Chapter Ten---Recovery and Revelations
When Frodo finally came to, he groggily opened his eyes and was surprised to see many familiar faces staring back at him. Bell, Bilbo, Sam were all there. He smiled weakly as Sam rushed over to him and grabbed his hand.
"Thank goodness you're awake, Mr. Frodo! We were worried about you, weren't we, mum?" Bell nodded seriously.
"Aye, that we were. You've gone and gotten yourself a mild sunstroke, Mr. Frodo, not to mention that it looks like your allergies gave you a bit of an attack out there. Whatever were you doin' out under that cherry tree, beggin' your pardon? We searched high and low for you. Sam came to find me at my booth, and told me you were missin'. Mr. Bilbo the rest and me went lookin' for you, and we finally found you under the old tree in the field by the edge of the fairgrounds."
"How...how long have I been asleep?" Asked Frodo groggily, with a thick sniffle in his voice.
"Well, you missed elevensies, afternoon tea, and part of luncheon. So quite a while. Out like a light," Bell replied.
"Could you tell us what happened, my lad?" Asked Bilbo gently as he helped Frodo sit up on the bed where he lay.
"I...I don't remember," he lied, biting his lip. "I'm sorry. I suppose I just dozed off..." Bilbo and Bell exchanged a look.
"That's quite all right, my lad. You can tell us when you're ready." Frodo smiled.
"Where are the others?" He asked.
"Your aunts and uncles went out to get some things at market, and the girls, Merry, and Sam's other brothers and sisters are still at the Fair with the Gaffer. They didn't want to stay after we took you home, they were so upset, but it would have been too much trouble for Bell and I to have them all underfoot while we were caring for you," Bilbo explained.
"But Sam absolutely insisted he come. Told me he couldn't have fun at the Fair without his Mr. Frodo, so here he is," Bell said fondly, ruffling her youngest son's curls.
"Thank you Mrs. Gamgee, and thank you Sam," smiled Frodo. "Although I'm so sorry you all had to miss the Fair, on my account," he sighed. "I feel as if I've ruined Mid-Year's Day for you."
"Nonsense, my dear lad. There will be other Free Fairs, and other Mid- Year's Days. I'm just glad you're going to be all right."
"What's wrong with me, exactly?" Asked Frodo quietly.
"Oh, nothin' serious that a little rest and some good food can't cure. You really need to eat, most of all, and just stay indoors for a bit," Bell replied. "Mr. Bilbo, you'll need to be giving the lad lots of cool things to drink. And no hot foods, I'd suggest. He's a bit overheated and he'll probably have a stuffy head for a while, he was around all that pollen a long time," she continued, with the authority of an expert who'd seen it all. Bilbo nodded.
"How does some blueberry soup sound, Frodo?" Asked his uncle. "And some chilled tea to go with it?"
"That sounds wonderful, Bilbo, thank you. I'm so hungry," he laughed.
"I'd imagine," Bilbo smiled back. "I'll be back in half a minute," he said, giving his nephew's dark, messy head a quick kiss.
Bilbo was true to his word, and he soon returned with a bowl of the cool, creamy, blue soup. Frodo dipped his spoon into it and savored the smooth, refreshing taste happily.
Soon, Frodo was feeling much better and Bell and Sam knew it was all right to take their leave. Hugging them both goodbye, Frodo thanked them for their help.
When the Gamgees were gone, Bilbo sat down on the bed next to Frodo, and his nephew snuggled up next to him.
"My lad, do you want to tell me what happened at the Fair?" Asked Bilbo gently. Frodo nodded and sighed, and in a matter of minutes dispelled the story to his uncle. Bilbo was shocked and angry when he finished.
"Those horrid lads deserves to be punished, Frodo. I'm going to have to tell Lobelia about this, you realize," he said to his nephew. Frodo sighed.
"I suppose..." he muttered. "But she'll turn it around on us, Bilbo, or she won't believe us. And Lotho and his friends won't be punished, I'm sure of it."
