Chapter 12: The Last Homely House

Waking up after any surgery is hard, and this was especially so. But I was so pleased to see Gandalf again that I sat up & was chatting quietly with him when the door opened and Sam came in, still in his night clothes. He ran to me and grabbed my left hand.

"Oh, bless you, Mr. Frodo, you're awake!" he exclaimed.

I smiled at him. "Yes, I'm awake, Sam. I hear you have been sitting up with me lately."

"Yes, I have, sir." Sam appeared not to realize how that news had touched me. "How long have you been up?"

"Only for about ten minutes." I said.

Sam was holding my hand, looking at me with shining eyes.

"Well?" I said. "What are you doing? Come and give me a hug."

Sam leapt up and threw his arms around me. I hugged him tightly, ignoring the stabbing pains in my chest.

"I remember more than you probably think." I said in his ear. "I won't forget, Sam."

He sat back and looked at me, taking my hand again. "What do you remember, Mr Frodo?"

"I remember the first few days very clearly." I said. "Before we reached the moors. Then things get a bit…fuzzy. The last thing I remember is holding your hand while I was trying to go to sleep."

"That was five days ago." he said gently.

That took me back a little. "Five days?"

Sam patted my hand softly. "You've been pretty sick, you know."

I nodded. Then I began to think hard. "No, I remember waking up—here, I think. And you were there, and…" I groped in my memory. "I just remember being scared. You were sitting on my bed with me, and a lot of people were at my other side."

"You remember that?"

"A little. What happened?"

"Master Elrond was healing you. But it hurt you pretty bad, I'd guess, and they sent for me to come and hold you so you wouldn't move about."

I nodded again. "Yes, I remember that you kept rubbing my back and talking to me. I was terrified, Sam...I felt like you were the only thing holding me together. I was so glad you were there."

Sam shrugged, his cheeks reddening. "You were cryin' something awful. Not tears, you know, but just moaning and whimpering." He stared at me, brown eyes liquid soft. "I was so worried about you."

I smiled at him. "Well, don't worry anymore, Sam. I feel much stronger now. And look, I can move my arm again." I showed him my left hand.

"You must get some rest, Frodo." Gandalf interrupted. "Eat a little, and then you must sleep again."

At that moment, a fair-faced Elf came in and handed a tray of food to Gandalf. My stomach rumbled suddenly, and we all laughed.

"You must be half-starved," Gandalf said. "Come, Frodo."

"Let me help him, Mr. Gandalf." Sam pleaded. The wizard laid the tray on my knees and smiled at us.

"Help your master, Samwise Gamgee," he said. "See that he does not stay up talking." Then he bent over me, put a hand gently on my head and looked into my eyes.

"I am glad to see you laugh again, Frodo my lad," he said. I smiled, and Gandalf left the room.

Sam took a bowl of soup in one hand and the spoon in the other. "Come on, Mr. Frodo. I'll help you. You just rest."

I leaned back against my pillows and sighed. "Thank you, Sam," I said. "I am very tired."

"Then eat a bit and you can get some sleep." Sam held the spoon to my lips. I swallowed the soup obediently. By the time I had eaten, my eyelids felt heavy and my head was beginning to nod.

"There. You did fine, Mr. Frodo. Get some sleep." Sam took my hand in his. I closed my eyes. As I slipped into a gentle dream, Sam rubbed my hand and arm and sat quietly with me.

I woke again late that afternoon. For a moment, I kept my eyes closed, just enjoying the feeling of peace and safety that filled Elrond's house. Then I stirred and felt the Ring against my chest, and I opened my eyes. Sam had been sitting at the window, looking out into the gardens, but he turned at once and came over to me.

"How are you feelin', Mr. Frodo?"

"I'm all right," I said wearily. I still felt tired, and my shoulder, though it felt much better, still ached. Sam seemed to guess my feelings; he took my hand tenderly and stroked it, looking anxiously into my face.

"You in any pain, me dear?"

I shrugged and nodded. He took a small bottle from my bedside table.

"Take a sip of this, Mr. Frodo. It'll help a bit."

I took a small drink from the bottle. It tasted fresh and cool and calming. As I waited for it to work, I brought my hand up and began rubbing my shoulder beneath its bandage. Sam took me gently in his arms and I leaned on him. Soon I felt a warmth in my shoulder and arm, and the pain eased. I put my head on Sam's shoulder. He didn't move or protest. He just held me tenderly and pulled my blankets around me to keep me warm.

"I'm so glad you're better, Mr. Frodo." he whispered at last, stroking my hair softly. I moved closer to him.

"You know I'll always look after you, don't you, master?" he whispered in my ear.

I nodded. "Yes, Sam." Then I looked up at him. "Can I go to sleep like this, Sam?"

"Course you can, dear. I won't let you go till you're sound asleep. And even then I can stay with you if you want."

I laid my head back on his shoulder. "You're so good to me, Sam. Please stay, just for a while."

Sam wrapped another blanket around my shoulders and held me close to him. "You get some sleep, master dear. I'll take care of you."

I leaned against him and shut my eyes. As I began to doze, Sam rubbed my shoulder and murmured to me.

