"The hour of Darkness has come, child. Do now as you wish with what time you have left." The Warden’s eerie words rang through Miriel’s mind. Today was much worse than yesterday. Yesterday, the sunlight was hindered and a Shadow lay over the City. But today it was almost completely dark. There was something in the air that foretold of doom. Every single person in the city was tense, waiting in silence for what fate they did not know. Even the worst fo the patients were still and quiet.

Miriel was sitting on the edge of Halmir’s bed next to Merry. Both her companions were quiet and tense, each absorbed in his own thoughts.

"Merry...Miriel, I’m frightened." Halmir whispered. His weak voice was barely above a whisper, yet it seemed loud to his companions after the thick silence. Almost simultaneously, Hobbit and Healer turned and reached for the wounded lad’s hand. Merry reached it first, so Miriel’s hand went and stroked the lad’s pale brow.

"There now, dear one. You just...you just...don’t worry now. Merry and I are here. Shhh...there now."

Halmir seemed soothed, but didn’t sleep. A few more moments passed before Merry broke the silence.

"I can’t stand it any longer! This whole...waiting for the end to come. I’m so helpless, Miriel! And my cousins and friend are all in the worst of it! There’s nothing I can do." Tears sprung to Merry’s eyes, as he repeated barely above a whisper, "Nothing I can do."

Halmir squeezed Merry’s hand gently. "Merry, there’s hope yet. Don’t lose sight of hope."

"Oh, what hope is there, Halmir?"

"Well, as soon as we all die, we’ll see each other in the Presence."

Merry pursed his lips. That was true enough, but it was little comfort. It did not ease the clutch of fear and hopelessness on his heart.

Suddenly, Merry jerked his head up and met Miriel’s gaze. Had she felt it too? Another tremor. He was definitely not imagining. The earth was shaking! A rumble sounded in the distance and steadily came nearer and nearer as the shaking got more and more violent. Then, it stopped. Everyone looked around. Pictures, vases and various items on shelves had been knocked down. That seemed to be the worst of the damage. Everyone was shaken, but especially Merry.

"What *was* that?" he asked, his voice shaking nearly as much as the earth had been moments before.

"An earthquake, Merry. This was a fairly mild one, though. And I wonder that there isn’t an aftershock. We had better be prepared if there is one." All waited, yet another fear added to their long list. Hours passed. Miriel could not tell by the sun, but the grandfather clock in the Hall told her it was nearly eleven thirty. Her stomach growled as she remembered she had not eaten breakfast. Evidently, Merry was hungry too.

"I’ll go find some food. You two stay here." She left the boys to themselves.

"Mer, what’s he like?"

"What’s who like, Halmir?"

"Your cousin, Frodo."

"Well, Frodo...Frodo is very brave. He’s always been quite solemn for a Hobbit. He was that way since his parents died before I was born, but before the Quest, he laughed a lot more often. His laughter was so contagious. He...he laughed very little on the Quest. It changed him, you know. He was very sad when he lost his parents, of course, and he went through periods of depression, but on the Quest, he..he was so sad. Always tired, but always straining, fighting the Voice of the Ring. Oh, Frodo...you were such a wonderful cousin...and..."Merry’s voice trailed off. A tear left his eyes as they gazed out the window towards Mount Doom.

"I’m sorry, Merry." was all Halmir could find to say. His heart was wrenched for his friend. These were his last thoughts as he drifted off into a slumber.

~*~*~*~

Halmir woke with a start. Something was happening. He could hear many voices buzzing in the streets below his window. He couldn’t see due to the bandage covering his eyes, and was agitated because of it. Wait, he could hear one, clear voice above the crowd.

"Sing now, ye people of the Tower of Anor,

 for the Realm of Sauron is ended forever,

and the Dark Tower has been thrown down.

Sing and rejoice, ye people of the Tower of the Guard,

for your watch hath not been in vain,

and the Black Gate is broken,

and your King hath passed through,

and he is victorious

Sing and be glad, all ye children of the West,

for your King shall come again,

and he shall dwell among you

all the days of your life

And the Tree that was withered shall be renewed,

and he shall plant it in the high places,

and the City shall be blessed.

Sing all ye people!" *

Halmir gasped. Could it be? They were actually victorious? Halmir couldn’t believe it. Miriel came in moments later, beaming.

"Oh! Halmir! Have you heard? We’ve won! The Shadow has been defeated! The Ringbearers have completed his Quest!" She drew him into a gentle embrace and they wept tears of joy together. Merry came, and laid his hand on Miriel’s shoulder. She turned. Merry was smiling through tears of joy, but his forehead was slightly creased in worry.

"Merry, what’s wrong? Your cousin has fullfilled his mission." Halmir said.

"I know. The rumbling we felt earlier...well, that was...it was Mount Doom erupting. That means....Frodo is still..." Merry couldn’t finish the sentence and plopped on the ground, covering his face with his hands in grief.

"What? What, Miriel? What’s wrong?" Halmir whispered. Miriel turned her grey eyes to him, and they were full of pity and sorrow.

"Halmir, Frodo saved Middle Earth...but...he won’t be able to enjoy it. He gave the ultimate sacrifice. He gave his life, Halmir." A knot settled in his stomach. He couldn’t move very much, but he reached down and stroked Merry’s curls. He sent a silent prayer to Eru to protect Frodo and Sam if He could. Miriel and Halmir exchanged glances and then looked out the window towards the huge column of black smoke from the Cracks of Doom. They both knew, somewhere out there, the Ringbearer and his friend lay, probably dead. Somewhere in the ashes were the bodies of the saviors of Middle Earth.

_______________________________

* Return of the King, The Steward and the King

TBC.....soon, I hope

Copyright text Frodo Baggins 2006