Chapter 6

Sleep Little Hobbit

The hallway of Bag End seemed to close in and around Frodo with every beat of his heart. Just seeing the locket that he and his mother had treasured was not enough to cause such an alarm. But seeing Dinodas in tears was another thing. Frodo rationalized that it had to be about his mother or father. Knowing that Dinodas was attending the party at Brandyhall with his parents, something had to have gone wrong. With fear pounding in his heart he approached Dinodas.

"I am sorry, Frodo," Dinodas said looking down at his feet. His heart was breaking having to face little Frodo with this kind of news.

"Where did you get this locket?" Frodo demanded almost becoming angry within his tone of voice.

"Your mother had this around her neck. Your father and mother took the boat out on the river to have some quiet time together. Frodo there was an accident," Dinodas began sobbing and could no longer continue.

Bilbo placed his arm around Dinodas to help him and walked him into the sitting room. Sitting him down in a chair, Dinodas began to explain what had happen to his mother and father. "They drown, Frodo. We did everything we could think of to save them, but we were too late."

"No!" shouted Frodo as he stood up with his small hands locked into a fist and facing Dinodas; fear, anger, disbelief and sorrow seized every fiber of his being. The emotions hit him in waves and paralyzed his thoughts. His eyes wildly searched Dinodas for even a hint that this was not true. It couldn't be true, his mind echoed.

Bilbo turned Frodo around to face him, placing his two thick hands upon his shoulders and looking him squarely in the eye. "Frodo, listen to me. The news Dinodas has brought you is hard news to take. No child your age should have to hear these words. Your parents are both gone. No magic ring in this world will bring them back again. I only wish that I could make that possible for you. I would do this for you, if only I could," Bilbo said in a calming gentle voice as he placed the locket into his hands and closed his fingers around it. "I am so sorry, my dear lad."

Frodo clutched the locket in his small little hand and brought it up towards his lips to kiss it. Tears races down his cheeks and his soft blue eyes looked up into Bilbo's eyes. "What is going to happen to me now?"

Bilbo, catching his breath in his chest had no more words of wisdom to say, but reached his arms around Frodo. "I do not know for certain just yet." Holding him as tightly as possible, Bilbo could feel Frodo letting go of his emotions and allowing his tears to run freely. He clutched Bilbo as his entire body shook with sobs of grief.

Dinodas sunk into the next chair and watched the two comforting each other and brought him to his grief as well. He covered his face with his hands and sobbed openly.



The corridors of Brandyhall echoed with grief and sobbing from every Bucklander down to the servants who worked for the Brandybucks. Everyone who knew Primula and Drogo loved them and many hobbits from distant townships began to drift into Buckland to give them their last respect.

Flowers, by the hundreds lined the shores of the Brandywine, until the shores line were ablaze in color.

Saradoc Brandybuck canceled the wedding and they choose another date, months from now. Both Esmeralda and Saradoc took over the funeral plans and opened Buckland to its mourners.

Esmeralda wrapped her white wedding dress and put it away. Taking out her long black mourning dress, she slowly put it on while tears ran down her face.

The Wedding cake was scrapped of its frosting and decorations. The servants took the cake apart and re-iced it with plain chocolate frosting. They began to make the traditional funeral breads and hams to serve the many who would attend the funeral.

The healers prepared the bodies and dressed them in their finest. Beautiful coffins were laid side by side within the great walls of Brandyhall. Lines of hobbits slowly strolled by the young couple laid at rest, saying their last good-byes.

The carriage pulled to a stop and a servant opened the door to assist Bilbo out of the carriage. Bilbo stepped to the side of the carriage when Frodo was assisted down.

A hush fell from the crowd of hobbits and all eyes watched the small child dressed in black walking within the safety of Bilbo's side. The gravity of the death of his mother and father took hold of each heart that witness Frodo's return to his home were he was born, now orphaned and alone in this world. 'What was to become of this child now?' Questioned the hearts of each hobbit.

Around Frodo's neck was the locket he wore proudly for all eyes to see and in his hand was a bouquet of flowers. The locket, that once adorn the neck of his mother now rested upon his chest. His sorrow etched every corner of his face and his actions. Bilbo gently placed an arm around little Frodo and to help give him the strength he needed to say his final good-byes to his mother and father.

The hobbits all stepped a side lowering their heads when Frodo and Bilbo passed their way to the coffins at the end of the great hall where they lay in rest. Frodo took a deep breath and felt his heart pounded when they were within inches from his mother and father.

