Chapter 2
On the Bell
Frodo slept like a log all night and didn't even hear the door open the next morning. Sam stepped inside Bag-End, stunned to hear the silence in the smial. Checking his pocketwatch, Sam made his way towards his master's bedroom and pushed it open, trying not to make too much noise. Frodo was still asleep, only the tip of his head showing beneath the covers. Sam also took notice of the crumpled handkerchief that lay on Frodo's nighttable and the bottle of cough syrup.
The gardener walked over to Frodo's bedside and gave the gentlehobbit a shake. "Mr. Frodo?" he asked. "Mr. Frodo." Instead of a reply Sam received Frodo's fist alongside his jaw, and he stumbled back with shock.
"Oh!" Frodo sat up, clutching his blankets. "Dear Sam-I didn't mean to hurt you. You startled me!"
Sam flexed his jaw muscles and touched the sore spot with his hand. "That's-that's all right, sir. What're you doin' still in bed? I saw a whole band of your relatives headin' this way jus' a half hour ago."
Frodo groaned inwardly and fell back against the pillow. "Tell them I can't see them today."
"But sir, I don't think that would go over well."
Suddenly there were a few loud knocks on the front door and Sam gave Frodo a pitious look. "Come on, Mr. Frodo. Jus' deal with them for a few hours an' then we'll get them out."
Mumbling, Frodo slid out of bed, breaking into a fit of coughing. Sam watched as his master left his bedroom and grimaced when he heard a loud sneeze. Frodo stumbled to the front door still in his pajamas and opened it. "Good morning!" Esmerelda and Saradoc Brandybuck greeted smiling pleasantly. "Why Frodo-you look a fright! Are you ill?" Esmerelda asked with concern, giving her nephew the once-over. Frodo shrugged.
"I have a cold, but I'll live through that. Come in-would you like some breakfast?"
"Thank you, no. As a matter of fact, Frodo lad-it is already elevensies."
"You're joking." Frodo looked at the clock on the mantle and then mumbled something inaudible under his breath. "Your gifts are in the kitchen. Just wait out here p-p." Frodo fumbled for his handkerchief quickly as another sneeze proceeded to errupt. "Please. Thank you." He went to pick up the packages labled with their names and went to give them up.
"Thank you, Frodo dear." Esmerelda placed a kiss on Frodo's cheek and so did Saradoc. "Merry will be around a bit later. He wanted to go to the Green Dragon for elevensies with Fredegar Bolger."
"All right." Frodo replied, waving as he shut the door after them. Sam hurried into the main hallway at that point, watching his master lean against the door and close his eyes. Angelica and her father Ponto arrived next and Frodo presented Angelica with a small convex mirror, for she was a young hobbit and often too obviously considered her face shapely.
"Thank you, Frodo!" she cried when she realized the edges were constructed from pure gold.
"Bilbo thought you'd like it." Frodo told her with a wink.
"You sound dreadful. Do you have a cold?" Ponto asked with concern.
Frodo nodded just as the door opened and Griffo and his wife Daisy Baggins stepped in, followed by Merimas and Mellilot. Sam came out of the kitchen carrying a tray full of seedcakes, cheese and fruit to hand out to the guests and forced Frodo to go into the kitchen and get something to eat himself.
"I'm not really that hungry, Sam." Frodo admitted, but he was grateful to get away from the crowd for a bit. 'Food usually keeps them occupied for a while,' Frodo thought to himself as he filled the old iron teapot with water and set it on the stove. He figured he'd make himself a cup of tea and sit and rest for a few moments, but he found that was not possible. Dora and Dudo Baggins, his father's sister and brother, came in through the back door giving him such a fright that he dropped the teacup he had taken from the cupboard.
"Sorry, dear-did we startle you?" Dora asked, her brown eyes wide.
"Why did you come through that door?" Frodo asked.
"Frodo-there is SUCH an enormous line heading for the front door and since we're you're father's siblings, we thought you would allow us to get in a better way." Frodo tried to hide his irritation, which was soon inflamed by Sam's shouts and he had to abandon his tea and see what the matter was.
"I've run out of muffins, Frodo, and they're comin' in through all ends!" Sam sobbed. Frodo gaped as his a few Bracegirdles and Proudfoots climbed through the open window and made their way through the side doors.
"Bloody hell." Frodo growled as he hurried into Bilbo's study to collect more gifts. 'This is a nightmare,' he thought. He felt bitter towards Bilbo at this point, wishing the old hobbit could have at least stayed to help see the guests off. One of the gifts was enormous: an empty bookshelf. Frodo checked the name tag and had to laugh. The gift was for Hugo Bracegirdle, who was known for borrowing a great amount of books but not returning them. In order to get the gift out, he had to get help from Sam, but found that it was not a possible thing. Sam was desparately trying to keep the guests from filling up the parlor and trying to block the other entrances. "Use the front door only, sir!" Sam shouted to Ilberic Brandybuck, who was another window-user.
