Fic: Tears on the Brandywine - Chapter 1
Chapter 1 of Tears on the Brandywine.
A note: the prologue and first three chapters are first person POV, the following chapters will be third person. I apologize if that is confusing to anyone, it's just the way the story came to me.
A further note: this story will eventually be Frodo/Sam and Merry/Pippin.
I would appreciate any thoughts you all might have.
I will be posting the next two chapters shortly, keep an eye out for them too.
The TotB Prologue can be found here http://littleone-17.livejournal.com/611.html
Title: Tears on the Brandywine - Chapter 1
Author: littleone_17
Pairings: Drogo/Primula
Rating: G
Summary: Bilbo's POV on a day when Frodo is 4 and his family is visiting Bag End.
Disclaimer: I am not JRR Tolkien, I will never be him. I do not make any money off of this and do it purely for the joy I find in spending more time in Middle Earth.
Author's Note: This story is AU but with as much canon as possible. If you like it, don't like it, or think I need to make some changes, please let me know. The song is from The Fellowship of the Ring chapter 3: Three is Company
Bilbo’s POV:
“Really Primula, it’s fine. I’m quite happy to stay here and keep an eye on the little one. You and Drogo have a good time.” I know Primula doesn’t like to leave little Frodo with just anyone, but she can use a few hours without the 4 year old - and she knows it too.
Drogo smiles at me and takes Primula’s hand. “Come along honey. Let’s head out, before Bilbo realizes he’s just offered to watch a wild and wooly fauntling.” Winking at me, he gently tugs her away.
“Thank you, Bilbo,” Primula calls as they head out the door. “We’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Have fun, and don’t worry.” I say to the closing door of my green door.
“Well lad, what shall we do for the next few hours?” I ask as I turn to look down at the little boy standing next to me.
“Please tell me a story Uncle Bilbo!” says the polite little voice near my knees.
Smiling down at Frodo, I agree. “A story sounds wonderful. Shall we take our lunch outside and have a picnic and a story?”
“Yeah! And, can I climb a tree, and dig for worms, and can I roll down the hill, and can I fight the dragon in your stories, and can I play with the boys across the street, and can . . .”
“Whoa, there lad, we can only do so much in the next couple of hours. I will ask Master Gamgee if Hamson and Halfred can come over and join us for our lunch. And, I will tell you the story of Smaug the dragon and you can fight him if you wish, after lunch.”
“Come along Frodo. Let us go speak with Master Gamgee.” And taking my cousin’s hand we head out into the garden. I see Hamfast Gamgee my gardener out by the tool shed. It looks like he is getting ready to head home for his lunch. “Master Gamgee, a word.” I call.
“Sir?”
Frodo has hidden behind my legs, shy now, near a new person.
“Would it be possible for your Hamson and Halfred to join myself and Frodo for a picnic lunch today? I think Frodo would enjoy spending a bit of time with children his age.”
“I don’t want them to be a bother to you, sir. They can be a bit rambunctious. And three little fauntlings is hard work.” I know he speaks with experience as his wife just welcomed their third child a month ago.
“I assure you we will be fine Master Gamgee. Your little ones are quite well behaved and I am sure that Frodo will be a terrible influence on them. Hopefully their polite ways will rub off on this little one.” Frodo has gotten over his shyness and is now poking a piece of grass at a snail crossing the garden path.
“Well, if you say so sir, I will just go fetch the lads then.” Hamfast still seemed to have some misgivings, but headed off down the Row.
“Wonderful. Frodo and I will be waiting by the kitchen door.” Taking Frodo’s hand again I head back into the smial to prepare a lunch basket and find a blanket to sit on.
Once all is prepared Frodo and I sit on the bench outside the kitchen door, waiting for the Gamgee lads. A few minutes later 7 year old Hamson comes around the corner holding tight to 3 year old Halfred’s hand. “Ah boys, just in time. Are you all ready for a picnic?“ Three heads nod. “Good then let’s go.”
We take the picnic basket and blanket up to the top of the smial and spread it under the tree. Lunch is simple, just bread, cheese and sliced apples, but the boys are happy. After lunch I tell them story of my adventure with Smaug the dragon just as I promised Frodo I would. He has decided to not act out the story, but sits with the other boys and listens. After the story I see Frodo and Halfred yawning. I think it is just about time for a nap.
“Mister Bilbo?” Hamfast has come to collect his little ones. “I hope my lads weren’t much trouble.”
“No trouble at all Master Gamgee, quite the polite guests. We all had a very good time. Thank you for letting them join us today.” I nudge Frodo. “Frodo, say thank you to our guests.”
“Thank you.” He says, ducking his head, suddenly shy again.
“Thank you for lunch and the story,” says Hamson. Halfred is already half asleep and his father stoops to pick him up. The Gamgees take their leave.
“Well Frodo-my-lad, shall we sit out here and enjoy the sun for a bit longer?” Frodo, who is blinking the slow blinks of a sleepy child, nods. I sit back down. Frodo curls up into my side, his breathing is slow. I lean back against the tree and start singing a song of my own making.
Upon the hearth the fire is red,
Beneath the roof there is a bed;
But not yet weary are out feet,
Still round the corner we may meet
A sudden tree or standing stone
That none have seen but we alone
Tree and flower and leaf and grass,
Let them pass! Let them pass!
Hill and water under sky
Pass them by! Pass them by!
Frodo has fallen asleep, but I continue to hum the remainder of the song. I think I should like to travel again someday, but for now I am happy here at Bag End.
