(no subject)

[willrememberthat]

[The morning after Frodo's arrival, Clem comes back to the castle, just as she said she would. She's excited to hang out with her new friend (because you become friends after helping someone get a bath and food), and knocks on the door before sticking her head in.

She hopes he's not still asleep.]

Frodo?

Comments

[bronwe]

[ Frodo smiles, making his way to the bathroom to get his jacket! It won't do to patter around with nothing but his shirt. That's uncanny even for a Baggins.

He quickly comes out and offer her the crook of his arm to hold on to if she wishes. ]

Let's!

[willrememberthat]

[She takes his arm without hesitation. Good thing she's about hobbit-sized! She'll lead the way, but still a touch slower than she normally would drag someone about.]

I want to hear more about [a pause, as she tries to remember the name] hobbits.

[bronwe]

[ He laughs, more out of gladness than humor, trying to walk faster in case she gets impatient. ]

Hobbits! Now that's a tale that will take more than a journey to the kitchen. [ Because he can recite the history of the Stoors and how a Took invented golf but he isn't sure what would interest a little girl. ] What would you like to know?

[willrememberthat]

You don't have to stop talking when we get to the kitchen. And... I dunno! Where do you live? That's probably a good place to start.

you asked for it

[bronwe]

[ Frodo feels like she's humoring an old bachelor to regale her with stories, not that he minds at all. ]

Hobbits were in fact named for where we live, in holes dug into hills. Not a hole of dirt or stone, mind you, hobbit-holes have polished floors and carpets, proper rounded doors and windows too. We call them smials. [ He skips a step. ] We used to live with the Big Folk in the old days but now most of us live in the Shire, hidden from the rest of the world.

[ He smiles her way. ] You are still of the right size to fit comfortably in a smial, and would be most welcome to mine.

<3

[willrememberthat]

[She's actually very interested! It's like all the books she would read, but... well. Real!

She tests the word on her tongue.]

Smials. I wish I could see.

You never get bigger than this?

[bronwe]

[ Frodo chuckles at that. All this talk of home lightens his heart. ]

I should think not! I am way past the age of growing, except sideways.

[willrememberthat]

Really? How old are you?

[bronwe]

I should be fifty-one this year. [ If he makes it to September... ]

[willrememberthat]

[Stare. Let's get this right.]

Fifty-one?

[bronwe]

[ He seems almost apologetic. ]

Nearing middle-age!

[willrememberthat]

But you don't look old!

[Wait a moment...]

Are you immortal, like an elf?

[Wait, but immortals probably don't have a "middle-age" to worry about. She looks thoughtful.]

No... I don't know. Your ears are kind of like Legolas'.

[bronwe]

[ Frodo laughs. He does look younger than most hobbits would at his age, but that's not something he wants to talk about. ]

We have more years than most men, but we are not immortal like the elves. One hundred is ripe for many of us. [ --oh wait! ]

You know Legolas?

[willrememberthat]

[She makes a face, a cross between anger and a pout! But she's not really angry or pouting.]

Yeah. He threw a snowball at me.

[bronwe]

[ Frodo grins. ]

He has an affinity for snow!

[willrememberthat]

[Affinity isn't a word she's used before, but yay for context clues.]

I can tell. [Grumpy face, then a smile.] He's nice, though. How do you know him? Do you like the snow?

[bronwe]

[ He nods, and keeps silent for a few steps as he figures how to tell the story so it sounds whole. ]

We were traveling together before we went our separate ways. He is playful and ever joyful.

One time, he went to fetch the sun!

[willrememberthat]

[The landing! Clem hops down the last step.]

So he knows Sam, too? He'd be able to recognize him!

[That's good. No one here knows Lee, so she has to stay vigilant.]

... you can't fetch the sun.

[bronwe]

[ Frodo doesn't hop down because sore feet :'( ]

He does, and Legolas could, if only She wasn't so busy elsewhere.

[willrememberthat]

She? [Clem is so confused!] The sun, you mean? The sun is a she?

[She'll wait patiently for him to come down.]

[bronwe]

[ Frodo looks at her. ]

Yes, I think. I have never heard her being called otherwise, but the elves must know more of this.

[willrememberthat]

[A thoughtful look. It makes sense.]

Probably. Elves can be really old, right? That's what Legolas said. Centuries old.

Maybe you're not making up a story, then.

[bronwe]

[ Frodo reaches the landing and chuckles. He hasn't ever asked Legolas how old he is. ]

I wasn't. He did go to fetch the Sun but it was far away! [ And she didn't care for their plight. ]

[willrememberthat]

[Frodo, please. Clem is used to adults humoring her, so she just humors him back with a smile.]

What can hobbits do?

[bronwe]

[ He chuckles and reaches to hold her hand. To the kitchen! Wherever that is. ]

We can eat!