Finished, Lord Elrond went and got Bilbo who had been worriedly walking
around the temporary campsite after being fetched by an elf who had
discovered the distraught hobbit calling out for Frodo at the western edge
of Michel Delving.
As he came out of the tent, he strode over to the elder hobbit and smiled down at the frown on Bilbo's face. He bent and placed a hand on his old friend's shoulder. "All is well Bilbo. It was a simple procedure really and Frodo is sleeping deeply. The trial will come when he awakens and the stitches and incision make themselves known. Come, and see."
He led Bilbo past the fire and into the pavilion. Bilbo hurried to his nephew's side. By the light of the candelabra, he could easily see his nephews peaceful face.
"He'll be all right?" The hobbit queried the great elf lord anxiously.
"Yes, I got to the appendix in plenty of time. He will probably sleep until late in the morning. I believe it will safe to return him to your inn at dawn, before the streets get too crowded and he might be jostled as we bring him into Michel Delving."
"All right." Bilbo turned to Elrond and held out his hand. "Thank you so much my lord for saving my little Frodo." Elrond took Bilbo's hand in both of his and clasped it warmly. "Come, why don't you rest? You can stay here and keep an eye on him in the meantime."
"Thank you, I shall." Elrond, checking Frodo one more time, went out to join his companions, leaving Bilbo with his nephew.
Bilbo pulled one of the ornately carved camp chairs close to where Frodo lay on the table. He lay peacefully asleep under a blanket, his face softened by the candle's glow. Bilbo could not help but shiver a bit. It also looked like a bier to him, because Frodo was so deeply asleep and his face was pale like ivory.
He picked up his nephew's hand and held it in both of his, watching the sleeping lad's face closely. He wanted to be right here in case Frodo stirred.
An hour later, when the elf lord returned to the pavilion, he found the elder hobbit, with his head on the table next to Frodo, the small hobbits hand held tucked into his uncle's. Gently releasing them, Elrond picked Bilbo up and laid him on the thick rug, covering him with his cloak. Checking Frodo's vital signs, the elf lord then retired himself.
The pale light of pre-dawn made the surrounding tree's shaggy heads stand out against the night sky. Earendil's star sank into the west with the moon and the elves rose to sing a glad song to the rising sun.
Elrond, glancing at Bilbo who was still fast asleep, went over to his patient. He held his right hand a few inches above the sleeping hobbit child and softly spoke a spell, awakening Vilya on his finger. The air around Frodo was suddenly body temperature warm and glowing with a slight blue radiance. Smiling, Elrond pulled down the blanket and taking a small knife, slit the bandage and pulled it aside. The skin around the incision was clear of infection, and when the elf lord softly pressed around the stitches, the skin was not hot, nor too tight.
Rewrapping the wound in fresh linen, he covered Frodo up and with a slight wave of his hand, dissipated the warm air.
Kneeling by Bilbo, he shook his friend's shoulder, which woke the elder hobbit. He sat up rubbing his eyes and smiled at Elrond. Hopping up, he ran around the elf lord to the table and looked at Frodo.
"He's still all right?"
"Yes, Bilbo. He is fine. I have checked the incision and re-bandaged it. No infection. Young Frodo has slept quietly all night. I need to sort out some items from my supplies that you can take with you for his care. If you go out to the fire, breakfast awaits, albeit an Elvish one!"
Bilbo taking one more look at Frodo, grinned at Elrond and went out to the fire to be greeted courteously by the elves there, who gave him miruvor and lembas.
When Elrond had all prepared and Bilbo was temporarily sustained by the Elvish food, they set off. The elf lord, wrapped in his long grey cloak carried the sleeping child deep in its warm folds and walked quietly with Bilbo into the rising light, surrounded by birdsong.
Elrond had been correct though, they did pass some farmers coming into town, who did a double take to see the tall hooded stranger and a hobbit together, but there were few others on the streets of Michel Delving.
They reached the Hidden Haven Inn and Bilbo directed their steps to the stable yard of the hostelry so they could go quietly up the back stairs.
Dilly, the upstairs maid, was the only one to see them, and she hastened to run ahead of Bilbo and Elrond to unlock the door. Standing in the doorway awestruck by the tall cloaked figure, she watched as Frodo was laid back in his bed and warmly covered up.
"Is the wee lad all right sir?" Dilly asked, hands twisted into her apron. "Can I get you anything?" She stared at Elrond, who had flung aside his cloak as he settled Frodo, once again checking the incision. "A hot water bottle would be good right now. I would also like to keep a running supply of hot water here mistress, as well as whatever soft foods this establishment can provide."
"We've got some nice baked custard today sir, ah my lord." Dilly bowed as she spoke. "And Mistress Gartner can make a wonderful chicken broth, nice and light."
