The greatest tragedy
Author: Natta
Beta-reader: Gimli
Characters: Frodo, Merry, Sam.
Summary: A great tragedy has happened in Brandy Hall and Frodo has to make a decision to bring a small hobbit to Bag End. For the good of this story, I've made Sam five years older so Frodo's 24, Sam's 17 and Merry's 10.
Chapter 1. An unexpected letter.
Frodo woke up to the singing of birds. He had quite got used to the room he had in Bag End, after living there for almost three years now. Still, sometimes he missed the never-ending noise and happiness of Brandy Hall, it was so...quiet here. Especially now that Bilbo was gone, it was awfully lonely. He swung his legs out of the bed and opened the window. He looked out through it, watching the beautiful garden and smiled. Sam and his father certainly made a good job. He was seeing his friend later today, so he went to the kitchen to make first breakfast. He made tea and a few sandwiches and then sat down at the table, nibbling thoughtfully. He kind of missed his cousins, especially Meriadoc or Merry, whom he had been very close to since his birth came right after Frodo's parents death.* Maybe he should go there soon to visit. He had to wait until Bilbo returned though, he couldn't just leave the house. He grinned when he imagined Bilbo's face when he came back from his journey to Tuckborough and didn't find any tweenager there. Frodo returned to sipping his tea and eating his sandwich. When he had finished the last sandwich and drunk the last drop of tea, he cleaned off the table and pondered about what to do. Then he heard a knock on the door. He went to open it with a professional look on his face. After all, he was the acting master of Bag End though he was only twenty-four. When he opened, it was the mail-man who stood outside.
'I've got a letter here addressed for Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.'
'Thank you,' said Frodo, took the letter and then he politely said goodbye to the mail-man. After he had closed the door, he took a look in the mirror and discovered he had small bits of bread and jam around his mouth. He began to laugh at the thought of how stupid and non-professional he must've looked. Master of Bag End, not really! He looked at the letter and decided that if he should wait for Bilbo, he would have to wait for such a long time for them to open it together, so he could as well open it now. He was very excited, since it was rare for him to ever get letters, except for Merry's letters, but this was written by a grown-up, not a ten-year-old, he could see that on he way the address was written. He decided to wait for Sam, so they could read it together. While he waited, he went out in the sunshine, sitting in the grass and constantly watching the road. It didn't take long until he saw his friend enter through the gate. He rose to greet his friend.
'I got a letter today,' Frodo said proudly to the 17-year-old hobbit.
'A letter? What does it say?'
'I don't know, I haven't opened it. Let's do that now.' They did so, and sat down in the beautiful autumn morning. These mornings were rare this time a year, so they wanted to be outside as much as possible. Frodo unfolded the letter, and began to read.
Dear Mr. Bilbo Baggins and Mr. Frodo Baggins.
We have suffered a great tragedy hear at Brandy Hall. Three days ago, Master Saradoc Brandybuck and Mistress Esmeralda disappeared. We have been searching night and day and this morning we found them dead.
They had been trapped somehow in a small basement no one uses anymore, we don't know how they got in there, but they probably died out of lack of water. We are all very worried for young Meriadoc, who has refused to talk to anyone since the accident, he is only crying in his room. We were thinking that letting Merimac be the master until Meriadoc comes of age would be a good idea. If you would like to come and visit, you are very welcome, both of you, I think it might be good for Merry. Honestly, I don't know what to do with him, such a young child, being an orphan in Brandy Hall. Though I suppose you Mr Frodo would know what it's like, though you weren't that young.
Merimac suggested that we find another family for him here in Brandy Hall, someone to live with to take care of him. I think that's ridiculous, I have been his nanny for three years and I could as well continue to take care of him. I think the best for him right now is to be among people he knows.
Mrs. Asphodel Burrows
Frodo had been reading the letter with his mouth open and tears trickling down his face. Poor Merry! Sam looked at him.
'Mr. Frodo, what's wrong,' he said in a concerned voice.
'Didn't you read the letter?' Sam's face went red and he looked down in embarrassment.
'I...I....well I can't read.' Frodo told him about the letter and towards the end, Sam's face was filled with pity.
'Oh no, poor little boy! Do you know him well?' Frodo nodded.
'Yes, he is my favourite cousin, we were always together when I lived at Brandy Hall, though he is so much younger. I taught him all I know.' Sam looked at him.
'Then what are you going to do?' Frodo shrugged his shoulders.
'I don't know, I suppose I'll wait for Bilbo and then discuss it with him. But it's going to be another week until Bilbo returns! I can't just sit around and do nothing when Merry probably is dying over there by grief.' Sam laid a comforting arm around Frodo's shoulders.
'As hard as it may seem, maybe you should. There are many people over there, people close to Merry who will take care of him.' They sat for a moment, until Frodo shivered.
'It's cold, let's get inside.' Sam looked at him.
