Disclaimer: see chapter 1
Chapter 23
The next morning, I awoke with my heart still bursting from the night before. Everything seemed more cheerful as if the same bit of delight that lingered in my soul touched all in sight. I readied myself quickly, more content than I had ever been.
A few weeks passed, the days passing slowly as I worked hard to encourage my outings with Frodo to come sooner, but it was all in vain, for time only moved quickly during the hours spent with him. During our walks, we said very little now, merely enjoying the company of the each other and being content to walk along the banks of the river. Our hands would stray together and our fingers would intertwine, the only real act of affection between us, but each time I felt his hand in mine, my body warmed with delight. Despite knowing that he had some affection for me, I could not read any of it on his face. Instead, I only saw his sorrow, but it was new torment than the one that had plagued him earlier.
Slowly, as the weeks passed, I ignored myself, allowing myself to work for incredibly long and enduring hours that wore away at my body. I became exhausted, but the time spent with Frodo revived my spirit, enabling me to continue on in the harsh pattern that I was letting myself remain in.
One morning, in the end of July, after cleaning up breakfast I stood at the counter, my hands in a basin cleaning dishes.
"Mira, how about you relax and let us just talk for a while," I heard Rosie say. Wiping my hands on my apron, I moved to the table and sat down across from her. I looked up at her, trying to figure out the meaning of her sudden wish to speak with me. "I've noticed how hard you work yourself these days," Rosie started.
"I'm quite alright."
"You cannot truly mean that. I've seen how you work your fingers to the bone going over every inch of this house day after day. I appreciate the clothes you sew for Elanor, but at the rate you're going you'll surely wear yourself thin." I saw the concern and sincerity with which Rosie spoke, but I couldn't let it get to me.
"I thank you for your concern, Rosie, but I'm quite capable of caring for myself."
"Mira, I thought that allowing you a day off would ease your workload, instead you've stretched yourself thin and I don't want you to feel that you need to work this hard for us."
My stubborn side took over. "I enjoy working here and I can never repay you enough for taking me in and letting me help pay for my family to live a good life."
"Please be careful," Rosie said simply, half surrendering the argument. I stood from the table and felt all energy seep from my muscles as a slight drowsiness claimed my mind soon enough to where I had to sit back down again. Rosie stood up quickly and moved to my side. "Mira, are you feeling alright?" She laid her hand on my forehead, it felt cool against my skin.
"My, you're burning up." Rosie sat down next to me, turning my head to face her and setting the backs of her hands on my cheeks. "Let's get you to bed," she said quickly, concern looming in her eyes. I felt her arms wrap around my shoulders and lift me to my feet. It was not until I took a step that I felt exhaustion wash over my body and my legs nearly collapsed underneath me. I leaned on Rosie for support, drawing what little strength I had from her.
Before I knew exactly what was happening, I was lying in my bed, the covers tucked securely around my body, fighting out the chills that now swept over me. Rosie laid a cool hand on my forehead, running it over my cheek. I turned my head to see her face now creased with concern. My mind then slipped into the unconscious.
Through the day, my mind slipped in and out of awareness for my surroundings. The times that I was awake, my body ached and my flesh burned as sweat covered my skin. Rosie came in frequently to place a damp cloth on my forehead, trying to soothe the fever that now ran havoc through my body. I could not keep track of events that happened nor the time since the time spent sleeping was varied in duration. The vague dealings of a healer examining me and Sam's voice lingered in some far off space of my mind. A torrent of thoughts filled my head, leaving me unable to focus on anything that might comfort me.
I stood in front of the crimson door, placing my hand on the doorknob that was perfectly centered within the circle of the door itself. Carefully, I turned it, pausing slightly before proceeding in pushing the door inwards. I searched through my own house, hoping to find a light cheery atmosphere at my return home, but no such greeting was meant to be.
As I carefully stepped through the house, I felt the floor boards shift under my feet, creaking loudly if they twisted in just the right way as to jolt the house in their cry. I dared not to call out for fear of what lurked within these walls that once seemed inviting but now contained a menacing presence, noting that something was amiss under this hill.
I continued to find my way through the dim hobbit hole. Every object casted haunting shadows upon the wall, making harmless items seem the deadliest of weapons. Refusing to turn back, I walked to my old room, hoping that there would be some familiarity there.
Entering the dark room, I felt my way to the small table beside what was once my bed. My hands stumbled upon a candle and I lit it, shedding light on the familiar rocking chair in the far corner of the room. Hoping to find some comfort, I turned to Lily's bed, slightly surprised to find her still frame lying on the bed, although her presence made me wary and I moved closer to her. I set the candle on the table next to her bed, then I gazed upon her pale face. Her clear green eyes were glazed over, as if life no longer dwelled within her. I moved my hand to stroke the far side of her face but as my fingers ran over her cheek, I felt a cold liquid that covered her skin. I pulled my hand up to see her scarlet blood now staining my fingertips. Turning her head to better grasp this situation, I gasped in amazement as I saw the entire side of her face covered in blood.
I let out a scream, horror filling all expanses of my mind. I retreated, bringing my hands to mouth to stifle the sobs that now filled my mouth. My breath quickened, leaving me unable to catch enough air to sustain me. My back hit the wall, withholding me from my desire to escape.
