During that week, Lord Elrond, Gandalf, and King Elessar went through Hobbiton healing all of the sick hobbits, except those that were too far gone to be healed, until finally, the mysterious illness was completely gone. There was a big celebration in the village in honor of the three "heroes" as they were called. All three of them laughed at this, but enjoyed the celebration nonetheless, except for one major factor. Their friend and my husband was dead. I attended the celebration, and it reminded me very much of when Frodo was elected mayor only weeks before. Only there were none of Gandalf's fireworks and Frodo was not there.
I cannot describe how this affected me. I cannot say that I remember exactly what happened when I heard Lord Elrond say that Frodo was dead. I remember very little about the funeral. It was held the next day and almost everyone in Hobbiton came to pay their respects. Sam was especially grieved as was Merry and Pippin. What made this time even worse for all of us was that a couple of days after Frodo's funeral, we received news that Rosie, Sam's wife, and of course her unborn child had died as well. Rosie had died the same day she had become sick, which was probably due to the fact that she was with child and that her resistance to the illness was very low. Sam had had the illness as well, but was thankfully healed by Lord Elrond. Even though Hobbiton celebrated, they also grieved for their heavy losses.
Lord Elrond, Aragorn, and Gandalf stayed with me for a week after the deaths of Frodo and Rosie. Many times during that week, Sam came over for comfort and to also visit with his old friends. It was right before they were to leave that I started becoming sick.
It was a different sort of illness. I wasn't feverish, just not feeling quite like myself. Each morning was the worst, and the three "heroes" decided to stay until I felt like myself again. Even Sam was becoming a little worried.
By the fourth day of feeling ill, Sam contacted Dr. Boffin. He came early that afternoon and examined me. When he was finished, he allowed the other four to enter the bedroom before making this solemn announcement.
"Well, I do not know if this is good news or bad news at a time such as this, but Berythna, you are with child."
I must have fainted because the next thing I heard was Sam speaking to the doctor privately. I looked around to find that Lord Elrond, Gandalf, and King Elessar were gone. It looked to be a little later in the afternoon and the air was becoming a little cooler.
"Miss Berythna, you're awake," Sam whispered as he came over to my bedside.
"Frodo wanted a child," I exclaimed as I lay back on my pillow and I felt Sam touch my hand. "He's dead now. If he would have known I was with child, he may have held out longer and been healed. He may still be alive today. It's my fault."
"Miss Berythna, it is not your fault. My Rosie knew she going to have a baby and she is now gone as well as my unborn. This illness had control over it's victim and would not let go for anything. It is not your fault."
"Oh Sam, what do I do now? Who is to take care of me?"
"I will," he answered. "I've done most of this before with Rosie and I intend to care for you as I know Mr. Frodo would want me to."
"Sam, you do not have to do this."
"But you are with child and need someone to help care for you. I will help as much as I can."
"Thank you, Sam."
Lord Elrond, Aragorn, and Gandalf stayed for an extra week and congratulated me on my new upcoming arrival. Even though I was thrilled to be having a baby, I was still upset that I could not have had one sooner for my husband. I still thought that if Frodo would have known that I was with child, he might have fought harder to live.
When they left for Rivendell, I begged for them to take me with them. I had a yearning to see the elves again, especially Lady Arwen, but Sam said that I shouldn't travel in my condition. Nonetheless, I begged for them to allow me to go. I said that I needed a holiday after the events that had recently taken place, and I wasn't due to give birth until January, so I could be back in the Shire to give birth before winter. After much discussion, the five of us headed out to Rivendell. Sam had decided to come with us and see Rivendell one last time.
I rode on Frodo's pony, Strider, and Sam rode with Gandalf on the slow journey to Rivendell. We talked of many things, including my husband and Rosie, but we tried to keep the subject cheerful. Despite my husband's death, I was very excited about seeing the place where I had spent so many wonderful days in my youth. It had only been just a little over a year since I had last seen Rivendell, but somehow I felt much older. I was with child now and my husband was dead. These events seemed to age me more than I had anticipated.
