Chapter 9
Fascination & the tale of Niggle
The following morning Bilbo, Drogo and Primula stumbled out of their bedrooms still in their pajamas and made their way to the kitchen. "We ought to check on Frodo," whispered Primula as she opened the pantry and pulled out a loaf of fresh bread, compliments of Mr. Hamfast Gamgee from next door. Bilbo got out the box of tealeaves and began to fill the old iron pot with fresh water and Drogo turned on the stove.
"Gandalf is with him." Bilbo replied as he added just the right amount of peppermint. "Frodo is perfectly safe.but we musn't forget to eat!"
Drogo laughed.
In Frodo's room, the young hobbit had woken up and was startled by the site of the very tall old man dressed in blue robes sitting beside him. "Who-who are you?" Frodo asked in a weak voice as he struggled to sit up in bed. Gandalf smiled and encouraged him to lay back down.
"I am Gandalf the Gray.a good friend of your Uncle Bilbo."
Frodo's eyes widened. "Gandalf! When did you arrive?"
"Just last night. He told me you were ill?" The wizard patted Frodo's head and the lad nodded. "I see. You're rather skinny for a hobbit, aren't you? Don't you eat?"
Frodo stared. "Of course I do.what a rediculous thing to say."
"Good morning!" Primula swept into the bedroom and went straight to Frodo's bedside, planting a kiss on his cheek. "How are you feeling my dear?" She asked, placing a hand against Frodo's forehead. "You still have a bit of a fever, pumpkin. Does your throat still hurt?"
"Yes Mama.and I'm all stuffed up."
She shook her head and turned to the wizard. "He wasn't any trouble last night, was he?" she asked.
"Of course not. He slept the entire time."
"Good. Would either of you like something to eat for breakfast? Or even a cup of tea?"
Frodo shook his head as he pulled the covers over his face. "No." He moaned. The thought of food made his stomach churn. Primula sat down on the bed beside her son and pulled him into her arms. Frodo did not protest but let her hold him, and he closed his eyes as he took in her fresh sent of lavender from what his stuffed up nose could detect. A few moments later Bilbo came in carrying a saucer that contained a small cup of peppermint tea, and he set both things on the nighttable.
"You must try and take a bit of this down, lad." Bilbo encouraged as Primula tucked Frodo back under the covers. "I'll let you take it by the teaspoon full. How does that sound?"
Frodo nodded.he hated to argue and was too tired to even try. Bilbo pulled up another chair and slowly dipped the teaspoon into the light- coloured liquid and put it into Frodo's mouth. "There we go." Primula soothed, rubbing Frodo's back in a circular motion with her hand. Eventually Drogo came in and smiled at the sight of his son awake but chose not to interject with speech at the moment. All heads turned towards the window when they heard a soft clipping noise, and Drogo went to open it, peering down into the hedges. Hamfast Gamgee lay on his back clipping the rosebushes beneath them.
"Good morning, sir!" Drogo greeted. Hamfast let out a cry and stood up, clutching his heart with his free hand that was not holding clippers.
"You startled the daylights out of me.good morning to you, Mr. Baggins. I didn't mean to disturb you.how is young Frodo this morning?"
"Improving it seems."
"Good, good."
Bilbo set the china back onto the nighttable and went to join Drogo at the window. "How are things coming along, Hamfast? Do you need any assistance?"
"No, no.you have your own troubles to deal with. I'm quite all right alone out here.perfectly glorious weather." Hamfast stood up on a wooden box a few moments later and peered trough the window. "Good morning, Frodo!"
Frodo burst into giggles and had to hide underneath the covers to hide them.
"What is so funny?"
"Nothing," Frodo gasped.
"Bilbo.do you want anythin' from th' market when I go today? I have to get a few ears of corn for Bell."
"Actually yes.could you pick up some Rosemary and ginger tealeaves? That would be excellent."
"No trouble at all, sir. Till later, folks." Hamfast disappeared again from the window and they heard a THUD and a "Blast."
