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.
FrodoBaggins87- Thank You! I usually have difficulty writing emotional chapters, because I am such a perfectionist when it comes to capturing the emotions of the characters. Here is your update!
Leia Wood- Frodo won't die...yet! J/K Just ignore my teasing. I promise I won't kill Frodo; he still has Middle Earth to save.
EloraCooper4- Glad you enjoyed the literary stuff! My lit teacher would be so proud. That is so cool that you are a Lit. Major. I am going to major in Criminal Justice, but I want to do writing as a kind of side gig. I really played around with how Merry's reaction would be and I was enamored with the idea of him being in terrible anguish and being extremely frustrated at the same time. Thanks always for your insightful reviews!
Ailsa Joy- Thank you so much! It was hard to write a follow-up to a chapter like 'The Gift'. I was tearing up, while I wrote the Frodo and Merry scene. The emotional hobbit moments always get to me. Friendship is definitely the centerfold of this story as it is in the books and movies.
Obelia medusa- Yeah! I am so glad to hear from you and equally happy to find out that you updated Anchored. I will read and review it as soon as I can.
Ch. 21 The Confrontation
"Where are they?"
The gathering dark around Sam and Pippin was halted by the sound of Merry's firm and commanding voice.
"Well don't just sit and stare at me. Where are the healers?" he commanded once more.
"You don't have to be brave, cousin." Pippin said solemnly.
Merry's cheeks flushed red with frustration, "Pippin you need to—"
Pippin let out a cry as Merry stumbled forward. Sam also rushed to help, but Merry knocked their hands back and regained his composure.
"I am fine! I am just a bit dizzy, but please show me where the healers are."
Sam's heart sank further into despair. It was denial. Merry was trying to be the hero as in the old stories, the hero who found all the answers and always came through to save the day. But this was reality and a bitter one at that. There was not always an answer and the day could not always be saved. Life can be as cold as stone and time is constantly chipping away at it. Once time destroys what stone is left, life ceases to be. So is that it? Is life an inevitable and continuous cycle of death and despair? Or can the cold stone be warmed by a single ray of sunshine, by single a ray of hope?
Sam stared into Merry's determined eyes and he saw hope. As small as the flicker of hope was it was hope nonetheless. His despair was driven back and he pointed Merry in the direction of the healers.
"So this is how it ends. How do you feel now, Dr. Bunce? Your heroic intent of honesty has caused more pain for everyone!"
Her eyes flashed. "I hope you are not talking about us when you say 'everyone'. We are not the ones watching somebody we love die. Don't give me your self-righteous banter. I care for it as much as I care for you. No lie you can conceive will lessen the pain of what they are going through."
The anger in her voice softened and her tone dropped to a mere whisper as she continued, "They should have known sooner."
"For one accusing me of being self-righteous, you seem fairly smug yourself!"
"Oh don't you worry, Dr. Bolger! I know what I am going to have to live with."
The anger in Dr. Bolger's voice grew, as he spoke. "We wouldn't have had to live with anything if you had not been so moralistic. They would have never known that there was only one antidote, because in time there would not have been need for two antidotes. Cruel and unjust as it sounds my way still would have been less painful and more practical."
"Practical? Practical! Practicality has nothing to do with this situation! I cannot believe that you are still trying to justify your actions! You cannot—"
Dr. Bunce stopped mid-sentence in her diatribe. Everything grew incredibly tense as Dr. Bolger's stony gaze left her direction to focus on the two hobbits in the doorway. Merry leaned heavily against the doorframe with Pippin by his side supporting him.
Merry's gaze was fixed on Dr. Bolger as he spoke. "It is amazing what you can find out when people don't think you are listening. I had pieced a majority of the puzzle together by myself, but with your help it seems that I have been able to fit in the missing pieces. I was correct about there being two healers. I know Dr. Bunce, but I don't believe that I have met you, Dr..."
"Bolger. I am Dr. Bolger."
"Ah that's it, I do remember your name now. I remember Frodo using your name in a less than pleasant way. I actually remember a lot more than you would think. Everything was hazy and surreal and it wasn't until I woke that I knew what Frodo did for me." Merry's voice wavered. "I do apologize, it is hard for me to speak reasonably to you knowing that my cousin is in the other room dying. He is in much better hands than you right now; Sam is with him. I thought it best that he was not here while I spoke to you. He is far too clouded by his grief to even realize what you have done, but when he does realize I fear for you, because his wrath may be greater than mine."
