Disclaimer: I own none of LotR at all, it all belongs to the great and wonderful JRR Tolkien. The third verse of Sam's Song is mine, though. I wrote it and I'm kinda proud of it.

Chapter One: Elrond's Tale

They found Elrond waiting for them when they arrived at Rivendell.

"I have been waiting for you," Elrond said.

"I am very pleased to see you, Master Samwise."

"I am glad to see you also, Elrond," said Sam, and very glad he was, although not to hear of the stealing of the ring. "Please, Elrond, tell me of the ring, so that I can know where I am to search."

So Elrond told his tale. "As Arden told you, we had three guests from Safarsee, men, and three more from Safarsee's twin city, Safaris. I took off this ring for the feast so that the men would not see it and wish to possess it. As you know, some men are quite greedy, no offense to Aragorn, and will do almost anything to get their hands on jewels or such other precious things that will bring them wealth. There were two such men from the twin cities. During the feast, one of these men took my ring, for when I went to put my ring back on, it was gone! I know that it was stolen, and not misplaced, for I can tell whether something is misplaced... or stolen. It must be found by mid-autumn or Rivendell shall surely fade. I now entreat you to accompany two elves to search for my ring. It may well be a perilous journey, and you may not wish to risk it, but, if you DO choose to go then you shall have companions, and two you know."

"Elrond, you know I must go on the journey, and I would not have it any other way," replied Sam. "I choose the journey, no matter what befalls me."

"Thank you, Master Samwise Gamgee, this deed will not be forgotten, for if your journey is successful, Rivendell will not fade. But you must make with all haste for although summer is just beginning, you have a long journey before you to recover the ring." Said Elrond. "Now you must meet your companions. Two are elves, and two others journeyed from Gondor."

Legolas was the first to come to meet him. The tall elf knelt and gave Sam a silent hug. The hobbit was overjoyed to see his old friend again. After Legolas came Elrond's son, Elladan. He was black-haired and fair of face, as were all the elves. He was taller than Legolas and mostly silent. Then Elrond summoned Samisen, who was from Minas Tirith itself, and was close friends with Aragorn. Then entered a dwarf with red beard with a few gray hairs in it. He looked over to the four others and at the sight of Sam, he let out a cry of joy and ran over and embraced him tightly.

"Gimli! Gimli! You're choking me!!" Sam gasped and the dwarf let him go.

"It's so good to see you, laddie!" He cried, pumping Sam's hand.

Sam smiled. "I'm glad to see all of you."

They followed the path that the men from Safarsee and Safaris had taken, and gained a few miles on them, when, a few days after they started gaining on them, they seemed to begin to lose ground instead of gain it.

Sam and the others elves used roundabout shortcuts, and that way caught up with the men. But when they did, they found that the thieves must have had a scout, for they had fled. The other men were very surprised to be overtaken by them. But they had also been very surprised to find that two of the other men had taken flight, and they did not know why, Sam thought they might be the thieves, but he was not entirely sure. The men told Sam that the others had run off the day before, and Sam believed them. Sam's company asked to search for the ring anyhow, and were permitted to do so, but were told that if they stole anything the remaining men would pursue them, just as they had been pursued.

Though Sam and his companions thoroughly checked the men's packs twice, they didn't find the ring, for the thieves were the ones who had fled the day before. When they found nothing, Sam was certain that they should seek for the two fugitives and check their packs to see if they had the ring. But catching up with them wasn't so easy. That night as he lay in bed, Sam's thoughts drifted back to the Shire, and his dear Rosie.

Meanwhile, back in the Shire, at Bag End, Rosie was preparing the house for their departure to Rivendell.

"Come along girls, we must get the place tidy so we don't have to clean as much when we get back. Elanor, I need you to dust around the house. Rose, you must tidy up the rooms. Oh, this is going to wear me out! Oh, I don't know if I can handle it. Um, uh, let us see... oh yes, uh, Frodo, go and chop some wood for the fire so you don't have to do it when we get back. Um, Merry, please help Frodo. Pippin, help Rose tidy up. Elanor, when you finish, you can help your sister and brother. Children, hurry up, please! Oh dear, there's the babies crying!" cried a quite frazzled Rosie.

