Empty tears.
7. Homeward bound.
T: After getting half way through how I originally constructed this chapter I realised it was just getting far too long and so I've split it up. That means that the twist I may have mentioned last chapter as being in this one is actually in the next. Okay now that I've confused you, LOTR not mine, if it were then Sam would most defiantly be the hero. Warnings the same.
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When the days of rejoicing were over at last the companions though to returning to their own homes. And Frodo and Sam went to the King as he was sitting with the Queen Arwen by the fountain, and she sang a song of the Valinor, while the tree grew and blossomed. They welcomed the pair and rose to great them; and Aragorn said:
"I know what you have come to say, Frodo: You wish to return to your own home. Well, dearest friends, the tree grows best in the lands of its sires; but for you two there shall ever be welcome in the lands if the West. And though your people have little fame in legends of the great, they will now have more renown than many wide realms that are no more."
"It is true that I wish now to go back to the Shire," Said Frodo, "But first I must go to Rivendale. For if there could be anything wanting in a time so blessed, I missed Bilbo; and I was grieved when among all the household of Elrond I saw that he was not come."
"Do you wonder at that Ring-bearer?" Said Arwen. "For you know the power of that thing which is now destroyed; and all that was done by that power is passing away. But your kinsman possessed this thing longer than you. He is ancient in years now, according to his kind; and he awaits you, for he will not again make any long journey save one."
"Then I beg leave to depart soon," Said Frodo.
"In seven days we will go." Said Aragorn. "For we will ride with you on the road, even as far as the country of Rohan. In three days Éomer shall return to bear Théoden back to rest in the mark, and we shall ride with him to honour the fallen. But now before you go I will confirm the words Faramir spoke to you, and you are made free forever within the lands of Gondor, and your companions likewise. And if there were any gifts I could give to the both of you for your deeds you shall have them; but whatever you desire you will take with you, and you shall ride in honour and arrayed as princes of the land."
But the Queen Arwen said, "A gift I will give to you. For I am the daughter of Elrond. I will not go with him now when he departs to the Havens; for mine is the choice of Lúthien, and as she so I have chosen, both the sweet and the bitter. But in my stead you shall go, Ring-bearers, when the time comes and if you desire it. If your hurts grieve you still and the memory of your burdens are heavy, then you may pass into the West, until all your wounds and weariness are healed. But keep this now in memory of Elfstone and Evenstar with whom your lives have been woven!"
And she took a white gem like a star that lay upon her breast hanging upon a silver chain and she passed it into both Frodo and Sam's small hands and closing their fingers over the object said, "When the memories of fear and the darkness trouble you, this will aid you. Though I ask that you both look first to the bond you share for comfort before you use this gift."
*
In three days time, as the King had said, Éomer of Rohan came riding into the city, and with him came an éored of the fairest knights of the Mark. They made him welcome and the old dispute that lay between Gimli and Éomer over the lady Galadriel was settled and their friendship was set to rights. At last the day of departure came, and a great and fair company made ready to ride north from the city. Then the Kings of Gondor and Rohan went to the Hallows and they came to the tombs in Roth Dinen, and they bore away the King Théoden upon a golden bier, and passed though the city in great silence. They then laid the bier upon a great wain with Riders of Rohan all about it and his banners born before; and Merry being Théoden's esquire rode upon the wain and kept the arms of the King.
The other companions rode upon horses furnished according to their stature; and Frodo rode at Aragorn's side, Sam sat behind him with his sightless eyes turned unknowingly towards his far distant homeland.
"I wish that I might have seen the Shire one last time and perhaps perceived the great plains of Rohan."
"The Shire shall be there always in your memory and your heart, love, and as for the plains of Rohan if you ask Merry in happier times I am sure he shall describe them to you willingly." Frodo replied. "And perhaps it is well that you shall not perceive the grief of this day."
"And there may yet be occasions that are better for you not to see, Samwise." Aragorn said, only the faintest change in his voice suggesting this may yet be the case.
After fifteen days of hard ride they came at last to Edoras, where they rested a while. The Golden Hall was arrayed with fair hangings and it was filled with light, and there was held the highest feast that it had known since the days of its building. For after three days the men of the mark prepared the funeral of Théoden; and he was laid in a house of stone with his arms and may other fair things that he had possessed, and over him was raised a great mound, covered with green turves of grass and of white evermind. And now there were eight mounds on the east-side of the Barrowfield.
