Disclaimer: see chapter 1
Chapter 12
The next morning, I was wary of going to Bag End considering the information that my father had told me about Frodo. Lily woke me up that morning and made me go. She had heard the fight and thought it best to get me out of the house to avoid father. My footsteps seemed heavier as I neared Bag End. I was scarred of what Rosie would do when she saw the bruise on my cheek again and then there was this sinking feeling in my stomach knowing that my mum had loved Frodo.
Entering the warm hobbit hole, I wandered through it, seeing no one about. I retreated to the kitchen, my usual haven. When I was about done with breakfast, Rosie came into the kitchen.
"Oh, why hello, Mira. I didn't expect you here today." She came around to me and helped to set places on the table. I watched her set down six plates indicating that Merry and Pippin were still about.
"I figured that with Master Brandybuck and Master Took around, you may need some more help." I continued to look at my hands to avoid bringing attention to myself.
"Well, we always enjoy your company." Rosie came and stood on my right side. I felt her gaze upon me and was glad that the bruise was on my left side.
As we finished preparing the meal, Sam, Merry, Pippin, and to my surprise, Frodo entered the kitchen and sat down at the table. I was forced to sit across from him. I could feel his gaze upon me, but with the new information from my father, I could no longer look at him the same way. A normal conversation continued between the rest of the table, all except Frodo and myself. But with my attention focused on trying to stay out of Frodo's careful eye, I forgot about Rosie on my left.
"Mira, why whatever happened to your face?" she asked, reaching over and trying to turn my face towards her. I leaned away, avoiding her touch.
"It's nothing," I said, staring at my plate.
"He struck you again, didn't he?" I heard Frodo's soft voice comment. I glanced up at him, his eyes questioning me.
"Who hit you?" Sam asked.
"Her father," Frodo answered. I wanted to run back home and never come back.
"Why would he do something like that?" Rosie inquired.
"I was out of line and deserved it very much," I muttered, knowing that it would not suffice, but I needed to try something anyway.
"I'm positive that is not the case," Rosie replied, getting up and moving towards me. "Come with me and I'll take care of you." She grabbed my hand and pulled me from the table, taking me to the wash room. I followed her as she guided me through the house and sat me down on a small stool in front of a basin. She picked up a cloth and began to rub it on my cheek. An awkward silence fell over the room, and she was the first to break it.
"Did he hit you?"
I nodded, tears coming to my eyes.
"Has he done this before?" She lifted my chin and stared into my eyes. I nodded.
"Why?"
"I'm not quite sure. He insists that I work even when you give me leave."
Rosie remained silent for a few minutes while I returned to staring at my hands shifting in my lap.
"I have an idea," Rosie commented as she put the cloth away. "Why don't you stay with us for a while."
"What? I couldn't - " I started
"Of course you could. I mean I'll be needing your help more around here soon and I feel bad that you have to walk here every morning while it is as cold as it is."
"I don't know what to say.." The thought ran through my head. I would be free of my father, but on the other hand, I would have to live in the same place as Frodo, and there were so many questions to ask him, but how?
"Please, I insist and I can't bear to see you hurt again. I'm sure Sam and Frodo won't mind. You're practically family to us."
"Really?" I glanced up at her.
"Yes. You've brightened our home quite a bit."
"When can I get my things?"
"Right now if you wish. You can pack and I'll send Sam around to help bring your things here. I'm certain that Merry and Pippin will help after second breakfast."
I could barely believe her. Finally, I would be out of my father's control. "I'd like to go home now and pack my belongings if you wouldn't mind."
"Go on. If I handled yesterday without you, I'm sure I can handle another few hours." She smiled softly. I stood up and wandered to the front hall, gathering my shawl around my shoulders. Despite the freezing temperatures, I ran home, ready to get out of there before my father abused me any more.
I entered my moderately warm home and made my way to my room. Frantically, I began to pack my things into my trunk. Lily suddenly burst into the room.
"Mira, what are you doing home at this hour?" She crossed the room and stared down at me as I took all my things from underneath my bed and put them in my trunk. She reached for my hand and turned me around to face her. "What do you think you're doing?" Her voice was raised, a hint of frustration looming in it.
