Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Not even a good enough brain to write absolutely amazing fanfiction.

A/N: We're down to the last two chapters! I've decided to post both. Please review!

Chapter 12: Aftermath

Anxiously, I awaited contact from Frodo as I dwelt in my new residence in Staddle. A few months passed, as I expected, but winter turned into spring, and spring gave birth to summer, and still I received nothing, not so much as a short letter. It was then that I started to become troubled. Was Frodo safe and at peace? Or had something happened to him on the journey home? Or, far less severe, yet far more difficult for me to fathom, had he arrived home only to forget that his friend dwelt in Bree? Had he forgotten to write, or did he not care to send me his tidings from the Shire? I thought about paying a visit to him in order to discover what might have happened to him, but if indeed he was still in life, I did not know where to find him, and I did not want that he view me as an intrusion. So instead, I waited uneasily.

The more time passed, the more restless I became to hear from the dear Hobbit. And, in the second week of September, just as I had nearly given up hope of seeing or even hearing from him, a letter arrived. My hands trembled as I opened it, for, though this was a good sign, somehow I still feared the worst. I began to read:

Dearest Tallah:

I regret that it has taken so long to write to you, yet at the latter portion of last year, we were so preoccupied with the task of scouring the Shire that we scarcely had the chance to think of anything else. At the beginning and middle of this year, though our enemies had fled, it was a period of restoration. But the process was such a success that this year, 1420 in the Shire Reckoning, has become known as the "great year of plenty." For this reason, I want you to come to visit before the year comes to a close, and the perfect occasion for you to do so is imminent.

As you many already be aware, my birthday arrives on the twenty second of this month, and I shall be fifty-two. I invite you to come and join in the festivities. It feels to me as though this year has passed by more slowly than any, and I much desire to see you. I hope you will pardon my lack of contact; but know that amidst all the commotion of this past year I have not forgotten you. I hope to see you soon.

Yours Truly,

Frodo Baggins.

"Dear Frodo! I exclaimed, and upon setting down the letter, a great tide of emotions washed over me. I was relieved, first and foremost, that Frodo was safe and well, and that he had not become indifferent to me as time had passed. I trembled still, but at this point with joy, for in a mere few days I would prepare for and set out on the two-day ride to Hobbiton; it would not be long till I saw Frodo and Sam again.

I arrived in Hobbiton about midday of the twenty-second, and I realized only then that I did not know where I was. I rode on horseback through the territory of full-blooded Hobbits, vainly searching for a residence whose location I did not know, and I had never felt so utterly lost, not even in the years of my ceaseless roaming.

I continued traveling in circles as it seemed, and because I dared not stop to ask for guidance, was about to abandon my cause, when I heard a voice address me:

"Hi! Tallah! What a chance that we should find you. Are you looking for Frodo?"

Incredulous, I spun around, not expecting to see Frodo's cousins, Merry and Pippin, seated on a nearby patch of grass, each with a pipe in his mouth. "As a matter of fact, I was just searching for Frodo. But I have had not an iota of success. Would you be kind enough to direct me?"

"If you've come for the party," Pippin replied, "then you are welcome to come with us. It is to be held behind the Hill. We are going as soon as we finish our smoke. Take the time to sit for a while with us and talk."

I thanked them graciously and sat beside them, and as I did so, was instantly reminded of our days together during the four-month journey to Bree. I had spent a decent amount of that time conversing with and becoming acquainted with the two younger Hobbits, though I had always felt closer to Frodo and Sam.

I could hardly contain my enthusiasm when I thought of seeing the latter two again. As we approached the Hill, I trembled with joy, but as we neared the party site, I saw that the party had commenced some time ago, and that Frodo was lost in a sea of friends and close family. It would be some time before he noticed I was present. In the meantime I greeted the newly-wed Sam and Rose, and after they and Merry and Pippin had moved along, I sat on the outer skirts, watching all the activity around, wishing vainly that I could take part, and occasionally rising to eat a bite. At times I caught a glimpse of Frodo from afar, and on one such occasion, later in the evening when a good deal of the guests had parted, his eyes met mine. I smiled at him sheepishly as he came in my direction with haste.

"Tallah!" he exclaimed as soon as he was standing in front of me. "Long have I attempted to search you out. Why did you not present yourself sooner? I would have introduced you to everybody, and you would not have simply sat here in solitude."

"I did not come to you," I replied, "because I saw that you were content to be with other friends and family. I was uncertain whether you wanted your strange friend intruding upon your moments of joy. Now that Minas Tirith is saved and restored, there is nothing that I desire more than to see you in bliss."

"Why, Tallah," Frodo laughed, producing a gentle but musical kind of sound, rich and dazzling as a waterfall of Ithilien. "If that were the case, I would not have invited you here; I assure you that I did not send you an invitation for the sake of duty."

And he took me by the arm and started introducing me to his relatives that had not already left. Though I was uncertain at first of what they would make of me, most received me well, and a mutual fondness formed between me and good deal of them. But a few of the more cynical neighbors raised skeptical eyebrows when I was presented as a 'close friend,' and it was evident from their faces that they wondered from whence came this bizarre friend and what her purpose was in making such a late, unexpected appearance at the party.

