Never Again
Frodo stood on the shores of
the Grey Havens, looking out to the sea beyond. To him it seemed as if the dark
blue ocean went on forever. He sighed, feeling a bittersweet feeling of
closure. Here he was, standing on the edges of Middle-earth, the end of
everything he had ever known…and yet the beginning of an unknown future. He
gave a wistful half-smile, and felt old memories come flooding back. His
carefree first years, the moment his parents died, his mischievous tweens, his
first visit to Bag End, the departure of Bilbo, and receiving the ring. He sat
down, contemplating his decision.
"But should I go," he
murmured. "Or should I stay?" The sea sighed in response. "I shouldn't. Sam
needs me and I him. He's done so much for me, how could I just up and leave him
behind?"
"It's for the best," a voice
whispered in his head. "You've been through too much and seen too many awful
things. The Undying Lands will heal both your body and mind." He rested his
head on his hands, and closed his eyes, trying not to let his tears fall.
"It takes a brave person to
leave what they know." Gandalf's words echoed through his mind.
"You have sacrificed too much
of yourself, Frodo." Now he could hear Elrond's last words to him. "You have
done everything you could for your land, perhaps now you should leave it be.
Remember my daughter's gift to you, one day you may feel the need to use it."
Frodo stood up, feeling a new sense of resolve.
"I must," he said, touching
the white jewel that hung around his neck. "My final destiny." He walked
slowly, letting himself absorb the last sights of Middle-earth. He saw a band
of elves walking towards him. As they neared closer, he saw that among them
were Gandalf, Sam, Merry and Pippin.
"Hullo Frodo!" Pippin called
out. "So this is it, the end?"
"Yes, Pippin," Frodo replied.
"But not for you. You all have lives and places back home in the Shire. You
will be what I was not, and do what I never did." He offered a smile, but it
was far from genuine. He could not bring himself to say the endless dialogue
running through his head, even though there wouldn't be another day in which to
say it. "Goodbye, my friends," was all he could muster. Galadriel came up from
behind him and gently touched his shoulder.
"Come, Ringbearer. Your time
here is complete."
With Gandalf, Galadriel,
Elrond and Bilbo he boarded the fair ship. He waved one last goodbye to his
friends, and then sat in silence. No one there said much, and he was left alone
to think. His thoughts ran in a continuous pattern, always coming back to the
same idea.
Never again would he laugh at
Pippin's playful antics.
Never again would he sit
under the Party tree, thinking of days now lost.
Never again would he breathe
the sweet summer air of the Shire.
Never again would he look
into the shy, intense eyes of his Sam Gamgee.
Never again would he walk
through the halls of Bag End.
Never again would he taste
Farmer Maggot's delicious mushrooms.
Never again would he be the
same Frodo Baggins who left Bag End on a September night several years ago.
Now Frodo could see a green
land on the horizon through a silver mist. He was reminded of a dream from long
ago. He looked ahead, as if turning his back on his old life, all of the
memories, good experiences and bad. He sighed deeply, at last feeling the
conclusion to his journey.
"Never again," he whispered.
