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I am without my big computer till Monday so I am working off my tablet. I have a terrible time typing with only one finger, so reviews and guest reviews will have to wait till I get it back. But that won't stop me from posting the next chapter!
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Chapter 187
~X~
The following morning Frodo, Flinn, and Frerin met at the Baggin's home and Prim made them one of the best breakfasts they ever had. Holly, Tor and Fundin had also been invited, with Dwalin, Bergie, Talin and Balin joining them as well. They talked, laughed, and told Frodo all he had missed over the past year.
After they had finished eating, Sam came by and joined Frodo, Flinn and Frerin for a nice long walk around the Shire, taking in all the sights, both old and new. Again, Sam marveled at how wonderful everything looked, pointing out different things he had seen in Galadrial's mirror, and how happy he was to find out none of it had come to pass.
When they came upon the spot where Saruman had died, the two hobbits could see that the others had not lied. The ground was indeed black as coal and due to the horrid stench, was avoided by all as they made their way towards the Bywater Bridge.
"Is there nothing that can be done?" Sam asked, waving his hand in front of his face to chase away the foul odor. He hated the idea that any part of the Shire was cursed by such a terrible blight.
"Torin has tried everything he thought might work…and nothing," Frerin told him, shaking his head in sorrow. "The spot just seeps back through, unwilling to go away."
"Sam," Frodo spoke up, looking as if he suddenly remembered something. "What about Galadrial's gift to you. That box of dirt and that little seed - perhaps it might have the power to heal the ground?"
"I suppose it couldn't hurt to try a little on it," Sam nodded, determined to come back the next day and see.
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Feeling as if it was the right thing to do, Frodo insisted that they make a stop by Lobelia's home, offering his condolences to his distant relative. The others were a bit skeptical, especially Flinn and Frerin, since she had shown nothing but disdain for them since their arrival. Still, Frodo could not be swayed, having more compassion than most, and finally the rest relented.
The usually snippy lady was remarkably hospitable, even inviting the hobbits and dwarves inside for tea. She even apologized for her past behavior, to not only Frodo and Bilbo, but to Flinn and Frerin as well, shocking them all.
"I know my Lotho was wrong, and what he did was inexcusable," she told them, wiping at her eyes with a lace handkerchief. "And you were well within your rights to have him arrested…but I thank you for not letting him to come to serious harm. I might have disowned him, but he's still my flesh and blood, and I thank you for sparing his life."
"I think Lotho simply got in over his head, and that he never had any true intention of things turning out as badly as they did," Flinn told her, touched by her apparent grief.
"Saruman is known for his manipulation and trickery," Frodo agreed, knowing that Lotho had been no match for the wizard's sinister methods. "I'm sure that he will come to regret his part in all this soon enough…if he isn't already. Give him time, he might repent yet."
"Do you truly think so?" Lobelia asked, looking up at them hopefully.
"Stranger things have happened," Sam assured her.
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In the end, by the time they left, Lobelia was giving each of them hugs of gratitude, making them promise to come by for tea more often.
"I swear, if I wrote to Bilbo and told him of Lobelia's turnaround, he would think I've been nipping at old Farmer Cotton's homemade ale again!" Frodo laughed, as the four of them headed down the lane.
"Speaking of Farmer Cotton…" Sam began, having to clear his throat a bit before he could continue. "Does his daughter, Rosie, still work down at the Green Dragon?"
"Rosie? Rosie Cotton?" Flinn asked, looking as if he were deep in thought. "Can't say I recall the name. How about you, Frerin? Does it ring any bells for you?"
"Rosie?" Frerin repeated, knowing just what Flinn was doing and quickly played along. "I remember a lass named Posie…and one named Rosalyn...but, I can't say I remember a Rosie."
"Oh, come on, you two," Sam moaned, looking as if he were truly in pain. "Don't go pulling my leg. Does she still work there or not?"
"Aye, that she does," Flinn laughed, throwing his arm around Sam's shoulder and giving him a reassuring squeeze. "And might I add, when she overheard that you were still alive and coming home, she appeared very pleased by that news."
