Calathiel

My eyes opened slowly, nearly blinded by the soft glow of white that filled the space I was in. I was on a feather mattress, my head against pillows of silk. My first thought was that I was dead, until I recognized the familiar and warm smiling faces beaming down upon me. An unfamiliar amount of emotion filled me, brimming up to my eyes. That was when I first registered everything. That was when I first cried like a human; like a child. Tears of remorse for that which was lost, tears for Gimli, tears of joy; all mingled together in a very un-elf like way.

A brief recount of events missed

Written by Frodo Baggins

Requested by Calathiel Dúlin

How could I possibly sum up the events that transpired whilst we were gone? While we were off fighting the small— in comparison, of course—obstacles that lay before us and Mount Doom, wars and battles raged on. So much was lost, but I must keep telling myself that much more would've been killed if it wasn't for us. Still, things shall never be the same that they were.

I guess the beginning is the better place to start in most scenarios, so I believe there is where the recounting will begin. I'm quite positive this will take more than the ink that already runs thin in the inkwell…

From what I was told, Boromir, convinced by Faramir, was able to bring the people back to their senses as we fled Minas Tirith. Most of the families, women and children were lead to the tunnels that lead into Mount Mindolluin. Though I heard Faramir remarking that still many were lost. A good portion of the soldiers were brought back to order and began to fight back with catapults and other city defenses. The battle still looked as if it were to end ill.

The fellowship became divided even once we had left; Eowyn and the hobbits gone out of sight of the rest. Aragorn, Eomer and Legolas (since Boromir was off leading the Gondorians) went off in search of their companions; sure they were not to be dead, only separated. Though they were swept into the heated battle, quickly.

Meanwhile, Eowyn and Merry were trying to help an injured Pippin, who had taken a rock to the head. The Witch-king, strongest of the nine, tore through the buildings next to their alley, and began to attack. Eowyn slew the fell-beast by decapitating it to protect the hobbits. The creature went through its last moments of pain, as the Lord of the Nazgûl came forth. He swung his mace at Eowyn, to which she blocked with a rock she grabbed from the side of the wreckage. While she was not killed, it broke the hands which held it, sending the arms into a shock. Ready to finish her off, the Witch-king was stabbed in the back of his knee by Merry who "had had quite enough of being a small hobbit, always protected by the big folk". This blow sent Merry into a state of unconsciousness. While the Black Captain was wounded, Eowyn took up her sword, and despite her broken hands, delivered the final blow, sending her also out cold.

The death of the Witch-King was not enough to shake the Nazgûl, and the battle continued on, until the sudden return of Gandalf, who had become resurrected to be Gandalf the White. As he frightened away the horrid creatures, the Gondorian soldiers were able to finish off the orcs.

During this moment of peace, Pippin awoke to find his friend and the White Lady of Rohan seemingly dead. He found Faramir in a short amount of time, who brought both of them to the House of Healing. As the two returned to go in search of Aragorn and the others, they witnessed Saruman and Wormtongue slinking back to their hidden quarters. In attempts to kill the wizard, they followed him, about to perform a final spell to finish off Denathor II the Steward of Gondor. Alas, they were too late. In a valiant effort, the Wizard and his Worm were gone, and the Steward was dead.

After a day of recovery, a funeral was had in the vast city. While this was happening, a small amount of men from Osgiliath came, reporting the armies within Mordor to be recuperating, and planning an attack on the city in a week.

Aragorn, Eomer, Gandalf and others determined that they would need to march upon the Black Gates in order to allow us safe passage through the black land. Eomer volunteered to travel to Rohan to search for survivors, in hopes he could help the dwindling numbers of men able to fight. He and Eowyn (who was on the mend, and needed to be taken away from battle) set off soon, promising to return to assist them at the Black Gates.

After a small number of days to heal, the remaining soldiers of Gondor were off to challenge an undefeatable foe. The Rohirim, and the Eagles arrived just when the moment was dire, but it was not enough. This was when the Ring hit the fires of Mount Doom, sending Mordor to its destruction along with its orcs. All were despite themselves, save for those remaining of the fellowship, who witnessed the volcano of Mount Doom exploding.

In a very brief sum of the events following; (since we both know this part) fortunately for us Gandalf persuaded the Eagles to assist him in rescuing us. We were taken to Minas Tirith and healed, for the most part. Aragorn was crowned king, not so long after. And then, we went our separate ways.

After the events concerning Saruman, most presumed that all evil had rid of the land of Middle Earth. For the most part this was true, though Bree remained as it was, mostly. Still the rangers lingered there, the poor, and the criminals—but nothing that could be compared to the evil of Mordor. For a hobbit, it was not the ideal place to stay, but the one who was inside the Prancing Pony that mid day wasn't nearly as frightened as he was upon his first entry to the place.

In the light grasp of his nine fingered hand, was a small envelope containing the message of:

I heard tell you are departing soon. Gondor was not too my liking even though Strider continually claims that my help in all the political things is of great help. I spent the remaining half of the year in Lothlorien, which I also found to be dull. Most of all the elves have left already. And the remaining is to go with you and your Uncle. I am traveling to Bree to meet you at the Prancing Pony. Please bring a cart, for I don't want to openly walk in to Hobbiton. Think of the stir-up that would arise! Bilbo sends you his best and requests that you bring his ring with you when you go to the Grey Havens. I didn't know what to say in response to this. Though you were right, I am waiting in Rivendel at this moment before I travel to Bree, your Uncle's stories are quite amazing! He seems to appreciate my own as well. Do try to spend the rest of your time well in the Shire. You shall regret it if you don't, for you shall never return to its lands. I look forward to seeing Merry, Pippin, and especially Sam again.

No signature was left upon the bottom. Frodo assumed this was in case someone intercepted their letters, though no one was trying to kill them anymore. Perhaps, he mused, exchanging a kind greeting with Butterbur, it became a habit.

The jolly, red-cheeked bar tender led the hobbit the side of the room. Frodo's face lit up in an instance upon seeing the thin figure sitting at a two person table before him. The finely made cloak hid her face, but her unmistakable raven black hair fell out of her hood. Her elven dress peeked out a bit from a worn traveling coat, and a familiar dagger hung from a leather bet at her hip. Butterbur left quietly, leaving the hobbit the empty bench already laden with fruit, cheese, and a mug of ale on the empty seat, and a cup of tea where she sat. Still smiling, he sat down upon the bench to face the same weary emerald green eyes he had known for quite some time now.

Author's Final Note: This seemingly never ending journey of our characters (This story was much longer than I ever expected it to be) was personally a learning experience for me. I'm sure there will be more LOTR stories in the future, don't worry, but I shall not make anymore OC's for awhile, until I can make sure they are positively NOT Mary-Sues. Calathiel, sorry my friend, but in the begining you turned a lot of people off because of your almost Mary-Sue-ness. I also learned not to kill Gimli. Yes, that was stupid. BUT I am proud to call this my first fic, and I hope you all enjoyed this.

Thank you to those who stuck with me for almost a year. Luna Elen, song in the woods, and many other constant reviewers: Thank you very, very much. I enjoyed this a lot. : )

"The road goes ever on and on..." And we shall meet again. And on that note, this epilogue, short as it is, was almost not going to happen. Yes, I was about to throw in a very depressing ending to this story. But then what fun would that be? You read all this and then they just die? But the alternate epilogue is still in existence and I will probably put it up as a one-shot story, separate from this. So it's not all over yet! Follow me as an author to find out when it releases if your interested!

By everyone! Thank you so much!