[Child of the 7th Age]

As Cami headed down the corridor to the chamber where Pio had taken the twins for their nap, the cheery sounds and music of the party grew softer and gradually faded away. The room was dimly lit with lacy curtains drawn across the windows. Grey shadows played along the walls as Cami tripped inside and latched the door behind her. She could hear the babies' breath rising and falling with reassuring regularity and a slight rustle or two as the twins nestled deeper into their bedclothes.

Leaning over the two cradles, Cami gently stroked the soft, dark hair on the top of each small head. A flood of conflicting emotions welled up inside. I am so lucky to have come here, to have this tiny space of time. I might never have known that you even existed. But, however I engrave your images on my heart, you will not remember me, and your faces will remain young and unchanging.

She stroked the sleeping form first of Isilmir and then of Gilwen, attaching the names to the faces and vowing that she would never forget them. She tersely reminded herself not to mar the goodbye with tears, then stepped back a pace and quietly spoke.

"If I pick you up, you'll probably awaken so it's best not to try. We'll have to be content with this. But when my own son is born, as winter turns to spring, I'll remember the friends he might have had here. If only....if only..."

Cami's voice trailed off. Then she turned and hastily retreated. Only when she was well down the hallway did the tears threaten to overwhelm her eyes. Pacing resolutely into the common room, she was rubbing her fingers hard against her brow to try to regain some semblance of composure when she unexpectedly heard a voice calling her name from across the room. Glancing up, she saw the familiar figure of Lorien striding towards her.

Cami felt her body stiffen with displeasure. This was the last person she ever wanted to see. She'd had enough pleading and begging to last for the remainder of her life.

Before she could open her mouth, Lorien raised his hand slightly as if to forestall further conversation. When he spoke, his tone sounded grave. "You are to come. Bilbo has decided it is time. He rests in the courtyard at the back of the Inn. There, he listens to the rustling of the beeches and gazes out at the stars that glitter from beyond while Frodo waits by his side."

Cami hastily arose and followed in Lorien's footsteps, walking through the kitchens and out the back door into the gardens. She stopped just once to register a plea in Cook's ear, asking her to speak with Pio and Mithadan and let them know what was happening. As the iron gate creaked back on its hinges, Maura rushed forward and engulfed her within his arms, steadying her with his presence.

********************************************

With her arm clinging tight around Maura's waist, Cami watched Frodo kneel beside Bilbo, and reach out to stroke his silver hair in a final gesture of intimacy as the two exchanged words of sorrow and reassurance. She saw the younger hobbit place a kiss on his uncle's brow, shakily stand up, and turn about to face them.

"He wishes to talk with you....both of you," Frodo murmurred, gesturing in Bilbo's direction.

Cami stepped forward but then stopped, looking gravely into Frodo's eyes, "You will be alright?"

"Yes, I think so." He smiled wearily, "He tells me to hurry up....that it's time for all of us to leave this dream and find our way home to where we're meant to be." Cami leaned forward and, on a rare impulse, embraced Frodo for an instant and then let go, taking up Maura's hand.

"Come," Maura whispered softly, guiding his wife forward. Together, the couple walked to the base of the giant beech that stood in the middle of the garden, where Bilbo lay resting with his back nestled against the trunk; his body hung limp and quiet but the light of his eyes still shown bright.

As Cami knelt down for one last time to try and dissuade him, Bilbo curtly interrupted, "I know what you mean to say. We've been through this. It's time to move on. I won't have any useless discussion now." He smiled at Cami in the familiar way that he had so often done when she was a child, with a gaze both stubborn and affectionate.

"We have other things to settle," Bilbo reminded them. "You two. You will do as Lorien bid." He stared at Maura with a question in his eyes.

"We've given our word," Maura responded evenly with no hint of emotion. "Just as we gave our promise to Mithrandir and the Valar in Beleriand. However hard it seems, I will honor that pledge."

"And you Cami?" Bilbo turned to his former pupil. "I need to hear it from your own mouth. I can't ask for something like this if you're running off somewhere causing trouble. Will you hold to the bargain that you sealed on Tol Fuin, the night when the waters rose?"

Cami pushed back her smile and stared off into the night locked in private reflection, as she struggled to find words that would honestly explain how she felt, "You are a friend, one of the dearest I have ever had, and I've given you my word. I will not break that."

"Beyond that, I can not say. I can no longer pretend to agree with the Valar or to understand the bargain they've doled out to me and my children." She hesitated and added with emphasis, "Especially my children who were no partners to this pact... Nor can I hide my fears and anger pretending those feelings don't exist. But you, Bilbo Baggins, have asked me to do something in hopes that you can help us, and I won't go back on my word to a friend. Perhaps, wherever you are going, a simple promise to a friend will suffice."

Bilbo shook his head and crustily observed, "Then, whatever our reasons, we are agreed. You will do as Lorien asks and return to your own time. And I will do as I must, going beyond to carry a plea for you and Maura to come together through the mists of time, just as Luthien once implored Mandos that she might join Beren, and that same request was brought to Manwe, and even further beyond. But whether a simple hobbit with little merit can be heard, I can not say."

"Now, get that rascal Frodo to come down here again."

Maura politely nodded and stepped back as Frodo approached Bilbo's side. Cami waited for a moment whispering a final farewell under her breath, "Goodbye, Bilbo. Thank you for the kindnesses you've shown me all these years, and for how you tried to help us. Maura and I won't forget...no matter what happens. Sleep well, my friend."

With that Cami embraced Bilbo and waited with Maura by the side of the garden. They both watched as Frodo bent close to his uncle exchanging a few secret words. Then Bilbo lay back in sleep, and the light that had sparkled in his eyes spread out over his entire face, and he seemed to be at peace. Like a young child, Frodo lay curled up on the grass beside him and instantly fell asleep. A moment later the two had vanished, each going on a separate path. Then, Maura took Cami's hand in his own and led his grieving wife back through the gate and inside the Inn.

[ August 31, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]