Title: Cold (4/5)
Author: Frodo Baggins of Bag End (FrodoAtBagEnd)
E-mail: frodoatbagend@yahoo.com
Characters: Frodo, Sam, Faramir, others
Rating: PG (A bit dark, no profanity, no sex, non-slash)
SPOILERS ALERT: if you wish to avoid them, save this story till *after* you've seen the film.
Summary: Frodo's encounter with one of the Nine in Osgiliath proves ill for him, and Sam and Faramir find themselves working together in spite of themselves.
Feedback: Welcomed. Constructive only, please. . .no flaming.
Story Notes: Movieverse-based , though this then turns and deviates from the movie. Yes, I prefer book canon over the movie, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the movie or the plot bunnies. ;)
Dedicated to Baranduin and Claudia.
COLD
Chapter Four: Frodo
Red wine.
A hint of red wine, and a bit of egg. . .of herbs. . .some sort of. . .of something. . .warm, at least. . . .
"There now, Mister Frodo. . .there's a good fellow. Drink up. Just like that. . .there now. Good."
Forcing my eyes open, I looked up at Sam, who held the mug to my lips, raising my head on his arm. But someone was stroking a warm compress along my chest, and another lay on my forehead. . . .
I looked up into grey eyes gentle with compassion, no longer hardened.
"It is all right, Frodo. Try to rest and drink, as Sam says. You will be aided on your way once you are well enough to rise, but for the present, my men are preparing some food for your packs, and you must rest until you are warmer and stronger. Osgiliath will not fall without a hard fight, and not for a day yet. . .by then you may be safely on your way."
Let us go.
He was going to let us go.
I felt as if a weight had been lifted from my chest and stomach.
"Thank you. . . ."
A soft, somewhat sorrowful, smile. "No need to thank me, Frodo Baggins. I am merely doing what I believe to be right. . .as an old friend might have once advised me." He nodded toward the mug.
"Drink. I fear Samwise shall have my head if I keep you conversing when you should be taking some nourishment."
"But - "
"Now, never you mind, Mister Frodo." Scolding softly, Sam pressed the mug to my lips again. "I've had somethin' already, while this was gettin' good and hot for you, and there's nothing to worry about, 'cause Captain Faramir here says he'll let us go. . .and in the meantime he's trying to help you. I reckon he's wrapped you up with your weight over in warming-stones. So just sip a little more. . .just a bit."
I obeyed. It *did* go down easily, warm and heartening, and I found myself beginning to feel a little better. Faramir continued to bathe my chest and face with warm water, avoiding the area about my neck where the Ring's chain still lay.
"I wish that we had more resources here to aid you, but eggs and wine and bread we have, and those, with herbs, will do more to strengthen and warm you than anything else. There are dried fruits and meat for your packs, along with some bread; these will keep for many days. When you have finished this, I would like for you to take a little more to drink. . .hot apple cider, mulled with just a little more wine. That may further ease the chill. . .you must remain in bed while you drink it, but then, in a few hours' time, we will try you with standing, if you feel strong enough."
"I will." Nodding, I continued to take mouthfuls of the warm mixture for Sam, who looked decidedly less irritated with Faramir at present. "I can manage it."
Faramir smiled a little then, and there seemed a warm curiousity in his grey eyes. "Perhaps one day, if happier times ever come, we shall meet again. . .and then, I hope, you will tell me of your lands, and your people, and perhaps even of your journey. . . ." Sadness flickered into his eyes. "I regret that it concerns such evil, for in happier days, you might have seen the beauty of Gondor. . .my brother would have been proud to show it to you, as would I."
He hesitated for a moment.
"There was. . .much debate. . .concerning which of us should go to Imladris to seek council concerning the dreams that came to us. It was my father's choice that his elder son do so. . .and he has, I fear, regretted that most bitterly, for the loss of Boromir came hard to him. . .harder than my fall would have been, to be sure. And hard for us all: Boromir was a brave man, and noble. . .if perhaps too proud. He was my brother, and dearer to me than anyone else in the world."
Another hesitation, though he continued to freshen the cloth in warm water, sponging my arms now, giving particular attention to my left arm and side, as if he sensed the additional chill.
"But we were never blind in full to one another's weaker points, and I do not wish you to be frightened. The laws of my country require me to be harsher than is my wont. However, I know enough now of the matter, and we can give our concern toward helping you recover, so that you may continue your errand."
Sam coaxed the last sip of warm liquid down my throat, smiling approvingly as I swallowed. Already I felt drowsy: it had been so long since I slept well, or for very long, and despite my best efforts, I felt my eyes closing. . .not the heaviness of drugged sleep, but the weary rest of exhaustion. Faramir's large hands tucked the covers back in around me. My face was wiped with a warm, damp cloth, and another compress was laid over my brow.
"Let him sleep. The rest will do him good. We will give him the cider when he wakes. . .if he requires more rest, he should sleep, so long as the danger is not too great. My men will keep us informed."
I heard Sam's voice, but could no longer make out the words. . .
. . .and the last thing I felt aware of, apart from being kept warm by fresh warming-stones and blankets swaddled about me, was a voice.
Not Sam's.
But singing a very soft lullaby, while someone's hand stroked my hair.