"That's right, asked about you by name, she did," Frerin agreed. "Didn't even mention Frodo, Merry or Pippin…just you."
"She…really?" Sam was shocked, stopping in mid step and staring at them in disbelief. "Do…do you think she knows I'm back?"
"Hard to say," Frodo mused, unable to wipe the grin off his face. "I mean news does travel fast around here, but maybe we should make a stop at the Green Dragon just to make sure."
"That sounds like a fabulous idea," Flinn agreed. "Since I promised to buy you a congratulatory mug of ale when you got home, Frodo."
"If I recall…you said you would buy me an entire keg!" the hobbit reminded him, causing the dwarf to burst out laughing.
"So I did," he grinned. "And I can't let it be said that a prince of Erebor welched on a debt!"
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So off they went, the four of them stopping by Merry and Pippin's homes on the way and inviting them to join in the celebration. They also popped in and asked Dwalin, Balin and Tor to come along as well, for which they gladly accepted. Sam was a jangle of nerves by the time they finally arrived, taking up the large table in the back once more, and ordering a full keg and nine mugs to be brought over.
Most were already deep in conversation, laughing and talking, but Sam only had eyes for Rosie, and much to his delight…she kept smiling in his direction as well. Yet as time ticked by, and mug after mug was filled and emptied, the shy hobbit had not even mustered up the courage to talk to her.
"Sam, she's not gunna bite you," Frodo said, nudging his friend in the side with his elbow. "Go on…talk to her."
"Talk to her?" Sam repeated in such a shocked tone, one would think someone had suggested he walk into Mordor.
"Well, if you ever want to be more than friends with the lass, you will eventually have to speak a word or two," Merry chuckled.
"At the very least, you'll have to say four little words," Pippin added. "Will. You. Marry. Me."
"You might want to be practicing those words yourself, you know, Pip," Frodo laughed, causing Pippin to stare at him in confusion.
"What?" the youngest hobbit asked, looking around at everyone as they smiled or laughed at his expense. "What do you mean by that?"
"We'll tell you later, Pip," Merry chuckled, enjoying his cousins perplexed stare. "And you know, Sam, you could always just ask Rosie in a note?"
"Or just sit here and stare at her in hopes that she learns to read minds," Torin teased.
"Oh, for Mahal's sake, lad," Dwalin stated, slamming it down on the table. "Just grab the lass and kiss her! She'll get the point for sure then."
"That might work for a dwarf," Frerin countered. "But Sam's a hobbit."
"And a shy one at that," Flinn agreed. "I think we should just let him do this at his own pace."
"I agree," Frodo nodded. "What do you want to do, Sam?" Yet when he turned to look at his friend…he was gone!
No one had noticed, that while the others had been talking about what he should do, Sam downed his own mug of ale, stood up, and walked directly over to where the barmaid was cleaning the counter. And shocking everyone, including himself, he opened his mouth and spoke to her!
"Rosie…I've been gone for a while…but now I'm back," he stammered, having gained her full attention.
"And I'm right glad to see you are," she smiled back at him. "You're looking fine Sam, and I hear you were very valuable to Mister Frodo on his journey too."
The shy hobbit attempted to speak once more, but found that he had lost his nerve. And so, he just stood there, staring at Rosie Cotton like a fool.
"Sam?" she prompted, a confused look crossing her face.
Then Samwise Gamgee did something he never dreamed he would ever have the nerve to do…he stepped forward, grabbed hold of Rosie by the shoulders and pulled her to him for an unexpected kiss. Yet what was even more surprising, was that Rosie threw her arms around his neck and kissed him right back, there in front of everyone in the Green Dragon!
Back at the table, Pippin's eyes grew wide, while Merry let out a low whistle, turning his face away in slight embarrassment, but Frodo only laughed, happy to see his friend finally making a move. Flinn, Frerin, and Tor all raised their mugs in a salute to the brave hobbit, drinking deeply in his honor.
"Skin on skin!" Dwalin roared, slamming his hand down on the table as he belted out a hearty laugh. "What did I tell you!"
