The next morning, I was startled by a soft tap on my door. I had stayed up the previous night and done nothing but dream about the look of his soft but piercing blue eyes. These feelings were so new to me and I didn't know what was happening or if this was even what mortals called 'love'.
Lady Arwen entered my room and announced that the young hobbit wanted to be guided through Rivendell quite soon and asked if I would be his personal guide. I nodded shyly and dressed after Lady Arwen had left. I chose to dress in an emerald dress that gracefully fell to the floor and pinned my hair back with deep emeralds and diamonds.
I walked out into the courtyard and saw Frodo standing near the balcony looking out over the valley of Rivendell. I approached him slowly and whispered, "Good morning, sir."
He turned quickly around and I heard him take a sharp intake of breath when he saw me, but then quickly regained his composure and answered, "It is a good morning, isn't it?"
Whether he meant the morning was good because of the beautiful weather or because he was with me once again, he did not say and I did not pressure the question.
"Are you feeling well enough to go for a walk through the valley?"
"I believe so."
"Then let us begin."
The entire morning was filled with the sights and sounds of the valley of Rivendell. Somehow, the sights seemed more beautiful and the sounds more musical to hear than they had in a hundred years. As we strolled through the forests and paths, I told him all of the history I knew of Rivendell and he listened with great interest, even asking questions throughout the morning. By the afternoon as we walked back to the House of Elrond, he was asking about myself and how I came to live in Rivendell and I was asking him about his personal history. I learned that his parents had died when he was only very young and he eventually moved in with his cousin Bilbo, whom he called Uncle Bilbo, and that he had led a very routine life for a hobbit, until now.
"Thank you for the walk and the stories you have related. It was very entertaining. I believe it is about lunch time and if you are not busy, I would love to have your company while we eat."
I eagerly agreed and Sam brought us both lunch out on the balcony just outside of Frodo's room. He then bowed and left to join the other two hobbits as they had theirs downstairs in the dining area. We had a very enjoyable lunch together and by the end of the meal we were talking like old friends.
One morning shortly afterwards, Frodo came to me while I was walking under the trees and listening to the sounds of the waterfall and said, "Lord Elrond has called a council meeting and I will not be able to accompany you on your walk this afternoon." We had spent almost every waking moment together during the past few days and I was disappointed in this, but I knew that if Lord Elrond had called a meeting, it must have been something very important.
"I see," I answered, trying not to show my disappointment. "It must be an urgent matter."
"I believe it is," he whispered softly with his head down.
"I am on my way back to my chambers and would be more than happy to walk with you back to Elrond's House."
He agreed and we walked silently back together, but when we arrived at the courtyard I was astounded to see so many people of so many different races present: elves, men, and even dwarves. Lord Elrond himself was seated there along with Gandalf the Wizard, Bilbo, and Lord Aragorn.
"This is where I have to leave you," Frodo whispered solemnly and I hurried away before Lord Elrond could see the confusion in my eyes.
I rushed to my room and peeked out of the window to see what was happening. Frodo had found a seat between Gandalf and Bilbo and it looked as if Elrond had called the meeting to order. After a long while, I grew bored with watching and decided to take a book out on the balcony.
I sat there a long while reading peacefully until I heard shouting coming from the meeting area. I quickly rushed over to where I could see the council meeting and leaned over the balcony to get a better view of what was happening. Everyone was up out of their chairs and shouting at one another until I spotted Frodo, who looked so small up against everyone else present. Suddenly I heard him shout, "I will take it! I will take it!"
Everyone stopped shouting immediately and turned their attention to Frodo, somewhat amazed.
"I will take the Ring to Mordor."
My heart stopped. Mordor. What ring was he taking to Mordor? It couldn't be the One, could it? I ceased to breath as I thought of this. Perhaps it was another ring that was less important, one of the dwarfish rings perhaps or even an elvish one. But it could not possibly be the One.
I went like a sleepwalker back into my chambers and sat on the edge of the small settee to think about what had been said. The One Ring. I shuddered to think what would happen if Frodo was sent with the One Ring into Mordor. Surely Lord Elrond would not send him and if he did, he would not send him alone. It was an impossible task that could not be filled, especially by a small hobbit. It could not have been the One. It had to be a less significant ring, a dwarfish one. That's what it was, a dwarfish ring that was no longer needed. But why did they need to send it to Mordor?
Suddenly, there was a knock on my door and like a dreamer, I exclaimed, "Enter."
It was Frodo and the moment I saw how pale and miserable he looked, I immediately rushed over to him and touched the side of his face.
"Are you ill?"
"No," he answered. "I'm a little anxious, but nothing to worry over."
I then realized this was the first physical contact we had ever made and I was about to pull my hand away from his face when he wrapped an arm around my waist and held me very close.
"I'm going to go spend the rest of the day with Bilbo. I'm sorry, I know that we haven't spent much time together today, but I really need to speak with Bilbo in private."
"I understand."
"No matter what happens, I want you to know that I have enjoyed these past few days, but I am leaving very soon, probably within the next month, to go on a perilous journey. I will not be coming back."
I gave out a cry at this as I realized that it was the One Ring he had been speaking of and threw my arms around his neck as he held me even closer. He let me cry on his shoulder a while before pulling me away to look at him. I then noticed that his own tears were running down his face.
"I love you," he whispered as he lightly brushed his hand against my face.
And then he did something that changed my life forever.
He kissed me.