Chapter 4
"The Summons"
It was early that morning when the Ship docked in the Grey Havens. Three hooded figures strode down the dock with hidden force behind there steps. One was cloaked in white, one in deep green and the last in blue velvet. When they reached the small township they were greeted by a tall thin figure and a short stout shape of a man. They had with them two grey ponies and a horse of striking beauty.
"Mae govannan," The thin one said. The traveler in blue responded " Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo Legolas,"
"Aye, the morning Star."
* * *
Sam was in the middle of a speech to Sheriffs of Hobbiton concerning border patrol, when he suddenly understood Frodo's letter.
"He's coming home!" he said aloud. The crowd looked to each other and then to their Mayor whose mouth was gaping and was slapping his own forehead.
"You fool Samwise Gamgee! Haven't you learned never to leave him!" The sheriffs didn't know what that had to do with the proper hours and pay for patrolmen but they applauded all the same- the ale was still frothy and their stomachs content. Sam made a quick close to his speech - he ended it with a toast (the quickest way to turn crowd of hobbits' attention to something else) and dashed for the door.
Sam huffed and puffed as he scurried along the worn road. He was all the way in the South Farthing, it would take him hours by road to get back to Hobbiton. He stopped and caught his breath. "No good," he thought between heaves of his chest. He had to get home. He wasn't even sure what he was expecting to find there but he had to get there as soon as possible. An idea flashed through his head- "The Law of Transportation Accommodation". It stated that any hobbit of The Shire must lend a pony to a member of the Law in need- in return for three bushes of carrots and a bottle of 1420 upon completion of the errand. "Well, it just went into effect on Thursday, but Im in bad need!" off he sped as fast as he could to the nearest homestead.
The nearest homestead was at least five miles away and when Sam reached it he was so tired that he forgot all about the pony and instead request meal and lots of water. The family was happy to oblige and Sam was on the road again after dark. The going was slow now and he felt to tired to be urgent. He also felt very ancey about being out about in the dark. "Rose must be worried sick," he thought and grimaced at the immanent scolding. He was trudging up a small hill- the last in fact before The Hill when he froze. At the top of the hill stood a cloaked figure, a faint shimmer coming from beneath. Sam rushed to the figure.
"Frodo- you came back at last you-," he stopped as he reached the person who loomed over him. The hood fell back and Imbalech's soft eyes twinkled at him. Sam flushed and then lost all color. The elf eyed him kindly.
"I thought you didn't need Frodo, Master Samwise," She said the cunningness ringing in every word. Sam looked up at her and for the first time since the end of the third age he was himself again.
"No sir," Sam said regaining all his confidence. "Life can be difficult, make no mistake, but I think that's why I have Frodo, so I don't try livin' life alone. There's few people I've met who were truly alone...," his mind heard a faint echo of a slow quiet hiss that sounded so real he almost looked over his shoulder. "Gollum," he thought.
Imbalech put a hand on Sam's shoulder. "Legolas told me you were true Samwise, and now I get to see it for myself." Sam smiled and wiped back a tear. Suddenly all urgency returned to him.
"Which way are you headn' Ms. Greenleaf?" the elf was once more taken back by this.
"Imbalech if you please, and I've been put in your charge by the king."
"What are you talking about?" Sam looked confused.
"It was the last part of my news to be delivered after the shock of Frodo's letter had settled down. King Elessar wishes me to remain in your company, in order to prepare-,"
"Strider put me in charge!?" Sam exclaimed to himself with half a laugh. Imbalech winced a little bit and added "King Elessar has put me in your charge."
"While we're change'n names- lets get one thing straight he aint Elessar to me," Sam said indignantly.
"Perhaps 'Aragorn' would be a compromise we both could live with?" Imbalech reasoned. Sam thought and said "You're really wise Imbalech, and you're the only elf I've ever met that seemed to follow hobbit courtesies, I deem you The Welf from now on." Imbalech listened to this in bewilderment and then but her hand to heart and kneeled at the hobbits feet.
"I accept your gracious title Master Samwise, with much honor." Sam beamed and added
"Just call me Sam." They both laughed hard. Then Sam remembered he had an important question.
"Imbalech, what are we preparing for?" Imbalech's eyes grew keen with excitement.
"His return," She said. "We have seven days."
