Chapter Twelve: October the 24th
The next morning Frodo was still sleeping. The hobbits were all anxious for him to wake, but they no longer feared for Frodo. They waited patiently for him, keeping each other company and trying not to think too much about it. They spent the day together, Mélanyë showing Merry and Pippin around Rivendell while Sam and Bilbo stayed with Frodo.
Mélanyë took the two younger hobbits to see the waterfalls and they spent hours there enjoying the view and the spray of water on their faces. After a while, Lindir joined them, for he had been looking for Mélanyë. The four talked and watched the falls together until finally the thought of Frodo crept back into their minds. The hobbits were all getting up to leave when Lindir quietly took hold of Mélanyë's hand.
"Let them go," he whispered to her. She watched them run off, oblivious to their guide being missing. She turned to Lindir after they were out of sight and he smiled to her.
"You've been so busy with your cousins that I hadn't been able to see you." She squeezed his hand and leaned on his shoulder. He put his arm around her and they watched the sun sink to the hills and the falls turn to molten gold.
It was the morning of the 24th of October when Frodo finally woke. Mélanyë was anxious to see him, but knew that many other people had to see him first. Elrond and Gandalf needed to speak with him, and he would be wanting to see his friends right away. Trying to take her mind off her brother, she made herself busy in her bakery, making many kinds of cakes for the great feast she knew would be held that evening in honor of his recovery. The sun had begun it's decent towards the horizon when Gandalf came in.
"Mélanyë," he called, surprising her from her concentration. "It is time for your brother to meet you. He is getting ready for dinner."
Gandalf led her down the corridor to his room. She was terribly anxious as they approached the room where her brother had slept for the past four days.
Gandalf knocked softly on the door.
"Who is it?" they heard from inside.
"It is Gandalf."
The door opened and Gandalf stepped in. Mélanyë followed close behind the wizard. Frodo, it seems was in the middle of dressing, and she saw that he was fastening the last few buttons on a dark green tunic that he had been given. He greeted Gandalf warmly as he entered, and gave Mélanyë a curious glance.
"Frodo," Gandalf said, "I want you to meet someone." Gandalf motioned for her to step forward.
"Hullo," Frodo greeted the elf, or so he thought she was, though was a bit surprised at her. All the elves he'd met so far were tall, some even taller than Gandalf, but she was closer to his own height.
"This is Mélanyë. She helped watch over you while you were sick," he heard Gandalf say. He thanked her as he had done with everyone he had met since he had woken from his sleep, but then stopped himself. He thought she seemed very familiar. He absolutely hated the idea of forgetting someone he had already met, so he asked.
"I beg your pardon, but have we met before?"
"Y-yes, uhm, I mean no, not really," she stammered. "I mean, you weren't awake when we first met." Her voice was soft and kind, and made her seem even more familiar to him.
"Who are you?" he finally asked. There was a long pause as she tried to find the right way to tell him. Elrond had told her that for the first few days after waking, Frodo might be overly sensitive and emotional, so she wanted to be careful with her response. But as the minutes passed, and he seemed to grow impatient, she was fOrced to say it in the only words that she could think of.
"I am your sister, Frodo."
For many moments, Frodo stood in silence, unbelieving the words he had just heard. He tried to find some way to accept this new situation he found himself in. His sister? His thoughts crept back to his childhood. He was five years old, kneeling at Primrose's* grave, weeping for the sister he'd never seen. He now saw this girl standing in front of him trying to take her place, and he felt a sudden rush of anger. He felt heat rise in his cheeks as he tried to sort out all the emotions welling up inside him. He didn't want to be angry with this girl he didn't know, but he couldn't stop it. He kept thinking of the sweet face of a twin sister he'd known only in his dreams, and how she would feel knowing that someone had taken her place in his life. His eyes flashed at her.
"How can you be my sister? You're an elf!" he cried. "I already have a sister! She died in Buckland fifty years ago!" He knew these words must have hurt the girl in front of him, but he couldn't stop them from coming. He opened his mouth to continue with his angry ranting, and only then truly saw the hurt in her eyes. For a reason he did not know, they reminded him of his father's eyes when he had been sad, telling him for the first time of the daughter that he had lost on the same day he had gained a son. As quick as it had come the anger left him, only to be replaced with a deep sadness and regret for his harsh words.
