Tavion - Lotho is getting more desperate as his attempts fail to produce the desired result, and he hasn't given up yet! I did allow him a little bit of humanity in the last chapter, but not much. Bilbo is not pleased!
Iorhael - You're right, Frodo is too nice for his own good.
GamgeeFest - It was hard to write about snow and ice with the hot weather! Not easy to describe something cold while you're roasting! Sam will become more protective of Frodo, certainly, and Lotho isn't finished being devious and mean.
QTPie2488 - Memories of winter are almost fond when you're cooking in the heat of summer, aren't they? Frodo will have some time to consider what's been happening, and so will Bilbo.
Bookworm2000 - Lotho's tricks are escalating in the amount of danger they put Frodo in. Frodo will suffer the consequences of his dip in the pond.
Midgette - I'll hold Lotho still while you give him a good swift kick!
Shirebound - Frodo will be pondering his cousin's actions and words in the next few chapters, at least he will when he feels up to it!
Aratlithiel - Lotho had better watch his step, especially when he's around Bilbo! Major TLC coming soon! Frodo's got some problems to deal with besides his mean, nasty cousin.
Amelia Rose - Lotho has definitely crossed the line this time. He's succeeded in making Frodo more than just uncomfortable with his latest trick. We won't get to toss Lotho in the icy pond water and watch Lobelia react, but we will meet up with her soon!
LotRseer3350 - The idea for the wax came from my childhood. We used ski wax on the bottoms of our boots to slide across the playground at school. Some itty bitty good part of Lotho realized he might have made a mistake and prompted him to help out. He's not a nice person by any means, but he isn't one - dimensional either.
Camellia Gamgee - Took - Frodo has a bit of a rough road to travel before he's feeling like himself again. Lotho deserves some punishment for what he's been up to, and his bad Karma will eventually begin to catch up with him!
Endymion2 - Lotho isn't a completely lost cause, but he has a long way to go before he learns something. And we all know by his eventual fate that he doesn't learn much! Lotho isn't done yet, I'm afraid.
Arwen Baggins - Lotho is a mean one for sure. He has very little by way of a conscience, I'm afraid. There are indeed other ways to cause accidents besides spiking someone's drink and nearly drowning him, and Lotho has some ideas. Eventually, one of them is bound to backfire on him somehow.
Aelfgifu - Would Lotho like to go to Crickhollow? He and Evil Merry would be a terrible combination where Frodo is concerned! Lotho has more mischief in his bag of tricks, but he's going to have to wait a little while. Frodo won't be out and about for at least a few days.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Chapter 8 - Fears and Regrets
~*~
Hamson and Halfred burst through the door of Bag End with their blanketed burden, while Bilbo and Sam followed on their heels. Frodo was shivering violently, chilled to the bone by the freezing pond water. His heavy, water - logged coat had been stripped off already, but the rest of his clothing still clung damply to him, worsening the chill.
They laid him on a sofa before the fire while Bilbo went to get a clean nightshirt from Frodo's room. Frodo didn't protest as the others removed his wet clothing and dried him with the blankets. Bilbo slipped the nightshirt over Frodo's head and re-wrapped him from head to toe in fresh blankets.
"Samwise, you know your way around, don't you lad?" Sam nodded. "Make us some tea, then won't you?" Bilbo sent Sam to the kitchen to prepare the hot beverage while he grilled Hamson and Halfred for details.
"What in the Shire happened to him?" He asked sharply, holding Frodo close in an attempt to warm him further.
"He slid into the pond, Mr. Bilbo," Hamson said with a concerned and confused look. "I don't understand it. Hal and I are a lot heavier than he is, and we didn't even get that close to the water."
"Maybe he got too much speed at the top," Halfred suggested, trying to explain the incident.
"Even if he did, he still shouldn't have made it that far out," Hamson said, refuting the statement.
Sam came out of the kitchen with a sour look on his face and a tray in his hands. "I told him not to take that Mr. Lotho's shovel." He looked Bilbo in the eye and said flatly, "I don't like him."
Bilbo blanched. "Lotho?" He threw a worried glance at the other hobbits. "Lotho was there?" Bilbo cursed himself silently for his inattention to detail. Why hadn't he noticed Lotho's presence? He gazed down at Frodo and knew it was because he had only been able to see one thing at the time - his precious boy in danger.
"Yes, it was his shovel Frodo was using when he fell in," Halfred explained.
"It was likely his doing," Bilbo ground out angrily. "He always seems to be nearby whenever there's trouble."
