AN: A bath scene is on its way! I tried the best way to write it. I need
all the luck I can get.
Aelfgifu: (clear throat) I actually just wrote 39 chapters. This will be the 40th. And, give me your best guesses on why Merry needs Frodo. I have a plan of my own, but it's still fun to get more ideas! Oh, about Ted, I almost changed my mind and erased the whole part!
Blue Jedi Hobbit: 'insignificant'? Nonsense! Nobody's ever said that a good story should be long. I've never planned to write this long. It's just that it's really not supposed to finish, according to the outline in my head!
Endymion: Sorry if the operation was not accurate. The idea came from how people treated it somewhere in the year of 500s. I read it in the Internet.
John Lennon Across the Universe: .and I got Merry's character from Dom! LOL. Do you know that he also auditioned as Frodo? I got this from an interview with Billy Boyd. It's very cute. You can check it out at www.bagendinn.com
Alisaundre: Bookmarked? Wow! Thanks a lot! Oh, no. Maybe I have chosen a wrong word for 'bait' But maybe not! :)
Warning: AU
Chapter 40
Sam folded his legs up to his chin and hugged them tightly. His eyes wandered to Strider's. The ranger added more wood into the fire, sighing regretfully.
"Sorry, Sam. But we really have to hold our journey until Ted at least can follow us on his horse."
Sam sighed, too, laying his head to his knees. Delaying their quest means putting Frodo's life in danger longer. But,
"I understand, Strider," said Sam slowly. "We can't leave Ted here, out of nowhere. And he had been so gentle to Frodo." Sam felt tears starting to form in his eyes. He rubbed them angrily. No, he had to be strong. Ted would soon recover and they could start walking again. Frodo would not be too far by that time.
Ted observed the odd couple, one man one hobbit, one so composed one so emotional, silently. He realized he didn't know anything about hobbits and their nature at all. The first hobbit he knew was Frodo and their meeting didn't happen at the best time to get to know each other.
He had been awake for almost an hour now. The athelas really helped his wound to heal. He felt a lot better now than the last couple of days.
Ted had told Strider and Sam, what remained in his memory, about Frodo. Strider cringed and Sam unconsciously dropped his jaw when listening to his horrible story about the bread and snakes. Ted vividly described how Saruman had always managed to make Frodo suffer and feel more and more unworthy. There was something Ted didn't quite understand, though. It was about the way Frodo acted. He always seemed to be in constant battle with himself. Ted often found the hobbit weep without any particular reasons. Frodo also often hesitated to accept Ted's gentle treatment.
Strider heaved.
"He is confused," commented Strider. "Frodo is terribly, terribly confused." He remembered Merry's evil remarks on how he had foul-treated Frodo. "He had been tortured. Yet when comfort came, from you, he could hardly accept it as someone else had influenced him so badly." Frodo even had almost killed him when ordered by that 'someone'.
Ted looked at Strider unbelievingly.
"It was that hobbit, wasn't it? He's with him again now?" he croaked.
Strider nodded frustratedly.
***
Frodo was back with Merry and Pippin again, indeed. And nobody could tell what the men and Sam would say if they saw him now. Merry had taken off Frodo's shirt, leaving him only with his breeches now. Then he made Frodo kneel down before him, eyes closed, and totally entrust his whole life to Merry. A big bucket of warm water, boiled with some healing and sweet- smelling herbs in it, was standing next to them.
Merry scooped a small basin of water and pour it over Frodo's hair, tilting his cousin's chin a bit so that the water would not get into his eyes. It got in the eyes anyway, making Frodo gasp and open them automatically. The water was a bit too warm for him.
He caught Merry smiling down at him.
"You like it, love?" Merry said, oh-so-softly. Frodo smiled weakly, beautifully.
Merry's fingers now ran through his locks while amounts of water were gushed over them. The water felt so nice. And Frodo enjoyed very much how the fingers were massaging his head, getting rid of his tiredness and mud on it.
Finally Merry nodded satisfyingly. He looked at Frodo, his breath caught.
"Your hair is clean now, Frodo, as it usually is. And it smells wonderful. Now, let's move on to your face."
Merry was about to take a piece of cloth near the bucket when he suddenly couldn't move at all. Frodo's arms were circling around his waist, hugging him tightly. Soft sobs escaped Frodo's lips.
Merry smiled a little. But that was only on the outside. Inside, Merry cheered victoriously. Once again, Frodo utterly, yet wordlessly, admitted his resignation to him.
