Chapter XXVIII: Peace At Last
The next day, everyone was getting ready to leave. Elrond, Galadriel and Legolas were heading back to Rivendell. Frodo was heading back to the Shire, accompanied by Sam. Gandalf stood beside him and the wolf, as he was going to teleport them back. Frodo looked at the wolf, who whined.
"Well Sam," he said to the wolf. "It's time to head back. I don't know if you can understand me, but we'll find you a nice home in the fields of the Shire. It sucks that you can't be human again but I hope you have a happy life as a wolf." He smiled and looked up as he saw a dragon descend and land next to them. A Balrog also walked up beside them, looking at Frodo with white eyes. The two animals both stared at the hobbit for a minute and them let out low rumbling growls.
Gandalf chuckled. "They have just came to say goodbye," he told the hobbit. "I have found them a nice place in the mountains for them to live. Now, I believe it is time to go."
Frodo nodded and looked at Aragorn. "Thank you for all you've done, my friend."
Aragorn smiled. "It was nothing. Maybe someday you can come visit me again."
Legolas also said goodbye before turning to Gandalf. He pulled the bat skin out from inside his cloak. "Is it okay if I keep this?" he asked the wizard. "I would very much like to transform into a bat using this."
Gandalf nodded. "You may. I have also enchanted it further so that the transformation is permanent. Would you like that?"
The elf thought about it for a few seconds and then nodded. "I would love to be a bat forever; it puts an entire new perspective on life. Should I transform now?"
"Go ahead. After you transform, why not go live somewhere else? The mountains are perfect for a bat's habitat."
Legolas nodded and put the bat skin over his body. Brown fur shot out from his skin and covered his entire body. His arms and hands started to spread outward as a leathery membrane formed and pushed the fingers out, making them webbed wings. A sharp pain was felt in his feet as he saw his toenails lengthen into sharp claws. The toes on his feet were changing also, merging together until he only had three toes. His legs started to move as they drew up behind his wings. He fell on his belly as a short tail burst from the back of his tailbone. His face began to change too. His ears became pointed, moving to the sides of his head and increasing his sense of sound. Next, his mouth and nose extended outward until he had a very short snout. Fangs replaced his human teeth and his vision increased dramatically.
Finally the transformation finished. Legolas was gone, and now a large bat creature took his place. The bat flapped its wings, hovering in the air. Elrond looked at in in fascination.
"Legolas has chosen a new life. I do not blame him; he has recently been stressed about the elven life. Thank you for giving him this opportunity, Gandalf."
The wizard nodded.
Elrond turned to Frodo and smiled. "You are welcome in Rivendell anytime, halfling."
Frodo thanked them before walking up to Gandalf. He waved at them once more before leaving. Gandalf said a teleportation spell and in a flash of light they were gone.
Gandalf and Frodo appeared in a mountainous region. The wolf, bat, Balrog and dragon had also been teleported.
"What are we doing here, Gandalf?" Frodo asked.
"Pippin, Legolas and Gimli must find a new place to live. I figured the mountains would suit them, since bats, dragons and Balrogs usually live there."
Frodo nodded. "Which mountain region are we in, anyway?"
"We are in the Misty Mountains," Gandalf told him. He turned to look at the Balrog and dragon. They looked at him and growled. The wizard took a deep breath and sighed. "You two must live your own lives now," he said. "Go and find a place to live; we shall be along shortly."
The dragon that was Pippin flapped its wings and flew into the sky. It hovered for a moment, saw a cave in the distance, and flew towards the mountain, landing in front of it. Frodo, Gandalf and the Balrog followed the dragon as it entered the cave. The dragon looked around cautiously and walked deeper into the cave until it could no longer could be seen. The Balrog and bat followed the massive creature from a distance, also entering the mountain to find a place to live.
Frodo watched the three animals leave and looked at Gandalf. "Are they going to be okay?" he asked.
Gandalf nodded. "They'll be fine. From now on, they are wild animals. Pippin, Legolas and Gimli will no doubt enjoy their new life." The wizard let out a deep sigh and tightened his grip on his staff. "Come; it is time to go back to the Shire." He concentrated, causing a bright white light to surround himself, Frodo and the wolf. A few seconds later, the light faded and they were gone.
The hobbit, wizard and wolf arrived at the Shire. Frodo looked around and sighed heavily. A smile broke across his face, and he looked at Gandalf. The wizard noticed and smiled back.
"Welcome home, Frodo." Gandalf said.
Frodo sighed and a smile formed on his face. He walked down the road, taking in the sights of his familiar homeland. Sam and Gandalf walked beside him. They came to a large field near the forest and stopped. Gandalf cleared his throat and spoke.
"It is time to say goodbye to Sam, Frodo. He must live in the forest from now on."
"Will I get to see him now and then?"
Gandalf nodded.
Frodo looked at the wolf and petted it. "Goodbye, Sam. I hope you live a good life as a wolf," he said. Sam barked happily and walked through the field until he reached the forest. The wolf gave one last look at Frodo sadly. Then it dashed into the forest and was gone. A loud howl could be heard and then faded.
The hobbit sighed and looked at Gandalf, smiling. "He'll adjust to his new life, right?"
Gandalf smiled. "Yes, I'm sure he will. Since Sam, Gimli, Legolas and Pippin are animals now, they will no doubt be happy. Also, they are immortal, so they will live forever."
Frodo looked confused. "How did they become immortal?"
"Dragons, bats werewolves and Balrogs are immortal because they are magical creatures. Since the transformation is now permanent, Pippin, Legolas, Sam and Gimli have gained all the abilities and instincts of the animals they transformed into."
The hobbit nodded in understanding. "I better get going now; it is getting late."
"I shall visit often. Do not forget that your friends and allies are there for you."
Frodo thanked him. Gandalf closed his eyes and vanished in a flash of white light. Once the wizard was gone, Frodo stood on the hill overlooking the Shire and walked to his home. Once he got inside, he sat down at a table and looked out the window, thinking about everything that had happened over the past year and a half. If it were not for his friends, he would never would have broken free from Sauron's control. But that had not happened, and he was grateful for that. He smiled happily, glad that Sauron was finally vanquished and the war had been won.
There was peace in Middle-Earth at last.