Merry did his best to keep the anger that swirled in him at bay, but the more he spoke the more his grief and frustration consumed him. "Now I am going to give you my perception about the events that occurred after I fell unconscious in the cart. If I leave anything out please feel free to elaborate. Shortly after I fell unconscious you and Dr. Bunce discovered that Frodo had also contracted the disease. The problem with that was that you only had one antidote, so it was time for some decision-making and it was either Frodo or I. I have to give to some credit to you for being clever. You knew since I had my second relapse before Frodo, that the disease would kill me before it killed him. You told Frodo, Sam, and Pippin that you only had one antidote, but you also told them that you could duplicate it. It was a lie, but a very clever lie nonetheless. Now we get to the part where you found how to conceal your lie. You figured that I would die before you could 'finish' the other antidote, causing the story to end with you looking like the hero by saving Frodo and trying to save me. If only you put your mind to saving other people as well as you do saving yourself, then you could be the best healer in the Shire."
Dr. Bolger's face was as white as a fine linen sheet as Merry continued. "Something soon happened that you did not expect. Frodo somehow found out what you were up to, and when did he took the antidote and gave it to me. He sacrificed his life for mine! He is dying for me! I pity you, because you will never be the hobbit he is and no one will ever love you like Pippin, Sam and I love him!"
Merry broke off into tears and Dr. Bolger began to speak. "I am s—"
"I am not finished yet!" He shouted as he rubbed the tears from his eyes. "There is nothing you can say to ever redeem yourself in this situation, but there is something you can do to find redemption for yourself. First you must tell me how you got this antidote and everything you know about it."
Sam had never felt so helpless in his life, sitting, watching, waiting, but waiting for what? Frodo was lost in his delirium tossing to and fro, muttering things that Sam could not understand.
'Why won't you wake?' Sam thought, while putting his head in his hands. 'Why can't I—'
"Sam, Help me!" Came Frodo's desperate cry.
"Mr. Frodo!" Sam called in panic.
"SAM!"
Sam called Frodo's name once more, but no answer came just more unintelligible words. Sam's fear soon turned back into despair as he realized that Frodo was having another vivid nightmare.
Near tears, Sam gripped Frodo's hand and spoke pleadingly, "Mr. Frodo please wake up! Tell me what's hurtin' you. I can't save you, when I don't know what's hurtin' you! Please tell me what I need ta' fight ta' save you! Please...please don't leave your Sam."
Finding comfort in Sam's touch, Frodo soon fell back into a peaceful sleep. Visibly shaken from the sudden outburst, Sam continued stroking Frodo's hand as tears of uncertainty gently caressed his forlorn features.
Sam looked down at his sleeping master and said, "You gotta keep holdin' on Mr. Frodo, because I ain't letting go of you. And like me gaffer always says, 'Where there's life, there's hope' and as long as you are livin', Mr. Frodo, I'll keep hoping."
"...So shortly after Reginard Burrows' wife succumbed to the disease, Reginard made every effort to find a cure for himself and his son, Fosco." Dr. Bolger continued. "His hope was grim until the day he miraculously made a full recovery. You see, Reginard was a very intelligent hobbit and he speculated that there was something in his body that acted as an antidote to the disease. He believed that he had some sort of immunity to the disease that his wife did not. The actual method and ingredients of the antidote are not known to me, but I do know that he used a small portion of his blood in the concoction."
"Do you know nothing more about how Reginard made the antidote?" Merry asked distraughtly.
"I am afraid not."
"Well what happened to him and his son after he figured out how to make the antidote?" Merry pressed.
Dr. Bolger sighed, "The disease took Fosco's life before Reginard could give him the antidote. My mentor, Dr. Proudfoot, and myself bought the last two doses of the antidote from Reginard, not even knowing if it would work. But the antidote did work on the last victim of Ramora Fever, a little lass named Pearl Tussle, who later made a full recovery. Reginard quickly took what little he had left and ventured out of the Shire."
"Where did he go?" Merry's commanded.
"I don't know for sure. We didn't separate on the best of terms..."
"That somehow doesn't surprise me."
Dr. Bolger fired back, "I was not always as cold as you judge me to be. There was a time when I—" "Dr. Bolger, I don't care about what you have to say about yourself. I only want to know where Reginard went! Did he tell you anything else?"
Dr. Bolger paused, then continued. "He hinted that he was going to Bree, but that was over fifty years ago. There is no telling where he could be or even if he still lives. He would probably be in his 60's or 70's by now."
"I am going to need some provisions."
"What do you mean?" Dr Bolger questioned.
A grim smile formed on Merry's face and he spoke with a crisp, precise tone. "I am going to Bree."
TBC
Next Chapter- 'A Walking Party Formed' The journey to Bree begins as plans are set and problems arise.
