Chapter 1: And You’ll Be Here in My Arms

Shortly before dawn, Frodo rose to singing. He quickly changed out of his nightshirt into cream-colored silk and walked the two miles down from his home to a small building as he had every day for almost 60 years. Joining others, he entered the almost completely dark room, bowed, and kissed an image of a sun at the front that was illuminated by a single red lamp hanging from the ceiling, before he sat down on one of the benches, feet dangling over the side. He listened as a single Elf stood near the lamp and chanted prayers to Iluvatar. Frodo responded with the others in flawless Quenya and bowed his head with the others at the words of blessing. Then he left his place, arms crossed over his chest, fingers nearly touching the opposite shoulders, in a position of reverence and respect learned decades before. His expression was solemn as was proper, but just underneath it was barely suppressed excitement for a day so longed for. He reached the equally solemn Elf at the front of the room, tilted his head back and opened his mouth. The Elf crouched down to place a small piece of the lembas bread there.

When Frodo returned to his place, he stared up at the lamp as he slowly consumed the bread, the great gift Iluvatar had given his Firstborn and that Frodo felt honored and humbled to share in. But there was more than one thing he was thankful for today and it was regarding that he focused his prayers on. He bowed his head and murmured, “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” over and over again. He spent several more minutes in silent prayer, then left and ran down to the dock, his energy no longer suppressed but flowing out from his heart, giving strength to limbs 114 years old, but feeling only a fraction of that.

He shouted his joy aloud when he saw from afar the ship approach, the one had hoped and prayed so long for. He skidded to a stop at the very edge of the pier so he would be the very first person Sam would see. He tried to calm his breathing, but was too excited to be truly successful. He smoothed his clothing and ran a shaking hand through silver curls. He wanted to look his best for his Sam. His eyes remained glued to the approaching ship which to his agony seemed to be coming in far too slowly. He bounced from foot to foot, willing the majestic vessel to come in faster, then felt a hand on his shoulder, stilling him for a moment. He relaxed his clenched fists as he felt peace flow from that grip and then squinted up into the sun to look into the face of one of his dearer friends.

A tall, blond Elf smiled down at him and spoke to him in Quenya. “I thought I would restrain you from throwing yourself into the water and pulling in the ship yourself. You were thinking of doing that, weren’t you, dear Iorhael?”

Frodo smiled. He had never lost the thrill of hearing his Elvish name and he retorted fluently back and his friend smiled at the slight Shire accent that remained. “If I thought it would help, Galian, I would. It’s coming in so slowly, I can’t bear it!”

Galian’s smile widened.. “All this while, dear one, that you have spent with us and you still have not come to our view of time?”

The hundred-and-fourteen-year-old hobbit nearly snorted and the thousands-years-old Elf laughed. “This wait may mean nothing to you, my dear friend,” Frodo said, his eyes fixed on the ship, “but we mortals don’t have all the time in the world and this has been a day I have so longed for...for I don’t even want to know how long.”

The ship was moving closer, but not nearly quick enough. Frodo’s breathing quickened and he started clenching and unclenching his small fists as he strained to see anyone on the deck. He felt his friend’s hand tighten a little on his shoulder.

“He’s here’s, Galian,” Frodo whispered. “He’s finally here. My Sam, my brother, my heart.”

The Elf looked down at the small glowing figure who was his treasured friend. “And happy we all are for you, beloved Iorhael.”

“Thank you. I can’t believe the time has come at last.”

“Do you want to know how little time it’s actually been since you last saw him?”

“No,” Frodo replied, knowing he was being teased again. “Just a blink of an eye for you, I suppose, the wait of a lifetime for me.”

“Less than a blink actually.”

Frodo groaned “Don’t torture me anymore, Galian. This wait is torture enough. Why can’t it move in any faster?”

“Dearheart, when have you ever seen an Elf or anything of Elven make move anything less than elegantly? You have acquired so much of the same grace yourself on top of what you already naturally had. Don’t go shaming us now with all this impatience.”

This time Frodo did snort and Galian laughed again. “All right, I will stop ‘torturing’ you. Enjoy your reunion. You will have many more years with him.”

“Oh, I hope so. Thank you, Galian.”

The Elf squeezed his friend’s shoulder, then released his grip. Frodo didn’t even notice as his eyes remained riveted to the ship which finally was coming close enough nearly to touch. The hobbit’s breathing hitched as he stepped back to allow the vessel to draw up to the dock and lower the boarding plank. It stopped altogether for a moment when he saw a small, crouched figure emerge from the boat.

“Sam!” Frodo cried. “My Sam!”

The elderly hobbit looked up. He saw more Elves than he had ever seen in his life, but his eyes hardly registered them. The long voyage was over. He had been very well taken care of, but it had been tiring for his age and frightening for someone who didn’t like the water. But none of that mattered anymore. Now he looked only for the one who had called his name, for the one he had made this voyage for. His face lit up when he saw his brother again. He was startled for a moment to see Frodo’s hair entirely silver, but that and the nearly white clothing he wore, made him seem to glow even brighter with love, joy and peace, greater than he ever had, even before the Ring had so scarred him. Sam tightened his pack around his shoulders as formerly unsteady legs grew stronger and he ran off the boat as fast as he could. The Elves who had been with him smiled. They had heard no end of stories of Sam’s great love and admiration for his brother and they were happy to see them reunited. What energy came to Sam just being close to his dearest friend! What joy to see and hear him again. How he dreamed and longed for this!

“Frodo! My Frodo dear!”

Amidst many joyful reunions, the two hobbits ran to each other, tears of joy streaming unnoticed down their cheeks. Frodo covered Sam’s face with exuberant kisses, then clutched him tightly to his chest and murmured his name over and over again and another word Sam didn’t understand. “Yallume.”

How wonderful it felt to feel Sam’s arms tight around him again! He smelled the Shire again for the first time in many years. Sam closed his eyes and just concentrated on that dear voice and the feel of his brother again in his arms. Frodo smelled of ink and fresh air and Sam was convinced he could even smell the joy and love that radiated out from him. After a long moment, they broke apart just slightly and looked long into each other’s shining faces, though there was in Sam’s a sadness also. Frodo was brighter than Sam had ever seen him, the way he had been before his parents had drowned. Sam traced his brow and cheeks, then the edges of that bright smile. Frodo kissed those fingers and smiled ever wider, then Sam clasped him to his chest again.

“Oh, my Sam,” Frodo murmured, “is this real?”

“Yes, I’m here, me Frodo, I’m finally here.” There was a hitch in Sam’s voice as the emotion and reality of the reunion began to overwhelm him and he held Frodo even tighter as tears began to fall.

“I have missed you so much.”

Sam’s arms tightened even more around him. “Not as much as I’ve missed you.”

Frodo looked up and smiled into Sam’s eyes. “I don’t know about that, dearheart. I’ve missed you so much I thought I’d go mad at times.”

Sam looked back with infinite tenderness and love. “My dear, we already had a similar argument about who loved who more and you lost that one, remember? Do you really want to lose another?”

Frodo laughed, a clear, joyful laugh that Sam rejoiced to hear. “No, I suppose not.”

Frodo pulled back after a long time, but seemed as loathe as Sam to break the embrace completely. They looked for a long while into each other’s bright eyes. They wiped at one another’s tears, then Sam touched Frodo’s silvered curls. He frowned slightly as he traced a faded scar on his beloved brother’s chin.

“It was an accident a long time ago,” Frodo explained.

“I wish I had been there to help you.”

“So do I, but you are where you needed to be and I was where I needed to be.”

The next thing Sam noticed was the cloth cord around his brother’s neck. He fingered it and looked up at his brother questionly. Frodo smiled and fished out the rest of the cord from under his clothes. Two small, cloth picture panels were sewn to the cord and held against Frodo’s heart. One of them showed an image of a sun. The other was in writing Sam recognized as Elvish, but he could not decipher it.

“It says ‘You are a child of Eru, Frodo Baggins’. The other is a representation of Iluvatar’s glory.”

“Who are they?”

“It’s two names for the same Person. Our Creator, Sam.”

The gardener and former Mayor’s eyes widened. Frodo smiled. “Remember the dreams I had before the Quest and I told you that after them, I felt a presence that comforted me?”

Sam nodded.

“That was Iluvatar. I felt His presence during both Quests also, but I did not understand Who I was serving, not completely until Gandalf explained it to me and why Eru had chosen me to be the Ring-bearer. I’ve been wearing this since about a year after I came after Gandalf completed my initial instruction. I hope you’ll come to understand all about our Creator also and then my joy will be truly complete.”

Sam looked at his brother. “You’ll have to tell me then. I was just surprised to see you wearing anything around your neck again.”

Frodo’s fingers tightened around the cord and Sam saw his brother’s face grow more peaceful and tender. “It’s the opposite of the Ring. It helped heal me. It makes me feel safe and protected. It reminds me that I am loved, of all the things you have always been to me, dearest Sam, and that I am loved by Someone else even more. Now instead of sleeping with my fingers around a Ring that was destroying me, I sometimes sleep with my hand around this instead. It has been an immense comfort to me.”

Sam touched both panels, then placed a reverent kiss on the image of the sun in thanksgiving for his brother being well and happy again. He did not truly understand exactly what he was doing, but he was moved to make some gesture. Frodo smiled, then put the cherished cord back against his heart.

Sam smiled then and stroked his brother’s cheek. “It hurt for so long after you left, but I am glad now that you did, that you came to where you could shine again.”

Frodo smiled. He leaned his head against Sam’s shoulder and held him tight once more. “Oh, my Sam, I have so longed for you to see that again, to know that I was all right, to see that you are, too.”

They held each other for a long time, gently rocking. The Elves already there got their first look at the hobbit they had heard so much about and they smiled at the joyful reunion. They remembered when Frodo had come, his light dimmed by darkness, grief and pain, now shining so bright and the other hobbit nearly shining as bright.

“Thank you so much for coming, Sam,” Frodo said, then at long last, they broke apart, placed their arms around each other’s waists and started walking away from the shore. “How was the voyage? I know you don’t like being on the water.”

“The Elves treated me that well, dear. They knew I wasn’t comfortable being on a ship and they looked after me with such care I blush to think of it. The food and drink was wonderful, even better than Rivendell or Lothlorien and I thought nothing could get better than that. I was glad to be abroad because it meant I was coming to you, but I was even more glad to be off it. I didn’t sleep well on the ship.”

Frodo’s brow puckered in concern. “Because of the movement?”

“No, I could barely feel that.” Sam looked up at his friend and smiled. “It was because I was so excited about seeing you again.”

Frodo threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, dearest heart, I haven’t been sleep right for days myself! I should be dead on my feet from it, but you’ll find that there is an energy here, a vitality, that gives you strength, like you are being held in arms of Light.” He looked at his dearest friend. “Just like you were to me on the Quest.”

“I’d be glad to feel that, because I am that tired.”

Frodo tightened his grip on Sam’s waist. “Then let’s go right home, Sam dear. I’m sorry. I forgot how tiring the trip would be for you. I was a sad mess myself when I came.”

“But you did get better.”

“Yes, but it took time,” Frodo said. “Another thing you’ll discover here is that everything is magnified. The colors are brighter, the smells are richer, the tastes and touches are more vibrant. And the emotions are deeper. It was very difficult for me in the beginning because of that, but when I did get better, the joy and peace I felt was deeper than I had ever felt.”

“I’m so glad you found all that again, my dear. That’s all I ever wanted for you.”

“And that’s what I wanted for you, Sam. You deserved all good things for all you had done for me. And now, dearest, you deserve a good nap! I don’t live far from here. Do you think you can make it or I could get us a pony.”

Sam smiled. “Don’t worry about me. Maybe I’m already feeling what you said. But a nap would be nice.”

“Then that’s what you shall have. There is so much I want to show you here, but we can start tomorrow. It’ll be just like in Shire when we were going on our adventures! I’ve told everyone all about you and they are most anxious to meet you, but they will understand if we put that off a bit. Gandalf is here too and is looking forward to seeing you again. I know he’ll understand if we don’t see him right away. There’ll be time for everything later. Today can be just for us. Then how about some breakfast after your nap? I can make you anything you want.”

Sam’s smile widened. “Well, if you want the truth, I’ve missed your mushroom omelettes. That Elven food is wonderful and I’m sure it’s even better here, but there’s nothing like your cooking. That is if it’s not too much trouble. Do they even have mushrooms here?”

Frodo grinned. “The best you’ve ever tasted. And you shall have them, my Sam, as many as you want, as often as you want, in whatever dish you want. I am thrilled to be able to cook for more than one person again! And you have to see my garden. I have no pretensions that it is as grand as the other ones around here or even what you and the Gaffer did at Bag End, but I’ve tried to make it the best I can so you would feel at home here and now that you are here, maybe it will be just as grand. I can’t wait to show you. I hope you like it.”

Sam laughed, just from the pure joy of being with his beloved brother again and having him be so happy. He pulled him into another hug. “I shall love it, my dear. I hated to see you go, but now I am so glad you did, since this was the result - that I would get back the Frodo I grew up with.”

Frodo hugged him back. “I’m glad to get him back, too.”

“I suppose Mr. Bilbo is not here, is he?” Sam asked.

“No, Sam, I’m sorry, he died some time ago.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be here to help you through that. It must have hurt something fierce.”

“It did, but he had had a very full life and we had many years here together before he passed on. I can only rejoice at that. It was lonely at first being the only hobbit here, but I have so many friends here, Sam and I am surrounded by so much love, that I have been happy. They allowed me to grieve and helped me immeasurably during that time, during the whole time I’ve been here. And Gandalf helped so much too. I have been very blessed.”

“I am very glad for that. I was so afraid when you left you would feel so alone.”

“I did in the beginning. I missed you and Merry and Pippin so much I thought I would go mad. The beach was the closest I could come to you so I would stay for hours, just looking out over the water. Bilbo came with me sometimes for a little while or Gandalf. They both worried about me. Bilbo even threatened to rent out my room if I didn’t spend more time in it.” Frodo laughed. “I just slept there, every other moment was spent sitting on the sand and in the summer I even slept here. But after a long while, the pain grew a little less and I discovered the peace I had so long sought and had very nearly given up all hope for. Each day it was a little better and after a while I didn’t need to come so often. After Bilbo died, I started coming again, then when that wound healed over too, I would only come here on occasion and it was more for the peace it gave me, instead of trying to escape the horrible pain that had consumed me before.”

“I’m so sorry it took you so long to heal, my dear,” Sam said, holding his dearest friend tighter. “I wish I could have been there with you. I wondered too if I would go mad from how much I missed you.”

“I’m just glad you are here now, Sam.”

“So am I, dear, so am I.”

They stood that way for a long while, then continued on their way, arms still wrapped around each other. “Tell me what’s happened since I left,” Frodo said excitedly. “Tell me everything!”

“Well, the Shire prospered nicely,” Sam began. “Lady Galadriel’s seeds continued to work wonders for one thing.”

“You can tell her that yourself, Sam. She’s here, you know. I’m sure she would be pleased to know what happened.”

Sam looked down at his feet. “I don’t know if I could do that. She’s just so...”

“You don’t need to be afraid of her, Sam. She is made of love and light, just like you are. Think of her as a kindred spirit. I discovered her to be so myself.”

“Well, if you come with me...”

Frodo laughed and squeezed his friend’s waist. “I shall, dear Sam. Anywhere you want to go.”

“All right then.”

“Now tell me, dear, how did you do? I know you were happy with Rosie and your children, and your garden, but what else did you do? I want to know everything! How many times did you serve as Mayor?”

Sam blushed. “Seven,” he murmured, almost too quietly.

“Seven!” Frodo exclaimed. “Of course they know a good man when they have one. No wonder the Shire prospered.”

Sam’s blush deepened. “Well...” he floundered, at a loss as to how to respond.

“And how’s Merry and Pippin?”

Sam was very glad not to have to talk about himself anymore. “Very well. Mr. Merry became Master of Buckland and married Estella Bolger.”

“Of course! I so wish I could have been there.”

“Mr. Pippin become the Took and Thain and married Diamond of Long Cleeve and they had a son, Faramir, who married my third daughter, Goldilocks.”

“Well, I always knew my Pippinsqueak and Diamond would be a good match. I’m glad they realized it too.”

“They both send their love and fondest greetings.”

“I wish I could see them again, but I shall, when we all pass this life. I’m so sorry that Rose passed.”

Sam was surprised, then he realized that Frodo would have known he wouldn’t have left the Shire while Rose lived. “We were married 61 years when she died.”

Frodo’s smile faded at the sadness in his brother’s voice. Sam couldn’t stand to see the joy fade, but then Frodo brightened again. “But I am so glad you had all that time with her. Sixty one years! I had no idea that much time had passed. That’s another thing you’ll notice. Time passes differently here. Or at least it feels as though it does. You don’t really notice it. Each day is so bright and so full of things to do and to see or you can be perfectly content doing nothing but sitting against a tree and thinking. It’s so much like the Shire, but even better, if you can imagine that. Tell me more about Rose, Sam. I missed her. She was always such a good friend to me.”

“And the best wife anyone could hope for. She was so understanding after you left. Sometimes she would find me just standing instead the threshold, bags still in hand from what she had needed from the market and crying because I had seen the back of a head that looked like yours or I had heard a laugh that sounded the same. She would take my packages from me and then just hold me and let me cry. She always knew just what to do. She was never cross, always smiling and she made my life happier than I could have ever imagined. If she ever cried, it was because she was sad I was hurting. We shared the same heart and soul so she always knew when I was and she would just come and hold me and always have the right thing to say or say nothing at all sometimes and that would be the right thing too. Our children are so beautiful and our grandchildren...you should see how fair they are. And more will come. I miss them but I do not worry about them. My Rose will be looking over them. I have no doubt of that. Losing her left as big a gap in my heart as you did, but she helped me through that and...”

Frodo squeezed his beloved friend’s hand again. “...I will help you through losing her,” he finished for him.

Sam wiped at a tear. “I know you will. Just being back with you has helped a lot.”

“I’m so glad you had so much time with Rose, Sam. I know she was half your heart and soul.”

Sam looked at his beloved friend and smiled. “You’re the other half.”

“And you half of mine,” Frodo said softly, “or more. The only reason I still have either.” He paused a moment. “I have been happy here, Sam, happier than I have ever been. I have been healed. But I’ve wished so many times...” His voice trailed off.

“I wished for the same thing,” Sam said. “Lots of times. If I could have healed you, I would have. I’m so sorry I couldn’t.”

Frodo smiled. “Don’t be sorry, Sam. It’s not your fault. Nothing and no one could have healed me except this place. You’ll feel it too. It didn’t stop me from missing everyone though. I wish everyone could come here.”

“We all missed you, me dear. I made sure, though, you weren’t forgotten. I told about the war of the Ring, over and over again. Elanor and Frodo especially loved it and Merry and Pippin made sure their namesakes knew that part of the story too. The children called you ‘Uncle Frodo’.”

Frodo smiled. “Uncle. I like that. How I wish I could have seen them all grow up! Thirteen! That’s just so wonderful!”

Sam looked at his brother surprised. “How do you know how many I had?”

“Because that’s how many times I became an uncle, silly, not to mention Pippin’s and Merry’s. I felt them all.”

Sam shook his head and laughed softly. He didn’t understand it all but smiled at his brother’s enthusiasm and felt a great contentment to listen to such joy and have it come from someone as dearly loved as his wife and children, someone who deserved it as richly as they did, perhaps even more. It softened his grief over his beloved wife’s death.

Frodo looked at his friend and smiled wider. “I hope when you were telling the story, you didn’t diminish the vitally important role Samwise the Brave played,” he said.

Sam blushed. “Well...”

“Sam, you didn’t!”

“It’s your story, not mine,” Sam protested. “I helped you, but it was your struggle that makes the story. What I did was not as important.”

“Not as important! Sam! I wouldn’t have never made it to the Fire without you! I have half a mind to go back and set the record straight.”

Sam looked distinctly uncomfortable. “Please, dear, don’t.”

Frodo laughed. “I should. Well, at least the truth is in the book.” He looked at the best part of his heart and soul. “You did keep the book, didn’t you?”

Sam looked embarrassed. “Rosie insisted on it. She read it out loud to all the children as soon as they were old enough and the older ones would gather around too and hear it over and over again and they would all beg her to read it again and again. Frodo-lad could recite entire passages from memory and I’m sure Elanor could too because she and Frodo would sometimes fight over what happened when and who did what.”

Frodo laughed again, imagining the scene. “You mean you didn’t want to keep it yourself?”

Sam blushed. “Well, it’s just that, you made such a fuss over what I did. I only did what I promised I would. I would do it over again in an instant. I didn’t think it all that much.”

“I know, but I’m glad Rosie agreed with me and recognized the same great worth in you. You were beginning to frighten me that your children never knew the true magnificence of their father. I’m glad they know the truth. Not that you would lie,” Frodo hastily amended when he saw Sam look distressed. “I know you didn’t. But neither did I. Now tell me more about your children - I know their names, but tell me everything else.”

The tale continued for quite some time, Sam happy to talk about his children and their accomplishments with deep fatherly love and pride and Frodo just as happy to listen. The two friends disappeared into the trees, arms still locked around each other.

When they were near their home, a silver-haired male Elf nodded and smiled at them.

“Ilarion!” Frodo called. “I’m so glad to see you, my friend! You are the first here to meet the greatest hobbit in all the Shire.” He looked with great pride and love at Sam. “This is Samwise Gamgee, my brother.”

Sam blushed furiously. Ilarion smiled and bowed. “An honor to meet the heartbrother of our beloved Iorhael. He has told me much about you.”

Sam bowed low. “An honor to meet you, Mr. Ilarion.”

“Ilarion here is the one who taught me more about how to read and write in Quenya and I taught him Westron,” Frodo said. He looked at the Elf. “He has been a wonderful, very patient instructor.”

Ilarion bowed again. “And you a perfect student.” He looked at Sam again. “Iorhael tells me you are much interested in our people as well, Samwise. If there is anything I can help you with, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

Sam blushed again. “That is very kind of you, Mr. Ilarion. Thank you.”

“You’ll find him a eager, willing student, Ilarion,” Frodo said, looking at Sam fondly and smiling with pride. “Even more than me. And very smart and quick to learn.”

Ilarion smiled. “And you were a very enthusiastic one yourself, my friend. There has been no one else outside our race who has been so interested besides your uncle.” He looked back at Sam. “I look forward to talking with you, Samwise.”

Sam smiled. “Thank you again, Mr. Ilarion.”

Ilarion bowed a final time and left. Frodo and Sam returned the bow and then proceeded to their home.

“It’s even got a round door!” the younger hobbit exclaimed.

Frodo laughed and squeezed his brother around the waist. “Yes, my Sam. It was all waiting for us when Bilbo and I arrived. Wait until you see inside!”

They went through the door together, then Sam stopped just inside. Frodo looked at him and frowned slightly. “What’s wrong, my Sam?”

The younger hobbit looked uncomfortable for a moment. “I wish you wouldn’t call me the greatest hobbit. I’m not. You are. Rosie was.”

Frodo smiled and put his hand on his beloved friend’s shoulder. “Now, Sam, I let you win those other arguments. You have to let me win this one. You are the greatest and I will not allow you to say otherwise. I know I can’t make you believe it in your heart. That would change who you are and I don’t want to do that, but I know in my own heart you are.”

“Just like I know in mine you are,” Sam said, unwilling to go down without a fight.

Frodo laughed. “Can we call it a tie then and the others also?”

Sam grinned. “No, me dear, you lost the other two and you lost this one too, but I’ll let you think you won if it will make you feel better.”

Frodo smiled further. “Thank you, dearheart, it will.”

Sam looked at the large living room that the front door opened to. It was round like a smial would be, but it had various Elven touches to it as well. All the furniture was of Elven design but hobbit-sized. The place was clean and Sam smiled as it smelled like books and ink and tea, just like Bag End had. There were various books around the tables and more stacked on the shelves. There was a large fireplace in the living room and two chairs set in front of it and Sam was glad to see a pipe. The dining area set by a large window had a table large enough for four. Other rooms opened off the main area.

“What do you think, my Sam?”

Sam looked at his beloved brother. “It’s the perfect combination of Elf and hobbit, dear, just like you.”

Frodo hugged him. “I’m so glad you like it, Sam,” he murmured. “Welcome home.”

Sam looked at him and Frodo smiled. “Coanya na coayla. Hantanyel an tulielya. That’s ‘My home is your home. Thank you for coming.’ Go right to bed if you’d like. Your room is the second door on the right. I have it all made up for you. I’ll make sure your omelette is ready for you when you wake up.”

