The Other Choice
By Summer
Beta’d by Slip
Class: Slash
Pairing: ? (Surprise)
Type of story: LOTR Drabble
He stared quietly out at the ocean. Several white birds circled the small figure standing on the sandy shoreline. After a few moments they headed out to sea to find an early breakfast. The air was salty and still heavy with dew after the thunderstorm yesterday. The sun had finally come out this morning, but it would be late into mid-day before the entire area would be dry.
He lifted a small white pebble, and after a brief hesitation he turned and threw it outwards where it skimmed the water and finally disappeared into the watery depths.
The waves were calm today, soothing. Soothing.
Oh, he would miss them so. Every day, and every moment of his life.
He had come here, right at this spot, almost every day for a week. Still dressed in his farewell silver vest and Grey shirt. His blue-eyes were staring past the horizon, as if trying to see something that was just not visible to the common eye.
He had made his choice. It was his decision after all, but still, he wondered if he made the right choice.
He could still see Sam’s tears, Merry sobbing helplessly and poor Pippin stricken and unsure what to do. They had been completely confused and frightened, when they realized that Frodo intended to go with Bilbo into the West.
Their grief had ripped another tear into his already shredded soul. Frodo was unsure what to do, and for a moment he had hesitated. Had he made the right choice after all?
He had to be brave, he had to be strong for all of them. In the end, he had felt as drained and as confused and as frightened as his kin. He had made his choice.
A hand reached out and touched his shoulder. Frodo sighed and took the hand into his own. He squeezed it in reassurance; yes, he had made his choice. The other choice.
To stay.
“Frodo love, it’s getting cold. Let’s go back inside the cottage. Tomorrow, we will head back to Brandyhall. Sam and Rosie will visit in a few weeks. Pippin is already waiting for us.”
Frodo looked up and met the blue-green eyes and smiled sadly at Merry. His dearest love. He would not live much longer. A year, or two at the most, but what ever time he had left, he would spend them with the hobbit he loved and who had loved him in return.
“Yes, dear Merry. Let’s go home.”
He would miss Gandalf and Bilbo…but he had made his choice and there was no going back.
The end.