I do not own any of these characters or places or things. I am simply borrowing them from Tolkien, as many others here are. THEY ARE NOT MINE.
Please also do not make me, myself, & I , mad by suing us for any reason. We are innocent precious... Once again, for all of you conspirating lawyers out there, ME, MYSELF, & I DO NOT OWN ANY OF MASTER TOLKIEN'S CHARACTERS, PLACES, SETTINGS, PLOT, OR WORK. They ARE NOT mine. The only thing I own, or would own, in this chapter, is the bar of soap, the smelling salts, and the spider.
Now, please read& review. : )
There is no slash in this story, only fluff. Also, the dreams are not exactly what happened, but more what would have happened if other things hadn't happened. They might have happened though.
I used a bit of algebra to find out that our age of six is equivalant to the age eleven of hobbits.
Frodo was walking down the hallway. Like he always did. He turned when he came to the door. He walked in. There was a loud splash and yell.
"Do you mind?! First you make me take the bath, then you just intrude on me?" Frodo looked down at his hands, unsure of what he was supposed to be sorry for. They were smaller than usual. He touched his hair fretfully and found it was silkier.
"Sam, honestly, it's just me." he chuckled. His hand flew to his mouth. His voice was high. His voice was Pippin's voice.
"Honestly Mister Pippin. You could've at least knocked. It would be the polite thing to do."
"Sam! I'm not Pippin." Frodo whispered.
"Then who am I staring at? Mister Frodo? Egad, you've shrunk." Sam laughed sarcastically, but his eyes quickly regained their dark composure.
"Stop it Sam." Frodo felt tears fill his eyes. He turned around quickly, and his eyes caught on something in the high corner of the bathroom. Something small. A spider. He smiled to himself. How had it gotten back in here? If Pippin saw it, he would be screaming fits. But as Frodo watched it bemusedly, it began to climb toward him, weaving along it's invisible web. As it came closer it became bigger. At first he took it for granted, but as it skittered down the wall it grew to the size of a hobbit. Then bigger. Frodo turned to run towards Sam, but when he did he turned to look into a bleak, bluish cave. Filled with dead bodies and large chasms.
He turned back around, and looked at the spider. It had grown bigger than one of the big people. Horrified, Frodo ran away from it, he took a wild risk and turned into one of the darker chasms, hoping it would lead away. His feet were pounding, he heard the spider chase after him. He took a quick turn and stopped. Before him was a great wall. A dead end. Bleak with no trace of life upon it. Only finly smooth aquamarine stone. He turned back. All was colorless. When he looked, he saw the spider coming at him. Frodo ran into the darker corners, first hoping to find a secret exit, even a small crook he could fit into, but there was none. Next he hoped to hide. He huddled down in it and curled up into a tiny ball, praying for the giant spider to overlook him. He covered his face with one hand and lifted his other. As if to block himself from the giant spider. It saw him. It continued toward him, towering, and placed it's legs on both of the walls beside him. He screamed as a large stinger appeared out of the moldy green color of the spider's body. The spider rocked back, and propelled itself forward. Tears streaked Frodo's face, and he screamed again. For the first time ever, he understood the young Took's fear of spiders.
"Frodo lad. Wake up. What is this? I go to the market, and the pub for one day, and at night I come home to find you asleep, torn up, and crying." Bilbo smiled, both of his hands on Frodo's shoulders. Shivers ran down Frodo's back, making him tense at Bilbo's firm hold. The tween smiled weakly up at Bilbo.
"No, Bilbo. I was just-" He paused, and his blue eyes became large, unshed tears glittered in them. The tears made a thick level over his eyes, so that he could barely see the features of Bilbo's eyes. So that he couldn't see the worry and love embedded in them.
"Come, come my lad. I meant no harm. No need to cry." Bilbo wrapped his arms around Frodo and cradled him, soothingly rocking him back and forth, "It's just that I haven't seen you have nightmares since-" Bilbo bit his tongue.
"Since my parents died." Frodo whispered. Instantly the tears were released from the watery gates and flowed quickly from his eyes.
"Yes, yes. Don't worry. You're safe now." Bilbo muttered and rocked Frodo. It was odd though, for not only was Frodo tossing and turning when Bilbo found him, but he was also huddled in a corner of the bed, squatting up with his arm out in front of him. Bilbo took one of Frodo's hands and looked it over dissaprovingly. Cuts and tears ran all over it, and as he examined it, he noticed a small chip of glass. Hastily he took it out, and held the hand compassionately, looking for more pieces. Frodo's crying stopped. Bilbo could almost here his thoughts /I must be grown up. I must not cry. I am fine. There is no reason to cry./ and when he looked at the tween's face he quickly affirmed his beliefs. He chose to ignore it though, and spare the lad his dignity."Frodo! Whatever have you been doing to yourself. Your hand looks like you've been battling dragons, and that's one hand only."