He looked down at the cool polished floor under his feet and saw the blurry image of his own tears splashing on the smooth stone. He felt his knees give way, and arms catch him as he fell. He wept then, for Primrose, and his mother and father, and for Sam and Merry and Pippin, and for all the hurts that he'd had to bear in the last few months and all of the horrible dreams that he still half-remembered.
After some time, he didn't know how long, he realized he had stopped crying, and saw that he was back in his room in Rivendell. All the horrible things that had caused him such sadness seemed far, far away as he felt the cool evening breeze on his face. He became aware that arms still held him, and as he looked up, he saw that they belonged to Mélanyë. He sat up and wiped his face, feeling somewhat ashamed for his outburst. He looked to the door and saw that Gandalf was gone. The two sat in silence for a long time.
"I'm sorry," he said finally, his voice still slightly hoarse. He cleared his throat and continued. "I'm not angry with you...it's just," he paused, searching for a way to mend the situation.
"I know how hard these past months have been for you," Mélanyë whispered softly, "I understand." More silence followed. Frodo studied his hands in his lap. After a moment he looked over and saw her doing the same.
"Who were your parents?" he asked.
"Ancalimë was my mother," she replied, looking up, "and my father's name was Drogo Baggins." Frodo finally met her eyes and studied her face. He saw that there were features that were not very Elvish about her. Her eyes were brown and her hair, while long and straight, was same dark brown as his own. Her skin also was the darker hue that his father had had, and her features were most definitely Fallowhide like his. His eyes strayed to her feet.
"You wear shoes!" he said, surprised. Without a word she reached down and removed one of her soft slippers and held up her foot. Without realizing it, Frodo did the same, and their feet met. "They're almost the same size!" he said. She laughed.
"You see? We are not so different after all!" She began to replace her slipper as she spoke, but then stopped and removed the other one instead. "When I was young, I noticed that I was different from the other elf children. My mother, I guess, took pity on me and had some shoes made that would fit my larger feet so that I felt more like I belonged."
"Where is your mother?" Frodo asked. He was beginning to accept that she really was who she said she was, and was more comfortable with her now. His heart ached for Primrose, but he felt that if she were alive she would be happy to meet this new sister too. He saw a sudden sadness pass over Mélanyë's face now as he asked his question.
"She left," she said. "She has gone to Valinor- to the Undying Lands."
"Why?" There was a long pause before she answered. When she spoke, she again looked down at her hands and began to play with a silver ring he now saw on the middle finger of her right hand.
"My mother was one of the warrior elves," she began. "She would join the armies of Mirkwood to help fight the goblins that constantly threaten our realms. Once when I was young, she was wounded in battle. The blade was cursed and Elrond could not heal her. He said her only hope was to seek healing in Valinor." She stopped and was silent for a long time. When she looked up, she saw Frodo looking at her. He reached out and took one of her hands.
"I lost my family too," he said.
Sam, Merry and Pippin sat outside Frodo's room waiting for the two to come out. The three sat facing each other, Sam with his head in his hands, and Merry and Pippin tossing a ball between them. Finally, Pippin caught the ball and sighed.
"What are they doing in there?" he cried. "They're going to be late for dinner, and us too!" Sam looked up from the square of tile he had been studying.
"Gandalf said not to disturb them," he said for the fifth time since they'd been sitting out there. "Frodo and Mel need to be alone."
"Well why can't they be alone after dinner?" Pippin complained. He tossed the ball at Merry who just barely caught it. He looked down at it and grinned.
"Maybe we can teach Mel to play ball later," he said to himself.
"What was that, Merry?" Pippin asked. Merry looked startled.
"Oh, nothing." He tossed the ball back to his cousin. Just then the door opened, and the two siblings came out. They were immediately greeted by the other three, who were only too happy to see them. Mélanyë watched the four friends and smiled. Was she really a part of this group? Feeling almost like an intruder, she began to quietly slip away. She would find Frodo again after the banquet. She turned to leave only to bump into Merry.
