Frodo rode hard through the night never once stopping along the way. The rain had once again began to fall stinging their skin as they flew down the road. Sam opened his eyes trying in vain to see the path before them but it could not be seen through the never-ending downpour. Sam was shivering with cold as he could now see his breath in the crisp night air. His hood had long fallen from his head and his hair was now hanging down in his face as the rain fell around him. Sam’s arms were wrapped tightly around Frodo and he could feel his heart pounding hard within his chest. The night would soon draw into the morn and it was then that Frodo yelled out seeing the lights shining under the hill from Hobbiton below.
"There it is Sam!" Frodo yelled as he pointed before him. "Home!"
A smile came to Sam’s face as he thought of the warm fire waiting for him once they came to Bag End. He could almost smell the aroma of hotcakes filling the air as he thought of the breakfast that would be had upon their arrival. Frodo pressed on even faster riding down the hill with a fury as the water on the road flew up under the hooves of their horse. The rain continued pouring down as they rode up into the southern edge of town as a faint hint of the sun began to show beneath the clouds on the distant horizon. All of Hobbiton was silent as their horse pounded along the path through town until they at last came to the front gate of Bag End. Before the horse had even come to a stand still, Frodo jumped down from its back falling into a puddle on the ground below. Sam pulled back on the reins bringing the horse to a stop as Frodo sprung to his feet and fled up the front path. The pouring rain stung at his face as he ran towards the door with all he had. Not a single light was to be seen in the windows as he finally came to the door grabbing the golden knob within his hand. He turned it while he choked back his tears as he thought of seeing Hanna’s face once again. Yet his tears soon came forth as he shook the knob realizing it wasn’t turning. The door was locked. Frodo began pounding his fists against the door yelling out Hanna’s name screaming out to her that he was home. There was no answer. Frodo cried out sliding his hands along the door as he fell to his knees. Sam, seeing Frodo collapse, came down from the horse and ran to him taking him within his arms.
"She’s gone Samuel!" Frodo sobbed as he looked up at Sam. His heart fell within the pit of his chest as he drew himself to the door leaning his back against it. Sam knew not what to say. He could only sit back and watch as Frodo fell to pieces before his eyes. Samuel looked down the road hoping to see Hanna or Frodo’s son Holfast coming up the way but nothing was to be seen but the dense fog. His heart sank but suddenly a faint light shone down the path to the east. Sam jumped to his feet waving his arms calling out hoping the light to be someone carrying a lantern. The light then began approaching quickly as a figure formed in the rolling fog.
"Hey there!" Sam said coming down the path to the gate. He then saw the shape to be a hobbit running at a fast pace holding a lantern high in their hand.
"Samuel is that your voice I hear?" The figure yelled out.
"Father!" Sam shouted. He then ran out through the gate and into the road catching his father Holman within his arms. They both fell to the ground lost amid their tears.
"My son!" Holman gasped as he held Samuel’s face within his hands. "I thought I would never see you again. It is so good to see that you have finally come home!"
"I am home." Sam choked through his tears. He then helped his father to his feet as he turned back to look at Frodo. He was still sitting before the door with his face buried within his hands. Sam then looked at his father as a deep sigh passed over his lips.
"Where is she father?" Sam said softly. "Do you know what has become of Hanna?"
"She has left." Holman said quietly. "She has been gone for weeks now Samuel but she left me this." Holman replied as he reached inside his cloak. He then drew out an envelope and handed it to Sam. Sam took it in his hand as his father held the lantern up shining its light upon the writing. Frodo’s name was written on the envelope and it was sealed with yellow wax. Sam turned to Frodo and looked down at the envelope he held within his hand. He slowly began walking back to the gate and up the path with his father following behind. Sam came to rest before Frodo softly calling his name. Frodo looked up to Sam as he held out his hand showing Frodo the envelope. Frodo reached out to it, his hand shaking as he took the envelope from Samuel. He turned it over and seen his name written on its front, blurred from the falling rain. His fingers shook as he pulled away the seal opening the envelope as he removed the letter within. Holman held his lantern above Frodo’s head as the rain fell around while he read the words aloud…
My Dearest Frodo,
If you are reading this then I have gone on my way hoping to find you. Four weeks have since passed when you said that you would be home. I’ve had an ill feeling that something has happened to you while you were away that would cause you not to return. My path will take me to Bree where I hope to find your friend Aldamar. I pray that he may have word you are safe. If he has no word from you then I shall take to the road hoping to find you somewhere along the way. Fear not for I too shall return when I do find that you are safe at home.
