CHAPTER 18

HOME

When I opened my eyes, I was surprised to find myself lying in a soft bed. I had been cleaned; all my wounds scratches had been tended to, and I was now wearing a long satin dress. Sharky and my blanket had also been cleaned and I found they were in my arms. Bright sunlight streamed in through my window. I stretched and pushed my covers away. I got up out of my bed and looked out my window. I was on looking a beautiful clearing. The ground was made of light grey stones, and there were benches there, as well as a matching stone fountain in the middle. Then there was one more thing…Gandalf, now Gandalf the White, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, Aragorn, Samantha, and Lizzie, were all down there in a group in the clearing. Samantha and Lizzie! I huge smile crossed my face and I already felt tears of joy welling in my eyes. I slowly opened the door, and not bothering to put on my shoes, left the room, running down the hall.

"Going somewhere?" inquired a voice. I stopped short and looked down, Frodo was standing in front of me, and he too had been cleaned and changed. His damaged hand was wrapped in bandages. I smiled lovingly at him, "I was going to go meet everyone outside."

He smiled and managed a small chuckle. I looked at him closely, "The stairs are that way." He pointed in the direction I had come.

"Oh." I smiled and blushed. He took my hand and we headed toward the stairs. I lifted the skirt of my dress, the way a princess does when she walks so I wouldn't trip over the skirts. We walked down the stairs and excited the door to the clearing. Then my two best friends turned and looked at me. I smiled.

"Millie!" Lizzie exclaimed, with Samantha smiling beside her, they both looked different, well not Elizabeth so much, but Sam, her hair had been cut and now fell just above her shoulders, a thin scar ran across on of her cheeks. I let go of Frodo's hand and ran towards them and we pulled each other in a huge hug, I began to weep tears of joy, I think they did too. After I finished hugging the two of them, I hugged the others in turn. "I missed all of you so much." I said.

"So did we," said Gandalf, "So did we."

"You look great by the way." I said, with a small grin at him. He laughed.

"Now," he said, "We must go to the courtyard, we are already late."

The Minas Tirith courtyard was filled with people for Aragorn's crowning ceremony. Aragorn stood in sparkling armor on the steps to the hall as Gandalf placed a crown upon his head. "Now come the days of the King," said the wizard, "May they be blessed." We all clapped and cheered. Then Aragorn turned to the crowd and said, "This day does not belong to one man, but to all. Let us together rebuild this world, that we may share in the days of peace." We cheered again as he began to sing,

"Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta! (Out if the great sea to Middle Earth I am come. In this place I will abide, and my heirs, unto the end of the world)."

Petals began to fall down upon us. I smiled and looked up in wonder. I looked down at Frodo beside me, and we held one another's hands, smiling. Beside me, in a green dress holding hands with Boromir was Elizabeth, and then there was Sam and Sam beside Frodo. We all exchanged smiles at each other. Suddenly, Gandalf walked up to us, "It is time." He said.

"Time for what?" I asked.

"It is time the three of you returned home." He answered.

Home? I hadn't thought of home for such a long time…I hadn't thought about leaving…how could I… I felt the sting of tears.

I sighed deeply and shut my eyes, "OK."

"Meet at Pelennor Fields." He said.

"Alright." I answered.

And so dusk came. The whole fellowship was gathered on the empty fields. We were standing there in the state we arrived in. The same clothing and the one backpack with all of our things, but however, there were a few things that had been added. We wore our cloaks and leaf clasps we had gotten from Lothlorien, as well as our leaf necklaces, and our weapons, me with my sword, Elizabeth with her sword and bow and quiver stocked with arrows, and Samantha with her axe, her dagger, and her sword. The full moon glittered on a spot on the fields and a portal was in front of us, one which looked similar to the one we had found in the wall that let us here. The fellowship was standing in a line, ready for us to say goodbye. I went first. I made my way down the line, hugging each member, telling them how much I loved them and how much I was going to miss them. Everyone cried. When we had said our goodbyes, we began to walk toward the portal. "Millie, wait." I turned around as Frodo came toward me. "You forgot something." He was smiling weakly. He took my hand and I got to my knees to his level. He spun me around and kissed me for one last time. "Goodbye my love." I said, a tear fell down my face, but he wiped it away, even though he had tears himself. "I love you too." I threw my arms around him in a tight hug, we hugged for a long time, until finally, I had to let go. My friends and I clasped each other's hands as we walked toward the portal, ready to step in, when suddenly, Lizzie stopped,

"We can't leave," she said.

"But we have to." I said quietly.

She shook her head, "If we leave, think about how unhappy we'll be, the ones we love are here, in Middle Earth. Do we leave now and go back to our corrupt and imperfect world…or do we stay here…in a perfect, peaceful world? Home is where the heart is. Sure, we'll miss our families…and our electricity…our shopping mall… but…why would we go somewhere where our hearts are not?"

"You're right," Sam said, "I love my Samwise…more than anything…I'm not going to leave him."

"You're right," I answered after a brief block of silence, "My heart is here…and Frodo needs me to help him heal from his quest. Alright, we'll stay."

We hugged before we went back towards the city. We found the fellowship in the courtyard.

"Frodo!" I ran up to him and gave him a hug and a kiss.

"Millie!" he said, smiling with joy, "I thought you were going home."

I took up his hands in mine, "I am home." I said.

The End

AN: So at last I've finished! But do not cry, do not weep, for this is not the last you will see of Millie, Sam, and Lizzie. Because, this summer, I will be debuting the prelude to the "Winter House Trilogy", "The Summer Room"! If you're interested, read the summary below:

THE SUMMER ROOM

Summary: The last little bit of middle school has finally arrived for Millie, Sam, and Lizzie, and they couldn't be more excited…with only two days left, the thing that they have to look forward to is Summer Vacation and then High School. Only, here's a small problem, through a mysterious line of circumstances, the three best friends and their pal, Marley, have somehow ended up in Middle Earth and are now part of a company of 13 dwarves, a hobbit, and a wizard!

Well that's that, love ya guys J and please, don't forget to R&R and to keep watch for "The Summer Room".

-Luv2 Dream1212