Sam reluctantly let his brother go and entered his bedroom. A neatly made bed with a large feather pillow was in the center with several books on the nightstand near it. A oil lamp was nearby also. There was a well-stocked fireplace along one wall and a large closet along another. A table with a vase of fresh flowers and a chair beside it completed the room. Sam walked up to the bed and looked at the books. All were in Frodo’s handwriting. On top was a red leather one, embossed in ornate lettering and runes. He turned the cover and read the first page -

History, Songs and Wisdom of the Elves

As Related by (here Sam read dozens of names, the only ones he recognized were Bilbo’s, Galadriel, Elrond and the Elf he had just met)

Gathered by Frodo Baggins, a Hobbit of the Shire,

for his dear friend and brother, Samwise Gamgee, of the same

Sam traced the letters and then opened the book a little more. It was thick, filled with page after page of stories and illustrations, all about the race that so fascinated Sam. Tears pricked his eyes as he leafed through the loving gift. Two other similarly engraved books, on the history of Dwarves and Men, were underneath the journal Sam recognized as the one he had given to his brother at the Grey Havens. He looked forward to reading all of them. So moved was he, he re-entered the living room, took Frodo’s right hand in his, caressed the calluses there from holding a quill for so many years, then kissed it and embraced his beloved friend tightly.

“Thank you, my Frodo,” he murmured. “Those are wonderful gifts.”

Frodo held his guardian just as tightly. “You’re welcome, otornonya, that’s my brother. I wanted to have something to give you when you came. And when you’ve rested and eaten, I can’t wait to show you the garden. I hope you’ll like it.”

Sam smiled. “I can’t wait to see it. What I’ve seen already, just coming up the walk, was beautiful.”

Frodo beamed. “I’ve made you another book, too, but it will have to wait for a bit, until you’ve learned the language here.”

“Will you teach me? I know Mr. Ilarion could, but...”

“I would love to.” Frodo squeezed his brother, kissed his head quickly, then let go. “Now off to bed with you. There’s plenty of time here to do everything.”

Sam smiled. He reached into his bag and pulled out two books of his own. “I copied out what I wrote to you in the book and I also brought that book we wrote our own adventures in when you were just a tween. And Mr. Merry and Mr. Pippin gave me notes to bring and all the children wrote their notes.”

Frodo smiled as he took the notes and books. Some of the children’s notes were childish scrawls, others were in an adult hand and of course, he recognized Merry and Pippin’s distinctive writing, running his finger reverently down the page. “They wrote you many stories and letters while they were growing up, all of them did,” Sam explained. “They told me it was so you wouldn’t feel lonely and would know them as well as they knew you. Mr. Merry and Mr. Pippin did the same thing.”

Frodo looked up with tear-bright eyes and hugged his brother again. “I can’t wait to read it all.Hantanyel, my Sam.” He looked also at the other book, the ones that he and Sam had done as tween and child and smiled as he looked at the writing and illustrations there. Sam thought the light that already streamed so brightly from him grew even stronger. “I don’t know which one to thank you more for. We’ll have to finish this with more of our adventures.”

“I’d like that, my dear,” Sam said.

After Sam went back to the bedroom, Frodo came in a short while later with Sam’s journal and sat in the chair, close enough to simply watch his friend sleep. After a long while, he opened the journal and began to read, losing himself in the life of the Shire and his dearest friends for a couple hours, smiling, laughing softly and at times crying from the pure joy of having known Sam and his cousins and the memories that were stirred up. His dearest friend embedded himself even further into Frodo’s heart by how he recounted not only his and his children’s adventures, but was solicitous to include much of Merry and Pippin as well. Frodo almost felt he had not left the Shire. When he heard Sam stir, he got up and quietly left the room to make that omelette, wiping at his tears.

Sam woke to the enticing aromas coming from the kitchen and came into the dining room just in time to see Frodo set a steaming omelette at his place. The elder hobbit pulled out the chair. “A hara, my Sam. A tute, a mate as inye!”

Sam laughed softly as his brother freely intermingled Westron and Quenya. “How do you say, ‘What did you say?’”

Frodo grinned. “Mana quentel?” he said slowly.

“Then, mana quentel?”

“Sit down. Come and dine with me!”

“How do you say ‘Thank you’ again?” the younger hobbit asked as he sat down. “It smells that wonderful!”

“Hantanyel.”

“Hantanyel.”

Frodo grinned. “Nan alassea nurolya,”

Sam returned the smile, delighted to see the mischievous glint in those beloved eyes, the light pouring from Frodo’s entire being. “Now what does that mean?”

Frodo just smiled wider. “I think I’ll just keep my own little secret for now,” he said. “This is just the first of many feasts I hope to cook for you. I am so glad to be able to for more than one hobbit again!”

Sam dug into his omelette. “And I’m going to be glad to cook for you again. How do you say, ‘this food is delicious’?”

Frodo grinned at his eager student. “Apsa sina na mara.”

“Apsa sina na mara.”

“Er titta nat carna nilmen, meldanya. Just a little thing done for friendship, my beloved.”

They ate silently for a while, enjoying each other’s company and the delicious fare, then Sam spoke again. “You said something at the dock, Yall...something.”

Frodo reached over and squeezed Sam’s hand. “Yallume. It means, ‘At last’.”

Sam’s fingers curled around his brother’s and didn’t let go for the rest of the meal. “How do you say, ‘I love you’?” he asked softly. “And that word for my brother?”

“Melinyel, otornonya.”

The younger hobbit looked into his brother’s shining face. “Melinyel, otornonya.”

Frodo held his guardian’s hand a little tighter. “Melinyel, otornonya,” he returned softly.

They visited the garden next. They walked down the white stone path, hand-in-hand, and slowly walked around the entire smial. Sam’s eyes were wide in wonder and delight at all the variety. He stopped to smell each one and stayed longest at the elanor and morning glory’s.

Frodo watched him happily. “I planted those first.” As they walked around, the elder hobbit pointed out the names of the ones he knew his brother wouldn’t recognized. “And I was very careful to talk to them and water them and do everything I remembered you and the Gaffer doing.”

“You did all of this?” Sam asked.

“I did have some help from Gandalf and my other friends, but it’s mostly me because I wanted to have something of home around me and for you when you came.”

“What do you think, my Sam?” he asked softly, almost nervously when the gardener hadn’t said anything else.

Sam looked at his brother with tears and incredible love and gratitude in his eyes. He raised the hand he held and then the other and kissed the calluses there, then embraced his beloved treasure tightly. “It’s perfect, dear, just perfect.”

Frodo released the breath he had been holding and returned the embrace just as firmly. “It’s my tribute to you, melmenya. Nilme na ve lote ya losta tennoio. Friendship is like a flower that blooms forever.”

“I love it and you. Hantanyel, Iorhaelnya.”

Frodo smiled at Sam’s use of his Elvish name and both reveled just to be able to hold each other again.

The rest of the day passed quickly and joyfully. Supper was taken out in the garden and then a smoke afterwards. In the moonlight, Sam watched the softly glowing form beside him and was perfectly content.

When it came time to sleep, Frodo looked in on his brother. Sam was already sleeping, Frodo’s journal open on top of the blankets. The elder hobbit removed the book and then reached to trim down the light. It was then he noticed the tears on his beloved one’s cheeks and turned the book over to see what part Sam had been reading. He was close to the beginning still, when all had still seemed so dark. Frodo felt a pang at that and closed the journal and put it aside, then tenderly wiped the tears away. “It’s all right now, my Sam,” he said quietly. “I’m all right.” He traced a small circle on his brother’s brow. “Eru bless you, my brother. A lore vande.”

He then doused the light, raised his guardian’s arm and curled up next to him, putting Sam’s arm around him. Instinctively, Sam put his arms around his brother. The elder hobbit snuggled closer to be near that beloved, sorely missed heartbeat, then closed his eyes and fell asleep.

When something woke Frodo later, it took a moment to realize it was Sam’s soft snoring. He smiled as he realized he had missed even that. He would have shouted his joy to be with his brother again, but didn’t want to wake him. Instead he softly kissed that dear one’s brow and tightened his embrace around him slightly. “I’m glad you’re with me, Sam,” he murmured and burrowed his head a little more into Sam’s chest. The younger hobbit didn’t wake but held his brother just a little closer in response. Frodo closed his eyes again and slept soundly the rest of the night.

A/N: The Quenya and Common Speech translations are from the languages section of http://www.councilofelrond.com. Frodo’s little secret from his Sam is “I am your joyful servant.” Wait until Sam finds out! :) “A lore vande” is “Sleep well.” “Melmenya” is “my love”. I mean Iorhaelnya to be “my Iorhael” but like for Sam, this language is new to me too so I hope I did it right! :)

Chapter 2: A New Home

Sam woke to find Frodo already gone, but found a note that his brother had left him.

Dearest otorno, I woke this morning and you were still here! It wasn’t a dream! I could have shouted my joy, but I didn’t want to wake you. I will be back soon. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen if you get too hungry before I can make you a proper breakfast. Elen sila lumenn omentielvo! A star shines upon the hour of our meeting!

Ever your Iorhael

Sam smiled as he fingered the elegant writing. "No, dear, it wasn’t a dream," he murmured. "I’ll wait for you, but I’ll be making you breakfast. It’s been far too long since I’ve been able to do that."

He got out of the nightshirt Rose had given him on her last birthday and dressed in the shirt and breeches she had given him at Yule. He wiped at a couple tears, but he couldn’t truly be sad here. He was with Frodo and Rose was waiting. He knew she was happy and had blessed his choice to come here. He looked out the window where the sun shone in so brightly and stared out for a little while at the elanor and morning glory’s.

The exhaustion of the previous day had already left and the old hobbit felt curiously more energized now than he had for years. Already he was feeling younger in the peace that was here and the easing of the ache caused by the long absence from his brother’s side.

He decided to explore more of his new home while he waited. He smiled when he entered Frodo’s bedroom. There was no doubt that the large, circular room belonged to a Baggins. A very comfortable looking bed with many pillows was off to the right. Under the many windows that encircled the room, there were several hobbit-sized bookshelves around the entire perimeter filled to overflowing and more books on the large table in the center, on the nightstand and a dozen or more stacked on the three chairs placed around the table. A large lamp stood alongside the table which was also filled with quills, bottles of ink and piles of parchment, that held Frodo’s own writing in both Westron and, Sam supposed, Quenya and others that were written by Elves. The hobbit noticed that his brother’s writing was definitely looking more Elvish than ever. The room smelled just like the study at Bag End had, just like that entire smial had.

It smells like home, Sam thought. His smile widened as a great contentment filled him.

He looked down at two open pages and saw it was the beginning of a translation of some sort. On the top of the page in Westron, Frodo had written, "For Samwise". The other page was the story that was being transcribed. The old hobbit touched the pages, moved by the gift, and eager to learn more of the language, to be at his brother’s side once again like they had been as child and tween, dreaming of adventures while Frodo taught Sam how to write - and he and Mr. Bilbo had taught him how to dream, back when they had been carefree and innocent and filled with light and joy and excitement and no Ring had come to so scar their lives.

The next thing he noticed was the framed pictures that lined the walls. When he stepped closer, he realized they were the ones Elanor had drawn of herself, her siblings and children and Rose and himself.

"I kept them all and looked at them often and dreamed many a daydream what they were all like growing up," came a soft voice behind him.

Sam turned and embraced his brother once more. For a long time they just held each other without speaking, without needing to speak.

Then Sam took Frodo’s hand and continued his tour. They came to a third bedroom. The bed was neatly made with a book on the nightstand and a fresh flower in a small vase on the table. It could have just been waiting for its occupant to settle in for the night, but the younger hobbit knew that wasn’t the case. He wondered how long it had been that Mr. Bilbo had died, how long his Frodo had been alone with his Sam to comfort him and share in his grief. It had probably been decades and that made it hurt all the more and he suddenly began to cry.

Small hands drew him into an embrace and the younger hobbit wept for his former master in his brother’s arms. Frodo held him for a long time, stroked his curls and murmured what comforts he could. "It’s all right, my Sam, it’s all right. Ilya vanima."

He continued to hold him until the younger hobbit broke away and Frodo wiped at his guardian’s tears which almost had Sam crying again, this time from the joy that he could feel that beloved touch again. He took that caressing hand into his own and kissed it.

"How do you say, ‘I’m sorry,’" he asked.

"Nanye nyerinqua."

"Nanye nyerinqua then, more sorry than I can tell you. I shouldn’t have left you. You’ve been alone all this time. I...."

Frodo placed two fingers over Sam’s mouth to silence him and then kissed his brow. "If you had gone with me, then you would have never had many of those wonderful children or seen Elanor grow up or Frodo-lad born. No, my Sam, you were right where you should have been. And I wasn’t alone. Gandalf has always been here and many more than I’ve been privileged to call my friends for many years now. And now you’re here."

They looked at the book on the nightstand. "I was reading that to him the night he died," Frodo said softly. "I can still feel him here, hear his voice, his laugh, his hand on my cheek or stroking my curls. It’s hard to believe sometimes even now that he’s not going to come in the door any moment and we’ll be off on another adventure walk. We had so many of those."

As Sam listened to his master’s wistful voice, he let himself get lost in his own memories of eagerly walking with his masters as a child. "He could barely walk onto the ship when you left," he murmured. "You mean he got better here just like you?"

Frodo smiled through bright tears and Sam knew he would never ever tire of the joy of seeing that. "Yes, Sam, just like you will too. You’ll probably feeling it already."

"A bit," the old hobbit said.

Frodo smiled. He squeezed his brother’s hand. "Now about breakfast. Another omelette, perhaps?"

Sam returned the smile. "Yes, dear, but this time I’m making it and I’m going to make it every morning you or I want one."

"You have a complaint with my cooking then?" Frodo asked and Sam blushed and began to stammer an apology then he saw the mischievous smile and glint in his brother’s eyes.

"It’s just not proper, me dear," he said, recovering his dignity. "I’ve made you breakfast almost every day since Mr. Bilbo left and I would have continued to do it if I had come with you. I’ve waited a very long time to make it for you again and I’m not going to wait any longer."

Frodo smiled at the firm tone and stubborn stance. Sam had crossed his arms and planted his feet slightly apart as he did whenever he wanted to out-stubborn a particular Baggins, which made that particular Baggins rise to the challenge. "You let me make it for you yesterday."

"I was too tired to think straight then."

"I still want to do it for you, Sam. You are no longer my servant and haven’t been since long before I left. You are my equal, my better in fact. I owe you my life and my soul. I should be serving you."

Frodo knew he had made a mistake when his brother’s features quirked into a mischievous look of his own. "I thought you would have realized long ago the futility of trying to win an argument with me."

Frodo laughed out loud, a full, deep one that made Sam’s heart soar with such joy he was sure it would leave his chest entirely.  "Oh, my dearest Sam, how I have missed everything about you, even this! All right, I will concede..." Sam’s smile widened, then froze slightly when Frodo held up a finger. "...for this time. Tomorrow is a whole another matter entirely."

The younger hobbit’s smile unfroze. "Then you must still like to lose."

Frodo hugged his brother again. "Since it means that you are here, dearheart, then, yes, Ilovelosing."

Arm-in-arm they walked into the kitchen where the younger hobbit forbade the elder from lifting a finger and soon shooed him away entirely. "I’ll set the table then," Frodo said with half a glance at his Sam, as though afraid even that would be refused him, but it wasn’t.

When all was prepared, Frodo paused a moment and bowed his head. The younger hobbit watched his lips move in silent prayer, then look up at him.

"Oh, my Sam, it looks and smells so wonderful," he said as he surveyed the mushroom omelette, the bread slathered with his favorite jam and the tea with just the right amount of honey in it. "I think it’s more delicious because you made it.  I can't believe you still remember how to make all my favorites, though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."

The younger hobbit smiled. "No, you shouldn't be.  How do you say, ‘Where did you go?’"

Frodo swallowed a huge bite and wiped his mouth with the napkin on his lap. "Manna lendelye?"

"Manna lendelye?"

"To the most beautiful place on the entire island. I can’t wait to show it to you."

"Then I can’t wait either. How do you say, ‘When?’"

"Man lumesse?"

"Man lumesse?"

"As soon as we are done eating I hope. Do you feel up to a bit of a walk or I could get a pony if you’d like."

Sam smiled. "I can walk.  I can run even."

Frodo laughed softly and clasped his brother’s hand. "There is such energy here, Sam. I’m glad you are feeling it so soon. I can’t wait until we go tramping around here just like we did in the Shire. There is so much I want to show you!"

After breakfast, the two hobbits walked along a well-traveled path down to a small building. As they did, Frodo took Sam’s hand and began to sing, first in Quenya, then in Westron.

"Oh, would that I could dance and sing,

In some small way my joy express!

Would I could rise on eagle's wings,

Borne on the wings of bliss!

"What joy, my love, your presence brings,

My heart and home to bless!

Ah, blest reunion, glad and sweet!

Such joy surpasses skill of tongue!

"And e'en while rapture stills my feet,

My spirit, free and strong,

Rises up, the skies to meet,

And joins the endless song.

"Then come, my love, and dance with me,

And sing with me a joyous lay!

Let peace and rest and ecstacy

Your sorrow bear away.

"And never parted will we be,

E'en to the end of days."

Sam rejoiced to see his brother full of such light and joy.

The building they entered was entirely dark inside except for a red lamp that hung halfway down from the ceiling in the front. Frodo bowed to the lamp and kissed the image of a sun that was illuminated below it. After a moment’s hesitation, Sam bowed as well, though he did not understand why he did, then he was guided to sit on one of the long benches.

He looked up at the light. "What is it?"

He heard more than saw his brother’s smile. "Not what, Sam, Who. That marks the presence of Iluvatar, our Creator."

The gardener’s eyes widened slightly. He had often looked up into the night sky or at a particularly lovely flower in the garden or the light in Frodo’s or Rose’s or his children’s eyes and wondered who or what had created it all. Such perfect beauty had to come from a source he knew not where, but he somehow understood deep in his heart that it had been created, willed - it hadn’t appeared by accident or random chance. He could never explain to himself how he knew that and had long given up even trying to understand it. He just appreciated it and somewhere in his soul, it gave the thanks he did not know how to express. He looked up at the lamp, feeling awed and humbled and very small. Had he found the source at last? He felt a peace and a welcome and a love he tried to express in words, but knew not all the words in the world would suffice. Frodo squeezed his hand, knowing exactly what his brother was feeling.

"Can you talk to it?" the younger hobbit asked in a nearly inaudible whisper, still lost in looking at the lamp.

"Him, dearest, not it. Sometimes I do. The Elves sing to Him every morning and every evening as the sun rises and sets. I often join in. Perhaps tomorrow morning you will wake soon enough to hear their morning praise. They also spend time here in silence. I have spent much time here myself and it is usually spent looking at that light and knowing that He’s looking at me. No matter where I go, I know He’s watching over me and that makes me feel very safe, very loved. I’ve felt the same way when I’m around you, meldanya, but He’s always been there, too, watching over and loving both of us beyond anything I can describe to you.  Your love would come the closest.  He's blessed me all my life and now I've finally been able to say thank you.

"Sitting here and knowing that and how much He loved me and forgave me is how I was able to heal. There’s communication there, deep inside your heart, that needs no words. But each person is different. Gandalf speaks barely above a whisper. Talk aloud if you’d like or listen silently to the Voice inside of you. It’s like the Sea. It’s always been there. We just didn’t know what it was."

"Then He’s watching over all my lads and lasses and their bairns?"

Frodo squeezed his hand. "Always and forever."

Sam looked up at the light. "Thank you for everything you’ve made," he began slowly and shyly at first. "For this place so Frodo could heal, for the Shire and my mum and my gaffer and my brothers and sisters and for Elanor and Frodo-lad and Rosie-lass and Merry and Pippin and Goldilocks and Hamfast and Daisy and Primrose and Bilbo and Ruby and Robin and Tolman and Elfstan and Holfast..." He broke off, a little embarrassed.

"Go ahead, Sam," came the soft murmur beside him, "He’s listening."

"And thank you for Mr. Bilbo and especially for my Rose and my Frodo," he finished.

Frodo leaned his head on his brother’s shoulder. "And thank you for my Sam," he said softly.

They sat quietly for a long while. When Gandalf entered later, he saw from the light outside that Frodo had fallen asleep, his head resting in Sam’s lap, a large smile on his lips. Sam was slowly stroking his brother’s back, a look of joy and tender love shining from his face. Both hobbits were glowing from within. The Maia smiled that at long last these two like souls had been finally reunited. He sat down next to the younger hobbit.

"Hello, Sam," he said quietly. "It is very good to see you again."

The former Mayor started. "Mr. Gandalf, sir! Oh, it’s just that wonderful to see you again, too."

"I see Frodo wasted little time in bringing you here."

"I don’t understand it, but it’s lovely, isn’t it? Even the air here is different, even from Rivendell or the Lady’s Wood. I never knew why it was so fresh and clean there, like it had never been breathed before and it was for the first time just when we came. Oh, that doesn’t make any sense..."

Gandalf nodded appreciatively, pleased and a little surprised, though he didn’t know why he should be, that Sam’s perceptions were so strong. "The air is heavy with presence of Iluvatar," he said. "Welcome home."

___

A/N:  Frodo's joyous song is from Queen Galadriel.

Chapter Three:  Learning

“Can we go back to that beautiful room again?” Sam asked at breakfast the next morning. “I’m...”

“Missing Rose and everyone else?” Frodo supplied when his brother trailed off.

Sam flushed slightly. “It’s not that I’m unhappy being here, it’s just...”

Frodo clasped his dear one’s hand. “I understand completely, dearheart. I spent many a day at the dock when I first came, looking east. This is a big change for you, just like it was for me, and you left much more behind than I did. I’m rather in awe that you could and I am so grateful that you made such a sacrifice for me.”

Sam curled his fingers around Frodo’s. “I don’t think I would have had much time left there."  He looked into the eyes of his treasure and smiled.  Frodo could have drowned in all that love there.  "I wanted to spend my last days with you.”

“I’m so glad. You’ll be surprised perhaps by how much time I hope we’ll have. Years probably.”

 Sam smiled. “Then all the better. I’ve missed too much of your life already.”

“And I yours and all your children’s. But I have been greatly blessed to share in it what I could. It still seems like a dream that you are here. I’ve longed for it and prayed for it for so long.”

“It’s not a dream, or if it is, I don’t want to wake up.”

“This whole place seems like a dream at times, but it’s even more real than the Shire, if that makes any sense. I’ve dreamed of times, or I think I have, of what the world beyond is like. We are closer to it here than any mortals are allowed to be on this side of the veil. But when we approach the Gates and enter in, then this will indeed seem like a dream, a pale, pale vision of what our life will be like. I do not envy the Elves who are bound to this world until it’s forever over.”

Frodo eyes had grown far off and his voice had become wistful, as though he was longing for something he had already seen or been to, but could not quite reach at the moment. Then he focused on his Sam, smiled brightly and squeezed his hand. “Spend all the time you need in that marvelous room, my Sam. I’m glad you want to do it.”

“I want to learn more about Iluvatar too. It was Him that was looking over us, even more than the Lady was, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, every moment of our lives, He has been there. You considered yourself Bilbo’s and my servant, but who you were really serving was Him. So was I. So is anyone who rejoices in the Light, Hobbits, Men, Elves and Dwarves. Gandalf I think is one of His special emissaries. I have yet to figure him out completely.”

“I can’t thank Him enough for all He’s done then.”

“None of us can, dearest. But it’s enough that we try our best to do so anyway.”

“That’s another reason I want to be there.”

Frodo smiled and Sam rejoiced a little more each time he saw it. He knew he would never get tired of it and he sent a small prayer of thanks.

“Then let’s not waste any more time,” his Elven hobbit said. “This whole island is full of His Presence.”

They walked down together, hand-in-hand. Sam bowed with his brother and then sat down with him. Frodo spent some time in silent prayer and then he left. Sam was gazing at the light when Gandalf entered.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it, Mr. Gandalf? It’s like whenever I looked into Mr. Frodo’s eyes, or my mum’s or my Rose or one of my children’s and I’d see such love, but this...this...” He broke off, frustrated in his attempt to describe what his heart felt.

The Maia smiled and patted his friend’s hand. “Yes, Sam, this,” he agreed and Sam knew the wizard completely understood what words couldn’t convey.

“Why didn’t we know about this in the Shire?”

“I don’t know why Iluvatar chose to keep Himself hidden from hobbits, but you were never outside His sight or His love. You saw it and felt it just as you say - whenever you looked into the eyes of someone you loved.

