If you had known what it would cost you, would you have still done it?

If you had known the Quest would be achieved, but that you would have to sacrifice everything,

have to leave your friends and the land you loved, would your gentle heart still have been able to bear the burden?

And your friends, more beloved to you than your own breath, and you just as dear to them, would they have let you, had they known the Ring would destroy you?

You and they already know the answers to that.

The three of them would have set out with you, their hearts breaking for you and with you, knowing each step taken was a step closer to your doom and your separation from them, but taking those steps anyway because you were taking them and they would not be parted from you, even as you were stolen away piece by piece from them by the Ring, against your will and theirs. They would be brave for you as you would be brave for them, walking ahead of them so they could not see your tears and they be glad the wind dried theirs before you could see them.

But each night when there were no secrets, one of them would hold you and cry with you and for you or just hold your hand and remind you that you were not alone, that you were loved more dearly than life. And you would remind them that you were still with them as your arms and your voice would comfort them against the day when you could no longer hold them, but in their hearts and memories where your love for them and theirs for you would live forever.

Would they have watched you as you slept and thought to take the Ring from you, to help lessen the burden that crushed you?

Would you have begged them not to, having no desire to see them torn apart inside as you were being?

You and they know the answer to that as well.

Each morning they would set out again with you and pray to face the day as bravely and resolutely as you, knowing and dreading what was coming as you did, but also as you did, facing it because it had to be faced and the Shire and its people and all the people of Middle-earth would be saved, even if you were lost. A terribly high price they feared greatly to pay, but one you were willing to, so they could be happy for many years. That was what would drive you on, even as you knew that for you, happiness would soon only be a memory.

Not all would have been deepening pain though. You would smile for them as many times as you could and many times more when you felt you couldn’t but still did. You would dry their tears, kiss their heads, tell them how much you loved them, reassure them, even tease them and they would smile for you, even laugh if they could work themselves up to it. And your love for them would grow with your certainty that you were doing the right thing and for a little bit, the burden would be less.

They would hold you when nightmares plagued you or them or simply because they wanted to be near you. They would wipe at your tears, run their hands through your dear curls and kiss your beloved head and murmur the same comforts and words of love you said to them. They would rejoice to see you smile and the light return if only for a moment to your beautiful eyes. And they would listen as you whispered their names and many others over and over to yourself, not knowing they heard you, as you reminded yourself why you were doing all this.

Their love would save you and your love would save them, did save them, saved all Middle-earth, saved us all.

Thank you.