Author Notes : Mish – hi again ! They'll be rescued, no fear ! Read on ! Ouch, that bamboo thing sounds horrible ! Poor you ! Paper Crane – Okay, I'm hurrying ! ^_^ Here you go ! IloveSam – the thought-reading thing I'm not so sure I can explain. Don't worry, it confuses Sam and Frodo too. ^_^ Elvish – hi ! I'm always glad to get a new reviewer ! Wow, you like it that much ? I'm impressed with myself ^_^ I've updated for you ! Mistress-Samwise – band practice ? ! Ack ! Well read an' review soon as you get home ! tiggivon – thanks ! That good, huh ? *blushes dark red* Tigrin – glad to hear you didn't get sick ^_^ Soulmates ? But of course ! And they are so cute ! I love them both ! Okay, it's the second moment you've all been waiting for – they get rescued ! But this isn't the last chapter, so don't read it as such ! Onward and upward, mes amis !
Bilbo and Hamfast fought their way up one hill, searching all around for the boys, but saw no sign. The wind drove the rain against them, and they squinted to see through it. Well that's one hill down. Just ten or twenty more to go, thought Bilbo grimly. And I'll be hanged if I don't search every single one of them !
« Do you know of any sort of shelter they might have taken ? » he called to the gardener. « Any of these hills in particular they might have gone to ? » Hamfast shook his head.
« Could be any of 'em, sir. They all have shelters of sorts – little hollows, overhangs. We'll just have to check them all » he said. Bilbo sighed. Well, if that's what it takes – I'll just pretend I'm off with the dwarves again. You've faced down dragons, Bilbo Baggins ! What's a little rain to you ? he thought bravely. It's not me I'm worried about so much as the boys. Who, for the record, are aged four and sixteen and have never seen a dragon in their lives. Father, keep them safe ! Let us find them. And soon.
Hamfast was having his own worries. He's hurt, I know it. An' probably lost. Please Father, let young Frodo be with him. I trust that boy he'll take care of Sam. Or the other way round, if it comes to that. Don't let it come to that, please. I don't ask much, I never have. But please just let us find them. Let them be safe they're too special to lose. Please, Father. *Please*. He raised his eyes to the heavy dark sky, and to Bilbo, who stood next to him, he appeared to be searching for something. He took a deep breath. « Let's try that one there, » he said.
« Right, » said Bilbo.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Frodo sniffed and shifted uncomfortably. He sniffed again, and then again. Oh, hell. He wiped the back of his hand under his nose. Dryer than my handkerchief, anyway, he thought wryly. Swallowing, he realized his throat felt a little sore. Damn. I *am* catching a chill. Well that's just perfect. Just *perfect*. He scowled half-heartedly, and felt the child shift in his arms. Sam had been sleeping for nearly an hour, so heavily he almost wasn't breathing.
Frodo had been uncertain as to whether he should wake him from his unnaturally still slumber. I think he's in shock. I don't think you should let people fall asleep when they're in shock – or is that for concussions ? His aunt Clementine, back at Brandy Hall, was a healer, but he had seldom listened to her lessons. Now he mentally kicked himself for his inattention. At least when he's sleeping he's not in so much pain. At least, I think he's not. Carefully, almost nervously, he concentrated his thoughts on Sam's. No, he is. The dull red mist still permeated Sam's consciousness, though the soft greyness almost covered it. Then he sniffed and Sam stirred, and the greyness in his mind dissolved. His Elf-child woke slowly, reluctantly leaving the haven of his unconsciousness.
They haven't come yet ? he asked unhappily. No, Sam. Sorry, Frodo said apologetically. How long has it been, anyway ? asked Sam. Only an hour, Frodo answered. Blank disbelief reached him. An hour ? Oh, Father, save me ! ~ Sam ? Sam, what's wrong ? asked Frodo, alarmed. I hurt, came the miserable reply. An' it feels like I've been hurting for ten thousand years, but you said it was only an hour. His small arms reached up and once again fastened themselves securely around Frodo's neck. Tell me it was more than that, his small voice pleaded. Frodo's eyes filled with tears. « Oh, baby… » he whispered against Sam's forehead. If I lied to you, you wouldn't believe me, he answered sorrowfully. Raising his eyes, he again turned his thoughts to the West.
