The bit with Ronnie and Elijah in the second section was inspired by the beginning scene in the episode "Poor Little Rich Girl", from the first season of "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody".
Chapter Fifteen:
Conversations
FRODO'S POV
Frodo waited until after he spoke with Sam, before returning inside the healing house. He eventually found Aria sitting in the garden. She looked frustrated.
"Admiring the scenery?" asked Frodo, getting Aria's attention. "I wondered if I would find you out here."
"Merry can be a pain at times," said Aria. "You know, you and your friends are the only hobbits I know here. I don't know any of the elves. Even if I wanted to befriend an elf, I'm afraid the friendship wouldn't last long."
Frodo sat down on the bench next to Aria.
Aria cracked a grin. "I'm probably just kidding myself."
"What did Merry tell you, that has you so jumpy?" asked Frodo.
"He told me that he, you, and everyone else needs me to fulfill a prophecy. But I think he meant that he and you and your friends need me in general," said Aria. "That I shouldn't doubt or yell, like I've been doing because there's no point to it."
"Maybe he's right," said Frodo. "I'm sorry for the way I acted. I know this must be new to you. You only knew me in general back on Earth, right?"
"I did. What's your point?" asked Aria.
"Well, maybe we could start over. Be friends again," said Frodo.
"I don't want to risk that friendship ruined if we become something more," said Aria.
"Don't worry. It won't," said Frodo.
"I'm not sure I want to be friends with you," said Aria.
"You already are a friend to me, as I am you. So, there is no possible way to deny that," said Frodo, touching Aria's hand.
"I thought you said you wanted to be friends first," said Aria.
Frodo chuckled. "So I did, and I still do."
"We have that deal we made. I get my memories back, I get to go home… but I doubt that's something you want," said Aria.
"It's up to you, really. I can't change your mind if you decide to head back," said Frodo.
"So, where is this Wall of Memory?" asked Aria.
Frodo spoke with Aria over where the Wall of Memory could be found. It meant more walking through the forest, and making it past a Guardian's house, but the end journey may have proved a useful venture. Frodo was sad that Aria was considering returning to her home, yet he bravely hid it from her.
o-o-o
When his wounds were almost healed and he could walk, Frodo was free to leave the healer's house. He went inside one of the chambers of the housing area in search of Sam, Merry, and Pippin. In one of the rooms, Frodo found Elijah Molvaro and Ronnie Buckley playing video games on a large television.
"May I ask what you two are doing here?" asked Frodo, serious.
"We're waiting for one of the Elves to send us away. We lost the last base for the Nobodies," said Ronnie. He blew up as an explosion took place on the television screen. He shouted at Elijah, who chuckled merrily, "You made my ship blow up again!"
"Well, if you were a better gamer, as opposed to hacking, you'd know what you were doing," said Elijah.
"Sure, boast about being one of the best gamers out there," said Ronnie, huffing.
Elijah shook his head. "You're one to talk."
Frodo asked, politely, "Is there any way we can talk open and frank…"
"Right, let's move past the games and move onto the home videos on Nobodies," said Ronnie, moving away from the couch.
As Elijah turned off the game, he told Ronnie, "Hopefully, it's not on the logistics of being a Nobody. I couldn't stand that lecture given by Mother Sinclair. She obviously doesn't understand Nobodies."
"Do you understand Nobodies? You're practically one such Nobody… or two," said Frodo.
"We're both Nobodies, Frodo. We're your Nobodies," said Ronnie, searching through the video tapes. "Let's see. What haven't we watched…"
"How's Aria coping?" asked Elijah to Frodo.
"She still misses home. It'd be shameful to see her go," said Frodo. "I'm sorry I made that deal with her."
"You had to, otherwise she wouldn't agree to it," said Elijah.
Ronnie found a video tape, and said in delight, "A tape on how Nobodies are born. Oh, look: it's about us, Elijah."
"We haven't seen that yet," said Elijah. "Put it in." He changed the input to VCR, before Ronnie put the tape in. Frodo sat down on the couch next to Elijah, as Elijah moved to the middle seat.
A loud, booming voice sounded, as images popped up on the screen. "The Nobody: a fascinating creature without a heart. Some Nobodies can have hearts, but unless they have enough strong will from the original host, they…"
"Oh, move on from the basics!" said Ronnie, as Elijah held the remote control and fast-forwarded.
When Elijah pressed the 'play' button, the loud, booming narrator voice continued where he left off. "…Here we have the Nobody taking form, or in this case birth, from its host." A loud screech could be heard on the screen.