"Sam!" Frodo couldn't believe it-his entire parlor was taken over and many of his relatives were going into areas that were restricted.
"Mr. Frodo! What do I do? There are too many of them!"
"I don't know, but I need your help with this one present."
"Is this for sale, Frodo?" asked Seredic Brandybuck as he pointed to one of the many walking sticks Bilbo had left for Frodo's own personal uses.
"No! Take the item with your name and get out!" Frodo yelled. Then Frodo had an idea. He hadn't seen Gandalf yet this morning so he figured he'd check the guest room and found that it was empty and the featherbed properly made. There was a note on the pillow and Frodo went to open it.
Frodo:
I had some business I had to see to early this morning. Hope you're feeling better and if you have any problems, I will be back later this afternoon to help you.
G.
Frodo looked towards the bedroom window and then back towards the note, before ripping it up in his disgust. Eventually by afternoon tea the crowd had emptied leaving only a few hobbits for Frodo and Sam to kick out. "Oh." Once Bag-End was completely empty, Frodo sat down on the floor. Sam stomped into the kitchen to retrieve the old frying pan and came into the living room.
"I swear to Elbreth-we get anymore visitors they'll eat this."
Frodo stared at his friend. "I really don't think that's necessary. We don't need to get violent."
Sam helped Frodo to his feet and wrapped his master in blankets, helping him onto the couch. "I'll get you a fresh handkerchief sir." Sam promised as Frodo broke into a fit of sneezes.
"Sam-if this dreadful cold doesn't go away I'm going to die." Frodo sobbed.
"You'll be all right, sir. Colds are in deed nasty but they don't last long." Sam went into the kitchen to pour Frodo a cup of tea and leapt around when he heard the front door to the smial open. Immediately he grabbed his frying pan and rushed out. BONG! He smacked the intruder straight on top of the head without even bothering to check who he had hit. THUD.
Frodo sat up quickly and watched as Sam stepped back, taking a few deep breaths before turning to look at his victim. His eyes widened in surprise. "Mr. Frodo?" he whimpered and Frodo quickly got off of the couch to inspect the damage.
"Merry!" Frodo cried and knelt down. His cousin lay sprawled out on the floor unconscious. Sam touched Frodo's shoulder, afraid to breathe.
"Is he alive, sir? I'm sorry-I didn't mean to!"
"He's alive, but he'll have a nasty lump on the head." Frodo carefully lifted Merry into his arms and carried the limp body over to the couch.
Frodo slept like a log all night and didn't even hear the door open the next morning. Sam stepped inside Bag-End, stunned to hear the silence in the smial. Checking his pocketwatch, Sam made his way towards his master's bedroom and pushed it open, trying not to make too much noise. Frodo was still asleep, only the tip of his head showing beneath the covers. Sam also took notice of the crumpled handkerchief that lay on Frodo's nighttable and the bottle of cough syrup.
The gardener walked over to Frodo's bedside and gave the gentlehobbit a shake. "Mr. Frodo?" he asked. "Mr. Frodo." Instead of a reply Sam received Frodo's fist alongside his jaw, and he stumbled back with shock.
"Oh!" Frodo sat up, clutching his blankets. "Dear Sam-I didn't mean to hurt you. You startled me!"
Sam flexed his jaw muscles and touched the sore spot with his hand. "That's-that's all right, sir. What're you doin' still in bed? I saw a whole band of your relatives headin' this way jus' a half hour ago."
Frodo groaned inwardly and fell back against the pillow. "Tell them I can't see them today."
"But sir, I don't think that would go over well."
Suddenly there were a few loud knocks on the front door and Sam gave Frodo a pitious look. "Come on, Mr. Frodo. Jus' deal with them for a few hours an' then we'll get them out."
Mumbling, Frodo slid out of bed, breaking into a fit of coughing. Sam watched as his master left his bedroom and grimaced when he heard a loud sneeze. Frodo stumbled to the front door still in his pajamas and opened it. "Good morning!" Esmerelda and Saradoc Brandybuck greeted smiling pleasantly. "Why Frodo-you look a fright! Are you ill?" Esmerelda asked with concern, giving her nephew the once-over. Frodo shrugged.
"I have a cold, but I'll live through that. Come in-would you like some breakfast?"
"Thank you, no. As a matter of fact, Frodo lad-it is already elevensies."
"You're joking." Frodo looked at the clock on the mantle and then mumbled something inaudible under his breath. "Your gifts are in the kitchen. Just wait out here p-p." Frodo fumbled for his handkerchief quickly as another sneeze proceeded to errupt. "Please. Thank you." He went to pick up the packages labled with their names and went to give them up.
"Thank you, Frodo dear." Esmerelda placed a kiss on Frodo's cheek and so did Saradoc. "Merry will be around a bit later. He wanted to go to the Green Dragon for elevensies with Fredegar Bolger."
