Once Upon A Time
By Summer
Beta read by: Hewene and Kathryn Ramage. (Thank you!)
Class: Gen (What you don’t believe me?)
Pairings: None (now do you?)
Disclaimer: I don’t own them. Tolkien and new Line Does. Damn.
Writer’s note: Extreme AU, yeah, I am breaking all the rules
Tol Eressea
Frodo walked quietly along the sandy beach, his feet just touching the salty water as the waves dashed themselves softly along the shore. Today, tomorrow and yesterday lay before him and he was alone and tears fell from his face.
Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a hobbit named Frodo Baggins.
He had only arrived a few weeks before, still hurting from his wounds, not the earthbound ones given to him upon his Quest, but wounds that lay upon his heart.
He missed his friends, the Fellowship. He missed the comfort of home and all the things that had meant so much to him. Of course, they were all gone now, cast aside as he sought healing in the only place he could. Poor Sam! How Sam had grieved and blamed himself for Frodo’s leaving.
Sam would never understand that leaving had been the only choice. As with the Quest, everything Frodo did bore a price. Though his earthbound wounds were healing, Frodo knew his heart would never mend.
Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a hobbit named Frodo Baggins who bore the Dark Lord's Ring and went upon a Quest. A Quest taken on by a Fellowship intent on destroying the Evil Ring of power. A Fellowship of friends who became family to him, people he grew to love with all of his heart.
It was beautiful here on Tol Eressea. Peaceful and quiet. Valinor was within sight of the many islands filled with the Elves who had left the shores of Middle-Earth. Although Elrond could have joined many of his ancient kin on any of those islands, he, like Galadriel and those others who came with Frodo on the last boat, decided that it would be here that they would live.
Frodo still remembered the warm welcome of the Elves that lived here already, including the wife of Elrond, Celebrian, healed of her wounds long ago. She had become like a sister to him, almost motherly.
This place was meant to bring peace, and for many it did. However, Frodo, like others (including Elrond) knew there were just some things that time and place could not mend. The loss of loved ones was a void that could never be filled. Elrond had lost his three children;, his daughter, Arwen was the worst blow to his heart. She had given up her immortality to love a mortal and so, someday she would pass into death. Bittersweet, to give up everything for love; again there was always a price that must be paid.
Once upon a time, a long time ago…Frodo went deep into the lands of Mordor, to cast The Dark Lord's Ring into the Fires of Mount Doom. Fate had decreed he must bear the Ring alone. Bear its weight, bear its power, bear its evil. But, the faithful and true of heart would not leave him. Samwise the Brave was the truest of all the Fellowship, never leaving his Master’s side. Hope where there was no hope, a promise no other would keep, strength that no other would have,--it was Samwise the Brave who bore not only his Master’s weight but also that of the Dark Lord's Ring around Frodo‘s neck. Up the volcano and to the Fires of Mount Doom. Never did he stray from his mission, never did he surrender to the power of the Ring.
Frodo had taken up residence in Elrond's home. Although Elrond and Celebrian were the most wonderful and entertaining of hosts, Frodo was already looking for a home that he could call his own.
It was Lady Galadriel who showed him the green rolling hills just beyond the cliffs. Gildor and several of the other Elves were already excavating and preparing the dwelling for a future occupant. It would take a year, but it would be completed. A dwelling that Frodo and his beloved Uncle Bilbo could make a home.
Once upon a time, a long time ago, Frodo Baggins returned from his Quest. With the help of fate, Samwise the Brave, and the Fellowship bound by love, the Dark Lord's Ring was destroyed. It came with a cost, a price that cost Frodo not only his health and wellbeing, but also his heart, his home and his friendships. What should have been a day of triumph had only brought the hobbit pain.
Pain that still existed within his soul. Even here on Tol Eressea.
Gandalf came often to visit the hobbits he had come to hold dear to his heart. Frodo would be waiting, smiling, but not truly smiling. His blue eyes held a pain that would not ever truly mend. Gandalf was a part of the Fellowship and though Frodo loved Gandalf, his arrival always reminded Frodo of all those who were missing in his life.
Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a hobbit named Frodo Baggins. He was a lovely spirit, beautiful and kind, who asked for nothing and gave up everything so that others might live, might be…but it came with a price and now he walks alone. A just reward…do you not think…Eru?
What would you have me do?
A gift. I beg of thee.
What gift would a hobbit want who desires nothing?
Hope.
Ah, perhaps a token …a rose?
A wish?
Only one?
Give him what he deserves, that which he would not ask for.
