Two weeks had since passed when Frodo and Sam set out with Baradur’s company. The day had long fell into evening as they rode on nearing the Gap of Rohan. The memory of the attack came to Frodo once again as they passed by the tree where he and Sam had awoken that fateful morning. He sighed deeply looking up into the starlit night as they rode hard along the path to the north seemingly never stopping for a bit of rest. They had indeed made good time along the way but Frodo could no longer stand to sleep through another night on the back of his horse. He called out to Baradur who fell away from the lead of the company coming to his side.
"I want to rest." Frodo replied with a weary voice. "I can not go on any longer like we have. I want to stop and sit before a fire and lay within its warmth passing the night with a restful sleep."
"And I too." Sam said as he tried in vain to keep his eyes open. "Two weeks with little rest has worn me thin."
"So we shall." Baradur replied as he rode back up to the head of the company. They soon came to a halt and turned away from the path resting among a circle of trees. A fire was built as Sam and Frodo were helped down from their horse and led to the trees. There they sat before the fire warming their hands and feet from the cool autumn air. A meal was prepared and drink brought forth as all within the company broke out in song. Frodo and Sam ate quickly taking down a few mugs of ale to warm them inside. Baradur then came to them sitting by their side before the fire.
"We have made good time." Baradur replied. We will be nearing the Shire within another two weeks. You should reach Hobbiton soon thereafter."
"Will you be accompanying us the whole way?" Sam asked quietly.
"My company will be turning back to Edoras once we reach the crossing at Tharbad on the river Gwathló. We will hold to the north road until we reach the split near the Sarn Ford on the Brandywine River. From then on you should take the road west. It is but a three day ride from there."
"You speak as if you’re not coming with us all the way Baradur." Frodo replied.
"That I am not." Baradur said softly. I will be returning home once we reach the Ford. You shall be safe in the Shire for no danger lurks there anymore."
"Will we ever see you again dear friend?" Sam asked as he looked up to Baradur.
"Your road will lead you back again Sam." Baradur said putting his hand on his shoulder. "There is nothing more to fear within our land and you are welcome to return with Frodo at any time."
Sam smiled as Baradur stood up.
"May you rest well my friends." Baradur replied before he walked back to the gathering of his company. Frodo and Sam looked on as he sat among his fellow riders joining in their song once again. They then looked away back to the fire as it’s glowing flames shone brightly in the dark night. Sam then lay next to the fire covering himself with a blanket and soon drifted to sleep. Frodo watched Sam as he slept peacefully beside him and soon he too rested himself on the ground falling into a dreamless sleep.
Many days and nights quickly passed as the company continued on to the north towards the Tharbad crossing. The day soon came when the rest of the company turned away leaving only Baradur to ride the remaining five days with Sam and Frodo. They rode on through many evenings resting only a few hours during the day before continuing on once more. Frodo was full of anticipation as they neared the Shire when the day finally came for Baradur to bid them farewell.
"I must leave you now." Baradur replied as they came to the Ford. "May you be well along your journey home." Baradur said as he turned his horse away from the river. He clapped the reins together and rode off as the sun began to fall down the sky. Frodo and Sam sat upon their horse watching as Baradur quickly faded away within the distance becoming only a distant memory. Frodo then took the reins of his horse within his hands and snapped them together going on once again. Sam still held tightly to Frodo as they went along the path while he watched the stars slowly began to fill the sky. The moon was full and shining brightly lighting the way before them with shimmering moonbeams.
"The Shire." Sam whispered softly as he looked all around while they rode down the path. "There was a time when I thought I would never see it again Frodo."
Frodo was silent and he sighed in deeply stopping in the path for a moment as he looked back at Sam.
"That day will forever be in my mind Sam as it will be in yours." Frodo said softly. "But we should leave it within the past and think of it no more."
"That we should." Sam said as a small grin came onto his lips. "But you will forever have an imprint of it on your head." Sam laughed as he put his finger to Frodo’s scar on his forehead. Frodo laughed as a large smile filled his face.
"You always seem to find the humorous things in the bad aspects of life Samuel." Frodo said through his laughter.
"Aye." Sam softly replied. "Laughter can heal all Frodo. It is what has held me together in life."
Frodo smiled and patted Sam on the shoulder as he turned back around clapping the reins together leading their horse on once more.
