This chapter references “Quarantined” Chapter 17.

Both lightning and meteor strikes have been known to fuse sand into glass; the color is usually a translucent tan, gray, white, or black.

DISCLAIMER:  Of course.  The characters don’t belong to me, I just get to think about them day and night.

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ESTEL’S BIRTHDAY

Chapter 7 -- From the Heart

March 2

“Is it safe to touch?” Frodo asked, wide eyed.

Aragorn nodded.  “The area is no longer hot.”  He dug his fingers in the sand and detached a piece of the strange, translucent glass.  Frodo did the same.

“It’s so odd,” Frodo murmured.  “How much do you think is here?”

Bilbo grinned.  “Scamp must have been out here at first light, digging it all up,” he remarked, observing the small, glittering pile.  “Since she stopped, this may be all of it.”

“You were telling us that one of Lord Elrond’s sons showed you something like this,” Frodo remarked.

”It was very similar,” Aragorn replied.  “That piece was nearly black, however, and this is much lighter.”

“Bits of a star.”  Bilbo held a piece of the translucent glass up so that the morning sun shone through it, and shook his head in amazement.  “Is there no end to the wonders that a person may see in a lifetime?”

“I think not,” Aragorn said thoughtfully.  “We have been most fortunate.”

“Let’s take them home,” Frodo said, carefully picking up the delicate shards and placing them into the bag he had brought.  “Take some to Rivendell, Estel, to show Lord Elrond.  And when Pip is older, we can give him a piece.”

“Let’s head back,” Bilbo said, casting a worried glance in the direction of the campsite.  “Sam won’t let Pippin come to harm, but I don’t like leaving either of them alone.”

“Scamp would let us know if there was any danger,” Frodo said confidently as they started back.

“She’s very smart,” Aragorn agreed with a smile.  “She did her best to keep me from harm yesterday evening, but I was too stubborn.”

“Oh dear,” Bilbo sighed as they emerged from the trees.  Sam was sitting on a blanket with a sobbing Pippin in his lap.

“It’s all right, Mr. Bilbo,” Sam assured them as they hurried to his side.  “Master Pippin just forgot about stayin’ away from the ducklings, is all.  The mama duck pecked at his finger to warn him away from the babies.”

“Show me, Pip,” Frodo said.  He set the bag on the ground and knelt next to Sam.  The toddler turned a tearstained face to his older cousin and held up a finger.  “I don’t see anything,” Frodo frowned, examining it carefully.  “Are you sure this is the right finger?”

Sam smiled over the youngster’s head.  “He was more frightened than hurt, Mr. Frodo,” he whispered.

“I see,” Frodo smiled.  “You’re all right, Pip.  We can---”  Still sniffling, Pippin held up his finger to Aragorn.  “Do you want Estel to look at it?”

Pippin shook his head.

Frodo grinned.  “Do you need him to kiss it?”

Pippin nodded.

“Estel,” Bilbo said gravely, “your skills as a healer are required.”

Trying to hide a smile, Aragorn sat down and pulled the tot into his lap.  He took the tiny finger in his hand and gently kissed it.  Pippin immediately broke out in a smile.

“We got all the feathers,” Pippin said happily, all trauma forgotten.  He pulled a handful of tiny, downy feathers from a pocket of his overalls, then suddenly put his arms around Aragorn’s neck, giving him a hug.

“Master Pippin’s been gatherin’ up feathers from the riverbank,” Sam explained, pointing to a well-stuffed bag nearby.

“We’ve been doing some gathering of our own,” Frodo said, pulling his bag toward them.  “We found glass, Sam!  Whatever fell last night was so hot, it turned the sand into glass.”  He pulled out a piece to show his friend, then handed him the bag.  “Take a few pieces home with you.”

“Me?” Sam asked in amazement.  “You want me to have some?”

“Of course!” Frodo exclaimed.  “Go ahead.”

Sam reverently drew out several pieces from the bag.  Star glass, he thought in awe.

Bilbo picked up a small wooden boat that was lying on the blanket.  “Where did this lovely craft come from?”

“I brought it, Mr. Bilbo,” Sam said, wrapping the fragile glass in his cloak.  “The water’s so shallow here, I thought Master Pippin might like to play with it.”

