A Better Life

Chapter 13 Thoughts

By the time I woke up it was a new morning. I had slept the rest of the day and night. As I woke up I saw Gandalf sitting at the foot of my cot.

"Good to see you're awake," he said happily. "Meriadoc has been very eager to see you. Almost beat me with my own staff trying to get through to see you. Shall I call him in?"

"Yes please," I said also very eager to see him.

Gandalf got up and walked out of the tent. He had only been gone about two minutes, when Merry came rushing in. Running over to my cot he took me in his arms and hugged me until I thought my bones would break. Finally he released me and sat on my cot stroking my cheek.

"I was so worried," he said at last. "After the last of the men had been killed I went looking for you. I was so afraid you had been captured or...killed when I couldn't find you. When Gandalf told me you were in here I feared the worst," he said sadly.

"I'm okay, I said. I'm also very glad your okay. I worried about you the whole time."

Leaning down he started spreading butterfly kisses all over my face.

"Hey!" I said laughing. "Don't get all mushy on me. You're the guy after all."

He laughed, but continued kissing me.

"Ahem, "said a voice.

I looked up to see Tori and Pippin standing there watching us.

"Oh I didn't even realize you had left, " I said embarrassed.

"Apparently you were to busy to notice," Pippin said holding in a laugh. I noticed he had his arm in a sling.

Tori burst out laughing and came over and hugged me. Pippin also gave me a hug.

"I'm glad your okay," Tori said smiling.

"Yeah well, this is like nothing, I mean to be honest I thought I wouldn't make it," I said.

"Well you're all okay and that's what matters," another voice said.

We turned to see Frodo standing in the entrance, with Sam behind him.

They greeted us and hugged us. We spoke a lot. Soon we were heading back to the Shire. It felt good to be back. It felt so much like home. Home. I thought came to mind. What about my old home? How would I get back and most importantly if I could, would I go home? Later that night after dinner Frodo mentioned how he would be going with Bilbo to see him depart the last ship from Middle Earth. He still hadn't told Merry, Pippin or Sam. Tori and I told him we would like to come. The following day we rode on ponies while Frodo took a wagon with Bilbo. As we arrived I grew upset. I knew what happened next.

Gandalf called for Frodo to come, that it was time to leave. They finally knew. They all said goodbye with tears in their eyes. I hugged Frodo goodbye extra long. I was really upset to see him go. Finally the ship departed. We watched as it drifted farther and farther away until it was out of sight. Gandalf strode up to Tori and I. He looked sad for a moment then spoke.

"It is time," he said. "I know how you will get home. All you have to do is feel. Remember your home. Think about it, how you miss home. Also find an item that reminds you of home and hold it tight. The magic should be fired up because of your mood and you will be sent home the way you arrived."

I looked at Merry. He looked broken. Pippin looked sick. I then looked to Tori. She nodded. We had spoken before and we knew what to do.