Hobbit Month Post

[dreamflower]

Just under the wire with my hobbit_month post!



I apologize for the lateness of my post. Originally there were to have been two parts to it, but the second part required a lot of formatting, and I simply could not get it right. I will post it at some other time. However, I have a fic to share:

Rating: G
Summary: In Rivendell, Bilbo gets reaquainted with four young hobbits he'd never thought to see again. (Four double-drabbles-- 800 words.

Getting Reacquainted


Bilbo kept a gentle hold on the cold white hand as he sat next to Frodo, leaning in exhaustion against the pillows. He glanced at the foot of the large bed, where an exhausted Samwise had fallen asleep at his Master's feet, and then turned to look at Frodo's face, as pale and still as if carved of marble. He felt a wave of fear and grief well up, and forced it down-- he'd not give up hope yet. But he could not tamp down the guilt. What a sorry inheritance he had left to the best hobbit in the Shire! That wretched Ring!

He could no longer hold back his tears. "Oh, my Frodo!" he sobbed.

A large and gentle hand descended on his shoulder. "Be of hope, my friend. We shall do our best for your child."

It was only his long-ingrained habit, that of hobbits to be precise about relationships, that led him to protest. "He's not..."

"He is. He is not the son of your body, but he is your child. By blood and by love, he is your son."

Bilbo looked up at Elrond, and suddenly realised that he of all people, would understand.
_____________________________

Bilbo nearly tripped over Meriadoc as he left the room. Merry sprang up instantly.

"Is there news?" His voice was steady, but Bilbo saw panic in the grey eyes, red-rimmed and shadowed.

"No, Merry-lad. I'm sorry; nothing's changed; Elrond sent me to rest."

Merry took in a deep breath, and heaved it out, shuddering. "I'm sorry, Bilbo. I don't know what to do-- I sent Pippin to rest also, but I..." He leaned against the wall, shaking his head in confusion. "I'm sorry Bilbo. I couldn't keep him safe." His voice fell to a whisper.

Bilbo drew him into an embrace. "Ah, Merry!" He didn't say more than that, but remembered the last time he'd seen Merry-- a lanky teen on the cusp of tweenhood, filled with Tookish mischief and Brandybuck determination and utter devotion to Frodo.

He knew, though he was sure Merry did not realise he knew, how hurt he had been when Bilbo had taken Frodo away to Hobbiton to live. Bilbo had not been surprised by Merry's presence in Rivendell. He remembered a letter in a childish scrawl. "Take good care of my Frodo, or give him back to me."

"Ah, Merry, it's not your fault."
_________________________________________

What a difference a day makes! They woke to news that Frodo was out of danger, that dreadful shard removed. They'd been allowed to see him briefly: his face faintly flushed with color, his breathing steady. He would wake sometime this day.

The other hobbits, Bilbo included, had been ordered to their own rest. Bilbo was restless, and made his way to the dining hall, looking for food and company.

He heard the merry sound of Elven laughter, and a familiar Tookish voice. "and we could still hear Lotho's shouting as he banged and kicked the door to the privy. He never did find out who'd jammed the door."

Clearly Pippin had been unable to sleep as well. He sat amid a group of Elves, who were plying him with food and drink, regaling them with tales of childhood mischief. Bilbo chuckled. Pippin had been so young when he left, it seemed strange to see him now, a tween on the cusp of adulthood. He was as full of joy and energy as ever. Yet he had managed to bear his part in getting here, through fear and danger.

Bilbo felt a swell of Tookish pride in his young cousin.
_______________________________________

Now the Council had ended. Bilbo watched as Elrond, Aragorn and Gandalf led Frodo off. It was clear that this time, Sam wouldn't be able to slip along unobserved. He studied Sam's face, noted the anxiety there as Frodo went out of his sight. Bilbo nodded. It was only right and fair that Sam be included in this mission of Frodo's. Bilbo trusted Aragorn and Gandalf to care for Frodo, and not just because he was carrying-- It. But they weren't hobbits.

Bilbo remembered the little lad with sandy curls, who listened with rapt attention to tales of Elves. In this young hobbit, he could still see traces of that child. He remembered Sam's determination and intelligence in learning, once Bilbo had persuaded the Gaffer to allow it. He had grown up as sturdy and reliable as Bilbo had always suspected, but that spark of interest in things beyond the common hobbit's ken still glittered in the brown eyes.

