Thank you, Iorhael, for reviewing and betaing. I forgot to thank Amatista for reviewing two chapters ago. Thank you! Maddy Lake Deep, it's been a while since I've heard from you. Are you still reading? I'm just wondering.
I'm sad to announce there is only one more chapter after this for any who may be reading. Please, read and review, even if it's constructive criticism.
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. I'm just a fan borrowing the characters, making no profit out of this.
Home Is Where the Heart Is
To Stay or Not to Stay, That is the Question
I look up from my position on Elanor's bed, where I have been sitting since I came. Sam is sitting on a chair, shocked, and Legolas is leaning against the doorframe.
"Sam?" Sam looks at me. Hurt – no doubt from me hiding the secret from him – shows in his face, making me feel even worse. "If I decided to stay in the Shire, would you let me stay in Bag End?"
"Of course, Mister Frodo. It's your house. You have every right to stay and have Rosie and me move out to where I used to live!" Sam says loudly, tears choking his voice. Legolas ducks out of the room, not understanding the sudden anger.
"Samwise, I'm sorry I kept that information from you before, but Gandalf told me not to tell anyone!"
"Oh, I understand, sir, I understand very well. You put Rosie, Elanor, and me in danger! You could have prevented this! You could have warned us, but you didn't, Mister Frodo."
I am shocked. Sam has never spoken to me in that tone before. We have had arguments, but I have never seen him this intense. "I'm sorry, Sam. I'm sorry." I reply, nodding my head sadly. "If you don't want me to stay here, you can have Bag End, and I'll move to Buckland or Tookborough if I decide to stay."
"No, Mister Frodo. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you like I did. You know I couldn't never stay mad at you," Sam says mournfully as his senses return to him.
"Apology accepted, my friend." I rise. "Well, we'd best start righting the wrongs the wraith ahs done to Bag End." Sam nods his head in agreement, and we get to work. We strip Elanor's bed of its pink and white covers which were made with a mother's love that were now destroyed. We fold the covers neatly, hoping beyond hope that Rosie could repair them, and place them in the corner. After a while, I say, "You and your family can stay in Bag End with me…if I stay. We've done it before; we can do it again."
"Thank you, Mister Frodo," Sam says, tears welling up in his eyes. Apparently, he is surprised at me letting him stay after our argument. "I thought for sure that –"
"Well, think of it no more. Friends don't stay mad for long. It's already forgotten."
"Friends don't take out their fears on each other neither," Sam adds. I smile and nod.
Returning to cleaning, I feel chills running up my spine as I find a black cloak lying in the corner near the open window through which a cool early morning breeze is drifting in. I kneel down to pick up the cloak, but I sprawl back, a freezing cold seizing my body. The cloak suddenly stands. "Mister Frodo!" Sam exclaims, charging valiantly toward the lone wraith, which is hovering over me with a glowing sword.
I curl into a fetal position, gasping for air desperately. My lungs burn. Tears stream down my face as I realize how close I am to death. I am too afraid to open my eyes, too afraid to defend myself.
Suddenly, the eerie presence fades. My muscles relax, and I open my eyes. Sam hovers over me looking very bewildered. He looks down, concern filling his face as my sobbing form comes into view. "Mister Frodo," Sam starts as he holds me. "It's all right. I'm here. It's me. It's your Sam." He rocks slightly back and forth. I clutch his vest, my own strength failing me.
"Shh…It's going to be just fine, sir. The wraith's gone now. He fell suddenly, leaving only his cloak behind." He continues to rock me back and forth. My body trembles; I begin to cry audibly. "Shh…Mister Frodo, everything's going to be fine. No one will ever harm you – not while your Sam's here." Sam continues to comfort me as any true friend would. "Your Sam will take care of you. Come now, Mister Frodo, let me get you in bed. You need your rest. The past night has been long and hard." Sam helps me up and leads me to a spare room, tucking me in and walking out.
"Sam," I struggle out. He pauses a moment and looks back. "Thank you."
"Don't you worry about it now, Mister Frodo. Get some rest." Sam turns and jumps back in fright. Someone tall with white hair and attire stoops over and gets in. Sam rushes behind the bed, as I helplessly cover my head with a blanket.
"Do not be afraid. I will not harm you." the voice booms. I slowly pull the covers down below my eyes.
Happily, I exclaim, "Gandalf! Sam, Sam!" He stands up, "It's Gandalf!"
A smile shoots across Sam's face. "You scared me something awful, Gandalf, sir!" he admits.
