The Last Journey of Master Samwise
(Author's note) I know I'm getting kind of infrequent when it comes to updates, but don't worry: this story will get finished.
Chapter 4
Midday was coming to the Tower Hills. Elanor walked down the dirt road leading from her family's house into town. The path was largely empty at this time of day, and there was no one in sight as she traveled it. To her left the hills rose up, their slopes dotted with birch. On her right fields of grain stretched as far as could be seen, awaiting harvest. She was thinking about her recent visit to her father.
While he had seemed happy at her arrival, she soon saw signs to make her worry. As the week progressed, she had tried to believe that she was mistaken, and that her father was indeed happy; but she couldn't believe it after their brief conversation in the bedroom. Now there was little she could do, and everything for her to worry about. Those eyes she had seen looking back at her on the last day were the eyes of an old hobbit who had nothing left.
Elanor sighed as she continued down the road, unaware of anything happening around her. She was looking down at the ground when someone spoke in front of her. "Elanor! I was just coming to find you."
Her head shot up in surprise to see Sam standing in front of her. He had a pack on and was carrying his old walking stick. "Dad? What are you doing here?" Her father bore a smile as he stood there, his eyes twinkling in a way she hadn't seen in a long time.
"I've… well, I've come to say goodbye" he responded. "I needed to see you before I left."
"Left? Leave? What are you talking about?"
"Well, it's just that. I'm leaving the Shire. I'm going away and I won't be coming back again."
"Going where?" Elanor exclaimed. "Why?"
"You remember me talking about Mr. Frodo over the years? About how he traveled over the sea? That's just it: I'm going to follow him. I'm going to sail over the sea to be with him. He told me that I might be able to come someday, and I think that day has come."
Elanor stood speechless. Mr. Frodo had gone to the lands of the elves, her father had said, gone to be healed of the wounds he received on their adventures. Her father had never said anything about going himself.
"But why are you leaving?" she asked. "Why not stay here with your family?"
"Elanor, you know that I love you all deeply, and that I wanted to spend the rest of my life here. But I see now that with your mother gone, I can't find peace here. I can't go back to the way things were. That's the same reason Mr. Frodo left the Shire."
Elanor hardly knew what to say. She wanted to tell him that this was all foolishness, that he could live happily in the Shire for many years. But as much as she wanted to, she remembered the pain he went through every day. A part of her wanted to hug him and send him on his way with joy, but she couldn't accept it all so quickly.
"So you just came here to say goodbye?"
"Not exactly. I came for two other reasons. First I need you to explain me going off to everyone. They'll not accept it by themselves. Even with you explaining I reckon it'll take them a while for them to figure out running off to see elves. You're the one I've told the most about my adventures, and I'm sure you can make them understand it. They'll see that it's all for the better."
Elanor was silent. She looked at her father a moment before asking "What was the other thing?"
"It was to give you this" Sam replied. He slid his pack from his back and opened the flap. Reaching in, he pulled out a book bound in red leather. The rough covers were held together with a strap made of the same leather, with a brass clasp holding it down. Elanor recognized it. "The Red Book! The one Mr. Frodo gave you!"
"Yes," he replied. "When he finished the tale of our journey, he passed this on to me. He told me that I would be the one to keep alive the memory of the War of the Ring. I see now that I have done all I can towards that goal. Now it passes to you, to you and your descendents. It will be your job to make sure no one forgets, that the tales of the old days will be told as long as hobbits remain on the earth. After that, who knows what will become of the memory of these days; but you and your children will have done their part to make sure it endures."
Elanor slowly took the book from her father's hands and looked it over. She felt a weight of responsibility fall on her, but also a great sense of wonder. She looked into Sam's face again, and from that moment she knew that she had to let him go. The parting would be hard, but he would be happy at the end of it. "Alright" she said. "I'll do it."
They embraced each other, a few tears slipping out of her eyes. When they pulled apart, she saw that his eyes were moist with emotion as well; but mingled with the sadness was a hope and a sense of adventure that nothing could defeat.
"Goodbye Elanor" he said.
"Goodbye dad" she replied.
Sam shouldered his pack and turned away down the road. Elanor stood fixed in place as she watched, realizing that he was passing out of her vision for the last time. But she didn't stop him.
When he had waved one last time before disappearing around the bend, Elanor stood gently crying. But her tears were not the tears of one who sees the one they love leaving them forever. They were tears of pain at a parting, but behind them was joy that the one she loved was going to find peace at last.
She didn't end up going into town. Instead she returned home, going up the garden path between bushes that were flowerless in the cool weather. She entered the aboveground house built of dark-stained wood, shutting the door behind her. Immediately she made for her room and sat down on the bed. She set the Red Book before her as she relaxed. From there she opened it to the first page, and began to read.