Little Frodo awoke just as the sun was setting and the rain was beginning.
Bilbo had just closed the shutters in the room and was returning to his journal, when he heard the little one moan.
Smiling he went over to his nephew' side and put a fond hand on his forehead. "Frodo my lad! Have you slept well? How are you feeling?"
Frodo's lower lip quivered and he looked at his uncle frowning. "My tummy still hurts. And I am very thirsty."
"Excellent! No I don't mean about your tummy, I mean about being thirsty!! I shall get you some water, shall I? Would you like some chicken broth too?"
Frodo nodded quietly. Actually his tummy was gurgling and sounded empty. "Uncle, may I have some candy?"
That stopped Bilbo in his tracks momentarily. And then a big smile crossed his face. Well, then, Frodo must be feeling much better if he was asking about candy!
"Well first I think you need some nice warm soup, my lad. I don't recall Lord Elrond saying anything about candy, but perhaps, when you've eaten a little soup and maybe some nice apple jelly and cream, you may have a sweet."
Frodo sat up and was actually smiling at his uncle when he brought over the soup. Drinking the small cup of broth quickly, Frodo looked at his uncle expectantly.
"Well, good job Frodo, you quite ate up all the soup. Do you feel like some apple jelly?"
"Yes uncle. Even though my tummy still aches it is hungry."
"Very good! Apple jelly and cream it is!"
And in minutes, that too had disappeared. Bilbo was delighted. Frodo must definitely be on the mend! He looked at the hobbit child fondly and saw that his nephew looked more bright-eyed and alert.
"Can I have the candy now Uncle Bilbo?"
"Well, I think you may have a piece." He went over and brought over one horehound drop and Frodo grinning popped it in his mouth.
"Thang you Unle Bimbol!" He said with his mouth full. Bilbo went and cleaned up and then looked at the toys and books he had bought that day for his nephew.
"Perhaps you'd like a book to read my boy? I found a wonderful book of fairy tales and legends. I think there are dragons in it."
Frodo's blue eyes lit up at that. "Oh yes! May I see please?"
Bilbo pulled the book out of the wrapped packages he'd purchased and brought it over to his curious nephew. Frodo took it with eyes shining. It was not Berley's Book of Dragons...but it would do.
Uncle and nephew spent a pleasant evening in quiet study.
Finally, the lamps had been lit and Bilbo looked up from his journal entry. The bedside light shone on his now sleeping nephew's face casting a warm glow across it.
The elder hobbit went up to his sleeping nephew and gently brushed his riot of dark curls aside and then bent and kissed him. Taking the book of fairy tales, which had slipped out of the youngster's hands, he put it aside. Carefully adjusting the blanket, Bilbo turned down the lamp.
Looking around the room, he stretched and yawned himself. What a day! It was time for him to retire as well. Yawning again, Bilbo prepared for bed, and with a sigh of relief, settled down into the coverlets, listening to the soothing sound of the rain tapping on the wooden shutters.
Four days went by in quiet succession. Bilbo would make occasional forays out into the festival crowds and bring back Frodo some little treat: a top, a puzzle, another book. Bilbo would always slip Dilly an extra coin for her taking the time to watch Frodo.
And Frodo's spirits rose as the incision began to hurt less.
One afternoon, while Bilbo was out, Dilly even took the young hobbit lad out to the stables to see a brand new foal born to one of the inn's carthorses. Frodo was delighted with the little baby, especially the soft nose of the colt who came to greet the sick child with a whinny and nuzzle.
This cheered Frodo up so much, he wanted to get down and feed the chicks that were scrambling under foot, so Dilly set him down and let him pick up one of the soft baby birds and hug it.
But not wanting the lad to get a chill, Dilly soon took the protesting Frodo back to his room and tucked him up and fed him some broth and a poached egg.
Frodo didn't mind going back to the inn, even though he had not been able to tempt the mare with a bit of old apple he'd found on the ground. He was getting a bit cold and the fire in the room would feel good. He yawned as Dilly picked him up with a laugh.
"Perhaps my lad needs a nap, eh?"
"No," Frodo rubbed his eyes. "I do not need a nap! I am a big hobbit!"
When Dilly had turned to speak to the stable hand Toby, Frodo had hastily wiped his hands on the bandage under his nightshirt because he knew if the upstairs maid saw his dirty hands, he would catch it.
