- After All is Said and Done -
Part Two : Recovery
By Tippy
- A/N: Here's Part Two, enjoy! (riiiiight...:P) Oh, and BTW...I'm writing a sequal to "Of Stars and Scrabble", since many a person [???] requested it. ^^ But that's next on the agenda. AND I'm writing ANOTHER fic, which i've been working on for almost a month, now, called "The Resurrection of Power". It's kind of one of those mega-long 'epic fics'...ya know the type. ;P Anyhoo. I'm-a gonna shut up now. ;D
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Frodo let out a groan as his eyes slowly opened. His entire body ached - especially his head, which actually was *throbbing*.
"You're awake!" A voice exclaimed.
Frodo tried to bring the room in focus, then suddenly realised that this wasn't his room in Eressea...then where was he...?
"SAM!" He suddenly exclaimed, sitting up quickly. Frodo instantly regretted this action, as his head suddenly felt as though a thousand dwarf-hammers were pounding on it all at once.
"Shh, shh. Father is getting himself a quick bite of breakfast. He's been tending to you all night, you know."
Frodo lay back and glanced at the speaker, seeing that she was a hobbit-girl of his age. Her long, red-gold hair fell over her shoulders, and her large, dark eyes surveyed Frodo with great interest.
"Who-Who are you?" Frodo asked slowly, his tongue feeling thick and swollen.
"Elanor Gamgee. Now lie still. You had a fever all night, and Father brought it down. Did you know that you just collapsed right in front of me at the door? I was quite frightened, but Sam-dad knew what to do. He knows who you are, at least."
Frodo nodded, a half-smile on his sweaty face. Elanor carefully pressed a cool cloth down on his forehead, against the damp curls sticking to his flushed skin.
"Do...do you know who I am?" Frodo suddenly asked.
"I'm afraid not." Elanor said, pausing her hand. "But I'm sure you're going to tell me, right?"
Frodo drew in a breath, feeling very tired and old. "I'm sure Samwise has told you about me. Perhaps that shall help you?"
"No, and you seem far too young to have been one of my father's friends from the days of the Ring. I do hope you aren't going to make me *guess* your name..." Elanor said, smiling slightly, and removing the cloth to soak it again in the bucket beside her.
"Yes, I think I shall do that. And I WAS one of your father's friends. His dearest, in fact." Frodo's voice sounded hoarse as he spoke, but a joy had filled his heart - joy, that he was back in Bag End, and in the Shire. And joy, that he was actually seeing Samwise's *children*, now very much grown up.
"Fine then. You're a Bolger." Elanor said, wringing out the cloth.
"No." Frodo responded, smiling.
"Took."
"No."
"Brandybuck."
"Partially. But that's not my last name."
Elanor wrinkled her nose thoughtfully. "Bracegirdle."
"No."
"Grubb, Chubb, or Proudfoot."
"No, no, and no."
"Alright then...Brockhouse."
"Wrong!"
"Goold!"
"Wrong again."
"Baggins."
"Yes." Frodo's tired smile broadened.
"Oh, but there are so *many* Bagginses! You could be any number of people!"
"I may as well tell you. My name is--"
"--Frodo! You're awake!" Sam came bursting into the room, his face filled with happiness. "Oh, my dear Mr. Frodo!" And then he paused awkwardly at the side of the bed, looking embarrassed. He knitted his fingers together, looking down at his shoes.
"My dear Samwise, come now. I feel fine, and my headache has gone. And I'm *home*! For good, now!"
Sam let out a gasp, then suddenly drew forward and embraced his old master tightly, surprised to find himself weeping on Frodo's shoulder.
Frodo, similarly, realised that silent tears were trailing down his cheeks, as he held onto Sam as if he'd never let go.
"Oh Mr. Frodo, my best friend, you have no idea how I've missed you...your words, your kindness, your laughter, your presence! And now you've come home to your dear old Sam to stay...it is more than I could have ever hoped for!"
