Chapter Seven
Narquendiel
~*~
"Listen," Legolas said to Nikki, "Don't worry about my father. He may seem cruel and terrible, but he's all bluff."
"What.what did he mean by what he said?"
"It meant that."
"Yes?"
"Nikki, I need to tell you about my past."
Silence prevailed for a moment, then Legolas took Nikki's hand between both of his.
"Nikki, before I met you, before I even joined the original fellowship, Narquendiel and I were in love."
Nikki's eyes began to glaze slightly with tears but she kept her silence and resolve.
"We were betrothed. She came to Mirkwood, and we fell in love. She was Galadriel's granddaughter, Arwen Undomiel's cousin. Narquendiel was to live in Mirkwood and become situated for two years before we married. But then she and I."
A tear rolled down the elf's cheek as painful memories flooded back. Nikki wrapped her arms around him and he choked back a sob.
"Shhh." she said, putting a finger to his lips. "It's okay. You don't have to-"
"No." Legolas interrupted. "You need to know the truth about me and Narquendiel before we marry."
Nikki smiled slightly as she thought back to his proposal in her mother's world.
"Three months before we were to marry, we made love. She fell pregnant, and my father refused to believe that I was the father. Narquendiel was banished for treason because Thranduil believed she had slept with another man."
Nikki's lip trembled.
"I followed her. We met again in Lorien. Elrond came from Rivendell to deliver the baby, but his skills were not enough. Narquendiel had a miscarriage."
Nikki sobbed quietly.
"Galadriel told me what had happened had happened for a reason. Now I understand what that reason is."
"And what is it?" Nikki asked, her face contorted with tears.
"Two things. If the baby had lived, I would not have gone to the council of Elrond, and would never have been a part of the fellowship."
"And the second reason?"
Legolas put a finger under Nikki's chin.
"You."
~*~
Leah Underhill and Frodo Baggins slept peacefully, arms wrapped around each other. The night was silent, peaceful. The bowstings of the Mirkwood elves were not taut, and no evil thing stirred in the forest.
Frodo awoke in the dark. Somehow, it was the most peace and happiness he had ever felt. The dark covered him like a thick blanket, Leah's breath was soft and even, and everything was reminiscent of the calm before the storm they all knew was coming. But one thing was different this time:
He was not afraid.
~*~
A soft knock came on the door. Nikki, still awake, got up and answered it tentatively.
Thranduil, King of Mirkwood, stood in the doorway. He looked very tired, and bore no crown, nor any other sign that he was royalty.
"Hello." Was all he said. Nikki bowed her head slightly, uncertain of what was expected of her. Thranduil chuckled at this.
"Don't treat me like any king. I've been no king to anyone."
Nikki, confused, opened the door.
"Come in," she said. She pulled the two chairs that were in the corner over to the edge of the bed where Legolas lay, sheets wrapped around him. Thranduil took one, and Nikki took the other. The king's eyes looked around the room, examining everything but his son. Then, finally, his eyes came to rest on his son's face, now peaceful.
"Has he told you about.her?" he asked Nikki, his eyes unmoving.
"Yes," she said.
"I probably was much too hard. Galadriel told me of my mistake, but rather than give in and admit my mistake, I did everything to keep my pride."
Nikki was silent.
"I'm so sorry.It was so painful for them both when I refused to see."
More silence.
"He loves you, doesn't he?"
"Yes," Nikki said, voice barely a whisper.
"And you love him?"
"Yes," she said, with a touch more confidence. "But I don't know how it will ever work out. He's an elf, and I'm mortal."
Thranduil smiled. "You know, there have been cases of an immortal giving up that immortality for the love of a mortal."
"But he wouldn't."
"Yes he would. I've seen the way he looks at you."
"I wouldn't want him to."
"And if he wants to?"
"Well, I don't know."
Thranduil laughed softly. "We shall see."
~*~
Leah woke up. Frodo had shifted, and seemed to be moving to get out of bed. His soft lips touched hers, and she took him by surprise, kissing him back suddenly. He gave out a noise of surprise and lay back down next to her. She put a hand to the back of his head and pulled him in farther, deepening the kiss even more.