“Frodo did as well. For His own reasons, Iluvatar chose to work through others to show Himself then reveal Himself directly. So he created you and placed you at your master’s side as a reflection of Himself, so that every time Frodo looked at you, he would see love, yours and his Creator’s. He needed that on the Quest, even more than he needed food and water.”

“I wish I could have given him more of that. We were so hungry and thirsty.”

“You gave him everything he needed, Sam. He needed a piece of the Shire beside him, a light to counter the growing darkness, a reminder of what and for who he was doing all this. You were all that for him. Nourishment is much more than just food. And Iluvatar was always with him even when you couldn’t be.”

“I’m glad he was never alone,” Sam said after a long, thoughtful pause.

“No one is. You are as much a reflection of the glory that is Iluvatar as Frodo is, as any of His creation is. You’ve always seen Frodo as he truly is - a being filled with such radiant light and grace as no other hobbit ever has been. He was created so so he would be ready for fulfill that one specific task that Eru had set aside for him. The Creator was very glad that when He stirred Frodo’s will and heart to accept the Ring at the Council, that Frodo returned that gift freely and offered himself back to his Creator, even if he didn’t truly know Who he was saying yes to.”

Sam was silent for a moment, deep in thought, then he said, “He told me about dreams he had before we left, about the Ring and the Eye and how much they frightened him, but how he felt comforted afterwards by a presence he didn’t know how to explain. So I am glad he was always protected, but begging both your pardons, if he really was, why did he suffer so much? Did Iluvatar know everything that was going to happen?”

“Yes, from all time, He knew.”

“Then why did He allow it to happen that way? Couldn’t He have stopped it?”

Gandalf’s heart ached for the plaintive tone in that dear voice. “Yes, but He chose not to. Instead, He gave you both His grace. To Frodo, it was enough strength to endure and you enough love. That was all you needed. There were things that Frodo needed to learn that he could only through suffering. He had to carry the same burden as Smeagol so he would later be able to exercise the pity and mercy that would be his own salvation, the same pity and mercy that Iluvatar would grant to him because he had granted it first to a fellow creature, a child of Eru just like himself.”

Sam almost snorted. “How could Stinker be that? That’s all he was, sneaky and stinky.”

“But he had not always been that way,” Gandalf said. “Even Sauron was first a child of Iluvatar, but he forsake that gift and glory when he chose another master to serve. He was past redemption, but Smeagol was not. Iluvatar allowed his path to cross with Frodo’s so they could both learn that and have the possibility of salvation. Eru knew what choices they would both make, freely and under duress, but He does not desire any of His children to be lost and so provides many chances for redemption. But He leaves the final choice up to the free will of His creature. You helped in those choices, for both of them. You had things to learn too. You gave pity and mercy at the end as well. The Quest would have failed without it.”

There was silence for long moment as Sam tried to absorb everything he had been told, then more questions bubbled up within him. “Is that grace as you call it the light that’s always shone from Mr. Frodo?”

Gandalf smiled. “Yes. You’ve always seen it, haven’t you, Sam?”

The hobbit looked up surprised. “Didn’t everyone? It's so clear.”

“No, most didn’t or couldn’t. Bilbo did and I believe Merry and Pippin could and perhaps some others. Faramir mentioned it to me once as well. I know Aragorn was aware of it and of course, the Elves recognized a kindred spirit, one of their own almost, clad in a hobbit’s skin. But I don’t know if anyone else saw it. I don’t think even Frodo himself was aware of it until he came here. It’s hard to see yourself sometimes as you truly are.” He looked over and smiled at the hobbit. “You shine just nearly as brightly, Sam.”

The gardener and former Mayor looked up shocked. “Me?”

"Frodo always saw it best and I dare say Bilbo did also. Nothing happens by chance. You were meant to be the guardian of Frodo’s soul, so when even his great heart failed, you didn’t. And you were both meant to come here to understand that what you always saw in each other was just a reflection of Iluvatar’s love for you.”

“I wish I could have protected him better from all his hurts inside.”

“That was Iluvatar’s province, Sam. You did everything you could. Your Creator did the rest.”

Sam looked back up at the light. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Chapter Four: The Song

Frodo raised his head from Sam’s chest as he woke to singing. "Wake up, my Sam," he called softly as he gently shook his brother.

The younger hobbit opened his eyes and looked into his dear one’s eyes. Frodo smiled. "Listen. This is the song I wanted you to hear."

Frodo stood and faced the west window. As Sam listened to both to the Elf and the hobbit who sang quietly with him, he saw the joy radiate out from his brother in a visible light that he could see with his eyes, not only just with his heart as he had always been able to see it before. He watched it mesmerized, then the song ended and Frodo turned to him. The light faded back to its normal inner glow.

"That was beautiful," the gardener breathed. "I didn’t understand a word of it, but it just sinks right into you, doesn’t it and it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand. It’s just so...so..." He trailed off, unable to think of words adequate for the beauty he had seen and heard.

"Exactly," Frodo agreed with a grin. "That was my favorite one singing too. His name is Galian and he’s my best friend here, outside of Gandalf. For a long time have I hoped to introduce my two brothers to each other and now I can! I didn’t understand it either in the beginning, but I’ll give you a translation now and later you’ll be able to know. It helped me so much in the beginning and now it’s what that has woken me since practically the first day I’ve been here. It starts with praise to Iluvatar and then to the Valar, the Powers He created from His thought."

"To Eru, the Creator, the One of all, praise and thanksgiving for the day begun.

"The Sun has arisen from her place of resting,

To warm the wide world with her bright shining rays.

We lift up our voices in songs of thanksgiving,

And join with all nature in singing Thy praise.

We look on the forests and fields and the rivers,

The majestic peaks and the hills and the dells;

And we, Thy children, cannot but extol Thee,

O Eru, our Lord who hast made all things well.

"To Manwe, praise for the Lord of the Breath of Arda and the winds that blow.

To Elbereth, praise for beauty beyond compare, for the light of the stars that guide us home.

To Ulmo, praise for the Lord of Waters on which we sail.

To Aule, praise for the Master and delighter in all crafts.

To Yavanna, praise for the Giver of Fruits.

To Namo, praise for the Keeper of the Houses of the Dead.

To Vaire, the Weaver of all things in Time.

To Irmo, praise for the Master of Dreams.

To Este, praise for the Healer of hurts and weariness.

To Nienna, praise for the one who mourns and teaches endurance.

To Tulkas, praise for the Valiant one.

To Nessa, praise for the delighter of dance.

To Orome, praise for the Lord of Forests.

To Vana, praise for the Ever-young."

As the spell of Frodo’s lilting voice faded away, he paused for a moment and then said thoughtfully, "I owe much to them. For Elbereth for saving us on the Quest, for Ulmo who guided me safely here, for Irmo who counseled me through dreams, for Este who soothed my hurts and weary soul, for Nienna who grieved with me and taught me to endure. They have taught me so much and I owe my life and soul to their guidance after I came here."

He looked up at Sam and smiled. "I think Nienna helped you especially, my Sam, in all the darkness we passed through, kept your hope going so we could both keep going. Once we are in the Presence of Iluvatar when this life passes, I hope I can thank them all. I have so many times in my prayers and I know I have been heard, but I still would like to thank them in person."

"I remember their names from the tales," Sam said. "You mean they are real?"

Frodo’s smiled widened. "Yes, dearheart, very real."

"Then I would like to meet them one day too."

"I hope we will."

Frodo changed out of his nightshirt and dressed in the same cream-colored silk that Sam had seen him the first day here. "Would you like to come to the worship of Iluvatar with me?"

"Aren’t you going to eat first?"

"No, the reception of the lembas is taken after a fast. We were given a great gift on the Quest, greater than we could have imagined or understood. It is Iluvatar Himself that we received, Sam. That is how we survived. Ordinary bread would have not saved us. We were guarded and guided in so many ways, held close by the Creator. Just as you held me, He held us both. I am humbled and awed by it all. So come if you’d like and learn more. I don’t want to be late."

Sam dressed quickly and rejoiced once more to hold his brother’s hand as they walked down the well-worn path to the dark room. A couple dozen Elves already stood at their places and Frodo quietly slipped into his with Sam next to him. The younger hobbit remained at his place when the elder went up to receive the lembas, but a desire burned in him to learn more of it and to worthy of it himself. He spent the time learning to pray instead, speaking from his heart and listening to the Voice that spoke to him there.

After the worship ended and they returned to the bright sunshine, Frodo introduced his brother to his friends and Sam was much embarrassed to be so warmly welcomed by them all.

"And this, Sam, is my best friend, Galian," Frodo said about the last one he introduced. "Well, my best Elvish friend," he amended with a smile. "Galian, this is my brother, Sam."

The handsome, young Elf smiled and bowed deeply. "Welcome, Panthael. My brother-in-heart has spoken much of you and it is my great honor to finally meet you."

Sam blushed and bowed even deeper. "An honor, Mr. Galian, sir, to meet you too."

"Galian helped me tremendously when I first came," Frodo said, beaming up at his friend. "He was the first one I met here and the first one I taught Westron too and he helped with Quenya, before Ilarion trained me more formally when I was more up to that. He’s also the one who kept his hand firmly on my shoulder so I wouldn’t dive into the water and try to bring in your ship myself."

The three laughed, then the smile faded from Frodo’s face as he continued, but not the love in his eyes as he continued to gaze at his friend. "He was the one whose light saved me when I was drowning in darkness. I don’t think I could have survived without him."

Galian squeezed his beloved friend’s shoulder. "You thrive now, otornonya."

"Because of you and everyone else."

"Because of the One who created both of us."

He bowed again to Sam. "Welcome once more. I am most glad to see Iorhael so happy and well to have you beside him once more. He shines all the brighter now. Hantanyel."

Sam colored once more and returned the bow. "Thank you, Mr. Galian, for being there for him when I couldn’t be."

Galian nodded and smiled and then smiled at his small brother. Frodo beamed at them both, awash in the love from two so close to him and hoping they could feel all the love that poured from his heart for them.

A/N: The first verse of the song is Queen Galadriel’s.

Chapter Five: A Visit to an Old Friend

A/N:  Sorry it's taken so long for another chapter.  One of the reasons is I've been teaching myself Quenya (or trying to at least!) 

“What do you say we have a picnic lunch out today, Sam?” Frodo asked as they walked back. “I’ll make it with all our favorites. I know just the place. We can start your lessons in Quenya in earnest. It’s such a lovely day, don’t you think?”

Sam smiled. “Did you think, Iorhaelnya, with all those extra words I wouldn’t catch what you said? I thought we had decided I was going to make the meals.”

Frodo barely hesitated. “Well, yes, I was hoping you wouldn’t notice. But, please, Sam, you can make breakfast, can’t I make lunch?”

“I have waited a very, very long time to make you anything, melmenya, and I’ve hardly made you anything yet.”

“Well, I would hardly call six meals a day for the last three days, nothing,” Frodo pointed out, glad that Sam was already picking up some Quenya. “And I’ve waited just as long to make you something.”

Sam sighed and Frodo held his breath for a moment, suddenly hopeful. “All right,” the younger hobbit said, “if it’ll make you happy, you can pack a basket with whatever you want, but I’m carrying it.”

Frodo looked at his brother for a moment, rather stunned that he had actually won the argument. He waited for a few seconds before he celebrated to really make sure. Sam looked at him with nothing but tender love and the elder hobbit cheered. “Oh, hantanyel, ammelda!” He vigorously swung the hand he held back and forth as they walked as though a child who had just been given a great boon by his father. Sam laughed. “You’re welcome, dear.”

They had a quick breakfast, then Frodo excitedly went into the kitchen to start preparing the feast right then as though afraid Sam may take back the victory that had been won so unexpectedly.

“And no preparing anything else but what goes in the basket,” that dear one warned. “I know how tempting that’s going to be for you to do elevenses too.”

Frodo grinned his most innocent and mischievous. Sam thought that Pippin, who was a master at that, must have learned it from his much elder cousin. “I’ll try to behave myself,” that cousin promised, “but it may be too much in the end. I suppose you’ll just have to put up with it if it comes to that.”

Sam laughed and shook his head. Frodo hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek quickly. “Nanye alassea harvayel tula, ammelda otorono, sie alassea. I am joyous you have come, my dearest brother, so joyous.”

The younger hobbit kissed his head and hugged his beloved brother back. “There’s no other place I’d rather be, meldanya.”

After a long while, they broke apart and Sam left for the garden. He had missed working in the earth. He hadn’t always had the time to do that with thirteen children. Frodo watched him happily for a while outside the window, then returned to gathering what he needed for the picnic, singing softly. From the open window, Sam heard that lovely voice and his heart was more than content. When a little while later, Frodo brought out a tall glass of iced tea, the gardener was glad for the break.

“I think my body is remembering how old it is again,” he said as he gratefully accepted the glass.

“Then rest here on the bench, ammelda,” Frodo said. “It’s just about time for elvenses anyway.”

Sam quirked an eyebrow and sat down. “You made that, didn’t you?”

“Yes, dearheart,” Frodo acknowledged boldly and stared right into his Sam’s eyes as though daring him to rebuke him.

The younger hobbit laughed. “I knew you couldn’t resist.”

“I knew you would be tired.”

“Not too tired to take care of you.”

“Well, it’s done now and there’s nothing you can do about it. We can’t let it spoil.”

Sam looked into his brother’s impish, triumphant face and couldn’t help but smile. “Let’s go in then and enjoy. And what do you have prepared for the picnic?”

Frodo’s eyes sparkled. “That’s a nulda, a secret. You’ll find out soon enough.”

“And this marvelous place you are taking us, that’s a secret too?”

“For a little while longer. It’s one of my favorite places to be. It’s on top of a tundo, a hill, and you can see so far. I spent much time there and dreamed many a fanore, a day dream, about you and all my nieces and nephews. It’s peaceful and beautiful and a little bit hobbity on this Elvish island.”

Sam looked up surprised. “How can that be?”

Frodo smiled mysteriously. “You’ll see.”

They ate a quick elevenses, then Frodo made to pick up the picnic basket that was covered by a cloth, but Sam stopped him. “I thought we had decided I would carry the basket.”

Frodo looked as though he would argue, then, “All right, but no peeking under the cover.”

Sam laughed. He was struck again how innocent, almost child-like his brother had returned to being. There was no sign any shadow had ever touched him. “Well, part of your secret is already ruined. What’s the word for those mushrooms I smell?”

“Telumbi is the plural, telumbe is singular.”

“I don’t think I’ve much use for the singular. Whoever heard of a hobbit and just one mushroom?”

Frodo laughed, clear and full. Sam thought his heart would spring from his chest just from the beauty of it. “Who indeed, ammelda, who indeed,” the elder hobbit said.

“That was a lovely song you sang earlier, meldanya,” Sam said as they walked out the door.

“Hantanyel. It’s one of Bilbo’s old ones, actually.”

As they walked along, Frodo began to sing it again, this time in Westron and they both remembered the times they had either heard Bilbo sing it or sung it themselves on their romps around the Shire. Now as then, Frodo took Sam’s hand and swung it wide in keeping with the joy of the song and the company.

’Twas early one morn in the spring of the year,

And I was on errantry bound.

The birds they were singing, the flowers were gay,

From blue skies the bright sun shone down.

And O what exceeding great joy filled my heart,

And I sang as I went on my way.

“Oh, why do you sing?” asked a traveller. Said I,

‘I sing for the joy of the day.

“I sing for the spring and the birds and the sun

That shines on the earth warm and bright;

I sing for the glory of moon and of stars

That brighten the cold darkling night.

I sing for the river that flows swiftly on,

Unhindered, untroubled and free,

I sing for the flowers that sweeten the air

And dance in the breeze merrily.

"So come ye, my good lad, and join in my song,

And gladly together we'll sing

Of rivers and flowers and birds and the sun,

That warms this wide world in the spring.

We'll sing of our homes and of food and good cheer,

Of loved ones now far, far away,

We'll sing of our road and of when we return,

We'll sing for the joy of the day.”

Sam sang it himself once Frodo was finished and then they simply enjoyed each other’s company in silence. The younger hobbit looked around him, his gardener’s eye and heart appreciating all the tremendous beauty surrounding him. He couldn’t wait to see more of the island.

Frodo noticed. “Lassselanta, Autumn, is very beautiful here,” he said softly, never losing his own love and joy of it all.

Sam took it all in, but he appreciated most the beauty of the being beside him, a glowing light barely held in a small body that vied with the sun for brightness or so it seemed to Sam.

They arrived at the top of a large hill. Sam laid down the basket and took in the view. It was breathtaking how beautiful it all was, how far he could see. “I think this will become my favorite place, too, ammelda,” he said.

“Let me show you why it’s mine,” Frodo said and he guided his brother to a simple marker laid in the grass.

“This is where Bilbo was buried. I know it’s nothing but his body long abandoned and his soul is held by Iluvatar, but it always comforts me to be here.”

Sam knelt down at the marker and rubbed his fingers along the name of his first master that was carved in Quenya and Westron. He could tell that the area was lovingly maintained. Elanor flowers and morning glory’s were planted around it. Frodo stood by his side and let him have all the time he needed to remember, then the gardener sat back and smiled up at his brother.

“I’m glad it’s here,” he said. “That little bit of hobbityness.”

Frodo smiled back and then knelt down at the basket. “And now for lunch! Ela! Behold!” he cried and with a dramatic flourish uncovered his surprise. Among the mushrooms, deviled eggs and large and varied vegetable salad was a bottle of wine. “That was so kind of Aragorn to send such a lovely gift - that basket and this wine! I think we shall be drinking for days!”

“I’m sure he meant it that way,” Sam said with a smile as he peered into the basket his brother began to unload and lay out on the cloth that had covered it.

“What’s this?” Frodo wondered as he pulled out a piece of parchment. He opened it up and saw his king’s elegant handwriting. Nanye alassea elye haryea atahirne alasse, otornonya, listea.

Tears pricked the hobbit’s eyes. He closed the note and held it to his lips for a moment and closed his eyes. “Hantanyel, otornonya,” he murmured.

After a long moment, he opened his eyes again and set the letter reverently aside. He bowed his head and said softly, “Laita nye, otornonyar ar laita sina apsa ar suca. San na.”

He looked into Sam’s questioning eyes and smiled. “I asked Iluvatar to bless me, my brothers, and the food and drink.”

“Can you say that again, then, a little slower and louder?”

Frodo’s smiled widened and he happily complied with his favorite student’s request. Slowly, Sam repeated it.

Frodo beamed. “Saliava quetina, my Sam! Well said! Now A tule, a mate ar a suce merendo! Come, eat and drink of the feast!” He raised his mug. “Almien! Cheers!”

“Almien!” Sam replied with a smile and a raise of his own mug.

As they savored the meal, more questions about Iluvatar came to him. “Have you gone to that dark room everyday?”

“Almost. Gandalf introduced me to it early on and even before my instruction was complete, I would go there often, especially when the call of the Ring bothered me. It would go away when I sat there, because I came to understand that even though I was an ucarindo, a sinner, I was still loved and forgiven. After my instruction was completed, I did not miss a day.”

“I’d like to start going. Would you instruct me?”

“I would love to. I was so hoping you would come to know Eru.”

Sam chewed thoughtfully on his mushrooms for a long moment. Frodo waited patiently for the questions to come as he remembered how his had come and Gandalf had answered them. He prayed that he’d be wise enough to answer them.

“Mr. Gandalf told me how Iluvatar knew what was going to happen to you and didn’t stop it. I wish He had so you wouldn’t have been so hurt.”

Frodo was silent for a moment. “I wished that many times myself, but we are Eru’s children, my Sam, not his slaves with no will of our own. He allows us to get hurt, to make mistakes, even though He knows how much it will pain us because He respects us enough to let us make our own decisions. I fought the Ring as hard as I could through the grace and strength He gave me, but the Ring influenced me too because as with any creature, I could be swayed one way or another, toward good or evil. If Iluvatar stopped us every time we were about to do something against the goodness and light, we would not be the free children He created us to be. He had placed within each of His children the way to that light and if we but hearken to that Voice inside, we would not be in trouble, but sometimes we don’t listen. It’s like we are told not to touch a hot kettle or we’ll burn ourselves, but sometimes we touch it anyway and learn by doing what is not to be done. Like any parent, I think our mistakes and the pain they cause us, pain Him, more than they hurt us, but still He allows them to happen, even though they break His heart and ours. Or sometimes our common sense is overwhelmed by darker urges inside us and we become who we are not meant to be. Even Sauron was created for the light, but he chose another path. I was seduced in much the same way he was, by lies and trickery and malice, but I chose to come back, he didn’t.

“It would seem wonderful if all the evil we do to ourselves or have done to us could be prevented, but then we would have no will of our own and that is Iluvatar’s great gift to us, that we can make our decisions and choices. Sometimes we make the wrong ones and hurt ourselves or hurt others, but He is always there to guide us back if we allow Him, if we have the courage and humility to accept the hand He offers to us. It was only after I came here that I truly understood that each time a hand was offered to me, whether it was my parents’ or Bilbo’s or Merry’s or yours or Pippin’s, it was really His. I am very glad I accepted each time.”

“So am I.”

A/N:  That song was from Queen Galadriel. Aragorn’s note translated means, “I am joyous you have found joy again, my brother, full of grace.” Frodo’s grace before eating is “Bless me, my brothers and bless this food and drink. Amen.” Or at least that’s what I want them to say and the same goes for Frodo being joyous that his brother is with him again. These are the first sentences I’ve composed in Quenya myself so I hope they are right!

Chapter Six: Knitted Souls

Frodo wiped his mouth as he finished his meal. "Ma merilye yulma neno?" he asked Sam. "Do you want a cup of water? Or perhaps some tea?" He began to pour some tea into a cup for himself. "I’ve taken to drinking this particular blend that Mirian, the envinyaro, the healer, made for me when I first came. I’m not entirely sure what’s all in it. I think she holds her secrets closer than Gandalf, but it’s very pleasant, healing and restorative. I was sick a lot when I came here. All my spiritual and emotional ills were magnified at first because everything is so intensified here, and that took its toll on me physically as well. After I got better, I kept drinking it because it’s simply the best tea I’ve ever had."

Sam smiled. "Then how do you say, ‘Fill my cup’?"

"A quanta yulmanya."

"A quanta yulmanya, please and hantanyel."

They drank quietly for some minutes.

"Is there some chamomile in it?" Sam wondered. "I think I taste it, but a little different."

"I’ve often thought that may be something of what it’s in there, but you’re right that Elvish chamomile is different than the Shire version."

"Maybe."

They drained their cups, then Frodo put everything back into the basket, moving quickly so Sam wouldn’t do it. He pulled out a thick book bound in leather from a pack he had brought. He grinned at his former servant. "Now, my Sam, you are going to get your first formal lesson in Quenya." He laid out on his stomach and patted the grass next to him. Sam laughed softly as he lay down. It was nearly a century ago that he and Frodo had done the same thing when the tween was teaching a certain eager nine-year-old lad how to write Westron. Frodo looked just as happy and innocent and carefree and full of light now that he had then.

"I’ve made you a quettaparma, a dictionary," the elder hobbit began, "just like Bilbo, Galian and Ilarion made for me. It includes all the words you need to know and how to make them make sense when you speak them. Once you learn this, then I can teach you the Tengwar, but right now we’ll start out with the tengwanda, the alphabet."

"I saw some of that writing in your room. It’s so beautiful."

"That it is, ammelda, that it is."

Sam touched the book reverently filled with his brother’s handwriting, filled with love. "Hantanyel, melmenya. This was a great undertaking."

Frodo smiled. "Melin teca. I love to write. Especially for the one who taught me how to regain that joy.

"Now here’s how you..."

Galadriel approached from behind them and just watched them for a while quietly as the two bright beings lay so close their heads were touching as they spoke softly together, Frodo pointing out and pronouncing each word slowly and Sam slowly repeating it. "Vande carna, my Sam! Well done!" Frodo said, patting his brother on the back. "You’ll be speaking better than me in no time."

Sam laughed. "I doubt that, meldanya."

Galadriel watched as the long-merged lights of the two hobbits flared in each other’s company. Never before had she seen such in mortals, not even in Aragorn and his kin, though they were close. She had watched the light grow in Frodo from the first time she noticed it in Lothlorien. To Elven eyes, he now burned almost as brightly as any of the Firstborn and had spent time praising and thanking Iluvatar for the gift of knowing such a one. And now Samwise, whose light ever shone brightest in his beloved master’s presence... "Quitin fear," she murmured in wonder at such beauty.

Frodo looked behind him and grinned at his brother. "I think we have acquired an audience, my Sam."

The former gardener and Mayor looked behind and nearly stumbled in his haste to rise and bow. Frodo rose more gracefully and bowed just as deeply and gave his friend a beautiful smile."Herunya," he said. Sam blushed. "My lady," he said, unknowingly echoing his brother’s words.

