This story is a sequel to "Gift of the Valar". References will be made in this chapter to events and characters from that story. The characters in this writing are the result of many years of work by the writer J.R.R. Tolkein, and as such are the property of his estate. I respect and admire his works greatly, but am happy to "borrow" the characters and settings he created to let my imagination roam.....
Chapter 3: Insights
The next morning's sun rose with agonizing slowness. Wispy clouds veiled the early morning skyline as the sun delayed it's decision to appear. The sounds of the street below the window woke Sam from his armchair slumber. He lifted his head from it's awkward position and slowly moved it from side to side to ease his morning stiffness. He rose slowly from the depths of the man sized chair beside his master's bed, not wishing to disturb his ailing friend.
To his utter dismay, the bed was empty and a quick glance about the room brought his eyes to rest upon the the frail figure of Frodo sitting upon the cushioned window seat. He was sitting with his knees drawn up to his chest, his arms draped carelessly about his legs as he stared, seemingly without purpose out the window. Sam caught a glimpse of pale, thin legs and furry feet as Frodo shifted his position slightly to wrap the voluminous nightshirt more closely about him. 'Nothing seems ta fit Mr. Frodo' Sam found himself thinking. He enjoyed his stolen moment of observation, barely breathing for fear he'd break his master's reverie. He noted how serene Frodo could seem, when untouched by the scrutiny and concerns of others.
A chill filled the air as a fresh morning breeze found it's way into the stillness of the room. Frodo's dark curls moved with the force of the current and his thin shoulders shook a moment with the chill. That was too much for Sam, he quietly stood and taking a coverlet from the bed came to the window and draped it's warmth protectively about Frodo's shoulders. Frodo jumped at the touch and Sam felt the tenseness build in the thin shoulders beneath his capable hands.
"Mr. Frodo, ye've not been well sir, I'll catch it but good from Strider if yer sitting here getting a chill whilst I'm snoring away in that there chair" he said as he eyed the comfy armchair and hoped for warmth of the bed nearby. "Come back to yer bed sir, it's a far sight warmer there." He said doing his best to verbally cajole his friend.
Frodo turned from his streetward gaze and stared full into Sam's round brown eyes. "How many children do you think have been hurt by the war Sam?" he asked, his words clearly showing he'd heard nothing of Sam's entreaty. "How many children wander the streets of this city, bereft of parents, home and love? " He continued his smooth voice growing stronger and his words more poignant as his need to communicate grew in urgency. "How many children are left to wander, wondering from where their next meal will come, or who will be there to care if they are hurt, or scared....or lonely." Frodo trembled, whether from the chill or the intensity of his words Sam did not know. Sam moved to try and wrap the coverlet more closely about his friend. Frodo shook him off impatiently. "How many carry the weight of the world with a hole in their heart the only feeling they have left to them..." his voice dropped to a whisper "How many are guided only by their pain Sam, lost, lost in their emptiness? How many?"
Sam was scared to see Frodo's tremendous blue eyes shine with tears that could not fall. "I...I don't rightly know sir. I'm sure the King has a fair good idea though. Now come on back ta bed sir, ye've been ill again and rest'll do ya good." Sam was firm this time and grasped Frodo's shoulders to guide him to the bed. Frodo shrugged him off once more, "far too many Sam." The sickly hobbit said, as if not hearing Sam's pleading wishes. Frodo dropped the blanket from him and stood up, taking Sam's face in his hands he said "They will fall victims to a great evil, they will be hunted and many will die" he said tonelessly as his hands dropped to his sides his eyes glazed over with pain and he trembled.
Sam was becoming frightened "now Mr. Frodo, come ta bed where it's warm and I'll send for the King, he'll help ya through this...please?" he pleaded. Frodo continued "but who will help the children Sam?" he asked as he reached his hands up to rub his temples, eyes squeezed closed a moment then opening again to reveal an agony so clear Sam gasped "who will help them?" He asked his voice seared with the pain of known loss. He took a step towards Sam and his knees gave way as he fell victim to his grief. Sam caught him as he fell and wrapping him in his arms and the coverlet, carried him to the bed. He reached to the table and rang a bell to summon the hall page to go fetch Gandalf and the King.
In moments they were there, their presence filling Sam with the hope that soon his Master's strange actions and words would be explained. Frodo lay on his back, as Sam had placed him, eyes open and unseeing , body trembling despite the growing heat of the day and the many blankets that covered him. Aragorn felt for Frodo's pulse and tried to rouse him from his stupor. "What happened Samwise?" the wizard asked, "more headaches?"
