Till the End of His Days
Author: nacey
Email: tosh@opera.iinet.net.au
Category: Drama, Romance, AU
Rating: PG
Spoilers: All six books.
Summary: The story of Frodo's life after the journey of the Ring.
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JRR Tolkien, and Tolkien Enterprises. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author notes: This story is not properly edited. The final version may differ greatly from the one you are reading right now. This is just to air the idea and to see what others think of it, so I know whether to bother publishing it on the net or whether to keep it amongst my close friends. I very much thought that Lord of the Rings didn't need fan-fiction when I was reading it, until I read the ending. Then I saw the movies and it inspired me to write this little "Alternate-Universe" fic. I think that the ending that Tolkien did was absolutely perfect, and this is just my attempt at a different idea of what it could be like, mainly borne of my experience being amongst and being a person living with depression (I believe that poor Frodo had one of the most chronic cases of Post-Traumatic Stress that ever was). Constructive criticism is welcomed with open arms.
Website:
~~*~~
Chapter Four - New Company at Bag End.
That night he brought her to Bag End, letting her sleep in the guestroom closest to his own, and wrote down a list of things he would do tomorrow to arrange her staying with him. Finally, after a night of puzzlement and trouble he had felt the decisiveness within him that he had been yearning for, and he felt more at ease again.
The next day when he saw Sam he pulled him aside.
"Sam… did you know of the abuse the lady-folk had to endure during our absence?" Sam grew very red in the cheeks and nodded, scuffling his feet. "Why did you not tell me of it?"
"Well, it only happened to a few of the ladies, Sir, and you were already so weary after our trip into Mordor. It was all over and done with and it seemed like it would only upset you more…"
Frodo sighed, pain welling full in his large blue eyes. "I shan't have any truth kept from me again, Sam, even to protect me." He shook his head. "I upset Miss Perry greatly last night because of my ignorance and I won't have such a thing happen again."
Sam nodded. "So Miss Perry will be stayin' on then Sir?"
"Yes, Sam," said Frodo. "She very much wants to help me and I don't see why I should deny her that simple pleasure."
"Very good, Mr. Frodo." Sam smiled and pointed behind him. "Well I should go back to fixin' the paving down Bagshot - I mean New Row then."
Frodo gave a patient smile, quite noticing Sam's excited quivering and bright eyes. Yes, he was an old romantic, was his Sam. He went back to the Hall, deciding to check on Perry. He found her in her room; she hadn't woken up yet, and for a moment he watched her sleep. The bed she slept on ran along the wall, and next to it, behind a bedside table, was a fair-sized round window. Her clothes were laid out on a chair next to the table, and the blankets snuggled her form, keeping her warm. Her hair tumbled over the pillow, her eyes shut, long lashes resting against her cheeks. She looked completely at peace, the very picture of tranquillity. Remembering her words from last night, his heart stung deeply, recoiling in his chest. He sighed, shaking his head at the injustice of it all, and before he could think clearly, he found himself brushing the back of his knuckles over the curve of her cheek.
"Poor Periwinkle…"
He blinked, remembering himself, and turning, he strode purposefully from the room, setting himself the task of readying a breakfast for the both of them. As he made his way into the kitchen the smells of cooked bacon and tomatoes hit him, and it became clear that Rosie had already begun on that particular task.
"Mornin' Mr. Frodo!" cried Rosie happily. "You look a fright! Did ye not get enough sleep last night?"
"I'm afraid not," Frodo sighed. "I couldn't stop tossing and turning."
"You think too much, that's what your problem is. Got to put the mind to sleep, then the body follows. Sit down; I'll set you some breakfast!"
Frodo looked a little bashful as he asked, "Will there be enough for two?"
Rosie grinned widely, winking at Frodo before cracking an egg into the pan she was using. "Oh, aye! Plenty for Perry here too."
Frodo patted his pockets as he thought, as if he had forgotten something - it was a strange little habit he'd picked up from all his years with Bilbo. He wagged a finger and nodded, getting up from his chair.
"Yes, I should go wake her."
"You do that, Mr. Frodo."
Frodo glanced back at Rosie, perhaps a little tiredly, and nodded, making his way off down the hall. He knocked on her door this time, remembering his manners, and from inside her little voice called.
"Yes?"
"It's just Frodo," Frodo said, "Rosie has made us some breakfast, so feel free to come through and get some. We should discuss the details of your staying here whilst we eat, also."
There was a moment of silence, and then her voice piped up again. "Very good, Mr. Baggins!"
Against his better judgement, he found himself smiling at the joy evident in her voice. Frodo brought out his list during breakfast, and he showed Perry what he had planned. Perry was agreeable to what he had proposed, and looked anxious, wanting to move in as soon as possible. Though there was something that troubled her a little, and she fiddled her long fingers nervously.
"Mr. Baggins…"
"Yes Perry?" Frodo said, finishing the last of his eggs.
"I know this is - well, it's a terrible thing to ask you after all your kindness…" Frodo looked up to her silently. "But… how do you feel about pets?"
Frodo frowned in thought. "Er… they're quite darling."
Perry nodded slowly. "Yes… it's just…" She sighed. "I've had this cat since the Ravagin' of the Shire, Sir, and he always kept me company through all the terrible things that happened. I had to hide him away so he wouldn't get hurt or eaten or tortured and well, Sir, he's such a sweet thing-"
The lady-hobbit had long begun to babble, and Frodo smiled gently as she sent herself into a lather. He put a hand over one of hers and squeezing it gently. "Of course your cat can come and live here, Perry. What is his name?"
"Ferdinand," Perry said. "A high n' mighty name I know, but he's such a good soul he deserves every letter of it."