Galadriel smiled and bent her head briefly. "Vande omentaina, Panthael. Well met. I am glad you have come."

"Hantanyel, my lady."

"How does the Shire prosper?"

"With the help of your seeds, very well, my lady."

"Frodo tells me you prospered very well also."

Sam blushed. Frodo beamed. "Yes, my lady."

"As far as the death of your wife, ai, haryal nyerenya. You have my grief."

A fresh pain of loss stabbed at Sam’s heart for a moment. Frodo felt it in his heart as though it was his own pain and took his brother’s hand. Sam gladly clasped it, but he found he could not grieve long in the presence of such light and compassion coming from the shining Elf lady in front of him. He bowed again. "Hantanyel, my lady."

Galadriel bent her head again. "I’m sure we’ll see each other again. Enjoy your time with your otorno."

Sam’s awe in being in Galadriel’s presence lessened for the first time. "I will, my lady. You don’t have to worry about that."

Galadriel’s smile widened. "We have all looked forward to the reunion of two quitin fear." Then she glided away.

"What did she say?" Sam asked quietly.

Frodo beamed ever wider and squeezed the hand he still held. "Knitted souls, ammelda."

His brother smiled.

They returned to their lessons, but shortly into it, Frodo yawned hugely and only was half way successful in covering it. "Nanye nyerinqua. I’m sorry," he said. "I usually take a nap around now. The air is so rich here, but I think sometimes my body also remembers how old it really is. I had no idea how much time had passed until you told me. Sometimes I feel like I’m aging backward here or at least not changing, but other times, I know very well, I"m not."

"Then rest here, melmenya," Sam said and opened his arms.

Frodo nestled into his favorite place and wrapped his arms around his beloved guardian. "Will you sing to me, Sam? I’ve had such maivoine, such great longing, to hear your lovely voice again."

Sam smiled and began to softly sing and stroke his beloved brother’s curls and cheek.

"Close your eyes, my dear one, and lay down your head;

Slumber, held again close in my arms.

Our path was sometimes dark, but it has oftentimes been said:

The sun shines ever clearer after storms.

"Long our way has been, filled with both joy and pain;

It's true we sometimes walked in blackest night.

And yet those years I'd not erase nor not wish to live again,

For you were with me and after cloud and shadow came the light.

"Now you have been healed, you all the brighter shine,

Ne'er more to be touched by grief or pain.

So rest while joyful watch I keep, O dearest brother mine;

I'm with you, ne'er to leave your side again."

"Hantanyel, otornonya," Frodo murmured. "Hantanyel."

Sam continued his stroking for a while, looking down with tender love at the bright being in his arms. He didn’t know he was shining nearly as brightly. After a long time, he kissed that dear forehead. "A lore vande, ammelda. Melinyel," he murmured, then his own eyes closed.

Gandalf passed by later and marveled at the sight of them, so innocently entwined, so greatly loved by each other and by him and the Elves. He and the Elves that passed murmured prayers of wonder and thanksgiving for such a gift of seeing them, the size of their bodies no indication of the greatness of their hearts or endurance.

A/N: That song was, of course, a masterpiece from the queen.

Chapter Seven: Letters

The next morning, after second breakfast, Sam spent time in the garden. Frodo took his box of letters from his nieces and nephews and cousins and sat out on the bench near where his brother worked. Some of the letters Frodo had read many times overs, others were still so new they had only been read once or twice. He drew out some of the oldest to read again. He knew them so well he could have repeated them in his sleep and he knows sometimes he had indeed done that. Bilbo mentioned sometimes about him talking in his sleep. Even now, his lips moved silently as he read them and he imagined what the voices of such beloved ones as these had sounded like.

Dear Uncle Frodo, this is Elanor. I wish I could remember you. I know you loved me and I know I loved you, still love you, but I can’t remember you. I think I dream of you sometimes, at least I think I hear your voice when you used to sing to me. My da sings to me and he has the most lovely, sweet voice. He tells me he sings to me the same songs he used to sing to you. I close my eyes then as he holds me and I just listen and I can hear all his love for me in his voice. I smile and feel I can burst because he loves me so much. Did you feel the same when he would sing to you? It’s those nights that I dream I can hear your voice singing those Sindarin (my da told me how to spell that) lullabies and I can remember you then and how much you loved me and how much I loved you. Do you remember singing to me?

Dear Uncle Frodo, my name is Merry. I know my sister drew you my picture when I was a baby, but I had her make you another one because I’m much more grown up now. I’m seven! And this is the first time I could write to you myself instead of telling her or my da or my mum what to write. The only Frodo I really know is my brother named after you, but I feel I know you too because Da is always talking about you. He misses you so much and loves you even more and I do too. So does Uncle Merry. He’s always talking about you too and so is Uncle Pippin. I wish you were here, but Da says you had to go away so you could get better from whatever made you sick. Do you think you could come back when you are better? I hope so. You’ll know me because Uncle Merry says I look a lot like him. I’m glad Mum and Da named me Merry instead of Meriadoc, but don’t tell Uncle Merry. I don’t know if he would like that. I’m including one of my baby teeth so you’ll have something of me and some of my hair from the last time Mum cut it. And some of my Frodo’s and my Pippin’s and Elanor’s, Rosie-lass, Goldie’s, Ham’s and Daisy’s. They are all my brothers and sisters. Daisy’s just a baby. I’ve bound them all with their initials so you’ll know which is which. Could you send me some of yours? Who cuts your hair? Love, Merry

Dear Uncle Frodo, my name is Pippin. Just Pippin, not Peregrin (I had to ask my da how to spell that) like Uncle Pippin is called at times. He told me that was a type of bird, but I am glad that I am not named after a bird, but after a hobbit. My brothers are helping me with this letter, but this is all my writing because I wanted you to see what I write like. I am almost six. I love my Uncle Pippin very much and my Uncle Merry and my da and mum and all my brothers and sisters, especially my brothers Frodo and Merry. And I love you, too, Uncle Frodo. Everyone is always talking about you so we all know about you. I wish you were here. Do you think you will ever come back? Da says you were very sick and had to go away and he cries sometimes because of that, but he said you were going to get better where you went. I am glad that you will. I know it’s no fun being sick. I am going to draw a picture of myself giving you a big hug and hopefully that will make you feel better. Da and Mum’s hugs always make me feel better when I’m sick. And I’m going to draw them too so you can have their hugs too. They are even better than the tea and jam they make for me when my throat hurts so much I can’t take anything else. And sometimes, if my stomach is not upset, they give me sweets they wouldn’t normally so I can feel a little bit better. So I suppose I shouldn’t say it’s never fun being sick, because sometimes it is! Do you have someone to give you sweets when you are sick? I hope so and all the hugs and kisses you could ever want. I wish I could send you some of the tea and jams and those sweets Da and Mum give, but Da says he’s not sure they would survive properly and I don’t want to make you any sicker. But you’ll still be getting the best part - the hugs! Love, your friend, Pippin

Frodo looked up into the bright sunshine. The love saturated in those letters had sustained him through the years as much as Sam’s love had. Many tears, both of pain and joy, had been wept over them. When he had first received the letter from his nephew Pippin, he had stared for the longest time at the hugs the lad had drawn - three stick figures with their arms wide open. He had hugged the letter back and wished with his all heart he could have actually hugged the giver of such a loving gift. He stared long now and wished for the same thing. He had slept with the letters sometimes. It had helped him remain close to all those he held dear in his heart, though he had never seen many of them. He treasured the few lines Sam would add each time, sometimes smeared by the years of running his fingers over the writing or the tears that had fallen on them.

He watched his Sam now for a long time with a happy smile on his face, then he put the letters away and stood up and re-entered the smial. His brother was going to be tired and sweaty after all this and he was going to take full advantage of that dear one being distracted a little longer.

After a half hour, the elder hobbit came out again with a full platter of goodies for elvenses that he placed on a white table. "Maita, my Sam? Hungry?"

The gardener looked up as Frodo brought him a tall glass of lemon water. "Soica?" Frodo asked. Thirsty?"

Sam wiped at his sweaty brow. "Hantanyel, meldanya." He drank it down, then smiled as Frodo took the glass back and refilled it and placed it back on the table.

He pulled out a chair for his brother. "A hara, ammelda! Sit!"

Sam laughed a little. "Not until you do. I see you can’t be left alone for a minute without getting into some mischief. Are we going to argue about who is going to make meals as long as we live here?"

Frodo grinned. "Let’s sit down together. And yes, I think, we are going to argue for a long time." They sat down and Frodo placed his napkin on his lap and reached to serve his brother from the large mushroom salad he had made, but his brother beat him to it and served him instead.

"I’ve been taking care of you or wanting to take care of you all my life, dear, and I’m not about to stop," Sam said. "I don’t know if you felt it all those years apart..."

"Yes, I did. I felt every bit of it. All those times you held me so I could sleep. All the wishes goodnight and how you loved me. I heard it all. My heart did at least. And I hope you heard all of mine and all the times I held you back. I never knew if you could, so you can understand, I’m sure, after all this time, how much I want a few opportunities to take care of you."

Sam looked into his brother’s bright, loving, just slightly mischievous, eyes for a long time, tears bright in his eyes. He reached out and took his hand and felt Frodo’s curl around his tightly.  "I can’t let you out of my sight for a minute, can I?" the younger hobbit murmured.

The elder grinned. "I suppose not. But one meal a day, ammelda, is that so much to ask?"

"Yes, it is," the servant in Sam said with a small laugh.

"Then I suppose I’m just going to have to keep sneaking away until I can convince you otherwise."

Sam laughed harder and shook his head. "I think you are aging backwards, my dear. You sound more and more like Mr. Pippin did when he was a lad or tween."

Frodo beamed. "Hantanyel, ammelda."

Chapter Eight: Evening Songs

After elvenses, Sam cleaned up the dishes and then went back briefly into the garden. Frodo stayed out with him and took his afternoon nap there. The elder hobbit very docilely allowed Sam to prepare tea and dinner and in between there was another lesson in Quenya. Frodo went back inside when it was nearly sunset and Sam was tempted to follow to what mischief his brother was now up to, but the elder hobbit soon returned with a two small lit candles. Frodo handed one of them to his brother.

"The audune arcande, the evening prayer, to Iluvatar is going to be sung soon," he said. "and then I’m going to take you to the Hall of Fire. I am set to sing tonight. My friends let me indulge myself occasionally there and I hope you like what you hear, though it’s not as good as what you are about to hear. Sit down on the sara, the grass, my Sam and listen."

The two sat down together. Frodo took Sam’s hand and closed his eyes as they both listened to the Elven voice raised in petition to the Creator. After it was over, Frodo’s eyes remained closed for a few moments longer as his lips moved in silent prayer, then he turned to smile at Sam.

"That was Mr. Galian again?" the younger hobbit asked.

Frodo nodded. "He has one of the loveliest voices here, I think. He said, ‘Eru, the One, who delivers us from all things that walk in darkness, receive our prayer. Accept the lifting up of our hands as an evening sacrifice. Deem us worthy to pass blamelessly through the course of the night, untempted by evil things, and deliver us from every disturbance and apprehension that comes to us. Remove from us every unseemly dream so that during the quietness of sleep we may be enlightened with the vision of Your judgements. Then raise us up again at the time for prayer, fortified in faith and advancing in your commandments. Amen.’"

Frodo was silent for a moment, then said softly, "That prayer helped me greatly when the call of the Ring was still with me and the pull of it would disturb my sleep. It was one of the first things I learned to pray here and the most effective. Sometimes I would repeat it over and over again when I couldn’t sleep. Love does indeed heal all wounds, though sometimes only Divine Love can heal the deepest ones. I have been very blessed to have been able to come here to know of such love and mercy and forgiveness."

"Couldn’t all that have reached you in the Shire?" Sam asked very quietly.

Frodo squeezed his brother’s hand. "It did, but so did the Ring. I had to go somewhere away from all that. I had to learn how to forgive too. I couldn’t do that, with all the pain and longing and hatred for the thing that had ruined me still filling me. I had to go somewhere where its voice wasn’t so loud, so I could hear another Voice, so I could forgive all the hurt done to me and let it go and become myself again, still changed, but more myself than before. Once I did that and let go of all the rage at the hurt it had caused me, I began to heal and hear its voice less and then it stopped all together and I could only hear Iluvatar’s Voice inside me."

"I don’t think I forgave until I knew you were well and then I was still mad and sad that you had to leave. But I couldn’t hold onto that anger when I knew you were all right."

Frodo smiled. "So we are both longed healed from the wounds of that terrible thing. And Middle-earth is healed. And that makes it all worth it, doesn’t it, every last bit of sweat and blood and torment that was poured out in us so we could be the vessels through which all of the land could heal."

"Except the Elven ones," Sam said softly. "They faded. That always made me sad."

"They accepted that sacrifice, just like Iluvatar accepted the sacrifice of our wills when we chose to do not what we wished to do, but what He wished us to do. We were manaquenta, blessed, my Sam, for being chosen for such a alcarinqua, glorious, task. It took me a very long time to realize that fully. I healed when I did, when I accepted that Iluvatar had fashioned me in a particular way for a particular task and I had not failed Him as I thought I had and He still loved and forgave me for the times I had not served Him as well as I could have."

"I still don’t understand why He allowed you to suffer so much. Couldn’t you have done everything without being hurt so?"

"Evil has been woven into the Song from the beginning, Sam. It was part of the fabric of Middle-earth from the time of its creation. Iluvatar could have changed that, but He allowed to continue instead so He could use even that to show that it had no power over Him and His designs. We suffered because of that evil, but Iluvatar did not allow it to claim us utterly. We kept going through His eruanna, His grace. It sustained us through all we endured. We were under His ortirie, His protection, watching over from above. Sauron was but a servant himself, serving a greater evil just as we were serving a greater Good. Iluvatar wanted to show that He could overcome Sauron’s might in our weakness. The weaker we got, the more He strengthened us and the stronger we got, the weaker Sauron got. Evil collapsed under its own weight. The Ring played a part in its own destruction. We were merely the vessels to get it there."

"What’s the song you were talking about? You mean the song of the elves like we heard in the Shire and in Rivendell and Lothlorien?"

"No, the Song is the mighty work of creation from the very beginning. It is playing now and will continue to play until the uttermost end of time and all things." Frodo turned to smile at his brother. "You are indeed inside a Song, ammelda. That is how I knew each time one of my nieces or nephews were conceived and then born. It’s how I knew Rose died and the Gaffer. Listen for it in your heart, in the quietest part of yourself and the quietest part of the day or the night. You will hear it then and know you are part of a greater Story than you could ever imagine. You are one of many children. It is the most beautiful thing you ever heard and it’s always growing and deepening. I felt so close to you and to Merry and Pippin and Aragorn and all those marvelous children you all had because I could hear you all and I could celebrate each new life as it began. Soon you will always be hearing it. Listen for it tonight as we walk along. Bring your candle. The path is not hard, but you will need some light to see by."

Sam smiled at his brother. "I don’t need a light, melanya. You’re shining enough for me."

Frodo returned the smile then took Sam’s hand and held his candle in his other hand. They walked silently along the path leading to the Hall. Elves, all illuminated from within, came from other paths, all carrying candles, in a solemn procession to the Hall.

"This reminds me when we saw the wood elves," Sam said quietly, "but it’s even more...What’s the word for ‘beautiful’?"

"There are four actually - vanya, linda, calwa or vanima."

"I don’t know if even four are enough to describe this. It’s like when we saw the Lady - all these Elves lit from within."

Frodo squeezed his brother’s hand. "That is what they are, my Sam. The light of Iluvatar shines through them...and through you."

"And you, brighter than you ever did." He was silent for a while, then said, "I think I do hear your Song, ammelda. I heard it faintly back in the Shire and a bit louder on the Quest. I never knew what it was."

Frodo looked a little surprised. "You heard it even then? What does it sound like to you? The one melody I could never hear was myself."

Sam thought hard for a bit, then shook his head. "I can’t rightly describe it I don’t think. Like sunshine, like the smell of grass after rain, like the most beautiful, ethereal, tune you ever heard that you want to hold onto forever, but you don’t want to crush it or even listen too hard for fear of breaking it.  At least that's the way it sounded in the Shire, but on the Quest, it got a lot stronger and I knew I could listen with all my might and it would still be just as beautiful."

"You sound almost exactly like that to me, orotonya, feanya," Frodo said softly. 

Galian nodded to them as they entered the Hall and took their places beside him, Frodo by his friend and Sam by Frodo. "Aiya, calmar," the Elf said with a smile to the elder hobbit.

"Calmar is his epesse, his nickname, for me," Frodo explained to Sam. "It means ‘child of light.’"

"Tecindo! Tecindo!" cried three golden-haired Elven children nearly the same size of hobbits. Frodo’s face burst into an even larger smile as he gathered one, then two of them up into a hug, then broke away and embraced a third.

They all spoke to him at once so quickly that Sam could understand nothing of what they said. He simply enjoyed how brightly his brother shone in his friends’ presence. Frodo replied back, then turned and beamed at Sam. "Sam, these are more of my friends. This is Eruanna, Halarin, and Auna. Dear ones, this is Panthael Nerae, otornonya."

Two young female eyes and one male lit up and they bowed. "Ma quetil il lambe Eldaiva?" one of them asked.

Frodo smiled as he looked at Sam. "He’s asking you if you speak Elvish." He looked back at his friends. "He is learning, but he can’t speak it just yet. He just got here!"

"Ma nar elye lelyuva lira sina lona, Tecindo?" Eruanna asked.

Frodo touched her blond hair and smiled lovingly at her. "Yes, melda, I will be singing tonight."

The three cheered. "Mama said we could stay up if you were," Auna, the youngest, confided. She hugged Frodo once more and then the three settled down near their parents.

"How many names do you have here?" Sam asked.

Frodo grinned. "Tecindo means scribe. Those three were in the library with their teacher, working on their tencele, their spelling, when I first met them. I was deep into my research for your gift and didn’t even notice them at first, but then I become aware that I was being stared at and whispered about. Once they got over their shock of seeing a non-Elf, they became a joy to be around. Eruanna and Halarin are twins, 800 years old, and Auna is 600."

"And what did you call me? Nerae?"

Frodo’s smile widened. "The Brave."

Elrond approached now from the front of the Hall and nodded to Sam. "Well met, Panthael. We are glad to welcome you at last to Tol Eressea and back to your master’s side."

Sam bowed deeply. "Thank you, my lord. I am very glad to be here."

Elrond nodded again, smiled at Frodo who bowed and smiled back and then glided away back to the front. Gandalf come in as well and sat down near them.

"Are you getting your fill of Elves, Sam?" the wizard asked with a smile.

"I don’t think I’ll ever be filled, Mr. Gandalf. This is a wonder to behold and no mistake."

"That it is. Iluvatar’s glory shines through everywhere here, not the least of all in His children. You are right at home here, Sam."

"It feels like it too," the gardener said. "But I suppose that’s because my Frodo’s here. I don’t think it would be the same otherwise."

Frodo smiled softly and took his Sam’s hand. The gardener’s fingers curled around his brother’s and then all conversation stilled Galian moved to the center of the Hall and began to sing. Sam didn’t understand a word, but he didn’t ask. He just listened as the melodious voice washed over him and through him and he was very content. Others came forward, both male and female.

Frodo looked as rapt and luminously shining as any Elf there. "They were singing airelinna, hymns, holy songs, to Elbereth and the other Valar and to Iluvatar," he said softly.

"A lira, Tecindo! A lira! A lira!" the three elflings chanted after the last bit of the last voice faded away into the silence.

Frodo smiled at Sam. "I am being asked to sing."

He stood up, smiled at three children, then began to sing in Westron. His eyes did not leave Sam’s the whole time and the light and love inside him flared up.

"Sail on, fair ship, fast o’er the ocean,

And through the darkness hasten west,

While soothed by your unceasing motion,

My loved one takes his rest.

"Ah! I cannot see the morning,

Yet e’en in the night there is hope for the dawn;

And while that hope, though faint, is burning,

Sail on, fair ship, sail on.

"My love has done no deed in battle;

A greater sacrifice was made;

‘Twas not by might or clashing mettle

The Dark One low was laid.

"Ah! I cannot see the morning,

Yet e’en in the night there is hope for the dawn;

And while that hope, though faint, is burning,

Sail on, fair ship, sail on.

"Vigil o’er you I am keeping,

While you are rocked upon the seas.

Sweet and blessed be your sleeping;

Rest now, be at peace.

"Ah! I cannot see the morning,

Yet e’en in the night there is hope for the dawn;

And while that hope, though faint, is burning,

Sail on, fair ship, sail on."

Frodo came back to Sam and wiped at the tears his brother hadn’t even been aware had been tracking down his cheeks. Then he held him very tightly. "I heard you sing me that song all the nights I was abroad. I couldn’t thank you until now."

Sam returned the embrace, not wanting to ever let go, but Frodo did at last, smiled at his brother and then returned to sing once more, this time in Quenya.

Sam listened with rapt attention to that beloved voice, but finally after some other Elves had also sung, he lost his battle with his fatigue and his eyes closed, joining the three elfling friends of his brother who were leaning against each other or a parent’s side, all wrapped in slumber themselves.

Frodo brushed each fair head with a kiss and a murmured goodnight. Auna roused enough to hug him and whisper ‘Goodnight,’ before falling back to sleep again. The hobbit then lifted Sam into his arms to take him home. Galian offered his assistance.

"He’s not heavy," Frodo assured. "He’s nothing but love and light. And he’s carried me more than once. I am happy to at last return the favor."

The elven hobbit smiled his goodnight to Gandalf then left with his two brothers. Once he had Sam settled into bed, he looked tenderly at his slumbering dear one. "He’s been taking care of me since he was nine years old and not one day has passed in all that time that I have not felt that care. Not one day. I wish I could think of some way to properly thank him, but I know I could never do it well enough. He has ever been my light in darkness, my own heart and soul, even more than my cousins have been."

"He has served all that time out of love, melda mine," Galian said. "That type of service desires no thanks."

Frodo looked at his friend. "I still want to do it. I want to serve him, but he won’t let me."

Galian smiled. "He takes his joy out of serving and loving you. Let him continue to do that."

The Elf then lifted his beloved friend into his arms. Frodo wrapped his legs around his friend’s waist and embraced him tightly. "Fume vande, titta calmar," Galian murmured.

"Fume vande, halla calmar," the hobbit said softly back.

They broke apart and Galian left. Frodo turned back to Sam, very gently got him into his nightshirt, then curled up beside him. "I can never thank you enough, but hantanyel, ammelda, hantanyel." he said softly and kissed his brother’s brow. The last thing he felt was Sam’s arms wrapping around him as he settled his head against his beloved guardian’s heart.

A/N: Melda mine is dear one, titta is little, halla is tall. Fume vande is another way to say Sleep well. The song to Iluvatar is adapted from the much larger Second Kneeling Prayer said at Pentecost in Catholic churches of the Byzantine Rite. Frodo’s song is, of course, from the queen.

Chapter Nine: Time with New Friends

The next morning, Sam lingered in the dark room. Frodo sat with him a while in silent prayer, then left. Galian remained also, sitting a space away from Sam.

"It’s wonderful, isn’t it, Mr. Galian?" the hobbit said softly as he looked up at the light. "I can’t even describe it."

"No one can, not adequately," the Elf agreed. "We sing our songs and say our prayers and still we know we don’t have the words to respond to Iluvatar the way we really want to. Sometimes the best responses are the ones we make in the silence of our hearts. Iluvatar reached Iorhael that way and he responded that way. The Creator also reached you that way, without you even knowing it, giving you such a heart as I have heard so much about it."

"Frodo told me as much, that I was really serving the One when I was serving him. I still don’t understand it all, but I want to keep doing that, serving them both, I mean. I want to be worthy of receiving the lembas in the proper fashion, if you understand."

"You will be, if you continue to follow the path you are on. It is one Iorhael has been traveling since even before he came here and one you have been even though you knew not where your feet were taking you. Your heart knew, though. Iorhael was a lomear when he came here, a child of gloom. But even then his light shone more brightly than any we Elves here had seen in a mortal and it’s even more brilliant now. He was meant to come here, to be healed here, among, I would almost dare say, his own kind."

"He was always like that, bright, I mean. So bright and beautiful, I always believed there was something Elven about him. And he was for a long time, just as you say, wrapped in darkness and pain and sorrow, but even then, even then..." Sam trailed off.

He looked back up at the light. "I thought it was the Lady that helped us, but it was Him, wasn’t it?"

