My goodness, some folks seem to think that this story is over (or will end at any moment) because Frodo is getting better! Remember that the focus of "Quarantined" was never an illness, but about four people in an unexpected situation. Aragorn, Frodo, Gandalf, and Bilbo still have some interesting things to learn about (and from) each other. And then there's Sam…
So many people are asking about Sam! As I currently have things planned, little Samwise enters the story as a major character in Chapter 12. We're getting there!
Claudia AND Lady of Punk: I've gotten used to having Aragorn around, as well! Don't worry --- he does leave Bag End soon, but then re-enters the story fairly quickly.
Lady FoxFire: As difficult as it may be to believe, the answer is yes -– Aragorn is approx. 60 years old at the time of this story. When Frodo leaves the Shire with the Ring, he is 50 (but looks much younger); Sam is 38; Merry is 36; Pippin is 28; and Aragorn is 87. Since Aragorn lives to be over 200, 60 isn't old!
Shadow Kitten: The moment I read your hysterical review, I leaped for the keyboard to send you an e-mail --- but you have no e-mail address listed! What to do… what to do… I had no choice but to type as fast as I could, day and night, so I could post Chapter 10 as soon as possible and respond to you this way! My goodness, how sneaky of you. That lembas/Oreos withdrawal sounds quite serious; I hope you're getting some help.
AUTHOR NOTES: In S.R. 1391, Bilbo is 100 years old and Frodo is 22 (just barely into his "tweens"). AU story; however, what was Frodo's early life with Bilbo like? How did he meet Gandalf? Why was Aragorn so dedicated to the safeguarding of the Shire? Perhaps this tale can give possible answers to those questions…….. I hope you enjoy it.
My thanks to the FrodoHealers website and its members for inspiration; additional thanks to Llinos and Marigold, for advice and encouragement.
PLEASE NOTE: I am not a medical professional and do not claim to be. This is a work of fiction. No medical treatment or description of illness in this story should be taken as anything more than the author's own opinions and plot devices.
DISCLAIMER: Of course. The characters don't belong to me, I just get to think about them day and night.
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QUARANTINED
Chapter 10 --- Lost and Found
S.R. 1391, April 29
Frodo was dimly aware of gentle hands removing his nightshirt. A soft cloth wrung out in warmed water bathed his perspiration-drenched body before he was dried and dressed in a soft, dry nightshirt and wrapped again in blankets. He blinked dizzily, unsure if he was even awake.
"Bilbo?" he murmured faintly.
"Shhh…" Bilbo's soft voice soothed him, gentle hands stroked his hair. "Your fever's broken, my boy, and that's a good thing. Back to sleep with you… shhh now… I'm here…" Frodo's eyelids slid shut as he sighed and sank back into sleep.
"I know you just want to sleep, my boy, but you must start to eat again. Sit up a bit, now."
Frodo let Bilbo prop him up against the pillows, and listlessly swallowed the warm soup his uncle spooned into his mouth.
"Is it tomorrow?"
"Yes," said Bilbo with a smile. "Another spoonful… that's it."
"Bilbo, I just can't… stay awake," Frodo murmured.
"I know it's difficult," said Bilbo. He dipped pieces of bread into the soup and encouraged Frodo to keep eating. "You must eat, Frodo-lad. Do you remember how we had to coax Aragorn to eat, at first? Speaking of Aragorn…" Bilbo put down the mug and replaced it with a cupful of juice. "… he's making something for you. A surprise."
Frodo smiled, then noticed the dark circles under his uncle's eyes.
"You need to rest, Bilbo. You look tired."
"Now don't you worry about me, my boy," said Bilbo. He helped Frodo to drink some juice, then settled the sleepy boy back into the nest of blankets. "How much sleep do you suppose any of us got, sitting at a dragon's very doorstep? Why, it was the oddest place a hobbit's ever been, to be sure…"
Frodo smiled as he listened to the familiar story, Bilbo's voice slowly fading as he sank back into the warm darkness.
"Ah now, there we are. Are you awake again, little one?"
