Chapter Seven
Legolas headed towards the curtain as bid by Gandalf, meaning to pass a plate of food to the patient within, but he paused upon hearing tiny…stifled sobs. He glanced inside to see Sam holding Frodo gently while the Ring-bearer sniffled, looking quite miserable. Being quite sharp of ear…he overheard the conversation without meaning to.
“Sam…” Frodo whispered, his eyes were closed, “I don’t know what I was thinking…” he sighed wretchedly. “Do you think me abnormal….? Is it wrong, Sam? …”
Sam smiled, and used a warm cloth to wipe at Frodo’s tears, cleansing his face while trying not to remove any of the aloe. He also did his best not to grimace a the site of the close stitches. “No, no Frodo. Its not…not at all. Sure that you being whut you are…you weren’t exposed to that kind of thing. None of them what’s born in the upper classes talk about it. But we know it happens, and you’d be surprised at who too, Mr. Frodo. My Rosie says its as natural as the sun coming up or the stars sparkling overhead. It just ain’t…something for polite conversation, if you get my meanin’. Some folks still get upset by it even though it’s the third age an’ all. What’s wrong is what he did to you, Mr. Frodo. But don’t worry…I’m here. He’s not going to hurt you now.”
“Its too late, Sam…I feel so foolish…. Why doesn’t anyone love me Sam? Wh…why can‘t I find…someone to hold on to that…that…thinks I‘m …” Frodo was absolutely miserable, sniffling and trying hard not to itch, he turned a tad red as he tried to ask his question, “Well…desirable…For years…I was told I wasn’t…you know it all…the teasing in Brandy hall…being so different…and the rumors in Hobbiton. Sam…I don’t know what to do….I want him…But how can he love me…when I‘m like this more often than not? So….so helpless…”
“Who couldn’t love you, Mr. Frodo?” Sam smiled gently, rocking his master smoothly in his arms. It -would- be alright…The stocky gardener was made of strong stuff and wasn’t about to let his Master suffer, “Everyone has accidents, its nothing to be ashamed about. My Gaffer says that some get more than their own share…yet, when the good happens…it more than makes up for the bad.”
“I want him Sam….” Frodo sniffled…”I want him to kiss me…Y know….I’ve never been kissed…never…and…I want to before…before…Tell me Sam…what‘s it like?” Frodo begged, gazing up at his friend earnestly.
“Do they use tongues? I heard some hobbit girls talking once…and…But Sam…can you rub a bit of aloe on my back…it itches horribly…and I can’t reach…”
“Of course, Mr. Frodo.” Sam obliged easily…and rubbed Frodo’s back easily. He turned a shade red at the conversation, but wasn’t about to let his master down, “Yes indeed, Frodo, and its quite like eating a piece of fruit…” Sam was rather surprised at his ability to explain such things. Then again…given that his upbringing was far different from Frodo’s he realized the reason why. “It can be sweet…when done with the right person…but terribly sour…when faced with say the lips of a Sackville-Baggins.” He could have been imagining things…but he felt a series of lumps just below Frodo’s right shoulder blade….
Frodo laughed weakly at the joke, and sighed in contentment finally. “I just feel so…awkward…but…I am a little hungry….the mashed potatos look good…”
At that particular moment, Legolas chose to clear his throat and open the curtain. He was surprised that Frodo simply remained buried against Sam’s chest, and turned his face away, shivering. “What is it?” Sam looked over as he held one arm around the Ringbearer.
“I’ve some food…Gandalf says that Frodo should eat something. Its not much…some mashed potatoes and a bowl of mushroom soup, with some of the biscuits we picked up in the last town….though I’m afraid they’re not quite fresh. There’s no juice left either….but I found a farm not too far away while I was scouting, and they had milk….and I also found a few raspberries growing wild for desert.” Legolas set the plate and cup down by Sam.