Frodo drew back, smiling. "And I, too, have missed everything about *you*, Samwise Gamgee!"
Sam laughed happily, then turned to Elanor. "Elanorëlle, this is Frodo Baggins! From all the legends and tales!"
"Y-Yes, I met him..." Elanor gazed down in awe at the hobbit before her, then felt herself flushing slightly. "But aren't you supposed to be, well, older?" She asked slowly.
Frodo nodded his head. "That I am. But the Havens makes you youthful once more, and so it is as though I had never aged."
Sam's eyes welled with tears once more. "But it could not repair everything, I see." He said hoarsely, taking Frodo's left hand.
Frodo's smile disappeared. "No, not even the power of the Undying Lands could heal my wounds. I will always be Frodo of the Nine Fingers, I am afraid. But let this be a lasting memory of the horrible war of the Ring, and that all may remember what happened."
Sam kissed the hand, then carefully set it on the soft blanket Frodo lay under.
"Mister Frodo, I was afeared last night when you had collapsed on the stoop! What happened? How did you get back to the Shire?"
"Ah, I desired to dwell in the Shire once more. It is where my heart has ever been." Frodo smiled faintly. "So the fair people of the Undying Lands allowed me to return here, for good. I arrived yesterday in a boat, but the weather was stormy... ah, quite a time I had going through the rain, thunder, and lightning to get here! And then, as you saw, I caught a cold which escalated into a fever."
Samwise patted Frodo's hand. "Well, you're here now, and that's the important thing. And now I will go fetch my dear Rosie, and let her see you! Elanorëlle, watch Mr. Frodo a moment for me, if you please."
Elanor nodded, in awe of the previous Ring-bearer lying before her, as Sam left the room.
Frodo smiled up at her, and she noticed a small gap between his front teeth. This made Elanor smile back, as she realised that from all the legends and tales she'd heard - she, her siblings, and her friends had made Frodo out to be some sort of god-like being. Perfect, awesome, and powerful.
But here he was, a normal hobbit with typical flaws that anyone could have.
"You must understand me, Ellie, that I am quite amazed to see you all grown up." Frodo said, interrupting Elanor's thoughts. "You see, your mother gave birth to you before I left for the Havens. So I have a distinct memory of holding you when you were but a baby. Dear Sam," Frodo broke out laughing, suddenly. "Ahh, how I remember his excitement at having his own child. He thought you were perfect in every way. With your fair hair and Sam's brown eyes. He was so happy, and I can see he still is. He loves you very much, Elanor. Very, very much..."
Elanor was quiet as she surveyed Frodo, studying the way the blanket fell against his slender, pale chest and shoulders. Studying his dark, dark brown curls lying starkly against the white pillow, and his fathomless, sapphire blue eyes gazing upwards. Studying the hand that lay across his stomach, with only four fingers.
"Frodo," Elanor suddenly said, feeling rather bold. "Frodo, would you care to attend my coming-of-age party tomorrow? It's to be held in the evening, outside in the field behind Bagshot Row. There's to be music provided by some hobbits down from Woody End, and plenty of food and drink..."
Frodo nodded slightly. "Yes, of course I'd love to come. I am greatly honoured by your invitation, Elanor. It has been long since I've had fun. I should really start enjoying the youth I've been given back, you know. And your party should be a rather nice way to do that."
With a delighted smile, Elanor replied, "Excellent! My friends shall all be rather impressed to see that the famous Frodo Baggins is coming to my birthday party!" She clapped her hands against his in excitement, then added softly, "And it is a great honor to me, as well."
The two hobbits suddenly became aware that Samwise and Rose were standing at the doorway of the bedroom.
Sam cleared his throat, and Elanor quickly drew back from Frodo, realising what she'd done.
Rosie then went forward and embraced Frodo, speaking to him for a little while, while Sam leaned against the door post with his arms crossed.
After a time, Rosie went off to prepare some lunch.
"Elanor, go with her." Sam said in a strangely firm voice. "Help your Mother."
