Of Pride and Pain

By Mysterious Jedi

Disclaimer: I do not own Tolkien’s stuff, I just write about it as a hobby

Summary: Frodo tends Boromir’s Warg wounds outside the gates of Moria. Dedicated to Boromir, who gave me the idea, and submitted to Marigold’s Challenge #9.

Rated: PG for non-vivid descriptions of wounds

The entire Fellowship was waiting outside the gates of Moria. Some distance away from the others, Boromir sat; squinting hard with his teeth tightly clenched.

Frodo needed a moment’s rest from the whisper’s and giggles of his cousins, so he went over to sit by the big man. The two sat in silence, each pursuing his own course of thoughts. Frodo shifted slightly, his arm jostling Boromir’s ribs. The man of Gondor took a sharp intake of breath, and Frodo glanced at him sharply.

"Are you hurt?" the hobbit asked with concern. He knew Boromir thought differently from the rest of the Fellowship in some matters, but he had the best interests of his people at heart, and Frodo certainly did not wish any harm upon him.

"Only a scratch," replied Boromir.

"How did you receive it?" Frodo persisted.

"I received a few lashes in our battle with the Wargs."

"May I see?" the friendly Halfling asked.

With slight reluctance, Boromir lifted his shirt, revealing the nasty cuts beneath.

"You should have said something to Aragorn about this. Wait one moment, I’ll call him."

"No!" said Boromir, a little too sharply. At Frodo’s glance, he said, "I mean that there is no need to bother Aragorn with such a small matter."

Frodo looked at him sadly. "I understand that you feel threatened by Aragorn. I will tend to it myself."

It is a well-known fact (nowadays) that hobbits can tread softly through woods, but fewer know that they can apply that same care to their treatment of the injured. Frodo gently cleansed the deep claw marks and bandaged them.

"That will help prevent infection," he told Boromir, "but you’ll have to ask Aragorn if you want anything for the pain. Then again, Sam might have something."

In truth, Frodo was in pain himself. Boromir had noticed the glistening in his eyes, but had attributed it to the pressures of being the Ringbearer. Then again, one never could tell for sure…

"Frodo, were you hurt in the battle with the Wargs?"

The hobbit looked startled. "Just a little."

"You need to show Aragorn."

"Pardon? You just said that there is no need to bother Aragorn with such little things.

"Soldiers of Gondor are accustomed to pain, but you have enough struggles without adding physical discomfort. You truly ought to tell Aragorn."

Frodo thought for a moment, then nodded. "I’ll compromise with you. I will show my wounds to Aragorn, if and only if you do the same. I know you don’t want any changes in Gondor, save to exchange war for peace, but change is better than defeat. Aragorn may be able to help keep your people, and all free people in Middle Earth, from that defeat. You need to learn to work together as allies in the same cause."

Boromir was momentarily stunned at Frodo’s ability to cut to the heart of the matter, so much like Faramir could. He supposed it would not be too bad to give in just once. After all, he owed Frodo some gratitude for tending his wounds, and the hobbit really should let Aragorn examine him...

"You drive a hard bargain, Frodo," he said with an almost undetectable smile, "but I will accept your terms.

The End (at least for now…)