So not only did Perry Proudfoot come to stay at Bag End, but also Ferdinand the Tomcat. That day Frodo went to visit the mayor, Will Whitfoot, and it was apparent to him that the old fellow was in full health. Frodo resigned his office as Deputy Mayor, and Will Whitfoot happily returned to his post as full Mayor. It was Mid-year day of the Great Year of Plenty, a day that the hobbits greatly celebrated as it saw the full restoring of the Shire as it was before the Ravaging. Also that day Frodo Baggins asked Old Proudfoot (Perry's Father) if Perry could live with him up on the Hill in Bag End in his company as servant. He was not met well; in fact Old Proudfoot was hoping for Perry to be married in the near future, though any specifics would not be gotten from the old man, no matter how hard Perry pressed him. Perry was allowed to stay with Frodo on the condition that should a suitable and agreeable fellow come along that wanted Perry's hand in marriage, then she had to leave Bag End and start a family. Perry didn't want to agree to such a thing, but considering she wouldn't have been allowed to leave without making such a deal, she acquiesced. Perry didn't see herself agreeing to a marriage any time soon, for there was no hobbit more brave and sweet than Mr. Baggins, and she knew he wanted to be a bachelor for all his days. Just to be around him and serve him made her happy, and she would see to it that that was what she would do.
Sam and Rosie helped Perry settle in, showing her where everything was and discussing how Frodo liked things, and it took her no time to adjust to life at Bag End. Ferdinand was a reasonably well-behaved tom, though he did have a tendency to spray on Sam's prize roses, which resulted in good arguments between the two.
"Now just you watch yourself, Tom, cause those are my roses and they're not yours!"
The cat would lift its nose.
"Don't you give me your attitude, because I won't be takin' it, now shoo!"
The cat would then rub its large apple cheeks on Sam's leg, and Sam would cross his arms.
"That ain't goin' to work with me, pussycat, now get going!"
The cat usually took that moment to drift off on his own account and go lay about in the grass out the front of Bag End and sun himself for the rest of the day. He took well to tummy-rubs, but only from Miss Perry, and sometimes, Frodo. At night Frodo would let Perry invite the large portly tomcat in the hall, and it would be an amusing sight to see the petite but buxom Perry with her short arms trying to reach around the large round cat, who wore a look of utter contentment when he was draped over her tiny lap.
Often when it was after tea, Frodo and Perry would sit by the fire, and Perry would hum as she either did chores (mending clothes or folding up newly washed linens), or wrote down her songs in a brown leather-bound book that she had brought with her from the Proudfoot Farm. Frodo was curious as to what kind of songs she had in there, and although she wasn't very secretive of the book, he was a little unsure of asking her. One night, as he wrote in his Red Book, and she in her brown, he listened to her a little more carefully than usual.
It seemed to him that she now very definitely hummed a particular tune, and she was repeating it as she scribbled out words in the book. He laid down his own quill and looked to her, leaning on a hand.
"Perry?"
"Hmm, Mr. Frodo?" Her eyes were glued to the page. She'd now picked up the use of 'Mr. Frodo' from both Rose and Sam, and she would use it unwittingly. It wasn't as stiff as 'Mr. Baggins', but she still used his proper name more often than not.
"Are you writing a song?"
She glanced up now, eyes widening in something akin to nervousness. "Y-Yes Mr. Baggins."
Frodo looked curious now. "Can I hear it, once you're finished? The melody you are humming is intriguing."
Perry's cheeks grew a deep red and she stuttered, fingering the corner of the page she was writing on. "Well… I'm only just writing it now… it needs work…" She drifted off, her eyes meeting Frodo's. A smile cracked across her face and she giggled. "Mr. Frodo!"
He blinked. "What?"
"You've got ink on your face!"
"How in all of Middle-Earth did that get there?"
"It's on your fingers, you silly hobbit," chuckled Perry.
"Oh, I must wash this off." He stood, turning to go wash himself. He looked back just before he walked off. "Why don't you choose a song to sing to me while I'm cleaning myself up?"
Perry sighed, dipping her head to hide her blushes. "Oh all right."
When Frodo came back, Perry was fidgeting with her ink-stained fingers, eyes peering at an open page. He sat down across from her in his large Dwarf chair, and folded his hands together on his knee.
"Mr. Frodo… if you'll forgive me… before I start I-" She sighed fitfully. "I'm not as learned as your fine self, Sir, so my songs shan't be as good as anything you or Mr. Bilbo may have done-"
"Nonsense," said Frodo. "I was well impressed by that song you sang at the Green Dragon."
Perry gave a touched smile, and looking down to her book she wrung her fingers.
"Well… this is a song about a farm, Mr. Frodo. And it grew amazing things in it, and everyone came from far away to buy their food there, cause they were always assured of a good purchase. It's a strange idea for a song-"
"No, it's a hobbit song, Perry," said Frodo with a smile. "Just the kind I wished to hear when I was far from home. Sing it to me."
"All right." Perry cleared her throat.
"Down by the barrows
The flight of the sparrows,
Turns off their path to the south.
For at a skip and a pace
Is a wonderful place
With food that will water your mouth.
At the Watershed Farm
Folk come to no harm
Their bodies and souls are renewed
From the ground it was made
And no single grass blade
Was harmed nor broken nor chewed.
There hives for the bees
Were as big as the trees
With honey that poured like wine
It was golden and pure
So sweet and so sure
So full and so warm and so fine.
Then like from heaven
Were watermelons
Big as a sow from the yard
And the turnips like heads
Too big for the sheds
Firm and coloured and hard.
The corn was so full
And so was the bull
His cows had milk oh so sweet.
The creamy froth
Never you loth
Guaranteed to sweep one off their feet!