When he was gone, Frodo looked at Gandalf. "Why did you come?" he asked, sniffing rather noisily. Primula retrieved a fresh handkerchief and handed it to Frodo, who did nothing with it yet but just held it in his hand.
"I never seem to have a reason for why I show up." Gandalf chuckled. "But I always seem to show up at the right moments, don't I?"
Bilbo folded his arms. "Isn't that the truth." He joked.
"Blow your nose, Frodo." Primula ordered as Frodo's nose began to run. It was certainly an unapetizing sight when Frodo did as he was told and everyone cringed. Frodo looked at his soiled handkerchief frowning.
"Ick." He muttered. Primula took the teacup off of the saucer, put the handkerchief in its place and asked Bilbo to hurry and throw it away.
"You have a lot in such a little nose." Bilbo laughed as he carried the saucer away. Gandalf let out a hearty guffaw and patted Frodo on the head again.
"Now try to rest, lad. I have a wonderful story to tell you."
Frodo's face lightened up and he lay back down on his pillows. "Now I would suggest that the three of you go and enjoy the day.I will keep this little one entertained." The wizard promised.
"Are you sure?" Bilbo asked.
"But we couldn't." Primula protested.
"Of course you could. All of you need the fresh air. Go on."
"You'll be all right, won't you pumpkin?" Primula asked her son who was gazing fondly at the wizard before him.
"I'll be all right, Mama. Gandalf will take care of me." Frodo promised and the three adult hobbits decided to take a walk down to the lake. When they left the room, Frodo watched as Gandalf settled back into his chair. "Now this one I heard in Gondor many years ago.would you like to hear it, lad?"
"Ooh yes." Frodo said in awe and eagerly listened.
"There once was a little man called Niggle," Gandalf began, "who had a long journey to make. He did not want to go, indeed the whole idea was distasteful to him; but he could not get out of it. He knew he would have to start some time, but he did not hurry with his preparations.
Niggle was a painter. Not a very successful one, partly because he had many other things to do. Most of these things he thought were a nuisance; but he did them fairly well, when he could not get out of them: which (in his opninon) were far too often. The laws in his country were rather strict. There were other hindrances too. For one thing, he was sometimes just idle, and did nothing at all. For another, he was kind-hearted in a way. You know the sort of kind heart: it made him uncomfortable more often than it made him do anything; and even when he did anything it did not prevent him from grumbling, losing his tempter and swearing (mostly to himself). All the same, it did land him in a good many jobs for his neighbor, Mr. Parish, a man with a lame leg. Occasionally he even helped other people from further off, if they came and asked him. Also, now and again, he remembered his journey, and he began to pack a few things in an ineffectual way: at such times he did not paint very much.
He had a number of pictures on hand; most of them were too large and ambitious for his skill. He was the sort of painter who can paint leaves better than trees. He used to spend a long time on a single leaf, trying to catch its shape, and its sheen, and the glistening of dewdrops on its edges. Yet he wanted to paint a whole tree, with all its leaves in the same style, and all of them different."
The story continued and in the midst of it, Frodo broke into a small sneezing fit, and the wizard had to stop and comfort the child. "Take a deep breath lad." The wizard went to fetch another fresh handkerchief and held it to the child's nose. "There you are.shhhh." When Frodo calmed down and the sneezing ended, he still continued to sniffle a bit.
"I'm-I'm sorry Gandalf." Frodo apologized.
"Don't be, lad. Take a deep breath.that's it. Try to relax."
"I'd like to sleep.so tired." Frodo whimpered as he lay back down on his pillow.
"All right. I'll be right here, Frodo. Your Uncle, Mama and Papa will be back soon as well. Just close your eyes."
Frodo did so and Gandalf slowly began to hum the tune to "The road goes ever on and on." and soon the child fell asleep.
A/N: The story "Leaf by Niggle" can be found in THE TOLKIEN READER.a very helpful tool.