"He didn't let on with words Gandalf, but he rubbed his temples like he'd always done when one 'o the headaches was a coming." Sam shook his head, a puzzled look on his face "He kept asking about children, I don't rightly understand his asking such things, but I told him I'd ask the King." Sam stroked Frodo's cheek gently "afore I could go ask ya, he fell ta my arms and he's 'ere now as ya see 'em." Sam's voice sounded scared "He has not spoken a single word since then, he's jest lying there, staring and not seein' a thing....what's wrong with 'em Strider?".
Aragorn sighed. "His heart races and he sees nothing of this world Gandalf." The King's frustration was evident in the way he clenched his jaw as he spoke "we are losing him to the shadows Gandalf, we made the wrong choice at Cormallen." Sam's panic stricken face appeared at Aragorn's side "What choice do ye speak of? What shadows can take him now?" he asked anxiously. Aragorn put a comforting hand on Sam's shoulder as Gandalf began to speak....
"Years ago Aragorn, I knew that Frodo was a very special hobbit." Aragorn smiled and started to speak, but was stopped by the commanding voice of the wizard. "I knew because the Valar told me so." Aragorn looked puzzled and he looked to Sam, who nodded his agreement with Gandalf. The Wizard continued to weave his tale "Frodo was chosen by the Valar because they knew, that of all the races upon Middle Earth, Hobbits alone still had the innocence of heart and clarity of spirit to fight the temptations of the ring. They wanted to ensure that they'd chosen the strongest hobbit, the one whose heart would prevail in times of pain and darkness. They looked for, and found, in Frodo Baggins a hobbit of great intelligence, creativity, strength of heart and resiliency, a hobbit who would inspire great deeds and fierce loyalty from those around him. They needed to be sure however, for so much was at stake, that Frodo was indeed 'na amin' or 'the one', so they devised a series of tests. In their wisdom the Valar placed many obstacles in Frodo's path as he grew up. They tested his perseverance, his ability to withstand physical and emotional pain and" the Wizard paused to look sadly at Sam "they severed his bonds of family love, so that there'd be nothing to prevent him from leaving the Shire when the time was right."
A sputtering gasp was heard from Sam "Are ye saying that they took his folks?" Gandalf nodded. Sam, standing next to the wizard reached out his small hand to grab at the white cloak Gandalf wore. "They took his folks and then they made Bilbo go away too?" he asked sadly. The wizard took Sam's hand in his "yes Sam, that is what I am saying." the wizard agreed, his eyes showing both great age and sadness in their depths. Sam swayed slightly as another realization came to him and he paled visibly. Aragorn grabbed Sam's shoulder, "easy Sam, here, sit down now." he said as he pulled Sam up beside him where he sat at Frodo's side. Sam continued to stare at Gandalf "yer meaning then Mr. Gandalf that they took her away too?" he whispered brokenly. "Yes Sam, I am afraid so" Gandalf said sighing deeply. Sam sat with both hands covering his face, unable to meet the wizard's gaze.
"Gandalf, of whom is Sam speaking?" Aragorn asked. The wizards stared at Sam's sadness and wondered how best to continue with his tale. He continued, as if he'd not heard Aragorn's question, feeling that it was to Sam he owed the explanation. "The Valar knew that Frodo would need special protection to see him through his trials and so they gave to him the gift of foretelling....and they sent me to be his guide until his task was done." Aragorn felt anger rise within him "then you knew what was to happen to him? To all of us?" he said coldly. Gandalf turned his gaze away from Sam to stare at the King and he shook his head "I was not given the gift of foresight Aragorn, Frodo was." The wizard shook his head slowly "Frodo developed great strength of mind over the years and learned to turn away from the visions of the Valar when they ruled his thoughts too greatly, a skill which both helped and hurt him later."
Aragorn, still sitting by Sams side raised his eyebrow and nodded for the Wizard to continue. Gandalf came and sat quietly on the other side of Sam and taking the gardener's small hand in his gnarled grasp continued his tale. "After many painful tests that proved to the Valar that Frodo could endure great physical pain, weather and set to rights social injustice, inspire great loyalty and defend that which he loved, the Valar sent him one last test. Sam's back stiffened and Aragorn sensed his growing anger and tenseness. "Yes Sam" Gandalf continued softly "The Valar sent Chrysanthemum as Frodo's final test." Sam's sharply indrawn breath, closed eyes and balled fists spoke of his inner agony as he whispered "She was not a test....she was his love, a lass that brought him all the joy he deserved...his 'light in dark times' he called her" He turned to Gandalf with tears in his eyes "When she left, he lost his music, the magic that was Frodo changed ...I watched his wonder for the world turn ta hatred...and 'twas only his love of the Shire and his memories of her that gave him the heart fer living." Sam sobbed with his memories of days past refreshed in his eyes he paused and with a catch in his voice asked "didn't ya love 'em Gandalf? How could ya a let that happen?" the sandy haired hobbit asked brokenly.