There's so much to tell
Of this charming dell
Where plenty is the run of the mill
One's welcome by
To stop and to sigh
And to stay and get all of their fill
Just go that way south
And then by the mouth
Of the Water there you will find
The Watershed farm
A place of no harm
But of growth of the heart and the mind."
Frodo smiled, leaning back in his chair and bringing his pipe to his lips. He was quiet for a moment, merely gazing at Perry, and the young lady blushed red under the scrutiny. She shrugged, closing the book and running quivering fingers along the edges to stop them from shaking any worse.
"It's… a ditty. A silly ditty with no fact and no reason."
"The best kind, I think," said Frodo. "Yes, it's a charming song. I like it." Perry smiled, ducking her head bashfully.
~~*~~
It was gentle nights filled with songs and stories which Frodo grew to thoroughly enjoy. It was a change that he had not expected, but now that he had lived it some time, welcomed with open arms. It wasn't till he woke up one day and Perry was nowhere to be found that he realised how much he had grown used to her company. He searched all through Bag End, which took some searching since it was so deep within the hill, and he grew puzzled. He hurried down New Row, knocking on Sam Gamgee's door.
The door swung open and the smiling face of Rosie Gamgee welcomed Frodo. Her stomach was growing larger, and she absently ran her fingertips in circles over the shape of her belly.
"Well, hello Mr. Frodo!" she said, bright and welcoming as always. "Don't you look lovely this morning?"
Rosie was always full of compliments and sweetness; it wasn't a surprise to Frodo at all that Sam was so taken with her. He blushed a little and shrugged.
"I - uh…" For the first time in years, Frodo found himself stumbling on his own words. "Have you seen Miss Perry this morning?"
A knowing smile spread across Rosie's face, and she folded her arms. "I saw her head off into town this morning, Mr. Frodo. I'm sure she would have left ye a message of some sort."
Frodo scratched his chin, turning and looking back towards Bag End. "I didn't see one…"
"Goodness," tutted Rosie. She stepped out, closing the door behind her, and patted Frodo's shoulder. "Come on then, Mr. Frodo. Let's go have a look, shall we?"
She took him back to Bag End, and the first place they looked was the kitchen. It came up bare, so Rosie thought that the mantle would be a good place to check next. Strangely, there was nothing there as well.
"Your bedroom," Rosie said. She tottered off down the hall, and she opened the door to his room wide. "Ah Hah!" She bent down behind the door, scratching at something behind it. "Oh come on - let me pick you up, silly piece of paper!" As Frodo made his way down the main hall, Rosie appeared from behind his door, wagging a folded slip of paper in the air. "Was this there before, Mr. Frodo?"
"No," said Frodo, stopping in front of her. Rosie handed him the paper and folded her arms. Frodo opened it, and read it. "Dear Mr. Baggins… went out into Hobbiton to buy some supplies and visit Mother Proudfoot. Will be back before afternoon tea. Miss Perry."
"There we go," said Rosie, patting Frodo on the shoulder again. "Nothing to worry about - she's just off to the market."
"Yes…" Frodo nodded.
Rosie left him to his own devices then, and Frodo stepped to his table in the sitting room. It was piled high with maps that Bilbo had drawn long ago, and old notes of everything Bilbo could remember about his travels, from the different people to the different terrains. The nice thing about this table was that it was in front of the fire-place and also before the large window that looked out onto Hobbiton. As such, it was warm and it offered a lovely view. Frodo sat down and for a moment, appreciated it. Strangely, he felt somehow useless, and didn't really know what to do with himself. He pulled out some of his maps, just to read them for idle interest, but they brought too many uncomfortable memories, so he slipped them away again. He stood to go make himself some breakfast, but he didn't find himself all that hungry. He had a part of a sesame cake and some tea. Frodo had just settled down in front of his latest writings in his Red Book when a dark shape burst in from the windows and landed on the only bare spot on the table deftly. Frodo almost leapt back, and clutching his chest he tried to calm himself enough to see what had intruded, what he partly knew had intruded in the very back of his mind.
On the table Ferdinand narrowed his eyes warmly at Frodo, winking and lifting his short but elegantly shaped muzzle at the hobbit.
"Ferdinand," Frodo sighed, sitting again, "You almost scared the daylights out of me…" He looked to the cat's feet. They were perilously close to his tea-cup which had been pushed into a pile of maps. "And you nearly knocked over my tea! Now get off the table. Shoo!"
Ferdinand let out a light grunt and jumped off the table stiffly, sniffing the air about him. He toed over to Frodo, nudging his leg, letting out a low mowling.
"Yes, I know," Frodo said. "Miss Perry is off to the market today."
"Mruff," muttered Ferdinand.
"Indeed," Frodo said. "I'm sure I shall look forward to her return as well."
Ferdinand proceeded to make himself comfortable at Frodo's feet in a striped ball, slipping off into cat slumbers. The cat was quite large to a hobbit, and even by the standards of Men was sizable. His large muscular tomcat weight on Frodo's feet left Frodo quite incapable of standing and walking anywhere. He was rather stuck. There weren't many things a hobbit could do whilst left stationary by a sixteen pound feline, as Frodo found out. He smoked his pipe, and he drank his tea (slowly), and he nibbled at his sesame cake (also slowly). He tried to amuse himself with his writing, but he found himself feeling lonely more often than not. Even Sam Gamgee passing by his window on the odd occasion didn't leave him feeling satisfied.
Sam finally stopped around lunchtime to say hello to his Master.
"Mr. Frodo," he said, "You haven't moved from that window in hours."
Frodo frowned. "No Sam, I've… well… I've been quite unable to."
Sam's eyes grew wide. "Oh Mr. Frodo! Are you unwell? Are your legs working?! Oh let me help you!" The scruffy mousy-brown haired hobbit was all but climbing in the window. Frodo chuckled, leaning back.
