Sorry for the delay. I was updating my fanfics and taking a break. :)

*.*.*

The Ferry

.oOo.

Amelia finished packing her belongings inside a backpack. She didn't know how long she and Frodo would be gone, but she felt sure this trip would be worth it. Merfolk, white pearly gates. It was everything Amelia dreamed of!

Okay, she was ready! She made her way out to the entrance hall, where Frodo waited.

"You ready?" Frodo asked his wife, checking the brochure and nearly paling over. "You sure you still want to go to this island?"

Amelia nearly cracked a joke but fought back against it. Instead, she rested a hand over his, getting his attention, and telling him, kindly, "We'll be fine. I'll be with you." She chuckled, guiltily, "Although, I've never swum before. Maybe this'll be a learning experience."

Frodo sighed, nodding in approval.

"Besides, what's the worst that can happen?" Amelia asked as they left their dorm.

"Don't remind me," Frodo said, making sure to lock the dorm room's door before they continued down the hallway. "The last thing we need is to run into a bunch of evil merfolk." He chuckled, more out of nervousness than delight.

"Do you think we'll meet merfolk on the island?" Amelia asked, noticing Frodo checking the brochure again, as they stepped out onto the campus.

"Well, according to this brochure, we must travel on the ferry to get there," Frodo said, referring to the island. He looked up, showing them a white ferry that reminded Amelia of a steamboat.

"Oh wow!" Amelia said as they climbed aboard the ferry. "It's like we're sailing on the Mississippi like Huck Finn did on his adventures!"

"I don't know who that is," Frodo said, shaking his head and smiling. "But he sure sounds interesting."

Amelia's brow furrowed, quizzically. "Huck Finn should be here. That is if he's in this realm."

"Fascinating," Frodo said, grinning madly. He turned to Amelia, asking, "Hey, would you like to find a table? We can relax, as the ferry takes us to Triton."

"Sure," Amelia said, following Frodo inside, where they found an empty booth and sat down by the window. They were met by Balin and Kili, who decided to take the trip with their lasses. It was a welcome surprise to see the dwarves on the ferry, too, who now looked more like themselves and not their vampiric state. She smiled at the two dwarves, telling them sheepishly, "Oh, I see you've shed your vampirism. Feeling better now?"

"Definitely!" Kili said, astonished Amelia would address that subject.

"I am, too," Balin said, kinder but hungry. "I'm up for a fudge sundae. How about you?"

"Mmm," Frodo licked his lips. "That sounds good." He addressed the waiter, ordering six fudge sundaes for everyone. Amelia nodded the second Frodo looked at her, checking to make sure that's what she wanted.

"That's fine. I'm hungry, too!" Amelia said with a smile.

"Fudge sundae!" Kili screamed in wicked delight.

"Now, I'm hungry. Why is this table shaking?" Balin asked, noticing a black cat, with white spots on its black, furry coat, zip out from under the table. Balin hissed, whimpering. "This table's been through a lot. I hope we're not cursed!"

"Oh, it's just a superstition!" Amelia said, annoyed.

"Well, some people might be superstitious," Frodo said, sympathetic.

Amelia nodded, conceding. "That's true. I'm sorry. I just take superstitions more seriously."

"Ah! And this is coming from a girl who isn't afraid of superstitions," Kili said, jokingly.

Amelia waggled her nose in a teasing manner. She looked up as the fudge sundaes came, six of them complete with hot fudge, whipped cream, colorful sprinkles, and six plump, juicy, red cherries. Yes. It was a delightful treat to cool them down. She enjoyed it immensely.

.

Minutes later, after they finished their fudge sundaes, a thought crossed Amelia's mind. A painful one, but one she needed to bring up. "Say," that got everyone's attention, "you don't think that something would happen if fate decided to take me back to my old homeworld."

"Why would you bring that up?" Frodo asked, worried.

"Nothing. It just makes me wonder if fate is unkind and we'd be parted again," Amelia said, sagging.

"Don't remind us, lass," Balin said, nodding off again.

"He's right," Frodo said to Amelia with a light-hearted smile, clasping her hand. "Don't worry. I'm sure fate will be kind and we'll stick together. Besides, I'm not sure you remember how you got here."

"I went through a mine…" Then again, the notion of going back to that mine to find the way home seemed rather pointless. She didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay. Frodo and she had been through so much together. Maybe she should stay. Amelia looked at Frodo, admitting kindly, "…my old life is gone. My new life is with you."

Frodo smiled. "I thought it was." He kissed her cheek, taking in her scent. He rested his head against hers, giggling as he did thus. It was so nice to hear that Amelia decided to stay. He couldn't think of any other reason why she would go back. They needed each other and it would be difficult for them to part again, should that happen. No, this was better.

No risk involved. They would be together always.

*.*.*

References:

Huck Finn, Huckleberry Finn as he's called, is from Mark Twain's book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.