Sorry it took so long to update. I've been a bit stuck on what to write next. But I've worked out the kinks and the rest of the story's going to follow up quickly! Thanks for the reviews and encouragement, especially from FrodoBaggins87! Thanks for following my story so faithfully!

Here goes.

Chapter 5: The Tower Hills

The western road had hardly changed since last they had traveled it. The two-day journey proved mostly silent except for the birdsong and the rhythmic clip-clop of their ponies' hooves.

They were approaching a fork in the road that, if they went straight, would bring them to the Grey Havens, a day's journey from that point on. Branching left, southward, would bring them to Westmarch, to the Fairbairns. It was still a good distance away.

Pippin softly began to sing the old traveling-song:

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began

Now far ahead the Road has gone

And I must follow, if I can

Pursuing it with eager feet

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet

And whither then? I cannot say...

He trailed off. He knew, somehow, that there was more, but he had never quite learned the rest. The path ahead sloped steadily upward. The westering sun suddenly came back from behind the hills, which had been hiding its brilliance, and blindsided the three hobbits for a moment, as they rode on. They ascended the hill and Sam could just barely see the sparkle of the Great Sea on the horizon. The sight choked him for a moment.

But perhaps he was only imagining it.

Indeed, the vision passed as quickly as it had come.

The crossroads appeared in the road ahead. Words familiar, yet out of long-ago memory, came unbidden from Sam to fit the simple tune:

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 the Stars forever dwell

I will not say the day is done

Nor bid the Stars farewell.

They all fell silent as they turned their ponies southward on the weather-beaten road. Beyond a few hills lay Westmarch.

"Da!"

As they rode up to the small hobbit hole, a green-clad figure came flying from the round door. Sam dismounted his pony quickly, shading his eyes against the westering sun.

"Elanor?"
"Dad!"

She flew into his outstretched arms, and he hugged her tightly.

"I missed you, Da!"

She squeezed him once more, tightly, and let go, grinning at him. Her blonde curly hair held a reddish tint from the setting sun, and her bright blue eyes sparkled. She was still as slender as ever, not usual for a hobbit, with more gracefully pointed ears than most hobbits. In Gondor, it had always been maintained that she looked more like an elf-child than a hobbit.

He kissed her cheek. "So it's Elanor the Fair, now, is it? So glad they've made it official. I knew it all along." He tapped her nose and smiled at her. She blushed and grinned at her father.

Sam spotted something glimmering at her neckline. "What's that? Some pretty token of being the handmaiden of Queen Arwen?" he said, smiling, but his expression changed when he realized what it was. She drew it out and let it rest on her palm. It was a beautiful silver pendant wrought with crystals, formed into three points.

Sam gazed at it. "It's the Evenstar, isn't it? The pendant Strider wore...the Lady Arwen's..."

"She gave it to me just until I returned...I suppose to keep me safe. I don't know nearly enough about elven virtue, but I suppose it could work." She smiled.

He took his eyes from it. "You best keep that safe," he said, returning the smile.

Merry and Pippin hung back, watching. Pippin leaned over to Merry's ear and whispered,

"You told her, didn't you?"

Merry looked at Pippin sharply.

"I thought you said you would!"

Pippin's eyes widened. "Neither of us did?" he cried weakly.

Merry bit his lip and saw Elanor laughing at something her father had said.

"I suppose it'll have to be something he breaks to her. Look at them...it'll break both their hearts, won't it?"

"Maybe not," Pippin said softly.

"I think they understand one another better than we think."

They were all seated around her table inside the house, enjoying a pint of ale as midnight crept nearer. Elanor bustled about, chatting cheerfully and taking dishes and being every bit the housewife she had always been. Finally she ceased her whirlwind and sat down with a mug of tea.

It had been about three months since Rosie had died, and Sam had found it nearly impossible to take pen to paper and write all this children to tell them. But he felt sure now that it was worth the strain. It was one less sad parting he would have to break upon his daughter that night. He had one yet to confess. Contrary to what he had thought was true the entire trip, Elanor had no idea of his intentions. Pippin had whispered it in his ear offhand as they crossed the threshold.

Presently Elanor stood up with a gasp. "I nearly forgot!" She went to the mantle and picked up a small envelope with a green seal upon it. She handed it to Merry.

"Someone came by with this just yesterday; they missed you on the road. Said it was of utmost importance."

Merry took it and carefully broke the seal. His grey eyes flicked across the yellowing parchment. His forehead crinkled into a frown as he read, and without lifting his eyes from the paper, beckoned Pippin over to him to read.

Sam looked at Elanor, frowning, asking with his eyes. She shrugged.

Merry finished, whispered something to Pippin, and hurriedly put the letter away. He smiled at Sam, who was eyeing him quizzically.

"Nothing. It's nothing. Just a letter from...a friend, that's all. We're needed."

Sam sighed. He knew that the time to part with his dear friends had to come eventually, but he had hoped it would be at least a week before it happened...

He took a last sip of ale, and stood up. He picked up his pack and slung it onto his shoulder.

"Elanor, follow me. I have something I want to show you."

Please review! I'd like to make a disclaimer. The first poem is the traveling-song found in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and the second is Sam's song in Cirith Ungol, found in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.