Faces of War
Chapter 9: Discovering
Disclaimer: The characters in this story are the creations of J.R.R. Tolkein, I gain nothing from my adventures with his creations.....except the chance to have some fun!
Shire Baggins.....Yes, it seems the people taking care of Frodo would be well served to notify the King....but there is a mystery lurking towards the end of this chapter that will explain their rationale for Frodo's seclusion!
Iorhael....Thanks for your compliments....I do enjoy "angst" as well....and I like to create new characters to interact with the creations of J.R.R....it's a real "stretch" for me to try new types of dialogs and descriptions.....I would like to work on expanding my use of descriptors which portray the environment within which the story takes place....next story I guess!
The warmth of the night gave way to an pre-dawn drizzle, leaving a heavy and tired feeling in the air as the refugee camp woke up. Terren had spent the night sitting by his patient as the three orphans slept nearby. The close quarters of the camp allowed for very little privacy and he had struggled to minister to his patient as quietly as he could through the night. He regretted that his attempts to provide care for the ailing Hobbit caused him more pain, for as the teas and infusions he managed to get Frodo to drink accumulated, and the need to pass water became apparent, the halfings pain was nearly unbearable. He had found, after one such episode, that in order to quiet the Hobbit he'd had to gag him, the only way in which his arms could be free to still and soothe the pain wracked thrashings of his feverish patient. At one point, Rumeil had awakened and had wordlessly held Frodo in his arms, and after his need to pass water was finished Rumeil had quietly wiped the sweat from the pale brow of the Ringbearer and sung quietly to ease him back to his troubled sleep while Terren prepared more draughts of carefully steeped herbs. This went on all night, and with the exception of a brief respite from Rumeil, Terren had cared for Frodo alone. The elderly healer was exhausted and worried that if Frodo did not show signs of improving soon, that he would have to seek the help of the palace. He paled at the prospect of revealing himself to the authority of the city and worried about what would happen to the children of the camp if he were taken from them.
As morning came, Terren noticed that his patients pain and restlessness seemed to be lessening, and as he checked once more the dressing that stopped the bleeding, he saw to his great relief that the bleeding had stopped. He changed the dressing once more and very gently rolled Frodo to his back, he was pleased to note that his forehead seemed cooler. He grabbed the Hobbit's slender hand and sought to find his pulse and was startled when he felt his patient grasp him in return. "You are not Sam" a whispered and lilting voice, heavy with pain and fatigue murmured. Terren looked to his patient's face and noted how the Halfling was struggling to open his eyes. "No sir" he replied "I'm not, I'm Terren, a healer in the camp" he said softly in reply. Frodo licked his dry lips wearily "and a very skilled one" he whispered "thank you for your kindness." Terren nodded as he looked down to the pale face below him, where Frodo clenched his eyes in pain as he tried top lift his head and open his eyes "easy there sir" Terren said soothingly " 'tis I should be thanking you after yer help at the Market, why with out you I don't know what woulda become of our Rosetta....'tis a wonder you were so quick". Frodo managed at last to open his eyes and he stared in wonder at the healer beside him "she is all right then?" he asked worriedly "She was not harmed in any way?" he asked once more. Terren stared in astonishment at the clear beauty of the wide blue eyes, enormous eyes whose color lit up the features of the pale face and were in stark contrast to his dark and matted curls. The healer tried not to stare, but he'd never seen a face so fair, so gentle....nor a gaze so intense. "No Sir" Terren finally managed to whisper in return. Frodo closed his eyes, relief evident in the relaxing of the lines of worry that had formed about his eyes. "I was on my way to here to check upon her...." Frodo looked to Terren "I needed to know...." he paused once more to lick his dry lips and his voice grew raspy " that she was not harmed, that she was..." Frodo coughed weakly and Terren held out a cup of water which the Hobbit accepted and sipped from.."safe" he finished. "That she is Sir, thanks ta you...now how are you faring after....after yer time with the ruffians?" Terren finished delicately.
Frodo paled and clenched his eyes closed as a chill seemed to run through him, he trembled at the memory of his abuse, a silent tear coursing down his thin cheek. "Sir?" Terren asked "I mean ya no disrespect, but as a healer I need ta know of yer pains" he finished gently. Frodo nodded slowly and turned his head away from the healer to examine the ceiling above him " I shall survive to defeat the lust of animals once again it would seem." Frodo said in a sad and quiet voice. Terren wondered at the 'once again' portion of the hobbit's reply, but chose not to pursue it as he continued to check on the health of his patient. "Here sir, ye must keep drinking these infusions to aid yer insides as they heal from yer bleeding." Frodo sighed heavily at the mention of 'drinking', he turned his gaze to the healers face and whispered brokenly "I am so shamed by all that you've had to see, and all that you've done to help me. " he paused to take a deep breath, to steady himself "it seems I must be reduced once more, for with all your infusions I sorely need to pass water and I know how it will pain me." Frodo paused as he looked about at the sleeping figures around him, his gaze lingering upon the blond curls all but buried under a thin blanket. "Do you have something that I may bite upon to take the edge from the pain?" Terren looked about and came up with a folded rag, he placed it in the hobbits mouth and Frodo gestured that he was ready. Terren rolled Frodo to his side, sat him up a bit and slid the privy pot under the blanket to afford the Hobbit what privacy he could. The weary Hobbit bit down upon the cloth, tears coming to his eyes as he clenched his teeth in his agony. As the pain of his efforts faded he shuddered and collapsed weakly against the healer, eyes closed and his breaths coming in little ragged gasps as Terren examined the contents of the pot. The healer smiled and squeezed the hobbit's shoulder reassuringly " 'tis the best yet Sir, yer on the mend. Frodo smiled weakly and attempted to push himself up to his elbows, but still weakened from his fever, he collapsed and stared at Terren . "I think that under the circumstances, we'd best dispense with the 'Sir'....I am called Frodo, Frodo Baggins, Hobbit of the Shire." Terren smiled warmly in return "it 'tis an honor Sir, eh I mean Frodo. I am called Terren and these are Rosetta, Rumeil and Kylos....orphans of the great war." Frodo nodded slowly, a great weariness overcoming him, he said " I know them from my dreams"he whispered as he fell prey once more to his fevered body's need for sleep. Terren stared hard at the Hobbit beside him ' he is gifted with the sight of the future' he thought to himself as he waited for the children to wake and start their day.
