Disclaimer: In this story, I do not own the characters created by J.R.R
Tolkien. There you happy now! I know there not mine :::sobs:::
Summary:
A friendship where you would lay your life down for your friends, is the type of friendship that Sam, Merry, and Pippin have with Frodo. A friendship such as this doesn't start just anywhere. This pre-LotR story shows how friendship and sacrifice go hand. This story takes place five years after Bilbo's departure from the Shire.
A/N: h/c, angst, no slash.
Chapter 15 Summary: Ch. 15 up! Frodo and Merry fearfully await the return of Lobelia's Sister, Sam is still the voice of reason, Pippin suffers the consequences of ease dropping, and Dr. Bunce rushes to find Merry before it is too late.
To Everyone: I am glad I finally got this up and I am sorry for the wait. Next time this happens feel free to yell at me or make me feel really really guilty for not updating. Hope you all like it!
Aemilia Rose- I wanted to scare everyone a little with Frodo's 'little trick'. I had to let Frodo get a stab at Merry after having to put up with Merry's teasing. I wanted to let some of Frodo mischievousness show. Here is the chapter so you can now enjoy the whole thing, instead of pieces of it.
Birch tree- Yeah you caught up! Here is the new chapter you were looking forward to. It means a lot to me that you like my style. Considering this is my first attempt at a Fanfic I will need lots of encouragement.
Alisa Joy- The guilt of not updating started eating away at me after I realized how long it had been. You can now enjoy reading the 'eases in context and in their entirety. You will find out what happens to Merry in few more chapters and after a few for more twists :::smiles evilly:::
Bookworm- Hmm.relapse. We shall see about that. Frodo's little prank on Merry was my favorite part also and Merry is gullible despite what he may think.
MBradford- Thanks for getting this back to me so soon and please tell me when you are posting 'A Harvest of Ashes'. Yes, Merry did deserve it. You cannot beat the original prankster. I bet Lobelia's list would be very long and it probably would have everyone in the Shire on it at one point or another.
Obelia medusa- I glad that you also see Frodo with having a sense of humor. I just always saw him as being sarcastic and carefree before the quest, and I really want to portray that side of him in this story.
moonybabe- It was a slightly cruel joke, but Merry's incessant teasing deserved some retribution. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
FrodoBaggins87- I am pleased you like the story. We will see soon if your presumptions are right.
yahiko- Your review made me crack up! It was very funny. I do wish I could see people reactions when they read my cliffhangers. I know I have gone crazy a few (.or more) times when I read other peoples Fanfics. Writing cliffhangers is my revenge for suffering from all the evil cliffhangers I have read. It is all a vicious cycle.
Lizbit- I am glad you found my story and I hope you catch up soon!
Lemondrop- Trust me I have no problem with getting more reviewers. 'It's like ER meets Hobbiton' Wow that's great I never thought of it like that! Go Sam Fan! Thank you so much for review. I beat myself up over trying to get the hobbit portrayals right, because it is very disappointing for me to read a story with a good plot but poor character portrayal.
Ch.15
Of Broken Jars and Breaking Falls
"Do you think she forgot about us?" Merry said, staring up at the ceiling and tracing the lines of age from wall to wall.
"I almost wish she would," Frodo commented, resting his chin in his hands. "But I'm afraid that she hasn't forgotten about us and I doubt she will ever forget that I'm here. She probably called the Sackville-Baggines over to 'greet' us in our misery."
Frodo leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes with an exhausted yawn. "They never give me a moment's peace."
"Hey Frodo?"
"Hmm?"
"What do you think this is?" Merry said pointing at a deformed glass jar containing a dark-colored liquid, which was sitting in a half-opened cabinet.
Frodo, without opening his eyes said, "Don't touch it or bother with it."
Merry rolled his eyes at his cousin deep-seeded mistrust of him regarding such things. He wasn't a child anymore. He could be curious without causing trouble. Besides, his ever-growing boredom was far worse than the weakness and sickness he felt. He slowly got out of his chair, trying to adjust his sense of balance enough to walk straight. He went over to the cabinet where the jar was and opened the door quietly, so as not to disturb Frodo. He proceeded to pick up the jar with one hand. He seriously underestimated the weight of the jar and watched in horror as it slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.
