Chapter 6: Home Again

Frodo could hear voices speaking softly around him. They were whispering things that he couldn't hear. Very slowly the voices became clearer to him. One was a female's voice, worried and full of concern another was a male's voice low and serious. He heard his name mentioned once…twice…they were talking about him. Slowly Frodo became aware that he was in bed. As to why or how he had gotten there he couldn't remember. He remembered the dog, Merry and the tree. As his memories floated back to him, he became aware of a pain in his shoulder and he could feel his head pounding. He didn't remember falling out of the tree, but he assumed that that's what had happened. Nothing that he could think of explained where exactly he was.

Very slowly Frodo opened his eyes. The pain in his head increased as he watched his bedroom ceiling swirl above him. He stomach gave a bit of a lurch and he quickly shut his eyes; he wished things would stop moving like that. Slowly, Frodo tried opening his eyes again. Things began to settle and he could see that he was in his own room at Brandy Hall.

Frodo heard a loud gasp and, suddenly, Merry's face was only an inch away from his own. "Frodo!" Merry squealed with delight. Merry's face was gone and Frodo heard him yelling to his mother and the rest of the hobbits that lived in Brandy Hall. "Mama! Mama! Frodo's awake Mama! He's Awake!" Much to Frodo's horror Merry had started to bounce on the bed. His shoulder and head were jarred as his cousin jumped with glee. Frodo hissed as a sharp pain ran through him. Frodo felt his stomach lurch as well. He didn't want to cry out, but Merry hadn't noticed what he was doing to him and he needed to make him stop jumping. "Merry," Frodo tried to say while clenching his teeth, "St-stop." Merry stopped bouncing and, tilting his head, looked at his cousin curiously. "What'd you say Frodo?" he asked.

To Frodo's relief Merry's mother came darting into the room to his rescue. "Meriadoc Brandybuck! What are you doing?! Get down from there right now! I told you to leave poor Frodo alone!" Esmeralda scolded as she took Merry off the bed. Merry pouted at his mother as she sat him down, "You told me not to wake him and he woke up all on his own." Esmeralda shook her head and sighed at her son. "You had better go on now Merry, let Frodo rest in peace." Merry looked as if he might protest, but he caught a certain look from his mother that said he had better do what he was told… or else.

Once Merry had scooted out of the room, Esmeralda gave her full attention to Frodo. "How are you feeling dear?" Frodo looked at his aunt for a moment, while he was perfectly aware of her question, he didn't know how to answer. He cleared his throat a bit, "I-I hit my head I think and my shoulder hurts to move it." She studied Frodo carefully before asking her next question, "Frodo, do you remember what happened?"

"I…I fell out of the tree didn't I?" Frodo asked. Esmeralda nodded and gave a gentle smile. "You hit your head, Frodo…twice from what we can make of it." Frodo looked a little confused and slowly began to reach up with his good arm. His aunt stopped him, "It's bandaged up now Frodo; the doctor has already seen you. He cleaned your cut and he bandaged your head. From what Merry says you hit your forehead falling out of the tree and hit the back of it when you landed. You have two good bumps on the back and front of your head. The doctor will come back to change the bandages and make sure your cuts don't get infected." She rubbed his arm comfortingly.

Frodo moved his head a bit to the right. He had wanted to see his shoulder, but his pounding head wouldn't allow it. Frodo shut his eyes again. "My shoulder…" He groaned softly. "Do not try to move it Frodo. The doctor says it's broken, you need to rest while it heals." Frodo didn't like the idea of his shoulder being broken but it sure explained the sharp pain he was feeling.

Frodo's right arm was in a sling with his elbow bandaged to his side. There was a ball of cloth tightly rolled and positioned under his armpit. Frodo wondered if he would even be able to move his arm if he wanted to. The sling didn't allow much room to move around. He didn't like the idea of not being able to move his right arm. His right side was the one he used to write with. Not to mention it was a lot easier to sneak food if he could use both of his hands. While Frodo was thinking of his arm, his aunt was soaking a cloth in a basin of cool water. She wrung the cloth out and gently placed it on Frodo's neck. With another cool cloth she tenderly dabbed at his forehead around his bandages.

"How does your head feel, dear?" Esmeralda asked, "Is the light too bright in here?" Frodo was about to shake his head, but quickly decided against it. Instead he muttered a soft "no". A sheet was draped over the window to his room in order to block the bright sunlight. The only light came from a candle on his bedside table. His aunt stopped dabbing his forehead and reached for a small bottle by the candle. She poured a spoonful of the bottle's contents in a small cup. She took a few more bottles and mixed them into the cup. Frodo didn't need to guess what was coming.

"Now I want you to drink this Frodo. It'll help with any pain you have." She smiled when she said this, but Frodo caught a tone in her voice. This probably wasn't going to taste very good. He couldn't argue though, he was in pain and he knew his aunt wasn't going to let him go without taking it.

Esmeralda supported Frodo and held the cup as Frodo cautiously took a sip of the drink. It wasn't as awful as he thought it would be. He definitely tasted something bitter, but it was watered down a great deal. He finished with the drink as quickly as possible. When he was done his aunt made sure he was comfortable in his bed. Frodo cringed when he moved his arm trying to get himself settled properly.

"Try to rest dear. You have a lot of healing to do." Esmeralda said softly. Frodo shut his eyes; it would be good to sleep. There was no pain while he slept. Frodo suddenly thought of something and snapped his eyes back open.

"Aunt Esmeralda?" Frodo asked, "How long will it take?" His aunt looked at Frodo curiously.

"How long will what take?" She asked smiling kindly.

"For my shoulder to be healed?" He asked as he shut his eyes again. Suddenly, he felt very tired.

His aunt did not answer him, which caused Frodo to ask again, "How long Aunt Esmeralda?"

She sighed, "The doctor said it will take four months Frodo." Frodo opened his eyes, "What? But…Are you…How? Four months?"

His aunt gently shushed him, "Try to rest Frodo." Frodo did as he was told, he was too tired to argue further at the moment. Four months! He couldn't believe it, and he suddenly regretted sending Merry through the fence to get tomatoes. As far as he was concerned he was never going to steal tomatoes again. At least not for the next four months…



To be continued…..



A/N: Thank you for the wonderful reviews! Please excuse any Grammar/Spelling mistakes made. I was really tired when I wrote this.

Someone read my bio! I shower you with admiration!