Chapter Twenty-Six
One week passed. The Hobbits began their packing to return to the Shire, and I knew the Fellowship would soon be no more.
It tore my heart to think of it. I would probably never see Merry or Pippin again. The morning of their departure, Eomer, Aragorn, and I went to the four to talk.
"Master Peregrin," Aragorn began. Pippin looked up from adjusting his scarf, and Aragorn continued, "Remember that you gave your services to Gondor and that you are merely on a long leave."
Pippin smiled, "Thank you." Next it was Eomer's turn, "And Master Merry, the same applies to you, for you swore fealty to Rohan's king unto your death or your king release you."
Merry nodded solomnly. Or, as solomnly as one can while biting into an apple. I grinned, trying not to cry.
Sensing my predicament, I assume, Eomer and Aragorn left. I knelt down by the two, "Well, I guess this is it."
Neither one spoke. Merry mumbled something, and shuffled away.
"Thank you again, Pippin, for becoming my friend." I said, fighting back tears.
"I hope you are happy in Rohan." Pippin wished. I stood up, "And you, Master Took, in the Shire. May you marry a wonderful Hobbit maiden, and live long."
Pippin reddened, nodding, "I shall try."
"When will you four be leaving?" I asked.
"This afternoon."
After promising him I would see him off, I left. Eomer and Aragorn were talking outside, and Eomer turned to me, "Are you ready to soon leave for Rohan?"
"I suppose." I sighed. Legolas and Gimli were to leave the next day for Helm's Deep. By the evening, the Fellowship would be at an end. I was depressed.
"You shall always be welcome in Minas Tirith." Aragorn said, smiling, "In fact, if you do not return for a visit periodically, I might have to send soldiers to escort you here."
We laughed, and I excusing myself, went off to wander.
.
I found myself in a small courtyard, enclosed on all sides, but the blue sky above me. I sat down on a small bench, and looked around.
The grass was neatly cut, and the fountain in the center looked clean, but I had the feeling no one ever walked in this courtyard anymore. The idea made me sad, so I began circling the perimeter, gazing at the features.
There was a fountain, as I mentioned, and two statues. One was of a tall man clad in stone armor, and his face was proudly and beautifully carved. The other statue was an older man, with handsome clothes chiseled on his form. The way his face had been carved was incredible. When I looked up at his eyes, I could almost see the grief and pain he must have endured when he lived.
I wondered who this master scultper was. His work was amazing. Sitting down on the bench, I continued to gaze up at the figures.
I must have been there longer than I thought, because after awhile, Aragorn found me, and informed me that the Hobbits were ready to leave.
Giving a cry, I thanked him, and hurried to the battlements, Aragorn close behind. Merry sat atop his pony, Stybba, and the other three were on small horses Eomer had given them.
Legolas, Gimli, Eomer, Eowyn, Faramir, and Mithrandir were already present, and were saying their own farewells to the Hobbits.
All of them were showering Frodo and Sam with praise, but I went directly to Merry and Pippin, who were watching their friends a bit enviously.
"Hey." I began, approaching them. They turned in their saddles to look at me.
"This is the end." Merry said, staring at the sky.
"Or the beginning." Pippin chirped.
"Or even the middle." I contributed, "For who are we to know where our story will be put?"
"I hope at the beginning," Pippin started, "because everyone reads the beginning."
I laughed, and looked away, and then back at them. "May your path take you safetly back home."
"Home." Merry sighed.
.
That evening, I sat alone on the bench in the little courtyard. I had cried myself into a stupor, and now was looking again at the statue of the old man.
Oh, how I missed them. Why hadn't I given them one of the palantiri? I had plenty. But I knew what would probably happen if I had.
I could keep in communication with them, but sooner or later, we would drift, or something would happen, and we wouldn't talk anymore. And then if one of them ever did return, it wouldn't be as wonderful as it would have if we hadn't seen or spoke with each other in the time elapsed.
My brain hurt and my heart was sore. Would I ever see them again? The answer stung my soul, but there were no tears left.
"Eleanor," came a soft voice behind me. Eomer joined my side, and looked at me, "I'm sorry for your loss. Should the need arrive, however, I can bring Master Brandybuck back."
"No," I began, "he needs to start his life back in the Shire; I forbid you to order him back."
Eomer appeared startled for a moment at my words, but then nodded, "You are right." After a pause, he continued, "And what of our lives?"
"We will go back to Edoras with the Rohirrim."
"And after that?"
"After that," I replied, smiling at him, "we will live happily ever after."
.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
.
Cindy17: Don't worry, there was this chapter, and then I have an epilogue-thing coming next, and then it'll be done.
Empress Guinevere Sparrow: Yep, finally do. Thanks, it took me a long time to find the right name; I just wish it wasn't four syllables. But all names in Middle Earth seem to be long.
AAAclub: Not enough emotion? Hmm, I just didn't want to lay it on too thick. I dunno...
