Disclaimer: Oh how I wish I was related to Tolkien. However, I am not. I
wish I could've at least met the man. I have sooooo many questions to ask
him. ::Sigh:: Maybe someday I'll meet him.
Estella Brandybuck-My loyal reader, I think you!! Wasn't it sad? It was sad to write. I haven't read too many fics dealing with Frodo leaving Buckland. Those that I have read, dealt with Merry's reaction and not the rest of the Bucklanders. I just imagined that after that many years, he got extremely close to Saradoc and Essy.
LOTR Board Comments:
Oh that was so sad yet lovely!-Holly Baggins (Aw,thank you!!)
*sniff* Wonderful, great, amazing chapter! You write so beautifully!! ((((Frodo, Merryy))))-Queen of Gondor (::blushes:: Thank you! ::hugs Frodo and Merry::)
wonderful yet sad chapter Pip!!!!! I love your writing and I hope to read more of your work!!!!-Silivren Ithildin (Aww, thank you!!)
*weeps and cuddles Merry again* Wonderful!-Avondster (Don't we all want to cuddle Merry? Thanks!)
**Sobs uncontrollably** Oh poor Merry! Poor Frodo! Wonderfully sad chapter Pip-Belladonna Took (Here's a tissue. Thank you!!!)
Chapter Eleven-Saying Goodbye, Why Is It Sad?
"Well, I guess this is good-bye then." Frodo stood beside Bilbo's wagon. The day had finally come when he would leave Buckland.
Merry, who had been clutching his father's side, ran towards Frodo. Frodo bent down and enveloped Merry in his arms.
"Don't go, please," Merry pleaded in his ear. "Stay here." He began to sob.
"Oh, Merry-lad." He kissed the side of his head. "I'm sorry, but I have to."
"No." Merry wrapped his arm's tightly around Frodo's neck. "I'll be good, please just don't go."
Frodo looked up into Saradoc's eyes as he came over to the pair. Frodo rubbed the little hobbit's back as he sobbed. "I'm sorry, Merry."
Saradoc, after a struggle, managed to get his son off of Frodo.
Merry became hysterical at this point. "NO! NO, Father, please don't let him go. Make him stay."
"Calm down, Merry-lad," Saradoc said in a vain attempt to comfort his son.
Merry continued to struggled in his father's grip. He gave a swift kick into his father's shin, causing the elder hobbit to loose his grip. The little hobbit returned to Frodo's arms. "You said we were brothers."
"We are, Merry." Frodo held him at arm's length. "We are brothers in all but blood. Remember that," he said as he hugged Merry tightly.
He had known this would be hard, but he hadn't expected it to be this hard. It broke his heart to see his Merry-lad like this. He wanted to take it all back and stay in Buckland. He wanted to erased the past few months and go back to the way things had been before he'd gotten Bilbo's offer. Tears formed in his eyes as he clutched his dear cousin to him. "I'm so sorry, Merry, but I...I have to go." He felt a hand on his shoulder. Bilbo stood over beside him.
"Let me talk to the lad."
Frodo nodded. He took Merry's hands in his. "Bilbo wants to talk to you. Remember all you've been taught about being a proper lad." He brushed away Merry's tears. "And listen to him. Can you do that for me?"
Merry couldn't find the strength to talk to Frodo again for fear he would start crying again, so he simply nodded.
Bilbo knelt before Merry and smiled softly at the younger hobbit. "Hello, Merry." All he got in response was a sniffle so he continued. "I know how much Frodo means to you. I can see it. And I know how much you mean to him. It hurts him just as much as you. You understand?"
Merry nodded. "Yes," he whispered in response.
"Good lad. Now, I have something I'd like to give to you." Bilbo reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. "Have you learned to read much?"
"Yes. Frodo, he taught me." He took the envelope from Bilbo and opened it. He looked at the letter inside before returning his gaze to Bilbo.
"What is it, son?" Saradoc asked as Merry handed him the letter
"You know what that is, lad? It's an open invitation for you to come and stay at Bag Eng whenever you want. Just give us a week notice so Frodo and I can make plans to do something excited. How does that sound?"
Merry smiled for the first time since Bilbo had arrived the day before. "Really Bilbo? You mean it?"
"Of course, lad. And call me 'Uncle Bilbo', alright?"
Merry nodded. "Uncle Bilbo. Thank you."
Bilbo smiled and kissed him on the top of his head. He rose to his feet and started back to his wagon. He leaned over and whispered into Frodo's ear. "I'll leave you alone with them for a bit."
Frodo nodded and looked up at Saradoc and Essy, his guardians, no, his parents for the past nine years. His tears finally broke through as Essy drew him in for a hug. "Thank you, so much, for all you've done," he whispered in her ear.
"It was wonderful having you, Frodo-lad." She kissed his cheek and pulled away.
"Son," Saradoc said as he hugged Frodo tightly. That one word led to a rush of tears from both hobbits. Saradoc kissed Frodo on the top of his head. "You're welcome back here at any time, remember that."