"The Summons"
It was early that morning when the Ship docked in the Grey Havens. Three hooded figures strode down the dock with hidden force behind there steps. One was cloaked in white, one in deep green and the last in blue velvet. When they reached the small township they were greeted by a tall thin figure and a short stout shape of a man. They had with them two grey ponies and a horse of striking beauty.
"Mae govannan," The thin one said. The traveler in blue responded " Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo Legolas,"
"Aye, the morning Star."
* * *
Sam was in the middle of a speech to Sheriffs of Hobbiton concerning border patrol, when he suddenly understood Frodo's letter.
"He's coming home!" he said aloud. The crowd looked to each other and then to their Mayor whose mouth was gaping and was slapping his own forehead.
"You fool Samwise Gamgee! Haven't you learned never to leave him!" The sheriffs didn't know what that had to do with the proper hours and pay for patrolmen but they applauded all the same- the ale was still frothy and their stomachs content. Sam made a quick close to his speech - he ended it with a toast (the quickest way to turn crowd of hobbits' attention to something else) and dashed for the door.
Sam huffed and puffed as he scurried along the worn road. He was all the way in the South Farthing, it would take him hours by road to get back to Hobbiton. He stopped and caught his breath. "No good," he thought between heaves of his chest. He had to get home. He wasn't even sure what he was expecting to find there but he had to get there as soon as possible. An idea flashed through his head- "The Law of Transportation Accommodation". It stated that any hobbit of The Shire must lend a pony to a member of the Law in need- in return for three bushes of carrots and a bottle of 1420 upon completion of the errand. "Well, it just went into effect on Thursday, but Im in bad need!" off he sped as fast as he could to the nearest homestead.
The nearest homestead was at least five miles away and when Sam reached it he was so tired that he forgot all about the pony and instead request meal and lots of water. The family was happy to oblige and Sam was on the road again after dark. The going was slow now and he felt to tired to be urgent. He also felt very ancey about being out about in the dark. "Rose must be worried sick," he thought and grimaced at the immanent scolding. He was trudging up a small hill- the last in fact before The Hill when he froze. At the top of the hill stood a cloaked figure, a faint shimmer coming from beneath. Sam rushed to the figure.
"Frodo- you came back at last you-," he stopped as he reached the person who loomed over him. The hood fell back and Imbalech's soft eyes twinkled at him. Sam flushed and then lost all color. The elf eyed him kindly.
"I thought you didn't need Frodo, Master Samwise," She said the cunningness ringing in every word. Sam looked up at her and for the first time since the end of the third age he was himself again.
"No sir," Sam said regaining all his confidence. "Life can be difficult, make no mistake, but I think that's why I have Frodo, so I don't try livin' life alone. There's few people I've met who were truly alone...," his mind heard a faint echo of a slow quiet hiss that sounded so real he almost looked over his shoulder. "Gollum," he thought.
Imbalech put a hand on Sam's shoulder. "Legolas told me you were true Samwise, and now I get to see it for myself." Sam smiled and wiped back a tear. Suddenly all urgency returned to him.
"Which way are you headn' Ms. Greenleaf?" the elf was once more taken back by this.
"Imbalech if you please, and I've been put in your charge by the king."
"What are you talking about?" Sam looked confused.
"It was the last part of my news to be delivered after the shock of Frodo's letter had settled down. King Elessar wishes me to remain in your company, in order to prepare-,"
"Strider put me in charge!?" Sam exclaimed to himself with half a laugh. Imbalech winced a little bit and added "King Elessar has put me in your charge."
"While we're change'n names- lets get one thing straight he aint Elessar to me," Sam said indignantly.
"Perhaps 'Aragorn' would be a compromise we both could live with?" Imbalech reasoned. Sam thought and said "You're really wise Imbalech, and you're the only elf I've ever met that seemed to follow hobbit courtesies, I deem you The Welf from now on." Imbalech listened to this in bewilderment and then but her hand to heart and kneeled at the hobbits feet.
"I accept your gracious title Master Samwise, with much honor." Sam beamed and added
"Just call me Sam." They both laughed hard. Then Sam remembered he had an important question.
"Imbalech, what are we preparing for?" Imbalech's eyes grew keen with excitement.
"His return," She said. "We have seven days."