Title: An Unexpected Meeting. Category: Crossover, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Drama. Characters: Christina, Han, Luke, Chewbacca, Artoo, Threepio, Frodo, Sam, Rosie, etc. Disclaimer: I'm not making money with this, it's just a bit of fun! ;) Characters aren't mine, except for Christina. Rating: PG. Warnings: none. Feedback: Always welcome!

Story Notes: Star Wars / Lord of the Rings crossover.



Part 5

That morning Frodo prepared a bath for Christina and she was impressed again by the way these people lived their simple lives; she was used to the 'refresher' in her room on Coruscant but the Hobbits just used simple baths.

She watched Frodo as he boiled the water and let it stream into the tub. He grinned when he saw her watching him like that. 'Not used to a bath tub, are you?' He asked, smiling 'It's more the way you fill the tub, Frodo.' Christina explained, but Frodo looked puzzled. She figured that she'd better not explain. It was too long a story to tell how the water system worked on Coruscant. 'Never mind.' Frodo understood that it was probably way different where Christina lived and he continued filling the tub. When he was finished she thanked him and he left her alone.

The water felt warm to Christina's skin, not too hot when she stepped in the tub. It had the aroma of flowers, for Frodo had put some oil into the water. It was some herbal oil and it made her skin soft like silk. The tub was just big enough for her to sit in and some water splashed over the sides.

When she came out of the tub again she noticed that Frodo had left some kind of robe for her. It fitted her well and she figured it must have been the biggest piece of cloth the Hobbits possessed.

When she walked out of the bathroom she almost bumped into Luke, who looked surprised, seeing her wearing the robe. He didn't say anything about it, but greeted her. 'Good morning, Christina. Slept well?' 'Uh. yeah.' She replied, blushing when she thought about the cozy night she and Frodo had had. Luke examined her, looking suspicious. 'You don't look like you've slept well.' He said when Christina fought a yawn. She hadn't slept one minute that night and she hoped the yawning would stop. She also hoped that Luke would stop questioning her.

She blushed when Frodo passed by through the hallway, wishing them both a good morning and the blush on Christina's face was enough for Luke to be even more suspicious. 'You kissed him.' It was more a statement than a question and Christina opened her mouth in amazement. How could he know? Was it so obvious? But Luke could sense it, of course; he was a Jedi and he could sense it when he had things by the right end.

Christina didn't know what to say. She knew that denying the facts wouldn't work; Luke would see through it right away. And besides that she hated to lie. It was obvious enough that she and Frodo were drawn to each other.

'Christina.' Luke said, watching her troubled face. 'You can't hide things from me, you know that.' She looked into his blue eyes and nodded, understanding. 'I'm afraid you're going to hurt yourself this way.' He looked at her with care, but also with a sad expression on his face. 'I know that, Luke.' Christina said. 'And I understand what you mean, really. I know we are going to leave this place as soon as the Falcon has been repaired. And I'll probably never see Frodo again.' It was difficult for her not to burst into tears and Luke sighed, feeling pity for the girl. It was too late, he concluded. But he also knew that there was nothing he could have done to prevent her from falling in love with the Hobbit. He couldn't control her feelings; that was something that laid beyond the power of the Force.

'And there is something else, Luke.' Christina proceeded, swallowing her tears away. 'I've told him the truth about where we come from.' She was afraid that Luke would cry out, seeing the shocked expression on his face but he seemed to control himself and asked: 'But why, Christina?' 'I just wanted to be honest with him.' She explained. 'And I thought that it would be the only way for him to understand that we have to leave.'

Luke nodded, understanding. And deep in his heart he felt relief; somehow he had always feared that she wanted to stay here with the one she'd fallen in love with. But thankfully she had more sense than that. 'And did he understand?' 'I think so.' Christina replied, but she hoped it more than she was sure of it. *He has to understand.* She thought. *He has already been gone through so much.* 'He has no choice but to understand.' Luke said and he laid a hand on her arm to comfort her. She smiled thankfully, feeling glad that he cared so much.

And as she walked to her room she realized that it should have been really hard for Luke to have this conversation with her. She had seen the sad look on his face and it told her without words how much he wanted to be the one she'd fallen in love with. Christina knew that she cared for Luke and she thought that it was even more than just friendship. But he just wasn't Frodo.

