Thank you to Susan Coolidge for inspiring me with "What Katy Did". Thank
you Mr Tolkien for not writing anything about Frodo's childhood and so
giving us endless scope for play. Thank you Elijah for bringing out my
mothering instinct - even if it is rather a horrible mothering instinct
that knocks her babies out of trees. Thank you Frodo Healers so much for
all your support and reviews. Thank you to my muse for returning to me.
And a HUGE THANK YOU to Mark for editing above and beyond the call of duty.
I don't own and I don't profit - in a monetary sense anyway - from any of this. I profit by way of enrichment of my life.
Chapter 13
The annual gathering of friends and relations at Bag End for Bilbo and Frodo's combined birthday was a small event that year.
"So we can save up for next year," Bilbo had said with a wink.
The guest list had included all of the Gamgee's, Dr Bramble and his wife were invited, as was Mrs Willowbank and, of course, all of Frodo's Brandy Hall relations. In the end, of the relations, only Esmerelda could come, bringing with her a fat bundle of toddling hobbit in the form of Cousin Meriadoc, who, Frodo sadly noted, "has still not grown into his ears."
Frodo woke on the birthday morning to hear some one yelling from the guest bathroom fit to bring the ceiling down! The voice was easily identified as that of Cousin Merry - who was, by the sounds of it, either being drowned by marauding orcs, or fighting his mother's attempts to get the youngster bathed and dressed. Merry had strong ideas about baths - he was against them. Left to his own devices he would much rather run around all day in his nightshirt, and Frodo, knowing the messes his young cousin could get himself into, thought it would be rather a good idea and save an awful lot of mending.
There was a light tap on his bedroom door and Bilbo stuck his head round. "A Happy Birthday to you my lad."
"Bilbo! Happy Birthday!" Bilbo came to sit on Frodo's bed and gave him a hug and a kiss, which were eagerly returned.
"I thought Merry might have woken you," Bilbo pulled package from underneath his best gold-thread-embroidered waistcoat. "We should have a few moments peace before poor Esmerelda can get him fit to be seen."
Frodo took the package from his cousin. "What is it?"
"Well, lets see, we could spend all morning guessing, or you could open it." Bilbo tucked a couple of pillows behind Frodo as he helped the lad to sit up. "But it is not for throwing mind," he teased.
Frodo grinned a little shamefacedly and tore into the packaging. It was a book, a beautiful book of Elvish myths and legends. Speechless, Frodo ran his fingers just above the surface of the title page, afraid to touch the beautifully worked picture.
"Thank you Uncle!"
***
Bagshot row was in turmoil as the Gamgees prepared themselves for the party. Bell was trying to knot her husband into a cravat for the occasion and he was complaining loudly about her choking him. Sam was standing by looking painfully shy in a rather grand new suit of clothing, which had been his present from Bilbo.
"I wish it wuz my birthday," he said softly to his mother.
"What ever for, my lad? You will get a wonderful meal and presents."
"If it wuz my birthday I could give Master Frodo a present."
Bell smiled lovingly down at her little boy. "And what would you give him my lamb?"
"Well, if May would let me have one of the kittens, I could give that to Master Frodo. I know Mr Bilbo would say it was alright 'cause he said as how he's always afraid of the mice getting into the back pantry."
"Well," Bell knelt down by her son. "Shall I let you in on a secret?"
Sam nodded. He loved secrets. He especially loved telling them to Master Frodo.
"The kittens will all need to be found good homes and if you go and ask her nicely I am sure she would let you have one for your Master Frodo."
Sam glowed and ran off.
***
Tables had been set up in the back garden of Bag End - near the plum tree and a fine spread was already fair set to make the tables collapse. Frodo was already sat in a place of honour, overseeing the proceedings and directing Bilbo as to how he wanted his presents placed. "That one is for Merry," he passed over a very strangely shaped gift which Bilbo was fervently hoping was not any sort of catapult. Frodo had had many hours to sit and think and he had come up with thoughtful presents for most of his guests. Pipes and tobacco for the Gamgee men-folk (except for Sam of course), and pretty trinkets or scarves for the women. "This one is for Sam."