Three wounds, three wishes?
Four wounds?
Four? The wound of the Morgul blade, the wound of the Cave Troll spear, the wound of Shelob‘s sting--that counts as only three.
Four wounds. You forgot the Ring. It, it is the gravest wound of all.
I stand corrected. Four wounds, four wishes. Shall I set limits?
Did he ask for limits? Did he ask for anything in return?
Very well. Four wishes, no limits.
Bless you, Eru.
No. Bless Frodo Baggins and the wounds he bore for all.
He stared into the waters, not really seeing it. He was seeing something altogether different from rolling and tumbling waves of water, instead, a distant shore, lands he would never see again, people he would never see again.
Aragorn
Legolas
Gimli
Merry
Pippin
Dear, dear Sam.
It came from the water, a form, bathed in foam and with hair as golden as sunlight. Startled by this vision coming from the waters towards him, Frodo could only watch in slight fear as it drew near. It appeared to be a she-elf, only her beauty was unlike any other. Even more beautiful than Galadriel, a lady Frodo thought was the fairest of all beings. He would now have to think of her as the second most beautiful.
The woman held something out with her hands, and Frodo saw the most beautiful red rose he had ever seen. It had four large petals, with the deepest blood red colors, and a long emerald green stem, and in the middle of it, inside, was an emerald stone, sparkling in such a way that Frodo thought it was alive.
“Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a hobbit named Frodo Baggins, who gave up so much that Eru decided to gift to him four wishes. The pages have been recorded and history will not be altered for those who would read it, but here in this time…this place, it is time for a change. A rose of hope. Four wishes. No limits. Use them wisely.”
Frodo took the rose into his hand and felt a warm sensation shoot through his arm and throughout his body. Unable to stop it, Frodo began to laugh. He did not know why.
***
The white wizard walked around the rose, which lay quietly under a glass dome glittering with magic and power within its state. Gandalf had his arms locked behind his back and once in awhile, he would glance at the rose and then back at Frodo with a look of one who was puzzled.
“A gift, she said. A rose of hope, four wishes, use them wisely….” He muttered the words over and over again.
Frodo had described the woman to the wizard but even after several hours, they still had no understanding of what was happening. Frodo stared at the wizard and then at the rose, wondering what he had done to deserve this unasked-for gift.
“It is a special gift, given by Elbereth. A gift that should be used wisely.”
Frodo looked up in time to see the Lady Galadriel enter the room, shortly followed by Elrond and his wife Celebrian.
“But, I do not understand-- Why?”
The Lady of light smiled, and cupping Frodo’s chin in her hand, she turned that cherub face to hers.
“Because sacrifice should not be left unrewarded.”
“So, I am to make four wishes? And they will be granted, then?”
“Yes.”
“Anything I desire?”
“That which is in Eru’s power…yes.”
“That’s impossible!” shouted Frodo, and at once he pulled away from Galadriel's touch and took several steps back.
“Gandalf?”
But the wizard was only smiling, his eyes twinkling with hope.
“My return from death would seem impossible…yet, I returned.”
Frodo swallowed and looked at the three wisest beings of Middle-earth, and thought they had all gone mad. Turning, Frodo took cover in his bedroom, where he remained for many days.
***
“Elrond looks most sad today, Gandalf.”
“His thoughts dwell upon Middle-Earth and the treasure he was forced to surrender.”
“Arwen? But she is happy and living with Aragorn.”
“Their love came with a price. She had to surrender her immortality and someday…they will have to face death.”
“It wasn’t fair. I love them so.”
“Life seldom is fair.”
“I-I wish, I wish that when the time comes, that Arwen would be given back her immortality and, she would be allowed to come to Valinor with Aragorn and return to her parents' side and live once more.”
Frodo had said it before the meaning of the words could be stopped from his mouth.
Time seemed to have stopped.
Unable to help it, Frodo turned to the Rose that was now placed under a glass dome, its petals as deep and beautiful as they were when it was given to him two weeks before. Then, one of the petals turned black, fell from its stem, and lay upon the table. The emerald stone darkened, its light dimming slightly. Frodo gasped and turned to Gandalf to see the wizard staring at the clouds and chuckling.
“Gandalf?”
“121 years. It shall be written that Aragorn finally succumbed to death, his wife disappearing to wander the lands of Middle-Earth alone, but it will not be so. A boat shall await them along the Dunedain shores that will bring them here, to this shore.”
“A mortal man cannot set foot upon these shores.” Frodo swallowed and blinked in surprise. “You are mistaken. It cannot be?”
