Inspiration for Chapter 10: "The Purple Rose of Cairo" film and George Clooney's Nespresso Commercial, "The Quest".
Inspiration Music for Chapter 10: Descendants 3 song, "Night Falls".
*.*.*
Frodo sat on a brown, leather cushioned chair. He was allowed to sit in any chair he wished. Bilbo had his favorite chair, often sitting there whenever he wanted to take a nap. Frodo hunched over, flipping through the television stations. He stayed alert during a Nespresso Commercial, where a knight in silver armor climbed out of the movie theater screen.
Frodo cackled, shaking his head. "So funny."
"Frodo, what are you watching?" Bilbo asked. "Oh, Nespresso. Love those commercials."
"Uncle, do you think I'd do it again? Travel through the television screen?" Frodo asked. He sighed. His friends were waiting for him on the other side of the television screen. Weren't they?
Bilbo sighed, shaking his head. "Ah Frodo. There are plenty of screens and places to go."
"Really? I wonder what else is out there," Frodo nodded.
Bilbo nodded. "Well, don't stay up too late." He walked away into his master bedroom, leaving Frodo alone with the television.
"Yes uncle," Frodo said, flipping through the stations, hoping to find something he'd like to watch.
.
Frodo dozed off, thinking his Bethany.
There they were inside a glen. Bethany was dancing and twirling around. They were both in their thirties. Bethany looked exquisite. Eventually, Frodo caught up to her, freaking out the moment he saw Sauron's face. He jumped back, not knowing what to do.
"Sometimes there isn't anything to do," Bethany said.
Frodo looked at her like she had gone mad. "What would you have me do?" He followed her, right as she attempted to walk away. "Bethany, please! What should I do?"
Bethany waved him over. "Come on!" Frodo followed not knowing what she was showing him.
They came to a clearing, filled with trees and a lake. The moonlight shown best here. Bethany pointed to the night sky. Frodo looked up, not knowing what he was seeing.
"There!" Bethany cried, excited. "That is your destination."
"Where?" Frodo asked, confused.
"There! Don't you see it?" Bethany asked.
"Um…" Frodo took another glimpse. There was a castle, standing atop a cliff. Frodo recognized this place. "Wait! Is that Hogwarts? Bethany?" He looked around; surprised that Bethany fled. Oh, how he wanted to follow her. He took one last look at the castle, before chasing after her.
At last, he grabbed her. They both tumbled on the ground, laughing and giggling. Frodo admitted, "I'm glad we're married."
Bethany smiled. "Me too."
.
Frodo woke up, surprised to find Bethany sleeping on his lap. He smiled, brushing her hair out of her eyes. He moved her locks of hair off her sleeve, smiling as he did so. For a moment, he was scared he might wake her up.
"Frodo," Bethany said, falling back asleep.
Frodo smirked. At last, he had her. He wiped the drool off her lip with his sleeve. He smiled, kissing her temple. He looked up, watching Bilbo and Bethany's father move about in the master bedroom.
Frodo turned to Bethany, kissing her cheek with such fondness. He wanted to try something. And so, he held her hand, surprised to see a white glow emit from her hand, followed by a golden glow in both houses.
No! The houses were morphing. The lights flashing in and out about the area. Frodo turned to Bethany, surprised that her head lulled, before she fell into his arms, sleeping on top of him.
Frodo smirked, wondering what moment could be more perfect than this one.
.
Maleficent, a witch with green skin and donned in black and purple robes, carried a black staff with a crystal orb inside a clawed hand, grinned with delight at what she saw. Her water mirror revealed Frodo and Bethany, together. They were sleeping together, turning thirty years old together.
Maleficent smirked. "Such wonder. It's a shame that I will have to resume the curse, the curse that was supposed to take place before we moved through time."
"How did they do it?" Captain Hook, a pirate with pale skin, and wearing red pirate's garb, complete with his own long, mullet shaped, black hair and a black mustache, said. He moved his silver hook onto the mirror's wooden frame, annoyed. "Spoiled little brats! We should have done this ages ago!"