Bilbo knew what the beautifully wrapped gift was and set it carefully on Sam's seat. "Sam is very fond of you Frodo."
"I know and I am of him."
"And because of that you must be extra careful of him."
Frodo looked up. "I will be."
Bilbo looked down the table at the serious faced little boy. "I am sure you will."
***
The Gamgees arrived in a flood, wishing respectful Happy Birthdays to their hosts. Sam padded in the wake of his family hauling a basket. He took his place by Frodo's side and placed the basket out of harms way under the table, then set into a very generous tea.
The meal went ahead with much laughter and drinking of toasts "to the future health of Baggins Elder and Younger - to Frodo and Bilbo!" Mrs Willowbank was halfway into one of her funniest stories when Frodo felt the oddest sensation in his left foot. It was as though he had trodden on a thistle patch, and, without thinking, he jerked his foot away from the source of the irritation.
"What is it, my boy?" Bilbo asked in concern at the look on Frodo's face. "Is the tea too hot?"
"My foot!" gasped Frodo. "I just moved my foot!"
Dr Bramble beamed. "I suggested that in time you would get some movement back."
"But it felt as though something stung me!" Frodo frowned and then yelped. "Bilbo! Something is climbing up my leg!"
Sam slid under the table. The basket was over turned and a small orange and black striped form was busily climbing up Frodo's breaches leg. Sam grabbed the small body, making the kitten hang on even tighter and Frodo yelled again. Bilbo was just about to panic when Sam reappeared with the struggling kitten in his hands and deposited it on the table in front of Frodo. "It's for you!" He looked shyly up at Frodo.
"But it's not your birthday," said Frodo, followed by, "I moved my leg!"
Bilbo wiped a tear from his eye, not sure whether it had been prompted by relief, joy or amusement, and moved round to take his stunned cousin in his arms. "And that is the best birthday present any of us could have asked for. You are making progress my lad."
Sam ducked back under the table. "See if you can do it again." Frodo frowned in concentration, willing the foot to obey his commands. He felt Sam pulling on one of his toes and both boys giggled in elation as Frodo wriggled his toes out of the other boys grip.
"I did it!"
The whole table had to gather round then to see Frodo wiggle the toes on his right foot. At the other end of the table, Merry, who did not really know what was happening, picked up the kitten and, unobserved, happily sat it down in the trifle so that it could help itself to the cream.
I don't own and I don't profit - in a monetary sense anyway - from any of this. I profit by way of enrichment of my life.
Chapter 13
The annual gathering of friends and relations at Bag End for Bilbo and Frodo's combined birthday was a small event that year.
"So we can save up for next year," Bilbo had said with a wink.
The guest list had included all of the Gamgee's, Dr Bramble and his wife were invited, as was Mrs Willowbank and, of course, all of Frodo's Brandy Hall relations. In the end, of the relations, only Esmerelda could come, bringing with her a fat bundle of toddling hobbit in the form of Cousin Meriadoc, who, Frodo sadly noted, "has still not grown into his ears."
Frodo woke on the birthday morning to hear some one yelling from the guest bathroom fit to bring the ceiling down! The voice was easily identified as that of Cousin Merry - who was, by the sounds of it, either being drowned by marauding orcs, or fighting his mother's attempts to get the youngster bathed and dressed. Merry had strong ideas about baths - he was against them. Left to his own devices he would much rather run around all day in his nightshirt, and Frodo, knowing the messes his young cousin could get himself into, thought it would be rather a good idea and save an awful lot of mending.
There was a light tap on his bedroom door and Bilbo stuck his head round. "A Happy Birthday to you my lad."
"Bilbo! Happy Birthday!" Bilbo came to sit on Frodo's bed and gave him a hug and a kiss, which were eagerly returned.
"I thought Merry might have woken you," Bilbo pulled package from underneath his best gold-thread-embroidered waistcoat. "We should have a few moments peace before poor Esmerelda can get him fit to be seen."
Frodo took the package from his cousin. "What is it?"
"Well, lets see, we could spend all morning guessing, or you could open it." Bilbo tucked a couple of pillows behind Frodo as he helped the lad to sit up. "But it is not for throwing mind," he teased.
