REPOST
Smoke and Mirrors Chapter 27
"Hoy, what's this?" said Sam as he entered the room bearing a tray of light foods to tempt Frodo. "I leave and he's awake, and now he's practically asleep. How am I suppose to get 'em to eat now?" The gardener said with more bluff than blunder, winking at Merry.
"I'm awake Samm...jus relaxnn abit," came the muffled response from Frodo. Indeed, he did look relaxed, more so than he had in weeks, and this brought Sam no small amount of joy. His Master seemed himself almost, and Sam felt his heart near to bursting to witness it.
"Food, you say? Well, never let it be said a Brandybuck couldn't stop what he was doing for a bite," smiled Merry as he slid down from the bed and washed his hands in the basin.
"Hah! Not for you, Mr. Merry. All of these dainties here are for Mr. Frodo to try, con-va-lesson foods, they call 'em."
Merry gave a small scowl. "Very well, Sam. I guess I'll just have to go have elevenses with Pip, I suppose." He bent down to Frodo's ear and whispered, "I'm not done with you, cousin. So don't go anywhere." Frodo smiled weakly in return. Merry rolled Frodo to his back, and then slowly he and Sam pulled him into a sitting position, braced with many pillows. Once the vertigo from the move had settled, Frodo was fairly comfortable and quite famished.
"Now, Mr. Aragorn said I was to give you just small tastes of soft foods. You'll have to tell me, Mr. Frodo, what tastes best to you, then I can bring more next time," Sam said happily.
"You mean, what stays down the longest, don't you, dear Sam?" whispered Frodo.
"Now, we'll have none o' that. You're on the mend, you are. I prepared most o' this meself or had the cooks fix 'em hobbit style. I think you'll like 'em, and they you, jes' fine," Sam said proudly. He began uncovering small saucers and cups, and Frodo was relieved to see no soups, meats or stews---none of which would have sat well on his tricky stomach. Sam pointed to each item with pride. "Here's a bit of applesauce with some cinnamon and honey, some porridge with something they call "maple syrup"--they get it outta trees, ya know, it's the strangest thing to see, but very good. Over here I've brought some custard with nutmeg and cinnamon and a pot of tea and a glass of carrot juice. Oh, also a small soft scone with a bit o' butter. How's that all look to you, Master?" he asked looking worried and expectantly at Frodo's face for the slightest grimace of distaste.
"It looks wonderful, Sam," Frodo said genuinely. "Let's just see how it goes, all right? Perhaps just a small bite of each for now," he smiled wanly at his loyal friend.
"That's good, Mr. Frodo. Here, let's try a bit o' the porridge with that syrup, I think you'll like it," he said bringing a small spoonful to Frodo's mouth. Frodo's eyes lit up.
"Oh Sam, you're right as usual, it really is quite wonderful. Could I have another bite of that?" Frodo said, hungrily.
"Of course, Mr. Frodo," Sam was delighted to see his Master not only eating, but actually enjoying the foods he had brought, almost like he used to. Frodo ate four more bites of the porridge and then decided to try the custard. It too, was delicious, but after only three bites, he was full.
"I'm sorry, Sam and after all the trouble you went through too," Frodo fretted.
"Nonsense, Mr. Frodo. It's been awhile since you've eaten' anything proper 'cept medicine and broth, your poor stomach jes' wants to go slow is all, if you take my meanin', Sir? I'll leave this on the table and come back later. Mosta' this will still be plenty tasty if we keep it covered," he said.
"That sounds like a marvelous idea, Sam. I'm sure I'll want more in a little bit. But now, I'm a bit tired. I think I'll rest my eyes for awhile, all right?" Frodo said slowly, his eyes already beginning to close.
"I can stay if you like, Mr. Frodo?"
Frodo looked at Sam. He looked tired and underfed, for a hobbit. "I think it would make me very much happier if you had a decent meal and slept a bit, my friend. Think of it as a personal favor, would you?" Frodo asked, trying to manipulate the gardener into taking care of himself for a change, by phrasing it just so.
"Well....if that's what you really want, Mr. Frodo." Sam frowned. "I suppose I could have elevenses with Mr. Pippin and Mr. Merry and then take a wee nap," he hesitated. "Don't feel right, jes' leavin' you here alone." A war was raging within Sam whether to do what his Master asked or just stay and keep watch over him as he slept.
"Sam, I will be fine. I'm seldom alone and, after all, I'm just going to take a nap. Don't be silly. Besides, it will upset me no end if you become more exhausted or thinner because of taking care of me," Frodo said.
"It's what I want to do, Mr. Frodo," Sam said earnestly, "It's always been what I *wanted* to do," he caressed his Master's face gently.
"Dear, dear Sam. Where would I ever be without you?" Frodo murmured. His eyes closed slowly as he drifted into a dreamless sleep.
"You'll never have ta' find out, me dear," Sam whispered. He crept from the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Now that he was in the corridor, the full weight of his exhaustion suddenly overcame him, and he staggered slowly down the hall, one hand sliding against the wall for support. At that moment, Aragorn came out of Merry and Pippin's room and saw the small gardener, head hung low in fatigue, as he stumbled towards him. He rushed forward and scooped the hobbit up into his arms.
"Sam, are you quite all right?" he asked worriedly.
"I dunno what's come over me, Mr. Strider. I was fine but a moment ago when I was with Mr. Frodo, but now I feel outta sorts, kinda weak, if you understand me, Sir" Sam said numbly.
Aragorn smile grimly. "I have been expecting this for some time, it's a wonder you held out as long as you did. You're near collapse, my friend. For this last month you have done nothing but worry and care for your Master, taking no cares for yourself, and only now that Frodo is finally beginning to heal, are you paying the price for your devotion." Sam lay unyielding in the rangers comforting embrace. He looked up at Aragorn.
