Disclaimer: see chapter one. The song in the middle of the chapter is from FOTR chapter 3 so it's not mine.
Chapter 11
I stopped walking to look down at the book Frodo had given me. The golden lettering seemed familiar. I opened up the front cover and turned to the first page, finding the songs that I learned to love. I flipped through the pages more and realized that the book was the last one that Frodo had lent to me. I closed the cover and hurried home so I could be in the safety of my room and read to my heart's content.
I entered my home, quickly closed the door, and walked to my room so as not to be heard. Lily greeted me upon entering my room.
"Good evening, Mira," she said softly, not glancing up from her sewing. "You seem rushed."
"Well, it is frightfully cold outside and I'm quite tired from working in the kitchen all day." I crossed the room to my bed and took off my wrap, placing the book on top of it.
"I thought you worked in the kitchen everyday."
"Master Took and Master Brandybuck came over for Yule and not even I know how much food they consumed." I laughed a little remembering how the two interacted.
Lily took her eyes off of the dress she was sewing and turned her gaze to me. "What are you laughing to yourself about?" she inquired.
"Those two are quite a humorous pair is all."
She smiled and moved her gaze. I watched as her face froze once she laid eyes on my book. "What are you doing bringing a book into this house again? Father will be furious when he finds it." Her voice lowered and became quieter.
"Then I won't let him find it."
"Mira, you know as well as I do how upset he is with you already."
"Master Baggins insisted that I have this book. I'm not about to refuse it."
"Can't you hear yourself?"
"Lily, please. I don't need this tonight."
She set her sewing down and crossed the room to me, laying her hand on my shoulder. "I don't want him to do anything to you."
"I know, but I'm not a child anymore and I've done nothing wrong."
"Just make sure you know what you're doing." Her tone was very solemn and soft. She returned to her chair and picked up her sewing.
I changed into my nightclothes and crawled into the warm bed. I pulled my book up to me and gazed over it, glad to have a book in my possession. As my hands ran over it, I noticed the small ribbon sticking out from the end of the book. Opening the book to the page the ribbon held, I read the song, picking up where I left off when I had returned the book to Frodo.
Upon the hearth the fire is red,
Beneath the roof there is a bed;
But not yet weary are our feet,
Still round the corner we may meet
A sudden tree or standing stone
That none have seen but we alone.
Tree and flower and leaf and grass,
Let them pass! Let them pass!
Hill and water under sky,
Pass them by! Pass them by!
Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or secret gate,
And though we pass them by today,
Tomorrow we may come this way
And take the hidden paths that run
Towards the Moon or to the Sun.
Apple, thorn, and nut and sloe,
Let them go! Let them go!
Sand and stone and pool and dell,
Fare you well! Fare you well!
Home is behind, the world ahead,
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadows to the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight.
Then the world behind and home ahead,
We'll wander back and home to bed.
Mist and twilight, cloud and shade,
Away shall fade! Away shall fade!
Fire and lamp, and meat and bread,
And then to bed! And then to bed!
Feeling sleep taunt me, I set the book down, blew out the candle and retreated to sleep in the dim glow of Lily's candle.
Lily shook me awake early in the morning, before the sun graced the land. I jolted awake and stared at her.
"You should leave soon. You've slept later than usual."
"The Gamgees have given me the day off since it's Yule and one should be with family."
"What about father?"
"I'm hoping that he will understand."
"I hope so too." She moved from my bedside and out of the room. I stretched my limbs, ready to face my father.
I entered the cold hallway, following Lily into the warming kitchen. My father sat at the table, staring into the fire as steam poured out of the kettle's mouth. He turned his head to the doorway as I entered and stared at me, a hint of anger in his eyes.
"Shouldn't you be at work, Mira?" he asked, taking in a draw of his pipe.
"The Gamgees insisted that I have the day off since it is Yule."
"That's reasonable." He turned his gaze back to the fire, waiting for the rest of the morning to progress.
The kitchen soon filled with joy as my younger siblings filtered in and realized that I would be spending the day with them. Everard, as usual, was delighted at my staying home. For the first time since my mother died, we were a normal family, content with each other.
Gifts were given. I regretted that I could not bring gifts to my siblings, but from the cheery atmosphere in the house, it seemed that my being home was enough of a gift. Ruby loved her dresses, Everard was delighted when father gave him a ledger to practice his writing in, and father gave Andy his father's treasured knife.
Once evening had fallen and everyone was sorting things out to themselves. I found my father in his sitting room, smoking his pipe.
"Father, I know we haven't exactly understood each other for a while, but it was nice to finally have a family holiday together."
"I agree. I enjoyed having you home. The others love it so much when you're home."
"I guess you'll be wanting me to return to work tomorrow?"
"Yes, but mind you to stay away from that Baggins."
My blood boiled to hear him speak ill of Frodo even if it was in such a minor manner. "Why must you speak of him so? He's done nothing to you and I've done nothing wrong."
"You don't know what you're getting yourself into."
"I think I do. He seems harmless and just needs someone to be there for him."
"You don't know what he needs." His rage was building, raging within him.
"And what makes you dislike him? You've never met him, and you don't see the pain in him." I couldn't take his immediate rejection of Frodo. I needed to know his basis for this anger towards him. "He listens to me and cares for me, so why shouldn't I spend time with him?"
He stood up from his chair, crossed the room and struck me across the face. I reached up to feel the burning across my cheek. "Your mother loved him and I don't want him to break your heart too!" He yelled, facing me, rage burning through him.
"What?" was the only word that escaped from my mouth.
"Your mother fell in love with him while we were engaged and he broke her heart. That's why she settled for me!" He stormed out of the room, leaving me alone to consider what had just happened. Slowly, the conversation filtered through my mind and I tried to make sense of it all.
~*~
thanks to everyone who has reviewed. I'll try to get the next chapter up soon, but it depends on how much schoolwork I have and how much inspiration I get with ROTK coming out this week ;) Happy holidays all!
