-----
Frodo managed to stumble back to Bilbo's room and crept quietly in--or so he thought. He couldn't see very well--accursed tears--and he couldn't hear too well either--his heart was pounding in his ears and he couldn't stop sobbing. If he could have torn out his heart and left it somewhere, he would have. What use was a heart, but for feeling pain? What use was he, anyway? He had hurt her; he had hurt Mornenêl, and he deserved the pain. He welcomed the mission now. Perhaps it would earn him oblivion.
Sam leapt up to steady him as he slammed into a chair, toppling it in his haste to grab his things and make a quick departure.
"What's happened?" Sam asked. He looked ready to ask more, but his expression changed upon seeing Frodo's face; instead he just pulled him into a hard embrace and Frodo willingly cried on his friend's shoulder, too lost to thing what else to do.
He had totally forgotten it was Bilbo's room he was in as well, so when the old hobbit pulled him into another embrace, he stared at Bilbo in shock, wondering what in the world he was going to say to explain his behavior.
Bilbo patted him gently, pushing back the curls from his eyes as the old hobbit smiled through tears of his own. "You poor boy--I didn't want to say anything what with her being your first love and all, but it's a hard thing to love an elf. Legolas finally broke his word to me, eh?"
Frodo's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Of all the things Bilbo might say, this was the least expected. "You knew? How long? And Legolas . . . ?" Bilbo laughed and handed him a handkerchief to wipe his face, which he did gladly, falling into a chair as Sam pressed a cup of tea into his hands and hovered near.
Bilbo shook his head, leaking tears even as he laughed. "We knew from the first how you felt about her--and she for you too, you know. You and Sam thought I was asleep when you had your little talk here over whether to see her, but I *was* only resting my eyes, as you two never seem to believe of me. Legolas figured things out right after that night--smart fellow, much like his father. I thought I'd convinced him to stay out of your affairs, but then he *is* an elf, and they see things differently. Not enough common sense, if you ask me."
"H asked me to end things--no, he *told* me to end things. And he is going to be one of my companions on my quest to destroy the Ring. I can't make an enemy of him," Frodo said, miserable once more now that the shock was wearing off. He sipped half-heartedly at the tea and waved away a slice of the crumbcake offered by Sam.
"This isn't good for you, master. Maybe *I* should have a talking with him," Sam said, his voice quavering with anger and a fire in his eyes. His fists clenched and Frodo wondered if words didn't work if Sam would take to using his fists instead. Frodo reached out to put a hand on his fist.
"No, Sam. You mustn't."
Sam blew out a frustrated breath, but did not unclench his fists. "For what you are doing for them, Mr. Frodo, they should all be falling over backwards to make sure you have every need and want met before you leave. It's not their business, no how," he grumbled, his face mottled with anger. Frodo closed his eyes--now he definitely felt the Ring's influence, twisting things, trying to break apart a Fellowship that hadn't even been born yet.
"Sam," he whispered, wondering now if there should even be a Fellowship, or if he should head out on his own immediately.
Sam saw his pain and his anger was instantly forgotten. "I'm so sorry, sir! I don't mean to get so upset--it's just . . . unfair! Cursed unfair, in my sight. But you're right, of course. We're going to need help and can't be making no enemies." He blew out another breath. "Just wish they'd have a care for you, that's all." He looked down. "And it's *still* not their business."
"Imagine if an elf were to try to woo your little sister away, Sam, and I think you'll understand Legolas's dilemma--he's only doing what he feels is right. Give it time, Frodo, give it time. If it is right, no meddling in the world is going to stop it." With that, Bilbo kissed both their brows and hinted that maybe Frodo should take a little rest and that Sam should keep an eye on him. For himself, now it really was time to take a nap.
Frodo let himself be led back to his room, not caring who saw his pain, not caring about much of anything, really. The initial agony was settling into a numbing ache which sapped all the life out of him--it was like he was entering the shadow world again.
Sam fretted over him, and he admitted that yes, his wound was also troubling him in order to get Sam out of his room, off to find help, whatever. He didn't care.
He just wanted to be alone.
As alone as he would be forever, now. Lying down on his bed, he turned away from the light streaming in from the windows, closed his eyes, and tried to find dark oblivion.
His pain followed him all the way to blackness.
------
TBC
------
Story note: I know, I know--another horrible ending. But this isn't the end! Have faith . . . . Votes for kicking Legolas in the shin??
