The plain white blankness of the page mocked him, but Frodo had no words to put on it. Outside his window, he could hear some of the children laughing and screaming in their play. In the kitchen, Rosie and Elanor were helping some of the younger girls roll out and decorate cookies. Sam was in the garden, aided by Frodo-lad and a few of the others, and still, the page was white, spotlessly pure. Where had his words gone?
There was a tentative knock on the door, and two little brunette heads peeped in. Frodo put down his pen and smiled at the two girls. "Hello, Molly, Meli. Are the others with you?"
A giggle from the hallway, and the door opened further, letting Diasy and Sam-lad peek in as well. "We're here, Uncle Frodo. Are you busy?" All four faces looked at him pleadingly, and Frodo stifled a laugh. He stood up from his chair and came around the desk, motioning them inside.
"What can I do for the merriest bunch of troublemakers in the Shire?" he asked, and the children laughed as they rushed to hug him. For a moment he was surrounded by small warm bodies, and Frodo laughed as well, stretching his arms to try to hug them all back at once. They pulled back as a group and plopped down on the floor, grinning up at him.
"We're not troublemakers, Uncle Frodo," Meli informed him.
"We're not," Molly affirmed, and wrapped one arm around Meli's waist and the other around Sam-lad's. "Trouble just finds us."
Daisy nodded and leaned against Sammy's other side. "We just try to have fun."
Sam-lad reached around Molly and squeezed Meli's shoulder. "Exactly. And besides, the way people tell it, you-"
"And Da," put in Meli.
"And Da," agreed Molly.
"And Da," Daisy chimed in, and the three girls grinned at each other.
"-and Uncle Fatty were quite the troublemakers when you were all young," finished Sammy, not missing a beat.
Frodo laughed again and looked at the four of them. "That's very true. Did you you come here hoping I could give you some new ideas for michief making?"
Four little hobbit heads shook in unison. They exchanges glances quickly while Frodo, amused, watched them and guessed who their spokesperson would be.
He was proven right as Meli sat up a little straighter and smiled winningly at him. "We were hoping you would tell us a story."
Molly nodded and added her smile to Meli's. "A new one. With Elves."
"And Hobbits," added Sam, looking up pleadingly.
"And magic," finished Daisy, flashing a hopeful grin.
Frodo held up his hands in surrender, and the children joined him in laughing. Suddenly inspired, he dropped his hands and beamed back at the children. "I have a better idea."
He was fixed with the expectant gazes of four children, and he smiled more, turning back towards his desk. "Why don't we all tell a story," Frodo moved back around the desk and sat down, picking up his pen, "and I'll write it down as we do?"
All four children jumped to their feet at once, clapping their hands in delight and babbling excitedly. Frodo held up his hand and they quieted, sinking back to the floor and taking up what he recognized as their thinking poses. Meli lay on her side, her head pillowed on Sammy's knee, as he leaned back against the wall with both legs flat. Molly sat tailor-style with her back resting against Meli's tummy, and Daisy sat with her legs against the wall and her back flat on the floor. Her skirts fell against Sammy's head, and he brushed them off, mock-scowling at her. "You're not supposed to sit like that, Daisy. Mum says it's not lady-like."
Daisy stuck her tongue out at him, but turned back rightside up and curled up next to his shoulder. Frodo laughed quietly, and dipped his quill into the ink. "Are we all set?" A chorus of 'yes,' and he smiled as his hand hovered over the page. "How should we begin it?"
"'Once upon a time'!" chorused three voices, but Meli shook her head. The others looked at her in surprise, and Frodo stilled his hand.
"Meli?"
Closing her eyes for a moment, Meli lifted one of her hands and traced out the words. "'A long time ago, very far away, there lived a beautiful Elf princess.'" there were nods from the other three, and Frodo wrote it down.
"It's a beautiful start, Meli. What was her name?"
For a few moments there was absolute madness as the four children tossed out, discussed and rejected half of the female names in the Shire. They finally settled on Megolas, and Frodo smiled as he marked it down.
"'And Megolas was very lonely,'" Molly continued, twisting a curl around her finger. "'She lived among her kin, and loved them, but she had never found another person that she could be best friends with.'"
"That's silly," said Daisy, and Frodo stopped, glad he hadn't yet started on the second sentence.
"What's silly about it?" asked Sammy, looking down at his sister.
"She lived with her family and didn't find anyone to be best friends with? That would be horrible."
