By: Dana
Summary: He can feel that the waves are washing him away.
Characters: Frodo, Celebrían
Pairings: None
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Author's Notes: For my Melly. So, Frodo has sailed West... (And I'll just say, right now, that I fully believe that Frodo finds healing and peace.)
Disclaimer: The author makes no claim to owning the rights of anything to do with J.R.R. Tolkien or New Line Cinema. Any and all characters and situations that have been borrowed are for the author's personal use only, and for the entertainment of others.

The water was bright against white sand and Frodo sat with his feet well within the reach of playful waves. The sky was bright, too, and the sun was shining with an unreal shade of silver-and-gold. Frodo could feel that he was washing away, like the waves, rolling in crowned in white only to roll back, retreating to the sea.

"I thought to find you here," a clear voice said and Frodo looked back, smiling, an easy smile that was light and unsure. There was a vision shining in white and gold. Celebrían smiled and kneeled in the sand.

"Now, my lady – " Frodo said, but Celebrían and her smile would have none of that. She folded his hand in her own, turned her head, and looked out to the blue-green and silver waves.

"I waited a lifetime to see the sea," she said, and Frodo knew well enough that it had been tragedy and grief that had brought her from the East. But there was a smile in her eyes, and on her lips, and Frodo, flailing and uncertain, felt for a moment that that light was shining just for him.

"It washes over and it rolls back," she said, "and like bits of sand it takes it all away. You can feel it, can't you? Or maybe you might not know what you should feel."

"I don't," he said, aware now that he had lost his voice, and her hand was soft and warm and sure and reminded him of Sam. "I don't know what I'm meant to feel, now, because it's been so long since I was free to feel. So much is gone, so much is hidden. I have lost so much, my lady, and I was blind for so long."

"Then do not fear your grief, Frodo Baggins."

"I will… I will not, my lady. I will at least try."

"I don't think that there is much more that can be asked of you, Frodo, and so much has been asked of you, before."

His throat constricted – tears were burning in his eyes – and Celebrían's hands were holding his tight. He turned, looked to the water, and felt something retreating with the rushing of the waves.

Something, he couldn't name it. Something, maybe, a new hope.

Side by side, they sat, an elven lady and a hobbit of the Shire, and neither said another word.