Note: I'm so sure that my English would be down a lot. Of course, it would be that way since English is not a part of my daily life and the condition is worsen since it is very long time ago since I write any fics. I deeply apologize for my uninfluenced English. I'll be appreciate if you point out any grammatical errors or suggest me choice of vocabs or sentence to make the story become better.
Chapter 8: Farewell
Frodo balanced himself on the horseback before turned back to wave at his aunt Esmeralda and some of his friends who came to see him away. Broaden smile adorned his face at the thought of seeing Bilbo again. Yet he couldn't help feeling a bit empty and sad to not see his aunt for awhile. She was after all a mother figure to him. It always liked this. He missed Bilbo when stayed at Buckland. And in return, he missed Esmeralda and his other relatives when lived at Bag End.
Many children came to say their goodbyes to Frodo, but mostly came to see the elves the last time. All children were sad to see them gone while the adults seemed to be relieve. Though the elves were good and gracious guests, they didn't feel comfortable to have other kind in their homes. The hobbit should stick together with hobbits.
The elves' horses were swiftly in their speeds and they reached Bagend before sunset.
"Welcome to my humble home, Legolas and Lorin." Bilbo was waiting for them in front of the smial. Frodo practically threw himself in his uncle's arms. He just realized how much he missed Bilbo these few weeks he had stayed at Buckland. Bilbo chuckled at the child's affection and ruffled Frodo's hair.
"Please come inside with Frodo. I will see to the horses."
"Thanks for your kindly. But we couldn't rest before tend to the horses first. We will go to the stable with you." Lorin said.
"Alright." Bilbo agreed then turned to Frodo. "My lad, you go inside first and prepare the guestrooms. When you are done, boil the water and we will have some tea before dinner."
"Yes, Uncle Bilbo."
Bilbo led the princes to the stable which was bigger than the normal stables in the Shire. Bilbo ordered it to build specially to accommodate Gandalf's cart and his horse, and his other guests like dwarfs. The provision and waters were already prepared inside when Bilbo got the news of the coming of his nephew and the elves.
"How are things going on at Mirkwood and Lake Town?" Bilbo asked.
The Princes told everything they knew of Mirkwood, Lake Town and Lonely Mountain. Bilbo listened eagerly. After his adventure with the dwarfs, Bilbo was full of adventurous spirit. His legs itched to take a very long walk again. Yet he couldn't leave Frodo in the Shire alone as well as he couldn't take Frodo out of the safety of the Shire. The world outside was full of dangerous and Frodo was too young. The child should stay settle in Bagend and grew up with other kids instead of roaming down the roads and paths with him. That journey to Imladris with Gandalf years ago was the exception. At that time, Frodo couldn't bear to see any happily families around for it reminded him of his lose. The sorrow was too much that Frodo ate almost nothing. The situation got worse everyday that Gandalf, who came for a visit, suggested that they travel to Imladris. The change of environment may help heightened Frodo's spirit. It certainly did.
After the horses settled nicely in the stable with food and water, they returned to Bagend. The nice fragrance of food was smelt from the stable to the Bagend's door; it seemed Frodo started cooking without waiting Bilbo.
"We're back!" Bilbo told his nephew and led Lorin and Legolas to two of the guestroom that had high roof and man-size furniture. Bilbo built them specially for the big folk guests after his biggest adventure with the dwarves. The neighbors's reactions were priceless when they stared at the furniture that delivered from Bree.
"It's because Gandalf usually stay with me a few days on his visit. So I turned two of my own guestroom to accommodate the big folk like you." Bilbo explained when he saw the perplexed on their faces. "You must be tired from traveling. Please take a rest a bit. I will go to see what Frodo is cooking. If my nose doesn't go wrong, I will say 'special roast pork'."
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The dinner was very delicious though Bilbo refused to hear any praise, insisted that his cooking skill just the standard for hobbit. Well if this was really just standard, the expert cook's skill might equal to the royal cook in the palace.