The noise of the jar breaking woke Frodo with a start. He stood straight up and hit his head on the open cabinet. He groaned in pain and fell back into the seat.
"Meriadoc!"
"Oops! Sorry, Frodo. Are you all right?"
Frodo turned red with frustration and he looked straight at Merry. "Do I look all right? You've worried me so much with how sick you got and I saw you become delirious and faint," Frodo answered, listing the recent mishaps. "I got knocked out, I cut my head and it has been throbbing ever since, and we have caused such a scene in Hobbiton that I fear I will never hear the end of it." Frodo continued his diatribe as his cousin's looked on in silence. "We have both caused Sam and Pippin so much worry, and once things start to get better, I find out that we are coming here with Dora Bracegirdle to take care of us, you have knocked over a jar with who knows what in it, and I have hit my head again. Dora could be back any minute now, and you are wondering if I am all right?"
Frodo's features suddenly softened and his eyes began to water. "How can I just be 'all right', when I am sacred to death about what could be wrong with you. How can I just be 'all right', when I feel so helpless and I don't know what to do to help you."
Merry was speechless. He was fully prepared for and fully expected a verbal lashing, but the last thing he expected to see was Frodo, his rock, beginning to break down. Frodo hardly ever broke down or even got close to doing so. He was strong and always the voice of reason and authority when they were in tight situations. Merry still stood in utter shock. He did not know what to do; he had always been the one to be comforted, not the comforter.
As if Merry wasn't confused enough, Frodo's next action confused him even more. He was laughing! Frodo was laughing hysterically.
"Your face.that stupid looking jar and the cabinet and my head," Tears of mirth ran down Frodo's cheeks. "And I am in Lobelia's sister's office and she is our healer and-and you look. you look so distressed and befuddled. If-if you could only see yourself."
Once Merry was convinced that Frodo hadn't lost his wits entirely, he began to laugh also. "With the way things are going, Dora will probably be back any minute now."
Almost in unison Frodo and Merry's smiles disappeared, as they realized how true Merry's words were.
Frodo stood up and started opening up cabinets. "We need to get this cleaned up before Dora gets back, if we value our lives. Help me look for something to clean this up with."
They looked through the cabinets with incredible speed. Frodo found some old cloths that he used to clean up the liquid and pick up the glass. Merry opened one cabinet and was relieved to find that it held helpful items like soap. But there was one thing odd about the cabinet. Along with the cleaning supplies there was one silver spoon lying on a cloth.
"Frodo, look at this."
"Look at what?"
"The spoon."
"Merry, it is just a spoon. What is the-" Frodo stopped in the middle of his sentence as he picked up the spoon and looked at it. He saw, as clear as day, the engraved initials B.B on the silver spoon. "This is one of Bilbo's spoons, I have some exactly like it at Bag End. He always said that Lobelia stole them when she came over for tea. And they say Bilbo was cracked? I'd hate to think about how many of our utensils Lobelia has at her house."
"Hurry Frodo! I think she's coming back. Just put the spoon in your coat."
Merry and Frodo closed all the cabinets and sat down just as the door began to open. Merry quickly noted that a huge piece of glass was still on the floor.
"Frodo!" Merry said contritely and quietly.
Frodo kicked the jar under the table mere seconds before the door opened and Dora entered. She looked back and forth between them suspiciously as she noted that they both looked like they had just run to the South Farthing and back. Still eyeing them suspiciously, she walked over to Frodo with a cloth in her hand that smelled of something medicinal.
"I need to clean the wound. This might hurt."
Merry smiled and said jokingly, "Do you want me to hold your hand?"
"Merry! That is not-"
Frodo stopped mid-sentence when Dora placed the cloth on the gash. Frodo grimaced as the antiseptic seeped into the wound. He felt like his head was burning, a sensation that made him lightheaded. Through his ordeal he fancied that he saw the healer grinning with satisfaction at his pain.
