FIC: "Into the East" (PG, 8/?) by Febobe

[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. A word about Kalil and the Haradrim: I intend absolutely no disrespect to any culture or language. But the people of Harad would look and seem strange to Sam, Shire hobbit that he is, and more so than the fair-skinned elves and Big Folk he knew well. As for Kalil's language, I realize some people are fluent in multiple languages, but Kalil isn't as fluent as some people. I think he does pretty well myself!

CHAPTER EIGHT

Well, it was grand, and no mistake, but I didn't care for nothing to look at 'cept a bed-room, 'cause Mr. Frodo needed bed bad.

We passed through a great hall and went up some stairs, four whole flights, before we went down a long hall and into a room. I reckon Faramir must've said something to the man for him to show us where to go, and he seemed real nice, for all he was so strange-looking, all tanned like that.

The bedroom was real nice, with a great big bed sort of low to the ground, laid with big fluffy soft pillows and coloured silken cushions - sort of paisley, some of 'em were, and others soft solid colours, like blue and green. The bed was all made up, ready to tuck Mr. Frodo in, but they laid him down on top of the cover and started taking off his travelling-cloak.

"I think a bath first - don't you, Sam?" offered Faramir. "If we could have water brought, plenty of warm water - " He looked at the man, who bowed real deep and went off - in search o'water, I reckon. I noticed then there was a corner of the room set off with curtains, and a big bath-tub over there, and that was a good thing, in my opinion. Faramir stepped back, then, once he had the cloak undone, and let me take over getting Mr. Frodo undressed,which suited me just fine. And Lady Eowyn, she went over to look at the bathing-alcove.

"We're here," Mr. Frodo whispered finally, while I was getting his shirt unbuttoned.

"Yes, Mr. Frodo. We made it." I tried to smile, but he looked so awful white it was hard to feel much hope. "You just lie quiet now, and your Sam'll take care o'you."

He did, letting his eyes flutter closed, and didn't buck me none on nothing. Even with the thermometer packed away still, I could tell he was burning up, and no mistake. But a bath usually seemed to make him feel a little better back in Minas Tirith, so I figured it might be a good idea here, too. It was hot, that much I could tell, though it weren't near as bad inside the house. A good breeze came through the windows, too warm and gentle for Mr. Frodo to take a chill from it, and besides which I figured we could draw the curtain round his bath-tub and it'd be just fine.

Faramir went out of the room, and I could hear him giving instructions even before he and the man came back with buckets o'warm water, which the man poured into the tub. He pointed something out to Lady Eowyn and it seemed to please her, and she came hurrying over to me with a big smile on her face.

"They have soaps prepared," she said, "and the most pleasant scents you could imagine. Shall I bring a few for Frodo to choose the one he would like?"

Well, I reckoned that would be all right, so I nodded, and she fetched about four different soaps back to the bed and held 'em to Mr. Frodo's nose, one at a time. I could smell 'em too - first one smelled like roses, straight out o'the summer garden, and that was nice. The second one was lavender, and I could tell Mr. Frodo liked that one, 'cause he smiled a little more when he sniffed it, and I remember Mr. Bilbo saying Primula, his mother, used to wear lavender sometimes. The third was peppermint, and it smelled as nice as fresh-bruised mint leaves. He seemed to like that too, but the fourth...it was a strange smell, light and refreshing, and something of peace about it somehow, something strange and exotic.

"Sandalwood, they call this," Eowyn explained. "It's very nice, isn't it?"

Well, Mr. Frodo agreed that it was, and I thought so too, but he picked out the peppermint one for his bath, and I thought that a fine choice, seeing as how he was so feverish. Mint's good for a fever, and I hoped the minty smell might help clear his poor chest too.

Just then Faramir came over where we were. "Frodo, would you mind terribly if I stole Sam away to help get you something to eat?" he asked. "Eowyn can see to your bath. I promise she will not drop you!"

That set Mr. Frodo to grinning. "That would be fine," he said, "though I really am not hungry...."

My heart wrenched when he said that. He said that far too often these days. And I wanted to stay with him, but Faramir put his big hand on my shoulder.

"Sam, I would not take you from your master, but I fear it is necessary, at least for a while."

I walked out o'the room with him and gave him a look. He spoke again, lowering his voice this time.

"Sam, I apologise, but your master needs something hot and nourishing, and I do not wish to start him with strange tastes and foreign food when he has only just arrived, and is still so very frail. Do you think if I were to help you find the kitchen that you could give some orders and help us cook up something suitable?"

I snorted. "You're asking a hobbit if he can cook? Beggin' your pardon, sir, but I thought you knew us better'n that."

He laughed, then, and off we went in search of the kitchen.

-to be continued-

Comments

[lovethosehobbit.livejournal.com]

Oh, go Sam fix up something down home Hobbity.

[febobe.livejournal.com]

Thank you, darling. :) Next chapter, Sam'll do just that! He's going to make a nice hot soup for Mr. Frodo.... :)

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Oh, that room and bath do sound nice. And all those lovely scented soaps to choose from. Good hobbit food is what Frodo needs most.

[shirebound]

What a lovely idea of having Frodo pick the scented soap he liked best. That made me smile.

[addie71.livejournal.com]

The perfect task for Sam. I know he will find something to tempt Frodo's appetite!

[althea-lady.livejournal.com]

Now things are looking up. Frodo is bound to feel better after a lovely bath and I know that Sam will be able to come up with something to temp his appetite. I am looking forward to finding out more about their new home.

[i-o-r-h-a-e-l.livejournal.com]

I'm glad Frodo looks more cheerful especially with the list of scented soaps. :D