Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings is property of Tolkien and there are many references throughout to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I only own what you do not recognize. The character Chinky is not meant to cause offence and is named after a real horse whose name has been shortened from a Fiat Cinquecento (Chinky – Chento).

Authors Note: Well you will be shocked to know that I am writing the last chapter! Yes the last chapter of this story is in motion. It's quite sad really, yet I'll be both relieved and upset when it is done. Woo got myself a job, so am now earning money! Getting a nice tan at the same time. Just the problem of my aching feet to deal with!

See you!

Chapter 47: An everyday sight

Amy started to sing softly as she guided Raken and the other two dragons away from the remains of Mount Doom. Their precious cargo gripped firmly, yet gently, in their formidable claws, which just moments before had been used to throw trolls down onto enemies and wrench rocks off the mountains to use as missiles.

When she saw Mount Doom erupt she had instantly called two dragons away from battle and flown with them. Circling high above she had spotted the two hobbits and told the other two dragons to pick them up. Her heart wrenched when she saw them, thin, malnourished and covered with gashes and lacerations. Burns also covered their skin and Frodo was missing a finger. Fearing the worst she ordered the dragons to pick them up anyway, she smiled as she noticed Frodo's eyes flicker open. She could have healed them there, but she feared that the mountain would erupt again and they deserved a proper bed, for she doubted they had slept on anything comfier than rocks for weeks.

Slowly the fields of Cormellen came into sight. The warriors that had survived had already amassed there. Tents had been erected for the sick and wounded. Fresh supplies were heading their way from Gondor; she could see the supply train now. Her view from the back of Raken enabling her to see all the way to Minas Tirith. She presumed that Gandalf had sent one of the dragons to the city.

As Raken slowly descended she could see many people waiting and watching in awe as she landed. Now they knew that another one of the Maiar had been among them, one that flew and communicated with the ancient dragons.

"Aragorn, Èomer take the hobbits from Tallem and Ossac I think they are alive yet how much I do not know. They need urgent medical attention. I will be with you as soon as I can." Amy said from atop Raken.

The two men nodded and ran forward to relieve the dragons of their burden. Then they quickly ran with the hobbits into one of the larger white tents calling to field medics for aid.

Amy slid down of Raken's back and turned to face the three huge dragons. She heard a rumbled roar from the sky and the other six landed beside them.

"You have done your task for this land. I have released you from your servitude. You may go where you wish, you are free." Amy said looking at each glittering dragon in turn.

"We are ever thankful of your services; we fly to the first land and await you there." Ossac said.

"I will stay here with you on Middle Earth however." Raken said. "As long as the Child of the Dragon remains in a land so shall one of us. You freed me first therefore I will stay."

Amy nodded and saluted the other eight dragons before they beat their wings hard and took off into the sky. They circled for a while before each roared and sent of stream of fire into the air. With this done they all banked and flew fast towards the West.

"I will be awaiting your call my daughter." With that Raken also took off and flew North back towards the mountains.

BREAK

"Well that's a sight you don't see everyday Merry is it!" Pippin said sticking his pipe between his teeth.

"No Pip, it's not."

BREAK

The healing tent was silent as two small hobbits lay in beds. Their child sized bodies dwarfed in the large pallets. Their pale faces matching the colours of the clean linen sheets. Aragorn sat on the side of Sam's bed and wet the cloth in his hand. Kingsfoil paste sat in a small carved wooden bowl on his knee. When the cloth was wrung out he dabbed it in the Kingsfoil and gently rubbed it into one of the burns on the small hobbit's arm. The wound sizzled slightly and left a lingering smell that was bad enough to make both Aragorn and the unconscious Sam wrinkle their nose. Slowly though the poison seeped out and after a time the smell did fade.

"How are they?" Legolas said from the tend flap.

"They are doing ok. They should wake up soon." Aragorn said raising his head and smiling at the elven prince and the daughter of the dragon that followed him.

Legolas walked in and Amy followed, both their arms were full of fresh bandages and gauze. Setting down their bundles on a small cupboard they both pulled up stools.

"You have done most of the work Aragorn, I will finish the rest." Amy said moving from her stool to Frodo's side. Placing a hand on his forehead she leant forward and whispered softly to him in elvish. "Long have you slept in the dark Sauron's bane. It is now time for you to see the light. Come Frodo."

A low groan emitted from him as his eyes started to flicker beneath their lids.

"Come on Frodo it is time to wake up." Amy said smiling.

The three looked on as Frodo's eyes flickered open. "Welcome back." Legolas said.

"Sam. Is Sam safe?" Were the first words out of the little hobbits mouth.

"Calm, Sam is here, just sleeping. He will be awake in a few moments." Aragorn said.

As he said this Sam stirred and rolled over to look at the sleeping Frodo.

"We did it Mr Frodo, we did it."

Smiles graced both their faces before they fell back into a natural sleep.

BREAK

The next time the hobbits woke was to the sounds of the camp getting packed up ready to move. They smiled to each other as they took the hobbit sized clothes from the end of their bed and changed into them. Leaving their healing gowns on the bed they peeped outside the tent to be greeted joyously by Merry and Pippin.

Mindless chatter filled the area around the four friends. Nothing was mentioned about the war or the ring, nothing needed to be said. The ring was destroyed and the war won, plain and simple. Now just began the arduous task of organising the remaining kingdoms and building bonds of fellowship throughout them again. Judging by the way that both elves and dwarves worked side by side as they camp packed up, it did not look as though it would be much of a problem.