In a few minutes, Dilly and Frodo returned to the room and she lay him in his bed and covered him up. Humming, she then went about straightening the room. As Frodo lay there half-asleep, he noticed the collection of beautiful bottles and vials left behind by Lord Elrond. They were usually lost amongst the mugs and pitchers and pots over on the bureau, but because Dilly had been cleaning, she had put them all together in a group on the edge of the bureau.
They were so beautiful. He had never seen bottles like them before. They sparkled in the candlelight with different colors.
"Frodo lad." Dilly turned to him with a smile. "I am just going to take the dishes down to the kitchen and bring up some fresh tea water and see if I can't find you a treat! You be a good lad and do not get into any trouble!"
Frodo sat up with a smile. "Oh yes! A treat would be very nice! Thank you Dilly! I won't be any trouble either!"
Laughing, the maid left.
Frodo waited a minute and then carefully got out of bed. Oh, those bottles were so pretty! He could not help himself, and he picked up each one and looked at the Elvish work in wonder, enjoying the way the colors changed as he turned them slowly.
The last one, a beautiful deep blue with green and red highlights, really entranced Frodo. He kept turning it back and forth, wondering if his uncle would let him keep it when it was empty.
Hearing steps outside the door, he quickly put the vial back on the bureau top, but doing it without watching, he knocked the bottle against the edge and it fell out of his hand and shattered on the floor!
Frodo stood there, mouth agape, and then, relieved when the steps outside the door went past the room, he rummaged in a bureau drawer and pulled out one of his uncle's large handkerchief's. He painstakingly picked up the beautiful bits of glass and threw them reluctantly into the hot fire and mopped up the spilled tincture. Biting his lip, he then winced as he threw his uncle's handkerchief into the fire too and watched it go up in a blaze.
Carefully arranging the deep rag rug over the spill, Frodo then ran to his bed and climbed in. He made a face as he pulled the stitches in his haste to get under the covers.
With a sigh, he lay back against the pillows and closed his eyes. He was asleep before Dilly returned.
Bilbo was encouraged by Frodo's progress and was beginning to hope, with Frodo on the mend, that he might actually be able to enjoy the last days of the festival.
It was late at night on the fifth day, and Frodo awoke with a thin wail of pain. Ohh, his tummy really hurt!! He put a hand to the bandage and it felt warm beneath his fingers. 'Uncle Bilbo? Uncle Bilbo? My tummy really hurts again!"
The elder hobbit rolled over in his sleep, the cry of pain only slowly sinking in. Then he sat up suddenly as he heard his nephew whimpering. Jumping out of bed, he said, "I am coming Frodo lad." He stumbled in the dark and got the tinder and flint on the mantelpiece and lighted a single candle, which he brought over to his nephew's bedside. By the flickering of the light, Bilbo saw that his nephew's face was covered by a thin sheen of sweat, some of his curls plastered to his forehead.
Putting the candle down at Frodo's bedside, the hobbit went back over to get Elrond's sleeping draught and quickly pouring a bit of apple juice in a mug, he put in a big spoonful and stirred it quickly.
"Here you go Frodo. This will settle your tummy all well and good."
Frodo drank the cordial, making a face as he finished half of it.
"No more Uncle Bilbo. No more." He looked up at his uncle and gave him a tremulous smile. "My tummy stopped hurting."
"All right then. One more swallow for your Uncle Bilbo."
Frodo grimaced and did as his uncle requested, but then pushed the mug away. "No more!"
"I think that should be enough." Bilbo said to himself as he put the mug aside and then went to the bureau and poured water in the washbasin, soaking a small towel. Wringing it out thoroughly, he brought it back to the hobbit child and gently wiped his sweating face and around his neck.
Frodo yawned at his uncle and said sleepily, "Thank you Uncle Bilbo. I am so glad you are here and do not think I am diseased."
Bilbo put his arms around his tiny nephew and hugged him carefully. "Of course not my little one!" He frowned slightly at the warmth he could feel through the child's nightshirt.
Perhaps tomorrow, if the fever did not go down, he would call in one of the healers here in Michel Delving. Just to be sure.
Looking at his nephew, he saw his eyes glazing over in sleep. Kissing him one more time, Bilbo lay him back and adjusting the coverlet, returned to bed himself.
