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.