Chapter 36: The Dream at the End of All Things
A million silver candles floated absently, like lightning bugs, in the purple, heaven clouds. The haze of uncertainty had faded and dissolved from the clear canvas of sky. The breeze cleansed my skin like a cool peppermint placed on my tongue, and it breathed as effortlessly as I did, with ataraxis and a peacefulness that I had not felt since I was a child. My life had reached its peak of climax; whatever happened next would be an aftershock of virtue, the icing on top of the cake, making something already splendid even better.
I inhaled the carefree, peppermint air deeply, stinging my nostrils and refreshing my lungs. The cool rock beneath my head was hard. The volcano's fires glowed around us, lulling peacefully down the slope of the peak, around our sacred island. My fingers were warm in my left hand, for Frodo's fingers were laced in mine, his other four resting over his throbbing heart. He breathed heavily as he gazed up at the candles with tears of joy filling his crystal clear eyes. "It's gone," he sighed. "It's done."
"Yes, Mr. Frodo," Sam said with tears sprinkling on his cheeks as he placed his hand over Frodo's. "It's over now."
The world was collapsing around us. We were in the eye of the hurricane, the calm in the center, relaxed and at peace, nothing threatening to us anymore.
Frodo closed his eyes, tears of joy shimmering on his cheeks, a projection of happiness on his face. "I can see the Shire," he sighed with vivid lust.
My heart melted like icicles finally feeling the warmth of summer on their frozen bones. The sweetness and innocence of his tone was heartbreaking.
"...The Brandywine River, Bag End,..Gandalf's fireworks,.." He smiled, assuaged. "The lights in the Party Tree,...the maiden of the meadow with Larkspurs in her hair..." He squeezed my hand in his and pulled me closer. "There's only one precious now, my Meldamiriel." I delicately kissed the glistening tears off his pristine skin, each drop singing on my lips.
"Rosie Cotton," Sam sighed and looked to the heavens with tears filling his eyes. "She had ribbons in her hair," he sobbed. "If I were to ever to marry anyone, it would've been her." He hid his face in his hands and choked, shaking with sobs. "It would've been her."
Frodo shifted to Sam and draped a comforting arm across his broad shoulders. "I'm glad you are with me Samwise Gamgee." He rested his forehead against Sam's temple and shut his eyes. "Here at the end of all things."