Timeline reminder from Chapter 1:  “And as Frodo and Bilbo ran and tumbled and giggled, Gandalf smiled to himself.  In Middle-earth, many years from now -- although it would seem to these children that only a few years had passed -- Sam would be offered the same choice as they, as would Pippin and Merry at the end of their long lives.”

I believe that mortals experience time differently in Middle-earth than they would in the Blessed Realm.  As Galadriel said to Frodo and Bilbo in “Sing Me Home”, Chapter 5:  “What I was able to bestow upon the Golden Wood, through Nenya, was but an echo of Eldamar.  In the West, time indeed passes, but gently, and largely unnoticed.  Immortality is not one of the gifts any may bestow on the Secondborn, but I suspect that you will live among us in peace and joy for longer than you may have thought.”

Note:  My description of the harbor of Tol Eressëa can be found in “Sing Me Home”, Chapter 6.

DISCLAIMER:  Of course. The characters don’t belong to me, I just get to think about them day and night.

___________________________

HEALED

Chapter 2 -- Dream-Friend

Sam my dearest hobbit, friend of friends. Frodo Baggins, The Two Towers

Frodo blinked awake, his nest of blankets and pillows so warm and downy-soft, he could almost have been floating.  The large, airy room he shared with Bilbo was lit by the gentle rays of morning sunshine.  The island did not grow fully light until late afternoon, when Arien guided the Sun overhead from the east, to where it would disappear at last into the uttermost west.

Celebrían entered the room, and Frodo scurried undercover.  She smiled and sat on the bed, gently pulling away blankets until she uncovered the smiling face of her mischievous little one.

“Ready for breakfast, Frodo?”

“Bri,” Frodo yawned, “Sam is coming soon.”

Celebrían pulled the child into her arms, and he snuggled against her.

“Have you had another dream?”

“Mm hm,” Frodo murmured.  His eyes fell on the third small bed, recently constructed and ready for another hobbit-child to arrive.  “When will he get here?”

“When the ship is near, Gandalf will come for you,” Celebrían said softly.  “Do you remember your ride on the ship?”

“A little bit.”  Frodo laughed suddenly, his eyes sparkling.  “Bilbo and I saw lots of fishes.”

“That’s right,” Celebrían smiled.

“Bri,” Frodo asked seriously, “Why doesn’t Bilbo dream about Sam, too?”

“We all have different gifts, dear one.  Your dreams take you far, and someday you will travel far on your own.  This island is very large, and there are more than a dozen smaller ones near us; I believe you will be permitted to walk upon each, and learn what they have to teach you.  Bilbo’s gift is an ear -- and heart -- for the way words intertwine to become poem, song or story; even now, he is beginning to weave his own tales.  Each gift is unique; Elrond is a healer.”

“What about you?”

I...” the Elf woman smiled.  “I am a teacher.”

“And Sam?”

Celebrían stroked the dark curls.  “Gandalf tells me that Sam’s gift is that of an artist, Frodo.  He will desire to arrange flowers, trees -- perhaps even the land itself -- into pleasing shapes and mixtures of color and texture.  He will bring much beauty to our home, and help you and Bilbo to hear the language of all growing things.  He will be an artisan amongst us, honored and content.”

Frodo was too young to understand everything she was saying, but as long as his dream-friend would be happy here, that was all that mattered.

“You must speak this way to Sam,” Celebrían said, switching to Westron.  “Do you remember how?”

Frodo nodded vigorously.  “That’s how we talk in my dreams,” he said.

“Good,” Celebrían smiled.  “And now, what about breakfast?”

*~*~*~*~*

As the graceful ship glided toward the dock, Gandalf sat beside one of the fountains, his now-youthful face turned to the youngster on his lap.  Frodo had his hands clasped together tightly.

“You are worried,” Gandalf said.

Frodo looked up at his friend.  “What if Sam didn’t dream of me?” he asked anxiously.  “He won’t know who I am, Gandalf.  What if he doesn’t like me?”

“Frodo,” Gandalf said gently, “I cannot say whether or not Irmo has sent Sam such dreams as you have received.  But even if he does not know you, there is no power in this world that can keep the two of you from becoming friends.”

“Promise?”

“There are few certainties in life,” Gandalf smiled.  “But in this case... yes, Frodo.  I promise.”

“Good.”

“Sam will be very young when he arrives, Frodo -- as young as you and Bilbo were when you came here.”

“I know that,” Frodo said impatiently.  “Oh Gandalf!” he suddenly leaped to his feet.  “Is he sick?”

“Remain here for a moment,” Gandalf said softly.  He stood up, and quickly approached an Elf who had just come down the ramp from the ship.

