January 21st (later that evening)

“Good night, Opal,” Iris called out into the freezing night air.

“Good night, Iris,” came the reply. “See you tomorrow.”

Iris was just closing up her offices and dismissing Opal Boffin, her cousin-in-law and physician’s apprentice. Opal had decided to follow her dream of being a doctor rather than continuing her needlework. She had been assisting Iris in the medical practice for several months now. Iris was teaching her the same way Iris was taught in Southway; a hand-on apprenticeship lasting several years. Iris had agreed, sensing a need to have another physician for Hobbiton trained in case she became incapacitated or had to leave the Shire with Frodo.

Almost immediately after closing the front door and turning the sign around, Iris heard a soft knock on the wood. It was Frodo.

“Gracious, come in out of the cold,” she said as she hustled him into the reception area. “Come on back by the fire. I just made a pot of tea. Would you like some?”

“Thanks,” he smiled and gave her a kiss. “I tried the back door, but I guess you were still with a patient.” He took off his cloak, gloves and outer jacket and stacked his walking stick beside the fireplace. Iris could see he was dressed for being outdoors. She bustled off into the kitchen while he waited by the fire. She soon returned and they sat on the hearth, sipping the warm nectar and nibbling on toast and marmalade.

Frodo seemed rather distracted. They exchanged banal pleasantries while enjoying the tea. Iris allowed him his introspective quietness, content to watch him toy with the cup and saucer while thinking about something. He was quietly excited but not yet willing to tell her. She was patient.

Frodo finally put the cup and saucer atop the mantle and cleared his suddenly tight throat. “Iris, would you like to take an evening stroll with me?”

“Let me change into something a bit warmer, then we’ll go,” she smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. His eyes followed her until she disappeared into her bedroom. She soon returned dressed in a couple of layers of warm woolen clothing, her winter coat, a scarf and mittens. Frodo pulled on his outer coat, cloak and gloves, grabbed his walking stick, and they were out the back door.

The sun had set very early and it was quite dark outside. The stars were stunning in their clarity in the cold winter sky. There was no moon; no clouds. Only cold starlight and a slight haze from the fireplaces of the town. The two hobbits headed out into the cold dark, Frodo leading the way as confidently as if it were bright daylight.

“Frodo?” Iris was curious, “Just how well can you see in the dark?”

“Oh,” he slowed down a bit, “Sorry. I forget that others do not see as well as I. It is one of the side effects of my wounding. Ever since that night I have been able to see quite clearly in the dark. Especially in starlight.” He smiled. “It seems to be the only good thing which came out of that stabbing.”

Frodo lead them out of Hobbiton and into the still countryside North of town. They walked for about an hour until Frodo found a little cutoff path leading into the hillside behind a quiet farm. They passed a vacant guest house and followed a little stream coated with ice. The cold water gurgled quietly under the glittering thin crust. Frodo carefully lead Iris back into a secluded glade where they were met with a wondrous sight. A small frozen waterfall sparkled like crystal and diamonds in the starlight.

“Oh, Frodo,” Iris cried, “it’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it. How in the world did you find it?”

“Peony told me about it at their wedding party,” he smiled. “I have been coming by throughout the winter, watching it slowly freeze up. Here. Let’s sit down and enjoy the quiet.”

Frodo took off his cloak and spread it out on a boulder beside the waterfall’s partially-frozen pool. The little clearing above the icy pond framed a window up to the stars. As they sat in the inky silence, Frodo recited Elvish legends of the First Age and earlier concerning the stars and the twilight time of Arda before the coming of the moon and sun. Iris was entranced. He seemed more Elvish than hobbit tonight with the starlight gleaming in his raven hair, totally at home in the night and cold.

But Iris was all hobbit, and the chill was beginning to effect her. She shivered and pulled her hood closer about her face. Frodo gathered her to himself and enveloped her in his warm embrace. It was magical and wonderful, but also slightly melancholy.

“Frodo,” she whispered in the darkness, “I know I have kept you at a distance since you told me about possibly leaving to sail to the West with the Elves. I am sorry. I was upset and angry that you would even consider leaving me. I’ve fallen in love with you, Mister Baggins. And I now realize I was wrong to push you away. If you must leave Middle Earth in order to find the healing you need, I will not stand in your way. Nor will I turn my back to you ever again. You’ve captured my heart, and there is nothing I can do about it except to trust you with it.” She kissed him in the starlight and the cold wind wisped away a slight white vapor as their lips parted.

He sighed and smiled slightly. “Iris, I love you very much. As much as I desire healing, I cannot imagine living without you by my side.”

He removed his glove and caressed her face with his naked hand. “I am willing to give up possible healing in the Blessed Realm in order to remain with you.” He looked at her in the starlight and could see tears shining in her green eyes. “Iris, if you will have me, would you marry me?”