Elanor noticed that he had failed to call her Elanorëlle, which strangely unnerved her. She quickly departed from the room, and headed to the kitchen.
Samwise took his daughter's seat at Frodo's bedside, then he sighed deeply. Frodo saw how lined Sam's face had become.
"Samwise, what troubles you? You seemed unhappy with Ellie when you sent her off just now."
"Oh, Mister Frodo... I wish I could hold her back, but I can't. She has grown up so *quickly*. How I wish she was but a child again..." Sam said sadly. (A/N: Say THAT one ten times really fast!)
"No, Sam." Frodo replied gently, blue eyes soft. "I detect more than that. You are afraid that she will fall in love, and leave you behind. That she won't care for you as much. Am I correct? For I can read your eyes and voice, my dear Samwise. They betray you."
Sam buried his face into his cupped hands, then gazed between fingers at Frodo.
"I am so old, Frodo. So very old. And when you returned - and were so *young* - I was afraid. Afraid that I would lose Elanor to you, and that I would lose you to Elanor. Two of my dearest hobbits, both forgetting about their old Sam. How it has wrenched at my heart! I was glad when I saw you last night Mister Frodo, so glad - I thought, 'we can be together once more!'. And then I saw Elanor look at you, with this strange light in her eyes. It frightened me." Sam realised that he was weeping. "Please don't ever leave me again, Mister Frodo! I couldn't bear to be alone, without my baby girl and my best friend!"
Frodo grasped the old hobbit's arm, and said- "My dear, dear Samwise. I would never want to leave you, nor would Ellie. Do not *worry* so! I promise you, Sam, that I shall never again go away."
"And I pledge the same." A soft, quavering voice whispered from the door.
Sam and Frodo looked up, spotting Elanor. Her brow was drawn together in worry, but Sam held out his hand to her. She took it, and kissed it.
"Oh, Sam-dad. I love you so! You will never lose your little girl, I promise!"
Outside, the rain slowly ceased, and the sunshine broke through the clouds.
- End Part Two -
Part Two : Recovery
By Tippy
- A/N: Here's Part Two, enjoy! (riiiiight...:P) Oh, and BTW...I'm writing a sequal to "Of Stars and Scrabble", since many a person [???] requested it. ^^ But that's next on the agenda. AND I'm writing ANOTHER fic, which i've been working on for almost a month, now, called "The Resurrection of Power". It's kind of one of those mega-long 'epic fics'...ya know the type. ;P Anyhoo. I'm-a gonna shut up now. ;D
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Frodo let out a groan as his eyes slowly opened. His entire body ached - especially his head, which actually was *throbbing*.
"You're awake!" A voice exclaimed.
Frodo tried to bring the room in focus, then suddenly realised that this wasn't his room in Eressea...then where was he...?
"SAM!" He suddenly exclaimed, sitting up quickly. Frodo instantly regretted this action, as his head suddenly felt as though a thousand dwarf-hammers were pounding on it all at once.
"Shh, shh. Father is getting himself a quick bite of breakfast. He's been tending to you all night, you know."
Frodo lay back and glanced at the speaker, seeing that she was a hobbit-girl of his age. Her long, red-gold hair fell over her shoulders, and her large, dark eyes surveyed Frodo with great interest.
"Who-Who are you?" Frodo asked slowly, his tongue feeling thick and swollen.
"Elanor Gamgee. Now lie still. You had a fever all night, and Father brought it down. Did you know that you just collapsed right in front of me at the door? I was quite frightened, but Sam-dad knew what to do. He knows who you are, at least."
Frodo nodded, a half-smile on his sweaty face. Elanor carefully pressed a cool cloth down on his forehead, against the damp curls sticking to his flushed skin.
"Do...do you know who I am?" Frodo suddenly asked.
"I'm afraid not." Elanor said, pausing her hand. "But I'm sure you're going to tell me, right?"
Frodo drew in a breath, feeling very tired and old. "I'm sure Samwise has told you about me. Perhaps that shall help you?"
