Chapter 31 --- Farewells
Small pale hands were shivering as they rested upon two larger weather worn ones. Aragorn knelt and looked up into Frodo's eyes, the simple hobbit trembled under that steady gaze. The king wrapped Frodo's frail hands within his own and bowed his head. "Frodo Baggins, you gave up much for the safety of my people and your own." Tears came to the man's eyes as he looked up again at the confused expression of the hobbit he sought to thank and knew it was all falling futilely on his ears. "With all the realms under my power, with all the men at my call..." Again Aragorn needed to turn away from Frodo's prying gaze and furrowed eyebrows. He sought so desperately to understand. "...All this would be upon its knees but for you... for your deeds. No man nor elf nor wizard nor king could have done what you have done... nor borne such a loss." Tears cascaded down Aragorn's cheeks and his voice trembled and croaked like that of a boy's. "I am in such great debt to you that all of my power, all of my subjects, all of my knowledge and strength and wealth cannot repay it... cannot give back that which you have lost. I will give you this meager reward though it cannot begin to repay you. Your Shire is now henceforth under the protection of the Kingdom of the North and of the South and all the lands between. No man shall ever enter your lands nor threaten your people. Not even I shall ever set foot upon the beloved earth of the Shire lest there be great need for your health and safety." Aragorn stood and looked upon the throngs of travelers. "Hear me now and my word is law! No man shall ever set foot upon Shire- earth under penalty dealt by my hand alone! Lest the Ringbearers or their kin be in need! And then only I shall send whom I chose! This is my will, let it be done!"
No one drew breath nor did the breeze dare to stir until Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Dunedain and King of the North, the South and all lands between, fell again upon his knees before the Ringbearer and bowed his head deeply. Wielder of Anduril; the man who tamed wild spirits and set fire to the sorrow-sodden hearts of hopeless men; the man who defeated legions of blackness and charged first and foremost into the deep; the man whose heart knew no doubt; who's mind knew no weakness; who's hands spilled the blood of flesh-hungry beasts that coveted the heads of those he loved, fell down and wept into the childlike hands of one so small.
In moments the entire company, men and elves alike were upon their knees, a gesture given by those who owed the deepest debt and knew it graciously. Frodo looked out among the crowd and saw his protector a few feet to his right looking about with just as much awe. But Frodo frowned, confused, and fell to the ground. He sat there and looked down at Aragorn, touching the man's face. The king looked up and saw tears in Frodo's eyes.
Frodo leaned forward and placed a kiss upon the man's forehead, his lips pressed gently and tentatively as if somewhere deep inside there was a shaking certainty that this was what he must do. When Aragorn looked up there was a brief pause before the man lunged forward and encased the hobbit in a crushing embrace. He sobbed quietly and a loud cheer erupted throughout the crowd.
~~~
Merry looked at Pippin uneasily and the young Took just rolled his eyes. They stood restlessly a fair bit into the wood where Treebeard had set them upon a high stone slab that, to a tree, was a table but to a hobbit was a trap from which there is no escape. Pippin looked down at the far away ground and gulped. They could do nothing but nod and smile as Treebeard spoke to them and whenever they made to say that they must go soon they were quickly scolded for being hasty. Pippin sighed and rested his head on Merry's shoulder playfully. His cousin looked down at him but he just smiled up innocently.
Treebeard seemed to have fallen asleep in mid-sentence again and Merry took this opportunity to clear his throat and step forward causing his cousin to stumble. He chuckled to himself lightly. "Treebeard! You offered us a drink?"
"Now, not so hasty Master Meriadoc. You have already grown tall enough little masters. I wonder if you should wish to rival mountains."
"Nay, dwarf them!" piped Pippin. "And crown our long, writhing curls with stars!"
The old Ent chuckled and it seemed that all his leaves shook and whispered with mirth. "Ah here we are. It is often that I sip the rainwaters as they, hoom, gather and fall from my leaves. Cups and bowls are hard to come by, hoom, when your hands are gnarled as ancient roots. We do not, hoom..."
Pippin yawned and fell to his bottom, stretching his long arms and legs. Merry once again rolled his eyes and blew a tuft of hair from his face.
"...take skill in smithing. But often when one so dear should die from plague of insects or rotten orc-rats we do not wish to let them rot. Old wood curves well and gathers rainwaters and riverwaters to feed a parched young root. It is through death and sacrifice that some may live, and it must often be so."
Merry blinked, now fully awake and listening to Treebeard's words but Pippin had nodded off long ago. "Thank you, Treebeard." Merry bowed deeply and took the curved wooden bowl. "I hope to honor whomever this may have been in life." He gave Pippin a rough nudge with his foot and the young Took shot to his feet and took the other bowl with thanks. They drank deeply and the hair on their heads writhed and curled and brushed their eyelids. They left that place smiling.
"Farewell, Treebeard. I cannot begin to thank you for your kindness!" called Merry.
"If you should ever meet up with the Entwives in your Shire..."
"I shall keep both eyes open!" cried Pippin. "You should be informed at once!"