"Leah.wow."
"Frodo, I want to talk to you about something."
"What?"
"What happens after. after this is over?"
"For good?"
"Yeah."
"I don't know. What do you want?"
"I don't know what I want. I want to go home, but I need you."
Frodo smiled. "We've had our share of years together. That's not to say I'm getting tired of it, or that I ever would, but I just need you to know that if you want to go home, I think that's what you should do."
"Why?"
"Because that's where you're rooted. As much time as you've spent here, I think you're better off back home.especially now, when your life as a hobbit is gone. Don't factor my feelings for you in, either."
"Why not? They're important."
"Yes, but they will exist whether or not you're with me. I think you know that, as many times as it's been proven."
Leah pulled him in again, kissed him.
"Thank you."
~*~
Two humans, Four Hobbits, one half-hobbit, two elves, and one of the great Istari of old- a stranger company had never passed through Mirkwood forest. Yet, the business they intended to carry through had never been heard of before, either.
The latest fellowship had headed out of Thranduil's hall. He had talked to Legolas at great length, and had patched up some of the old disagreements between them. The ten travelers had then been given oil and matches, when it was decided by Gandalf that burning the tree might be their best try. Now they were to search the forest in hopes of finding the tree.
After several hours of walking, the more annoying hobbits had begun to complain, and so they stopped by a river. Legolas volunteered to keep searching while the others started fixing a meager meal.
However, just as Pippin had started to refill his water bottle at the nearby creek, the company was startled by a yelp. Legolas came rushing in seconds later, out of breath.
"Don't drink the water!" he said.
"Why not?" Aragorn asked. "Thranduil said the running water in this forest was perfectly fine."
"Follow me but a hundred ells and you shall see."
The confused company followed him along the riverbank, bits of lembas and dried meats in their hands.
Finally, they came to what Legolas was worried about.
At the side of the river lay four large, black spiders, like the ones they had earlier fought, dead.
"These beasts were not slain by swords nor by arrows," Legolas said. "Some evil poisons this water."
Gandalf looked at Elrond and Aragorn.
"Is it?" Elrond asked.
"It very well could be," Gandalf said.
They started out walking again, Gandalf leading, following the river upstream. The hobbits kept quiet, knowing that this was important.
Eventually they came to what Gandalf was evidently looking for. In the middle of the stream, which widened gradually, was a small island. Taking up almost the entire island was a foul tree, gnarled and twisted like a ruined thing that was once beautiful. Its bark was black and had many knots, and looked rough even from the far distance at which the company stood.
"Is that.?" Pippin trailed off, mid-sentence, giving voice to the question everyone wanted to ask.
"Yes, Peregrin, there is no mistaking it." Gandalf said. "Well, there is no cure, we must burn it."
The stream was quite wide on their side of the island, and the landing space too small to jump to with accuracy. Legolas insisted they not touch the water, so he cut to lengths of elvish rope, and tied them to two arrows. These he shot into the ground on the island. He, Elrond, and Aragorn walked across, shedding their cloaks and other extra weight, carrying only the oil. They quickly doused the tree in this, throwing the empty cans back to shore. Then they came back over.
Gandalf was getting out the matches when, suddenly, a breeze came upon them sharply from above. Leah looked up, and found herself looking through the tree branches at a large black beast bearing a rider in black. She looked back around, and all she saw was Frodo, looking around at his eight companions that had suddenly fallen over, unconscious. He was bewildered at this sight, as was Leah. She looked back up but the beast had landed, folding its wings to dive through the mass of tree branches. It landed, and the rider's hood fell back to reveal not a disembodied Nazgul, but the last person Leah wanted to ever see again.
Wormtongue.
"Leah, go." Frodo said to her, tossing the matches to her. She caught them but stayed where she was.
"Go! This is more important than me. Go."
Leah, as much as she resented her lack of control, found herself running for the ropes. However, it was too late. One of the beast's great claws reached out and severed the ropes, and its enormous wing folded around Leah. She looked over and her eyes met Frodo's, but they were not fearful, as they had been before.
Before he had been corrupted, burdened.
Before, he had been afraid.