The next morning, though Frodo had gotten some sleep, he was restless with pain and would eat very little.
Getting Dilly to come sit with Frodo, Bilbo went and found a healer, a Mr. Thomas Dobbins and persuaded him to come see his ailing nephew that afternoon.
A friendly, kind hobbit, Mr. Dobbins came into the room, carrying his medical bag and smiling at the wan child, as Dilly curtsied and left. As Bilbo saw her out she said in a low voice, "He's a nice one he is Mr. Bilbo. He'll see your Frodo lad all right and tight."
Bilbo smiled and thanked her for her care.
Turning to the hobbit healer, who had set his bag on the floor beside him as he examined Frodo, he asked, "Can I get you anything Mr. Dobbins?"
"Not at the moment Mr. Baggins, but thank you."
"Now Frodo, I am going to cut the bandage off, so I can better see what the matter is."
Frodo said uncertainly as he looked at the strange hobbit. "No, no don't touch my tummy!! The Elf already cut my tummy! No more cutting!!'
"Shh, little one. I am just cutting the bandage, I do not need to cut your tummy."
Bilbo, hearing Frodo's cries, came over and soothed the child as Mr. Dobbins quickly cut through the bandages and with Bilbo's help, unwrapped them from around the tiny form.
It was obvious once the bandages came off, that an infection had set in, and the flesh around the incision was red and hot to the touch.
"Well, I see what we must do now Master Baggins." The healer turned to his medical bag and pulled out several vials and bottles as well as clean linen.
Bilbo sighing unhappily looked to his nephew's reaction. The little one's face crumpled up when he saw both of the older hobbit's serious expressions. He did not like all this handling or the things Mr. Dobbins was pulling out of his big black bag.
"What's wrong Uncle Bilbo? Why is my-my 'cision so hot! And it hurts!"
"Well, it looks like you might have a bit of infection Frodo lad. Perhaps you got it when you and Dilly went out to the stables?"
"Did you handle any animals Frodo?" Mr. Dobbins ask with a tip of his head. "Or play in the dirt?"
"I petted the baby horse and picked up a baby chick. I found a bit of apple on the ground which I tried to give to the mama horse, but it was too mushy and squashed."
"Hm. Where did you wipe your hands?"
"I-I don't remember." Frodo bit his lip, remembering just where he HAD wiped his hands.
Mr. Dobbins nodded his head. Patting the anxious child on the arm, "I shall make you a glass of medicine in a moment Frodo. I need to talk to your Uncle Bilbo, all right?"
Frodo pouted at the healer and crossed his arms over his chest and said nothing. Not more medicine!
Mr. Dobbins pulled the elder hobbit over towards the fire and said in a quiet voice. "The infection is nasty Mr. Baggins. I can give him medicine to reduce the fever. I have only a bit of salve that may help with the actual incision. This elf you say who did the surgery and left you medicines.did he leave nothing behind for infection? "
Bilbo brightened at that and went over to the selection of medicines left by the Elf lord. "Yes of course Mr. Dobbins, I am certain he left something for just such an occurrence." Bilbo picked up Lord Elrond's list and perusing it, compared the instructions left to the bottles on the bureau. The one left for possible infection was not there. Surely the Elf lord would not have forgotten?
Frodo watched the hobbit looking through the bottles and clasped his hands before him, biting his lip. Oho, it looked as if his uncle was looking for that beautiful blue bottle he had broken!
His lip quivered when he saw the worry on his uncle's face as he turned to look at Frodo for just a moment.
"I-I.um.Oh Uncle Bilbo!" Frodo started to cry. "I broke the pretty blue bottle yesterday morning! I am so sorry!! I did not mean to! It was so beautiful and I tried to put it back but, but I dropped it! I am sorry!
Bilbo went to his nephew's side and hugged him quickly. "I know you did not mean to Frodo lad, but Mr. Dobbins does not have a lot of medicine right now to take care of your incision." He looked over at the healer.
"Well Mister Baggins, I can go ask Mistress Barnstaple is she has any to spare."
"Thank you Mister Dobbins!" Bilbo helped the healer on with his coat and led him to the door. "I hope Mistress Barnstaple can help!"
In moments, the healer had left and Bilbo, more worried than he wanted Frodo to know, went to make some tea.
If Mistress Barnstaple did NOT have anything for an infection, Frodo's life could be in danger!
