The halls within the House of Healing were silent, sunlight lay warm on the
floor where it fell through the windows.
The three warriors climbed the steps that led to Frodo's chamber, at this height the trees stood outside the windows, the sound of birds singing echoing down the corridor.
With his hand ready to string his bow at the first hint of misgiving Legolas followed Aragorn and Gandalf toward the door, *the evil is gone, no trace of it taints this house* Legolas thought with wonder.
Reaching the great doors Aragorn stepped up and reached out a hand, he hovered for a second over the metal handles, he could feel no trace of Him, but it did not mean that He was gone.
Taking hold of the metal he pushed the doors open.
The room stood silent, shadows covering the far wall plunging the bed in to deep shadow. Apart from one long beam of gold which stretched from the window and lay across the edge of the bed creeping up over the large white pillows and resting on the face of Frodo Baggins.
Stepping forward Aragorn walked to the bed and reached down to check the life, his hand stopped short as he looked in to his face. The lines of pain, which had seemed so prominent only a few nights ago, were hidden. Reaching lower his hand almost brushing Frodo's skin, he breathed, sighing gently Frodo opened his eyes, Bluer than the sky outside of the window, Aragorn felt his spirits rise for the first time since the defeat of Sauron.
"You are back then, you gave us quite a scare Frodo." Aragorn whispered, his grey eyes sparkling.
"How are you feeling Frodo?" Gandalf asked as he sat on the far side of the bed, a smile teasing in his voice.
"Gandalf?" Frodo turned to the wizard, his eyes looking from head to toe in shock. "I thought I heard you, but I never imagined…how?"
Chuckling he leaned over and smoothed Frodo's hair,
"All in good time my dear Hobbit, all in good time, but first you,"
His voice turning serious Gandalf looked closely at Frodo's face, taking in the deep shadows under his eyes and the silver streaks running through Frodo's dark curls.
"Oh, I'm a little tired, but happy to be here." Frodo smiled.
Looking at him closely Gandalf tried to meet Frodo's eyes, turning away Frodo looked back to Aragorn and saw the same concern on his face. Fearing that they had seen something he could not conceal Frodo closed his eyes and hoped they would leave.
"Perhaps we should let you rest, you have been through a lot and are not yet recovered."
Gandalf stood slowly, his eyes meeting Aragorn's. They needed to talk.
"We will be back a little later Frodo, try and sleep a little." Aragorn murmured as he moved back to the door, a gentle smile on his face.
Closing the doors slowly, they began to head back to the hall in silence each carrying his own thoughts about the look in Frodo's eyes.
Looking forward Gandalf saw Lord Elrond turn in to the corridor toward them, a grave look on his features.
"Gandalf, something has changed. Samwise' injuries are gone; the damage to his hands is as if it never were. How is Frodo?"
Gandalf turned back to the doors at the far end as the Elf Lord spoke, feeling misgiving rise again in him.
"He appears well, but there is something else, some I cannot see…here is not the place to talk of this."
Taking the lead they exited the corridor and left Frodo alone.
**************
Frodo lay silent beneath the covers, listening to them talk. Although the doors were closed he could hear every word clearer than if they had been standing next to him.
*They know* Frodo felt the tears well in his eyes. Sam was all right.
*For someone who has just sacrificed everything for his friends, you were anxious to ask them to leave*
Frodo listened to the voice, Sauron was not just a shadow in his mind, he was there completely, he saw what Frodo saw and heard he was another presence in his head, as the Ring had been, always his voice talking, or his mind thinking. There was no peace.
*You have an eternity of peace before you, I will be here only for a few short years*
*You told me that you would only be a presence, I can hear every thought you make* Frodo whispered.
*Frodo I do not mean to cause you pain, but I told you we are linked, as I can hear every thought of yours, so you can with mine*
His voice was sad, almost apologetic. Frodo felt sorry for his harsh thoughts.
*Sleep Frodo, as Mithrandir said, you have been through a great ordeal, you need to rest*
Frodo closed his eyes and felt sleep claim him.
Silence remained as the sun rose higher.
*He is nearly ready for the change Master, If I cannot own him one way, then I will by the other*
Under Frodo's left hand blood began to stain the coverlet as the Dark Lord began to plan for the end.
