Rating: G
Summary: Frodo is cared for by his cousins during his spring anniversary illness.
Disclaimer: Frodo and all recognisable characters are the property of the Estate of J.R.R. Tolkien. No offence is intended, nor profit made.
Warnings/Author's Notes:

As the hour approached midnight of March 13th, Frodo felt more ill at ease than ever. His neck ached abominably, he had a nauseating headache, and his eyes did not seem to focus on his task at hand.

Unnaturally shivering, Frodo stood up from his chair, stumbling. He was trying to get a glass of water which he thought would help rid this sensation of nausea that had so firmly taken hold. But instead, an acrid and rotten smell filled his olfactory senses, making him reel against the bed stand. A sharp pain on the nape of his neck burst forth and he felt himself falling… falling towards blackness, with images of horrid orc faces grinning wickedly at him.

In the adjoining room Merry could not sleep that night, for he was worried about Frodo’s reserved and quiet behavior ever since he had arrived to Crickhollow to visit them a few days ago. Frodo was indeed not the cousin he used to know. He had seen Frodo on and off after they had come back to the Shire after the Journey but he had never seen Frodo look so pale, so passive in his responses. His eyes did not have the cheerful brightness like they once had and it pained Merry to see how much the Quest had changed him and how time did not seem to heal old wounds.

“I worry for him, Pip,” said Merry. “I ---“

At that moment, a loud thud came from Frodo’s room.

Merry and Pippin exchanged a quick glance as both ran to Frodo’s room as rapidly as they could. There they saw Frodo collapsed on the ground with his eyes closed, face pale, and brows knitted in pain.

With anguished faces, Merry and Pippin ran to his side, trying to rouse him, but to no avail. They were alarmed to feel that while Frodo’s face felt unnaturally warm, his hands felt cold. Where there used to be only the scar of Shelob’s poisonous bite stood a hideous blackish blue opening that seem to be filled with newly gathered greenish yellow pus protruding from the wound in the nape of his neck.

“Frodo! Wake up!” cried Pippin whose eyes had filled with tears to see his cousin in this state.

Merry was just as anxious at the moment but tried to think about the reasons for these occurrences and tried to think logically of how to deal with the situation. “I’m afraid that Frodo is again under the Shadow—Sam had hinted to me in certain letters that Frodo would be ill at this time… but Sam wasn’t so open the last time I spoke to him and he seemed to be preoccupied with his own business…” Merry tried doggedly to stay calm. Pippin and he tried to help Frodo into bed and then tried to assess the situation on how to proceed in helping Frodo.

“Frodo? Frodo!” Pippin called as his hands brushed gently upon Frodo’s sweat-matted dark hair, trying to get Frodo to wake. Frodo felt awfully warm to the touch and Pippin cringed and turned to Merry. “Frodo is running a fever…”

“I know…” remarked Merry gravely. “And his neck wound doesn’t look that great either.” The sudden reopening of the neck wound scared both Merry and Pippin and they could think of nothing but to try to wash and redress the wound as best as they could. Pippin started to prepare cold cloths to lower the sudden fever, as Merry went by Frodo to try to clean the neck area.

“It’s—oh no, today is the thirteenth of March, isn’t it?” Merry’s face paled remembering that the minute hand of the clock indeed read half an hour into the thirteenth of March. “I never expected Frodo to be so ill…” Even though Sam’s hints in occasional letters did not explain in detail, Merry was not prepared to see his dear cousin like this.

“We should’ve seen this coming— Frodo had been so quiet, withdrawn these couple days while he has been staying with us -- do you think we should call for the healer?” Pippin asked anxiously as he placed the cold cloths upon Frodo’s forehead.

“I’m not sure...at this hour, I do not really know who to find. It does seem serious right now but let’s see what we can do first and then decide,” replied Merry quietly.

Meanwhile, Merry started boiling some water for making willow bark tea as well to keep the fever from rising. Pippin tried to make Frodo comfortable in bed. Frodo’s face was horribly pale, his forehead sweaty, and he seemed to be in the midst of a horrible nightmare as he was now starting to mumble incoherent words. He was not reacting to his cousins’ ministrations at all.

