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.
Holly Wood: Yes, I'm always being accused of quick updates...sorry! Well, poor old Frodo, I hope that there is a way I can save him
Radia: I have no energy! (well, if it's anywhere right now, it's in my nose) I think I unconsciously store away the ideas I like and they come out onto paper later. Glad that lots of people liked the Aragorn part- he finally got some decent action! I have never seen the RotK cartoon and I don't plan too because I found a lot of bad reviews for it. "ugly hobbits" etc. The song lyrics in Jeva's review kind of get the message across :-) But glad you liked the rest!
MagicalRachel: *groan* Lots of pain. No pain no gain, I suppose. Thank you for the hugs! Cool- yeah, I like the idea for the Mez and Pipz story- could be another in your "ficlet series" Yay for the Olympics!
Jeva: Ch.10 was so good! Loved it tonnes! Give me more! It really is quite a terrible song, isn't it? Ick. Well, thank you anyway because you have me a great idea- re-do the nasty Frodo song! Mirror reply: *naom* tnemom eht ta ypparc ytterp gnileef si eM !oot suoegrog yrev era stibboH
Shirebound: I suppose there might be. To commemorate the greatness of all hobbits! They should rename it Halflington!
Mrs Uruk-Hai: Ah, one of the best songs on the planet. OK, so it's from the Muppet Show but still... You put the lime in the coconut and drank it all up (repeat repeat) If you call me in the morning, I'll you what to do... OK, I won't bore you with it further but it is such a good song. Nope, England wishes it had coconuts but it never ever will. Ta for the prezzie! Aw, wow, Ailsa Instant Full Health, aw, you shouldn't have. That song should not be allowed, man! Me rewrite *fingers start shaking* Yeah, I guess that Ematen, Mez and Pipz must be very deep sleepers. Maybe they're dead! *hits self* Bad sadistic Ailsa, down girl
????: Four Question Marks- is that foreign? :-) Yeah, lots of Aggy, Leggy and Gimzoid. Should be fun! Sorry I gave you a headache- didn't mean to! *groans as she is struck by lightning* No, it isn't lightning, just my headache. It's like in those angst-y fics where the room sways or you feel dizzy. Wow, do I pity tortured Frodo now! D'aw, it's nothing- hopefully I'll get better soon
aelfgifu: Thank you! I hope that Memories of Home continues to please!
~ Chapter Twenty-Three ~
Brégo cantered along the icy road and over the bridge. The faint song of the warning bell sounded distantly. Slowing his horse to a stop, Aragorn slipped from his back and walked cautiously towards the round red door. He looked back to where Legolas was helping the drowsy Gimli to the ground.
"Go on," the elf encouraged, "Just ask for Baggins."
Doubtfully, Aragorn knocked on the wood panelling. There were some voices inside and then the door opened. A gnarled looking hobbit peered out at them. He pouted.
"What do you want?"
"I was wondering, sir, if you happened to know the whereabouts of Mr Baggins. Frodo Baggins?"
"I do," the hobbit answered. The man waited for him to continue but he did not.
"Well, can you tell me where he is?"
"Yes."
"Please do so..."
"He's up at Bag End, last I heard, with Mayor Gardener's family and another fella like yourself. Is that all?"
"Yes, thank you. Good-"
But the door had closed again. Aragorn stepped back and glanced over his shoulder. Legolas was trying hard to suppress his laughter. Tying Brégo's reins to a nearby post, the three of them set off up the pathway. They managed to find a small hobbit-lass and ask for directions to Bag End and they soon find the great green door at the hilltop. Aragorn knocked again. His hands were shaking with anxiety. He wondered what Frodo looked like- how he had changed. Or Sam, of course! Legolas, supporting Gimli, joined his friend and they all waited. After a minute or so, they heard the latches draw back. A hobbit wife, dressed in red dress and apron, greeted them.
"Hello?" she asked.
Aragorn beamed.
"Hello, my lady," he cried, "I and my friends here have journeyed from the south and from the west to meet Frodo Baggins the Ringbearer!"
"Oh, goodness me! I'm sorry, sir, but you just missed him. He left near on two days ago," the hostess replied, shaking her head. "Can I help you, perhaps?"
"No...no, that's alright. But- where did he go? Did he go alone?"
"Certainly not! My Samwise went with him, and that nice chap, Emáten too. Heading south, as a matter of fact. Now, I don't mean to pry, sir, but...I didn't reckon that Mister Frodo knew many of the Big Folk. You knew him well? Perhaps from that quest he went off on?"
Aragorn was silent so Legolas answered on his behalf.
"Yes. We were close friends with him during that time. It is only recently that we heard of his return from over the seas. Thank you for your help."