"I'm just glad that worked!" Flinn chuckled. "Otherwise we would have had to rush our impetuous hobbit out of here in a hurry, for fear Rosie might have hit him over the head with a broom or something."
"Well, it looks like we might be planning a wedding instead, and really soon too!" Frerin pointed out.
"That's just what the Shire needs right now, a wedding!" Tor agreed. "It's time to put all the sadness behind us, and focus on happier times."
"Agreed!" everyone cheered, lifting their mugs into the air and clinking them together. "To happier times!"
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The following day, Sam did just as he had promised, using his little box of dirt from Lothlórien to heal the Shire. Galadrial's gift did indeed do the trick, causing the blight that Saruman had left on the ground to recede and fade within days. Sam also planted the mysterious little seed on the hill overlooking Bag End, next to the oak tree that had grown out of the acorn Bilbo had taken from Beorn's home. He would have to wait till spring to see what came of it, but Sam was a patient gardener. The rest of the dirt he sprinkled here and there, using every grain and wasting none of it, for to him it was as precious as gold. Thus, when spring came, there bloomed such an array of flowers, bushes, and trees, that no one could doubt it had been due to the gift from Galadrial. As for the seed he had planted…well, it sprouted into a beautiful mallorn tree, the only one that could be found between the Misty Mountains and the sea.
Winter melted into spring, but with it came trouble for Frodo once again. In March, on the anniversary of his being poisoned by that horrible spider, Shelob, the young hobbit fell horribly ill, just like he had a year after being stabbed by the Black Rider's blade. He did his best to keep this from his parents, allowing only Flinn, Frerin, and Sam to tend to him. The young dwarf doctor did everything in his power to ease his friend's suffering, but such an ailment appeared to be beyond his powers to treat. In the end, Frodo simply had to wait it out, the worst of it passing a few days later.
Frodo tried to shake it off, to leave the terrible events behind him, but it was difficult to do when there were constant reminders of the tragedies he had faced. Still, there were other things to distract him, and friends who kept his spirits up as best as they could.
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Yet, among all that, it was also a time for great rejoicing, not only due to the wedding being planned for Sam and Rosie, but the Shire was once again blessed with a fine healthy baby from Tor and Holly. This time it was a little lass, and Bergie had been there through it all, standing beside Prim on one side, with Torin on the other, holding his wife's hand as they brought their daughter into the world.
"It's a lass!" Tor shouted as he exited the birthing room and came out to inform those who had been waiting for hours. "A healthy little lass, and as pretty as her mother in every way!"
"Congratulations, son!" Dwalin cheered, giving Torin a big hug. "I just knew it would be a daughter this time!"
"Ahh, but without Nori here, I'm willing to bet you didn't profit from your hunch," Flinn chuckled, knowing that money would indeed be changing hands right then if the former thief had been around.
"Is Holly all right?" Drogo asked, a worried look on his face.
"She is marvelous," Tor assured him. "She got through it all like a seasoned warrior."
"When can we see the baby?" Frodo asked, eager to meet his new niece.
"Very soon," he grinned, turning to head back inside. "I'll let you know the minute she's ready for visitors!"
"Well, it's a lass," Dwalin grinned, slapping Drogo on the back after Torin had disappeared and shut the door. "Now they've got one of each, just like we had."
"Oh, but I'm hoping for a few more before they call it quits!" Drogo insisted. "I'm like Dis, I want a whole lap full of grandbabies." He then turned to Frodo. "Got any idea when you might be finding yourself a nice wife?"
"Father," Frodo said with a roll of his eyes. "I just got back, let me have a breather before you go throwing me to the wolves."
"Fine," the happy grandfather laughed. "I'll just have to be satisfied with what Holly is willing to give me…for now."
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Soon all were invited inside to see Holly and the new baby. Everyone was oohing and awing over her, marveling at how much she did resemble Holly when she was first born. Fundin took one look at her and gave a shrug of indifference, not finding anything overly exciting about his new little sister.
"Don't worry, Fundin," Frodo chuckled. "She'll become more interesting as time goes on, and soon enough you'll be happy to have a sibling."
