March 19th

The sun shone fair on the sparkling waterfalls that spring morning. Tiny bluebirds and reddish-brown finches trilled into the bright light as the company readied to leave. Gandalf, Elrohir and Elladan patiently waited beside their mounts in the quiet courtyard of Rivendell beside the archway over the dirt path leading down to the Ford of Bruinen. Frodo and Iris waited next to their already-burdened ponies. Bilbo stood next to Lord Elrond, leaning on his favorite brass-capped cane and trying to not break into tears.

“Will I see you for our birthday, my boy?” Bilbo asked in a quiet, rather sad voice as he straightened up Frodo’s pack straps and lovingly brushed his gnarled fingers over Frodo’s fair cheeks.

“Very likely,” Frodo smiled and gently kissed his uncle’s hand. “Why don’t you try to celebrate with me at Bag End this year? It is on the way to the Havens. It will be like old times, Bilbo. You and me at Bag End again. Only this time I shall provide the presents and you will get to celebrate with Iris and Sam and Rose and their baby.”

“Ah, Frodo-lad,” Bilbo sighed; a tearful smile trembling on his thin lips. “You and your young bride don’t need pamper an old adventurer like me. Make your own adventures without the likes of me.”

“I would still love to see you before you leave,” Frodo whispered through his tight throat. There was a good chance this was the last time he might ever see Bilbo.

“Then look for us when the wanderlust strikes,” Lord Elrond said as he placed a comforting hand on Bilbo’s shoulder. “When frost is on the haystacks and the maples turn gold. We shall see you then, my friend.”

Bilbo kissed Iris and blew his nose on his much-used blue handkerchief. “Farewell, but not goodbye then, my dear. Look for us in the fall.”

This time the return journey was quite uneventful. The smaller party traveled openly, the elves with their bows and swords at the ready at all times and Gandalf with staff at hand. “No need to conceal your identity this time, my friend,” Gandalf said as they made camp the first night away from Rivendell. “There will be no surprises along the road, Lord Elrond guarantees.”

Frodo looked askance at the wizard. “How can he guarantee that?” The thought of more Men looking to fill their purses with the reward for his head was never far from Frodo’s mind.

“My lord Glorfindel is abroad,” Elladan softly spoke. “And he has organized many bows. Though most of my people will soon depart Middle Earth, some of us choose to remain awhile longer and repay our debt to the race of the halflings. We have taken up the mantle of the Dunedain and will guard well the Shire and the East Road until Arnor is reestablished.” He lighted the fire and bowed to the two hobbits and the wizard. “Rest easy, Ringbearer and Beloved. You are well guarded from this day forth.”

The company made excellent time and arrived on the eastern outskirts of Bree on April 7th. As they rounded the little hill and emerged from the woods, Frodo heard a familiar voice. “Hello! Hello there! Gosh it’s good to see you Mr. Frodo.”

Much to Frodo’s surprise, it was Sam. He stood at the latch to the Eastern Gate of Bree and Merry sat atop the gate itself, his legs swinging back and forth.

“Told you they would make it back today,” Merry smugly said as he tapped out his pipe and nimbly dismounted the gate. “You owe me a bushel of apples, Sam, and I better not find one rotten one amongst them. Greetings, Mr. Gandalf, sir. And to you, my most noble lords.”

Sam took hold of the pony’s reigns as Frodo and Iris dismounted. Gandalf and the twins remained on horseback. Gandalf’s eyes crinkled in amusement at the reunion. “Well met, Captain Brandybuck.”

“I told you we would be back in mid-April,” Frodo laughed, then hugged his friend tightly. “Sam, why are you in Bree?”

“What about Rose and the baby?” Iris asked. Merry opened the gate and saluted the watchkeeper as they passed through and slipped into Bree.

“Well now, my little girl was born on the 25th,” Sam beamed. “Her name’s Elanor. We named her after that pretty little golden flower what grows in the Lady’s land, Mr. Frodo. You remember?”

“Aye, Sam, I remember,” Frodo smiled.

“Everyone’s just fine,” Sam continued. “Mistress Hornblower, the midwife, she says my Rose is built for birthing lots and lots of children. Little Elly is as pretty as any hobbit child has ever been, and that’s not just me saying so. Hair the color of palest spun gold and eyes…well, eyes as blue as yours, if not more so. Sleeps only four hours between feedings, but she and Mummy are settling into a routine finally. And Rose, well, to put it bluntly, um, she kicked me out.”