"No problem at all, sir," the hobbit said, blushing furiously under the elf's gentle gaze. She glanced at the burden at his feet. "Here, is your friend alright?"
"He is wounded, yes," Legolas began. And before any of them knew what was going on, they had been dragged inside and Gimli was being helped into an empty room and being lain down on a bed. The hobbit wife, who introduced herself as Rosie Gardener, bustled away without question to bring them some food and drinks. Aragorn stared at his companions.
"It is a female rendition of Sam!" he cried.
--
**Gandalf stood up on the mountain peak and stared across the sea. It had been many days since Frodo had gone. And only now did the wizard sense something was amiss. He felt restless and unsure. If anything happened to him, Gandalf would never forgive himself. But then again, this had been Frodo's choice and whether he returned or not was up to him. Frodo had gone back to confront his fears. But what if they consumed him? What if he could not take those memories? Gandalf knew that the hobbit's return would summon the Fellowship together again. There was one last quest appointed to them all. And would be as it was, eleven years ago.
"Gandalf!" Galadriel called, "Gandalf, the ship is waiting for you!"
The wizard sighed and slowly descended the mountain. It was his turn now. Time swept past and he stepped down onto the beach. Galadriel and Celeborn were standing at the pier head, watching for his coming. Gandalf nodded to them and walked along the jetty and up the gangplank onto the deck of the white ship. Bilbo stood to one side, clutching the side and gazing out.
"But Gandalf," he said, "What if I forget?"
"I will not let you. You will go below during our crossing and sleep. Let your body continue functioning on its own. My spell will help you remain immortal- your memory intact," his friend replied.
He saw relief wash colour back into Bilbo's face and the hobbit hurried down the steps to the cabins below. Elrond carefully removed the gangplank and raised his hand in silent farewell.
"Safe journey, Gandalf the White," he cried as the ship began to bob freely on the waves. "May you reunite the Fellowship and help them on this last quest. Send our warmest regards to them all. And, Gandalf..."
"Yes, Elrond?"
"Bid that Frodo returns. This is where he belongs."
And the ship dipped out of view and onto the Endless Sea. Gandalf shook his head and murmured under his breath,
"Be not so sure, Elrond. Frodo has many paths before him...I do not believe that Valinor will be at the end of one."**
~
Very uncertain about this chapter. Good or really bad?
Holly Wood: Yes, I'm always being accused of quick updates...sorry! Well, poor old Frodo, I hope that there is a way I can save him
Radia: I have no energy! (well, if it's anywhere right now, it's in my nose) I think I unconsciously store away the ideas I like and they come out onto paper later. Glad that lots of people liked the Aragorn part- he finally got some decent action! I have never seen the RotK cartoon and I don't plan too because I found a lot of bad reviews for it. "ugly hobbits" etc. The song lyrics in Jeva's review kind of get the message across :-) But glad you liked the rest!
MagicalRachel: *groan* Lots of pain. No pain no gain, I suppose. Thank you for the hugs! Cool- yeah, I like the idea for the Mez and Pipz story- could be another in your "ficlet series" Yay for the Olympics!
Jeva: Ch.10 was so good! Loved it tonnes! Give me more! It really is quite a terrible song, isn't it? Ick. Well, thank you anyway because you have me a great idea- re-do the nasty Frodo song! Mirror reply: *naom* tnemom eht ta ypparc ytterp gnileef si eM !oot suoegrog yrev era stibboH
Shirebound: I suppose there might be. To commemorate the greatness of all hobbits! They should rename it Halflington!
Mrs Uruk-Hai: Ah, one of the best songs on the planet. OK, so it's from the Muppet Show but still... You put the lime in the coconut and drank it all up (repeat repeat) If you call me in the morning, I'll you what to do... OK, I won't bore you with it further but it is such a good song. Nope, England wishes it had coconuts but it never ever will. Ta for the prezzie! Aw, wow, Ailsa Instant Full Health, aw, you shouldn't have. That song should not be allowed, man! Me rewrite *fingers start shaking* Yeah, I guess that Ematen, Mez and Pipz must be very deep sleepers. Maybe they're dead! *hits self* Bad sadistic Ailsa, down girl
????: Four Question Marks- is that foreign? :-) Yeah, lots of Aggy, Leggy and Gimzoid. Should be fun! Sorry I gave you a headache- didn't mean to! *groans as she is struck by lightning* No, it isn't lightning, just my headache. It's like in those angst-y fics where the room sways or you feel dizzy. Wow, do I pity tortured Frodo now! D'aw, it's nothing- hopefully I'll get better soon
aelfgifu: Thank you! I hope that Memories of Home continues to please!