The Wizard's face was etched with deep lines of pain "Oh yes Samwise, I did and still do love your Mr. Frodo very much, but you must understand that this was in fact a duty that was all about love...about Frodo's love of beauty and his desire to save those he loved and the land that he loved from the darkest of evils." Sam grew quiet again as Aragorn continued to sooth him by rubbing his shoulders and they both watched the wizard's face as Gandalf continued.
"In answer to your previous question Aragorn, Chrysanthemum was a healer who helped guide Frodo through his recovery after his death." Aragorn and Sam looked questioningly to the Wizard. "Yes Sam, Frodo did die that afternoon from the sledge accident, he did drown despite your valiant attempts to save him." He paused a moment recalling the pain he'd seen that day so long ago and he continued. "The Valar tested his loyalty that day Sam, they offered Frodo the chance to be once more with his parents, to pass into a world with no pain and the joy of his childhood restored." Sam looked puzzled and then crestfallen as his understanding grew. "His other choice was to come back, through the pain and agony of re-birth to be with you Sam. He chose to be with you, he could not bear to see you lose someone else you loved so soon after the death of your mother." Sam nodded and clenched his eyes as he felt his tears start up anew. Gandalf continued, " Frodo's physical recovery was long and painful, his emotional and mental recuperation even more challenging." Gandalf turned to look at the unseeing visage of his friend and brushed a curl from his forehead before he spoke again.
"He showed tremendous strength of mind and character as he, with the aid of the lass Chrysanthemum, fought against all odds to bring him back." The Wizard suddenly looked very tired as he admitted "I myself nearly gave up and to this day do not know where he found his strength....through the recovery Frodo and Chrysanthemum fell in love, and while they were young it was deemed that they should become conditionally betrothed upon Frodo's 21st birthday." Aragorn was amazed "Betrothed? So young? Why I had always understood that Hobbits did not come of age until their early thirties." Gandalf nodded and Sam broke in "'tis true, most times Hobbits won't consider marriage 'til both are of age....but in times 'o trouble parents are allowed to pledge the future of their child ta be with another...this started after the great plague killed so many...some families started marrying young ta try and have as many wee ones as possible...'ta ensure there'd be a future fer hobbits" Sam finished rather shamefacedly.
Gandalf looked to Sam with a smile lurking beneath his bushy brows "yes Sam, that is exactly why it was enacted....I am afraid however that in this case it did not ensure the future of hobbits" He turned to take Frodo's hand in his "in this case, your Mr. Frodo did that." Aragorn hated to hear the answer to his next question, but knew it needed to be asked, "what happened to his lass Sam?" Sam closed his eyes seeing in his mind the joy and terror of that day so long ago, he was transported to a sunny day, laughter, kissing and Frodo's smile brighter than the sun....then darkness descended and terror, fear and pain were all he could see and feel. He shuddered in remembrance and Aragorn asked again "Sam? What happened to Frodo's Chrysanthemum?"
He turned to the King and the Wizard, all color gone from his face, eyes filled with tears "I can not speak of it now, not with him 'ere...if it pleases ya King Aragorn I'll tell of it when 'e can't hear me." he whispered. Aragorn looked quickly to Gandalf "certainly Sam, when you are ready to tell, I shall be there to listen." Aragorn felt his heart fill with admiration for the strength of the little ones before and beside him as he looked from Sam to the still form of Frodo. Gandalf finished his tale "I am sorry Sam, the Valar had to see Frodo pass this final test, they had to know..." his voice broke a moment and he took a deep breath to continue as he felt Sam's hand upon his cheek . "I understand Gandalf, they had ta know how he'd be with 'em." He said. Gandalf looked with wonder at the insightful hobbit beside him as Aragorn looked puzzled. "They had to know what?" he asked confused. Gandalf waited for Sam to finish and was not disappointed. Sam looked down at his hands a moment and said "They had ta know how he'd be with Stinker....they had ta see that his heart would win over his mind" . Gandalf nodded and squeezed Sam's shoulder "Yes Sam, that was the last test." Gandalf turned to a still puzzled Aragorn "The Valar saw that Bilbo and his pity for Gollum would pave the way for ring to be discovered, but with Frodo it was his compassion that was to stem the tide of evil."
The three of them sat on the edge of Frodo's bed, bonded in their silent pain, memories of evil and fear for the one lying so still upon the bed. Each was lost to their own thoughts and images as the shadows of late afternoon shifted amidst the elegant furnishing of the bedchamber. Finally, Gandalf stood to leave and admonished them "Frodo must never know of this, it would break him." Sam and Aragorn nodded wordlessly and the Wizard continued with a heavy hearted sigh "I fear the Valar are not yet through with our friend, it appears he has been appointed one last task. At mornings first light I will awaken him from his trance and help him through the vision he resists so strongly.