Merry stood at the foot of the green mound, and he wept, and when the men had finished their song of morning he arose and cried:
"Théoden King! Théoden King! Farewell! As a father you were to me, for a little while. Farewell!"
When the burial was over the folk gathered in the Golden Hall for the great feast and put away sorrow, for Théoden had lived to full years and ended in honour no less than the greatest of his sires.
When the feast was drawing to a close, Éomer arose and said: "Now this is the funeral feast of Théoden the King; but I will speak ere we go of tidings of joy, for he would not grudge that I should do so, since he was ever a father to Éowyn my sister. Hear then all my guests, fair folk of many realms, such as have never before been gathered in this hall! Faramir, steward of Gondor and prince of Ilthilien, asks that Éowyn lady of Rohan should be his wife, and she grants it full willing. Therefore they shall be troth plighted before you all." And Merry smiled at the words and the other Hobbits knew that he had had some small part in the event.
"We shall have to ask him about it soon." Pippin whispered.
But for the moment the Hobbits could not satisfy their curiosity, for Merry had come now before Éomer and Éowyn to bid them final farewell.
"This I give to you Merry in memorial of Dernhelm and of the horns of the mark at the coming of the morning." And she gave to Merry an ancient horn, small but cunningly wrought of all fair silver with a baldric of green; and wrights had engraved upon it swift horsemen riding in a line that wound about it from tip to mouth; and there were set runes of great virtue.
"This is an heirloom of our house," Said Éowyn. "It was made by the dwarves, and came from the horde of Scatha the worm. Eorl the young brought it from the north. He that blows it at need shall set fear into the hearts of his enemies and joy in hearts of his friends, and they shall her him and come to him."
Then Merry took the horn, for it could not be refused, and he kissed Éowyn's hand; and they embraced him and so they parted for that time.
*
Now the guests continued onwards, the Hobbits riding together now so that Merry might give them the tale of his part in Faramir and Éowyn's story and also so that he might tell Sam of the beauty of the plains of Rohan. They rested two days at Helm's Deep; Legolas and Gimli using the time to visit the glittering caves, then they moved again, heading now for Isengard.
Here Frodo and Sam met Treebeard at last and the Ents suffered themselves to be described in a `hasty` manner to the blind Hobbit. Here also was Gandalf informed that Saruman had been let free from Orthanc by the Ents, who had been coerced into the act by the remaining charm of Saruman's voice.
This at last was the sundering of the fellowship and Aragorn said farewell to Gimli and Legolas who were heading now into Fangorn, yet his farewell to the Hobbits was kept until they very place where Pippin had first looked into the Palantír.
"I wish we could have a stone that we could see all our friends in," Said Pippin. "And so that we could speak to them from far away."
"Only one stone remains that you could now use," Answered Aragorn; "For you would not wish to see what the stone of Minas Tirith would show you. But the Palantír of Orthanc the King will keep, to see what is passing in his realm, and what his servants are doing. For do not forget, Peregrin Took, that you are a Knight of Gondor, and that I do not release you from your service. You are going now on leave, but I may recall you." And then his eyes moved to Frodo and Sam and bending down onto his knees he took their hands and linking them together said,
"Never in my years have I seen such strength of devotion as I have witnessed between you. Go forth from this point blessed in happiness and love, so that you might have a light in the darkness." He paused and his hands fell again to his side. "Master Gamgee." He said after a moment," I owe you more than I can ever repay, yet I know already that you would not take gift or pledge should I offered it. Instead I say that if you do indeed travel to Valinor that upon that shore your sight might again be restored to you, yet should you follow another path I foresee that you may yet find another way to perceive the world you love so much." He paused again and his eyes moved to glance at Frodo's, reading what he could of the Hobbit's emotions from that place before he said, "Frodo, I would be able to offer you empty advice only and so I will not give it to you. Instead I say that times are not yet peaceful and that there may yet be chance for you to do as you wish and protect that which you love the most." And the words spark an emotion in Frodo's eyes that neither Merry nor Pippin recognise, but that would have caused Sam worry had he been able to perceive it. For it is determination, the very same determination that had begun to steal everything Hobbit like from Frodo's soul before he had been taken away from the Quest.
