Disclaimer: In this story, I do not own the characters created by J.R.R
Tolkien.
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.
Author Notes: 100 reviews! :::does a double take like when Pippin looks at Treebeard for the first time::: 100 reviews! Wow, how did that happen?
FrodoBaggins87- If you were looking forward to action, you got it!
Bookworm2000- I feel bad for Pippin and I didn't think about how he would almost lose Merry again in RotK. Poor thing, I am so cruel! I love the soundtrack even more after seeing the movie (4 times so far). Now whenever I listen to the soundtrack I see the scene in the movie where it was played. That is the next best thing to actually seeing it! I cannot see many ways that a relative of Lobelia could turn out nice (except for Frodo and Bilbo of course).
Aemilia Rose- Merry and the others will definitely need lots of hugs before this is over! You shall see soon enough what will happen with our beloved Merry.
Yahiko- The cliffhanger in this chapter is probably worse, so please don't hurt me too badly.
Ailsa Joy- Cliffhangers are very cruel, but they are so fun to write. :::laughs maniacally::: Frodo is amazingly calm and brave considering the circumstances. I would definitely be freaking out if I were him.
Harper's Pixie- I am big on suspense. It is so fun to write. "Into the West" is really growing on me. My best friend is making me love it. We started singing as we left the theater after seeing RotK for the third time. We got some odd looks from people, but who cares. I am obsessed and proud of it!
Obelia medusa- We might break the cycle one day, but I really love the fact that I know I get to read another chapter of Anchored after you review my story. Who needs author alerts when you have this system we created? I add he part where Frodo ridiculed Sam about a healer turning up, because it is something that typically happens to me. My life is living example of irony and situational comedy. That is where I get a lot of my ideas. There will lots and lots of angst to come! I believe my exams went well, but I wont be able to know till I get back to school. Yes, I have seen RotK four times. It was so good and it takes multiple viewings to take it all in.
Birch tree- Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it!
Ch. 17
The Race to Bywater
"No one is going to hurt you. It's all right. I won't let anyone hurt you. Shhh. you'll be better soon." Frodo murmured into his cousin's ear as Merry's delirium began to take control once again.
Pippin sat next to his cousins feeling utterly useless and helpless as Merry tensed and fought against Frodo's sturdy, but gentle grip. Pippin methodically wiped Merry's sweat drenched brow every few minutes with a damp cloth.
The journey had so far been trying for everyone. Darkness was falling fast and with it Merry's condition worsened. His even and deep breaths slowly became raspy and shallow. The sudden onslaught of illness made everyone aware of the severity of their predicament. Frodo knew Merry needed help soon and until Merry got that help Frodo held his cousin close, as if hoping to give Merry his own strength.
Sam was suffering terribly by just seeing his master's face filled with anguish. He felt helpless about the situation, knowing that Frodo would only smile again when Merry was better. This was something that Sam wished with all of his heart to happen, but he had no idea how to accomplish it. His train of thought was suddenly broken by the sound of Frodo's voice.
"Dr. Bunce, how much farther? He's getting worse."
"We'll be there shortly. I had sent word to Dr. Bolger earlier to be prepared for us in case things came to this. He knows much more about the disease than I. He will know how to help your cousin so you should try to relax while you can. Keep him cool and calm. His fever must not get too high." Dr. Bunce answered.
Pippin turned to Frodo and said, "Cousin, you can let me hold Merry for awhile. You should rest, you look so tired."
"Thanks Pip, but it's all right. I will hold him for now and I can sleep later."
"Mr. Frodo, how is your head?" Sam said as Frodo's gash caught his eye.
"Oh Sam, do stop fretting over me. I'm fine. Dora didn't poison me, and we Bagginses are hard to kill." Frodo said with a grin.
"That's good, sir, because I couldn't stand havin' Lobelia or her horrid son Lotho as my neighbors."
Frodo laughed despite his ever-present despair; a laugh that warmed Sam's heart and caused hope to surge through him. Sam reflected quietly on this. He did not know how Frodo did it and he doubted Frodo even knew that he did, but he always gave Sam hope and a will to persevere despite the odds. It was at that very moment when time stood still, that Sam knew with all his heart a truth that had always been in him. Sam knew that he would follow Frodo down any path and to whatever end.