"The burning should go away shortly, but right now I am going to dress the wound with this patch. It works like a miniaturized tourniquet. It will pull at your skin and probably hurt for a couple of days, but you must not remove it or touch it."
Dora left Frodo biting his bottom lip in pain, to check Merry over. "Open!" She said to Merry, gesturing for him to open his mouth and let her look at his throat. He complied quickly, unwilling to test her patience.
She poked and prodded with a flat instrument in Merry's mouth, exclaiming various orders such as, "Open wider!" "Cough!" "Take a deep breath!" "Again!" "Stop moving!" "Be still!" "Close!" She continued her examination to the point where Merry felt he could take no more.
"Ok that's done with. Both of you come back to the waiting room with me."
~*The waiting room*~
"Mr. Pippin, you should just come and sit back down. Pressing your ear to the door isn't gonna make 'em come back any faster." Sam reasoned.
"Aren't you the least bit curious about what is taking so long?"
"No I ain't."
Pippin looked at Sam and said, "Oh please, I know that's not true. You're terrified about what Lobelia's sister is doing to your Master. I don't blame you either, she's probably doing something horrible to him in there and poor Mer is to weak to stop her." Pippin said still listening intently at the door.
Sam got up quickly and pressed his ear to the door as well. "Can ya' hear anything, Mr. Pippin?"
"No, nothing yet-wait, I hear some voices."
"Me too. They're comin' closer." Sam backed away from the door and when he noticed Pippin was not following suit he said, "Mr. Pippin, you need t' get back. They're gonna open the door."
"Sam be quiet! I can't make out what they are saying."
"But-"
"Shhhh!"
It was too late. Before Sam could reach Pippin, the door opened causing Pippin to fall onto the first person to emerge through the door - Dora.
Dora screeched as she and Pippin both fell backwards onto Frodo, who was directly behind the healer. Merry looked on in shock as his two cousins and Dora fell on the floor. After a few seconds Pippin realized in horror that he was on top of Dora. He quickly got off of her as he saw the ever- increasing anger in her eyes. Merry helped to get Pippin off the ground, as Pippin continued to sputter apologies to Dora. In the chaos of things, Sam did not move till he heard his Master's moan of pain. Sam immediately helped Dora up and off of Frodo. At the moment, he was too focused on Frodo to notice Dora's growing anger.
"Mr. Frodo are you all right?" Sam said anxiously.
"I will be all right in minute or so. Is anyone else hurt?"
"No, sir. But Mr. Pippin might be if we don't calm Dr. Bracegirdle down. She is practically fuming."
"I am really sorry. It was an accident." Pippin said, half hiding behind Merry.
"I believe that you should leave, now!" Dora yelled.
Frodo stood up with the help of Sam and said sharply, "Hold on one minute! My cousin has apologized and you have yet to tell me what is wrong with Merry."
Pippin breathed in a sigh of relief as Dora's anger switched focus from him. She turned to Frodo and said, "Master Baggins, I have looked your cousin over and that he has nothing more than a cold. So I believe you should give me your pay and leave."
Sam sucked in a sharp breath as he felt Frodo begin to tremble with anger. "I can clearly see that a lack of consideration and politeness runs in the family!" He reached in his pocket and brought out some money and placed in roughly in her hand. "I hope this will suffice! Maybe you can use it to buy some of the things that your family continues to steal from me! I shall now take my cousin someplace where the healer has a little more sense!"
Merry, Pippin, and Sam took this as the cue to leave and did so quickly. Frodo moved to follow them, and then he turned once more to Dora and said stridently, "Good Day!" Shutting the door none too lightly.
~*On the road in Hobbiton*~
"What is the matter?" asked a very confused Ms. Chubb.
"I have no time to explain. I must know where Meriadoc is now!" Dr. Bunce said urgently.
"I left him in the care of Dr. Dora Bracegirdle."
"Is he alone?"
"No, he is with Master Baggins, his other cousin, and Master's Baggins' servant."
"I must go to them now, Ms. Chubb. I will explain things when I can. But until then you must stay here. Goodbye," she said as she rushed at the door. In her heart she felt a pang of fear, a fear of not knowing exactly what her eyes would see.