“Boat, Sam!” Pippin cried, reaching for the toy.

“Let’s teach him how to sail this together, shall we?” Bilbo said with a smile.  “We’ll just stay farther away from the duck family this time.”

“How about that walk, Frodo?” Aragorn asked the tween.

“Wonderful!” Frodo smiled.  “Let me pack some food for us.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

Aragorn and Frodo walked companionably along The Water for a time, with Scamp frisking along beside them, sniffing and exploring.  Frodo was uncharacteristically quiet, and the Ranger guessed that the tween had something he wanted to talk about.

“Estel,” Frodo said after awhile, “remember when you told me that your father died when you were two?”

“Yes.  I was sorry not to be able to tell you much about him, Frodo.”

“Do you ever think about him?”

Aragorn stopped walking and sat down on a grassy knoll.  Frodo sat beside him, then pulled two sandwiches out of his bag and handed one to the Ranger.

“Thank you.”  Aragorn looked out across the fields of the West Farthing.  “I think about him quite a bit.  My mother has told me many stories of their love, and their life together -- too brief, but very happy.  She said he was a courageous warrior, grim and fierce... but gentle and loving with her, and with me.  I wish he had lived longer.”

“Lord Elrond became as a father to you, did he not?”

“Yes.”  Aragorn smiled.  “I did not know that my childhood was an unusual one, until I grew older.  I learned much from the Elves.”  He grew thoughtful.  “I might have grown into quite a different person, had I not been raised in Rivendell.  Sometimes I wonder in what ways I would be different.”

“I feel the same way,” Frodo said.  “Who would I be, had my parents lived?”

“Does it help, to know that others feel as you do?” Aragorn asked.

“Yes,” Frodo nodded vigorously.

“You miss your parents very much, don’t you?” Aragorn asked gently.

Frodo sighed.  “I don’t know if I should tell Bilbo that.  Does it seem... ungrateful?  He’s done so much for me.  I can’t imagine what my life would be like, now, if he hadn’t adopted me.”

“Bilbo is one of the kindest, wisest people I’ve ever met,” Aragorn said, putting his arm around the boy.  “He loves you with all his heart, Frodo.  I cannot imagine that he would be upset by such a conversation with you.  Do you not think that Bilbo also misses his parents, even after all these years?  He lived alone for much of his life, did he not?  Perhaps he would appreciate talking with someone about it, the same as you.”

“I never thought of that,” Frodo said in amazement.  The talk soon grew lighter, and the two friends enjoyed their time together.  During their conversation, Frodo ate his sandwich and an apple, then pulled cookies out of the bag.

“I don’t know where you put it all,” Aragorn grinned.  “Hobbits must know many secrets I have yet to learn.”

“I know lots of things.”

“Such as?”

Frodo pointed north.  “That line of trees is the border between the West Farthing and the North Farthing.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“I know something else you don’t know,” Frodo said, his eyes sparkling.

“Which is?”

“Remember when Pippin hugged you?”

“Yes...”

Frodo grinned.  “He put feathers in your hair.”

** TBC **

Ainu Laire:  Oh dear, I’m afraid this isn’t a very action-oriented story... but can think of it as one long fluff-battle, if you’d like.

apsennial:  I’m so glad you’re enjoying the fluff!  It’s nice to know that our beloved characters can relax and enjoy life once in awhile.

Arrina:  Yes, Estel should listen to Scamp!  And all the wise “little ones” in his life.

bobo baggins:  Frodo was anxious for some time alone with Estel -- hope you enjoyed their walk!

Breon Briarwood:  Uh oh, Pip is climbing into your heart?  Don’t worry, Frodo will make room for him.  :)

Clever Hobbit:  I thought Narsil had been forged from ‘sky metal’, as well -- but I couldn’t find anything in canon to support it.  We both must have read that, but I don’t remember where!

cpsings4him:  Believe me, I hesitated to write a baby bath and a kiss into one chapter for fear of fluff overload, but, well... that Pip is just too persuasive.  I’ve never seen “Sweet Home Alabama” -- but now it’s on my list.

cuthalion:  How could such a wise Ranger not know about the healing properties of a kissed ‘scwatch’?  The very idea.