~~~
Aragorn kept his eyes on the soft turf beneath his feet, watching the passing dapples of sunlight as they seeped through the young saplings that had been newly growing from the filth of Saruman. It seemed the magic of the ents sped the growth of vulnerable young to a fragile beauty. Their first blooms of leaves and tiny white flowers quivered in the breeze and dripped the cool dews into tiny rivulets down their smooth trunks.
The king saw the sunlight spread and knew to look up. Before him, among the peaceful budding that carpeted and fell bulwark of Saruman's stronghold, sat two hobbits, bathed in the pale sunlight. Sam was sitting, brooding darkly, with his knees bent and his arms resting limply on them. Frodo was sitting before him meticulously inspecting the blades of grass and wild buds. Whatever twisted iron rampart they sat upon could not be told for it was buried mostly beneath earth and growth, entangled in climbing vines, thick with leaves.
Lower, on the ground, stood Gandalf, leaning gently on his staff, glistening pure white in the sunbeams. He was watching Frodo's ministrations with a furrow of his brows but seemed to know Aragorn had stepped into the glade.
"It is good you have come, Aragorn. I would like you to check Frodo's wounds," said Gandalf, keeping an easy distance from Frodo.
Sam frowned slightly, "Naught but scrapes and bruises, Mr. Gandalf. I checked myself and he seems to be getting along right enough."
Aragorn smiled gently and strode forward. "That makes my job all the simpler then." He stepped up the short distance onto the rampart and knelt before Frodo. At first he was easily ignored, the grass being much more intriguing, but he was patient and inevitably Frodo's eyes rose to meet his. Quickly Frodo looked up and searched for Sam. Relieved to see that his protector was by his side, his attention returned to Aragorn suspiciously.
"Has he been flinching at all, or favoring a certain hand or leg?" Aragorn asked Sam but kept his attention on Frodo as he grasped one of Frodo's arms to examine for any scratches that could have gone rotten.
"No sir," answered Sam half-heartedly.
Frodo's eyes widened in terror as his arm was held out. He remembered this. Something happened after his arm was presented in this way. A flash of terrible light in his eyes and then a gleaming object flaunting before him, wavering in the air for a heartbeat and then descending to glide across his skin and release the warm liquid from within. He went suddenly pale and began to tremble, jerking his arm from Aragorn's grasp and cradling it to his breast. He was quickly reminded of the shriveled bud in his pocket, black and pitiful, smothered in an instant and bereft of its vibrant beauty. A small aching whimper escaped Frodo as he darted towards Sam and hid his face against his protector's shoulder.
"What have I done?" asked Aragorn fearfully.
"I'm not sure," whispered Sam, wrapping his arms around his distraught master.
"Will he..." Aragorn paused and felt a helplessness he'd never felt before. He stood and took a breath. "Will he be alright?"
Frodo took a shuddering, breathy sob, and Sam saw that there were no tears of pain in his eyes. "Yes, as alright as he can be I suppose."
Aragorn nodded and turned his face towards the sun, seeking some warmth in it. "And you, Sam?" He cocked his head and eyed Sam gently.
"What about me?" Sam mumbled.
"What bitterness do you withhold?"
Sam just stared steadily at the man and was silent.
"You wish terribly that these things that have changed had not. I know, many of us do. But would you then change yourself as well? There was a gentleness in you, Sam. I will not say that it was innocence, your suspicion of me disproved that, you were not a trusting fool at all. But you were not so harsh."
"I will not speak of this," breathed Sam. "You ask me to shrug away what that miserable rotter's done to my master. I won't do such a thing."
"I don't ask any such thing," replied Aragorn, sitting on the rampart. He reached up and took off his crown with a relieved sigh. He set it on his lap and smiled. "That thing is ridiculously heavy." Sam cocked an eyebrow but Aragorn went on. "And walking with it is much more complicated a task than I imagined. I always feel like it may slide right off my head or into my eyes and I'd look a fool." He threw his head back and laughed at his own worries. "Oh being a ranger was never so complicated!" he laughed. "Sometimes I would go days without sleep, camping in the rain or the heat of summer, and eating stale bread and mutton for a day's meal. Often I'd have no one to talk to but my horse and he was a stubborn beast." Aragorn paused briefly and sighed. "I miss it."
Sam had no choice but to laugh. "That's the most backwards reasoning I ever did see, Strider sir."
"Ah but now I have choices to make and not just for myself. If I choose a wrong road it won't be just me going a night in the rain without shelter. Where's the line between mercy and justice, Sam? When must I choose one above the other?"
Sam's eyes darkened. "Mercy? Mercy for that rotten, wretched snake!"
"I don't intend to show him mercy," said Aragorn with a note of finality. "I don't intend to. I will be sending a number of soldiers to scour the woods."
"He's long gone from there," muttered Sam.
"He will be hunted, Sam, like the wolf he is. And he will not know another day of peace or rest. He is stripped of his power, of his home, of any joy if he ever could partake of it in the past."
"Only by the sufferin' of others," Sam spat.
"And do you suffer, Sam? From the wretchedness you feel, from the anger that boils within, from the black thoughts your mind obsesses over, does it cause you to suffer? It will eat away at you from within, and Saruman would be pleased."
