action.

[bronwe]

[ Frodo arrives rolling and tumbling across the floor.

There was a great shadow over him then, something with a terrible stench and legs too numerous to count. And now, light. He shields himself from the brightness and scoots back until he bumps against the wall, then scrambles to find shelter behind a couch. It hurts his eyes. The air is suddenly too clear, everything too clean. He fears it is a trick.

He speaks in a hush, afraid to alert the enemies but more afraid of being alone. ]

Sam? Where are you, Sam?

Comments

[bronwe]

[ Frodo gasps a little at the room. It looks grand and homely. He stumbles to the bed if only to touch something soft. ]

Will you let me sleep, Clementine? I do not mind the floor. [ Since, soil and all. ]

[willrememberthat]

[Clem watches, worried.]

You just need a quick bath. You'll feel better. C'mon, Frodo. Then you can sleep in the bed.

[She tugs his arm.]

[bronwe]

[ No, but he's so tired... Frodo places a hand on hers, and starts making his way to the bathroom. ]

Will you find me water?

[willrememberthat]

[She guides him into the bathroom. This is a good opportunity to run down to the kitchen and get him things, since... ew, boys. She's not sticking around for bathtime with a boy.]

I'll get you water and something tiny to eat. I'll be right back, okay?

[bronwe]

[ HAHA GOOD GIRL. He doesn't want her to be catching sight of the ring at all. He starts taking off his cloak and then his jacket, waiting for her to leave to properly close the bathroom door. ]

And I will be right here when you come back.

[willrememberthat]

Okay.

[And off she goes! She hurries, but doesn't run. He'd need time to get clean, after all. Once she gets to the kitchen, she gets him a cup of water and then thinks about what she should get him to eat. Crackers? Bleh. A sandwich? Maybe too much, and she doesn't know what kind of stuff he likes! She should have asked.

Eventually, she settles on apple slices. Because everyone loves apple slices.

She carefully carries the plate and the cup back upstairs.]

[bronwe]

[ By which point Frodo is happily splashing away in the human-sized bathtub. He very nearly falls asleep until startled by water in his nose.

He is soaking his undershirt, shaking away the dirt. There isn't much he can do about the rest now, but she wouldn't want him slipping back into dirty clothes! ]

[willrememberthat]

[She puts the plate and cup down on the nightstand, then creeps towards the bathroom door.]

I'm back. Do you like apples?

[bronwe]

[ Frodo startles and makes a big splashing sound. Whoops, water everywhere. ]

Yes! Yes, very much.

[ He hurries with his clothes now, wet as they may be. They will dry soon enough. He steps out a minute later, shirt all buttoned up though the chain around his neck is visible through it. ]

[willrememberthat]

[What--oh, he's okay. He's easily startled! Clem looks at him funny when he comes out in wet clothes, but it's warm inside the castle. She's done enough nagging... for now.]

You smell a lot better.

[She notices his necklace, but figures she can ask all her questions later. He's really tired. She takes his hand again, to lead him to the bed, apples, and water.]

The kitchen is right downstairs, so if you're hungry when you wake up, it won't be far away.

[bronwe]

[ If she nags him one more time... okay no, he can't actually come up with a threat for a little girl, but things won't be pleasant that's all! He chuckles at her comment. ]

I am glad not to assault your senses anymore.

[ Frodo lets her take his hand, better to let her do what she needs to make her feel better about him. He's worried her enough it seems.

When they reach the table, he picks up the apple slices first, since he's drank lots of water before this, intentionally. The first bite tastes like the sweetest fruit he's ever eaten. Elvish bread was well and good but things that grow are always better. He starts slow but quickly gobbles it up. ]

[willrememberthat]

[Clem just likes holding hands :( She lets go so he can eat, of course. She hops up onto the edge of the bed to watch, eyes big.]

[bronwe]

[ NOPE STILL NOT BIGGER THAN HIS.

Frodo swallows the last of it and only then remembers. Oh no. ]

I'm sorry, I forgot to offer you some.

[willrememberthat]

[She shakes her head!]

It's okay, they were for you.

[She might have nabbed a slice on the way up.]

Are you feeling better?

[As she asks, she scoots over to the other side of the bed, pulling back the covers with her as she goes.]

[bronwe]

[ Being taken care of by a little girl isn't what he expected for today, after the endless stairs and that thing, and now here in a castle with the taste of apples on his tongue.

Maybe he would wake and find himself lying on hard rock again.

Frodo climbs onto the bed, watching her. ]

You said this is not where you sleep. If not here, where then?

[willrememberthat]

[She'll toss the blankets over him, whether he's ready or not. It's fun, being the one doing the taking-care-of stuff.]

In the city, with Arthur. He takes care of me. [Until her parents or Lee show up. She checks the journals every day for sign of them, and every day she's disappointed.] That means you can stay here as long as you want. I don't mind.

[bronwe]

[ Frodo gives her a small smile and grabs the blanket to tug it over him. ]

I would like to share an apple with you properly. Tomorrow, perhaps? I will find you in the city.

[willrememberthat]

Alright! I'd like that. [Her smile backs up her words. She figures that's her cue to let him sleep, so she starts to slide off the bed.]

But I think I should come here, so you don't get lost.

[Newbie!]

[bronwe]

[ Frodo keeps smiling so she won't worry or anything, shifting to make himself comfortable on the bed. ]

Don't worry. I only get lost when I choose to.

[willrememberthat]

[Something scary and gross was chasing you, man. Clem knows from experience that it takes time to be okay from that.]

That doesn't make sense. I'll come here. Just in case.

[bronwe]

[ Oh, so much sass. Frodo's rather shocked by that threat! Still gaping at her. ]

Then you must.

[willrememberthat]

[She's proud of her sass :')

Clem is perceptive, so she's pretty sure there's a lot going on here that's probably not very good for Frodo, but he seems nice. Even when tired, scared, and lost, he's friendly. Sam wasn't the only brave one!]

I'll go now, but I'll see you tomorrow.

[She scurries around the side of the bed and moves in to give him a quick hug. It's what she'd want.]

[bronwe]

[ Frodo returns the hug easily, placing one hand on the back of her head. Even when everything is dark and uncertain, he can still do this and mean it. Company makes any burden lighter, whether real or in the mind.

He lets her hold on for as long as she wants to. ]

[willrememberthat]

[Clem didn't doubt he'd return it, as her hug-senses are strong. She knows how much they can help. Something about meeting someone in a state that had been familiar to her own was special. She didn't know much about Frodo, but she did know how relieving it was to have someone hold her hand and lead her to a clean and safe room after everything in Savannah.

He had to be okay because she was okay. That's how it worked. She decides to cling a little longer.

She misses her parents. She misses Lee, too. But everything would be okay, somehow.]

[bronwe]

[ Frodo is only beginning to realize that maybe this would help her as much as it would him. Perhaps it's reassurance she needs or perhaps it's company. No little girl should be wandering alone so late at night, and this Arthur may not even be family.

He holds on tighter and pats her softly on the back, the way he remembers Bilbo did when he would think of his parents and cry. ]