"No, and you seem far too young to have been one of my father's friends from the days of the Ring. I do hope you aren't going to make me *guess* your name..." Elanor said, smiling slightly, and removing the cloth to soak it again in the bucket beside her.
"Yes, I think I shall do that. And I WAS one of your father's friends. His dearest, in fact." Frodo's voice sounded hoarse as he spoke, but a joy had filled his heart - joy, that he was back in Bag End, and in the Shire. And joy, that he was actually seeing Samwise's *children*, now very much grown up.
"Fine then. You're a Bolger." Elanor said, wringing out the cloth.
"No." Frodo responded, smiling.
"Took."
"No."
"Brandybuck."
"Partially. But that's not my last name."
Elanor wrinkled her nose thoughtfully. "Bracegirdle."
"No."
"Grubb, Chubb, or Proudfoot."
"No, no, and no."
"Alright then...Brockhouse."
"Wrong!"
"Goold!"
"Wrong again."
"Baggins."
"Yes." Frodo's tired smile broadened.
"Oh, but there are so *many* Bagginses! You could be any number of people!"
"I may as well tell you. My name is--"
"--Frodo! You're awake!" Sam came bursting into the room, his face filled with happiness. "Oh, my dear Mr. Frodo!" And then he paused awkwardly at the side of the bed, looking embarrassed. He knitted his fingers together, looking down at his shoes.
"My dear Samwise, come now. I feel fine, and my headache has gone. And I'm *home*! For good, now!"
Sam let out a gasp, then suddenly drew forward and embraced his old master tightly, surprised to find himself weeping on Frodo's shoulder.
Frodo, similarly, realised that silent tears were trailing down his cheeks, as he held onto Sam as if he'd never let go.
"Oh Mr. Frodo, my best friend, you have no idea how I've missed you...your words, your kindness, your laughter, your presence! And now you've come home to your dear old Sam to stay...it is more than I could have ever hoped for!"
Frodo drew back, smiling. "And I, too, have missed everything about *you*, Samwise Gamgee!"
Sam laughed happily, then turned to Elanor. "Elanorëlle, this is Frodo Baggins! From all the legends and tales!"
"Y-Yes, I met him..." Elanor gazed down in awe at the hobbit before her, then felt herself flushing slightly. "But aren't you supposed to be, well, older?" She asked slowly.
Frodo nodded his head. "That I am. But the Havens makes you youthful once more, and so it is as though I had never aged."
Sam's eyes welled with tears once more. "But it could not repair everything, I see." He said hoarsely, taking Frodo's left hand.
Frodo's smile disappeared. "No, not even the power of the Undying Lands could heal my wounds. I will always be Frodo of the Nine Fingers, I am afraid. But let this be a lasting memory of the horrible war of the Ring, and that all may remember what happened."
Sam kissed the hand, then carefully set it on the soft blanket Frodo lay under.
"Mister Frodo, I was afeared last night when you had collapsed on the stoop! What happened? How did you get back to the Shire?"
"Ah, I desired to dwell in the Shire once more. It is where my heart has ever been." Frodo smiled faintly. "So the fair people of the Undying Lands allowed me to return here, for good. I arrived yesterday in a boat, but the weather was stormy... ah, quite a time I had going through the rain, thunder, and lightning to get here! And then, as you saw, I caught a cold which escalated into a fever."
Samwise patted Frodo's hand. "Well, you're here now, and that's the important thing. And now I will go fetch my dear Rosie, and let her see you! Elanorëlle, watch Mr. Frodo a moment for me, if you please."
Elanor nodded, in awe of the previous Ring-bearer lying before her, as Sam left the room.
Frodo smiled up at her, and she noticed a small gap between his front teeth. This made Elanor smile back, as she realised that from all the legends and tales she'd heard - she, her siblings, and her friends had made Frodo out to be some sort of god-like being. Perfect, awesome, and powerful.
But here he was, a normal hobbit with typical flaws that anyone could have.
