Chapter Ten Disclaimers: Frodo Baggins comes from J.R.R. Tolkien's book trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. Father Time is a legendary figure. My self-insert is me.

Warning! This chapter is Rated M for sensuality.

Chapter Ten Summary: Frodo and Aria finish their conversation at Father Time's house, from their conversation they only started, by thought, at the Sith Temple.

This chapter has been rewritten a few times. But with each version, this chapter got better. :)

I updated Chapter 8/9 in the meantime, from which Frodo and my self-insert's telepathic communication, from within the Sith Temple, is revealed in said chapter's first section. This section of Chapter 8/9 leads us into the first section of this chapter, where Frodo and my self-insert's conversation from Chapter 8/9 is concluded. :)

Section Two for this chapter touches on my self-insert's right shoulder injury and more discussions on my self-insert's spiritual awakening.

I hope this chapter works. This was tough to write and I'm honestly a bit scared of how it will turn out. Let's hope it works. :)

This chapter is a filler chapter.

That said, enjoy! :)

Part II

Chapter Ten:

At Father Time's House

Frodo awoke, still grasping Aria's arms. He quietly petted her arms, enduring her scent, and loving her up all the same. Still, something was on Aria's mind: the Sith Temple. Of course! Frodo should have known Aria was still thinking about the Sith Temple.

It wouldn't leave her alone.

Still, how was he to calm her down? He knew a way!

Softly, he whispered in her ear, loud enough for her to hear: "You don't have to worry about my fans, Samwise Gamgee, not even peoples' happiness over your own life. Sam and his fans are a different sort. Sam has enough trouble with them, as it is."

Aria awoke then and there, her heart calming down. "What about your fans? I'm your fan, too!" Aria gazed at him in angst. "Both your fans and Sam's fans… they're always fighting. I ended up caught in the middle of it. I guess I'm an odd Frodo fan."

"As I said, you don't need to worry," Frodo stated, leaving Aria miffed until he moved a lock of hair out of her eyes. Frodo huffed, telling her, "Aria, I know you're my fan. I love all my fans, including you. They have their own versions of me, as do you. So, why should my fans fight over me. They already have me, even you. You have to understand that. They'll soon see, as will you."

Aria sighed, feeling slightly relieved to hear this. She was still angry, upset, but calmer now. And it felt good, to be honest with herself. She didn't know why that was or where it came from, but all she knew was that it felt splendid. And that was all there was to it, wasn't it? It was all she could do to keep herself calm. So, why wasn't she happy?

"You're worried about something else?" Frodo asked, as if knowing what she was about to say. "Obsessions, right?"

"Yeah. Why are some obsessions allowed and others aren't?" Aria asked, curious but still angst-ridden.

Frodo shrugged. "I don't know." His bright blue eyes gazed at her hazel blue-green eyes. He was already drowning in her earthen bluish-green sky of eyes. Then again, he smirked, as if hoping Aria's hot temper wouldn't steer her off course. But then, who was he to say about this? It was hard to say.

Frodo looked at her from where they lie on the bed. He rubbed her arm, doing his best to calm her. "Do you want to know what I think about obsessions?"

"Hmm?" Aria asked, curious now.

Frodo laughed softly, enduring this moment. He moved another lock of dark brown hair away from her face, as he explained, giddy with excitement, "I think obsessions are passions, Aria. They can be healthy, but they can also be unhealthy. It depends on what the obsession is and how we can handle it."

He smirked now, giggling to himself, "Ah, fascinations and fixations are often bad obsessions, unhealthy, even when they cause distress. Distress would make obsessions unhealthy." He added, "But you seem to have taken fixations and fascinations well. Haven't you? They're passions, right?" He giggled, as did Aria.

Aria turned over to look at Frodo, realizing she had been sleeping on the left side of the bed, with Frodo caressing her shoulders from behind her. How did they switch positions on the bed? That remained to be seen.

Still, Aria took in Frodo's features, telling him, promptly, "Yes, I guess I did turn fixations and fascinations into something healthy. Didn't we have this conversation about obsessions in our dreams recently?"

Frodo smirked, playing with her hair, "We did. I remember. I was in the Unending Forest when Maleficent knocked me out with dust of some kind. That was a while ago. Hmm," he smirked, enjoying himself. "Well, Aria, you seem to be feeling a lot better, as am I."