Bilbo had just closed the shutters in the room and was returning to his journal, when he heard the little one moan.
Smiling he went over to his nephew' side and put a fond hand on his forehead. "Frodo my lad! Have you slept well? How are you feeling?"
Frodo's lower lip quivered and he looked at his uncle frowning. "My tummy still hurts. And I am very thirsty."
"Excellent! No I don't mean about your tummy, I mean about being thirsty!! I shall get you some water, shall I? Would you like some chicken broth too?"
Frodo nodded quietly. Actually his tummy was gurgling and sounded empty. "Uncle, may I have some candy?"
That stopped Bilbo in his tracks momentarily. And then a big smile crossed his face. Well, then, Frodo must be feeling much better if he was asking about candy!
"Well first I think you need some nice warm soup, my lad. I don't recall Lord Elrond saying anything about candy, but perhaps, when you've eaten a little soup and maybe some nice apple jelly and cream, you may have a sweet."
Frodo sat up and was actually smiling at his uncle when he brought over the soup. Drinking the small cup of broth quickly, Frodo looked at his uncle expectantly.
"Well, good job Frodo, you quite ate up all the soup. Do you feel like some apple jelly?"
"Yes uncle. Even though my tummy still aches it is hungry."
"Very good! Apple jelly and cream it is!"
And in minutes, that too had disappeared. Bilbo was delighted. Frodo must definitely be on the mend! He looked at the hobbit child fondly and saw that his nephew looked more bright-eyed and alert.
"Can I have the candy now Uncle Bilbo?"
"Well, I think you may have a piece." He went over and brought over one horehound drop and Frodo grinning popped it in his mouth.
"Thang you Unle Bimbol!" He said with his mouth full. Bilbo went and cleaned up and then looked at the toys and books he had bought that day for his nephew.
"Perhaps you'd like a book to read my boy? I found a wonderful book of fairy tales and legends. I think there are dragons in it."
Frodo's blue eyes lit up at that. "Oh yes! May I see please?"
Bilbo pulled the book out of the wrapped packages he'd purchased and brought it over to his curious nephew. Frodo took it with eyes shining. It was not Berley's Book of Dragons...but it would do.
Uncle and nephew spent a pleasant evening in quiet study.
Finally, the lamps had been lit and Bilbo looked up from his journal entry. The bedside light shone on his now sleeping nephew's face casting a warm glow across it.
The elder hobbit went up to his sleeping nephew and gently brushed his riot of dark curls aside and then bent and kissed him. Taking the book of fairy tales, which had slipped out of the youngster's hands, he put it aside. Carefully adjusting the blanket, Bilbo turned down the lamp.
Looking around the room, he stretched and yawned himself. What a day! It was time for him to retire as well. Yawning again, Bilbo prepared for bed, and with a sigh of relief, settled down into the coverlets, listening to the soothing sound of the rain tapping on the wooden shutters.
Four days went by in quiet succession. Bilbo would make occasional forays out into the festival crowds and bring back Frodo some little treat: a top, a puzzle, another book. Bilbo would always slip Dilly an extra coin for her taking the time to watch Frodo.
And Frodo's spirits rose as the incision began to hurt less.
One afternoon, while Bilbo was out, Dilly even took the young hobbit lad out to the stables to see a brand new foal born to one of the inn's carthorses. Frodo was delighted with the little baby, especially the soft nose of the colt who came to greet the sick child with a whinny and nuzzle.
This cheered Frodo up so much, he wanted to get down and feed the chicks that were scrambling under foot, so Dilly set him down and let him pick up one of the soft baby birds and hug it.
But not wanting the lad to get a chill, Dilly soon took the protesting Frodo back to his room and tucked him up and fed him some broth and a poached egg.
Frodo didn't mind going back to the inn, even though he had not been able to tempt the mare with a bit of old apple he'd found on the ground. He was getting a bit cold and the fire in the room would feel good. He yawned as Dilly picked him up with a laugh.
"Perhaps my lad needs a nap, eh?"
"No," Frodo rubbed his eyes. "I do not need a nap! I am a big hobbit!"
When Dilly had turned to speak to the stable hand Toby, Frodo had hastily wiped his hands on the bandage under his nightshirt because he knew if the upstairs maid saw his dirty hands, he would catch it.