"She is a servant and child of Iluvatar, just as you are, Sam. He often chooses to work through His creatures. It was His help, through her, just as He helped Iorhael directly and through you. Iorhael wouldn’t have made it without both your help."

"I just wanted to keep my promise to keep him safe. You have no idea, Mr. Galian, how horrible it was, how dark and terrible, how hard it was to try to keep his heart safe at the same time as his body. I could protect him with my arms and my body, but there was no way I could protect his heart. That was eaten out of him and I was helpless to stop it."

"From all that Iorhael has told me and all I know of how the Creator works, I know and you know that’s not true. For Iluvatar gave him that heart, just as He gave you yours. Both of them were necessary to get you two to the fire. You were sustained by his heart, just as he was sustained by yours and both of you sustained by Iluvatar’s in a way we Elves stand in awe in. We could not have done what you did. The One fashioned just you two for that."

"And Stinker. Couldn’t have done it without him, after the Ring took them both."

Galian laughed softly. "Iorhael told me about your names for your guide. Yes, Iluvatar worked through even that child of His. He had to show that nothing had power over Him, that He could still work His will through whatever instruments He chose, whether those vessels said ‘yes’ like you and Iorhael did or whether they were just chosen by Him, even those enslaved to evil."

"I still don’t understand why we, he, had to suffer so much. Mr. Gandalf has told me and Frodo and I must be just the worst ninnyhammer not to understand, but I just don’t."

There was another ripple of laughter from Galian’s throat. "You are not a ninnyhammer as you say. Iorhael told me about that word and it was no more true when he used it against himself than it is now. Let me try to explain. We Elves are no strangers to suffering, like you hobbits were before the Shadow touched you. There was no suffering that either of you endured that was not without merit. The Dark Enemy that was thrown out of the World long before still had influence through his servants and in the very fabric of the Song that he had helped fashion. Iluvatar allowed that music to continue, not to harm us, but to show it had no power over Him. His children were still His children, though many could and did, through the Enemy’s snares, wander far from the path set out for them. Some returned, some did not. The path of Light and Freedom and Love is a very narrow one and laborious to walk on and it is easy, far too easy, to get lost in the brambles that grow alongside it, that appear instead so attractive and it is only after we are caught that we realize how wrong we have been and some, alas, never realize it or choose not to. I would dare say the true path ran through the Shire and your feet have always been on it. That was the way your heart could not be touched by the Ring. Alas for Iorhael, the torment of carrying it against his heart was too much for him, as it would have been for anyone who held it so long, but it also taught him much, the elements of pity and mercy and compassion. That was why Iluvatar allowed it so. Suffering is not an evil if you respond to it in the right way. Even when Iorhael was overcome at the last, he was not forever lost as Sauron and his master chose to be. No, Panthael, you need not worry over the protection of his heart. It was in the custody of the One he had given it to, though at the time he barely knew Who that was, just as it was in yours. He trusted you both implicitly to protect him and that trust was not placed in vain."

"Begging your pardon, but if Iluvatar loved Frodo so much, why did He still allow his heart to be broken? I just can’t understand that, no matter how anyone puts it."

"It was not out of lack of love that Iluvatar allowed Iorhael to suffer. He loves all His children, especially those He calls for great things. It is that Love that sustains them and brings them through their torments if they but love Him back and accept pain from His hand as bravely as we gladly accept His other gifts, knowing that they are both wrapped in His Love."

"It was Iluvatar’s Light that was sustaining him then, that makes him so beautiful it can take your breath away?"

Galian smiled. "Yes."

"Then that’s why the darkness could never conquer it. It tried. It tried so hard, so very hard."

"Iluvatar allowed the torment to show that he had power even over that.  Nothing deterred you or your beloved brother from making it to the Fire, did it?"

"No. He was crawling at the end, so weak but so determined."  Sam smiled as he shook his head.  "There’s nothing more stubborn than a Baggins."

Galian smiled. "I have learned that myself. And how much he praised your stubbornness and endurance and love and loyalty."

Sam blushed. "It weren’t nothing but what I had given him practically all my life. Nothing more than he deserved and I wanted to give. He’s special, Mr. Galian, he’s just that special."

Sam looked back up at the light. Thank you for creating him, for loving him, for letting me know and love him, for healing him, he said in the silence of his heart and in that silence, he heard a Voice, and realized it was One he had heard before, on the Quest, urging him on, giving him hope and sustenance so he could give the same to one he so loved, the one they both loved.

Chapter Ten: Time With An Old Friend

Sam returned to the smial and was greeted by the delicious aroma of mushrooms. He entered the dining room just as Frodo emerged from the kitchen, carrying a plate with a large omelette on it.

"Just in time, ammelda!" the elder hobbit said cheerfully with a wide smile.

Sam took the plate from him and set it down at Frodo’s place. The elder hobbit sighed just a little, then turned back to get the other plate. He was stopped when Sam took his hands, kissed the space where the missing finger had been, then held him tightly. Frodo returned the embrace, leaning his head against his brother’s shoulder.

"What am I going to do with you, Frodo Baggins?" Sam asked.

"Hopefully love me and put up with me as you always have," Frodo answered. "And let me serve you once in a while."

"I will always love you. It was Stinker I put up with."

"Thank Iluvatar for that."

"But you have to let me take care of you, meldanya."

"And you, ammelda, have to let me take care of you. I know how hard that is for you to accept, to take any recompense for all the great good and love you have lavished on me all this many decades, but can’t you see that I want, I need to thank you in some way?"

"And can’t you see that I need no thanks? But knowing how terribly stubborn you are, I guess we are just going to have to keep arguing about it, seeing that neither of us can convince the other."

Frodo looked up into his brother’s eyes and drowned in all that love there, then he smiled mischievously. "There is another way, of course. You could give in."

Sam laughed and both hearts danced to see the other so happy. "It’ll snow in Mordor before that happens."

"Well, I’m not going to give in either."

Frodo kissed his brother’s head, then let go and moved back toward the kitchen. Sam almost forcibly guided him to his chair before he could take more than a step. "You’ve done enough today, meldanya," he said with a smile.

Sam returned with his own plate and poured tea for the two of them. They shared the silent prayer before meals and then ate heartily. Sam came out of the kitchen after he had cleaned the dishes to see Frodo waiting at the door with a picnic basket.

"I prepared it while I was waiting for you this morning," the elder hobbit explained. "I want to show you more of the island. Are you up for a long vantea, walk?"

The younger smiled. "I better be because if I let you out of my sight, you are going to make every meal for the next week!"

Frodo’s eyes twinkled. "Anye hilya! Follow me!"

Sam took the basket from his brother and they walked far and wide before stopping. "This is my favorite laire, my favorite meadow. It’s a good hike from home and there’s a lovely ambo, hill, not far either that’s very good for running down. You can see very far from the top."

They sat down and Frodo allowed himself to be served. They had a very pleasant meal and when all was put back, the elder hobbit patted the ground beside him and they laid out on their stomachs for another lesson in Quenya. Frodo wrote everything out as he spoke.

"To say something in the past, you use ‘ne’ if the word ends in ‘a’, ‘r’, ‘m’ or ‘n’. Harya is have, haryane is had. Cen is see, cenne is saw. If it ends in another consonant, then you put a ‘n’ before the last consonant. Mat is eat, mante is ate. But the exception to that is if the word ends in ‘p’, then there’s no ‘n’ but a ‘m’. Cap is jump. Campe is jumped. And if it ends in a ‘l’..."

Sam groaned. "Why can’t they just have one rule for all the letters!"

Frodo laughed. "I said the same thing when I was learning. Colemaine, elwennya. Patience, my heart. It’s not so bad once you learn it. You have a gift for languages. You learned to read and write Westron and you took easily enough to Sindarin. You’ll be speaking Quenya in no time. Now as I was saying, if a word ends in ‘l’, you add ‘le’. Mel is love, melle is loved."

"To say something in the future, you add ‘uva’ at the end, unless the word ends in an ‘a’, then you drop the ‘a’ before adding ‘uva’. Arca is pray, arcuva is will pray. Actually, that may not be the best example, since there are other words for pray too, but do you get the idea, my Sam?"

"What’s the word of ‘I’?"

"Ni."

"Then ni arucva I understand this all."

Frodo laughed. "Ni arcane, I prayed, more than you know. But it is a vanima lambe, a beautiful language once you learn it.

"Now, if you want to add ‘ly’ to the end of a word ending in ‘a’, it’s ‘ve’. Linta is swift, lintave is swiftly.

"If you want something is best of something, you add ‘an’ to the beginning of the word unless the word starts with a ‘l’, ‘s’ ‘r’ or ‘m’ then you add that letter instead of the ‘n’. Anvanima is fairest. It’s also where ammelda comes from.

"If you want speak about doing something, you add ‘e’ to the end. Tec is write, tece is to write."

"Unless..." Sam began.

Frodo smiled. "See you are catching on already, ammelda! There usually is an unless, in this case, it’s if the word ends in a ‘a’ then you don’t add the ‘e’ and leave it unchanged.

"Now to mean the negative of something, it’s ‘um’ at the beginning of the word for the present. Umin is I am not, ‘ume’ is the past, umen is I was not and ‘uva’ is for the future, uvan is I will not be.

Clouds suddenly rolled across the sun causing Frodo to look up. He quickly closed the lesson book and stashed at the bottom of the basket. "We’ll have to get back. I should have been paying more attention to the weather. See that lumbo, that dark towering cloud? We don’t get many raumor, storms, here as bad as this one looks like it could be, but they do come sometime."

He held out his hand as a fine rain began to fall. "This miste is just the beginning. We’re going to have make a run for it."

"All the way back?"

"There is a cambo, a cave, nearby, but I got caught in that last time it rained this bad and it nearly flooded. I don’t want to risk that again. We’re just going to have to get through it I think and pray we can get home before it’s too terrible."

They ran as quickly as they could. The picnic basket banged against Sam’s legs and he knew he was going to have some very pretty bruises later. It began to pour before they got home and they were a completely soaked mess by the time they got home. Thunder roared overhead as Frodo slammed the door behind him. They trailed muddy footprints over the tile floor until they reached the bathroom and rinsed off their feet. Then Frodo wet a towel to begin to clean up the mess. Sam threw out what was left in the picnic basket but for the lesson book which he was grateful to see was only a little damp, hardly touched at all. Then he took the towel from his brother and started cleaning up their mess himself.

"You have to let me do something, Sam," Frodo said. "I can’t abide all this waiting on me hand and foot. I’m not ill anymore like I was."

Sam gave his brother a look of tender exasperation. "I’ve been taking care of you since I was nine, Iorhaelnya, and I’m still going to be doing it when I’m 109 so you better just get used to it."

"But you don’t have to do that anymore. I think we should be doing it more equally. I should be taking care of you to thank you for all you’ve ever done for me."

Sam sneezed. "It’s just not right, meldanya."

Frodo took out a damp handkerchief from his breeches pocket and gave it to his guardian "Blow," he said. "I’m telling you one thing, right now, Samwise Gamgee, friend of friends, most stubborn and beloved of all hobbits, that if you get a cold, I will be taking care of you every moment and I won’t let you have a word to say about it."

Sam obediently blew. "And I’m going to take care of you whether you get sick or not, Frodo Baggins, dearest and most stubborn of all hobbits, elves, dwarves and men!"

Frodo laughed, hugged his brother and kissed his head. "Oh, ammelda, I have missed you so. Even know I still can’t realize you are actually with me again."

Sam returned the tight embrace. "And I’m never going to leave you again. Ever."

"I’m still going to argue, though."

Sam kissed his head. "You wouldn’t be my Frodo if you didn’t. But you’re going to keep losing too."

Frodo giggled. Sam squeezed him, then let him go. "Now get out of your soaking clothes, meldanya, get your nap in and when you’re up, I’ll have a fire going and water heated for a good cup of tea."

"I’m not going to rest until you get out of your soaking clothes and I take care of those bruises on your poor legs. I have just the balm for them."

Sam sighed and Frodo laughed. The younger hobbit suffered to be taken care of, then tucked his brother in for his nap, kissed his forehead and retired to the parlor to study. When Frodo rose from sleep, they sat before the fire and enjoyed the tea and company. Dinner passed just as pleasantly.

"Another masterpiece of a meal by S. Gamgee," Frodo said at the end as he wiped his mouth. "Hantanyel."

Sam smiled. "Nan alassea nurolya."

Frodo threw his head back and laughed. "So you have found out my secret! I was wondering when you would. Well, I must say I am rather proud of my favorite student for doing some independent study like that. You are now officially a quenda, someone who speaks Quenya. Soon you’ll be turning into an Elf! Pereldar I should call you, half-Elven."

"Then I should be calling you the same thing. That goes much more for you than me. Always did."

The storm did not lessen in strength throughout the night. During it, Sam moaned in his sleep, trapped in a dream and frightened by the howling wind. Frodo woke and held him tighter. "Quilde, melmenya. Hush, my love," he comforted. "It’s all right. It’s just the raumo and the su, just the noise of a storm and the wind. Quilde."

When Sam continued to be agitated, Frodo began to sing softly, mixing Quenya and Westorn.

"Fume sin, ar ista ta melinyel.

Let aside your cares.

Ni varuya elye.

"Fume sin ar ista ta meliynel

Let no darkness touch you.

Ni tiruva elye.

"Fume sin ar ista ta meliynel

Let your worries fade away

Uvan autayel.

"Fume sin ar ista ta meliynel

Let no pain plague you.

Ni etelehtuva elye.

"Fume sin ar ista ta meliynel

Let no terror frighten you.

Ni nauva illume as elye.

"Fume sin ar ista ta meliynel."

When Frodo saw that Sam had fallen back to sleep, he kissed his brother’s brow softly and then returned to sleep himself. Neither were troubled any further by the wind or the storm.

A/N: Frodo’s song is a translation of my "Sleep Now And Know That I Love You" lullaby. I hope I did it right, I think I did, but I’m still learning!

Chapter Eleven: The Counting Song

The next morning, the sun was bright once more. Puddles were the only thing that remained of the storm and Frodo was mightily tempted to jump into one just as he and Sam and his cousins had done as children. The only thing that restrained him was that he knew his brother would then fell compelled to clean his clothes. That held him back until they were returning from the dark room and then two furry feet made a tremendous splash just outside the garden and there was a peel of laughter from the owner of those feet such as Sam had not heard in a very long while. Frodo raised a radiant face to his brother. There were few times he had looked so beautiful to Sam, so full of light, even though his clothes, legs and feet were now covered in mud.

"You better get yourself into the bath the moment we get in, meldanya," Sam said with a smile.

"Don’t you want to jump in, too, Sam?" Frodo asked.

Sam laughed and shook his head. "I’m 102, dear! I don’t have all the same agility you do. I’d probably just fall in and what a mess that would make!"

"Well, I’m twelve years older than you and you are not going to be feeling all that old the longer you are here. Why, I believe the silver in your hair is already turning back to lighter brown."

"Just get you inside," Sam said with a smile as he took his brother by the arm and began to pull him in.

"Look in a mirror if you don’t believe me," Frodo said, only reluctantly letting himself be led.

"I will after I draw your bath and get breakfast started."

As Frodo cleaned up, Sam took his clothes to start soaking, put out a fresh set on the bed and then worked on preparing breakfast. He did pass a mirror and took a glance in it and was surprised that his hair was indeed beginning to change back. Not that he thought Frodo had lied to him, but teasing.

The elder hobbit emerged from his bedroom, clean and dressed. His hair was still damp, but carefully combed as was his foot hair. He had industriously scrubbed all the mud off and so proudly presented himself for inspection.

"That’s better," Sam said with a smile and Frodo beamed.

They sat down and enjoyed their porridge. Frodo’s toast was on a plate beside him, with just the right amount of jam and his tea was just the right temperature and sweetness.

"You remembered everything," he said with just a bit of wonder.

"Of course."

"Hantanyel."

"You’re welcome, melmenya."

They ate silently for a while, then Frodo spoke again. "I thought I would teach you your numbers today, Sam. I know I gave you a lot to learn yesterday and probably too much at once. So I thought I would have some pity on my favorite student today. Remember the Shire rhyme about numbers? I still remember my mother singing it to me and that’s how I learned."

Sam smiled. "And I remember my mum singing it to me and Rosie singing it to our bairns."

Frodo’s face lit up. "Oh, Sam, won’t it be fun to sing it again! Just like being back home."

After they had finished eating, Frodo insisted on washing the dishes since Sam had insisted on washing his brother’s clothes. When the former servant had wanted to do both, the elder hobbit held up his hand. "Now, Sam, I can’t let you spoil me too terribly. I’ll wash and you wash and then we’ll settle down and remember the Shire."

So they went to their respective tasks, Frodo humming the counting song as he washed.

When Sam reappeared, his teacher was already waiting for him by the door. "Shall we learn in the garden today? It’s so beautiful out."

When they had seated themselves on the bench amidst the myriad flowers and plants, they began to sing, Frodo first and then Sam at each line that started "O tell me..." just as they had sung it with their mothers when they were just little lads. Later in the song as it began to repeat, Sam also joined in there. It was nice to remember Rose again for the loving mother she was. There was some pain in that too and some threatened tears and some hoarseness of voice, but Sam did not falter. He just let himself remember both loving mothers, listen to other beloved voice and marvel in the light of his brother which glowed ever more.

"I'll sing to you of mine, melmenya.

Fair grow the roses.

O tell me of your mine, melmenya.

Mine is mine and all alone, alone it aye shall be, melmenya.

"I'll sing to you of atta, melmenya.

Fair grow the lilies.

O tell me of your atta, melmenya.

Atta is atta, the dark and light-haired hobbits, clad all in green and brown, melmenya.

And mine is mine and all alone, alone it aye shall be, melmenya.

"I’ll sing to you of nelde, melmenya.

Fair grow the bluebells.

O tell me of your nelde, melmenya.

Nelde is nelde, the bright-eyed maids, clad all in lily white, melmenya.

And atta is atta, the dark and light-haired hobbits, clad all in green and brown, melmenya.

And mine is mine and all alone, alone it aye shall be, melmenya.

"I’ll sing to you of canta, melmenya.

Fair grow the asters.

O tell me of your canta, melmenya.

Canta is canta, the fair white doves that sit upon the gable, melmenya.

And nelde is nelde, the bright-eyed maids, clad all in lily white, melmenya;

And atta is atta, the dark and light-haired hobbits, clad all in green and brown, melmenya;

And mine is mine and all alone, alone it aye shall be, melmenya.

"I’ll sing to you of lempe, melmenya.

Fair grow the violets.

O tell me of your lempe, melmenya.

Lempe is lempe, the children running glad among the flowers, melmenya.

And canta is canta, the fair white doves that sit upon the gable, melmenya;

And nelde is nelde, the bright-eyed maids clad all in lily white, melmenya;

And atta is atta, the dark and light-haired hobbits, clad all in green and brown, melmenya;

And mine is mine and all alone, alone it aye shall be, melmenya.

"I’ll sing to you of enque, melmenya.

Fair grow the pansies.

O tell me of your enque, melmenya.

Enque is enque, the snow-white swans that swim upon the water, melmenya.

And lempe is lempe, the children running glad among the flowers, melmenya;

And canta is canta, the fair white doves that sit upon the gable, melmenya;

And nelde is nelde, the bright-eyed maids clad all in lily white, melmenya;

And atta is atta, the dark and light-haired hobbits, clad all in green and brown, melmenya;

And mine is mine and all alone, alone it aye shall be, melmenya.

"I’ll sing to you of otso, melmenya.

Fair grow the daisies.

O tell me of your otso, melmenya.

Otso is otso, the stars that shine above me as I wander, melmenya.

And enque is enque, the snow-white swans that swim upon the water, melmenya;

And lempe is lempe, the children running glad among the flowers, melmenya;

And canta is canta, the fair white doves that sit upon the gable, melmenya;

And nelde is nelde, the bright-eyed maids clad all in lily white, melmenya;

And atta is atta, the dark and light-haired hobbits, clad all in green and brown, melmenya;

And mine is mine and all alone, alone it aye shall be, melmenya.

"I’ll sing to you of tolto, melmenya.

Fair grow the poppies.

O tell me of your tolto, melmenya.

Tolto is tolto, the nights I’ve sleepless lain, a-longing for my home, melmenya.

And otso is otso, the stars that shine above me as I wander, melmenya

And enque is enque, the snow-white swan’s that swim upon the water, melmenya;

And lempe is lempe, the children running glad among the flowers, melmenya;

And canta is canta, the fair white doves that sit upon the gable, melmenya;

And nelde is nelde, the bright-eyed maids clad all in lily white, melmenya;

And atta is atta, the dark and light-haired hobbits, clad all in green and brown, melmenya;

And mine is mine and all alone, alone it aye shall be, melmenya.

"I’ll sing to you of nerte, melmenya.

Fair grow the morning-glories.

O tell me of your nerte, melmenya.

Nerte is nerte, the roads I’ve trod since from you I was parted, melmenya.

And tolto is tolto, the nights I’ve sleepless lain, a-longing for my home, melmenya;

And otso is otso, the stars that shine above me as I wander, melmenya;

And enque is enque, the snow-white swans that swim upon the water, melmenya;

And lempe is lempe, the children running glad among the flowers, melmenya;

And canta is canta, the fair white doves that sit upon the gable, melmenya;

And nelde is nelde, the bright-eyed maids clad all in lily white, melmenya;

And atta is atta, the dark and light-haired hobbits, clad all in green and brown, melmenya;

And mine is mine and all alone, alone it aye shall be, melmenya.

"I’ll sing to you of cainen, melmenya.

Fair grow the daisies.

O tell me of your cainen, melmenya.

Cainen is cainen, the days I’ve still to wait until I see my home, melmenya.

And nerte is nerte, the roads I’ve trod since from you I was parted, melmenya;

And tolto is tolto, the nights I’ve sleepless lain, a-longing for my home, melmenya;

And otso is otso, the stars that shine above me as I wander, melmenya;

And enque is enque, the snow-white swans that swim upon the water, melmenya;

And lempe is lempe, the children running glad among the flowers, melmenya;

And canta is canta, the fair white doves that sit upon the gable, melmenya;

And nelde is nelde, the bright-eyed maids clad all in lily white, melmenya;

And atta is atta, the dark and light-haired hobbits, clad all in green and brown, melmenya;

And mine is mine and all alone, alone it aye shall be, melmenya.

"I’ll sing to you of minque, melmenya.

Fair grow the dahlias.

O tell me of your minque, melmenya.

Minque is minque, the leagues that lie before me yet ere I may rest, melmenya.

And cainen is cainen, the days I’ve still to wait until I see my home, melmenya;

And nerte is nerte, the roads I’ve trod since from you I was parted, melmenya.

And tolto is tolto, the nights I’ve sleepless lain, a-longing for my home, melmenya;

And otso is otso, the stars that shine above me as I wander, melmenya;

And enque is enque, the snow-white swans that swim upon the water, melmenya;

And lempe is lempe, the children running glad among the flowers, melmenya;

And canta is canta, the fair white doves that sit upon the gable, melmenya;

And nelde is nelde, the bright-eyed maids clad all in lily white, melmenya;

And atta is atta, the dark and light-haired hobbits, clad all in green and brown, melmenya;

And mine is mine and all alone, alone it aye shall be, melmenya.

"I’ll sing to you of rasta, melmenya.

Fair grow the roses.

O tell me of your rasta, melmenya.

Rasta is rasta, the songs that I shall sing as I’m returning home, melmenya.

And minque is minque, the leagues that lie before me yet ere I may rest, melmenya;

And cainen is cainen, the days I’ve still to wait until I see my home, melmenya;

And nerte is nerte, the roads I’ve trod since from you I was parted, melmenya.

And tolto is tolto, the nights I’ve sleepless lain, a-longing for my home, melmenya;

And otso is otso, the stars that shine above me as I wander, melmenya;

And enque is enque, the snow-white swans that swim upon the water, melmenya;

And lempe is lempe, the children running glad among the flowers, melmenya;

And canta is canta, the fair white doves that sit upon the gable, melmenya;

And nelde is nelde, the bright-eyed maids clad all in lily white, melmenya;

And atta is atta, the dark and light-haired hobbits, clad all in green and brown, melmenya;

And mine is mine and all alone, alone it aye shall be, melmenya."

Frodo beamed. He leaned over at the end and kissed his brother’s head. "Vande lirne, dearheart! Well sung!"

"Can all the others lessons be sung, too?" Sam asked. "You have such a lovely voice."

Frodo’s smile widened. "I’ll see what I can do."

"And I love to hear it, too," said a new voice.

"Gandalf!" the elder hobbit cried. "How long have you been eavesdropping on us?"