Sam took a breath, ran his hands threw his hair a few times, and then pressed his palms to his face and wept.
~~~
After long preparation and Aragorn took leave of Frodo and Sam he sought out Galadriel and Celeborn. The elves were sitting alone and in silence for war had made Celeborn bitter and quiet and Galadriel saw she could not heal her husband. He had now become restless and the sea's call was far and distant in his shadowed mind, but she could feel the ocean spray yet upon her face. It would soon come for the time of their parting as well, and perhaps their end would be bitter and Celeborn would find only darkness in the rest of his days, the Lady of Light could not foresee. Her sight and thought only stretched beyond the glimmering seas and unto glittering white shores.
"Elfstone!" smiled the lady coming towards Aragorn. "Your trials have been long and your burdens have been many but you have triumphed and bore them all and now in light you pass. You have earned now the life before you, use well these days for Arwen's love is now your greatest treasure in a kingdom of light."
Aragorn bowed. "And yet my mind holds still darkness and doubt for Frodo."
"Then you must speak to Arwen for she has woven her blessing into the threads of Frodo's fate and nothing more can be done. Wheels have already been set in motion and some fates for Frodo have proven untrue. He lives yet and it has been foreseen that he should die upon the mountain. We live yet and it has been foreseen that he should fail and his will utterly broken in the end by Sauron as he sat upon his throne."
Aragorn shuddered. "My lady I wish not to know of these horrible fates that have not been and shall never be!"
"It is what could have come to pass. Arwen knew of all these possibilities."
"And what good is it, my lady? To know of these grievous horrors that I wish I had never known could have been! For they are not! And long past reckoning!"
And then Aragorn beheld the light of Aman in the Lady's smiling face. "To show you, young Elfstone, what the world is really like." She placed a slender hand upon his cheek and it was warm and golden as the sun. "There is no certainty of the future so do not put your trust in visions of what it may be. Foresight is not a guide of deeds, simply a warning of such consequences as may come. There is no certainty but the one you make yourself."
Aragorn's eyes filled with tears and he grasped the hand upon his cheek and held it desperately to his lips. "Thank you! Thank you! My lady, you have given me hope!"
She laughed lightly. "Go now and be happy and fret not for your toil has rewarded you well."
He turned in joy to Celeborn who simply looked upon him grimly and said, "Farewell! May your doom be other than mine and your treasure remain with you in the end!" Aragorn looked upon him with pity and bowed low. Then they departed swiftly for the sun was soon to set.
~~~
Sam was chuckling lightly. "Emáten, for the last time, please rise!"
The man looked up blearily as if awoken from a swoon. He grasped Sam's hands and kissed his fingers. Sam blushed and pulled his hands away. "None o' that! You know I ain't used to no kingly treatment. I'm a simple gardener at no mistake. Last year I was pullin' carrots and plantin' daisies and that's my plan when I get home. You won't wanna be kissin' no ruddy dirt-hands of a gardener."
"Sir!" cried Emáten. "I must beg of you to stop this madness of belittling yourself!"
Sam stared at the man aghast for a moment then blushed again. "Aye, I think I reckon with ye. But I still would rather you not be bowin' and scrapin' for me."
Emáten rose reluctantly and looked upon Frodo. "Oh, my lord. I wish that I could have truly met you before I left you. I am not worthy of such company- I- I do not wish that we must part! To my home I shall now fly and remember till the end of my days my time in the presence of the Ringbearers. And perhaps in time my children will sing your tales and know your deeds."
"I shall remember you and your family fondly, Emáten. Tell your brother I gave him all my thanks and Frodo would as well. He tried to find me master, hard as anyone else did."
"A dear soul, Envin is, he will be glad to hear of you again. Farewell, my lords! My allegiance is ever unto you. I regret that I may never see your Shire but it is my king's word. I shall never travel north I suppose."
"I don't like to look too far into the future," said Samwise. "There ain't nothin' there I need to learn afore it happens."
"My lord I dare not rest easy until I know that wizard is dead. I swear, by my honor, that he shall be killed by my blade. May my soul never find rest until my sword spills his blood. My lord I dare not rest easy until I know that wizard is dead."
"I don't either, and that's a fact! But there is nothin' you can do, Emáten, and I don't ask any more of you. Swearin' an oath ain't good, you can get yourself into a mite of trouble. Take it back, it's too dangerous for you."
"But it is of my own will. I shall hunt him!"
"Do what you want to but you should rest. Go to your home and do not waste yourself away on lookin' for that foul rot. The king will send men for him I'm sure," answered Sam.
"And I shall be one of those men! My lord, whether it is your desire that I go or not, it is my desire to be the one to kill him. He has done such a great injustice towards you and your master I shall not breathe easy until he breathes no longer."
"Do not leave Envin alone," said Sam solemnly. "I know what you would do for me and I am right thankful for it! But your brother cares for you and your father and sister as well. You should not throw your life away seeking him, I know you would do that."
"Very well." Emáten bowed. "But my oath has been taken, I dare not go back on it now."
"Take care, Emáten. My master and I are thankful to you!"
"Right, sir! Farewell!"