"Yes," Meli piped up, "but she isn't a hobbit. Maybe she really didn't find anyone special to be her best friend."
Daisy sighed. "Well, all right." Frodo rewet his pen and noted it down.
"What next?"
Sammy looked thoughtful. "'Megolas used to ride among the forests of her people, seeking time to be alone since she couldn't be happy among her family. Often she would ride beyond the forest, and look out upon the meadows, smelling the sweet scents of the flowers growing there.'"
Meli patted his hand. "That's great!" Molly turned and gave him a large smile, silently agreeing. Frodo smiled and took it down. The four troublemakers were quite adept at making up stories, and he was happy to help them record it.
Daisy cleared her throat and met his eyes. "Ready, Uncle Frodo?" He nodded, pen poised, and she began her peice of the tale. "'Then one day Megolas met a very pretty hobbit, wandering among the trees at the edge of the forest. They both stopped, surprised by the other. The hobbit recovered first.'"
Frodo's pen flew over the page, and he looked up in surprise when Daisy stopped. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"What happened next?" Frodo flushed lightly as the children began laughing heartily, recognizing the role reversal as well as they did. He shook his head ruefully and smiled. "You all are excellent storytellers."
"The story's not done yet, Uncle Frodo," Daisy said, and giggled. "But I am. For now. I can't think of anything else."
"What's the hobbit lass's name?" Again, Frodo's question provoked mayhem, finally settled by Molly and Meli blurting out "Marywise!" at the same time. The other two were enchanted, and Frodo waited to see how the name would be introduced.
"'While Megolas sat there upon her horse, the young hobbit bobbed a curtesy and introduced herself in a soft voice. "My name is Marywise, lady elf," said the hobbit. "I didn't mean to intrude upon your woods. I only hoped to gather some wintergreen." Megolas smiled at Marywise and swung down off her horse, kneeling to bring them closer to the same height.'" Molly squeezed Meli's hand, and twisted to look down at her. "Your turn."
"Um..." Meli thought a moment, then picked up the story where Molly have left it. "'"I apologize for startling you, and am quite pleased to meet you. I am no lady, only Megolas." Megolas held her hand out to Marywise. "I can show you where the best wintergreen grows, if you would like." Mary nodded eagerly, taking the elf's hand.'"
Meli stopped and tapped Sam's leg. "Tag."
Sammy laughed and squeezed her hand, then let it go. "I knew you were going to say that! But I was thinking this time." He cleared his throat and began. "'From that day forward, the two were nearly inseparable. Marywise had wandered far from the Shire in search of adventure and found it in Megolas. And Megolas had found the best friend she had longed for. The days and weeks and months passed, and the two grew very close. They shared everything together, and cared for each other more than anything. And bit by bit, with all the time they shared, Megolas and Marywise fell in love.'"
Daisy clapped her hands, and laughed. "Oh, lovely!" Meli and Molly added their congratulations as well, and Frodo carefully wrote it all down, smiling at the lovely tale that was filling his empty pages.
Sammy grinned at all the attention he was getting, and smiled at Daisy. "Your turn again, Daisy. You ready?"
Daisy nodded. "Is it ok if I finish the story?" Meli shook her head.
"You can almost finish it. But Uncle Frodo has to finish it totally."
Four pairs of eyes looked to Frodo, and he laughed. "I would be honored to end the story, lovies. But first, Miss Daisy. It's your turn, I believe."
"'They were very happy together, and wanted to stay together forever, but Megolas and Marywise were concerned that Megolas' family would not understand them. So they left the forest together, and moved to a place half-way between the Shire and the forest, and set up a home of their own. And Marywise and Megolas lived there together until Marywise was very old, and tired. Megolas watched her age, and her heart ached at the thought of being alone again after finally having found her Marywise.'" Daisy stopped, embarassed. "I can't think of anything else. I'm sorry, I thought I was closer to the end."
"It's alright, Daisy," Molly patted her hand. "I can go on with it, if you like."
"Please do."
Molly took Meli's hand and played again with one of her curls. "'Megolas hugged Marywise, and left her for a few days, traveling back to the forest of her family. She went to the Lord of the forest, and asked for his aid, and advice, telling him off the love she had found in Marywise. The lord of the forest listened to her plea and then thought for a long time. Megolas waited in an agony of suspense.'"
Meli tugged on one of Molly's curls. "Why'd you stop?"
Blushing, Molly admitted, "I can't think of anything else either."