With a few parting words to and from Celeborn they parted; the sun setting behind them. They turned only once and beheld Aragorn in the light of the dying sun, his mantle kindled to flame and the green stone within his hands as a beacon in the steadily increasing night.
For six days they continued up the path of the Isen, until they came at last into the shadow of the Misty Mountains an into the company of Saruman.
"Well Saruman!" said Gandalf, "Where are you going?"
"What is it to you?" He answered. "Will you still order my goings, and are you not content with my ruin?"
"You know the answers." Said Gandalf; "No and no. But in any case the time of my labours now draws to an end. The King has taken on the burden. If you had waited at Orthanc, you would have seen him, and he would have shown you wisdom and mercy."
"Then all the more reason to have left sooner," Said Saruman; "For I desire neither of him. Indeed if you wish an answer to your first question, I am searching for a way out of his realm."
"Then once more your are going the wrong way." Said Gandalf, "And I see no hope in your journey. But will you scorn our help? For we offer it to you."
"To me?" said Saruman. "Nay prey do not smile at me! I prefer your frowns. As for the Lady here, I do not trust her: She has always hated me, and schemed for your point. I do not doubt that she has brought you this way to have the pleasure of gloating over my poverty. Had I been warned of your pursuit I would have denied you the pleasure."
"Saruman." Said Galadriel, "We have other errands and other cares that seem to us more urgent than hunting for you. Say rather that you are overtaken by good fortune; for now you have a last chance."
"If it truly be the last, I am glad," Said Saruman; "For I will be spared the rouble of refusing it again. All my hopes are ruined, but I would not share yours. If you have any."
For a moment his eyes kindled, "Go." He said. "I did not spend long study on these matters for naught. You have doomed yourselves, and you know it. And it will afford me some comfort as I wonder to think that you pulled down your own house when you destroyed mine. And now, what ship will bear you back across so wide a sea?" He mocked. "It will be a grey ship, and full of ghosts." He laughed, but his voice was cracked and hideous.
"Get up, you idiot!" He shouted to the other that travelled with him, who had sat to the ground; and he struck him with his staff. "Turn about! If these fine folk are going our way, then we will take another. Get on, or I'll give you no crust for your supper!"
The beggar turned and slouched past whimpering: "Poor old Grima! Poor old Grima! Always beaten and cursed. How I hate him! I wish I could leave him!"
"Then leave him!" Said Gandalf.
But Wormtongue only shot a glance of his bleared eyes full of terror at Gandalf, and then shuffled quickly past Saruman. As the wretched pair passed the company they came to the Hobbits, and Saruman stopped and stared at them; and all but Sam looked on him in pity.
"So you have come to gloat too, have you my urchins?" He said. "You don't care what a beggar lacks, do you? For you have all you want, food and fine clothes, and the best weed for your pipes. Oh yes, I know! I know where it comes from. You would not give a pipe full to a beggar, would you?"
"I would, if I had any." Frodo said.
"You can have what I have left," Said Merry, "If you will wait a moment." He got down and searched in the bag at his saddle. Then he handed to Saruman a leather pouch. "Take what there is," he said "You are welcome to it; it came from the flotsam of Isengard."
"Mine, mine yes and dearly bought!" Cried Saruman, clutching at the pouch. "This is only a repayment in token; for you took more, I'll be bound. Still, a beggar must be grateful, if a thief returns him even a morsel of his own. Well, it will serve you right when you come home, if you find things less good in the South Farthing than you would like. Long may your land be short of leaf!"
"Thank you!" Said Merry." In that case I will have my pouch back, which is not yours and has journeyed far with me. Wrap the weed in a rag of your own."
"One thief deserves another." Said Saruman, and turned his back on Merry, and kicked Wormtongue and went towards the wood.
"Well I like that!" Said Pippin. "Thief indeed! What of our claim for waylaying, wounding and orc-dragging us through Rohan?"
"Ah!" Said Sam. "And bought he said. How I wonder? And I didn't like what he said about the South Farthing. It's time we got back."
"I am sure it is," Said Frodo "But we can't go any quicker, if we are to see Bilbo. I am going to Rivendale first whatever happens."
