FIC: "Faramir's Dilemma" (Rating: PG) by Febobe

[febobe]

Inspired by this Shirebunny:

R20. In ordering that a house be set aside for the Fellowship to use while in Minas Tirith, Faramir is in a quandary. Should the hobbits be given small beds or regular-sized beds? He doesn’t want them to think they’re being treated as children. How is his dilemma solved?

As always, please, PLEASE remove your slash goggles before reading this piece. No slash or sex is intended or implied. This is purely a warm-fuzzies kind of piece. If I get people trying to tell me it's slash, I will have to either delete the comments or privatize the entry, b/c it's intended in a purely warm-fuzzies kind of way.

Happy reading,
Febobe :)



"It has been long since we walked together, Faramir."

"Indeed it has." To Faramir it felt like an age, or perhaps three. . .then his father had been alive, and his brother, and he had had to endure no end of chastisement for his beloved hours spent with Mithrandir. Still, it had been worth every moment of it.

"Your new duties suit you well."

"Thank you. I find them more comfortable than I had expected. . ." Faramir felt himself hesitate against his will, and sighed. The wizard laid a hand upon his shoulder.

"But there is something which troubles you."

"Yes." Turning, Faramir leaned against the balcony as he did in his youth. "You know that I am arranging a house to be set aside for the Fellowship to use while they are here."

Mithrandir nodded gravely.

"It has not been difficult until this one point. I have the perfect house; it has a beautiful garden, which Sam will love. . .it has many windows, for light and fresh air. . .it has rooms both upstairs and down, mostly down, which I thought ideally suited to the group. But I know not what sort of beds to provide for the hobbits." Faramir shrugged helplessly. "They are the perfect size for small beds, children's-sized beds, but I do not wish them to think they are being treated as children. I would not for all the world dishonour them. We have regular-sized beds enough to provide them if that is would they would prefer. Yet at the same time, I would hate to see them struggle with furniture too large for their size if they are uncomfortable with it. I know that out of sheer politeness, they would accept whatever was offered, and I would be left not knowing that I had created troubles or given offense. I would rather learn what I can first. But I know not how without asking directly."

To Faramir's surprise, Mithrandir threw back his head and laughed. "Is that your difficulty, then? Come with me, and I shall show you your answer. Have you not seen how the hobbits sleep?"

Faramir arched an eyebrow. "No, and I would not presume - "

"Come now, it is all right. I think for this purpose they would forgive a peek from us. Let you go first with me to Frodo's room."

Following in some confusion, Faramir trailed along, peeking in as Mithrandir barely opened the door enough for the two to look in on the sleeping - hobbits?

Yes, there lay Frodo in the midst of the big bed, curled up warmly in a nest of blankets. . .and beside him, faithful Sam, a hand still upon his back.

Cautiously the two "Big Folk" backed away, closing the door carefully behind them as Mithrandir motioned to Merry's room. Opening that door just a peep as well, he revealed. . .sure enough, Pippin sleeping soundly in Merry's bed, Merry sleeping with one arm curled protectively over his younger cousin. Again they shut the door quietly and backed away.

"The hobbits have not cared to sleep alone since the Quest," explained Mithrandir gently. "I expect it comes of sleeping huddled together so many nights, and feeling safe, and now feeling strange in a new city. . . . At any rate, perhaps that answers your question?"

Smiling, Faramir nodded.

"Thank you, old friend. Two large beds it is."

~the end~

Comments

[surgicalsteel.livejournal.com]

Oh, that was cozy and comforting!

[febobe.livejournal.com]

*thankiesnugglebeams!!!!*

[gentlehobbit.livejournal.com]

I rather liked that. Faramir certainly had a reasonable concern there. :)

I don't think anyone would read slash into this, Febobe. At anyrate, anyone who knew you wouldn't! :)

[febobe.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!!!! *beams gratefully*

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

A perfect answer. Of course they would be feeling very strange and lonely in a big city, surrounded by big folk who don't know them. Gandalf is such a wise friend.

[febobe.livejournal.com]

Isn't he, though?

*thankiesnugglebeams*

[dreamflower]

Nothing slashy about it dear!

