Frodo tried his best to keep his hands from shaking. After pacing about the stable aisle, he absently picked up the brush and began brushing Gil-galad's coat for the fifth time in so many minutes. He didn't get five strokes before he put the brush down again. His pony turned his great head to look at his master. The intelligent brown eyes questioned Frodo.
"I’m sorry. It’s just...I hope Sam’s all right. Uncle Bilbo sent me down here to be out of the way. But I don’t want to be anywhere but Number 3 right now." Frodo’s quick ears caught the sound of someone entering the stable and he hurried from the stall door. Bilbo met him.
"How’s Sam?" Frodo asked.
Bilbo smiled down at his nephew. "He’s in quite a bit of pain. He was very brave, though and you did a nice job carrying him home. His leg was hardly out of place. You can come see him now."
"I was so worried about him. I know a broken leg isn’t as serious as what could have happened, but..." Frodo’s voice trailed off as he saw a loathed figure walking down the road. Bilbo’s presence was the only leash that held Frodo by the scruff of his neck from hurling himself at Lotho.
Bilbo sensed his nephew tense. "Frodo-lad, what’s wrong?"
"Lotho broke Sam’s leg." Frodo growled.
"Did he? I thought you said Sam fell from the horse."
"He fell. But it wasn’t Gil-galad’s fault, nor Sam’s. It was Lotho. He threw a rock right at Gil-galad’s most sensitive spot and the poor pony threw Sam and I. He didn’t even care about Sam afterwards!"
By this time, Lotho was almost upon them. He looked miserable and his eyes never met Frodo’s.
"Hullo." He mumbled.
"Now, hold on there, young lad. What’s this about throwing rocks?"
Lotho looked up. " ‘M sorry. I was just coming to see him." Lotho apparently found the ground immensely interesting.
"I see. Well, I’ll have to have a talk with your parents about this."
Lotho looked up at Bilbo, "No, sir! Please. I didn’t see the lad, honest. He was in front of Frodo, how could I have? I only meant to scare the horse and give Frodo a little jolt."
Bilbo studied the lad before him, as he kept a firm restraining hand on Frodo’s too tense shoulder. "Well, now. Even if you were trying to ‘jolt’ Frodo, as you say, you were putting my lad in danger. You do realise that, don’t you?"
Lotho nodded, eyes downcast.
"I will consider your request at not telling your parents." To Lotho’s hopeful look he stressed, "Consider."
"Thank you!" Lotho said. He dared a look at Frodo before dashing off and regretted it.
"You’re letting him off?" Frodo asked menacingly after Lotho had left. He couldn’t seem to shake the aloofness Lotho had had earlier when he broke Sam’s leg. "He should be horsewhipped."
"Frodo! Do not speak so harshly."
Fighting tears, Frodo said, "You didn’t hear what he said. He didn’t even care about Sam!"
"True, but he was also genuinely repentant just now. There is no call for horsewhipping. How would you like to be horsewhipped?"
Frodo took the point. "I’m sorry. He just makes me so angry. To disregard a lad like that is so low. He can bully me all he wants, but he will not touch Sam."
Bilbo had to hide his smile. His Frodo and Sam Gamgee had formed such a remarkable bond already. His heart swelled with love and pride for his lad.
*~*~*~*~*
Number Three, Bagshot Row had become like a second home to Frodo Baggins. He had visited often since he moved to Bag End. But every visit until now had been filled with laughter and joy. He walked to Sam’s room with a heavy heart. Why hadn’t he been able to control his pony? Could he have prevented the accident in any way? He feared the lad no longer trusted him. Why would he? Frodo had promised him he would not get hurt.
Sam was lying in his bed. His leg was elevated and he was covered by a light quilt. Frodo knelt by Sam’s bed. The gardener’s youngest son smiled at him. "Hullo." he said.
Frodo smiled. "Hullo, Sam. How’s your leg?"
"Hurts." Sam said through clenched teeth. Frodo knew Sam was being very brave. An idea struck him and he rose.
"I’ll be back, Sam-lad."
"Don’t go! Please. I don’t want you to go."
"Dear Sam, I’ll be back. I promise." ‘What good are my promises now to the lad?’ he thought bitterly. Hopefully, his surprise would make it up. Frodo raced up the Hill to Bag End.
*~*~*~*~*~*
TBC...
Copyright Frodo Baggins 2007, respectively :)