Merry laughed. “Rose said Sam was making her and the baby nervous with all his sighing and muttering about crazy hobbits going off into danger in the snow and whatnot. Kicked ‘em out so she could get some sleep.”

They made their way to the Prancing Pony. Merry led them all back behind the inn to the stables. Gandalf finally dismounted, but the elves remained in their saddles.

“You’re leaving then?” Merry asked. They nodded. “One quick question before you go, if you don’t mind. The Bree patrol found five dead men on the East Road two days after you left back in February. Well, they found the remains of five men and some spent arrows. The patrol also found a warning written in Elvish posted to a tree near the remains. It said that anyone found harming a halfling would meet a similar fate. Would you happen to know anything about this?”

The twins looked at each other, neither saying a word.

Gandalf placed a hand on Merry’s shoulder. “I would trust that message, Captain Brandybuck. It seems the East Road and wildlands between Bree and Rivendell, and perhaps even up the Hedge around the Old Forest, are all under guard once more. I would expect more traffic along the East Road as the Elves migrate through the Shire and on to the Grey Havens.”

Merry smiled and saluted the Elves. “Good hunting, sirs.”

“We take our leave of you now, Mithrandir. Ringbearer. Doctor. We return to Imladris,” Elrohir said. “May your paths lead you to quiet waters and the stars guide your feet.”

“Thank you for all you have done, most fair and blessed of Arda,” Frodo said. “I shall see your lord in the autumn.”

“Please thank Lothwing and Ninniach for their kindness show me,” Iris quietly said and bowed low. The twins turned their mounts and disappeared into the gathering darkness.

The next day was fair and fine for traveling. Merry and Sam rode their ponies, and the journey from Bree to Crickethollow was cheerful and unhurried. They passed a couple of hobbit pony carts loaded to overflowing with produce on their way to Bree. Merry verified that commerce between Buckland and Bree had resumed, much to everyone’s satisfaction. But Men, even Breelanders, were still turned away at the Brandywine Bridge.

The little round green door of Bag End never looked so inviting as when Frodo and Iris arrived the next day. The Gaffer answered the bells. “Why, it’s Mister Baggins and Miss Proudfoot come back!” Gaffer said as he hugged Sam.

“That’s Mr. and Mrs. Baggins, Da,” Sam corrected. “They jumped the broom while out in Rivendell.”

“’Bout time, young Master Frodo,” Gaffer said. He wagged an arthritic forefinger at Frodo. “Now get ye some bairns like my Sammie here. Children’s for taking care of ye when you’re old like me. You could learn a thing or two by following in me boy’s example concerning the ladies and babies.”

“Da!” Sam blushed. “Don’t talk to Mr. Frodo like that! Sorry Miss Iris.” Sam hustled his father back inside the smial. “Come on Da. Let’s go see if Elanor remembers me.”

Gandalf was introduced to Lily Cotton, who was at Bag End helping her only daughter take care of infant Elanor. With the arrival of Frodo, Iris, Sam and Gandalf, Bag End seemed suddenly crowded. Rose proudly displayed Elanor to the assembled crowd.

‘Samwise Gamgee was right,’ Gandalf thought as the baby was being passed around. ‘She is the loveliest hobbit child I’ve ever seen.’

“I’ll be getting on back to the farm, Rose,” Lily said, handing her granddaughter over to Iris who stood next to the wizard. “I’ll come round in a couple of days to spoil the baby some more. You’ll be staying for awhile then, Mr. Gandalf?”

“For a couple of days, and then I’m off again,” the wizard said, deftly moving his white beard out of the way of the infant’s grasping hands.

Iris laughed as Elanor burbled and showed her gummy mouth in pleasure. Rose came over to reclaim her daughter. “Let’s go into the living room,” she said, taking Iris by the hand. “It’s so good to have you home! I’ve missed you so much. I need to have some serious girl talk.”

Sam was busy helping Frodo unload the three ponies and move the gear into Frodo’s old bedroom. The Gaffer showed Gandalf to his guest bedroom, carrying the wizard’s staff out at arm’s length as if it might sprout a snake’s head and bite him at any moment. Gandalf winked at Frodo as he passed by in the hallway, amusement at the Gaffer’s distress written all over his ancient face.

