By the next afternoon, we reached the Shire. It was a very cozy-looking place with rolling green hills and clear streams running through different parts of the countryside. As we walked through the village where Frodo and the rest of the hobbits lived, we received long stares from hobbits who were outside minding their own business and doing what needed to be done. This can be attributed to the fact that we had Gandalf the Wizard with us robed in a dazzling white, because of the outlandish clothing all the hobbits were wearing, or because of me and the legend of the elf and the hobbit marriage that happened so long ago. It was probably a combination of all.
When we reached a certain point, Pippin and Merry both took off in different directions turns their homes while Frodo, Sam, Gandalf and I made our way to Bag End. Sam stopped just short of Bag End at his home in a place called Bagshot Row.
"Goodbye, Mr. Frodo," he exclaimed as he turned his pony. "I'll be by tomorrow to see about your garden."
When we finally arrived at what was to become my new home, I was amazed at the mere sight of it. Frodo's hobbit hole was tremendously large and beautiful. I can remember my home when I still lived here in the Shire with my parents and it wasn't nearly as beautiful as Frodo's. Of course, times had changed and ages of the world had passed since those times, but still it looked as if Frodo was immensely rich.
"Do you like it, my dear?" Frodo asked as Gandalf closed the door behind us.
"Darling, it's wonderful," I exclaimed as he kissed my cheek.
"I'm glad you like it."
We spent the remainder of the day talking with Gandalf and I started to try and get settled in this place. It was nothing like my home in Rivendell, but I knew that I would eventually adjust. I knew that it would take a while before I could find my way around the house without getting lost or confused, but Frodo would hopefully be patient with me through this transition.
Gandalf stayed for a couple of weeks and then was off to pursue more adventures. After he left, Frodo was a little depressed for a while, wondering if he would ever see his old friend again, but finally we started settling down into a normal routine which married couples maintain after a certain amount of time.
Life couldn't have been better for us. We walked around the Shire and Frodo showed me all of his old haunts where he used to play as a child. People stared at us as we walked through the village and I saw a few women whisper behind our backs that it wasn't natural for a hobbit to take a part elven lady as his wife. "But then," they would say, "That young Frodo has never done anything 'normal' hobbits would do. Goin' off on them adventures and such. It's not natural, if you take my meaning. Now you remember old Mr. Bilbo's Birthday party? He gave a very long speech, saying that he would miss us and such and then he goes and disappears." By then, Frodo and I would be out of earshot and we heard no more.
Our first year anniversary was amazing. Frodo made supper for us that night and we ate dinner by candlelight, talking about our first year of marriage and even drinking some of his best wine to celebrate the occasion. After we had finished eating, and drinking a little too much wine, Frodo and I spent a very lovely night in the bedroom.
That May, Sam married a wonderful hobbit by the name of Rosie. She was a very sweet and what folks in those parts called a 'normal and beautiful lass, that Rosie Cotton is.' The ceremony was very beautiful and Frodo and I could not have been happier for them.
After the wedding, Rosie and I became very good friends and I even began working with her at the Green Dragon Inn. Frodo and his friends would come some nights to visit and have some ale. As Rosie and I worked together, we became even closer and would often invite each other over for tea while our husband's were working. Frodo was in the process of running for mayor and Sam was usually busy helping his friend or working in our garden.
A few months after their wedding, Rosie came to me one evening after work and said, "Berythna, I have something important to tell you."
We were cleaning up the dishes and the empty mugs and I suddenly stopped and glanced at her. Her voice seemed to be somewhat anxious and apprehensive, so I knew that it was something very serious. Rosie was always very happy and loved everything about her new life, but now, her voice took on a completely different tone.
"What is it, Rose?" I asked.
"I'm with child, Berythna."
"Oh, Rosie! You are? That's wonderful! Does Sam know?"
"No," she answered and smiled. "I'm not sure how to tell him. How do you think he'll take this?"
"Well knowing Sam, I think he will be very happy and proud. You should tell him tonight, or perhaps tomorrow night over dinner."
"I had thought about that. Please don't tell Frodo yet, and if you do, tell him not to say a word to Sam. And please don't let Sam know that I told you before him. I don't know how that would make him feel and I don't know when or how I'm going to tell him."
"Oh please tell him soon. He'll be so happy! Go home now and tell him. I can finish cleaning up, and you must be so tired. Go on home and tell Sam the good news."
She smiled as she hugged me and then rushed out the door. After she was gone, I had a severe longing to have a child with Frodo. We had been married for nearly two years now, and I wanted to start a family with him very soon.