"My" hobbits share one huge bed for the four of them at the guest house. Gandalf knows that this is instinctive behavior when they are in dangerous or unfamiliar surroundings. (My own theory about the "hobbit-pile". My idea is that it goes back to the wandering days before the Shire, when the youngest or most vulnerable hobbits were placed in the middle to protect them from potential danger. In addition, hobbits are burrowing creatures, who tend to huddle together for warmth and comfort naturally. Over the centuries, in the Shire, they have gravitated towards having individual beds in their homes. But still, in times of stress, they prefer not to sleep alone.)

And I appreciate Faramir's worry--it's so like him to want to truly please the hobbits, and not just have them accept what they are given out of politeness.

[febobe.livejournal.com]

*thankiesnugglebeams*

Oh, my dear, it is such a joy to hear another writer talk about the fact that hobbitpile does NOT necessarily equal slash! I share your view that the hobbitpile is a naturally occuring phenomenon. (Heck, come to think of it, the others do have a point about my not needing such a strong warning. . .I don't have this kind of warning on "Beds," and it's a complete hobbitpile story! I think I didn't include it there b/c I showed how they got to that point rather than just showing the hobbits curled up asleep together. . . .) But I think you're absolutely right about the little fellas.

And thank you so much. :) *snugs*

[shirebound]

hobbits are burrowing creatures, who tend to huddle together for warmth and comfort naturally. Over the centuries, in the Shire, they have gravitated towards having individual beds in their homes. But still, in times of stress, they prefer not to sleep alone

I just love that.

[dreamflower]

The first time I encountered a "hobbitpile" was reading Baylor's "Care and Feeding". I just *loved* that idea. It seemed so right and natural. But I couldn't find anything about it in canon, so my logical mind just had to find a reason for it, especially if I was going to borrow that bit of fanon for my own use. So I began to examine the behavior and why they might be doing that, and the result was what I came up with.

They've had centuries of safety in the Shire, and as they've grown more prosperous there, they've grown less dependent on behaviors that served them when they were wandering in the Wild. But I'm thinking it wouldn't take much for that instinct to kick back in.

[febobe.livejournal.com]

Would you mind if I use it in the deathfic I'll be writing? I know not everyone reads deathfic, but. . .well, you don't GET much more stressful or vulnerable than that situation!!!! I have this mental pic of the hobbits getting in the habit of sleeping together, with Frodo nestled in the middle for comfort. (It makes sense also b/c chills aren't uncommon with approaching death, and poor little Frodo's going to feel awfully cold and need some warmth to keep him at ease. What beats the comfort of three familiar warm bodies, including the one that used to comfort him when he lay shivering on the hard ground of Mordor?)

Hopefully,
Febobe :)

[dreamflower]

Merciful heavens, no, I don't mind! As I said it was just a bit of logical extrapolation--if not from canon, from behaviors in some sorts of clannish societies, and also, as I said, of burrowing animals.

I just like for things to make sense, you know.

As for death-fic, sometimes I read them, sometimes I don't. It all depends on who is writing them and what they are about. I think I can trust you not to be writing it just to wring out a bit of gratuitous angst and suffering, and that you'll treat the character with dignity.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

Not sure why you needed the big not-slash warning on it. If it was slash, you would have said "Frodo/Faramir" or "Frodo/Sam" as a pairing. But since you're kind of known for not writing slash, we wouldn't really expect to see it anyway.

Hmmmm...

But I do think that the hobbits would indeed enjoy a big, comfy bed! :-)

[febobe.livejournal.com]

*grins and snugs*

I know "my girls" know me better than that. . .it's the mysterious A. Nonymous Reader who doesn't know me so well that I worry about. :) Will prolly tone it down to a simple "Nonslash, nonsexual" as per my standard labels for ff.net posting when I get around to that, based on LJ reader responses to the labelling.

*thankiesnuggles* :)

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

Honestly? I think that's all the label you need. Anyone who would still go and accuse you of writing something you're not then doesn't deserve to read your work! :-)) *snugs and love back*

[lilybaggins.livejournal.com]

Awww, I love fics about sleeping hobbits!!! And beds!!!