“It is and it will be done.”
Gandalf looked down upon Frodo and smiled. “For you, for one wish.”
***
Once upon a time, a long time ago…there was a hobbit who made a wish.
Frodo stood quietly by the ocean shoreline and stared out at the waters, wanting to see and yet unable to see. Though it was now weeks later, Frodo still felt embarrassed over his wish, for no sooner had he said his wish, than Elrond himself had come into Frodo’s bedroom chambers and had thrown himself at the hobbit’s feet, weeping and praising Frodo in his joy.
His daughter would live and he would see her again, she and Aragorn. Frodo had stared on, unable to speak, still not able to process what he had done.
He was so lonely today. He had awoken in tears and had wept bitterly upon his pillow. How he missed his cousins, Merry and Pippin and his dear Sam. He missed them terribly, he even missed Legolas' and Gimli’s bickering. He felt so alone. So very alone.
Once upon a time...
“I am not worthy--” Frodo replied to the sea. “I do not deserve such a gift. Do you not know? --I claimed the Ring at the end.”
A soft wind blew and Frodo thought he could feel the touch of lips upon his forehead.
Frodo continued his tirade. “I beg then of thee, if it is your will… I wish, I wish that someday, when it is of their choosing, that all of the Fellowship, who are much more deserving of these gifts, will join me here in Tol Eressea so we may be together again.”
The second petal blackened and drifted slowly onto the table.
Frodo did not turn when the voice spoke. He knew who it belonged to--Gandalf.
“When Aragorn and Arwen leave the shores of Middle-Earth, so, with them, shall come an elf, a dwarf and two troublesome hobbits…they will walk upon these shores. They will join you here, together again, a Fellowship reunited.”
Frodo finally turned and looked into Gandalf’s eyes to see the wizard was crying, not from sadness, but joy. Frodo smiled and hugged the wizard with all of his strength.
***
“What of Sam? Will he come with the others?”
“No, not with the others. No, do not cry, Frodo, for Sam will come. It was already his destiny to do so. He will come someday when his children are grown and his beloved Rose has left this earth. He will come sooner than the others, and will come here to Tol Eressea and to you.”
“He will be old and heartbroken with Rosie gone?”
“Yes, as he was, and still is, heartbroken with you gone.”
“I wish him peace from my absence until we see each other again. Please, Gandalf?”
The third petal blackened and fell, leaving the rose with one last petal.
Once upon a time, a long time ago--a hobbit wished for his friends and family…those whom he loved--to someday join him once more, not upon a dangerous Quest but to be together, to be bound not just by loyalty, but love.
***
Frodo stared at the flower. Three black petals lay on the ground, with the last petal still clinging to the emerald, which was now, itself, darkening.
Frodo knew that with the last wish, the flower would lose its last petal and the emerald stone would fade into dust.
“Have you thought of your last wish?”
Frodo looked up at the wizard in despair.
“Gandalf, I have all that I wish. There is not a thing I should desire more.”
“But you have one more wish, Frodo. Can you not think of at least one thing? One?”
Frodo sighed and looked up in sadness at the elder. “Oh, Gandalf, there are many things I suppose I could wish for. For Boromir to live again, that he had not perished…that Smeagol could have been saved.”
“Smeagol and Boromir are at peace, Frodo. They are with Mandos in the Halls of the Dead. They live in the light, and you must not continue to blame yourself for things that you could not control. Let them be, let them rest. They have earned it.”
Frodo nodded numbly, moved to the window, and looked out to stare at the ocean and the sandy beach below.
“There is nothing else I could wish for Gandalf. Therefore, if it is in my power, I desire to give it to someone who is far wiser than I am and allow him to make the last wish.Gandalf? Please, will you take the last wish for me?”
Astounded, the wizard pondered the hobbit and then, after a brief time, Gandalf nodded.
“Very well, I will take it and make a wish.”
Frodo turned to the wizard and waited with beaming expectancy. Would Gandalf wish for a new staff? Perhaps a new robe? Or perhaps even a bit of pipeweed, of Old Toby?
“I wish that all of the Fellowship when they walk upon the shores of Tol Eressea will be graced with Immortality so that they may never again be parted.”
The last petal fell. The emerald stone turned to dust.
Once upon a time, a long time ago…a hobbit, named Frodo Baggins, happily stood upon the shores of Tol Eressea, with a white wizard by his side eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Fellowship who would someday join him, never to be parted again and to live Happily Ever After.
The End.