AUTHOR'S NOTE This is the second to last chapter! There will be a short epilogue to come soon. I hope that you've all enjoyed this trilogy! I know that I've greatly enjoyed writing it and creating Rae and her friends. Thank you for all of your reviews on all three parts and wonderful comments!

DISCLAIMER Tolkien's characters are not mine. Don't own them.

September 17, Year 61 of the Fourth Age

We had traveled for days. Through Rohan and Fangorn and across the Misty Mountains. Past the abandoned home at Rivendell and through the sleepy town of Bree. Now we stood at the Brandywine Bridge.

"Lead your people to Valinor, but I ask that you remember the laws of this land."

Aara had heard the King's words. She knew what they meant. She knew that no human was allowed to cross the Brandywine and set foot in the Shire. She knew that now was the time to say goodbye.

I looked at my beautiful daughter and cried.

She buried her face in my shoulder. "I love you, Mama," she said through her tears.

"I love you, little one." I hugged her. "My daughter, I will miss you!" My words were drowned in tears. "Care for your Ada for me. And never let Eleni and Éomer forget me. Remind them that they are part Elf because you are part Elf."

"I will," she promised.

It broke my heart. "Namaarie."

"Namaarie, Mama."

Leoglas laid a hand on my shoulder. "Rae, I am leaving you here, too." Even he wept. "I will accompany Aara back to our home."

My husband. My love. I never thought I would leave him so soon.

He reached over to brush my tears away. "Do not cry for this, Meldanya. The Undying Lands await me too. Someday we will be together again."

"Oh Legolas!" I let myself be wrapped up in his arms. Millions of memories flashed through my mind.

The Mirror. Climbing the tree to spy on the Fellowship. The first night we spent together. Becoming an Elf. Leaving home. Waiting out the Battle of Helm's Deep. My journey to Minas Tirith. The end of the War. The crowning of King Elessar. Our wedding. Being crowned Princess of Mirkwood. Aara. Our colony in Ithilien.

Now I had to say goodbye to all of it. But Legolas put a finger to my lips. "No goodbye." And then he kissed me. I wanted it to never end.

But it had to. I gave Nelin's reins to Aara. "Ethol na mar, Nelin," I told her. I kissed my daughter's forehead. "Never forget that you are my daughter."

Aara shook her head. "Never."

Legolas just looked sadly at me. 'Namaarie,' I heard him say. I broke down. He had not sent a message like that since the day the Fellowship had left Lórien – my last day as a human. 'I swear by Earendil that we shall meet again.' His silent farewell pushed me to weep.

Aara turned from the bridge, Nelin following sadly after her. Legolas gathered me into one last embrace. "By Earendil," he whispered in my ear.

"By Earendil," I repeated.

And then he was gone. Emeriel, Colindor, and I crossed the bridge.

On the morning of September 22nd, year 61 of the Fourth Age, I stood before the green door of Bag End. Emeriel and Colindor waited on the road. As I knocked softly on the door, I heard the light patter of hobbit feet. A beautiful auburn-haired hobbit opened the door. "Can I help you?" she asked politely.

I put a hand to my chest and bowed. "I am Raélowen Mirimë, Lady of the Elves of Ithilien. I come to speak with Samwise."

The hobbit lass smiled. "Welcome. I am Ruby, daughter of Samwise. Please, come in."

I followed her into the hobbit hole. It felt of love but also of sorrow. As Ruby led me into the cozy living room, I saw portraits of Frodo Baggins and one who I could only imagine as Bilbo Baggins on the mantle. This had been the Ringbearers' house.

Samwise Gamgee walked slowly into the room. He was an old hobbit now, small and stooped by the great years upon him. But his eyes still carried that look of love that I had seen in them years before in the Court of the Fountain. "Hello again, my Lady," he greeted me.

"I am honored that you remember me."

Sam laughed weakly. "A hobbit's mind is never dulled. I had a dream. The Lady of the Golden Wood told me that you would come."