"Oh, no, I’ve been dropping no eaves," the wizard said with a completely straight face, but then a twinkle grew in his eye and suddenly Frodo roared with laughter until Sam had to hold him up to keep him from falling off the bench.  What good it did both of his friends to hear such.

Frodo wiped at mirth-filled tears after he had regained his composure. "I’m sorry, Gandalf, I suppose I needed to laugh. Such is this place that it heals all wounds and a terrifying time can be thought of as hilarious. Do the wonders of Iluvatar ever cease?"

"Indeed not."

The Maia turned his gaze to the younger hobbit. "So, Sam, you’ve been learning your numbers?"

"Yes, Mr. Gandalf, up to twelve at least. That’s as far as that old song went."

"It’s been many a long year since I heard that. I had to come when I heard it now."

"That’s quite all right, Gandalf," Frodo said. "I was beginning to wonder where you were hiding yourself. It’ll be time for second breakfast soon. Care to join us? Sam will be making it. He hardly lets me do anything anymore." He tried to sound annoyed, but couldn’t convince two who knew him so well.

"And I'll be making minqueses as well," Sam added.

Frodo sighed dramatically. 

Gandalf tried very hard to keep from laughing.  "How lucky you are, my dear hobbit," the wizard said with a smile.

"I know," Frodo agreed with a grin and kiss to Sam’s cheek. "Very lucky."

A/N: The song is from the queen with a little modification from me, including adding the numbers in Quenya. Mine is one and then it goes on from there.

Chapter Twelve: The Library

After second breakfast, Frodo took Sam by the hand and down the path in a different direction than they had gone before. “Now we are going to another of my favorite places,” the elder hobbit said. “I have so many here, so many places you can get lost for hours and be perfectly happy. I know you will be too.”

“Well, I think the only place I haven’t seen that could make you so happy would be a library.”

Frodo pulled a mock-pout. “Am I that obvious? I did want it to be a bit of a surprise.”

Sam smiled. “How can you possibly think you have any secrets from me, melmenya, a heart I have known and loved for so long?”

Frodo beamed at his brother. “I suppose I really can’t. You do know me, warts and all, and yet you love me. I still marvel at that sometimes.”

Sam held his treasure’s hand tighter. “You shouldn’t.”

“No, but I still do.”

They walked along silently, rejoicing simply in being together again. The library was a large building. Sam felt he had stepped into a grander one than even Rivendell’s and he had thought that had been wonderful. There were many study rooms on either side of a long, wide hallway of gleaming marble. From one of them, the elfing Auna waved and smiled enthusiastically. She ran out and excitedly announced, “We’re learning from your books today, Tecindo! Lady Lerian thought we should know the history of Middle-earth and we are learning all about hobbits today!”

Frodo laughed. “All in one day? Then go back to it, ammelda, there’s lots to learn! Enjoy!”

Auna grinned, squeezed her favorite hobbit tightly and quickly and then ran back in. Eruanna and her brother waved as well and Frodo waved back.

At the end of the hall, he and Sam reached a very large room holding rows upon rows upon rows of books and maps, many of them thousands of years old. Sam craned his head up as far as it could go and still couldn’t see the top shelf. He looked at his brother. Frodo was shining nearly as brightly as the many lamps that illuminated the area.

Frodo looked at Sam and grinned. “Paradise!”

As he guided Sam around, the elder hobbit nodded and smiled to many of the Elves who stood among the shelves or sat at the many tables spread throughout. Sam looked at the spines of some of the books as they passed and looked forward to the day he could read some of them.

“What book did you write, meldanya?” he asked quietly.

“I’ve written several,” Frodo said. “I can show you. I have been greatly honored that they let me have them here. It’s been a joy to write again. I did one for the history of the hobbits, one of the Dwarves, one of Men and I even did one of the War of the Ring. I thought that would be painful to do, but it wasn’t. I did it all as part of the whole history of Middle-earth that the Lady Galadriel and Lord Elrond encouraged me to study so I would know my part in it, that I was not the only Ring-bearer tempted and tested. It helped me understand a lot I didn’t know before and some of the guilt that I had never been able to let go before left me.”

Sam looked up worriedly as Frodo pulled over and climbed a ladder. His brother was going up much too high for his comfort, but Frodo seemed perfectly comfortable as he climbed nimbly up several shelves. He.pulled two books into his arms. “Well, here’s the one about Men and the one about the Ring. It’s all in Quenya, but I’m sure you’ll be able to read it one day, if you want.” He looked around a little more. “I wonder where the one about the Dwarves is.”

“The Lord Kardian took that one,” came a soft voice beside him.

Frodo’s eyes widened and he wobbled just a little on the ladder. Sam’s eyes widened equally in fear.

“Come down, meldanya, please,” he begged.

Holding on to the ladder with one hand and Sam holding it also to steady it, Frodo climbed down with two thick, leather bound books. The younger hobbit breathed a sigh of relief and the elder smiled.

“Oh, Sam, what an honor that Kardian would want to read my book, especially that one! He used to live on Middle-earth when the Dwarves and Elves were most hotly against each other. He lost his wife and children to those conflicts and came here full of bitterness, anger and grief. I had hoped he could heal but he has stubbornly held on to his grudge all these many, many years. I wonder now though...oh Sam, wouldn’t it be wonderful....”

They spent some hours more and elevenses and even lunch passed as they were lost in the tales and histories of the Elves. “This is the only time I begrudge the Elves their immortality,” Frodo said. “So many stories, so little time,” he sighed.

Then his stomach growled. “Well, enough time spent feeding the mind and heart, time to feed the body.”

“That ladder was made especially for Bilbo and I so we can reach the higher shelves without needing to ask someone to lift us or stand on a chair,” Frodo said as they left. “I gave everyone quite a scare when I did that once and the chair shifted under me and I and several heavy volumes came crashing down.”

“Is that how you got that scar on your chin?”

“Yes, I landed rather hard and was buried under enough books that I was a bit dazed when I was lifted up. My chin was bleeding rather profusely and I kept worrying about it going all over the books. It would be just that day that I didn’t have a handkerchief with me to stop it so I was holding my hands over it and it was seeping through that. I gave Bilbo a terrible fright when he saw that, my face and my hands all stained with blood. He was just beside himself when he saw how badly I was bleeding and I was more worried about the books! He whipped out one of his handkerchiefs in a hurry and I held it against my chin for a good long while he looked so pale I was afraid he was going to faint dead away. My arms were all scrapped and red where I had fallen against the shelves, but fortunately nothing was bleeding there or I think he really would have! . He was already in tears and wringing his hands. I kept apologizing over and over again to him and to my friends who had rescued me. A healer came then and I apologized to her too. She looked at my chin and arms and daubed them with a balm that stung at first then took away the pain and helped with the bruising. She put a cream on a bandaged for my chin and I wore that for two days. Then she went and calmed Bilbo down.

“I was able to walk home, albeit with a bit of a limp. Bilbo held me by the arm the whole way and insisted I go right to bed. No amount of protesting that I was fine made any difference to him. He just looked at me and said very sternly, “‘Don’t lie to me, Frodo Baggins! I have been a Baggins much longer than you have and I can be much more stubborn than you any day. So don’t even try to out do me.’”

“I just smiled, apologized very meekly and kissed his cheek. He gave my cheek a little stroke and I could see tears starting in his eyes again, but he kissed my head and left and I was glad he hadn’t insisted getting me into my nightshirt since I was really beginning to ache by that point and knew if the bruises on my hands and arms were any indication, my knees and legs were going to have some beautiful ones. So I carefully eased my breeches off and found I was right. I smeared more of that balm the healer had given me and thought if I just stayed under the covers, Bilbo would never know what a sorry sight I was. Unfortunately, he came in before I could do that and saw the whole thing.

“He spoiled me rotten, fluttering around me, a overprotective mother hen, even worse than you! He wouldn’t even let me move out of bed on my own because I was so bruised and couldn’t walk without a limp for several days. That first night he even carried me to the privy and then the next morning went out to get one of those wheeled chairs like they had in Rivendell because things were even worse the next morning because the knee had stiffened up over night and I practically fell over when I tried to stand.

“When I did start walking again, it hurt, but I think it hurt him more than me. He was practically in tears each time I gingerly lifted myself out for a walk, but the healer had said she wanted me to get walking again, knowing how much I had stiffened up just that first night and I should do some walking more and more each day until I could do it without pain."

Sam smiled, grateful for some mention of his first master. “No one loved you more than Mr. Bilbo did.”

Frodo smiled and looked tenderly at his brother. “Unless it’s you. You both shaped me well. I can never thank either of you enough for that.”

“Well, we both know you were someone who needed special looking after. I wish I had been there to help you. I’m sorry you were so hurt.”

"But even that helped heal me. I realized it was the first time I had cut myself and seen a bloody hand and not thought of the Fire and losing my finger. I knew then how much I was beginning to heal. So even that helped. My physical limp was nothing compared to how badly my soul had been limping and now was strengthening.”

Chapter Thirteen: Moments of Grace

Time passed happily and mostly unnoticed. Each morning began waking to the dawn song and in the dark room. Sam asked to receive instruction about Iluvatar and so started daily sessions, either from Frodo, Gandalf or Galian. Most days this was after first breakfast, which if Frodo wasn’t teaching, gave the elder hobbit the perfect time to prepare a meal for the two of them, usually the three of them, since the instructor of that day came also. This, of course, continued to cause Sam consternation that his brother insisted on doing some of the work, but he resigned himself to the fact it was going to happen. He saw how happy it made Frodo and he could never begrudge anything that did that. But he drew the line at more than one meal, though Frodo did sneak in anything else he could get away with, usually a picnic lunch or an afternoon tea. Sam’s exasperation would always fade when he saw that mischievous smile, the joy and love flooding from Frodo’s eyes and soul and received the kiss to the cheek to apologize for "taking away your rightful duties once more." He could only laugh with his brother.

There were also the daily lessons in Quenya which Sam grew increasingly fluent in. Time was also spent roaming around the island, reading and re-reading from the journals they had kept for each other, studying in the library, working in the garden and listening to the tales and songs in the Hall of Fire. The two couldn’t have been happier.

Then the happiest day since his arrival came. Sam woke that morning to hear his brother’s voice be the one raised in praise to Iluvatar. Frodo had always softly joined in within their smial and Sam had rejoiced to hear that beloved voice each morning, but this morning Frodo stood outside their home, his arms raised up in praise, the light in his being almost too bright for his body to be seen. Sam’s breath caught at the sheer beauty of that and the joyfulness in his brother’s voice, the same joy he felt in his own heart. Silently, as he had every day since he met Frodo as a mere tween, he thanked his Creator for such a tremendous gift to know and love such a unique, lovely being. It didn’t matter that only now did he know exactly Who he had been praying to all the time. He had felt even a child that he had been heard and any pleas he had sent heavenward had been answered.

He added now his own thanksgiving for what would happen this day. He felt filled as though he never had before. He felt more complete than ever. He wished Rose was at his side to share his joy, but he knew except for that, he couldn’t be happier.

The song ended and Sam was released from the spell that had held him enchanted. Frodo’s light lessened to only a little more than its normal brightness. He nearly bounced into the smial and beamed at his brother.

"Oh, Sam! I just had to sing out my joy for you, today of all days! So I begged to be indulged and I was. I’m so happy, ammelda, I could burst!"

Sam smiled. "I was wondering if you had already. You were shining so bright, meldanya, I could hardly see you!"

"Well, Gandalf has told me my light shines brightest when I am praising Iluvatar and I have so much to praise him for today! Now get yourself ready, melmenya, we don’t want to be late!"

Sam hurried to his room and came out in a silk shirt, vest and breeches of purest white. Frodo smiled. "You look lovely, Sam," he said with a huge smile. Sam blushed, but returned the smile.

Frodo took his brother’s hand and sang as they walked down to the dark room. Sam just listened to that dear voice, trying to forget his nervousness and concentrate just on his excitement and joy. Gandalf, Galarion and others who had come to share in that joy stood outside the room.

The Maia stepped forward and smiled widely and warmly at Sam. "You are a child of Eru, Samwise Gamgee," he said. "Do you so will to be recognized as such and take up the light burden of that status?"

Sam’s hand tightened unconsciously around his brother’s and Frodo squeezed back. The light in both of them flared. "I do so will it," he replied, then Gandalf put a cord with two small woven panels to wear around his neck to remind him of his new status, the same one that Frodo wore. What joy flowed through both of them at that moment. Two souls already so tightly knitted together grew even tighter as Sam formally embraced the identity Frodo had over 60 years previously.

Gandalf smiled brightly, then embraced Sam and kissed his head. "Welcome," he said.

Sam hugged him back a bit embarrassed, then smiled back up at him, a little surprised to see how brightly Gandalf was shining. Frodo embraced his brother and kissed his head as well. "Welcome indeed," he murmured.

Galian smiled proudly as well. "You’ve done well, calmar," he said.

"Hantanyel," the hobbit murmured with a blush.

They entered the dark room. Frodo’s clasp around Sam’s hand tightened a little. They bowed and kissed the image of the sun and then turned to face Gandalf who stood beside a large basin and held a small urn filled with water in his hand. Frodo let go of his brother’s hand, but remained at his side.

"0 Eru, our Master," Gandalf began, "You crushed the heads of serpents in the waters. You are awesome and who can withstand You? Look, 0 Eru, upon this Your creature and upon this water and grant it the grace and blessing of redemption. Make it a fountain of incorruption, a gift of sanctification for the forgiveness of sins, a healing of sicknesses, the destruction of demons, impregnable to hostile powers, and filled with angelic strength. Let those who would like to ensnare Your creature flee from this water. For we have called upon Your Name, 0 Eru, which is wondrous, and glorious and fearful to the enemy.

"Call Your servant, Samwise, to Your holy enlightenment and count him worthy of this great and holy gift. Continue to fill him with the power of Your Spirit, that he may be one with You; and that he may no longer be a child of the flesh, but rather a child of Your kingdom."

At Gandalf’s nod, Sam took a few steps forward and held his head over the basin and Gandalf poured the water over his head. Frodo gave him a towel to cover his shoulders when it was done and smiled at him. Sam looked into those shining, beloved eyes and smiled back.

The next part of the ceremony then began. "0 Lord of Power and Might," the Maia continued to pray to Iluvatar, "You heal every disease, look now upon Your servant, Samwise, drive out from him every evil and unclean spirit hiding and lurking in his heart, so that he may no longer be a child of the flesh, but rather a child of Your kingdom."

Then Gandalf approached Sam with oil and said, "May this be an anointing of incorruptibility, a weapon of righteousness, and a renewal of soul and body, turning away every work of the dark one. May it deliver from all evil those who are anointed with it in faith and partake of it for Eru’s glory."

He knelt and as he lightly anointed the hobbit’s forehead with oil, he said, "The servant of Eru, Samwise, is anointed with the oil of gladness that his mind may be opened to the understanding and acceptance of the mysteries of faith."

He moved to Sam’s chest next and said, "For the healing of soul and body, and that he may love Eru with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his mind, and that he may love his neighbor as himself."

Then he touched the ears. With each new place that was touched, Sam felt stronger and stronger. It was a wondrous feeling. And Frodo felt the same joy, remembering his own ceremony and even more thrilled to be at this one. "That his ears may be ready to listen to the teachings of faith and accept the words of the One."

The oil next touched Sam’s shoulders. "That he may willingly take upon himself the easy yoke of Eru and gladly carry His light burden and that he may shun all craving of sensuality."

When he anointed Sam’s hands, he said, "That he may innocently raise his hands to heaven and do the right thing at all times and bless the One."

Last he touched the hobbit’s feet with the oil and said, "That he may walk in the path of the Eru."

He stood then, gave Sam a candle to hold and said, "Receive this lighted candle, and continue as you have your whole life to shine with the light of faith and good deeds, that when Eru calls, you may be able to meet Him with light and enter unhindered into the court of His heavenly glory."

Sam’s hands trembled just a little as he held the candle.

Gandalf then prayed directly to Iluvatar, "Now, to Your newly enlightened servant, You have been pleased to give new birth, for the forgiveness of his sins, whether committed willingly or unwillingly. Therefore, 0 Master of all, keep him in Your holiness, strengthen him and deliver him from the evil one and all his deceitful ways. Keep him in purity and righteousness, that he may please You in his every word and deed and become a son and an heir of Your heavenly kingdom."

When it came time to receive the lembas for the first time, Sam folded his arms across his chest, fingers touching the opposite shoulder as he had seen Frodo do. He felt a little light-headed when he swallowed that wondrous gift, as though he could float away, but then marvelously strengthened and shining brighter than ever. Frodo received it next and when they returned to their seats, the two lights stood next to each other, heads bowed, praising Iluvatar silently.

Once the ceremony was over, they left and Frodo fairly ran home. They shared first breakfast, made lovingly of all of Sam’s favorites, new and old, with Gandalf and Galian as guests. Lunch was a picnic at Frodo’s favorite tree which he danced around in celebration. Sam’s heart rejoiced once more in seeing that joy and in his own. He wondered how a heart could hold so much and not simply burst. But he had wondered that many a time before and it never had.

Evening was spent at the beach. "I begged a favor from Gandalf for this joyous day," Frodo said cryptically and after the sun had set in glorious rose, pink and purple, the two hobbits sat back with their friends, including Galian, Eruanna, Auna and Halarin and enjoyed a fireworks display over the water. Auna sat in Frodo’s lap and they all ooh’d and aah’d over the tremendous variety and beauty of it all.

When it was all over, Sam hugged his brother around the shoulders. "It’s a perfect ending to a perfect day, melmenya. Hantanyel."

Frodo hugged him back. "You are most welcome, ammelda."

That night, as Sam slept, Frodo softly sang to him in Quenya.

"Sleep, thou child of Eru,

Safe in His embrace;

May Elbereth surround thee

With her light and grace.

Close thine eyes, beloved,

May thy dreams be blest;

Sleep, thou child of Eru,

And may thy soul find rest.

"Sleep, thou child of Eru;

Dreams I’ll weave for thee:

Dreams of rivers flowing

Onward to the sea,

Dreams of stars that glisten

In the heavens high,

Dreams of fields and forests,

Slumb’ring ‘neath the sky.

"Sleep, thou child of Eru,

Cradled in His arms;

May His love surround thee,

Keeping thee from harm.

Hush now, my beloved,

May thy dreams be blest.

Sleep, thou child of Eru,

And may thy soul find rest."

Frodo traced a circle on his brother's brow and kissed him there goodnight. "Eru bless you, otoronya," he murmured.  "Melinyel, calmar, dearest part of my heart." He lay his head against Sam's chest and tightened his hold on him a bit. Sam’s arms tightened around him as well. They slept peacefully, both filled with light, and embraced by Another.

A/N: Sam’s baptism and confirmation is the same ceremony that Frodo had that he wrote about in Love Letters, except that he had been baptized by Iluvatar Himself by a rainstorm in the Shire (see that chapter in The Lucky One), but Sam is baptized here. For those who may not have read those, what Sam now wears around his neck (and of course, Frodo), I modeled after the Roman Catholic devotion of wearing the scapular, but they don’t wear it for the same reason I do - for the grace of final perseverance and a promise of the Virgin Mary’s not to suffer eternal fire if one dies wearing it and has led a good life. They wear it as a symbol of who they are, formally recognizing themselves as servants and children of Iluvatar. That part I just made up, it has nothing to do with an actual baptismal ceremony.

The prayers Gandalf says and the anointing with oil are adapted from the Rite of Baptism and Holy Chrismation according to the Byzantine Catholic Church. I chose Gandalf to be the one to do this as there is no priest and Gandalf is a Maia. In the Byzantine Rite, children are baptized, confirmed (chrismated) and receive their first Holy Communion all at the same time (though I have the baptism taking place before anointed with oil which is the opposite of the way it’s really done). Normally this is done as infants. It is the way my two sisters and I received these sacraments, though our parents were at the time Roman Catholics (my dad has since formally switched from Roman to Byzantine) and we consider ourselves Roman, though we were raised in both rites from before birth. I have only taken a fraction of a much larger ceremony that in our church is done as part of the Divine Liturgy (what the Mass is called in the Byzantine Rite) and with the entire congregation present and participating, not just the family and godparents. It’s really quite beautiful. The kissing of an image (icon) of God, the bowing (instead of genuflecting) upon entering and exiting and the crossed arms upon receiving Communion is also from that Rite. Our church has icons just the right height for children to kiss which inspired the hobbit-sized one. I have no idea how the Elves perceive their Creator so I chose a sun. If anyone knows of anything else, do let me know. I know there is much I still do not know about these marvelous lands and peoples. If this ceremony intrigues anyone enough, feel free to visit http://www.byzantines.net for more information about that and much more.

The song is, of course, from the queen.

Chapter Fourteen:  Anniversary

Some months later, Frodo was awakened by the sound of Sam sobbing. He turned and wordlessly took his brother into his arms. Sam held onto him tightly and cried into his shoulder. Frodo murmured what comforts he could. After Sam’s tears exhausted themselves, Frodo still held him.

"Nanye nyerinqua, meldanya," the younger hobbit said.

Frodo brushed at his curls. "Don’t be ridiculous, ammelda. You have nothing to be sorry for. Do you want to tell me what has you so upset?" he asked quietly, then held his breath, fearful of the answer.

"I miss my Rose. It was a year ago today that she died."

"Haryal nyerenya, otornoya, but I am glad I can be here with you so you aren’t alone. I know how hard it is to be like that. But it must be even harder for you, leaving behind all your children and grandchildren as well as losing Rose."

"I miss them, but all my children are grown, all moved out long ago, to live their own lives. And as you know Bag End is too big a place for just one person. You said I would know when it was time to leave and I did."

"Then you don’t regret that you came?" Frodo asked, still fearing the reason for the tears.

Sam looked up at his beloved master and saw the fear in those eyes, in the tense set of his shoulders. He smiled tenderly and touched his cheek. "Of course not, meldmenya. I’ve been waiting to come since the day you left. I don’t regret it all."

Frodo relaxed. "I’m glad, Sam. Let’s go have a picnic today. I know just the place. You can tell me more about Rose. Let us use this sad day for joyful memories instead."

Sam smiled bravely. "I’d like that," he said. "But I’m making the picnic."

Frodo smiled. "Anything you say, ammelda."

After breakfast and Sam had packed the picnic, Frodo led them to the shore where they sat down and looked east. Frodo had his knees drawn up to his chin, his arms wrapped around his legs. Sam sat cross-legged next to him. After they had sat in companionable silence a little while, Sam began to sing softly as he looked over the water.

"Sleep now, and may thy slumber peace attend,

I’ll e’er be nigh to comfort and defend;

Though I and thou by sad fate parted be,

Know this, beloved one, I’ll still love thee.

"Flowers all fair may blossom in the spring,

Summer may come and with it sunshine bring,

Autumn may pass, and then the winter’s chill,

But know this, beloved one, I’ll love thee still.

"Time may go on, and long may be the years,

But to my heart thou’lt evermore be near.

Sleep now, and may thy slumber blessed be,

Rest in the knowledge that I’ll e’er love thee."

Frodo squeezed his brother’s hand. "That was beautiful, Sam. What a fitting song for her."

He looked out over the water, following Sam’s gaze. "I used to come here every day in the first few months after Bilbo and I came here. I was missing you and my cousins and the Shire so much that I thought I would go mad. This was the closest I could come to you so I would stay here for hours, just looking out over the water. Bilbo came with me sometimes for a little while or Gandalf. They were so worried about me." He paused soberly a moment, then laughed a little. "Bilbo even threatened to rent out my room if I didn’t spend more time in it. I just slept there, every other moment was spent here or in the dark room, and in the summer I even slept here and sometimes in the dark room, when the pain and longing for everything I had left behind, including the Ring, was at its worst. A lot of times I just stared at the dark light and felt the tears stream down my face. Others times I could do nothing but lay curled up on the bench and sob wretchedly. At first, I didn’t scream at all, it didn’t seem right that my pain should mar such a peaceful, wonderful place, but then I began to for I feared for my very life and soul and sanity if I didn’t and then it was only when I was very far away from everyone."

Sam began to gently stroke his brother’s back as they both remembered those dark days.

"Gandalf would sometimes take me out after that and I could scream with him sometimes. It was very hard to scream with Bilbo, but he began to recognize the signs that I needed to or would go mad and very gently, he encouraged me to do so. I think it broke his heart more than anything to hear that. He held me so long after I fell into his arms and just sobbed my heart out. I know I said things that I didn’t remember later. He told me that I had begged to die. He just held me, rocked me, sang to me and told me over and over how much he loved me and how sorry he was and his tears fell into my curls as mine soaked his. I only screamed with him once. It hurt him too much so I didn’t do it again. I found other ways to heal, for his sake as well as my own, but it was so hard, Sam, so very hard."