Frodo and Sam rode on all through the evening and into the late hours of the day thereafter before coming to rest along the path beneath a large tree. As they made a fire thunder was heard far in the distance and streaks of lightning flashed across the darkened sky. Frodo looked out into the night as he sat near the fire slowly eating a sweet cake given to him by Merry for their journey home. Sam had gone off for a walk and he soon came to Frodo holding a hand full of mushrooms that he had found nearby.
"This is all I could find." Sam replied handing some of the mushrooms to Frodo. "Besides this all we have left among the two of us are three more sweet cakes and a bottle of water. It is a good thing we shall be home within two days." Sam said as he sat next to Frodo before the fire. Sam put a few mushrooms in his mouth and looked to Frodo. He had not said a word for some time and his face seemed long as he stared into the flames of the fire. Sam sighed deeply and turned his attention back to his meager supper as another crack of lightning streaked across the sky followed by a loud roar of thunder.
"What is on your mind Frodo." Sam said quietly as a soft rain began to fall. "You are silent once again."
Frodo took a bite from his cake and then sat his hands in his lap as he looked over to Sam.
"I have an ill feeling." Frodo whispered. "Something just does not seem right but I can not place what it is."
"Maybe you are just nervous Frodo." Sam replied. "All is well as you will see once we arrive back home."
Frodo sighed and took another bite of his cake, chewing slowly as he stared into the fire.
"That may be it." Frodo said as he swallowed. "I am worried about Hanna and all the fear that must be in her heart since I have not returned."
"Her heart may be heavy but she will be filled with joy once more when she sees your smiling face come through the door." Sam replied with a smile. The rain then began to come down hard as another loud roar of thunder echoed out into the night. Frodo pulled his hood up over his head and stood to his feet taking in a deep breath.
"It seems we will find no rest along the road tonight dear Sam." Frodo replied. "We should take to the road and travel on. You can rest your head on my shoulder as we ride if you find the need for sleep." Frodo said as he went to their horse. He took the reins and Sam came to his side pulling his hood over his head as he placed their pack over his shoulder. Frodo helped him onto the horse and then Sam held his hand down to Frodo pulling him up onto the horses back. Sam held fast to Frodo as he snapped the reins together setting off once again.
As the sun slowly began to rise the rain had begun to taper off into a fine mist. Sam had long fallen asleep leaning his head on Frodo’s back as they rode through the pouring rain during the night. Frodo too was nodding off as his head fell down to his chest and back up again. Sam opened his eyes and sat upright stretching his arms high above his head. Frodo’s head was leaning to the side after giving in to sleep. Sam smiled and took the reins from Frodo’s hands as he scooted back on the horse allowing Frodo to lean back into his chest. Frodo continued to sleep as they traveled further down the road while Sam took in everything around him. The scent of the freshly fallen rain was all around him as a thin fog hung in the air. The soft cooing of doves could be heard high in the trees as their songs were carried off upon the wind. In all the glory Sam had seen while on his journey none could compare to the peaceful tranquility he felt within the Shire. Hours passed as they rode on through the day while Frodo still slept soundly within Sam’s keep. The day soon fell into evening and they were now only but twelve hours from home. The rain had long passed and the night was still and silent as Sam continued on under the moonlit sky. Sam soon began softly humming to himself while they rode when suddenly Frodo let out a yell in his sleep. The horse reared up and Sam grasped tightly to the reins and onto Frodo trying to keep from falling to the ground. The horse soon calmed and Sam looked to Frodo while he clutched his chest trying to catch his breath.
"What happened?" Sam replied putting his hand on Frodo’s shoulder. Frodo shook his head and just continued breathing in deeply saying not a word. He then turned back to Sam and a look of fear was in his eyes.
"Give me the reins." Frodo said holding his hand out to Sam.
"What for?" Sam said as he looked at Frodo queerly.
"Just do it!" Frodo yelled taking the reins from Sam’s hands. Frodo then shook them fiercely snapping them to the horse’s neck shouting out for him to charge on. Sam took a firm hold of Frodo’s shirt as the horse reared up before bolting off down the road.
"What is the matter with you!" Sam shouted as he clung to Frodo.
"We must ride hard Sam!" Frodo yelled looking over his shoulder as they rode like the wind down the path. "That dream has haunted my sleep once again and I will not rest until I reach home to see for myself that it is not true Samuel."
Sam said nothing as a deep sighed passed his lips. He just closed his eyes and held onto Frodo with all his might as they pressed on down the road.