Giggling, Sam-lad took up the challenge. "'Finaaly, the lord of the forest broke his silence. "You love this hobbit, Megolas?" Megolas nodded, her throat full of tears. "Enough to die with her, if you must?" Megolas closed her eyes for a moment and thought of Marywise's smile, and a cold lonely life without it to brighten her days. She opened her eyes, her gaze steady. "I am," she said, and didn't regret it for a moment.'
"'The lord of the forest nodded. "Your love for her is a beautiful thing. You would both be welcome in the Undying Lands." Megolas gasped, and the lord smiled as he continued. "You must take your love to the Grey Havens, and ask for a ship, sailing to the West. But-" he held up a finger. "Once you leave the shores of Middle Earth, you can never return."'"
Sammy stopped, and tapped Meli lightly on the head. "Your go. Bring it to the end."
Meli crinkled her nose at him. "I'm glad you're so sure I can!" she exclaimed, and they all laughed. Frodo turned another page and waited. Meli took a deep breath, then went on with the tale. "'Megolas thanked the lord of the forest, and hurried back to her home. Marywise was waiting for her, thin and frail from age, and Megolas' heart sang as she beheld her love. To her, Marywise was just as beautiful now as she had been the day they had met by accident. Marywise listened carefully as Megolas told her what the lord of the forest had said. "You would leave your home forever for me?" she asked Megolas, holding her hands tight. Megolas nodded, and they kissed, sweetly, and prepared to go the Grey Havens.'
"As they watched the shores of Middle Earth fall away behind them, Marywise and Megolas held onto one another and smiled, safe in the knowledge of their love.'" Meli stopped, and Frodo finished writing the last bit, and looked up to find himself the center of attention again.
He stretched, looking down at the formerly blank pages. The children had woven an enchanting tale, and now they expected him to finish it properly. Frodo closed his eyes for a long moment, and thought, hard, trying to find the best way to finish the story of the lovers. Inspired, he opened his eyes and looked at the four eager young faces.
"'And legend has it, that in the Undying Lands, live still the two lovers, Marywise the hobbit and Megolas the Elf. They stand as proof that love can last forever, and bring hope to all who hear their story.'"
All that could be heard in the room were the outside noises of the other children still playing and screaming. Frodo waited for the four troublemakers to respond, hoping they liked his ending.
Meli found her voice first. "That's the best ending ever. Thank you, Uncle Frodo." She untangled herself from the others and came to stand by his elbow, looking down at their story. "Are you going to write it?"
The others hurried over and watched as well, and Frodo, very conscious of his audience, dipped his quill in the ink and wrote down the last two lines. There was a collective sigh, and the four children hugged him and each other, more subdued than normally.
"It's the best story ever," Daisy declared, and wiped away a tear. "I'll bet nobody else has ever written this kind of story before."
Molly nodded and hugged Daisy tight. "And even if they have, ours is still the best. It's my favorite."
"Mine, too," Sam agreed, and entered into the hug, followed quickly by Meli, who looked over her shoulder at Frodo. Frodo laid his pen down and wrapped his arms around all the children and held them close.
"It's a lovely story. Quite possibly the most lovely story ever." Frodo was rewarded by enormous smiles from all the children. He couldn't resisit teasing them a little bit, though, and his eyes sparkled as he did. "It's good to see that you four have other talents rather than just making mischief all the time."
Four voices started protesting at once, and Rosie laughed as she knocked gently on the door and opened it to peek inside. "There you all are. Have you been bothering Frodo?"
More denials, and Rosie grinned at the children. "Who wants cookies? Elanor's handing them out in the kitchen." She opened the door and stepped to the side as the mischief makers swarmed out, calling exuberant thank-you's over their shoulders. Frodo smiled at Rosie and took her into his arms, kissing her hair.
"They were quite good. It was remarkable."
"What did they want? To bother you?" Rosie glanced a the desk. "I see you did get something written after all."
"No," Frodo said, smiling at the full pages, "they weren't trying to bother me. They wanted a story."
"So?"
"So, they told me one. And I wrote it down, in the Book."
Rosie laughed. "It must have been quite the story."
Frodo smiled and picked up the book, touching the pages gently. "It was. I'll read it to you and Sam later, alright?"
"Alright. Now, did you want a cookie?" Rosie took his hand and led him out of the study. The wind stirred the pages of the book, and a sunbeam illuminated the last two lines of the story, and outside, life went on.
~