"I've been cleaning up after the spider. He was a messy little fellow. If he ever drops another jar again, I swear I will make him clean it up. Nasty demon. Sam's right. He does have devil horns hidden beneath those innocent curls of his. Don't care what Merry says." Frodo yawned, Bilbo stared at him quizically, not quite sure what the young hobbit was saying.
"Are you sure you're alright my lad?"Before Bilbo could question more, Frodo was curled back in the sheets, and Bilbo dared not waken him more.
"Yes Bilbo. G'night."
"Sleep well. Frodo." Bilbo whispered as he pushed Frodo's dark curls back, soothing Frodo to sleep. Bilbo didn't dare wake Frodo again for a reason of the strange conversation. He didn't want Frodo to be scared again.
"Don't let the nightmares take your fear,
Don't let a bug take a chomp out of your ear,
For I'm always here,
If you ever need an understanding listener.
I'll fight away those dreams at night,
That give you such a fright."
Bilbo's quiet song drifted around the sleeping Frodo and seemed to reassure him, Bilbo chuckled to himself as Frodo curled closer to him.
"You remember that now? Don't you. Your mother taught it to me when I used to have you for a couple nights at Bag End. She, Drogo and I always sang it to you, and there would be no nightmares. Strange how that works." Bilbo sighed. "G'night Frodo lad, and if you need anything I'm just in the next room." Bilbo gazed at Frodo a moment longer, and then bent down, gently kissing Frodo's forehead. "You'll always be that little toddler that came here to stay at Bag End. At least to me."
The air was fresh and clean around him
"Frodo, there is nothing to be afraid of." Frodo whirled around, but he was alone. Alone in a wood. The mysterious, enchanting voice whispered through the air. Like the sweet breeze, and rustled the thick layer of leaves beneath his feet.
"Nothing to be afraid of! I don't even know where I am. And who are you? I demand to see you." Frodo cried out.
"But Frodo, you are the one who has intruded in my wood." The mysterious voice answered. A feminine sweetness obvious at words.
Frodo smirked,"Your wood? M'lady, whomever you are, you must at least know, that woods are their own things. They can be dangerous, or they can be caring. It is their choice. But only elves can claim the wood as there own. And they aren't teritorial people."
"But Frodo, I carry one of the rings of power."
Then something strange occurred to Frodo, "How exactly do you know my name?"
No answer.
"May I at least no your name?"
"Galadriel, I am Lady Galadriel of the wood."
"That's an elven name-" Frodo muttered in disbelief.
"Yes it is Frodo. Turn around and look at me." Frodo stood still.
"How do I know-"
"Frodo, you can trust me." The melodious voice was calm and demanding. He turned around slowly, he reached into his pocket and fingered the small knife he carried at all times. "You know you can." Frodo closed his eyes and turned the rest of the way. "Are you scared."
"No."
"Then why are your eyes closed?"
"I'm not afraid." Frodo tossed the blade into the air, and then caught it again, aimed straight at where he thought the lady was.
"Do you threaten me?" Her voice boomed, echoing through the thinned trees.
"Only want you to know that I am not a slave to your voice. I am not afraid. I will fight you if need be."
"A halfling fighting an elf?"
"Elves can die by the blade."
"Yes they can. Frodo, open your eyes."
"Do you promise that-"
"Frodo, open your eyes." The lulling voice commanded him. And he yielded.
For only a second, he saw a tall elf standing in front of him. With piercing blue eyes. She held herself tall. Then without warning, blinding light spilled from her being.
"Merry. Frodo needs to wake up. Sam promised me he would let Frodo and me make breakfast. Why isn't he waking up, Merry?" Pippin was perched over Frodo's head and staring down at the calm sleeping face.
"Pippin, do you really want to wake him up?"
"Yes." Pippin crossed his arms and glared at Frodo.
"Pip, close the curtains and get a candle." A malicious grin spread across Merry's face.
"Why Merry?"
"To wake Cousin Frodo up."
--------------------------------------------
Frodo sat up, and began vigorously rubbing his eyes. He couldn't remember anything.
"Frodo!" Came a small squeak, and instantly he felt a small hobbit's arms locked around his neck. "You're finally awake. Since Sam hurt his foot, we get to make breakfast! Isn't that great?"
"And Frodo, next time you wake up I wouldn't sit up so quickly. I almost caught you on fire."
"Fire?" Silence was his only reply. "Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrine Took. What did you do?"
"Nothing." Both replied simultaneously.
"Pippin." Frodo turned around to Pippin sternly, Pippin was shaking his head.
"We didn't do anything Frodo." But after a few seconds he added, "Merry says it's standard for waking you up."
"Pippin!" Merry yelled, his face had turned pale. "YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED-"
"Merry! I need to talk to Pippin. Please leave." Frodo turned to Merry with a sickly sweet grin.
