Disclaimer:

I owe nothing, everything belongs to mister Tolkien, who had created the wonderful fantasy story 'the Lord of the Rings'.

Chapter 4: I'm going!

"What did you want to ask me dad?" The sun was shining brightly outside and laughing of the various Gamgee children could be heard in the office of the Mayor of the Shire. The children were out in the garden, listening to the stories that either Legolas or Gimli told them. It was a strange site, those big elf and dwarf sitting on the grass and yet still be bigger then either of the children.

Elanor was curious, what could be so important that Samwise had forgiven her for drinking too much ale yesterday evening? Sam in the meanwhile was looking to his daughter, it indeed would be a good opportunity for her, but could she stand to be away from her family for a whole year. His fair daughter was 26 years old now and she resembled her mother in many ways. She has long blond curly hair and a smooth skin. In all means a very pretty girl. Woman, Sam corrected himself.

"I got a letter from King Elessar, he has invited you to stay in Gondor for as long as you like as Arwen' personal handmaiden," Sam said observing the expression on Elanor' face. It had changed from utter shock to happiness, " Really! I can go to Gondor and see the White City and the tree and more elves and humans and… Wow," then suddenly her expression changed, "Will you be coming too?" Sadly Sam shook his head, "No, Elly dear, your mother and me will stay in the Shire, I'm still the Mayor," he added with a slight chuckle.

Elanor seemed a bit sad after that, but why would she be? She was 26 now, almost a real woman. So she should be able to spend a full year without her family. If she would stay for a year in Gondor, "I… I want to go dad," Elanor said, with a smile on her face again, "I want to know if that Strider of yours really is so nice," a grin had appeared on her face as Sam said, "I bet you will find that out, if he isn't too busy with ruling his country."

The remainder of the day she spend talking with her mother about what she was going to do and see. Legolas joined them while Gimli was still telling stories to the youngest Gamgee children. It was a merry afternoon and when it was time for dinner Elanor helped her mother preparing the large meal. For now there were 2 more people to feed.

After dinner that evening Elanor got up, "Dad, may I go to the Green Dragon this evening?" Sam looked up and smiled slightly, "Well…" he said and Elanor started to beg, "Please dad! I want to tell Lissy and May and Lily! please?" Sam laughed and shooed her out of the door, "Then go! But don't drink too much!" Elanor laughed and waved to her family and the two friends, "Bye!" Then she ran out of the house, forgetting her cloak, but that did not matter this evening. She was going to Gondor!

It was Lissy again who was waiting for her. " The usual!" She said with a grin as Elanor approached. That meant that Lily and May were already in the Green Dragon snogging with their boyfriends. Elanor grinned, " I have wonderful news! I am going to Gondor!" Lissy' s eyes widened, " What!" Elanor skipped around, "Dad got a letter and the King has asked me to come, isn't that amazing!" Lissy sighed and looked to the skipping Elanor, " I… yes of course it is… but Elly, it's so far away, and we won't be able to keep contact… I…"

Elanor stared to Lissy, coming to think of it, her friend was right. She was going to miss them, and they would not be able to keep contact. "We could write…" she almost whispered. Lissy sighed and shook her head, "I can't write, Elanor." "Well then my father will write for you!" Elanor said, determent not to lose contact with her best friend. Her friend smiled slightly, "Yeah… yeah he could do that… Oh Elly I'm going to miss you!" Before Elanor knew it they were both crying in each other's arms.

"But I'm happy for you," Lissy said when they were both walking to the Green Dragon. They had both dried their eyes and their eyes were slightly red, but that did not matter to them. Elanor grinned slightly, "Thanks." Then they stepped into the busy pub, greeted by it's noise and the smell of ale. Immediately Elanor walked over to the corner where she found May and Lily snogging their respective boyfriends, "Could I have a moment?" she asked with a knowing smile on her face. Both May and Lily looked up, "Why are you grinning like that?" Lily asked her.

"I'm going to Gondor! Can you imagine?" Both May and Lily stared to her, "My dream is coming true! Isn't that super!" Her friends kept staring to her… "May… Lily?" Elanor said, a bit uncertain now. "I always knew you were crazy Elanor, but I'm so happy for you!" May finally said, hugging her friends, soon Lily joined in, "You are going to write aren't you? We can ask your dad to read it too us then…" The three girls squealed, hugging each other and jumping around in the Inn. Several eyes were drawn to them, but why should they care?

The rest of the evening they spend talking amongst the four of them. May and Lily found Elanor more important at that moment, "So when are you leaving?" May asked after they had laughed about a fantasy that Lissy had sketched about Elanor' new home. " In three days, I'm traveling with a dwarf an and elf, old friends of my dad," Elanor answered them with a smile on her face. "They are tall you know, especially the elf, the dwarf is just as tall as Master Merry."

A silence fell between the four friends, "I'm really going to miss you guys, but I will write to you as often as I can," Elanor said, looking to each of them. Again silence over took them, this time it was Lily who broke the silence, "Well, lets have some fun on this last evening together, for I recon that our little Elanor here will be too busy with packing to come here every evening," they all laughed and got up, starting to sing a song together, soon others joined in and it was a merry evening. Yet Elanor felt a bit lost, she would not see her friends for such a long time.

This evening she didn't drink too much, but she danced with a lot of lads, Fastred being one of them. "Tell me, mister Greenholm, why are you visiting Hobbiton?" Elanor asked him when they were dancing. "Business, miss Gamgee, with your father to be more precise," he replied after twirling her around. Elanor laughed, "Well, mister Greenholm, may I ask how old you are then?" Fastred smiled to her, " I'm 28 since last month." Elanor smiled, "You seen too young for business of the matter that my father usual handles."

Fastred did not answer her question but he led her outside, to the same bench where they had sat the evening before. Elanor looked up to him, curiously. "My father died 2 years ago, misses Gamgee, so I'm the eldest now." Elanor' face fell, "I'm sorry to hear that…" she said almost in a whisper, " I didn't know… I'm sorry," she added, looking to her hands. It was Fastred' hand who made her look up again, "Don't be, it happened 2 years ago," he said softly. Elanor smiled up to him and he smiled back to her.

"What did I hear…" Fastred finally spoke, breaking the comfortable silence between them. "Are you really going to… what did they call it again? Gon-something?" Elanor laughed a bit, "Gondor, yes, my father' friend is the King of that country, or something. Bit weird though." Now it was Fastred' time to laugh, though it did not sound happy, "Well I guess you will know everything about it when you return." Elanor looked up to him, "I guess so." "I'm fascinated in far away countries…" Fasted began, a bit nervous, "But if you find time, I would like to hear from you, if that isn't too bold to ask."

Elanor looked up to him in wonder, "You are the first hobbit I meet, who is interested in far away places… except for my father and his friends… Of course I will do that! If you write back?" they both laughed.

After that Elanor excused herself, " I have to be up early in the morning to pack, I will write to you as soon as I can," she waved goodbye to him, but Fastred gently took her hand so that she couldn't walk away just yet. He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, "Have a save journey, miss Elanor." This made Elanor blush and she looked away, " I will mister Greenholm, goodbye." With that she turned around and walked up to Bag End. The eldest Gamgee daughter did not look back to him, or else she would have seen him stareafter her.

Hello my dear readers!

This is the first time that I'm going to add a note. I'm really enjoying myself with writing this story, but I wonder what you guys think about it. So could you please leave a review? A few words will be enough. Just let me know what you think about it!

And secondly: I'm still looking for a Beta-reader. English is not my first language (Which I'm sure you have noticed) So I'm in desperate need of one! Please leave a message!

Thanks for reading my story!

Maikie