Suddenly Frodo jerked up, his eyes full of fear as if old memories, fear and pain brought him to consciousness. “No! No, you cannot have it! Let me go!” Orcish faces swirled about in front of his eyes as he felt unnaturally warm, seemingly swaddled in the spider webs and he felt nauseous with spider venom still coursing his veins.

“Frodo! Frodo! It’s all right! It’s all right! You’re in Crickhollow with Pippin and me, it’s Merry… you’re safe now!” Merry tried to keep Frodo from struggling against him as Pippin gently held onto Frodo’s arms to prevent him from thrashing about. “Calm down, dear cousin! You’re safe!”

“Frodo—it’s all right! It’s just a nightmare!” cried Pippin, stroking Frodo’s head tenderly. “You’re here safe in the Shire. No one can hurt you.”

“Merry? Pip?” Frodo’s eyes focused upon the two pairs of eyes, one blue and the other green, looking anxiously upon him. What has happened? But before Frodo could say what he felt or inquire about what had happened, he began feeling sick and heaved up violently what little he had eaten that day.

Merry quickly went to get new blankets and sheets while Pippin helped to get Frodo upon a chair so that they could help exchange the soiled sheets for cleaner ones. Then Pippin helped Frodo to some tea that Merry had prepared earlier. Frodo looked dazed and did not seem to heed his surroundings at all.

Frodo felt himself lifted and placed upon a chair while unclear voices swirled about him. Strong arms then lifted him again upon a soft pillow with a tender and light, yet warm blanket upon him.

“Frodo! Frodo—here, drink this. It will make you feel better,” Pippin said as he gave some water to Frodo. Frodo did not acquiesce at once as memories of the orcs’ cruelty, a burning liquid and the red glow of the orc’s tower replayed in his mind. However Pippin’s gentle prodding made him focus on reality a bit as the images before him cleared up a bit to make him see that he was in bed and Pippin was holding out the cup of liquid in front of him. Not forcing the liquid down his throat like the orcs did. He opened up his mouth to allow Pippin to gently pour the soothing water down his parched throat. Then Frodo closed his eyes again, for he was still feeling sick and had a horrible headache.

“Frodo—Frodo… how are you feeling?” asked Merry, holding onto Frodo’s right hand with his left hand. With his other hand, he was adjusting the cloths upon Frodo’s forehead. “Frodo?”

Frodo’s eyes opened a little as he saw Merry and Pippin both looking down upon him. He was not with orcs anymore; he was safe with his cousins, in Crickhollow. “I hurt a bit on my neck,” whispered Frodo hoarsely as he tried to motion towards his neck. “And awfully hot…” Frodo did not say anymore as he tried to fight the nausea that was still building up in him.

“Frodo—we’ll call for the healer tomorrow. Tonight, we’ll try to keep your fever down, all right? Now please have some of this willow bark tea—it’ll help with your fever,” said Merry. Pippin handed Merry the cup of warm tea as Merry helped Frodo drink.

Frodo nodded at Merry’s suggestion as his heavy lids started to close again soon after he had drank the cup of tea that Merry had given him. He felt himself lowered back to a laying down position and felt Merry and Pippin’s presence besides him. Drinking the tea had made him a bit less nauseous but it did not help with the pain on his neck. He felt too weak to say anymore as he felt himself falling into an uneasy sleep.

Merry and Pippin stayed with Frodo in his room throughout the night. In the first hour after Frodo had settled down after being awake, Pippin had left the room to prepare more tea and pillows for Frodo while Merry had stayed besides Frodo. However, soon it became clear that neither would leave Frodo’s side that night. Frodo frequently tossed and turned in bed and would mumble incoherently. He would only quiet down when his hand involuntarily touched the white jewel that Arwen had given him. The fever still did not abate despite the frequent exchanging of cold cloths upon Frodo’s forehead.

Pippin sat in the bed with Frodo, wiping the sweat that had accumulated in his head while Merry checked the dressing upon the hideous looking neck wound.

“You should get some sleep, Pippin,” said Merry. “One of us have to be awake for Celandine Goodbody tomorrow. I’ll stay with Frodo tonight. Get some sleep before dawn.”