Father, let him be alright. Make it go away, just let it go away so he can sleep. Please. This time, however, the prayer went unanswered. The blood-colored mist turned again to ever-strengthening flashes of red and black. They shuddered through Sam and reduced his universe to a single, knifelike pain that shot endlessly from his foot to his thigh. He buried his face in Frodo's shoulder and wept. Tears slid down Frodo's cheeks as he held Sam, who shivered in his agony. Never in all his life had Frodo felt so helpless, so sickeningly vulnerable. And I only just met him today. Maybe that's what soulmates are ? To love eachother like this ? He sighed. I don't know. I only hope Bilbo shows up soon. Or *someone* at least. We need help. He's hurt he may be getting sick. He swallowed again and winced. I'm definitely getting sick. My head hurts and my throat hurts, and all my muscles hurt from sitting here so long. Not that I'm moving, not with him in my lap. I'd rather die than hurt him, he thought. Perhaps that's a bit melodramatic. But it's true. I would. He sniffed again, and a tentative flash of violet-colored worry came to his mind.
Are you alright ? Sam asked, laying quiet a moment. Frodo hesitated, unsure what to answer. I … I don't feel so good, he decided. Another, brighter flash. You're sick. ~ No, I'm not, said Frodo. Yes you are, I feel it. You're sick. ~ It's nothing, Sam, Frodo thought irritably. Really. Anyway, *you're* the one who needs help, not me. A brief white flash of annoyance crossed Sam's mind. Sorry, he said. But you *are* sick. Frodo sighed. Maybe so. But so are you. The faint laughter chimed again in his mind. Then we'll be sick together, Sam said with a brave attempt at a smile. Frodo looked down at him and smiled back. Alright, then. We can be sick together. Bilbo will come and find us and take us back to Bag End, and then we'll get hot baths and dry clothes and they'll set your ankle and we can sleep in one great bed – my bed – and when you're feeling better, I'll read you stories. How about that ? A radiant flash of green was his answer, and despite his worries and extreme discomfort, Frodo laughed. Good. Believe and make it so. ~ I believe, said the child.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
« Anything ? » Hamfast called.
« Nothing ! » Bilbo shouted back. « If the rain keeps up like this, we shall *have* to return home. No point in us getting drowned out here what help would we be to them then ? »
Hamfast shook his head. « We'll find 'em. I know we will. Just have to keep looking. »
« Are you sure ? » Bilbo asked doubtfully.
« Sure as I can be of anythin', Master Bilbo. But I'm not coming back without my son, nor your nephew, an' that's all there is to it, » the gardener answered stubbornly. « So let's try that hill. »
They walked down from the top of the hill they were on, leaping over the swiftly rushing streams of rainwater that had formed. The grassy meadows between the hills had become flooded marshland in the space of a few hours. Both Bilbo and Hamfast were so wet they doubted they'd ever be dry again. They crossed the small valley and began to climb the dark, sloping hillside. A small waterfall had formed over a thrust of granite, spilling down on their heads as they passed under it.
This is steep ! Bilbo thought, scrambling to keep from falling. Think of dwarves, Bilbo. There. You've done harder things than this. Now keep moving, he ordered himself.
« Look there ! » Hamfast cried suddenly. Bilbo's head jerked up, but he saw nothing. Only rain and more hillside.
« Where ? » he asked, confused.
« There ! » said Hamfast, pointing up. Bilbo strained his sight and through the blinding rain, he barely made out a darker patch on the hill's face. He turned to the gardener, even more confused.
« What is it ? » he shouted above the wind. Hamfast's dark eyes were bright with hope.
« It's a hollow – an overhang. An' a fairly big one, too. They might be up there ! » he answered. Bilbo, too, felt hope surge in his breast. « Right, then. What are we waiting for ? » he said.
