The Lord of the Rings: In Valinor
On a far distant shore under strange stars the elderly hobbit sat on a stone bench in a garden of white flowers and thought about his life. It had been several years since Sam had passed or so it seemed to Frodo. It was difficult for him to determine the passing of time in Valinor, with its lack of seasons and perpetual twilight. It was a sad surprise to him that Sam, who was younger and had not suffered from as many wounds, had gone before him. He wondered if it was some lingering after-effect of wearing the ring that kept him alive for so long.
Frodo watched a tiny bird with all the colours of the rainbow represented in its feathers perch on top of a tall statue covered in a vine of sweetly scented white flowers. The bird began to sing which reminded the hobbit of spring in the Shire. He missed Sam terribly and his cousins as well. There were times he would have given all his days on this island with the elves to see Rosemary and their grandchild Jasmine.
Rationally, he knew that coming here had been the best thing for him and, aside from a brief time after he heard the news Sam gave him when his dear friend joined him here, all that had gone before seemed very distant, like a collection of half-forgotten dreams and nightmares. This was less true these days, though. "Perhaps," thought Frodo, "it is because I am so very tired." He wept when he caught sight of a cluster of white roses, they reminded him both of his cousin Pippin and Rosemary.
Frodo slowly returned to his smial, the roof of which was covered in the little golden flowers dear Elanor was named after and put on a kettle of tea. After he poured the first cup he heard a soft knock on the door. It was Elrond.
Frodo smiled and said, "Good evening, Master Elrond. What brings you here?"
With a look of gentle concern on his face, Elrond said, "I am a healer, Frodo, and I felt there was a need for me. Also, the Lady Galadriel wants to see you. How are you feeling?"
Frodo sighed and responded, "Better than any hobbit my age has a right too but I am so very weary."
The elf lord frowned and said, "If you will permit me, Frodo." He placed a hand that was light and cool on the hobbit's forehead. A soft blue light glowed from it. When he finally removed his hand from the hobbit's forehead, there was a look of inexpressible sorrow on the elf's face. "Frodo, I am sorry. I know mortals here in Valinor choose their own time but do you tire of our company so soon?"
Frodo startled slightly and said, "I wasn't aware I had chosen, Lord Elrond, but I have been feeling myself both slipping away and remembering the past more clearly. I remember that was how it was for Sam. I am not tired of your company or that of the other elves but I am ready for more rest than even Valinor can give me."
"Well," Elrond said quietly, "I think we should see what my mother-in-law would like to show you. "
The elf and hobbit walked out of the smial into the deepening dusk that passed for night in Valinor and made their way to the Lady's grove.
To be continued...
On a far distant shore under strange stars the elderly hobbit sat on a stone bench in a garden of white flowers and thought about his life. It had been several years since Sam had passed or so it seemed to Frodo. It was difficult for him to determine the passing of time in Valinor, with its lack of seasons and perpetual twilight. It was a sad surprise to him that Sam, who was younger and had not suffered from as many wounds, had gone before him. He wondered if it was some lingering after-effect of wearing the ring that kept him alive for so long.
Frodo watched a tiny bird with all the colours of the rainbow represented in its feathers perch on top of a tall statue covered in a vine of sweetly scented white flowers. The bird began to sing which reminded the hobbit of spring in the Shire. He missed Sam terribly and his cousins as well. There were times he would have given all his days on this island with the elves to see Rosemary and their grandchild Jasmine.
Rationally, he knew that coming here had been the best thing for him and, aside from a brief time after he heard the news Sam gave him when his dear friend joined him here, all that had gone before seemed very distant, like a collection of half-forgotten dreams and nightmares. This was less true these days, though. "Perhaps," thought Frodo, "it is because I am so very tired." He wept when he caught sight of a cluster of white roses, they reminded him both of his cousin Pippin and Rosemary.
Frodo slowly returned to his smial, the roof of which was covered in the little golden flowers dear Elanor was named after and put on a kettle of tea. After he poured the first cup he heard a soft knock on the door. It was Elrond.
Frodo smiled and said, "Good evening, Master Elrond. What brings you here?"
With a look of gentle concern on his face, Elrond said, "I am a healer, Frodo, and I felt there was a need for me. Also, the Lady Galadriel wants to see you. How are you feeling?"
Frodo sighed and responded, "Better than any hobbit my age has a right too but I am so very weary."
The elf lord frowned and said, "If you will permit me, Frodo." He placed a hand that was light and cool on the hobbit's forehead. A soft blue light glowed from it. When he finally removed his hand from the hobbit's forehead, there was a look of inexpressible sorrow on the elf's face. "Frodo, I am sorry. I know mortals here in Valinor choose their own time but do you tire of our company so soon?"
Frodo startled slightly and said, "I wasn't aware I had chosen, Lord Elrond, but I have been feeling myself both slipping away and remembering the past more clearly. I remember that was how it was for Sam. I am not tired of your company or that of the other elves but I am ready for more rest than even Valinor can give me."
"Well," Elrond said quietly, "I think we should see what my mother-in-law would like to show you. "
The elf and hobbit walked out of the smial into the deepening dusk that passed for night in Valinor and made their way to the Lady's grove.
To be continued...