~ Chapter Twenty-Three ~
Brégo cantered along the icy road and over the bridge. The faint song of the warning bell sounded distantly. Slowing his horse to a stop, Aragorn slipped from his back and walked cautiously towards the round red door. He looked back to where Legolas was helping the drowsy Gimli to the ground.
"Go on," the elf encouraged, "Just ask for Baggins."
Doubtfully, Aragorn knocked on the wood panelling. There were some voices inside and then the door opened. A gnarled looking hobbit peered out at them. He pouted.
"What do you want?"
"I was wondering, sir, if you happened to know the whereabouts of Mr Baggins. Frodo Baggins?"
"I do," the hobbit answered. The man waited for him to continue but he did not.
"Well, can you tell me where he is?"
"Yes."
"Please do so..."
"He's up at Bag End, last I heard, with Mayor Gardener's family and another fella like yourself. Is that all?"
"Yes, thank you. Good-"
But the door had closed again. Aragorn stepped back and glanced over his shoulder. Legolas was trying hard to suppress his laughter. Tying Brégo's reins to a nearby post, the three of them set off up the pathway. They managed to find a small hobbit-lass and ask for directions to Bag End and they soon find the great green door at the hilltop. Aragorn knocked again. His hands were shaking with anxiety. He wondered what Frodo looked like- how he had changed. Or Sam, of course! Legolas, supporting Gimli, joined his friend and they all waited. After a minute or so, they heard the latches draw back. A hobbit wife, dressed in red dress and apron, greeted them.
"Hello?" she asked.
Aragorn beamed.
"Hello, my lady," he cried, "I and my friends here have journeyed from the south and from the west to meet Frodo Baggins the Ringbearer!"
"Oh, goodness me! I'm sorry, sir, but you just missed him. He left near on two days ago," the hostess replied, shaking her head. "Can I help you, perhaps?"
"No...no, that's alright. But- where did he go? Did he go alone?"
"Certainly not! My Samwise went with him, and that nice chap, Emáten too. Heading south, as a matter of fact. Now, I don't mean to pry, sir, but...I didn't reckon that Mister Frodo knew many of the Big Folk. You knew him well? Perhaps from that quest he went off on?"
Aragorn was silent so Legolas answered on his behalf.
"Yes. We were close friends with him during that time. It is only recently that we heard of his return from over the seas. Thank you for your help."
"No problem at all, sir," the hobbit said, blushing furiously under the elf's gentle gaze. She glanced at the burden at his feet. "Here, is your friend alright?"
"He is wounded, yes," Legolas began. And before any of them knew what was going on, they had been dragged inside and Gimli was being helped into an empty room and being lain down on a bed. The hobbit wife, who introduced herself as Rosie Gardener, bustled away without question to bring them some food and drinks. Aragorn stared at his companions.
"It is a female rendition of Sam!" he cried.
--
**Gandalf stood up on the mountain peak and stared across the sea. It had been many days since Frodo had gone. And only now did the wizard sense something was amiss. He felt restless and unsure. If anything happened to him, Gandalf would never forgive himself. But then again, this had been Frodo's choice and whether he returned or not was up to him. Frodo had gone back to confront his fears. But what if they consumed him? What if he could not take those memories? Gandalf knew that the hobbit's return would summon the Fellowship together again. There was one last quest appointed to them all. And would be as it was, eleven years ago.
"Gandalf!" Galadriel called, "Gandalf, the ship is waiting for you!"
The wizard sighed and slowly descended the mountain. It was his turn now. Time swept past and he stepped down onto the beach. Galadriel and Celeborn were standing at the pier head, watching for his coming. Gandalf nodded to them and walked along the jetty and up the gangplank onto the deck of the white ship. Bilbo stood to one side, clutching the side and gazing out.
"But Gandalf," he said, "What if I forget?"
"I will not let you. You will go below during our crossing and sleep. Let your body continue functioning on its own. My spell will help you remain immortal- your memory intact," his friend replied.
He saw relief wash colour back into Bilbo's face and the hobbit hurried down the steps to the cabins below. Elrond carefully removed the gangplank and raised his hand in silent farewell.
"Safe journey, Gandalf the White," he cried as the ship began to bob freely on the waves. "May you reunite the Fellowship and help them on this last quest. Send our warmest regards to them all. And, Gandalf..."
"Yes, Elrond?"
"Bid that Frodo returns. This is where he belongs."
And the ship dipped out of view and onto the Endless Sea. Gandalf shook his head and murmured under his breath,
"Be not so sure, Elrond. Frodo has many paths before him...I do not believe that Valinor will be at the end of one."**
~
Very uncertain about this chapter. Good or really bad?