"If you say so, Uncle Frodo," the lad replied, looking rather skeptical about the idea.
"So, what do you plan on calling her?" Bergie asked, the young parents having kept their chosen names a secret, not willing to share until they knew if it was a lad or a lass.
"We wanted to use a family name," Tor explained. "And since Fundin was named after my side, we figured it was Holly's turn this time. If it turned out to be a son, we had chosen the name Bilbo. But since we had a daughter…her name shall be Daisy."
"Oh, that's perfect!" Prim all but cried, loving the idea very much. "Bilbo will be very touched by the gesture."
"We hoped so," Holly smiled, passing the bundle over to her father to hold, allowing him to see his granddaughter up close.
"Welcome, little Daisy," Drogo cooed, rocking her back and forth. "You couldn't have come at a better time, too."
"And since we were here for her birth, I couldn't agree with you more!" Dwalin grinned, peeking over Drogo's shoulder, eager to be next to hold her.
"Well, brother," Talin said, throwing her arm over her twin's shoulders. "Looks like I have some catching up to do. I can't believe you have two beautiful bairns!"
"Well, you could always find your one tomorrow, then have twins right off the bat, allowing you to be all caught up," Tor suggested.
"Oh no, she won't!" Dwalin barked out, his face losing all its color at the idea. "Talin is not finding her one for a long, long time! And that's final!"
"Oh, Adad," Talin laughed, stepping over and giving him a great big hug. "I have no plans of even looking at a dwarrow until I'm of age, and that won't be for a few more years yet. And even then I might be more focused on my battle training and not have time for silly things like love."
"It might be silly now, sis," Torin told her, looking over at Holly with a wide smile. "But I promise, one day, it will be the most wonderful thing in the world to you."
"If you say so," Talin said with a roll of her eyes.
"Now," Dwalin huffed, eyeing Drogo in frustration. "You've held her long enough, let me have a turn with my granddaughter, will you?"
"And I'm next!" Balin insisted, his eyes already filled with unshed tears.
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A few weeks later, Bergie stood outside Torin and Holly's home, walking back and forth with little Daisy in her arms, doing her best to put her to sleep. The baby had been fussy most of the day and she had suggested that Holly try and get a nap in while she took care of the child. The sleep deprived mother had not argued, and so Bergie had headed outside to give her some peace and quiet. That is where Dwalin found her as he came walking up the lane, having just come back from fishing with Balin and Tor.
"Hello, Amad," Torin said with a smile, holding up the string of fish. "We got dinner."
"Excellent," Bergie grinned. "Just make sure you clean them yourself, since I don't think Holly will want to after the morning she had."
"Is our little one being fussy again?" he asked, leaning over and taking a look at the sleepy baby who refused to give up her fight.
"That she is," Bergie nodded. "Yet, time is on our side, and soon she will not be able to keep her eyes open. Just like Holly, who is hopefully now getting a good nap in."
"I'll take these in and clean them quietly," he promised, heading inside on tip-toe.
"And I'll head back to your place, so I won't disturb the sleeping mother either," Balin smiled, waving his hand as he continued down the lane.
That left Dwalin and Bergie alone, the two of them finding a nice comfortable seat near the front gate, as they watched their granddaughter finally fall asleep.
"She reminds me so much of Talin when she was this little," Bergie whispered. "Our daughter was just as stubborn, never wanting to fall asleep for fear she would miss out on something."
"Where Torin would be out like a light and always difficult to wake up," Dwalin agreed. He watched his wife for a few moments, trying to read her thoughts. "I'm sorry we never had more little ones for you to mother. You look so lovely with a babe in your arms."
"Oh, pish," she chuckled. "The other day you said I looked gorgeous with a basket of vegetables in my arms. And I'm more than content with the two we had, especially when they give us sweet little grandbabies like Frerin and Daisy to hold and spoil."
"Still, it's hard to do that when we are so far away," he pointed out.
"True," she said with a heavy sigh. "But I'll take what I can get."
"What if I could give you more?" Dwalin offered, his tone a bit hesitant.