EllyBaggins:  Frodo couldn’t wait for their walk, either!  Hope you enjoyed it as much as he did.

Elven Kitten:  Thanks for your continuing enthusiasm.

esamen:  Life-threatening injuries in a fluffy tale?  I wouldn’t dream of it!  Oh, thank you for saying “hi” to my mom.  She really is such a blessing.

GamgeeFest:  Yup, just when you think the fluff is as high as it can get, there are scwatches to be kissed.  I really have no shame.

Gentle Hobbit:  I had never heard of the word ‘fulgarite’ before I wrote this story -- how I would love to find a piece.

Girlofring:  Your little one also wants his boo-boo’s kissed... love it!

Grey Wonderer:  I’m so glad you’re enjoying this.  I learn the most about characters by writing about them, and I’ve had a wonderful time writing Bilbo in “Quarantined”, “Reflections of the Past”, and this story.  He had to have been a remarkable hobbit for Gandalf to take such an interest in him.

grumpy:  I used to plan my camping trips around meteor showers, so I’d be sure to see a few ”shooting stars”.  They’re lovely.

Hai Took:  Yes, you’d think the Elves would have figured out the value of kissing a boo-boo!  They still have so much to learn.

Ice Ember:  I wish we could have been there when that “star” fell, too!

InuEnki:  Yes, I’m afraid the fluff is now at unstoppable levels.  Omigosh, Aragorn demonstrating the “kiss and make it better” technique in Rivendell -- that would be a Kodak moment.

Kit5:  But there is high drama in this story!  What about that bath, fraught with unexpected splashing of unsuspecting hobbits?  What about the marauding ducks?  (And thank you very much for telling me about ‘publicly’ -- English is such a slippery language.)

Lily the Hobbit:  I wish we all had hobbits around to kiss our ‘scwatches’ to make them better.

lindahoyland:  Since “Quarantined”, I’ve wanted to write something else about hobbits tending to Aragorn; this was the perfect story for it.

Lindelea:  Thank you for reading!  (I know your fic-reading time is very limited.)  I’m so happy you liked “Nienna’s tears”, and the way I’m writing toddler Pippin.  (Don’t you think that Pippin and Merry would enjoy having a dog at their Crickhollow house, in later years?)

lovethosehobbits:  Your painting sounds fascinating!  What a creative person you are.

Maura Labingi:  Thank you, Maura.

melilot hill:  Yes, I think we’ve reached quite a high degree of fluffage here.

my-fool-of-a-took:  Thank you for highlighting that section of dialogue about the kiss -- I had a wonderful time writing it.

Narwen Almiriel:  Omigosh, you read “Quarantined”, “Reflections”, and this story one after another?  I’m honored!  BTW, I love your analysis of Aragorn: “You can’t be a good king without the right balance of courage and gentleness.”  I feel exactly the same way.  I love bringing out his gentle side, especially around hobbits.  Thank you so much for enjoying these stories, and this ‘universe’.  What a joy to have folks with whom to share them.

Parker:  I’m 48, and my mom still kisses my boo-boo’s, too.  You and I are both very lucky ladies.

pipspebble:  I love writing Bilbo-as-caregiver and Frodo-as-caregiver.  Cute puppies and toddlers (and Rangers!) are just what they need to bring a little fun and adventure into their lives!

RogerGamgee:  Thank you so much for complimenting the “meteor” mythology -- I gave that more thought than almost anything else in this story.

Scifirogue-klutz:  I hope your cold is all better!

sielge:  I love imagining the loving and wise father Aragorn will someday be.  Writing him interacting with young hobbits is such a joy.

SlightlyTookish:  Yes, I’m afraid I’m writing Pip too cute, but... I just can’t help myself!  :)

smalldiver:  Yes, there’s little chance of Estel ever forgetting this particular birthday.  What fun to share it with him.

Timmy2222:  I’m afraid this isn’t the story for “turns and twists”!  You might enjoy “Mind to Mind”, which I tried to write suspensefully.

TinkerBell420:  Glad you’re enjoying this!  And I see nothing wrong with words like beautimous and handsomeful, especially when describing Frodo.

Vilya0:  I’m writing feverishly!  *scribble scribble scribble*