~And where am I when trouble threatens?~ Bilbo's self - reproach flared within him as he gazed down at the shivering form of Frodo in his arms. So far, several accidents had befallen the tween since his arrival in Hobbiton, and Bilbo had not been present to help prevent them. Bilbo recalled his conversation with Saradoc and how the Master of Buckland had reminded him of his lack of experience in raising tweens. Had Saradoc been right? Was he not a proper guardian for Frodo, then?
A light tap on his arm broke Bilbo's reverie and he looked and saw Sam holding out a cup of tea. "For Mr. Frodo, sir," Sam said quietly.
"Thank you, Samwise," Bilbo said softly as he accepted the steaming cup. Frodo was still shivering, so Bilbo held the cup to his lips and encouraged him to drink. The chilled tween managed a couple of sips, then sank back against Bilbo's chest, pulling the blankets tighter around him.
"Frodo, lad, you're going to be fine," Bilbo said as he brushed the damp curls back gently from Frodo's forehead. He turned to the Gamgees and smiled wearily. "Thank you all. You saved his life," Bilbo said, his voice betraying his emotion.
"You should know we weren't alone, Mr. Bilbo," Hamson said reluctantly. "We had help."
"Help? What help?" Bilbo looked at Hamson in confusion.
"Lotho. He joined us in pullin' Mr. Frodo out of the water," Halfred explained. "He must have felt bad because Mr. Frodo was usin' his shovel when he fell in."
"Hmmph!" Bilbo grunted. "If I didn't know you boys were the most honest in the Shire, I wouldn't believe it. The day that Lotho feels bad about anything he's had a hand in, I'll - "
"Uncle?" Frodo's voice came softly from the pile of blankets. "It's true. Lotho helped pull me out of the water. He saved my life, too."
Bilbo didn't want to cause Frodo any further distress, so he settled for hugging him close and holding up the teacup again. "Ssshh, Frodo, lad. Let's just get some nice, warm tea in you and get you off to bed, shall we?"
Frodo sipped the tea obediently. His shivering was beginning to subside as he was warmed from inside and out. Hamfast and Halfred again lifted Frodo and helped carry him to his room, to bed. Bilbo thanked the Gamgees again and bade them farewell.
"Mr. Bilbo?" Sam asked softly, almost timidly as he stood in the doorway of Frodo's room.
"What is it, Samwise?" Bilbo said, listening intently to the young hobbit.
"Can I stay?" Sam swallowed and continued. "Can I stay with him, please?"
Bilbo smiled. Frodo had indeed found a good friend in young Samwise. "If you wish. I think Frodo will like that," he told Sam. To Halfred and Hamson, he said, "Please tell your father that young Samwise is safe here at Bag End, and that he asked to sit with Frodo."
"We'll do that sir," Halfred replied with a nod. "He won't mind, I'm certain."
"Sam, you stay here with Frodo for a few moments while I show your brothers out," Bilbo said, and Sam nodded. When they were out of hearing range of Frodo's room, Bilbo spoke to both of the older lads urgently.
"Whether he helped in the end or not, I don't trust Lotho." Bilbo's gaze was sharp and piercing. "You say the other lads never wind up in the pond regardless of their size and weight?" Halfred and Hamson nodded. "And you say it was Lotho's shovel Frodo used when the incident occurred?" More nods. "I'd like a look at that shovel."
"Might not be possible, Mr. Bilbo," Hamson said apologetically. "It went into the pond along with Mr. Frodo. Shovels do a poor job of floatin', if I may say so," he offered, feeling rather helpless.
"I suppose you're right, Ham," Bilbo acknowledged. "Still, if you can think of a way to get that shovel back on dry land, I want to see it. It may seem that I'm actively looking for a way to blame this mishap on Lotho, and maybe I am. At any rate, a peek at that shovel would greatly ease my mind."
"We'll try to think of somethin', Mr. Bilbo," Halfred said, smiling. If it would make Bilbo feel better, they'd be willing to try. In the meantime, Bilbo would be busy looking after Frodo.
~*~ evening~*~
Lotho thought back on the day's events with satisfaction. The look on Frodo's face as he'd slid past the usual point and onto the ice had been priceless, not to mention his expression as the ice had failed underneath him, sending him plunging into the chill water.
The sense of satisfaction faded somewhat as another thought occurred to him. Frodo could at least have rolled off the shovel before he went under, couldn't he though? The shovel was lost, and Lotho would have to buy a new one or face the wrath of his parents.
