Disclaimer:

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

Chapter 13: Years go by…

Winter was approaching. Many white dots were falling from the sky towards the white city. And high up in the citadel it was warm and cosy. The royal family was spending some time with their friends in their private quarters.

" So then Merry tried to stop Pippin and they both ended up on the ground. Later the whole family joined in so it was one big pile of hobbits." Arwen laughed holding her stomach, "It's been a long time ago, Elanor, that I've had such a good laugh" Elanor smiled to the Queen of Gondor and that smile soon turned into a wide open mouth: Elanor had looked out of the window.

"Wots that?" she asked, getting up from the comfortable chair and walking over to the window that looked out over the city. Normally one could view as far as the horizon, but now the vision was clouded. White dots were falling everywhere. "Where does that come from?" – "That, my dear, is snow," It was Faramir who had spoken. A moment before that he had been in deep conversation with Aragorn about the troops of orcs that were roaming across the country.

"Snow? You mean that it actually snows here?" Elanor said with deep wonder in her voice. In the Shire, not much hobbits could recall snow. Only the very very old ones, but most of them had died. 'Or sailed,' Elanor thought thinking about Bilbo Baggins. In wonder she gazed up to those little dots that seemed like soft wool to her eyes. Her friends, for that was what they had become, all laughed and Faramir said, " Yes it does, have you never seen snow before, Elanor?"

"It's a rarity in the Shire," The King said, "I believe Bilbo saw snow once, and of course our four travellers, but not in the Shire." Elanor nodded absentmindly still gazing out of the window. "Would you like to go outside?" Éowyn asked. "Oh I would love too!" Elanor said, turning around quickly, "Could we?" – " Of course we can! Well I advise that you grab a cloak, it is cold outside." – "Alright!" And with that Elanor ran off to her room.

They spend a lovely afternoon out in the courtyard. It was an unknown sight to the soldiers and the people of the city; The King, Queen, Prince and princess of Ithilien and the old Prince of Dol Amroth; Playing and laughing in the snow with a little hobbit.

And so days went by. Winter turned to spring and spring to summer. The King and Queen of Rohan had visited a couple of times and Faramir and Éowyn stayed a long time in the city. Letters were exchanged between Gondor and the Shire regularly. Elanor had great fun writing letters to Fastred and receiving them. Of course her correspondence with her family and Lissy continued as well. But Elanor grew to like Fastred, and perhaps it was more then just liking. She did not know.

A year went by… and another year. Winter, spring, summer, fall. Winter, spring, summer, fall. In the end three years went by until Elanor began to long to return home. Longing to return to her family, but also to return to someone who she had grown to love. Someone who she had not seen in years, and who she had get to know through the frequent letters.

It was a cold winter evening in the year 29 of the fourth age. A hobbit dressed in a dark blue dress was standing in a bedroom in front of the window, gazing out over the Pelennor fields. There were tears on her face and in her hand was a piece of parchment that she was clutching tightly. It was Elanor Gamgee. In the three years that she had now spend in Minas Tirith she had grown from a young woman, into a beautiful lady with lovely curly golden hair that now reached her back.

Yet she was crying. Three years it had been since she had seen her homeland, since she had seen her family and friends. She had had a lovely time in Minas Tirith, being the Queens personal handmaiden was a great honour and she had loved helping the Queen. For in the first year that Elanor had spend in Gondor the heir to the throne of Gondor was born. Eldarion was his name, now he was 2 years old and to Elanor he was like a baby brother. He reminded her of Tom, her youngest brother.

The smallest things made her thing about the Shire. An old man, sitting on a chair outside his house smoking a pipe. Or children running around the streets and pretending to be Frodo Baggins, Peregrin Took, Meriadoc Brandybuck or Samwise Gamgee. Or Aragorn (whom she now called Strider) who would rule Minas Tirith with the same love and care as her father did in Hobbiton.

Samwise had been elected Mayor for his fourth term three years ago. From the letter that her mother had written (Sam had helped her) Elanor knew that it had been a joyous occasion and that they had had a wonderful feast. Ruby, her sister, was now 13 years old and she was sending letters to Elanor regularly. Telling her sister about the games that she played. That brought a smile on Elanor' face. It were the same games as the children in Minas Tirith played.

A knock on her door returned her to the present day and place. "Come in," she said as she quickly whipped away her tears. A little boy walked into the bedroom, followed by 2 nurses. "Elly!" he exclaimed and with a smile on her face Elanor turned to the prince of Gondor, "Eldarion!" The prince wobbled over to her and hugged her close. Elanor laughed returning the hug, "To what do I owe this visit?" – "Won't tell, come Elly, come!" The prince had grabbed her hand and was now trying to pull her out of the room.

"Alright alright! But stop pulling," Elanor said laughing, with a nod to the nurses she said, "We'll be alright." Both of the nurses bowed which made Elanor sigh (she had told them a thousand times not to bow, but they would not listen). As both of the young woman had left Elanor took Eldarion' hand firmly in hers, "Now where are we going?" – "Ada," the prince said, and that was all what the boy told her, no matter how much she asked. She loved the little half elf.

