Disclaimers: See Chapter 1 for more info.

This is the chapter where I had to stop and think. When I read The Deathly Hallows the first time, I stopped reading and waited a few days before I decided to read the rest of the story. I guess I did the same thing with this fanfic, but not for that long a time. Here we go. :')

Frodo lay flat on his back. There was a silence he couldn't ignore. Still, but familiar and calming. As soon as he gave a thought, he was clothed in blue, like he always was clothed. His fingers moved, touching the palms of his hands. His feet were hairy and clean, as the rest of him was clean. It made no sense, and yet it did.

He opened his eyes, discovering he was inside a golden palace with a roof made out of pure glass. He stood up, encouraged and excited. He felt like he belonged here, if only for a moment. Where was he? All he saw was massive pillars, made out of pure gold. He approached a white bench, jumping back at the sight of a shriveled child, drenched in blood. The child was in pain.

"You cannot help." That voice. It belonged to Dumbledore. The former headmaster was dressed in his usual grey robes. But where was Harry? "Frodo, you're a strong lad. A brave, brave man. Let us walk."

Frodo stood up, joining the headmaster down the white road. There were questions that needed answering. "Sir, what is that?" He looked at the child, still lying under the bench.

"A piece of Sauron sent here to die." Dumbledore said. "Manwë's orders." He added, "You see, Sauron was supposed to remain a spirit after the One Ring was destroyed. He came back to life. This is Manwë's punishment for Mairon. When he passes, Mairon will be sent here. It's a life he will have to live. Even Manwë ensures this will happen."

"Frodo," Dumbledore continued, "where do you think we are?"

"King's Cross." Frodo answered, calmly.

"How fascinating!" Dumbledore inquired, cheery. "Harry was just telling me the exact same thing."

"Harry's here? Where?" Frodo asked, looking around.

Dumbledore laughed. "You won't find him. I spoke to him first, and then made my way here. To you. You and Harry ended up in two different places, but in the same building. This is, as we say, your parting." He moved over to a bench. Frodo followed, sitting down next to the headmaster. "If you were to continue this journey, you might a train."

"Where would that take me?" Frodo asked.

"On." Dumbledore smiled. "If not, then this is where we say goodbye for the present. I know you must have questions. I'll gladly answer them."

"I was the seventh Horcrux, wasn't I? Sauron's Horcrux?" Frodo asked, knowingly.

"Ah yes, you were." Dumbledore pointed out. "The Horcrux was just destroyed by Sauron himself."

"Is he a part of me still?" The gentle-hobbit asked.

"No." The wizard answered. "No, you are free, as is Bilbo and Sam in the future. You are also freed in the future. The timelines have been restored. The alternate reality fixed. Now, there's two realities. One where you're a hobbit wizard and the other where you're a broken hobbit, who longs for adventure and doesn't want to burden himself. You will set sail to the Undying Lands, where you will live out your days. Should you choose that path, you will know something about the One Ring and Sauron. Something that was already said in the books. Your books, Frodo."

"What if I choose the life of a hobbit wizard?" Frodo asked. "What now?"

"Oh, you will still be there in the original timeline." Dumbledore said.

"But?" Frodo asked, confused.

"It is really up to you to decide which life you choose to lead. You'll still have a home in the original timeline. You'll still have a life in one of the alternate timelines." Dumbledore said. "It's rather curious. We can be in one timeline, but also live in others. What I'm saying, Frodo, is that you are free to choose your own life."

"Sauron is in one timeline. He's still alive then?" Frodo asked.

"Yes." Dumbledore answered.

"Is Sauron in the alternate timeline?" Frodo asked.

"Yes." Dumbledore said. "Whether Sauron is destroyed is up to you. It could mean more lives are saved. Sauron is a mortal now. He can be defeated by you. If he were a Maia still, then he would be no match for you or anyone, with the exception of higher beings. It's curious what Eru Ilúvatar does in all worlds, in all timelines, doesn't it?"

"Frodo, whichever life you choose will end differently. Know that and remember what I said." Dumbledore stood up and walked away.

Frodo also stood up and faced the headmaster. He spoke up, getting the headmaster's attention, "Professor Snape's patronus was a doe. Harry told me his mother Lily's patronus was a doe, too. It's curious, isn't it?"

"No. To be blunt, it's not curious at all." Dumbledore said, smiling again.

"Professor, is this real or is it happening inside my head?" Frodo asked him, confused.

"Of course, it's happening inside your head, Frodo! Why should that mean that it's not real?" Dumbledore added, quite out of curiosity, "It's ironic how the alternate timeline came to be. If it wasn't for that broken connection that day in Mount Doom, you and Harry wouldn't be entirely connected to each other. And yet, you are." Dumbledore walked away again, this time vanishing in a bright light.

Frodo was left alone.

Thanks for reading. :)