"Me too," Aria said, relief in her eyes.

"Well, I'd say we ought to get up. Wouldn't you say?" Frodo asked her, curious.

Aria nodded, pleased to hear it.

"Then let's go," Frodo stated, moving away from her, so Aria could get out of bed.

Aria looked at him, encouraged more now than ever, "Thank you. I needed that. You did, too."

Frodo nodded, kissing her lips. "Come on. Let's go. Father Time is expecting us."

Aria smirked, pleased, "Well, let's not keep him waiting."

Frodo shook his head, laughing. "No! No indeed, we shouldn't. Let's go." He said, making his way into the bathroom, before Aria joined him.

.

Father Time's dining area was an extravagant dining hall. Red rose carpet, soft to the touch, garnished the dining hall's floor. Surrounding the walls were tall oak bookcases, stored with books, scrolls, papers, and bookends. Lines of painted floral vases—some big, some small—stood at the corners of the walls and by the bookcases. Lush, green, leafy plants and flowering plants, as well as poinsettias, resided in the ceramic vases. The windows were tall and rectangular shaped, lining one wall, while a mahogany fireplace stood on the opposite wall. A mahogany mantelpiece was decked out above the stone fireplace. Lush, evergreen garland and several clocks—in different shapes, sizes, and colors—garnished the mantelpiece, while a tall square mirror rested on the wall above the mantelpiece.

The dining room table stood in the centermost part of the dining hall, complete with its own quilted rounded rug lying underneath the table. The dining table was made from mahogany wood and was just polished, too. Candlesticks lined the table, while several dark green cushioned chairs with tall backs stood around the table.

The walls were covered in drywall and wood paneling, decked in cordial designs.

Father Time was amazed he used this room at all, given all the doors remained shut most of the time, unless he had guests. He already had two guests present inside his house: Frodo and Aria.

Father Time looked at the pocket watch nestled inside his robes. Great. Frodo and Aria were an hour late and already missing the time in which breakfast would be eaten. He turned and looked up at the couple as they entered his dining hall, right as breakfast arrived all nice and hot. Father Time thanked the servers, as they left the food on the table. The servers bowed, before they departed out of the room to the kitchen.

Father Time nodded, gesturing for Frodo and Aria to join him at the table. "Shall we?" He guided Frodo and Aria over to the table, watching Frodo escort Aria over there. Frodo pulled up a chair for Aria, scooting her in, while he sat down next to her on her right. Aria happened to be sitting between Frodo and Father Time, who took the centermost chair at the end of the table next to Aria's left.

As they ate their food, Father Time observed Frodo and Aria. He noticed Aria's right shoulder was beet red, and yet that redness was a lot less than it had been when she came to his house with Frodo.

Father Time looked at Aria, reminding her, "You know, Anakin cannot fight you as hard as before, not with your right shoulder being the way it is."

Aria sighed in aggravation. She admitted, wincing in pain, "I know. Archangel Raphael healed me."

Father Time nodded. "Why yes, he did. But this needs to heal over time. You were given at least five years to heal your injury, while you were at the Sith Temple. Surely, Frodo couldn't keep track of the time. It happened so fast, but you both are five years older than when you both started your spiritual journey." He chuckled, saying to Frodo, much to his astonishment, "I know, it's shocking! But, here we are!"

Frodo looked at Aria, whispering, "How are you holding up? I know. The voices want you to be your old self, some of them do."

Aria nodded, agitated. She whispered back, "I know. Something strange happened. The moment, this morning, when I thought my new self had integrated with my old self—and I don't know why—I felt like I had fallen asleep, blacked out, moved through time, and came back to my body, drying my hands off. It was… fascinating."

Frodo chuckled, astonished, too, "Really? Maybe that was me, reminding you that you're only your old self for however brief a time. Then, you're your new self. From what I gathered, that is."

Aria nodded, between bites, "Right. I should have seen it coming."

Frodo laughed, patting Aria across the back, his bright blue eyes meeting Aria's hazel blue-green eyes. "Well, we'll make it through this together. That's for sure."

Aria hoped he was right, as they ate their food in peace.

How was that? A lot of dialogue in this chapter, but it did calm me down, as well as my self-insert.

I'm currently brainstorming the next chapter. So, we'll see what happens. :)

Thanks for reading. More to come! :)

~Aria Breuer