Chapter 8: Because I Love You
Frodo woke a little before dawn the next day. It's too early to be awake, he thought, I should get some more sleep. But he could not go back to sleep. He needed to get up, go somewhere…
He slid out of bed and felt around for his shirt and breeches, which he pulled on. He padded quietly into the hallway. From the silence, it looked like no one else was awake. No one but him. What am I doing awake?
It was like he was being pushed by an invisible force. And it was pushing him toward Eos's room. The door was a magnet, pulling his hand to the knob and making him turn it. Inside, he could hear Eos's quiet breathing, blended with a few clearings of the throat.
Frodo sat in a chair by the bed and looked down at the woman. In sleep she looked as if she had no worries or fear, almost like she didn't want to care anymore about burdens. Women often complained about lines on their faces making them look older. But Frodo thought they made Eos look more beautiful than before. With this thought in mind, Frodo made up for his lack of sleep.
A coughing fit woke Eos up. She was clearing out her throat when she heard someone's breathing beside her. She looked wildly around for the source until her eyes stopped at her bedside. It was a hobbit man, asleep in the chair by her bed.
Frodo. Her heart purred.
Of course it was Frodo Baggins. Always there for her, always noble, and so – what was the word? – gallant. Frodo was always a gallant gentlehobbit, whether it was with her or anyone else.
When had he last been gallant with her? Oh yes, almost ten years ago, when she was about to give birth. Why, without Frodo, she'd have had her baby on a party field!
Eos felt something like liquid pooling between her legs. Had her water broken already? No, it couldn't be, she was at a party at the Burrows', she couldn't give birth now!
But the liquid kept coming. Eos could see a little blood through her skirts. Then there was a sharp cramp in her abdomen. She grabbed a nearby table to keep from falling. The pain was staggering. She put both hands on the edge of the wood.
"No, baby, not now, not at the Burrows'," she muttered, then groaned as softly as she could from the contractions taking place around her groin. Not softly enough, though.
"Eos?" A clear, sophisticated voice sounded beside her. It was Frodo. "Eos, what is it? Are you…?"
"Nothing's wrong, Frodo," she replied more harshly than she intended. "Nothing's wrong," she repeated with a more gentle tone. "I just tripped, that's all…" She gasped as a great contraction of muscle went through her, sending a stab of pain through her abdomen.
"Just tripped? Just tripped, my foot!" Frodo took Eos by the shoulders and turned her to face him. His eyes went to the blood on the front of her light summer skirt. "I heard you muttering to your baby. If you're not about to give birth, my name's not Baggins."
"Frodo, no –"
"BERYLLA!" Frodo hollered, gripping her by the shoulders and arm. "Pippin! Get over here right now!"
"Berylla, no, I can't have it now…" Eos protested weakly, as Berylla took her other arm.
"Nonsense, Eos," said Pippin, "Just look at you!"
"Eos, you wench, what are you doing?" Olo shouted from his nearby circle of drunken friends. "You messin' with other men, you?"
"Sir!" Berylla was shaking from anger. "Your wife is not in the state to 'mess' with other men now, since she is about to give birth to your child!"
"Man, if you have any respect for her, you will go with her to your smial and stay with her until your child comes," said Frodo quietly.
"And you, Mad Baggins, what do you know of a man and his wife?" Olo turned on him. "You ain't even married yourself. Hah!" He jabbed a finger in his face. "You may be bedding my wife for all I know. Why should I go if the baby mayen't even be mine?" He went back to the barrel of ale. "Just come back and tell me if the bastard's a man child."
"That man is crazy," Pippin spat, "An arrogant ass!"
"We haven't the time to condemn him now, Pip," Frodo urged him. "You and Berylla have to help me get her back, before the baby tumbles out onto the Burrows' back yard."
The four of them struggled back to the Bracegirdle smial. Berylla helped Eos onto the bed, and rushed for the midwife with Pippin. Frodo sat beside her and held her hand. He caressed her cheek with the backs of his fingers. Eos turned her face to brush her lips against them. She nudged his hand with her nose to kiss his palm, and held it against her cheek.
"Stay with me until the baby comes," she whispered.
"I can't do that, Eos," said Frodo.
"Why? My husband's not here."
"But he'll know I've been with you. I don't want him to hurt you for that."
Eos looked up at him in shock. How did he know - ?
"What do you mean?" she said.
"Olo doesn't treat you the best, does he?" Frodo's blue eyes seemed to pierce her heart and soul.
"But he doesn't – Olo doesn't treat me the best, but he won't – hurt me…" From the look in Frodo's eyes, he knew she was lying. Dammit.
They both heard the door open and voices in the foyer. Frodo turned back to Eos. "I must go," he said, despite her soft protests. "Mayhap someday you'll tell me the truth," he added quietly. He leaned over slowly and kissed her cheek chastely but lovingly. He lingered there for a few moments, and Eos knew he truly did not wish to leave her. This was all he dared to do. Frodo left.