Sam continued his gentle stroking. He knew his brother needed to talk and so let him without interruption, though his heart broke anew to hear of the agony Frodo had endured.

"But after a long while," the elder hobbit continued, "the pain grew a little less and I discovered the peace I had so long sought and had very nearly given up all hope for. Each day it was a little better and after a while I didn’t need to come here so often. After Bilbo died, I started coming again, then when that wound healed over too, I would only come here on occasion and it was more for the peace it gave me, instead of trying to escape the horrible pain that had consumed me before."

Frodo turned and smiled crookedly at his beloved brother. "I’m sorry, Sam, I’m supposed to comforting you in your pain, not adding to it. It’s all over, long ago, while your pain over Rose is still fresh. I ..."

Sam returned the smile and silenced him with a finger held to his lips. "I’m so sorry it took you so long to heal, melmenya," he said. "I wish I could have been there with you. I wondered too if I would go mad from how much I missed you. Rose was so understanding. Sometimes she would find me just standing instead the threshold, bags still in hand from what she had needed from the market and crying because I had seen the back of a head that looked like yours or I would have heard a laugh that sounded the same. She would take my packages from me and then just hold me and let me cry. She always knew just what to do.

"For a long time, I didn’t even want to enter your room or the study or sit in your favorite chair by the fireplace in the living room. But after a while I did. I would stand in your bedroom and just breathe in what it smelled like. I started writing in the Red Book. I even sat in your chair and smoked a little. It all helped. One time I fell asleep in your chair and I had the most marvelous dream of you. You smiled the most wonderful smile, the kind I had seen through all my childhood when you would look at me or one of your cousins, your whole face lit up and I knew you had been healed. You held me and it was so wonderful to feel that again! I dreamed of you a lot and it hurt a lot in the beginning to have to wake up and find it was not all real, that was I was not going to find you in the study or the breakfast room or outside in the garden waiting to take a walk with me. That morning I woke up in your chair, I was rather stiff, even with a blanket over me that Rose must have put there, but my heart was lighter and I started getting better from then on, though I never stopped missing you."

"Or I you, Sam," Frodo said with a squeeze of his brother’s hand. "Tell me more about your life with Rosie."

They sat for a long time, talking and looking back east. And contentment and peace returned to them both.

A/N: That song is actually a Gondorian lullaby that the queen discovered.  Haryal nyerenya is You have my grief.

Chapter Fifteen: Deaths in the Family

Time continued to pass. Sam never tired of watching his brother’s glowing soul and love already so deep, deepened further. Strength and vitality returned stronger than ever and it was as though they were both tweens again, off on all sorts of adventures, innocent and untouched by any darkness. The garden thrived and so did Frodo’s joy in simply being beside his most beloved guardian. They didn’t stop their daily arguments about who was going to take care of the other best, but it had evolved into a friendly competition of trying to outdo each other. Frodo's laughter was so common Sam wondered more times than he could ever count why his own heart didn’t burst from the joy of it all and his laughter was just as free to hear his brother's. The carefree days of the Shire when they couldn’t have been happier but to be at one another’s side was nothing compared to the joy they had now. They spent most nights sleeping out on the grass in front of their smial as they used to do a lifetime ago, wrapped in love and light so deep and bright, the Elves marveled at such could come from mortal beings. There were many times they shouted out their ecstacy to Iluvatar, to the world at large, sang of it in the Hall of Fire and to each other. Sam’s joy was increased by his listening to the Songs of all his children and Frodo listened as well, as to Merry’s and Pippin’s and Aragorn’s.

One day, however, Sam found Frodo sitting alone in the dark room, staring up at the red light, lips moving silently. He sat down beside him and noticed tears reflecting the light above. He put his arm around his beloved’s shoulder and Frodo leaned his head on his brother’s.

“Merry and Pippin died today, Sam,” the elder hobbit said softly. “I don’t hear their song anymore. It was like a single melody and now it’s gone.”

“Haryal nyerenya, melmenya, ” Sam said and began to gently stroke his brother’s curls.

“I wish I had been there.”

Sam raised his Frodo’s chin and wiped at the tears and then smiled gently. “You’ll see them again, meldanya, and their song will be more beautiful than ever.”

Frodo smiled bravely at all the incredible love streaming from his brother’s eyes, into his soul. He put his head back down and wrapped both arms around his guardian. He closed his eyes as Sam began to softly sing, something Frodo remembered first hearing on the Quest. He let that beloved voice sink into him and soothe his grief.

“Should the sun not rise tomorrow,

Should the night not turn to day,

If your road is dark with sorrow,

And you cannot see the way,

Remember, when by trials you are assailed,

As long as I am living, my promise will not fail:

I’ll be your star that shines in shadow,

That burns the brighter when night comes;

I’ll be your lamplight in the window

That shines to guide you home.

When you are lost and lonely,

Like a ship that’s far from land,

Remember that I’m with you,

Reach out and take my hand.

Lean upon my shoulder

When you cannot carry on,

And while the breath is in me,

You will not walk alone.

For whatever time is given me, my dear,

I’ll be here.

“When your burden makes you weary,

When it grows too great to bear,

I’ll be here to help and carry,

Through the darkness, through the tears.

Whatever comes, my promise will be true,

And if I cannot share the load, I’ll gladly carry you!

I’ll be your star that shines in shadow,

That burns the brighter when night comes;

I’ll be your lamplight in the window

That shines to guide you home.

When you are lost and lonely,

Like a ship that’s far from land,

Remember that I’m with you,

Reach out and take my hand.

Lean upon my shoulder

When you cannot carry on,

And while the breath is in me,

You will not walk alone.

For whatever time is given me, my dear,

I’ll be here…

I’ll be here.”

“Elye illume istea i quete,” Frodo said quietly.

Sam kissed his brother’s head, then held him as he slept. He stared up at the light and knew that Frodo rested in the Arms of Another also and he sent his silent thanks for that. He had sung that song first in Mordor, but it seemed right now too, for both burdens filled his master and brother with grief that Sam ached then as now to ease. He wiped at his own tears and then sat silently until Frodo woke and rose. They both bowed deeply, then left.

Sam made a picnic and they spent the rest of the day at the beach, looking east. Frodo brought with him the letters his cousins had written to him and began to read.

Dearest Frodo, where are you now?  Merry wrote. I am writing this at the Grey Havens, looking west. It’s been but a month since you left, but it seems so much longer. I had to come back here, just to be closer to you. Pippin and I waded out as far as we could, which, even with our increased stature, isn’t all that far, but we did it anyway and we stood there for the longest time, just looking toward you, wondering about you, missing you so much we could hardly bear it and loving you just as much. Sam stayed on the shore, but I know he was thinking about you and missing you even more.

I still can’t believe you are really gone, gone forever. I told Pippin on the way back that you were still here, still with us, but it hurts too much to really be aware of that. I know it will come. I have seen glimpses of it already, but sometimes I get so angry that you were so hurt that you can’t be here but in memory. When you left Brandy Hall, I thought my world was ending. A couple days travel away seemed to be a huge gulf I didn’t know how to cross. But I learned that we still loved each other just as much, more all the time and two days was not really all that bad. I couldn’t come into your room and curl up with you any night I wanted, but you allowed me to each night I was with you at Bag End, singing to me so softly, stroking my curls, then kissing me goodnight. I would kiss you too and then we’d slept, holding each other as we always had. You took me fishing and running and walking, just you and me, and you would tell me stories and listen to mine and we had the grandest time. Each time was like you had never left. Now I know what it means to stare across a distance I truly cannot cross and to know I will never be able to curl up with you again or hear you tell me that you love me or sing to me or kiss me. I will never be able to tell you that either or kiss you and that is more than I can bear right now. It was always more.

Is it any wonder that I had to form that conspiracy to make sure you didn’t leave the Shire that first time without me? Hadn’t you always promised you would take me on all your adventures? So of course I had to come and Pippin and Sam and for all the pain it caused, we are still glad we did. I am so proud of you, Frodo, so very proud. You tried to protect us like we tried to protect you, but none of us could. You had your task to do and none could sway you from it. And you were hurt so badly by it, but you did it so we wouldn’t be hurt. I hope, I hope more than I have ever hoped for anything, that you have found some peace and healing where you are now.

I love you, my brother cousin. I love you with all my heart and soul and strength and even to say that seems pitifully inadequate to the power of the love I feel for you. I always have and I always will love you. Never forget that. I’m going to put this message in a bottle and send it along with a kiss and a hope that it will somehow reach you. Perhaps you will know after all. I cannot ever again feel your arms around me or you feel mine, but I have to believe you will somehow in your heart you will feel them and I will too. You can’t be so far away that you are out of the reach of love.

Your Merry

Frodo kissed the note, then held it close to him for a long time, carefully to not mar the parchment with his tears. Then after a long while, he put it reverently back in the box and pulled out the first one he had received from Pippin.

Dearest Frodo, I know Merry’s told you about the time we waded out into the water just to be closer to you. What else could we do? More than anything, we wanted to swim out there and just keep going until we found you. I know Sam was thinking the same thing. Imagine that! He didn’t come close enough for the water to even lap at his toes, but I could see in his eyes the very same longing Merry and I had. I don’t think he dared to come closer because if he did, if he felt the water around him, he would go in and he would keep going. Didn’t you tell me he nearly drowned once already to come to you? And so we all would have tried to come to you.

I don’t know how we restrained ourselves. Merry held onto my hand so tight it hurt but I barely even felt it because I was holding his just as tight. That was the only way we stopped ourselves. I don’t know how Sam did. He just stood there on the dock, in such tears I couldn’t even bear to see it. We just stood there and wondered how we ever let you go without us. Hadn’t we watched you for months before all this started, just to make sure you wouldn’t give us the slip? Didn’t we tell the Elrond in no uncertain terms that we wouldn’t be parted from you in Rivendell? But we just let you go this time. We should have just stormed the ship and forced the Gandalf and the Elves to take us with you. Wouldn’t you have been happier that way? I know we would have, at least Merry and I would be and I know Sam wishes something fierce that he was with you, but he would never leave Rose or his bairns. We all know though that Bilbo is not going to last much longer and it’s a wonder he had lived this long. When he goes, you’ll be the only hobbit and I know you are going to be dreadfully lonely and that tears at us something awful.

But there is something more than just mere longing for something that can’t be in Sam’s eyes like there is in Merry’s and mine. In your faithful gardener’s eyes, that longing is for something that can’t be yet. That’s the difference I think that is sustaining him. He has unconquerable hope that he will see you again. He doesn’t talk about it much I think because he knows how frightfully jealous Merry and I are, but as jealous as we are, we are also so happy for him that at least one of us will be with you again. So in the midst of all our terrible grief, we have that one piece of our hearts that is untouched, that can be joyful and I hope it will only spread and swallow the pain and we can celebrate your life, instead of mourning your loss.

Oh, I did want to send you this letter, but it’s dreadfully sad and you certainly don’t need any more of that. But perhaps you will take heart at Sam’s hope which I know is the same as yours, and you will know how much we all love you, how very, very, very, much we love you. You asked me once if I knew what forever meant. I do. It’s as long as we are going to love you. It’s a horrible thing to see that road ahead of me without you beside me to walk upon it, but at the end of that road, there I will find you. Gandalf told me all about it. Neither of us are there yet, but we will be and I fully expect to see you there, cousin, so don’t be late!

Your Pippinsqueak, now and forever.

Frodo kissed that letter as well and held it long before putting it aside, marked and smeared by the years and tears as the others were and picked up another one of Pippin’s.

Dearest cousin, Merry called me Pippinsqueak today. It just came out naturally, that name only you had ever used. We just looked at each other then and realized anew how much we missed you, that you were never going to call me that again, and we became miserable puddles of tears in each other’s arms. But after that, after he had wiped at mine and I had wiped at his, we smiled at each other and decided that perhaps it would be nice to be called that again, to hear and say it again, in your honor.

We are not hurting so much because we are finally able to notice how much you are still here with us. I was looking around Bag End the other day and found tucked away in hole in the corner, a piece of paper I had drawn on when I was just a little lad - the stick figures I made of you and me and Merry and how we were all smiling and holding hands. Your cheek and forehead had little marks on it to signify the marks of grape jelly that my lips were always covered with and would cover you whenever I would kiss you. I remember how pleased you were at the drawing and you said you wanted to have it be with you always so you tucked away there so it would always be safe. It made me want to look for more treasures and I found more tucked away in your favorite books and some among your writings. I wonder if you had forgotten about them or simply just wanted to leave them behind, so we would still have a bit of you to remember happy times with.

Are you happy now, cousin? I hope so. I love you so much, so very, very much. How can mere words tell you? Remember all those hugs we used to give to each other, so tight we couldn’t breathe? Even those could never even come close to what we wanted to express so we tried all sorts of ways - the soft kisses, the murmured songs and ‘I love you’s. I treasured and still treasure them all, but I realize ever more how terribly inadequate they are. I miss you just as much as I love you, but I know you are still with me and I am still with you and that is helping me. Merry and Sam understand now too and that hope of reunion is continuing to shine in your Sam’s eyes. You should see it! Someday we all hope you will.

Your Pippinsqueak, forever and ever

Frodo continued to read through the long ago memorized collection, until he picked up the last ones from Pippin and Merry, the ones Sam had brought with him.

Dearest Frodo, how long it has been since we said goodbye, but how short it has been since I last felt you and heard you. I don’t know how any of that is possible, but I still remember you coming to me at my coming of age party and I remember you at my wedding and Merry’s and I can recall at a moment’s notice your joy I felt on top of my own at the birth of my children and our Merry’s and your Sam’s. He named one after each of us, including Bilbo. Did you know that? So it’s very good to know that there is still a Frodo of the Shire here. Merry and I will be leaving soon ourselves. Sam is all ready to leave. His heart has been heavy with Rose’s death, but it is filled also with the anticipation of seeing you. How we wish we could go with him and see you! We can’t now, but we will one day and not by ship. I still don’t understand, but Gandalf told me about it all those years ago and I have not lost my faith in those words. I will see you again, cousin and then what joy there will be! I love you ever more and more, and though I miss you still, I know how much you are still with me. I can close my eyes even now and remember you, see your mischievous smile and watch your eyes dance and shine with such love and hear your lovely voice and feel your arms around me. Love knows no boundaries. I think that is the great gift your parting gave us. You did all you could to keep us safe and even when you left, you were still here, watching over us. I know you always will be. One day I will be able to thank you for that.

Your ’squeak, forever

Frodo smiled softly at the love and joy in that letter, then picked up Merry’s.

My dearest Frodo, it’s been many years now since you left. Sam is ready to leave now himself and I think the last thing tying Pippin and me to the Shire is about to be loosed. Estella and Diamond have both passed and those holes in our hearts ache to be filled with something else. We are going to Rohan first, to see King Eomer. Then we are going to Gondor to see Aragorn. We wish to do our last bit of service to our respective kings before we die as I believe will be soon enough. I don’t regret it. I so long to see you and Mama and Papa and Estella and the two bairns we lost. The hope that I will is giving these weary limbs the strength to go on.

Sam is going himself to the Havens. We said our goodbye’s yesterday and he is having one last night with his family. You should see them all! Thirteen! And he’s a Gaffer too! We all are. Imagine that. I couldn’t when I faced the Witch-king, Pippin couldn’t when the troll almost crushed him, and Sam told me he couldn’t when he sat with you at the Fire, waiting to die. But all made it. I know somehow you are still with us. I have felt your arms around me during the best and worst times of my life. I have heard your voice so softly, so full of love, I have felt your lips brush my brow. Have you felt all the love I have sent you? I hope so. I will not say goodbye, but soon, I hope, I will be saying hello. If I go before you, I will wait for you by the Gates.

Your Merry, forever.

“I will look for you there,” Frodo said softly. He wrapped his arms around himself and closed his eyes and pretended it was both his cousins embracing him.

A/N: “Elye illume istea i quete” is “You always know what to say.” The song is, of course, from the queen of songs.

Chapter Sixteen: Birthdays

Frodo woke one morning while it was still dark to find Sam already up. He padded into the kitchen to find his brother putting a blueberry pie into the oven. The younger hobbit looked up and smiled when his treasure entered.

"Alassea nosta, meldanya!" he said happily.

Frodo looked surprised. "It’s my birthday?"

Sam’s smile widened. "A very special one too. It’s not every day you turn 120. I’ve marked every one of your birthdays since you were 21. Do you expect me to stop now?"

Frodo laughed and hugged his brother. "I suppose not. Hantanyel, ammelda. But if I’m 120 this year, then next year will be 100 years since we met, and I will not forget that one." He frowned slightly. "I’m so sorry I don’t have anything for you this year though."

Sam stroked his cheek as he looked at him tenderly. "Don’t you dare say you don’t have anything. You give me everything, every day. You are the last thing I see at night and the first thing in the morning. You overwhelm with love and joy and laughter and light. Melinyel, otoronyo, ilya aura lil ar lil."

Frodo hugged his beloved guardian tighter. "Ve melinyel. You have always given me the same thing."

After a while, he looked away from Sam and hungrily toward the oven "It smells delicious. I can’t wait to try it."

Sam kissed his head and let him go. "It’ll be ready by the time we get back."

The morning song came through the open window and their day truly began. Sam listened to his brother’s voice softly joining in, his glow increasing as he gave his praise, then they dressed and walked down to the dark room. The day ended there too, each spending extra time in thanksgiving for the gift of the other. The time in between was spent in celebration of that gift. Frodo already began to plan what he would give his Sam next year.

* * *

When Sam’s 109^th birthday came along, he insisted on making all the meals. Frodo still took care of his Sam as much as that hobbit was able to tolerate and many a time past that tolerance, but the younger stubbornly refused to be taken care of on his birthday.

"I already told you before, melmenya, that I’ve been taking care of you since I was nine and I was still going to be doing when I was 109. So this is my day to spoil you, not the other way around."

Frodo knew that stance and tone well when his beloved guardian was his most stubborn - the feet firmly planted slightly apart on the ground, the crossed arms, the firm tone. He also knew it sometimes would bring out his own stubbornness.

"But this is a very special day for me, too, ammelda," he said. "You should know perfectly well that I won’t let it go by unmarked. Where would I be without you?"

Sam sighed and Frodo held his breath, hoping his brother would give in as he had before. But he shook his head. "You are not going to do a thing today, meldanya."

Frodo pouted and he looked so much like Pippin did at times when he didn’t get his way that Sam had to hold back from laughing. "Well, I’ll just have to do something when you’re not looking and then it’ll be done and you won’t have anything to say about it."

Sam just shook his head and tried to hide his smile.

Frodo disappeared later that afternoon and was gone for some time. Sam didn’t know what his treasure was up to until that dear one drew him out after the evening song and they walked to the top of a large hill, near Bilbo’s grave, but not quite there. Gandalf met them there with a smile and the three elflings and the fireworks began shortly after that.

"Alassea nosta, ammelda," Frodo said quietly as he hugged his brother. "And I’m telling you right now, I’m doing all the cooking on my birthday."

Sam hugged him back. "We’ll see."

* * *

Sam watched his brother amusedly as the elder hobbit’s next birthday approached. Frodo was very close about what he was planning and sometimes would start guiltily when Sam would come up unawares as the elder hobbit was hiding something, then he would smile mischievously and spring away with a giggle. "Wait and see, my Sam, wait and see!"

Sam figured there had to be mathoms spread throughout the smial, but he did not go looking for them. Frodo was having too much fun hiding them all, that there was no way he was going to spoil that. For the most part, he knew they were being stored in Mr. Bilbo’s old room on the door of which, Frodo had hand painted a sign that said in Westron, Quenya and Sindarin (for safe measure), No Admittance Particularly on Party Business. He put one up on his own bedroom that said No Peeking.

As the day approached, Frodo spent much time talking long walks with Gandalf, Galian or his elfling friends. They were all involved in the ‘conspiracy’ somehow Sam knew as whoever he was walking with that day would distract him long enough that Frodo could hide away whatever he had gathered on his walks. Even with the walks Frodo took with Sam, the younger hobbit knew something was up for his brother would stop sometimes unexpectedly, look at something for a long time as though memorizing its location for returning in the future when Sam was not around. Frodo did nothing but smile whenever he saw that he had been observed and then return to walking, swinging Sam’s hand and singing animatedly. He consulted more and more with Gandalf to make sure the day was not missed by mistake and to make any last minute adjustments and additions to the great anniversary. The wizard was quite amused by all the undertakings and was, to Sam, even more obtuse and merry than ever. The younger hobbit also began to suspect from the warm smiles he received from Lady Galadriel that she was involved too.

When the big day finally did arrive, Frodo woke early, dressed in his very finest, then roused Sam. "Eccoitea, ammelda."

The song seemed especially beautiful that morning. As Sam listened to his brother singing softly along and remembered the first time he had heard the lovely voice raised in song, the time he had sung that lullaby when as a child Sam had sickened after they had been out in that rain storm so many years ago.

They spent a long time in the dark room after the others had left. Frodo’s head rested on his brother’s shoulder as they both looked up at the light. "How many others can still be together after 100 years?" the elder wondered out loud. The prayers of thanksgiving they sent to Iluvatar that day were especially fervent.

Galian was detailed to distract Sam after second breakfast to give Frodo enough time to set up the gift he had been planning for months. Auna and her elder siblings were there to help too and it was with special joy and pride that the elder hobbit looked over their creation at the end and then just waited for Galian to bring Sam back.

When he did, they did not come in, but Frodo met them outside. "Avalatyea hendilya, my Sam," he said.

Sam obediently closed his eyes and Frodo took him by the hand and led him inside. He carefully directed his brother around. "Lata hendilya," he murmured into Sam’s ear, then stepped back.

The gardener opened his eyes and found that he stood in a middle of a circle of one hundred vases, each filled with a different flower. He looked around in wonder and then up at his beaming brother who stood outside the circle. "Do you like it, ammelda?"

Sam’s face brightened with joy and his eyes with tears. He drew Frodo into the circle, kissed the palms of his hands and placed his hands against his cheeks. Frodo smiled at the expression of love his parents had first taught him. "You will always remember I love you when you hold my kiss against your cheeks," they had told him. Sam embraced his brother. "I love it, melmenya. Hantanyel."

Frodo held him tightly. "Nilme na ve lote ya losta tennoio," he said softly. "Thank you for being my friend."

They held each other for a long time, rocking slowly. The elves and Gandalf all watched happily. The Maia sent his own prayers of thanksgiving to Iluvatar for the blessings He had bestowed not just on Frodo and Sam, but on the wizard himself for being allowed the joy of knowing such two. The tears the hobbit’s wiped from each other’s cheeks when they finally parted were happy ones. Sam looked back down at all the flowers, his arm now encircling his brother’s waist and Frodo’s wrapped around his.

"Auna, Halian and Eruanna helped me find the flowers and Gandalf and Galian helped me bring back the vases, some of which the Lady herself gave," the proud elder hobbit said. "It was quite a doing to keep it all secret from you!"

That night at dinner (which Frodo had made as he had all the meals that day) and surrounded by all those who had helped, he raised his glass filled with red wine that Galadriel had provided. He looked at his beloved brother and guardian and tears were once more bright in his eyes as love and light poured from there. "To the next hundred years!"

Sam smiled into his treasure's eyes and raised his glass. Auna and her brother and sister were thrilled to receive their own small cups of the wine and they all cheered the toast loudly as long with Gandalf and Galian’s more sedate smiles and raising of their glasses.

The night was a blessed one as a meteor shower lit up the heavens for all to see. The elflings ooh’d and aah’d at the show. "Elbereth herself celebrates with you, calmar," Galian said and Frodo grinned up at him.

Frodo and Sam fell asleep that night, wrapped in each other’s arms, with smiles on their faces that the dawn came to see still on them.

A/N: Melinyel, otoronyo, ilya aura lil ar lil is I love you, my brother, every day more and more. Ve melinyel is As I love you. Eccoitea is Wake up. Nilme na ve lote ya losta tennoio is Friendship is like a flower that blooms forever. The kissing of palms was inspired by a children’s book called The Kissing Hand. I thought it was a very hobbity thing to do! :)

Chapter Seventeen: New Melodies

One day, years later, the two hobbits were enjoying a picnic lunch when suddenly Sam stood up with a shout and started singing and dancing around his brother’s favorite tree. Frodo looked up bemusedly from the book he had been reading and seeing the happy tears streaming down his Sam’s face and how brightly he shone, listened a little harder to the Song. When he heard the first strains of two new melodies, he smiled and shouted himself. He sprang up and Sam took him by the hand and they danced a happy jig around the tree.