What if they figured out that the shovel itself was partly to blame? But how could they with it under water? The ice wasn't thick enough to hold any of them if they tried to go and fish it out. Supposing they waited until the first thaw to try it? Lotho wondered how long candle wax would cling to a metal surface under water.
He told himself he was worrying needlessly. They'd never find out about the wax. They could suspect him all they wanted to, but proof would lie out of reach, in the mud at the bottom of the pond.
~*~evening at Bag End~*~
"Sam? Sam, is that you?" Frodo's voice was thin and a little raspy as he called out quietly to the person seated in the chair by the bed.
"Yes, Mr. Frodo, I'm here," Sam said, leaning closer to hear what Frodo was saying.
"You saved my life, you and your brothers," Frodo said, fighting back a cough. "I wouldn't be here if not for you."
"Please don't talk like that, Mr. Frodo," Sam soothed. "You are here and that's all that matters, ain't it?" he straightened the down comforter, covering Frodo's feet where they had emerged from the covers. "Can I get you anything?"
Frodo coughed again and brought a hand up to his throat. "Can you bring me some tea with honey? My throat hurts a little."
"I'll get it right now, Mr. Frodo," Sam said briskly. "Anything else?"
"No, thank you, Sam," Frodo replied as he leaned back into the pillows. What a strange day it had been! The few times he had slid down the hill earlier he had stopped well before reaching the pond. Then Lotho had lent him his shovel. Frodo frowned as he coughed again. It wasn't until after he had switched shovels that he ended up falling through the ice. Bilbo's mistrust of Lotho came to mind, and the things Bilbo had said in the parlor earlier. Had Lotho been to blame?
Just thinking about it was making Frodo's head hurt. He rubbed absently at his temples. Why would Lotho want to do something like that to him? Was there something Bilbo hadn't told him? Some reason why the Sackville - Bagginses, Lotho in particular, would hold something against him?
"Here's your tea, Mr. Frodo," Sam said as he returned to the room.
Frodo took a sip and sighed as the warm liquid soothed his throat. "Sam, what do you suppose really happened today?" Frodo asked, wanting Sam's opinion.
"I think Mr. Lotho tried to hurt you, that's what I think," Sam said rather forcefully. "I think you should stay away from him, Mr. Frodo."
"Perhaps so, Sam," Frodo responded as he sipped the tea. "But why would he wish to hurt me, I wonder?"
Sam shrugged. "I don't know, Mr. Frodo, but he's got a mean streak, he does."
"Even so, he helped you pull me out of the water. Does that sound like something he would do if he truly wanted to bring me harm?" Frodo swirled the dregs of the tea in the cup as he waited for Sam to answer.
"I can't explain that, nohow," Sam said, shaking his head. "Unless he wants to you to trust him for some reason," he finished, looking confused. "It don't add up, Mr. Frodo."
"Indeed, it doesn't, not entirely." Frodo gave the empty teacup back to Sam and settled himself back against the pillows. Frodo knew the Sackville - Bagginses wanted Bag End, but what had that to do with him?
Frodo had given little thought to his long - term future, it was true. So much had happened recently, it was too overwhelming to think of what might happen years hence. He certainly didn't want to think of Bilbo being gone, and any thoughts that followed from that notion he pushed aside. Frodo could imagine having a home of his own someday when he reached his majority. He pictured Bilbo living on to an impressive age in Bag End, even after he was no longer burdened with a tween to care for. To Frodo, Bag End would always be Bilbo's home.
"I'm too tired to think any more, Sam." Frodo closed his eyes and let himself drift away from his thoughts.
"Don't trouble yourself about it any more then, sir. Just sleep." Sam need not have offered the advice, for Frodo was already drifting off, the strain of the day having taken its toll.
Bilbo stepped quietly into the room and stood by the bed with a hand on Sam's shoulder. "How is he Samwise?" He asked, trying to block out the memory of Frodo shivering in his arms, all but blue with the chill.
"He's not sufferin' from the cold anymore, Mr. Bilbo," Sam said worriedly. "But he said his throat hurts and he's coughing some."
Bilbo's face was clouded with worry as he gently felt Frodo's forehead. It was indeed rather warm. "I fear he may be coming down with something, Samwise. You may stay if you wish, but I shall take the next watch."
Sam nodded, and seated himself at the foot of the bed. He was absolutely not going to leave Frodo's side, not when Frodo might have taken ill as a result of the day's events. They sat together in silence, two hobbits keeping vigil, one over a newfound friend, another over a beloved family member.
