01-11-2002
Meet Jaell Brandybuck: Chapter Six
The day after, after all was cleaned and return back to a normal semblance of peace and routine, there was a knock at the door. It was well after breakfasts and a nap or work was expected so I was very interested in seeing who it was. Upon opening the door, I saw Frodo again.
"Yes, dear Frodo? May I help you?"
"Yes, you can… may I come in?" I nodded, of course. "I need to speak with you, Jaell. Urgently…" That worried me to no end at that moment.
"Frodo? What's the matter??" He looked calm though his words said otherwise.
"The gifts you gave me… were inappropriately wonderful. Why would you want to give them… to me?" Out of a small rucksack hanging off his shoulder, he took out the two gifts I had given him. One was a shirt, made specially for him with the language of the Elves embroidered that said "Frodo" that was red velvet and silk and decorations of wonder and the other, a beautiful Elvish knife engraved with wonderful sayings made of mithril, otherwise known as truesilver that shone beautifully with the light and was truly a kingly gift. "These are kingly and expensive, perhaps worth more than the Shire itself… not fit for a Hobbit such as I. I ask that you take them back." I laughed.
"Dear Frodo that is why I got them for you. I am the best of friends with two Elves, Nalinde of Rivendell and Nolia Alqua of Mirkwood. They helped me make them for you. Took me a good long year, at that! I ask that you keep them, for they are for you and you only. I sense that a burden you carry may make these gifts necessary." He merely stared at me in amazement that startled me. He nodded, as if saying "Thank you… thank you to no end."
He remained seated. "Jaell, how could you have known that I hold such things dear to me?"
"Dearest Frodo, it's merely a sense that overtook me. 'These things would fit him wonderfully,' I told myself. Won't you try the shirt on?" Frodo nodded and began taking his top vest off and as he was unbuttoning his shirt, I looked at the ground.
"Okay." He stood there, looking as royalty. I stood in front of him, barely able to speak.
"You look… wow." He laughed.
"Perhaps this is not the best time to be wearing this? I would absolutely abhor it if I broke or dirtied it before it's time." I nodded, running my fingers through uprisings of the shirt on his chest.
"I'm glad you like it." He placed his hand my hand that was feeling the shirt and rested his other hand on my cheek, gently stroking. I closed my eyes and leaned my head, as it was the perfect moment to be with him. It just felt so right, that moment. Opening my eyes again, I saw his eyes lock with mine.
"JAELL! Come to the kitchen! QUICK!" What a perfect moment ruiner, I thought. The voice of my mother sounded as urgent as it did and made me run to the kitchen. Frodo was right behind me and it wasn't hard to see what she was screaming about. We saw the wood-burning stove burning more than the wood for the tablecloth had caught on fire.
"MA! Come here!" She ran to me and we stood together in the doorway and Frodo took control. He found the water pitcher on the table and threw it on the flames. Not working at full length, he resorted to using his feet. After the fire was put out, he limped to the other side of the table and I quickly got the salve and wound cloths and tended to his feet while two feet away, my mother started crying. I got up and put my arms around her. "It's okay, Mama, it's okay. Don't cry, it's not your fault." I wiped her tears and her body kept heaving with her sobs until she gained control of herself. She helped me with Frodo's singed foot and Frodo thanked us both.
"Frodo, dear, I did not know you were over… what an absolutely regal shirt." He nodded and smiled, looking at me.
"Yes, I got it from someone wonderfully special. I'm thoroughly glad I did for it made me realize many things." What did he mean by that?
More to come…