In a few minutes, Dilly and Frodo returned to the room and she lay him in his bed and covered him up. Humming, she then went about straightening the room. As Frodo lay there half-asleep, he noticed the collection of beautiful bottles and vials left behind by Lord Elrond. They were usually lost amongst the mugs and pitchers and pots over on the bureau, but because Dilly had been cleaning, she had put them all together in a group on the edge of the bureau.
They were so beautiful. He had never seen bottles like them before. They sparkled in the candlelight with different colors.
"Frodo lad." Dilly turned to him with a smile. "I am just going to take the dishes down to the kitchen and bring up some fresh tea water and see if I can't find you a treat! You be a good lad and do not get into any trouble!"
Frodo sat up with a smile. "Oh yes! A treat would be very nice! Thank you Dilly! I won't be any trouble either!"
Laughing, the maid left.
Frodo waited a minute and then carefully got out of bed. Oh, those bottles were so pretty! He could not help himself, and he picked up each one and looked at the Elvish work in wonder, enjoying the way the colors changed as he turned them slowly.
The last one, a beautiful deep blue with green and red highlights, really entranced Frodo. He kept turning it back and forth, wondering if his uncle would let him keep it when it was empty.
Hearing steps outside the door, he quickly put the vial back on the bureau top, but doing it without watching, he knocked the bottle against the edge and it fell out of his hand and shattered on the floor!
Frodo stood there, mouth agape, and then, relieved when the steps outside the door went past the room, he rummaged in a bureau drawer and pulled out one of his uncle's large handkerchief's. He painstakingly picked up the beautiful bits of glass and threw them reluctantly into the hot fire and mopped up the spilled tincture. Biting his lip, he then winced as he threw his uncle's handkerchief into the fire too and watched it go up in a blaze.
Carefully arranging the deep rag rug over the spill, Frodo then ran to his bed and climbed in. He made a face as he pulled the stitches in his haste to get under the covers.
With a sigh, he lay back against the pillows and closed his eyes. He was asleep before Dilly returned.
Bilbo was encouraged by Frodo's progress and was beginning to hope, with Frodo on the mend, that he might actually be able to enjoy the last days of the festival.
It was late at night on the fifth day, and Frodo awoke with a thin wail of pain. Ohh, his tummy really hurt!! He put a hand to the bandage and it felt warm beneath his fingers. 'Uncle Bilbo? Uncle Bilbo? My tummy really hurts again!"
The elder hobbit rolled over in his sleep, the cry of pain only slowly sinking in. Then he sat up suddenly as he heard his nephew whimpering. Jumping out of bed, he said, "I am coming Frodo lad." He stumbled in the dark and got the tinder and flint on the mantelpiece and lighted a single candle, which he brought over to his nephew's bedside. By the flickering of the light, Bilbo saw that his nephew's face was covered by a thin sheen of sweat, some of his curls plastered to his forehead.
Putting the candle down at Frodo's bedside, the hobbit went back over to get Elrond's sleeping draught and quickly pouring a bit of apple juice in a mug, he put in a big spoonful and stirred it quickly.
"Here you go Frodo. This will settle your tummy all well and good."
Frodo drank the cordial, making a face as he finished half of it.
"No more Uncle Bilbo. No more." He looked up at his uncle and gave him a tremulous smile. "My tummy stopped hurting."
"All right then. One more swallow for your Uncle Bilbo."
Frodo grimaced and did as his uncle requested, but then pushed the mug away. "No more!"
"I think that should be enough." Bilbo said to himself as he put the mug aside and then went to the bureau and poured water in the washbasin, soaking a small towel. Wringing it out thoroughly, he brought it back to the hobbit child and gently wiped his sweating face and around his neck.
Frodo yawned at his uncle and said sleepily, "Thank you Uncle Bilbo. I am so glad you are here and do not think I am diseased."
Bilbo put his arms around his tiny nephew and hugged him carefully. "Of course not my little one!" He frowned slightly at the warmth he could feel through the child's nightshirt.
Perhaps tomorrow, if the fever did not go down, he would call in one of the healers here in Michel Delving. Just to be sure.
Looking at his nephew, he saw his eyes glazing over in sleep. Kissing him one more time, Bilbo lay him back and adjusting the coverlet, returned to bed himself.