"There, that's right. Get some sleep. You'll feel better in the morning. You're doin' wonderful."

His words melted into my dreams.

Sam was reading to me when an Elf wearing the long red and gold robes of the healers came into the room. He carried a large basin of steaming water and a stack of fluffy cloths and towels.

"How do you feel, Master Frodo?" he asked.

"Fine, thank you," I said softly.

Sam, who knew that I was actually in a bit of pain, squeezed my hand comfortingly. He had been holding my hand for at least two hours now.

"Lord Elrond said that you should have a bath today." the Elf said.

I looked at him and blushed brilliantly, knowing that I didn't have the strength to bathe or even undress myself. Besides, with so many stitches in my chest, I wasn't allowed to turn or bend over–I would never be able to wash my legs or back. Seeing how embarrassed I was, Sam gave me a sympathetic smile.

"You want me to go, Mr. Frodo?"

"No–wait–" I stammered, seizing upon my least humiliating option. I turned to the Elf. "Um, could Sam do it?"

The healer could see how red and sweaty I had gone. "Yes, of course. Just be careful of his shoulder, Sam."

He put the basin and towels on my bedside table and left the room, closing the door behind him.

I looked at Sam. "I'm sorry, Sam. I should have asked if you would do it. I just feel so uncomfortable. If you wish, I can call back the healers–"

"No, no, it's all right," Sam said soothingly. He got up and put the book we had been reading on the fireplace mantle, then came to sit on the edge of my bed. "Now, Mr. Frodo. I know you're feeling embarrassed, but there's nothin' to worry about. Everybody needs help when they're sick. It's natural, and there's nothin' wrong with it. Now you just relax and let me help you. You don't need to be embarrassed, not at all."

I nodded. Sam reached over and began to unbutton my nightshirt.

"There," he said calmly. "Now, this is your body, and unless you say otherwise I've got no business touching it. I'm going to respect that, and I'm not gonna do anything you don't give me permission to do. I'm planning on giving you a quick wash all over your body. Is that all right?"

I nodded again, still feeling sweaty and hot, but reassured by Sam's practical manner. Sam patted my arm. Then he undressed me, gently, without making any fuss or awkward comments.

"You just relax," he said softly, working my leggings over my feet and adding them to the neat stack of clothing on the bed. "There's nothin' to worry about. You just think about getting well. You'll be up and about soon enough."

I kept my eyes on his kind face as he finished the job by removing my underdrawers. He didn't appear embarrassed in the least, and that reassured me. If Sam could be practical about it, so could I.

Sam helped me wash my legs and around my waist first so the worst was over soon, and then he dressed me in clean underpants and leggings. Then he gently bathed my upper body for me.

"That was nice of you, Sam," I said hesitantly as he pulled my leggings up and began to wash my stomach.

He smiled. "I told you, nothin' to worry about. It's your body. You deserve all the respect I can give you."

I smiled back.

The only other thing that made me nervous was my left shoulder. I knew that Sam would try to be gentle, but the area was incredibly sensitive and it was already aching. But again, I didn't need to worry at all.

"All right. I've got to do your hurt shoulder now, Mr. Frodo. This one right here is the softest cloth." He put it into my right hand so I could feel it. "Is that a good one to use?"

"Yes." I said softly.

"All right then. I'm gonna put one hand on the side of your shoulder, like this, and just pat the cloth around the wound with my other hand. I won't touch the stitches at all."

I nodded to show that I understood, and Sam dipped his washcloth into the basin of water again. "Now you put your hand right here on my knee, Mr. Frodo, and if anything is hurting you, you press on my leg and I'll stop right away."

I obeyed. But having my hand on Sam's knee turned out to be unnecessary. I barely even felt Sam wash my injured shoulder.

"Where did you learn all this, Sam?" I asked, as he finished my shoulder and began bathing my arms.

"All what?"

"You're so incredibly gentle, and calm about everything. Do you have experience with sick people that I don't know about?"

Sam shrugged. "No. I just think about what would have made me feel better, and then I just hope it helps you."

"Well, it does, Sam. Thank you."

Sam patted my hand. "That's good, dear. I'm glad."

I had taken the Ring off and was now holding it and its chain in my hand so that Sam could wash my neck.

"Tip your head down now. That's it. Now just relax. This water too cold yet?"

"No, it feels good."

Sam gently washed my neck and ears, and then I put the Ring back on and he washed my face for me. When he had finished my bath, he gave me a gentle back massage and then dressed me in my nightshirt again, ran a comb through my hair and ended by planting a kiss on my forehead.

"You did splendid. Now, you have a nice rest, and I'll wake you when it's time for supper."

He helped me get comfortable, then gently kissed me again, and he held my hand while I fell asleep.

A.N.

Thank you so much to everyone who has read & reviewed! I feel so honored :) and a special thank you to Frodo Baggins the Ringbearer. Your review cheered me up after a very difficult couple of days, the side effects from my meds have been killing me & I haven't felt like writing, but your review made me so happy I managed another chapter! & I'm so glad you enjoy this silly little story. Love you all, thanks so much for reading :)

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