bloom

[bronwe]

Who: Frodo and YOU!
What: fail gardening
When: morning of April 4
Where: by the orchard
Rating: PG

It is warm enough now that Frodo can walk about barefooted without worrying that he might lose both legs to the frost. He remembers how Sam would start his planting at around this time of the year, just when the seasons turn and the sweet smell of spring is almost here. But not quite.

There is a tin bucket of flower bulbs some ways from the apple tree, set beside the small crouched figure digging little holes into the ground with his hands. He has a pile of pulled weeds and rocks on his other side, having cleared a small patch there for his makeshift garden. Planting the bulbs confuses him though. Which way is up and how deep should it go?

Times like these, more than ever, makes him wish Sam were here to give him all sorts of wise advice, and not only for gardening. He can already imagine one hundred and one quips from the hobbit. But his friend isn't here, yet, so Frodo just keeps squinting at the bulb, hoping some revelation will miraculously come to him eventually.

Comments

[lightbranded]

"Bulbs, is it?"

Will had been crouched down beside the garden as he watched the proceedings with a slight smile.

"Well, I suppose it is that time of year.

[bronwe]

He startles for a moment, so absorbed in trying to find a sign on the bulb that might say this way up! or plant until this point! But he regains his smile soon enough, scooting a little to give the boy room to look at his handiwork.

"These are daffodils. Or they would be, once I learn how to plant them."

[lightbranded]

"It isn't so difficult. I used to help Mum with this kind of thing." Will leans over and looks at the bulbs with a smile. "If I'm remembering right, the side that points should be on the top. And the hole should be three times as deep as the bulb."

[bronwe]

The tin only has several more bulbs, since he doesn't want to ask for too many from the castle lest he fails to grow them all. What a waste of perfectly good flowers that would be.

He offers the boy the bulb to hold too, if he would like. "Three times! And I thought only to bury it halfway..."

[lightbranded]

"It seems rather deep, doesn't it? But that is the way Mum always did it." He gently takes the bulb and holds it in hands as he inspects it.

[fluthlu]

Several yards away, this little lady is enjoying her first warm day outside beneath a tree, sitting on a tasseled pillow and reading a thick novel with a questionably raunchy cover illustration. Frodo catches her attention, and she looks up to watch him every now and then, before finally speaking.

"You know," Rose calls out, "I believe the saying goes - 'A watched bulb never grows'? Are you expecting it to perform tricks?" Her tone is dry, but warm.

[bronwe]

Frodo doesn't realize her presence until she calls out, now hopping to his feet to look her way. Oh, just another person who shares the joy of reading outside. He tries to stifle a grin at her comment too.

"I believe that applied only to pots."

[fluthlu]

"Being a metaphor, I like to think it's more universally applicable." Your literature nerd is showing, Rose. "In any case, I believe that the larger, round side goes down."

She is pleased to find that she remembers that from her now-distant time spent with Kanaya, despite having never personally gardened in her life.

[bronwe]

He just grins in reply. Literary nerds, he can deal with that. Now, the larger side... he tries to balance it on his palm the way she told him to, holding it up for her to see.

"I thought it would be simple. Gardening, I mean. I may have underestimated it."

[fluthlu]

"Anything that involves facilitating life for another being is bound to be more complicated than it seems, I would imagine."

She gives him a kind smile, a bit cool on her generally calculated face, but clearly meant to be encouraging. Placing her book on the ground, she rises slowly and comes over towards him. For the first time, she notices how small he is, even compared to her.

[willrememberthat]

Apparently, Clementine's favorite way to of greeting Frodo is trying to sneak up on him. She's out enjoying the not-snowy grounds, without her layers of scarves and mittens on top of coats and sweaters.

With her prey seemingly unaware and busy looking at a bulb, Clem jumps over near him with a loud "boo!"

[bronwe]

One of these days, Clem might just be the death of him, if she wouldn't then drag him to bed, bath and food to revive him again. What a girl. He lets out a not-so-manly yelp either way, hopping around to face this fearsome opponent... then taking a moment to finally laugh.

"That should scare off monsters and walkers alike!"

[willrememberthat]

She doesn't think so, especially given that Frodo hasn't ever seen a walker, but she's more than alright with that.

"Sorry," she smiles, clearly not very sorry and more amused than anything. Curiously, she walks right over into his personal space to see what he's been doing.

"Are you planting flowers?"

[bronwe]

He brushes most of the soil of his hands first before rubbing it against the back of his pants, peering at his handiwork too with some disappointment.

"Daffodils. They might only flower next year though and I might not be here then," he picks up that bulb to show her. "If I can show you how to care for them, you can make sure to see them bloom."

[willrememberthat]

"I think I know what those are," she replies, nodding her head. She always pays close attention to whatever Frodo says.

"How do you take care of them, Frodo?"

[the_marli_tharn]

A garden. This is what forms the basis of most rabbit's stories, and Hyzenthlay - while keeping herself crouched within the cover of the rock and weed depsoit - cannot resist watching in wonder as Frodo works. What would grow from it? Carrots? Lettuce? Should she risk nipping at it, when it was young and fresh? Or dare steal the early shoots as they appeared?

Such delicacies she'd only ever heard of, but the tales of the extent of troubles El-ahrairah himself would go through to steal the King's lettuce, or Prince Rainbow's carrots, had her inching a little closer, working her nose to try and pick up a scent of what those bulbs might hold.

[bronwe]

Daffodils! No vegetables here unfortunately. He would try to grow mushrooms if he only knows how, but the only gardening book he found that he could understand were about flowers. He notices the rabbit only a moment after, watching it quietly so as not to scare it away.

"Hullo, little rabbit," no matter that it must seem silly to be talking to one. "Are you here to help me dig little holes?"

[the_marli_tharn]

She figuresd she'll never get used to talking to men. Her first instinct is to freeze, cursory to bolt, but when he speaks and she understands him, she forces herself to calm. Hardly a muscle twitches.

"Only if you let me help you eat what comes up from them."

[bronwe]

Frodo is startled to hear the rabbit speak, even now after a few months in the castle. Some things he will just never get used to. He regains himself with an apologetic smile however.

"Do you eat daffodils? I can try and grow cabbages too. And taters."

[the_marli_tharn]

They can learn together! Rabbits are Friends not Food!

"I've never tried a daffodil, or ... taters? But I know cabbage. I should not say no to any treats you manage to grow here."

[jthm]

Is it talking to you?

[Johnny appears from behind one of the more bigger trees. What he was doing there, we'll never know]

[bronwe]

[ Frodo jumps in place a little, before breaking into a hesitant smile. ]

No. I... don't think so?

[jthm]

Then why are you staring at it so intensely?

[bronwe]

I guess... I'm hoping it would talk to me and tell me which way is up.

[ He shows him the bulb so he can see what he means. ]

[jthm]

Well from what I know about bulbs...which isn't much, I know that you bury the fat side, pointy side up.