~*TBC*~
Summary:
A friendship where you would lay your life down for your friends, is the type of friendship that Sam, Merry, and Pippin have with Frodo. A friendship such as this doesn't start just anywhere. This pre-LotR story shows how friendship and sacrifice go hand. This story takes place five years after Bilbo's departure from the Shire.
A/N: h/c, angst, no slash.
Chapter 15 Summary: Ch. 15 up! Frodo and Merry fearfully await the return of Lobelia's Sister, Sam is still the voice of reason, Pippin suffers the consequences of ease dropping, and Dr. Bunce rushes to find Merry before it is too late.
To Everyone: I am glad I finally got this up and I am sorry for the wait. Next time this happens feel free to yell at me or make me feel really really guilty for not updating. Hope you all like it!
Aemilia Rose- I wanted to scare everyone a little with Frodo's 'little trick'. I had to let Frodo get a stab at Merry after having to put up with Merry's teasing. I wanted to let some of Frodo mischievousness show. Here is the chapter so you can now enjoy the whole thing, instead of pieces of it.
Birch tree- Yeah you caught up! Here is the new chapter you were looking forward to. It means a lot to me that you like my style. Considering this is my first attempt at a Fanfic I will need lots of encouragement.
Alisa Joy- The guilt of not updating started eating away at me after I realized how long it had been. You can now enjoy reading the 'eases in context and in their entirety. You will find out what happens to Merry in few more chapters and after a few for more twists :::smiles evilly:::
Bookworm- Hmm.relapse. We shall see about that. Frodo's little prank on Merry was my favorite part also and Merry is gullible despite what he may think.
MBradford- Thanks for getting this back to me so soon and please tell me when you are posting 'A Harvest of Ashes'. Yes, Merry did deserve it. You cannot beat the original prankster. I bet Lobelia's list would be very long and it probably would have everyone in the Shire on it at one point or another.
Obelia medusa- I glad that you also see Frodo with having a sense of humor. I just always saw him as being sarcastic and carefree before the quest, and I really want to portray that side of him in this story.
moonybabe- It was a slightly cruel joke, but Merry's incessant teasing deserved some retribution. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
FrodoBaggins87- I am pleased you like the story. We will see soon if your presumptions are right.
yahiko- Your review made me crack up! It was very funny. I do wish I could see people reactions when they read my cliffhangers. I know I have gone crazy a few (.or more) times when I read other peoples Fanfics. Writing cliffhangers is my revenge for suffering from all the evil cliffhangers I have read. It is all a vicious cycle.
Lizbit- I am glad you found my story and I hope you catch up soon!
Lemondrop- Trust me I have no problem with getting more reviewers. 'It's like ER meets Hobbiton' Wow that's great I never thought of it like that! Go Sam Fan! Thank you so much for review. I beat myself up over trying to get the hobbit portrayals right, because it is very disappointing for me to read a story with a good plot but poor character portrayal.
Ch.15
Of Broken Jars and Breaking Falls
"Do you think she forgot about us?" Merry said, staring up at the ceiling and tracing the lines of age from wall to wall.
"I almost wish she would," Frodo commented, resting his chin in his hands. "But I'm afraid that she hasn't forgotten about us and I doubt she will ever forget that I'm here. She probably called the Sackville-Baggines over to 'greet' us in our misery."
Frodo leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes with an exhausted yawn. "They never give me a moment's peace."
"Hey Frodo?"
"Hmm?"
"What do you think this is?" Merry said pointing at a deformed glass jar containing a dark-colored liquid, which was sitting in a half-opened cabinet.
Frodo, without opening his eyes said, "Don't touch it or bother with it."
Merry rolled his eyes at his cousin deep-seeded mistrust of him regarding such things. He wasn't a child anymore. He could be curious without causing trouble. Besides, his ever-growing boredom was far worse than the weakness and sickness he felt. He slowly got out of his chair, trying to adjust his sense of balance enough to walk straight. He went over to the cabinet where the jar was and opened the door quietly, so as not to disturb Frodo. He proceeded to pick up the jar with one hand. He seriously underestimated the weight of the jar and watched in horror as it slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.