~~~
And at last the company was made to ride and the two great parties sundered into their dwindling last. Licks of golden fire lit the sky and the last flame of sunset flanked the rising mountains of the west with radiance. The dwindling company looked back upon the green hill and it was bathed in the sun's last light and upon it was a great company of horses and men whose armor shone like gold flame. Sam looked last upon Emáten as he gleamed in the sunlight and then turned his horse away until only the king remained. It was then that the light hit the white mantle of Aragorn burst like pale fire and surrounded him and his gleaming arm held up a green stone and it shone like a star and his steed reared so it caught the last flickering of the sunset and burst with green flame. And when the final licks of fire died away behind the mountains and the shadow of night covered Aragorn and his men had disappeared over the hill.
~~~
A/N: Just a note. If you are wondering what happened to Celeborn then I have to say... so am I! I took the opportunity to reread this section of the book to be more accurate with my work and Tolkien seems to put emphasis on Celeborn's hopeless despair. Shocked that I missed this, I further investigated the situation and saw that Celeborn did not accompany Galadriel to Valinor and instead spent the rest of his days in Mirkwood. As far as I know, this is completely unexplained. If anyone knows what Tolkien intended for Celeborn I'd be delighted to know. The line "Farewell! May your doom be other than mine and your treasure remain with you in the end!" was taken from the book. All that I can gather from it is Celeborn lost something during the War of the Ring and whether he was wounded deeply (much like the shell-shock Tolkien himself experienced) or simply never intended to go West and Galadriel forsook her love for him to do so, I'm not certain.
It is thanks to all of your kind reviews that I am really trying to write more for this fic. You were all so kind to encourage me a little break I just have to disobey you ^^. You deserve chapters and regularly.
Ailsa Joy – I knew you'd love it! Thank you for the lovely compliment but please don't be discouraged. After all you are the one that created Emáten and I just fell in love with him. This chapter was mostly dialogue and lacked a lot of description save some points that I could not help but going off on a tangent about. I hope you update soon.
Yahiko - ::trembles:: Yes master!! ::writes madly:: Don't kill us precious we gives you lovely stories to read!
Laurajslr – Indeed that was the highest praise you could offer me! ::blushes:: Thank you! This is by far your longest review but I won't say thank you again for that would be redundant ;) I'm glad you liked the "it was said" parts. I was a little uneasy about using that style since it might be a contrast from the style of the regular story. Too epic maybe but it was well received ^^. I'm glad I made you mad as Saruman as that was the purpose. Petting Frodo's cheek in mock gentleness was by far his worst insult. I don't plan to change our dear Samwise in the least bit! ::trembles:: I'd never do that to my favorite chapter. But I had to consider his ability to react to this treatment of his master. Don't worry I fixed Sam in this chapter see? ^^ Glad you loved Emáten, you should be seeing a bit more of Envin soon as well. And don't worry, I'm producing plot bunnies like rabbits on Viagra! I gave you a bit of the 'real' Frodo in my other fic I loved writing it! And now back to the simple Frodo ::sob:: Your encouragement for me to take a break has only incited me to write more for you ^^ And for my fic "Birthdays at the Green Dragon" Perhaps one day I'll write a fic explaining Frodo's deepest darkest secret. Mwa haha. As for Forod being a family man, I realize Tolkien stated quite plainly he was intent on being a bachelor but after seeing Frodo's reaction to Sam's child in the Return of the King I noticed that he would make quite the father. I plan to use Lilly Fairwater in another fic soon. Enjoy!
ShireElf – Quite the desired effect. I am a loremaster now! Weee! I like seeing people's reactions to my small climaxes. Wait till you see the big one ^^
Stoneage Woman – I hope you don't procrastinate too much with writing the sequel to "Just Don't Have the Heart to End It" I want to read it ^^ Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Bookworm 2000 – Tolkienesque? Thank you! ^^ That is the greatest compliment I can receive!
Agent Pip – You will just have to read to find out if Frodo will be better again ^^ Review please!
Frodo's Gal - ::whimper:: Frodo in distress, ripped boyfriend, Frodo in distress, ripped boyfriend ::sobs indecisively as boyfriend huffs angrily in the background::
Tersa – Ramen? ::trembles:: Should I be afraid? Thank you for the compliment ^^
Smruti – Thank you for encouraging me to take a break though I'm afraid it just incited me to write more as thanks for your concern. Keep practicing, if you look at some of my old fics you'll see they are awful compared to this. It's like working out to build muscles ^^.
FrodoBaggins87 – My boy buddy is intent on surprising me when he comes home so I have no idea when exactly that will be grr. So for now I'll write like a mad woman.
Galardriellady945 – Heh that was the reaction I was hoping to garner. ^^ Keep reading and reviewing.
Frodo-lovers – I miss the real Frodo too, such a sweet lovely hobbit. Keep reading and I'll keep writing.
Endymion2 – Cuddling a cold little computer over my boyfriend is not exactly what I had intended but since he is not yet home I can use the computer as a temporary replacement. I realized it sounded like an ancient saga, I was hoping that wouldn't be too odd or out of place. I'm glad you liked it!
