PART 8

A few months had passed since Frodo and Merry had confessed their feelings for each other, and were now a completely normal couple, or as normal as they could be considering they were both male.

Neither Pippin nor Sam nor Gandalf took Frodo and Merry's news badly. Quite the contrary, they were all delighted for the pair of them.

Gandalf had finally left Bag End and the Shire a month ago, but promised to return again one day. Today was March 13th, and Merry was worried that Frodo was going to collapse any moment, considering it was the anniversary of him being stung by Shelob in Mordor.

He seemed fine in the morning, though, and as it looked like it was going to be a beautiful spring day the four hobbits went out into the fields for the morning.

Though Pippin was the only one who was still really "young" in age, all four of the hobbits were still fit, strong and youthful. It wasn't long before all four of them were running around the fields, engaged in a game of chase. Even though Frodo was blind, he could still run, and could easily work out where everyone was from their voices.

Sam, Merry and Pippin didn't notice the two tall, white horses appear in the distance, and they didn't notice the riders as they got closer. In fact, if it weren't for the very sudden change of events, they would probably have never noticed Aragorn and Arwen watching their four old friends.

The king and queen of Gondor watched with smiles on their faces as their friends chased each other around the field, laughing and shouting. They watched as Merry suddenly leaped on Frodo's back, sending them both to the ground with a small scream from Frodo. Aragorn smiled to himself and Arwen just looked shocked as Merry locked lips with Frodo in a passionate kiss.

'They talked then…' Aragorn muttered. His attention was brought back to the hobbits as cries of 'Frodo, are you all right?' went up from Merry, Sam and Pippin. Frodo had suddenly moved away from Merry, and had run to the nearest bushes (he had learnt the geography of the area very well since he had been blinded), and was now being violently sick behind them.

He fell to the ground as Sam, Pippin and Merry ran over to him. Aragorn and Arwen dismounted their horses, and also ran to the scene.

'Strider! Lady Arwen! What are you doing here!' Sam suddenly exclaimed, being the first to notice his old friends.

'We came to visit you,' Aragorn said quickly before turning to Frodo. He was lying on the floor, looking as if he was trying to fight something off.

'I told you we should have stayed at home – it's March 13th!' Merry cried.

'GET AWAY FROM ME! YOU CAN'T HAVE IT – IT'S MINE, I TELL YOU, MINE!' Frodo suddenly shouted at his imaginary attacker.

'This happens every year.' Pippin said. 'He's ill and then starts having these odd hallucinations. He thinks he still has the ring and everyone's trying to take it from him.'

Aragorn picked Frodo up, who started shouting things at him, but he ignored it. 'Let's get him back home.' He said, taking Frodo to his horse and lifting him on to it. He and Arwen then led their horses after Merry, Sam and Pippin, and walked back to Bag End.

Aragorn lifted Frodo from the horse and, stooping slightly as he entered the house, followed Merry to Frodo (and Merry's) bedroom. He lay Frodo down on the bed, before leaving the room to go back to Arwen, Sam and Pippin.

Merry stayed with Frodo for a bit, and then left him when he had fallen asleep. He found Sam, Pippin, Aragorn and Arwen in the front room, talking about everything that had happened since they last met.

'How is he?' Arwen asked as Merry appeared.

'Sleeping.' Merry noticed the concerned looks on the faces of Aragorn and Arwen. 'Oh, don't worry, he'll be fine by tomorrow morning.' He sat down on a chair next to Pippin, and was soon caught up in the conversation, any worries about Frodo pushed out of his head.

***

Sam had set out Gandalf's usual room for Aragorn and Arwen, and they had been told they were welcome for as long as they cared to stay.

Sam and Pippin were the first to bed, checking on Frodo on the way. He was peacefully asleep, and colour was returning to his skin.

Aragorn stopped Merry as he was about to enter his and Frodo's room later that night. 'I see you've talked to him, then.' He said.

Merry grinned and blushed slightly. 'How do you know?'

'I saw you kiss him when you were outside earlier. I'm happy for you… I thought it would work out.' Aragorn smiled again before going off to his and Arwen's room, and Merry went into his and Frodo's room.

Frodo was awake when Merry entered the room. He looked much better than he had earlier, but he was still a bit pale.

'How are you feeling, Fro?' Merry asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

'Better.' Frodo replied, still sounding quite distant.

'Well, try to get back to sleep, and you'll be fine by the morning.' Merry replied, kissing Frodo on the forehead before getting ready for bed himself. By the time he was changed into his nightclothes, Frodo had fallen back to sleep.

***

As Merry had promised, Frodo was right as rain by the next morning. When Sam, Pippin, Aragorn and Arwen appeared in the kitchen, Frodo was sitting there chatting to Merry while he made the breakfast.

'How are you feeling, Frodo?' Aragorn asked. Frodo jumped when he heard the voice he hadn't heard for several years. He turned his head to where Aragorn's voice had come from.

'Is that you Aragorn?' Frodo asked. Aragorn suddenly remembered that Frodo was blind.

'Sorry… yes, it's me.' Frodo moved over to Aragorn and hugged his old friend.

'I'm feeling much better, thank you.' Frodo replied.

'Arwen's here as well, Frodo.' Pippin told his friend.

'Where?' Frodo asked.

'Here.' Arwen replied. Frodo turned towards the sound of her voice.

'Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore… I just didn't know you were here. Welcome.' Frodo smiled at Arwen.

***

Aragorn and Arwen stayed at Bag End for a long time, and the four hobbits got very used to having them around. It was now summer, a year since Frodo and Merry had first become a couple.

Aragorn, Arwen, Sam and Pippin were outside enjoying the sunshine, while Frodo and Merry were "involved in other activities" indoors. Suddenly the two hobbits came rushing outside to their friends, their faces flushed and with gigantic smiles on their faces.

'What's the rush?' Sam asked.

Merry looked over to Frodo but he didn't say anything, so Merry replied, 'WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!'