Merry took Frodo's upper arms, trying to break free. Pippin, who was still busy adding more water boil, turned to both of them. Curiosity - and envy - were on his face. He knew that Merry's softness toward Frodo was fake but still he felt envious. Merry was trying to calm Frodo down. But that only resulted in harder sobs.
"Ssh, Frodo. It's all right. You know that I always want to do the best for you. You've been a good boy, so I grant you this. Besides, you do need a bath!"
Blushing, Frodo snuggled his face deeper into Merry's chest. His sobs were beginning to subside.
"Oh, now look what you have done!" Merry scowled. Startled, Frodo looked up. "Frodo, you naughty hobbit, you're making me wet!" He might sound angry but the smile in his eyes and lips showed otherwise. Frodo chuckled a little.
Laughing cheerfully, Merry snatched the cloth.
"Like I said before, now we're going to wash your face."
"Yes, Merry," replied Frodo in a small voice.
His cousin soaked the cloth in the basin and squeezed it. He looked at Frodo in the eye, smiled, and cupped Frodo's right cheek in his left hand. Then with his other hand, he washed Frodo's eyes from the inside corner to the outside, one after another. Merry watched the thick lashes in amazement as they curtained over the voluntarily closed eyes. Frodo was stunning even when he hid his most breathtaking feature - his eyes.
Merry began to question his own statements about why all people seemed to abandon this lovely creature. He saw himself how Bilbo 'ran' away from Frodo. Looking for peace for his old days? Please!! What was wrong with staying at Bag End with Frodo on his side?
Meanwhile, he had started with Frodo's ears.
He rubbed a bit harder this time, front and back, inside and outside. Frodo winced a little.
"Sorry, darling. Got to do it this way to really clean them over." Frodo just nodded. Merry soaked the cloth again. Frodo watched him closely, and screamed a little when it clamped over his face, rubbing his forehead then down to his nose, cheeks, lips, and his chin. He loved it very much, though!
"I'm so glad that you like it, Frodo," Merry purred in his ears. "I really want you to cherish this moment and remember it always. Keep it in your mind, Frodo Baggins, beloved. There is nothing in Middle Earth that can make me go away from you. I hope you won't leave me either."
Then he started to sing, in a low voice, a song Frodo distinctly remembered often sung by his mother. Frodo felt like drowning into eternal peace. He could barely listen to Merry's words. They had been spoken too softly. Yet somehow Frodo felt that they were sinking into him, going into the deepest part of his heart. And now this song he knew just too well. He just didn't realize that.
Merry stopped singing, observing the result of his action. He lifted Frodo's face by the back of the head and sighed deeply. The fairness showed again, though shadows of past bruises were still there.
"What a sweet boy," Merry breathed. Frodo blushed again.
Now Merry handed in another piece of cloth to Frodo, who quickly grabbed it to get rid of his awkward feeling. He soaked it into the water and rubbed it over his neck and throat. Merry laughed.
"Slowly, Frodo. There is no need to rush. You won't get the best result if you do it that way."
Not only that. Merry would also love to do the same to Frodo's neck. And he did that eventually, also to the throat, forcing Frodo to expose it to Merry. Merry shuddered.
"I swear it, Frodo. I've helped my mom wash my brothers and sisters before but none of them has complexion as soft as yours. Yours is like a baby's, Frodo. Honest!"
"Merry, please---"
It was such a torment for Frodo to be flooded with tender and comforting words without him being able to resist them and to realize how the real situation was.
The two were busy washing and pouring water over Frodo's body, chest and back, now. Frodo giggled when Merry's fingers tickled his waist.
"You knew it! You've always known my weakness!" accused Frodo, trying to get away from Merry's grip. But his cousin wouldn't let him go. Instead he tickled him once more and spilled out water again over the head. Frodo gasped and stood up.
Without knowing it, Pippin was already standing behind him. He tapped Frodo on the shoulder. Jumping shockingly, Frodo turned around.
"Want to swim in the river?" Pippin grinned at him. That sounded swell! Frodo turned back, facing Merry, with pleading eyes. His cousin nodded, smiling.
"Go! I will clean up the things here." He pushed Frodo gently. "Have fun!"
Frodo ran away happily and jumped into the river. Pippin followed him after taking off his shirt and waistcoat. Frodo had never felt happier. He almost felt as if he were back at the Shire again, splashing the water, ducking from it, and pulling one another with Pippin into the water ---
But he suddenly stood still. His keen ears caught something. And it went louder every time. Then ---
"Who are you people!" He heard Merry shout. Fear was in the voice. "Let me go! LET ME GO!"