During breakfast Sam and Rosie were filled in about the way their guests had come to The Shire and it took a while before they understood certain things. Sam was glad that his sight of the flying thing had been proven right. 'You see! I told you I saw it flying!' He said excited and Frodo had to laugh. 'I never said I didn't believe you, Sam.' He remarked. 'But about those materials you need. You could have a look at the market today. Maybe there's something there that you can use to repair the ship.' 'The market.' Han murmured. 'Yeah, I would like to have a look there, although I'm afraid we'll pay much attention if we'll walk there. I haven't got proper clothes, y'know.'

Han wore the clothes he had worn under his flight suit, but it was still way different than the clothing of the Hobbits. 'Then I'd better take a look there.' Luke proposed, for he looked more Hobbit fashioned with his Jedi robe. 'Yeah.' Frodo agreed. 'Your clothes are just like some people use to wear in this land. You won't pay much attention, I think. And there have been men in The Shire before, so you don't have to worry about your size either.' 'Well, that sounds good, Mister Frodo.' Sam said. 'Rosie and I had already planned to go to the market, so I think it would be a good idea if you came with us, Master Luke.' 'Master Solo could go too if he likes.' Rosie said. 'I've got a large robe in my closet that could be large enough for someone of the race of men to wear. It looks a bit like the robe that Master Luke wears. Would you like to wear it?' 'Well, yes m'am.' Han accepted. 'Thanks.' 'Well, that's settled then.' Sam decided. 'Let's go right after breakfast.'

Christina stayed with Frodo and the droids at Bag End, while the others left to go to the market. She was glad to have some time alone with Frodo so they could talk a bit more, now they were still together. And he felt the same way. He sat down on the couch again, just like he had done last night and Christina sat down on a pillow on the ground. First they were silent for a while and then Frodo took her in his arms and they held each other closely, feeling that it was probably the last time they could hold each other that way.

'I'm so glad I have met you, Christina.' He said, kissing her hair. 'I've felt lonely for a long time after I've come back from my journey. And I've felt like I would never be myself again, suffering from what I've been gone through.' Christina turned her head to look him in the eyes. 'But you have gladdened my heart. I didn't know that I could feel so happy again, even when it's for a little while.' He smiled, but she saw tears appear in those sapphire eyes and it made her feel really sad, knowing that his heart would be broken when she would leave him.

'Oh dear Frodo.' She whispered, feeling tears rolling over her cheeks. 'My dear Hobbit.' She kissed his lips, hoping that the sad feeling would go away, but they both kept weeping, comforting each other at the same time. And after a while they felt a bit better, just sitting there, holding each other, feeling each other's warmth.

And when the others came back they found them, sitting like that and no one was surprised. Sam and Rosie knew Frodo good enough to know what was going on. And Han hadn't been blind either and Luke already knew about their little relationship. But as soon as he saw them sitting like that he disappeared into the kitchen, unable to see the look of them together any longer.

Han had brought a few materials that might be useful, but it wasn't enough to repair the hyperdrive with. There hadn't been any metal on the market and he still needed a bit of that. He sat down in the living room, looking almost desperate and Christina felt a bit relieved that they weren't going to leave yet. But on the other hand she thought that it would only be more difficult to leave if she stayed longer with Frodo.

Threepio had been turned on again and he had heard that they still couldn't leave. 'Artoo, do you hear that? We're never be able to use the hyperdrive. We're stuck here!' Artoo made beeping sounds and it sounded as if he was desperate too.

It was Sam who came up with an idea. 'You need metal, right?' He sat down in a chair in the living room and Han nodded, not knowing what the Hobbit was up to. 'Well, I've thought about a solution about where to get it and I suddenly had it! It's the Elves that I've seen using it! The Elves!' Frodo suddenly said straight up, realizing that Sam was right. He had seen it in Rivendell, he remembered. It would be their chance to repair the spaceship. But it would also be the end of his time with Christina.

Han suddenly looked as if there was hope again, wondering where the Elves were. 'Well, Master Samwise.' He said. 'Maybe you could show us where the Elves are with their metal.' 'Yes please, tell us!' Threepio cried out, assisted by Artoo, who was producing excited beeps. 'It's in Rivendell.' Frodo answered, before Sam could say anything. 'We should go to Elrond.'

- TBC.