A/N: Okay, I'll be posting a few chapters tonight since I'm on, and they're already written anyway. If you guys like the story, let me know. Thanks.

Chapter 2: An Unspoken Love

Valia remained with the Bagginses who were very kind to her. She began to laugh again with the antics of Merry and Pippin, and Rosie Cotton befriended her. Gandalf visited and taught them to control which thoughts the other would hear, though he wouldn't explain what it was that had caused the strange connection.

Valia was still often threatened by broken memories of her past, which were often shown to Frodo as well. But their friendship grew stronger. Their ability to talk to each other silently earned them much teasing from Merry and Pippin. A few days later, Samwise Gamgee joined their small band of friends as he began tending to the garden with father, Hamfast.

That same day there was a knock on the door. Valia answered it, knowing who it was from the moment before they knocked.

"Hello, Gandalf," she said.

"Valia, it is time."

"Must I? I don't…" She sighed as Gandalf gave her an apologetic yet insistant look.

"Well, hullo Gandalf. Won't you stay for second breakfast?" Bilbo offered as he came up behind her.

"I'm afraid I can't. I've only come to take Valia to Rivendell."

"She's leaving?"

"I have to," she whispered.

Valia stood beside Gandalf's wagon with Frodo. Bilbo and Gandalf were leading the wagon with many of Valia's belongings.

She looked up at Frodo. "Gandalf has promised I might come back," she whispered.

"But why doyou have to leave at all?" He brushed aside her straight, blonde hair as his hand touched her cheek.

She looked down. "Gandalf is going to train me in the abilities I possess."

Will I still be able to speak with you?

She shook her head. It doesn't work over such distances. She looked up at him. "I will come back…someday."

And I will miss you until you do. His hand fell to hers, and she felt him slip something onto her finger.

They didn't speak as his eyes searched hers. She knew he didn't wish the others to know as he continued to hold her hand.

"It's time," Gandalf said.

She looked up at him sitting in the wagon then back at Frodo. He helped her into the wagon, squeezing her hand one last time.

"Goodbye," he said quietly.

"Goodbye," she whispered.

He stepped back, and they rode away. Valia looked back; her eyes filled with tears as the figure of Frodo disappeared beyond the bend. She looked down at the ring upon her finger, a ruby heart encased in a silver band.

A/N: I actually have a Clada (sp?) that has a ruby heart and silver band. Funny thing is that wasn't even what I was thinking about when I wrote about the ring, and then I was like "Hey, that's my ring!" Yeah, okay so review if you want.