~*~Bywater~*~
Dr. Bolger felt a sense of responsibility and guilt overcome him. He had to save this hobbit. He could not relive his past, the past that still haunted him to this day. The day he talked at the meeting of the healers he did not tell the full truth of all those days past. The truth was something that has always stayed with him. His pride had always overpowered his conscience when he tried to tell the full truth of what happened.
~*~On the Road~*~
"Pippin?"
"Yes, Frodo?"
"Will you hold on to Merry? I need to talk to Dr. Bunce."
"Alright, cousin. But what are you going-"
Frodo interrupted, "-Don't worry about it Pip. Just hold onto Merry. He is sleeping now so he shouldn't be much of a problem."
Pippin looked at him quizzically, but did not push the issue. Sam watched his master carefully as he got up. Sam's keen senses prepared him to be ready to assist at the next second, if Frodo should stumble.
Pippin and Sam tried their best to listen to the conservation, but Frodo and Dr. Bunce were whispering and were just out of earshot.
"Dr. Bunce?" Frodo said quietly.
"Yes, Master Baggins."
"I want you to be completely honest with me. I see that something troubles you, and I want to know what it is." Frodo said quietly.
"I am not sure I know what you mean." Dr. Bunce said coolly.
Anger flashed in Frodo's eyes, "I am no fool, Dr. Bunce. Don't think I don't know that something is going on. It would be best to tell me what is wrong now and to stop dancing around the issue. As you said, time is something we do not have."
Seeing that there was no way to avoid it, Dr. Bunce relented. "I am worried that .if there is another case." She breathed deeply and said almost inaudibly, "I am worried what will happen if someone else has the disease. There is only one antidote."
"Is there no way to duplicate it?" Frodo asked urgently.
"I am afraid not. The-"
"Dr. Bunce, over here!" Dr. Bolger yelled from down the road. Despite his old age, he quickly reached the cart. He grabbed the bridle of the small and tired pony to stop the cart. "Does the patient have Ramora Fever?" Dr. said breathlessly.
"Yes, he is in the back of the cart." Dr. Bunce said getting out of the cart.
Pippin and Sam carefully lifted Merry out of the cart and onto the soft grass, for Dr. Bolger to examine. Dr. Bolger looked closely at Merry's rash, feeling Pippin and Sam's eyes scrutinizing his every move.
"He does indeed have Ramora Fever." Dr. Bolger said sadly. "Hurry we need to get him inside my home immediately."
Pippin and Dr. Bunce picked Merry up from the ground to follow Dr. Bolger to the small smial.
"Mr. Frodo, lets go." Sam said quickly without turning to Frodo.
"Mr. Frodo?" Sam turned and said, when Frodo did not move or speak. He noticed that Frodo was standing next to the cart, looking ghastly pale and he was breathing hard.
"Mr. Frodo are you-" His sentence was cut short.
Frodo's eyes rolled up into his head and he fell limply to the ground.
"Help!" Sam yelled in sheer panic as he rushed to Frodo. He turned Frodo over on his back and started calling his name urgently. Tears streamed down his face as no answer came from his unconscious master. To Sam's relief Frodo was breathing, but his breaths were shallow and labored.
Dr. Bolger reached Frodo and Sam first. He felt Frodo's pulse, which was sluggish. Dr. Bunce and Pippin reached them soon after. Pippin felt as if the world was falling down on top of him as he heard Sam's cry and saw Frodo unmoving on the ground. He was torn between not letting go of Merry and running over to Frodo. His dilemma was settled when Dr. Bunce ordered him to stay with Merry, while she ran to Frodo.
"Did you not check them all?" Said Dr. Bolger, his voice laced with anger.
Before Dr. Bunce could answer, Dr. Bolger removed Frodo's shirt. He looked at Frodo's shoulders and turned his head to Dr. Bunce to speak.
"He has Ramora Fever also."
~*TBC*~
Attention: Everyone, if you can please check out the poem I wrote. The poem is called 'The Sparkle of a Disappearing Moon'. It is about Sam's fight with Shelob and finding his inner strength despite his grief over Frodo.
Also: If you all like when I do the previews for the next chapters, I will continue to do them. They are slightly annoying to write, but if you like them, I will include them.
