Ch 16
Many years passed. Frodo grew up and looked and acted exactly like his father. Every time I looked at him, it reminded me that he was definitely Frodo's son. Sam and I had three children, not including Frodo. Our first was a little girl we decided to name Rosie. It seemed only fit that we named her after Sam's first wife and one of my good friends. Our second was Bilbo. Sam wanted to name him after the person he still looked up to, even though we weren't sure if the old hobbit was still living at the time or not. Our last was Athelas, named after an elvish plant. "She's going to be so mad at us when she finds out she was named after a weed," Sam had said when he first held her in his arms.
It wasn't until Frodo's 33rd birthday, his coming of age, that we decided to tell him the truth about his father. I waited until a week afterwards and then called him into his room one afternoon, saying that I had something very important to tell him.
"What's wrong, Mom?" he asked as we sat down on the edge of his bed.
"Frodo, you know that I love you and you know that Sam loves you very much, but we haven't been entirely honest with you these past thirty-three years."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you remember Sam telling you about Frodo and the Ring?"
"Yes. Dad said that was who I was named for."
"Well, he's right. But he didn't tell you the whole story. He left out one major point that we need to talk about now. I used to live in Rivendell, as you know already, and I lied to you in the past when you asked me if I had ever met Frodo Baggins. We did meet in Rivendell, and what's more, we fell in love."
I saw the look on my son's face change to surprise.
"You were in love with Frodo Baggins?"
"Yes. We even got married after the War of the Ring was over."
I saw the look change from surprise to horror. There was a silence in which my son contemplated what had just been said and then his eyes began to cloud over as he came to this realization.
"I'm Frodo Baggins's son, aren't I."
I nodded as tears spilled over my eyes.
"Yes, my dear. You are. Your father died before he even knew I was going to have you. I always thought if he would have known that I was carrying you, that he might have fought harder to live."
"I'm Frodo's son. My father is dead." He sounded as if he were merely trying to state these horrific new facts to himself and to try and let it sink in. "Sam is not my father then?"
I couldn't bare to see the look on his face. He looked so much older and so much like his father had looked the day he left for Mordor; so hopeless and alone.
"No, Frodo. Sam is not your real father, even though he loves you just as much as he loves Rosie, Bilbo and Athelas."
"All those times Dad, I mean Sam took me to Frodo's grave, he was taking me to my father's grave?"
"Yes, dear." He started to sob on my shoulder as I continued. "I know this is hard for you to accept right now, but would you like to see a picture of your father?"
"Dad said we didn't have any pictures of Frodo," he replied, tearfully.
"You will know why he had to tell you this when you see his picture."
I left his room and went into my bedroom, opened one of my drawers in my bureau and pulled out a portrait of my deceased husband. I slowly made my way back to Frodo's room and showed him the picture of his father as I sat down beside of him. I heard him softly gasp when he saw what was before him.
"I look just like him!"
"Yes you do. Except for the light hair, you are the true image of your father."
"Do you think he would have liked me?"
"My dear he would have loved you. He wanted a son so badly. Actually, if he would have still been alive when you were born, your name would have been Sam."
He had been looking at the picture, but when he heard this he looked at me and exclaimed, "Really?"
I nodded.
"So, this is my real father."
More tears streamed down his face as he said this.
"Yes. You are the son of the Ringbearer. If you want, we can have your name changed back to Baggins."
"I think I'd like that."
"I think your father would too. He always wanted a son to carry on the family name of Baggins."
"I will, Mom. I will."
He laid his head on my shoulder and began crying once more. I soon cried with him as I gently took the picture from him and gazed at my late husband. I hadn't looked upon this picture in so long and I had forgotten how much I still loved him and how much Frodo really looked like his father.
Suddenly, Sam came through the door.
"Berythna, do you mind if…What's wrong?"
I said nothing but handed Frodo's portrait to him. He took it and then looked at me in sorrow. I nodded as if to say that yes I had told our son about his father. He smiled sadly, laid the portrait on Frodo's bed stand and quietly left us alone.
"Mom, do you mind if I keep this?"
"Of course not. You can keep it right there beside your bed if you like."
"I need some time to think right now. Could you please just leave me alone?"
"I understand dear. I'll leave you alone for a while. I'll call you when dinner's ready, all right?"
He nodded as I stood up and left him. Sam met me in the hallway and held me as I listened to my first born in his room sobbing. It broke my heart that it had to be this way, but I knew there was no hiding from it. Frodo had to know the truth even if it did hurt him.
The next morning, we all went down to the mayor's office and changed Frodo's name back to Baggins. As Sam signed the necessary papers, he said, "Welcome back, Mr. Frodo Baggins."
When we arrived home, we were surprised to see an old man dressed in white sitting on our doorstep smoking a pipe.
"Gandalf!" Sam and I exclaimed as our children looked dumbfounded. The children had always wanted to meet the old wizard they had heard about in the stories Sam used to tell them. Now that he was actually here, I don't think they knew quite what to think or say.
"Why Sam and Berythna walking up Bag End together with four children in tow. What is this all about?"
"Berythna and I are married now, Gandalf," Sam answered.
"Married? Well who would have thought!"
"Please come inside, Gandalf," I exclaimed. "Tell us all about the world outside of the Shire. How are Lady Arwen and King Elessar?"
"Doing quite well," he answered as I poured himself some tea. "They have their son of course and I believe seven daughters."
"Oh my, that's amazing!" I exclaimed as the children sat all around him.
I turned around to see Gandalf glance over at Frodo and then asked, "What is your name, my boy?"
"Frodo," he replied. "Frodo Baggins."
"Just today," I said. "I told him only yesterday about his real father. We were changing his name back to Baggins this morning when you arrived."
"You have your father's face, Frodo," Gandalf said.
"I know. Mom showed me a portrait last night."
There was an awkward silence as I gave Gandalf his tea and then Sam said, "What brings you to the Shire, Mr. Gandalf? Especially in the middle of winter."
"I only wanted to come back for a visit is all."
"I should probably tell Pippin and Merry. They'll want to see you as well. Who wants to come with me?"
"I will, Dad," Frodo exclaimed as he rose from the table.
"You know you can always stay with us, Gandalf," I said when Sam and Frodo had left. "You're always welcome here."
"Thank you, Berythna. I believe I'll stay a while. In another month, the elves are leaving Rivendell and I plan to go and wish them all a farewell. King Elessar and Lady Arwen are going to be there. Would you like to come?"
"The elves are leaving?"
"Yes they are, Berythna. You should have known this."
"I did. Lord Elrond told me the last time I was in Rivendell that the elves would be leaving soon. I just did not expect it this soon. Yes, I will come and see them off."
About an hour later, Sam and Frodo came back with Pippin and Merry and their families. They were all very happy to see Gandalf again and we spent the night reminiscing. After they had left and it came time for bed, I asked Sam about going to Rivendell to see the elves off to the Undying Lands. Of course, he eagerly agreed.
Gandalf stayed for about three weeks. Then, we all packed a few belongings and headed out on the slow road to Rivendell.