Frodo grinned a little shamefacedly and tore into the packaging. It was a book, a beautiful book of Elvish myths and legends. Speechless, Frodo ran his fingers just above the surface of the title page, afraid to touch the beautifully worked picture.
"Thank you Uncle!"
***
Bagshot row was in turmoil as the Gamgees prepared themselves for the party. Bell was trying to knot her husband into a cravat for the occasion and he was complaining loudly about her choking him. Sam was standing by looking painfully shy in a rather grand new suit of clothing, which had been his present from Bilbo.
"I wish it wuz my birthday," he said softly to his mother.
"What ever for, my lad? You will get a wonderful meal and presents."
"If it wuz my birthday I could give Master Frodo a present."
Bell smiled lovingly down at her little boy. "And what would you give him my lamb?"
"Well, if May would let me have one of the kittens, I could give that to Master Frodo. I know Mr Bilbo would say it was alright 'cause he said as how he's always afraid of the mice getting into the back pantry."
"Well," Bell knelt down by her son. "Shall I let you in on a secret?"
Sam nodded. He loved secrets. He especially loved telling them to Master Frodo.
"The kittens will all need to be found good homes and if you go and ask her nicely I am sure she would let you have one for your Master Frodo."
Sam glowed and ran off.
***
Tables had been set up in the back garden of Bag End - near the plum tree and a fine spread was already fair set to make the tables collapse. Frodo was already sat in a place of honour, overseeing the proceedings and directing Bilbo as to how he wanted his presents placed. "That one is for Merry," he passed over a very strangely shaped gift which Bilbo was fervently hoping was not any sort of catapult. Frodo had had many hours to sit and think and he had come up with thoughtful presents for most of his guests. Pipes and tobacco for the Gamgee men-folk (except for Sam of course), and pretty trinkets or scarves for the women. "This one is for Sam."
Bilbo knew what the beautifully wrapped gift was and set it carefully on Sam's seat. "Sam is very fond of you Frodo."
"I know and I am of him."
"And because of that you must be extra careful of him."
Frodo looked up. "I will be."
Bilbo looked down the table at the serious faced little boy. "I am sure you will."
***
The Gamgees arrived in a flood, wishing respectful Happy Birthdays to their hosts. Sam padded in the wake of his family hauling a basket. He took his place by Frodo's side and placed the basket out of harms way under the table, then set into a very generous tea.
The meal went ahead with much laughter and drinking of toasts "to the future health of Baggins Elder and Younger - to Frodo and Bilbo!" Mrs Willowbank was halfway into one of her funniest stories when Frodo felt the oddest sensation in his left foot. It was as though he had trodden on a thistle patch, and, without thinking, he jerked his foot away from the source of the irritation.
"What is it, my boy?" Bilbo asked in concern at the look on Frodo's face. "Is the tea too hot?"
"My foot!" gasped Frodo. "I just moved my foot!"
Dr Bramble beamed. "I suggested that in time you would get some movement back."
"But it felt as though something stung me!" Frodo frowned and then yelped. "Bilbo! Something is climbing up my leg!"
Sam slid under the table. The basket was over turned and a small orange and black striped form was busily climbing up Frodo's breaches leg. Sam grabbed the small body, making the kitten hang on even tighter and Frodo yelled again. Bilbo was just about to panic when Sam reappeared with the struggling kitten in his hands and deposited it on the table in front of Frodo. "It's for you!" He looked shyly up at Frodo.
"But it's not your birthday," said Frodo, followed by, "I moved my leg!"
Bilbo wiped a tear from his eye, not sure whether it had been prompted by relief, joy or amusement, and moved round to take his stunned cousin in his arms. "And that is the best birthday present any of us could have asked for. You are making progress my lad."
Sam ducked back under the table. "See if you can do it again." Frodo frowned in concentration, willing the foot to obey his commands. He felt Sam pulling on one of his toes and both boys giggled in elation as Frodo wriggled his toes out of the other boys grip.
"I did it!"
The whole table had to gather round then to see Frodo wiggle the toes on his right foot. At the other end of the table, Merry, who did not really know what was happening, picked up the kitten and, unobserved, happily sat it down in the trifle so that it could help itself to the cream.