“Erestor, it is good to see you again.”

“Gandalf,” the Elf smiled.  “You have changed greatly, but I recognize your Song.”  He looked around the beautiful harbor.  “My heart drew me home, and I have come.  I long to see my lord once again, and the Lady Celebrían.  Is she well?”

“She is healed of all hurts,” the wizard smiled.  “Celebrían spent much time here teaching the young ones born on the island -- but Elrond believes it is the hobbits who have completed her healing.”  He motioned to the toddler in Erestor’s arms.  “Thank you for bringing Sam to us.”

“He has been very confused and fretful,” Erestor said, kissing the small forehead gently.  “We did what we could to comfort him.”

Gandalf sighed.  “Frodo and Bilbo had each other aboard ship, and also, Elrond was there to ease them until their spirits were settled.  Sam had neither.”

Hearing his name, the tearful lad looked around, and into the wizard’s kindly face.  He smiled slightly.

Gandalf smiled back.  He remembered the first time he had seen Sam at this age, long ago -- an active, curious youngster, well-loved by his family and proud of his new baby sister.

“Sam,” Gandalf said softly in Westron, “I am Gandalf.  We are very happy you are here.  There is someone who is most anxious to see you.”  He took the golden-haired boy from the Elf’s arms and set him gently on the ground, facing the fountain.

Frodo could bear it no longer.  He walked forward until he was just inches from the child.

“Sam,” Frodo said hopefully, “do you know me?”

Sam’s eyes grew wide with wonder, and he slowly reached up to touch Frodo’s cheek.  Suddenly he threw himself into the older boy’s arms and clung tightly.  “Frodo?” he whispered.

“You do!” Frodo cried with delight, hugging his dream-friend.  “Oh Sam, you’ve come!  You’re here!”

Sam laughed, his eyes sparkling with joy.  Everything was strange and new, but… Frodo’s here!  He felt... safe.  “Don’t let go,” he implored.  The arms around Frodo tightened further.

“I won’t.”  Frodo looked up at Gandalf joyfully.  “You were right, Gandalf!  You knew!”

“There are few certainties in life,” Gandalf smiled.  “But in this case...”

“It is good to hear Sam laugh,” Erestor smiled with relief.  “His greatest comfort has been dreaming about his ‘bestest friend Frodo’, and...”  He gazed down in wonder.  “This is the Ring-bearer?” he asked with awe.  “His Song has become...”  The Elf’s eyes filled with tears of joy.

“Yes,” Gandalf said softly.  “He, too, has been healed, Erestor.  A new Age has dawned for Frodo... for you... and for others yet to arrive.”

*~*~*~*~*

Clad in his nightshirt, Bilbo ran into the spacious hall where Elrond and Celebrían sat together, talking.  “Sam’s asleep,” he announced.  “He’s very shy, but I like him.”  Bilbo grinned suddenly.  “He likes my stories.”

“Ah, he is too young to hear the mischief in your tales and misdeeds, my lad,” Elrond laughed, bending to kiss Bilbo goodnight.  “He will grow less shy, and soon have stories of his own to tell.”

“When will he learn Elvish?” Bilbo asked curiously.  “Stories don’t sound the same when I tell them like this,” he added, speaking in Westron.

“He will learn quickly, as you did,” Celebrían said, rising to her feet.  “I will sit each night by Sam’s bed and sing to him, as I did with you.  Come.”  She walked with Bilbo to the boys’ bedroom and, as Bilbo launched himself onto his bed, she paused by the door, a smile lighting her face.  Frodo had moved his bed to within inches of Sam’s, and each boy lay fast asleep, holding tight to one another’s hand.

“Three now,” Elrond murmured, coming to stand behind Celebrían.  He wrapped his arms around his wife, who sighed with contentment.  “A most unexpected family, is it not?”

“Yes,” Celebrían agreed.  “And a most welcome one.  How dear they are to me.”

“And to me,” Elrond smiled.  He drew her into the room.  “Sam needs both of us this night, my love.  His spirit is still unsettled, and needs healing.”

The two Elves seated themselves by Sam’s bed, and Bilbo lay awake, listening to the singing -- calm and soft and loving -- until he fell into a peaceful sleep.

** TBC **

Ainu Laire:  Toddler Aragorn!  Now that’s sweet.

angelsflame265:  Toddlers!  This is a fun premise to write about.

AngieT:  Thanks, Angie.  It’s hard to hate hobbit children, isn’t it?  :)

aprilkat:  Ah, you ‘caught’ the more subtle theme of this story -- it’s not just the hobbits who are healed, but Celebrían as well.  In my ‘universe’, time is elongated in the West.  I believe that time passed differently in Rivendell and Lorien because Elrond and Galadriel, through their Rings, were able to reproduce a bit of the ‘sense’ of the Blessed Realm.

