Author's note follows at the end of the chapter.
Ch. 25
The four Hobbits left with Gandalf a week later. After a few more weeks, Amy gathered the humans. "How are you guys doing?"
"We're doing well." Pete answered for them.
"You mentioned returning to Edoras. Is that still your wish?" They nodded, and she continued. "When will you want to leave?"
"Actually, we were hoping pretty soon. Rivendell is wonderful, but it's not for us."
"OK. I figured you would say something like that. I'll make arrangements for the trip."
A few days later, the seven of them set out once again. Elrond and Glorfindel rode with them, too, as well as a couple guards from Rivendell.
They arrived in Rohan without incident, and Éomer welcomed them warmly. "Welcome, my friends. It is good to have you once again in Edoras." Éowyn hugged Mattie and greeted everyone warmly. Grooms saw to their horses, and they all went into the hall, where a surprise awaited them. Aragorn stood as they entered the room, a smile on his face.
"Greetings, my friends. It is good to see you again." He walked over to Elrond and clasped his hand. "My congratulations."
Elrond nodded. "Thank you."
Aragorn moved to Amy. "My lady, it is good to see you again." He greeted each of the others by name. "May I ask the purpose of your visit?"
Amy spoke. "For us, it is a visit, but my young companions have come to stay. They wish to remain here in Rohan." At her words, Éomer and Éowyn both broke into brilliant smiles.
"We would be honored to have you here." Éomer said. "You will always have a home here."
Amy spoke. "What brings you here, Elessar?"
"I have come to visit Éomer King. I arrived only minutes before you. I knew nothing of your visit, but I am glad for the opportunity to see all of you."
"Lords and ladies, you have journeyed far," Éowyn said. "Would you care to share a cup with us, or would you like to take your rest before dinner?"
Aragorn stayed to talk to Éomer, but the others went to rest and clean up. After cleaning up, they had a wonderful dinner, and later, Éowyn began getting the young people settled. Mattie and Mark started wedding plans immediately, and the others followed suit, wanting to get the weddings in while Amy and the others were there. In the end, they ended up making a three day event out of it. Galadriel came the morning the ceremonies began, much to the delight of the young people. Mattie and Mark were married the first day, then Randy and Kim, and Pete and Beth the third day. By the end of it, no one thought they could eat again for a week.
The Elves stayed for a couple days after the feasts, but left shortly after. All the preparations were ready, and the party gathered in the courtyard just as dawn broke. Elrond and Aragorn were standing a little ways off, talking quietly. Amy stood with the six humans. Everyone was crying.
"We knew this would happen when we came," Mattie said. "Don't feel bad about it. We knew sometime, somehow we'd have to part ways. This will work out for the best, anyway. We have such different goals, and we would only hold each other back from getting on with life. This is probably the best life any of us could have imagined. We're happy here, not just going through the motions like we would have done in the other world."
"I know, Mattie. I know." Amy smiled through the tears. "I'll just miss you." She hugged each of them, taking a moment to speak to each individually.
"Mattie, I've seen you stick your neck out so many times and risk so much for me, for Mark, for everyone. I am going to miss you so much. I want to give each of you something, and for you I have a bow from Lothlórien. I hope you'll never have to use it for anything save hunting.
"Mark, it's been a pleasure to watch you come out of your shell. With your scholarship and skill with the sword, you'll do wonderfully here. This sword was made in the First Age before the smithcraft of the Noldor waned." She handed him an elegantly sheathed sword.
She turned to Randy. "Randy, I've been glad to know you. I know you have pains in your past, but you've overcome them as well as anyone could. I know you'll be happy. I know I won't win any points for originality, but I also have a sword for you. May you never need it.
"Kim, you, too have overcome enormous difficulties. It has been an honor to know you. I know your interests lie more in handcrafts than weapons, so for you, I have a bedspread of Elvish embroidery." She handed the young woman a wrapped package. "Perhaps it will give you ideas for your own things."
Amy moved over to Pete and Beth. "It has been a pleasure to know you both. Beth, your passion is music, so I've brought you an Elvish harp. I hope you will enjoy it and bring your own music here. Pete, I know you'll tell me you don't need anything, but I brought you a sword and a dagger. You've already lived through more than enough wars, but at least you'll be prepared for whatever you may face."
