Chapter 25
Cinnamon Swirls
Over the next week or so, Frodo's health was a rollercoaster ride for both Bilbo and Gandalf. One moment the tweenager would be sleeping peacefully and the next he would be up for hours on end in great pain. The healer returned about a week and a half following the stabbing to check on the wound, and was pleased so far by its progress. "The wound is still a bit swollen but it is healing nicely," Dr. Narmadoc told Gandalf. Bilbo stood in the corner of Frodo's bedroom, his hand in his trouser pocket, his brown eyes slightly narrowed as he watched the goings-on. He'd been feeling rather odd lately--rather--obsessive over a certain shiny gold trinket. Oh sure he'd felt a yearning for it for months now but the yearnings were getting stronger. He could not be without it for a second or he'd feel lost.
"Bilbo? Are you listening?" Dr. Narmadoc asked with a raised eyebrow as he turned to look at the Master of Bag-End. "Bilbo?" He noticed the almost deranged expression on the elder hobbit's face and looked at Gandalf.
"Never mind." Gandalf insisted. "So apply this salve twice a day?"
"Yes, yes. It will help ease the pain and it doesn't smell too badly--a sort of spicey mint flavor I suppose you could say."
"I see, I see. Well--at least it is good to hear that young Frodo is on the mend."
Dr. Narmadoc smiled. "I have been to the Gamgee's this week and Samwise has been asking constantly about Mr. Frodo."
"Ah. Those two lads are inseperable."
"It's still in my pocket!" Bilbo suddenly yelled randomly and both hobbit and wizard turned to him in amazement as Bilbo practically leapt from the corner towards them. "Not leaving me--no. See?" He pulled the Ring out of his pocket and showed it to the other two who were giving each other very odd looks. When they turned back to Bilbo, he backed away towards the door.
"Are you SURE you're all right, sir?" Dr. Narmadoc asked.
"Eh?" Bilbo blinked, as though he had just come out of some strange trance.
"Bilbo--when the healer leaves I must talk with you in private." Gandalf broke in.
"So I will return next week to remove the stitches and you may let him out of bed. I would not advise that Frodo go out on his own for quite a while--"
"Of course not. Thank you for coming again."
"No trouble at all. I believe young Frodo here is turning out to be one of my favorite patients. Not one of the easiest--" He winked, "But all the same, he is a very good lad."
The wizard chortled nodding respectfully as the healer edged past Bilbo before leaving the smial. When he was gone, Gandalf motioned for the older hobbit to follow him into the study. When they were alone and the door was closed, the wizard whirled around.
"Let me see that ring of yours, Bilbo."
"Ring?" Bilbo bit his lip.
"There is something not quite right about it. You've been acting strangely for days now."
"Ah--the--the ring. Yes." Bilbo reached into his pocket and shakily held it in his palm. "Gandalf--I do not know what is coming over me. I feel as though I can not part with it. Ever."
Gandalf took the ring from Bilbo and examined it at a closer angle. It glittered in the sunlight that shone through the window. "I know this is going to be hard for you, lad, but when you struck Frodo--"
Bilbo's mouth opened and closed slightly at the memory and he stepped back. "I wish it had never happened. I have never touched a hair on the dear boy's head all of his life. You know I never would--"
"I know you wouldn't. That is why your behaviour seems odd. I shall go into a bit of research on this ring, but for now I think we should hide it."
"H-hide it?" The very thought of doing so made Bilbo panic a bit inside.
"BILBO!" Frodo suddenly cried from his room and both of the elders hurried to check up on him. Frodo sat up in bed, tears streaming down his cheeks, and he was trembling. Bilbo sat down on the bed beside his nephew and pulled the sobbing tweenager into his arms.
"My poor boy--what in the name of Eru happened?"
"They were empty shells," Frodo choked. "Empty shells of men. Dressed in black cloaks and on black horses--they were chasing me--I couldn't get away. Seemed so real."
Bilbo kissed Frodo gently and allowed the boy to let his tears out. "You are running a bit of a fever again, lad." The older hobbit announced, feeling his nephew's forehead.