“How about you, Merry? I don’t want you to faint tomorrow when the healer comes either,” replied Pippin as he crossed his arms upon his chest. There was no way he was leaving the room while Merry stayed.

“I’m fine, Pip,” said Merry, stifling a yawn as he glanced worriedly at Frodo’s flushed face. “I think she’ll come soon for I think she’s currently in Brandy Hall, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Really? How do you know she’s there?”

“One of my cousins, Berilac is ill with the flu, I think. I’m slightly worried about him too. He rarely gets sick,” Merry said quietly as his brows knitted together with more worry. “But I’m sure Celandine can ride over to see Frodo—I’m awfully worried…”

“Oh Merry! It’ll be all right. I’m sure that Berilac will be all right soon enough,” said Pippin as cheerfully as he could, going over to Merry to give him a huge embrace. “And Frodo will be all right too …”

“I don’t know—“

“Merry—we’ll help Frodo through this bout of illness—he’ll probably be ill just till the thirteenth has passed, right?”

“Yes-I know but—“

“We’ll try to help him through tomorrow—and with the healer’s help, we can figure out what to do to make Frodo feel better,” said Pippin, trying to act calm amidst the many worries.

“I know perhaps you’re right Pip –but still, that doesn’t mean you’re not sleeping tonight,” said Merry with a wry grin. “How about we take turns—you sleep first for three hours and then I shall sleep.”

“How would I know you wouldn’t cheat , Meriadoc? And not wake me up?” Pippin said as he gathered blankets and a pillow to rest upon an armchair that he had lugged into the room before.

“Because, Peregrin—I do mean what I say,” replied Merry with a sly grin.

“That is one big lie coming from you, Merry—but I’ll stay here and will hear whatever that comes between you and Frodo, so don’t think that I’m not ever observant even in my sleep,” said Pippin as he closed his eyes and fell asleep upon the chair.

Merry couldn’t sleep that night. Nightmares had plagued Frodo the whole night and Frodo kept sitting up, waking with fear and anxiety written all over his eyes. Frodo was shivering yet there was still a fever that would not subside. Merry helped Frodo to more willow bark tea to help the fever from rising. Then, trying to calm Frodo better, Merry climbed into bed with Frodo, putting his arm around Frodo, whispering to him telling him that it’ll be all right.

Merry lay down in bed and stared up into the ceiling, trying hard to stay awake. With Frodo’s rhythmic breathing besides him, Merry could not resist the sway of sleep as his own eyes closed.

Pippin woke near dawn to see his cousins both in Frodo’s bed asleep. I knew that Merry would not wake me… but then again I’m glad that he caught some sleep along with Frodo, thought Pippin. Merry was still deeply asleep but Frodo eyes peeped open a bit and focused upon Pippin.

“How are you feeling, Frodo?” Pippin asked as he went over to feel Frodo’s forehead.

“Hi Pippin—I’m …all right--- just …really tired,” said Frodo trying to sit up, yet felt another wave of nausea as he decided to just flop back down. He found that there were cloths upon his forehead and neck but his neck still had an awful pain, making it difficult to move it. He felt sore and awfully lethargic. Remembering all the trouble that he has caused during the night, he felt instantly regretful that he had been such a nuisance.

“Poor Frodo—you had a tough night last night. You had a high fever and had horrible nightmares,” said Pippin while he poured a cup of water for Frodo. “Poor Merry stayed up tending to you but I guess he fell asleep as well. I would’ve helped you too if Merry had awoken me,” added Pippin a bit sheepishly.

“I’m sorry, Pip.”

“No need to be sorry, Frodo!” said Pippin as he tried to help Frodo to a sitting position to give Frodo some water.

Frodo shook his head as he felt a headache building up again. “Later, Pip—later,” he said distantly.

“And we’re going to send for the healer, Frodo,” piped in Merry sleepily, who had just woken up hearing the voices around him. He had scarcely slept yet his tiredness could not deter him from seeing how Frodo was feeling. Merry looked at Frodo’s pained and anxious face and was even more motivated to get out of bed. He really did not mean to fall asleep.

