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He hadn’t gone there to say goodbye to Bilbo. Everything seemed to hold still when the realization slowly grew in your mind. Now that you understood what he was meaning to do, you couldn’t stop yourself from crying. He had already said goodbye to all. Merry, Pippin, Sam... and you. Your friends couldn’t stop crying either, but they let him go. Something you couldn’t do.
“Frodo!” You called out to him just as he was walking towards the boat. “Frodo, don’t go...”
“I tried to stay, Y/N” He whispered with his soft voice, sweet like honey. Just as sweet as him. “I can’t do it”
You took a deep breath. It was true that for the first time in all those years since the ring had been destroyed, you finally felt like he was at peace there. The ghost of that burden had finally left him, the memories that poisoned his mind were starting to fade away once and for all.
But you couldn’t take it. It broke your heart to know that was the only way. You needed him, his absence would create far too big a void within you.
“Frodo, please...” You sobbed, holding on to his shoulder. “We can fix it... we can... together we can heal that wound...”
“No... I’m afraid we can’t” Frodo squeezed your hand, wincing when it touched the scar on his shoulder. “The wound is closed, Y/N, though it will not heal...”
“I didn’t mean that wound” To demostrate, you lowered your hand until it landed on his heart.
Frodo frowned, letting his hand follow yours. He sighed, making both your hands rise and fall with his breathing and his heartbeat. A shudder reached you when you thought it would be the last time you felt it. The last time you would feel or see him.
Both of you paused, staring into each other’s eyes. His were pale, rid from their usual light and liveliness. There were dark circles around them, creating a stark contrast with the pale tone his skin had acquired as of late. Yet desipte it all, somehow you knew. When you looked into his deep blue eyes, you understood. There was no healing possible for him, not even with you. The elves were providing him with the only happy ending he had.
“It will be alright, Y/N” His fingers closed around your hand, bringing a pang to your chest when you once again saw one missing. “You’re strong, you always were”
Your bottom lip shook at the thought of all you had endured with them. How long that journey to Mordor with Frodo and Sam had been, and how much strength you had to show.
“Y/N won’t be alone, Mr. Frodo” Sam’s voice, although shaky, was determined.
“We won’t let it happen” Pippin added too. You could barely understand him from how hard he was crying still.
Both their hands fell on your back, providing you with the comfort and support you needed to face that moment. It felt harder to withstand that than your endeavor to destroy the ring.
“Let him go” Merry whispered in your ear as his hand fell over your shoulder.
“Frodo...” You sobbed once again, staring at him. He patiently waited as you gathered the courage to continue speaking. “Goodbye...”
You gulped, swallowing your grief. It wasn’t fair. You couldn’t be selfish enough to make him stay because of your own grief. He deserved to be at peace with his own.
Frodo smiled, something you hadn’t seen in a long time. It was the proof you needed to heed Merry’s advice. After everything he had sacrificed, your dear Frodo could finally rest. You needed to let him do so.
Before he left, Frodo kissed you in the forehead. He lingered for several seconds, though they would never be enough. Then, he looked back one last time, smiling still, as he walked with Bilbo and Gandalf.
You watched him, unable to look away. Despite it all, the touch of your friends was a comfort that helped you stand his departure, even if tears cascaded down your cheeks.