"I wish you wouldn't go," a woman spoke, wiping her hands on her apron. "Can you not just try and stay, for everyone's shake."
"No, I'm leaving my mind has been made up," the Hobbit countered, not looking up from his parchment. "I have seen too much to stay."
"But it is all over, it has been over for years, there is peace.."
"Peace that came with our sweat and blood. Peace at the cost of the lives of very dear friends. Peace that gave scars that do not go away with time, you, Gwen, of all people should know about that," the Hobbit cut her off angrily, turning to face her.
"I managed to find a way to be happy, can't you?" she sank into the chair next to him.
"No," he replied, going back to his letter.
"Please stay ,Frodo, I do not know what I shall do without you," her voice was a soft whisper, emotion conveyed in every letter.
"You are doing just fine without me. Pippin will take care of you, he has done a good job so far," Frodo pushed away from the table and stalked into the next room.
Gwen got up, ducking under a beam, she followed him into the next room, "You made the choice Frodo Baggins. I wanted to marry you but you shut me out. Do not blame your unhappiness on me."
"You do not understand," he mumbled not looking at her.
"That's right I do not understand you. I do not understand where the Frodo Baggins I fell in love went."
"He died, he died the day you were taken away," tears misted in his eyes.
"But I came back."
He turned around and gazed at her, tears running down his face, "Come with me then. Pack up and let us go now, there is room enough for you."
"I can't you know that. I can't leave my husband, nor can I ever enter the Undying Lands, not after," her voice faltered. "Not after what almost happened." She undid her apron and laid on the top of the couch, "I must go home, enjoy your supper." She turned and walked out of the room, tears falling from her eyes.
Frodo sat down on the couch, tears welled up in his eyes. He closed his eyes to shut out the world, to shut out the brightness of the happy world that seemed to taunt him.
~~
He touched her face, paler then the slate grey of the stone slab she laid on. Her skin was cold to the touch, sobs caught in his throat. She was barely breathing, her chest did not rise in fall in the rhythm of life, but in a desperate call for life. He pressed his lips to her forehead, in a cool kiss. He felt her arm around his neck, pulling him down. He kissed her lips, then she moved to kiss his neck. He felt pain shoot threw his body, he jumped away in shock. His hand went to his neck, blood soon covered it. He looked at her, her lips were bloody. One of her hands held fast to his, bring him back toward her....
~~
Frodo opened his eyes, it was dark. He put his hand to his forehead, how long had been asleep, how long was he going to have this nightmare?
Gwen sat on the edge of the bed. She was braiding her long ebony hair. She heard her husband moving around in the a joining study. He had just said goodbye to Sam and Merry, they had come for supper and drink. She retired early, complaining of a headache. She had changed into her blue cloth nightgown over an hour ago. She had written in her diary, then sat down to braid her hair.
"Darling, are you okay?"
Gwen looked up smiling at the voice of her husband," Yes, just tired."
He kissed her forehead then sat beside her, "You have been pale ever since you returned from Frodo's, did he upset you again?" The protective male instinct was kicking in.
"No," she lied. She hated lying to him, she loved him so much.
"Gwen?" his eyes bored right into her soul
"Yes, we fought again," she dropped her head down.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, "Its alright."
Tears were forming in her eyes, "Pippin, could please stay the night instead of going out?"
"I was already planning on it," he put a finger under her chin and lifted it to meet his gaze. "I love you."
"I love you too," she smiled at him. A Hobbit and a human, who would have guessed. No one, she knew this was rare, something she wanted to keep, despite the tugging of her heart about Frodo.
He bent down and kissed her. She kissed back, putting her arms around her husband's neck, losing herself in him and forgetting about the past, for the moment.