2nd October, 1421 SR
Dear Sam,
We arrived in Avallone this morning on a rainy day. We knew that we had passed to the West when we heard beautiful song wafting in the wind and smelled a gentle scent of flowers in the air. Elves welcomed us in the haven. They sang praises to Lord Elrond, Lady Galadriel and all the lords and ladies of their houses. It reminded me of Cormallen all over again, Sam, the way they welcomed us.
"A laita te, laita te! Andave laituvalmet!"
"Eglerio! Eglerio!"
Would that you were with me again, Sam! You would have loved to see so many Elves and listen to their singing.
Gandalf had to carry Bilbo, because he had fallen asleep again and could not be awakened. A strange thing happened when I walked down from the ship. The Elves, who were radiantly happy, suddenly seemed to have a strange, dark shadow passing over their eyes, and they looked at me queerly. I thought I saw pity in their eyes, but perhaps I was wrong. I thought I also sensed fear.
Bilbo and I occupy a small house (a house, Sam, not a smial) near a forest up on top of a small hill. The house looks like the ones we saw in Rivendell, only more beautiful and seems to be part of the hill, rather than something built into it. The walls and ceilings are decorated with beautiful carvings. And it was this that made me feel even more grateful to have come here.
Do you know what pictures were carved into the walls? The Shire! The Shire with the trees and running waters and fields green and rippling. It is so beautiful that I think if I look at it hard enough, the trees will begin to sway in the wind, the water will trickle and ripple and there will be all the familiar hobbit voices around. Yours will probably be the loudest, yours and Rose's and Merry's and Pippin's. I will always miss The Shire, I suppose, but somehow having it so close to me in my own bed chamber helps to overcome the longing.
Eressea is beautiful beyond everything I have ever seen. Rivendell and Lothlorien have their special beauty, but Eressea surpasses them. I do not know why it seems so fair in my eyes. Certainly everything is very much the same with other places. There are the lush green meadows, clear running creeks and brooks, stately mountains, restful forests, and sunshine, and wind, and rain. But there is a light in them that make them so pleasing to the eyes and soothing to the heart. It is probably the blessing of this place that makes it beautiful in the eyes of all that see it. I do not know. I only know that to be here makes me feel a lot younger again. Even Bilbo is excited.
Elves came to visit us and asked many questions about The Ring and The Quest and The Fellowship. And about hobbits and the Shire. You would not believe it, Sam. Some of these Elves have never seen hobbits before. They had fled from Middle Earth before we hobbits emerged as something more than mere hearsay. They have so much to tell, Sam, of the days long ago, before even the Shire was around. They spoke of Gondolin, and Menegroth and a bitter war called Tears Unnumbered (in Elvish it is Nirnaeth Arnaoediad). Bilbo was so excited to hear it that he asked me to be his scribe and write everything the Elves told us, so we can make another book. Fortunately, he still fell asleep often, so he could not see if I did write anything. I prefer to just sit back and listen.
After lunch… But before that, I must tell you about how thoroughly the Elves look after us, they even know that we hobbits eat six meals a day, and they provide generously. The food is very wholesome and leaves us full for hours, to tell the truth. But perhaps it comes from sheer hobbit habit, Bilbo and I still stick to the old mealtimes, even though we were not really hungry. But really, Sam, if you see the food we have here, you will understand. Eating here is no longer something we do to stave off hunger, but to enjoy. I fear that very soon you shall not recognize me at all. I suppose I shall be very fat and round, that to go down to Avallone all I have to do is roll myself down the hill.
Well, after lunch, Gandalf came to ask me to go for a walk. Needless to say, Bilbo was asleep again after lunch, so we did not bother to ask him to go with us. Gandalf took me to a very tall hill that overlooks the Sea and pointed to a spot in the horizon. It was very bright, brighter even than the blue sky. It seems to be shimmering and sparkling like a golden jewel. It was Valinor, Sam, Valinor! Island of the Valar, where Gandalf comes from. A twinge of anxiety clutched at my heart when I knew this. I thought Gandalf would leave Bilbo and I in Eressea. But he laughed and said that he would be staying with us in Eressea for a long time, maybe forever.
It is night now, Sam, long past my bed time at home. But I feel neither weary nor sleepy yet. I can still hear the Elves singing, a softer song now, as befits the quiet of the night. Even the wind seems to hum a melody. It is neither cold nor overly warm. The stars in the sky are so bright and they seem so near that I feel I can grab a handful if I reach out. Earendil rose majestically, most brilliant and fair. I think I am already in love with Eressea.
Frodo Baggins