"All right." Frodo replied, waving as he shut the door after them. Sam hurried into the main hallway at that point, watching his master lean against the door and close his eyes. Angelica and her father Ponto arrived next and Frodo presented Angelica with a small convex mirror, for she was a young hobbit and often too obviously considered her face shapely.
"Thank you, Frodo!" she cried when she realized the edges were constructed from pure gold.
"Bilbo thought you'd like it." Frodo told her with a wink.
"You sound dreadful. Do you have a cold?" Ponto asked with concern.
Frodo nodded just as the door opened and Griffo and his wife Daisy Baggins stepped in, followed by Merimas and Mellilot. Sam came out of the kitchen carrying a tray full of seedcakes, cheese and fruit to hand out to the guests and forced Frodo to go into the kitchen and get something to eat himself.
"I'm not really that hungry, Sam." Frodo admitted, but he was grateful to get away from the crowd for a bit. 'Food usually keeps them occupied for a while,' Frodo thought to himself as he filled the old iron teapot with water and set it on the stove. He figured he'd make himself a cup of tea and sit and rest for a few moments, but he found that was not possible. Dora and Dudo Baggins, his father's sister and brother, came in through the back door giving him such a fright that he dropped the teacup he had taken from the cupboard.
"Sorry, dear-did we startle you?" Dora asked, her brown eyes wide.
"Why did you come through that door?" Frodo asked.
"Frodo-there is SUCH an enormous line heading for the front door and since we're you're father's siblings, we thought you would allow us to get in a better way." Frodo tried to hide his irritation, which was soon inflamed by Sam's shouts and he had to abandon his tea and see what the matter was.
"I've run out of muffins, Frodo, and they're comin' in through all ends!" Sam sobbed. Frodo gaped as his a few Bracegirdles and Proudfoots climbed through the open window and made their way through the side doors.
"Bloody hell." Frodo growled as he hurried into Bilbo's study to collect more gifts. 'This is a nightmare,' he thought. He felt bitter towards Bilbo at this point, wishing the old hobbit could have at least stayed to help see the guests off. One of the gifts was enormous: an empty bookshelf. Frodo checked the name tag and had to laugh. The gift was for Hugo Bracegirdle, who was known for borrowing a great amount of books but not returning them. In order to get the gift out, he had to get help from Sam, but found that it was not a possible thing. Sam was desparately trying to keep the guests from filling up the parlor and trying to block the other entrances. "Use the front door only, sir!" Sam shouted to Ilberic Brandybuck, who was another window-user.
"Sam!" Frodo couldn't believe it-his entire parlor was taken over and many of his relatives were going into areas that were restricted.
"Mr. Frodo! What do I do? There are too many of them!"
"I don't know, but I need your help with this one present."
"Is this for sale, Frodo?" asked Seredic Brandybuck as he pointed to one of the many walking sticks Bilbo had left for Frodo's own personal uses.
"No! Take the item with your name and get out!" Frodo yelled. Then Frodo had an idea. He hadn't seen Gandalf yet this morning so he figured he'd check the guest room and found that it was empty and the featherbed properly made. There was a note on the pillow and Frodo went to open it.
Frodo:
I had some business I had to see to early this morning. Hope you're feeling better and if you have any problems, I will be back later this afternoon to help you.
G.
Frodo looked towards the bedroom window and then back towards the note, before ripping it up in his disgust. Eventually by afternoon tea the crowd had emptied leaving only a few hobbits for Frodo and Sam to kick out. "Oh." Once Bag-End was completely empty, Frodo sat down on the floor. Sam stomped into the kitchen to retrieve the old frying pan and came into the living room.
"I swear to Elbreth-we get anymore visitors they'll eat this."
Frodo stared at his friend. "I really don't think that's necessary. We don't need to get violent."
Sam helped Frodo to his feet and wrapped his master in blankets, helping him onto the couch. "I'll get you a fresh handkerchief sir." Sam promised as Frodo broke into a fit of sneezes.
"Sam-if this dreadful cold doesn't go away I'm going to die." Frodo sobbed.
"You'll be all right, sir. Colds are in deed nasty but they don't last long." Sam went into the kitchen to pour Frodo a cup of tea and leapt around when he heard the front door to the smial open. Immediately he grabbed his frying pan and rushed out. BONG! He smacked the intruder straight on top of the head without even bothering to check who he had hit. THUD.
Frodo sat up quickly and watched as Sam stepped back, taking a few deep breaths before turning to look at his victim. His eyes widened in surprise. "Mr. Frodo?" he whimpered and Frodo quickly got off of the couch to inspect the damage.
"Merry!" Frodo cried and knelt down. His cousin lay sprawled out on the floor unconscious. Sam touched Frodo's shoulder, afraid to breathe.
"Is he alive, sir? I'm sorry-I didn't mean to!"
"He's alive, but he'll have a nasty lump on the head." Frodo carefully lifted Merry into his arms and carried the limp body over to the couch.