"Do you not sleep, Frodo?" Having abandoned the more formal robes of the Lord of Imladris for simple riding leathers, Elrond settled himself, cross-legged upon the deck next to Frodo.
"I felt a little better and did not wish to miss any more of our journey."
Shortly after leaving the Havens Frodo had been taken ill. It seemed that he was not yet close enough to the virtue of the Western Isles to be spared one of his anniversary illnesses, if he ever would. Now, at least, he felt a little better, whether by the passage of miles or time even Gandalf could not say.
"I am pleased that you have recovered sufficiently to enjoy this." Elrond took a deep breath, his lips bowing in a small smile that Frodo found himself mirroring.
The sky was black, pierced with a million, million stars. They twinkled in solitary splendour here or were gathered in clouded clusters there. Frodo had long since ceased to search for the familiar constellations, choosing rather to simply absorb the wonder of it. High above, a huge silver moon, full and round, glowed proudly amongst this bounty like some southern potentate presiding over his harem.
Far distant the horizon was lost in the deeper dark of advancing cloud, a presage of rain at dawn, but the sea was so still that moon and stars were mirrored almost perfectly upon its surface. To Frodo it seemed that he floated in a ship among the stars themselves, like Earendil and Elwing. That thought brought him back to Elrond at his side.
As though sensing the direction of his thoughts Elrond pointed heavenward. "There sails Earendil."
"Do you miss your father?" Frodo asked.
Elrond shrugged. "I had little time to know him before we were parted."
"And your mother, Elwing?"
"I knew her a little longer but she was . . . pre-occupied by my father's absence." Elrond's gaze never left the sky.
"I, too, lost my parents when I was quite young. They died in a boating accident and I was raised by my aunt and uncle until I was old enough to live with Bilbo." Frodo watched the line of darkness on the horizon widen.
"Bilbo told me. I hope to become re-acquainted with my parents. We will have much to discuss I think."
Frodo sighed. "I shall only have Bilbo to talk to when we reach our destination."
"Does that trouble you?" Elrond turned to look at him now and Frodo saw concern crease his smooth brow.
"We are mortals and Bilbo is old. There will come a time when I will be alone."
Elrond laid a warm hand upon Frodo's shoulder. "No, Frodo. You will not be alone. Did you truly believe that my daughter gifted only a berth on this ship? She offered you her family too."
Frodo's eyes widened. "You would do that for me?"
Now Elrond chuckled and it was the sound of sun warmed water in a quiet meadow stream. "It is done, Frodo. It is unlikely that I shall ever again rule over some great valley, but what hearth and home I have I will gladly share with both you and Bilbo and, perhaps in time, Sam."
Frodo took in a deep, salt-fresh breath, letting all his worries flow out upon a soft sigh. Together, hobbit and elf sat in companionable silence, even as the first cleansing drops of rain began to fall.
END