Notes:  There is a passage in this chapter copied directly from The Two Towers.  Narsilion is Quenya for ‘of the sun and the moon’.

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

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HEALED

Chapter 5 -- Now and Always

They were content with each good day as it came, taking pleasure in every meal, and in every word and song.  The Fellowship of the Ring

“They’re so beautiful!” Merry whispered.  The small herd of miniature deer raised their heads at the hushed sound, then relaxed and continued to graze.

Four hobbits lay on their bellies in the dew-wet grass, enjoying the rare sight.  They had waited, nearly motionless, since dawn, in the patient manner they had absorbed from the Elves.  Bilbo also lay on his belly, but the sight he was enjoying was different than the others.  With one of the spyglasses Gandalf had given them pressed firmly to his right eye, he slowly surveyed the coast from the high dune on which they lay.

“What are you looking for?” Pippin asked.

“I’m just... looking,” Bilbo replied thoughtfully.  He lowered the spyglass and smiled at the youngster.  “I love watching the Sea.  I wonder about all the creatures living in it, and why it’s salty, and how it would be to sail far, far away and see the Island from out there...” His voice trailed away and the others grinned knowingly.

“I fear we’ll lose Bilbo to the Sea someday,” Merry said to Frodo in the mix of Westron and Quenya the hobbits used when together.  “You’ve seen the maps, haven’t you?  It’s a long way to Middle-earth.”

“Bilbo doesn’t want to sail east,” Frodo said, “but further West.  So do I.”

“Where the Valar live?” Pippin asked, wide eyed.  “Can you?”

“Who knows?” Frodo said thoughtfully.  “Gandalf says that this is a new Age, with many things now possible that were once thought impossible.”

“Which Age is it?” Sam asked.

“Elrond calls it the Fourth,” Bilbo said.  “I wonder who’s keeping track?”

“And how will we know when the Fifth Age begins?” Merry grinned.

“You won’t care if it does,” Pippin teased.  “You’ll be so deeply into your scrolls and books, the whole island could break off and sail into a new Age, and you’d hardly notice.”

“Loremaster,” Bilbo said proudly.  “Your apprenticeship with Elrond will be long, Merry, but well worth it.”

“I want to write down the histories and tales,” Merry said happily.  “It’s one thing to tell stories aloud, and sing, but I love the feel of parchment, the smell of scrolls and...”

“We know,” Sam laughed.  “We’ll let these two sail off to find adventure, and bring you new tales.”

“Without you?” Frodo asked.

“Perhaps someday,” Sam smiled.  “I don’t want to go far from my gardens and trees... yet.”

“I’ll stay, too,” Pippin declared.  “For now, anyway.  And speaking of your gardens, the Tree is a seedling already.  Isn’t it time you named it?  Gandalf says that all the White Trees get named.”

“I’ve been thinking about it,” Sam mused.  “It’s so very lovely -- all silver and gold... what about Narsilion?”

“I like that,” Frodo smiled.

“So do I.  And we should be getting back,” Pippin said, getting to his feet slowly so as not to frighten the deer.  “I’m hungry.”

*~*~*~*~*

“It is quiet without the boys around,” Celebrían said wistfully.  She and her husband were enjoying an early breakfast on the veranda of their home.

“I agree,” Elrond said.  “Going too long without hearing the laughter of hobbits is like a longing for cool water and starlight -- I can no longer imagine life without it.”  He smiled.  “I have been thinking so much about them, lately.  They are very different from one another.”

Celebrían took a sip of her tea.  “Merry is so quiet and thoughtful; such a contrast to Pippin, who would leave the ground and sing his life away with the birds and stars, if he could.  And Sam is rooted firmly to that very ground, and draws energy and purpose from the life forces around him.”

“And then there is Bilbo,” Elrond said.  “He would not imagine sitting when he can stand, or walking when he can run… it is as if he is making up for all the long years of his life when the Ring slowly drained his energy and spirit.”

“And Frodo...” Celebrían mused thoughtfully.

“Yes,” Elrond nodded.  “He was meant for this life from the beginning, I think.  If ever there was an Elf born among hobbits, it is he.  He delights in even the smallest creature, the tiniest sound, color, fragrance... Perhaps not since the Firstborn awoke in Middle-earth and greeted each new thing with joy and wonder has there been such an open, eager spirit.”

Celebrían looked up at a faint sound.  “Someone approaches.”  It was Gandalf, who walked up to the house.

“Please join us,” Celebrían smiled in greeting.

“Thank you,” Gandalf said, taking a seat.  “Where is everyone?”

“An early-morning adventure,” Celebrían laughed, pouring the wizard some tea.  “Hobbits are ever-curious.”

“Yes,” Elrond replied.  “But I wonder... how long will they remain hobbits?”

“What do you mean?” Celebrían asked.

“What will they retain of their true natures, as the years pass and they take on ever more Elvish ways, thought, and speech?” Elrond asked, concerned.  “What will remain of what they were born to be?”

“Speaking of the boys...” Celebrían smiled happily as five small figures approached the house.  Seeing her, Elrond, and Gandalf on the veranda, the hobbits ran to them.

“Gandalf!”  Sam cried, “what do you think of 'Narsilion' as a name for the Tree?”

“Do you think the Valar will let Frodo and Bilbo visit them?” Merry asked Elrond, snatching a cake from the tea tray.

“Can we bring out the breakfast things?” Pippin asked Celebrían.

