And here we are at the final chapter of the first part of this series. Thank to everyone who has read, reviewed, followed and favorited this story.
Special thanks to Aragorn II Elessar for his help with this chapter.
Sam's first sensation was that he was in a bed. Opening his eyes, he first saw he was in a room that reminded him of Riverdell. And, as he sat up, his eyes widened as he saw who was in the room with him.
"Gandalf?"
"Hello, Samwise," Gandalf said with a beaming smile. "You…did well."
"Frodo, is he-" Sam startled as he sat up, everything coming back to him.
"He is resting. The Ring and the journey took a heavy toll on him," Gandalf said, his face growing grim. "Tell me everything that has happened."
Later that day, the Rath Dinen or the 'Silent Street' led to a walled area where the tombs of nobles and of Kings were kept. And now Denethor's body was borne on a funeral bier by Boromir, Faramir, Aragorn, Rory, Théoden and The Doctor. He had been cloaked in his Steward robes and his dead hand gripped the pommel of his sword.
Behind the bier were the other mourners- the Council of Gondor, the rest of the Fellowship, the Tower Guard, Eomer, Eowyn and the Rohirrim.
Denethor's body was placed in a marble sarcophagus close to his father's as Boromir turned to speak to everyone. He could see Eowyn holding Faramir's hand, trying to offer comfort as there were tears in his eyes. Aragorn, River and The Doctor, the three Fellowship members he was closest to were giving him sympathetic looks which were followed by nods of encouragement.
"There is a lot we can say about my father," Boromir said. "But he would only want us to remember his last deeds. He bravely met his end as a warrior, helping in the final battle against Sauron's forces to give the Ringbearer a chance to end Sauron's madness and gave his life for the city, his people and his sons."
Boromir and Faramir exchanged a glance at this, united in their grief before Boromir continued.
"May we all honor him," Boromir said before turning to where his father lay. He spoke his last words to his father, loud and clear for all to hear.
"Be at peace, Son of Gondor."
Later that day, The Doctor was in the TARDIS, checking some things as Amy, Rory and River stood behind him.
"Everything seems to be in order," The Doctor said finally.
"Why do you think it just showed up at the battle?" Amy asked curiously.
"I don't know, Pond, but I have a few suspicions, although I can't prove them right now," The Doctor said.
"Can you get us home?" Rory asked and The Doctor sighed.
"I don't know. Traveling between dimensions is far more difficult than traveling through time and space. But, for now, we're still stuck here," The Doctor said grimly, wondering how and if he could get them all home.
"It appears you've been through quite an ordeal, Sam," The Doctor said as the Fellowship, minus Frodo and Gandalf, were sitting down and eating breakfast.
"All of Middle-Earth is now indebted to you," Aragorn said and Sam flushed humbly.
"I was just trying to help Mr. Frodo," Sam said bashfully.
"And I was just trying to stay with Amy. Look at me now," Rory said, exchanging a glance with his love, who smiled at him.
They then all heard laughter coming from Frodo's room. They all froze before Merry and Pippin jumped up, running towards it. Upon entering the room, they found Frodo sitting up in bed, sharing a laugh with Gandalf.
"Frodo!"
With that joyful cry, the two Hobbits joined their cousin on the bed, all three of them laughing joyfully.
"Frodo!" Gimli exclaimed joyfully as he entered the room next.
"Gimli!" Frodo said happily and the dwarf clapped his hands together with a joyful cry before walking further into the room.
Legolas then walked in behind his friend, sharing a smile with Frodo. The Doctor followed Gimli inside, smiling as he walked over to Frodo, ruffling his hair affectionately as the Hobbit laughed.
Amy then walked in, smiling at Frodo before walking over, wrapping the Hobbit in a tight hug, which he eagerly returned, remembering the last time he had seen her had been at Amon Hen when she had tried to save him from a corrupted Boromir.
Rory next entered the room, smiling at Frodo, who spoke his name happily.
People always underestimate the underdog, but that was their mistake, Rory noted with a smile as Aragon walked into the room with a smile. The new king smiled at Frodo as the Hobbit greeted him happily.