A tear slipped from her lashes as she blinked in surprise. In the brilliant starlight his eyes appeared black and intense as they eagerly sought her answer. “Yes, Frodo Baggins, I will marry you. And together we will find a place where you may find peace.”

He didn’t realize he had been holding his breath until he let out a sigh, his warm exhalation captured by the slight breeze. He closed his eyes and silently voiced a prayer of thanks to Elbereth and the powers of Arda which had sent Iris to him. She laid her head under his chin, wrapped in his arms, her own under his cloak pulling him to herself in a tight embrace. They remained wrapped in each other’s limbs until the chill forced him to disentangle themselves and stand.

“Let’s go back to my place,” Iris said. “I’ll get the fire going and we can warm up and have a nice late dinner.” They started back towards the road to Hobbiton and reached the physician’s building after an hour’s walk.

After removing their outerwear, they separated into different parts of the building. Frodo built up the fire in the living room while Iris pulled together some apples and bread and cheese, and warmed up a bit of cider with cinnamon. She took the repast into her living room and placed them on the fireplace hearth to keep them warm as they snacked. Frodo was standing with his back to the fire, his hands behind his back and with only the faintest grin twinkling in his eyes.

“You are up to something, Mister Baggins,” she teased. “What have you behind your back? Not another matching dress and vest, I hope.”

“Something much smaller and lighter,” he smiled. “I wanted to make sure of your answer before showing you.” He brought his hands around and Iris saw a small wooden box in his left hand. He handed it to her. “Go ahead. Open it. I had it made for you by the Elves in Rivendell.”

Starlight caught her eye as she opened the intricately-carved lid. It was a small, perfectly clear faceted jewel captured within a silvery mithril setting shaped like a delicate leaf, and all suspended upon a thin silver necklace. The clear jewel sparkled in the firelight, twinkling every color of the rainbow, but mostly a silvery-white.

“Oh, Frodo, it’s beautiful!” she cried. “Would you put it on me, please?” She turned around and lifted her braid. He reached around her neck and closed the clasp. The jewel nestled just above her breasts, flashing white, pink, green and blue in the firelight. It only reflected the desire in their eyes for each other.

Dinner and the cider were momentarily forgotten. No words were said as Frodo removed his vest while Iris began to unbutton his shirt, running her fingertips over his alabaster chest. They were soon standing on the rug, naked save for silvery necklaces. Frodo’s was the white jewel Arwen had given him in Gondor. Iris’s was its mate – similar, yet different.

Frodo stepped forward and captured her warm rosy mouth with his lips, closing the short distance remaining between them. The taste of cinnamon lingered on her moist breath. Her arms instinctively circled his hard torso, lightly brushing down his back to clasp his firm buttocks in her hands. He loost her braid; her curly brown hair spilling down her back, tickling his sensitive fingers.

They made love in front of the fire, achingly slowly. Stretching out their desire until their mutual needs could no longer be denied. It was the marriage of fire and ice. The warmth and wildness of the roaring fireplace and the chill controlled beauty of starlight captured by silver chains. The earth and the sky melting into each other. One heart shared for all time.

They lay in the heat of their own afterglow and the light of the coals burning in the fireplace. Frodo lay propped up on his right elbow, his torso and legs pressed up against hers. He played with her breasts, gently kneading one and caressing it with the palm of his left hand, occasionally playing with the nipple and tracing vague patterns from one nipple to the other. The jewel flashed brilliant colors from its new home between her breasts.

Iris watched him absentmindedly playing with her skin, watching her body respond to his soft, slightly hesitant touch. He was so curious about how she would react. ‘He must have not had much physical contact when he was growing up,’ she thought. ‘Of course he wouldn’t, you ninny. His parents died when he was young, and he’s been raised by an elderly and rather formal bachelor uncle. He’s probably been starved for pure physical touch for decades, and now can’t get enough of the sensation.’ There was so much to learn about him. So much to explore together.

She was brought out of her reverie when he placed his hand on her belly and captured her eyes with a look that pierced her soul. She smiled and blew him a kiss. He responded by climbing atop her again and kissing her below the ear and lightly tonguing his way up to her ear tip. She squirmed with ticklish pleasure. ‘How did he know about that area?’ she pondered. ‘I wonder how many girls he’s had before me.’

“I have a favor to ask,” he whispered into her wet ear.

“Not fair,” she panted, “You know I’ll agree to just about anything right now in the state I am in.”

“Could we have a private joining ceremony in Rivendell when we go?” he quietly asked. “Bilbo is too old and frail to travel, and I would very much like for him to see us married before he leaves.”

“My love,” Iris answered, “of course. That is very sweet and kind of you.”

“Then I shall send news ahead to Rivendell so that neither he nor Lord Elrond is surprised when we arrive together,” Frodo smiled.