Merry hadn't been wrong with his first guess. Gandalf and Frodo had actually come back from the Grey Havens. Frodo was healed from his hurts almost completely, and he hadn't aged a bit since he had arrived at the Havens. He spent many long and seemly endless days in the paradise that he now called home wishing to see his cousins and his gardener once more. He knew Sam would've had more young hobbits, and was sure that Merry had and that Pippin, no matter how icky he used to think girls were, had found himself a nice lass and had a few children of his own. One day a ship had arrived to the Grey Havens. Cirdan was its captain, as was usual. Frodo had seen many a ship arrive with more elves that had chosen to leave Middle Earth. However, this time the ship was arriving for a new reason.
Cirdan had come to land to talk to Frodo and Gandalf. He knew of Frodo's wishes. He wanted to help. He knew that no one could ever repay the Ringbearer for his acts of courage and bravery. He knew that Frodo wouldn't be able to stay forever in his beloved Shire if he did come back, so he had decided to let him come, along with Gandalf, for as long as he could bear. Once he tired, he would be able to come back, but he couldn't be let to think of these trips back and forth as a way of life.
When Cirdan had told Frodo of his decision, Frodo was overjoyed. He didn't know what to do. He knew that he couldn't stay forever in Middle Earth, in his beloved Shire, but he also knew that he would only get this one chance and he wanted it so badly. It was arranged that Frodo and Gandalf would come back to Middle Earth once again on the next ship that Cirdan brought over.
The day finally came, Cirdan had found Legolas and told him of Frodo's plan to come back to the land, that no matter how much he loved the freeness and beauty of the Havens, would always be dearest to his heart. Legolas was sure this would have some sort of negativity to it, but the happiness in his heart was overflowing and he went and alerted Gimli at once. They were there the night that the ship arrived from the Grey Havens, and for once it carried more than just Cirdan. Legolas had brought a wagon that was almost identical to Gandalf's old one, he had the elves help him build it and then carve into it every blessing in the Elvish tongue. He had put the best horses to pull it, one being Shadowfax and the other being Asphodel.
However, they had arrived in the harshest of seasons, winter. Legolas and Gimli spent a long time just sitting with the wagon and wondering how they would get it to the Shire, but all other thoughts were erased when Frodo and Gandalf arrived. The friends spent hours talking, laughing, crying, and just basking in the others happiness and enjoying being side by side once more.
Frodo was restless, however, and wanted to go to his homeland first. They started out the next morning. Frodo cried silent tears of happiness as he realized he was going home one more time. The first morning had been beautiful, Middle Earth in its entire wintertime splendor. That afternoon had started to show signs of snow, and that night they were sure that there were a few snowflakes that had fallen.
The second morning Frodo had awoken everyone with joy. He knew that by nightfall he would be home. The weather didn't tame itself for the hero's homecoming and the snow started to heavily fall in the afternoon. When it had first started lightly snowing it made Frodo think of the soft white seeds of the cottonwood falling to the ground in the spring. He let the snow kiss his face and rejoiced that the Shire would be getting such a rare treat. His happiness soon faded when the snow picked up, reminding him of the cruelty of Caradhras and making him shudder with the cold. By the time that night started to fall upon the world Gandalf had to tell Frodo that they must stop. Frodo was disheartened but agreed that they must stop, and everyone got off of the wagon. Legolas said he would see to the horses but Gandalf went to care for his Shadowfax, his faithful steed that had carried him so far and helped him through so much.
The small company settled down for a small supper and a warm fire, which Gandalf started. They all spent the early night the same as they had spent the first night that they had been together, with tears and laughter and just plain enjoyment of being together again. As they sat everyone wondered about the others. Gandalf kept thinking about Peregrin for some reason and wondered how many little Fool of a Tooks he had had. Of course, Meriadoc came into his head too, and he wondered if there was yet another Pippin and Merry in the Shire for everyone to have to look out for and for the farmers to have to put locked gates on their crops to keep the two scoundrels out. If only he knew how soon he would meet them
