11. Chapter 11 A Birds Eye View (1/2)

chapter 11 "a bird's eye view" frodo awoke in a haze. it had been three days since pippin's

disastrous wedding and frodo had been unconscious. rosie was by his side. "you're becoming one of my regular patients, mr. baggins," she said

lovingly as she wiped the sweat from his

ow with a damp cloth. frodo

groaned and moved his head slightly. he had been stricken with a

debilitating fever. the doctor had come and went many times remarking on

his "improbable chances." of course sam wouldn't even listen to such

remarks and often deducted a little from the doctor's pay subconsciously.

sam came into the room holding a tray of tea. a tray of tea crashed to the

floor when sam caught sight of frodo moving. "sam!" rosie cried, but it was no use, he was right by her side and

deaf to anything except hopeful news of frodo's condition. "it's nothing but good that he's awake, i know that much for sure,"

she said ringing the cloth out into a basin. "has he said anything?" sam asked anxiously. "nothin' but groans, he's really sick, sam." "you think i don't see that?" he said sharply. she winced a little

and wetted the cloth again. sam took it from her. "i'm sorry, dearest, i'm just so-," "worried, i know, but he's awake now- lets hope for the best," she

said standing up. she put a hand on his shoulder and walked out of the

room. sam put the cloth to frodo's forehead and frodo actually made eye

contact. still no words though... "don't worry," sam said not sure if he was talking to frodo or

himself "it's been worse." that it had, but the only worry frodo could

actually form into a thought at this point was the dread that the fever

would not be sufficient, that he would make it.time came and went. soon frodo could sit up and sip soup, though he hadn't

said a word since the night of the wedding. there was talk in hobbiton that

"mr. baggins was back, and up to his crazies again, tried to drown himself

and poor miss lilly just like his poor folks," but he didn't hear any of

it. he mostly saw elanor who would

ing him his soup and sit by and read

to him. she had just started to be able to put sentences together and would

get through about a word a minute. frodo would just sit, propped up with a

pillow, soup in his lap and stare out the window while she read. every day

it was a different book- of which they got through about a paragraph. "afternoon frodo," sam said as he walked in trying out his best

cheery voice- the same one he used on numerous dark occasions on the way to

the mountain of fire. frodo didn't answer. "the....buh....buh...book....of...nuh...nuh... knots," elanor

dribbled out beside the bed in a chair. she had picked a random book off of

bilbo's dusty old shelves, though it probably had been given to him by the

gaffer. sam stuck to his business. "there's someone to see you, mr. frodo," sam said hopefully, but

frodo didn't stir. sam swallowed and then spoke to someone waiting in the

hall. "there...are...muh-...many ki-...kinds of knots." "come in, miss lilly." lilly appeared in the doorway and walked

cautiously into the room. she was dressed in a fine yellow silk dress and

held a white muff. frodo didn't acknowledge her presence. "frodo?" she said softly. there was no response. "there's the fish- fisherman's knot." lilly turned back to sam. "he's been this way since...," sam trailed off. lilly came closer and

looked at frodo very concerned. "frodo if you feel like it's your fault, don't worry- i'm fine...." "and the wheel barrel knot..." "i'm just worried about you," she whispered. "and the rabbit knot..." still nothing happened and she looked back

to sam again who turned away. "rosie says he's gett'n better, but maybe she's just say'n that..."

sam said. lilly nodded. "and the sailor's knot-" "no!" frodo suddenly cried out. elanor froze and sam and lilly rushed

to him. he looked at them as if he hadn't seen them in a long time. "frodo?" sam and lilly cried simultaneously. he met their eyes "i'm...hungry." he said. lilly and sam

oke out into laughter. "there's soup right there in your lap," lilly said smiling. she

reached to help him but frodo seemed to pull back, not physically as he

didn't move, but they saw him start to retreat again into his fever. she

backed up. "it's right there," she said pointing to the bowl. he looked at it

like it was alien to him and then picked the spoon. he dipped the spoon

into the

oth and

ought it up to his lips slowly. his hand shook so much

that there was hardly anything left by the time it made it to his mouth.

but the warm liquid felt good in his throat. "elanor, go mr. frodo some tea," sam said and she rushed off. "perhaps i ought to be going," lilly said, sam nodded and started to

the door. "don't mind me," she said. "i can see my own way out," she met frodo's eyes with this last

statement and left the room.