But not this time. This time, he was confident. He drew his sword, and drove it, with unmatched strength, through the beast's wing. It screeched in pain, and he rushed forward as it reared back. He positioned his sword over him, and the monster came back down and unwittingly speared its great throat on the point of Sting. It fell lifeless to the ground as its rider dismounted.
The wing fell down and revealed to Leah that an elf stood on the island with the tree- an elf she recognized from what seemed like a life-age ago.
Narquendiel.
Leah through the Matches with all of her strength to the elf, who caught them, ripped open the package, lit a match, and in two seconds, the tree was ablaze. Narquendiel leaped across the creek, drawing sword in midair. She then turned to Wormtongue, who had already knocked Frodo down and was now advancing on Leah. Narquendiel intercepted the blow meant for Leah, and Leah dropped her sword and ran to Frodo.
Wormtongue, however, seemed to fail in his strength as the black tree burned. The tree seemed to almost evaporate as Leah glanced at it, looking away from Frodo for only a second before turning back to examine his injuries.
The tree seemed to hiss and shrivel, and the earth gave a low rumble that was somewhere in-between a movement and a noise. The flames leapt ever higher as the tree's core caught fire, and as this happened, Wormtongue dropped his sword and bent double. Narquendiel, knowing it was no use to try to kill him, merely kicked his sword into the creek, the water bubbling and steaming.
Finally, the tree crumbled to ashes, and Wormtongue fell, finally dead. Narquendiel sheathed her sword and ran towards Leah and Frodo. Leah had started sobbing wildly, saying nothing but "he's dead, he's dead, he's dead."
Narquendiel picked up the fragile hobbit. She looked down at Leah. "Get Aragorn's cloak," she said. "Lay it on the ground."
Leah continued to cry for a moment before the words registered. She followed these directions as Narquendiel muttered some words to Frodo and then wrapped him in the large cloak.
~*~
Leah woke up in a large bed. Something about this was all too familiar, but she knew that this time, it was different.
She turned to Frodo, who lay next to her, smiling, alive and conscious.
"You're okay!" she exclaimed.
"I'm not doing so well," He corrected. "Elrond and Gandalf both told me that I probably don't honestly have long to live."
Leah's eyes clouded with tears.
"Don't you dare cry," he said, running a thumb across her eyelids to wipe away the mist.
"Why do you have to die?" she asked, close to sobbing. "Why do you have to leave me?"
"Because that's the way things are, melamin."
"But.why does it have to be like this?"
"Oh, it's not so bad. At least this way we get to say goodbye."
"But."
"Shh. Don't you dare start saying something negative. Everybody has a time to go. This is my time. Now, you can either accept that and we can make the best of our time together, or you can deny it and wallow in your grief until I die. Either way I'll die."
Leah choked back a sob. "Alright, I'll try."
"There's a good girl."
Leah smiled, laughed. Kissed Frodo.
"At any rate, I feel like I've at least got one more night in me," he said softly, winking. Leah grinned and kissed him again, and this evolved into their last night together- a night that would remain in both their hearts until the end of time.
~*~
Leah woke to a low moan from Frodo.
"What is it?" she asked frantically.
"Calm down," he whispered. "It's time."
"No," she said. "Please, no.You're going to live. They're wrong.you'll live."
"That's right I will. But not the way you see me now. I'll live in your heart," he said.
"No!"
"Yes. Leah, I'm tired. I want to go home."
"No.please no."
"I have to. But Leah?"
She finally gave in and seemed to accept the truth.
"Yes?"
"I want you to live your life. Be passionate about anything and everything, and always remember that I loved you more dearly than life."
Leah nodded.
"Leah?"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
Leah tore her eyes away and saw that Merry, Pippin, Sam, Gandalf, Legolas, and Aragorn were standing in the doorway. She watched as the hobbits, sobbing, ran over to the edge of the bed. Sam took Frodo's hand, his mouth moving wordlessly. Merry and Pippin each had an arm around each other for support, and they howled with tears as they hugged their cousin. He smiled slightly, concerned at their terrible sadness. Legolas walked over next to Sam, who moved to make room for him. He put a hand to Frodo's forehead and Frodo's eyes closed for a moment, opening when Legolas removed his hand.
