Chapter Eight: The Road Home
Bilbo and Mélanyë stayed for two weeks with the dwarves in the Lonely Mountain. There were feasts and parties almost every day and the dwarves kept their guests busy with tales, songs, games and questions. Many asked Mélanyë about Rivendell and of elves, and Bilbo was asked about the Shire and all of his relatives.
Mélanyë spent a lot of the time with Gimli, and they became good friends. Ferar also took up much of her time and so the three would often do things together. The two dwarves kept her busy, but she still had time to miss her home. She was beginning to long for Rivendell, and was now missing Lindir terribly. Her mother was often on her mind as well, seeing all the dwarf families. She knew that she wouldn't be there when she got home, but thought that being where they had lived together would be enough.
At last she spoke to Bilbo and told him that it was time to head home. He wished they could stay longer, but said she was right. It was time.
The dwarves were very sad to see them go, and Ferar volunteered to take the hobbits as far as the borders of Mirkwood. "I would go farther, but I would feel strange going through the elf kingdom on my own," he said. Mélanyë gave Gimli a tight hug, promising to visit again.
"Or maybe you could come to Rivendell," she suggested. Gimli shook his head sadly.
"No, I- I don't think so," he said. "I wouldn't feel right there."
Bilbo said farewell to Dwalin and the others that had travelled with them for so long. There were many 'thank you's and 'we'll miss you's from them as the three rode away on their ponies.
They set out early and rode on at a steady pace, making it to Dale just before dinnertime. They stayed the night there at 'Smaug's Bane', and got another early start the next morning. They rode along the River Running to the eaves of Mirkwood back the way they had come. Just inside the forest, they met a group of wood elves. Mélanyë recognized their leader immediately.
"Cóume!" she cried. He was just inside the forest, seemingly on the lookout. He spotted them and jumped down from the tree he'd been standing in. The three travellers reached the edge of the forest and halted.
"Suilad, Mélanyë Ancalimëiel," he said. She nodded with a wide smile. "Travelling home? You can stay with us tonight," he offered, "and tomorrow we will take you to the western borders." Mélanyë and Bilbo quickly agreed. Mélanyë looked sadly to Ferar, knowing that the time had come for him to leave them. He smiled encouragingly.
"Well, I guess I'll see you later," he said, trying to sound cheerful.
"Come visit Rivendell sometime," she said as she hugged him tight. Bilbo shook the dwarf's hand, and the two hobbits watched him ride back the way they'd come. When they could no longer see him in the distance, they turned back to the elves.
Cóume led the hobbits into the forest to where his scouts had camped. The sky soon darkened and they had a bright fire burning in the middle of their camp. They sat in a wide circle, singing and telling tales of the elves of old. Bilbo was particularly interested in these, and Mélanyë saw him take hasty notes on a small book of paper that she'd only just noticed he had with him.
"You can write Elvish?" she asked in wonder. Bilbo smiled secretively and winked at her.
"There's more to hobbits than even we ourselves know," he said. He pointed to the elves around them with his pen. "The songs are so beautiful I just had to write them down. I'll translate them later."
Many more songs followed, and Mélanyë sang along with the ones she knew. Beside her she noticed Bilbo's eyes begin drooping and prodded him awake with her elbow. His head shot up and eyes flew open.
"Wha-what did I miss?" He looked down and saw that he had stopped writing in the middle of a song some time ago and that it had long since finished. He sighed. "Now I'll never remember the words," he lamented. Mélanyë leaned over and whispered to him.
"Don't worry! We sing that one often in the Hall of Fire."
"What's that?" She smiled wanly, remembering the beautiful hall.
"It's where we gather to sing," she explained. "Elrond and his daughter Arwen Undomiel often go there too. She has the most beautiful voice..." she trailed off. Memories of long days sitting around the blazing hearth singing with her mother came flooding back to her. Her face fell. "My mother had a beautiful voice too," she whispered, but Bilbo didn't hear. She stayed quiet for the rest of the night, feeling the full weight of her grief. In all the excitement with Bilbo and the Dwarves, she hadn't had time too feel the loss of her mother. She knew that she was safe in Valinor, but the fact that she was there and not here with her caused a great sadness in her heart. Bilbo sensed her mood and put his arm around her, mistaking her depression for homesickness.
"Don't worry, dear," he said. "We'll be there soon enough. We have only to cross the mountains." The Mountains! The thought only added to her despair. She remembered the cold journey with little happiness, save the fact that she had been with her friends. She was suddenly uneasy, thinking of her and Bilbo attempting to make the journey on their own. It wasn't a difficult pass, but it was still long and cold. She wondered anxiously how they would do it.