Within moments, the door of my room swung open, revealing my father. My body trembled as I saw fury ravage his eyes.
"I see you've returned home, Mira," he said, rage lingering in every word he spoke. Words choked inside my throat, leaving me unable to find any defense. I moved along the wall, locking myself in the corner behind my bed by accident.
"Would you like to join your sister?" Father approached me, lifting his hand to reveal a knife that glinted with blood in the soft candlelight.
"Why?" was all I could muster the courage to ask.
"Because they took after you, asked too many questions and never respected me." He was now only a few feet away. My eyes shut despite my need to see what was going on, but I could not open them. His footsteps vibrated through the floor, getting stronger with every step and clueing me on how close he was to my position. My eyes shot open in an instant as I saw his arm come down upon me. A shriek worthy of the ringwraiths escaped from my chest.
"Mira! Please wake up!"
I felt my body shake and I opened my eyes quickly, scrambling to find something familiar. Finally, my vision focused on deep blue eyes that I instantly recognized as Frodo's, then I saw the concern in his face as my breaths slowed. Frodo stood over him, his hands on my shoulders. I felt him sit on the edge of the of my bed and I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself. His fingers brushed against my cheek, feeling cool to my skin that I now felt was covered in sweat.
"Relax," Frodo's soft voice said, calming my nerves. His hand ran up to my forehead, remaining there a bit and withdrawing, replaced by a cool damp cloth. I turned my head and opened my eyes to see Frodo now sitting in a chair beside my bed. I smiled faintly and tried to sit up, but my muscles protested, leaving me unable to move without feeling how lethargic my body had become.
"Don't move. Your fever broke just this afternoon." Frodo reached over, placing damp cloth on my flushed cheeks and around my neck. "The healer said you should be well enough to work again in a few days."
"Where's Rosie?"
"She's tending to Elanor. I told her I would watch over you for the night." He set down the cloth and then reached for my hand that was lying on top of the blankets. His thumb ran over my hand.
"What day is it?" I asked, my throat scratching from being parched. Frodo reached to the small table next to my bed and handed me a glass of water, bringing it to my lips and letting the cool liquid pass into my throat, soothing the fire that burned within me. He set the glass back down on the table and returned to rubbing my hand.
"You've been ill for four days."
"Thank goodness you're awake!" I heard Rosie say from across the room. Soon she came into view and sat down on the edge of the bed, running her hand my cheek. "We thought we were going to lose you for a while there," she continued, her tone showing her concern for my well being.
I smiled weakly, squeezing Frodo's hand lightly, and then feeling him squeeze my hand back.
"Don't you ever go scaring us like that again!" Rosie said, standing up and removing a basin from my side table. She laid a hand on Frodo's shoulder. "Will it be alright if you watch her for the rest of the night?" she asked Frodo. He nodded and watched as she left the room. Then his gaze turned back to me.
"The healer said you over worked yourself into this fever."
I chuckled lightly for fear of overly hurting myself, but knowing all too well that I had brought this illness upon myself. My head turned to face the ceiling, closing my eyes.
"Mira," Frodo said, and I opened my eyes slowly as I turned to face him again. "Promise me you will not over work yourself again." I saw the sincerity in his eyes.
"I promise," I said softly. He reached up to my face and brushed some hair away from my face.
"Now, go to sleep," he whispered, a faint smile crossing his lips. I smiled back to him and felt the weight of my eyelids close my eyes on their own. Soon, I had slipped off to a peaceful sleep.
~*~
Okay, my apologies for the long delay, but I was totally focused on this other idea for this chapter and it just wasn't working. So, I hope this works for all of you. Thanks for your reviews!
ChildlikeEmpress: I don't think you're some kind of nut. I love CSI too, and yeah, and again, I'm sorry for delaying but I had a big project for English and I was just hitting a block so yeah.
Traveller: I must say, WOW, okay, I'm sorry for ruining your vacation like that. I didn't know it would have any kind of effect like that. I hope your vacation went well otherwise. I'm glad that you thought I pulled of the transition nicely.
EFDGamgee: first, I must say, thank you for your compliment. I know that it is drawn out and repetitive, but it could be seen as reflecting the drudgery that is working as a maid, but screw that excuse and say that I have no idea what I'm doing and just can't make it interesting enough to have original ideas. I know Frodo was shy around ladies and I initially did not want it to end up a romance, for this very reason, but the story just led that way and so I let it go that way and I hope the story later reflects his unwillingness to hurt her. And yes, I know I made him a total hermit. I guess part of my thinking was that since its his second year since everything happened he's at a crucial point in his book and just was too involved in that, but again, another lame excuse on my part. As far as Mount Doom, the only thing that was just from the movie was him falling off the ledge and holding on and giving up. When I wrote that part I spent quite a bit of time checking what exactly happened. I doubled checked after receiving your review and found that everything I put in there except for hanging onto the ledge was in the book as well as the movie. Besides, does it really matter if I used the movie account? It helped me a lot in describing some scenes because I can describe something better if I've seen it rather than having read it. Anyway, I've rambled on a bit too long. I did not take any offense to your review, and I appreciate that you found it a good story.
