frodo and Daisy who was coaxed by Nina to drink it to get better. Lömadia, on the other hand would not.
"Lömadia, dear, come on and drink this. It will stop the pain" Frodo coaxed, trying to hand her the cup.
"It's smells bad and that means it tastes bad" Lömadia answered. "I don't want to drink it Papa"
Frodo helped Lömadia sit up and élan against him, not taking her excuses.
"Drink it," he said gently, handing her the cup. "For Papa?"
Lömadia heaved out a huff in defeat. She admired and loved her Papa dearly, as she did her Mama. She took the cup and began to drink it fast, as to get it all over and done with. Frodo laughed breathlessly as her little nose scrunched up at the taste, but she drank none the less. The tea worked quickly on them, for as soon as Lömadia, Frodo and Daisy lay down, they fell into a deep sleep.
"I reckon we should get the children safe in the cart" Friagrin whispered. "I shall stay on watch first . . . you all get some sleep"
Nina smiled to her brother, who, like Sogrin, had matured a great deal since being in Rivendell. But despite their new found mature-characters, they still had their cheeky, mischievous side like Merry and Pippin.
//
The next morning, Lömadia seemed a lot better . . . but Frodo and Nina had winced upon checking her shoulder. The red mark had now turned into a big, purple bruise.
"It doesn't hurt anymore Papa. That smelly tea made it better" Lömadia assured her parents.
Pippin and Merry jumped onto the front of the cart and grabbed the reins. The pony started to move forward after a bit of swearing and tugged as it tried to eat more of the green grass.
The remainders of the boar had made quite a nice 1st and 2nd breakfast for the hobbits. They all sat in the back of the carriage, patting their full tummies. Frodo and Daisy were a lot better after the ordeal with the boar, but would not leave their mother's side. Frodo, meanwhile kept by Lömadia's side, aiding her, nursing her, making sure she was comfortable. Nina smiled as she watched her husband drift off into sleep again next to Lömadia, who snuggled up to her father.
"By Elbereth, I shall never cease to be amazed at how good a father Frodo Baggins is!" Holly exclaimed. "I never thought he had it in him when we were younger. But just look at him, he really cares a great deal about the ones he loves"
"That he does," Nina smiled as the twins fell asleep at her side. 2Though I fear he cares a great deal too much"
Faramir had jumped onto the front of the cart next to Pippin, who hugged his son to him and let him drive for a little while.
"Pippin seems that way also. Funny, I never imaged Pippin as a father figure" Nina chuckled slightly to Holly.
"Nor did I!" Holly admitted. "I dare say Eglantine Took will not be too pleased . . . she always wanted Pip to marry Diamond of Long Cleeve"
"Perhaps she will have a change of heart seeing you both have a son"
"Perhaps so will your parents" Holly cocked her eyebrows to Nina with a slight smile. "I know you worry about their reactions, but does it truly matter? We are all happy and contented. Do not let them trouble your heart further"
Nina smiled, Holly being as understanding as always.
//
Within three days of travelling they had reached Bree, much to the delight of Butterbur who could not believe how much Lömadia had grown and that Mr Underhill had yet more children. Nob could not get enough of them either, giving Frodo, Nina, Pippin and Holly a well deserved break as he cared for and played with every one of them.
Lömadia had healed quite well, though the bruising had remained and she could not walk properly on her ankle. Frodo guessed it was as good as a sprain or a fracture and intended on taking her straight to the Proudfoot's as soon as they returned to the Shire.
After a night pf pints and well cooked food and hospitality, the hobbit retreated to their rooms, exchanging goodnights with one another. When Frodo and Nina retreated to their room, they were happy to find that all their children we're sleeping silently and peacefully after being tucked in by Nob.
"He does love children doesn't he" Nina smiled, slipping into the bed beside Frodo and leaning into his embrace.
"That he does," Frodo smiled. "I do think our children love him too"
"Frodo?" Nina whispered as Frodo's eyes began to close.
"Yes, Melamin?"
"Where will we live when we return? We cannot ask for Sam and Rose's hospitality in Bag End can we?"
A smile, for some reason appeared on Frodo's lips. "No, no we cannot"
"Then where shall we live?" Nina bit her lip. "Brandyhall?"
"No, not at Brandyhall" the smile stayed on Frodo's face and Nina touched his lips lightly with her fingertips.
"Then where?" the last whisper came out as only a breath.
"We are going to live in Hobbiton, in a beautiful hole that Samwise has kindly brought for us. I shall pay him back the debts, of course, though I wanted it to be a surprise for you and the children"
Nina smiled, placing a soft kiss on Frodo's lips. "I love you" she sighed, snuggling up against him and his arms came around her. Nina heard 'I love you too' from Frodo, though it was only a silent breath as he was swept away into a deep slumber.