Hanna
Frodo sat without saying a word as he looked at the letter watching as the rain washed away the ink holding the last words he feared he would ever hear from Hanna again. He let the paper fall from his hands and it fell down near Samuel’s feet. Sam reached down and picked it up and folded it placing it in his trouser pocket.
"What of my son?" Frodo said softly. "Where is he?"
"He is staying with your sister Frodo." Holman replied kneeling down before Frodo. He placed his hand on his shoulder as Frodo looked up, his eyes meeting with his.
"Does he know she has gone?" Frodo whispered.
"He does not." Holman said quietly. "It was only recently when I noticed that she had not returned after she left me this letter. She never spoke word to me of where she was going. Never in my days did I think she would go off on her own to find you. If I had known Frodo I would have made her stay."
"It is not your fault she has gone." Frodo quietly replied as he looked down to his hands. He then took his glance back up to Holman and Sam as they looked to him with concern.
"When did she leave?" Frodo asked.
"About two weeks ago Frodo." Holman replied. "She took your father’s pony, the one that was brought to you after he sailed away."
Frodo stood to his feet and closed his eyes as a deep sigh passed his lips. He then opened his eyes slowly looking down the front path and to the gate where his horse still stood grazing upon the grass.
"I’m going to find her." Frodo replied as he began walking away.
"Not without me!" Sam shouted grabbing Frodo by the arm.
"No Sam." Frodo said taking Sam’s hand away from his arm. "It is because of me why she has gone and I am going alone. I need you to stay here if she does return." Frodo replied as he put his hands on Samuel’s shoulders. Sam looked up to Frodo as his eyes filled with tears.
"But what if you do not return?" Sam whispered quietly.
"I can not say if I will or not Sam." Frodo said softly. "But if my road leads me elsewhere I need you to be strong and to take care of Holfast for me. You are like a brother to me and he has come to know you as an uncle. Will you promise me that dear Sam?"
Sam’s heart weighed heavy as he looked into the eyes of his dear old friend.
"What about my promise?" Sam whispered. "I can not break my word."
Frodo smiled as a gentle laugh passed his lips.
"You will not have broken your promise Samuel." Frodo replied. "You have brought me home and I am safe. Your word was kept well dear friend."
Sam smiled and drew his hand across his face drying away his tears and the falling rain.
"Then I shall stay." Sam said softly. "And I will keep my promise to you."
"So it shall be." Frodo said as he patted Sam’s shoulder. Frodo then turned away and walked down the path. He went through the gate and stopped near the horse taken the reins within his hand. He looked back through the rain to Samuel and his father Holman as they stood in front of Bag End shadowed in the light from the glowing lantern. Frodo sighed and pulled himself onto the horse looking back to Samuel as he waved a saddened goodbye. Frodo held his hand up as tears fell down his face hidden within the falling rain. He then pulled his hood up over his head and snapped the reins together riding off through town fading away into the morning fog.
*******
Frodo rode hard never stopping for a moment as he pressed on through the pouring rain. His heart beat with a fury as small lights came into sight as he drew near to Bree in the late evening after riding for a day and a half’s time. Frodo came upon the gates to Bree and pulled back on the reins of his horse as he let out a loud cry. His horse came to a stop within the veil of fine rain that still hung in the air as a face peered through an open hole in the gate. The gate then drew open slowly and Frodo charged inside riding fast along the path through town. Many lights shone within the windows of the homes along the way as Frodo came upon the stables near the Prancing Pony. Frodo quickly jumped down from his horse as he held tightly to the reins. He pulled his horse towards the stables tying his reins fast to a post. Frodo pulled his hood close around his face and looked across the way towards the inn. A few lights were still lit within as figures came into view while they passed by the windows. Frodo then made his way across the muddy road as he held his cloak tightly around him. It was then that Frodo heard a yell come from the stables and he turned around quickly as a tall man came out from the barn holding a lantern in his hand.