"I don't feel good." Frodo whispered in a hoarse voice. "My side stings and my head aches."
"It will be a little while before you'll feel better, Frodo." said Gandalf, reaching for the container of the salve Dr. Narmadoc had prescribed, unscrewing the lid. Frodo grimaced as the strong smell wafted in his direction.
"Ugh! What is that?" He asked.
"It will ease the pain." Gandalf dipped his fingers into the cream and gently applied the lotion to Frodo's wound. It DID feel wonderful--so cool and almost immediately the sting began to dissolve. Still, it did ache when he took a deep breath. Bilbo held Frodo's hand, nearly choking on tears when the tweenager squeezed it gently. He truly DID forgive him.
"Thank you, Gandalf." Frodo said in another whisper. "Could I--" He swallowed past his raw throat. "Could I have something to drink? And--and perhaps some oatmeal with cinnamon and honey swirled in? And toast and jam? And--"
Bilbo chortled and so did Gandalf. "That's my lad." Bilbo laughed, huggning Frodo gently, being careful not to put any pressure on the wound. "Do you think it would be all right to give him his treats, Gandalf?" Bilbo asked, remembering that Dr. Narmadoc had said to start Frodo off on a light diet once he started to feel better as the blood infection had taken a lot out of him.
"Peanutbutter on crackers--roasted chesnuts--apple pie--" Frodo was naming his favorite foods much to the amusement of the wizard, who sat shaking his head with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Well, Frodo, I most certainly could not make all of that food in such a short amount of time. But I think a nice bowl of your favorite cinnamon oatmeal would sufice."
Frodo grinned happily. "And some strawberry tea?"
"Of course."
"Thank you, Bilbo."
"I'll get right on it, then. Shall I?" With another kiss, Bilbo stood up and headed out of the bedroom. When he was gone, Gandalf turned to the lad in bed and smiled.
"I never told you, Frodo, but you were in deed very very brave to save young Samwise, and I am sure he will never forget that."
Frodo smiled. "I couldn't let him get beat up. It isn't fair--he is always getting picked on because he's small and a bit slow."
"Not all hobbits are fortunate to have the brains you or your Uncle do." Gandalf admitted.
Frodo shrugged, yawning. "At least they were caught." He murmered, snuggling down into his blankets. "Won't have to see those rats again."
"There will be troubles in your life, Frodo Baggins. Perhaps not serious ones such as this (cough cough--RIIIGHT LOL), but you must be willing to handle anything that comes your way."
"I will." He turned towards the window to gaze outside where a light rain was falling. He missed Angelica and wished she could come back and visit again--he would even be satisfied with a letter from her. He had a hard time believing how he had originally despised the idea of her coming, and was glad it had been a good time after all (despite the accidents).
When the oatmeal was done, Bilbo returned to the room with Frodo's orders on a tray and eased the boy into a sitting position so he could rest the tray on his lap.
"Mmmmm." Frodo sniffed the wonderful aroma. "Looks delicious." He took a bite of the creamy concoction and savored every moment as it practically melted onto his tongue.
"It is good to have you back at last, my dear boy." Bilbo whispered, placing a hand against Frodo's cheek. "I do love you so very much. I hope you never forget that."
Frodo nodded. "I love you too, Bilbo. And have you--been all right with the you know what?"
u
Bilbo cocked his head with slight confusion for a second. "Ah. That. Well--er--"
Gandalf gave the older hobbit a hard stare.
"There is not something quite right about that ring, Gandalf. Can you not find out for us? I do hate to see my dear uncle suffer so this way."
The wizard patted the hobbit on the head. "I will see what I can do, lad. Now sit back and do not fret over such things. Enjoy your treat."
So Frodo continued to eat, pushing all of the worries of the present out of his head. He was just lucky to still be here, though it would have not been a great disappointment to be able to see his parents again, though he did not know what he would do in a life without Bilbo.
A/N: I do apologize for not having updated this tale in quite some time. Purely unintentional--mostly writers block haha. But now that I saw TTT I got some inspiration! LOL as I knew I would. Hope you enjoy & PLEASE R&R!
