Imladris: Chapter Two - The Connection

Disclaimer: The characters from The Lord of the Rings belong to the franchises for Tolkien ™ and The Lord of the Rings ™. I do not claim possession of any copyrighted characters. Any and all other characters belong to me and may not be used without my permission.

Rating: G

Characters: Merry, Pippin, and Bilbo

I never thought I'd actually post this on I wrote it about a year and a half ago, when The Lord of the Rings reigned eternal in my mind. But I suppose it should be shared. Now I bring you Chapter Two I'll post the other chapters in increments.

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Merry's laughter had never sounded so sweet to Pippin's ears before. The two were walking through a covered walkway permeated with the scent of flowers unknown to Hobbits, and Pip had spoken with his typical good humor, causing Merry to burst out with laughter. "Merry, I'm so glad you're back to normal." Pippin's eyes shone with gladness, and he couldn't hide it. His laughter slowly faded, but the smile remained as Merry looked thoughtfully at his cousin. "I couldn't see or, perhaps it was that I couldn't accept that Frodo was injured and I wasn't somehow at fault." Pippin's hand gently reached out and snagged one of the lush flowers that had fallen from an exotic plant.

"I understand, Merry. But perhaps not as much as you." Pippin's face expressed his slight confusion, but Merry only sighed lightly. "I can't explain it to you, Pip. But it's not something you need to worry about, since all will be well." But somehow Pippin knew this was something important in his cousin's life, and he needed to understand, for Merry as well as himself. Already Pippin had felt himself changing, maturing somehow, growing from Hobbit lad to Hobbit adult. His perception was deepening, and it was strange for him, and yet good for him too. "Frodo is our cousin," Pip said hesitantly, his hazel eyes narrowing, "and somehow that makes him responsible for us, and us responsible for him. When we couldn't help him, it almost felt like a," he stuttered slightly, "a part of me was dying with him." Merry's eyes were widening in amazement. His cousin really could understand what he was experiencing, for he had experienced it as well.

"But, I don't feel that now. Knowing that Frodo is recovering, has taken the sense of failure from my heart." Pippin looked carefully at Merry, as he spoke, "Does that make any sense at all?" Merry's smile held deep pride, "Yes, Pip. It makes the perfect sense." "Oh, good!" Pippin's relief was so evident that Merry chuckled. Pippin sobered quickly, however, "But I am still worried about one thing." Merry's gaze held a questioning expression. Pippin lowered his head so only his sandy curls showed, and stated softly, "Sam isn't himself." Merry sighed and pursed his lips, "I know. He hasn't been himself ever since Frodo was injured. If I felt this terrible about Frodo, I can't imagine what Sam must be feeling." Stopping abruptly at a stone bench, he sank onto it, "Frodo has had this "connection" with Sam since Sam was a baby. I saw it the first time I met Sam, and watched how Frodo treated him. It's rather along the line of how I feel about you, but also different." Pippin nodded slightly, "and now something is happening. Sam truly does blame himself, and he's worrying himself into illness."

Pippin looked at the near forgotten delicate bloom in his hand. It wouldn't take much to crush the life from the flower. Suddenly, the image of Frodo came to Pippin's mind. At this moment Frodo was like the flower he held. Delicate and weak, and Sam was his protector and guardian. But what Sam couldn't see was that with his care, Frodo was improving. Exactly like a flower, Frodo would grow and become himself again. Springing lightly to his feet, Pippin whirled to his cousin, who lifted curious eyes. "Bilbo can help him, Merry. I know it." The understanding was slow in reaching Merry, but at last he stood as well, excitement shining on his face, "If anyone could help Sam come back to us, it would be Uncle Bilbo!"

The two Hobbits were as swift and light as young hobbit children at play, as they made their way through the gardens toward Bilbo's room. A strong voice called for them to enter, nearly before Pippin's hand touched the door in a knock. He swung it open, to find Bilbo sitting at his writing desk with a quill in one hand and a map in the other. Turning, Bilbo gazed at them over the top of his map. "Well, my lads, what seems to be the trouble. Here sit down, before you fall down." Hurrying to obey, Pippin and Merry planted themselves on the edge of Bilbo's bed, and then just looked at him. Finally, Merry nudged Pip with his elbow, causing him to nearly jump off the bed. Bilbo waited patiently, smiling slightly for the antics of his nephews he well remembered.

"Bilbo, we're worried about Sam." "Yes, Uncle Bilbo, he hasn't been himself since Frodo was attacked," Merry hastily added. "Ah," Bilbo nodded his head, and placed his quill back on the desk. "I see, lads." "And I do know what you mean. I have noticed that whenever I come to visit Frodo, Sam is swift to find an excuse to fetch something from another room." The cousins nodded their heads in unison, as Pippin exclaimed, "He blames himself for what happened, Uncle Bilbo, even though it wasn't his fault." "As I can see you yourself have learned, Merry," Bilbo said wisely, with a crooked smile. Merry blushed to the roots of his golden hair, but nodded.

"I would assume that you wish for me to talk with him, is that it?" Bilbo asked, with all the intentions of doing so. Pippin spoke in earnest, "Yes, Bilbo. We would be so grateful if you spoke to him. Somehow I think he would take correction and comfort better coming from you, then from us, who have played many pranks on him." Bilbo smiled with remembrance, then stood to his feet with a slight groan, his aged hand going to his back. Pippin was at his side in an instant, which is when Bilbo noticed the flower he still held. Bilbo looked into Pippin's eyes, and saw the wisdom that was starting to form there, not fully matured, but there nonetheless. "The flower reminds me of Frodo," Bilbo said softly, "tender, delicate, and needing care that only a gardener with a good heart can give."

Pippin's smile shone like a beam of hope in a darkening world. Bilbo understood. And in his heart of hearts, Pippin knew that only Bilbo could heal Sam's heart. And he would too. The cousins gazes met, and their hearts clasped as they often had in the past. They both knew that all would be well, for Sam was not alone. With light hearts, Merry opened the door to Bilbo's room while Pippin rested one arm around the elderly Hobbit's back, supporting his gently. Once in the hallway, Merry and Pip stood aside, simply watching as Bilbo went determinedly down the hall toward the room were Frodo rested, and where a heart would soon be healed.