b2mem | The Trials of Pippin Took, Spring 1420 S.R. 3/? by Kaylee Arafinwiel (For Shirebound's Birthday) (Reply)

B2MeM Prompt, Card and Number: O64, Adjectival ABC, Apothecary Garden, Colors, Color Burst Red, Color Burst Yellow, Color Burst Indigo, Emotions, Horror, Landscape, Person vs. Self, Talents and Skills
Format: chaptered fic
Genre: family, hurt/comfort
Rating: PG
Warnings: mention of Mordor
Characters: Peregrin Took, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Samwise Gamgee, Frodo Baggins
Pairings:
Creator’s Notes (optional): It occurred to me that Rosie Cotton/Gamgee should probably be around, too, but let's just say she's visiting kin. For Shirebound for her birthday. <3 Thanks also to Dreamflower for Merry's nickname from Frodo, and also proper manners when one is visiting an unwell hobbit during mealtime!
Summary: Pippin and Merry aid Sam in comforting Frodo during their visit to Bag End.

Much to the cousins’ relief, Frodo’s ‘bad turn’ was only a nightmare, though only was putting it mildly. He was getting over a bad head cold, too, so Pippin went to brew rose hip tea, noticing the soup simmering on the hob without being told. He toasted some bread, then thought perhaps he ought to add a leaf of athelas to Frodo’s cup just in case.

The kingsfoil grew now under the windows of Bag End, ground cover in the beds of indigo gentians and Elven-lilies Sam so loved. Sam had firmly had to tell the Gaffer they weren’t weeds and not to be treated as such.

“They would have more virtue if Strider were using them, but it’s better than nothing,” Pippin thought, mixing the athelas in. He filled a mug with broth for Frodo as well.

When the tea and soup were ready, Pippin poured three cups of tea for himself, Merry and Sam, and added a few slices of lightly toasted and buttered bread on a plate - it would be the height of rudeness for them to force Frodo to eat alone. He carried the tray back to Frodo’s room, tapping on the door with his foot, and Sam opened it.

“There you are, Pip!” Merry said. “We were beginning to fear the larder had swallowed you!”

“I didn’t go scrumping if that’s what you mean,” Pippin said indignantly. “I know what Frodo needs.” He brought the tray over and set it down, on its sturdy little legs, across Frodo’s lap. “Here’s your tea, Frodo, and some soup. Do you need help?”

Frodo shook his head. “Thank you,” he said, his voice bleak, not sounding quite there.

“Here, Mr Frodo, let me,” Sam said gently, and as Pippin handed Merry his cup of tea and toast, Sam lifted the medicinal tea to Frodo’s lips. Frodo’s hands were still shaking; he was shivering, but he sipped at the tea and it seemed to relax him.

Pippin and Merry ate their toast and drank their tea quietly as Sam tended their cousin, exchanging looks. Both of them felt rather twitchy, their fingers itching as though they knew they should be doing this for Frodo. But Sam had been through so much alone with Frodo that they couldn’t deny him anything - and Sam seemed to have matters well in hand, anyway. So they sat in companionable silence, merely reassuring Frodo with their presence.

“This is...a fine soup, Sam,” Frodo said at last, trying to observe the niceties. “And Pippin - was putting athelas in the tea your idea?”

Pippin nodded. “Did it help, Frodo?”

“Of course, Pip - a good idea, that. Strider would be proud of you,” Frodo said fondly, “as am I.” Pippin flushed with pleasure. At least someone was, he thought, because - it always would come back to that, wouldn’t it? - his father certainly wasn’t.

“Thank you,” Pippin said with a grateful smile. “I’m glad to hear it. Do you want to talk about it?” he added hesitantly, when Frodo had finished his tea, and indicated he could eat no more. It was clear to all four hobbits what it was.

Frodo shuddered, sighed, and leaned back into the pillows as Sam straightened them for him. “It was Mordor,” he admitted under the watchful gazes of his younger cousins. “Sam and I at the very end there, under the baking hot sun, the ash and fire of the Mountain spewing forth - if it hadn’t been for the Eagles…” He shuddered as the horror overwhelmed him, weeping.

“Oh, Mr. Frodo,” Sam said, dismayed. “Why didn’t you tell me? It weren’t your fault, you know,” he said, and Pippin thought Sam could keep saying it to the end of Arda and Frodo still wouldn’t believe it. Frodo was rubbing at the stump of his missing finger now, until Merry caught his injured hand and cradled it.

Pippin raked his fingers gently through Frodo’s brown curls. “Oh, Frodo, it really wasn’t your fault, you know that, even though I know you can’t see it now. We’re here for you, cousin, you’re safe.” He sighed as Frodo began showing signs of distress all over again.

“Pip,” Merry interjected, “why don’t you see if any of that butterscotch cake Sam was telling me about is still there. I’ll help Frodo, he needs a good soak and I daren’t trust you with the bathwater,” he teased.

Nodding, Pippin stood up, gathering up the tray and preparing to take everything back to the kitchen.

“I don’t need your help, sprout,” Frodo protested when Pippin had gone, and Merry managed a half-smile; that Frodo was aware enough to use his fond nickname was a good sign.

“Yes, you do. A warm bath will be just the thing for you, Frodo, and while you soak I’ll tell you the tale of Lady Uinen, just as you used to tell it to me…”

“Always thought she was a bit uppity I did, Master, begging your pardon,” Sam chimed in. “Her tellin’ them mariners whether they could go boating or no, and keepin’ her husband in line. Why, if Ma had tried to tell the Gaffer what to do he’d have been mighty vexed.”

“But the Gaffer never bossed Bell, either, did he, Sam?” Frodo asked, stifling a cough as his heart-brother and cousin helped him to the bath room. Sam shook his head as he poured warmed water into the copper tub.

“No, Mr. Frodo, never. They was partners. She don’t seem no equal to nobody, this Lady Uinen,” Sam replied. “And yet…” He frowned. “They say as it’s queer of Hobbits to go over Sea and all with the Elves, but someday I think I’d like to see the Sea, at least.”

“Someday we will, Sam,” Frodo said. He let Merry help him undress and get into the tub. “I see a day where we walk the sand dunes together, picking up shells and enjoying the waves as they break on the shore.”

Merry smiled sadly. He hoped his cousin and Sam would find that joy, but he suspected it wasn’t a sight he would be granted along with them. “I’m sure you will, Frodo,” he said as he settled his older cousin in the warm bath, and began to help him wash. “Sam, make sure Pippin leaves some of that butterscotch cake for us too, will you?”

“Aye, Mr. Merry,” Sam agreed. “I mean, Merry,” he added at the Son of the Hall’s mock-stern glare. Sam ducked out of the room and headed for the kitchen. Who knew what an unsupervised tween might get up to...at least it was safe to leave his Frodo with Merry. He was their Frodo, after all.