Ah, here he was with another failure he could not bear. A failure of a Father, A Hobbit, A Hero. Frodo Baggins was as nothing — and now, with this broken, crippled body marred by every scar imaginable, he could no longer withstand the life his home exhibited. He grew sickly as Mayor of Michel-Delving, could scarcely get out of bed from the wounds and emotional scars of the Ring — the Quest. No..he never should have borne a child.
Never should have imagined he could be happy. Have a normal life.
He bends down, blue eyes swollen and sick, he is not the neighborly Papa that his son should be proud of — he is the one with ribs sticking out and purple smears under his eyelids from neverending fatigue.
These are the hardest words he’s ever said.
“No, Sam-lad. I..you cannot go where I am going now.” He musters a weak smile. “You have so much to do, and to be. So many adventures to take with Uncle Sam…like your namesake.” Another swallow, hands cradling the child’s face.
"I am..I am very sick, and have been hurt too badly, dear boy…my dear boy.” He repeats in a whisper. “And I..I shall never be whole again here. ”
If he stayed, his son would watch him wither away and die, it could be two years, or four, but he would die quickly. The sacrifice of saving Middle-Earth had been his life after all.
“I have been deeply hurt…Sam-lad. I must..get rest, you see? And it will take a long time…and we shall be apart for a while. But in time, I do not believe it will be for ever. Someday I imagine you, strong and braver than your old Father, to embark and find the shores of Valinor…” Tears spring to his broken eyes.
“….And you shall find me there, waiting upon the shore…with stories to be told from both of us.”
that ever distant shore.
how did you tell your son that the world you saved was killing you? how did you tell him that you were beyond repair?
he had no right..to be a father.
drinkinwithskeletons liked this - drinkinwithskeletons said:
i can’t…..
xlphonse-blog liked this
ninefingered posted this