They walked swiftly up the hill.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Frodo, why aren't they coming ? Sam asked miserably. I don't know, little one, Frodo said, equally unhappy. But I wish they would hurry up already. How're you doing ? ~ I'll live, came the reply in a strange, cynical tone. Good grief. 'I'll live'. You sound like an old soldier, saying that. As if you doubted it, Frodo teased gently. Sam sighed. I don't doubt it, but it feels that bad, and – well… ~ Don't worry, Sam. They're coming, I know it. ~ You do ? ~ Would I lie to you ? Sam tilted his head to the side, considering. If you thought it would make me feel better, yes, he decided. Frodo blushed. Guilty as charged, he admitted. But they *will* come, Samwise. They have to. Sam smiled weakly. I believe, he said. Good lad, thought Frodo, kissing him on the brow. He frowned suddenly.
« Sam ? » he said aloud. Sam started at the sound of his voice.
« Hmmm ? » he asked, raising his brows.
« Sam, do you hear voices ? » They looked at eachother and frowned, looking back out from under the overhang. A heavy curtain of rain veiled the entrance, and they saw nothing. « Sorry. I thought – there it is again ! » Frodo cried. Ouch ! He reached his hand up to his throat and winced. So raising my voice isn't a good idea. The sounds became clearer and they looked at eachother hopefully. They've come for us, they've found us, we're saved ! they thought together.
« Up there ! » came a faint cry. That's my dad ! Sam said, astonished.
« Just a little further – » And that's Bilbo ! Frodo thought. Wild joy sang in their veins at being found thoughts of hot baths and dry clothes and a great big bed where they would read stories – all these they thought, and clasped eachother tightly in their hope. We've got to call to them, said Sam. Let them know we're here. Frodo nodded emphatically. I'll yell. You just lay still, he commanded, glad to feel no protest.
« Bilbo ! Bilbo ! Up here ! We're up here ! » he screamed.
« It's young Frodo's voice ! No mistaking ! » he heard Hamfast cry. Breathing deep, he screamed out again.
« Up here ! In the hollow ! We're up here ! » To his undying relief, he saw two dark forms appear behind the curtain of rain. « In here ! » he screamed a final time, and the curtain parted.
« Dad ! » cried Samwise. Hamfast was at his side in an instant, dropping to his knees. Bilbo was beside Frodo. They regarded one another uncertainly for a moment, before Frodo broke into a smile.
« What took you so long ? » he asked, and Bilbo saw forgiveness in his great blue eyes. He smiled back, and would have thrown his arms around Frodo if Sam hadn't fully occupied the space he wanted to throw his arms around. Hamfast looked up, his dark eyes anxious.
« He's hurt, » he said, gesturing to his son. Bilbo looked down and saw Sam's injured limb for the first time.
« By the Father ! How did you manage that, my boy ? » he asked. Sam made another brave attempt at a smile, but failed. The bruises on his ankle had traveled halfway up his leg, and his blood pooled on the ground next to Frodo's thigh. The sharp edge of the rock protruding from his foot made both Bilbo and Hamfast flinch away.
« I think his ankle's broken, » said Frodo worriedly. « He broke it about two hours ago. And the rock's been there that – » he broke off as a spasm of coughing hit him. Told you you were sick, Sam said softly. Oh, shut up, answered Frodo, still coughing.
« Frodo, you're sick ! » said Bilbo. Brilliant, Bilbo. State the obvious, why don't you, he reprimanded himself.
« We need to get you two home, then, » said Hamfast. « And quick. Need to get that taken care of. » He reached to take his son from Frodo's arms, and Sam and Frodo clung instinctively tighter.
« He doesn't want to be moved, » Frodo said, and Sam shook his head to illustrate the point. « I've got him, anyway. »
« S' alright, Dad, » Sam said in response to his father's doubtful look. « I want to stay with him. » Hamfast quirked an eyebrow and looked at him skeptically, then shook his head and smiled.
« Alright, then. If that's what you want. An' assuming he wants to carry you. »
« I want to, » Frodo said quickly.
« Well, then. We should start heading back, » said Bilbo. Frodo stood slowly, stiffly, with Sam still in his arms. I've got you, little one. Hold tight. We're going home. See ? I told you they'd come for us. ~ You told me, Sam agreed. An' I believed you. We're goin' home.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: And the saga continues! I promised my darling boys hot baths and warm clothes, not to mention storytime! And I can't break my promises to them, can I? Read, review, and watch for updates!