River then walked in with Boromir, River smiling brightly at Frodo. Boromir looked ashamed still because of his actions at Amon Hen. Aragorn, Rory and River gave him nods of encouragement and Frodo actually had a smile on his face.
Boromir walked to him and the two reunited with a heart-felt embrace.
Sam entered last and stood at the doorway, him and Frodo exchanging smiles that spoke more than words.
The Fellowship of the Ring had been reunited at last.
Later that day, The Doctor led the Fellowship over to the TARDIS, the Middle-Earth natives looking at it curiously.
"What is a 'police'?" Pippin asked curiously as they stared at it.
"In our world, someone who stops criminals. Not that different from a Ranger, I expect," Rory noted with a glance at Aragorn.
"Would you like to see the inside?" The Doctor asked, exchanging a smile with River.
"I do not think we will all fit in there," Boromir pointed out, the rest of the Fellowship growing confused when River and Amy broke into laughs as The Doctor smiled and Rory smothered a snicker.
"Don't assume everything, Boromir," River quipped.
The Doctor walked over to the TARDIS, opened the doors before he walked inside, gesturing for the others to follow him. Amy, Rory and River did without hesitation and, after exchanging some uncertain looks, the rest of the Fellowship entered as well, one by one. Upon entering, they all looked around in shock at the console room.
"It's so big!" Pippin exclaimed in surprise.
"But how?" Merry wondered in shock.
"Science, my friends. Science," The Doctor said with a smile as he walked up to the console, holding out a hand before a sonic screwdriver shot out. "And there we are."
"Are my eyes being deceived?" Legolas wondered out loud.
"Nope, it's all real. Trust me, takes some getting used to," Rory said with a laugh.
"This is madness," Frodo said in disbelief.
"It's like a house has two other houses inside of it," Sam said shocked.
"Elf, maybe we're still at the drinking contest and are dreaming," Gimli suggested.
"You're perfectly sober, Gimli," River said with a laugh.
"This seems impossible," Aragorn muttered to Boromir, who could only nod, too sunned for words.
"The multiverse is full of things that one cannot always explain, my friends," The Doctor said with a chuckle.
"I have seen many impossible things in my life, yet many pale in comparison to this," Gandalf said, also a bit taken aback. "And this…science will allow you to get to your own universe?"
"I don't know. Traveling through space and time is one thing. Traveling through the multiverse is…another matter. I'm not sure how we can get home," The Doctor said with a sigh.
"You can start by asking 'please'."
At the unexpected voice, the Fellowship whirled around, only The Doctor unsurprised to see Tara standing by the doors with a half-smile.
"Tara," The Doctor greeted.
"Hello, Doctor."
"You know this woman?" Boromir asked and The Doctor nodded.
"She pulled me from the river after I fell," The Doctor explained before looking over at Tara. "Did you have anything to do with the TARDIS arriving at Mount Doom?"
"The TARDIS always would have come back to you. I just…helped it to do so a lot sooner," Tara said with a shrug.
"You are a wizard," Gandalf realized.
"I prefer 'witch'. And not like the ones you know. Like The Doctor, I come from a different universe. But that's not important," Tara said before looking back at The Doctor. "I can get you home."
"How?" River asked eagerly as they all gave her their undivided attention.
"The Powers that be can open a doorway between this universe and yours, but they can't hold it for long. You need to leave soon," Tara explained.
Most of what Tara was saying made little sense to the Middle-Earth natives, but they knew it was time for their friends to leave.
"We'll never forget you!" Pippin said, as he and Merry ran up to Amy. "We had so much fun together!"
"We did. No one's gotten me into that much trouble since Mels," Amy said with a laugh, not noticing River's smile behind her as she knelt down, hugging the Hobbits. "I'll never forget you either. And remember, no one messes with Scotland."
"No one messes with Scotland!" The two Hobbits exclaimed seriously, causing Rory to snicker and The Doctor to shake his head in exasperation.
"Guess this is it," Rory said as he turned to Legolas and Gimli.
"It was an honor to fight alongside you, Master Centurion," Legolas said and Rory chuckled.