The two year old (almost three year old) led her through the many corridors of the home of the King, the corridors that were by now very familiar to Elanor. She was 29 years old now, in four years she would come of age. But that didn't matter now. Eldarion secretive behaviour had made her very curious. Normally it was easy for Elanor to get to know what Eldarion was trying to hide, but this time he would say nothing about it. They crossed the cold courtyard (Elanor had not brought her cloak so she shivered in the cold) and Eldarion led her straight to the Great Hall of Feasts.

This was only used on special occasions, this made Elanor even more curious. "Eldarion, what is going on." –" Noffin!" the boy answered with a grin on his face that reminded Elanor of Aragorn. The big doors opened and warm air and a lot of people welcomed them. Elanor knew all of them; she stopped and gazed around in wonder and in shock. Eldarion let go of her hand and ran towards the back of the hall, there the King stood with his Queen… And someone else.

"Pippin!" Elanor exclaimed, and forgetting everything around her and the fact that she was now almost of age she ran towards the elder hobbit. Pippin ran over to her as well and they met in the middle of the hall and embraced each other. Elanor was crying from happiness and whispered, "It's wonderful to see you." – "It's good to see you too Elanor, I missed you." Both of them were crying and both of them did not notice the cheering crowd around them.

Pippin released her and held her at arms length, "You've grown, my dear, if Diamond sees you she will be jealous." Elanor laughed through her tears, "Don't let her hear that… but... how… when did you get here?" That was when Strider stepped in, he kneeled down next to the two hobbits, "We noticed that you were starting to long for the Shire, we know that you want to go home soon, but we did not want you to travel back to the Shire alone." Legolas and Gimli had left for the Glittering Caves just a week before.

"Oh Strider!" Elanor said and she hugged him, "Thank you so much, I did not dare to say it… I… I mean…" –" Now is not a time to thank us, Elanor," It was Arwen who had joined them, the Queen had a smile on her face and was holding little Eldarion' hand, "Let us eat!" the hall cheered again and everywhere people headed to the many tables that were all ready for dinner. Elanor hugged the Queen as well and thanked her. " And me?" Eldarion said spreading his arms wide. That made Elanor laughed and she hugged the boy as well, " You two, Eldarion."

The evening was an enjoyable one. It had been at least a month ago since Elanor had been so happy. She was talking animatedly to Pippin about everything that she had done and in turn Pippin told her the news from the Shire. Of course, Elanor had received letters just a week ago, but to hear things from another hobbit was aways better. Also she spoke with Aragorn about leaving. She did not want to leave really, Minas Tirith had become a second home to her, but the Shire was her first home. Her real home and it would always be.

As dinner had been served and everybody had eaten enough, some of the people in the halls began to leave. Which was a great relief to Elanor for she had feared that she would have to make a speech. "Don't worry," Aragorn said when he saw her face, "You'll have to make one eventually." – "Perhaps!" Elanor said with a sly grin on her face, though she knew that she could not escape it.

The remainder of the evening Elanor spend talking with Pippin. He had brought her some letters from the Shire and other things that she had missed dearly. He had even brought some flowers from the garden in Bag End. They were dried but that did not matter to Elanor. "And then Faramir-lad tried to run away, but unfortunate for him Goldilocks was faster," Pippin said with a grin on his face. Goldilocks was one of Elanor' sister. " It sounds like they really like each other," Elanor said with a laugh.

"Talking about liking someone, who is that Fastred? A lot of message from him to you have been passed through the post office. And message from you to him," Pippin asked curiously. " I…" Elanor blushed slightly, " I met him a week before I left for Gondor and he was curious, so we promised to send letters. He never stopped." – "And how handsome is he?" Elanor laughed and shook his head; " I haven't seen him for three years, Pippin. And I don't want to talk about it." Pippin smiled, "Then I know enough."

It was Strider who interrupted their conversation, "I'm sorry to say this, but we are tired and would like to go to our beds, Pippin there is a bed made for you in the room next to Elanor'. She will show you. Good night!" Elanor looked up with a smile, " Thank you again, Strider, Arwen, Eldarion." For the royal family was standing in front of them now. " you ish welcome!" Eldarion said with an impish grin on his face.

After half an hour Pippin and Elanor got up as well. "It's time for a little nap," Pippin said stretching out; they had sat so long. Elanor smiled, " I have to agree to that." They ran over the cold courtyard and were happy when they entered the warm house of the King. Not long after that they reached the room where Pippin was staying, "Well, we'll talk about preparing to leave tomorrow. Just have a good night sleep." Elanor smiled and placed a kiss on his cheek, "Thanks for everything, Uncle Pippin."

Dear readers,

Finally :P lol here is the new chapter, I hope you will enjoy it!

Greets

Maikie

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