October 24
Frodo sat alone in his study. He loooked over his complete book.
"Yes, I'm afraid the story must end there," he said with a sigh.
The ending was rather miserable but it would have to be that way. He culdn't bring her back.
Perhaps the pain had dulled and diminished. He could look back now and merely sigh a regretful sigh, but he missed her.
"Somethings were meant to be, I guess."
But that was not like him. He couldn't have said that when she jumped into the abyss and he shouldn't have said it now.
There was a sudden knock on the door. Frodo rose and slowly made his way to the door. He expected to see Merry, Pippin, or Sam (perhaps all three).
"Probably Pippin," he said to himself, "this is an unreasonable hour."
He approached the door and unlached it. Then slowly he turned the nob and pushed the door open.
Everything seemed to suddenly go ascew. The sun was casting the skies on fire, the grass was red in the rays of the fading sun, but these were details compaired to what he saw.
A halfling stood infront of him. She was fairly tall. Her clothes were rather tattered and the cloak about her shoulders was fraying. She had a long scar across her face and very liquid blue eyes.
Frodo choked. His eyes were swelling with tears.
"Shrell?"
The hobbit looked somewhat bewildered.
"Frodo?" she answered in the same tone he had used, as if to mock him.
"But-" he started.
She placed a finger on his lips.
"Third time pays for all."
Frodo sobbed. He flung his arms around her and she was truly there. Of all the illusions he had seen, he could not be more surprised that this was not one. The dull pain became a searing stab and then was gone.
Frodo stared into Shrell's eyes. She had defied death one last time for him. Smiling, he placed a hand on her cheek and slowly leaned forward.
His lips touched hers very lightly and he could feel her tears on his fingertips. She leaned closer and placed a hand at the back of his head.
Frodo again felt tears running down his cheeks but now he did not mind. He embraced Shrell, again feeling relief when she did not disapear.
Then Shrell slowly pulled away. She wiped one of Frodo's tears away with her hand and kissed him softly on the forehead.
"Frodo," she whispered, "I believe you will need to add more onto your book.
Frodo looked stunned then he suddenly smiled.
"I guess I will..."
Shrell's smile broadened.
"You should invite Merry, Pippin, and Sam over for tea," she paused, "And perhaps a game of cards.
At that Frodo did something that he hadn't done in ages; he truly laughed.
The End