"Lobelia will have more important things to be angry about," muttered Bilbo. Frodo looked at him curiously.
"Frodo," Bilbo began, turning to face his nephew fully, "If I was to ever...If anything was to ever happen to me...I have decided to leave Bag End and all of it's treasures to you, my lad. You will be my heir, Frodo."
Frodo stared back at him, face shocked and white. "Bilbo..." he finally started, "Are you sure?" His uncle laughed.
"Frodo, I'm quite sure. More sure than I've ever been about anything."
"Lobelia will be steaming mad," Frodo stated truthfully, causing Bilbo to burst out chuckling again.
"That she will, my lad. But it really doesn't matter to me anymore."
"Me neither," smiled Frodo, as he hugged his Uncle tightly.
*********************************************************
In a few hours the Fair was over, and Frodo's cousins and friends filed into Bag End, wanting to see if he was all right. Sam and Bell had returned also, as well as Aggie, Esme, Saradoc, and Paladin. Frodo beamed when he noticed they were all carrying packages toward him.
"We figured if you couldn't go to the Fair..." Hal began,
"We would bring a bit of it to you, Mr. Frodo," Ham finished for him.
Thus began a regular procession of gifts. Ham and Hal went first, presenting Frodo with a large glass jar, filled with water. Inside swam a plump goldfish, blowing tiny bubbles the lad's direction as if to say hello.
"We won it in horseshoes," Hal explained.
"I won it, you mean," corrected Ham. His brother just shrugged.
"You can name it yourself, Mr. Frodo. But I suggest you call it Ham, because it resembles him quite a bit, don't you think?" Hal suggested. Ham shoved his brother in the shoulder and Frodo burst out laughing.
"I think I'll call it...Hala. That means fish in Elvish, right Uncle?" Bilbo nodded.
"Very good, my boy," Bilbo said with pride in his voice.
Next, Pearl, Pimpernel, and Pervinca presented Frodo with their souvenir. It was a tiny rag doll made of straw that was wrapped in white cloth covering. Dark yarn covered its hair and feet, and two large blue buttons were the eyes. It even had an oversized straw hat on its head.
"It's supposed to be you," explained Nellie. "My friend Peony Millbanks made it. She thought you would like it, and so did we." Frodo chuckled.
"It's brilliant, girls, thank you," he said, smiling as he stared at his tiny counterpart.
Meanwhile, Merry impatiently bounced up and down, finally running past the girls and jumping in his cousin's lap. In his tiny hands he held up a round, sticky object. Frodo peered at it queerly, as gooey sugar dropped off his cousin's fingers.
"It's a caramel apple, Cousin Frodo. Only, I ate a little of it, but I think there is still enough left for you. But you should probably have something to drink afterwards because it is very sticky." Frodo burst out laughing.
"Thank you, Merry-lad. I'll be sure to. It looks postively delicious," he said, gingerly taking the brown, sticky lump of a treat from the littler hobbit.
After that, there was still a pie Bell baked especially for Bilbo and Frodo, a wooden bird from Goldie and Sam that their Gaffer had made, and the kind return of Frodo's hat from May. After the little lass reached up to place it on his head, Frodo promptly removed it and handed it back to her.
"It's yours to keep May, if you like," he smiled. May's face split into a wide grin.
"Really, Mr. Frodo? Oh, thank you!" She cried, giving him a hug. Bell smiled at him, eyes twinkling.
After being released, Frodo remembered the poetry book he had bought for his uncle, and asked Bell if she had found it when she discovered him under the tree.
"Yes, it's right here, love," she smiled, handing him the thin blue volume. Frodo then gave it to his uncle, shyly.
"Happy Mid-Year's Day, Bilbo," he said quietly.
Bilbo examined the book, and grinned. "This is wonderful, my lad. Thank you so very much, Frodo," he said, hugging his nephew.
"It was a happy Mid-Year's Day, indeed." Frodo just smiled back, looking at the family and friends who surrounded him in his new home, and nodded in agreement.