"May your passing be peaceful and may your soul eternally grace the halls of mandos, little one," He said. "Thank you for your sacrifice and your love."
Frodo smiled. "Legolas?"
"Yes?"
"I hope that.that you and Nikki will find happiness together."
Legolas smiled. "As do I. Thank you."
Gandalf and Aragorn walked over to join them. Frodo grinned lopsidedly at Aragorn.
"Well, Strider, looks like you weren't quite what I thought you were."
"And it so happens that you were far more than anybody expected," Aragorn replied, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly at the hobbit's grin.
Gandalf smiled at this exchange.
"Gandalf?" Frodo said.
"Yes, my lad?" the wizard responded.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For sending me on the quest."
"What?" Gandalf asked, startled. He had known Bilbo and Frodo a long time and neither of them had ever surprised him quite so much.
"It taught me the meaning of so many things." He said.
Gandalf smiled. "Indeed, it seemed to have that effect." He said.
Frodo now turned to address Merry and Pippin.
"Don't you two cry. And don't stop causing mischief anytime soon."
"We won't," Merry said. Pippin nodded in agreement.
"Don't you worry, Frodo. We'll keep old Maggot on his toes, eh?" he added. Frodo smiled, and turned to Sam and Leah, both on the opposite side of the bed from all but Legolas.
"Thank you both so much. I couldn't have done any of it without you two."
They both smiled. Leah reached out and touched the side of Frodo's face.
"Come here," he said.
She knew what he meant and she leaned forward and kissed him gently. Sam smiled at this, seeing his master happy at the end of his life, instead of dying in Mordor, like he thought they both would so many years ago.
"I love you all," were Frodo's last words.
~*~
Frodo Baggins died that morning, a smile gracing his porcelain face. Nikki Baggins entered the room just in time to see him address the group of people surrounding his bed, and he caught her eye and smiled as he said his last words.
Nikki and Legolas were married, just outside of Mirkwood's borders. Narquendiel attended, and was very honestly happy for the both of them. Leah was happy and did not cry again save for joy.
After Frodo's funeral, Merry, Pippin, Sam, and Leah rode back to Hobbiton. This time, they were greeted with open arms and a Shire that had not been corrupted.
Leah wrote the story, just as she had promised Frodo she would the night before he died. She searched the whole Shire to find a blank leatherbound book that matched to red book, but all she found was one of a similar style but made of green leather. She finished the story and packed it, along with Sting and Frodo's mithril vest, which had been given to her after his death.
She, Sam, Merry, and Pippin rode together as far as Rivendell, where Merry and Pippin turned south to Gondor, where they would serve under King Elessar. Leah rode with Elrond to Mirkwood.
Sam was to stay in Rivendell for a time, before he would eventually come to sail west to the undying lands with Elrond. Leah left the Red Book and the Green Book, along with both Sting and the mithril vest, in his possession.
When Leah and Elrond reached Mirkwood, Leah said her goodbyes and Elrond sent her back to her world. Elrond, Narquendiel, Thranduil, and the twenty or so elves that were still left in Mirkwood, plus the ones who had joined them from Lorien, rode back to Rivendell, and took the last ships into the west.
Nikki and Legolas traveled to Gondor and lived there, alongside Elessar and the hobbits.
~*~
Leah woke up on her couch.
"Goddamn, what a hangover." She said, putting a hand to her forehead. It was then that she remembered her dream.
"Holy shit." she said. She looked over at Emmy, her cat, who sat, glaring at her, on the armrest across from her.
"Damn."
She made some toast and walked outside, thinking some food and fresh air might do her good. She spotted the newspaper on the porch and picked it up. She walked back inside, yawning. Sitting on the couch, she unrolled the paper. The first thing that caught her eye was the front page headline:
CENTRAL PARK IN RUINS AFTER BIZARRE INTERRUPTION TO CONCERT New York Streets Littered With Dead Creatures and Bizarre Wreckage
Leah dropped her toast in shock. The cat climbed into her lap and curled up. After a moment, she shut her mouth and started petting the cat.