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.
Author Notes: 100 reviews! :::does a double take like when Pippin looks at Treebeard for the first time::: 100 reviews! Wow, how did that happen?
FrodoBaggins87- If you were looking forward to action, you got it!
Bookworm2000- I feel bad for Pippin and I didn't think about how he would almost lose Merry again in RotK. Poor thing, I am so cruel! I love the soundtrack even more after seeing the movie (4 times so far). Now whenever I listen to the soundtrack I see the scene in the movie where it was played. That is the next best thing to actually seeing it! I cannot see many ways that a relative of Lobelia could turn out nice (except for Frodo and Bilbo of course).
Aemilia Rose- Merry and the others will definitely need lots of hugs before this is over! You shall see soon enough what will happen with our beloved Merry.
Yahiko- The cliffhanger in this chapter is probably worse, so please don't hurt me too badly.
Ailsa Joy- Cliffhangers are very cruel, but they are so fun to write. :::laughs maniacally::: Frodo is amazingly calm and brave considering the circumstances. I would definitely be freaking out if I were him.
Harper's Pixie- I am big on suspense. It is so fun to write. "Into the West" is really growing on me. My best friend is making me love it. We started singing as we left the theater after seeing RotK for the third time. We got some odd looks from people, but who cares. I am obsessed and proud of it!
Obelia medusa- We might break the cycle one day, but I really love the fact that I know I get to read another chapter of Anchored after you review my story. Who needs author alerts when you have this system we created? I add he part where Frodo ridiculed Sam about a healer turning up, because it is something that typically happens to me. My life is living example of irony and situational comedy. That is where I get a lot of my ideas. There will lots and lots of angst to come! I believe my exams went well, but I wont be able to know till I get back to school. Yes, I have seen RotK four times. It was so good and it takes multiple viewings to take it all in.
Birch tree- Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it!
Ch. 17
The Race to Bywater
"No one is going to hurt you. It's all right. I won't let anyone hurt you. Shhh. you'll be better soon." Frodo murmured into his cousin's ear as Merry's delirium began to take control once again.
Pippin sat next to his cousins feeling utterly useless and helpless as Merry tensed and fought against Frodo's sturdy, but gentle grip. Pippin methodically wiped Merry's sweat drenched brow every few minutes with a damp cloth.
The journey had so far been trying for everyone. Darkness was falling fast and with it Merry's condition worsened. His even and deep breaths slowly became raspy and shallow. The sudden onslaught of illness made everyone aware of the severity of their predicament. Frodo knew Merry needed help soon and until Merry got that help Frodo held his cousin close, as if hoping to give Merry his own strength.
Sam was suffering terribly by just seeing his master's face filled with anguish. He felt helpless about the situation, knowing that Frodo would only smile again when Merry was better. This was something that Sam wished with all of his heart to happen, but he had no idea how to accomplish it. His train of thought was suddenly broken by the sound of Frodo's voice.
"Dr. Bunce, how much farther? He's getting worse."
"We'll be there shortly. I had sent word to Dr. Bolger earlier to be prepared for us in case things came to this. He knows much more about the disease than I. He will know how to help your cousin so you should try to relax while you can. Keep him cool and calm. His fever must not get too high." Dr. Bunce answered.
Pippin turned to Frodo and said, "Cousin, you can let me hold Merry for awhile. You should rest, you look so tired."
"Thanks Pip, but it's all right. I will hold him for now and I can sleep later."
"Mr. Frodo, how is your head?" Sam said as Frodo's gash caught his eye.
"Oh Sam, do stop fretting over me. I'm fine. Dora didn't poison me, and we Bagginses are hard to kill." Frodo said with a grin.
"That's good, sir, because I couldn't stand havin' Lobelia or her horrid son Lotho as my neighbors."
Frodo laughed despite his ever-present despair; a laugh that warmed Sam's heart and caused hope to surge through him. Sam reflected quietly on this. He did not know how Frodo did it and he doubted Frodo even knew that he did, but he always gave Sam hope and a will to persevere despite the odds. It was at that very moment when time stood still, that Sam knew with all his heart a truth that had always been in him. Sam knew that he would follow Frodo down any path and to whatever end.
