Disclaimers: I do not own The Simarillion and The Lord of the Rings. The Silmarillion, The Lord of the Rings and other Middle-earth works belong to J.R.R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson, New Line Cinema, Warner Brothers, Turbine and Standing Stones Games. All other canon material belongs to their respected owners. All original material—original characters, original locations, etc.—belongs to me, the authoress of this fanfiction story.

Inspiration Theme Music for Fanfic: Disney's film, "Prince of Persia" song, "I Remain".

Warning! This chapter is Rated M for dark, intense situations.

*.*.*

The Shire was restored. It was the same Shire, just changed. All thanks to Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took's efforts in rebuilding the Shire, the Shirefolk could live safely and in peace.

Frodo was happy for them. At times, he quite enjoyed being in his hobbit form. But as he caught a glimpse of the screen following him again, he knew that if the story ended, he feared he wouldn't see his beloved again.

He felt so awful. He wanted to be there for her! He wanted to! So, why couldn't he—she yawned, trying to keep her eyes open. Frodo smiled, hopeful she would find sleep soon, if she truly needed it.

"Go on. Go to sleep. I don't mind," Frodo said, hopeful that would ease his beloved's mind. Still, she stayed awake through the end of his trilogy.

Frodo gazed up at Sam, who he knew he would part ways with. There were their ponies, ready for travel. And there was Gandalf the White, with his wagon, ready for travel to the Grey Havens.

Frodo sighed. He said nothing to Sam as they readied their ponies. Yes, Frodo still had his pony Strider, who was a gift from Aragorn, now King Elessar of the Reunited Kingdoms. Frodo would miss the Shire, but even now, after what had happened to him, he couldn't wait to leave it all behind.

And so, Frodo rode on, making his way inside the wagon to find it was missing. Wait. Missing? The it he meant was Bilbo, and Uncle Bilbo was nowhere to be found! Oh no!

"Gandalf!" Frodo called, asking the white-robed wizard, "Where is Bilbo? Bilbo Baggins? Uncle Bilbo?"

Gandalf looked away, smirking and laughing darkly. "Oh, he is safe, my lad. Safe, and away from you."

"What? What does that mean?" Frodo asked, wanting to leave the wagon. Only to find that the wagon door was locked tight. No! Where were they really heading off to? And why couldn't he do anything?

Frodo looked around him. There was an immense amount of wooden figurines and wooden animals inside this wagon. There were also a few toys here and there, strewn about the area. Plush toys, too. This was strange. This was something Frodo didn't get. Why were there so many toys inside this wagon? And where was Bilbo?

Frodo looked up at Gandalf, his eyes watery with perspiration. He did not want to be here, not when he could feel so many of the toys' eyes staring at him, as if they were searching him.

Frodo looked over his shoulder, only to find a strange toy wearing some sort of a hat, as well as a green creature with teeth, two small hands, and two large feet, as well as the green tail. Oh, this was not good! Not good at all!

Frodo picked up the green toy, observing the creature for himself. He gazed at it, realizing what it was called. It was a T-rex! Of course, it was! But what were they doing here?

"Hello?!" the T-rex shouted, startling Frodo. "We're going, too! We're going! We're going!" He leapt out of Frodo's arms, becoming inanimate and laying on the ground again.

Frodo looked at the toy in fright. He wanted to get out of here. Wasn't there a way for him to get out?

"Mr. Frodo!" Sam shook Frodo awake. Frodo stirred, finding himself inside the wagon. The toys were missing, but there was a bench from which he was sitting, next to his Uncle Bilbo, who looked very well like an elderly hobbit man.

Frodo recalled what happened. He and Sam had gotten into an argument in the Shire over this decision to leave Middle-earth, only to come back and becoming Sam's prisoner. Frodo couldn't forget the way Sam took out Saruman, nor could he ignore the dream he just had.

The dream… could it have been a vision? Childhood memories? His inner child! He would have to heal his inner child! Surely, he could have another meeting with his inner child when he got to Tol Eressëa, see what was going on.

"Are you alright?" Sam asked, worriedly. To Frodo's surprise, Sam was now in his werewolf form. Frodo wouldn't forget that!

"Sam, you will come back to your senses, right? Turning me into your prisoner is no fun!" Frodo said, shaking his head in vain.

Sam shrugged. "Oh, maybe I will, maybe I won't! I just want to see you happy! You understand, don't you? I just want to make you happy. That's all that I want. I'm just sorry you had to choose her."

Frodo sighed, "Oh Sam, I wish I could believe you. It's difficult for me, too. But I love who I love."

Sam nodded. "That's what I thought."

"Come on, you three. We are here," Gandalf said, leaving the wagon and opening the door for them.

"Come on, Mr. Frodo! It's time!" Sam said, leaping out of the wagon.

Frodo sighed, joining him and Bilbo on the other side, "Yes, let's go."

.

Frodo kissed Merry, Pippin, and Sam's foreheads. He looked on at them last, with tears in his eyes, for he feared the worst would happen, should he return to Middle-earth.

This was not how he wanted the story to end. This was nowhere near the way he predicted it. The last time he was here, he was more than ready to sail out to sea into the West.

Now, he was sad. He was going to become a prisoner in Sam's house. There was no hope for him now, should he return to Middle-earth. He knew, even as he looked at Sam, Merry, and Pippin with sorrowful eyes that things were changing. But how much remained to be seen.

.

Samwise Gamgee returned home, welcoming Rosie Cotton and their children with open arms. It was then two hobbit gardeners, working in Bag End's garden, spotted something peculiar.

The head, Saruman's head, that Sam had buried, along with Saruman's body, was missing. It was as if it hadn't been there to begin with.

The moment Sam looked up the Many-Coloured Wizard smirked at him. "Welcome home," Saruman said, a living, breathing wizard, "did you miss me?"

*.*.*

References:

The green T-rex is Rex from Disney and Pixar's film series, "Toy Story".

.x.

Well, that's it! :) We're done with this fanfic! :D

Thanks goes to the following people who read, reviewed, favorited, and followed this fanfic from start to finish: Saphirabrightscale. And thanks to everyone for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following this fanfic clear to its end. It is much appreciated! :)

This fanfic was indeed interesting to write. I think I wrote this fanfic during my burnout and my spiritual awakening. It's there to teach lessons and help me do inner work, which is fun. I will say my spiritual awakening is tapered down a bit more, since this last chapter got written a few days ago. Still, I say Frodo and Sam exploring their darkness is interesting. :)

So, next fanfic, we will explore Frodo's time in the Undying Lands, figure out how Sam and Saruman are going to work things out, and we also get to see Beatrice older than Frodo assumes she is. :) Should be fun! :)

That's it! :) Thanks for reading. :) I'll see everyone in the next story. Bye! :)

~Aria Breuer