TBC
Aelfgifu: (clear throat) I actually just wrote 39 chapters. This will be the 40th. And, give me your best guesses on why Merry needs Frodo. I have a plan of my own, but it's still fun to get more ideas! Oh, about Ted, I almost changed my mind and erased the whole part!
Blue Jedi Hobbit: 'insignificant'? Nonsense! Nobody's ever said that a good story should be long. I've never planned to write this long. It's just that it's really not supposed to finish, according to the outline in my head!
Endymion: Sorry if the operation was not accurate. The idea came from how people treated it somewhere in the year of 500s. I read it in the Internet.
John Lennon Across the Universe: .and I got Merry's character from Dom! LOL. Do you know that he also auditioned as Frodo? I got this from an interview with Billy Boyd. It's very cute. You can check it out at www.bagendinn.com
Alisaundre: Bookmarked? Wow! Thanks a lot! Oh, no. Maybe I have chosen a wrong word for 'bait' But maybe not! :)
Warning: AU
Chapter 40
Sam folded his legs up to his chin and hugged them tightly. His eyes wandered to Strider's. The ranger added more wood into the fire, sighing regretfully.
"Sorry, Sam. But we really have to hold our journey until Ted at least can follow us on his horse."
Sam sighed, too, laying his head to his knees. Delaying their quest means putting Frodo's life in danger longer. But,
"I understand, Strider," said Sam slowly. "We can't leave Ted here, out of nowhere. And he had been so gentle to Frodo." Sam felt tears starting to form in his eyes. He rubbed them angrily. No, he had to be strong. Ted would soon recover and they could start walking again. Frodo would not be too far by that time.
Ted observed the odd couple, one man one hobbit, one so composed one so emotional, silently. He realized he didn't know anything about hobbits and their nature at all. The first hobbit he knew was Frodo and their meeting didn't happen at the best time to get to know each other.
He had been awake for almost an hour now. The athelas really helped his wound to heal. He felt a lot better now than the last couple of days.
Ted had told Strider and Sam, what remained in his memory, about Frodo. Strider cringed and Sam unconsciously dropped his jaw when listening to his horrible story about the bread and snakes. Ted vividly described how Saruman had always managed to make Frodo suffer and feel more and more unworthy. There was something Ted didn't quite understand, though. It was about the way Frodo acted. He always seemed to be in constant battle with himself. Ted often found the hobbit weep without any particular reasons. Frodo also often hesitated to accept Ted's gentle treatment.
Strider heaved.
"He is confused," commented Strider. "Frodo is terribly, terribly confused." He remembered Merry's evil remarks on how he had foul-treated Frodo. "He had been tortured. Yet when comfort came, from you, he could hardly accept it as someone else had influenced him so badly." Frodo even had almost killed him when ordered by that 'someone'.
Ted looked at Strider unbelievingly.
"It was that hobbit, wasn't it? He's with him again now?" he croaked.
Strider nodded frustratedly.
***
Frodo was back with Merry and Pippin again, indeed. And nobody could tell what the men and Sam would say if they saw him now. Merry had taken off Frodo's shirt, leaving him only with his breeches now. Then he made Frodo kneel down before him, eyes closed, and totally entrust his whole life to Merry. A big bucket of warm water, boiled with some healing and sweet- smelling herbs in it, was standing next to them.
Merry scooped a small basin of water and pour it over Frodo's hair, tilting his cousin's chin a bit so that the water would not get into his eyes. It got in the eyes anyway, making Frodo gasp and open them automatically. The water was a bit too warm for him.
He caught Merry smiling down at him.
"You like it, love?" Merry said, oh-so-softly. Frodo smiled weakly, beautifully.
Merry's fingers now ran through his locks while amounts of water were gushed over them. The water felt so nice. And Frodo enjoyed very much how the fingers were massaging his head, getting rid of his tiredness and mud on it.
Finally Merry nodded satisfyingly. He looked at Frodo, his breath caught.
"Your hair is clean now, Frodo, as it usually is. And it smells wonderful. Now, let's move on to your face."
Merry was about to take a piece of cloth near the bucket when he suddenly couldn't move at all. Frodo's arms were circling around his waist, hugging him tightly. Soft sobs escaped Frodo's lips.
Merry smiled a little. But that was only on the outside. Inside, Merry cheered victoriously. Once again, Frodo utterly, yet wordlessly, admitted his resignation to him.