When Frodo finally came to, he groggily opened his eyes and was surprised to see many familiar faces staring back at him. Bell, Bilbo, Sam were all there. He smiled weakly as Sam rushed over to him and grabbed his hand.
"Thank goodness you're awake, Mr. Frodo! We were worried about you, weren't we, mum?" Bell nodded seriously.
"Aye, that we were. You've gone and gotten yourself a mild sunstroke, Mr. Frodo, not to mention that it looks like your allergies gave you a bit of an attack out there. Whatever were you doin' out under that cherry tree, beggin' your pardon? We searched high and low for you. Sam came to find me at my booth, and told me you were missin'. Mr. Bilbo the rest and me went lookin' for you, and we finally found you under the old tree in the field by the edge of the fairgrounds."
"How...how long have I been asleep?" Asked Frodo groggily, with a thick sniffle in his voice.
"Well, you missed elevensies, afternoon tea, and part of luncheon. So quite a while. Out like a light," Bell replied.
"Could you tell us what happened, my lad?" Asked Bilbo gently as he helped Frodo sit up on the bed where he lay.
"I...I don't remember," he lied, biting his lip. "I'm sorry. I suppose I just dozed off..." Bilbo and Bell exchanged a look.
"That's quite all right, my lad. You can tell us when you're ready." Frodo smiled.
"Where are the others?" He asked.
"Your aunts and uncles went out to get some things at market, and the girls, Merry, and Sam's other brothers and sisters are still at the Fair with the Gaffer. They didn't want to stay after we took you home, they were so upset, but it would have been too much trouble for Bell and I to have them all underfoot while we were caring for you," Bilbo explained.
"But Sam absolutely insisted he come. Told me he couldn't have fun at the Fair without his Mr. Frodo, so here he is," Bell said fondly, ruffling her youngest son's curls.
"Thank you Mrs. Gamgee, and thank you Sam," smiled Frodo. "Although I'm so sorry you all had to miss the Fair, on my account," he sighed. "I feel as if I've ruined Mid-Year's Day for you."
"Nonsense, my dear lad. There will be other Free Fairs, and other Mid- Year's Days. I'm just glad you're going to be all right."
"What's wrong with me, exactly?" Asked Frodo quietly.
"Oh, nothin' serious that a little rest and some good food can't cure. You really need to eat, most of all, and just stay indoors for a bit," Bell replied. "Mr. Bilbo, you'll need to be giving the lad lots of cool things to drink. And no hot foods, I'd suggest. He's a bit overheated and he'll probably have a stuffy head for a while, he was around all that pollen a long time," she continued, with the authority of an expert who'd seen it all. Bilbo nodded.
"How does some blueberry soup sound, Frodo?" Asked his uncle. "And some chilled tea to go with it?"
"That sounds wonderful, Bilbo, thank you. I'm so hungry," he laughed.
"I'd imagine," Bilbo smiled back. "I'll be back in half a minute," he said, giving his nephew's dark, messy head a quick kiss.
Bilbo was true to his word, and he soon returned with a bowl of the cool, creamy, blue soup. Frodo dipped his spoon into it and savored the smooth, refreshing taste happily.
Soon, Frodo was feeling much better and Bell and Sam knew it was all right to take their leave. Hugging them both goodbye, Frodo thanked them for their help.
When the Gamgees were gone, Bilbo sat down on the bed next to Frodo, and his nephew snuggled up next to him.
"My lad, do you want to tell me what happened at the Fair?" Asked Bilbo gently. Frodo nodded and sighed, and in a matter of minutes dispelled the story to his uncle. Bilbo was shocked and angry when he finished.
"Those horrid lads deserves to be punished, Frodo. I'm going to have to tell Lobelia about this, you realize," he said to his nephew. Frodo sighed.
"I suppose..." he muttered. "But she'll turn it around on us, Bilbo, or she won't believe us. And Lotho and his friends won't be punished, I'm sure of it."