~*~To be continued~*~
Iorhael - You're right, Frodo is too nice for his own good.
GamgeeFest - It was hard to write about snow and ice with the hot weather! Not easy to describe something cold while you're roasting! Sam will become more protective of Frodo, certainly, and Lotho isn't finished being devious and mean.
QTPie2488 - Memories of winter are almost fond when you're cooking in the heat of summer, aren't they? Frodo will have some time to consider what's been happening, and so will Bilbo.
Bookworm2000 - Lotho's tricks are escalating in the amount of danger they put Frodo in. Frodo will suffer the consequences of his dip in the pond.
Midgette - I'll hold Lotho still while you give him a good swift kick!
Shirebound - Frodo will be pondering his cousin's actions and words in the next few chapters, at least he will when he feels up to it!
Aratlithiel - Lotho had better watch his step, especially when he's around Bilbo! Major TLC coming soon! Frodo's got some problems to deal with besides his mean, nasty cousin.
Amelia Rose - Lotho has definitely crossed the line this time. He's succeeded in making Frodo more than just uncomfortable with his latest trick. We won't get to toss Lotho in the icy pond water and watch Lobelia react, but we will meet up with her soon!
LotRseer3350 - The idea for the wax came from my childhood. We used ski wax on the bottoms of our boots to slide across the playground at school. Some itty bitty good part of Lotho realized he might have made a mistake and prompted him to help out. He's not a nice person by any means, but he isn't one - dimensional either.
Camellia Gamgee - Took - Frodo has a bit of a rough road to travel before he's feeling like himself again. Lotho deserves some punishment for what he's been up to, and his bad Karma will eventually begin to catch up with him!
Endymion2 - Lotho isn't a completely lost cause, but he has a long way to go before he learns something. And we all know by his eventual fate that he doesn't learn much! Lotho isn't done yet, I'm afraid.
Arwen Baggins - Lotho is a mean one for sure. He has very little by way of a conscience, I'm afraid. There are indeed other ways to cause accidents besides spiking someone's drink and nearly drowning him, and Lotho has some ideas. Eventually, one of them is bound to backfire on him somehow.
Aelfgifu - Would Lotho like to go to Crickhollow? He and Evil Merry would be a terrible combination where Frodo is concerned! Lotho has more mischief in his bag of tricks, but he's going to have to wait a little while. Frodo won't be out and about for at least a few days.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Chapter 8 - Fears and Regrets
~*~
Hamson and Halfred burst through the door of Bag End with their blanketed burden, while Bilbo and Sam followed on their heels. Frodo was shivering violently, chilled to the bone by the freezing pond water. His heavy, water - logged coat had been stripped off already, but the rest of his clothing still clung damply to him, worsening the chill.
They laid him on a sofa before the fire while Bilbo went to get a clean nightshirt from Frodo's room. Frodo didn't protest as the others removed his wet clothing and dried him with the blankets. Bilbo slipped the nightshirt over Frodo's head and re-wrapped him from head to toe in fresh blankets.
"Samwise, you know your way around, don't you lad?" Sam nodded. "Make us some tea, then won't you?" Bilbo sent Sam to the kitchen to prepare the hot beverage while he grilled Hamson and Halfred for details.
"What in the Shire happened to him?" He asked sharply, holding Frodo close in an attempt to warm him further.
"He slid into the pond, Mr. Bilbo," Hamson said with a concerned and confused look. "I don't understand it. Hal and I are a lot heavier than he is, and we didn't even get that close to the water."
"Maybe he got too much speed at the top," Halfred suggested, trying to explain the incident.
"Even if he did, he still shouldn't have made it that far out," Hamson said, refuting the statement.
Sam came out of the kitchen with a sour look on his face and a tray in his hands. "I told him not to take that Mr. Lotho's shovel." He looked Bilbo in the eye and said flatly, "I don't like him."
Bilbo blanched. "Lotho?" He threw a worried glance at the other hobbits. "Lotho was there?" Bilbo cursed himself silently for his inattention to detail. Why hadn't he noticed Lotho's presence? He gazed down at Frodo and knew it was because he had only been able to see one thing at the time - his precious boy in danger.
"Yes, it was his shovel Frodo was using when he fell in," Halfred explained.
"It was likely his doing," Bilbo ground out angrily. "He always seems to be nearby whenever there's trouble."