Merry took Frodo's upper arms, trying to break free. Pippin, who was still busy adding more water boil, turned to both of them. Curiosity - and envy - were on his face. He knew that Merry's softness toward Frodo was fake but still he felt envious. Merry was trying to calm Frodo down. But that only resulted in harder sobs.
"Ssh, Frodo. It's all right. You know that I always want to do the best for you. You've been a good boy, so I grant you this. Besides, you do need a bath!"
Blushing, Frodo snuggled his face deeper into Merry's chest. His sobs were beginning to subside.
"Oh, now look what you have done!" Merry scowled. Startled, Frodo looked up. "Frodo, you naughty hobbit, you're making me wet!" He might sound angry but the smile in his eyes and lips showed otherwise. Frodo chuckled a little.
Laughing cheerfully, Merry snatched the cloth.
"Like I said before, now we're going to wash your face."
"Yes, Merry," replied Frodo in a small voice.
His cousin soaked the cloth in the basin and squeezed it. He looked at Frodo in the eye, smiled, and cupped Frodo's right cheek in his left hand. Then with his other hand, he washed Frodo's eyes from the inside corner to the outside, one after another. Merry watched the thick lashes in amazement as they curtained over the voluntarily closed eyes. Frodo was stunning even when he hid his most breathtaking feature - his eyes.
Merry began to question his own statements about why all people seemed to abandon this lovely creature. He saw himself how Bilbo 'ran' away from Frodo. Looking for peace for his old days? Please!! What was wrong with staying at Bag End with Frodo on his side?
Meanwhile, he had started with Frodo's ears.
He rubbed a bit harder this time, front and back, inside and outside. Frodo winced a little.
"Sorry, darling. Got to do it this way to really clean them over." Frodo just nodded. Merry soaked the cloth again. Frodo watched him closely, and screamed a little when it clamped over his face, rubbing his forehead then down to his nose, cheeks, lips, and his chin. He loved it very much, though!
"I'm so glad that you like it, Frodo," Merry purred in his ears. "I really want you to cherish this moment and remember it always. Keep it in your mind, Frodo Baggins, beloved. There is nothing in Middle Earth that can make me go away from you. I hope you won't leave me either."
Then he started to sing, in a low voice, a song Frodo distinctly remembered often sung by his mother. Frodo felt like drowning into eternal peace. He could barely listen to Merry's words. They had been spoken too softly. Yet somehow Frodo felt that they were sinking into him, going into the deepest part of his heart. And now this song he knew just too well. He just didn't realize that.
Merry stopped singing, observing the result of his action. He lifted Frodo's face by the back of the head and sighed deeply. The fairness showed again, though shadows of past bruises were still there.
"What a sweet boy," Merry breathed. Frodo blushed again.
Now Merry handed in another piece of cloth to Frodo, who quickly grabbed it to get rid of his awkward feeling. He soaked it into the water and rubbed it over his neck and throat. Merry laughed.
"Slowly, Frodo. There is no need to rush. You won't get the best result if you do it that way."
Not only that. Merry would also love to do the same to Frodo's neck. And he did that eventually, also to the throat, forcing Frodo to expose it to Merry. Merry shuddered.
"I swear it, Frodo. I've helped my mom wash my brothers and sisters before but none of them has complexion as soft as yours. Yours is like a baby's, Frodo. Honest!"
"Merry, please---"
It was such a torment for Frodo to be flooded with tender and comforting words without him being able to resist them and to realize how the real situation was.
The two were busy washing and pouring water over Frodo's body, chest and back, now. Frodo giggled when Merry's fingers tickled his waist.
"You knew it! You've always known my weakness!" accused Frodo, trying to get away from Merry's grip. But his cousin wouldn't let him go. Instead he tickled him once more and spilled out water again over the head. Frodo gasped and stood up.
Without knowing it, Pippin was already standing behind him. He tapped Frodo on the shoulder. Jumping shockingly, Frodo turned around.
"Want to swim in the river?" Pippin grinned at him. That sounded swell! Frodo turned back, facing Merry, with pleading eyes. His cousin nodded, smiling.
"Go! I will clean up the things here." He pushed Frodo gently. "Have fun!"
Frodo ran away happily and jumped into the river. Pippin followed him after taking off his shirt and waistcoat. Frodo had never felt happier. He almost felt as if he were back at the Shire again, splashing the water, ducking from it, and pulling one another with Pippin into the water ---
But he suddenly stood still. His keen ears caught something. And it went louder every time. Then ---
"Who are you people!" He heard Merry shout. Fear was in the voice. "Let me go! LET ME GO!"
TBC