"I can see that," Gandalf says gloomily.
"Did you –?" I begin to ask but am scared to finish. The wizard nods understandingly.
"Yes, I did, Frodo. Saruman is no more. From the crack of Mount Doom to Bree did I fight him, and I prevailed. The Ring is no more. He never completed it. It faded away right after I smote the White Wizard."
I cry tears of relief and utter happiness. I look over at Sam, and he is smiling, though his eyes are quite watery. Sam and I embrace. Gandalf laughs, "Look at you, the two hobbits who made it to the crack of Mount Doom and back, crying!"
"Oh, but they're tears of happiness, Gandalf!" I exclaim. "Thank you, Gandalf. You saved me from another two-year journey, and you saved the whole world."
"And you saved Mister Frodo's life," Sam adds quite seriously.
"How so? Is that what you two were so shaken up about?"
"Yes, sir. A wraith was standing over Mister Frodo here, his sword ready to strike. He wouldn't never have killed him anyhow – I charged at him. He disappeared right when I was almost at him," Sam answers.
"I see. That would explain the black cloak in the middle of the floor, and why Frodo is in bed in this room at this hour." Gandalf says, taking a seat at the edge of my bed.
"I suppose I won't be feeling any pain from that wound anymore except in October, seeing there's no one else who can possibly remake the Ring."
"Oh no, Mister Frodo, sir. A raven could remake it." Sam says, trying to be serious. Sam and I laugh lightheartedly.
"Or Tom Bombadil!" I say, playfully. We laugh again.
"Or you, Mister Frodo," Sam teases.
A serious note takes my voice. "Sure, I think I'll just walk right up to Mount Doom and remake the Ring so I can have more pain and hardship. Would you like to be my ever-faithful companion again, Samwise Gamgee?"
"Sir, I'd love to, but I got a wife and kid to think of now. I'm no longer a bachelor, you know!"
Gandalf eyes us worriedly. "You mustn't ever say things like that!" he commands.
"Oh Gandalf, we were just poking fun," I object.
"There's nothing about the Ring that is to be made light of even though it is not around anymore." Gandalf rises and walks to the doorway, bumping his head on the ceiling beam on the way. He rubs his head slowly. "I will go now to Gondor. Elrond and I will come back when it is time."
"Will Legolas and Gimli be going with you?" Sam asks.
"Yes. I have spoken with them. They will be returning to Gondor with me," Gandalf replies.
Sadness fills my heart as I realize this may very well be the last time I see my friends. Sam notices this.
"Mister Frodo, what's the matter?"
"Nothing." I reply before returning to my thoughts. Would I be able to live without seeing Sam, Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn? I ask myself. Would I be able to live without my uncle or Gandalf?
"Frodo, we will be leaving now," Gandalf announces, scratching his beard-covered chin.
I sit up and walk mechanically, still lost in reverie, to the door. Outside, Legolas and Gimli mount their horses, while Gandalf mounts Shadowfax. "Good-bye!"
"Good-bye, Frodo!" Gandalf, Gimli, and Legolas reply.
I watch until they disappear out of my sight before going back inside Bag End. "Frodo, is something bothering you?"
"Yes, Uncle." I admit. I hurriedly walk to my room, slam the door behind me, and throw myself on the bed, burying my head under the pillow. I feel like my heart is split in two, pulling me in different directions. A hand touches my back, and I shrug it off.
"Mister Frodo…" Sam says. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing, Sam," I reply icily, taking my head out from under the pillow in time to see him cringe.
"Please, Mister Frodo, tell me what's ailin' ya. You can tell your Sam."
Gazing absently at the doorway, I mutter, "I'm not sure where I belong, Sam…where I should stay – where I want to stay. I want to be in the Shire, but I couldn't bear leaving my uncle." My voice soft, I continue, "But I couldn't bear leaving you, Merry, or Pippin either."
"Mister Frodo, I ain't got no good advice, seeing I'm kinda partial in the matter. I'd say weigh out the differences, and see which would make you happier," Sam says sincerely. "I don't want you staying on my account."
"Thank you, Sam," I reply, Sam's selflessness amazing me once again.
"I'd best be going now, sir. My wife's calling."
"Go to her, Samwise." I say, a smile on my face. Sam walks off to his beautiful wife. He is fortunate to have a family of his own. I have nothing other than my friends and uncle. Yet, I have to choose between them, and it is killing me.
TBC...
Just a side not for Amatista, I wrote a story centered on Legolas in first person entitled The Meaning of Life, if you are interested in reading it. :)