He stood and put a hand on Sam's shoulder.

Sam gave a start. "Mr. Bilbo, sir! I hope you don't think I overstepped my place, listening in on all this?"

"Your place? Your place, as ever, is at Frodo's side, Sam."

________________________


Thank you, frodosweetstuff for coming up with Hobbit Month!

Comments

[labourslamp.livejournal.com]

These are all pretty darn amazing (I love canon ages!). I look forward to the elusive part 2.

[dreamflower]

I love canon ages, too! And you've seen part two now.

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed these. I like Bilbo as the observer in this one. A very nice Hobbit month entry. Very hobbity!

[dreamflower]

I figured Bilbo would have a pretty special POV, on seeing these young hobbits again! I'm so glad you liked them.

[frodosweetstuff.livejournal.com]

Awww, these are all lovely and insightful! I loved how Elrond sees Bilbo and Frodo as father and son in the first one and how Merry is possessive and determined when it comes to Frodo, Pippin entertaining the Elves was cute and I loved to see Sam through Bilbo's eyes and hear him say that Sam's place is at Frodo's side. :)

Thank you so much for this very lovely contribution to Hobbit Month! *hugs*

[dreamflower]

It occurred to me that in some ways Bilbo and Elrond had a lot in common-- they had both taken in a young and distant relative, and come to have a father/son relationship with them. It made me realize that Elrond probably understood exactly how Bilbo felt.

As for the others, well, it is how I see them, and I thought Bilbo would have a very unique POV!

And thank *you*, dear, for arranging it.

[garnet-took.livejournal.com]

This is a nice contribution to Hobbit Month. I loved all four droubles, but, of course, my favorites were the one about Merry and the one about Pippin.:)

[dreamflower]

*grin* Naturally.

I am glad you enjoyed them.

[addie71.livejournal.com]

All of these are so lovely, but I love the one with Bilbo watching over Frodo and Elrond's words to him. So true, Frodo is Bilbo's child.

[dreamflower]

Indeed he is. And no one can understand that better than Elrond, who is in a similar situation.

[shirebound]

"By blood and by love, he is your son."

Bilbo looked up at Elrond, and suddenly realised that he of all people, would understand.

All of these are just perfection! What a wonderful series.

[dreamflower]

Thank you dear! As Bilbo sat there worrying about Frodo, I realized there was one person in Rivendell who would understand perfectly what he was going through!

[belleferret.livejournal.com]

Wonderful portraits of all 5 hobbits, how Frodo is truly Bilbo's child as well as heir, Merry's determination, Pippin's cheerfulness and Sam's devotion.

Your place, as ever, is at Frodo's side, Sam.
*happy sighs*

I look forward to part 2!

[dreamflower]

Thank you! I figured it would be interesting to see what Bilbo thought, on seeing these young people once more!

And I was able to post part 2, since ceshaughnessy asked me to fill in for her today.

[illyria-novia.livejournal.com]

Oh, wonderful, wonderful! My favorite lines are:

Bilbo looked up at Elrond, and suddenly realised that he of all people, would understand.

Of course Elrond would understand. I can't imagine him looking after Aragorn and not feeling some kind of attachment.

"Take good care of my Frodo, or give him back to me."

Ah, your fierce, devoted Merry melts my heart.

Bilbo felt a swell of Tookish pride in his young cousin.

Yay for Tooks!

And of course:

"Your place? Your place, as ever, is at Frodo's side, Sam."

Wise old Bilbo! Thank you so much for this! It's lovely.

[dreamflower]

Yes, as regards Elrond and Aragorn, I think it was a very likely parallel to Bilbo and Frodo!

And that little part about Merry was a quote from my story "Marching Orders"

I could just see Pippin full of excitement, once he knew that Frodo was safe, talking his head off-- and Bilbo would really appreciate it!

As for Sam, I think that's probably something he knew about him before he even left the Shire...

I'm glad you enjoyed this!

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Wonderful glimpses of the four young Travelers, through Bilbo's eyes. I was especially taken with the Merry ficlet.

[dreamflower]

I could just imagine that Merry would be almost as hard to shoo away as Sam, and would haunt Frodo's door. And of course, the part about the letter came from my story "Marching Orders"

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[lily-the-hobbit.livejournal.com]

These are lovely. And so true! Ah, I miss my hobbits.

