Return to Valinor

Busy sounds from the garden slowly intruded upon Carantaliel’s blissful slumber. Taking her time, she let each of her senses wake on their own. She listened for awhile to the birds singing, then savored the smell of the Sea wafting through the open window and the tang of its salt on her ready tongue.

Suddenly she realized she was hungry. Sitting up, Carantaliel refocused on the world and discovered herself in her new home at Elvenwood. Memories of her ordeal with Tellonnion came rushing back and she leapt out of bed to look out the window.

All was serene below in the glade. Aldananeth had returned and resumed her sleepy watch over the hobbit hole, and Frodo was busy at work repairing the damage their brief fight with Tellonnion had done to the garden. “So it was not a dream…” she sighed to herself.

Leaning against the windowsill, she watched her halfling husband as he contentedly toiled in the dirt. He had a smile on his face, though Carantaliel detected wistfulness and brief worry from time to time. That anxiety must be for her and the children, she realized, and she gently clasped the white pendant still hanging around her slender neck. Warmth filled her palm from the stone and she knew all was well, and a brief glance at her forearm told her the scar would soon fade to nothingness. She could only hope the memories of those terrifying days with Tellonnion could fade as quickly.

“Ah, you’re awake!” spoke a cheerful voice and Carantaliel turned to find Bilbo entering the room laden with a tray of food. “Lord Elrond thought you might be stirring and had me bring up something to help get you back on your feet.”

Grinning affectionately at her husband’s kinsman, she replied, “My dear Bilbo, you have come just in the nick of time. I’m ravenous!”

He chuckled as he set the tray on a low table near the window. “Tuck in, my dear, and I’ll go find Frodo. I had to send him out of the room awhile ago. He’s been at your bedside day and night and he needed to air the stink off him!”

“How long have I been asleep?” she asked somewhat anxiously.

“Oh, the better part of a week, my girl,” Bilbo answered. “But you’ve got a strong will and there were no worries whether you would come back to us or no.”

Soberly, she murmured, “I had no idea…”

Bilbo patted her arm comfortingly, “Now, no need to get upset. All is well.”

“Cara…”

Frodo was framed in the doorway, his expression showing mingled relief and joy. To see him now, no one would mistake him for a callow elfboy, for hard work and health had replaced sorrow and a wasted body. Carantaliel had never had any doubt of his strength and courage, but now those qualities shone brightly for all to see on his face and in his bearing. At that moment, she was never so proud to be loved by him.

A gentle breeze stirred a lock of hair on his forehead and Carantaliel saw a glint of silver beneath the chestnut brown. “I’m sorry to have worried you, melethnín…”

The hobbit saw a change in his bride as well. Physical pain, so rarely acknowledged or even felt by the Elves, had leant Carantaliel a translucent and fragile appearance. Perhaps one day that would change, but for now her fragility made her even more precious to him. He would never bear losing her again.

Suddenly Frodo was across the chamber taking his beloved into his arms. Their difference in height was not so great now, thanks to Aldananeth and the Entdraught, and Carantaliel melted easily into his embrace.

“No more worries, melethnín,” he murmured. “Awâhiam…Avaro naeth míthonin pedo melo nin.”

Eagerly the she-elf complied. Neither Frodo nor Carantaliel heard Bilbo pad softly to the door and shut it behind him.


-end of Chapter Twenty-Seven-

Awâhiam…Avaro naeth míthonin pedo melo nin – We are together again… Kiss me and tell me you love me