********************************************************** frodo's strength finally did begin to return. eventually he would

walk out into the garden leaning on sam for support to

eathe the fresh

air and sunshine. "this is much better than that stuffy room ay?" sam would say. frodo

would only nod his head and perhaps muster a "yes,"as he still didn't say much. but gradually even that began to

improve and frodo would move slowly around the house with a cane and would

talk about everything except the events of that night. he wouldn't even

submit to questioning.one night after the children had gone to bed and frodo had retired sam and

rosie stayed by the fireplace. the embers crackled and the pungent aroma of

sam's pipe filled the room. "sam," rosie began "do you think this all is the fault of that criminal?" sam looked up

at her " i don't know what's wrong, he wont say anythi-," "since you caught him i've felt uneasy, when will they come for him?

it's been weeks?" sam shifted in his chair uncomfortably. "i sent out the messengers almost two fortnights ago," "and still they haven't returned?" she asked. "no." "not even a message?" "no, i asked the men of faramir to take back word for the king as

well, but..." rosie looked at him anxiously. "there's something wrong," she said and sam winced to hear his

deepest fears vocalized. "have you heard any news of the east in town?" she looked at him

squarely- sam knew this was a double question as when she said town she

meant "have you been to the green dragon lately?" "yes," he admitted. her eyes narrowed. "folk are say'n there've been strange storms out there, and some

discord in the white city." she trembled at the thought of what hobbit's

would tone down into "discord" and put a hand to her belly. "don't worry, dearest," sam said guessing her thoughts. "no war's

ew'n. it's probably just some rabble left over from...,"

just then they heard a terrible scream from probably a quarter mile away.

sam stood up like a statue of ice. "i know that sound." rosie stood up and they both rushed to the

children's room. there they found little frodo and a terrible sight-

elanor's empty bed. rosie let out a confused cry. sam ran down the hall to

the master bedroom. he swung open the door, but his hopes were dashed.

frodo's bed was empty, the window was open and a cold wind blew across his

face.*************************************************************frodo didn't know what he was doing- just that he was doing it. he had

intended on getting into bed that night when he said goodnight to sam and

rosie, he had even undressed and turned down the bed, but something had

caused him to stop when he walked by his nightstand. the book elanor had

been reading to him on the day lilly had come to see him was still there.

it was curiously open to the page she had left off on- even though several

weeks had passed. he looked the book. "the sailor's knot.." he read out loud. just then he understood what

thought it had been that had

ought him out of his lifeless state, it

wasn't hope or having his friends around him, "i'll go back," he said out loud. the words burned into his mind and

it was if he could see them written in the air in front of him. of course!

he had failed, and quickly. the ring was lost to the river, he had no

choice but to swallow his pride and drag himself before the valar and ask

for forgiveness and mercy. he began to dress himself. he even buckled sting

around his waist without a second thought. his hands seemed to do all the

thinking for him. in no time he was climbing out the window without looking

back. the world seemed to close in around him as he trudged bewildered

through the woods till he was standing in front of the tiny barn where sam

kept the ponies. it was almost as if someone else worked through his hands

as they

idled frodo's familiar pony strider. his attention was drawn to

imbalech's two beautiful horses that sam had been stabling for her. one was

the color of snow that was seconds away from melting in the spring sun, and

the other a deep charcoal black. with only a second of hesitation frodo

left his pony and began stroking the nose of the black horse. he accepted

well enough and a determined look grew in frodo's eyes. frodo had been on a horse before, when glorfindel sent him on his

horse to rescue him from the nazgul at the ford. now frodo sped away at

lightning pace into the night, not knowing where he was going or why he was

going there. he didn't care. the only thought that seemed to be his mind

was of putting distance between him and this place - although he wasn't

even sure what he was running from. he just knew he had to get out. the

night enveloped him and seemed to consume him until it finally released him

again and he

ought his horse to stop in front of the

ick prison

building. frodo jumped down and rushed to the door. the watchmen were no

where to be seen "locked..." what was he to do now- what was he doing here in the

first place? "i've got to get in!" just then he caught sight of a lovely row of

fist-sized rocks lining the flowerbed by the door. frodo bent down and

picked the moss covered rock up and held and without hesitation smashed the

window and reached his inside and got hold of the keys that were hung

beside the door on the interior side. he unlocked the door and walked

iskly in, almost pleased with his accomplishment. he wasn't allowing his

mind to question his instincts - even when thoughts start to yell at him

for consideration like "what will sam think? what about the court- and

aragorn?" he shut them all down in their tracks with a simple reply "i

don't care." he turned the corner with resolute steps and came in on a

strange scene. the watchman was asleep with a mug in his hand, on the floor

in front of jack's cell. jack was stretching a hand through the bars and

was reaching in vain for something the watchman held in hand. he stopped

and looked up immediately as frodo entered the room. "what took you so bloody long? this place is beginning to feel like

prison!" jack said standing up. frodo walked up to the guard and pushed his

hand aside and plucked up a set of iron keys. "is this what you wanted?" he asked with a smirk. "well actually, he hadn't quite finished his drink, but that will

do," jack responded. frodo shook his head out of his bewilderment and

leaned his back on to the wall beside jack's cell. he began conspicuously

playing with the keys. "well?" jack said anxiously. "well what?" frodo responded in a sarcastically innocent tone. "let me out!" jack exclaimed. "you seem to manage that one your quite well," he said twirling the

keys around his finger. "not since ole apple tart fixed the lock," me muttered. "oh," frodo said pretending to be pretending to be interested. jack

turned to the door with a very sly look in his eye. "perhaps, i could help you?" he said. frodo looked at him

suspiciously. "how?" "i've got something you want.... something you- lost," he said

swaying. frodo's eyes widened and he grabbed the bars. "mall'elen?! give it to me!" he said before he could catch himself. "oh, there, there, now. it wasn't necessary to tip your hand quite

yet, but since you already did- let's get down to business," he said

looking at frodo like he was a meal. "there," frodo said unlocking the door and swinging it open. jack

smiled and stepped out. "we're not learning,' he said closing the door behind him with a

clank "thank you, and goodnight," he said walking towards the hallway.