"Then I must come too, whatever evil he has done to our home. I'd be of little use now no how." And Sam sounded so down cast that Frodo stretched behind him to grasp his hand,
"You have already done more than enough, love. Let your heart ease at the thought of that."
"As for Saruman's mischief I doubt he is capable of much.
"He is capable of enough." Gandalf replied.
*
They journeyed ever onwards, the hardest moment to bear upon this last stretch to Rivendale was the departure of Celeborn and Galadriel. They bid Gandalf farewell in silent speech and though they said naught to the Hobbits they felt their sadness ease as the Elves going now to Lórien rode towards the mountains.
"I wish we were going with them, Frodo." Sam said.
"Lórien would now be grim to behold, love, for all that kept it fair is fading into nothingness."
"Mayhap that is so, but to me at least it shall be ever green."
At last they came to Rivendale and they sought out Bilbo, old now beyond his years, yet sprightly still while not sleeping.
He opened his eyes and looked up as they came in. "My, my." He said "It seems you have been in the wars young Peregrin Took. And Frodo, my lad, you look fairly radiant, or perhaps it is some trick of my old eyes.
"I shall be one hundred and twenty-nine tomorrow and in a years time if fate sees fit I shall best the Old Took. I would dearly love to beat him; but we shall see."
*
After the celebration of Bilbo's birthday the four Hobbits stayed in Rivendale for some days, spending much time with Bilbo and recounting to him their tale.
"It is a shame about your sight, Sam lad." He said after Sam had given his account of things "For Rivendale looks fairest as it is now and your Master positively glows."
"It is a shame to miss out on the beauty of Rivendale to be sure, sir. But as for Frodo I can see him still here," Sam paused and gestured to his heart. "And the pail shadow of his light here." This time he gestured to his eyes and Bilbo smiled.
"Just so, just so." He said, "For I was forgetting that his light has ever been for you." And Frodo smiled then and took up Sam's hand, for Bilbo had already perceived the story of their hearts without having need to be told and had blessed it with all his own heart.
When nearly a fortnight had passed Frodo looked out of his window and saw there had been a frost in the night, and he knew suddenly, that it was time to go and bid Bilbo farewell. For the moment at least. Sam agreed with Frodo's thought, saying only:
"I'm worried for my old Gaffer, me dear, and Saruman's words ring still in my head."
"In mine too, love." Frodo replied. Thus agreed the pair went together to see Elrond and he agreed that they should leave the next morning. To their delight Gandalf said: "I think I shall come too. At least as far as Bree. I want to see Butterbur."
In the evening they went to say goodbye to Bilbo. "I have been expecting this farewell for a while now lads," he said. "But I shall not make this harder for you than it must already be." Then he passed to Frodo three books of lore that he had made at various times, written in spidery hand, and labelled on their red backs: Translations from the Elvish by B.B.
He looked to Frodo as he reached for Sam's gift and when the younger Hobbit nodded his head just slightly Bilbo smiled and said,
"I am giving you a ring, young Samwise and it as with the other comes with responsibility. For it is the engagement ring of my forbearers and has been waiting in my care for a faint hope. That hope I see now in Frodo's eyes and thus the ring goes to you, along with that hope." He said. Sam smiled then as bright as the morning and once he had thoroughly examined the simple silver ring and it one brilliant diamond with his blind fingers, he placed it upon his left ring finger.
"I have nothing much to give you young fellows." He said to Merry and Pippin, "Except a fair sample of good advice," And once he had given enough of this to satisfy he added, "Be sure to stop growing soon, or you might find it expensive to keep yourself clothed."
"But why can we not try to beat the Bullroarer, Bilbo?" Pippin enquired, "As you are so set upon beating the Old Took."
Bilbo laughed and produced two beautiful pipes with pearl mouthpieces and bound with fire-wrought silver. "Think of me when you smoke them!" he said. "The elves made them for me, but I do not smoke now." And he nodded, then, into a deep and restful sleep.
*
The next day the Hobbits took leave of Bilbo in his room and at his request Frodo took up all of his notes so that he might continue his uncle's tale. Then they bid farewell to all the household of Elrond and the elflord himself
As Frodo stood upon the threshold, Elrond wished him a fair journey, and blessed him and he said:
"I think, Frodo, that maybe you will not need to come back, unless you come very soon. For about this time of the year, when the leaves are gold before they fall, look for Bilbo in the woods of the Shire. I shall be with him."