~And where am I when trouble threatens?~ Bilbo's self - reproach flared within him as he gazed down at the shivering form of Frodo in his arms. So far, several accidents had befallen the tween since his arrival in Hobbiton, and Bilbo had not been present to help prevent them. Bilbo recalled his conversation with Saradoc and how the Master of Buckland had reminded him of his lack of experience in raising tweens. Had Saradoc been right? Was he not a proper guardian for Frodo, then?
A light tap on his arm broke Bilbo's reverie and he looked and saw Sam holding out a cup of tea. "For Mr. Frodo, sir," Sam said quietly.
"Thank you, Samwise," Bilbo said softly as he accepted the steaming cup. Frodo was still shivering, so Bilbo held the cup to his lips and encouraged him to drink. The chilled tween managed a couple of sips, then sank back against Bilbo's chest, pulling the blankets tighter around him.
"Frodo, lad, you're going to be fine," Bilbo said as he brushed the damp curls back gently from Frodo's forehead. He turned to the Gamgees and smiled wearily. "Thank you all. You saved his life," Bilbo said, his voice betraying his emotion.
"You should know we weren't alone, Mr. Bilbo," Hamson said reluctantly. "We had help."
"Help? What help?" Bilbo looked at Hamson in confusion.
"Lotho. He joined us in pullin' Mr. Frodo out of the water," Halfred explained. "He must have felt bad because Mr. Frodo was usin' his shovel when he fell in."
"Hmmph!" Bilbo grunted. "If I didn't know you boys were the most honest in the Shire, I wouldn't believe it. The day that Lotho feels bad about anything he's had a hand in, I'll - "
"Uncle?" Frodo's voice came softly from the pile of blankets. "It's true. Lotho helped pull me out of the water. He saved my life, too."
Bilbo didn't want to cause Frodo any further distress, so he settled for hugging him close and holding up the teacup again. "Ssshh, Frodo, lad. Let's just get some nice, warm tea in you and get you off to bed, shall we?"
Frodo sipped the tea obediently. His shivering was beginning to subside as he was warmed from inside and out. Hamfast and Halfred again lifted Frodo and helped carry him to his room, to bed. Bilbo thanked the Gamgees again and bade them farewell.
"Mr. Bilbo?" Sam asked softly, almost timidly as he stood in the doorway of Frodo's room.
"What is it, Samwise?" Bilbo said, listening intently to the young hobbit.
"Can I stay?" Sam swallowed and continued. "Can I stay with him, please?"
Bilbo smiled. Frodo had indeed found a good friend in young Samwise. "If you wish. I think Frodo will like that," he told Sam. To Halfred and Hamson, he said, "Please tell your father that young Samwise is safe here at Bag End, and that he asked to sit with Frodo."
"We'll do that sir," Halfred replied with a nod. "He won't mind, I'm certain."
"Sam, you stay here with Frodo for a few moments while I show your brothers out," Bilbo said, and Sam nodded. When they were out of hearing range of Frodo's room, Bilbo spoke to both of the older lads urgently.
"Whether he helped in the end or not, I don't trust Lotho." Bilbo's gaze was sharp and piercing. "You say the other lads never wind up in the pond regardless of their size and weight?" Halfred and Hamson nodded. "And you say it was Lotho's shovel Frodo used when the incident occurred?" More nods. "I'd like a look at that shovel."
"Might not be possible, Mr. Bilbo," Hamson said apologetically. "It went into the pond along with Mr. Frodo. Shovels do a poor job of floatin', if I may say so," he offered, feeling rather helpless.
"I suppose you're right, Ham," Bilbo acknowledged. "Still, if you can think of a way to get that shovel back on dry land, I want to see it. It may seem that I'm actively looking for a way to blame this mishap on Lotho, and maybe I am. At any rate, a peek at that shovel would greatly ease my mind."
"We'll try to think of somethin', Mr. Bilbo," Halfred said, smiling. If it would make Bilbo feel better, they'd be willing to try. In the meantime, Bilbo would be busy looking after Frodo.
~*~ evening~*~
Lotho thought back on the day's events with satisfaction. The look on Frodo's face as he'd slid past the usual point and onto the ice had been priceless, not to mention his expression as the ice had failed underneath him, sending him plunging into the chill water.
The sense of satisfaction faded somewhat as another thought occurred to him. Frodo could at least have rolled off the shovel before he went under, couldn't he though? The shovel was lost, and Lotho would have to buy a new one or face the wrath of his parents.
