The King and his Queen watched over their sweet burden carefully, lowering him gently into the bath and carefully tending to his hurts and needs. All the while Frodo remained silent, half way between waking and sleeping. He drifted in the bliss of care, something that since his parents died he had never truly experienced. With Arwen and Aragorn it was more than just care, it was sweet tender love.

Strider washed his hair, while Arwen sung a soft elvish tune, his feet were thoroughly bathed, each finger lovingly dipped in sweet healing oils. Tender bruises were avoided, and his neck was rubbed with Arwen’s gentle fingers. All the while, Strider held him in the bath as he snuggled against the ranger, warm and safe.

Dreams and visions flickered through his mind, what decisions he may have made did not really make any difference now. He could not leave Middle Earth, now that he had something that bound him here, the problem was, how was he going to deal with the wound from Weathertop? How was he going to survive all the rest of his life?

Arwen kissed the top of Frodo’s head, “I feel your worry, dearest. There will be a ship for you in the future, I promise you that.”

“All the ships are gone.”

“Not all, Frodo, not all. There will be another, a special one, Father told me. For you when the time comes.” She tilted his chin up, “You will be a great comfort to me, Frodo.” she leant over to kiss the King softly and then her lover. “He is ready, let us put him into the bed, now.”

Strider lifted the hobbit out of the bath and carried him to the bed, allowing Arwen to wrap him in a cozy towel and carefully dry him off while the King donned a robe and rubbed a towel through his own hair.

“Arwen?” Frodo asked at length, when he was finally starting to become warm again.

“Yes, dear?” she whispered softly, kissing his wounded hand.

“May I please come to live in Gondor?” he twisted his toes in the sheets nervously, glancing between them. “Sam and Rosie can stay in Bagend, they will be very happy there.”

Arwen and Strider exchanged glances, “It is our fondest wish, my love.” Arwen smiled, “We will be there for you when the pain comes, you are so brave for staying behind.”

“I want to see my child grow up.” Frodo said softly. “Our child.” he took both of their hands and squeezed them. “I love you both so much. I’m sorry to be so much trouble.”