She stepped back to address all of them. "We've spent so little time together, yet you feel like family to me. I love each of you, and wish you the best. Raise families and be happy here. May the Valar smile on each of you." Choking up, she waved a final goodbye and mounted her horse, then rode away, looking over her shoulder until Edoras faded from view.
The Elves returned to their homes—Galadriel to Lothlórien, the others to Rivendell. Time passed, but less than two years later, they found themselves riding for the Havens. Galadriel came to Rivendell, and they left from there. Little Bilbo rode with Amy. He was too old and small to ride alone. Frodo met them at the Havens, along with Sam, Merry, and Pippin. Sam was downcast that his master was leaving without him, but he had to remain in Middle Earth.
As they watched the exchange, Galadriel spoke to Amy's mind. "He will join us, but not for some time, at least as the Hobbits count it. He has a life to make here before he leaves Middle Earth." Amy smiled over at Galadriel, grateful to hear it.
With that last parting, the Ringbearers left Middle Earth, never to return. As they traveled, Frodo told them of the scourging of the Shire, justifying the nervousness they all had felt seeing Saruman after the War. For Galadriel, Amy, and Gandalf the return to Valinor was bittersweet, mixed with memories of what had been, but the Hobbits were dumbstruck.* Both Amy and Galadriel were glad to see Olorin leave the guise of an old wizard and take up his for as one of the Maiar once again. It seemed like only the blink of an eye before Sam joined them, then Legolas and Gimli only a little later.** With that, the remaining members of the Fellowship were reunited. Legolas and Gimli told of the families the six young humans had established in Rohan. They had gone on to live long and happy lives, and their descendents shaped the history of Rohan, as they would for many years to come.
* In the early part of the First Age, Valinor had been much greater than when these Elves returned, especially when the Trees still survived (see note in Ch. 23); Galadriel, Amy, and Gandalf/Olorin had seen it in those days, but Elrond, who was younger, had not.
** See the appendices of ROTK.
The End.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. I have enjoyed hearing from you. I hope you've enjoyed this story. I have posted several other LOTR stories, so please link to my author page if interested. God bless and may the remainder of your holidays be happy!
Ch. 25
The four Hobbits left with Gandalf a week later. After a few more weeks, Amy gathered the humans. "How are you guys doing?"
"We're doing well." Pete answered for them.
"You mentioned returning to Edoras. Is that still your wish?" They nodded, and she continued. "When will you want to leave?"
"Actually, we were hoping pretty soon. Rivendell is wonderful, but it's not for us."
"OK. I figured you would say something like that. I'll make arrangements for the trip."
A few days later, the seven of them set out once again. Elrond and Glorfindel rode with them, too, as well as a couple guards from Rivendell.
They arrived in Rohan without incident, and Éomer welcomed them warmly. "Welcome, my friends. It is good to have you once again in Edoras." Éowyn hugged Mattie and greeted everyone warmly. Grooms saw to their horses, and they all went into the hall, where a surprise awaited them. Aragorn stood as they entered the room, a smile on his face.
"Greetings, my friends. It is good to see you again." He walked over to Elrond and clasped his hand. "My congratulations."
Elrond nodded. "Thank you."
Aragorn moved to Amy. "My lady, it is good to see you again." He greeted each of the others by name. "May I ask the purpose of your visit?"
Amy spoke. "For us, it is a visit, but my young companions have come to stay. They wish to remain here in Rohan." At her words, Éomer and Éowyn both broke into brilliant smiles.
"We would be honored to have you here." Éomer said. "You will always have a home here."
Amy spoke. "What brings you here, Elessar?"
"I have come to visit Éomer King. I arrived only minutes before you. I knew nothing of your visit, but I am glad for the opportunity to see all of you."
"Lords and ladies, you have journeyed far," Éowyn said. "Would you care to share a cup with us, or would you like to take your rest before dinner?"
Aragorn stayed to talk to Éomer, but the others went to rest and clean up. After cleaning up, they had a wonderful dinner, and later, Éowyn began getting the young people settled. Mattie and Mark started wedding plans immediately, and the others followed suit, wanting to get the weddings in while Amy and the others were there. In the end, they ended up making a three day event out of it. Galadriel came the morning the ceremonies began, much to the delight of the young people. Mattie and Mark were married the first day, then Randy and Kim, and Pete and Beth the third day. By the end of it, no one thought they could eat again for a week.