The three warriors climbed the steps that led to Frodo's chamber, at this height the trees stood outside the windows, the sound of birds singing echoing down the corridor.
With his hand ready to string his bow at the first hint of misgiving Legolas followed Aragorn and Gandalf toward the door, *the evil is gone, no trace of it taints this house* Legolas thought with wonder.
Reaching the great doors Aragorn stepped up and reached out a hand, he hovered for a second over the metal handles, he could feel no trace of Him, but it did not mean that He was gone.
Taking hold of the metal he pushed the doors open.
The room stood silent, shadows covering the far wall plunging the bed in to deep shadow. Apart from one long beam of gold which stretched from the window and lay across the edge of the bed creeping up over the large white pillows and resting on the face of Frodo Baggins.
Stepping forward Aragorn walked to the bed and reached down to check the life, his hand stopped short as he looked in to his face. The lines of pain, which had seemed so prominent only a few nights ago, were hidden. Reaching lower his hand almost brushing Frodo's skin, he breathed, sighing gently Frodo opened his eyes, Bluer than the sky outside of the window, Aragorn felt his spirits rise for the first time since the defeat of Sauron.
"You are back then, you gave us quite a scare Frodo." Aragorn whispered, his grey eyes sparkling.
"How are you feeling Frodo?" Gandalf asked as he sat on the far side of the bed, a smile teasing in his voice.
"Gandalf?" Frodo turned to the wizard, his eyes looking from head to toe in shock. "I thought I heard you, but I never imagined…how?"
Chuckling he leaned over and smoothed Frodo's hair,
"All in good time my dear Hobbit, all in good time, but first you,"
His voice turning serious Gandalf looked closely at Frodo's face, taking in the deep shadows under his eyes and the silver streaks running through Frodo's dark curls.
"Oh, I'm a little tired, but happy to be here." Frodo smiled.
Looking at him closely Gandalf tried to meet Frodo's eyes, turning away Frodo looked back to Aragorn and saw the same concern on his face. Fearing that they had seen something he could not conceal Frodo closed his eyes and hoped they would leave.
"Perhaps we should let you rest, you have been through a lot and are not yet recovered."
Gandalf stood slowly, his eyes meeting Aragorn's. They needed to talk.
"We will be back a little later Frodo, try and sleep a little." Aragorn murmured as he moved back to the door, a gentle smile on his face.
Closing the doors slowly, they began to head back to the hall in silence each carrying his own thoughts about the look in Frodo's eyes.
Looking forward Gandalf saw Lord Elrond turn in to the corridor toward them, a grave look on his features.
"Gandalf, something has changed. Samwise' injuries are gone; the damage to his hands is as if it never were. How is Frodo?"
Gandalf turned back to the doors at the far end as the Elf Lord spoke, feeling misgiving rise again in him.
"He appears well, but there is something else, some I cannot see…here is not the place to talk of this."
Taking the lead they exited the corridor and left Frodo alone.
**************
Frodo lay silent beneath the covers, listening to them talk. Although the doors were closed he could hear every word clearer than if they had been standing next to him.
*They know* Frodo felt the tears well in his eyes. Sam was all right.
*For someone who has just sacrificed everything for his friends, you were anxious to ask them to leave*
Frodo listened to the voice, Sauron was not just a shadow in his mind, he was there completely, he saw what Frodo saw and heard he was another presence in his head, as the Ring had been, always his voice talking, or his mind thinking. There was no peace.
*You have an eternity of peace before you, I will be here only for a few short years*
*You told me that you would only be a presence, I can hear every thought you make* Frodo whispered.
*Frodo I do not mean to cause you pain, but I told you we are linked, as I can hear every thought of yours, so you can with mine*
His voice was sad, almost apologetic. Frodo felt sorry for his harsh thoughts.
*Sleep Frodo, as Mithrandir said, you have been through a great ordeal, you need to rest*
Frodo closed his eyes and felt sleep claim him.
Silence remained as the sun rose higher.
*He is nearly ready for the change Master, If I cannot own him one way, then I will by the other*
Under Frodo's left hand blood began to stain the coverlet as the Dark Lord began to plan for the end.