“Thank-you.” Sam answered for Frodo who refused to look up…and the elf strode away as he heard the gardener soothe his friend with soft words, “Its alright, Frodo. Well…kissin’…bless me, I’ve not got grand amounts of experience in that….to be sure…but its quite nice…I’ll reckon you’ll enjoy it….now…how about something to eat?”
Sighing a little, the Ringbearer smiled a little trying to focus on something other than Aragorn.
Sam reached over to take a spoonful of the creamy food and without hesitation began to help Frodo eat. He was not altogether happy at the fact that the older hobbit was no longer eating his fare share of food. Sam meant to remedy that...and soon.
Legolas looked around, not finding Aragorn anywhere in the camp site he picked up the ranger’s trail and followed him to a secluded spot near the river, where he stat crouched on a stone and stared off into space, his elbows resting on his knees, in one hand he was holding the evenstar, his finger caressing it gently.
“Estel, “ Legolas used the Ranger’s childhood nickname, “Are you not going to join us for dinner?” he walked up slowly and leapt onto the sister of the rock that Aragorn was perched on, easily balancing himself with eternal grace.
“No…I’ll be back in a little while.” Aragorn said slowly. He glanced at the elf, “You’re not here to talk about food, Legolas. What is it?”
“I was just wondering a few things, my friend.” he smiled a little, “Do you want to know what the first words from Frodo’s lip was when he woke after his fall and I stood over him on the ledge?”
Aragorn looked to the elf, curling his lips, he didn’t answer, but was not entirely surprised when the elf continued to speak.
“He called -your- name…and seemed…quite sure I was you. Why is that, do you think?” The Elf played absently with a lock of his hair, twirling the perfect braid about his long slender finger..
“What are you getting at?” Aragorn shot out through clenched teeth. He was not in the mood for this kind of conversation.
“Would you mind telling me, Estel…what exactly you think you are doing?” Legolas smiled blandly at his old friend, sitting now with his long legs spilled out over the rock.
Aragorn at first bristled, but sighed…”Its hard to explain…I don’t quite know how…”
“The Firstborn…” the elf laughed a little, “So caught up in their own sense of what they perceive as -right- they forget to look about for what could be that is just as -right-. You hurt him. Do you know that? I left him just now, and I know he was crying. I heard him.”
Aragorn looked away, “I did not mean to…but I didn’t know how to explain.”
“Try with me. As Elrond’s daughter is kindred of mine….not by blood but kindred none the less…I would like to know where this is leading and whether or not you indeed honor her as you say you do.” The elf spoke matter of factly, but his meaning was perfectly clear.
“She knows, Legolas.” Aragorn shrugged., putting the chain back around his neck. He spoke calmly, staring at his hands, “She…and I had a long talk before we left Rivendell about Frodo. She wants me to help him. She even…” he ran one hand through his hair, “She wants me to make him feel good….however I can. She said…it will help him to survive.”
“She gave permission?” Legolas’ eyes shot up, this he hadn’t expected, “Then why…”
“I don’t want to hurt him.” Aragorn sighed, knowing full well how much he could trust his friend of old. “I’ve never done this with a male before.” he finally admitted. “And he’s a hobbit…I could break him easily…and whereas I have experience with the fair sex…these feelings…are quite new.” Legolas laughed and shook his head, “Its not quite so difficult as it sounds, Estel. I have been involved in relationships on both sides and will simply say this; take your time…as you would with a lady.“ he rose, “Well, my friend. I see I had no cause to worry for the Lady Arwen, but you…well…that’s another story. You’d best get back to the hut, I think you should talk with him. Tell him…He could well use the confidence right now…”
Aragorn decided it was high time to get back to the camp and followed the elf. He didn’t quite know what to make of the conversation that had just occurred…but now he didn’t feel so terrible to have in his mind a picture of what he wished to do with a certain Ringbearer. He would try and fullfill Arwen’s wishes to the best of his ability…and he would make sure that Frodo had the courage and confidence to survive no matter what it took.
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