A/N: Wow chibi neko thank you for all those reviews nothing is more
rewarding I know my heart just leapt when I saw them all and the longer the
better I love it when people notice every detail! You've made my day!
I know this chapter is horribly short but essential and I think you all may like ::wink::
~~~
Frodo felt bright sunshine on his eyes and he jolted back frightened. Light was something he did not always like, when it shone in his eyes it often meant something painful was to come. He let his eyes focus slowly and he found himself safe and warm, but no protector. He looked around wildly wondering why he was all alone. He was frightened.
Suddenly his ears pricked up and he stiffened. He heard babble, many different kinds. There was a harsh shrill tone that rose above the others and Frodo clutched his ears trying to make it go away. It did not and he whimpered, discontent. When he took his hands off his ears he heard two more sounds. They were both shaking, nervous and with a note of anger. But they sounded familiar, gentle and kind. He sat up and his eyes sought the source of the sounds. He could not understand the words. Suddenly Frodo recognized a voice. His protector. He scrambled out of the bed quickly and peered out the tent.
There stood two tall men, one of the healers he already recognized but another seemed cruel and wicked looking. He saw his protector standing next to the familiar one and clenching his fists. Once again his voice rose above the other two. A fight? An argument?
The nasty looking man pointed to Sam harshly and hollered something. "...dead...dead...knife!" Was all Frodo understood. His protector shook his head vehemently and his fists twitched eagerly. The younger man put a hand on his protector's shoulder as if shielding him from something.
~~~
Sam looked up at Envin and sighed. "This is ridiculous! I gave him permission to continue the treatment! You have no right to such accusations!" he cried, glaring at the other healer.
"I've warned you of this before, Envin," said the elder healer. "I was against this treatment from the very start. Now I will go to the king about this once more. You have gone too far. What were you expecting to do with that knife, Envin? Did you wish to kill him? Do you want them both dead?" He once again pointed to Sam as he said this.
~~~
Frodo's hand dropped. He made an odd connection then. *Knife. Dead* These words he knew... vaguely. Quickly he darted back inside the tent and sought his old night dress with a wild anxiousness. He tore the old thing from where he remembered it was taken from him and his nimble hands dove into the breast pocket. It wrapped around something soft and he tore it out. Panting, he fell to his knees from working himself up in such a panic, clutching the little object to him. When he calmed down a bit he looked at the tiny flower in his palm and his eyes widened with fright. It was not what it was when he had picked it. Now it was wrinkled, withered, and black. It shriveled into a tiny curl and most of its blackened petals had fallen to the floor. It used to be green, vibrant, and strong, with pretty white petals and a soft fragrance. Now it was foul, it was wasted, it was... dead. So this is what dead meant! This is what it was! It meant that all the beauty, the vibrance, the good would just leave a blackened shell. And what about his protector? That man was calling him dead, wasn't he?
It did seem so to Frodo. No wait! The knife! Would the knife do that to him!? Would the knife take away all the good, all the gentle kindness that he had come to rely upon and cling to so well? Would the knife make him dead? No! He could not let that happen! He could not let his protector become DEAD!
~~~
Sam entered the tent fuming. "That wicked old man! One day he's gonna get it hot from Sam Gamgee, no doubt about it!" Sam made a fist and narrowed his eyes. "He don't know what he's blatherin' about, I reckon. Where's he get that nerve to go sayin' you want me dead! Preposterous!"
"Shh, Sam I know, try not to yell in front of Frodo."
It was then that both hobbit and man noticed the figure weeping on the ground and Sam was the first to dart to his side. "Mr. Frodo! Mr. Frodo, what's wrong!?" Sam turned the weeping hobbit into his lap. Frodo turned frightened eyes to him and was suddenly relieved. He wrapped his arms around Sam's neck and continued weeping.
*He isn't dead!* Was all that went through Frodo's mind.
"What happened," asked Envin softly.