"Well, I'm back."
~*~
"Listen," Legolas said to Nikki, "Don't worry about my father. He may seem cruel and terrible, but he's all bluff."
"What.what did he mean by what he said?"
"It meant that."
"Yes?"
"Nikki, I need to tell you about my past."
Silence prevailed for a moment, then Legolas took Nikki's hand between both of his.
"Nikki, before I met you, before I even joined the original fellowship, Narquendiel and I were in love."
Nikki's eyes began to glaze slightly with tears but she kept her silence and resolve.
"We were betrothed. She came to Mirkwood, and we fell in love. She was Galadriel's granddaughter, Arwen Undomiel's cousin. Narquendiel was to live in Mirkwood and become situated for two years before we married. But then she and I."
A tear rolled down the elf's cheek as painful memories flooded back. Nikki wrapped her arms around him and he choked back a sob.
"Shhh." she said, putting a finger to his lips. "It's okay. You don't have to-"
"No." Legolas interrupted. "You need to know the truth about me and Narquendiel before we marry."
Nikki smiled slightly as she thought back to his proposal in her mother's world.
"Three months before we were to marry, we made love. She fell pregnant, and my father refused to believe that I was the father. Narquendiel was banished for treason because Thranduil believed she had slept with another man."
Nikki's lip trembled.
"I followed her. We met again in Lorien. Elrond came from Rivendell to deliver the baby, but his skills were not enough. Narquendiel had a miscarriage."
Nikki sobbed quietly.
"Galadriel told me what had happened had happened for a reason. Now I understand what that reason is."
"And what is it?" Nikki asked, her face contorted with tears.
"Two things. If the baby had lived, I would not have gone to the council of Elrond, and would never have been a part of the fellowship."
"And the second reason?"
Legolas put a finger under Nikki's chin.
"You."
~*~
Leah Underhill and Frodo Baggins slept peacefully, arms wrapped around each other. The night was silent, peaceful. The bowstings of the Mirkwood elves were not taut, and no evil thing stirred in the forest.
Frodo awoke in the dark. Somehow, it was the most peace and happiness he had ever felt. The dark covered him like a thick blanket, Leah's breath was soft and even, and everything was reminiscent of the calm before the storm they all knew was coming. But one thing was different this time:
He was not afraid.
~*~
A soft knock came on the door. Nikki, still awake, got up and answered it tentatively.
Thranduil, King of Mirkwood, stood in the doorway. He looked very tired, and bore no crown, nor any other sign that he was royalty.
"Hello." Was all he said. Nikki bowed her head slightly, uncertain of what was expected of her. Thranduil chuckled at this.
"Don't treat me like any king. I've been no king to anyone."
Nikki, confused, opened the door.
"Come in," she said. She pulled the two chairs that were in the corner over to the edge of the bed where Legolas lay, sheets wrapped around him. Thranduil took one, and Nikki took the other. The king's eyes looked around the room, examining everything but his son. Then, finally, his eyes came to rest on his son's face, now peaceful.
"Has he told you about.her?" he asked Nikki, his eyes unmoving.
"Yes," she said.
"I probably was much too hard. Galadriel told me of my mistake, but rather than give in and admit my mistake, I did everything to keep my pride."
Nikki was silent.
"I'm so sorry.It was so painful for them both when I refused to see."
More silence.
"He loves you, doesn't he?"
"Yes," Nikki said, voice barely a whisper.
"And you love him?"
"Yes," she said, with a touch more confidence. "But I don't know how it will ever work out. He's an elf, and I'm mortal."
Thranduil smiled. "You know, there have been cases of an immortal giving up that immortality for the love of a mortal."
"But he wouldn't."
"Yes he would. I've seen the way he looks at you."
"I wouldn't want him to."
"And if he wants to?"
"Well, I don't know."
Thranduil laughed softly. "We shall see."
~*~
Leah woke up. Frodo had shifted, and seemed to be moving to get out of bed. His soft lips touched hers, and she took him by surprise, kissing him back suddenly. He gave out a noise of surprise and lay back down next to her. She put a hand to the back of his head and pulled him in farther, deepening the kiss even more.
