A Cruel Lesson on Life

By Summer

Beta by Kathryn Ramage

Class: Gen

Type: Wee Frodo

She was just starting to fold the laundry when the sound of her son's screams caught her attention. Dropping everything, Primula Baggins made a mad dash out the door, heading for the garden.

She saw three smaller boys run past her, one of them Lotho Sackville-Baggins. She might have known. If he had laid one hand on her child--

Primula came to a full stop when she saw her son, kneeling on the ground, clutching something in his arms. His eyes were staring at something on the round. Moving forward slowly, she saw that the something her son was staring at was a large white rabbit. It was stained with blood.

Reaching Frodo's side, she saw that he was holding what looked to be a baby rabbit. Tear-filled blue eyes looked up at her and Primula thought for sure her heart was going to break.

"They threw a stone and killed the mama rabbit." Her son whimpered and held the baby rabbit even closer in his arms. "Lotho said it had raided his mama's garden. But she was only trying to feed her baby. She meant no harm. Mama!"

Her six year old son dived into her arms, sobbing bitterly.

Primula wrapped her arms around her young son and felt her own tears rise, more over the emotional upset of her child than the death of the mama rabbit. Death was a part of life and one she knew well. It hurt none-the-less when it was her child that was in pain.

"Who shall take care of him now!" Frodo cried. A few moments later, Primula watched her son wrap the baby rabbit in his jacket and whisper over and over again, "Don't cry, little one. I'll take care of you. I promise."

***

He stared at the graves, now six years later. She watched him from afar not sure what to do. In the end, Esmeralda headed inside her smial, knowing Frodo would need time to heal from this cruel lesson in life.

Frodo stared down at the two graves all the while stroking the soft but elderly rabbit in his arms. Ever since they had pulled his parents from the river, Frodo had held his favorite rabbit in his arms. It seemed the only thing that kept him anchored to the present. His eyes were filled with tears.

Slowly, the old rabbit pinned its ears down and slowly curled itself against Frodo's neck. And perhaps in a silent communication, the rabbit seemed to call to the child hobbit.

"Don't cry, little one. I'll take care of you. I promise."

The end.

……………………