"Who goes there?" The man called out as he stood beside Frodo’s horse. "Come now speak your name!"
Frodo was silent as he stood in the middle of the road soaking wet with rain. The voice seemed familiar to him but he could not see the face of the man before him.
"I come from the Shire." Frodo replied. "I am seeking a friend with whom I wish to speak."
The man stood for a moment, quiet as the night but then he came away from the stables slowly walking towards Frodo as he held his lantern before him. The small figure standing in the road bore a voice he knew…one that he thought he would never hear again.
"Frodo!" The man called out as he came close. "It is I, Aldamar!"
A great smile came to Frodo’s face as he ran off towards Aldamar. He placed his lantern down beside him as he knelt down to the ground, catching Frodo within his arms.
"My dear Frodo I never thought I would see you again. All this time I had feared you dead." Aldamar replied.
"I have come." Frodo replied. "But my heart was heavy when I at last came home. Please tell me friend that you have seen my Hanna."
"That I have." Aldamar said as he put his hands on Frodo’s shoulders. "She came to Bree twelve days past. She was looking for you Frodo, asking me if I had word from you saying that you arrived in Gondor. I told her that I had heard nothing from you since the day you left me her letter. She wanted to go off to find you but I said to her that you spoke word of returning here while on your journey home. She fell into tears and could speak nothing but of her visions of you never coming home and that she could not rest until you were back within her arms."
Frodo grew silent as he looked to Aldamar. He spoke of nothing but the past. In his heart he felt as if she had already gone off to find him.
"When did she leave?" Frodo said softly as he felt tears come to his eyes.
A smile then came to Aldamar’s face as he patted Frodo’s shoulder. He sighed deeply and stood to his feet taking his lantern back within his hand.
"Come with me Frodo." Aldamar said quietly as he walked back towards the inn. Frodo followed closely behind as they walked through the rain filled road and up the front step to the Prancing Pony. Aldamar opened the door letting Frodo inside as he came in behind him. Aldamar walked inside and set his lantern on the front desk as Frodo took down his hood letting his rain soaked hair fall over his face. It was then that Frodo seen a small figure sitting before the fire in common room, looking through the window into the starless night.
"Hanna." Frodo whispered softly to himself.
"That it is." Aldamar said quietly as he put his hand on Frodo’s shoulder. "She has been sitting there every day since she came here with hopes to see you once again. I could not bare to let her go fearing that she too may become lost along the way."
Frodo looked up to Aldamar his face stricken with tears. A faint smile came to his face and he looked back to Hanna as she still sat silent before the window.
"Go now." Aldamar replied giving Frodo a small nudge. "Go to her Frodo. She has been waiting too long already."
Frodo’s heart beat hard within his chest as a lump came into his throat. He swallowed hard and slowly began walking to Hanna. He made not a sound while he came across the room as the rain dripped from his hair and cloak. Frodo soon came to rest behind her as he reached out his hand to her shoulder. Frodo touched her gently as he closed his eyes knowing she was real and that she was here. Frodo opened his eyes and smiled as Hanna slowly turned around, her pale green tear filled eyes meeting with his. No words could find their way past her trembling lips as Frodo fell down to his knees holding her tightly within his warm embrace. He kissed her brow as she rested her head upon his shoulder while she cried out with tears of joy. Frodo then pulled her away taking her face within his hands as he dried away her tears.
"I’m home." Frodo whispered as Hanna reached out to touch his smiling face.
"You are." She said softly as she drew her fingers along his cheek. She pushed his damp hair back away from his face tucking it behind his ears. It was then that she noticed the scar on his forehead above his left eye.
"Oh Frodo what has happened to you?" Hanna replied as she put her hand to his head.
"I am well." Frodo said taking her hand down and holding it within his own. "Samuel and I were attacked in Rohan. He saved me from an arrow Hanna keeping his promise to you."
Hanna then looked around Frodo and her smile slowly faded for Samuel was no where to be seen.
"Where is he Frodo?" Hanna said looking into Frodo’s eyes. "He is always at your side. Why is he not here?"
Frodo smiled and reached up to Hanna’s face drying away her tears. He then drew Hanna’s hand to his lips and kissed it gently as he placed it down within her lap.