When we finally arrived in Rivendell, I saw Queen Arwen sitting out by the gates reading in the afternoon sun. She had a swollen belly, but was richly dressed in a deep purple gown that ran to her feet and a beautiful crown of silver set on top of her head. The future king of Gondor played close beside of her. When the boy saw us approach, he ran toward King Elessar.
"Father!" he exclaimed as Aragorn dismounted and stooped down to embrace the child, sweeping him off his feet. Suddenly, I had an image of a child running to Frodo and shouting, "Father!" It quickly vanished as I saw Lady Arwen approach.
"Berythna," she exclaimed as she bent down to embrace me. "How are you? It has been too long since our last meeting. Where is your husband?"
"He is dead, Arwen," I answered as I lowered my head. "He died the day before the company arrived."
"Oh Berythna," she whispered as she looked into my eyes with concern. "I am so sorry to hear these tidings."
"There is a bit of good news. After Frodo died, I found out that I am with child."
She tried to smile, but she still looked saddened by Frodo's death.
For the rest of the afternoon, Sam and I walked through Rivendell together. I didn't know how much I really missed Frodo until I haunted all the old places where we used to go before the war of the Ring. It was saddening to see Rivendell without the one that I loved. Still, it was nice to be with a friend like Sam. I was glad that he had decided to come with us and for the most part, we tried to make the best of our stay, knowing that we would probably never come here again.
That evening, I saw Gandalf standing in the dining area shortly after supper. I decided to approach him and talk with him about a subject which had been bothering me since we reached Rivendell.
"Good evening, Gandalf."
"Ah, hello Berythna. How are you fairing here in Rivendell once again?"
"I miss Frodo terribly."
"I am sorry about his death, Berythna. There are many people in this world that deserve to die and he was not one of them."
"Gandalf, have you approached Bilbo on this matter?"
"No, not yet. I was going to leave that up to you."
"Where is he? I had better get it over with now."
"He is out in the courtyard."
"Thank you."
I took my leave of Gandalf and headed to the courtyard to speak with the old hobbit. He was sitting in the courtyard enjoying the evening light. When I approached him, he rose and greeted me.
"Well hello, Berythna. I did not know you and Frodo had come back to Rivendell. How is the old lad anyway? Is he enjoying his life as a married hobbit?"
"Uncle Bilbo, there is something you should know about Frodo."
"What is it, my dear?"
"There was an illness that spread through the Shire for a few short weeks. It didn't last very long, thanks to the healings of Gandalf, Aragorn and Lord Elrond. But Frodo did become ill and he is dead now. He died only a couple of weeks ago. I'm so sorry, Bilbo."
He was silent for a long while and then finally spoke in a quivering voice.
"Why is it," he asked as tears streamed down his face. "that I am so old and yet I linger on and Frodo was so young and died? I don't understand."
"I know," I answered as I put my arm around his shoulders and tears began forming in my eyes as well. "I loved him so much. He died too soon to know that he was going to be a father."
Bilbo started at this and looked up at me.
"You're going to have a child?"
I nodded sadly.
"I would say congratulations if only I could."
"I understand, uncle."
"At least a little bit of Frodo will live on through his child."
That night as I sat on the settee in my old room, there was a knock at my bedroom door. I bid the knocker to enter and Lord Elrond graciously stepped through into my room. I bowed gracefully and bid him to sit.
"Berythna, do you regret not going to the Undying Lands?"
"No, my lord."
"If you knew then what you know now, would you still stay?"
"Yes, my lord. Even if I would have known that Frodo was going to die all too quickly, I still would have stayed. If I had left, I would not be carrying this little child inside of me. I would never have been a wife or a mother, and I know that I want to be both."
"Will you ever marry again?"
"I do not know, my lord. It is too soon to think of that now."
"You would still have stayed even if you would have known. I cannot believe this."
"It is true, my lord. I loved Frodo very much and I already love our child, even though he is not yet born. At least I will always have a little bit of Frodo with me for as long as I live."
He smiled sadly, bid me good-night, and left without another word.