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Title: Four Mornings in Winter (#2506)
Author: Cuthalion
Chapters: 4
Archive: Tolkien
Category: Alternate Universe (AU)
Description: This was written on an ice cold Saturday afternoon as a birthday gift for my faithful, great beta Ariel, once more returning into the universe of Before I go to sleep. Four snow white mornings in winter, following the chronological course of Lily Proudfoot's life...
Published: 15 Jan 2006
Updated: 15 Jan 2006
Warnings: none
Type: Romance
Characters: Lily Proudfoot; Frodo Baggins;
Chapter 1 - December 1416
December 1416
Lily opened her eyes. The evening before she had fallen asleep to the fleeting sound of raindrops against the windowpane. Now there was no sound at all. She got up, pulled the curtains back from the window… and gave a breathless gasp of delight.
The glass was covered with delicate flowers, and the rising sun made them shimmer and sparkle in hues of brilliant pink and pale gold. They reminded her of the flowers she had stitched on the green velvet of the new waistcoat she would give him today, and a secret joy started to bloom in her heart.
Chapter 2 - December 1417
December 1417
When she reached Bag End, her toes and fingers were stiff and numb. Before she could knock, the door opened and warmth and light streamed out like an unexpected embrace.
“Stars, my chestnut, you must be frozen to death!”
He pulled her inside and held her, his mouth a tender welcome on her lips. He wore the new shirt (as she had hoped), and the upper buttons were open. He took her hands, pressed them under the fabric on his chest and smiled at her contented sigh when she felt his warmth fill her and circle in her blood.
Chapter 3 - December 1420
December 1420
The smial was too silent. She walked into the empty room where Fredegar had spent his days, a brave soul, facing his misery day by day and still not giving in… until his strength faded at last and the morning came when she found him here, sleeping his last sleep.
I love you, child. I wish I had been a better father.
You have been the best father any daughter could wish for. I miss you. I miss you so much, Papa.
She stood there, staring down on the neatly made bed and felt an endless winter freezing her heart.
Chapter 4 - December 1421
December 1421
Rosie gave her the fur-lined blanket on the evening of Yule, and she repeated her invitation once more.
“Come with me, Lily”, she said. “It makes me sad to think that you should spend this night alone.”
But Lily refused with a smile and when darkness fell she sat at the window of her bedroom, the blanket wrapped around her shoulders, the warm, soft fur gently tickling her chin. Midnight came close, and she heard the voices of the children, reddened faces with brilliant eyes in the light of the torches. Their high, clear voices were heralds of the new day, soothing the lingering fear in her heart.
He is safe, she whispered to herself. Frodo will heal. I have done the right thing. He will heal.
She sat there, eyes closed and both hands reaching out as if protecting a flickering flame of hope.
I know he will heal.
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