Small pale hands were shivering as they rested upon two larger weather worn ones. Aragorn knelt and looked up into Frodo's eyes, the simple hobbit trembled under that steady gaze. The king wrapped Frodo's frail hands within his own and bowed his head. "Frodo Baggins, you gave up much for the safety of my people and your own." Tears came to the man's eyes as he looked up again at the confused expression of the hobbit he sought to thank and knew it was all falling futilely on his ears. "With all the realms under my power, with all the men at my call..." Again Aragorn needed to turn away from Frodo's prying gaze and furrowed eyebrows. He sought so desperately to understand. "...All this would be upon its knees but for you... for your deeds. No man nor elf nor wizard nor king could have done what you have done... nor borne such a loss." Tears cascaded down Aragorn's cheeks and his voice trembled and croaked like that of a boy's. "I am in such great debt to you that all of my power, all of my subjects, all of my knowledge and strength and wealth cannot repay it... cannot give back that which you have lost. I will give you this meager reward though it cannot begin to repay you. Your Shire is now henceforth under the protection of the Kingdom of the North and of the South and all the lands between. No man shall ever enter your lands nor threaten your people. Not even I shall ever set foot upon the beloved earth of the Shire lest there be great need for your health and safety." Aragorn stood and looked upon the throngs of travelers. "Hear me now and my word is law! No man shall ever set foot upon Shire- earth under penalty dealt by my hand alone! Lest the Ringbearers or their kin be in need! And then only I shall send whom I chose! This is my will, let it be done!"
No one drew breath nor did the breeze dare to stir until Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Dunedain and King of the North, the South and all lands between, fell again upon his knees before the Ringbearer and bowed his head deeply. Wielder of Anduril; the man who tamed wild spirits and set fire to the sorrow-sodden hearts of hopeless men; the man who defeated legions of blackness and charged first and foremost into the deep; the man whose heart knew no doubt; who's mind knew no weakness; who's hands spilled the blood of flesh-hungry beasts that coveted the heads of those he loved, fell down and wept into the childlike hands of one so small.
In moments the entire company, men and elves alike were upon their knees, a gesture given by those who owed the deepest debt and knew it graciously. Frodo looked out among the crowd and saw his protector a few feet to his right looking about with just as much awe. But Frodo frowned, confused, and fell to the ground. He sat there and looked down at Aragorn, touching the man's face. The king looked up and saw tears in Frodo's eyes.
Frodo leaned forward and placed a kiss upon the man's forehead, his lips pressed gently and tentatively as if somewhere deep inside there was a shaking certainty that this was what he must do. When Aragorn looked up there was a brief pause before the man lunged forward and encased the hobbit in a crushing embrace. He sobbed quietly and a loud cheer erupted throughout the crowd.
~~~
Merry looked at Pippin uneasily and the young Took just rolled his eyes. They stood restlessly a fair bit into the wood where Treebeard had set them upon a high stone slab that, to a tree, was a table but to a hobbit was a trap from which there is no escape. Pippin looked down at the far away ground and gulped. They could do nothing but nod and smile as Treebeard spoke to them and whenever they made to say that they must go soon they were quickly scolded for being hasty. Pippin sighed and rested his head on Merry's shoulder playfully. His cousin looked down at him but he just smiled up innocently.
Treebeard seemed to have fallen asleep in mid-sentence again and Merry took this opportunity to clear his throat and step forward causing his cousin to stumble. He chuckled to himself lightly. "Treebeard! You offered us a drink?"
"Now, not so hasty Master Meriadoc. You have already grown tall enough little masters. I wonder if you should wish to rival mountains."
"Nay, dwarf them!" piped Pippin. "And crown our long, writhing curls with stars!"
The old Ent chuckled and it seemed that all his leaves shook and whispered with mirth. "Ah here we are. It is often that I sip the rainwaters as they, hoom, gather and fall from my leaves. Cups and bowls are hard to come by, hoom, when your hands are gnarled as ancient roots. We do not, hoom..."
Pippin yawned and fell to his bottom, stretching his long arms and legs. Merry once again rolled his eyes and blew a tuft of hair from his face.
"...take skill in smithing. But often when one so dear should die from plague of insects or rotten orc-rats we do not wish to let them rot. Old wood curves well and gathers rainwaters and riverwaters to feed a parched young root. It is through death and sacrifice that some may live, and it must often be so."
Merry blinked, now fully awake and listening to Treebeard's words but Pippin had nodded off long ago. "Thank you, Treebeard." Merry bowed deeply and took the curved wooden bowl. "I hope to honor whomever this may have been in life." He gave Pippin a rough nudge with his foot and the young Took shot to his feet and took the other bowl with thanks. They drank deeply and the hair on their heads writhed and curled and brushed their eyelids. They left that place smiling.
"Farewell, Treebeard. I cannot begin to thank you for your kindness!" called Merry.
"If you should ever meet up with the Entwives in your Shire..."
"I shall keep both eyes open!" cried Pippin. "You should be informed at once!"