"Oh that's two climbing in the window today instead of using the door!"
Sam was halfway in when he lifted a brow in question. "Sir?"
"Ferdinand jumped in this morning, and is now quite at home on my feet."
"Oh!" Sam scrabbled out of the window and ran around and in the front door. He toddled into the lounge-room, and upon seeing the snoozing cat, shook his head dourly. "That cat! He's a naughty sort, I tell you! Always widdling on my roses and scratching the fence posts till the paint's all gone!"
Frodo smiled, leaning down and patting the cat. "He's a cat, and cats do these things, Sam."
"Yes Sir," Sam said. He tilted his head. "Pardon me for askin', Sir, but why don't ye just kick him out of ye way?"
"I've tried that, Sam," said Frodo, looking at the cat. "He's too heavy - he's right on my feet."
Sam nodded and slapped his hands together, rubbing them vigourously. "Right! I'll move him!"
"Careful, don't scare him!"
Sam knelt down in front of the tom, gingerly prying his fingers under the heavy animal. "Come now, Ferdinand. Mr. Frodo isn't your pillow!" The cat let out a deep disgruntled ruff, and thinking Sam was playing with him, grabbed at the hand at his belly and sunk in his claws. "OW! Owww! Let me go you beast!" The cat dragged his pointed teeth over the skin of Sam's hand very lightly, and then after a moment began to lick them fully, rasping his big spiky tongue over the tanned flesh and purring deeply.
"Seems as though he likes you, Sam."
Sam sighed with a frown. "Perhaps so, Mr. Frodo, but he hasn't moved." Sam sat down on his bottom under the table, arms around the large animal and he proceeded to pull as well as try to avoid another play fight. After a moment Ferdinand grew tired of all the fussing about, and he got up, rather indignantly, and toed his way over to the hearth of the large fireplace, collapsing onto the ground gracelessly and falling asleep again. Sam shook his head in wonder. "That cat could fall asleep in the arms of a dragon!"
"I don't doubt that," smiled Frodo.
Sam crawled out from under the table and sat across from Frodo. "Rosie tells me Miss Perry is out today."
"Yes," said Frodo, folding his arms and looking at the mess that was his writing table. "I've been rather at a loss all morning."
Sam covered his mouth with his hand, as if wringing a smile from his lips, and nodded. "Well, yes Sir, as is natural when you grow used to certain company."
Frodo knew Sam was humouring him. He eyed Sam a moment, and then shook his head. "You're a cheeky fellow, Samwise Gamgee. Very cheeky."
Sam blushed. "Yes, that's what the Missus says, she does, but I think she rather likes it Sir."
"I'm not sure I want to know," said Frodo, looking away. As he did, and looked out the window, he saw a movement down the road. His heart leapt in his chest at seeing the familiar colours of the flowery dress that his maid-servant wore often. Sam noticed Frodo's eyes suddenly twinkling, and he followed where his Master was looking. Again the fellow found himself battling smiles and grins.
"Well, I better get back to rebuildin' that wall, Sir." Sam stood, waving to Frodo before shuffling off out the door.
Frodo nodded, barely hearing the fellow, standing and clearing away the tea and the remnants of the sesame cake he'd eaten before. He wasn't entirely sure why he was bothered with cleaning up the table - Perry had seen it at its worst a thousand times before. Nerves played within his chest, and they released themselves in his busy tidying. As he stacked his maps in a vaguely orderly pile, the door opened, the familiar humming of Perry filling his ears. His stomach did sudden flip-flops despite himself. He looked over his shoulder, smiling brightly at the girl. She wore a thin greyish-green cloak over her dress, a large basket in her arms covered with a scarf.
Perry turned from closing the door, and upon catching the smile put a hand over her chest as if she'd taken a blow, returning a burning, shy smile of her own. "Hello, Mr. Baggins. Have a nice morning did we?"
Frodo glanced about himself, and then back to her. "Yes… uh… Ferdinand kept me company."
Perry looked to the cat and grinned. "It's nice to know he's good for something."
"Yes." Frodo fiddled with the pipeweed case that he had in his pocket, turning it over and over.
"Well!" Perry placed down the basket she had been carrying, unpinning her cloak. "What have you been doing to amuse yourself?"
"Er, I read some maps… wrote some…" He looked a little guilty, and smiled to rid himself of the expression. "I uh - in fact I've been rather useless all morning to be honest. I think I missed you."
Perry gazed at him a moment, brown eyes filled with something that always frightened Frodo, and in the next she shook herself, laughing lightly. "Oh bless you, Mr. Frodo. Well, it's nearly lunch time, so I'll get you something to eat, shall I?"
Frodo smiled, relieved at the passing of the moment, and also a little sad, and he walked back to his Dwarf chair, sitting down and readying himself his pipe. "How was your visit with your mother?"
"Just delightful, Mr. Baggins," said Perry as she strode into the kitchen with the basket and began to fuss about. "She's knitting you a scarf, you know, a darling scarf with tiny pearl knit, the nicest you ever saw."
Frodo looked bashful. "That's lovely of her… she doesn't have to do that."
"Oh, but she's so thankful to you, Mr. Frodo," said Perry, looking over her shoulder. "Lookin' after me so and keeping me away from the dirty paws of the farmer boys that want to marry me. She says I'm a fair lass, and should be with fair kind." Perry blushed. "I think I am as like any other girl in the town, but you know I'd rather help you than anything else."
"Yes," said Frodo. "And you aren't like any other girl, Perry, or you wouldn't be here."
Perry's cheeks grew redder as she glanced at Frodo. She then busied herself in emptying the basket again.