"Leah.wow."
"Frodo, I want to talk to you about something."
"What?"
"What happens after. after this is over?"
"For good?"
"Yeah."
"I don't know. What do you want?"
"I don't know what I want. I want to go home, but I need you."
Frodo smiled. "We've had our share of years together. That's not to say I'm getting tired of it, or that I ever would, but I just need you to know that if you want to go home, I think that's what you should do."
"Why?"
"Because that's where you're rooted. As much time as you've spent here, I think you're better off back home.especially now, when your life as a hobbit is gone. Don't factor my feelings for you in, either."
"Why not? They're important."
"Yes, but they will exist whether or not you're with me. I think you know that, as many times as it's been proven."
Leah pulled him in again, kissed him.
"Thank you."
~*~
Two humans, Four Hobbits, one half-hobbit, two elves, and one of the great Istari of old- a stranger company had never passed through Mirkwood forest. Yet, the business they intended to carry through had never been heard of before, either.
The latest fellowship had headed out of Thranduil's hall. He had talked to Legolas at great length, and had patched up some of the old disagreements between them. The ten travelers had then been given oil and matches, when it was decided by Gandalf that burning the tree might be their best try. Now they were to search the forest in hopes of finding the tree.
After several hours of walking, the more annoying hobbits had begun to complain, and so they stopped by a river. Legolas volunteered to keep searching while the others started fixing a meager meal.
However, just as Pippin had started to refill his water bottle at the nearby creek, the company was startled by a yelp. Legolas came rushing in seconds later, out of breath.
"Don't drink the water!" he said.
"Why not?" Aragorn asked. "Thranduil said the running water in this forest was perfectly fine."
"Follow me but a hundred ells and you shall see."
The confused company followed him along the riverbank, bits of lembas and dried meats in their hands.
Finally, they came to what Legolas was worried about.
At the side of the river lay four large, black spiders, like the ones they had earlier fought, dead.
"These beasts were not slain by swords nor by arrows," Legolas said. "Some evil poisons this water."
Gandalf looked at Elrond and Aragorn.
"Is it?" Elrond asked.
"It very well could be," Gandalf said.
They started out walking again, Gandalf leading, following the river upstream. The hobbits kept quiet, knowing that this was important.
Eventually they came to what Gandalf was evidently looking for. In the middle of the stream, which widened gradually, was a small island. Taking up almost the entire island was a foul tree, gnarled and twisted like a ruined thing that was once beautiful. Its bark was black and had many knots, and looked rough even from the far distance at which the company stood.
"Is that.?" Pippin trailed off, mid-sentence, giving voice to the question everyone wanted to ask.
"Yes, Peregrin, there is no mistaking it." Gandalf said. "Well, there is no cure, we must burn it."
The stream was quite wide on their side of the island, and the landing space too small to jump to with accuracy. Legolas insisted they not touch the water, so he cut to lengths of elvish rope, and tied them to two arrows. These he shot into the ground on the island. He, Elrond, and Aragorn walked across, shedding their cloaks and other extra weight, carrying only the oil. They quickly doused the tree in this, throwing the empty cans back to shore. Then they came back over.
Gandalf was getting out the matches when, suddenly, a breeze came upon them sharply from above. Leah looked up, and found herself looking through the tree branches at a large black beast bearing a rider in black. She looked back around, and all she saw was Frodo, looking around at his eight companions that had suddenly fallen over, unconscious. He was bewildered at this sight, as was Leah. She looked back up but the beast had landed, folding its wings to dive through the mass of tree branches. It landed, and the rider's hood fell back to reveal not a disembodied Nazgul, but the last person Leah wanted to ever see again.
Wormtongue.
"Leah, go." Frodo said to her, tossing the matches to her. She caught them but stayed where she was.
"Go! This is more important than me. Go."
Leah, as much as she resented her lack of control, found herself running for the ropes. However, it was too late. One of the beast's great claws reached out and severed the ropes, and its enormous wing folded around Leah. She looked over and her eyes met Frodo's, but they were not fearful, as they had been before.
Before he had been corrupted, burdened.
Before, he had been afraid.
