febobe

Again, thank you all for the lovely encouragement, and a special shout-out to Mewsie in appreciation for her wonderful links! :D I do appreciate it ever so much. :)

A special thanks also to all who've encouraged me along the way, including Riddlemaster (who just prevented me from committing a major error SURE to land me in dear Surg's Hall of Fic Shame later in this fic!) and the always-incomparable Claudia603. :)

Enjoy,
Febobe :)



Title: Into the East
Author: Febobe (Frodo Baggins of Bag End)
Rating/Warnings: PG (graphic food descriptions, some occasionally graphic medical angst - NO CANON CHARACTER DEATH. I promise! It may seem at first that I'm headed that direction, but I absolutely guarantee, NO canon characters will be killed off in this fic!)
Summary: After the Quest, Frodo comes down with a serious illness, and journeys to Harad in search of better health.
Characters: Frodo, Sam, Elrond, Eowyn, Faramir, Merry, Pippin, an OC named Kalil (partly in tribute to Claudia's own Khalil), other supporting OCs, appearances by Aragorn and possibly Arwen. Others TBA, if any.
Disclaimer: I do not own and have not created any of J.R.R. Tolkien's work, neither characters nor world nor any of his concepts. I'm just playing in the sandbox, with no ill intent. Original characters, including (but not limited to) Kalil are my own creation, and I would appreciate it if they weren't used without asking. (Unlike Tolkien, I'm not dead!) This fic meets FrodoHealers standards and is free from profanity, sex, and slash.
Notes: Sam lovers, I think this is a fic you'll enjoy, as it strongly features his voice and viewpoint. Frodo lovers, this is definitely a fic you'll enjoy, especially if you're an old-school FrodoHealers fan. Faramir and Eowyn, Merry and Pippin will all have significant roles to play throughout this fic, though it takes a few chapters to get there. Also, please note that I have chosen Indian food for the predominant culinary culture of Harad. I realize that it may well be closer to Middle Eastern cookery, but I wanted to give it a distinctive tie and recognizable flavor, and I chose Indian. No ill will intended if you prefer a different interpretation; just know that this is my interpretation only and I realize it isn't the only potential take on Haradraic food out there.

CHAPTER SIX

Well, we were all packed up and no mistake.

I'd taken three days packing me and Mr. Frodo, and I'd even found a few minutes while Queen Arwen sat with Mr. Frodo to help Merry and Pippin pack, they were so scattered about it all. But they seemed real eager to go too, anything to help Mr. Frodo, and right brave about it they were, so I didn't reckon I ought to be nervous.

After all, hadn't Mr. Frodo and I been through worse? At least we'd have water, plenty o'clean water, and food. And no walking...not that I minded, but poor Mr. Frodo would've blown away in the first puff o'wind, and he was too weak to take five steps, so I didn't want him lifting a finger.

But there didn't seem to be much worry about that, 'cause Faramir and Eowyn came to see him and fussed over him and said how glad they were he was coming, and Lady Eowyn she carried on like she'd had a child and Frodo was the child. You'd a thought somebody had given her the best gift in the world for him to go with her to that place, and no mistake. And I couldn't help liking her. She had killed that awful thing, that wraith that hurt Mr. Frodo so, and I couldn't help feeling like somebody that brave would keep Mr. Frodo safe no matter what, even if she had to use a sword to do it. Obviously she weren't afraid of them.

And then it was time to go, and I felt butterflies dancing in my stomach as Aragorn carried Mr. Frodo out to the big wagon we were going to ride in, and laid him down where Queen Arwen and Lady Eowyn had made up a pallet for him. They'd put in cushions for me too, which touched me deep. I thought that was right sweet of them. I'd ridden in more than one wagon without anything between my backside and bouncing wood rocking back and forth, but I can't say I'd recommend it. I didn't envy Master Merry or Master Pippin, who were going to ride ponies with the horse-mounted guard. Jouncing around on the back of some beast didn't sound a bit better to me than sitting in the wagon.

"Faramir will send me regular letters," Aragorn told me after he got Mr. Frodo settled and they said their good-byes, and then he left Gandalf to say good-bye to Mr. Frodo, so's he could talk to me, "and he knows that I expect to hear reports on how the four of you are faring. You are always welcome to write to me, and if you have need of me, you know that you have only to say so. I will come as soon as I may, or Faramir will help you get to me, if that need should arise...but I think all will be well. Fear not, my friend...I think that we shall meet again, and our meeting shall be a happy one!"

Well. I snuffled around and tried to think of something good to say, but all I could think of was what I said, and that was something like, "Thank you for everything, sir. I reckon we'll be fine."

"I know that you will. I have no fear for Frodo when you are with him."

Well, that set me blinking and snuffling again, and no mistake. I tried to straighten up good before he set me up in the wagon on my cushions next to Mr. Frodo, and I felt heartened, but then I looked down at Mr. Frodo lying there so pale and thin, and I wondered...

Am I doing the right thing?

Am I taking him to die in some far place, a long ways from home?

Or will this be the saving of him?

Gandalf leaned across the wagon and motioned to me with his finger, and I leaned over.

"Do not fear new adventures, Samwise," he said. "Hope may come in the most surprising of places, as well I think you know."

-to be continued-