The Lord of the Rings: The Banshee Queen

Chapter 27

Please let me stay like this.
Please let Dawn be sleeping beside me.
"I'm an old fool. I do not want him to go on any more adventures. If he does, I'll cast a spell on him that makes him unable to move."
"Trust me, he'd rather die before he embarks on another one."
My ears recognized those friendly voices.
Sunlight warmed my aching body as I woke up from my pleasant mental sanctuary.
I was in a white garment, soft blankets covering me and the room I was in was terribly familiar including the two smiling faces that sat near the edge of the bed.
"Gandalf!"
He laughed and my dearest Sam grinned broadly, seizing my hand.
How I missed him!
He was still as soft as cotton, his belly round, and his calling of my name caused me to almost break down.
"Bless you, you did it, Mr. Frodo! The Banshees are gone! I knew you could do it! You are the strongest Hobbit I have ever known!"
"Oh, Sam! Tell me it was all a nightmare!" I cried, clinging on to him.
I only wanted to see Hobbits, Elves, Men, and Dwarves; no Banshees and certainly no Scavengers.
"Dawn should be back from the Houses of Healing at any moment," said Gandalf, glancing at the open hallway.
"That was a very nasty cut you gave her."
I froze and looked over to him, asking, "Dawn? Oh, tell me she's alright, Gandalf!"
Merry's head popped into the room, his teeth sparkling white.
"Hello, Frodo! You had a good rest I bet," he chirped.
I nodded.
Seeing them smiling and talking was marvelous; no tears were being shed.
"Come on, Pip! He's finally awake!"
Merry stepped in and with their arms entwined, Pippin and Dawn followed him inside the happy room.
Her curls lush and her bronze eyes glittering, Dawn beamed, wearing a pristine nightgown with her hand bandaged, and holding onto Pippin for support.
Sadness was eradicated from her face.
Only extreme happiness remained.
She was free to be Dawn Starkin; a Hobbit, not the offspring of a dead Banshee Queen.
"Thank you, Peregrin," she said, patting him and sliding into bed, snuggling up to me.
Oh, how lovely she was today. Unchained from the shackles of her mother, she nestled her head on my shoulder.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Splendid now that you are here," I answered. "Who else is here?"
"Legolas and Gimli," Sam replied. "We can get them for you if you want."
"Please do. They must be worried sick about me,"
"Éowyn, Faramir, and Éomer are here as well. Practically everybody is," Pippin chimed in.
"Let's not overwhelm them, Peregrin Took," Gandalf said. "They need rest."
"We've gotten enough of that, but thank you," I commented.
Dawn coughed, her eyebrows raised.
By that expression alone, I knew what she meant.
"But we'd like to be alone for now," I added.
They all snickered.
"We understand," Merry laughed. "We'll, uh, be outside. Shout out to us if you need anything."
Leaving us in the room, they laughed on the way out.
Falling backwards on the thick pillows, Dawn sighed and said, "You cut a little too deep."
I positioned myself on my side, brushing my knuckles over her rosy cheek.
"I wanted to get all of that dreadful magic out of you," I explained.
"And look at you...you're my hero, Frodo Baggins."
"You only wanted them out of here so we can make love, you insatiable little she-Hobbit."
She giggled and kissed me then took on a serious expression.
"How did you escape? The torture chamber that is?"
Veon's bleeding corpse and final words haunted me.
She sought death and she received it by my hands.
"Do you recall one Banshee named Veon? She had fire for hair. She told me that she wanted to die and that she would help me if I gave her what she searched for and that's what I did."
"How did you"-
"She had a cloak that casts invisibility. It allowed me to hide from them," I said, interrupting her question.
"She regretted her life, didn't she? Everyone else talked about her in foul tongues, but they never said why they hated her. Poor thing."
I agreed and wrapped my arm around her, content and sleepy.
All we needed was each other.
"Frodo?"
"Yes, Dawn?"
"How do you feel about marriage?"