Scars of the Future

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, both Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Theywere created by the amazing minds of J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkien.

A/N: This fic was not created by myself alone. It was done inscript format over Instant Messenger by myself and Animagus-Spirit. This fic and most of the events in it are her brilliant ideas, I have just taken the task to write it. Therefore, this fic is dedicated to her. You're the greatest!


Epilogue

Merry urged his pony to move faster, but the poor beast was already galloping as fast as he could go. Ahead, Merry could see the sea spreading out beyond the trees, as great stone buildings rose up out of the earth.

Pippin was sitting on one of the docks when he arrived, gazing sadly out to the horizon. Merry followed his gaze and could see, just barely, a white speck moving against the black sky. He watched a moment, until it was gone completely.

Merry sighed. "Did you make it in time, Pippin?"

The other Hobbit shook his head. "No. When I arrived they were too far out to be able to tell faces, but I could see them. Frodo and Gandalf, looking back."

"Did they see you?"

Pippin nodded. "Yes, and Frodo held up the star-glass, and I've just watched him go."

Merry sat down beside his cousin. "We made it last time, but we were too late for this one."

"Gandalf didn't tell us. Oh, why didn't he tell us?"

Merry shook his head. "I don't know. I guess we got our chance last time. It's going to be so different with him gone."

"I know, Merry, but he's all right. He's wanted this for so long. Remember the beginning of this month, when he had us both come the sixth?"

"Yes, of course."

"He said goodbye to us then. You know he's never given proper farewells, and that was his way of leaving us. He needed us both, and it was his way of letting us know his love for us without it sounding like a farewell, you see?" Pippin looked up at Merry.

"You're right, Pippin, and we should have noticed it. But that was the worst anniversary he's ever had. It seemed like the wound knew it was its last shot and had to cause as much suffering as it could. It was almost like it was when he was first stabbed."

"But no more of that, Merry. He's going to rest now, and once he feels he's ready, he'll die, just as he wants to, and then—"

"And then he'll have Sam, and he won't need anything else. Oh, Pippin, it was hard for him to leave the first time, that's why he didn't go! He might have felt some pull, some need to stay because of a vision, but mostly he didn't want to leave. He's just too stubborn to admit it, you know how he is. He couldn't pull himself away from the Shire, from you or me, and mostly, he couldn't leave Sam. But that's the reason he didn't tell us this time, why he sent a letter! Because he could leave now, because Sam isn't here, he's gone. And Frodo knows that only in Tol Eressea can he find peace and move on when he likes. He didn't tell us because he'd struggle with leaving when he saw our faces, you know that, and now—oh, Pippin, now he has nothing to fear or regret, nothing to hold him back. Can you imagine what that's like?"

Tears were in both of their eyes. "Come on," said Pippin. "You're right, he's gone, and he doesn't need us sitting here talking about it. What do you say, Merry, lets go, and once we're across the river, let's get a couple of ales before going home. To celebrate. Frodo wants it."

Merry laughed. "Frodo? Wanting a couple of lookers like us toasting his leaving? I doubt that, Pippin. But let's get those ales anyway. Come on, a pint and a half for both of us!"

The cousins embraced, and mounted their ponies to ride home. When they finally returned to their separate houses two days later, they had nothing on their shoulders, nothing on their hearts but joy, and nothing in their minds but peace.