"More what? Children?" Bergie asked, looking at him as if he had suddenly sprouted two heads.
"No…more time with your grandchildren," he clarified. "What if we move to the Shire when Thorin and Marigold do? He and I've been talking about it, but I was never quite sure I could offer you such a thing until now…what with the war being over and all."
"You…you mean you would leave Erebor and move to the Shire…just for me?" Bergie was stunned, never having imagined her loyal husband leaving the home he had fought so hard for.
"Well, I would benefit from the move as well," he pointed out. "And without Thorin in Erebor….staying there would feel wrong somehow. Thorin is my sword-brother, and it has been my sworn duty to protect him since…well, since I can't remember when." He then frowned, looking at his wife carefully. "Unless you would prefer to remain in the mountain, that is."
"NO!" she gasped, startling Daisy just a bit, but thankfully the lass went on slumbering. "I mean, I would love to move back here to be close to my grandchildren…really! I just never thought it was a possibility."
"And until now, it mostly wasn't," Dwalin assured her. "Though I'm not sure what Talin will wish to do. She's more dwarf than hobbit, so she might choose to stay behind. Could you live here, knowing she was so far away?"
"You are asking me to choose between my children?" Bergie said in disbelief. "That I could never do. However, neither can I choose their path for them. Torin lives here, with Holly, where he belongs. And Talin…well, she's a warrior lass, through and through. She might never feel contentment here. Still, in the end, we must do what is best for us, and if it pleases you, husband, I would like very much to live among the rolling green hills once more." She leaned in and kissed his cheek, noting that a few more wrinkles marred his handsome face. "We are not spring chickens any more, my love. And though you have the long life of a dwarf, I am reaching my twilight years, and remaining in one place sounds very nice to me."
"Then it shall be done," he nodded solemnly. He was indeed aware that his beautiful wife was getting on in years, and though her hair was now nearly pure silver, he still desired her more than ever. She was his little spit-fire, as bold as brass, and always would be. "We will return to Erebor, tie up loose ends, and when Thorin passes the crown to Fili…we will travel back here with them."
"Do you know when that might be?" she asked, getting the feeling that Dwalin and his king had discussed this in greater detail than he was letting on.
"Soon," was all he would say on the subject. But as Bergie gazed down at her sleeping granddaughter once more, she knew it couldn't be soon enough for her liking.
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On the first day in May, everyone gathered beneath the party tree to watch Sam Gamgee take Rosie Cotton as his wedded wife. It was indeed a grand affair, even by hobbit standards, with everyone from far and wide turning out to wish the happy couple joy and prosperity.
It had been decided that the newlyweds would eventually move into Bag End with Frodo, the generous offer being made by the very enthusiastic hobbit himself. Sam had become so accustomed to taking care of Frodo, that it only made sense that they would take up residence in the spacious hobbit hole. Sam and Rosie were overwhelmed by Frodo's generous offer, but in truth, it was he who got the better end of the deal, quite sure that he would be the best looked after hobbit in the Shire. Until then, the happy couple would occupy Bergie and Dwalin's home, allowing them a bit of privacy, while Dwalin and the others were guests at Bag End until the dwarves headed back to Erebor.
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The last few weeks of their stay, Frodo and Flinn spent a lot of time together, talking about everything and nothing. Many days would find the two laying on the hill just above Bag End, staring up at the sky and watching the white puffy clouds meander across a sea of blue.
"That one looks like the stone trolls that your uncle Bilbo ran into," Flinn said, pointing at an unusually lumpy one.
"It does!" Frodo chuckled, having seen them himself on several occasions now. "And look…that one looks just like Erebor!"
"Hmmm, perhaps, but the Lonely Mountain is far more grand," Flinn laughed. He then grew quiet, his next words coming out in a near whisper. "I'm going to miss you when I leave, Frodo."
"I'm going to miss you terribly as well," he acknowledged, his own smile fading.
"Are you sure you don't want to come to Erebor and stay for a few years?" he asked hopefully, having offered several times before this.
"I'm tired of traveling," Frodo said with a weary sigh. "I really have no more desire to go anywhere. I've seen too much as it is, and it's all a bit overwhelming still."