A note: the prologue and first three chapters are first person POV, the following chapters will be third person. I apologize if that is confusing to anyone, it's just the way the story came to me.
A further note: this story will eventually be Frodo/Sam and Merry/Pippin.
I would appreciate any thoughts you all might have.
I will be posting the next two chapters shortly, keep an eye out for them too.
The TotB Prologue can be found here http://littleone-17.livejournal.com/611.html
Title: Tears on the Brandywine - Chapter 1
Author: littleone_17
Pairings: Drogo/Primula
Rating: G
Summary: Bilbo's POV on a day when Frodo is 4 and his family is visiting Bag End.
Disclaimer: I am not JRR Tolkien, I will never be him. I do not make any money off of this and do it purely for the joy I find in spending more time in Middle Earth.
Author's Note: This story is AU but with as much canon as possible. If you like it, don't like it, or think I need to make some changes, please let me know. The song is from The Fellowship of the Ring chapter 3: Three is Company
Bilbo’s POV:
“Really Primula, it’s fine. I’m quite happy to stay here and keep an eye on the little one. You and Drogo have a good time.” I know Primula doesn’t like to leave little Frodo with just anyone, but she can use a few hours without the 4 year old - and she knows it too.
Drogo smiles at me and takes Primula’s hand. “Come along honey. Let’s head out, before Bilbo realizes he’s just offered to watch a wild and wooly fauntling.” Winking at me, he gently tugs her away.
“Thank you, Bilbo,” Primula calls as they head out the door. “We’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Have fun, and don’t worry.” I say to the closing door of my green door.
“Well lad, what shall we do for the next few hours?” I ask as I turn to look down at the little boy standing next to me.
“Please tell me a story Uncle Bilbo!” says the polite little voice near my knees.
Smiling down at Frodo, I agree. “A story sounds wonderful. Shall we take our lunch outside and have a picnic and a story?”
“Yeah! And, can I climb a tree, and dig for worms, and can I roll down the hill, and can I fight the dragon in your stories, and can I play with the boys across the street, and can . . .”
“Whoa, there lad, we can only do so much in the next couple of hours. I will ask Master Gamgee if Hamson and Halfred can come over and join us for our lunch. And, I will tell you the story of Smaug the dragon and you can fight him if you wish, after lunch.”
“Come along Frodo. Let us go speak with Master Gamgee.” And taking my cousin’s hand we head out into the garden. I see Hamfast Gamgee my gardener out by the tool shed. It looks like he is getting ready to head home for his lunch. “Master Gamgee, a word.” I call.
“Sir?”
Frodo has hidden behind my legs, shy now, near a new person.
“Would it be possible for your Hamson and Halfred to join myself and Frodo for a picnic lunch today? I think Frodo would enjoy spending a bit of time with children his age.”
“I don’t want them to be a bother to you, sir. They can be a bit rambunctious. And three little fauntlings is hard work.” I know he speaks with experience as his wife just welcomed their third child a month ago.
“I assure you we will be fine Master Gamgee. Your little ones are quite well behaved and I am sure that Frodo will be a terrible influence on them. Hopefully their polite ways will rub off on this little one.” Frodo has gotten over his shyness and is now poking a piece of grass at a snail crossing the garden path.
“Well, if you say so sir, I will just go fetch the lads then.” Hamfast still seemed to have some misgivings, but headed off down the Row.
“Wonderful. Frodo and I will be waiting by the kitchen door.” Taking Frodo’s hand again I head back into the smial to prepare a lunch basket and find a blanket to sit on.
Once all is prepared Frodo and I sit on the bench outside the kitchen door, waiting for the Gamgee lads. A few minutes later 7 year old Hamson comes around the corner holding tight to 3 year old Halfred’s hand. “Ah boys, just in time. Are you all ready for a picnic?“ Three heads nod. “Good then let’s go.”
We take the picnic basket and blanket up to the top of the smial and spread it under the tree. Lunch is simple, just bread, cheese and sliced apples, but the boys are happy. After lunch I tell them story of my adventure with Smaug the dragon just as I promised Frodo I would. He has decided to not act out the story, but sits with the other boys and listens. After the story I see Frodo and Halfred yawning. I think it is just about time for a nap.
“Mister Bilbo?” Hamfast has come to collect his little ones. “I hope my lads weren’t much trouble.”
“No trouble at all Master Gamgee, quite the polite guests. We all had a very good time. Thank you for letting them join us today.” I nudge Frodo. “Frodo, say thank you to our guests.”
“Thank you.” He says, ducking his head, suddenly shy again.
“Thank you for lunch and the story,” says Hamson. Halfred is already half asleep and his father stoops to pick him up. The Gamgees take their leave.
“Well Frodo-my-lad, shall we sit out here and enjoy the sun for a bit longer?” Frodo, who is blinking the slow blinks of a sleepy child, nods. I sit back down. Frodo curls up into my side, his breathing is slow. I lean back against the tree and start singing a song of my own making.
Upon the hearth the fire is red,
Beneath the roof there is a bed;
But not yet weary are out feet,
Still round the corner we may meet
A sudden tree or standing stone
That none have seen but we alone
Tree and flower and leaf and grass,
Let them pass! Let them pass!
Hill and water under sky
Pass them by! Pass them by!
Frodo has fallen asleep, but I continue to hum the remainder of the song. I think I should like to travel again someday, but for now I am happy here at Bag End.