"Where are you going, Mel?" he asked. She felt her face flush as he looked at her. "You're not coming with us?" She began to tell him that she didn't belong with them, but he didn't seem to hear her. He draped his arm around her and guided her back to the group. Sam and Pippin greeted her when they saw her. Frodo caught her eyes and gave her an encouraging smile. All at once the depression left her and she began to smile. She smiled and couldn't stop. She felt joy that she could never remember having before fill her at being accepted by these hobbits. Before she knew it they were making their way down the hall, telling stories and laughing as merrily as only hobbits can.
They arrived at the grand banquet hall not too long after. Frodo was immediately ushered to his seat near the head of the long table, and so said a hasty farewell to his friends. The others were shown to their seats, but Mélanyë's gaze was caught by a group of elves that were standing nearby talking in a small group.
"Cóume!" she cried as she ran over to the tall elf. He was talking with another elf near their seats. He turned and smiled.
"Ah! I was wondering if I'd find you here, Mélanyë, daughter of Ancalimë," he said warmly. "Legolas, do you remember? This is the young elf I found in our woods with a pack of dwarves a few years ago." Legolas smiled and extended his hand to her.
"Yes, of course I do," he said. "It is good to see you." She took his hand. "You were in my father's halls for such a short time, but it is hard to forget such a lovely visitor." She bowed her head to hide the bright flush that rose in her cheeks at his words.
"Thank you," she said, and looked up. "What of Liofa? Did he come with you?" The smiles slowly faded on the two tall elves and they looked at one another. Cóume crouched in front of her and spoke softly to her.
"He has gone missing, Mélanyë." Her heart stopped. Missing? Where could he have gone? A great sadness weighed on her heart at the news. "That is part of why we have come. You will hear about it at the Council tomorrow." She bowed her head in sorrow and the three shared a silent moment together. The mood was broken soon after as some new arrivals began a noisy discussion further down the table. Legolas was the first to look up and he frowned.
"Naugrim," he muttered. The others turned to see many dwarves crowding around the end of the table. They seemed to be arguing about the seating arrangements. Mélanyë smiled. She turned and bowed to the two elves before dashing off to meet the new guests.
"Gloin!" she cried. The old dwarf turned and caught her in a hug.
"Mélanyë! It's good to see you again!" She saw many others she recognized from her trip to the Lonely Mountain. One of them standing behind Gloin approached her.
"Hullo, Gimli," she said to the younger dwarf. She saw a deep sadness in his eyes and understood at once. She took his arm. "You went to see her." He nodded. She hugged him and he squeezed her tightly. "It's good to see you, Gimli."
The dinner passed smoothly with many tales told and old friends catching up on lost years. Mélanyë was seated with Sam, Merry and Pippin and the three talked endlessly about the Shire, and of Frodo and how excited they were that he was okay. Often they would all look to the head of the table where Frodo was talking with Gloin. He saw them looking a few times and waved, laughing when he was answered with four waving hands.
After the dinner they all went into the Hall of Fire, where Frodo met Bilbo for the first time since waking. Sensing that this was a special moment for them, Mélanyë let the other four rush off together and she stayed behind to watch the scene from across the room. She headed to her favorite spot near the fire and saw Lindir waiting for her. She laughed.
"How did you know I'd be here?" she asked.
"I have known you your whole life, Mel," he said as she sat down. "You don't think I'd know where you would sit in the Hall of Fire?"
They watched the meeting of the hobbits, and sang along with the songs when Elrond and Arwen came. Lindir and Mélanyë listened to a song Bilbo had written for the occasion, attempting to trick them by asking which part he wrote and which was written by Aragorn. Lindir asked Bilbo to repeat his song, but Bilbo politely refused.
"I am flattered, Lindir, but it would be too tiring to repeat it all."
"Not too tiring for you," said Lindir, glancing at Mélanyë who was half- asleep beside him. "You know you are never tired of reciting your own verses. But really, we cannot answer your question at one hearing!" Bilbo seemed genuinely surprised to have stumped the elf.
"What? You really can't tell which parts were mine and which were the Dunedan's?"** At last, however, Bilbo retired, leaving Lindir to ponder the question for the night. He resolved to ask Mélanyë the answer to the riddle in the morning. As the other hobbits were leaving or being carried off to bed, Lindir looked down and to his surprise he saw her asleep on his shoulder. He chuckled softly before lifting her up and bringing her back to her room.
*Borrowed from Overlithe's 'One Summer' series.
** Borrowed from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; Book Two, Chapter One- 'Many Meetings'.