"He is home." Frodo whispered. "I left him there waiting if by chance you were to return. I did not want you to come back thinking that neither of us had come. He held fast to his promise to you as he did to mine when I bid him to stay and not follow me here."
The soft smile slowly returned to Hanna’s face as Frodo drew his fingers through her long auburn curls letting them fall around her face. Frodo touched her cheek and she took her hand from her lap drawing it up to his as she held Frodo’s hand within her embrace. She sighed deeply and then fell into his arms holding him tightly as tears of joy filled her eyes. At last she could go on. Frodo had finally come home.
When the morning sun rose welcoming a new day Frodo woke finding Hanna sleeping peacefully in his arms. The night had grown long and Aldamar offered them rest within the inn before they headed back for home. Frodo left a soft kiss upon Hanna’s brow as he sat up catching a golden ray of sun on his face. Hanna slowly opened her eyes smiling as Frodo’s deep brown eyes met with her own. Frodo touched his hand to her cheek and smiled. Seeing her face before him was all he needed to put the pain from the journey in the past. A deep sigh then passed his lips as he looked out the window to the sun as it rose within the sky. The soft melodies of finches filled the air as he came down from the bed stretching his arms before him.
"We should set out for home within the hour." Frodo said softly as he turned back to Hanna. "I do not want to leave Samuel any longer than need be knowing his heart is full of fear that we may not return."
"I would so love to see his dear sweet face again." Hanna replied as she braided back her hair. "I have so many questions for the two of you I don’t know where to begin!" Hanna said with a soft laugh.
"There will be plenty of time for questions and answers." Frodo replied as he went to the door. "But let us go now and have a quick breakfast before setting out. I would like to have a word with Aldamar before we leave."
Hanna smiled and came down from the bed following Frodo out the door and down the hall to the common room. Once there Frodo seen Aldamar sitting at a table with two other men laughing among themselves. Aldamar then seen Frodo as he came into the room and he bid the others to give him a moment. He came away from the table to Frodo and Hanna as smiles came to their faces. Aldamar knelt down before them and took them both in his arms embracing them tightly.
"It shall not be the same without you here." Aldamar said to Hanna as he took her small hand within his own. "I will miss waking every day and seeing your beautiful face greeting me here in this room every morn."
Hanna blushed and put her hands to her lips to hold back her soft laugh.
"And you Frodo. I never thought I would see you again. My heart is happy to see you safe home my friend."
"As is mine." Frodo said as Aldamar stood back to his feet. "My heart is filled with joy upon finding Hanna safe here with you. I thank you my friend for having her stay within your care until my return."
"No thanks are needed Frodo." Aldamar said as he put his hand on Frodo’s shoulder. "Just having you and Hanna safe are all the thanks I need. But come now. I bet you are famished. Let me get a breakfast for you that is fit for a King." Aldamar replied as he led Frodo and Hanna to a nearby table. They sat down and watched as Aldamar went away soon returning with two plates laden with hotcakes, sausages, eggs and biscuits. He sat them down before Hanna and Frodo and he went off again returning with a jar of warm syrup and two large glasses filled with freshly squeezed orange juice. Frodo looked up to Aldamar smiling more brightly than he had in all the days he had been away. Five weeks had gone by since a meal such as this was placed before him. Frodo ate quickly even finishing off what Hanna could not eat before finally resting back in his chair full from his delightful meal.
A few hours later Frodo went to the stables to fetch his horse and his father’s old pony as he prepared for the journey back home. He held onto their reins and walked them out of the barn and out into the road where he stood before the inn waiting for Hanna. She soon came out the door with Aldamar at her side carrying a small basket on her arm. Aldamar stood on the front step watching as Hanna walked away towards Frodo. When she came to Frodo’s side Aldamar raised his hand and waved a goodbye as Frodo helped her onto her pony. Hanna placed the basket in her lap and waved back to Aldamar as a smiled came to his face. Frodo pulled himself onto his horse and looked back to Aldamar as he held his hand up high to his friend.
"Until we meet again dear friend." Frodo said as he drew his hand back to the reins. "You shall be with us always!"
"As will you!" Aldamar shouted to Frodo with a smile. Frodo then clapped the reins together as his horse went on down the road while Hanna followed at his side upon his father’s pony.
