PART 3

'Okay… don't panic, Frodo.' Aragorn said. 'The arrow hit you in the side of the head, you could have been temporarily blinded.'

'Temporarily!' Frodo said. 'Just tell me, am I going to be blind for the rest of my life?'

Aragorn looked to the rest of the fellowship for help. They all bowed their heads, which Aragorn took as a signal to tell Frodo his diagnosis.

'I can't be 100% sure, Frodo.' Aragorn said. 'But I think that you may well have been blinded… for life.'

Frodo turned his head towards where he thought Aragorn was. He guessed right, and Aragorn saw how lifeless Frodo's eyes were. The eyes that used to be so bright, shiny and full of life were now dull, and completely lifeless. Frodo had begun to cry, and Sam, Merry and Pippin immediately went and hugged their friend. Even though Frodo was heavily strongly, he didn't shed a single tear. That wasn't a good sign either.

'We need to get you to Rivendell, so you can be examined properly.' Aragorn told Frodo. 'Do you want to walk, or do you want to be carried.'

'I'm walking.' Frodo said stubbornly.

'So be it.' Aragorn replied.

Merry and Sam helped Frodo to his feet, and walked on either side of Frodo to stop him walking into anything.

At first, Frodo kept stumbling over bumps in the road, or walking into the people in front, or tripping over his own feet, but he got more used to walking without sight as the day progressed, and by the time they stopped that night, he was walking along without anyone keeping him on the right track.

Frodo spirits had been raised slightly during the day, but as the night drew nearer, he began to get upset again. He trusted Aragorn, and believed him when he had said he would probably be blind for life. He doubted that Elrond would be able to do anything.

***

Merry was not really paying any attention to Pippin and Sam as they sat around the campfire that night. Frodo had quickly gone to sleep, as had Gimli and Legolas. Aragorn was on watch, and the three other hobbits didn't really feel tired. Merry had been praying that Frodo would be absolutely fine, and that this would all be forgotten. Now it seems like that wouldn't be the case. As far as he was concerned, it was his fault Frodo was blind. He hadn't moved outside Moria when Frodo had told him too, and had caused Frodo to push him out the way and take the arrow instead of him.

He sat with Sam, Pippin and Aragorn, and stared into the fire. Every so often, one of them would try and make conversation with him. He mumbled something in reply, and just kept on staring into the fire.

Eventually, Sam and Pippin went to sleep at Frodo's side, leaving Merry and Aragorn awake together.

'It wasn't your fault, Merry.' Aragorn said.

'How can it not be my fault?' Merry snapped, anger in his voice. Aragorn had never seen the usually happy, calm, carefree hobbit so angry. 'Hoe can it not be my fault?' Merry repeated. 'I was standing there. Frodo told me to move and I didn't. Frodo pushed me out the way, and took the arrow instead of me… for me. It should be me who's blind, not Frodo. He didn't deserve any of this!'

'Merry, it was an accident. That orc wasn't aiming at anyone in particular; he was just aiming at "us". It was down to chance who it actually hit. Frodo has dealt with a lot in his life, and I agree he doesn't deserve it, but you don't either. No one deserves it – it was an accident.'

Merry looked into Aragorn's eyes, and they both saw tears in the other's eyes. 'Come here.' Aragorn said, and pulled the upset hobbit into his arms. 'There's more than meets the eye between you two, isn't there?'

'No.' Merry said quickly. 'He's a good friend, that's all.'

'Is it? You can tell me.'

'I haven't told anyone, not even Sam or Pip…'

'But…'

'I love him, Strider. I know some people think it's wrong, but I really love him… and more than a love between friends. I just want to hold him, and promise him everything will be all right… but it won't, and Frodo's as straight as they come.'

'There's no harm in talking to him… when he's got used to being blind. You've just got to do your best to look after him for the moment.'

Merry nodded. 'Thank you, Strider.'

'Hey, don't mention it. Any time you want to talk, you can come to me. You know that?'

Merry nodded, and went off to settle down with Frodo, Sam and Pippin.

***

They reached Rivendell four days later. Elrond and Arwen were there to greet them all back. Aragorn took them both to one side and told them what had happened.

Legolas, Gimli, Sam, Merry and Pippin looked over to the man and the two elves, waiting for Elrond's reaction. Legolas had one hand on Frodo's shoulder to let him know they were near, and weren't going anywhere.

Aragorn spent about five minutes telling Arwen and Elrond what had happened. 'I will look at him.' Elrond said, 'But I promise nothing.'

'And I expect nothing.' Aragorn said. 'I think he's beyond healing, but it's worth a try.'

Arwen, Aragorn and Elrond came back over to the rest of the fellowship. 'Welcome back, one and all.' He said. Frodo instinctively turned his head towards the voice. 'Come with me, Frodo Baggins.' Elrond said, and he led Frodo off into Rivendell, Merry, Sam and Pippin close behind.

They were lead to a large, spacious room. It was furnished with two chairs, a bed and a large cupboard. Elrond led Frodo to the chair and sat him down, before going to the cupboard and pulling out a large box.

He brought the box into the middle of the room and opened it to reveal loads of different herbs and healing waters. He spent the next half hour dropping different waters into Frodo's eyes, sometimes mixed with herbs. None had any effect though, and Elrond eventually gave up.

'I have tried everything.' He said. 'And I'm afraid you're beyond help, Frodo. I'm very sorry, but you're blind… for life.'