What if they figured out that the shovel itself was partly to blame? But how could they with it under water? The ice wasn't thick enough to hold any of them if they tried to go and fish it out. Supposing they waited until the first thaw to try it? Lotho wondered how long candle wax would cling to a metal surface under water.
He told himself he was worrying needlessly. They'd never find out about the wax. They could suspect him all they wanted to, but proof would lie out of reach, in the mud at the bottom of the pond.
~*~evening at Bag End~*~
"Sam? Sam, is that you?" Frodo's voice was thin and a little raspy as he called out quietly to the person seated in the chair by the bed.
"Yes, Mr. Frodo, I'm here," Sam said, leaning closer to hear what Frodo was saying.
"You saved my life, you and your brothers," Frodo said, fighting back a cough. "I wouldn't be here if not for you."
"Please don't talk like that, Mr. Frodo," Sam soothed. "You are here and that's all that matters, ain't it?" he straightened the down comforter, covering Frodo's feet where they had emerged from the covers. "Can I get you anything?"
Frodo coughed again and brought a hand up to his throat. "Can you bring me some tea with honey? My throat hurts a little."
"I'll get it right now, Mr. Frodo," Sam said briskly. "Anything else?"
"No, thank you, Sam," Frodo replied as he leaned back into the pillows. What a strange day it had been! The few times he had slid down the hill earlier he had stopped well before reaching the pond. Then Lotho had lent him his shovel. Frodo frowned as he coughed again. It wasn't until after he had switched shovels that he ended up falling through the ice. Bilbo's mistrust of Lotho came to mind, and the things Bilbo had said in the parlor earlier. Had Lotho been to blame?
Just thinking about it was making Frodo's head hurt. He rubbed absently at his temples. Why would Lotho want to do something like that to him? Was there something Bilbo hadn't told him? Some reason why the Sackville - Bagginses, Lotho in particular, would hold something against him?
"Here's your tea, Mr. Frodo," Sam said as he returned to the room.
Frodo took a sip and sighed as the warm liquid soothed his throat. "Sam, what do you suppose really happened today?" Frodo asked, wanting Sam's opinion.
"I think Mr. Lotho tried to hurt you, that's what I think," Sam said rather forcefully. "I think you should stay away from him, Mr. Frodo."
"Perhaps so, Sam," Frodo responded as he sipped the tea. "But why would he wish to hurt me, I wonder?"
Sam shrugged. "I don't know, Mr. Frodo, but he's got a mean streak, he does."
"Even so, he helped you pull me out of the water. Does that sound like something he would do if he truly wanted to bring me harm?" Frodo swirled the dregs of the tea in the cup as he waited for Sam to answer.
"I can't explain that, nohow," Sam said, shaking his head. "Unless he wants to you to trust him for some reason," he finished, looking confused. "It don't add up, Mr. Frodo."
"Indeed, it doesn't, not entirely." Frodo gave the empty teacup back to Sam and settled himself back against the pillows. Frodo knew the Sackville - Bagginses wanted Bag End, but what had that to do with him?
Frodo had given little thought to his long - term future, it was true. So much had happened recently, it was too overwhelming to think of what might happen years hence. He certainly didn't want to think of Bilbo being gone, and any thoughts that followed from that notion he pushed aside. Frodo could imagine having a home of his own someday when he reached his majority. He pictured Bilbo living on to an impressive age in Bag End, even after he was no longer burdened with a tween to care for. To Frodo, Bag End would always be Bilbo's home.
"I'm too tired to think any more, Sam." Frodo closed his eyes and let himself drift away from his thoughts.
"Don't trouble yourself about it any more then, sir. Just sleep." Sam need not have offered the advice, for Frodo was already drifting off, the strain of the day having taken its toll.
Bilbo stepped quietly into the room and stood by the bed with a hand on Sam's shoulder. "How is he Samwise?" He asked, trying to block out the memory of Frodo shivering in his arms, all but blue with the chill.
"He's not sufferin' from the cold anymore, Mr. Bilbo," Sam said worriedly. "But he said his throat hurts and he's coughing some."
Bilbo's face was clouded with worry as he gently felt Frodo's forehead. It was indeed rather warm. "I fear he may be coming down with something, Samwise. You may stay if you wish, but I shall take the next watch."
Sam nodded, and seated himself at the foot of the bed. He was absolutely not going to leave Frodo's side, not when Frodo might have taken ill as a result of the day's events. They sat together in silence, two hobbits keeping vigil, one over a newfound friend, another over a beloved family member.
~*~To be continued~*~