Chapter 25
As the Years Passed

Many long and happy years passed during Arwen's reign, but on Mid-year's day in the year 1482 of the Fourth Age, Arwen came home for afternoon tea to tell Frodo some very sad news.

"Rose Gamgee passed away?" Frodo asked.

"I'm afraid so," Arwen replied.

"Sam must be heart-broken," Frodo said softly, feeling sympathy for his friend.

"She lived a long, full life and knew it was her time. Sam had been expecting it for quite some time, and he has his children and grandchildren to comfort him. But he is beginning to make his plans to come over Sea with Rosie. They are also bringing Esmerelda, Paladin, and Hanna May."

"My grandchildren!" Frodo exclaimed, "I remember a time when I thought I'd never have children of my own. This is most wonderful! Is Eldarion coming?"

"I'm afraid not," she answered, "at least not yet. According to the prophecy, he must wait until his father's death, be crowned the King of Gondor, and reign over his people for ten years before he will pass over Sea."

"Strider? Die?" he exclaimed in disbelief, "When?"

"Not for many more years." She paused and looked out the window of their house, then continued, "If I had a choice, King Elessar would have no end, but I cannot change what has already been written."

"Does it bother you to do everything by the prophecy?"

Arwen looked back at her Ada, came over to his armchair, and knelt next to him.

"I know if I follow this prophecy to the letter, there shall come a day when all suffering shall forever cease and all shall share in the hope and peace we now know. That alone was something worth dying for. And yet again, I cannot change what has already been written. Your destiny was also governed by this same prophecy; you just did not know it."

Frodo smiled at his daughter, grabbed her hand, and told her, "There could not be a father more proud of his daughter than I am of you. You never give a second thought to your own desires when it comes to someone else. You even faced death itself, all for the sake of others."

"I learned it from you, Ada."

"How did you learn that from me?"

"Sam said you once told him, 'It must often be so when things are in danger. Someone must give them up and lose them so that others my keep them.' It was when I came to understand what this meant that I was able to lay down my life."

Frodo smiled and said, "You have a great memory, and a beautiful heart. I could not be more proud of you, Arwen. I love you, my child." They embraced as Frodo kissed his daughter.

"I love you too Ada."

"And I want you to know that your Mama would have been proud of you too. You remind me more of my Mira every day."

Arwen's smile grew bigger and brighter.

On September 29th of that year, Samwise, Rosie, Esmerelda, Paladin, and Hanna May set out from the Grey Havens and passed over Sea. The next day, Arwen and Frodo went together to meet them at the harbor. They saw the sails on the horizon and all those aboard the ship were filled with excitement.

Arwen heard, "Mama! It's really you!" from the girls on the deck. The children ran to embrace their mother at long last. Arwen embraced and kissed them like she had wanted to do for years. The children embraced and kissed their mother in a way that contained the love they had cherished for her in their hearts over the years.

They turned out to be fully-distinguished people and very handsome. Her son Paladin had grown up to look much like his father, and had a personality to match it. Hanna May looked much like her mother, with her mother's determination and loyalty to those she loved. Esmerelda had grown to be quiet beautiful as well, with her eyes as bright and green as ever, and a fiery personality to go with her fiery red hair. Arwen was so overjoyed to be with them in person.

"Arwen!" A voice called out from the desk.

"Rosie!" Arwen recognized her voice from afar.

Rosie ran from the desk to embrace Arwen. They laughed for joy at being in each other's embrace, because they had missed each other so much. Rosie had never married, and still lived with her father before she came over Sea, but had cherished her friendship with Arwen all these years. Rosie held up her wrist to show her bracelet, and Arwen did the same. They embraced again, for they were simply overcome with joy to be with each other.

"Mr. Frodo?" called out yet another voice from the deck of the ship.

"Sam!" Frodo exclaimed as he ran to embrace his friend.

Although Sam was now advanced in his years, he did not show his age in that moment, for he ran to his friend with the speed he had in his step as a tween. Sam ran into Frodo's arms and they embraced heartily. They laughed with great joy to see each other, for it had been about fifty years since Frodo had left Middle-earth.

"Oh, Mr. Frodo!" Sam laughed, "It's wonderful to see you!"

"My dear Sam!" Frodo bellowed, "I can't believe it's you!"

"Didn't I keep all my promises, Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked.

"What do you mean?" Frodo puzzled.

"Well, I didn't leave you on our journey, just like I promised Gandalf. I was loyal to your daughter, and I waited until the time was right to come over Sea, just like I promised you. Finally, I helped Rosie be patient, just like I promised Miss Arwen."

"My dear Sam, you did keep all your promises," Frodo replied as he embraced Sam again, "and I'm so glad you did!"

Arwen and Rosie ran to their fathers and joined their embrace. They all laughed together in each other's company.

"I don't think we could be any more proud of our beautiful daughters, could we Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked.

"I don't see how we could!" Frodo laughed.

They kissed their daughters with great joy in their hearts. It was truly a great sight to see four of the greatest heroes of Middle-earth together in great embrace, united by all they had done for Middle-earth and their love for each other. It was a day of great joy for all.

About a week later, Arwen asked Rosie to join her on a journey to a place that reminded her more of the Shire than any other in the Land of the Valor – The garden of Lorien, which was by the Lake of Loriellin. During this journey, they talked about the things that had happened to them since they had last seen each other. Rosie told Arwen about her mother's death.