"Two of them!" Frodo cried. "Oh, Sam, how wonderful! You can feel them a little better than I can, I think."

"Elanor a gammer! And Frodo-lad a gaffer!" Sam confirmed and began to cry even harder. "Oh, dear, isn’t it...isn’t it..."

Frodo took his brother into his arms and hugged him tightly and joyfully. "I’m so glad you still can know," he said softly. "I’m so happy for you. I imagine it will take some time, but we should be getting another letter from the Shire and more drawings to hang up. You have no idea how much they sustained me while I was here, waiting for you. And now you’ll be getting your own!"

Sam held on tightly as he cried into his dear one’s shoulder. Frodo didn’t let go because he knew some of those tears were now mingled with sadness that Sam was so far apart from his family. But then the younger hobbit sniffled and raised his head. Frodo wiped at the last of his tears and smiled widely at him. "Dear Sam, dear, dear Sam. I know you’re sad you can’t be there, but if you weren’t here, would you have known this joy at all?"

Sam wiped his nose on his sleeve. Frodo pulled out one of his handkerchiefs and handed it to him. The younger hobbit blew and then calmed himself. "You’re right, of course, dear. Now I have Someone I need to thank."

Frodo smiled and let go. They finished their lunch, then walked to the dark room, hand-in-hand, where they spent a long time. The beach they visited next and spent hours looking back east. Sam’s voice rose in soft, loving tribute to his eldest son and daughter.

"The water is wide, O my lass, my laddie,

And bright are the stars o'er the grey flowing sea.

I'm thinking of you, dears, wherever you may be.

"The water is deep, O my lass, my laddie,

And long are the days since your face I have seen,

I love you, my lass, my laddie, though the sea lies between.

"I stand on the shore, O my lass, my laddie

And I gaze at the ocean, so wide, deep and blue.

Wherever you may be, I'm thinking of you.

"I stand on the shore, O my lass, my laddie,

I stand and I list to the song of the sea.

O that you could hear me, dear ones, and I could see you."

Frodo squeezed his brother’s hand. "That was lovely, Sam," he said after the silence had stretched a while. "You have been so lucky to know such joy in so many children."

Sam looked at his oldest treasure. "You made it possible that I would."

"You made it possible that I could. You can thank me all you want, but it was you and Smeagol, that made that victory at the Fire possible."

"And who was the one who carried the burden the whole way? We wouldn’t have done anything without you."

Frodo laughed and squeezed his brother around the waist. "Oh, my dearest, dearest Sam, all these years and we are still arguing about who the greater hero is? I suppose I shall never convince you, though I have come to understand my role in it all a bit better through getting to know myself since coming here and my limitations and my strengths. I was chosen and Iluvatar accepted my imperfect sacrifice, but so were you chosen, an even more perfect vessel, and so was Smeagol, shattered soul that he was." Frodo paused, then added in a more serious tone, "I have prayed much for him for without him we would have all been lost."

"You are still the reason the Shire remains."

"Stubborn Gamgee! So are you. And let’s not forget the fair Rose had a bit to do about this too."

Sam smiled.

That night Sam sang in the Hall of Fire. Frodo had been trying to get him to do that for a very long time, but the younger hobbit was too nervous and shy to do it very often. But his joy overcame all his fears as he celebrated the double good news.

A/N: That song, of course, is from the queen, but I modified it to fit these particular circumstances. If it doesn’t flow as beautifully as her masterpieces always do, then it’s my fault, not hers.

Chapter Eighteen: Letter from the Shire

Sam felt a strong urge to come to the beach one afternoon some years later and arrived just as the bottle washed ashore. He sent a prayer of thanks to Iluvatar and Lord Ulmo as he reverently picked up the bottle.

Frodo stood beside him and gave his own thanks. “Oh, Sam...”

The younger hobbit carefully removed the stopper and pulled out the tightly rolled parchment. He looked upon his eldest daughter’s fine handwriting for the first time in decades and ran his finger along it before reading it slowly, over and over again.

Hello, dear Sam-dad. Maybe you already know this, as you said more than once you could feel things from Uncle Frodo and maybe you could feel this too, but your first two great-grandchildren have been born!

Elfstan had a daughter, Violet and Frodo’s son, Holfast, had a son himself, named Harding. They are most fair. I think I see your eyes in Esme and Harding is nearly his gaffer’s own image. I hope these pictures do them some justice. I know you were still with me, wonder of all wonders, at least when they were born, for I would have felt your death and I believe, even fainter, I can still feel Uncle Frodo in that one spot in my heart that has always been his since I was faunt. Say hello to him for me, please.

Everyone here is well and send all their love. There are now so many Gardener’s you wouldn’t believe! We still get together every year and it seems every year there are more to celebrate. Except for the very youngest, everyone can quote entire sections of the Red Book from memory and more often than not, these days, I hear tell of first words spoken are those from the Book! Each year part of our celebration is to watch some part of the book acted out. It makes us all feel closer to you. Uncle Merry and Pippin would come often and sometimes even act out their own parts. I wish you could be here to see them all and to hear the arguments that break out over who gets to play you and Uncle Frodo! Just like old times. I wish the joy of those days would never end. I hold them dear in my heart, with all my other memories of you.

I miss you and love you so much, Sam-dad, so much. The Red Book is safe and has been copied many times already to ensure it is not lost. There is a copy at Great Smials and Brandy Hall and Uncle Pippin brought a copy with him to the King when he and Uncle Merry left the Shire. I miss them too. It seems all the hobbits I adored all my life, besides my Fastred and my own bairns, have left and the Shire seems less bright because of it. I wish I could be with you, Sam-dad, with you and Uncle Frodo but I know that is beyond me. Still, it is as you said when Uncle Frodo left, you have not truly left me. You and he and Uncle Merry and Uncle Pippin are still here. I see you and hear you when I go to the mallorn tree you planted. I hear your voice so strong and loving when the children read out loud to themselves or each other from the Book. I don’t remember how Uncle Frodo sounded except in my dreams sometimes when I hear him sing, but I imagine his voice also and I remember the others too.

I know you are happy where you are. I feel it in my heart and I know you have had many joyful years now with your treasure, as we had many years with our treasure, you and Mum. I know now how you must have felt to let him go, just as we felt when we let you go. But the happiness you hoped awaited him allowed you to let him go, just as your hope let you go. I can only be glad you have had many more years where you are now, that you wouldn’t have had here. A year, perhaps two, I would guess and we would have to say goodbye. How can I not rejoice that your life went on?

The tears running from Sam’s eyes made it hard to read, but he continued on. “Yes, Elanor, I am happy,” he murmured.

Fastred sends his love as do all the children.

Your first flower, Elanor

They had all signed their names. A babe’s footprint stood in for Violet's. Sam ran his fingers over that for a long time before he kissed the letter and held it tight against him.

Frodo hung up the pictures in Sam’s bedroom, with all the others Elanor had sent whenever a new child had been born. They nearly covered one wall. “I’m so happy for you, Sam.”

Sam looked at all the pictures. “Thank Iluvatar and you and Rose and everyone else. I must be the luckiest hobbit in all history.”

“One of them at least,” Frodo said with a wide grin.

Chapter Nineteen: Going Home

During one night, Frodo had a dream that left him filled with sudden joy and anticipation. It woke him as much as the soft moaning of “No” he heard from Sam. Somehow he knew his brother was having the same dream and was instead frightened by it. The elder hobbit drew Sam’s head to rest against his heart and slowly stroked his curls as he held him and softly sang in Quenya a song that had often been sung to him, starting with his mother and then his Aunt Esme and even Bilbo, whenever he had had nightmares about his parents’ deaths.

“Little flowerlets, sweet and rosy,

Fold their petals now for rest.

Little birdies, warm and cosy,

Slumber safely in the nest.

Like the blossoms and the birdies,

Close your weary eyes and rest.

All the night through, I'll watch o'er you.

Sleep, and may your dreams be blest.

“Fields and forests, hills and meadows,

Leaping fountains, flowing streams

All are clad now in night's shadows,

Drowned deep in peaceful dreams.

Hush ye, hush ye, rest in quiet,

Till the morning brings its light

Sleep, my joy, my dear, my treasure,

Sleep in peace all through the night.

“Heed no sound of wind in willow,

Sighing sadly in the dark.

Rest your head upon the pillow,

the soft pillow of my heart.

Fear ye not the shifting shadows,

Close your eyes and lie ye still.

While I'm by you, none shall harm you,

Fear no darkness, fear no ill.

"Rest, my beloved, may nothing grieve you,

Sleep until the shadows flee.

I will never, never leave you,

By your side I'll ever be.

Love is higher than the mountains,

Deeper than the ocean blue.

Know that whate’er may befall us,

I will ne'er cease loving you.”

Frodo kept singing and stroking until he knew Sam had fallen back to sleep, then he kissed that dear head and slept again as well.

The next morning, Sam was frightened to wake alone, but then he heard his brother’s voice, raised in the morning praise to Iluvatar. His voice sounded lovelier and more joyful than the younger hobbit had ever heard it. He moved to the window and couldn’t even see Frodo’s features, so lost he was in brilliant light. When the song ended, the light faded enough for him to be seen again, but he was still more brightly lit than Sam had ever seen him, as though he was made of nothing but light that was barely held in by his body’s shell.

“I thought you were gone when I woke and you weren’t here,” he said when Frodo re-entered the smial. “I had the most terrible dream last night and it gave me a fright to not see you at first.”

Frodo smiled at his brother and touched his shoulder. “I had the same dream, ammelda. But it is not to be feared. Instead it’s a gift from Lord Irmo.”

Sam looked aghast. “But I dreamed you died! That is no gift. Not unless I can come with you. Because I’m not going to let you go again. I couldn’t bear it.”

Frodo’s smile grew. “No more than I could bear to lose you again. No, Sam, we are going together, as we should. We have this last day to spend here and when night comes...”

Sam let out a loud sigh in relief. “That won’t be so bad then. I’ve loved every moment here, but if we are going together, then I would be willing to leave. I wonder what waits beyond?”

Frodo squeezed his brother’s hand. “We will find out. Our last adventure...Oh, Sam, I can’t wait...”

Sam looked into his brother’s shining, loving eyes and smiled back. Then he looked out toward the garden. “I think I will miss the garden, though. I wonder if the Elves will take care of it.”

“I’m sure they will. Now let’s get going to gave our praise and thanks to Iluvatar for this gift He will accept from us and we will accept from Him.”

They traveled down the familiar path to the dark room, hand-in-hand, Frodo softly singing a hymn to Elbereth. They spent much extra time in that room afterwards, preparing themselves the best they could for what was to come. Frodo made first breakfast, Sam second and elvenses, and Frodo a picnic lunch and tea, Sam dinner. “See, that’s evenly split between us as it always should have been,” the elder hobbit commented.

They spent the time between meals at their favorite spots, traveling through meadows, touching trees, breathing the air, raising their heads to the sun. They felt vividly alive and in touch with all around them. Their hands never left each other’s clasp. Frodo had a smile on his face the entire day, glowing so bright, just glad to be with his Sam and Sam was just as happy to watch his treasure, love and joy flowing so strongly from his eyes and heart that he shone brighter than ever.

They spent some time at the beach as well. Frodo waded out as far as he could without letting go of his beloved guardian’s hand while Sam stayed outside of the water as best he could manage, filled with joy just to watch his dear one splash about and see how happy he was. They visited Bilbo’s grave at lunch and afterwards spent some hours in the garden, getting it ready for its new owner as much as they could. When they were done, they were dirty but satisfied. Sam was convinced his heart would burst from how beautiful his brother looked when he smiled at him.

After a quick wash, they went to the library. Frodo placed with Sam’s blessing the books he had written just for his brother and they also placed the journals they had kept for each other and their lessons in Quenya. Frodo hugged his primary instructor goodbye and other of the scribes and historians who had been his friends. After dinner with Gandalf, Galian, Auna, Halarin and Eruanna, the seven of them went to the Hall of Fire and listened to the songs and tales the two hobbits loved so much. Then they returned to their smial, dressed in their very finest and returned to Bilbo’s grave with their friends. Lady Galadriel and Lord Elrond were expected later, but right now it was just the seven of them.

“But why do you have to go, Tecindo?” Auna asked. “I thought you liked it here.”

Frodo smiled tenderly at his beloved friend. “I love it, ammelda. But Sam and I are mortals. We cannot stay here forever. I’ve been here very nearly a full century or so Gandalf tells me and though that’s not very long at all in the span of an Elf, it’s very long for a mortal! Iluvatar wants us to go home and I want to, too. But don’t think that means I will stop loving you or thinking of you. You may not be able to see me anymore, but I will always be with you.”

“But I don’t understand!” Eruanna said and her sister and brother shook their heads. “Can we go with you?”

Frodo smiled now at his other dear friend and touched her cheek. “No, melmenya, not until Iluvatar calls you home also and I don’t know when that will be.” He gathered the other elflings into his loving gaze. “You have so much living more to do, all of you, so much to do and be. I hope I can see it all.”

Sam smiled at his brother with such love. Frodo’s words sounded so much like those he had spoken to Sam himself.

The three elflings burst into tears and threw themselves collectively into Frodo’s arms. The ancient hobbit was hard pressed to hold them all, but he did and kissed them each on the head. He let go after a long while, wiped at all their tears, then kissed each of their palms individually and pressed them to their cheeks. “Melinyel. Illume.”

Each of them returned the gesture. “I will always love you,” they said back. Frodo smiled at them all and held them once more. Auna squeezed him the tightest, but not much less were her brother and sister.

When he saw that though they were grieving, they would heal, he turned to Galian who gathered him up into his arms. Frodo wrapped his legs tight around his beloved friend’s waist and held him close. “Hantanyel, halla calmar, otornonya. Melinyel. Illume.”

The Elf hugged his dear brother. “Thank you, little child of light, my brother. I love you always,” he said and Frodo smiled as he followed the pattern of the elflings in speaking in the language the other had taught.

Frodo kissed Galian’s palm and then the Elf let him go. Sam hugged him also and then they both looked up at Gandalf.

The Maia smiled down at them with tears in his eyes. “You are taking special care to say goodbye this time, Frodo.”

“I’ve learned my lesson,” the hobbit replied.

“You have learned very much,” the Maia agreed, then he knelt and gathered Sam into his gaze also, “and you have taught us even more. Oh, my stubborn, lovely, loving hobbits, how much less the world will now be without you in it, but how much grander will be the Halls of Iluvatar.”
He gathered his friends into his arms and kissed both their heads. The hobbits pressed themselves tight against their friend and then looked into Gandalf’s eyes that twinkled with love and mirth and tears and something much deeper and more beautiful than they ever conceived. Frodo’s eyes widened a bit and he began to cry at last, knowing he had just received a tremendous blessing. Sam’s eyes filled also. Gandalf, Olorin of old, merely smiled and hugged them tight against him once more. “Namarie, aman Eruhini. Tenn’ omentielva enta.”

“Tenn’ omentielva enta,” Frodo murmured.

The wizard was the hardest of their friends to let go, but they did. Both of them kissed those aged palms and pressed them against weathered cheeks and received a beatific smile in thanks.

The Lady Galadriel arrived next and Frodo held her long. She kissed his head softly. “Hantanyel, Cormacolindo. Nai i Iluvatar ar Valar nauar as elye ar nai anar caluva tielyanna,” she murmured.

“Hantanyel, herinya,” Frodo murmured. “Nai i Iluvatar ar Valar nauar as elye ar nai anar caluva tielyanna.”

Frodo embraced Elrond next. “Hantanyel,” the Elf lord said. “May Elbereth guide your way.”

“Hantanyel, herunya. May she guide you as well.”

Sam was too shy to hug either of the Elves and blushed straight down to his toes when Galadriel smiled at him and kissed his head. “Namarie, Panthael Nerae. Hantanyel.”

Auna, Eruanna and Halarin gave Frodo one last quick, tight hug and then the two hobbits watched their friends leave. Once they were gone, Frodo looked up at the stars. They seemed particularly bright and beautiful tonight. The wind gently tugged at his clothes and curls, the ground soft and warm under his feet, the air sweet with the smell of flowers and life itself. He had never felt so alive, so filled with joy. He looked at Sam and smiled brightly and knew from the look of wonder on his beloved’s face, he was feeling the same thing.

They lay down on the ground and gathered each other into their arms. Frodo sought his favorite position, though he feared Sam would go first and he would hear that beloved beat fail, but still there was no other place he would rather be in his last moments than with his brother. He felt Sam trembling slightly and he too wondered what awaited them.

"It’s all right, my Sam. Don’t be afraid. This is not the end.”

Sam held his brother tighter. “I know. Besides, you know there’s nowhere I wouldn’t go with you, melmenya.”

Frodo smiled and tightened his own embrace. “I know, ammelda,” he murmured. “I’m glad you’re with me.”

Peace filled them as they closed their eyes and silently waited for Iluvatar to accept their offering and themselves to accept His gift. Then Frodo said in a soft, dream-like voice filled with awe, “Oh, Sam...do you see it? So bright and beautiful. Bilbo and Rose and...Merry and Pippin...and....” His voice trailed off as he got lost in looking at two figures whose features he had long forgotten, but his heart immediately recognized. “Mama....Papa....”

The curtain began to part for Sam as well. “I do see, my dear, I do....Rose and my old Gaffer...” His voice caught as he stared enraptured.

Their breath quickened in anticipation. Frodo held his brother even tighter. “Hold on, my Sam. We are almost there.”

Peace deepened. “Melinyel, otornonya,” Frodo said with his last breath.

Sam kissed his head. “Melinyel, Iorhaelnya, ammelda otorno,” he murmured, then faithful to the end, followed his beloved into the Light, at last, no longer torn in two, but whole and complete with both halves of his heart and soul with him.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Galian and Gandalf came to bury them just as they found them, still wrapped in each other’s arms. A faint glow seemed to linger around them both. The Maia kissed their brows and murmured prayers of thanksgiving and sorrow and then repeated what he had said the previous night. “Namarie, aman Eruhini. Tenn’ omentielva enta.”

The two buried their friends on the hill next to Bilbo, facing east. It was a sad day but it was also beautiful, glad day with as much to celebrate as to mourn. Flowers grew up over the grave, an immense variety and it was considered the most beautiful part of the island, save the dark room only.

A/N: Illume is always. Frodo addresses Galadriel and Elrond as my lady and my lord. Namarie, aman Eruhini. Tenn’ omentielva enta is Farwell, blessed children of Eru. Until our next meeting. Aman is literally freed from evil and usually only refers to the land of the Valar, but I like the idea of Frodo being freed from evil too and take the liberty of using the word for him too. Cormacolindo is Ring-bearer. Nai i Iluvatar ar Valar nauar as elye ar nai anar caluva tielyanna is May Iluvatar and the Valar be with you and may the sun shine on your path. I don’t need to tell you where the song came from, do I? :)

Chapter Twenty: Running into the Arms of Love

Frodo ran into his parent’s arms as though he was a child, not a hobbit of a century and a half. And it was as a child that Drogo and Primula embraced him. The reunion was joyful and the embrace long, the laughs so strong and happy, the kisses and words so tender and loving, kisses that waited so be bestowed and felt, words spoken over the years but now directly to the ones meant instead of at a grave or looking up at the stars. “I love you” and “I missed you” and “I am so proud of you.”

Then after a very long while, Frodo turned from his parents and buried himself in the embrace of his three dearest cousins, the one he always called Uncle and those he considered brothers. The lights of them all mingled and merged and such was paradise for the hobbits, but still a greater joy awaited. Frodo looked at Sam who held Rosie, then out into the brightness and love that surrounded him. His own brilliant light was lost in the Light that surrounded him, in the Love that immersed him in another embrace. Frodo ran into that embrace just as eagerly as he had into his parents’ arms. For he was not just the beloved child of Drogo and Primula, but of Another.

The voice of Iluvatar filled his heart and soul, leaving him filled with such exultant joy, drowned in such unimaginably deep Love. Sam heard it also and felt the same embrace.

Well done, good and faithful servants.

Author’s Notes, or How Frodo Baggins Helped Me Become a Better Catholic

Some people come into our lives and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never, ever the same - Flavia Weedn

I first met Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee in December 2001. Since then they have not ceased to slowly transform my life in many ways I never anticipated.

This epic story that is now at its end (or I should this part of the tale has ended, but the Story hasn’t) was originally going to be the love story of Frodo and Sam. It was after some time that I realized that another love story was being woven in and that was Frodo and Iluvatar. I had never written anything like either of these and most of the latter in the beginning was unconscious, then when I realized what was happening, I deliberately wrote more of it so it was throughout the story instead of just a little in Part 4 as I originally intended. I had no idea that as I wrote the story of Frodo’s spiritual journey that I would begin one of my own. That began a few months ago so I am still very much at the beginning of a deepening peace, comfort and love for God and His plan for me. I had always had a good, close relationship with God the Father, but none with God the Son or His Holy Mother. That is now starting. I had some fears to let go before a relationship with Jesus could start. As Frodo realized how irrational his fears of losing his brother’s love if he ever told him about still desiring the Ring, so I realized the fears I harbored were irrational and stunting me spiritually. I am now much more open to Jesus and God’s plan for me. I can much more freely say "I am Yours, do with me as You will." I hope I have the same courage as Frodo did when he said yes when he discovered his vocation. I also realized that Frodo made a deliberate choice to become a person of faith and it gave him great joy to do that and be that. I had no such choice or joy myself. I was born into a Catholic family, I choose to remain in that faith, but I did not originally choose as Frodo did. That is not to say that my faith was dead or unwanted, far from it, but still I had nothing of the joy that an ‘adult convert’ like Frodo had. But now because of encountering this story and this hobbit and his joy in particular, I have more peace and joy than perhaps I ever had. Where would I be without him? I have no idea whether I would have found these paths without such a guide. God does work in mysterious ways. I have read and am still reading a bunch of books dealing with the spiritual themes of LOTR and during one I was filled with this immense joy and peace that removed any fear of death because I know something wonderful is beyond if I can just persevere. I always knew that, but I never had that particular feeling before and it has remained with me. I am also becoming less selfish. I am even considering officially Byzantine Catholic instead of Roman Catholic. Byzantines are still in union with the Pope, but have a richer spirituality than many Western churches these days. The only thing before that was holding me back was that they have not just Lent (known as the Great Fast), but two other smaller fasts in the year and I thought, one Lent is plenty, but as I am overcoming my selfishness and deepening my spirituality, that is no longer the obstacle it once was. So count me among the many whose lives have been profoundly affected by the professor’s discovery of the journey of Mr. Underhill. :)

I also want to take this opportunity of thank you all, dear readers and dearest reviewers, for all your wonderful support in this tale and all my others. It is so greatly, greatly appreciated! This one took 2 years to write and I have a lot of ideas already for my next epic which I hope to start in the fall, if not earlier and there are some shorter pieces I will be doing in the meantime. It’s wonderful to encounter so many other Christian writers and reviewers and have the Christian/Catholic elements of my story welcomed!

This story wouldn’t be anywhere the length it is (around 500!!! pages) if I wasn’t inspired by other writers. I have, unfortunately, forgotten many of their names, but standing out is Arien and Budgielover, the former for her Valinor series - (http://www.writers-haven.net/Stories%20from%20the%20Shire.htm - then click on Home, Goodbye, The Birthday, etc - I tried doing a direct link to the stories but for some reason it didn’t want to work right) and the latter for "Out of All Knowledge." (http://www.writers-haven.net/Masterpieces/Out%20of%20All%20Knowledgeby%20Budgielover.htm - copy and paste if link doesn’t work). If you haven’t read these stories, you must. . I’m sure Shirebound has something to do with all this too. And I know Sally Gardens did too.

Great thanks must also be given to Queen Galadriel for all her lovely lullabies and the one that Frodo Baggins wrote and my friend who wrote the one called "When Morning Comes". This story would not be as rich without your much valued contributions! Hantanyel, melinyel!

God bless and thanks again, all of you, for your support during this journey.  I am so grateful to find such kindred spirits! :)

I will close with a prayer directed to St. Joan of Arc, who several centuries ago, had her own seemingly impossible Quest to fulfill in helping to free France from English control. It fits Frodo so well it’s not even funny. They both showed what can be done by the most unlikely of vessels chosen by God to fulfill His plans. She is one of my favorite saints.

St. Joan of Arc,

you were asked to do the impossible,

yet you accomplished the incredible.

You relied on prayer and the Sacraments for your strength,

and did not let human fraility deter you.

Let us emulate your courage in the decisive moments of our lives

and help us to listen to the voice of the Lord. Amen.

(From A Spiritual Pilgrimage to France by Anne Richards Tschanz)