Disclaimers: See the Prologue for more information.
Part III:
Thinking of Home
Aaylie's POV
I entered the parlor the next morning. I felt secure with the blanket wrapped around me. Only when I entered the room, I jumped a little in surprise. Frodo was standing in front of the window, his hand resting on the frame of the window ledge. I didn't want to disturb his peace, but the moment the wood crunched under my feet, I turned around, meeting Frodo's gaze.
"It's all right," Frodo said, gesturing with his head towards the window. As I took a seat on the window ledge, Frodo spoke to me again, "How are you?"
"I'm good, I suppose." I was still thinking of home. Surely my family and friends were worried about me. And yet, I had to ask, "Frodo, if you can see the future. Then maybe…"
"It's not that simple. I'm not sure how it works, but it's there," Frodo admitted. "I mean, maybe I did know, but you can't take the future or anything for granted."
"You sound wise. Have you always been this way?" I asked him, softly.
Frodo grinned. "Are you this curious?" He admitted, calmly, "I'll be returning to Bag End, when the spring festival is over. Due to what happened, Tuckborough's extending the festival. It'll end on the first day of summer." He asked me, "If you want to come."
"Will it only be in Tuckborough?" I asked.
"No. The spring festival will stretch far and wide throughout these lands." He admitted, "I know not where the festival will take place. I assume the Elves, Dwarves and Men or Big Folk –'
"Big Folk," I said at the same time as Frodo. The way he looked at me was filled with surprise. "I'm aware of what hobbits call me and my kin."
"When I found you, you were a hobbit. You looked like you were in pain," he said.
"I was in pain. The pain is gone now, but before I was a Woman." I grunted in surprise. "It feels so long since I was one of my kin. I don't know how it works, but it is a painful experience. I can't imagine how girls entering Middle-earth have it so swiftly. Now I know, it's more painful than what I've faced."
"I remembered that," he said. He recovered quickly, "The times I've traveled to your home world, in my dreams, it's been a smooth transition."
"Then I wish you joy." Did I really say that? I guess I did.
"Thank you, Aaylie. I needed to hear that, but I wonder if that's like for all hobbits transition into the Big Folk," he said.
"So you've been to my world?" I asked, even though we were asking two different things.
"Only in my dreams. But how it is like for hobbits being in your world?" he asked me.
"Frodo, it'd be shocking. Most people there think you're only in a story, in a book. They don't expect you to be real," I said. I was thinking of home again. Maybe that was all right. But still… how would I leave Middle-earth, after this grand and unexpected journey? I really needed to see reality… but this was reality, wasn't it? Why then did these events turn out this way?
"It's a shame," he said, bringing me back to reality. "Although, I don't know what would happen if I entered your world for real," Frodo said.
"I don't know. I just hope you'd live through it," I said. I was becoming attracted to Frodo. But then, I was partially the reason for why he broke up with Pearl. That shouldn't have come out that way. "I'm sorry with what happened between you and Pearl…"
"This again?" Frodo told me, "Aaylie, your coming was no accident. Don't hold yourself responsible for that. Pearl had a rough day when you came. You shocked us all, you intrigued me. You still do. After this adventure, I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few changes done."
"What about Glorfindel? Will he be all right?" I asked.
"Glorfindel will find his way out of the Void. I'm sure he will. We may meet him again one day," he said, encouragingly. He changed the subject. "Do you want to go to the Spring Festival with me?" He asked, extending his hand down to me.
"Sure," I said, taking his hand.
And so it seemed that Frodo and me were heading to the Spring Festival. I only hoped what happened at this point wouldn't lead Frodo and me back into Middle-earth's dreamlike alternate reality.
Thanks for reading. :) So what do you think will happen next?