PART 5

It was 5 years since Frodo had been blinded, and he had now got over his depression. Merry, Sam and Pippin had never moved out of Bag End, and the four hobbits now lived happily together.

Merry had never summed up the courage to tell Frodo about his feelings. He had managed to end up sharing a room with Frodo, to help him do some of the things he couldn't do on his own without his sight. Sam and Pippin were also sharing a room, for no particular reason.

Within the house, everyone had particular jobs. Sam tended to the garden, Merry did the cooking, Frodo did the housework, and Pippin went to the markets and did the shopping.

***

'We're low on potatoes!' Merry called into the living room one morning to where Frodo and Pippin were sitting.

'I'll go this afternoon.' Pippin called back. 'And Frodo, you're coming with me.'

'Am I?'

'Yes.'

***

Gandalf stood at the end of the winding road that led to the front door of Bag End. He watched as two hobbits appeared from the other end of the road, one of them carrying a large bag. Even from a distance he recognised Pippin and Frodo, and even from a distance he could hear their laughter.

Gandalf watched the two hobbits go up the path of Bag End to the steps, which Frodo stumbled on and fell over. He heard them laugh, and saw Pippin help Frodo to his feet before they both went up the stairs and knocked on the door. Gandalf couldn't see who answered the door, but someone did, and Frodo and Pippin went inside.

Gandalf made his way along the road, and also went up the front path and steps of Bag End, before knocking on the door.

'DOOR!' Gandalf heard a voice instantly recognisable as Frodo's call from inside.

'I'll get it.' Gandalf heard Pippin reply, and a few seconds later the door was opened and Gandalf was looking down at Pippin.

Pippin looked up into Gandalf's smiling face, and shouted, 'GANDALF! Gandalf, fancy seeing you again. I didn't think you would ever appear. Once you left us on your business… SAM! MERRY! FRODO! GANDALF'S HERE!'

Sam and Merry came running instantly to the door, both calling out Gandalf's name. Frodo followed them more slowly to the door.

'Gandalf?' Frodo asked, not quite sure whether to believe that his old friend, who he hadn't seen since Moria, was at his front door.

'Hello Frodo.' Gandalf said jollily. 'How are you?'

Frodo moved forward, and was pulled into a hug with the old wizard. 'Fine, fine. You?'

'Couldn't be better. Saw your Uncle Bilbo again in Rivendell, he sends his regards. You look in good health, all four of you do.'

'Well… we've been looking after ourselves.' Merry said, trying to change the subject. He knew, as did the other three, that Gandalf had no idea that Frodo was blind, and Sam, Merry and Pippin didn't want him upsetting Frodo.

'Come in, come in.' Sam ushered Gandalf into the hallway.

'Let me take your staff.' Pippin offered, and went off to deal with the wizard's staff. Gandalf took off his hat, and hung it on one of the hooks by the side of the door, which had the hobbit's hats and cloaks on.

Merry immediately took Gandalf's hat, and moved it to a different peg from the one Gandalf had put it on. 'That's Frodo's peg. 'Merry explained once Frodo had gone off into another room. 'He's very particular about what goes where.'

***

That evening the four hobbits were sitting around the kitchen table. Gandalf had been shown to his room (luckily, Bag End had one room for human sized people, as Bilbo had also been good friends with Gandalf), and was now asleep.

'We have to tell him about you, Frodo.' Merry said, putting a hand on Frodo's reassuringly.

'I know we do!' Frodo said, a hint of frustration in his voice. 'But it's not the kind of thing you drop into every day conversation, is it? "Oh, hi Frodo. How are you?" "Oh, fine, just blind, but anyway." You see what I mean?'

'Do we have to tell him?' Pippin asked. 'I mean, if we have no need to.'

'But we do have to tell him, he doesn't know about the rules of this house – he could put Frodo in danger of injuring himself.' Sam said.

'We'll tell him, if you don't feel you can.' Merry said to Frodo. Pippin and Sam voiced their agreement.

Frodo slowly nodded. 'Thanks. I just don't think I can actually say it… it's sad, isn't it? I still can't admit it, and it was five years ago!'

'It's not sad, Frodo. You've come to terms with it really well. You've never had to tell anyone before, but we'll tell Gandalf, don't worry.'

'Thanks, all three of you. You are the best friends I could have.' Frodo said, and the other three knew just how much he meant it.