"Yes, Uncle," said Frodo. "Thank you for being my father when I need one."
"Saradoc smiled through his tears. "You're welcome and thank you for being my son when I need one."
Frodo nodded, trying to fight back his tears. "You're welcome," he whispered.
Beri was there as well. He still felt guilty about what he had told Merry. He hung his head as Frodo stood before him. He felt a hand under his chin and he was soon looking into Frodo's haunting blue eyes. "Good- bye, Frodo," he muttered.
Frodo felt a slight tug in his heart at Beri's face. He felt somewhat guilty at how differently he had treated his two little cousins. He knelt before him. "Good-bye, Beri. I shall miss you more than you know." He watched as the impact of his words set into the small hobbit. "I need you to do something for me, Beri. It's something only you can do."
"Anything, Frodo."
"I need you to keep an eye on Merry for me." He leaned forward and whispered softly into Beri's ear. "And come by for more visits. Your grandfather misses you very much."
Beri nodded. "I can do that, Frodo."
Frodo hugged Beri. "Thank you, Beri." He kissed him on the head. "Good-bye."
"Bye, Frodo," Beri said as Essy appeared as his side. He buried his face into his aunt's dress.
Frodo turned to Merry whose face was now red with tears. "Merry, I have to go now." He knelt once again before his cousin. "We'll see each other again. I'll be here for your birthday."
"Won't be the same," Merry said, his voice telling exactly what his heart was feeling.
"No, but things can't stay the same forever. What will stay the same is you will always be my cousin and brother, wherever I go." He held Merry one last time.
"Please, don't go" Merry said one last time, but he seemed to have lost the energy to fight.
"Good-bye, Merry."
"Good-bye, Frodo."
Frodo rose to his feet and headed towards the wagon. Merry started to run towards him, but he was held back by his father. He didn't fight this time. Instead, he cried his father's arms.
Frodo got into the wagon and sat beside Bilbo. "Please go now, before I change my mind."
Bilbo nodded and they started away from Buckland and towards Bag End.
"That was far more painful than I thought it would be."
"They've been your family for nine years, Frodo. You've watched Merry grow up. I didn't expect it to be easy." Bilbo gazed ahead. "I didn't even expect you to take me up on my offer."
"You didn't?" He shot Bilbo a puzzled look
"I saw how close you were to them all."
"Why did you ask me then?"
"Never hurts to ask. Besides, those Sackville-Baggins' have been hanging around more recently, waiting for me to die, I expect. I knew I had to ask someone. You seemed the best choice."
Frodo smiled. "I am glad I said yes. Despite all that."
"As am I, my boy. As am I."
Estella Brandybuck-My loyal reader, I think you!! Wasn't it sad? It was sad to write. I haven't read too many fics dealing with Frodo leaving Buckland. Those that I have read, dealt with Merry's reaction and not the rest of the Bucklanders. I just imagined that after that many years, he got extremely close to Saradoc and Essy.
LOTR Board Comments:
Oh that was so sad yet lovely!-Holly Baggins (Aw,thank you!!)
*sniff* Wonderful, great, amazing chapter! You write so beautifully!! ((((Frodo, Merryy))))-Queen of Gondor (::blushes:: Thank you! ::hugs Frodo and Merry::)
wonderful yet sad chapter Pip!!!!! I love your writing and I hope to read more of your work!!!!-Silivren Ithildin (Aww, thank you!!)
*weeps and cuddles Merry again* Wonderful!-Avondster (Don't we all want to cuddle Merry? Thanks!)
**Sobs uncontrollably** Oh poor Merry! Poor Frodo! Wonderfully sad chapter Pip-Belladonna Took (Here's a tissue. Thank you!!!)
Chapter Eleven-Saying Goodbye, Why Is It Sad?
"Well, I guess this is good-bye then." Frodo stood beside Bilbo's wagon. The day had finally come when he would leave Buckland.
Merry, who had been clutching his father's side, ran towards Frodo. Frodo bent down and enveloped Merry in his arms.
"Don't go, please," Merry pleaded in his ear. "Stay here." He began to sob.
"Oh, Merry-lad." He kissed the side of his head. "I'm sorry, but I have to."
"No." Merry wrapped his arm's tightly around Frodo's neck. "I'll be good, please just don't go."
Frodo looked up into Saradoc's eyes as he came over to the pair. Frodo rubbed the little hobbit's back as he sobbed. "I'm sorry, Merry."
Saradoc, after a struggle, managed to get his son off of Frodo.
Merry became hysterical at this point. "NO! NO, Father, please don't let him go. Make him stay."
"Calm down, Merry-lad," Saradoc said in a vain attempt to comfort his son.
Merry continued to struggled in his father's grip. He gave a swift kick into his father's shin, causing the elder hobbit to loose his grip. The little hobbit returned to Frodo's arms. "You said we were brothers."
"We are, Merry." Frodo held him at arm's length. "We are brothers in all but blood. Remember that," he said as he hugged Merry tightly.