The dinner came to end when their stomachs were so full that they can't put anything in more. They retreated to the cozy living room and zipping the apple juice while chatting. Frodo sat in the small stool closed to Legolas and rested his head on the elf's knees while he listened to the adult's conversation. It was fun and exciting to hear about the world outside the Shire and he wanted to know it all. Frodo tried to stifle his yawn a few times for fear that Bilbo might send him to bed. He succeeded in hiding his yawn but couldn't fight the sleepiness quite well and practically fell asleep on Legolas' knees.
"I better get him to bed." Bilbo said and almost got off his chair when Legolas stopped him.
"I will carry him to his bed if you tell me the direction of his bedroom."
"Thank you. He's too heavy for the old hobbit like me to carrying around." Bilbo gladly accepting the offer and told Legolas where was Frodo's room. He satisfied to see Legolas picked Frodo up carefully and tried not to joist the hobbit too much to make him awake.
"When will you go to the Gray Havens?" Bilbo asked Lorin when Legolas disappeared in the hallway.
"We will set at the sun break on the day after tomorrow."
"Does he know of your departure?"
Even though Bilbo didn't mention who was 'he' he meant, Lorin knew 'he' meant for Frodo.
"No. Frodo doesn't know. From what I see, Frodo is very attach to my brother. I think Legolas is figuring how to tell the boy."
Lorin and Bilbo sat silently, each immersed in their own thought. Lorin thought of his sister and imagined how happy she would be to see her dear brothers again after so many years. Bilbo thought of the last day in Imladris when Frodo learned of their returning to the Shire. The boy didn't throw any tantrum but he was hard to manage. Bilbo remembered Legolas almost choked by Frodo who wrapped his arms tightly around his neck and refused to let him go. He wondered what would happen this time when Frodo's feeling toward Legolas was still the same if not even more.
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Legolas rolled to his right and gazed at the moon. It was really hard to find any sleep tonight. After hesitation all day, he finally announced the departure to Gray Haven after the dinner ended. As expecting, Frodo's reaction to the news was very bad. He plead them to stay longer by stated many reason why they shouldn't travel too soon. Thank goodness that Frodo didn't resolve to use tears; it didn't mean he didn't want to cry but he was too old and too proud to cry like the babes.
*knock knock*
"Come in." Legolas invited whoever in front of the room. The door was slowly opened and revealed a small figure of Frodo.
"What's wrong, Frodo?" He asked but Frodo didn't say anything. He just walked to the bed and threw himself in Legolas's arms. Legolas wrapped the sheet around himself and Frodo and laid back, the small curly black hair nestled his chest where he felt a bit wet. They said nothing for they knew it was pointless. Legolas was an elf who had his own land and people while Frodo was a hobbit of the Shire who also had his own land and people. Neither of them could leave their own homeland to stay with the other. It would always be like this, meet and separate. Until then they will cherish the time they had left together.
Legolas kissed Frodo's head gently and wondered when he would have the chance to do again. He looked at Frodo's face almost all the time, memorized the dear face in his memory and his heart. Once in awhile his eyes would turn to the moon until it disappeared and a faint light of the sun appeared in the sky. It was time to get up and depart to Gray Haven.
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Frodo tried to hold back his tears. Tears were for a kid which he wasn't one anymore. Though as much as he tried, Frodo couldn't stop it, the most he could do was to muffle the sobs that threatened to get out. Bilbo and Lorin looked at each other and leaved Frodo and Legolas to have their farewell alone.
Frodo wanted to say many things but his throat was so tight that he couldn't form a word. Legolas knelt down and embraced him into his warm chest.
"Cried Frodo, cried for all you want. Don't keep it inside."
At those words, all tears he tried to keep broke down. Frodo let it all go. He cried and cried, cried until there were no tears left.
"Don't forget me, all right?" Frodo pushed himself from the warm arms. He looked into Legolas eyes, cupped his cheeks and drew his face close until their forehead touched each other.
"I will not forget you. You will always have a place in my heart."
"Thank you very much. It means a lot to me. And please do visit sometimes. I will wait for you, only you." To the others it may sound like the words out by impulse emotion but this was a promise Frodo would keep until his last day and Legolas knew.
"Only me?"
"Yes."
"Then, I will try my best to come."
End