Epilogue
Dedicated to PJ, Fran, Phillipa, Ian, and Elijah...for giving me the keys
to unlock this world. :)
A/N: Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers...
You all mean more to me than you know. *big hugs* Thank you for taking the journey with me. :D *******************************************************************
Frodo and his Uncle sat on the white, sandy shores of the Lonely Isle peacefully as they watched the silver blue tide roll in and out. Bilbo's head was gently rested on his beloved nephew's shoulder, and Frodo smiled at him fondly.
Ever since their arrival to the Blessed Land, both Bagginses had undergone a change for the better. No longer did Frodo's wounds trouble him, and no longer was he prey to frequent illness or pain. His face was full of peaceful happiness now, and his blue eyes shone with the inner light those who loved him treasured so much.
Bilbo's change was subtler, but just as wonderful. He was a very old hobbit now, and before he had left for the white shores of Valinor he could feel it in his bones and mind. He fell asleep often, and was beginning to become even more absentminded, forgetting small things, which was quite an annoyence to be sure. He could feel himself beginning to sleep through life, in a peacful lull. But now, in the blessed lands, he felt the spark return to him, the clarity of mind he had so missed. He felt as young as Frodo in body and spirit, although he did not look it at all.
But he now felt that although he was happier than he had ever been, his time was soon coming to an end. Bilbo had known this since the day he borded the ship, but had kept the knowlage from his nephew, as they simply enjoyed their time together. But it was time for his dear silme to know.
"Frodo, my lad," he said softly, "I must tell you, my time is almost spent." He squeezed his nephew's pale, four-fingered hand gently, and Frodo looked at him with the same heartbreaking eyes he had always known.
"But...Uncle Bilbo...the elves are here, and Gandalf said you have many years yet to heal...and, and...I just don't want to be alone..." he finished quietly, feeling ashamed and forlorn. "I love you, Uncle Bilbo," he whispered.
"Oh, my dear boy," he said sadly, "My dear Frodo. You are so very, very brave, my lad. I am so proud of you." Bilbo touched gently a cheek that had never fully regained its color. "But my part of the tale is done Frodo. I must go on, now. But we will see each other again, silme. Nothing can seperate us Bagginses for long." Frodo smiled, his eyes filling with tears.
"I...I know. I won't be selfish...I just...," he sighed. "I'll miss you, so much, uncle. It won't be the same without you here with me." Bilbo looked deeply into Frodo's earnest eyes, seeing sadness, but also the deep peace and healing that had occured. He smiled, with a twinkle in his own blue eyes.
"I'll miss *you*, my lad, so, so much. But I must walk this road alone, now. My last adventure is over." Frodo nodded, and gave his Uncle a gentle kiss on his wrinkled forehead. Bilbo smiled.
"Keep an eye on that wily old wizard for me, silme. You never know what tricks he might be up to," the old hobbit said, resting gently once more in his nephew's arms, as his eyelids drooped. Frodo nodded, and smiled sadly. "I will," he replied.
"I love you so much, my lad," whispered Bilbo, as he fell into his final sleep. Frodo held him gently, his sobbing mingling with the sound of the ocean waves. Suddenly, he felt a strange calm come over him, and looked at the old hobbit's face. He was smiling. And suddenly Frodo realized, through the tears, he was too.
"Goodnight, Uncle Bilbo", he whispered, as he watched the moon rise over the great silver sea.
to unlock this world. :)
A/N: Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers...
You all mean more to me than you know. *big hugs* Thank you for taking the journey with me. :D *******************************************************************
Frodo and his Uncle sat on the white, sandy shores of the Lonely Isle peacefully as they watched the silver blue tide roll in and out. Bilbo's head was gently rested on his beloved nephew's shoulder, and Frodo smiled at him fondly.
Ever since their arrival to the Blessed Land, both Bagginses had undergone a change for the better. No longer did Frodo's wounds trouble him, and no longer was he prey to frequent illness or pain. His face was full of peaceful happiness now, and his blue eyes shone with the inner light those who loved him treasured so much.
Bilbo's change was subtler, but just as wonderful. He was a very old hobbit now, and before he had left for the white shores of Valinor he could feel it in his bones and mind. He fell asleep often, and was beginning to become even more absentminded, forgetting small things, which was quite an annoyence to be sure. He could feel himself beginning to sleep through life, in a peacful lull. But now, in the blessed lands, he felt the spark return to him, the clarity of mind he had so missed. He felt as young as Frodo in body and spirit, although he did not look it at all.
But he now felt that although he was happier than he had ever been, his time was soon coming to an end. Bilbo had known this since the day he borded the ship, but had kept the knowlage from his nephew, as they simply enjoyed their time together. But it was time for his dear silme to know.
"Frodo, my lad," he said softly, "I must tell you, my time is almost spent." He squeezed his nephew's pale, four-fingered hand gently, and Frodo looked at him with the same heartbreaking eyes he had always known.
"But...Uncle Bilbo...the elves are here, and Gandalf said you have many years yet to heal...and, and...I just don't want to be alone..." he finished quietly, feeling ashamed and forlorn. "I love you, Uncle Bilbo," he whispered.
"Oh, my dear boy," he said sadly, "My dear Frodo. You are so very, very brave, my lad. I am so proud of you." Bilbo touched gently a cheek that had never fully regained its color. "But my part of the tale is done Frodo. I must go on, now. But we will see each other again, silme. Nothing can seperate us Bagginses for long." Frodo smiled, his eyes filling with tears.
"I...I know. I won't be selfish...I just...," he sighed. "I'll miss you, so much, uncle. It won't be the same without you here with me." Bilbo looked deeply into Frodo's earnest eyes, seeing sadness, but also the deep peace and healing that had occured. He smiled, with a twinkle in his own blue eyes.
"I'll miss *you*, my lad, so, so much. But I must walk this road alone, now. My last adventure is over." Frodo nodded, and gave his Uncle a gentle kiss on his wrinkled forehead. Bilbo smiled.
"Keep an eye on that wily old wizard for me, silme. You never know what tricks he might be up to," the old hobbit said, resting gently once more in his nephew's arms, as his eyelids drooped. Frodo nodded, and smiled sadly. "I will," he replied.
"I love you so much, my lad," whispered Bilbo, as he fell into his final sleep. Frodo held him gently, his sobbing mingling with the sound of the ocean waves. Suddenly, he felt a strange calm come over him, and looked at the old hobbit's face. He was smiling. And suddenly Frodo realized, through the tears, he was too.
"Goodnight, Uncle Bilbo", he whispered, as he watched the moon rise over the great silver sea.