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~ The Road Home ~

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Turning south to visit the Beornings after exiting the west end of the forest, then going back over the High Pass, they at last returned to the Last Homely House.

They stayed in Rivendell a while longer, and she got the smiths there to create a fine new box for her sword. At this point Lord Elrond offered to donate to the northern kingdom his surplus stores from the armory: bows, arrows, swords, spears, shields, and armor. As well many donations of fine furniture, bedding, and fine wares to the new palace, for which many of the Rangers had already arrived to help with shipment.

While Gandalf went on to get word to Merry and Pippin to head to the Havens, and on to arrange preparations of the ship, Elraen again diverged to see progress of restorations at the Lake with the king's kin, where she discovered that the shipment treasure sent by the king had already arrived. At Annuminas she deposited the contributions from Elrond and the tapestry from Celeborn and Galadriel. Her box she handed to the Steward of the North Kingdom, to give to the king on her behalf with her humble apologies if she were not present when he came.

She did not stay long by the Lake, realizing a few days later she was already running late by the calendar of the Elves. Elraen cut across the Evendim Hills by the newly restored footpath, saying her goodbyes to the families of the Dunedain who lived in that region as she went, following the stream to the River Luhn and on along down to the Grey Havens. She was in sight of the gates to the realm of Cirdan when she came across two travelers handsomely clad in very fine wear of soldiers of far off lands.

"Hoy, there!" she called out as she approached them.

The riders halted their ponies and turned about, to look in the direction of the call, spotting a rider on a tall bright horse approaching from the north.

"Lady Elraen?" they both cried in astonishment. They paused and waited for her.

"Yes, indeed!" she replied, reaching them in short order upon her very tall and swift horse.

They bowed their heads. "Greetings, Princess," they said together.

"Hail, friends!" she replied. "Will you ride with me a spell?"

One wearing silver and black straightened up and cocked his chin. "But, of course, Princess of Lake Evendim," he replied with another bow of his head and a flourish of his hand, "but I fear we are already running late and must hurry along."

"That is good! For I am late as well. Come!"

"Then are you here to see them off, too, princess?" asked the other clad in white and green.

"Oh, yes," she said, "it is most important that I not miss it."

They all had a little ways yet to go. Soon they were talking about all manner of light news and chatter for a while, catching up as they rode.

The three riders were let in through the gates, needing no introduction, for the gate guards were alert for their coming. At last they reached the great ship waiting at the quay in the harbor, and the young hobbits rode up in a hurry to their cousin and dearest friend.

After their brief hellos, Elraen turned to her riding companions. "And now I must also bid you farewell, brave knights and dear friends," she said. "For I, too, will be joining the Wise on their final journey."

To this the young hobbits looked at her in wonder and confusion. Elraen bent down and embraced them each in turn. "Middle-earth is now yours to watch over, you and all those who remain," she said, "take care of it, and each other."

At last they understood, enough at least, if only a little. And so the three together could find no words, and gave only a bow in reply. The mysterious young maiden smiled and turned to follow Elrond and Galadriel onto the boat, her grand yellow horse following along behind.

At last the Ring Bearers finished their final goodbyes and walked up the gangplank, followed by the Wizard last of all. At the top he turned for one last glimpse eastward, then looked forward, holding his breath, to gaze at the horizon in front of him.

"The time has come," said a voice softly, "you are going home."

He looked down upon the deck before him. Standing there was the Princess, holding up her hand. He smiled, and took it, and stepped onto the boat.

*.*.*

The young hobbits shortly after became quite occupied with managing affairs in the Shire, nor did they wish to let on much about Frodo's departure and destination to the general public. So those last moments were driven to the back of their mind for a very long time, and no news of it reached their friends in the south, whom they assumed had some awareness of it.

After many years King Elessar finally came to visit the north where he found a beautifully restored lakeside palace ready for him. But to his disappointment the Dunadain of the North reported that they had seen naught of the Princess in many years, assuming she had gone to dwell with the King and other kin a while in the south, or venture to visit friends in the eastern kingdoms.

"But, Sire, though it was fifteen years ago now, she left instructions to give you this, with her apologies if you arrived in her absence," said the steward.

And with an audience of all the remaining the Quest and their families, even Legolas and Gimli and some among their kin, the steward presented the fine wooden box. When the King saw it a veil of melancholy began to fall over his face. He came and opened it, and there inside lay the short sword of Anarion, gifted by Elrond to Elendil in token of the Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age.

At this the King was grieved, for at last he understood a little better her mysterious powers, and that she had indeed sailed into the West with the remaining of the Wise, and would be seen again by none now alive in Middle-Earth.

There was now no trace of her save a name engraved onto the scabbard of a sword. And so in the Age of Men as the years passed the memory of her became a whispered legend and a passing myth. Some would say she was but a blessing spirit from among the gods who watched over the walkers on their journey, and some would say she was a goddess of war come to help the the emissaries from out of the Uttermost West, and yet others would say she never was, and all knowledge of her became a story some parents might tell their children, featuring a mysterious young hero that had no name.

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*Here's hoping someone out there thought this didn't suck. It's been a fun daydream to which I have enjoyed escaping... :)

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