“Merry, get some sleep—I’ll ride out to Brandy Hall now. I’ve had more sleep than you,” said Pippin who was also concerned about Merry.

Merry ignored Pippin as he glanced over to see Frodo still pale, still and silent. “Yes, I’ll ride out now…. The sooner we get Celandine, the better.”

“Merry!”

“Pip, stay with Frodo, please? I want to see how Bery is doing too, all right?” Merry’s blue eyes looked pleadingly at Pippin and Pippin found it impossible to argue against Merry.

“All right, but ride safely and be careful, Mer,” said Pippin quietly.

“I will, Pip, don’t worry,” said Merry. And with a last glance at his cousins, he rushed out the door to find his pony and ride quickly to Brandy Hall.

Celandine Goodbody was used to visitors at different hours of the day. She was one of the most experienced healers in Buckland and she had a good reputation for treating the most difficult cases. She had studied herb lore in Bree and knew the best ways for healing different illnesses that were the most commonly seen in the lands from Bree to the Eastern Shire. Tending to flu-stricken Berilac Brandybuck at the moment at Brandy Hall, she was not that surprised to see Merry Brandybuck.

“Hello Merry! It’s nice to see you today! No doubt you’re here to see how Berilac is doing?” asked Celandine cheerfully as she opened the door to the healer’s quarters at Brandy Hall.

Merry looked at the mid-aged, brown curly haired hobbit and could not help but grin. Celandine was the beloved healer and midwife of Brandy Hall and had been his own childhood healer.

“Hi, Celandine!” Merry embraced Celandine with a hug as he settled down to ask how Berilac was and also explain the other reason in why he was seeking her. He learned from her that Berilac was still resting and was on the mend and he had nothing to worry about regarding him.

“Now Frodo—that sounds serious—a spider bite from an old wound that is acting up? That sounds pretty serious. I better come quickly.”

“Yes, I’m awfully worried but I’ll just take a quick peak at Bery and then we shall leave.”

Merry saw Berilac fast asleep in restful repose and felt relieved to find that Bery was recovering well. Then he and Celandine rode quickly to Crickhollow.

Frodo had indeed not been recovering since Merry left Crickhollow two hours ago. Despite Pippin’s ministrations to him, he had fell into a stupor again, thrashing in his sleep as if battling imaginary demons; his fever was still spiked up to a most unnatural state.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Celandine,” Pippin said quietly, trying to prevent himself from speaking so that his tears would not fall from his eyes. It had been a very trying time for him since Merry had left to fetch the healer. Frodo had seemingly fallen asleep yet his fever burned anew and he could not get Frodo to wake so that he could give him water and medication. Pippin felt most helpless as he continually tried to bring the fever down by the cold towels that he had placed all over Frodo’s body. He was so glad that Merry had come back with Celandine.

Merry quickly walked over to envelope Pippin into a hug. “I do not know how to deal with spider bites from acting up.”

“It’s all right, Pip—I expect this Gondorian soldier to slay trolls but not to know everything about healing,” Merry replied softly as tears filled his own eyes to see Frodo so sick.

Celandine opened up the bandaging to see that there was an infection and it did not look good at all. The blackish blue opening had filled again with green yellowish pus and had affected in the area to make it cold to the touch. The area had also swelled at an alarming rate and Celandine herself was surprised at seeing such a sight. Assessing the situation and learning from Merry and Pippin what kind of spider was thought to have afflicted Frodo from two years ago, she prescribed an ointment and an antidote that was known to be effective against spider poison that was seemingly was still affecting Frodo in some unknown unnatural way.

“I’ll help prepare it right now. Fortunately I have some herbal tea that will hopefully help. I do not what the King Elessar had in Minas Tirith but this local specialty herb can help with the swelling and reducing the poison.

Two hours later, Celandine managed to not only make the spider bite antidote but also Wood Betony tea as well, which was known to help in inflammation and fever.

“I think it’s important to keep the fever down but the cause of it is most likely linked to the infection and inflammation,” said Celandine as she came in the room holding two cups of lukewarm medicinal herbs. Quickly, she went towards the Frodo’s bed.