Cinnamon Swirls
Over the next week or so, Frodo's health was a rollercoaster ride for both Bilbo and Gandalf. One moment the tweenager would be sleeping peacefully and the next he would be up for hours on end in great pain. The healer returned about a week and a half following the stabbing to check on the wound, and was pleased so far by its progress. "The wound is still a bit swollen but it is healing nicely," Dr. Narmadoc told Gandalf. Bilbo stood in the corner of Frodo's bedroom, his hand in his trouser pocket, his brown eyes slightly narrowed as he watched the goings-on. He'd been feeling rather odd lately--rather--obsessive over a certain shiny gold trinket. Oh sure he'd felt a yearning for it for months now but the yearnings were getting stronger. He could not be without it for a second or he'd feel lost.
"Bilbo? Are you listening?" Dr. Narmadoc asked with a raised eyebrow as he turned to look at the Master of Bag-End. "Bilbo?" He noticed the almost deranged expression on the elder hobbit's face and looked at Gandalf.
"Never mind." Gandalf insisted. "So apply this salve twice a day?"
"Yes, yes. It will help ease the pain and it doesn't smell too badly--a sort of spicey mint flavor I suppose you could say."
"I see, I see. Well--at least it is good to hear that young Frodo is on the mend."
Dr. Narmadoc smiled. "I have been to the Gamgee's this week and Samwise has been asking constantly about Mr. Frodo."
"Ah. Those two lads are inseperable."
"It's still in my pocket!" Bilbo suddenly yelled randomly and both hobbit and wizard turned to him in amazement as Bilbo practically leapt from the corner towards them. "Not leaving me--no. See?" He pulled the Ring out of his pocket and showed it to the other two who were giving each other very odd looks. When they turned back to Bilbo, he backed away towards the door.
"Are you SURE you're all right, sir?" Dr. Narmadoc asked.
"Eh?" Bilbo blinked, as though he had just come out of some strange trance.
"Bilbo--when the healer leaves I must talk with you in private." Gandalf broke in.
"So I will return next week to remove the stitches and you may let him out of bed. I would not advise that Frodo go out on his own for quite a while--"
"Of course not. Thank you for coming again."
"No trouble at all. I believe young Frodo here is turning out to be one of my favorite patients. Not one of the easiest--" He winked, "But all the same, he is a very good lad."
The wizard chortled nodding respectfully as the healer edged past Bilbo before leaving the smial. When he was gone, Gandalf motioned for the older hobbit to follow him into the study. When they were alone and the door was closed, the wizard whirled around.
"Let me see that ring of yours, Bilbo."
"Ring?" Bilbo bit his lip.
"There is something not quite right about it. You've been acting strangely for days now."
"Ah--the--the ring. Yes." Bilbo reached into his pocket and shakily held it in his palm. "Gandalf--I do not know what is coming over me. I feel as though I can not part with it. Ever."
Gandalf took the ring from Bilbo and examined it at a closer angle. It glittered in the sunlight that shone through the window. "I know this is going to be hard for you, lad, but when you struck Frodo--"
Bilbo's mouth opened and closed slightly at the memory and he stepped back. "I wish it had never happened. I have never touched a hair on the dear boy's head all of his life. You know I never would--"
"I know you wouldn't. That is why your behaviour seems odd. I shall go into a bit of research on this ring, but for now I think we should hide it."
"H-hide it?" The very thought of doing so made Bilbo panic a bit inside.
"BILBO!" Frodo suddenly cried from his room and both of the elders hurried to check up on him. Frodo sat up in bed, tears streaming down his cheeks, and he was trembling. Bilbo sat down on the bed beside his nephew and pulled the sobbing tweenager into his arms.
"My poor boy--what in the name of Eru happened?"
"They were empty shells," Frodo choked. "Empty shells of men. Dressed in black cloaks and on black horses--they were chasing me--I couldn't get away. Seemed so real."
Bilbo kissed Frodo gently and allowed the boy to let his tears out. "You are running a bit of a fever again, lad." The older hobbit announced, feeling his nephew's forehead.