The next morning was cool and dim and a thick fog lay low to the ground. Cóume led them through the woods on an old elf-path that led straight through the forest. Mélanyë was surprised to be standing on the other side of the forest as the sun just began sinking towards the mountains. She looked to the elf as he pointed ahead.
"There's a path there that leads up to the Beornings' post." He looked down at her. "You should spend the night here and then head to the mountains in the morning."
"You're not staying with us?" she asked in alarm. He smiled at her.
"I do have borders to defend, young one," he said. "You'll be safe enough here. There aren't any dangerous beasts in this part of the woods, and the land beyond is patrolled by the Beornings and the Dunedain." Her face fell as he spoke. She was leaving behind all her new friends as she came closer to home.
"I'll miss you," she said. He flashed her a bright smile.
"We'll see each other again," he said. "Don't worry about that!" He helped them set up their camp before leaving the two hobbits for the night.
They had a merry fire going and the two stayed up half the night talking about all that had happened, recalling their adventure.
"I am looking forward to seeing Rivendell," he said as they lay near the fire after supper. "From what you've described it sounds magnificent!" She smiled sleepily. It was getting very late, but the old hobbit was so excited that he kept talking long after she'd stopped responding.
"Although, I do miss Frodo," he said, more softly, staring into the dying embers. He looked over and saw Mélanyë's face glowing in the dim light. He knew she was asleep, of course, but he continued to talk as a sort of comfort to himself.
"I've never been away from him this long since before he came to live with me. I hope you will get to know him...he has such a sweet spirit. You remind me of him sometimes. A lot, actually. Even now- well, you're sleeping, but you still make me think of him." He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and smiled as he saw her stir in her sleep. He watched her for a few more minutes before laying down and closing his own eyes.
The next morning the two hobbits set out fairly early. They both wanted to get over the mountain as quickly as possible and home to Rivendell. They had been riding for a few hours when Mélanyë saw a dark shape up ahead and halted.
"What is it?" Bilbo asked, recalling the last time she'd halted her pony. He drew nearer to her and tried to see what she was looking at. Her eyes flashed deep amber as they scanned the horizon. She saw clearly now, one dark shape in the distance. A man, but he seemed to be running away from them. She caught a flash of his face as he looked behind him and felt joy rise in her heart.
"Ai! Dunadan!" she cried. The figure stopped and looked. She saw very clearly now that it was her friend the Dunedan. He saw her and began heading for them. She and Bilbo rode to meet him.
"What's a Dunedan?" Bilbo asked. She smiled.
"A Ranger of the North...they protect the lands from fell creatures." she pointed at the man as they approached. "Aragorn often comes to Rivendell." She leaned in close to her Uncle. "I hear that Arwen has something to do with it." Bilbo grinned and nodded knowingly. The two looked up as Aragorn neared.
"Mae Govannen, Aragorn!" she said.
"You're a long way from Rivendell, aren't you Mélanyë?" he asked with a smile. He looked to Bilbo. "And you...a halfling this far out?"
"We were travelling with the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain," she said. "Bilbo and I were visiting, but now we're riding home." Aragorn nodded.
"Well, would you like some company? I am also on my way to Rivendell, so I'd be glad to take you the rest of the way." She quickly agreed and the Ranger found himself being hugged by two hobbits.
He led them to the Beorning who guarded the Pass over the mountains, and Mélanyë was surprised to see him wave them through without a toll.
"I'm good friends with the Beornings," he said with a grin.
The trip back over the mountain was much faster with only three, and they were on the other side after only a day and a half. The time was not wasted, however, since the two halflings had a new audience to tell their adventures to. He listened with interest as they told their tales. He in turn told them a few about what was happening in other lands. They listened with particular interest for news of the Shire, but Aragorn hadn't been in the west for some weeks. "I'll be heading that way when I leave the House of Elrond," he said.
They arrived at the Gates of Rivendell early in the morning on the third day, and a great many were there to welcome them. Many crowded around Bilbo, and Elrond gave him a formal welcome to his house. Mélanyë saw off to the side, Arwen greeting Aragorn. They stood close together and he took her hands and kissed them. The two then turned and left, passing out of her line of sight. Elrohir stepped in front of Mélanyë and nodded to her with a smile.
"You're safe," he said. She unstrapped his dagger and handed it back to him.
"Thank you." He took it and hugged her. As he left she saw Lindir in the crowd and ran over to him, enveloping him in a hug. She clung to him and he held her tight. He kissed her cheek and whispered to her.
"Welcome home."