'Sorry, but I think I have to go home now, but we'll see each other tomorrow.' Sam said regretfully, he didn't want to leave Frodo with this horrible news, but he really had to go, or he'd be in trouble with his father.
'Okay. Bye.' Sam left and Frodo went inside. He took a pencil and a bottle of ink. Then he started to write a letter back to Mrs. Burrows.
Dear Mrs. Burrows.
I am very sorry for the tragedy and send my regards to young Meriadoc. I can see how devastated he must be, actually I know how he's feeling. I agree with you that finding a new family that he doesn't know would not be a good idea, he should be with people he knows and loves. Unfortunately, Mr. Bilbo Baggins is not here, so we can't come and visit you now. We'll go as soon as he comes however.
I remember from when my parents had just died, that you don't want people talking to you about things all the time, you just want to be sad. Instead, give him a lot of physical contact, like hugs. You have to make him eat, that is very important, because if he feels the same I did, he doesn't want to live and eating doesn't matter. He's not hungry either, but he has to eat. That is about everything I can tell you I think. We will try to come as soon as we can.
Mr. Frodo Baggins.
He put the letter in a envelope and wrote the address on it. Then he made some lunch. (He had missed both second breakfast and elevensies) The day passed, and Frodo couldn't make himself to actually do something, but in the evening, after supper, Frodo sat down in the couch. He thought about the last sentence in Asphodel's letter: "I think the best for him right now is to be among people he knows." He rose from the couch and took his paper and ink. He threw away the letter he had written before and started to write a new one. He took it and went to the post-office, which was just closing, but when he said it was urgent, they agreed to take it to Buckland immediately, since the Bagginses were well respected and they wanted to give them exemplary service. Frodo thanked them and then he went to see Sam. Sam's sister Bell opened the door and called for her brother to come to the door.
'Mr Frodo! What is it, at this late hour?' Sam looked confused and embarrassed to have his master over at his home. He thought of how small and unclean it was, but when he saw the expression on Frodo's face he realised that didn't matter much.
'Sam, I wrote back to Mrs. Burrows.'
'Okay...what did you say then?' Sam asked, not entirely sure whether it was his business but inquisitiveness taking over.
'I told her to get Merry here. I want him to stay at Bag End.' Frodo looked at Sam with hope that the younger hobbit would agree with him, since he was quite unsure himself.
'Oh, I see. Until Mr. Bilbo gets back then?' Frodo shook his head.
'No you don't understand. I want to adopt him.'
~TBC~
*The year Frodo's parents died was 1380, two years before Merry's birth really, but I'm taking some artistic liberties...
Author: Natta
Beta-reader: Gimli
Characters: Frodo, Merry, Sam.
Summary: A great tragedy has happened in Brandy Hall and Frodo has to make a decision to bring a small hobbit to Bag End. For the good of this story, I've made Sam five years older so Frodo's 24, Sam's 17 and Merry's 10.
Chapter 1. An unexpected letter.
Frodo woke up to the singing of birds. He had quite got used to the room he had in Bag End, after living there for almost three years now. Still, sometimes he missed the never-ending noise and happiness of Brandy Hall, it was so...quiet here. Especially now that Bilbo was gone, it was awfully lonely. He swung his legs out of the bed and opened the window. He looked out through it, watching the beautiful garden and smiled. Sam and his father certainly made a good job. He was seeing his friend later today, so he went to the kitchen to make first breakfast. He made tea and a few sandwiches and then sat down at the table, nibbling thoughtfully. He kind of missed his cousins, especially Meriadoc or Merry, whom he had been very close to since his birth came right after Frodo's parents death.* Maybe he should go there soon to visit. He had to wait until Bilbo returned though, he couldn't just leave the house. He grinned when he imagined Bilbo's face when he came back from his journey to Tuckborough and didn't find any tweenager there. Frodo returned to sipping his tea and eating his sandwich. When he had finished the last sandwich and drunk the last drop of tea, he cleaned off the table and pondered about what to do. Then he heard a knock on the door. He went to open it with a professional look on his face. After all, he was the acting master of Bag End though he was only twenty-four. When he opened, it was the mail-man who stood outside.
'I've got a letter here addressed for Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.'
'Thank you,' said Frodo, took the letter and then he politely said goodbye to the mail-man. After he had closed the door, he took a look in the mirror and discovered he had small bits of bread and jam around his mouth. He began to laugh at the thought of how stupid and non-professional he must've looked. Master of Bag End, not really! He looked at the letter and decided that if he should wait for Bilbo, he would have to wait for such a long time for them to open it together, so he could as well open it now. He was very excited, since it was rare for him to ever get letters, except for Merry's letters, but this was written by a grown-up, not a ten-year-old, he could see that on he way the address was written. He decided to wait for Sam, so they could read it together. While he waited, he went out in the sunshine, sitting in the grass and constantly watching the road. It didn't take long until he saw his friend enter through the gate. He rose to greet his friend.
'I got a letter today,' Frodo said proudly to the 17-year-old hobbit.
'A letter? What does it say?'