As Ronnie shut his eyes, Elijah looked in disgusted awe at the sight, as did Frodo. Elijah announced, "I'm fast-forwarding this part." He pressed the fast-forward button. Eventually, Elijah pressed the 'play' button at a reasonable part. "This part looks safe." That got Ronnie's attention.
"Hey, it's us afterwards," said Ronnie.
"Isn't that Ilsa, the Frost Guardian? What's she doing with Father Time?" asked Elijah.
"Maybe they're helping sort out the Nobodies," said Frodo.
Ronnie chuckled. "Well, that's obvious."
The trio watched the people on the screen as they spoke to each other and walked around:
" 'Aren't these Nobodies adorable?' said Ilsa.
'I think that one looks like you,' said Father Time.
'Oh, phish posh, these Nobodies came from Frodo Baggins… but then so did that dragon-like creature. It has no wings or scales, yet it's red,' said Ilsa, looking at the red baby dragonoid.
'What shall they be called, before we send them back out into the world? Most of these Nobodies look the same,' said Father Time.
'Well, this one is Ronnie,' said Ilsa, pointing to the chubbier baby. She pointed to the second, thinner baby, 'And this one is Elijah.'
'Are you sure?' asked Father Time."
"What?" asked Elijah and Ronnie, in unison.
" 'We need to be certain we have the right one to send out to the Gladden Fields,' said Father Time.
'Of course,' said a Flower Guardian."
"That Flower Guardian is Rhyme. You'll see her on your way to the Wall of Memory. She's a bit of a tricky guardian to get along with," said Elijah to Frodo, pointing out the woman with the dark locks of long, curly hair.
"All right. Shut up," said Ronnie, shushing him.
" 'That's Ronnie,' said Rhyme, pointing to the thinner baby. She gestured to the chubbier baby, 'And that's Elijah… I think.' "
"Now she's messed up, too? How can we be sure you're Elijah and I'm Ronnie?" asked Ronnie, offended.
"For one thing, you're wearing an all black ensemble piece, you're a hacker and you can sometimes be annoying," said Elijah. "Me: I'm kind, a very excellent gamer, and managed to find friendship in Nash."
"We both look the same," said Ronnie.
Merry knocked on the wood of the open door. He got Frodo's attention, by telling him, "Frodo, we're waiting for you to come."
"You'll have to excuse me, gentle-hobbits," said Frodo, following Merry out of the room, as the two Nobodies quarreled over who was who.
After arriving in one of the council rooms, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin discussed the days to come. Frodo's friends were determined to come with him and Aria on their journey to the Wall of Memory, yet Frodo felt concerned about the trip being perilous. They had no idea what they would find in the forest, which was what concerned Frodo the most. Eventually, after a few hours, Frodo spoke while tapping his hand to his forehead:
"We can't assume there isn't anything out there. I wouldn't risk your safety for nothing, not even Aria's safety."
"Frodo, we're your friends and I'm Aria's father, long-lost," said Merry. "We're not going to let you go through this alone."
"We don't know how tricky the Flower Guardian is," said Frodo. "Merry, I can't risk it."
"Frodo, we're not asking you to do this alone. You and Aria wouldn't make it without us," said Pippin.
"And this time, you can't shut us out. We'd like to face this danger together. I didn't leave my wife Rosie back at Middle-earth, so you and Miss Aria could sulk," said Sam.
Frodo gave in with a smile. "What wonderful friends I have."
"Then it's settled. We leave in the morning," said Merry.
"Aria's still with the healers," said Frodo.
"Then we wait until the day after she's out. I'm sure she'll want to relax before we travel," said Merry.
"She isn't a hobbit anymore, Merry. She can't walk barefoot. You should have seen her feet," said Frodo.
"Well then, maybe the Wall of Memory can help bring Aria back to her hobbit form," said Merry.
"Isn't that not what a wall of memory does? I thought the Wall of Memory only helps with memories, not height changes," said Pippin in thought.
"We'll wait and see, Pippin," said Merry.
"Don't worry, Master Frodo, I'll protect you and Miss Aria from danger," said Sam.
"I appreciate the help, Sam," said Frodo. He ended their conversation with, "I should check on Aria one last time this afternoon."
"Go, Frodo," said Merry in encouragement.
"Be sure to send our hopes with her," said Pippin.
Frodo grinned. He then left his friends in the council room, as he found the way back outside the housing area.
