Disclaimer: AU Story. My third large LOTR fic. I can't stop! None of the characters or settings are mine. They all belong to Tolkien. I wish I were related to Tolkien, don't you? It would be so cool! Oh, and the plot here is derived from my own imagination. Hope you enjoy.

Shirebound: Thank you ever so much! I am really enjoying writing this story too and I amazed at the response! Oh and btw, Frodo has been away eleven years.

Crazytook: Glad you liked the descriptions- they're fun to write. Hope you enjoy coming chapters.

Fyre: Thank you! I am so pleased that you liked chapter one. It was tricky to get things in place but it's nice to hear that it worked. Hehe- no hobbit in his right mind would purposely go off anywhere without food!! But then, this is Merry and Pippin...

MagicalRachel: No *sob* we're studying Shakespeare at school at the moment and there isn't much room for creative writing at all. I guess that's why I leap on the prospect of updating my stories. I will definitely check out that fic!

Deborah: Ah, wow, thank you! I hope that this story brings you lots more pleasure in the future.

Koko Kung: Hehe. I try. Monday was incredibly long yesterday and my legs are still aching for gymnastics. So I was feeling suitably ready to write about Middle-Earth. Thank you for the comments!

TrueFan: I am so sorry. I thought that chapter one would get a bit hard. And I see what you mean about chapter two. But he has come back to the Shire in this story. Well, I promise now that the confusing stuff is over and hopefully I will try and piece it back together.

A Elbereth: I did homework at the library so I could get in the "vibe" I suppose, for writing about a memory-frozen Frodo. Yes, I enjoy Frodo-return fics, they just make me feel all fuzzy inside. Teehee. There is a lovely story about Sam going to Valinor by Skye called Can the Heart Forget? It is beautiful! Thank you!

Lil*bee: I'm sorry! Sorry! Knew you'd like the extra Legolas. He has a major part later on. Glad you enjoyed the beginning.

17 reviews already! Thank you everyone!

~ Chapter Four ~

Faramir looked dazedly on as Aragorn marched up and down the troops, giving out orders and sending columns of men down towards the guard towers. It was just as it was, at Pelennor. Aragorn's strength and command over the army had been immense and unstoppable. Even now it showed, when he was just sending out scouts and lookouts.

"Arag- Your majesty," Faramir called when his companion came near, "I am not doubting you for a moment but, why do you need all these men? Where are you sending them?"

"As far north and as far south as possible. They will move along the Misty Mountains, searching for danger. Some will head down the Old Road and others will stray to Ithilien. And the rest head to the Shire. The guards will remain as look-out all round the city," came the curt answer. Aragorn span round on his heel and smiled at Faramir. "It's good to see you again. I missed you."

"You too," Faramir said faintly. And then he found himself being dragged off by the king down a flight of steps.

"Wait, wait, wait," the man protested, lifting the arm from round his shoulders. "Please, Aragorn, sire, tell me what is going on in that head of yours. Why all the worry? And, no offence intended, why did you use the men of Osgiliath rather than those of Minas Tirith?"

Aragorn frowned in thought.

"I suppose I wanted an excuse to get out of there. I needed a reason to just.. leave."

"Whatever for?"

"I want to be Strider again!" the king laughed. "I want to be Elessar and roam with elves across the world. I want to visit the Lonely Mountain and see hobbits and dwarves again. When you are king, it feels that everything has stopped and you have nothing left doing apart from plans for new things, things for the future. You no longer live for the present and let your own freedom in your own kingdom pass you by. So I am here and for the moment, I am Strider. I am free."

--

Elanor, Frodo-lad and Rosie came down to a vast spread of breads, broths, meats and fruits for breakfast. Sam, however, was nowhere to be found.

"Samwise?" Rosie murmured. She sat her children down and then went to where a tattered piece of parchment lay in a pool of soapsuds by the sink.

*-Sorry not to wait, my loves. I've gone walking for a while. Thinking. I'll be back soon. Daddy-*

"Are you alright, Mummy?" Elanor asked from behind her. Rosie looked round.

"Yes, dear. Daddy's just gone out thinking." Then under her breath. "Thinking in this weather..."

--

Sam walked for a long time, not really looking where he was going. His head was turned down, eyes on the ground in front of his feet. That dream. That dream. Were the Fellowship calling for his son? Calling for Frodo-lad? For Frodo.

The sky rumbled and Sam felt a sharp tap of rain on the back on his neck. It soon began to pour. The clouds rolled in and a sheet of rain clouded the Shire in every direction. The hobbit wrapped his arms about him and ran into the nearest doorway. It was The Green Dragon and, thankfully, he ducked inside. The inn was crowded with singing hobbits. They had grouped together and were telling each other old stories. Sam's ears caught the mention of "Mad Old Baggins" and he grimaced. But ignoring this, he seated himself at one of the tables and found himself opposite an old and weather- beaten friend.

"Hello there," he said cheerfully, "I haven't seen you in a while, Moro."

Moro looked up and grinned.

"Hullo, Sam. How you keepin' yourself, lately?"

"Fair enough. Any news for me then? What's happening in the Shire?"

Moro looked pleased. He had obviously been waiting for someone to ask that very question. There was a twinkle in his eye that made Sam lean close to hear.

"Now that you ask," Moro said, lowering his voice to a whisper, "I had heard tell of a newcomer off on the west coast. Right strange sort. Rumours goin' round that Farmer Bumbleroot taken him under his wing. Very strange. Just found him wandering on the beach one night. But I dunno, Sam-lad," he ended, as he never failed to do, "Could just be rumours."

"But you're not often wrong, Moro. I'll trust you like I've done before and I'll go and see for myself," Sam replied proudly. He even impressed this statement by getting to his feet and shaking the rain from his cloak. The old hobbit looked up, one eyebrow raised.

"What for?"

"I'm curious. I've got awful restless these past few days and I know Ferdirand Bumbleroot. It'd be nice to see him again."

"Oh, well then, Sam, I s'pose you know best. Have a good trip- and be careful you don't get caught in another one of 'em showers. This one'll have stopped by now but they'll be more, mark my words."

Sam pushed wide the door and found, just as Moro had said, the rain had stopped. He was like that. Always seemed to know the strangest of things. The hobbit marched back down the lane. His thoughts had finally been frozen in their tumbling and directed on a course once more. But it was not for the reason he had spoken of. Sam was going to the Grey Havens. He needed to see them again.

--

"You can't just go off like this! What about Elanor and Frodo-lad? What will I say to them?" Rosie asked, watching as her husband flung things into a pack. She leaned wearily against the door. "And why now?"

"Rosie, love, I just.. I need to see them again. I realised- leastways I think I have- that I've got to face up to the Gamgee life. Otherwise I'll go on wasting away thinking about it."

Sam pulled the strings on his pack tight and then slung it round his shoulders. He embraced his wife but when he tried to withdraw, she would not let go.

"I know," she said quietly, "I do understand, Sam, it's just, well, I don't want to see you hurting yourself remembering it. They were terrible times. And so much was lost because of them." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Mister Frodo isn't coming back."

Sam drew away and immediately turned down the corridor. He opened the round green door and stepped outside without another word. He stood there briefly, taking in a deep breath and concentrating on holding back the tears. After all this time! After so many years, it still hurt so much.

'You cannot always be torn in two..'

It had torn his heart, long ago.