Sam rocked Frodo gently, "I don't know." He looked down and saw the withered black petals. "Wait a moment." He released Frodo and pried open his palm. There lay the shriveled little bud. "I think this flower's upset him."
"The flower?"
Sam shrugged, "Let me just calm him down." He reached to take the flower but Frodo grunted and rolled off his lap, grasping the flower in a tight fist. When Frodo sat himself back up he pocketed the flower again and was content. Sam still did not understand but Frodo seemed under control now. In fact he did not seem to remember a moment ago he was weeping.
Sam felt he could not quite take this any longer. He tried to be brave and strong but he felt the walls inside of him slowly cracking. He wondered how long he could hold it in. He wondered how long it would be before he went crazy himself. Sam tried not to think of it, just focus on breathing for the moment. He couldn't do it! He just couldn't do this any longer!
He felt arms around him and realized he had been crying. He looked up but could only see a shoulder and long hair falling into his eyes. He knew immediately it was Envin and he felt safe to just cry. He could not see beyond the robes engulfing him, and he briefly wondered if Envin was shielding him from something.
~~~
Envin felt his own heart breaking but he knew someone had to stay strong. He knew this wasn't for Sam. This wasn't what this hobbit was meant to do. He shouldn't be expected to do this. As a healer Envin made quite a few guesses from the very beginning with these hobbits. He noticed for one that Sam was much younger than Frodo. He also had a great love and dedication towards his master, judging by the way he reacted to Frodo's condition and the very fact that he followed his master into the very uncouth evil of Mordor. And by the very dedication and strength he has shown for the past month! This hobbit's sanity could not hold any longer. He considered sending Sam away, somewhere where he could find peace, perhaps with Frodo's cousins, the other Pherrianath. But he knew this would do Sam no good. He could not be parted from his master.
"Then what must I do!?" Envin's thought's cried. His mind was running a mile a minute. If he didn't do something fast this hobbit would have an emotional break down, if he hadn't already. Every option went through his mind until he finally thought of Sam's companions. Maybe he could seek healing from them?
Envin's train of thoughts were broken by something tugging at his sleeve. He looked up to see Frodo, tears streaming down his face, he looked very panicked. When Envin looked down he saw that Sam had fell limp in his arms and Frodo was starting to hyperventilate.
~~~
Frodo watched as his protector just slumped down and put his hand to his face. He was shaking and making strange noises. Frodo did not know what to do. He watched as the man's arms wrapped around his protector. His mind was struggling to grasp this situation until he saw his protector's hand fall and he seemed to have stopped moving all together. His eyes darted back and forth. *What happened to him? What's this man doing? Why isn't he moving?!* Frodo's hand strayed to his pocket where he had put the dead flower. Tears started in his eyes. *Is he dead? Is my protector dead!?* He could not take it any more. His little hand wrapped around Envin's robe and he tugged as hard as he could, like a child anxious for attention. His whole body was jolting he pulled so hard. *Look! Look! Please look! Something's wrong!* The man lifted his head.
~~~
Envin saw that Sam had passed out. He lifted the limp hobbit and brought him over to the bed, Frodo tumbling over his heals, almost tripping him several times. He almost laughed at the eagerness of the little hobbit and the love he had toward Samwise, even if Sam could not quite see it. But he could not quite find the laughter in him as he layed Sam down on the bed. He looked at the hobbit's ashen face, streaked with cold tears, and wept in his heart. As he was trying to determine Sam's condition from his face the bed was jolted and he saw Sam furrow his brow and moan. Envin turned his gaze to the little hobbit struggling up on the bed, feet kicking wildly.
"You want to see him?" Envin lifted Frodo and the little hobbit scampered to Sam's side and froze. "What do you want?" said Envin trying to figure out Frodo's reasoning. The hobbit did not acknowledge him but he slowly and cautiously lowered a trembling hand to brush at Sam's curls. He wondered at the softness as he pushed them and they sprung back to their original positions. Envin sighed and watched Frodo until the simple hobbit grew weary of this and sat patiently to wait for his protector to wake.