ARIA'S POV
The day was starting to wane. Frodo hadn't come to visit since he'd been released from the healer's house. I spent most of the day trying to find things to do. Reluctantly, and somewhat fond of plants and flowers, I returned to the garden to think. Was it really worth going back home? I knew I had a dysfunctional family at home. I guess my life wasn't as happy as I thought. Then there was the whole business with the Wall of Memory. What was it? How could it help restore memories I didn't know I had. Once that was settled, I felt sure that Frodo would catch me up on the years I lost.
I returned to the diner, where dinner was already starting. I couldn't afford six to seven meals a day because I wasn't a hobbit, yet some part of me felt like I didn't mind it if something like that were to happen. As I ate, I heard complaints coming from out in the hallway. Frodo sounded like he wanted to join me for a visit, but the healers weren't permitting him to do so. Eventually, he reasoned with them and managed to get into the diner.
The healer told Frodo, "You have twenty minutes."
"Thank you, that's all I need," said Frodo. After the healer walked out, Frodo pulled a chair next to me. "How are you?"
"I'm recovering," I said. "I'm not sure now whether I should stay or go back."
"You don't have to leave. Your life must have been rough there," said Frodo.
"Well, I was picked on in school, for starters. I wasn't popular. I was a bookworm, and still might be. I don't know how relationships work," I said.
Frodo inquired, "You know, I can relate to you. In Buckland, growing up, I was always the quiet one. Merry was the talkative type."
"I guess we have something in common, with being shy," I said.
Frodo went on, "Growing up in the Shire and Buckland, I guess I always had this thrill for adventures, but I didn't imagine they would be as they are now. I guess I don't have much luck finding the there-and-back adventures, unlike my friends. I've suffered too much, and now there are villains chasing me, wanting my head."
"That must be frustrating," I said.
"It is. You have no idea how much I want to not be the villains' main target," said Frodo.
"Almost as much as I wanting to be recognized. There were times when I thought I was in your shadow, because I thought you were noticed all the time and popular. I guess I didn't get the chance until later in life," I said. "But it's not without its cost."
"You're not in my shadow," said Frodo, holding my hand. "I wouldn't want you to be."
"Thanks," I said, sounding a little saddened.
"When you're discharged, we're going to head to the Wall of Memory. Sam, Merry, and Pippin decided they want to come, too. I couldn't deny them," said Frodo.
"Of course you couldn't. They're your friends." I added, "You're lucky, you know, for having such strong friendships. You should be grateful. Not many people have strong friendships."
"You mean that?" asked Frodo.
"Of course. You're luckier than me," I said.
"Why do you say that?" asked Frodo.
I paused. The truth was coming out, more and more, as we spoke. "I guess I have a nasty habit of going off on my own, pushing people away when I need them most."
"I can relate to that," said Frodo. "I do my best to hide my pain from others, so I don't have to burden them."
"We are alike," I said, grinning.
"Yes and in more ways than I would like, but I don't mind the differences we share. You have Merry's talkative behavior and comedic antics," said Frodo.
"And you're serious for a Baggins," I said.
"Bagginses are always serious and well-to-do," said Frodo.
"You don't want me to leave, do you? I noticed you were sad, even when you didn't show it," I said.
Frodo spoke, bravely, "You do what you want. I won't stop you." He added, "But if you ever feel like you want to stay, I can look after you. With my friends and I, you won't feel alone."
"Why do you care so much about me?" I asked, curious.
"Because…" Frodo paused to recollect his thoughts. "…because you mean the world to me. You're the first lass I've ever cared for so deep. Our relationship could be just as strong as my friendship with Sam. All you have to do is let me in. That is, if you want. It's your choice, but I've already chosen my path."
"I'll give you my answer when we reach the Wall of Memory," I said.
Frodo grabbed my hand again. "No, you can tell me now."
I looked at him, startled.
Frodo released his grip on my hand. "I'm sorry. Perhaps I'm too hasty."
The same healer returned to the diner. She told Frodo, "Time's up, Halfling."
Frodo nodded. "And so it is." He told me, "You can give me your answer on the road."
"But I don't know whether I still care about you, Frodo," I said.
"Well I care about you, Aria," said Frodo.
"Mister Baggins," said the healer, fed up.
Frodo turned to me. "I won't let you go. No matter where you are, I will find a way to get back to you. That's a promise. I'll protect you, look after you, as I'm sure you would do the same for me." He whispered in my ear, "Meet me tomorrow at the garden. We can talk more then." I watched him as he walked out of the diner. I continued eating my meal, but at the same time felt my heart jump a little in excitement. Frodo's feelings did sound true, but were they enough to keep me here with him, instead of going back home? I had a lot to think about.