Chapter 37: Until We Meet Again

Four Years Later

"Faramir get back here this instant!" I yelled jogging across the garden as the figure in front of me stopped hearing him giggle as he looked towards me with his mischievous smile.

"Mama can't I go play in the forest with Eomer?" he asked hopefully making me put my hand on my hip replying, "Eomer is getting too old to play with and besides your father and I need him to ride out in the morning."

He groaned flopping into the grass saying, "Do you have to leave for so long… why can't I go with you."

Smiling sadly, I sat down beside him replying, "It is a long journey and you're far too young to take it."

"But I want to go on an adventure like you and Papa did." he whined as I laughed kneeling beside him seeing my ring shimmer on his necklace replying, "I promise when you are old enough we shall take you on a real adventure. For now though you'll stay with Aunt Rosie until we return."

He smiled up towards me seeing his green eyes shimmer with excitement while I ruffled his red and white curly hair. Hearing footsteps approach Faramir turned to the figure running to him hearing Pippin grunt at the impact falling.

"We should prepare for tomorrow; we have a long journey ahead." I said to him as he nodded picking up Faramir and kissing me gently before saying, "Indeed we do."


I ran forward towards the small old form hugging him gently as he said weakly, "Marina is that you my dear?"

"Yes father it's me." I said holding him a bit tighter before pulling away looking him over with a sad smile.

Once out of the ring's influence he began aging fast seeing he was now frail and wrinkled but his smile had not faltered. Gandalf approached us as I hugged him tightly while he looked down towards me laughing.

"I see you're faring well; I can imagine your little one is anxious to start his own adventure?" he said making me groan replying, "Now I understand why my mother wanted me to wait."

He laughed harder while Frodo came over to us seeing them exchange a hug and glance that I couldn't read.

"You ride in the carriage with them." Pippin said as I nodded looking over towards Sam and Merry who were also on their ponies.

Getting in the carriage I sat across from my father while Frodo sat beside him seeing him already begin to drift off once we began moving. Smiling sadly towards him I wished we had more time together, but I also knew his time was coming to an end as was others who have outlived this world. Valinor, the undying lands where elves went when their time was up and until recently ring barriers were also granted to such a grand afterlife.

Frowning it also meant that Gandalf's quest was coming to an end which sadden me to learn I'd never see either of them again. Of course, it was a great honor for the elves to let others go across the sea with them, but it didn't make it hurt any less to lose them.

After a few days of travel, I could hear my father's breath get heavier while his eyes barely opened simply enjoying the peaceful ride to eternity. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Frodo rub where the Nazgul's blade had struck him frowning, these last few years it seemed to bother him more and more. Despite getting married and having Faramir he wanted us to stay living at Bag End. Apart of me knew it was because he didn't want to be alone, but I too didn't want to leave it either.

"Tell me again dear, where are we going?" I heard my father say in a raspy voice as I smiled lightly replying, "To the harbor father, the elves have granted you a special honor, a place on the ship to leave Middle Earth."

He nodded his head watching him turn towards Frodo saying, "Frodo, any chance of seeing that old ring of mine again?"

"I'm sorry Bilbo, I'm afraid I've lost it..." Frodo said seeing the sadness in his eyes hearing my father say, "Pity, I would have liked to have held it one last time..."

Looking down I heard him say, "What of your mothers ring?"

My eyes titled up seeing his eyes closed making me smile warmly replying, "It's safety kept around your grandson's neck, ready to be passed on to the next generation."

"Good… your mother would have liked that…." he said watching him lean against Frodo who did the same against him as I felt tears fill my eyes still not ready to say goodbye.


Feeling the carriage stop I looked towards the others saying quietly, "It looks like we've arrived."

Sam and Frodo helped walk my father down to the harbor while myself, Pippin and Merry stood behind him. Pippin's hand didn't leave mine knowing how much sadness this was causing me after already losing my mother. Smelling the sea and hearing the seagulls we walked down some steps seeing the grand ship along with Elrond, Celeborn and Galadriel waiting for us.

"Oh well there is a sight I've never seen." my father said amazed making me smile letting go of Pippin's hand going to hug him.