"Easy on the mirror, Hook!" Maleficent told him, causing the pirate captain to back away. "Galadriel made it herself."
"Galadriel, hmm. In another time, she would be sailing west to the Undying Lands," Hook stated, furious. "That elven witch will pay! She will pay!"
"Well then, you might as well check on her and see how she's faring," Ursula, a sea witch with purple skin, white hair that stuck upwards, and had a black octopus' body, proclaimed. "After all, it was you that went to Lothlorien in the first place, seeking her out instead of me."
"What are you? Jealous of her beauty?" Hook asked, intrigued.
"I'll have nothing of the sort. I just want my revenge on that little mermaid, Ariel and this one," Ursula said, pointing out Bethany. "After all, she did want to become a mermaid. A mermaid with a blue tail."
"Well," Maleficent said, intrigued. "Then I suggest we bring these two to us. The Great Battle will soon begin. But not yet. I think a little surprise is needed for all these heroes. Hades," she turned to the man with grey skin, blue flamed hair, and donned in dark grey robes, "make ready. I think it's time we sent out our most beloved knights, to welcome Bethany home."
"Hm hm hm," Hades chuckled. "As you wish." He wandered off, calling out to Cerberus. "Cerberus, do you remember when you were Maximus? Or have you forgotten? The First World is back. Now is your chance. Oh, and bring the knights to us. It's time."
Cerberus cackled, bounding off to sound the alarm.
"Well, he'll do his job. Now, we do ours," Hades cackled.
.
Seraphina sniffed the air. She and Cooper were still in Frodo's room, at the First Base's hospital, with Parker and Eliza. Something wasn't right. What was happening to the knight statues? They were waking up.
"What's going on?" Cooper asked, worriedly. "Sera? Seraphina?"
The knights moved closer to Frodo's room.
Seraphina hissed. "They're not getting into this room. Give Frodo and Bethany time. We—"
Whack!
Seraphina collapsed on the floor, unconscious. Cooper pulled out his sword, attempting to repel against the knights' statues. It was too late. They knocked Cooper out, before making their way through the television screen.
"No!" Parker cried, right as he and Eliza were knocked out, too.
.
Bethany woke up, her memories restored. She was in her thirties, her head resting On Frodo's chest. She remembered her past, including further back. There had to be more memories, sure, but she felt that what she received was just as well.
She remembered she was Beatrice Blutman, who met Frodo Baggins in the Shire, after an archaeological dig to find the Tomb of Halanord. Then there were memories when Bethany traveled through time, after meeting Father Time and reincarnating as Bethany Baggins, of which she and Frodo got married.
But did she and Frodo remarry? Or were they married when Bethany was Beatrice?
She looked up at Frodo, surprised they were both in their thirties, sleeping together on a cushioned chair, instead of their bed. "Good morning."
Frodo chuckled, glad she could see and hear him clearly. "Good morning. Do you remember anything?"
"I remember being Beatrice Blutman. Then Father Time showed up and after that I became Bethany Baggins, your wife," Bethany said, holding Frodo's hand as the white light turned golden, emitting from their hands. She massaged Frodo's hands, caressing them, kissing them, too. "That's all I can remember from my previous life. I must have gone through a lot of past lives. Who knows?"
Frodo nodded. "Yeah, right. Exactly. What matters now is that we're together, and nothing's going to tear us apart." He said, looking at their hands. He turned to Bethany, asking, "Right Bethany?"
"That's right. I'm…" she looked down at their hands again, watching the golden light quiet down. Their hands were back to normal. She smiled, kissing him on the lips, startling him. She backed off, admitting, "I'm sorry. I couldn't help it. I just…"
Frodo caved, kissing her long and hard on the lips. Neither could let the other go. Bethany was sure this was home. Nothing could tear them apart, right?