Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Lord of the Rings…The characters are property of JRR Tolkien's descendents and certain events to the makers of the epic film.

Home is Where the Heart is

Further Regret and Newfound Hope

I walk along the clean lake, trying to clear my head. I repeat over and over to myself, "This is my home now." I remember Sam's words on our journey, "Don't go where I can't follow you, Mr. Frodo." I betrayed his trust in me; I abandoned him. He is so young still, with his whole life ahead of him, a whole future with Rosie. Firmly, I tell myself, "Forget the Shire, Sam, Merry, Pippin – everything!" I drop to the ground, crying. The Shire still means so much to me. Why did I ever leave it?

The feeling of grass beneath me makes me feel at home while my eyes are closed; as I open them, I am forced to face the reality of the past two years once again. I wish it had all been a horrible dream, that none of this had happened and I could wake up in the comfort of Bag End, hearing Samwise working cheerfully in the garden. I feel alone, without a home, a place in the world where I belong. I am lost, a stranger, a sojourner in a strange land.

Gandalf appears in the distance; I wish I still had the Ring. I don't want to talk to anyone right now; I just want to be left alone as I fell. Quickly, I scurry to hide, but I fail. "Frodo! Fancy meeting you here. Still moping, I see. I told you to be sure before you came."

"I was, Gandalf, I was; the Took side, anyway; now that I'm here, the Baggins side is longing to go home. Is there any way I can go back, Gandalf?"

"Ten days here, and he wants to go back." he tells himself. "Are you really that unhappy here?"

"Yes, Gandalf."

"Even with Bilbo and me here, you're homesick?"

"Yes. I long to see how Sam is getting along with Rosie, if Merry and Pippin are still as carefree after the journey, see Bag End. Please, Gandalf, I pray thee, please tell me if there's any way for me to go back."

Gandalf leans on his staff thoughtfully. "How about you stay here four more weeks and then if you're still unhappy, I'll see to it that you get back?"

"Thank you, Gandalf" I exclaim, smiling for the first time in the ten days since I came here.

Elrond approaches sadly. He misses Arwen immensely, probably more so than I miss the Shire. He is happy she has Aragorn, but he wants her with him.

"Elrond!" Gandalf hails cheerfully.

"Hello, Gandalf. Frodo."

"Hello." I say and excuse myself as I slip away, spirits lifted. In four weeks, I, Frodo Baggins, could be going home! Should I go tell Uncle Bilbo? He would be horribly hurt, but he wants me to be happy; he'll understand. "Uncle!"

"Yes, Frodo? What are you so riled up about?" he asks impatiently.

"The possibility of going back to the Shire!"

I see his face change from curious to upset. "I see. That's the Baggin's side talking. Listen to the Took, I'd say."

"Uncle Bilbo, you don't understand! I have to go; I need to go. I'm not happy here. It'll be four weeks. Maybe I'll change my mind."

"No you won't, Frodo. Once your mind is made up, and you're this excited, you never do."

"Uncle, I thought you'd understand." I say, my face falling.

"In away, Frodo, my boy, I do." he says sadly and walks away. I throw my arms in the air and sigh. Now, I made someone else upset. Either way, someone's going to be unhappy.

"Oh, what should I do? What should I do?" I ask myself while beginning to pace. Finally, I sit down in the large chair, which was obviously made for an elf. Nothing here is hobbit-size. Nothing here is like the Shire. I miss home horribly. I'll miss Uncle Bilbo and Gandalf a lot if I leave. Either way something will make me unhappy. Why did the Ring ever have to come to Uncle Bilbo? Why did it have to come to me?