"I will miss you father, if only we had more time together." I said feeling my tears fall from my eyes as he hugged back weakly replying, "I will miss you too… you're so much like your mother."

Smiling at that comment I wiped my eyes taking a step back feeling Pippin's hand on my back rubbing it gently.

They bowed towards my father seeing Galadriel smile warmly towards him saying, "The power of the three rings has ended. The time has come for the dominion of men."

"The sea calls us home." Elrond said in elvish as he put arms out beckoning my father to go with them hearing him say, "I think I'm quite ready for another adventure."

My eyes filled with tears as did the others watching him walk onto the ship with the others seeing Gandalf turn towards us all smiling sadly as he said, "Farewell my brave Hobbits, here at last on the shores of the sea comes the end of our fellowship."

Brushing my tears away he leaned down to us saying softly, "I will not say do not weep for not all tears are an evil."

Walking forward I wrapped my arms tightly around him saying, "I'll miss you Uncle Gandalf."

"And I you, each and every one of you but fear not Marina you are not alone in this world any longer." he said as I pulled away letting him begin to walk towards the boat.

He stopped suddenly turning towards us saying softly, "It is time Frodo."

Tensing we all turned to Frodo seeing the knowing on his face as Sam said, "What does he mean?"

"We set out to save the Shire Sam, and it has been saved... but not for me." Frodo said hearing the peace in his voice while Sam said through tears, "You don't mean that… you cannot leave."

Not answering him he took the book my father and he had been writing handing it to him saying, "The last pages are for you Sam."

Sam began to sob as my tears began to fall again while he turned to me seeing a smile on his face saying, "Bad End is your home and I don't doubt it will know much happiness so long as you are there."

Nodding my head, he gave me a warm hug after which he turned to Pippin hugging him tightly whispering, "Look after one another."

As they let go, he hugged Merry while I wrapped my arms around Pippin watching him hug Sam last knowing out of everyone Sam was hurting the most. Once they let go of one another Frodo kissed his forehead before walking towards Gandalf and the boat.

Putting my arm around the others we watched quietly as they got onto the boat seeing Frodo look back and smile towards us. In my heart I knew after all his suffering his mind and body deserved to be at true peace and in the Undying lands, he would surely find it.

Watching the boat grow smaller on the sunset I hugged the others gently saying, "It's a shame they never got to meet our daughter..."

"What?" Pippin said suddenly as I put my hand on my stomach saying, "Bag End is going to get a bit fuller."

Pippin smiled towards me kissing me softly as I looked towards Sam and Merry who were wiping their tears looking towards us as I smiled saying, "Come on boys we have a long journey home so remember..."

"Eyes forward."


Feeling soft grass around me my eyes opened seeing the clouds pass by sitting up suddenly, how on earth did I get here? The last thing I remember was getting on the boat and then nothing. Noticing a stream nearby I crawled towards it as my eyes widened touching my face barely recognizing myself. It was as if I hadn't aged in over 70 years, back to my youth making me smile looking at my hands.

"It's beautiful." I heard a soft voice say suddenly smelling the firewood and pine in the air turning slowly, "Lossëa..."

Watching her smile warmly towards me she said, "I told you we'd meet again Bilbo."

Without hesitation I reached for her cheek pulling her into a passionate kiss feeling her smile against my lips holding me close. Pulling apart she was still there just as beautiful as the day I met her all those years ago.

"Los when you came to the Shire..." I began seeing her frown replying, "I know… I was foolish not to investigate to learn the truth..."

"Marina…" I began seeing her eyes light up at our daughter's name as I said, "She's strong like you."

"Like us." she said knowingly feeling her put her hand on mine saying, "You must tell me how she is?"

"Married, with a son, and a daughter on the way." I said seeing her close her eyes smiling as she said, "My she's grown… how did it happen, tell me everything."

Smiling mischievously, I wrapped my arm around her looking past the rolling hills saying, "Well, in a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit..."


That is the end of the story, I really enjoyed writing this and I hope you all enjoyed reading it.

Not sure what I'll write next but whatever I decide will be posted soon.