Dry-eyed and determined, I begin to write the final chapter in this drama of fanfiction…what can I call it? What name is appropriate among all the Quenya words in my handy glossary? For that answer, see the chapter title.

For whoever it was who liked the 'digs at Galadriel': I detest people who are persistently enigmatic. Otherwise, I'd leave the Morning Star alone. I don't mean to slander Gandalf, either. Anything he did was purely for Sam's sake. And, for pity's sake, don't even think about it.

This took a lot of thought, and I'd be grateful if someone could recommend a place where I can replace all the little fuses in my brain that blew while I was plotting this out. *bzzt* I'm going to eat some candy…need sugar…*bzzt*

***

"But…but…" stammered the wizard, "I paid the price! She said she'd lifted the curse!"

Frodo turned away, still sobbing.

"This is impossible!"

Elrond shook his head.

"This is wrong!" Gandalf whirled around and stomped out of the bedroom and down the stairs. Elrond followed slowly, closing the door behind him.

"Where are you going?"

"To the Halls of Mandos!" shouted the wizard, knocking the front door open with his staff and charging into the moonlit night. "To the Cracks of Doom! To the edge of the world! You foolish elf, I'm going to see Apacala!"

***

*Gandalf? Back so soon?*

"You no-good lying swindler!"

*Such language, Mithrandir!*

"He was dead when I came back!"

*Oh?*

"Remember our bargain!"

*What bargain?*

"Curse you, Apacala!"

*How rude!*

"You promised! You swore to lift the curse!"

*Did I?*

"All right, you [censored] witch! Come with me – I'll show you what you've done!"

*Very well. I'll come see this little hobbit of yours. Just watch your language.*

***

"Elen?"

"Yes, my lady?"

"Who is that?"

"Who?"

"There – with Mithrandir."

"I don't know. She's awfully pretty, though."

"Thank you," said Galadriel dryly. "I could see that."

Apacala was, at Gandalf's insistence, wearing some extremely modest robes, but she had decked herself out in a great deal of flashy jewelry and tied up her dark hair in a silver net. She smiled affably at the elves as the wizard led her – rather forcibly – to the door.

*What a charming little place! Is it yours?*

"Elrond's," answered Gandalf shortly. "Come on."

Elen blinked as they disappeared inside.

"Is that Apacala?" she wondered aloud.

"Perhaps." Galadriel smiled to herself. "She doesn't look like much of a shadow-chaser to me, though."

"A wizard-chaser, maybe," conceded her handmaid with a grin. "Or, more specifically, a Gandalf-chaser."

"I pity that wizard."

"So do I, my lady. So do I."

***

Elrond wordlessly opened the door as the two Maiar reached it. The door did not creak, permitting them to enter unnoticed.

Frodo still held Sam's body in his arms, weeping silently. As Apacala and Gandalf slipped into the room, he spoke softly, addressing his dead friend.

"Oh, Sam, it's all my fault! If I hadn't come here, this would never have happened!" He kissed Sam's cold brow gently. "I should never have left the Shire," he whispered tearfully. "I should never have left you."

Apacala gasped, turquoise eyes wide with horror. Frodo looked up with anger and grief in his eyes.

"Apacala the Shadow-chaser." It was a statement, not a question.

*Yes,* replied the Maia needlessly. *Who are you? You look like an elf, yet you're the size of a hobbit.*

"Frodo Baggins," replied the hobbit tonelessly. Apacala slowly sank to her knees, face drained of color.

*I'm sorry! Oh, I'm so sorry!* She buried her face in her hands. *This wasn't supposed to happen!*

"Then what was?!" snapped Gandalf. "You wanted revenge on all mortal beings, didn't you?"

*Yes…but…* she faltered, risking another look at the hobbits. *But…*

"You've used curses too lightly, Apacala Shadow-chaser," said Elrond sternly. "What good has it done you?"

For a moment, the Maia could say nothing. Frodo's quiet sobs became audible, heart-rendering for their sincerity.

*…You're right, I guess* Apacala sniffed and brushed tears from her cheeks. *But what can I do?*

"Remove the curse, of course," was Elrond's prompt reply. "Let no other mortal suffer so."

Gandalf chuckled mirthlessly. "Isn't that painfully obvious, Apa?"

*That's not funny!* She blinked a few times. *All right. I'll remove that stupid curse.*

There was a flash of light…a burst of flute music…an A# on a tuba…and another flash.

"There." Apacala whirled around and charged through the door. Elrond started after her, but she disappeared at the foot of the stairs. Gandalf shook his head and walked out of the room without a word. He and Elrond had started down the stairs together when a joyful shout sent them both running back up.

"Sam!"

***

"I told you," said Galadriel placidly, basking in the rays of the early-morning sun. "I told you, over and over again."

"Of course you did," murmured Elrond absently. "Now be quiet a moment."

Highly offended, but struggling not to show it, the Morning Star walked back into the house. The Loremaster continued to watch, with a growing sense of satisfaction, the two figures sitting under a spreading oak not a dozen yards from the hill-house. He felt no small pride that he had taken some small part in the bringing-about of this happiness. [A/n: If you caught the pun, it was completely intentional.]

As for Sam and Frodo: they paid no attention to their audience of one.

"Twice!" Frodo was saying, half-laughingly. "Twice you've died now! Two whole times!"

Sam nestled against his master contentedly.

"I promise never to die again," he said contritely. The hobbits laughed from relief and joy.

"Oh, my dear silly hobbit!" Frodo leaned back against the tree and closed his eyes. "I thought I'd never be happy again."

"Do you think I could leave you like that?"

"I'm glad that you didn't – more than glad, much more."

Gandalf leaned out of the bedroom window, watching with his own kind of satisfaction. A bell-like laugh behind him made him nearly tumble out in surprise.

"Curse you, Apacala! Are you trying to kill me?!"

*No…not really…* She smiled winningly. *I just wanted to see you again. I'm not coming back here again…*

"Well, good!" was the wizard's prompt reply. "Goodbye, good luck, and good riddance!" He exited the bedroom, leaving her speechless.

From her perch in the tree, Elen observed the hobbits with a bright smile. They had ceased their chattering; now they merely enjoyed the warmth of the sun and the company of each other.

"My own dear Sam," murmured Frodo. "I couldn't have lived without you."

"You won't have to." Sam looked with tenderness at his master. "I'm here to stay. I'll never leave your side again."

Elen sighed happily. "Oh, I do love happy endings!"

***

Now I've finally satisfied Mainecoon, Kora, and all you others who have been begging me for a happy ending. There! Be happy! I certainly am. This stuff is so incredibly fun to write…*giggle* Cheerio! ~ÓRS