~~~
Aragorn kept his eyes on the soft turf beneath his feet, watching the passing dapples of sunlight as they seeped through the young saplings that had been newly growing from the filth of Saruman. It seemed the magic of the ents sped the growth of vulnerable young to a fragile beauty. Their first blooms of leaves and tiny white flowers quivered in the breeze and dripped the cool dews into tiny rivulets down their smooth trunks.
The king saw the sunlight spread and knew to look up. Before him, among the peaceful budding that carpeted and fell bulwark of Saruman's stronghold, sat two hobbits, bathed in the pale sunlight. Sam was sitting, brooding darkly, with his knees bent and his arms resting limply on them. Frodo was sitting before him meticulously inspecting the blades of grass and wild buds. Whatever twisted iron rampart they sat upon could not be told for it was buried mostly beneath earth and growth, entangled in climbing vines, thick with leaves.
Lower, on the ground, stood Gandalf, leaning gently on his staff, glistening pure white in the sunbeams. He was watching Frodo's ministrations with a furrow of his brows but seemed to know Aragorn had stepped into the glade.
"It is good you have come, Aragorn. I would like you to check Frodo's wounds," said Gandalf, keeping an easy distance from Frodo.
Sam frowned slightly, "Naught but scrapes and bruises, Mr. Gandalf. I checked myself and he seems to be getting along right enough."
Aragorn smiled gently and strode forward. "That makes my job all the simpler then." He stepped up the short distance onto the rampart and knelt before Frodo. At first he was easily ignored, the grass being much more intriguing, but he was patient and inevitably Frodo's eyes rose to meet his. Quickly Frodo looked up and searched for Sam. Relieved to see that his protector was by his side, his attention returned to Aragorn suspiciously.
"Has he been flinching at all, or favoring a certain hand or leg?" Aragorn asked Sam but kept his attention on Frodo as he grasped one of Frodo's arms to examine for any scratches that could have gone rotten.
"No sir," answered Sam half-heartedly.
Frodo's eyes widened in terror as his arm was held out. He remembered this. Something happened after his arm was presented in this way. A flash of terrible light in his eyes and then a gleaming object flaunting before him, wavering in the air for a heartbeat and then descending to glide across his skin and release the warm liquid from within. He went suddenly pale and began to tremble, jerking his arm from Aragorn's grasp and cradling it to his breast. He was quickly reminded of the shriveled bud in his pocket, black and pitiful, smothered in an instant and bereft of its vibrant beauty. A small aching whimper escaped Frodo as he darted towards Sam and hid his face against his protector's shoulder.
"What have I done?" asked Aragorn fearfully.
"I'm not sure," whispered Sam, wrapping his arms around his distraught master.
"Will he..." Aragorn paused and felt a helplessness he'd never felt before. He stood and took a breath. "Will he be alright?"
Frodo took a shuddering, breathy sob, and Sam saw that there were no tears of pain in his eyes. "Yes, as alright as he can be I suppose."
Aragorn nodded and turned his face towards the sun, seeking some warmth in it. "And you, Sam?" He cocked his head and eyed Sam gently.
"What about me?" Sam mumbled.
"What bitterness do you withhold?"
Sam just stared steadily at the man and was silent.
"You wish terribly that these things that have changed had not. I know, many of us do. But would you then change yourself as well? There was a gentleness in you, Sam. I will not say that it was innocence, your suspicion of me disproved that, you were not a trusting fool at all. But you were not so harsh."
"I will not speak of this," breathed Sam. "You ask me to shrug away what that miserable rotter's done to my master. I won't do such a thing."
"I don't ask any such thing," replied Aragorn, sitting on the rampart. He reached up and took off his crown with a relieved sigh. He set it on his lap and smiled. "That thing is ridiculously heavy." Sam cocked an eyebrow but Aragorn went on. "And walking with it is much more complicated a task than I imagined. I always feel like it may slide right off my head or into my eyes and I'd look a fool." He threw his head back and laughed at his own worries. "Oh being a ranger was never so complicated!" he laughed. "Sometimes I would go days without sleep, camping in the rain or the heat of summer, and eating stale bread and mutton for a day's meal. Often I'd have no one to talk to but my horse and he was a stubborn beast." Aragorn paused briefly and sighed. "I miss it."
Sam had no choice but to laugh. "That's the most backwards reasoning I ever did see, Strider sir."
"Ah but now I have choices to make and not just for myself. If I choose a wrong road it won't be just me going a night in the rain without shelter. Where's the line between mercy and justice, Sam? When must I choose one above the other?"
Sam's eyes darkened. "Mercy? Mercy for that rotten, wretched snake!"
"I don't intend to show him mercy," said Aragorn with a note of finality. "I don't intend to. I will be sending a number of soldiers to scour the woods."
"He's long gone from there," muttered Sam.
"He will be hunted, Sam, like the wolf he is. And he will not know another day of peace or rest. He is stripped of his power, of his home, of any joy if he ever could partake of it in the past."
"Only by the sufferin' of others," Sam spat.
"And do you suffer, Sam? From the wretchedness you feel, from the anger that boils within, from the black thoughts your mind obsesses over, does it cause you to suffer? It will eat away at you from within, and Saruman would be pleased."