The following morning Bilbo, Drogo and Primula stumbled out of their bedrooms still in their pajamas and made their way to the kitchen. "We ought to check on Frodo," whispered Primula as she opened the pantry and pulled out a loaf of fresh bread, compliments of Mr. Hamfast Gamgee from next door. Bilbo got out the box of tealeaves and began to fill the old iron pot with fresh water and Drogo turned on the stove.
"Gandalf is with him." Bilbo replied as he added just the right amount of peppermint. "Frodo is perfectly safe.but we musn't forget to eat!"
Drogo laughed.
In Frodo's room, the young hobbit had woken up and was startled by the site of the very tall old man dressed in blue robes sitting beside him. "Who-who are you?" Frodo asked in a weak voice as he struggled to sit up in bed. Gandalf smiled and encouraged him to lay back down.
"I am Gandalf the Gray.a good friend of your Uncle Bilbo."
Frodo's eyes widened. "Gandalf! When did you arrive?"
"Just last night. He told me you were ill?" The wizard patted Frodo's head and the lad nodded. "I see. You're rather skinny for a hobbit, aren't you? Don't you eat?"
Frodo stared. "Of course I do.what a rediculous thing to say."
"Good morning!" Primula swept into the bedroom and went straight to Frodo's bedside, planting a kiss on his cheek. "How are you feeling my dear?" She asked, placing a hand against Frodo's forehead. "You still have a bit of a fever, pumpkin. Does your throat still hurt?"
"Yes Mama.and I'm all stuffed up."
She shook her head and turned to the wizard. "He wasn't any trouble last night, was he?" she asked.
"Of course not. He slept the entire time."
"Good. Would either of you like something to eat for breakfast? Or even a cup of tea?"
Frodo shook his head as he pulled the covers over his face. "No." He moaned. The thought of food made his stomach churn. Primula sat down on the bed beside her son and pulled him into her arms. Frodo did not protest but let her hold him, and he closed his eyes as he took in her fresh sent of lavender from what his stuffed up nose could detect. A few moments later Bilbo came in carrying a saucer that contained a small cup of peppermint tea, and he set both things on the nighttable.
"You must try and take a bit of this down, lad." Bilbo encouraged as Primula tucked Frodo back under the covers. "I'll let you take it by the teaspoon full. How does that sound?"
Frodo nodded.he hated to argue and was too tired to even try. Bilbo pulled up another chair and slowly dipped the teaspoon into the light- coloured liquid and put it into Frodo's mouth. "There we go." Primula soothed, rubbing Frodo's back in a circular motion with her hand. Eventually Drogo came in and smiled at the sight of his son awake but chose not to interject with speech at the moment. All heads turned towards the window when they heard a soft clipping noise, and Drogo went to open it, peering down into the hedges. Hamfast Gamgee lay on his back clipping the rosebushes beneath them.
"Good morning, sir!" Drogo greeted. Hamfast let out a cry and stood up, clutching his heart with his free hand that was not holding clippers.
"You startled the daylights out of me.good morning to you, Mr. Baggins. I didn't mean to disturb you.how is young Frodo this morning?"
"Improving it seems."
"Good, good."
Bilbo set the china back onto the nighttable and went to join Drogo at the window. "How are things coming along, Hamfast? Do you need any assistance?"
"No, no.you have your own troubles to deal with. I'm quite all right alone out here.perfectly glorious weather." Hamfast stood up on a wooden box a few moments later and peered trough the window. "Good morning, Frodo!"
Frodo burst into giggles and had to hide underneath the covers to hide them.
"What is so funny?"
"Nothing," Frodo gasped.
"Bilbo.do you want anythin' from th' market when I go today? I have to get a few ears of corn for Bell."
"Actually yes.could you pick up some Rosemary and ginger tealeaves? That would be excellent."
"No trouble at all, sir. Till later, folks." Hamfast disappeared again from the window and they heard a THUD and a "Blast."