"I'm going to stay with the Gamgees for a while," I said, pulling my arm from her grasp.
"What?" She stared at me as if I was a ghost.
"They want me to stay with them for the rest of winter and probably sometime after Rosie has her babe." I returned to putting my things in my trunk.
"Mira, please stay. What are we going to do without you?"
"You don't need me anyway, and father will get his money. Besides, you know what happened last night and I don't want it to happen again."
"Then just don't talk to him like you did."
"I cannot idly stand by as he punishes me for doing noting wrong."
"Maybe he has his reasons." Lily's tone softened.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I stood up to meet her gaze.
"I talked to him after I was sick and he says he doesn't mean to hurt you, but you remind him quite a lot of mum and it pains him to see you. He makes you work because it hurts him so badly, and now that we know mum loved Master Baggins, he thinks you'll do the same thing. Somehow, to him, you're mum."
"Yet another reason for me to leave." I loaded the last thing into my trunk and closed it firmly.
"Mira, please don't go."
"Why not? To have him beat me again?!" I started to raise my voice. "I can't live here for much longer, not like this."
"Go." I was slightly amazed at how simply she stated it.
"I hope you understand." I gathered my shawl around me.
"I do. Just make sure you know what you're doing." I heard the sorrow in her voice as she stepped back and exited the room. I dragged my trunk to the front room and waited.
Soon, a knock came upon the door and I hurried to open it. Behind the door stood Sam, smiling shyly.
"Are you ready to go, Miss Mira?" he asked nervously.
"Aye, my trunk is right here," I said as I motioned to the side. He stepped into the room and stood near it. "Please pardon me for one minute," I said. Quickly, I hurried to the kitchen and saw Lily fixing second breakfast. My pace slowed and I neared her. "Lily," I said softly, knowing that I did not want to leave her nor did she want me to leave.
"I know you have to go." She glanced up at me.
I nodded. Nearing her more, I embraced her. She hugged me back tightly and then we parted. I waved a final goodbye and helped Sam to carry my things to Bag End.
Rosie showed me to one of the many spare rooms in Bag End. After lunch, I went to my new room and set up everything to make it more of my own room. When finished with that, I took the book Frodo had given me and started to read it again. Time passed slowly until it was time for dinner. Merry and Pippin amused me as much they had earlier. I was glad there was someone to break the tension in the air.
That night, after a long day of cooking, I remained in the front room near the glowing embers of the fire. Spending the night in a new place made it difficult for me to sleep. I watched the fire as it died and released its heat to the room. Everything was quiet until I turned to see a dim glow of a candle enter the room. Behind the candle I saw Rosie's face.
"Mira, why are you still awake at this hour?" She made her way to another chair near the one I sat in, setting the candle on a nearby table.
"I couldn't sleep, but I should be asking you the same question."
"The babe is restless tonight and I'm afraid he's keeping me awake." She placed a hand over her swollen belly.
"I guess he doesn't know that it is night," I said, trying to strike a conversation, but failing miserably. Again, an awkward silence filled the air.
"Is something troubling you?" Rosie asked.
"Why do you ask?"
"Something seems to be on your mind that is causing you grief." I knew she cared for me.
"I want to ask Frodo about something, but I'm not sure how I should go about it."
"My father said it was better to be honest and outright than to hint around the corners. If you have something to ask him, I don't see why he wouldn't answer you."
"Thank you, Rosie." I said, getting up from my chair. "Now, I'd like to get some sleep before having to wake up to make breakfast for Master Brandybuck and Master Took."
"Sleep well," she said softly. I returned to my room, but failed to fall asleep until the early hours of the morning when it was time to awake anyway.
~*~
WOOT!! I saw ROTK yesterday and it was awesome!! I'm not sure when I'll have the next chapter up, but seeing ROTK has inspired me, so it might be up relatively soon.
To all of you who replied: thanks for the reviews. I wasn't sure how this chapter would go over because of the twist at the end. So again, thank you.
Arwen Baggins: Mira is late twenties, probably 27.
Again,. thanks all and happy holidays.