“May we,” Bilbo and Merry chorused.

“Bri, did you know that the little deer had babies?” Sam asked.

“Gandalf, how long can you stay?” Frodo asked.  “You never finished the story.  Where did Ulmo go after he anchored the Island here?  Do you think we’ll ever meet him?”

Gandalf looked fondly at the eager faces, remembering a long-ago conversation.

“Mercy!  What more do you want to know?”

“The names of all the stars, and of all living things, and the whole history of Middle-earth and Over-heaven and of the Sundering seas,” laughed Pippin.  “Of course!  What less?”

With a hearty laugh, Gandalf turned to Celebrían and Elrond.  “Do you hear all those questions?”

“Yes...”

“You need not worry about them, Elrond,” he declared.  “They’re hobbits.  Now and always, most definitely, hobbits.”

**TBC**

Aiko-chan:  Thank you, sweet one.  I don’t know where these ideas come from, but I hope they keep a-coming.

Ainu Laire:  It would be an honor to think that families might be reading my stories.

Armariel:  Thank you so much -- and if I can think of a way to extend this story further, I’ll certainly do so.

Arrina:  Can you imagine what Elves could teach us about hearing the Song of nature?  Sam was just born hearing it, I think.  And thank you for your review of “First Watch”; believe me, it’s a real compliment for an author to be told, “update soon!”.

Auntiemeesh:  I think you’ve caught the underlying theme of this story -- that each person has their own unique gifts.  Each has something to learn, and something to teach.

Breon Briarwood:  I’m as wibbly as you are, Breon!  We’re in such trouble.

Caroly:  One of my favorite themes in stories is when a child is helped to feel special -- and Yavanna helped Sam feel very special, indeed.

Clever Hobbit:  I have to admit that it isn’t easy writing when I’m permanently melted and liquified!  I guess the mountains of fluff are holding me together long enough to type.

Connie B:  I really should have put a “fluff warning” on this story like I did for “Estel’s Birthday”!  Thank you for all your support, Connie.   As you can see from my note at the top of the chapter, this is the (possibly temporary) ending to the story.  We’ll see what the future holds...

cpsings4him:  Thank you especially for letting me know what lines you liked the best.  That means so much to me.  And I agree -- think how much more “homelike” the Blessed Realm would be for Frodo, if he had more than one hobbit to keep him company.

DreaminofLorien:  I find it fascinating to imagine Elves and hobbits interacting -- the oldest and (I assume) youngest races.  Elves, weary of Middle-earth, would be enchanted by these toddlers, seeing and experiencing everything through fresh and new eyes.  And oh, what the hobbits might learn from the Elves is just beyond dreams.

Elainor:  It’s such a joy to hear that this story is “light filled”.  Thank you.

Elwen:  No writing makes me more joyful than giving hobbits happiness, love, and endless possibilities.

Erisinia:  Can I take turns with you in squeezing Frodo?  :)

Giu:  Sam-Pippin scenes are such fun to write!

Gods-girl2004:  It must be exhausting for Elrond to be so serious all the time!  There’s nothing like exuberant hobbits to bring some lightness to his spirit.

Grey Wonderer:  A true joy of Tolkien’s characters and world is that there’s such an infinite number of ways to explore them -- and that so many of us want to explore them.

Elven Kitten:  Thank you so much for coming along on yet another hobbity adventure!

Larner:  Definitely one of the great friendships in all of literature.

lindahoyland:  In this ‘universe’, Sam will never see himself as worth less than anyone else.

lovethosehobbits:  If there’s one thing I want to bring to our beloved hobbits, it’s joy.

Maura Labingi:  I promise to write more if I think of more, Maura!  Thank you for your sweet words.  (Yes, Erestor is one of Tolkien’s creations -- he was Elrond’s chief counsellor in Rivendell, and attended the Council in FOTR.)

my-fool-of-a-took:  Thank you!  Once I got that image of Pippin-following-Elrond-around in my head, I couldn’t get it out.

Nivina:  Un-melts you long enough to read one more chapter...  :)  Thank you, sweet one.

Pasha ToH:  I love exploring Pippin’s character and potential -- he was never a ‘fool’ to me.  Oh yes, even Lord Elrond can learn from hobbits!  After all, Gandalf never ceased to be surprised by them.

Pearl Took:  Pearl, you’re such a treasure.  I’m just compelled to give the hobbits as much joy and magic as I can possibly think up -- in return for all they’ve given me.

Pipwise Brandygin:  “the care and attention the Big Folk tend to lavish on the hobbits” is one of my favorite things to read, so I tend to write it whenever I can.  I think the Elves, in particular, would enjoy the hobbits’ vibrant spirits.  In ROTK, Tolkien wrote that, when Frodo, Sam, and Bilbo rode with them to the Havens, “...the Elves delighted to honour them.”  What a breath of fresh air the hobbits would be to the world-weary Firstborn.

Quiet Infinity:  I agree!  Even if our outward circumstances change, I think we have the same essential gifts and potentials inside us, just waiting to be explored.  Sam is still ‘Sam’, whether in the Blessed Realm or the Shire.

SciFi Kane’s lil sis:  Now you can get your hug in person!  (((LIL SIS)))

Slightly Tookish:  I’m so happy you’re enjoying this!  I didn’t know what folks would think of this rather strange premise.

Sorrowful Eagle:  Oh my, thank you.  Thank you so much.

Vilya0:  Little hobbits!  How I love writing about them.