Elrond turned to the little hobbit maid. "Those will do perfectly." Elrond's glance then fell on Bilbo. "I shall be leaving several different teas and infusions Bilbo and I shall write out my instructions for you on Frodo's continuing care, all right?"
Bilbo nodded, relieved that everything had gone so well, so far. But of course, Frodo had yet to wake up.
"First though Bilbo, Frodo will have a bit of a woolly head when he awakens. You need to have some willow bark and chamomile tea ready straight away. He is likely to be a little fractious as well. If he is really miserable, increase the dosage. I do not want him pulling his stitches out. He must be kept quiet for a few days. The more he sleeps, the better for him. I am leaving you enough tincture for plenty of sleeping draughts."
Bilbo nodded again and then turned to Dilly, who was still staring at Elrond, mouth agape at the elf lord's striking appearance.
"Well you heard his lordship, some hot water if you please mistress Dilly!"
"Aye! Right away sir, my lord." Dilly curtsied and ran out of the room. Wait til cook heard about this!
Elrond went to the table and took the parchment, ink and quill Bilbo provided and wrote for sometime in his precise script.
While he wrote, Bilbo went to check on Frodo. He stood at his side and carefully brushed his tousled hair off his forehead. His pale features began to warm up in the rising daylight coming in the open window.
He knew that Frodo could not have been in better hands than Lord Elrond's, but still, he knew he would feel a lot better once Frodo was up and about.
Elrond rejoined his friend at Frodo's bedside and put a hand on his shoulder. "He will probably sleep for another few hours, my friend. In the meantime, you can get together what you will need to care for the invalid. He will need entertaining Bilbo! He is young and resilient and will heal quickly. In a week or two at the very latest, Frodo will be the halfing lad you know and love."
"I am glad you were here my lord. I thank you again." Bilbo spontaneously hugged the elf lord. Elrond smiled and hugged him back. "I am glad I could be of service Bilbo. Now I must resume my journey to the Grey Havens with my companions. If I can, perhaps I will visit with you on my return. I have left you precise instructions. Trust me Bilbo, all will be well."
Bilbo nodded and watching the elf lord examine his nephew one last time, he took a deep breath and realized he felt better.
In a few minutes, Elrond had left, leaving Bilbo alone with his sleeping nephew.
Bilbo did as the elf lord instructed and made sure he had everything laid out for Frodo's awakening.
It was just after elvenses when Frodo stirred. Bilbo had just finished tucking away a sizeable meal, because though the Elvish food sustained a body, it was not as toothsome as eggs, bacon, hashed browns and biscuits.
As he came out of the tent, he strode over to the elder hobbit and smiled down at the frown on Bilbo's face. He bent and placed a hand on his old friend's shoulder. "All is well Bilbo. It was a simple procedure really and Frodo is sleeping deeply. The trial will come when he awakens and the stitches and incision make themselves known. Come, and see."
He led Bilbo past the fire and into the pavilion. Bilbo hurried to his nephew's side. By the light of the candelabra, he could easily see his nephews peaceful face.
"He'll be all right?" The hobbit queried the great elf lord anxiously.
"Yes, I got to the appendix in plenty of time. He will probably sleep until late in the morning. I believe it will safe to return him to your inn at dawn, before the streets get too crowded and he might be jostled as we bring him into Michel Delving."
"All right." Bilbo turned to Elrond and held out his hand. "Thank you so much my lord for saving my little Frodo." Elrond took Bilbo's hand in both of his and clasped it warmly. "Come, why don't you rest? You can stay here and keep an eye on him in the meantime."
"Thank you, I shall." Elrond, checking Frodo one more time, went out to join his companions, leaving Bilbo with his nephew.
Bilbo pulled one of the ornately carved camp chairs close to where Frodo lay on the table. He lay peacefully asleep under a blanket, his face softened by the candle's glow. Bilbo could not help but shiver a bit. It also looked like a bier to him, because Frodo was so deeply asleep and his face was pale like ivory.
He picked up his nephew's hand and held it in both of his, watching the sleeping lad's face closely. He wanted to be right here in case Frodo stirred.
An hour later, when the elf lord returned to the pavilion, he found the elder hobbit, with his head on the table next to Frodo, the small hobbits hand held tucked into his uncle's. Gently releasing them, Elrond picked Bilbo up and laid him on the thick rug, covering him with his cloak. Checking Frodo's vital signs, the elf lord then retired himself.
The pale light of pre-dawn made the surrounding tree's shaggy heads stand out against the night sky. Earendil's star sank into the west with the moon and the elves rose to sing a glad song to the rising sun.
Elrond, glancing at Bilbo who was still fast asleep, went over to his patient. He held his right hand a few inches above the sleeping hobbit child and softly spoke a spell, awakening Vilya on his finger. The air around Frodo was suddenly body temperature warm and glowing with a slight blue radiance. Smiling, Elrond pulled down the blanket and taking a small knife, slit the bandage and pulled it aside. The skin around the incision was clear of infection, and when the elf lord softly pressed around the stitches, the skin was not hot, nor too tight.