[dreamflower]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I miss your hobbits too!

[telstar109.livejournal.com]

These are so lovely. I do love stories told from Bilbo's pov, especially when he's observing other hobbits. You show us so much in these ficlets, particularly the one about Merry: "Take good care of my Frodo, or give him back to me."
Aww!! I can just see that fierce, possessive, devoted expression on his face! :))

[dreamflower]

Thank you so much! I love Bilbo's POV as well, and I love showing his affection for the younger hobbits.

[julchen11.livejournal.com]

""He is. He is not the son of your body, but he is your child. By blood and by love, he is your son."

Bilbo looked up at Elrond, and suddenly realised that he of all people, would understand."

Soooo beautiful, dear. They are all so beautiful and lovingly written.
Do you know what's the best of it? They all made me think!

Thank you for this wonderful post, dreamflower!

Love,
Julchen

[dreamflower]

Do you know what's the best of it? They all made me think!

*grin* That's one of the nicest compliments you could give me! Thank you, dear!

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

oh these are so poignant and oh so true! I love them being through Bilbo's eyes!

[dreamflower]

Thank you dear!

[periantari.livejournal.com]

These are amazingly done. I enjoyed every single one of them especially since they center around one of the best gap-filler moments in the book where Frodo had just been brought into Rivendell to be tended to.
The emotion and the feelings that Bilbo has for each hobbit is so wonderfully captured.

Sam gave a start. "Mr. Bilbo, sir! I hope you don't think I overstepped my place, listening in on all this?"

"Your place? Your place, as ever, is at Frodo's side, Sam."
I love it! Wow, it couldn't have been said any better.

The first one was so true ...and i liked the Merry one a lot too-- indeed Merry could've felt slightly jealous/uncomfortable at having Frodo go to BagEnd instead of staying with him...

Love these! ::memories:: =) Amazing job!

[dreamflower]

It is a lovely gap just aching to be filled by lots of stories!

I'm glad you liked them. There was a reference in the Merry one to my story "Marching Orders" in which I explored Merry's feelings of possessiveness when Frodo went away to Bag End.

I couldn't keep him safe

[(Anonymous)]

Oh these are wonderful. Each piece a tiny, precise portrait of one of our beloved hobbits. I would comment more detailed, but telstar stole my comment and posted it faster than I was able to ;)) So you can quote me on everything she said, plus: "It was only his long-ingrained habit, that of hobbits to be precise about relationships, that led him to protest." That's so ... hobbity - as is the whole fic.
Thank you for sharing! I look very much forward to reading part 2.

Anne

Re: I couldn't keep him safe

[dreamflower]

Oh, I'm glad you liked that part. We are told how careful hobbits are about their genealogy, so it just seemed natural that Bilbo would fall back on his hobbity habits when stressed.

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

How perfect this has proved, Barbara! Yes, our five outside the Shire, dealing with the Morgul wound as best each can. But I especially love the first one as Bilbo realizes what he has in common with Elrond--love for a kinsman that is equivalent to the love of a physical parent.

Thank you so!

[dreamflower]

Yes, it suddenly occurred to me that there was one person in Rivendell who would understand *exactly* how Bilbo felt about Frodo, and know just what it meant to wait at his bedside.

I'm glad you liked it.

[elderberrywine.livejournal.com]

Wonderful! It's not often we see Bilbo's relationship to Merry and Pippin, but I think you've hit it right on.

And I love this - He remembered a letter in a childish scrawl. "Take good care of my Frodo, or give him back to me." I can almost see Merry's childish chin jutting out as he writes this! :D

[lbilover.livejournal.com]

Oh, these are simply perfect! You've totally nailed all four hobbits, and dear Bilbo. But I especially like your Merry drouble. Merry is sometimes shown as completely irresponsible, but he isn't, in fact. He's mature beyond his years. Thank you for showing and honoring that! And thank you for these!

[dreamflower]

Oh thank you! I'm glad you feel I got them right.

Poor Merry! His characterization in the books is so clear: very responsible and intelligent, able to plan ahead, and as you say, mature beyond his years. But the movies took all that away from him, and now fanon for Merry often tends more toward movie-verse than book-verse.