Notes to Readers:
Please be sure to leave a review! They are very motivating, and each review you
leave entitles you to a free cup of cyber-tea in the parlour (The Muse and I do
try to make our guests feel welcome). What you are seeing here is the edited draft.
(Thanks to my editor who prefers to work behind the scenes.)
Thanks for the comments! How do you like your tea?
Bookworm, it does take time to heal, as you said, and Freddie's only been "safe"
for a couple of days. It just seems longer, what with posting a chapter every
other day and several chapters to cover the span of a day...
Aemilia, don't bite all your nails off! (advice from a recovering nail-biter)
Xena, thanks for another lovely review, hitting the highlights. Your comments
help me see each chapter through your eyes. *** I figure if Folco was counted
amongst Frodo's close friends he'd have to be an interesting character, even if
there was the barest mention of him in the book. *** BTW I'm sure the hobbits
appreciate your hugs.
Another chapter of "Runaway" is in the works and you'll see it as soon as we
can get it finished (Thanks, Jodancingtree! – she keeps knocking my socks off
with the snippets she sends me; wait, hobbits don't wear socks. Well, you know
what I mean). We are very close to the end in that story, though I cannot tell
you if the chapter under construction is the last or not. Expect the last
chapter of "Sunsets" on the morrow and another chapter of "Small and Passing
Thing" Monday, if all goes well. Thank you for your patience.
***
Chapter
12. Taking Up the Fight
Yet another healer was poking and prodding him. Freddy sighed but made no
protest, and this worried Rosamunda as well. Her son was half Took, and lived
up to his Tookish side in his disdain for healers, but at the moment he might
have been a helpless babe, so meekly he submitted.
'Well then, Master Fredegar,' Healer Grubb said, straightening up. 'You and I
have our work cut out for us and no mistake!' She motioned to Rosamunda. 'I
would speak to you over a cup of tea, perhaps, Mistress?'
'I'll keep watch,' Merry said. 'You go on.'
In the kitchen, Mrs Cotton brought the healer a cup of freshly-brewed tea.
'What is it, Anise?' she asked.
'Thankee,' the healer said, sipping the tea, then turned to the anxious mother.
'Your son is dying,' she said bluntly.
Rosamunda gasped and put her hand to her heart.
'You'd feared as much,' Anise Grubb said shrewdly. The brutal truth was needed
here if there was to be any hope of saving her patient. She was sure that
healers before her had sung the tune she was about to sing ("frequent, small
meals") but she was going to drive the message home before they killed Fredegar
with kindness.
'You told me yourself he's refusing more than a few bites of food,' she went
on. Rosamunda nodded. 'Well, that will not do at all. You must force
your son to eat, at least a teacupful every hour. You may allow him sleep two
or three hours at a stretch at night, but waken him several times in the night
to feed him as if he were a babe. I don't care what it takes to get the food
down him. If he doesn't eat he'll die.'
Frodo stepped up behind Rosamunda, taking up her hand in his. 'We'll all help,
cousin,' he said.
'Indeed we will,' Mistress Cotton said firmly, and Rose nodded.
'I have some tonic here,' the healer said, 'and you can give him a large dollop
in a cup of tea every hour, but it'll do him no good if he doesn't take food —
and warm milk with a touch of honey would be better than tea. Do I make myself
clear?' she said, gazing intently into the mother's eyes.
Rosamunda nodded slowly, her resolve hardening. 'Very clear,' she said firmly.
'You take a rest now, Mistress,' Mrs Cotton said firmly. 'You've been
travelling for days, and it won't do your son any good should you fall ill.
We'll manage the next few feedings.' She looked to her daughter. 'Rose, dish up
some of that apple compote we made today; it's good and fresh and flavourful.
I'll stir up a nice custard for his next meal.'
'A rest is a good idea,' Healer Grubb said, taking Rosamunda's arm and guiding
her from the kitchen. 'I'll just see you settled, and watch over Rose to see
how the apple compote goes, and then I'll stop in first thing on the morrow.'
'I am well,' Rosamunda's protest floated back to the others in the kitchen, but
evidently the old healer had her way for she returned alone, saying, 'Where's
that apple compote?'
'Right here,' Rose said, picking up the spoon and a clean cloth in one hand,
bowl in the other. The healer examined the apple compote with a critical eye
and gave a satisfied nod. 'I wouldn't mind a little of that myself when we're
through,' she said.
Freddy tried to turn away from the spoon, but Rose was merciless. 'I'm told you
like a saucy apple,' she said with a smile, determination in her tone, 'and
these are very saucy indeed.'
***
Odovacar stood in shock; his brother Rudivacar had the presence of mind to take
his arm, guide him to a chair and sit him down. 'Do you have a glass of water?'
he said urgently to Reginard.
Reginard quickly poured out a glassful from a pitcher on the side table and
brought it to them.
'Drink, brother,' Rudi urged. Odo shook his head, but Rudi pressed the glass
upon him until he drank just to have his brother leave off.
'Better?' Reginard said, eyeing the older hobbit closely.
'Yes, thank you,' Odo murmured. The others were glad to see colour slowly
returning to his face.