~~~~~
Author: nacey
Email: tosh@opera.iinet.net.au
Category: Drama, Romance, AU
Rating: PG
Spoilers: All six books.
Summary: The story of Frodo's life after the journey of the Ring.
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JRR Tolkien, and Tolkien Enterprises. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author notes: This story is not properly edited. The final version may differ greatly from the one you are reading right now. This is just to air the idea and to see what others think of it, so I know whether to bother publishing it on the net or whether to keep it amongst my close friends. I very much thought that Lord of the Rings didn't need fan-fiction when I was reading it, until I read the ending. Then I saw the movies and it inspired me to write this little "Alternate-Universe" fic. I think that the ending that Tolkien did was absolutely perfect, and this is just my attempt at a different idea of what it could be like, mainly borne of my experience being amongst and being a person living with depression (I believe that poor Frodo had one of the most chronic cases of Post-Traumatic Stress that ever was). Constructive criticism is welcomed with open arms.
Website:
~~*~~
Chapter Four - New Company at Bag End.
That night he brought her to Bag End, letting her sleep in the guestroom closest to his own, and wrote down a list of things he would do tomorrow to arrange her staying with him. Finally, after a night of puzzlement and trouble he had felt the decisiveness within him that he had been yearning for, and he felt more at ease again.
The next day when he saw Sam he pulled him aside.
"Sam… did you know of the abuse the lady-folk had to endure during our absence?" Sam grew very red in the cheeks and nodded, scuffling his feet. "Why did you not tell me of it?"
"Well, it only happened to a few of the ladies, Sir, and you were already so weary after our trip into Mordor. It was all over and done with and it seemed like it would only upset you more…"
Frodo sighed, pain welling full in his large blue eyes. "I shan't have any truth kept from me again, Sam, even to protect me." He shook his head. "I upset Miss Perry greatly last night because of my ignorance and I won't have such a thing happen again."
Sam nodded. "So Miss Perry will be stayin' on then Sir?"
"Yes, Sam," said Frodo. "She very much wants to help me and I don't see why I should deny her that simple pleasure."
"Very good, Mr. Frodo." Sam smiled and pointed behind him. "Well I should go back to fixin' the paving down Bagshot - I mean New Row then."
Frodo gave a patient smile, quite noticing Sam's excited quivering and bright eyes. Yes, he was an old romantic, was his Sam. He went back to the Hall, deciding to check on Perry. He found her in her room; she hadn't woken up yet, and for a moment he watched her sleep. The bed she slept on ran along the wall, and next to it, behind a bedside table, was a fair-sized round window. Her clothes were laid out on a chair next to the table, and the blankets snuggled her form, keeping her warm. Her hair tumbled over the pillow, her eyes shut, long lashes resting against her cheeks. She looked completely at peace, the very picture of tranquillity. Remembering her words from last night, his heart stung deeply, recoiling in his chest. He sighed, shaking his head at the injustice of it all, and before he could think clearly, he found himself brushing the back of his knuckles over the curve of her cheek.
"Poor Periwinkle…"
He blinked, remembering himself, and turning, he strode purposefully from the room, setting himself the task of readying a breakfast for the both of them. As he made his way into the kitchen the smells of cooked bacon and tomatoes hit him, and it became clear that Rosie had already begun on that particular task.
"Mornin' Mr. Frodo!" cried Rosie happily. "You look a fright! Did ye not get enough sleep last night?"
"I'm afraid not," Frodo sighed. "I couldn't stop tossing and turning."
"You think too much, that's what your problem is. Got to put the mind to sleep, then the body follows. Sit down; I'll set you some breakfast!"
Frodo looked a little bashful as he asked, "Will there be enough for two?"
Rosie grinned widely, winking at Frodo before cracking an egg into the pan she was using. "Oh, aye! Plenty for Perry here too."
Frodo patted his pockets as he thought, as if he had forgotten something - it was a strange little habit he'd picked up from all his years with Bilbo. He wagged a finger and nodded, getting up from his chair.
"Yes, I should go wake her."
"You do that, Mr. Frodo."
Frodo glanced back at Rosie, perhaps a little tiredly, and nodded, making his way off down the hall. He knocked on her door this time, remembering his manners, and from inside her little voice called.
"Yes?"
"It's just Frodo," Frodo said, "Rosie has made us some breakfast, so feel free to come through and get some. We should discuss the details of your staying here whilst we eat, also."
There was a moment of silence, and then her voice piped up again. "Very good, Mr. Baggins!"
Against his better judgement, he found himself smiling at the joy evident in her voice. Frodo brought out his list during breakfast, and he showed Perry what he had planned. Perry was agreeable to what he had proposed, and looked anxious, wanting to move in as soon as possible. Though there was something that troubled her a little, and she fiddled her long fingers nervously.
"Mr. Baggins…"
"Yes Perry?" Frodo said, finishing the last of his eggs.
"I know this is - well, it's a terrible thing to ask you after all your kindness…" Frodo looked up to her silently. "But… how do you feel about pets?"
Frodo frowned in thought. "Er… they're quite darling."
Perry nodded slowly. "Yes… it's just…" She sighed. "I've had this cat since the Ravagin' of the Shire, Sir, and he always kept me company through all the terrible things that happened. I had to hide him away so he wouldn't get hurt or eaten or tortured and well, Sir, he's such a sweet thing-"
The lady-hobbit had long begun to babble, and Frodo smiled gently as she sent herself into a lather. He put a hand over one of hers and squeezing it gently. "Of course your cat can come and live here, Perry. What is his name?"
"Ferdinand," Perry said. "A high n' mighty name I know, but he's such a good soul he deserves every letter of it."
