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: I've never written Bilbo before and he's quite a lot of fun! Very amiable. I'm so pleased you liked Ematen's bit- that was my favourite part to write

Alatariel: You're becoming quite the loyal reviewer! It's a great idea about the Nazgul and I'm really sorry but I already have the idea for why one's returned. But I will certainly make the Nazgul's relationship with Frodo along the lines of revenge.

Skye: After I read "Imprisoned", well, I feel so sorry for Sam now! Fantastic but Sam torture is just so heart-rending! Frodo can cope. *struggles to wriggle out of collar* Aaah! Save us, precious!

Elf of Rivendell: D'aw, hobbity children. You like Gimli? Yay! He's just so wonderfully...beardy and, er, grumbly!

ViNguyen: It's alright, calm, calm. I'm attempting to save Sam in this chapter. Note the attempt. He may die. God, no, I think I'm becoming the new Dark Lord! Gees!

AshNight: I'm really pleased that the last chapter was your favourite. It was lots of fun to write. Even though I was depressed- sadistic torture always seems to lighten my day :-) God, I'm evil! Yes, indeed-y. Hobbits are *the* best. Go Frod-si! Oh, about writing a long story, it is amazing fun. Yes, I know the feeling about starting a fic then finding it doesn't work. It isn't really hard because I get so much encouragement, which is just wonderful!

Jeva: Wow, er, wierdness... Hope it turned out OK and, er, hope you manage to unravel yourself from your computer chair!

Bookworm2000: Wahay! No confusion! OK, I'll do my best to rescue Sam. I'm beginning to feel far too sorry for him to do otherwise! It's amazing...power...I could crash the Nazgul into a mountain if I wanted! Scary, man...

Skye: Of course! You are a super-intelligent being from Middle-Earth, aren't you? Of course you are, don't argue. Oh, I'm so pleased you liked that description. I just always reckoned that Nazgul's voices were like that. Oh! I made a terrifying discovery. Turns out Frodo actually has green eyes! ARG! NO! (Imprisonment was fantastic! Really chilling.)

~ Chapter Twenty-Seven ~

Sam went on falling for what felt like eternity. Black skies spinning over his head. He could feel his stomach churning. And yet there was a strange emptiness, a void, that seemed to pump in his veins. A grey bleakness that smeared his mind- a painful knowledge. He had abandoned his master; well, not exactly that but he had allowed himself to be parted from Frodo again. He would never be able to forgive himself. Another failure. Sam caught a glimpse of the world as it span below and he let out a sigh. Maybe this was what he deserved after bringing his master to such harm. Had that Black Rider got him too? Sam sucked in breath in terror. It was almost too terrible to think about...

The ground rushed up unimaginably fast. The black trees engulfing him in their spiny grasp and lashing out at the little hobbit tumbling down. But the trees took pity on him eventually, catching him in a net of leaves, sending down a shower of underbrush. Sam was dropped gently onto the damp earth then and darkness took him.

--

Aragorn was curled up in the bed. He could not get over the fact it belonged to Frodo. It felt so very wrong to sleep in the bed of one he so admired and cared for. The man felt a great wave of sadness spill over him at the memory of his friend. It was such a long time ago since he had seen him. It was almost as if Valinor, instead of taking Arwen, had taken Frodo. And now, finally, he had been returned to them.

Legolas was sleeping in Sam's bed. Sleeping. It was an optional feature of the elf's life but he enjoyed the idea of shutting your body down for a time. He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes and letting night's calm wash over him. When he opened his eyes again, Aragorn's face was right overhead.

"Aah!" he cried. But his friend's hand quickly covered his mouth. Pushing this side, he sat up. "What is it?"

"Come... I have found something," Aragorn said with a smile. Legolas slipped out of bed and began to follow him across the room. Silence dogged at their heels. But it was a gentle peace that flowed like water all about; Bag End was sleeping, as well as its inhabitants. The companions reached the desk that had been pushed into the corner of the room. Aragorn quietly lifted the hatch and peered inside. It was a jumble of papers, journals, drawings and books.

"You went through Sam's desk?" the elf hissed.

"He is our friend. I am sure he would trust me not to take anything," Aragorn replied, "Now, look at this."

He put his hand down into the folds of darkness and then drew it up again, holding a small and dusty book.

"On Frodo's birthday, he gave Sam this. It reads so on the first page."

Legolas took the book and went to the window to stand in a pool of moonlight. On the first page read a few lines of script speaking of how Frodo gave it to Sam on his birthday. Then, following this came a note.

~ Frodo has left for the Grey Havens... ~

Legolas put his hand to his face. He flipped to the next pages and found letters. Letters to Frodo.

~ Ellie's well and Frodo-lad's almost as tall as my shoulder now! I wish you could see him... ~ ~ Had a dream last night. It was so frightening. And I woke up, thinking you were still here. But you weren't. ~

"This is exactly what I did myself," the elf whispered.

"So did I," his companion murmured, coming over. Legolas went to the end of the writing. It ended two and half years after Frodo had left.

"This is what we all did. We all wrote to him and then slowly accepted that he had really gone. And now we see, don't we? I mean, there is more to it now. We must reunite the Fellowship. Because they have all been waiting for this day," Aragorn said.

For a while, they just stood there, the book in each of their hands...remembering...

~

Short but longer ones will arrive soon...