But not this time. This time, he was confident. He drew his sword, and drove it, with unmatched strength, through the beast's wing. It screeched in pain, and he rushed forward as it reared back. He positioned his sword over him, and the monster came back down and unwittingly speared its great throat on the point of Sting. It fell lifeless to the ground as its rider dismounted.
The wing fell down and revealed to Leah that an elf stood on the island with the tree- an elf she recognized from what seemed like a life-age ago.
Narquendiel.
Leah through the Matches with all of her strength to the elf, who caught them, ripped open the package, lit a match, and in two seconds, the tree was ablaze. Narquendiel leaped across the creek, drawing sword in midair. She then turned to Wormtongue, who had already knocked Frodo down and was now advancing on Leah. Narquendiel intercepted the blow meant for Leah, and Leah dropped her sword and ran to Frodo.
Wormtongue, however, seemed to fail in his strength as the black tree burned. The tree seemed to almost evaporate as Leah glanced at it, looking away from Frodo for only a second before turning back to examine his injuries.
The tree seemed to hiss and shrivel, and the earth gave a low rumble that was somewhere in-between a movement and a noise. The flames leapt ever higher as the tree's core caught fire, and as this happened, Wormtongue dropped his sword and bent double. Narquendiel, knowing it was no use to try to kill him, merely kicked his sword into the creek, the water bubbling and steaming.
Finally, the tree crumbled to ashes, and Wormtongue fell, finally dead. Narquendiel sheathed her sword and ran towards Leah and Frodo. Leah had started sobbing wildly, saying nothing but "he's dead, he's dead, he's dead."
Narquendiel picked up the fragile hobbit. She looked down at Leah. "Get Aragorn's cloak," she said. "Lay it on the ground."
Leah continued to cry for a moment before the words registered. She followed these directions as Narquendiel muttered some words to Frodo and then wrapped him in the large cloak.
~*~
Leah woke up in a large bed. Something about this was all too familiar, but she knew that this time, it was different.
She turned to Frodo, who lay next to her, smiling, alive and conscious.
"You're okay!" she exclaimed.
"I'm not doing so well," He corrected. "Elrond and Gandalf both told me that I probably don't honestly have long to live."
Leah's eyes clouded with tears.
"Don't you dare cry," he said, running a thumb across her eyelids to wipe away the mist.
"Why do you have to die?" she asked, close to sobbing. "Why do you have to leave me?"
"Because that's the way things are, melamin."
"But.why does it have to be like this?"
"Oh, it's not so bad. At least this way we get to say goodbye."
"But."
"Shh. Don't you dare start saying something negative. Everybody has a time to go. This is my time. Now, you can either accept that and we can make the best of our time together, or you can deny it and wallow in your grief until I die. Either way I'll die."
Leah choked back a sob. "Alright, I'll try."
"There's a good girl."
Leah smiled, laughed. Kissed Frodo.
"At any rate, I feel like I've at least got one more night in me," he said softly, winking. Leah grinned and kissed him again, and this evolved into their last night together- a night that would remain in both their hearts until the end of time.
~*~
Leah woke to a low moan from Frodo.
"What is it?" she asked frantically.
"Calm down," he whispered. "It's time."
"No," she said. "Please, no.You're going to live. They're wrong.you'll live."
"That's right I will. But not the way you see me now. I'll live in your heart," he said.
"No!"
"Yes. Leah, I'm tired. I want to go home."
"No.please no."
"I have to. But Leah?"
She finally gave in and seemed to accept the truth.
"Yes?"
"I want you to live your life. Be passionate about anything and everything, and always remember that I loved you more dearly than life."
Leah nodded.
"Leah?"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
Leah tore her eyes away and saw that Merry, Pippin, Sam, Gandalf, Legolas, and Aragorn were standing in the doorway. She watched as the hobbits, sobbing, ran over to the edge of the bed. Sam took Frodo's hand, his mouth moving wordlessly. Merry and Pippin each had an arm around each other for support, and they howled with tears as they hugged their cousin. He smiled slightly, concerned at their terrible sadness. Legolas walked over next to Sam, who moved to make room for him. He put a hand to Frodo's forehead and Frodo's eyes closed for a moment, opening when Legolas removed his hand.