I agree that the ultra-stern slash warning is really not necessary---you've been writing Frodo h/c for years now without such strong warning, and everyone knows you don't write slash. And we know a story isn't slash unless it has a pairing listed.

I also think that most of us who DO enjoy slash don't wear "slash goggles" just looking for it---at least, I know that us interspecies gals don't.

[febobe.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't think "my girls" do that at all. . .it's other people I worry about. . .the mysterious A. Nonymous Reader, as I mentioned below to Baranduin! I wasn't even thinking of y'all when I wrote the warning. I know you know me better than that!

But thank you so much. . .on all counts. :) You're so sweet!!!!

*cuddlesnugglies*

[shirebound]

Love it!

Wheeee, I'm so happy the cache of Shirebunnies is there for you.

[febobe.livejournal.com]

I am, too!!!! Thank you for it - thank you so much!!!! :D

*thankiesnuggleblushiebeams*

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwwwwww! Such a lovely image of the hobbits in bed.

[febobe.livejournal.com]

*thankiesnugglebeams!!!!*

[baranduin.livejournal.com]

Interestingly enough, I would never have read slash into anything you write ... but since you felt you had to chastise us, now of course that's what I see.

Feel free to delete, LOL!

Lovely fic though.

[febobe.livejournal.com]

That wasn't aimed at "my" girls. . .though evidently a lot of y'all felt it was, and I'm sorry it came across that way. :) I have paranoia about the mysterious A. Nonymous Reader out there somewhere who might somehow take it as such, and that's what prompted the commentary.

Regardless of what you think you see, it's not slash. :) So I'm leaving it despite what I said.

*thankiesnugs gratefully* Bless you. . .I enjoyed writing it! It just seemed the perfect solution to poor Faramir's problem. . . .

*commits a run-by snugging on you and the kittehs*

[addie71.livejournal.com]

Now I feel all warm and snuggly!

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

I loved this one. So very warm and hobbity. Thank you! I found these stories through a link on Shirebound's LJ by the way.

[garnet-took.livejournal.com]

I got here through Shirebound as well.

I loved this little story. As Dreamflower said, the hobbits sharing beds makes a lot of sense. I won't go into any of them as she covered many in her comment. The image of Sam and Merry in protective poses and Frodo and Pippin in one of safety and contentedness are wonderful. Great imagery.

I saw no slash in this at all, just love and caring.

[tiggersk8.livejournal.com]

Followed over through Shirebound's LJ and...and...and...Only one thing to say to that I'm afraid...

Awwwww!!!!

So lovely, fluffy and cozy comfy!!

Thanks for sharing it.

BTW...Isn't the Shirebunnies site the worst? I don't dare revisit it until I get the two bunnies that nailed me at my last visit finally get up and finished. ;o) :oD

[tariana.livejournal.com]

This was lovely.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Yay hobbitpiles! (If it were me I'd just give all four of 'em one reaaallly big bed, but that's because it's how I see them reacting to being the smallest people in town. Even if Pippin does kick sometimes.)

[aprilkat.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love safe comforting hobbitpiles (no matter how small).

I totally understand why you feel the warning might be necessary - those people who don't know you might not get it - although saying "non-slash" should be enough, I know some people require stronger terms.

Don't worry - we your friends know that you know that we know you wouldn't slash (how's that for a line?!).

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Just delightful! I would imagine in olden days people would usually sleep huddled for warmth.The house I live in used to be a lodging house about 100 years ago and the lodgers(working men) were all housed two or three to a bed.
I liked Faramir's thoughtfulness.

[althea-lady.livejournal.com]

This is so sweet. It stands to reason that the Hobbits would find comfort in a strange place by staying close. I'm glad that Faramir discussed the bed problem with Gandalf.

[gershwhen.livejournal.com]

Lovely. It was warm and snuggly.

[angiet.livejournal.com]

Aww... so lovely... bless the hobbits and bless you for writing about them so.

[frolijah-fan-54.livejournal.com]

WONDERFUL!! *happy sigh*

[lovethosehobbit.livejournal.com]

Ahh...so cute! There's nothing like a good hobbit pile, is there?