"I should like to save the Shire, if I could - though there have been times when I thought the inhabitants too stupid and dull for words, and have felt that an earthquake or an invasion of dragons might be good for them. But I don't feel like that now. I feel that as long as the Shire lies behind, safe and comfortable, I shall find wandering more bearable: I shall know that somewhere there is a firm foothold, even if my feet cannot stand there again."

carrying the world around his neck

"I see no hope of it now. But I've got to do the best I can."

celestialcanine:

ninefingered:

^{She clearly disagreed with the prospect, and Frodo raised his hands in surrender. Hopefully she would find food she would accept, but until then he could only worry for the creature that wasn’t quite a creature. Following her, his feet keenly felt the snow, cool and stretched beneath his skin. Yes, cold indeed. It seemed he was either plunged into dark lands or the chill of winter, with no in-between. What he wouldn’t give for something else.}

^{Frodo had only a minute to ponder that before the ground beneath his feet felt drier, filled with greenery, life as he hadn’t recalled it in ages. As grass sprouted from the ground his lips parted, large eyes taking in the blooming flowers, the shine and light that seemed too real. It was no illusion. For a moment he could have sworn he felt a warm sun on his back, a field of crops, a small hobbit door painted in green and gold.} 

^{His chest ached, longingly taking in the sight with disbelief and wonder all at once. For in that spring he saw the Shire, and in that spring for a moment he was home.} 

^{“How…” The Ringbearer managed, blinking dazedly as if to assure himself he was not dreaming. “By Elbereth and Luthien the Fair..how? ”}

^{”..What are you? That you could bring the spring to winter? I thought I might have felt the sun.”} 

^{How long had he seen green lands? Open-mouthed, he could only walk into the thrall of that Spring, towards the white beast who made it possible.}

The canine’s cranium was tilted towards the heaven. Life blossomed between her toes, and it felt relaxing for her paws to knead the blades of grass once more instead of the numbing cold. She was no longer watching Frodo for his reaction, but basking in the sunlight and the glories of spring itself. The bursts of life gave off a green twinkle in the very light of a suddenly overbearing sun. It was this that lifted her heart like helium overflowing a balloon, and hopefully it would do similar for her battered companion.

The wolf ceased to gaze longingly into the sky to finally acknowledge the shock that was drawn upon her tiny friend’s mug. He was at a loss for words, stuttering as he questioned how; how was it possible for her to summon spring with just a mere swish of her chalky tail? Being unable to respond in words that he could comprehend, the goddess stood in silence that spoke words; a knowing expression tracing her face accompanied by a smug, dog-like smile.

He was clever. It wouldn’t take him long to stitch the pieces together, would it? She’d cast her head heavenward again to gaze upon the sun; perhaps a noticeable clue for her intelligent, tiny friend.

^{She looked the the sun. It had come from her. The knowledge hit him. The sun had come from her. This large white beast, who illuminated a grim city for but a moment for a wearied soul, like some guiding light that shone over all things. It made him think of – Eru Ilúvatar.  The creator god of Arda, Father of All Things..the great deity who had created most of all the beings in Middle-earth and beyond…such a thing could only be done by one of that nature, couldn’t it? He wondered if Gandalf could, but he doubted it..and there was no time now to wonder for Gandalf was gone, and he had to ask.} 

^{”…The sun comes from you, doesn’t it? What comes to mind are great ones, far greater than a mere hobbit who stands so close to the earth – but one of the stars. Who is beyond my understanding..“ A swallow, earnest, fascinated and awed all at once he continued. "There is one creator god in Arda, my..my home, my world. He is Eru Iluvatar, Father of All Things. He who made my race, many others, who surely moves in some way I hope, pray, despite all that has happened."} 

^{He took a step closer, blue eyes large and almost hopeful.}

^{"Are you such a being, Miss? Because I look at you and I see nothing but goodness and it has been a very long time since I have seen it so.”}