"Mama was simply worn out. She had lived a full life for a hobbit, and she was ready to pass on. Her only regret was that most of my brothers and sisters were unable to come to see her one last time. But Frodo came with Angelica. They have five children: Holfast, Arwen, Hamson, Andwise, and Mirabella."

Arwen smiled. "I'm still so touched that Frodo named his daughters after me and my mother."

"He said he could think of no one better to be the namesake of his daughters than you and your mother. Arwen was also born on the same day as your birth."

"Did any of your other siblings make it in time?"

"Goldie came with Faramir, and their three children, Milo, Linda, and Lily. She was there a whole month, three weeks before Mama's passing and two weeks after. Tom came with Eowyn and their daughter Esmerelda, but they were the only others ones who made it before she passed away. It was only Papa, Frodo, Tom, Goldie, and I in the room with her the moment she passed. She asked us to tell the other children and grandchildren that she loved them. We all kissed her for the last time and told her we loved her. They she grabbed Papa's hand, they kissed for the last time, and she said, "Goodbye, my dear Sam." Then, she was gone. Papa was still holding her hand, and didn't let go for a long time as he sobbed. Tom just knelt beside Papa and cried in his lap. All Goldie and I could do was put our hands on his shoulders and cry for some time. Frodo put his arms around us to comfort us, just like he used to when we upset as children. It was such a bittersweet moment."

"Bilbo, Hamfast, Ruby, and Robin didn't arrive until the day before the funeral. Merry and Pippin came about three days after the funeral and Daisy and Prim came a week later. After they left, Papa said he had to talk to us girls about something serious. He told us it was time for him to leave Middle-earth. He said he had just received a letter telling him that your children were already on their way to the Grey Havens, so he would be able to join them on their voyage. He gave both of us the decision to join him. I knew all along I wanted to join you here, but Goldie knew her place was in the Shire with her family.

"It was bittersweet to say goodbye to Goldie, for we had grown so close in the years after our journey. Papa was quite sad to bid her farewell too, one of the reasons being that Goldie looks the most like Mama. After she left, we spent about two months preparing and finishing up our business in Hobbiton and Bag End. When we were finally ready to leave, we knew there was one more person we had to see.

"Elanor and her family were unable to come to Hobbiton at all after Mama passed, because she is now the only hobbit midwife in the Far Downs, and she had too many patients at the time of Mama's passing. When the time came, we went to her to say goodbye. At first, she had a hard time accepting our departure. We had talked about it for so long, but she said she never thought we'd actually go through with it. Papa gave her the Red Book so the stories of the Great Journeys could be preserved. We bid her farewell with many tears. A week later we arrived at the Grey Havens and met with Hanna May, Paladin, and Esmerelda. We boarded the ship together and did not look back."

"I'm glad that you and Sam are at peace about your mother," said Arwen.

"We are now, because of you and Mr. Frodo."

When they finally arrived, the garden shone in the sunlight. The flowers there were beautiful beyond description. The one that captured the most attention was the rose that stood in the middle, protected by the bush around it. Arwen led Rosie to it.

"This rose made me think of you," she said with a smile, "Because your name is Rose."

Rosie shook her head. "This rose is not meant to remind people of me, but of you."

Arwen was confused. "What makes you say that?"

Rosie, suddenly enlightened with knowledge she did not know she possessed, explained, "This rose ever-bloomed, until your death. The day you died, it withered. It that not true?"

"Yes…it is…" Arwen was still confused.

"This rose bloomed in a way the world did not understand. But, a frost came and took the rose before its prime. Then, it came back from its wintery death, and the world was finally able to understand. So it was with you. Despite what everyone else believed, I was always able to recognize your strength, wisdom and the beauty of your tender heart. I'm grateful everyone else is now able to see it too."

Arwen was amazed at her friend's new-found knowledge. She embraced Rosie as she said, "I am so grateful we're together again. Our friendship truly has withstood the test of time."

Rosie smiled. "I agree. And this is just the beginning."

Many more peaceful years passed. Samwise finally enjoyed Frodo's company, Frodo met and loved his grandchildren, and Arwen had the female companion she had missed all these long years. They spent much time together in the days to come, recounting their journeys, recalling other events in their lives, and getting to know each other better as friends. The bond between their families had become so great, they built houses adjoined to each other. They became a family in their own right and had great love for each other. As the years passed, they heard of the peaceful passing of many of their companions and the bond they had as a family became even stronger as they grieved those loses. Still, they all longed for the day when the prophecy's fulfillment would be complete and the last of the company would join their family to complete it.

In the 1541, fifty-nine years after Samwise passed over Sea, was the passing of the beloved King of Gondor. Aragorn on the day of his passing gave his crown to his son Eldarion, who was crowned the next day in the presence of all Minas Tirith. Two days after his coronation, they held the funeral for the beloved King of Gondor. Eldarion mourned the death of his father, but he at least had the assurance that his reign would bring peace.

Shortly after Elessar's funeral, Legolas and Gimli bid King Eldarion farewell and departed over Sea on September 10 of the year 1541. They were warmly welcomed to the Undying Lands and into the community their fellowship had now formed. Gimli once again beheld the beauty of the Lady of Light, and his heart was forever full of joy in her presence. However, Arwen still longed for the day when she would be reunited to her true love.

Eldarion was truly a just and wise king, just as his father had been before him. The people of Gondor loved him and he ruled over them well. He strengthened the alliance with King Eored of Rohan and provided a greater unity among the kingdoms of Men. He protected them and cared for them in a way that no king before him had done. Still, Eldarion longed for the day when he would be reunited with his true love, Arwen Belthil.