Chapter 12
The next morning, I was wary of going to Bag End considering the information that my father had told me about Frodo. Lily woke me up that morning and made me go. She had heard the fight and thought it best to get me out of the house to avoid father. My footsteps seemed heavier as I neared Bag End. I was scarred of what Rosie would do when she saw the bruise on my cheek again and then there was this sinking feeling in my stomach knowing that my mum had loved Frodo.
Entering the warm hobbit hole, I wandered through it, seeing no one about. I retreated to the kitchen, my usual haven. When I was about done with breakfast, Rosie came into the kitchen.
"Oh, why hello, Mira. I didn't expect you here today." She came around to me and helped to set places on the table. I watched her set down six plates indicating that Merry and Pippin were still about.
"I figured that with Master Brandybuck and Master Took around, you may need some more help." I continued to look at my hands to avoid bringing attention to myself.
"Well, we always enjoy your company." Rosie came and stood on my right side. I felt her gaze upon me and was glad that the bruise was on my left side.
As we finished preparing the meal, Sam, Merry, Pippin, and to my surprise, Frodo entered the kitchen and sat down at the table. I was forced to sit across from him. I could feel his gaze upon me, but with the new information from my father, I could no longer look at him the same way. A normal conversation continued between the rest of the table, all except Frodo and myself. But with my attention focused on trying to stay out of Frodo's careful eye, I forgot about Rosie on my left.
"Mira, why whatever happened to your face?" she asked, reaching over and trying to turn my face towards her. I leaned away, avoiding her touch.
"It's nothing," I said, staring at my plate.
"He struck you again, didn't he?" I heard Frodo's soft voice comment. I glanced up at him, his eyes questioning me.
"Who hit you?" Sam asked.
"Her father," Frodo answered. I wanted to run back home and never come back.
"Why would he do something like that?" Rosie inquired.
"I was out of line and deserved it very much," I muttered, knowing that it would not suffice, but I needed to try something anyway.
"I'm positive that is not the case," Rosie replied, getting up and moving towards me. "Come with me and I'll take care of you." She grabbed my hand and pulled me from the table, taking me to the wash room. I followed her as she guided me through the house and sat me down on a small stool in front of a basin. She picked up a cloth and began to rub it on my cheek. An awkward silence fell over the room, and she was the first to break it.
"Did he hit you?"
I nodded, tears coming to my eyes.
"Has he done this before?" She lifted my chin and stared into my eyes. I nodded.
"Why?"
"I'm not quite sure. He insists that I work even when you give me leave."
Rosie remained silent for a few minutes while I returned to staring at my hands shifting in my lap.
"I have an idea," Rosie commented as she put the cloth away. "Why don't you stay with us for a while."
"What? I couldn't - " I started
"Of course you could. I mean I'll be needing your help more around here soon and I feel bad that you have to walk here every morning while it is as cold as it is."
"I don't know what to say.." The thought ran through my head. I would be free of my father, but on the other hand, I would have to live in the same place as Frodo, and there were so many questions to ask him, but how?
"Please, I insist and I can't bear to see you hurt again. I'm sure Sam and Frodo won't mind. You're practically family to us."
"Really?" I glanced up at her.
"Yes. You've brightened our home quite a bit."
"When can I get my things?"
"Right now if you wish. You can pack and I'll send Sam around to help bring your things here. I'm certain that Merry and Pippin will help after second breakfast."
I could barely believe her. Finally, I would be out of my father's control. "I'd like to go home now and pack my belongings if you wouldn't mind."
"Go on. If I handled yesterday without you, I'm sure I can handle another few hours." She smiled softly. I stood up and wandered to the front hall, gathering my shawl around my shoulders. Despite the freezing temperatures, I ran home, ready to get out of there before my father abused me any more.
I entered my moderately warm home and made my way to my room. Frantically, I began to pack my things into my trunk. Lily suddenly burst into the room.
"Mira, what are you doing home at this hour?" She crossed the room and stared down at me as I took all my things from underneath my bed and put them in my trunk. She reached for my hand and turned me around to face her. "What do you think you're doing?" Her voice was raised, a hint of frustration looming in it.