Frodo managed to stumble back to Bilbo's room and crept quietly in--or so he thought. He couldn't see very well--accursed tears--and he couldn't hear too well either--his heart was pounding in his ears and he couldn't stop sobbing. If he could have torn out his heart and left it somewhere, he would have. What use was a heart, but for feeling pain? What use was he, anyway? He had hurt her; he had hurt Mornenêl, and he deserved the pain. He welcomed the mission now. Perhaps it would earn him oblivion.
Sam leapt up to steady him as he slammed into a chair, toppling it in his haste to grab his things and make a quick departure.
"What's happened?" Sam asked. He looked ready to ask more, but his expression changed upon seeing Frodo's face; instead he just pulled him into a hard embrace and Frodo willingly cried on his friend's shoulder, too lost to thing what else to do.
He had totally forgotten it was Bilbo's room he was in as well, so when the old hobbit pulled him into another embrace, he stared at Bilbo in shock, wondering what in the world he was going to say to explain his behavior.
Bilbo patted him gently, pushing back the curls from his eyes as the old hobbit smiled through tears of his own. "You poor boy--I didn't want to say anything what with her being your first love and all, but it's a hard thing to love an elf. Legolas finally broke his word to me, eh?"
Frodo's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Of all the things Bilbo might say, this was the least expected. "You knew? How long? And Legolas . . . ?" Bilbo laughed and handed him a handkerchief to wipe his face, which he did gladly, falling into a chair as Sam pressed a cup of tea into his hands and hovered near.
Bilbo shook his head, leaking tears even as he laughed. "We knew from the first how you felt about her--and she for you too, you know. You and Sam thought I was asleep when you had your little talk here over whether to see her, but I *was* only resting my eyes, as you two never seem to believe of me. Legolas figured things out right after that night--smart fellow, much like his father. I thought I'd convinced him to stay out of your affairs, but then he *is* an elf, and they see things differently. Not enough common sense, if you ask me."
"H asked me to end things--no, he *told* me to end things. And he is going to be one of my companions on my quest to destroy the Ring. I can't make an enemy of him," Frodo said, miserable once more now that the shock was wearing off. He sipped half-heartedly at the tea and waved away a slice of the crumbcake offered by Sam.
"This isn't good for you, master. Maybe *I* should have a talking with him," Sam said, his voice quavering with anger and a fire in his eyes. His fists clenched and Frodo wondered if words didn't work if Sam would take to using his fists instead. Frodo reached out to put a hand on his fist.
"No, Sam. You mustn't."
Sam blew out a frustrated breath, but did not unclench his fists. "For what you are doing for them, Mr. Frodo, they should all be falling over backwards to make sure you have every need and want met before you leave. It's not their business, no how," he grumbled, his face mottled with anger. Frodo closed his eyes--now he definitely felt the Ring's influence, twisting things, trying to break apart a Fellowship that hadn't even been born yet.
"Sam," he whispered, wondering now if there should even be a Fellowship, or if he should head out on his own immediately.
Sam saw his pain and his anger was instantly forgotten. "I'm so sorry, sir! I don't mean to get so upset--it's just . . . unfair! Cursed unfair, in my sight. But you're right, of course. We're going to need help and can't be making no enemies." He blew out another breath. "Just wish they'd have a care for you, that's all." He looked down. "And it's *still* not their business."
"Imagine if an elf were to try to woo your little sister away, Sam, and I think you'll understand Legolas's dilemma--he's only doing what he feels is right. Give it time, Frodo, give it time. If it is right, no meddling in the world is going to stop it." With that, Bilbo kissed both their brows and hinted that maybe Frodo should take a little rest and that Sam should keep an eye on him. For himself, now it really was time to take a nap.
Frodo let himself be led back to his room, not caring who saw his pain, not caring about much of anything, really. The initial agony was settling into a numbing ache which sapped all the life out of him--it was like he was entering the shadow world again.
Sam fretted over him, and he admitted that yes, his wound was also troubling him in order to get Sam out of his room, off to find help, whatever. He didn't care.
He just wanted to be alone.
As alone as he would be forever, now. Lying down on his bed, he turned away from the light streaming in from the windows, closed his eyes, and tried to find dark oblivion.
His pain followed him all the way to blackness.
------
TBC
------
Story note: I know, I know--another horrible ending. But this isn't the end! Have faith . . . . Votes for kicking Legolas in the shin??