~*~Bywater~*~
Dr. Bolger felt a sense of responsibility and guilt overcome him. He had to save this hobbit. He could not relive his past, the past that still haunted him to this day. The day he talked at the meeting of the healers he did not tell the full truth of all those days past. The truth was something that has always stayed with him. His pride had always overpowered his conscience when he tried to tell the full truth of what happened.
~*~On the Road~*~
"Pippin?"
"Yes, Frodo?"
"Will you hold on to Merry? I need to talk to Dr. Bunce."
"Alright, cousin. But what are you going-"
Frodo interrupted, "-Don't worry about it Pip. Just hold onto Merry. He is sleeping now so he shouldn't be much of a problem."
Pippin looked at him quizzically, but did not push the issue. Sam watched his master carefully as he got up. Sam's keen senses prepared him to be ready to assist at the next second, if Frodo should stumble.
Pippin and Sam tried their best to listen to the conservation, but Frodo and Dr. Bunce were whispering and were just out of earshot.
"Dr. Bunce?" Frodo said quietly.
"Yes, Master Baggins."
"I want you to be completely honest with me. I see that something troubles you, and I want to know what it is." Frodo said quietly.
"I am not sure I know what you mean." Dr. Bunce said coolly.
Anger flashed in Frodo's eyes, "I am no fool, Dr. Bunce. Don't think I don't know that something is going on. It would be best to tell me what is wrong now and to stop dancing around the issue. As you said, time is something we do not have."
Seeing that there was no way to avoid it, Dr. Bunce relented. "I am worried that .if there is another case." She breathed deeply and said almost inaudibly, "I am worried what will happen if someone else has the disease. There is only one antidote."
"Is there no way to duplicate it?" Frodo asked urgently.
"I am afraid not. The-"
"Dr. Bunce, over here!" Dr. Bolger yelled from down the road. Despite his old age, he quickly reached the cart. He grabbed the bridle of the small and tired pony to stop the cart. "Does the patient have Ramora Fever?" Dr. said breathlessly.
"Yes, he is in the back of the cart." Dr. Bunce said getting out of the cart.
Pippin and Sam carefully lifted Merry out of the cart and onto the soft grass, for Dr. Bolger to examine. Dr. Bolger looked closely at Merry's rash, feeling Pippin and Sam's eyes scrutinizing his every move.
"He does indeed have Ramora Fever." Dr. Bolger said sadly. "Hurry we need to get him inside my home immediately."
Pippin and Dr. Bunce picked Merry up from the ground to follow Dr. Bolger to the small smial.
"Mr. Frodo, lets go." Sam said quickly without turning to Frodo.
"Mr. Frodo?" Sam turned and said, when Frodo did not move or speak. He noticed that Frodo was standing next to the cart, looking ghastly pale and he was breathing hard.
"Mr. Frodo are you-" His sentence was cut short.
Frodo's eyes rolled up into his head and he fell limply to the ground.
"Help!" Sam yelled in sheer panic as he rushed to Frodo. He turned Frodo over on his back and started calling his name urgently. Tears streamed down his face as no answer came from his unconscious master. To Sam's relief Frodo was breathing, but his breaths were shallow and labored.
Dr. Bolger reached Frodo and Sam first. He felt Frodo's pulse, which was sluggish. Dr. Bunce and Pippin reached them soon after. Pippin felt as if the world was falling down on top of him as he heard Sam's cry and saw Frodo unmoving on the ground. He was torn between not letting go of Merry and running over to Frodo. His dilemma was settled when Dr. Bunce ordered him to stay with Merry, while she ran to Frodo.
"Did you not check them all?" Said Dr. Bolger, his voice laced with anger.
Before Dr. Bunce could answer, Dr. Bolger removed Frodo's shirt. He looked at Frodo's shoulders and turned his head to Dr. Bunce to speak.
"He has Ramora Fever also."
~*TBC*~
Attention: Everyone, if you can please check out the poem I wrote. The poem is called 'The Sparkle of a Disappearing Moon'. It is about Sam's fight with Shelob and finding his inner strength despite his grief over Frodo.
Also: If you all like when I do the previews for the next chapters, I will continue to do them. They are slightly annoying to write, but if you like them, I will include them.