fantasticmuse

Well. Happy belated birthday to two certain hobbits. I wish they were around to give me presents, but since they're not:

Frodo coughed and shuddered in bed without opening his eyes. Bilbo looked up from his book as the lad shifted about in his bed.

Frodo began to thrash about a bit, throwing back the covers and knocking a pillow to the floor in the process. Bilbo set down the old manuscript and walked to the bed, placing a cool hand on Frodo's feverish and flushed face. Frodo stilled a bit and Bilbo took the opportunity to retrieve the pillow and drag the covers back over his nephew.

Looking down at the boy, Bilbo sighed. He was sure that this was not the way that Frodo had intended to spend his sixteenth birthday. But then, taking ill and staying in bed for nearly a week was not generally something that was planned on.

As Bilbo puttered back to his chair and started to pick up his reading again, Frodo awoke. Coughing a bit, he looked over to his uncle with sleepy eyes. “Have I missed the party? What time is it?” His voice was so concerned that Bilbo had to repress a chuckle. Walking back to him and patting him on the head, he reassured the lad.

“Don’t you worry about that. We decided to postpone the party ‘til you’re feeling more up to task.”

“Oh good!” Frodo paused a minute. “I think I’m really feeling quite a bit better, Uncle. Do you suppose we could have the party soon? Perhaps tomorrow?” This time Bilbo did laugh, taking Frodo’s response as a sign that the boy really was recovering.

“Yes, well, we will have to see about that. If you can get out of bed today I’ll consider it. But I doubt that the guests will be able to get here by tomorrow without any notice.”

Frodo’s hopeful face fell at his uncle’s words, knowing they were true.

“Oh. I suppose they couldn’t.” Frodo burrowed into the pillows and blankets and contemplated his disappointment. Bilbo studied him carefully, noting that the flushed face and glazed eyes that had appeared when the fever started were gone, and the lad was certainly more alert than he had been in days.

“Don’t be too downhearted, Frodo. You seem to be feeling better and that’s something to be grateful for, at least.” Bilbo smiled as Frodo eyed him from his place in the blankets, with something close to a pout on his lips. “You haven’t eaten much this past week, you must be hungry. I’ve some of your favorite stew left in the kitchen, would you like that?” Frodo continued to pout, but nodded his head.

When Bilbo came back from the kitchen, Frodo looked at him in surprise. On the tray in his hands was not only a bowl of fragrant stew, but two huge slices of cake, each one nearly bigger than the plate it was on. Noticing Frodo’s wide eyes he laughed for the second time in days.

“Well, it is our birthday, after all. I figured we both deserved something special.”
Frodo studied him in all seriousness for a moment, then grinned. “You’re right, of course. We do deserve it.” He made a grab for the cake, but Bilbo pulled it out of his reach.

“Stew first, then cake. You have been rather ill these past few days, don’t forget.” He handed his nephew the bowl and watched as he enjoyed his meal. Finishing quickly, Frodo eyed the cake hungrily. “All right, the stew’s gone, can I have cake now?”

Bilbo handed over the plate and took the other for himself. As they enjoyed the dessert, Bilbo talked to Frodo about the things he had missed during the week, told him about the book he was reading, then fetched Frodo’s favorite collection of Elvish histories and began to read aloud at Frodo’s request. By the end of the third story, Frodo had nodded back off to sleep with the plate, empty but for a few cake crumbs, still on his lap. Bilbo closed the book and began to tidy up the mess, very quietly.

Picking up the plate, he paused to kiss Frodo’s forehead, whispering “Happy Birthday, lad. We’ll see about your party in the morning,” and began to leave the room.

As he was walking out the door, Frodo rolled over and murmured sleepily, “Happy Birthday, uncle.”

Smiling, Bilbo went to the kitchen and began to write messages, inviting people to a rescheduled birthday party.

My 11 class was cancled for today, so yay for free time. Actually got some stuff done.

danachan, your package is safely on it's way to you. I put something else in there that you're sure to like. ;D Other than that- Alli is here to distract me, so adios, kids!