"I understand," Flinn nodded, not expecting him to have agreed…but he had to ask.
"I only wish I did as well," Frodo stated, his voice taking on that sad note once more.
"Are you still feeling…. well, misplaced?" Flinn didn't know exactly how to explain it, but he knew a bit of how his friend was feeling, and that was the only way he could think to describe it.
"Yes…misplaced," Frodo hummed, liking the word very much. "I am. It's as if I don't want to go anywhere else, but even the idea of being here doesn't feel exactly right. Almost as if I want to be someplace that I don't know exists, or how to even get there. I just know it's no place I've been before."
"I wish I could help you, Frodo," Flinn said in a sad tone. "Understanding how you're feeling, and knowing how to fix it, are two different things."
"If I don't even have the answers, why should I expect you to?" Frodo told him reassuringly. "And my shoulder…it's still bothering me."
"Where you were wounded by the Black Rider?" This was news to Flinn. "I thought Elrond healed that for you back in Rivendell."
"Apparently, it is something that can never be healed completely," the hobbit told him with a heavy sigh. "And even a full year after it happened, the pain came back all over again, as if it just happened. Gandalf says the ache might never fully go away, and it is something I will simply have to live with."
"It is terribly painful?" Flinn's hand unconsciously went to his own wound, the dull throbbing having long since gone away over the winter. "Is it as bad as you were when you got sick from that spider bite?"
"It is, but in a completely different way," he told him, looking almost ashamed to admit it. "The Lady Arwen gave me this, saying it would help." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a beautiful white gem, watching as the sun caught it and caused it to sparkle. "And it does ease the pain…some. But I don't think it will every truly go away."
"You know I would take it from you if I had the power," Flinn told him in all seriousness.
"I know, and I thank you," Frodo said with a sad smile. "But I would not wish such a thing on anyone, let alone my sword-brother. Just being able to talk to you about such things helps. I hate to burden my parents with such matters, or Holly. Sam and you are the only two who understands…who know the whole truth."
"You are the strongest, and bravest, hobbit I know, Frodo," Flinn stated, looking his friend straight in the eye. "You have been through more than I can even imagine, and yet, you're here…you survived. And no matter what, no one can take that away from you. No one."
Frodo looked at Flinn with a sad expression for a bit, and then laid back down on the grass, looking up at the sky once more. Flinn eventually did the same, realizing that his friend no longer wished to talk about it. After a few moments, the hobbit spoke.
"Do you ever wonder what lies across the sea?" he almost whispered.
"You mean the Undying Lands of the elves?" Flinn questioned, unsure what brought that on.
"Yes…what do you know of them?" he persisted.
"Not much," Flinn admitted. "I know that my adad said that Elladan and Elrohir's mother sailed there a long time ago. She had apparently been captured by orcs, and by the time her sons were able to recuse her, she was far too traumatized to remain in Middle Earth any longer. So she sailed west, to find peace, where such things would no longer burden her mind."
"Must be nice," Frodo murmured. "To be able to go someplace and forget all the hurt, all the fear and sorrow."
"I guess…if you're an elf," Flinn stated, shrugging his shoulders, as if knowing it was never something that either of them would ever be offered. "But you and I are made for the mountains and the green hills…not some mysterious elvish land across the sea."
"Yes…you're right," Frodo said with a sigh…yet one that held an odd sadness to it. Suddenly his hand shot up and he pointed at one of the clouds. "Hey, look! That one's the spitting image of Nori! See how it's pointed like his hair?"
"You're right!" Flinn laughed. "It does look like Nori!"
And so the game continued on, the two friends laughing and talking as if their previous conversation had not even happened…but neither one would ever forget what had been said.
Well, there you go...The Shire is healed, Sam and Rosie are together, Lobelia turned nice, Baby Daisy is here, and Dwalin and Bergie are moving to the Shire too.
Looks like everything is as it should be...except Frodo is still not 'whole'. Poor thing.
And I think Flinn is starting to suspect something.
Guest Reviews: I will answer them on the next chapter!