I know this chapter is horribly short but essential and I think you all may like ::wink::
~~~
Frodo felt bright sunshine on his eyes and he jolted back frightened. Light was something he did not always like, when it shone in his eyes it often meant something painful was to come. He let his eyes focus slowly and he found himself safe and warm, but no protector. He looked around wildly wondering why he was all alone. He was frightened.
Suddenly his ears pricked up and he stiffened. He heard babble, many different kinds. There was a harsh shrill tone that rose above the others and Frodo clutched his ears trying to make it go away. It did not and he whimpered, discontent. When he took his hands off his ears he heard two more sounds. They were both shaking, nervous and with a note of anger. But they sounded familiar, gentle and kind. He sat up and his eyes sought the source of the sounds. He could not understand the words. Suddenly Frodo recognized a voice. His protector. He scrambled out of the bed quickly and peered out the tent.
There stood two tall men, one of the healers he already recognized but another seemed cruel and wicked looking. He saw his protector standing next to the familiar one and clenching his fists. Once again his voice rose above the other two. A fight? An argument?
The nasty looking man pointed to Sam harshly and hollered something. "...dead...dead...knife!" Was all Frodo understood. His protector shook his head vehemently and his fists twitched eagerly. The younger man put a hand on his protector's shoulder as if shielding him from something.
~~~
Sam looked up at Envin and sighed. "This is ridiculous! I gave him permission to continue the treatment! You have no right to such accusations!" he cried, glaring at the other healer.
"I've warned you of this before, Envin," said the elder healer. "I was against this treatment from the very start. Now I will go to the king about this once more. You have gone too far. What were you expecting to do with that knife, Envin? Did you wish to kill him? Do you want them both dead?" He once again pointed to Sam as he said this.
~~~
Frodo's hand dropped. He made an odd connection then. *Knife. Dead* These words he knew... vaguely. Quickly he darted back inside the tent and sought his old night dress with a wild anxiousness. He tore the old thing from where he remembered it was taken from him and his nimble hands dove into the breast pocket. It wrapped around something soft and he tore it out. Panting, he fell to his knees from working himself up in such a panic, clutching the little object to him. When he calmed down a bit he looked at the tiny flower in his palm and his eyes widened with fright. It was not what it was when he had picked it. Now it was wrinkled, withered, and black. It shriveled into a tiny curl and most of its blackened petals had fallen to the floor. It used to be green, vibrant, and strong, with pretty white petals and a soft fragrance. Now it was foul, it was wasted, it was... dead. So this is what dead meant! This is what it was! It meant that all the beauty, the vibrance, the good would just leave a blackened shell. And what about his protector? That man was calling him dead, wasn't he?
It did seem so to Frodo. No wait! The knife! Would the knife do that to him!? Would the knife take away all the good, all the gentle kindness that he had come to rely upon and cling to so well? Would the knife make him dead? No! He could not let that happen! He could not let his protector become DEAD!
~~~
Sam entered the tent fuming. "That wicked old man! One day he's gonna get it hot from Sam Gamgee, no doubt about it!" Sam made a fist and narrowed his eyes. "He don't know what he's blatherin' about, I reckon. Where's he get that nerve to go sayin' you want me dead! Preposterous!"
"Shh, Sam I know, try not to yell in front of Frodo."
It was then that both hobbit and man noticed the figure weeping on the ground and Sam was the first to dart to his side. "Mr. Frodo! Mr. Frodo, what's wrong!?" Sam turned the weeping hobbit into his lap. Frodo turned frightened eyes to him and was suddenly relieved. He wrapped his arms around Sam's neck and continued weeping.
*He isn't dead!* Was all that went through Frodo's mind.
"What happened," asked Envin softly.
Sam rocked Frodo gently, "I don't know." He looked down and saw the withered black petals. "Wait a moment." He released Frodo and pried open his palm. There lay the shriveled little bud. "I think this flower's upset him."
