As the sun rose with the coming dawn Frodo opened his eyes and sat up rubbing them with the palms of his hands. When he took his hands away he seen Samuel sitting in the rocking chair near the bed with his hand resting up against his head. He was fast asleep. Frodo then noticed that Hanna was no where in the room. He reached over to Sam and tapped him on the arm waking him from sleep.
"Have you seen Hanna?" Frodo asked as Sam opened his eyes.
"Can’t say that I have." Sam replied as he stretched and yawned. "But I did hear some noise out in the kitchen earlier. She may have woken before the both of us."
"Maybe." Frodo said pushing aside the covers. "Get yourself woke up now Sam, once we have had our breakfast I will be setting out." Frodo then jumped out of bed and walked out into the hall. He peered down the hallway into the den and a smile came to his face. Hanna was sitting in his chair sleeping with two bags resting in her lap. Frodo went into the den and stood before her watching as she slept. Her hands were resting over the bags and her hair had fallen out of its tie letting her auburn curls fall over her face. The smell of sweet bread filled the air as Frodo realized that she had been baking and packing their bags for them before they woke. Frodo then took the bags down from her lap and Hanna woke with a deep sigh.
"Hullo." Hanna whispered seeing Frodo standing before her. "Has the sun rose already?"
"That it has." Frodo said as he pushed Hanna’s curls away from her face and behind her ear. He smiled and took her hands in his holding them tight.
"Thank you for packing." Frodo said as he helped Hanna up from the chair. "That was very sweet of you."
"Glad to help." Hanna said through a smile. "I thought it would save you some time." Hanna then embraced Frodo tightly resting her head on his chest.
"I’m going to miss you so." Hanna whispered. "You will be gone for months."
"They will pass quickly." Frodo said putting his hand on Hanna’s chin lifting her head so her eyes met his. "I will come home, I promise you. I am not going to stay away."
Tears filled Hanna’s soft green eyes as Frodo kissed her gently on her brow pulling her close to his beating heart. She listened to his heartbeat as she thought of the days ahead that she would fill with worry until Frodo was safe within her arms once more. She then looked up to Frodo and seen that his eyes too were filled with tears. She reached up and dried them away as a thin smile passed over her lips.
"Let me go and get breakfast ready for you and Sam." Hanna replied. "The days ahead will be long and you should not leave on an empty stomach."
Frodo smiled brightly as he gently caressed Hanna’s cheek before she walked away into the kitchen. He sighed deeply as she disappeared around the corner. Indeed the days ahead were going to be long but the vision of her smiling face would keep him going on forever.
After breakfast Samuel left for home as Hanna quietly packed some bread and meat for the long journey ahead. She then went to the study and there found Frodo standing before the open window holding a cloak in his hands. Hanna came to his side and gently brushed the back of his neck with her fingers. Frodo turned and looked at Hanna as tears fell down his sun-kissed cheeks.
"I found this in my closet. It was hidden away on the shelf under some old shirts." Frodo said softly looking back out the window. "It’s my father’s cloak. The one given to him while he was in Lothlorien. There was a note pinned to it."
"What did it say?" Hanna asked. Frodo then handed her a small piece of paper. She unfolded it and read the words aloud that were written in his father’s hand.
To wear when you at last set out on an adventure of your own.
"He knew one day that you too would long to have your own tale to tell such as his." Hanna said as she came around Frodo standing in front of him. She took the cloak from his hands and draped it over his shoulders letting it fall behind him. Hanna then fastened it around his neck with the silver-green leaf shaped broach that was pinned to the cloak near Frodo’s shoulder. She then pulled his hair out from under the hood and looked deep into his eyes smiling.
"I will be here waiting when you return Frodo." Hanna said as she left a kiss upon his cheek. "I will miss you."
"And I you." Frodo replied drawing Hanna close. It was then when Sam came into the room gently tapping on the open door.
"Sorry to disturb you Frodo, but all is ready." Sam muttered. "The ponies are saddled and out at the front gate loaded up and ready to go."
"Thank you Sam." Frodo said as looked down into Hanna’s eyes. He then took her hand in his and walked with her into the den and out the front door as Sam followed behind. Frodo made his way down the front path and stopped at the gate. Sam stood silently at his side as Frodo brought Hanna’s hand to his lips leaving on it a gentle kiss.
"I shall be home in four months." Frodo replied. "Keep yourself well while I am away and know that you will be in my thoughts every waking moment." Frodo then dried the tears from her eyes as he gently touched her cheek. She brought her hand to his and pressed it to her lips.
"You shall be with me always." Hanna said through her tears. "From the dawning of the morn till the rising of the moon." Frodo took Hanna into his arms embracing her tightly before letting her go as he left a kiss upon her brow. He then made his way through the gate and sat himself on his pony. Sam then turned to follow but Hanna took him by the arm.
"Promise me you will look after him Samuel and bring him safely home." Hanna whispered.
"I promise." Sam said trying to hold back his own tears. "I shall let nothing happen to him while we are away."
Hanna then took Sam’s hands in hers and grasped them tightly.
"Thank you." She whispered as she brought his hands to her lips. She kissed them gently and then let them fall from her grasp. Sam smiled and then turned away walking through the gate and to his pony. He climbed on his pony’s back taking the reins in his hands. Frodo then clapped his reins together turning his pony to the eastern path out of Hobbiton. Hanna stood at the front gate, tears falling down her weary face as she watched Frodo and Sam go down the path until they faded away over the hill in the light of the shimmering sun.