When he was gone, Frodo looked at Gandalf. "Why did you come?" he asked, sniffing rather noisily. Primula retrieved a fresh handkerchief and handed it to Frodo, who did nothing with it yet but just held it in his hand.
"I never seem to have a reason for why I show up." Gandalf chuckled. "But I always seem to show up at the right moments, don't I?"
Bilbo folded his arms. "Isn't that the truth." He joked.
"Blow your nose, Frodo." Primula ordered as Frodo's nose began to run. It was certainly an unapetizing sight when Frodo did as he was told and everyone cringed. Frodo looked at his soiled handkerchief frowning.
"Ick." He muttered. Primula took the teacup off of the saucer, put the handkerchief in its place and asked Bilbo to hurry and throw it away.
"You have a lot in such a little nose." Bilbo laughed as he carried the saucer away. Gandalf let out a hearty guffaw and patted Frodo on the head again.
"Now try to rest, lad. I have a wonderful story to tell you."
Frodo's face lightened up and he lay back down on his pillows. "Now I would suggest that the three of you go and enjoy the day.I will keep this little one entertained." The wizard promised.
"Are you sure?" Bilbo asked.
"But we couldn't." Primula protested.
"Of course you could. All of you need the fresh air. Go on."
"You'll be all right, won't you pumpkin?" Primula asked her son who was gazing fondly at the wizard before him.
"I'll be all right, Mama. Gandalf will take care of me." Frodo promised and the three adult hobbits decided to take a walk down to the lake. When they left the room, Frodo watched as Gandalf settled back into his chair. "Now this one I heard in Gondor many years ago.would you like to hear it, lad?"
"Ooh yes." Frodo said in awe and eagerly listened.
"There once was a little man called Niggle," Gandalf began, "who had a long journey to make. He did not want to go, indeed the whole idea was distasteful to him; but he could not get out of it. He knew he would have to start some time, but he did not hurry with his preparations.
Niggle was a painter. Not a very successful one, partly because he had many other things to do. Most of these things he thought were a nuisance; but he did them fairly well, when he could not get out of them: which (in his opninon) were far too often. The laws in his country were rather strict. There were other hindrances too. For one thing, he was sometimes just idle, and did nothing at all. For another, he was kind-hearted in a way. You know the sort of kind heart: it made him uncomfortable more often than it made him do anything; and even when he did anything it did not prevent him from grumbling, losing his tempter and swearing (mostly to himself). All the same, it did land him in a good many jobs for his neighbor, Mr. Parish, a man with a lame leg. Occasionally he even helped other people from further off, if they came and asked him. Also, now and again, he remembered his journey, and he began to pack a few things in an ineffectual way: at such times he did not paint very much.
He had a number of pictures on hand; most of them were too large and ambitious for his skill. He was the sort of painter who can paint leaves better than trees. He used to spend a long time on a single leaf, trying to catch its shape, and its sheen, and the glistening of dewdrops on its edges. Yet he wanted to paint a whole tree, with all its leaves in the same style, and all of them different."
The story continued and in the midst of it, Frodo broke into a small sneezing fit, and the wizard had to stop and comfort the child. "Take a deep breath lad." The wizard went to fetch another fresh handkerchief and held it to the child's nose. "There you are.shhhh." When Frodo calmed down and the sneezing ended, he still continued to sniffle a bit.
"I'm-I'm sorry Gandalf." Frodo apologized.
"Don't be, lad. Take a deep breath.that's it. Try to relax."
"I'd like to sleep.so tired." Frodo whimpered as he lay back down on his pillow.
"All right. I'll be right here, Frodo. Your Uncle, Mama and Papa will be back soon as well. Just close your eyes."
Frodo did so and Gandalf slowly began to hum the tune to "The road goes ever on and on." and soon the child fell asleep.
A/N: The story "Leaf by Niggle" can be found in THE TOLKIEN READER.a very helpful tool.