Ariel:  Yes, perhaps we should let the toddlers grow up first -- then they’ll be ready for... other things.  :)

Arrina:  I definitely like the idea of the hobbits growing up (again) “without all the ring and bad stuff”.  You betcha.

Auntiemeesh:  I’m glad I’m writing more of this, too!  I’ve been thinking about doing it for months.

Bodkin:  I honestly don’t know if this short story will go far enough for any other Fellowship members to arrive; at the present, I only have hobbit toddlers planned.

Breon Briarwood:  You sweetie.  Here’s some “more”!

Caroly:  I hope I succeed in bringing ‘toddler Bilbo’ to life for you, as well as the others.

Connie B:  Yes, as long as I was letting Frodo, Bilbo, and Sam start over, I figured... why not Merry and Pippin as well?  Ah, the joys of an Alternate Universe!

Dreaminoflorien:  Thank you so much.  When hobbits are happy, I’m happy.  What a joy to bring you all along on this journey.

Elven Kitten:  More cuteness!  I don’t know how we can bear it...   :)

FrodoBaggins87:  “TBC” indeed!  More to come.

girlofring:  I’m not sure exactly how old the toddlers are when they arrive, but it’s probably around age 3 or 4.

Grey Wonderer:  It is fun to imagine how each hobbit toddler would be different from the others.  Chapter 3 will go into this in more detail.

Hobbsy:  Thank you!  This is a fun concept to write about.

Hollie:  It isn’t easy for me to see Bilbo as a child, either!  I’m trying to make sure that all of the children have different personalities.

Kellie:  Believe it or not, I do have an angsty-story planned for the beginning of the year.  But... this isn’t it!  Hobbit toddlers!  Nooooo!  Can Kellie bear the strain of so much fluff?

Lady Eleclya:  It’s fun to write something so different!  I hope you continue to enjoy it.

Lily Baggins:  I’m honored, Lily.  Thank you for reading, even though Aragorn isn’t in this story!

Lily the Hobbit:  This is such a fun premise, Lily.  I’m glad you’re enjoying it.

lindahoyland:  Thanks, Linda.  It’s interesting to take such an unusual approach to a story.

lovethosehobbits:  I haven’t a clue where these ideas are coming from... I’m just grateful that they’re finding me, and that I have people to share them with.  I do tend to be an optimist, but I think it’s also that I want to see hobbits happy and well.

Mariko:  My writing definitely seems to be in a fluff-cycle at the moment.  Thank you for enjoying it!

Maura Labingi:  Yes, I seem to be in a “toddler hobbits” phase!

Meethrill:  You sweetie.  Celebrían is a major character of this story -- more to come in Chapter 3.

Meldewen Ilce:  I appreciate the encouragement!  I’ve been thinking about expanding this story ever since I wrote the ficlet in June.

Mum’s the Word:  I’m so happy that you find this story “smile inducing” -- that brings me great joy.

my-fool-of-a-took:  I’m glad you like ‘my’ toddler hobbits!

Pasha ToH:  Hopefully, you can see from this chapter that I agree with you -- Sam is an artist at heart, but of (as you say) “the earth and plantkind”.

Pearl Took:  Thanks, Pearl.  This is really “pushing the AU envelope”, but... what fun.

Scifirogue-klutz:  Fluff?  From me?  Shocking.

Sorrowful Eagle:  Thank you for your enthusiasm!  The “gifts” (explorer, poet, artist, singer, scribe) of three of the hobbits should be clear from this chapter.

Tathar:  I had no plans to write a story based on this ficlet, when it was first posted, although I toyed with the idea of a second ficlet to show Sam’s arrival.  I agree with you -- Frodo deserves at least one happy, grief-free childhood.

the essence of popsicles:  From what I’ve read, Círdan dwelt at the Grey Havens until the last ship sailed, sometime in the Fourth Age.  I’m sure there were enough ships for anyone who might need them!

Tink420:  Thank you for reviewing, sweet one.  I agree -- this premise is more than a bit unusual!  One of the joys of fanfiction is how far we can go with a new idea, while still keeping the ‘foundation’ of the source material intact.  It’s a challenge and very exciting for a writer to move out of their “comfort zone” and push the envelope a bit.  Thank you for coming along for the ride -- I hope you enjoy the story.

Vilya0:  I want to hug the toddlers, as well!  What a fun challenge this is.  And I continue to be honored by your translations.