"But-"
"Merry! I'll talk to you in a bit." Frodo demanded. Merry turned on his heel and stomped out of the room, he stopped at the door and glared at Frodo.
"Frodo Baggins. I'm going down to the market. So you will not be talking to me later." Then his gaze turned to Pippin, and although it still held an angry gleam it turned gentler, without a word he slammed the door closed.
"Merry-" Pippin began to cry and reach for the door.
"Pippin. What did you do?"
"I won't tell you. No, Merry. Merry! Come back Merry!" Pippin began sobbing, "You made Merry mad Frodo!" Without warning he began to struggle insistently. Frodo grabbed onto Pippin's wrists in an attempt to restrain him.
"Pippin! Stop it or you'll hurt yourself!" Pippin twisted around in Frodo's grip.
"No I won't. I want to go see Merry!" Without warning, he lifted his legs and hit kicked out at Frodo's stomach. Frodo lessened his grip and fell back somewhat. Pippin broke from Frodo's grasp and fell to the floor. He lay without moving. Frodo lept down and put his hand delicately on Pippin's back.
"Pippin! Pippin, goose, is anything hurting?" Pippin didn't move. "Pippin!" Pippin still didn't move. Frodo shook him cautiously. "Pippin, dearest. You must speak. Please Pippin." Pippin rolled over and looked at Frodo. Tears glistened in his eyes. "Pippin, is anything hurting?" Frodo repeated and brushed back Pippin's silky curls. Pippin bit his lip and nodded. "What's hurting? I'll try and help it go away."
"I got a boo-boo."Pippin lifted his hand up and showed his 'boo-boo'. Frodo cringed slightly. A gigantic sliver was wedged in Pippin's hand.
"We'll have to have Sam and Uncle Bilbo take a look at that. They can always help. Is anything else hurting Pippin?"
"Yes-" Started Pippin, but he quickly looked away. Frodo lifted up the small hobbit and placed him in his lap.
"What's hurting Pippin?"
"Merry. Merry's hurting."
I feel so guilty that it took me long to update this and it's so short. The next chapter should come quickly considering that this time I know what to do, but that was such a perfect ending I couldn't write more. It would ruin the importance of the moment, you know?
Bookworm2000: I can't resist the dreams!!! Besides it is Safety in Waking which suggests that you're not safe in sleep!! The connection there is interesting, isn't it? I was lucky to catch this idea before it could fly out of my head. Poor traumatized hobbits!! Yes!! Poor traumatized Frodo now too!! But when you see what Merry and Pippin were doing, the traumatized hobbits won't be so innocent anymore. : ) Your poor feetses!!
LilPip: Thank you!!! Merry and Pippin probably won't share dreams again. I know!! The poor hobbits are having to endure my torture!! It all adds to the plot though. (My one excuse that I always use) I'm glad you liove little Pippin, LilPip, because I love writing him! He can be hard to write at times though. I'll try to keep writing!
Moonfairyhime:Thank you!! I'm glad you loved it!! The spacing thing was an error on ff.net. See, if you don't do this thing where it redoes all of the spaces ff.net deletes them, so it becomes hard to read. Sorry you had to endure that!!!
Piplover:HAHAHA!!! SAM IS THE ONLY ONE NOT BEING TORMENTED. But then again, he's had a rather hard day with the hobbits forcing him to take a bath, and then getting glass stuck in his foot. I wonder what you will chew off in anticipation now? No fingers? How are you typing your reviews then? Yes, I'm a happy, happy hobbit! But keep reviewing, your reviews are so fun to read!! And that spider didn't really die by the nearest thing. It died by my toy from when I was a baby.Yes!! Spiders bad!! flushes spiders down Mt. Doom Now it's a Pip, Merry, AND Frodo angst!! I'll try to keep it up, but I can't guarantee anything. :)
Shirebound: Yes. I don't mean them to be, but they just become frightening all on their own. That has always been my interpretation on the palantir incident, but it's different when an eleven year old hobbit is experiencing it. Or in a human's case a six year old child. Yes, it's almost the way I am with my friends, I can relate to Merry since he doesn't have any siblings, and he kind of attaches himself to Pippin the same way I've attached myself to my best friends. Not litterally that is...
Unhobbity Hobbit: worries about crossing the little leeway I'm glad you like my stories!! Your profile was one of the first I read when I first started ff.net and I was almost traumatized. : P Yes, the dream crossover was because they were so close(as in relationship, not physical position), Frodo also experiences one of the nightmares, but his had nothing to do with them except for how they woke him up. Merry needs to ignore it for Pippin's sake!! Imagine the poor little hobbit probably wouldn't be able to get back to sleep if he knew that Merry, his protector, was scared too!! Yes. Frodo will need even more luck now considering the circumstances. Icky!!! Spiders!! ICK!!