"You must understand me, Ellie, that I am quite amazed to see you all grown up." Frodo said, interrupting Elanor's thoughts. "You see, your mother gave birth to you before I left for the Havens. So I have a distinct memory of holding you when you were but a baby. Dear Sam," Frodo broke out laughing, suddenly. "Ahh, how I remember his excitement at having his own child. He thought you were perfect in every way. With your fair hair and Sam's brown eyes. He was so happy, and I can see he still is. He loves you very much, Elanor. Very, very much..."
Elanor was quiet as she surveyed Frodo, studying the way the blanket fell against his slender, pale chest and shoulders. Studying his dark, dark brown curls lying starkly against the white pillow, and his fathomless, sapphire blue eyes gazing upwards. Studying the hand that lay across his stomach, with only four fingers.
"Frodo," Elanor suddenly said, feeling rather bold. "Frodo, would you care to attend my coming-of-age party tomorrow? It's to be held in the evening, outside in the field behind Bagshot Row. There's to be music provided by some hobbits down from Woody End, and plenty of food and drink..."
Frodo nodded slightly. "Yes, of course I'd love to come. I am greatly honoured by your invitation, Elanor. It has been long since I've had fun. I should really start enjoying the youth I've been given back, you know. And your party should be a rather nice way to do that."
With a delighted smile, Elanor replied, "Excellent! My friends shall all be rather impressed to see that the famous Frodo Baggins is coming to my birthday party!" She clapped her hands against his in excitement, then added softly, "And it is a great honor to me, as well."
The two hobbits suddenly became aware that Samwise and Rose were standing at the doorway of the bedroom.
Sam cleared his throat, and Elanor quickly drew back from Frodo, realising what she'd done.
Rosie then went forward and embraced Frodo, speaking to him for a little while, while Sam leaned against the door post with his arms crossed.
After a time, Rosie went off to prepare some lunch.
"Elanor, go with her." Sam said in a strangely firm voice. "Help your Mother."
Elanor noticed that he had failed to call her Elanorëlle, which strangely unnerved her. She quickly departed from the room, and headed to the kitchen.
Samwise took his daughter's seat at Frodo's bedside, then he sighed deeply. Frodo saw how lined Sam's face had become.
"Samwise, what troubles you? You seemed unhappy with Ellie when you sent her off just now."
"Oh, Mister Frodo... I wish I could hold her back, but I can't. She has grown up so *quickly*. How I wish she was but a child again..." Sam said sadly. (A/N: Say THAT one ten times really fast!)
"No, Sam." Frodo replied gently, blue eyes soft. "I detect more than that. You are afraid that she will fall in love, and leave you behind. That she won't care for you as much. Am I correct? For I can read your eyes and voice, my dear Samwise. They betray you."
Sam buried his face into his cupped hands, then gazed between fingers at Frodo.
"I am so old, Frodo. So very old. And when you returned - and were so *young* - I was afraid. Afraid that I would lose Elanor to you, and that I would lose you to Elanor. Two of my dearest hobbits, both forgetting about their old Sam. How it has wrenched at my heart! I was glad when I saw you last night Mister Frodo, so glad - I thought, 'we can be together once more!'. And then I saw Elanor look at you, with this strange light in her eyes. It frightened me." Sam realised that he was weeping. "Please don't ever leave me again, Mister Frodo! I couldn't bear to be alone, without my baby girl and my best friend!"
Frodo grasped the old hobbit's arm, and said- "My dear, dear Samwise. I would never want to leave you, nor would Ellie. Do not *worry* so! I promise you, Sam, that I shall never again go away."
"And I pledge the same." A soft, quavering voice whispered from the door.
Sam and Frodo looked up, spotting Elanor. Her brow was drawn together in worry, but Sam held out his hand to her. She took it, and kissed it.
"Oh, Sam-dad. I love you so! You will never lose your little girl, I promise!"
Outside, the rain slowly ceased, and the sunshine broke through the clouds.
- End Part Two -