'I don't know, I haven't opened it. Let's do that now.' They did so, and sat down in the beautiful autumn morning. These mornings were rare this time a year, so they wanted to be outside as much as possible. Frodo unfolded the letter, and began to read.
Dear Mr. Bilbo Baggins and Mr. Frodo Baggins.
We have suffered a great tragedy hear at Brandy Hall. Three days ago, Master Saradoc Brandybuck and Mistress Esmeralda disappeared. We have been searching night and day and this morning we found them dead.
They had been trapped somehow in a small basement no one uses anymore, we don't know how they got in there, but they probably died out of lack of water. We are all very worried for young Meriadoc, who has refused to talk to anyone since the accident, he is only crying in his room. We were thinking that letting Merimac be the master until Meriadoc comes of age would be a good idea. If you would like to come and visit, you are very welcome, both of you, I think it might be good for Merry. Honestly, I don't know what to do with him, such a young child, being an orphan in Brandy Hall. Though I suppose you Mr Frodo would know what it's like, though you weren't that young.
Merimac suggested that we find another family for him here in Brandy Hall, someone to live with to take care of him. I think that's ridiculous, I have been his nanny for three years and I could as well continue to take care of him. I think the best for him right now is to be among people he knows.
Mrs. Asphodel Burrows
Frodo had been reading the letter with his mouth open and tears trickling down his face. Poor Merry! Sam looked at him.
'Mr. Frodo, what's wrong,' he said in a concerned voice.
'Didn't you read the letter?' Sam's face went red and he looked down in embarrassment.
'I...I....well I can't read.' Frodo told him about the letter and towards the end, Sam's face was filled with pity.
'Oh no, poor little boy! Do you know him well?' Frodo nodded.
'Yes, he is my favourite cousin, we were always together when I lived at Brandy Hall, though he is so much younger. I taught him all I know.' Sam looked at him.
'Then what are you going to do?' Frodo shrugged his shoulders.
'I don't know, I suppose I'll wait for Bilbo and then discuss it with him. But it's going to be another week until Bilbo returns! I can't just sit around and do nothing when Merry probably is dying over there by grief.' Sam laid a comforting arm around Frodo's shoulders.
'As hard as it may seem, maybe you should. There are many people over there, people close to Merry who will take care of him.' They sat for a moment, until Frodo shivered.
'It's cold, let's get inside.' Sam looked at him.
'Sorry, but I think I have to go home now, but we'll see each other tomorrow.' Sam said regretfully, he didn't want to leave Frodo with this horrible news, but he really had to go, or he'd be in trouble with his father.
'Okay. Bye.' Sam left and Frodo went inside. He took a pencil and a bottle of ink. Then he started to write a letter back to Mrs. Burrows.
Dear Mrs. Burrows.
I am very sorry for the tragedy and send my regards to young Meriadoc. I can see how devastated he must be, actually I know how he's feeling. I agree with you that finding a new family that he doesn't know would not be a good idea, he should be with people he knows and loves. Unfortunately, Mr. Bilbo Baggins is not here, so we can't come and visit you now. We'll go as soon as he comes however.
I remember from when my parents had just died, that you don't want people talking to you about things all the time, you just want to be sad. Instead, give him a lot of physical contact, like hugs. You have to make him eat, that is very important, because if he feels the same I did, he doesn't want to live and eating doesn't matter. He's not hungry either, but he has to eat. That is about everything I can tell you I think. We will try to come as soon as we can.
Mr. Frodo Baggins.
He put the letter in a envelope and wrote the address on it. Then he made some lunch. (He had missed both second breakfast and elevensies) The day passed, and Frodo couldn't make himself to actually do something, but in the evening, after supper, Frodo sat down in the couch. He thought about the last sentence in Asphodel's letter: "I think the best for him right now is to be among people he knows." He rose from the couch and took his paper and ink. He threw away the letter he had written before and started to write a new one. He took it and went to the post-office, which was just closing, but when he said it was urgent, they agreed to take it to Buckland immediately, since the Bagginses were well respected and they wanted to give them exemplary service. Frodo thanked them and then he went to see Sam. Sam's sister Bell opened the door and called for her brother to come to the door.
'Mr Frodo! What is it, at this late hour?' Sam looked confused and embarrassed to have his master over at his home. He thought of how small and unclean it was, but when he saw the expression on Frodo's face he realised that didn't matter much.
'Sam, I wrote back to Mrs. Burrows.'
'Okay...what did you say then?' Sam asked, not entirely sure whether it was his business but inquisitiveness taking over.
'I told her to get Merry here. I want him to stay at Bag End.' Frodo looked at Sam with hope that the younger hobbit would agree with him, since he was quite unsure himself.
'Oh, I see. Until Mr. Bilbo gets back then?' Frodo shook his head.
'No you don't understand. I want to adopt him.'
~TBC~
*The year Frodo's parents died was 1380, two years before Merry's birth really, but I'm taking some artistic liberties...