frodo ran in front of him. "i did what you wanted!" frodo cried. jack gave him a pitiful look. "actually, we never discussed it, so if you please-," he said

insinuating the frodo should move aside. "what do you want!" frodo said anxiously. jack became very

concentrated and he peered down at frodo with his dark lined eyes. "you need to work on your timing, mate, i don't want anything now,"

he then proceeded to waltz passed frodo who scurried after him, tears

forming in his eyes. "where are you going?" frodo called after him. jack twirled around "to my ship, master baggins," and he spun back around and kept

walking toward the door. "his ship," frodo thought to himself. his

ain was racing; images of

the sea and of valinor were coming up to the foreground of his mind. the

ring seemed to fall through the cracks of his thoughts, which were sealed

up with one driving mission "to go back." suddenly they heard the front door of the prison open with a jerk and

voices could be heard. jack and frodo froze. the voices were coming towards

them. jack scanned the room for ideas. "i'll cover for you," frodo said and jack tipped his head. "go out

the window- i'll tell them.something." jack nodded with approval and

started for the window. he had one leg out when frodo stopped him. "but first our deal," frodo said resolutely. the voices could be

heard down the hall now. jack

ought his leg back. "name your price." "i'll get you out of this if you promise to take me with you," frodo

said meeting his eyes. a ferocity shone in frodo that jack had been waiting

for. " it was only a matter o' time, mate," jack smiled. "first mate," frodo said narrowing his eyes and then softening "if

you please." "done. " they shook hands and the door began to open. jack slipped

out of sight and frodo stood there in fearful anticipation of who it could

be. but suddenly there was a large commotion in the hallway and then

everything went dead silent. he waited a few moments but still no sound of

movement could be detected. frodo motioned to jack who reentered through

the window. "that was close," he said as he stepped down to frodo. suddenly a

piercing scream cut the night air like a blade. frodo froze and felt his

stomach drop. his shoulder grew cold and his eyes became clouded. jack

raced to the window again and then looked back. frodo stood motionless

grasping at his shoulder. "come on," he said grabbing his shoulder and pulling him behind him.

frodo became limp and jack spun around. he grasped frodo by the neck. "they'll be here any minute- " "i'm not...ready," frodo stammered. "maybe not," he said looking at frodo "but they don't need to know

it!" he reached down and unsheathed sting and held the blue blade aloft. "take this," he said thrusting the handle toward frodo. he didn't

move. "take it!" frodo's fingers wrapped around the handle slowly. jack

drew his own sword and he went toward the window again and still frodo

faltered. he looked back and a thought seemed to dance attractively through

his mind and he walked up to frodo and said "i can help ya, mate- but only if we get one thing straight, i'm the

captain- and an order is an order- now move you pathetic dog!" frodo slowly

turned his head and looked at jack and his eyes grew less distant and a

smile came over his face. "aye," he said and they both bolted through he door "captain..." they darted across the lawn to imbalech's horse. jack swung his leg

up and tried to pull himself onto the beast but couldn't get off the

ground. he grumbled to himself. frodo walked up from the other side and

climbed nimbly up to the saddle. "do you need a hand, captain?" he said coyly. jack sneered and took

frodo's tiny hand. they were quite a sight, a tiny hobbit riding on a large

black horse with a corsair clinging to him for dear life. the sped off in

hopes that whatever it was that had let loose such a terrible scream was

far behind them. they rode on for hours. imbalech's horse could make

uncanny time. it was daylight when the white towers came into view. frodo

ought the horse to a stop and looked up at the majesty of the work of

gilgalad. he had built the towers for elendil hundreds of years ago. war

came and claimed both mighty warriors but the elves would come to the

tallest tower and climb the long stair that they might gaze out into the

endless blue oblivion. some of the sharpest eyed could just barley make out

the form of elbereth on mt. telepiron gazing at them. now it stood dark and

empty. frodo hoped down from the horse, his gaze fixed on the tower. jack

slid slowly to the ground and stretched his legs with a groan. "i think i have a saddle sore..." frodo looked back at him with a

wrinkled

ow and then returned his attention to the looming tower. jack

hobbled up to him and looked up at what had him so interested. "if we hope to make to my ship without a swarm of your munchkin

friends on our heels- we'd best get a move on," he said looking

suspiciously at frodo. "i know," frodo replied without taking his eyes off the tower. "but i

have to go up there," his eyes were distant. jack grimaced and staggered

toward the tower. "where are you going?" frodo called out when he realized jack was

leaving. "up there!" he yelled back pointing his finger violently towards the

top of the tower. frodo tied the horse to a nearby tree and ran toward the

tower. when he got there jack was no where to be seen. frodo wondered for a