Once they were all settled into their respective rooms, Sam and Rose prepared supper in the kitchen. After the meal, the two hobbitesses took the baby and retired to the living room again. “More girl talk!” Iris called over her shoulder to Frodo.

“Can I help clean up?” Frodo asked Sam.

“No, no. Gaffer and me will do the washing up, Mister Frodo,” Sam said as he and his father moved the dirty dishes to the sink. “You and Mr. Gandalf go enjoy a pipe. We’ll join you shortly.”

“Shall we go outside?” Frodo asked the wizard.

“I would appreciate being able to stand up without bumping into something,” Gandalf chuckled. They moved out into the dark, crisp air. The stars were shinning a million colors, reflected perfectly in the still waters of the mill pond down at the base of the Hill. Frodo could tell Sam had been very busy replanting trees throughout the area. Little straight saplings in tidy rows, each expertly staked against the North wind, lined the lane leading in to Bywater. Tiny yellow candle lights twinkled from houses and smials tucked into the landscape. All was peaceful. All was calm.

Frodo led Gandalf back behind Bag End to the seclusion of the dark pony pastures. The two friends sat on a wooden bench and lighted up their pipes. After a few minutes had passed, Frodo spoke. “I do love the Shire, Gandalf. Sam and I went on the Quest to save the Shire. But now that it is all over, I do not know if I can stay here.”

Gandalf blew a smoke ring out into the pasture, then sent another one chasing after the first. “Having second thoughts about Tol Eressea?”

“No,” Frodo smiled. “I shant be leaving Middle Earth. But Aragorn has invited Iris and I to live in Minas Tirith.”

“What is wrong with the Shire, Frodo?” Gandalf asked.

“I do not know,” Frodo said. “Perhaps it is not the Shire. Perhaps it is myself. There is still something inside of me which is unsettled. I do not quite trust myself, even with Iris and Sam and Rose being here with me. I do not know if I was meant to come back here.” He sighed. “Oh, I don’t know what to do. Sometimes I still feel so torn in two.”

“Then follow your heart, Frodo,” Gandalf gently said. “It has never betrayed you. Follow your heart and eventually you will know peace and healing, whether in Gondor or here in the Shire.”

They sat in the cool night air under the countless stars, watching the passage of Earendil Gil-Estel through the night sky, smoking their pipes and content with each other’s company. Not saying anything more. Listening to the sounds of the ponies munching the tender spring shoots.

“You should stay here,” Rose said. “Bag End is Mr. Frodo’s home, after all.” The baby suckled contentedly as Iris fretted. “That little apartment of yours in Hobbiton is too small. I mean, when you have children and all. And Mister Frodo’s study is here. All his books and papers are here. Come on, Iris. It only makes sense for the two of you to join the four of us.”

“You’re right,” Iris said. “But I don’t want to be a bother. At one time Sam mentioned your Gaffer’s place at #3 would be available. Is that still true?”

“Yes,” Rose smiled. “We moved the Gaffer into the back bedroom here at Bag End. He’s all settled in. Sam and the Gaffer have already cleaned up #3 for you. And his bedroom is much larger than Frodo’s old bedroom here. Why, Sam and the Gaffer are even talking about connecting the two smials with a new tunnel through the Hill. That way we can visit without having to go outside during bad weather. Our children could play together and everything!”

“Do ye really think Mr. Frodo and Miss Iris want to live in me old place?” the Gaffer grumbled as he dried a plate. “Doesn’t seem right to me, what with him being Master of Bag End. Seems to me you aught to be the one moving inta my old place, Samwise.”

“Now Da, me and Mr. Frodo talked about this before he left,” Sam gently said, washing another dish and handing it to his father to dry. “Bag End and #3 are going to become one big smial when we dig that connecting tunnel. The Bagginses already own all the smials on the Hill anyway, sos it’s not as if he can’t choose where he wants to live. He’s fine with moving inta #3, but having access to the rest of Bag End as he needs. And the Doc still has her building in Hobbiton for her medical practice.”

“Seems to me we have a big summertime project ahead of us, boy,” the Gaffer grumbled. “Gonna take a lot of muscle to dig through the Hill.”

“Don’t worry, Da,” Sam smiled. “We’ll have help.”