Mayhap someday you'll tell me the truth. Frodo had been right. She had just poured out everything the previous night. It had been good of him to not mention that last incident last night. Eos didn't think she would have borne it.
Eos sat up and gazed at Frodo. She felt daring at the moment. She reached her hand out to touch his cheek. A month ago, she would not have dared…
Frodo's eyes flew open as her fingers brushed against his cheekbone. She immediately recoiled. Shrewd, Eos Took, very shrewd. Eos hung her head.
"Eos?" Frodo leaned forward. "What were you doing? Eos, what is it?" he asked, noticing her tears. He sat on the bed and held her. "What's wrong?" He felt her shiver a little in his arms. Ten years ago, she wouldn't have been like this, even if she were ill. Now she's quivery as a little trapped bird.
"I was thinking…" she let out a cross between a cough and a sob. Frodo waited. "I was thinking," she began again, "about when we last spoke, when you and Pip and my sister rushed me back to my home to wait for the midwife. Do you think things would have different if I'd told you the truth?"
"I don't know, maybe. But what's done is done, Eos. You can't change anything. And right now, I think it is for the better," he said as she buried her face in his shirt front. "You're with me, and I'll get you back to your family – "
"No!" Eos flew up. "Don't tell them now! They don't understand like you do about the things I've done. I swear, they'll ship me back to that man as soon as I tell them…" She faltered.
"What? What are you going to tell them?"
Eos opened her mouth, then shut it. There was something more she wanted. Frodo wrapped a coverlet around her and gathered her into his lap. "Isn't there one more reason you came to me?"
"I thought maybe you could help me," she murmured. "I need a divorce."
"What?" Frodo looked down at her in surprise. Divorces occurred in the Shire, but they were rare when they did. How on earth was he supposed to be involved in one?
"I know, it wouldn't be conventional. But it's the best thing for people like me, who can't stand their marriages. I can't stay married to him, Frodo. If I do, I will be miserable forever. And my family may understand if I need to be away from him, but they may not support me when I go for a divorce. Please," she begged. "Help me."
Frodo held her closer. Eos's dark eyes were genuinely pleading, and they touched his heart. He hated to feel pity for one who had once been so strong, but everyone was weak at sometime in their lives. I was weak not so long ago. I had nothing but Sam's stout heart behind me. I needed him. Now, Eos needs me.
He placed a hand under her chin and lifted it. He drew in a deep breath and kissed her lips for the first time in what seemed like a lifetime. He felt Eos's sharp intake of breath, then her submitting to his touch. Their mouths melted, and Frodo's tongue brushed across Eos's lips. The kiss grew deeper and branched into more urgent and insistent kisses. They drew their mouths apart to catch their breath.
"Why didn't you give me that kiss ten years ago?" Eos asked teasingly. "You were so much more coy back then."
"I didn't dare," Frodo answered. "But I can make it up to you." He kissed her mouth and moved over her cheeks, ears, and throat.
Eos pushed him back. "Frodo," she said with a hint of a whine, "you didn't answer my question."
"What, my affections didn't answer your request for you? Don't you know?" he grinned mischievously. He became graver. "Of course. I'll help you."
Eos almost burst into tears from relief. "Really? Oh, Frodo." She kissed him. "Frodo, why do go around doing all this good? And for me? You've given my Crystal a better life than any little girl in the Shire can have, and you've taken me in, and now…"
"The reason is simple, Eos." Frodo cradled her. "It is because I love you, that's why. I haven't stopped loving you for years. I've wanted to prove that to you for a long time."
"You already have. Oh, Frodo, I do love you!" Eos drew her arms out of the coverlet and wrapped them around his neck. "I ached for you every minute of my married life. Even when you were with me before Crystal was born I wished that you were able to do more than hold my hand and touch my cheek."
"Well, I can now, seeing that you're about to be free." Frodo captured her mouth with his and kissed her hungrily.
Eos pushed him back again. "We shan't kiss too much now. You don't want my cough, do you, love?"
Frodo brightened at the word "love". "Hmph! Do you think I'm afraid of a common cold when I've been through worse?" He lunged forward and kissed her roughly.
The two lovers were so immersed in each other that they did not hear Rosie open the door to give Eos her tonic. She stopped when she saw the two of them, smiled to herself and stepped outside and closed the door softly. Once she was in the hall, Rosie restrained an urge to giggle. Why, Eos would be quite alright with Mr. Baggins around!
A.N.: Sorry about this chapter being drivel, but I couldn't help myself. I had to get down to romance. Anyway, Siriusly Sirius Lily Black, did you see my response to your last review on my blog? If not, go to the homepage link on my profile.