So not only did Perry Proudfoot come to stay at Bag End, but also Ferdinand the Tomcat. That day Frodo went to visit the mayor, Will Whitfoot, and it was apparent to him that the old fellow was in full health. Frodo resigned his office as Deputy Mayor, and Will Whitfoot happily returned to his post as full Mayor. It was Mid-year day of the Great Year of Plenty, a day that the hobbits greatly celebrated as it saw the full restoring of the Shire as it was before the Ravaging. Also that day Frodo Baggins asked Old Proudfoot (Perry's Father) if Perry could live with him up on the Hill in Bag End in his company as servant. He was not met well; in fact Old Proudfoot was hoping for Perry to be married in the near future, though any specifics would not be gotten from the old man, no matter how hard Perry pressed him. Perry was allowed to stay with Frodo on the condition that should a suitable and agreeable fellow come along that wanted Perry's hand in marriage, then she had to leave Bag End and start a family. Perry didn't want to agree to such a thing, but considering she wouldn't have been allowed to leave without making such a deal, she acquiesced. Perry didn't see herself agreeing to a marriage any time soon, for there was no hobbit more brave and sweet than Mr. Baggins, and she knew he wanted to be a bachelor for all his days. Just to be around him and serve him made her happy, and she would see to it that that was what she would do.
Sam and Rosie helped Perry settle in, showing her where everything was and discussing how Frodo liked things, and it took her no time to adjust to life at Bag End. Ferdinand was a reasonably well-behaved tom, though he did have a tendency to spray on Sam's prize roses, which resulted in good arguments between the two.
"Now just you watch yourself, Tom, cause those are my roses and they're not yours!"
The cat would lift its nose.
"Don't you give me your attitude, because I won't be takin' it, now shoo!"
The cat would then rub its large apple cheeks on Sam's leg, and Sam would cross his arms.
"That ain't goin' to work with me, pussycat, now get going!"
The cat usually took that moment to drift off on his own account and go lay about in the grass out the front of Bag End and sun himself for the rest of the day. He took well to tummy-rubs, but only from Miss Perry, and sometimes, Frodo. At night Frodo would let Perry invite the large portly tomcat in the hall, and it would be an amusing sight to see the petite but buxom Perry with her short arms trying to reach around the large round cat, who wore a look of utter contentment when he was draped over her tiny lap.
Often when it was after tea, Frodo and Perry would sit by the fire, and Perry would hum as she either did chores (mending clothes or folding up newly washed linens), or wrote down her songs in a brown leather-bound book that she had brought with her from the Proudfoot Farm. Frodo was curious as to what kind of songs she had in there, and although she wasn't very secretive of the book, he was a little unsure of asking her. One night, as he wrote in his Red Book, and she in her brown, he listened to her a little more carefully than usual.
It seemed to him that she now very definitely hummed a particular tune, and she was repeating it as she scribbled out words in the book. He laid down his own quill and looked to her, leaning on a hand.
"Perry?"
"Hmm, Mr. Frodo?" Her eyes were glued to the page. She'd now picked up the use of 'Mr. Frodo' from both Rose and Sam, and she would use it unwittingly. It wasn't as stiff as 'Mr. Baggins', but she still used his proper name more often than not.
"Are you writing a song?"
She glanced up now, eyes widening in something akin to nervousness. "Y-Yes Mr. Baggins."
Frodo looked curious now. "Can I hear it, once you're finished? The melody you are humming is intriguing."
Perry's cheeks grew a deep red and she stuttered, fingering the corner of the page she was writing on. "Well… I'm only just writing it now… it needs work…" She drifted off, her eyes meeting Frodo's. A smile cracked across her face and she giggled. "Mr. Frodo!"
He blinked. "What?"
"You've got ink on your face!"
"How in all of Middle-Earth did that get there?"
"It's on your fingers, you silly hobbit," chuckled Perry.
"Oh, I must wash this off." He stood, turning to go wash himself. He looked back just before he walked off. "Why don't you choose a song to sing to me while I'm cleaning myself up?"
Perry sighed, dipping her head to hide her blushes. "Oh all right."
When Frodo came back, Perry was fidgeting with her ink-stained fingers, eyes peering at an open page. He sat down across from her in his large Dwarf chair, and folded his hands together on his knee.
"Mr. Frodo… if you'll forgive me… before I start I-" She sighed fitfully. "I'm not as learned as your fine self, Sir, so my songs shan't be as good as anything you or Mr. Bilbo may have done-"
"Nonsense," said Frodo. "I was well impressed by that song you sang at the Green Dragon."
Perry gave a touched smile, and looking down to her book she wrung her fingers.
"Well… this is a song about a farm, Mr. Frodo. And it grew amazing things in it, and everyone came from far away to buy their food there, cause they were always assured of a good purchase. It's a strange idea for a song-"
"No, it's a hobbit song, Perry," said Frodo with a smile. "Just the kind I wished to hear when I was far from home. Sing it to me."
"All right." Perry cleared her throat.
"Down by the barrows
The flight of the sparrows,
Turns off their path to the south.
For at a skip and a pace
Is a wonderful place
With food that will water your mouth.
At the Watershed Farm
Folk come to no harm
Their bodies and souls are renewed
From the ground it was made
And no single grass blade
Was harmed nor broken nor chewed.
There hives for the bees
Were as big as the trees
With honey that poured like wine
It was golden and pure
So sweet and so sure
So full and so warm and so fine.
Then like from heaven
Were watermelons
Big as a sow from the yard
And the turnips like heads
Too big for the sheds
Firm and coloured and hard.
The corn was so full
And so was the bull
His cows had milk oh so sweet.
The creamy froth
Never you loth
Guaranteed to sweep one off their feet!