The next morning, though Frodo had gotten some sleep, he was restless with pain and would eat very little.
Getting Dilly to come sit with Frodo, Bilbo went and found a healer, a Mr. Thomas Dobbins and persuaded him to come see his ailing nephew that afternoon.
A friendly, kind hobbit, Mr. Dobbins came into the room, carrying his medical bag and smiling at the wan child, as Dilly curtsied and left. As Bilbo saw her out she said in a low voice, "He's a nice one he is Mr. Bilbo. He'll see your Frodo lad all right and tight."
Bilbo smiled and thanked her for her care.
Turning to the hobbit healer, who had set his bag on the floor beside him as he examined Frodo, he asked, "Can I get you anything Mr. Dobbins?"
"Not at the moment Mr. Baggins, but thank you."
"Now Frodo, I am going to cut the bandage off, so I can better see what the matter is."
Frodo said uncertainly as he looked at the strange hobbit. "No, no don't touch my tummy!! The Elf already cut my tummy! No more cutting!!'
"Shh, little one. I am just cutting the bandage, I do not need to cut your tummy."
Bilbo, hearing Frodo's cries, came over and soothed the child as Mr. Dobbins quickly cut through the bandages and with Bilbo's help, unwrapped them from around the tiny form.
It was obvious once the bandages came off, that an infection had set in, and the flesh around the incision was red and hot to the touch.
"Well, I see what we must do now Master Baggins." The healer turned to his medical bag and pulled out several vials and bottles as well as clean linen.
Bilbo sighing unhappily looked to his nephew's reaction. The little one's face crumpled up when he saw both of the older hobbit's serious expressions. He did not like all this handling or the things Mr. Dobbins was pulling out of his big black bag.
"What's wrong Uncle Bilbo? Why is my-my 'cision so hot! And it hurts!"
"Well, it looks like you might have a bit of infection Frodo lad. Perhaps you got it when you and Dilly went out to the stables?"
"Did you handle any animals Frodo?" Mr. Dobbins ask with a tip of his head. "Or play in the dirt?"
"I petted the baby horse and picked up a baby chick. I found a bit of apple on the ground which I tried to give to the mama horse, but it was too mushy and squashed."
"Hm. Where did you wipe your hands?"
"I-I don't remember." Frodo bit his lip, remembering just where he HAD wiped his hands.
Mr. Dobbins nodded his head. Patting the anxious child on the arm, "I shall make you a glass of medicine in a moment Frodo. I need to talk to your Uncle Bilbo, all right?"
Frodo pouted at the healer and crossed his arms over his chest and said nothing. Not more medicine!
Mr. Dobbins pulled the elder hobbit over towards the fire and said in a quiet voice. "The infection is nasty Mr. Baggins. I can give him medicine to reduce the fever. I have only a bit of salve that may help with the actual incision. This elf you say who did the surgery and left you medicines.did he leave nothing behind for infection? "
Bilbo brightened at that and went over to the selection of medicines left by the Elf lord. "Yes of course Mr. Dobbins, I am certain he left something for just such an occurrence." Bilbo picked up Lord Elrond's list and perusing it, compared the instructions left to the bottles on the bureau. The one left for possible infection was not there. Surely the Elf lord would not have forgotten?
Frodo watched the hobbit looking through the bottles and clasped his hands before him, biting his lip. Oho, it looked as if his uncle was looking for that beautiful blue bottle he had broken!
His lip quivered when he saw the worry on his uncle's face as he turned to look at Frodo for just a moment.
"I-I.um.Oh Uncle Bilbo!" Frodo started to cry. "I broke the pretty blue bottle yesterday morning! I am so sorry!! I did not mean to! It was so beautiful and I tried to put it back but, but I dropped it! I am sorry!
Bilbo went to his nephew's side and hugged him quickly. "I know you did not mean to Frodo lad, but Mr. Dobbins does not have a lot of medicine right now to take care of your incision." He looked over at the healer.
"Well Mister Baggins, I can go ask Mistress Barnstaple is she has any to spare."
"Thank you Mister Dobbins!" Bilbo helped the healer on with his coat and led him to the door. "I hope Mistress Barnstaple can help!"
In moments, the healer had left and Bilbo, more worried than he wanted Frodo to know, went to make some tea.
If Mistress Barnstaple did NOT have anything for an infection, Frodo's life could be in danger!