Rewrapping the wound in fresh linen, he covered Frodo up and with a slight wave of his hand, dissipated the warm air.
Kneeling by Bilbo, he shook his friend's shoulder, which woke the elder hobbit. He sat up rubbing his eyes and smiled at Elrond. Hopping up, he ran around the elf lord to the table and looked at Frodo.
"He's still all right?"
"Yes, Bilbo. He is fine. I have checked the incision and re-bandaged it. No infection. Young Frodo has slept quietly all night. I need to sort out some items from my supplies that you can take with you for his care. If you go out to the fire, breakfast awaits, albeit an Elvish one!"
Bilbo taking one more look at Frodo, grinned at Elrond and went out to the fire to be greeted courteously by the elves there, who gave him miruvor and lembas.
When Elrond had all prepared and Bilbo was temporarily sustained by the Elvish food, they set off. The elf lord, wrapped in his long grey cloak carried the sleeping child deep in its warm folds and walked quietly with Bilbo into the rising light, surrounded by birdsong.
Elrond had been correct though, they did pass some farmers coming into town, who did a double take to see the tall hooded stranger and a hobbit together, but there were few others on the streets of Michel Delving.
They reached the Hidden Haven Inn and Bilbo directed their steps to the stable yard of the hostelry so they could go quietly up the back stairs.
Dilly, the upstairs maid, was the only one to see them, and she hastened to run ahead of Bilbo and Elrond to unlock the door. Standing in the doorway awestruck by the tall cloaked figure, she watched as Frodo was laid back in his bed and warmly covered up.
"Is the wee lad all right sir?" Dilly asked, hands twisted into her apron. "Can I get you anything?" She stared at Elrond, who had flung aside his cloak as he settled Frodo, once again checking the incision. "A hot water bottle would be good right now. I would also like to keep a running supply of hot water here mistress, as well as whatever soft foods this establishment can provide."
"We've got some nice baked custard today sir, ah my lord." Dilly bowed as she spoke. "And Mistress Gartner can make a wonderful chicken broth, nice and light."
Elrond turned to the little hobbit maid. "Those will do perfectly." Elrond's glance then fell on Bilbo. "I shall be leaving several different teas and infusions Bilbo and I shall write out my instructions for you on Frodo's continuing care, all right?"
Bilbo nodded, relieved that everything had gone so well, so far. But of course, Frodo had yet to wake up.
"First though Bilbo, Frodo will have a bit of a woolly head when he awakens. You need to have some willow bark and chamomile tea ready straight away. He is likely to be a little fractious as well. If he is really miserable, increase the dosage. I do not want him pulling his stitches out. He must be kept quiet for a few days. The more he sleeps, the better for him. I am leaving you enough tincture for plenty of sleeping draughts."
Bilbo nodded again and then turned to Dilly, who was still staring at Elrond, mouth agape at the elf lord's striking appearance.
"Well you heard his lordship, some hot water if you please mistress Dilly!"
"Aye! Right away sir, my lord." Dilly curtsied and ran out of the room. Wait til cook heard about this!
Elrond went to the table and took the parchment, ink and quill Bilbo provided and wrote for sometime in his precise script.
While he wrote, Bilbo went to check on Frodo. He stood at his side and carefully brushed his tousled hair off his forehead. His pale features began to warm up in the rising daylight coming in the open window.
He knew that Frodo could not have been in better hands than Lord Elrond's, but still, he knew he would feel a lot better once Frodo was up and about.
Elrond rejoined his friend at Frodo's bedside and put a hand on his shoulder. "He will probably sleep for another few hours, my friend. In the meantime, you can get together what you will need to care for the invalid. He will need entertaining Bilbo! He is young and resilient and will heal quickly. In a week or two at the very latest, Frodo will be the halfing lad you know and love."
"I am glad you were here my lord. I thank you again." Bilbo spontaneously hugged the elf lord. Elrond smiled and hugged him back. "I am glad I could be of service Bilbo. Now I must resume my journey to the Grey Havens with my companions. If I can, perhaps I will visit with you on my return. I have left you precise instructions. Trust me Bilbo, all will be well."
Bilbo nodded and watching the elf lord examine his nephew one last time, he took a deep breath and realized he felt better.
In a few minutes, Elrond had left, leaving Bilbo alone with his sleeping nephew.
Bilbo did as the elf lord instructed and made sure he had everything laid out for Frodo's awakening.
It was just after elvenses when Frodo stirred. Bilbo had just finished tucking away a sizeable meal, because though the Elvish food sustained a body, it was not as toothsome as eggs, bacon, hashed browns and biscuits.