One week passed. The Hobbits began their packing to return to the Shire, and I knew the Fellowship would soon be no more.
It tore my heart to think of it. I would probably never see Merry or Pippin again. The morning of their departure, Eomer, Aragorn, and I went to the four to talk.
"Master Peregrin," Aragorn began. Pippin looked up from adjusting his scarf, and Aragorn continued, "Remember that you gave your services to Gondor and that you are merely on a long leave."
Pippin smiled, "Thank you." Next it was Eomer's turn, "And Master Merry, the same applies to you, for you swore fealty to Rohan's king unto your death or your king release you."
Merry nodded solomnly. Or, as solomnly as one can while biting into an apple. I grinned, trying not to cry.
Sensing my predicament, I assume, Eomer and Aragorn left. I knelt down by the two, "Well, I guess this is it."
Neither one spoke. Merry mumbled something, and shuffled away.
"Thank you again, Pippin, for becoming my friend." I said, fighting back tears.
"I hope you are happy in Rohan." Pippin wished. I stood up, "And you, Master Took, in the Shire. May you marry a wonderful Hobbit maiden, and live long."
Pippin reddened, nodding, "I shall try."
"When will you four be leaving?" I asked.
"This afternoon."
After promising him I would see him off, I left. Eomer and Aragorn were talking outside, and Eomer turned to me, "Are you ready to soon leave for Rohan?"
"I suppose." I sighed. Legolas and Gimli were to leave the next day for Helm's Deep. By the evening, the Fellowship would be at an end. I was depressed.
"You shall always be welcome in Minas Tirith." Aragorn said, smiling, "In fact, if you do not return for a visit periodically, I might have to send soldiers to escort you here."
We laughed, and I excusing myself, went off to wander.
.
I found myself in a small courtyard, enclosed on all sides, but the blue sky above me. I sat down on a small bench, and looked around.
The grass was neatly cut, and the fountain in the center looked clean, but I had the feeling no one ever walked in this courtyard anymore. The idea made me sad, so I began circling the perimeter, gazing at the features.
There was a fountain, as I mentioned, and two statues. One was of a tall man clad in stone armor, and his face was proudly and beautifully carved. The other statue was an older man, with handsome clothes chiseled on his form. The way his face had been carved was incredible. When I looked up at his eyes, I could almost see the grief and pain he must have endured when he lived.
I wondered who this master scultper was. His work was amazing. Sitting down on the bench, I continued to gaze up at the figures.
I must have been there longer than I thought, because after awhile, Aragorn found me, and informed me that the Hobbits were ready to leave.
Giving a cry, I thanked him, and hurried to the battlements, Aragorn close behind. Merry sat atop his pony, Stybba, and the other three were on small horses Eomer had given them.
Legolas, Gimli, Eomer, Eowyn, Faramir, and Mithrandir were already present, and were saying their own farewells to the Hobbits.
All of them were showering Frodo and Sam with praise, but I went directly to Merry and Pippin, who were watching their friends a bit enviously.
"Hey." I began, approaching them. They turned in their saddles to look at me.
"This is the end." Merry said, staring at the sky.
"Or the beginning." Pippin chirped.
"Or even the middle." I contributed, "For who are we to know where our story will be put?"
"I hope at the beginning," Pippin started, "because everyone reads the beginning."
I laughed, and looked away, and then back at them. "May your path take you safetly back home."
"Home." Merry sighed.
.
That evening, I sat alone on the bench in the little courtyard. I had cried myself into a stupor, and now was looking again at the statue of the old man.
Oh, how I missed them. Why hadn't I given them one of the palantiri? I had plenty. But I knew what would probably happen if I had.
I could keep in communication with them, but sooner or later, we would drift, or something would happen, and we wouldn't talk anymore. And then if one of them ever did return, it wouldn't be as wonderful as it would have if we hadn't seen or spoke with each other in the time elapsed.
My brain hurt and my heart was sore. Would I ever see them again? The answer stung my soul, but there were no tears left.
"Eleanor," came a soft voice behind me. Eomer joined my side, and looked at me, "I'm sorry for your loss. Should the need arrive, however, I can bring Master Brandybuck back."
"No," I began, "he needs to start his life back in the Shire; I forbid you to order him back."
Eomer appeared startled for a moment at my words, but then nodded, "You are right." After a pause, he continued, "And what of our lives?"
"We will go back to Edoras with the Rohirrim."
"And after that?"
"After that," I replied, smiling at him, "we will live happily ever after."
.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
.
Cindy17: Don't worry, there was this chapter, and then I have an epilogue-thing coming next, and then it'll be done.
Empress Guinevere Sparrow: Yep, finally do. Thanks, it took me a long time to find the right name; I just wish it wasn't four syllables. But all names in Middle Earth seem to be long.
AAAclub: Not enough emotion? Hmm, I just didn't want to lay it on too thick. I dunno...