He had known this would be hard, but he hadn't expected it to be this hard. It broke his heart to see his Merry-lad like this. He wanted to take it all back and stay in Buckland. He wanted to erased the past few months and go back to the way things had been before he'd gotten Bilbo's offer. Tears formed in his eyes as he clutched his dear cousin to him. "I'm so sorry, Merry, but I...I have to go." He felt a hand on his shoulder. Bilbo stood over beside him.
"Let me talk to the lad."
Frodo nodded. He took Merry's hands in his. "Bilbo wants to talk to you. Remember all you've been taught about being a proper lad." He brushed away Merry's tears. "And listen to him. Can you do that for me?"
Merry couldn't find the strength to talk to Frodo again for fear he would start crying again, so he simply nodded.
Bilbo knelt before Merry and smiled softly at the younger hobbit. "Hello, Merry." All he got in response was a sniffle so he continued. "I know how much Frodo means to you. I can see it. And I know how much you mean to him. It hurts him just as much as you. You understand?"
Merry nodded. "Yes," he whispered in response.
"Good lad. Now, I have something I'd like to give to you." Bilbo reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. "Have you learned to read much?"
"Yes. Frodo, he taught me." He took the envelope from Bilbo and opened it. He looked at the letter inside before returning his gaze to Bilbo.
"What is it, son?" Saradoc asked as Merry handed him the letter
"You know what that is, lad? It's an open invitation for you to come and stay at Bag Eng whenever you want. Just give us a week notice so Frodo and I can make plans to do something excited. How does that sound?"
Merry smiled for the first time since Bilbo had arrived the day before. "Really Bilbo? You mean it?"
"Of course, lad. And call me 'Uncle Bilbo', alright?"
Merry nodded. "Uncle Bilbo. Thank you."
Bilbo smiled and kissed him on the top of his head. He rose to his feet and started back to his wagon. He leaned over and whispered into Frodo's ear. "I'll leave you alone with them for a bit."
Frodo nodded and looked up at Saradoc and Essy, his guardians, no, his parents for the past nine years. His tears finally broke through as Essy drew him in for a hug. "Thank you, so much, for all you've done," he whispered in her ear.
"It was wonderful having you, Frodo-lad." She kissed his cheek and pulled away.
"Son," Saradoc said as he hugged Frodo tightly. That one word led to a rush of tears from both hobbits. Saradoc kissed Frodo on the top of his head. "You're welcome back here at any time, remember that."
"Yes, Uncle," said Frodo. "Thank you for being my father when I need one."
"Saradoc smiled through his tears. "You're welcome and thank you for being my son when I need one."
Frodo nodded, trying to fight back his tears. "You're welcome," he whispered.
Beri was there as well. He still felt guilty about what he had told Merry. He hung his head as Frodo stood before him. He felt a hand under his chin and he was soon looking into Frodo's haunting blue eyes. "Good- bye, Frodo," he muttered.
Frodo felt a slight tug in his heart at Beri's face. He felt somewhat guilty at how differently he had treated his two little cousins. He knelt before him. "Good-bye, Beri. I shall miss you more than you know." He watched as the impact of his words set into the small hobbit. "I need you to do something for me, Beri. It's something only you can do."
"Anything, Frodo."
"I need you to keep an eye on Merry for me." He leaned forward and whispered softly into Beri's ear. "And come by for more visits. Your grandfather misses you very much."
Beri nodded. "I can do that, Frodo."
Frodo hugged Beri. "Thank you, Beri." He kissed him on the head. "Good-bye."
"Bye, Frodo," Beri said as Essy appeared as his side. He buried his face into his aunt's dress.
Frodo turned to Merry whose face was now red with tears. "Merry, I have to go now." He knelt once again before his cousin. "We'll see each other again. I'll be here for your birthday."
"Won't be the same," Merry said, his voice telling exactly what his heart was feeling.
"No, but things can't stay the same forever. What will stay the same is you will always be my cousin and brother, wherever I go." He held Merry one last time.
"Please, don't go" Merry said one last time, but he seemed to have lost the energy to fight.
"Good-bye, Merry."
"Good-bye, Frodo."
Frodo rose to his feet and headed towards the wagon. Merry started to run towards him, but he was held back by his father. He didn't fight this time. Instead, he cried his father's arms.
Frodo got into the wagon and sat beside Bilbo. "Please go now, before I change my mind."
Bilbo nodded and they started away from Buckland and towards Bag End.
"That was far more painful than I thought it would be."
"They've been your family for nine years, Frodo. You've watched Merry grow up. I didn't expect it to be easy." Bilbo gazed ahead. "I didn't even expect you to take me up on my offer."
"You didn't?" He shot Bilbo a puzzled look
"I saw how close you were to them all."
"Why did you ask me then?"
"Never hurts to ask. Besides, those Sackville-Baggins' have been hanging around more recently, waiting for me to die, I expect. I knew I had to ask someone. You seemed the best choice."
Frodo smiled. "I am glad I said yes. Despite all that."
"As am I, my boy. As am I."