Because of this, I grew troubled, and when the party concluded, I spoke again to Frodo.

"I regret that some of your kin question my identity and my relation to you. It was not my purpose in arriving here to spread idle gossip or to blemish your reputation."

"Do not worry," he said. "Long before I knew of your existence, folks have questioned me. I do not let it affect me. In fact, I want you to visit with me a few weeks longer, if it is possible. I would offer for you to stay with me at Bag End if I did not fear that your honor would be questioned. But there are plenty of good, homely inns around, in particular The Green Dragon. The choice is yours whether to accept or decline."

Naturally, I chose to stay in the Shire. I remained close to Frodo and Sam, but Merry and Pippin also visited with us often, and though Frodo's birthday had passed, there was still much merrymaking and glee. More than anything, Frodo liked to walk through the surrounding green country, especially when his mind was restless, and often I would accompany him. After twilight, I would retire to my room at the inn in order that no question concerning us was raised.

Everyone was merry during this time, and all went smoothly till October the sixth. I arrived at Bag End about midday, and it was Sam who greeted me. Overt concern was written upon his face as he did so, and his voice dripped with alarm.

"My Master is ill today, and I don't know why. You may go in to see him if you'd like, but he shunned me when I did earlier."

This evoked immediate concern from me; if even Sam had been turned way, then what was Frodo apt to say to me? Yet I went to him nevertheless – how could I ignore it if he were in such a state?

I wrapped on the door, and the response came promptly enough: "Come in, Sam."

"It is not Sam. It is I, Tallah."

There was a long pause, and I was nearly certain that he would tell me to take leave, but I heard him feebly respond, "Come in," mere moments later.

I entered and stood by his bedside. "I have heard that you are very ill. Is there anything I might do for you while I am here?"

Frodo looked in my direction, but it was as if he looked through me and gazed instead into the distance with a vacant stare. "I am ill. But you cannot help me, Tallah. No one can. There is not anything to be done for me."

I stood in silence for quite a length of time, uncertain of what to expect. "If there is nothing I can do, then there is no purpose in my staying here. Would it be best that I leave?"

"Yes," he replied. "If you please. I am sorry, Tallah."

"Very well, then. I take my leave. Farewell, and I do mean that. I wish you good health and a speedy recovery." And I left the room.

For the remainder of that day, I took to solitude. I did not leave my room at The Green Dragon save to gather the supplies I would need in order to depart on the following day. If Frodo was to be ill and did not desire my presence during this period, then there was no purpose in further prolonging my visit. I made my preparations industriously; all was completely ready by twilight, and I retired early so that when I set out the following morning, I would be well rested.

But the morning of the seventh, a messenger came to my room.

"Frodo Baggins is here to see you," he informed me.

"He is? Is there some sort of error?" I wondered aloud to myself. But I saw that there was not, as I walked out into the common room, I spotted Frodo seated alone at a table in the nearest corner.

At once, I went to greet him. "Frodo! What is the meaning of you wandering around town in a state of illness? Should you not be in bed at this moment?"

"Save your protests. I am better today, and no longer need rest. Won't you take a seat?"

I gladly complied. "Then my wish to you for a speedy recovery did you some good."

"I do not believe that is the reason. Yesterday was the sixth of October. You might recall that is the anniversary of when I got stabbed on Weathertop."

"I do recall that now, and wonder why I did not guess the cause of your malady yesterday."

"It has been nearly one full year since we have last met. I know how much one can forget in one year. I hope that from this year to next, it will prove easier to keep contact. I regret that so much time has elapsed between our visits. Also, I apologize for yesterday. I am sure that I appeared very cross."

"There is no need to apologize," said I. "I know all too well the effects that physical illness can have on the emotions."

"Is it true that you were set to leave today?" he continued.

"Yes, it is true."

"I do not want you to leave with negative thoughts of me, as you undoubtedly had yesterday. Will you stay at least one more day, so that I may give you a proper farewell?"

"I would be glad to, because you ask it of me, and because I very much desire it as well."

He treated me to a drink, which was of remarkable quality, even compared to the beers of the Prancing Pony. And he explained to me that this great year of plenty had produced the best of every sort of crop. There had been great joy and lightheartedness throughout the entire year, and I considered myself fortunate to have visited during such a flourishing period.

After we had finished, we went out of the inn and commenced our daily stroll. We conversed, mainly exchanging info about happenings in Bree and the Shire. But after a time, silence fell between us, and as I looked over at Frodo, I saw that he did not smile and that his mind dwelt on other thoughts. I noted also the he clutched the necklace, which, I was surprised to note, was still around his neck.

"May I ask about the purpose of the necklace?" I asked.

He turned to me, and as his eyes met mine, I saw that they held none of their previous joy; I wondered at the sudden change in his mood. "It was a gift," he answered at length, "from your Queen Arwen. It is the Evenstar, and it comforts me slightly when I feel traces of my former burden. But nothing can ever take it away. I have found no one to console me."

He must have detected my silent grief when he said this, because he added, "Do not find fault with yourself. Not even all my friends and family whom I have known for years can take the sorry away from me. Alas that some wounds simply never heal!" And once again, he fell to silence, and I felt as despondent as he.