A/N: Sorry it took so long, had to update "Daughter of Laurëfin" and I had a bit of writer's block for that one and this one so . . . but, I'm preety good now so, here you go! :)

"Trickster Chibi Chan": I'm glad you think so! Thanks!

"jedi-baggins": I'm glad that you liked that, I thought that line was pretty funny, too! I'm glad it got across, I was afraid it wouldn't. Thanks!

"IloveHobbits": Thanks! He's not really falling in love yet, he's just noticing her, if you get what I mean.

"Estella Brandybuck": Glad you liked it! Yes, I did have adorable in mind when I wrote it.

"Lindaleriel": Thanks! At first when I read your review I thought it was a flame until I got to the end, then I was like phew!

"Harry Potter's Crazed Stalker": Thanks! Yay, fuzzies!! I shall keep it up . . . hopefully! :)

A Cup of Tea and a Good Book

Half a week passed by and things went well. May was an excellent cook, kept everything good and tidy, and respected Frodo's wishes that she not move the papers around his desk as he had things in a specific order, just like Sam.

One day, May came walking into the sitting room with a tea tray in her hands. She saw Frodo sitting very still by the fire-place, staring into the flames, and yet not seeing them. His hand was closed around the pendant of the necklace he always wore. It was a curious necklace of silver-white. May couldn't make out what the pendant was supposed to be shaped as, but it reminded her of a butterfly. The jewel now shone ever brighter with a white light wholly apart from the fire's glow.

May slowly walked up to the small table situated next to his chair and placed the tea tray on it. Then she stood by it a moment. When no response came, she cleared her throat.

Nothing.

"Mr. Baggins?"

Frodo started slightly then turned his head to her. "Oh, hello, Miss Gamgee."

"I brought you some tea."

"Oh, thank you . . . thank you."

May tilted her head, noticing Frodo's face appeared a bit haggard. "Are you alright, Mr. Baggins?"

"Yes . . . I'm fine."

Frodo could tell by the expression on May's face that she didn't believe him. May went to sit down in the chair next to him when she felt something hard on the cushion. She immediately stood up and looked at the chair. May found that she almost sat on a book. She picked it up. It was bound in old cracked leather that had been dyed blue. It was now quite faded. Strange markings were printed in gold along the spine and the cover. She flipped open the book and found that the inside had two kinds of writings in it. The right page written in the same strange markings as were in the front of the book, the other was in the language she recognized.

"Might you . . ." Frodo began, but then stopped, a slight blush stained his cheeks.

May looked up from the pages "Yes?"

"Might you . . . that is . . . it would please me greatly if you would read that book aloud . . . to me."

May smiled "Of course, Mr. Baggins, I'd be delighted to."

"'Of Thingol and Melian', please."

"Of course." May flipped through the pages until she came to that title. "Oh, wait!" she suddenly said, "I forgot to pour the tea!"

"Oh, no that's all right, I'll pour some for myself and for you."

May smiled at his kind manner and went back to the book. She cleared her throat and began:

"Melian was a Maia, of the race of the Valar. She dwelt in the gardens of Lórien, [in Valinor] and among all his people there were none more beautiful than Melian, nor more wise, nor more skilled in songs of enchantment. It is told that the Valar would leave their works, and the birds of Valinor their mirth, that the bells of Valmar were silent and the fountains ceased to flow, when at the mingling of the lights Melian sang in Lórien. Nightingales went always with her, and she taught them their song; and she loved the deep shadows of the great trees. She was akin before the World was make to Yavanna herself; and in that time when the Quendi awoke beside the waters of Cuiviénen she departed from Valinor and came to the Hither Lands, and there she filled the silence of Middle-earth before the dawn with her voice and the voices of her birds.

Now when their journey was near its end, as has been told, the people of the Teleri rested long in East Beleriand, beyond the River Gelion; and at that time many of the Noldor still lay to the westward, in those forests that were afterwards named Neldoreth and Region. Elwë, lord of the Teleri, went often through the great woods to seek out Finwë his friend in the dwellings of the Noldor; and it chanced on a time that he came alone to the starlit wood of Nan Elmoth, and there suddenly he heard the song of the nightingales. Then an enchantment fell on him, and he stood still; and afar off beyond the voices of the lómelindi he heard the voice of Melian, and it filled all his heart with wonder and desire. He forgot then utterly all his people and all the purposes of his mind, and following the birds under the shadow of the trees he passed deep into Nan Elmoth and was lost. But he came at last to a glade open to the stars, and there Melian stood; and out of the darkness he looked at her, and the light of Aman was in her face.

She spoke no word; but being filled with love Elwë came to her and took her hand, and straightway a spell was laid on him, so that they stood thus while long years were measured by the wheeling stars above them; and the trees of Nan Elmoth grew tall and dark before they spoke any word.

Thus Elwë's folk who sought him found him not, and Olwë took the kingship of the Teleri and departed, as is told hereafter. Elwë Singollo came never again across the sea to Valinor so long as he lived, and Melian returned not thither while their realm together lasted; but of her there came among both Elves and Men a strain of the Ainur who were with Illúvatar before Eä. In after days he became a king renowned, and his people were all the Eldar of Belerian; the Sindar they were named, the Grey-elves, the Elves of the Twilight, and King Greymantle was he, Elu Thingol in the tongue of that land. And Melian was his Queen, wiser than any child of Middle-earth; and their hidden halls were in Menegroth, the Thousand Caves, in Doriath. Great power Melian lent to Thingol, who was himself great among the Eldar; for he alone of all the Sindar had seen with his own eyes the Trees in the day of their flowering, and king though he was of Úmanyar, he was not accounted among the Moriquendi, but with the Elves of the Light, mighty upon Middle-earth. And of the love of Thingol and Melian there came into the world the fairest of all the Children of Ilúvatar that was or shall ever be."

When May finished she looked up at Frodo. He had fallen asleep. His head was lying comfortably against the back of the sitting chair, his mouth slightly open. His countanance was calm and the lines of the past left his face.

May quietly closed the book and set it on the mantle. And from the mantle she walked over and stood before the sleeping Frodo, admiring his prostrate form. Then she grabbed a blanket from the linen closet and draped it over him. May stepped back to look at him one more time, then leaned down and gently kissed his brow.

"Goodnight, Frodo."

And with that, she picked up the tea tray, cleaned up the kitchen and then retired herself.