Rating: G
Summary: Frodo gives a lesson in First Age history to a young friend…

J: LIKE JUGGLING THE JEWELS OF FËANOR

Frodo passed the door of his study, and then backed up a few steps, to look in. “Fatty? I thought you’d gone out with Merry and Pippin.”

Fatty, who was curled up on the settee with one of Bilbo’s books, shrugged. “They were walking down to the Water; I think they might have wanted to go swimming.” He made a face. “Besides, I was really interested in this story…” He glanced back at the book. “Er, Frodo?”

“Yes, Fatty?”

“This is rather confusing…”

Frodo walked into the room to get a closer look. He bent over the back of the settee. “Ah! The Silmarillion! One of Bilbo’s translations. What do you need to know?”

“I’m just not sure I understand what happened with all the jewels, or why…” Fatty’s voice trailed off in a hopeful fashion.

“Well, I was about to go to the kitchen for some elevenses. Why don’t you join me, as you are still here, and we’ll discuss it.”

Fatty grinned, and he stood up with the book under his arm and trailed after his older cousin.

Frodo filled the teakettle and put it on to boil, and opened the cupboard. “I have part of that apple cake from supper last night still left?” He arched his brow at Fatty, whose face lit up.

“That sounds lovely, Cousin Frodo, thank you.” Fatty found the forks and teacups, and in only a few minutes they were seated at the table.

“Now,” said Frodo, “what is confusing you? I remember when Bilbo first told me that story, I became completely confused trying to keep track of everything that was involved. I remember that I told Bilbo that it was like trying to juggle.”

Fatty chuckled. “Exactly! And I really don’t understand why they made so much trouble. If they were made from the Trees of Light, then they should have been *good*!” He took a bite of his apple cake, and looked at Frodo expectantly.

Frodo felt quite gratified at his younger cousin’s faith in his ability to untangle all the maze of confusion surrounding that ancient tale. Since Bilbo had left, he’d missed being able to discuss such things. Merry and Pippin had very little interest in those old stories for the most part. But it was clear young Fatty had a keen interest in Elves. “Well, you see, it was not the jewels themselves that were the problem. It was Fëanor’s pride and folly in swearing that awful oath, and in binding that oath on all his family…”

Though they soon finished the apple cake between them, the tea grew cold, as they talked about the story, and Frodo took the book from his cousin to show to him certain things and explain certain passages. They were still talking when the back door banged open and Merry and Pippin rushed in, flushed, their curls still wet.

Merry and Pippin stopped and looked at the other two in surprise. “Now, here Pip and I hurried to get back so we’d not be late for luncheon, and it doesn’t look as though you’ve even started cooking!”

Frodo looked at them in astonishment. Surely he and Fatty had not been talking for two hours straight! But the look of equal surprise on Fatty’s round face showed that they were quite right. He stood up. “Well, in that case, why don’t we walk down the Hill, and take our luncheon at the Ivy Bush?”

And the four friends left, the book still upon the kitchen table.