Sam wandered once again towards the kitchens of the palace. His mind was lost to self recrimination and he berated himself once again for his words with Frodo after the incident at the market. ' Samwise', he thought to himself 'if ye'd only stopped and tried ta see his troubles, asked him about what he saw in his mind...ye'd not be missin' now I'd wager'. He leaned weakly against the wall, his worries making his legs tremble 'I am every bit the ninnyhammer the Gaffer says I am.' He pursed his lips and hardened his expression as he continued on his way ' think Samwise, think....there must be somethin' yer missin' '. As he entered the kitchen he shook his head ' 'tis no good, me heads never been the best part 'o me'.
His sad countenance drew the attention of Jana, the cheerful scullery maid. "No long faces in 'ere Master Samwise" she said as she guided him to a bench by the enormous hearth. "I been thinking" the maid continued "on what ye asked us yesterday and I talked over yer notions with me Ma...and she told me where me Grand Da is!" Sam looked to the red cheeked maid with a puzzled expression " 'tis a nice tale ta hear I'm sure Jana, its jest that I don't have the heart right now ta listen ta the tales 'o others when my Mr. Frodo is missin'." The Hobbit said sadly as he looked at his hands. Jana grabbed his hand as she urged him to listen "now Master Samwise, ye need ta listen, mayhap this tale will help ya find yer Mr. Frodo. Sam was suddenly attentive and he squeezed the maids hand back as he urged her to tell her tale, a look of hope shining in his warm brown eyes.
Jana began, "me Ma never told me of where me Grand Da went after the Steward forced him from his job as a healer. Ya see he was a skilled man of herbs and a healer ta the Steward until he voiced his thoughts on a treatment Lord Denethor wanted fer his son Faramir at the beginning 'o the war." She looked around carefully, not wanting the others in the kitchen to know her family secrets, when she was satisfied that none were listening, she continued. "When the Lord Faramir returned ta the city after his time in Ithilien, after he'd a met up with you and Master Frodo, Lord Denethor ordered me Grand Da ta to prepare a draught 'o herbs that'd loosen Faramir's tongue and allow the Steward ta get some information from him. Well, 'e ordered the draught put in ta Lord Faramir's wine at dinner that night." Sam was aghast "ye mean he'd drug 'is own son ta seek his wicked truths?" Jana nodded sadly " 'twas after the death 'o Lord Boromir when the Steward became so fixed on findin' some way 'o winning the war 'e knew ta be coming....Lord Denethor had a fair mean temper, so me Grand Da didn't want ta aid the Steward in what he knew ta be wrong....but he didn't want ta anger the Steward neither." She said, sorrow etched in her brow. "What did 'e do then?" Sam asked anxiously. Jana leaned in close to Sam's ear " 'e lied 'e did...'e pretended ta put somethin' into Lord Faramir's drink, but 'e didn't really...and ta finish me tale, the Steward was right angry when he found out and he had me Grand Da banished from the city...not allowin' any ta have contact with under pain 'o death." Sam furrowed his brow and said angrily "then ya weren't allowed ta see 'im?" Jana shook her head and sighed "no sir, me Ma even went so far as ta tellin' me he'd been sent ta the battles....and since we 'adn't heard from 'im we thought 'e'd died." Sam looked at her face carefully, looking for signs of grief, and he asked tentatively " 'e isn't dead is he?". Jana smiled and continued triumphantly "after yer talk with us 'ere in the kitchen I went and talked with me Ma...and she, well she 'ad jest found out from a boy name 'o Kylos that her Da was alive, and'e's a healer in the refugee camps down ta the river."
Sam jumped up and grabbed both of the maids hands and kissed 'em in his joy. He was about to run to the King when Jana stopped him, a sad look upon her ruddy cheeks "Master Samwise, the King'll 'ave ta pardon 'im...ta take back the orders 'o banishment and such fer ye ta find 'im...or 'e'll stay hidden in the camps." Sam grinned, "I know this King 'tis a forgivin' sort...rest yer worries Jana" he said as he turned to run from the room. He was stopped once more by the scullery maid "don't ye want ta know 'is name then?" she asked with a hint of laughter in her voice. Sam stopped suddenly and slapped himself upon his forehead to remind himself of his stupidity. " Aye lass" he said, exasperation evident in his voice "what's 'is name then?" Jana smiled as she replied "Terren" she said "his name is Terren".