As if on cue, Pippin and Merry helped Frodo to a sitting position as Celandine administered the antidote to Frodo through gently prodding open his mouth. Frodo stirred a bit but did not wake fully, but the liquid did penetrate into his mouth and throat as he woke enough to be slightly conscious of the bitter taste. After giving Frodo half of the cup of the antidote, Celandine then gave some water to help flush down the teas to have been given to encourage any lingering poison to be passed out through urinating.

Half an hour after the first administration of the spider antidote, the inflammation had gone down in Frodo’s neck, and Frodo’s forehead did not feel as hot as it did forty-five minutes ago. Slowly, Frodo opened his eyes and did not feel the pain on his neck as much and felt better able to focus on his surroundings.

“Frodo! You’re awake! How are you feeling?” asked both Merry and Pippin anxiously as they saw Frodo’s glassy blue eyes focus upon them.

“Hi Merry, Pip –I think I’m better than this …morning?” Frodo then glanced at the healer at the other side of him. “And, nice to meet you um-–“

“Celandine Goodbody at your service Master Baggins. I’m glad to see you finally awake,” said Celandine as she felt Frodo’s pulse to make sure that it was normal. Still beating faster than normal. Celandine frowned, taking note of this.

“Thank you for coming,” Frodo said as he tried to sit up. He still felt achy and unnaturally tired, yet nightmares did not haunt him as much though he was still feeling that something was amiss. Something was missing. But first, he had to use the privy.

“Merry, Pip? I need to go---“

“No, I think it’s best that Frodo stays in bed while he does his business,” Celandine brought a bed pan out from her bag as she stepped out while Frodo did what he had to do.

“Frodo are you all right? Celandine says you should stay in bed today and must have the teas every two hours,” said Merry as he helped Frodo settle back into bed after going.

“And we all haven’t really had a proper meal—what say you to some food, Frodo?”

“All right—if you insist,” Frodo did not feel like eating but knew he had to try to get better. He felt embarrassed to have had come to Crickhollow to inconvenience his cousins like this.

Frodo did not expect Merry and Pippin to prepare a feast but they did. Warm toast, jelly, eggs, cram cakes, seedcakes, roast pork, lettuce, steamed mushrooms, and chicken noodle soup was all on two trays that were brought to Frodo’s room. Frodo felt a slight appetite return though with the sight of mushrooms but even though it looked scrumptious, he only had a quarter of his soup and only five out of the usually ten mushroom caps he usually ate.

Celandine stayed till after the lunch yet had to leave soon after since she had other patients to see.

“Now remember how to brew the herbal teas and that they are to be administered with food for best results. Please mail me if there are any concerns.”

“Thank you so much, Celandine! Thanks for making both my cousins better,” said Merry as he gave her a hug.

“Yes, I’m so glad that you came… Or I’m sure Merry and I would be at a lost of how to deal with this,” Pippin added gratefully.

“Thank you, Celandine,” said Frodo quietly. His stomach felt better after lunch yet he still felt too tired.

Merry saw Celandine to the door as Pippin stayed with Frodo. Noticing that Frodo was getting drowsy, Pippin helped Frodo back in a reclining position as soft woolen blankets were placed upon Frodo. Pippin fluffed up Frodo’s pillow and brought two on either side of Frodo to try to make him as comfortable as possible.

“Dear Frodo, I’m glad you’re better, so glad,” whispered Pippin to Frodo’s ear.

“Glad that you’re both here for me,” replied Frodo drowsily. “And may I ask when did you and Mer have such soft blankets here? I remember the last time I was here, the blankets were scratchy and thin.”

“Pip and I had been upgrading Crickhollow and improving it every year since we’ve been back, dear Frodo,” Merry’s voice sounded at Frodo’s other side. “Our dear heroic cousin deserves the best when he comes to visit us.”

“Mmmm,” Frodo felt too tired to argue against the adjective “heroic” that Merry had used but feeling more peaceful than he had for a while, he slipped into a dreamless sleep.

