Chapter33: Sauron's Final Defeat

As soon as the Eagles came, Gandalf felt as though something was about to change the course of history. For the good of Middle Earth. The light that the Eye illuminated left them and focused on Mount Doom. Just minutes later, the earth began to shake and crack.

Gandalf started shouting for the army to get huddle into a group and he hit the ground with his staff the ground stopped shaking, but only on the ground the armies of Gondor and Rohan stood. Orcs and Nazgul alike fell into abyss.

Someone shrieked. And Gandalf looked at where the Eye once stood. In it's place was just a giant stone pillar toppling to the ground. Everyone was cheering, but realization had pumelled itself into Gandalf.

She was gone. They had done what they set out to do. He could see her renewed body which she was never able to inhabit in its obsedian casket. There was no time for tears.

"Harry, I should have told you why I wanted you by my side…I love you too…"

The mountain erupted and the cheering stopped. "NO! Gandalf! Frodo and Sam! Oh, God in Heaven! Don't let them be dead!" Pippin shouted through tears. An eagle landed and Gandalf mounted it, telling it to find Frodo and Sam. The eagle, plus another two went in search for the hobbits.

After circling Mount Doom for some time, Gandalf saw Frodo and Sam, who had slipped into unconciousness. He directed the eagles who dived and picked up the hobbits in its claws.

They headed back to Gondor, where both Hobbits were healed and Frodo's finger was tended to.

Gandalf sat in peace, but not the peace of victory and releif, but the peace that only sorrow and pain could leave. Puffing on his pipe, Gandalf wondered where the time had gone.

He didn't have very much long to live, only a few more years to get by with. He was offered to go with the Elves to the Grey Havens where he would die peacefully in the other world, where ever they led to.

He pondered what the Havens were. Would they show him Heaven? Would he see what would have happened if he was able to save Sauron from her fate before it even began to go into play.

He didn't know.

The corination ceremony would begin shortly. Aragorn was to become King of Gondor. The tree had come back to life and was blooming.

Gandalf stood among the many who witnessed the Return of the King. He placed the crown on Aragorn's head and Elves paid tribute. Ron's granddaughter, Arwen Evenstar, who loved Aragorn with all her heart, was allowed by her father to wed him.

Gandalf, from there, rode on to Rivendell with his godson.