Sam took a breath, ran his hands threw his hair a few times, and then pressed his palms to his face and wept.
~~~
After long preparation and Aragorn took leave of Frodo and Sam he sought out Galadriel and Celeborn. The elves were sitting alone and in silence for war had made Celeborn bitter and quiet and Galadriel saw she could not heal her husband. He had now become restless and the sea's call was far and distant in his shadowed mind, but she could feel the ocean spray yet upon her face. It would soon come for the time of their parting as well, and perhaps their end would be bitter and Celeborn would find only darkness in the rest of his days, the Lady of Light could not foresee. Her sight and thought only stretched beyond the glimmering seas and unto glittering white shores.
"Elfstone!" smiled the lady coming towards Aragorn. "Your trials have been long and your burdens have been many but you have triumphed and bore them all and now in light you pass. You have earned now the life before you, use well these days for Arwen's love is now your greatest treasure in a kingdom of light."
Aragorn bowed. "And yet my mind holds still darkness and doubt for Frodo."
"Then you must speak to Arwen for she has woven her blessing into the threads of Frodo's fate and nothing more can be done. Wheels have already been set in motion and some fates for Frodo have proven untrue. He lives yet and it has been foreseen that he should die upon the mountain. We live yet and it has been foreseen that he should fail and his will utterly broken in the end by Sauron as he sat upon his throne."
Aragorn shuddered. "My lady I wish not to know of these horrible fates that have not been and shall never be!"
"It is what could have come to pass. Arwen knew of all these possibilities."
"And what good is it, my lady? To know of these grievous horrors that I wish I had never known could have been! For they are not! And long past reckoning!"
And then Aragorn beheld the light of Aman in the Lady's smiling face. "To show you, young Elfstone, what the world is really like." She placed a slender hand upon his cheek and it was warm and golden as the sun. "There is no certainty of the future so do not put your trust in visions of what it may be. Foresight is not a guide of deeds, simply a warning of such consequences as may come. There is no certainty but the one you make yourself."
Aragorn's eyes filled with tears and he grasped the hand upon his cheek and held it desperately to his lips. "Thank you! Thank you! My lady, you have given me hope!"
She laughed lightly. "Go now and be happy and fret not for your toil has rewarded you well."
He turned in joy to Celeborn who simply looked upon him grimly and said, "Farewell! May your doom be other than mine and your treasure remain with you in the end!" Aragorn looked upon him with pity and bowed low. Then they departed swiftly for the sun was soon to set.
~~~
Sam was chuckling lightly. "Emáten, for the last time, please rise!"
The man looked up blearily as if awoken from a swoon. He grasped Sam's hands and kissed his fingers. Sam blushed and pulled his hands away. "None o' that! You know I ain't used to no kingly treatment. I'm a simple gardener at no mistake. Last year I was pullin' carrots and plantin' daisies and that's my plan when I get home. You won't wanna be kissin' no ruddy dirt-hands of a gardener."
"Sir!" cried Emáten. "I must beg of you to stop this madness of belittling yourself!"
Sam stared at the man aghast for a moment then blushed again. "Aye, I think I reckon with ye. But I still would rather you not be bowin' and scrapin' for me."
Emáten rose reluctantly and looked upon Frodo. "Oh, my lord. I wish that I could have truly met you before I left you. I am not worthy of such company- I- I do not wish that we must part! To my home I shall now fly and remember till the end of my days my time in the presence of the Ringbearers. And perhaps in time my children will sing your tales and know your deeds."
"I shall remember you and your family fondly, Emáten. Tell your brother I gave him all my thanks and Frodo would as well. He tried to find me master, hard as anyone else did."
"A dear soul, Envin is, he will be glad to hear of you again. Farewell, my lords! My allegiance is ever unto you. I regret that I may never see your Shire but it is my king's word. I shall never travel north I suppose."
"I don't like to look too far into the future," said Samwise. "There ain't nothin' there I need to learn afore it happens."
"My lord I dare not rest easy until I know that wizard is dead. I swear, by my honor, that he shall be killed by my blade. May my soul never find rest until my sword spills his blood. My lord I dare not rest easy until I know that wizard is dead."
"I don't either, and that's a fact! But there is nothin' you can do, Emáten, and I don't ask any more of you. Swearin' an oath ain't good, you can get yourself into a mite of trouble. Take it back, it's too dangerous for you."
"But it is of my own will. I shall hunt him!"
"Do what you want to but you should rest. Go to your home and do not waste yourself away on lookin' for that foul rot. The king will send men for him I'm sure," answered Sam.
"And I shall be one of those men! My lord, whether it is your desire that I go or not, it is my desire to be the one to kill him. He has done such a great injustice towards you and your master I shall not breathe easy until he breathes no longer."
"Do not leave Envin alone," said Sam solemnly. "I know what you would do for me and I am right thankful for it! But your brother cares for you and your father and sister as well. You should not throw your life away seeking him, I know you would do that."
"Very well." Emáten bowed. "But my oath has been taken, I dare not go back on it now."
"Take care, Emáten. My master and I are thankful to you!"
"Right, sir! Farewell!"