The Elves stayed for a couple days after the feasts, but left shortly after. All the preparations were ready, and the party gathered in the courtyard just as dawn broke. Elrond and Aragorn were standing a little ways off, talking quietly. Amy stood with the six humans. Everyone was crying.
"We knew this would happen when we came," Mattie said. "Don't feel bad about it. We knew sometime, somehow we'd have to part ways. This will work out for the best, anyway. We have such different goals, and we would only hold each other back from getting on with life. This is probably the best life any of us could have imagined. We're happy here, not just going through the motions like we would have done in the other world."
"I know, Mattie. I know." Amy smiled through the tears. "I'll just miss you." She hugged each of them, taking a moment to speak to each individually.
"Mattie, I've seen you stick your neck out so many times and risk so much for me, for Mark, for everyone. I am going to miss you so much. I want to give each of you something, and for you I have a bow from Lothlórien. I hope you'll never have to use it for anything save hunting.
"Mark, it's been a pleasure to watch you come out of your shell. With your scholarship and skill with the sword, you'll do wonderfully here. This sword was made in the First Age before the smithcraft of the Noldor waned." She handed him an elegantly sheathed sword.
She turned to Randy. "Randy, I've been glad to know you. I know you have pains in your past, but you've overcome them as well as anyone could. I know you'll be happy. I know I won't win any points for originality, but I also have a sword for you. May you never need it.
"Kim, you, too have overcome enormous difficulties. It has been an honor to know you. I know your interests lie more in handcrafts than weapons, so for you, I have a bedspread of Elvish embroidery." She handed the young woman a wrapped package. "Perhaps it will give you ideas for your own things."
Amy moved over to Pete and Beth. "It has been a pleasure to know you both. Beth, your passion is music, so I've brought you an Elvish harp. I hope you will enjoy it and bring your own music here. Pete, I know you'll tell me you don't need anything, but I brought you a sword and a dagger. You've already lived through more than enough wars, but at least you'll be prepared for whatever you may face."
She stepped back to address all of them. "We've spent so little time together, yet you feel like family to me. I love each of you, and wish you the best. Raise families and be happy here. May the Valar smile on each of you." Choking up, she waved a final goodbye and mounted her horse, then rode away, looking over her shoulder until Edoras faded from view.
The Elves returned to their homes—Galadriel to Lothlórien, the others to Rivendell. Time passed, but less than two years later, they found themselves riding for the Havens. Galadriel came to Rivendell, and they left from there. Little Bilbo rode with Amy. He was too old and small to ride alone. Frodo met them at the Havens, along with Sam, Merry, and Pippin. Sam was downcast that his master was leaving without him, but he had to remain in Middle Earth.
As they watched the exchange, Galadriel spoke to Amy's mind. "He will join us, but not for some time, at least as the Hobbits count it. He has a life to make here before he leaves Middle Earth." Amy smiled over at Galadriel, grateful to hear it.
With that last parting, the Ringbearers left Middle Earth, never to return. As they traveled, Frodo told them of the scourging of the Shire, justifying the nervousness they all had felt seeing Saruman after the War. For Galadriel, Amy, and Gandalf the return to Valinor was bittersweet, mixed with memories of what had been, but the Hobbits were dumbstruck.* Both Amy and Galadriel were glad to see Olorin leave the guise of an old wizard and take up his for as one of the Maiar once again. It seemed like only the blink of an eye before Sam joined them, then Legolas and Gimli only a little later.** With that, the remaining members of the Fellowship were reunited. Legolas and Gimli told of the families the six young humans had established in Rohan. They had gone on to live long and happy lives, and their descendents shaped the history of Rohan, as they would for many years to come.
* In the early part of the First Age, Valinor had been much greater than when these Elves returned, especially when the Trees still survived (see note in Ch. 23); Galadriel, Amy, and Gandalf/Olorin had seen it in those days, but Elrond, who was younger, had not.
** See the appendices of ROTK.
The End.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. I have enjoyed hearing from you. I hope you've enjoyed this story. I have posted several other LOTR stories, so please link to my author page if interested. God bless and may the remainder of your holidays be happy!