Epilogue:
Awakening
By the time Elijah returned to the Animal Headquarters that late afternoon, he found he could not leave Amber's side. Although they only kissed at the Pridelands, their moment was affectionate and proved to Elijah that Amber really did have feelings for him. There were a few Nobodies, still not ready to leave the Animal Headquarters for the new base at Terranus, didn't enjoy the pleasure of seeing Elijah and Amber together. Melissa, unsurprising, was one such Nobody.
Melissa became appalled when Elijah and Amber entered the diner on the fourth floor. She asked Nash, disgusted, "Do they have to be here?" She yelled across the room at the two hobbits, "Hey, lovebirds, would you find another place to coo? And leave the rest of us be."
Nash shushed her. "Melissa, be quiet."
Appalled, Melissa shouted, "Oh, so they can enjoy their moment together."
"Melissa, what's wrong with you?" muttered Nash, sternly.
Aslan entered the diner. He announced, for all to hear, "The hobbits are awakening." In seconds, a mad rush of people and animals alike left the diner. He noticed Grayson, Elijah, and Amber were still in the diner. "Typical." He charged after the crowd, informing them to not disturb the waking hobbits.
Grayson approached the couple. "It must be important for Aslan to announce the hobbits awakenings."
"Elijah, do you think Frodo's one of those hobbits waking up?" asked Amber.
"I don't know, it just…" Then it hit him. "Come on, Amber. Let's find out."
"I'll meet you two in the sleeping chamber!" cried Grayson, as he rushed back into the kitchen.
Holding hands, Elijah and Amber made their way through the crowd. The sleeping chamber wasn't too far away now. When they made it to the front of the crowd, Elijah and Amber noticed a few silver balls fly from the crowd into the sleeping chamber. The two watched from the observatory room as more silver balls made their way into the pods. After a few flashes of light, Elijah aimlessly entered the sleeping chamber. He felt a strange light air engulf his body. Before he knew what happened, Elijah collapsed. Amber came to Elijah's side as the strange air caught her, sending her airborne for a moment, and then collapsing on top of Elijah.
o-o-o
For all that occurred in the sleeping chamber, one thing was positive. The hobbits asleep in the pods were now waking up. Estella Bolger was the first to awaken. The sensation made her feel free from a secluded prison, one that seemed internal. She wasn't alone in this feeling, for Diamond Took followed in suit. Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took were next to awaken, yawning loud and long. After a few minutes, it was Sam Gamgee's turn to become awake, as it was for Rosie Cotton. Once out of their pods, the hobbits discussed many things, yet they could not help but wonder what had become of everyone since their time spent under for twenty years.
Sam worried about his master. "When is Master Frodo waking up?"
Rosie checked on the sleeping hobbit. "He's still asleep. I would give him time."
"If he's had any," said Merry.
"Cousin, what do you think happened to Elijah Molvaro? He doesn't seem around here."
"I don't know, Pippin," admitted Merry.
"When can we return home?" asked Estella.
"Yes, Estella's right," said Diamond.
Sam answered Estella's question. "Just after Master Frodo's awakened."
"When is that?" asked Diamond, confused.
The hobbits turned in unison upon hearing a groan from the same pod Frodo was inside. A silence fell between the hobbits, as if they were waiting in anticipation for something to happen. They would have been in the right when they learned that the last silver ball entered Frodo's body. Moments passed before the hobbits heard and saw Frodo open his eyes.
With that ends the first tale of the Nobodies.
I would like to acknowledge and thank ValueMyHeart for reading and reviewing this story, when this story was first posted. I would also like to thank my readers for reading this story right to its end.
I'll see you back in The Emerald Diadem, or in other stories that I'm working on currently.
Aria Breuer