"I don't feel good." Frodo whispered in a hoarse voice. "My side stings and my head aches."
"It will be a little while before you'll feel better, Frodo." said Gandalf, reaching for the container of the salve Dr. Narmadoc had prescribed, unscrewing the lid. Frodo grimaced as the strong smell wafted in his direction.
"Ugh! What is that?" He asked.
"It will ease the pain." Gandalf dipped his fingers into the cream and gently applied the lotion to Frodo's wound. It DID feel wonderful--so cool and almost immediately the sting began to dissolve. Still, it did ache when he took a deep breath. Bilbo held Frodo's hand, nearly choking on tears when the tweenager squeezed it gently. He truly DID forgive him.
"Thank you, Gandalf." Frodo said in another whisper. "Could I--" He swallowed past his raw throat. "Could I have something to drink? And--and perhaps some oatmeal with cinnamon and honey swirled in? And toast and jam? And--"
Bilbo chortled and so did Gandalf. "That's my lad." Bilbo laughed, huggning Frodo gently, being careful not to put any pressure on the wound. "Do you think it would be all right to give him his treats, Gandalf?" Bilbo asked, remembering that Dr. Narmadoc had said to start Frodo off on a light diet once he started to feel better as the blood infection had taken a lot out of him.
"Peanutbutter on crackers--roasted chesnuts--apple pie--" Frodo was naming his favorite foods much to the amusement of the wizard, who sat shaking his head with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Well, Frodo, I most certainly could not make all of that food in such a short amount of time. But I think a nice bowl of your favorite cinnamon oatmeal would sufice."
Frodo grinned happily. "And some strawberry tea?"
"Of course."
"Thank you, Bilbo."
"I'll get right on it, then. Shall I?" With another kiss, Bilbo stood up and headed out of the bedroom. When he was gone, Gandalf turned to the lad in bed and smiled.
"I never told you, Frodo, but you were in deed very very brave to save young Samwise, and I am sure he will never forget that."
Frodo smiled. "I couldn't let him get beat up. It isn't fair--he is always getting picked on because he's small and a bit slow."
"Not all hobbits are fortunate to have the brains you or your Uncle do." Gandalf admitted.
Frodo shrugged, yawning. "At least they were caught." He murmered, snuggling down into his blankets. "Won't have to see those rats again."
"There will be troubles in your life, Frodo Baggins. Perhaps not serious ones such as this (cough cough--RIIIGHT LOL), but you must be willing to handle anything that comes your way."
"I will." He turned towards the window to gaze outside where a light rain was falling. He missed Angelica and wished she could come back and visit again--he would even be satisfied with a letter from her. He had a hard time believing how he had originally despised the idea of her coming, and was glad it had been a good time after all (despite the accidents).
When the oatmeal was done, Bilbo returned to the room with Frodo's orders on a tray and eased the boy into a sitting position so he could rest the tray on his lap.
"Mmmmm." Frodo sniffed the wonderful aroma. "Looks delicious." He took a bite of the creamy concoction and savored every moment as it practically melted onto his tongue.
"It is good to have you back at last, my dear boy." Bilbo whispered, placing a hand against Frodo's cheek. "I do love you so very much. I hope you never forget that."
Frodo nodded. "I love you too, Bilbo. And have you--been all right with the you know what?"
u
Bilbo cocked his head with slight confusion for a second. "Ah. That. Well--er--"
Gandalf gave the older hobbit a hard stare.
"There is not something quite right about that ring, Gandalf. Can you not find out for us? I do hate to see my dear uncle suffer so this way."
The wizard patted the hobbit on the head. "I will see what I can do, lad. Now sit back and do not fret over such things. Enjoy your treat."
So Frodo continued to eat, pushing all of the worries of the present out of his head. He was just lucky to still be here, though it would have not been a great disappointment to be able to see his parents again, though he did not know what he would do in a life without Bilbo.
A/N: I do apologize for not having updated this tale in quite some time. Purely unintentional--mostly writers block haha. But now that I saw TTT I got some inspiration! LOL as I knew I would. Hope you enjoy & PLEASE R&R!