The next day when Frodo woke up, he was pleased to know that the inflammation of the neck area had gone down drastically and that he did not have a fever anymore.

There was a mist in the air and it was still feeling unnaturally cold. Frodo felt sore as if he had been ill with the flu for days. However, the unwavering attention of his cousins and the comfort that the healing teas brought gave him hope and made him feel at peace. He did not remember his fit from last March when Tom Cotton had found him half in a nightmare but he had never had the chance to actually be tended on an anniversary illness other than this time. Merry and Pippin would not leave his side, despite his insistence that he was all right by himself.

Frodo was propped in bed in the most comfortable way that a hobbit could imagine while Merry and Pippin, (surprisingly) cooked him his favorite meals while he tried to read and write a bit in bed, still recuperating from the fever and neck inflammation.

He breathed in the sweet scent of marigolds that were placed on the bed stand and moved his head against the soft pillow and felt peaceful at the moment.

Later that day, Merry brought in a letter that Sam had written to them. Frodo was pleased and was glad to hear from Sam.

Sam’s handwritten script flowed upon a piece of blue flowery paper.

Pippin chuckled at the flowery paper. “I wonder if he stole that paper from Rosie or something.” Frodo and Merry both nudged him, grinning as well.

This is what the letter said:

Dear Frodo, (and Merry and Pippin—you two can read this too)

I hope you’re having a good time with your cousins there in Crickhollow, Frodo—I know they always make you smile and treat you well.

Though you haven’t been away long, it feels odd without you here though I have been horribly busy, preparing for the baby and doing a lot of planning and planting for the spring season. Rosie is doing fine—Frodo-lad will come any day now. I’m so sorry that I didn’t have a chance to be with you at this time because I would’ve come with you had I not had Rosie to worry about.

Seeing the brightness that Spring has made me more hopeful. Spring is a time of rebirth and a time to be joyous that all the living things of this world is once again growing again and the flowers and the trees come again to be alive and that is indeed something good to think about.

The strawberries are growing again in the hazel thicket now. And I remember those days in which we all had no worries—cherish the good memories of the Shire, Mr. Frodo. And now I’m awfully babbling again.

I’ll keep this letter short, but I’m just letting you know that I think I’ll be planting there in Buckland in a couple days so maybe I’ll stop by.

I hope you’re taking care, Mr. Frodo.

Sincerely yours,

Sam Gamgee

“Well that’s good news that Sam may be coming,” said Pippin. “I haven’t seen him for a while either. And it’s awfully exciting that Rosie is expecting this month.”

“Dear Rosie, dear Sam— first child is coming so there must be many preparations,” said Frodo.

“Yes, I hope he has time to stop by. I’m always glad for more people in here and Sam has always been the one to drink you under the table at the Buckland Pub, Pip—and I enjoy witnessing it,” said Merry with a mischievous grin.

“That is not true, Meriadoc Brandybuck! Everyone knows that Tooks can by far outdrink any Gamgee or Brandybuck in a drinking contest,” protested Pippin.

“Whatever you say, Pip!” Merry glanced at the letter again, rereading it and then facing Frodo, he said in a more serious tone, “And Frodo, it’s true that spring does bring about a new beginning. Frodo—we know what you go through …during March and October. Please know that we’re here to help you always.” Merry put his arm around Frodo’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry to have scared both of you yesterday and the night before,” said Frodo guiltily. “I have no control over what happens it seems and memories… are frequently more horrible these days. I’m sorry to have burdened ---“

“But you are no burden, Frodo! Don’t ever think you are!” Pippin exclaimed, putting his hand on Frodo’s head. “You’re so dear and important to us—taking care of you is part of our duty.” He winked.

“No matter what, Frodo—we’re here for you. We can ride out to Hobbiton at any time you wish so please do not hesitate to ask,” said Merry.

“I know you are, dear cousins,” Frodo said with tears filling in his eyes. He felt weakened by this past March 13th ordeal but felt hopeful in light of the seriousness of the guilt and the never-ending stream of remorse he felt. However, at the moment he was glad to have cousins that were always there for him.

“Thank you, Merry and Pippin – thank you for being brothers of my heart.”

The End