Chapter
14 "The Arrival in Middle Earth"
It had been
many hours since they had left The Undying Lands, to make a voyage
back to Middle Earth to visit the Shire, Frodo and Sandy remained
asleep while Gandalf stared out into the shores thinking of how the
people of the Shire will react to his return as well as Frodo's
return. "Will they be happy of Frodo's return, as well as mine?"
Gandalf murmured to himself. Gandalf reached into his long white
wizard outfit to pull out what seems to be a pipe with a little bit
of Old Toby in it, the finest weed in the SouthFarthing of the Shire,
he lit it and began to puff as he continued staring out into the
shores. Frodo awoken to the smell of the pipe and got up letting
Sandy get the sleep she needed. "Old Toby" Frodo said
walking over to Gandalf. "Why yes Frodo, my heavens why have you
awaken?" Gandalf asked. "The smell of the pipe is what woke
me up Gandalf, and I cannot sleep anymore, the thoughts of returning
to the Shire has filled my brain and has made me very anxious"
Frodo said leaning towards the railing of the ship. "Indeed, I
figured you would be anxious in returning, but remember Frodo, it can
be only such a short visitation, too much time there could cost you
your life" Gandalf said. "Cost me my life? How so?"
Frodo asked making this sort of doubtful look that it could never
happen. "Your wounds Frodo, the wounds which you carry and has
changed your life forever, and especially since you were just ill, I
tend to not take any chances of you becoming ill once again during
our visit, that was the reason for going to The Undying Lands, to
keep you alive, so the wounds do not eat at you slowly, there is
still much death risks to be looked upon very carefully, this being
one of them" Gandalf said putting his hand on Frodo's shoulder.
"Oh, I did not realize, very well, we shall not stay in the
Shire long, but let us least stay for a little bit, to catch up with
the much time that was loss, and for me to see everyone" Frodo
said. "Oh do not worry Frodo, there will be much time for you to
spend on visiting everyone" Gandalf said. "Thank you so
much for doing this for me" Frodo said smiling. "Your very
welcome Frodo" Gandalf said smiling back.
There was a bit
of silence between the two as they both stood against the railing of
the ship and stared out into the water. Then Gandalf's eyes grew big
as he pointed out to a distant land. "Ah! There it is, Middle
Earth!" Gandalf exclaimed. "And it never fails to look so
beautiful" Frodo said. "We are finally here, and it looks
like it has not changed since our leaving" Gandalf said. "I
must awaken Sandy, let her know of our arrival!" Frodo said
walking away. "No no, do not wake her until we have pulled unto
the harbor, she needs to rest" Gandalf said pulling Frodo back a
bit. "Your right, she is in need of rest and will not be awaken
until we have reached the harbor" Frodo said.
The grey
ship finally arrived to the harbor in the Grey Havens, the sound of
birds filled the air and the water glissened like a treasure of gold.
The sounds awoken Sandy as she opened her eyes and stretched, she
looked over at Frodo and Gandalf who were standing next to the
railing of the ship. "Wh..where are we?" Sandy said in a
tired voice. "We are in Middle Earth Sandy!" Frodo
exclaimed and walked over to Sandy helping her up. "Yes Sandy,
we are in Middle Earth, you have slept the whole way here, but we are
finally here" Gandalf said. "We are?! How exciting! It
feels good to be back in Middle Earth after so long! So how long does
it take to get to the Shire?" Sandy asked. "Not too long
Sandy, about a few miles, right Gandalf?" Frodo said grabbing
Sandys hand. "Not exactly a few miles Frodo, a bit longer than
that, but why, that is why we have carriages to take us there"
Gandalf laughed. "I can't wait to get there, to see what the
Shire looks like" Sandy said holding unto Frodo's hand tight.
"Well this is a place you will not be disappointed on seeing,
for the Shire is indeed a beautiful, quiet place, my home" Frodo
sighed. "Amazing! I can't wait any longer! Lets go!" Sandy
said. "Patience Sandy, it pays to be patient, not a hope, skip
and a jump can get us to the Shire that quickly, we must take
carriages" Gandalf said. Gandalf spotted a carriage that was
left behind, and he, Frodo and Sandy got in it, and proceeded to head
to the Shire.