As they worked, the girls and Rosie sang an old Shire song, called As the Dawn Breaks, though, unbeknownst to them; Sam was humming the same song, far away, leaving Minas Tirith.

As the Dawn Breaks

As the dawn breaks in the sky,

I watch the colors by and by.

The moonbeams fade into the night,

I think that's quite a sight.

As I doze into another world,

I think and dream my dreams.

The winter night, the summer days,

They all drift together in a haze.

My night... My day...

I think that's quite a way.

Even with all the preparations, Rosie's thoughts still drifted to Sam, wondering what he was doing, where he was and if he was all right.

They followed the trail of the men and found to their surprise that they were heading in the opposite direction they thought they would head in. The twin cities were in Gondor, but the trail was taking them towards the Gray Havens! As they walked, Sam sang the song he had made up when he was trying to find Frodo in the orc tower near Shelob's lair. He had even added a new verse to it.

Sam's Song

In western lands beneath the sun

Where flowers may rise in spring

The trees may bud, the waters run

The merry finches sing.

Or there maybe 'tis cloudless night

And swaying beeches bear

The Elven-stars as jewels white

Amid their branching hair.

Though here at journey's end I lie

In darkness buried deep.

Beyond all towers strong and high,

Beyond all mountains steep,

Above all shadows rides the sun,

And stars forever dwell.

I will not say the day is done,

Nor bid the stars farewell.

For when I come into the light,

I shall rejoice anew.

I shall not stay in endless night,

But I shall go with you

Unto the mountains tall and great,

Maybe unto our death,

Or unto what the day may bring,

Have left I any breath.

As he was repeating the first verse for the fifth time, another voice joined his. He almost paused, but continued singing, hearing something familiar in that voice. As it grew louder, he realized it was a hobbit voice. What any other hobbits would be doing around here, he didn't know, which made him even more curious. He sped up a little. Soon, a curly dark-brown head appeared over the hill, bouncing in the rhythm of his walking. The rest of the hobbit's body came into view, pumping an arm holding a walking stick.

"Master Frodo!" Sam yelled at the same time as the approaching figure all but screamed,

"Samwise!" They ran at each other and embraced tightly.

"I never thought I'd see you again!" Sam exclaimed, joyful tears streaming down his face, "That day I left you on that boat, I thought you were gone!"

"No, my dear Sam, I've come back!" Frodo answered, "I've come back for good!"

After being told of the company's errand, Frodo asked to come with. He had been rejuvenated in Nasaranatoso, as had his uncle Bilbo, who had also accompanied Frodo back. Both the old friends came with the company as they set out. As they went, Sam and Frodo sang the first verse of "Upon the Hearth" that they and Pippin had sung as they set out to Crickhollow.

Upon the Hearth (first verse)

Upon the hearth the fire is red

Beneath the roof there is a bed

But not yet weary are our feet

Still round the corner we may meet

A sudden tree or standing stone

That none have seen but we alone

Tree and flower, leaf and grass,

Let them pass! Let them pass!

Hill and water under sky,

Pass them by! Pass them by!

They followed the thieves for many, many days towards Bree, then far south into Rohan, through Gondor into Haradwaith, or Sutherland, as some may call it.

They crossed a river and came upon a path. It was not an ordinary path; it was a beautiful path, bordered with flowers. The flowers were, to say the least, as beautiful, or more beautiful than the flowers in Lothlorien. They walked along the path for an hour or two until they came to a gate. The gate was white, and had wonderful stars painted on it. It was adorned with flowers, and looked exquisite.

When they came to the gate, someone stepped out and commanded, "Halt! In the name of Mailanay, maiden of the star-queen Elbereth, I command you to halt!"