All Was Safe with the Sea

Written By: RadcliffePotter You can Read the Original Here : All Credit Goes to the Author

All Was Safe with the Sea

Frodo drifted, hinging on the edge of consciousness. And during this tenuous balance between blissful unconsciousness and a return to the waking world he felt nothing. He was neither hungry nor thirsty. He was neither in pain nor felt in danger. The only thing there that seemed to exist was time. Endless, infinite time. In reality, those moments Frodo spent between the first signs of awakening and senselessness were short; it seemed to Frodo to be the length of an Age of Men – and then some. He thought that he could finally understand what the life of an Elf felt like: slow and calm, with the events of the world coming as they would, with full time allowed to feeling and considering each event. Slowly though, Frodo felt the nothing drifting away, being replaced by something. He heard voices in the distance, calling his name. But Frodo ignored them. Once again he was tired, his soul was weary. And he felt unsure that he could go on.

The anxiety within him seemed to build to an unbearable level until there came the feeling of a sudden sense of calm. Frodo found himself far away from pain and death. He was standing on a beach, the rough grains of pale, tan sand squishing between his bare toes. Standing by the ocean, he felt more calm and centered than he could ever remember being before. The sound of the waves, the cry of the gulls and the salt smell seemed familiar, no matter that he had never encountered them before. This was a place that he could trust. He knew this instinctually. Frodo waded shin-deep into the ocean. The water was cool and clear. Looking down, Frodo could see the sandy bottom, covered with shells and oceanic debris. Not far away, a school of small, silver fish was floating, seemingly unconcerned by his presence. A small crab scuttled along, pincers nipping languidly at the sandy bottom.

Withdrawing from the water, Frodo sat down upon the warm sand, closed his eyes and listened. He savored every moment. Savored feeling alive. Savored feeling free. Savored simply being himself. Frodo realized that this moment would not last forever, but the impact that it left would never be erased. The feeling that all was safe with the sea.

In the Ringbearer’s sick room in the rocky fortress of Minas Tirith, soon-to-be King Elessar and the wizard Gandalf sat passing the time engaging in idle talk while watching over their small charge. Frodo Baggins, former Ringbearer and life time friend of both men. His past nights had not been good ones. The Hobbit had seemingly woken in the middle of the night, panic stricken and confused. He didn’t seem to realize that his task was done, his burden gone. However, this night was strangely different. Both Men seemed to have sensed the same thing at the same time, for they looked down to find the most unimaginable thing.

“By the stars, my old friend, he’s smiling.” Gandalf murmured. And indeed, it was true. For the first time since their task had begun, Frodo Baggins was smiling. Smiling with his heart.