A/N: This was written for Antane's birthday...so Happy Birthday Antane!! I hope this day (and the whole year, for that matter) brings you joys and blessings! And I hope this fanfic that I threw together will help brighten your day! :)
I’ll never forget that day. The day I boarded a ship and watched Sam, and Merry and Pippin fade away, knowing that I wouldn’t see them for a very long time. I remember that I smiled bravely as I said goodbye to them, for I wanted their last memories of me to be happy ones, not ones of tears and sorrows. I did not want them to tell their children, "Your uncle Frodo left with a broken heart. The last time we saw of him was his broken heart and the tears he wouldn’t shed before." As they faded into the distance, my eyes welled with tears, and when they finally faded, I broke down and wept. I hadn’t done that in such a long time. Bilbo held me as we sat on the bench. Gandalf murmured comforts to me also. But I was nearly unconsolable. When I finally shed all the pent up tears, I was exaughsted and stumbled down to the cabins to sleep. I spent most of the time on the ship adding the salt of my tears to that of the sea. I knew the Elves watched me, and thought me strange for not being overjoyed at going to the White Shores, but I don’t believe any Elf, save perhaps Elrond, knew what it was to leave the majority of your friends and family and all of your sweet memories behind. I left a piece of my heart in the Shire. But that’s the way I want it. I would rather have the dull ache of homesickness, than to wake up one morning and find I have no memory of the land and people from whence I came. Especially no memory of Sam, Merry and Pippin.
I continued in a forlorn state once reaching the White Shores. I would often sit on the Eastern shore beneath a large tree and just sit there, staring. Bilbo would sometimes join me, as would Gandalf. He told me that I could morn for a while longer, but I should soon begin seeking healing. I told him I would, but wondered in my heart if I had done the right thing.
Then one day something unexpected happened. I was joined by someone I had rarely seen. The Lord Elrond himself came to me and sat next to me under my tree.
"I know what it is that ails you, Ringbearer." he said. "You long for your friends and kin and you wish you could see them again. You are doubting wether coming here was the right thing to do. Nay, don’t start. I can percieve hearts and minds.
"I have a gift for you, Frodo, son of Drogo."
"What is it, Lord Elrond?"
"If you stand on the Eastern shore, facing the East, and one that you love stands on the Western shores of Middle-Earth, you may hear what they say to you. However, you can not answer them back. You can only here. It is some consolation, though, is it not?"
I looked at him, unable to believe what he said was true. Could it really be so? "Yes, my Lord, it would be a consolation. Hannon le for this immesurable gift." I really didn’t know what else to say, I felt so selfish and foolish then. Much like I did when I took the Ring at the Council and everyone stared at the tiny Hobbit who had offered to take on such a dire and great task. But the elf lord’s words interrupted my thought train then.
"Yes, Frodo, it has been a consolation to me, to hear my daughter’s voice. She is an elf, and I know that the Valar allow her to feel my response. I am not sure if the Halflings would feel it, but I doubt not that they will talk to you. Especially your Samwise." With that he rose and left me.
I walked on the soft, white sand to the edge of the beach where the water began. The waves gently washed over my feet. I knew not how I was to go about hearing my friends, or if I could at all, but I just closed my eyes and picture my Sam. It was amazing, for I heard Sam’s voice as if he was standing right next to me. I was afraid to open my eyes for fear of his voice fading. I will never forget what he said.
"Mr. Frodo, I...I don’t know if you can here me, and I do feel pretty silly talkin’ to an ocean and all, but I was so lonely for you, I just thought I’d chance it. Won’t matter nohow, ‘cause even if you can’t here me, it’ll help to think you’re somewhere listenin’ to me, like you always did. Oh, Mr. Frodo, me dear, how I miss you!"
‘I miss you too, Sam! I’m so sorry!’ I thought as he paused.
"But, I guess you miss me and the Shire, and Merry and Pippin....we can’t stand being without you. Bag End...nay, the Shire just ain’t the same without it’s Frodo. Though I daresay there’s another one comin’ along soon enough. Though, no matter hwo much I love Frodo-lad, he won’t be you. I...I....just...just wish...that...you..." Here he broke down crying. Oh! how my heart was wrenched! I wanted to reach across that sea and hold him in my arms. The few times that Sam Gamgee cries wrench the heart right out of you and make the sun go dark. But I couldn’t reach him, he couldn’t even here me.
I’ve heard my dear ones’s cries and joys and pains and laughter. I have laughed with them, cried when they cried, rejoiced at Sam’s second child, Frodo-lad -who I hear has his share of stubborness- and when Pippin got married. My dear sweet Merry has come many a time to tell me how he acts strong for Pippin and Sam, but he can always cry to me. Oh my brave Merry! How I wish I could tell you that you make me so proud! And how I wish I could tell Pippin how his laughter always is like a little ray of sunshine, and I wish I could hold Sam and tell him how sorry I am for all I’ve ever done to him, especially for leaving him this last time. How I wish I coudl tell all of them that. And that I’m finally healing. Elrond doubted wether the Hobbits could know that I hear, but I believe they can. For they keep coming back and talk to me as if I was really there, or just across a small little brook. Oh! that the Sundering Seas were that small! Those dear Hobbit always come back, and I can hear their children’s laughter, and their laughter. I never will forget the day that Elrond gave me the gift of a piece of the Shire.
The End
Copyright text 2006 Frodo Baggins