There's so much to tell
Of this charming dell
Where plenty is the run of the mill
One's welcome by
To stop and to sigh
And to stay and get all of their fill
Just go that way south
And then by the mouth
Of the Water there you will find
The Watershed farm
A place of no harm
But of growth of the heart and the mind."
Frodo smiled, leaning back in his chair and bringing his pipe to his lips. He was quiet for a moment, merely gazing at Perry, and the young lady blushed red under the scrutiny. She shrugged, closing the book and running quivering fingers along the edges to stop them from shaking any worse.
"It's… a ditty. A silly ditty with no fact and no reason."
"The best kind, I think," said Frodo. "Yes, it's a charming song. I like it." Perry smiled, ducking her head bashfully.
~~*~~
It was gentle nights filled with songs and stories which Frodo grew to thoroughly enjoy. It was a change that he had not expected, but now that he had lived it some time, welcomed with open arms. It wasn't till he woke up one day and Perry was nowhere to be found that he realised how much he had grown used to her company. He searched all through Bag End, which took some searching since it was so deep within the hill, and he grew puzzled. He hurried down New Row, knocking on Sam Gamgee's door.
The door swung open and the smiling face of Rosie Gamgee welcomed Frodo. Her stomach was growing larger, and she absently ran her fingertips in circles over the shape of her belly.
"Well, hello Mr. Frodo!" she said, bright and welcoming as always. "Don't you look lovely this morning?"
Rosie was always full of compliments and sweetness; it wasn't a surprise to Frodo at all that Sam was so taken with her. He blushed a little and shrugged.
"I - uh…" For the first time in years, Frodo found himself stumbling on his own words. "Have you seen Miss Perry this morning?"
A knowing smile spread across Rosie's face, and she folded her arms. "I saw her head off into town this morning, Mr. Frodo. I'm sure she would have left ye a message of some sort."
Frodo scratched his chin, turning and looking back towards Bag End. "I didn't see one…"
"Goodness," tutted Rosie. She stepped out, closing the door behind her, and patted Frodo's shoulder. "Come on then, Mr. Frodo. Let's go have a look, shall we?"
She took him back to Bag End, and the first place they looked was the kitchen. It came up bare, so Rosie thought that the mantle would be a good place to check next. Strangely, there was nothing there as well.
"Your bedroom," Rosie said. She tottered off down the hall, and she opened the door to his room wide. "Ah Hah!" She bent down behind the door, scratching at something behind it. "Oh come on - let me pick you up, silly piece of paper!" As Frodo made his way down the main hall, Rosie appeared from behind his door, wagging a folded slip of paper in the air. "Was this there before, Mr. Frodo?"
"No," said Frodo, stopping in front of her. Rosie handed him the paper and folded her arms. Frodo opened it, and read it. "Dear Mr. Baggins… went out into Hobbiton to buy some supplies and visit Mother Proudfoot. Will be back before afternoon tea. Miss Perry."
"There we go," said Rosie, patting Frodo on the shoulder again. "Nothing to worry about - she's just off to the market."
"Yes…" Frodo nodded.
Rosie left him to his own devices then, and Frodo stepped to his table in the sitting room. It was piled high with maps that Bilbo had drawn long ago, and old notes of everything Bilbo could remember about his travels, from the different people to the different terrains. The nice thing about this table was that it was in front of the fire-place and also before the large window that looked out onto Hobbiton. As such, it was warm and it offered a lovely view. Frodo sat down and for a moment, appreciated it. Strangely, he felt somehow useless, and didn't really know what to do with himself. He pulled out some of his maps, just to read them for idle interest, but they brought too many uncomfortable memories, so he slipped them away again. He stood to go make himself some breakfast, but he didn't find himself all that hungry. He had a part of a sesame cake and some tea. Frodo had just settled down in front of his latest writings in his Red Book when a dark shape burst in from the windows and landed on the only bare spot on the table deftly. Frodo almost leapt back, and clutching his chest he tried to calm himself enough to see what had intruded, what he partly knew had intruded in the very back of his mind.
On the table Ferdinand narrowed his eyes warmly at Frodo, winking and lifting his short but elegantly shaped muzzle at the hobbit.
"Ferdinand," Frodo sighed, sitting again, "You almost scared the daylights out of me…" He looked to the cat's feet. They were perilously close to his tea-cup which had been pushed into a pile of maps. "And you nearly knocked over my tea! Now get off the table. Shoo!"
Ferdinand let out a light grunt and jumped off the table stiffly, sniffing the air about him. He toed over to Frodo, nudging his leg, letting out a low mowling.
"Yes, I know," Frodo said. "Miss Perry is off to the market today."
"Mruff," muttered Ferdinand.
"Indeed," Frodo said. "I'm sure I shall look forward to her return as well."
Ferdinand proceeded to make himself comfortable at Frodo's feet in a striped ball, slipping off into cat slumbers. The cat was quite large to a hobbit, and even by the standards of Men was sizable. His large muscular tomcat weight on Frodo's feet left Frodo quite incapable of standing and walking anywhere. He was rather stuck. There weren't many things a hobbit could do whilst left stationary by a sixteen pound feline, as Frodo found out. He smoked his pipe, and he drank his tea (slowly), and he nibbled at his sesame cake (also slowly). He tried to amuse himself with his writing, but he found himself feeling lonely more often than not. Even Sam Gamgee passing by his window on the odd occasion didn't leave him feeling satisfied.
Sam finally stopped around lunchtime to say hello to his Master.
"Mr. Frodo," he said, "You haven't moved from that window in hours."
Frodo frowned. "No Sam, I've… well… I've been quite unable to."
Sam's eyes grew wide. "Oh Mr. Frodo! Are you unwell? Are your legs working?! Oh let me help you!" The scruffy mousy-brown haired hobbit was all but climbing in the window. Frodo chuckled, leaning back.