Frodo slowly opened his eyes to Aragorn's face. The Ranger was seated on the bed at his side.
"H'lo," whispered Frodo. He blinked sleepily. "Something smells so good…"
Aragorn smiled and helped Frodo to sit up against the pillows.
"Bilbo was courageous enough to let me into his kitchen," said Aragorn. He pulled a napkin-covered plate off the table next to the bed, and set it in Frodo's lap. "I doubt he'll make that mistake again." He pulled the napkin away to reveal a plateful of cookies.
Frodo peered curiously at the oddly-shaped treats and couldn't keep a smile off his face. "These are very… interesting, Aragorn," he said.
"Interesting, are they?" asked Aragorn. "Well, I suppose trolls have very interesting shapes, at that." He put a piece of cookie into Frodo's mouth. "You must remember that these are the first cookies I've ever baked, so…"
"You made these? For me? They're wonderful," said Frodo, swallowing. He looked at the cookies more closely, distracted for the moment from how dizzy and weak he still felt. "Do all trolls have three arms?"
"That's not an arm, that's the head."
"I suppose a troll could have three arms." Frodo nodded at the cookie currently in Aragorn's hands. "Now this one… if I really use my imagination ---"
Aragorn looked at the boy sternly. "I have seen trolls and you have not, Frodo Baggins. This is exactly what they look like."
"Yes, sir."
"That's better." Seeing the boy more alert, and smiling, and devouring a steady stream of cookie pieces, Aragorn started to relax for the first time in days.
"This time, I suspect that trolls really are responsible for a fearful mess in the kitchen," said Frodo with a grin.
Aragorn laughed in delight. This child's resilience and wit, and gentle friendship, were as a balm to his weary heart.
"I want to see it," said Frodo. Aragorn saw the boy looking down at his bandaged hand.
"All right." Aragorn put the plate of cookies aside and took the boy's hand into his lap. "It's time we saw how this is doing."
Frodo watched as Aragorn unwrapped the bandages from his hand, and he saw the long cut across his palm. The skin was already beginning to knit together.
"I don't remember getting hurt," said Frodo with a frown, as Aragorn gently smoothed a sweet-smelling ointment into the cut, then wrapped his hand in fresh bandages.
"Does it hurt badly?"
"No," said Frodo. "It just stings a little."
Frodo gulped eagerly at the cup of cold milk Aragorn held to his lips, then let the Ranger help him lay back down.
"Were you this dizzy, Aragorn?"
"I certainly was," smiled Aragorn. "Every time I stood up, I nearly toppled over." He looked closely at the boy. "Frodo," he said, "If you're feeling up to it, may I ask you about what you remember from last night?"
The boy nodded.
"You were in my room, holding my knife… then Bilbo and Gandalf came into the room. What happened after that?"
Frodo closed his eyes, thinking hard. "When Bilbo came in… I wanted him to dis--- to run, but he wouldn't. He kept telling me he was all right…"
Aragorn frowned, but stayed quiet. Disappear? There it was again. It was obvious that this was something Frodo knew he wasn't supposed to talk about. Interesting.
"Everything…" Frodo faltered, and Aragorn took his uninjured hand and held it gently. "Everything started spinning, and I felt sick and so hot, and…" He opened his eyes and looked at Aragorn, puzzled. "I… I got lost somewhere, and I heard you calling me."
"Did you see me?" Aragorn asked.
"No," Frodo replied. "I heard you call my name, and you said some words I didn't understand, and I… I wasn't lost anymore. I was back in bed, and… and I woke up."
Aragorn nodded.
"That's all I remember," Frodo said sleepily, closing his eyes again.
Aragorn sighed and tucked the blankets back around the boy with his free hand. "We'll talk again later, little one," he said.
"M'not little," murmured Frodo.
Aragorn chuckled softly. "We'll wake you for a proper dinner. Rest now."
"Don't eat… all the cookies…"
The small hand in Aragorn's loosened and relaxed as Frodo fell asleep.
** TBC **