By Vanessa Parry (alias: Elwen)
Word Count: 670
Rated: G
Summary: Frodo meets Tithen, Elrond’s cat, for the first time.
Frodo could not remember ever feeling so at peace and he gently scratched the neck of the warm furry mound on the floor at his side.
After the Council everyone craved his attention but he escaped swiftly to the sanctuary of his room. Carrying the One Ring from the Shire to Rivendell was one thing, but to take it all the way to Mordor and right into the Enemy’s lair was quiet another. Even now he did not understand what had made him speak up and the memory made his head spin and his stomach churn alarmingly.
He would have scrambled to his feet when Lord Elrond stepped into his chamber a little while later but the elf simply waved him down, announcing cryptically that he had brought him some medicine.
Whilst not unknown cats were not common in the Shire, their presence generally confined to farms where they helped control the rat population. Elrond introduced this one as Tithen. Frodo assumed that in some things at least the elvish sense of humour was similar to that of hobbits for this cat was anything but little. Indeed she was the biggest, fattest cat he had ever seen, standing almost as high as Frodo’s shoulder where he sat on the rug and at least as big again around. It was clear that Tithen had been fed only the choicest foods. He suspected no rats passed this white whiskered muzzle.
He was startled at first but Elrond only smiled when she ran from behind his robes, tail waving mast-like and step nimble despite her size. She made straight for Frodo. Of course, the fact that her target was sitting, hands about his knees, on a thick rug in front of a blazing hearth may have had something to do with this sudden switch of loyalty. When the huge creature sat neatly at his side and leaned in to delicately sniff at his face Frodo froze in place, feeling the unfamiliar tickle of long wiry whiskers against his cheek. For a moment amber eyes met summer blue and then Tithen butted gently at Frodo’s chin before leaning in closer to rub her head along the chest of his deep green velvet jerkin.
Bilbo Baggins’ nephew was a little annoyed when he glanced down to see a wide trail of ginger hairs smeared across the front of his new suit, but that was the moment in which Tithen began to purr loudly and his every thought paused. Winding her way twice through the tunnel formed by Frodo’s thigh and calf she settled on the rug in a huge striped ginger and white puddle. It seemed she was no respecter of personal space for Tithen lay so close against his hip that he could feel the vibration of her thrumming purr in his bones.
Softly smiling, Elrond slipped from the room as his guest was thus distracted.
When Frodo continued to sit, wary and perfectly still, Tithen made her needs known by butting at his calf and then stretching higher to rub against his clasped hands. Frodo was amused at her assertiveness and a little surprised at how wonderfully soft cat fur felt against the back of his wrist. As it became clearer that she was no threat, he lowered one tentative hand to her back. The buzzing burr deepened as Tithen looked up to blink amber eyes lazily at him once before closing them and lowering her chin to the rug.
Frodo’s small fingers all but disappeared into the thick, soft warmth of Tithen’s pelt and annoyance at the hairs on his clothing floated away as he sank further under the spell of the deep rumble beneath his palm. Dancing flames, the warmth of fire and cat, the crackle of burning wood and the rhythmic, droning purr all conspired to gently soothe his heart and mind at last.
Frodo smiled as he stared into the flames. Here was true magic and it had nothing to do with elves.