Chapter Four: The Song

Frodo raised his head from Sam’s chest as he woke to singing. "Wake up, my Sam," he called softly as he gently shook his brother.

The younger hobbit opened his eyes and looked into his dear one’s eyes. Frodo smiled. "Listen. This is the song I wanted you to hear."

Frodo stood and faced the west window. As Sam listened to both to the Elf and the hobbit who sang quietly with him, he saw the joy radiate out from his brother in a visible light that he could see with his eyes, not only just with his heart as he had always been able to see it before. He watched it mesmerized, then the song ended and Frodo turned to him. The light faded back to its normal inner glow.

"That was beautiful," the gardener breathed. "I didn’t understand a word of it, but it just sinks right into you, doesn’t it and it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand. It’s just so...so..." He trailed off, unable to think of words adequate for the beauty he had seen and heard.

"Exactly," Frodo agreed with a grin. "That was my favorite one singing too. His name is Galian and he’s my best friend here, outside of Gandalf. For a long time have I hoped to introduce my two brothers to each other and now I can! I didn’t understand it either in the beginning, but I’ll give you a translation now and later you’ll be able to know. It helped me so much in the beginning and now it’s what that has woken me since practically the first day I’ve been here. It starts with praise to Iluvatar and then to the Valar, the Powers He created from His thought."

"To Eru, the Creator, the One of all, praise and thanksgiving for the day begun.

"The Sun has arisen from her place of resting,

To warm the wide world with her bright shining rays.

We lift up our voices in songs of thanksgiving,

And join with all nature in singing Thy praise.

We look on the forests and fields and the rivers,

The majestic peaks and the hills and the dells;

And we, Thy children, cannot but extol Thee,

O Eru, our Lord who hast made all things well.

"To Manwe, praise for the Lord of the Breath of Arda and the winds that blow.

To Elbereth, praise for beauty beyond compare, for the light of the stars that guide us home.

To Ulmo, praise for the Lord of Waters on which we sail.

To Aule, praise for the Master and delighter in all crafts.

To Yavanna, praise for the Giver of Fruits.

To Namo, praise for the Keeper of the Houses of the Dead.

To Vaire, the Weaver of all things in Time.

To Irmo, praise for the Master of Dreams.

To Este, praise for the Healer of hurts and weariness.

To Nienna, praise for the one who mourns and teaches endurance.

To Tulkas, praise for the Valiant one.

To Nessa, praise for the delighter of dance.

To Orome, praise for the Lord of Forests.

To Vana, praise for the Ever-young."

As the spell of Frodo’s lilting voice faded away, he paused for a moment and then said thoughtfully, "I owe much to them. For Elbereth for saving us on the Quest, for Ulmo who guided me safely here, for Irmo who counseled me through dreams, for Este who soothed my hurts and weary soul, for Nienna who grieved with me and taught me to endure. They have taught me so much and I owe my life and soul to their guidance after I came here."

He looked up at Sam and smiled. "I think Nienna helped you especially, my Sam, in all the darkness we passed through, kept your hope going so we could both keep going. Once we are in the Presence of Iluvatar when this life passes, I hope I can thank them all. I have so many times in my prayers and I know I have been heard, but I still would like to thank them in person."

"I remember their names from the tales," Sam said. "You mean they are real?"

Frodo’s smiled widened. "Yes, dearheart, very real."

"Then I would like to meet them one day too."

"I hope we will."

Frodo changed out of his nightshirt and dressed in the same cream-colored silk that Sam had seen him the first day here. "Would you like to come to the worship of Iluvatar with me?"

"Aren’t you going to eat first?"

"No, the reception of the lembas is taken after a fast. We were given a great gift on the Quest, greater than we could have imagined or understood. It is Iluvatar Himself that we received, Sam. That is how we survived. Ordinary bread would have not saved us. We were guarded and guided in so many ways, held close by the Creator. Just as you held me, He held us both. I am humbled and awed by it all. So come if you’d like and learn more. I don’t want to be late."

Sam dressed quickly and rejoiced once more to hold his brother’s hand as they walked down the well-worn path to the dark room. A couple dozen Elves already stood at their places and Frodo quietly slipped into his with Sam next to him. The younger hobbit remained at his place when the elder went up to receive the lembas, but a desire burned in him to learn more of it and to worthy of it himself. He spent the time learning to pray instead, speaking from his heart and listening to the Voice that spoke to him there.

After the worship ended and they returned to the bright sunshine, Frodo introduced his brother to his friends and Sam was much embarrassed to be so warmly welcomed by them all.

"And this, Sam, is my best friend, Galian," Frodo said about the last one he introduced. "Well, my best Elvish friend," he amended with a smile. "Galian, this is my brother, Sam."

The handsome, young Elf smiled and bowed deeply. "Welcome, Panthael. My brother-in-heart has spoken much of you and it is my great honor to finally meet you."

Sam blushed and bowed even deeper. "An honor, Mr. Galian, sir, to meet you too."

"Galian helped me tremendously when I first came," Frodo said, beaming up at his friend. "He was the first one I met here and the first one I taught Westron too and he helped with Quenya, before Ilarion trained me more formally when I was more up to that. He’s also the one who kept his hand firmly on my shoulder so I wouldn’t dive into the water and try to bring in your ship myself."

The three laughed, then the smile faded from Frodo’s face as he continued, but not the love in his eyes as he continued to gaze at his friend. "He was the one whose light saved me when I was drowning in darkness. I don’t think I could have survived without him."

Galian squeezed his beloved friend’s shoulder. "You thrive now, otornonya."

"Because of you and everyone else."

"Because of the One who created both of us."

He bowed again to Sam. "Welcome once more. I am most glad to see Iorhael so happy and well to have you beside him once more. He shines all the brighter now. Hantanyel."

Sam colored once more and returned the bow. "Thank you, Mr. Galian, for being there for him when I couldn’t be."

Galian nodded and smiled and then smiled at his small brother. Frodo beamed at them both, awash in the love from two so close to him and hoping they could feel all the love that poured from his heart for them.

A/N: The first verse of the song is Queen Galadriel’s.