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.
FrodoBaggins87- Thank You! I usually have difficulty writing emotional chapters, because I am such a perfectionist when it comes to capturing the emotions of the characters. Here is your update!
Leia Wood- Frodo won't die...yet! J/K Just ignore my teasing. I promise I won't kill Frodo; he still has Middle Earth to save.
EloraCooper4- Glad you enjoyed the literary stuff! My lit teacher would be so proud. That is so cool that you are a Lit. Major. I am going to major in Criminal Justice, but I want to do writing as a kind of side gig. I really played around with how Merry's reaction would be and I was enamored with the idea of him being in terrible anguish and being extremely frustrated at the same time. Thanks always for your insightful reviews!
Ailsa Joy- Thank you so much! It was hard to write a follow-up to a chapter like 'The Gift'. I was tearing up, while I wrote the Frodo and Merry scene. The emotional hobbit moments always get to me. Friendship is definitely the centerfold of this story as it is in the books and movies.
Obelia medusa- Yeah! I am so glad to hear from you and equally happy to find out that you updated Anchored. I will read and review it as soon as I can.
Ch. 21 The Confrontation
"Where are they?"
The gathering dark around Sam and Pippin was halted by the sound of Merry's firm and commanding voice.
"Well don't just sit and stare at me. Where are the healers?" he commanded once more.
"You don't have to be brave, cousin." Pippin said solemnly.
Merry's cheeks flushed red with frustration, "Pippin you need to—"
Pippin let out a cry as Merry stumbled forward. Sam also rushed to help, but Merry knocked their hands back and regained his composure.
"I am fine! I am just a bit dizzy, but please show me where the healers are."
Sam's heart sank further into despair. It was denial. Merry was trying to be the hero as in the old stories, the hero who found all the answers and always came through to save the day. But this was reality and a bitter one at that. There was not always an answer and the day could not always be saved. Life can be as cold as stone and time is constantly chipping away at it. Once time destroys what stone is left, life ceases to be. So is that it? Is life an inevitable and continuous cycle of death and despair? Or can the cold stone be warmed by a single ray of sunshine, by single a ray of hope?
Sam stared into Merry's determined eyes and he saw hope. As small as the flicker of hope was it was hope nonetheless. His despair was driven back and he pointed Merry in the direction of the healers.
"So this is how it ends. How do you feel now, Dr. Bunce? Your heroic intent of honesty has caused more pain for everyone!"
Her eyes flashed. "I hope you are not talking about us when you say 'everyone'. We are not the ones watching somebody we love die. Don't give me your self-righteous banter. I care for it as much as I care for you. No lie you can conceive will lessen the pain of what they are going through."
The anger in her voice softened and her tone dropped to a mere whisper as she continued, "They should have known sooner."
"For one accusing me of being self-righteous, you seem fairly smug yourself!"
"Oh don't you worry, Dr. Bolger! I know what I am going to have to live with."
The anger in Dr. Bolger's voice grew, as he spoke. "We wouldn't have had to live with anything if you had not been so moralistic. They would have never known that there was only one antidote, because in time there would not have been need for two antidotes. Cruel and unjust as it sounds my way still would have been less painful and more practical."
"Practical? Practical! Practicality has nothing to do with this situation! I cannot believe that you are still trying to justify your actions! You cannot—"
Dr. Bunce stopped mid-sentence in her diatribe. Everything grew incredibly tense as Dr. Bolger's stony gaze left her direction to focus on the two hobbits in the doorway. Merry leaned heavily against the doorframe with Pippin by his side supporting him.
Merry's gaze was fixed on Dr. Bolger as he spoke. "It is amazing what you can find out when people don't think you are listening. I had pieced a majority of the puzzle together by myself, but with your help it seems that I have been able to fit in the missing pieces. I was correct about there being two healers. I know Dr. Bunce, but I don't believe that I have met you, Dr..."
"Bolger. I am Dr. Bolger."
"Ah that's it, I do remember your name now. I remember Frodo using your name in a less than pleasant way. I actually remember a lot more than you would think. Everything was hazy and surreal and it wasn't until I woke that I knew what Frodo did for me." Merry's voice wavered. "I do apologize, it is hard for me to speak reasonably to you knowing that my cousin is in the other room dying. He is in much better hands than you right now; Sam is with him. I thought it best that he was not here while I spoke to you. He is far too clouded by his grief to even realize what you have done, but when he does realize I fear for you, because his wrath may be greater than mine."