"Lobelia will have more important things to be angry about," muttered Bilbo. Frodo looked at him curiously.
"Frodo," Bilbo began, turning to face his nephew fully, "If I was to ever...If anything was to ever happen to me...I have decided to leave Bag End and all of it's treasures to you, my lad. You will be my heir, Frodo."
Frodo stared back at him, face shocked and white. "Bilbo..." he finally started, "Are you sure?" His uncle laughed.
"Frodo, I'm quite sure. More sure than I've ever been about anything."
"Lobelia will be steaming mad," Frodo stated truthfully, causing Bilbo to burst out chuckling again.
"That she will, my lad. But it really doesn't matter to me anymore."
"Me neither," smiled Frodo, as he hugged his Uncle tightly.
*********************************************************
In a few hours the Fair was over, and Frodo's cousins and friends filed into Bag End, wanting to see if he was all right. Sam and Bell had returned also, as well as Aggie, Esme, Saradoc, and Paladin. Frodo beamed when he noticed they were all carrying packages toward him.
"We figured if you couldn't go to the Fair..." Hal began,
"We would bring a bit of it to you, Mr. Frodo," Ham finished for him.
Thus began a regular procession of gifts. Ham and Hal went first, presenting Frodo with a large glass jar, filled with water. Inside swam a plump goldfish, blowing tiny bubbles the lad's direction as if to say hello.
"We won it in horseshoes," Hal explained.
"I won it, you mean," corrected Ham. His brother just shrugged.
"You can name it yourself, Mr. Frodo. But I suggest you call it Ham, because it resembles him quite a bit, don't you think?" Hal suggested. Ham shoved his brother in the shoulder and Frodo burst out laughing.
"I think I'll call it...Hala. That means fish in Elvish, right Uncle?" Bilbo nodded.
"Very good, my boy," Bilbo said with pride in his voice.
Next, Pearl, Pimpernel, and Pervinca presented Frodo with their souvenir. It was a tiny rag doll made of straw that was wrapped in white cloth covering. Dark yarn covered its hair and feet, and two large blue buttons were the eyes. It even had an oversized straw hat on its head.
"It's supposed to be you," explained Nellie. "My friend Peony Millbanks made it. She thought you would like it, and so did we." Frodo chuckled.
"It's brilliant, girls, thank you," he said, smiling as he stared at his tiny counterpart.
Meanwhile, Merry impatiently bounced up and down, finally running past the girls and jumping in his cousin's lap. In his tiny hands he held up a round, sticky object. Frodo peered at it queerly, as gooey sugar dropped off his cousin's fingers.
"It's a caramel apple, Cousin Frodo. Only, I ate a little of it, but I think there is still enough left for you. But you should probably have something to drink afterwards because it is very sticky." Frodo burst out laughing.
"Thank you, Merry-lad. I'll be sure to. It looks postively delicious," he said, gingerly taking the brown, sticky lump of a treat from the littler hobbit.
After that, there was still a pie Bell baked especially for Bilbo and Frodo, a wooden bird from Goldie and Sam that their Gaffer had made, and the kind return of Frodo's hat from May. After the little lass reached up to place it on his head, Frodo promptly removed it and handed it back to her.
"It's yours to keep May, if you like," he smiled. May's face split into a wide grin.
"Really, Mr. Frodo? Oh, thank you!" She cried, giving him a hug. Bell smiled at him, eyes twinkling.
After being released, Frodo remembered the poetry book he had bought for his uncle, and asked Bell if she had found it when she discovered him under the tree.
"Yes, it's right here, love," she smiled, handing him the thin blue volume. Frodo then gave it to his uncle, shyly.
"Happy Mid-Year's Day, Bilbo," he said quietly.
Bilbo examined the book, and grinned. "This is wonderful, my lad. Thank you so very much, Frodo," he said, hugging his nephew.
"It was a happy Mid-Year's Day, indeed." Frodo just smiled back, looking at the family and friends who surrounded him in his new home, and nodded in agreement.