by Coriandra
“Don't have to do anything?” Now Frodo was even more
confused. “But I had everything planned, I was going
to be prepare the meals and clean up afterward so you
wouldn't have to. Then I was planning to pack and
unpack the equipment and do an extra hour of watch for
everyone.”
“Frodo, that would be too work much for anyone,”
Aragorn told him, with mild reproach. “As the
Fellowship's healer, I couldn't allow it.”
“But... but it's my birthday and I have no gifts for
anyone,” Frodo stammered. “At least let me do
something for all of you!”
“You already are,” Legolas pointed out gravely. “You
are the Ring-bearer, and the hope of all free people.”
“You carry the fate of us all,” Boromir reminded him.
“What more could anyone do and what great gift could
they give?” Frodo thought about this for a long time.
He friends truly wanted to honour him, he could see
that. Would it be right to deny them that on his
birthday? No, he decided it would not, and he knew
inside that he had no desire to. He smiled gratefully
to show he would accept what they offered.
**************************
Year 1 Fourth Age
Gondor
“And it's been a year to the day that Frodo sailed,”
Merry concluded. “We were all at the Havens when he
left.”
“It was quite a shock to us at first, having him leave
like that,” Pippin added, “but it was the best thing
for everyone. It didn't take us long to realize that.
We had concerns about his health ever since we got
home, but he covered his problems well.”