After I had finished the dishes and locked up for the night, I quickly made my way home. As I passed Sam and Rosie's home, I noticed everything was dark and I thought they had probably went to bed, but when I arrived home, I found that was not the case. I found Frodo and Sam shaking hands and Rosie sitting on the couch absolutely beaming with happiness.
"Berythna," Frodo announced. "Rosie's going to have a baby! Isn't that wonderful?"
"Oh, Rose, I'm so happy for you," I exclaimed as I embraced her, pretending that I was hearing this for the first time. "Congratulations!"
As Frodo and I lay in bed that night, I tossed violently and finally gave up on ever getting to sleep. Frodo lay beside me snoring softly and I gently rose out of bed so as not to disturb him. I walked into the kitchen and put on some tea as I tried to wait out the remainder of the night. I wanted a child so badly and wondered if Frodo felt the same way. I had never really thought about children before I had fallen in love with Frodo because of course, I never thought I would ever be married. I thought by now I'd still be living peacefully in Rivendell or in the Undying Lands free from pain and death.
The Undying Lands! Ever since my marriage to Frodo, that had barely even crossed my mind. I thought about it now; the shining sea, the rolling hills, and the beauty of the elves that I would never experience again. I had thought of the elves often since I had come to the Shire. Most of the people I associated with now were mindless and stupid hobbits who didn't even know if elves really existed. They had even doubted my tale when I had told it and still passed it off as a fable. Ages had passed since my parents died and no one remembered if I had had any brothers or sisters after my parents had left me with Lord Elrond. Besides, they were more concerned with drinking and smoking weed than listen to my story.
Now I longed for the company of elves. Even if I could see just one elf and talk about elvish things just once more, instead of pipe weed and beer and planting or harvesting the crop. A longing to see Lady Arwen and King Elessar came over me and I wondered if perhaps after Rosie gave birth to her child, Frodo and I could travel to Gondor for a visit. I did promised Lady Arwen that I would visit her once I had my life settled in the Shire.
"No! You can't have it! It's mine! My precious! The Ring is mine!"
I jumped up from the table where I had been sipping my tea and ran for the bedroom where I found my husband thrashing around in bed and tearing at the sheets.
"Frodo! Wake up, my dear."
Frodo woke with a start and roughly grabbed me around my wrists. When he realized that I wasn't who he originally thought I was, he quickly let go of me and burst into tears.
"I'm so sorry, darling," he exclaimed.
"It's all right, dear. Calm down."
"Oh it was horrible! There were orcs and they were grabbing at my neck and trying to get the Ring. They took out knives and began stabbing me and then I saw you. You were there and one of them was holding a long sword across your neck. They said if I didn't give them the Ring, they would kill you, and they would make me watch what they did." He held on to me as he said this and I could feel that he was in a cold sweat.
"My love, just relax. It was only a dream."
"I know, but I cannot get back to sleep. Not after this."
"Come. I made some tea. I haven't been asleep all night and I made some tea to help me wait out the night, or what is left of it. I'll pour you a cup, just the way you like it. Two lumps of sugar and a teaspoon of honey."
He smiled as I said this and wiped his forehead. He then rose and followed me into the kitchen.
"Berythna," he said wistfully as I poured him some tea. "I want to start a family."
I nearly dropped his cup at hearing this.
"Really? Because so do I."
"When Sam came rushing over with Rosie and announced that she was going to have a child, it really made me think of us and I thought that perhaps it's time we started a family. We've been married for almost two years now and I want a son to carry on my name after I'm gone. This coming April we will celebrate our two year wedding anniversary and I feel like we should have children sometime soon."
"I want a little girl," I answered. "I want a girl so that I can dress it up in the clothes I wore in Rivendell when I was a little girl."
"Then we shall have both," he answered as he laid his cup on the table and held me. "We shall have both."
"Frodo, I would also like to return to Gondor sometime soon, maybe after Rosie has her child, and visit with Lady Arwen and King Elessar."
"Darling, this is November, is it not, and we've only been here in the Shire for just over a year. Do you miss Lady Arwen already?"
"Yes, Frodo, please? Rosie will probably give birth in August of next year. Perhaps we could go then?"
He sighed and then kissed me tenderly on the forehead.
"What if you become with child by next August, as I wish to happen, and from what you've told me, you do too."
"Then we will wait. I just want to see her once more before…"
"Before what?"
"Before we both die."
"Oh darling, of course we'll go to Gondor before anyone dies. Look, dear, the sun is rising. Oh my it looks as if I'll have to rake leaves once again today. The ground is nearly covered."
I sighed as he went to wash up for the day, and then actually did something I did not plan on doing at the moment. I sat down at the table and cried.