"May your passing be peaceful and may your soul eternally grace the halls of mandos, little one," He said. "Thank you for your sacrifice and your love."
Frodo smiled. "Legolas?"
"Yes?"
"I hope that.that you and Nikki will find happiness together."
Legolas smiled. "As do I. Thank you."
Gandalf and Aragorn walked over to join them. Frodo grinned lopsidedly at Aragorn.
"Well, Strider, looks like you weren't quite what I thought you were."
"And it so happens that you were far more than anybody expected," Aragorn replied, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly at the hobbit's grin.
Gandalf smiled at this exchange.
"Gandalf?" Frodo said.
"Yes, my lad?" the wizard responded.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For sending me on the quest."
"What?" Gandalf asked, startled. He had known Bilbo and Frodo a long time and neither of them had ever surprised him quite so much.
"It taught me the meaning of so many things." He said.
Gandalf smiled. "Indeed, it seemed to have that effect." He said.
Frodo now turned to address Merry and Pippin.
"Don't you two cry. And don't stop causing mischief anytime soon."
"We won't," Merry said. Pippin nodded in agreement.
"Don't you worry, Frodo. We'll keep old Maggot on his toes, eh?" he added. Frodo smiled, and turned to Sam and Leah, both on the opposite side of the bed from all but Legolas.
"Thank you both so much. I couldn't have done any of it without you two."
They both smiled. Leah reached out and touched the side of Frodo's face.
"Come here," he said.
She knew what he meant and she leaned forward and kissed him gently. Sam smiled at this, seeing his master happy at the end of his life, instead of dying in Mordor, like he thought they both would so many years ago.
"I love you all," were Frodo's last words.
~*~
Frodo Baggins died that morning, a smile gracing his porcelain face. Nikki Baggins entered the room just in time to see him address the group of people surrounding his bed, and he caught her eye and smiled as he said his last words.
Nikki and Legolas were married, just outside of Mirkwood's borders. Narquendiel attended, and was very honestly happy for the both of them. Leah was happy and did not cry again save for joy.
After Frodo's funeral, Merry, Pippin, Sam, and Leah rode back to Hobbiton. This time, they were greeted with open arms and a Shire that had not been corrupted.
Leah wrote the story, just as she had promised Frodo she would the night before he died. She searched the whole Shire to find a blank leatherbound book that matched to red book, but all she found was one of a similar style but made of green leather. She finished the story and packed it, along with Sting and Frodo's mithril vest, which had been given to her after his death.
She, Sam, Merry, and Pippin rode together as far as Rivendell, where Merry and Pippin turned south to Gondor, where they would serve under King Elessar. Leah rode with Elrond to Mirkwood.
Sam was to stay in Rivendell for a time, before he would eventually come to sail west to the undying lands with Elrond. Leah left the Red Book and the Green Book, along with both Sting and the mithril vest, in his possession.
When Leah and Elrond reached Mirkwood, Leah said her goodbyes and Elrond sent her back to her world. Elrond, Narquendiel, Thranduil, and the twenty or so elves that were still left in Mirkwood, plus the ones who had joined them from Lorien, rode back to Rivendell, and took the last ships into the west.
Nikki and Legolas traveled to Gondor and lived there, alongside Elessar and the hobbits.
~*~
Leah woke up on her couch.
"Goddamn, what a hangover." She said, putting a hand to her forehead. It was then that she remembered her dream.
"Holy shit." she said. She looked over at Emmy, her cat, who sat, glaring at her, on the armrest across from her.
"Damn."
She made some toast and walked outside, thinking some food and fresh air might do her good. She spotted the newspaper on the porch and picked it up. She walked back inside, yawning. Sitting on the couch, she unrolled the paper. The first thing that caught her eye was the front page headline:
CENTRAL PARK IN RUINS AFTER BIZARRE INTERRUPTION TO CONCERT New York Streets Littered With Dead Creatures and Bizarre Wreckage
Leah dropped her toast in shock. The cat climbed into her lap and curled up. After a moment, she shut her mouth and started petting the cat.
"Well, I'm back."