"You know how it is, with 'em, Mr. Strider? I love 'em, he's my best friend. You love 'em too. No matter what I might need, I am helpless to turn away from 'em. He has always been my first concern, and always will be," he finished quietly.
"Yes Sam, I do understand. But now that he's resting let us see to *your* needs and then you can return to him, refreshed." said Aragorn quietly. He bore the hobbit into the hobbits' room and lay him amongst the hobbit pile that was Merry and Pippin. They greeted him enthusiastically and began pointing to the various dishes before them that he should try. He ate slowly at first, but then with gusto as his stomach realized how long it had gone without. Once sated, all three hobbits leaned back almost as one and sighed contentedly.
"Now all we need is a pipe," said Merry.
Pippin's eyes lit up, "Aye, 'would taste wonderful about now." Surreptitiously his eyes shifted to Aragorn who sat smoking quietly near the bed. He smiled at them, then reached into his pocket pulling forth a pouch of pipeweed. He then produced three pipes, *their* pipes, from the cupboard.
"I thought you might be needing these," he said with a smile.
"Won’t we get in trouble? Saleth was very clear we weren't to smoke in here," said Pippin with wide eyes. He looked longingly at the pipe and tobacco.
"When has trouble ever been a deterrent to you, Master Took?" said the ranger. "I will take full responsibility, and we will close the door," Aragorn said as he looked guiltily towards the hall. He got up and make to close the door, but was stopped by a hand pushing it back towards him. A collective gasp went up within the room.
"Might I come in? asked Gandalf. "Ahh, I see four guilty faces. Let me see, a smoking party, it seems. Well, I have no alternative but...." four faces looked expectantly at the grinning face of the wizard..."to join you, of course," he chuckled as he slipped inside and locked the door behind him. All present sighed in relief. Pipes were lit and soon, the room was filled with smoke rings, Gandalf's being both red and blue.
"While we are all together, I think perhaps, we should discuss Frodo's care," said Gandalf thoughtfully. He blew out a puff of smoke shaped like a great castle. The hobbits sat watching in fascination. "Is he not much better?" he asked.
"I hesitate to say as yet. He is better but there are still things he needs to deal with in order to complete his healing," said Aragorn slowly. "He will need to talk about things he may not wish to talk about," he turned to the hobbits, but his eyes connected with Merry's. He will need to unburden himself to someone. Someone who may also need to speak of *his own* burdens." Merry nodded imperceptibly. "Sam, you will need to fill us in on much of your journey. I believe the time you were separated from Frodo at Cirith Ungol will not be easily revealed to us by Frodo, and yet it seems to haunt his nights and days the most," said Aragorn. Sam winced at the memory of his inability to save his Master from the orcs on that fateful day. Aragorn noticed this. "Sam you saved him, without you Frodo would not be here with us now. Do not berate yourself for leaving him when you thought him dead," he said quietly. Sam nodded solemnly. "It will be hard, but we must try to get Frodo to talk of his experiences so that he can overcome the hold those memories have over him. Once done, the nightmares will gradually fade and hopefully, Frodo will regain a happier outlook on life. That is our goal, in any case, gentlemen," he sighed.
"Perhaps, I'll go back and finish that massage," said Merry suddenly.
"Very well, Merry. You are in a unique position to get Frodo to relax and open up to you at the same time," smiled Aragorn.
"I'll take care of him, Strider," said Merry as he departed.
Aragorn looked back at Pippin and Sam as the door closed behind Merry. Sam was struggling to remain awake, his eyes half closed. Pippin was itching his leg with a long stick shoved down under the bandages. He had a most unusual look on his face, a mixture of determination and utter bliss.
"Pippin, stop that!" said Aragorn brusquely.
"I can’t help it. This board and bandages thing is making me half crazy. How soon before I'll be free of it, anyway?" he said petulantly.
Aragorn got up and unwrapped the leg. he let his hands travel slowly down the limb, pressing lightly on the areas most damaged and watching Pippin's face for any sign of discomfort. "Does it hurt, Pippin?" he asked.
"Only a little, it's mostly itchy." As if to demonstrate his point he began scratching in earnest.
"Stop, you'll only irritate your skin and make it worse. I have something that will help," Aragorn went to the cub bard and retrieved a small jar of some sort of balm, and began rubbing it into the leg. Pippin closed his eyes as the rather pungent aroma and gentle touch soothed his discomfort. Soon he was dozing. Aragorn lowered the wooden support and gathered the bandages. "I believe Pippin, you no longer need these." Gandalf chucked.
The men arose, covered the napping hobbits and left the room, closing the door behind them.
"They heal rather fast, don't they?" commented Gandalf as they walked down the corridor.
"Some faster than others, it would seem." Aragorn said grimly. "They are a most resilient race. Apparently able to endure far more than the most sturdy and able of men, dwarves or elves," he said with a touch of wonder in his voice.
"And yet, they have a simple wonder for life and the living of it. They live as we all should, I think. Innocently without strife or bias," Gandalf said thoughtfully.
"Frodo has lost that innocence. His life forever shadowed by what has happened to him, leagues away from the serenity and security of the Shire," Aragorn said sadly.
"They have all been touched by this evil, Frodo more so than the others. We must have hope that some small part of his former self is still within his grasp," Gandalf said quietly.
"Resilience, that is the key, my friend. Resilience, along with the encouragement only his friends and those that love him can give. It will be done, we will restore his faith and, hopefully, some of his serenity. I swear an oath to do so," Aragorn said determinedly.
TBC
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