Ruby looked from Sam to me and back again. "Papa?" she asked. "What's going on?"

Sam sighed. "Ruby, my beautiful youngest daughter. There's something I have to tell you." He led Ruby to a chair. "Do you remember the story of the last time I saw Mr. Frodo?"

"Yes, of course. You traveled with him past the Tower Hills and watched him sail into the West."

"Yes. The Elves granted him passage because he was a Ringbearer." Sam sighed. He motioned to me. "This is Lady Raélowen. She has come to bring me on Mr. Frodo's path." He took his daughter's hands in his own. "You are a beautiful lass and you are strong. I must leave you for the Sea."

Tears gathered in Ruby's eyes. She threw her arms around her father. "Oh Papa, I'll miss you!" she cried into his shoulder. "Why do you have to go?"

Sam didn't answer. When Ruby finally let go, he simply retrieved a walking stick, a pack, and a cloak that I recognized as Lórien-made. To me, he said, "I'm ready." He kissed his daughter's red curls and simply said, "Goodbye."

She did not protest. Sam did not look back on Bag End, only pausing a moment when we reached the end of the Shire. It lay green and lush behind us. I could see in Sam's eyes that he would miss it terribly.

I dared for a moment to let my mind wander. I wondered what had become of Merry. My heart ached that I had not been able to see Pippin one last time to say goodbye.

At the Tower Hills, Sam asked to make one stop. He led me to a small hobbit hole and gently wrapped on the large blue door.

A golden-haired hobbit answered. "Papa!" she cried in surprise and threw her arms gently around him. "What are you doing here?"

Tears shone in Sam's eyes. "I've come to say goodbye, Elanor. I'm sailing over the Sea like Mr. Frodo did."

Elanor was shocked by his news, but her eyes grew wider when Sam pulled out a large book bound in red leather from his pack.

She gasped. "Frodo's Red Book!"

Sam placed it lovingly in her hands. "This contains Mr. Bilbo's tale of the dragon and Mr. Frodo's tale of the Ring. Keep it safe. Pass it down to your children."

Elanor nodded. "I will," she said tearfully.

"You belong in the Shire," Sam told his daughter. "I no longer do."

I turned away as Sam said a final goodbye. I missed Aara already. I knew I'd never see her again.

Sam must have known the same thing. But soon Elanor was gone and we passed the Tower Hills to the final stage of the journey.

Sam walked slowly down onto the dock. Círdan the Shipwright stood at the end beside a fine vessel. It was a craft of beauty and grace, worthy of a journey to Valinor. The old hobbit stood gazing at the ship for a moment. "I guess this is it," he said softly.

I laid a hand on his shoulder. "You were meant to take this journey, Master Gamgee. Just as we were."

He turned to smile at me. "I know. I'm still not too keen on boats, though."

I laughed. "Somehow I feel this one will be more to your liking."

"Rae, are you coming?"

I looked up to see Emeriel and Colindor already aboard the ship. Nodding, I held out a hand. "Ready?" I asked Sam. He took a deep breath and together we boarded the ship.

As we pulled away from Middle Earth, I turned to look at the land I knew as home. A shimmering figure stood on the land past the dock. At first her long dark blonde hair made me think of Aara, but the woman seemed to fade a little. I remembered my dreams while traveling through Rohan so many years ago. "Goodbye Mama," I whispered. "Take care of my daughter for me."

The woman smiled just a little, then faded away. I brushed a tear from my eye. Sam came to my side. "Are you okay, my Lady?"

I smiled before answering. "Yes Sam." And I was. I knew everyone I loved would be happy and safe and that someday my love would be with me forever. "I'm okay."

Colindor and Emeriel came up behind me. I smiled and turned to face the sun setting over the Sea.

Namaarie – Farewell (Quenya)

Meldanya – My beloved (Quenya)

Ethol na mar, Nelin – Return home, Nelin (Sindarin)