"I'm going to stay with the Gamgees for a while," I said, pulling my arm from her grasp.
"What?" She stared at me as if I was a ghost.
"They want me to stay with them for the rest of winter and probably sometime after Rosie has her babe." I returned to putting my things in my trunk.
"Mira, please stay. What are we going to do without you?"
"You don't need me anyway, and father will get his money. Besides, you know what happened last night and I don't want it to happen again."
"Then just don't talk to him like you did."
"I cannot idly stand by as he punishes me for doing noting wrong."
"Maybe he has his reasons." Lily's tone softened.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I stood up to meet her gaze.
"I talked to him after I was sick and he says he doesn't mean to hurt you, but you remind him quite a lot of mum and it pains him to see you. He makes you work because it hurts him so badly, and now that we know mum loved Master Baggins, he thinks you'll do the same thing. Somehow, to him, you're mum."
"Yet another reason for me to leave." I loaded the last thing into my trunk and closed it firmly.
"Mira, please don't go."
"Why not? To have him beat me again?!" I started to raise my voice. "I can't live here for much longer, not like this."
"Go." I was slightly amazed at how simply she stated it.
"I hope you understand." I gathered my shawl around me.
"I do. Just make sure you know what you're doing." I heard the sorrow in her voice as she stepped back and exited the room. I dragged my trunk to the front room and waited.
Soon, a knock came upon the door and I hurried to open it. Behind the door stood Sam, smiling shyly.
"Are you ready to go, Miss Mira?" he asked nervously.
"Aye, my trunk is right here," I said as I motioned to the side. He stepped into the room and stood near it. "Please pardon me for one minute," I said. Quickly, I hurried to the kitchen and saw Lily fixing second breakfast. My pace slowed and I neared her. "Lily," I said softly, knowing that I did not want to leave her nor did she want me to leave.
"I know you have to go." She glanced up at me.
I nodded. Nearing her more, I embraced her. She hugged me back tightly and then we parted. I waved a final goodbye and helped Sam to carry my things to Bag End.
Rosie showed me to one of the many spare rooms in Bag End. After lunch, I went to my new room and set up everything to make it more of my own room. When finished with that, I took the book Frodo had given me and started to read it again. Time passed slowly until it was time for dinner. Merry and Pippin amused me as much they had earlier. I was glad there was someone to break the tension in the air.
That night, after a long day of cooking, I remained in the front room near the glowing embers of the fire. Spending the night in a new place made it difficult for me to sleep. I watched the fire as it died and released its heat to the room. Everything was quiet until I turned to see a dim glow of a candle enter the room. Behind the candle I saw Rosie's face.
"Mira, why are you still awake at this hour?" She made her way to another chair near the one I sat in, setting the candle on a nearby table.
"I couldn't sleep, but I should be asking you the same question."
"The babe is restless tonight and I'm afraid he's keeping me awake." She placed a hand over her swollen belly.
"I guess he doesn't know that it is night," I said, trying to strike a conversation, but failing miserably. Again, an awkward silence filled the air.
"Is something troubling you?" Rosie asked.
"Why do you ask?"
"Something seems to be on your mind that is causing you grief." I knew she cared for me.
"I want to ask Frodo about something, but I'm not sure how I should go about it."
"My father said it was better to be honest and outright than to hint around the corners. If you have something to ask him, I don't see why he wouldn't answer you."
"Thank you, Rosie." I said, getting up from my chair. "Now, I'd like to get some sleep before having to wake up to make breakfast for Master Brandybuck and Master Took."
"Sleep well," she said softly. I returned to my room, but failed to fall asleep until the early hours of the morning when it was time to awake anyway.
~*~
WOOT!! I saw ROTK yesterday and it was awesome!! I'm not sure when I'll have the next chapter up, but seeing ROTK has inspired me, so it might be up relatively soon.
To all of you who replied: thanks for the reviews. I wasn't sure how this chapter would go over because of the twist at the end. So again, thank you.
Arwen Baggins: Mira is late twenties, probably 27.
Again,. thanks all and happy holidays.