"Oh that's two climbing in the window today instead of using the door!"
Sam was halfway in when he lifted a brow in question. "Sir?"
"Ferdinand jumped in this morning, and is now quite at home on my feet."
"Oh!" Sam scrabbled out of the window and ran around and in the front door. He toddled into the lounge-room, and upon seeing the snoozing cat, shook his head dourly. "That cat! He's a naughty sort, I tell you! Always widdling on my roses and scratching the fence posts till the paint's all gone!"
Frodo smiled, leaning down and patting the cat. "He's a cat, and cats do these things, Sam."
"Yes Sir," Sam said. He tilted his head. "Pardon me for askin', Sir, but why don't ye just kick him out of ye way?"
"I've tried that, Sam," said Frodo, looking at the cat. "He's too heavy - he's right on my feet."
Sam nodded and slapped his hands together, rubbing them vigourously. "Right! I'll move him!"
"Careful, don't scare him!"
Sam knelt down in front of the tom, gingerly prying his fingers under the heavy animal. "Come now, Ferdinand. Mr. Frodo isn't your pillow!" The cat let out a deep disgruntled ruff, and thinking Sam was playing with him, grabbed at the hand at his belly and sunk in his claws. "OW! Owww! Let me go you beast!" The cat dragged his pointed teeth over the skin of Sam's hand very lightly, and then after a moment began to lick them fully, rasping his big spiky tongue over the tanned flesh and purring deeply.
"Seems as though he likes you, Sam."
Sam sighed with a frown. "Perhaps so, Mr. Frodo, but he hasn't moved." Sam sat down on his bottom under the table, arms around the large animal and he proceeded to pull as well as try to avoid another play fight. After a moment Ferdinand grew tired of all the fussing about, and he got up, rather indignantly, and toed his way over to the hearth of the large fireplace, collapsing onto the ground gracelessly and falling asleep again. Sam shook his head in wonder. "That cat could fall asleep in the arms of a dragon!"
"I don't doubt that," smiled Frodo.
Sam crawled out from under the table and sat across from Frodo. "Rosie tells me Miss Perry is out today."
"Yes," said Frodo, folding his arms and looking at the mess that was his writing table. "I've been rather at a loss all morning."
Sam covered his mouth with his hand, as if wringing a smile from his lips, and nodded. "Well, yes Sir, as is natural when you grow used to certain company."
Frodo knew Sam was humouring him. He eyed Sam a moment, and then shook his head. "You're a cheeky fellow, Samwise Gamgee. Very cheeky."
Sam blushed. "Yes, that's what the Missus says, she does, but I think she rather likes it Sir."
"I'm not sure I want to know," said Frodo, looking away. As he did, and looked out the window, he saw a movement down the road. His heart leapt in his chest at seeing the familiar colours of the flowery dress that his maid-servant wore often. Sam noticed Frodo's eyes suddenly twinkling, and he followed where his Master was looking. Again the fellow found himself battling smiles and grins.
"Well, I better get back to rebuildin' that wall, Sir." Sam stood, waving to Frodo before shuffling off out the door.
Frodo nodded, barely hearing the fellow, standing and clearing away the tea and the remnants of the sesame cake he'd eaten before. He wasn't entirely sure why he was bothered with cleaning up the table - Perry had seen it at its worst a thousand times before. Nerves played within his chest, and they released themselves in his busy tidying. As he stacked his maps in a vaguely orderly pile, the door opened, the familiar humming of Perry filling his ears. His stomach did sudden flip-flops despite himself. He looked over his shoulder, smiling brightly at the girl. She wore a thin greyish-green cloak over her dress, a large basket in her arms covered with a scarf.
Perry turned from closing the door, and upon catching the smile put a hand over her chest as if she'd taken a blow, returning a burning, shy smile of her own. "Hello, Mr. Baggins. Have a nice morning did we?"
Frodo glanced about himself, and then back to her. "Yes… uh… Ferdinand kept me company."
Perry looked to the cat and grinned. "It's nice to know he's good for something."
"Yes." Frodo fiddled with the pipeweed case that he had in his pocket, turning it over and over.
"Well!" Perry placed down the basket she had been carrying, unpinning her cloak. "What have you been doing to amuse yourself?"
"Er, I read some maps… wrote some…" He looked a little guilty, and smiled to rid himself of the expression. "I uh - in fact I've been rather useless all morning to be honest. I think I missed you."
Perry gazed at him a moment, brown eyes filled with something that always frightened Frodo, and in the next she shook herself, laughing lightly. "Oh bless you, Mr. Frodo. Well, it's nearly lunch time, so I'll get you something to eat, shall I?"
Frodo smiled, relieved at the passing of the moment, and also a little sad, and he walked back to his Dwarf chair, sitting down and readying himself his pipe. "How was your visit with your mother?"
"Just delightful, Mr. Baggins," said Perry as she strode into the kitchen with the basket and began to fuss about. "She's knitting you a scarf, you know, a darling scarf with tiny pearl knit, the nicest you ever saw."
Frodo looked bashful. "That's lovely of her… she doesn't have to do that."
"Oh, but she's so thankful to you, Mr. Frodo," said Perry, looking over her shoulder. "Lookin' after me so and keeping me away from the dirty paws of the farmer boys that want to marry me. She says I'm a fair lass, and should be with fair kind." Perry blushed. "I think I am as like any other girl in the town, but you know I'd rather help you than anything else."
"Yes," said Frodo. "And you aren't like any other girl, Perry, or you wouldn't be here."
Perry's cheeks grew redder as she glanced at Frodo. She then busied herself in emptying the basket again.
~~~~~