The noise of the jar breaking woke Frodo with a start. He stood straight up and hit his head on the open cabinet. He groaned in pain and fell back into the seat.
"Meriadoc!"
"Oops! Sorry, Frodo. Are you all right?"
Frodo turned red with frustration and he looked straight at Merry. "Do I look all right? You've worried me so much with how sick you got and I saw you become delirious and faint," Frodo answered, listing the recent mishaps. "I got knocked out, I cut my head and it has been throbbing ever since, and we have caused such a scene in Hobbiton that I fear I will never hear the end of it." Frodo continued his diatribe as his cousin's looked on in silence. "We have both caused Sam and Pippin so much worry, and once things start to get better, I find out that we are coming here with Dora Bracegirdle to take care of us, you have knocked over a jar with who knows what in it, and I have hit my head again. Dora could be back any minute now, and you are wondering if I am all right?"
Frodo's features suddenly softened and his eyes began to water. "How can I just be 'all right', when I am sacred to death about what could be wrong with you. How can I just be 'all right', when I feel so helpless and I don't know what to do to help you."
Merry was speechless. He was fully prepared for and fully expected a verbal lashing, but the last thing he expected to see was Frodo, his rock, beginning to break down. Frodo hardly ever broke down or even got close to doing so. He was strong and always the voice of reason and authority when they were in tight situations. Merry still stood in utter shock. He did not know what to do; he had always been the one to be comforted, not the comforter.
As if Merry wasn't confused enough, Frodo's next action confused him even more. He was laughing! Frodo was laughing hysterically.
"Your face.that stupid looking jar and the cabinet and my head," Tears of mirth ran down Frodo's cheeks. "And I am in Lobelia's sister's office and she is our healer and-and you look. you look so distressed and befuddled. If-if you could only see yourself."
Once Merry was convinced that Frodo hadn't lost his wits entirely, he began to laugh also. "With the way things are going, Dora will probably be back any minute now."
Almost in unison Frodo and Merry's smiles disappeared, as they realized how true Merry's words were.
Frodo stood up and started opening up cabinets. "We need to get this cleaned up before Dora gets back, if we value our lives. Help me look for something to clean this up with."
They looked through the cabinets with incredible speed. Frodo found some old cloths that he used to clean up the liquid and pick up the glass. Merry opened one cabinet and was relieved to find that it held helpful items like soap. But there was one thing odd about the cabinet. Along with the cleaning supplies there was one silver spoon lying on a cloth.
"Frodo, look at this."
"Look at what?"
"The spoon."
"Merry, it is just a spoon. What is the-" Frodo stopped in the middle of his sentence as he picked up the spoon and looked at it. He saw, as clear as day, the engraved initials B.B on the silver spoon. "This is one of Bilbo's spoons, I have some exactly like it at Bag End. He always said that Lobelia stole them when she came over for tea. And they say Bilbo was cracked? I'd hate to think about how many of our utensils Lobelia has at her house."
"Hurry Frodo! I think she's coming back. Just put the spoon in your coat."
Merry and Frodo closed all the cabinets and sat down just as the door began to open. Merry quickly noted that a huge piece of glass was still on the floor.
"Frodo!" Merry said contritely and quietly.
Frodo kicked the jar under the table mere seconds before the door opened and Dora entered. She looked back and forth between them suspiciously as she noted that they both looked like they had just run to the South Farthing and back. Still eyeing them suspiciously, she walked over to Frodo with a cloth in her hand that smelled of something medicinal.
"I need to clean the wound. This might hurt."
Merry smiled and said jokingly, "Do you want me to hold your hand?"
"Merry! That is not-"
Frodo stopped mid-sentence when Dora placed the cloth on the gash. Frodo grimaced as the antiseptic seeped into the wound. He felt like his head was burning, a sensation that made him lightheaded. Through his ordeal he fancied that he saw the healer grinning with satisfaction at his pain.
"The burning should go away shortly, but right now I am going to dress the wound with this patch. It works like a miniaturized tourniquet. It will pull at your skin and probably hurt for a couple of days, but you must not remove it or touch it."