~~~
And at last the company was made to ride and the two great parties sundered into their dwindling last. Licks of golden fire lit the sky and the last flame of sunset flanked the rising mountains of the west with radiance. The dwindling company looked back upon the green hill and it was bathed in the sun's last light and upon it was a great company of horses and men whose armor shone like gold flame. Sam looked last upon Emáten as he gleamed in the sunlight and then turned his horse away until only the king remained. It was then that the light hit the white mantle of Aragorn burst like pale fire and surrounded him and his gleaming arm held up a green stone and it shone like a star and his steed reared so it caught the last flickering of the sunset and burst with green flame. And when the final licks of fire died away behind the mountains and the shadow of night covered Aragorn and his men had disappeared over the hill.
~~~
A/N: Just a note. If you are wondering what happened to Celeborn then I have to say... so am I! I took the opportunity to reread this section of the book to be more accurate with my work and Tolkien seems to put emphasis on Celeborn's hopeless despair. Shocked that I missed this, I further investigated the situation and saw that Celeborn did not accompany Galadriel to Valinor and instead spent the rest of his days in Mirkwood. As far as I know, this is completely unexplained. If anyone knows what Tolkien intended for Celeborn I'd be delighted to know. The line "Farewell! May your doom be other than mine and your treasure remain with you in the end!" was taken from the book. All that I can gather from it is Celeborn lost something during the War of the Ring and whether he was wounded deeply (much like the shell-shock Tolkien himself experienced) or simply never intended to go West and Galadriel forsook her love for him to do so, I'm not certain.
It is thanks to all of your kind reviews that I am really trying to write more for this fic. You were all so kind to encourage me a little break I just have to disobey you ^^. You deserve chapters and regularly.
Ailsa Joy – I knew you'd love it! Thank you for the lovely compliment but please don't be discouraged. After all you are the one that created Emáten and I just fell in love with him. This chapter was mostly dialogue and lacked a lot of description save some points that I could not help but going off on a tangent about. I hope you update soon.
Yahiko - ::trembles:: Yes master!! ::writes madly:: Don't kill us precious we gives you lovely stories to read!
Laurajslr – Indeed that was the highest praise you could offer me! ::blushes:: Thank you! This is by far your longest review but I won't say thank you again for that would be redundant ;) I'm glad you liked the "it was said" parts. I was a little uneasy about using that style since it might be a contrast from the style of the regular story. Too epic maybe but it was well received ^^. I'm glad I made you mad as Saruman as that was the purpose. Petting Frodo's cheek in mock gentleness was by far his worst insult. I don't plan to change our dear Samwise in the least bit! ::trembles:: I'd never do that to my favorite chapter. But I had to consider his ability to react to this treatment of his master. Don't worry I fixed Sam in this chapter see? ^^ Glad you loved Emáten, you should be seeing a bit more of Envin soon as well. And don't worry, I'm producing plot bunnies like rabbits on Viagra! I gave you a bit of the 'real' Frodo in my other fic I loved writing it! And now back to the simple Frodo ::sob:: Your encouragement for me to take a break has only incited me to write more for you ^^ And for my fic "Birthdays at the Green Dragon" Perhaps one day I'll write a fic explaining Frodo's deepest darkest secret. Mwa haha. As for Forod being a family man, I realize Tolkien stated quite plainly he was intent on being a bachelor but after seeing Frodo's reaction to Sam's child in the Return of the King I noticed that he would make quite the father. I plan to use Lilly Fairwater in another fic soon. Enjoy!
ShireElf – Quite the desired effect. I am a loremaster now! Weee! I like seeing people's reactions to my small climaxes. Wait till you see the big one ^^
Stoneage Woman – I hope you don't procrastinate too much with writing the sequel to "Just Don't Have the Heart to End It" I want to read it ^^ Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Bookworm 2000 – Tolkienesque? Thank you! ^^ That is the greatest compliment I can receive!
Agent Pip – You will just have to read to find out if Frodo will be better again ^^ Review please!
Frodo's Gal - ::whimper:: Frodo in distress, ripped boyfriend, Frodo in distress, ripped boyfriend ::sobs indecisively as boyfriend huffs angrily in the background::
Tersa – Ramen? ::trembles:: Should I be afraid? Thank you for the compliment ^^
Smruti – Thank you for encouraging me to take a break though I'm afraid it just incited me to write more as thanks for your concern. Keep practicing, if you look at some of my old fics you'll see they are awful compared to this. It's like working out to build muscles ^^.
FrodoBaggins87 – My boy buddy is intent on surprising me when he comes home so I have no idea when exactly that will be grr. So for now I'll write like a mad woman.
Galardriellady945 – Heh that was the reaction I was hoping to garner. ^^ Keep reading and reviewing.
Frodo-lovers – I miss the real Frodo too, such a sweet lovely hobbit. Keep reading and I'll keep writing.
Endymion2 – Cuddling a cold little computer over my boyfriend is not exactly what I had intended but since he is not yet home I can use the computer as a temporary replacement. I realized it sounded like an ancient saga, I was hoping that wouldn't be too odd or out of place. I'm glad you liked it!