'What did you mean, Estella is not here?' Rudi pressed.
'Just what I said,' Reginard answered. He smiled faintly. 'Wouldn't you think
we'd have noticed, were she here?' Estella's lively spirit could hardly be
contained, after all. The last time the Bolgers had visited, she'd practically
turned the Great Smials on its head.
'But—' Odo said. He tried again. 'We sent her to Tookland.'
'Sent her to Tookland?' Reginard said slowly. His eyes narrowed. 'When?'
'Last Spring,' Rudi said. 'The Shire was becoming too dangerous for pretty
lasses, and Odo and Rosamunda were afraid someone would point out to the
ruffians that Rosa was a Took, which would put her and the children in danger.'
'None have passed the borders of Tookland but a few Tooks who stole out to
gather news,' Reginard said.
Rudi seized on this fact eagerly. 'That's right!' he said. 'Rosemary Bolger is
Rosamunda's niece, and Ferdibrand, her brother—'
'Rosemary Bolger is no longer a Took,' Reginard said. 'She was disowned by her
father when she married.'
'Rosemary's brother Ferdibrand,' Rudi continued doggedly, 'was said to visit
her periodically, to gather news.'
'Said by whom?' Reginard demanded.
Rudi shrugged. 'Does it matter?' he asked. 'Freddy found out somehow; even then
he was going out at night, to "inconvenience" the ruffians. He might have heard
of other hobbits doing the same thing.'
'Even if Ferdi were slipping out of Tookland he wouldn't have gone by his own
name,' Reginard said.
'No, he was known as "the Fox", I believe,' Rudi said.
Reginard nodded slowly. 'If you know that much, I suppose there's no use
denying it,' he conceded.
'Freddy took Estella to Rosemary Bolger's home,' Rudi said. 'Rosemary admitted
that Ferdi would visit soon, and that she'd impose upon him to take Estella
back into Tookland. That was the last we heard. Rosemary told us that she'd
send word only if something went wrong, that "no news" would be "good news".'
'I see,' Reginard said thoughtfully.
'Is Ferdibrand here, in the Smials?' Odo asked. 'May I speak with him?'
'He is here in the Smials,' Reginard said.
'Very well, then!' Rudi said. 'We'll talk to him, and he'll tell us what
happened to Estella!'
'If only it were that simple,' Reginard said ruefully.
'What do you mean?' Rudi asked, feeling Tookishly irritated, though he was
Bolger through and through.
Reginard took a deep breath, and sorrow was in his voice when next he spoke.
'Ferdibrand was badly injured in the Battle of Bywater,' he said. 'He is not
expected to live.'
***
'Where are you going?' Frodo asked Merry, seeing his cousin draw on his gloves
and settle his cloak about his shoulders after the healer took her leave.
'I told Pippin I'd meet him in the morning, to ride to Buckland,' Merry said.
'I thought you were going to spend the night in Bywater,' Frodo said, raising a
quizzical eyebrow. 'It's the middle of the night! Why don't you get a few hours
of sleep, first?'
'I'm not sleepy,' Merry countered. 'Besides, Pip was actually expecting me
earlier today, so I'm already a day late!' He glanced at Frodo. 'Why aren't you
in bed?'
'I had a nap earlier,' Frodo answered, 'which is more than I can say for you!'
Merry laughed. 'The solicitous older cousin!' he said. 'I'm not a babe, that
you have to send me off to bed, Frodo! I can take care of myself, honestly I
can.'
'You might start by sleeping,' Frodo said.
Merry shook his head. 'I'll sleep,' he said.
'When?' Frodo pressed.
'When I get to Tuckborough, undoubtedly. You're making me later with every
word. If I'm robbed of sleep, it will be your fault!'
'Merry—' Frodo began, but with another laugh, his cousin broke in.
'Watch over Freddy for me, will you?' he said. 'Tell him I'll be thinking of
him as we drive the ruffians out of the Shire.'
'Tell him yourself,' Frodo said, grabbing his arm. 'Merry, you don't want to
ride to Tookland in the dark. Don't you remember what Pippin said, about the
traps the Tooks laid for the ruffians? Your pony's likely to break a leg!'
Merry abruptly lost his smile. 'I hadn't thought of that,' he said.
'You should have,' Frodo said sternly. 'You're dropping on your feet. Go to
bed! First light is early enough to depart, and you'll have a fine breakfast
cooked by Rosie Cotton in the bargain.'
'Rosie Cotton's cooking,' Merry said thoughtfully. 'You can be very persuasive
when you set your mind to it, Mayor — er, I mean, cousin.'
'Go on with you,' Frodo said with irritation, but after Merry had taken himself
off to the bed made up for him by Mrs Cotton he chuckled softly.
Mrs. Cotton entered the kitchen to check on the custard in the oven. 'Set up
nicely,' she said with satisfaction. She cocked a sharp eye at Frodo. 'And why
are you not in bed, Mr Baggins?' she asked.
'I was waiting for a taste of that fine-smelling custard,' Frodo said candidly,
'and then I thought I'd take a turn feeding some of it to Freddy. I haven't had
the chance to badger him properly for ages.'