Dora left Frodo biting his bottom lip in pain, to check Merry over. "Open!" She said to Merry, gesturing for him to open his mouth and let her look at his throat. He complied quickly, unwilling to test her patience.
She poked and prodded with a flat instrument in Merry's mouth, exclaiming various orders such as, "Open wider!" "Cough!" "Take a deep breath!" "Again!" "Stop moving!" "Be still!" "Close!" She continued her examination to the point where Merry felt he could take no more.
"Ok that's done with. Both of you come back to the waiting room with me."
~*The waiting room*~
"Mr. Pippin, you should just come and sit back down. Pressing your ear to the door isn't gonna make 'em come back any faster." Sam reasoned.
"Aren't you the least bit curious about what is taking so long?"
"No I ain't."
Pippin looked at Sam and said, "Oh please, I know that's not true. You're terrified about what Lobelia's sister is doing to your Master. I don't blame you either, she's probably doing something horrible to him in there and poor Mer is to weak to stop her." Pippin said still listening intently at the door.
Sam got up quickly and pressed his ear to the door as well. "Can ya' hear anything, Mr. Pippin?"
"No, nothing yet-wait, I hear some voices."
"Me too. They're comin' closer." Sam backed away from the door and when he noticed Pippin was not following suit he said, "Mr. Pippin, you need t' get back. They're gonna open the door."
"Sam be quiet! I can't make out what they are saying."
"But-"
"Shhhh!"
It was too late. Before Sam could reach Pippin, the door opened causing Pippin to fall onto the first person to emerge through the door - Dora.
Dora screeched as she and Pippin both fell backwards onto Frodo, who was directly behind the healer. Merry looked on in shock as his two cousins and Dora fell on the floor. After a few seconds Pippin realized in horror that he was on top of Dora. He quickly got off of her as he saw the ever- increasing anger in her eyes. Merry helped to get Pippin off the ground, as Pippin continued to sputter apologies to Dora. In the chaos of things, Sam did not move till he heard his Master's moan of pain. Sam immediately helped Dora up and off of Frodo. At the moment, he was too focused on Frodo to notice Dora's growing anger.
"Mr. Frodo are you all right?" Sam said anxiously.
"I will be all right in minute or so. Is anyone else hurt?"
"No, sir. But Mr. Pippin might be if we don't calm Dr. Bracegirdle down. She is practically fuming."
"I am really sorry. It was an accident." Pippin said, half hiding behind Merry.
"I believe that you should leave, now!" Dora yelled.
Frodo stood up with the help of Sam and said sharply, "Hold on one minute! My cousin has apologized and you have yet to tell me what is wrong with Merry."
Pippin breathed in a sigh of relief as Dora's anger switched focus from him. She turned to Frodo and said, "Master Baggins, I have looked your cousin over and that he has nothing more than a cold. So I believe you should give me your pay and leave."
Sam sucked in a sharp breath as he felt Frodo begin to tremble with anger. "I can clearly see that a lack of consideration and politeness runs in the family!" He reached in his pocket and brought out some money and placed in roughly in her hand. "I hope this will suffice! Maybe you can use it to buy some of the things that your family continues to steal from me! I shall now take my cousin someplace where the healer has a little more sense!"
Merry, Pippin, and Sam took this as the cue to leave and did so quickly. Frodo moved to follow them, and then he turned once more to Dora and said stridently, "Good Day!" Shutting the door none too lightly.
~*On the road in Hobbiton*~
"What is the matter?" asked a very confused Ms. Chubb.
"I have no time to explain. I must know where Meriadoc is now!" Dr. Bunce said urgently.
"I left him in the care of Dr. Dora Bracegirdle."
"Is he alone?"
"No, he is with Master Baggins, his other cousin, and Master's Baggins' servant."
"I must go to them now, Ms. Chubb. I will explain things when I can. But until then you must stay here. Goodbye," she said as she rushed at the door. In her heart she felt a pang of fear, a fear of not knowing exactly what her eyes would see.
~*TBC*~