"The flower?"
Sam shrugged, "Let me just calm him down." He reached to take the flower but Frodo grunted and rolled off his lap, grasping the flower in a tight fist. When Frodo sat himself back up he pocketed the flower again and was content. Sam still did not understand but Frodo seemed under control now. In fact he did not seem to remember a moment ago he was weeping.
Sam felt he could not quite take this any longer. He tried to be brave and strong but he felt the walls inside of him slowly cracking. He wondered how long he could hold it in. He wondered how long it would be before he went crazy himself. Sam tried not to think of it, just focus on breathing for the moment. He couldn't do it! He just couldn't do this any longer!
He felt arms around him and realized he had been crying. He looked up but could only see a shoulder and long hair falling into his eyes. He knew immediately it was Envin and he felt safe to just cry. He could not see beyond the robes engulfing him, and he briefly wondered if Envin was shielding him from something.
~~~
Envin felt his own heart breaking but he knew someone had to stay strong. He knew this wasn't for Sam. This wasn't what this hobbit was meant to do. He shouldn't be expected to do this. As a healer Envin made quite a few guesses from the very beginning with these hobbits. He noticed for one that Sam was much younger than Frodo. He also had a great love and dedication towards his master, judging by the way he reacted to Frodo's condition and the very fact that he followed his master into the very uncouth evil of Mordor. And by the very dedication and strength he has shown for the past month! This hobbit's sanity could not hold any longer. He considered sending Sam away, somewhere where he could find peace, perhaps with Frodo's cousins, the other Pherrianath. But he knew this would do Sam no good. He could not be parted from his master.
"Then what must I do!?" Envin's thought's cried. His mind was running a mile a minute. If he didn't do something fast this hobbit would have an emotional break down, if he hadn't already. Every option went through his mind until he finally thought of Sam's companions. Maybe he could seek healing from them?
Envin's train of thoughts were broken by something tugging at his sleeve. He looked up to see Frodo, tears streaming down his face, he looked very panicked. When Envin looked down he saw that Sam had fell limp in his arms and Frodo was starting to hyperventilate.
~~~
Frodo watched as his protector just slumped down and put his hand to his face. He was shaking and making strange noises. Frodo did not know what to do. He watched as the man's arms wrapped around his protector. His mind was struggling to grasp this situation until he saw his protector's hand fall and he seemed to have stopped moving all together. His eyes darted back and forth. *What happened to him? What's this man doing? Why isn't he moving?!* Frodo's hand strayed to his pocket where he had put the dead flower. Tears started in his eyes. *Is he dead? Is my protector dead!?* He could not take it any more. His little hand wrapped around Envin's robe and he tugged as hard as he could, like a child anxious for attention. His whole body was jolting he pulled so hard. *Look! Look! Please look! Something's wrong!* The man lifted his head.
~~~
Envin saw that Sam had passed out. He lifted the limp hobbit and brought him over to the bed, Frodo tumbling over his heals, almost tripping him several times. He almost laughed at the eagerness of the little hobbit and the love he had toward Samwise, even if Sam could not quite see it. But he could not quite find the laughter in him as he layed Sam down on the bed. He looked at the hobbit's ashen face, streaked with cold tears, and wept in his heart. As he was trying to determine Sam's condition from his face the bed was jolted and he saw Sam furrow his brow and moan. Envin turned his gaze to the little hobbit struggling up on the bed, feet kicking wildly.
"You want to see him?" Envin lifted Frodo and the little hobbit scampered to Sam's side and froze. "What do you want?" said Envin trying to figure out Frodo's reasoning. The hobbit did not acknowledge him but he slowly and cautiously lowered a trembling hand to brush at Sam's curls. He wondered at the softness as he pushed them and they sprung back to their original positions. Envin sighed and watched Frodo until the simple hobbit grew weary of this and sat patiently to wait for his protector to wake.