These words Sam too heard and though they worried him, they set also a small thrill within his heart.
*
At last the Hobbits had their faces turned towards home. They were eager now to see the Shire again; but at first they rode only slowly, for Frodo had been ill at ease. It was the sixth of October and a year to the day the Witch King of Agmar had struck Frodo with his blade. Yet of his pain he said nothing to none but Gandalf and even then he was loathed to talk of it,
"For I have no wish to increase Sam's hardships, Gandalf. He has enough to concern his mind as it is, for the moment, without the extra burden of old wounds."
"A time shall come where you have to chose between protecting him and keeping him, Frodo. But for now it is perhaps best, as you say, to keep this to yourself."
By the next day the pain and discomfort was lost and Frodo was again content. Yet the trouble of the previous day did not go entirely unnoticed, even by Sam's unseeing eyes and as they passed in haste under the shadow of Weathertop itself he clenched harder to his love and enquired,
"Does it haunt you still, me dear?"
"Nothing more than a passing shadow, love." Frodo replied, the lie evident as such but not questioned for the moment at least.
Their time in Bree was full of unexpected surprises, reunions and hard news, not just for themselves but for Butterbur also. The greatest and hardest of theses was the news that Bill had made his way back to the stables. Sam, of course, wished to visit his companion and wept for the cruelty of being unable to see him as he had wished.
Frodo took him to the stables and stood behind him as Sam placed his hands onto the horse's muzzle, aware, somehow, that this moment was ment for Sam alone.
"Bill me lad, we've both travelled hard it seems, though I'm sure your path was wrought with more danger than my own. But we're home now, safe and relatively unharmed.
"You shall have to forgive your Sam, lad, for not petting you properly or offering you a treat of sorts, but your fool Gamgee's gone and lost his sight." And almost as if comprehending the words Bill lifted up his nose and pressed it to Sam's sightless eyes. It was simple affection, yet enough to bring tears to Sam's eyes.
"Aye, but you're a smart one ain't you?" He mumbled affectionately.
When the travellers departed again the next day Bill walked along behind them, his reins ties onto Frodo's saddle horn and his back loaded again with bags. This was the last leg now, yet all joy at reunion and returning home after so much wondering far from their borders, was lost to them for the words Barliman had spoken to them.
"I can not help but wonder what he was hinting at." Frodo said eventually.
"All what I saw in the Mirror, but worse for who now shall give back what had been taken?" Sam replied.
"We shall have to do as well as we can."
"Oh yes, Pip, and what precisely is our best at the moment? Aragorn said that you were not to remove that cast for another week and thus you are useless to us. Sam has not his sight not to guide his anger and as for Frodo and myself…" He trailed then, his eyes turning to Frodo. The other nodded, for he knew what Merry would say, they were haunted the both of them by the shadow of evil and the guilt of staying behind, useless, while others fought in their stead.
"You shall do yourselves proud, for it is within all of you to do something with the ills you may find upon your doorstep. But I at least shall not be coming your way, for I believe it is long past time that I talked to Bombadil; such a talk that I have never had in my life time.
"But you must be going on if you are to pass the gates before they are locked."
"You know well enough that there are not any gates on the road, Gandalf." Merry said, "There is the Buckland gate, of course, but they shall let me through that any time."
"There were not any gates, you mean." Said Gandalf, "I think you shall find some now. And you may even have more trouble at the Buckland gate then you expect. But you shall manage all right. Goodbye, dear friends! Not for the last time, not yet. Goodbye."
He turned Shaddowfax off the road, and the great horse leapt the green dike that here ran beside it; and then at a cry from Gandalf he was gone, racing towards the Barrowdowns like a wind from the north.
"Well it seems it is just the four of us again." Said Merry. " And all that remains of the greatness we have seen is locked deep within our hearts. The dreaming is over."
"Perhaps." Said Frodo. "Or maybe it has just begun."
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T: Right, no real notes for this chapter and indeed I'm not sure if there are any direct quotes…no hang on, most of the Rivendale stuff is direct q. and far chunk of the journey up until Bree. Twist next chapter. R+R