Merry did his best to keep the anger that swirled in him at bay, but the more he spoke the more his grief and frustration consumed him. "Now I am going to give you my perception about the events that occurred after I fell unconscious in the cart. If I leave anything out please feel free to elaborate. Shortly after I fell unconscious you and Dr. Bunce discovered that Frodo had also contracted the disease. The problem with that was that you only had one antidote, so it was time for some decision-making and it was either Frodo or I. I have to give to some credit to you for being clever. You knew since I had my second relapse before Frodo, that the disease would kill me before it killed him. You told Frodo, Sam, and Pippin that you only had one antidote, but you also told them that you could duplicate it. It was a lie, but a very clever lie nonetheless. Now we get to the part where you found how to conceal your lie. You figured that I would die before you could 'finish' the other antidote, causing the story to end with you looking like the hero by saving Frodo and trying to save me. If only you put your mind to saving other people as well as you do saving yourself, then you could be the best healer in the Shire."
Dr. Bolger's face was as white as a fine linen sheet as Merry continued. "Something soon happened that you did not expect. Frodo somehow found out what you were up to, and when did he took the antidote and gave it to me. He sacrificed his life for mine! He is dying for me! I pity you, because you will never be the hobbit he is and no one will ever love you like Pippin, Sam and I love him!"
Merry broke off into tears and Dr. Bolger began to speak. "I am s—"
"I am not finished yet!" He shouted as he rubbed the tears from his eyes. "There is nothing you can say to ever redeem yourself in this situation, but there is something you can do to find redemption for yourself. First you must tell me how you got this antidote and everything you know about it."
Sam had never felt so helpless in his life, sitting, watching, waiting, but waiting for what? Frodo was lost in his delirium tossing to and fro, muttering things that Sam could not understand.
'Why won't you wake?' Sam thought, while putting his head in his hands. 'Why can't I—'
"Sam, Help me!" Came Frodo's desperate cry.
"Mr. Frodo!" Sam called in panic.
"SAM!"
Sam called Frodo's name once more, but no answer came just more unintelligible words. Sam's fear soon turned back into despair as he realized that Frodo was having another vivid nightmare.
Near tears, Sam gripped Frodo's hand and spoke pleadingly, "Mr. Frodo please wake up! Tell me what's hurtin' you. I can't save you, when I don't know what's hurtin' you! Please tell me what I need ta' fight ta' save you! Please...please don't leave your Sam."
Finding comfort in Sam's touch, Frodo soon fell back into a peaceful sleep. Visibly shaken from the sudden outburst, Sam continued stroking Frodo's hand as tears of uncertainty gently caressed his forlorn features.
Sam looked down at his sleeping master and said, "You gotta keep holdin' on Mr. Frodo, because I ain't letting go of you. And like me gaffer always says, 'Where there's life, there's hope' and as long as you are livin', Mr. Frodo, I'll keep hoping."
"...So shortly after Reginard Burrows' wife succumbed to the disease, Reginard made every effort to find a cure for himself and his son, Fosco." Dr. Bolger continued. "His hope was grim until the day he miraculously made a full recovery. You see, Reginard was a very intelligent hobbit and he speculated that there was something in his body that acted as an antidote to the disease. He believed that he had some sort of immunity to the disease that his wife did not. The actual method and ingredients of the antidote are not known to me, but I do know that he used a small portion of his blood in the concoction."
"Do you know nothing more about how Reginard made the antidote?" Merry asked distraughtly.
"I am afraid not."
"Well what happened to him and his son after he figured out how to make the antidote?" Merry pressed.
Dr. Bolger sighed, "The disease took Fosco's life before Reginard could give him the antidote. My mentor, Dr. Proudfoot, and myself bought the last two doses of the antidote from Reginard, not even knowing if it would work. But the antidote did work on the last victim of Ramora Fever, a little lass named Pearl Tussle, who later made a full recovery. Reginard quickly took what little he had left and ventured out of the Shire."
"Where did he go?" Merry's commanded.
"I don't know for sure. We didn't separate on the best of terms..."
"That somehow doesn't surprise me."
Dr. Bolger fired back, "I was not always as cold as you judge me to be. There was a time when I—" "Dr. Bolger, I don't care about what you have to say about yourself. I only want to know where Reginard went! Did he tell you anything else?"
Dr. Bolger paused, then continued. "He hinted that he was going to Bree, but that was over fifty years ago. There is no telling where he could be or even if he still lives. He would probably be in his 60's or 70's by now."
"I am going to need some provisions."
"What do you mean?" Dr Bolger questioned.
A grim smile formed on Merry's face and he spoke with a crisp, precise tone. "I am going to Bree."
TBC
Next Chapter- 'A Walking Party Formed' The journey to Bree begins as plans are set and problems arise.