Bilbo led Frodo to his father first. A small stool sat next to the coffin and Frodo stood on it, looking down upon his father's face. He looked as if he was only sleeping and Frodo was tempted to shake him in order to awaken him. Tears fell rapidly from his eyes almost blinding him while he wiped them with his sleeve. Frodo bent down and wrapped his small little arms around his father's neck and bent down close to his ear and whispered something to him. Placing a kiss on his father's forehead, Frodo stood and turned to his mother.

Frodo looked down upon his mother and his heart began to split into. There, Primula lay with her soft long eyelashes resting across her pale white cheeks. The soft brown curls cascaded about her shoulders and the white lacey gown resting against a soft cream satin lining of the coffin, that only made her look all the more lovelier.

Frodo gasped and his tears racked through his entire body. His cry came from the deepest part of his soul. The mourner's weeping echoed in with Frodo's sobbing as it broke their hearts seeing him crying so hard.

Frodo laid his head upon his mother's chest and touched the soft curls of her hair. "Mama don't leave me!" he cried.

Biblo's shoulder shook as he tried with all his strength to fight the tears now pouring from his ancient eyes. He could not bear the grief any longer. The old hobbit stood next to Frodo and gently stroked his hair and lightly pulled Frodo from his mother. He wrapped his strong arms around Frodo and cradled him until the sobbing eased. Bilbo knew as he held this child to his chest that he would care for him all the days of his life. He could almost feel Primula smile and he knew that Frodo belonged to him now.

Frodo turned away from Bilbo and placed his flowers he held in his hands and placed them in the hands of his mother, kissing her forehead saying his final good-bye.

Bilbo walked Frodo to their seat and folded their hands. Frodo watched the other hobbit's as they too paid their respects to his mother. A short lumpy hobbitess with a long black veil pulled an unruly child by her side as her husband walked behind them. Otho bent over and pinched Lotho's ear to get him to behave. Bilbo only glared at Lobelia as she too added more flowers on Primula's coffin.



The next morning at Bag End, Frodo a woken to the sound of a baby crying. He could not figure out why this sound would be heard in the walls of Bag End.

Dressing in a rush, Frodo opened his bedroom door and walked into the kitchen where the sound was coming from.

Mrs. Gamgee was feeding a small infant and ordering her older boys to finish the chores. Seeing Frodo standing in the kitchen, Mrs. Gamgee greeted Frodo, "Good morning to ya master Frodo, I'll have your breakfast cooked to perfection as it is almost done." She burped the small infant and placed him in his cradle, then returned to the stove to continue to stir the porridge. "Now boys, get your weskit on before going outdoors and make sure you bring in the linens for our baby Sam."

"This baby is another boy and you named his Sam?" Frodo asked as he looked down at the sleeping infant.

"The gaffer and I thought he looked more like a Sam than anythin' else." Mrs. Gamgee giggled a little as she kept stirring the porridge and poured the batter for the cakes into the fry pan.

"Good morning, Frodo." Bilbo said as he walked into the kitchen. "Can I get you a glass of milk, while I have my tea."

"Begging your pardon, Mr. Baggins, but I'll be pouring the lad his milk and serving you your tea. You rest a spell while I fetch it for ya." Mrs. Gamgee said as she rushed to pull a chair for Bilbo to sit.

The infant stirred and let out a loud wailing cry as Mrs. Gamgee said, "That Sam of ours is a bellower, and that is for sure."

"Yes he does have a loud tone, I do say," commented Bilbo.

"Not worry yourself, Mrs. Gamgee. I will see to Sam for you," Frodo said as he picked up the small infant from his cradle.

"Thankee, Master Frodo, leastways, I'll be able to tend to your breakfast," Mrs. Gamgee said smiling at Frodo.

Frodo pulled Bilbo's old rocking chair from the corner of the kitchen and tucked little Sam snug in his blanket and began to rock him.

Primula's voice echoed into Frodo's thoughts of a song his mother would sing. He joined her as he sang this song:

"Sleep little hobbit don't you cry, I will be here by your side, Snuggled by my heart you will stay, Until your crying has gone away."

Tears slowly drifted down Frodo's cheeks as he slowly rocked and sang this song. Little Sam curled up in Frodo's arms and drifted off to sleep again.

Mrs. Gamgee and Bilbo sat watching Frodo and they too remembered this song Primula has sung many times to Frodo when he was a baby. Tears stung the corners of their eyes while they watch him.

Mrs. Gamgee stroked the soft brown curls on top of Frodo's head and gently picked up Sam from his arms. Laying the infant back into his cradle. Turning to Frodo she said, "I am sorry about your dear mother, she was loved by so many."

"Thank you, Mrs. Gamgee, I appreciate that."

A knock was heard at the door and Mrs. Gamgee answered it. "Mrs. Sackville- Baggins! What a surprise to see you this morning?" _