Ok, this is my favorite part of the story!! It may get a little corny, but it's MY story, dang it! Enjoy!!



Chapter 8:

For The One I Love

Frodo had not left her side in hours. As he sat beside the bed, keeping watch over his lady, he reflected on the night's events.

After they had jumped into the water, Frodo looked frantically for Carole. Before eh had gotten far, Gandalf had reached him and pulled into the boat with Hope and Sam.

"Carole's still in the water!" he had cried.

"Where?" Hope asked?

Frodo pointed to where he had last seen her, and the rowed to the spot. Hope bent over and just managed to get hold of Carole's shirt collar, but when they pulled the Hobbit maiden into the boat, she was still, and as cold as ice.

"No!" Frodo had cried out in despair. "Please, Carole, don't leave me! Don't go!" He held her close to him as he wept. "I can't go on without you. I need you. Please, come back!"

At that moment, a horn blew in the night, and a twinkling gray ship came upon then. At the bow was Lord Elrond. He called out an order in Elvish, and ropes were lowered. After they were on the top deck, and seeing that their comrades were safe, Frodo carried Carole to the Elven king.

"My lord," he said, "please, you must help her!"

Elrond took the girl in his arms and went down the stairs to the second deck. All waited anxiously, Frodo most of all, for any news. They feared they worst, but prayed and wished for a miracle. After three hours were spent, Elrond and two other Elves came back up. All were as still and silent as statues.

"She lives," Elrond said. As everyone started to breath again and sigh with relief and joy, he added, "But the chill of the sea has sent her into a deep sleep. It may be anywhere from hours to days before she awakes.

And so Frodo had volunteered to stay by her side until she woke up. Now that he thought about it, this was like when they had met. Except that then he was only excited that someone new had come. But now, he needed her.

Suddenly, she stirred. She took in a deep breath and opened her eyes. Carole looked up, not knowing whether to expect either a blinding white light or the dark sea. Then she realized that she was in a bed, in a ship. She felt someone take her hand, and heard a voice she feared she would never hear again, whisper, "Carole!"

She looked over and saw Frodo. Her beautiful, wonderful Frodo.

"Is this a dream?" she asked, laughing.

"I'm not sure," Frodo said, smiling his sweet smile. "Ever since I met you, I've felt like everything's just a dream."

Carole looked down, blushing and smiling. "You know what? This is how we met."

"I remember," he said as he got up and sat on the side of the bed. He took her face in his hands, taking in every detail. The arch of her eye-brows, the curve of her cheeks, her lips. Then, he said, "The sea brought you to me. It almost took you away." They stared at each for a few minutes, then he continued. "When I thought that you were dead, I felt my heart had been torn out of me. I thought that I would die from the grief. Now that you are here, with me, I want to stay with you, always.

"There are some wounds that I have suffered that will never heal, but you have healed me of my guilt an shame. I could never be ashamed of myself if someone like you can love me. I vow that I will never leave you, and that nothing, not even death, will separate us." With that, he leaned down and gave her a deep and passionate kiss.

Later, as she lay in his arms, Carole looked at her love, asleep beside her. She would keep the memory of his beautiful face in her heart forever. And though his body still carried the scars of a hard and frightening life, she vowed that even if it took her rest of her life, she would heal him from those scars.

I know it's short, but I'm almost to the end of my story, and I don't want to end it too soon. That means it'll be a while before the next chapter's up. TTFN my peoples, and please review!