~to be continued~
Author: Frodo Baggins of Bag End (FrodoAtBagEnd)
E-mail: frodoatbagend@yahoo.com
Characters: Frodo, Sam, Faramir, others
Rating: PG (A bit dark, no profanity, no sex, non-slash)
SPOILERS ALERT: if you wish to avoid them, save this story till *after* you've seen the film.
Summary: Frodo's encounter with one of the Nine in Osgiliath proves ill for him, and Sam and Faramir find themselves working together in spite of themselves.
Feedback: Welcomed. Constructive only, please. . .no flaming.
Story Notes: Movieverse-based , though this then turns and deviates from the movie. Yes, I prefer book canon over the movie, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the movie or the plot bunnies. ;)
Dedicated to Baranduin and Claudia.
COLD
Chapter Four: Frodo
Red wine.
A hint of red wine, and a bit of egg. . .of herbs. . .some sort of. . .of something. . .warm, at least. . . .
"There now, Mister Frodo. . .there's a good fellow. Drink up. Just like that. . .there now. Good."
Forcing my eyes open, I looked up at Sam, who held the mug to my lips, raising my head on his arm. But someone was stroking a warm compress along my chest, and another lay on my forehead. . . .
I looked up into grey eyes gentle with compassion, no longer hardened.
"It is all right, Frodo. Try to rest and drink, as Sam says. You will be aided on your way once you are well enough to rise, but for the present, my men are preparing some food for your packs, and you must rest until you are warmer and stronger. Osgiliath will not fall without a hard fight, and not for a day yet. . .by then you may be safely on your way."
Let us go.
He was going to let us go.
I felt as if a weight had been lifted from my chest and stomach.
"Thank you. . . ."
A soft, somewhat sorrowful, smile. "No need to thank me, Frodo Baggins. I am merely doing what I believe to be right. . .as an old friend might have once advised me." He nodded toward the mug.
"Drink. I fear Samwise shall have my head if I keep you conversing when you should be taking some nourishment."
"But - "
"Now, never you mind, Mister Frodo." Scolding softly, Sam pressed the mug to my lips again. "I've had somethin' already, while this was gettin' good and hot for you, and there's nothing to worry about, 'cause Captain Faramir here says he'll let us go. . .and in the meantime he's trying to help you. I reckon he's wrapped you up with your weight over in warming-stones. So just sip a little more. . .just a bit."
I obeyed. It *did* go down easily, warm and heartening, and I found myself beginning to feel a little better. Faramir continued to bathe my chest and face with warm water, avoiding the area about my neck where the Ring's chain still lay.
"I wish that we had more resources here to aid you, but eggs and wine and bread we have, and those, with herbs, will do more to strengthen and warm you than anything else. There are dried fruits and meat for your packs, along with some bread; these will keep for many days. When you have finished this, I would like for you to take a little more to drink. . .hot apple cider, mulled with just a little more wine. That may further ease the chill. . .you must remain in bed while you drink it, but then, in a few hours' time, we will try you with standing, if you feel strong enough."
"I will." Nodding, I continued to take mouthfuls of the warm mixture for Sam, who looked decidedly less irritated with Faramir at present. "I can manage it."
Faramir smiled a little then, and there seemed a warm curiousity in his grey eyes. "Perhaps one day, if happier times ever come, we shall meet again. . .and then, I hope, you will tell me of your lands, and your people, and perhaps even of your journey. . . ." Sadness flickered into his eyes. "I regret that it concerns such evil, for in happier days, you might have seen the beauty of Gondor. . .my brother would have been proud to show it to you, as would I."
He hesitated for a moment.
"There was. . .much debate. . .concerning which of us should go to Imladris to seek council concerning the dreams that came to us. It was my father's choice that his elder son do so. . .and he has, I fear, regretted that most bitterly, for the loss of Boromir came hard to him. . .harder than my fall would have been, to be sure. And hard for us all: Boromir was a brave man, and noble. . .if perhaps too proud. He was my brother, and dearer to me than anyone else in the world."
Another hesitation, though he continued to freshen the cloth in warm water, sponging my arms now, giving particular attention to my left arm and side, as if he sensed the additional chill.
"But we were never blind in full to one another's weaker points, and I do not wish you to be frightened. The laws of my country require me to be harsher than is my wont. However, I know enough now of the matter, and we can give our concern toward helping you recover, so that you may continue your errand."
Sam coaxed the last sip of warm liquid down my throat, smiling approvingly as I swallowed. Already I felt drowsy: it had been so long since I slept well, or for very long, and despite my best efforts, I felt my eyes closing. . .not the heaviness of drugged sleep, but the weary rest of exhaustion. Faramir's large hands tucked the covers back in around me. My face was wiped with a warm, damp cloth, and another compress was laid over my brow.
"Let him sleep. The rest will do him good. We will give him the cider when he wakes. . .if he requires more rest, he should sleep, so long as the danger is not too great. My men will keep us informed."
I heard Sam's voice, but could no longer make out the words. . .
. . .and the last thing I felt aware of, apart from being kept warm by fresh warming-stones and blankets swaddled about me, was a voice.
Not Sam's.
But singing a very soft lullaby, while someone's hand stroked my hair.
~to be continued~