Disclaimer:

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

Chapter 15: Coming home.

"Roads go ever on and on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon.

Roads go ever on and on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known."

Two cheerful hobbit voices were heard in the neighbourhood of Bree singing out loudly. After the song their laughter was heard. One voice seemed to be a lot younger then the other, but they were having fun none the less.

They had been on the road for at least 10 weeks now, if it wasn't more, (Of course the two hobbits are Elanor and Pippin) And they were really looking forward to see some hobbits again. The roads had been empty, no other travellers except a messenger from the Shire, who seemed to be heading to Gondor. It was a human, mind you, in service of the King. He had given them the letters that belonged to Elanor and Pippin.

But now… they were almost in Bree. "I can't wait to see some more hobbits, I mean I've only seen you in three whole years," Elanor said with a grin to Pippin who had the reins of their carriage in his hands. The Took looked to the girl… woman beside him and smiled, "Just wait till we are in the Shire!" they both laughed and the rest of the journey they spend singing and talking.

Finally they arrived by the Prancing Pony. They were given a room and had a wonderful meal. Afterwards, Elanor was so tired that she went to bed. But Pippin spend some time with the owner of the Inn, talking about old times.

"Now for the last part of our journey, it will take us no more then a week to get to Bag End," Pippin said as they rode out of Bree. Perhaps you are wondering why they have a carriage with them: That's because Elanor had a lot of gifts from friends and 'other family' as she cold them. Everything from clothes to paintings, there even was some money (to much for her).

"Good!" Elanor said, wrapping her cloak tighter around herself. It was January by now, but still it was cold outside. Elanor was just glad that she would be home in a week. Home, a place that she had missed terribly.

Time went fast, perhaps it was the idea of having a warm stable and enough hay, enough for the pony's to walk as fast as they could. Finally, the 6th day since they had left Bree, Elanor saw a sight that she had not seen for three whole years.

Hobbiton, the place where she was born, where she had grown up, the place that she had missed so terribly. Cheerfully she greeted the people that she recognised, but few recognised her. For she had changed; she wasn't a little girl anymore but a grown woman. "ELLY!" a familiar voice yelled as a hobbit lass ran towards the cart. "LISSY!" Elanor yelled as she jumped of the cart and hugged her friend. "Oh it's good to see you!" They both said at the same time.

After a quick greeting Lissy, Elanor and Pippin rode to Bag End. Elanor by now had tears in her eyes and she jumped of the cart as she saw her father sitting in the garden, "Dad?" she almost whispered, but Sam did look up. "Elly-dear!" the old mayor said as he stood holding his arms wide open. Elanor ran over to him and buried her face in his neck. "Dad… " she whispered, her tears now freely running over her cheeks.

Sam' yell had caused all the Gamgee children to run to the front garden and they were all baffled when they saw their eldest sister. Rosie stood in the front door, watching her eldest daughter with pride and with much joy in her eyes. As Elanor noticed her she let go of her father and ran towards her mum. "Elanor… what took you so long?" her mother whispered in her ear as Elanor had embraced her.

But Elanor' brothers and sisters wanted some attention as well. They had missed their sister just as bad as their parents! "Elly!" some of them cheered. As Elanor let go of her mother she turned to hug all of her 12 brothers and sisters. "Oh it's good to see you all!" she said with tears in her eyes. She had picked up little Tom. Who actually wasn't so little anymore. "You've all grown so much!" Everybody laughed and soon they were all seated in the living room, enjoying some tea.

Of course Pippin and Lissy had joined as well and all of them were now listing to Elanor who was telling about the King and Queen. Sam and Rosie were both sitting on the couch, holding each other' hands. "She has grown…" Rosie whispered into her husband' hear. Sam smiled, "Indeed she has, a real woman she is now," he whispered back, sounding very proud.

The remaining time they spend talking, eating and more talking. Though it was mostly Elanor who was telling about the things that had happened. She was so glad to be back! Suddenly Lissy got up, "I'm sorry! I have to go home… Nobody knows where I am…" she said as she smiled apologetically. Elanor got up and hugged her friend, "That's alright… I'll see you tomorrow alright?" They both smiled and Elanor walked Lissy to the door, "Bye! And say hello to your parents for me?"

As Elanor walked back to the Living Room she tried to stifle a yawn, but it came out anyway. What time was it? Around nine, and she was tired already. She said goodnight, but before she was able to walk out of the room her mother got up, "I'll walk with you." Normally Elanor would not have been happy with that, but now she was glad that Rosie would go with her. It had been three years…

As they reached her old room Rosie held the door open for Elanor, "We did not change much, I only cleaned it now and then, " she said with a smile as her daughter walked into the familiar room.

Everything was in the same place as it had been when she left. The only thing that had not been there were the beautiful flowers that were standing in a vase on her nightstand.

"I missed everything," Elanor said, sitting down on her bed. With her hands she went over the soft material and she smiled up to her mother.

"That I can imagine…" Rosie said with a smile as she leaned against the door that she had just closed behind her.

Elanor looked down, to the floor that was as well so familiar, " It's strange to be back, but I'm glad that I am. You can't imagine how happy I was to see uncle Pippin that evening. I had never expected it to happen."

"Well dear," Rosie said as she sat down next to her daughter, "We're glad to have you back, but tell me… is there something more going on?" she had seen her daughter stare into the fire much more then usual. A dreamy look in her eyes and she had no idea what it might mean. Well yes she had, but she found it unlikely that Elanor would be in love… She had not had any contact with her male friends in Hobbiton.

Elanor looked up in wonder, "Like what mum?" she asked, really she had no idea what Rosie was talking about.

"You did not fall in love with a human in Minas Tirith… did you?" Rosie asked, almost afraid for the answer. Well it could be true, right?

Elanor looked up to her mother, bewilderment written on her face, then she burst out laughing, "No… no not at all, why did you think that?"

Now Rosie was laughing as well. "Well dear you never know, and you stared so much into the fire, this evening that I began to wonder what was going on…" Rosie grinned to her daughter, "But now you had better go to bed, you are to tired to talk, you can barely keep your eyes open!" Elanor smiled at that, for it was true; even after three years her mother could still tell how she felt.

"Good night mum" she said, placing a kiss on her mother' cheek. "Good night Ellie," Rosie said after returning the gesture. She stood and walked out of the room, softly closing the door behind her.

Soon Elanor had changed to her nightclothes and laying in bed. She had not expected that her mother would find it out that soon. That she was in love with someone. A smile came on her lips as she remembered something that Fastred had written to her in one of his last letters, something among the lines that his mother began to wonder with whom he was corresponding.

But the problem was that she had no idea of his feelings… for her. She knew that he counted her as a friend… but perhaps… maybe she saw him as more as a friend. A sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes. This was not the time to think about it. She was tired and her mind wasn't properly working. Soon after she has thought that: she fell asleep.

Finally!

I know it took long.. I know... I'm so so sorry! but now it will be easier, seeing that I now know what to write about.

My apologise again... and review please! - Begs-

Maikie