I18 - "Amusing Oneself" by Libby

[burning-night.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Challenge: First Lines; “When shall we meet again in thunder, lightning, or in rain?”; Song Lyrics; "So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my road."; Talents/Skills; "rope-making"; Write What You Know; "Character you have something in common with"; Life Event; "Old Age"; Love; "Unconditional Love"; Eligible Bachelor Baggins; "explores the Shire"; Magic&Real; "The Poisons" 

Format: Short Story/Drabble

Genre: General

Rating: G

Warnings: None

Characters: Bilbo, Frodo

Pairings: None

Summary: Bilbo teaches Frodo a few new skills in a quiet moment at Rivendell.

“When shall we meet again, in thunder, lightning, or in rain?”

“With a bit more feeling, Frodo my lad,” Bilbo encouraged, smiling at the young man standing in front of him. “It likes emphasis, this one.”

Frodo nodded eagerly, and began to read again. “When shall we meet again, in thunder, lightning, or in rain? When the hurly-burly’s done, when the battle’s lost and won. That will be ere the set of the sun.”

Bilbo stopped him with a wave of his hand. “That’ll do, lad. I think you’re getting the hang of it nicely. Come over here and sit by me, why don’t you.”

Frodo walked over and plopped down on the bench beside him, setting the book on a nearby table. “It’s a nice gift you have there, Bilbo,” he said, meaning the book. “Elvish poetry in translation is a hard thing to come by, you told me.”

Bilbo nodded vigorously. “So it is! Master Elrond himself translated that for me, for my birthday last year. He has a talent for such things, though he’d never admit it.”

Frodo laughed, and then after a light snack they set to the next new activity Bilbo was teaching that day; rope-making. Bilbo instructed, though he temporarily lapsed into dosing and had to be gently shaken awake. “Forgive me, I am getting on!” he said with a laugh each time.

Frodo set out the lengths of fibre and tied them to the dowels, which he secured on the bottom of Bilbo’s bench. Then he wove the lengths together into a long twist as Bilbo had instructed. As he worked, he asked, “So, uncle, how have things been here in Rivendell while you have been staying?”

Bilbo hummed and aahed. “Very nice,” he eventually came up with, “Though elves tend to eat less than hobbits.” He waved an absent hand. “My tales are nothing, really. What I want to hear is what you have been up to.”

And so Frodo, ever happy to oblige his favourite relative, told him of the events that had been going on in the Shire. He told him of his adventures exploring high and low, and the dwarves he had met and spoken to. Soon he came to the tale of his journey, and Bilbo clapped with excitement (even though he had heard most of it before). “You have been busy,” he said wistfully when the tale was done. “A young man of such energy you are, Frodo my lad. I’ve become lazy in my old age, I fear. All I seem to want to do is sit and sleep, and look at the flowers.”

Frodo smiled and patted him on the arm. “I’m sure that’s not so bad, Uncle. Not now you’re here in Rivendell, anyway.”

Bilbo held onto his arm rather suddenly. “You don’t think I’m turning into a weak old fool, do you Frodo?” he said suddenly, urgently.

His nephew looked into his eyes for a heartbeat, and then said decisively, “No, I do not. And even if you were, I wouldn’t think any the worst of you or love you any the less for it. Love between family stands, Uncle.”

Bilbo withdrew his hand, then snorted. “Not with those Sackville-Bagginses, it doesn’t,” he muttered darkly.

Frodo chuckled again. “I know you are still sore that I sold them Bag End. I think I’ll have to find a way to make up for it.”

“You can take me on a trip,” Bilbo said, raising his arms expansively. “We’ll go to Gondor, to Rohan, and Lothlorien and Mirkwood too, yes.” He caught up his half full glass and raised it above his head. “And here’s to drinks at the end of our road,” he laughed as Frodo mirrored his actions, and they tapped their cups together with a clink.

After he’d drained a draught, Bilbo bid Frodo set aside the rope-making and take up another book from the tall and well-stocked bookcase inside. The one he chose was ‘The Poisons’, and they resumed their earlier activity of reading aloud until the sun passed down into sunset in a golden blaze and a chiming bell summoned them to the dinner hall. 

Comments

[febobe.livejournal.com]

Very sweet! I can just see these two. :)

[burning-night.livejournal.com]

:D Thanks!

[engarian.livejournal.com]

Love between family stands. What a lovely sentiment.

- Erulisse (one L)

[burning-night.livejournal.com]

I quite liked it ;) Thank you!

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

I do love these two together and I always enjoy it when they talk of books. Lovely!

[burning-night.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Very lovely to see these two together. And Shakespeare as Elvish poetry made me laugh - it seems fitting somehow, doesn't it? :D

[burning-night.livejournal.com]

Thank you :D It did; now I'll just have to make an Elvish name for him ;)

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. ^^ I'm really not regretting the decision to give some attention to B2MeM fics, there are such gems here. This being one of them. :)

now I'll just have to make an Elvish name for him ;)

Maglor.

;)

[burning-night.livejournal.com]

I should really be doing the same (too damn busy as usual *sigh*) Thank you again :D

I see elvish inspiration, you know. Maybe they were friends? XD