"The honor was mine. Although I won that competition," Rory said, half joking just to screw with them.
"Humh! Just wait Rory; I will best more than you ever could!" Gimli exclaimed and Rory smiled.
"I'm sure you will. It was an honor to meet you both," Rory said with a smile. "And I will never forget you."
"Nor shall we forget you," Legolas promised.
"I shall never forget you. It was an honor to fight alongside a woman such as you," Boromir told River.
"Your flirting could use some work," River said before laughing at Boromir's expression. "I jest, Boromir. There is only one man for me."
"I noticed," Boromir said before glancing over at The Doctor, who was talking to Aragorn and Gandalf. "I hope he realizes how lucky he is."
"I never expected that I would be sent here when I tried to save my universe. But I am very glad it did," The Doctor told Aragorn and Gandalf.
"As are we. Middle-Earth will always remember The Doctor and his Companions," Gandalf promised and The Doctor smiled.
"I hope so, my friend," The Doctor said before turning to Aragorn. "Gondor will need its king now more than ever. Lead them well, Aragorn."
"I shall do my best," Aragorn said humbly and The Doctor smiled.
"Your best will be good enough. Of that, I am certain," The Doctor said confidently before turning to Frodo and Sam. "You may rest easy now, my friends. You have saved this world. Now we must return to ours."
"Thank you, Doctor," Frodo said humbly.
"It's time," Tara said gently.
The Fellowship of the Ring exchanged bittersweet smiles until, one by one; the Middle-Earth natives exited the TARDIS. Sam was the last one out, looking back at his friends one last time before, with a tearful smile; he closed the door behind him.
"Are you sure this will work?" The Doctor asked as he turned to Tara.
"Yes. And if not, you've been through worse," Tara said with a shrug.
A strange look crossed The Doctor's face at this before he shook his head. He walked over to the console before putting in the course.
"Hold on, Ponds, River. Geronimo!" The Doctor exclaimed before pulling the lever.
Outside the TARDIS, the rest of The Fellowship watched in a bit of amazement as the TARDIS slowly vanished. It was silent for a few moments.
"I don't suppose we will ever see them again," Frodo said sadly.
"Never say never, Frodo," Gandalf assured him, "A day may come when they require our aid or we require theirs again. We may meet them again."
The TARDIS landed with a jolt as it they all steadied themselves.
"Did we make it?" Amy asked as she and Rory held onto one another.
"Yes," The Doctor said with a smile as he checked the scanner. "We're back at your house, Amy, the night before your wedding. We've been gone ten minutes."
"We're back," Rory said with a relieved laugh.
"Thank you, Tara," River said, turning to thank the blond.
Only to pause, realizing Tara was no longer there.
"She's gone," Amy said in surprise.
"She does that," The Doctor said, that strange look crossing his face again.
"What is it, Doctor?" River asked as she noticed the look.
"It's nothing, River," The Doctor tried to play it off.
"When I first started traveling with you, I might have bought that. But we just spent almost a year in Middle-Earth, I know you far better than that now. Something's wrong," Rory said bluntly and The Doctor looked over at him blankly. "You know something about Tara, don't you?"
"No…well, maybe. I'm not sure," The Doctor hedged.
"Tell us, Raggedy Man," Amy said firmly and The Doctor sighed in annoyance.
"You two have celebrated Halloween, yeah?" The Doctor asked and, confused, Amy and Rory nodded. "You know when you see one of your mates when they're wearing a mask, but you still recognize them?"
"Are you saying you know Tara, Doctor?" River inquired and The Doctor was silent for a moment.
"I don't know. But…I think she knows me," The Doctor said, unable to shake the feeling that there was more than meets the eye with Tara.
And that's it.
Thank you to Aragorn II Elessar for letting me use some bits from his story 'Heroes in Middle-Earth'.
Hope the reunions and goodbyes between the Fellowship and TARDIS team was enjoyed.
Does The Doctor know Tara or is he finally losing it? That is something that will be addressed and explored in future installments of the series.
Not sure when I'll be back for the third entry in this series, so until next time everyone.