"Mr. Frodo, hurry, we're about to leave!" Sam called.
Frodo was sitting on the floor of his room, playing with Elanor. When he heard the call he looked up at her. She was sitting on his bed, swinging her legs sadly.
"How long are you going to be gone?" she asked.
He almost lost it right then and there. But he had to be strong. Perhaps for the both of them.
He knelt in front of her and took her hands. "Ellie, you know I love you?"
Elanor nodded. "I love you, too."
"Love is stronger than everything, Ellie. No matter how long I'm gone, you have to promise that you will never forget how much I love you." Frodo had to stop talking for a second to swallow the lump in this throat. "You and I will meet again, my sweet."
Elanor slid forward, off the bed and into his lap, hugging him tightly.
Frodo held her for a long time, running his fingers through her hair gently, trying his best not to cry. But when Elanor started to, he couldn't help but shed a few tears.
"Mr. Frodo!"
"Coming, Sam!"
It was almost as if she knew, somehow. Frodo heard the faintest whisper next to his ear: "Please don't go."
Frodo stood up and cupped her face in his hands. "I love you." He kissed her cheek, and left, not able to bear turning back.
Elanor tried to be brave, but when he was gone, she hid under his covers and cried. She didn't understand why she felt as if she would never see him again.
Rosie found her after a short but frantic search. "Ellie! What's wrong?"
Elanor didn't answer.
Rosie picked her up. "Ellie? Are you hurt?"
"No."
"What's wrong? Do you miss your da?"
Elanor nodded. "But—but that's not why I'm crying. It's Uncle Frodo—"
Much to Rosie's alarm, she buried her face in her shoulder and wept, unable to speak.
Elanor was the only one unsurprised when Sam came home alone.
"Where's Mr. Frodo?" Rosie asked.
Sam looked at her and sighed. They went into another room and Elanor could hear the sad whisperings.
That night, Elanor couldn't bear it anymore, and as her parents tucked her into bed she said, "Uncle Frodo isn't coming back, is he?"
Sam looked a little surprised, but quickly regained his composure. "No, Ellie," he said quietly. "He's not coming back."