"Come Frodo and Sam. We have got horses ready for you. Pip and I tacked them ourselves." Merry said grabbing their hands and leading them towards the picket lines.

"Yes. Throd, the leader of the dwarves, said that they are now ours to keep. So Amy has been showing us how to look after them. They are proper chargers, not the pack ponies we have in the Shire. Imagine the look on the faces of all the other hobbits as we ride back on these!" Pip said in his usual excitable way.

Frodo and Sam just laughed and allowed their friends to pull them along. For a second Frodo felt someone's eyes on him. He turned his head and met the stare of Amy who was standing with her arms around the neck of the largest horse he had ever seen.

"I'll be with you in a minute." Frodo said and he turned towards the small girl. The other three hobbits carried on and Merry had started talking about the way that their new ponies' hooves should be shod.

"Hannon lea Amy." Frodo said ducking his head when he reached the black haired girl.

"Do not thank me Master Frodo; if it was not for you none of us would be standing here. We should all thank you." Amy said letting go of Moridin yet still keeping very close to him.

"I could not have done it alone. I guess it was you who directed the dragons to get me and Sam. I thought I had passed beyond this world when I saw them."

"You were passing in and out of consciousness I do not blame you. Anyway let us talk of lighter things, imagine what is going to happen when you tell Bilbo that you were carried by a dragon!" Amy said ruffling the hobbits mousy brown hair.

"That is a fine horse you have there. Tell me where is Chinky?" Frodo said.

"My mother has passed beyond, yet I am here and I am great." Moridin said stretching his nose down and butting the hobbit gently.

Frodo looked sad for a second before smiling at Amy. "We have all lost friends in this war, yet something good came out of it. Never have I seen a horse this arrogant!"

Amy laughed at the hobbit and Moridin's outraged face. "We are in agreement little Halfling. Come I will show you back to your friends and your new mount that Throd has donated to you."

BREAK

The procession back to the city of Minas Tirith looked far more lively, with the soldiers of all races joking and boasting about their achievements in the battle. Yet if one looked a little closely you could see the lines of torment and weariness on all their faces, even those of the elven first born. Not in an age had so many battles taken place in so little time. The horrors of the battle were deeply ingrained into them. After the battle was over and the tower of Barad-dûr in ruins many had thrown their weapons to the ground vowing never to touch one again. Others simply threw themselves to the floor weeping in both relief and sorrow. For although the war was over, not one person was unaffected, everyone was grieving for a lost friend or relative.

Yet they were alive and that was what was most important at the moment. Alive to go back to the remains of their friends and family. Alive to tell their children great elaborated tales of their exploits. Alive to live free in a world without slavery or eternal darkness.

As they passed through the remains of Osgiliath many looked on, knowing that they would now live to see the day when that great city would be rebuilt. Its long bridges and ancient architecture restored to the glory of its capital city days. Once they had passed the city they looked up and forward and the sunlight glanced off the great city of Minas Tirith. As they came into sight of the great walls fireworks were released and huge cheers erupted shaking the foundations of the city.

The ancient banners of the city flew from the citadel along with the now well known dragon banner. As the battered gates creaked open many of the men urged their horses into a run and galloped through the arch. They vaulted from their horses in the courtyard and ran to meet loved ones.

The elves and dwarves sat back just outside the gates and started pitching their tents wishing themselves that they could go back to their own lands to find loved ones. Messengers had been sent to all the lands as soon as the battle had finished, telling everyone to get to Minas Tirith for the King of Men had defeated Sauron's armies and was to be crowned. So they knew their loved ones were on their way.

Faramir walked through the city gates and looked at the elves and dwarves setting up their tents and frowned. "My friends, you are part of us now. Come we will find you beds within the city. For the next few weeks you will break bread with us and share our water. Our brothers."

With that speech tent poles were dropped and slowly all the elves and dwarves walked into the city and milled around in the courtyard.

"People of Gondor, welcome these people, your saviours into your houses." Aragorn said stepping up behind Faramir and placing a hand on his shoulder. "I may be crowned king, yet I still need you as my steward." He said more quietly to the younger man, steering him away from the crowds.

BREAK

Amy smiled as she watched a small girl go up to a dwarf and take his hand. "Master dwarf, you can stay with us." She said in her childish voice.

The dwarf looked shocked for a second before walking away with the girl. Many people came forward now and welcomed elves and dwarves into their homes willingly.

"Well that is something I thought I would never see happen Young One." A soft yet powerful voice said from behind Amy.

The black eyed girl spun around quickly and faced the tall blonde elf in front of her. "Galadriel!" She said embracing her.

"Yes, I came as soon as I heard you were marching to the Black Gates. Celeborn is here as well, he came to check up on Haldir. I am glad to see that you could forgive the march warden, for in doing so you saved his life. I also want to know why I saw young Damer come back with you as well."

"Haldir is safe and Legolas has taken Damer as his apprentice. I am afraid he joined the guard, I do not know how he did it, yet no one can fault his skill."

"Yes." Galadriel said nodding and placing her hand on Amy's shoulder. "It is good to see them mixing isn't it. Man, elf and dwarf together and it is all down to you my child."

"I know, it's not a sight you see everyday is it."