Four days soon passed and on the twelfth of June Frodo and Sam began on their journey to Minas Tirith once again with Baradur at their side. The days were long and many nights were filled with cooling rain but after riding for two weeks time, the white city of Minas Tirith soon came into sight over the distant horizon. The tall towers rose high into the sky catching every golden ray of sunlight within their grasp. As they came upon the silver mithril gates of the city Sam looked to Frodo with tears in his eyes. In all his years he never imagined that he would finally see the city of the King. The wind gently swept around them as the gates were opened revealing the whole of the city within. The streets were paved with white marble and not a courtyard in sight was without a smiling face or a shimmering fountain. As they rode through the gates they made their way down the streets to the Citadel where the banner of the Trees and the Stars waved atop the topmost tower. There they would find the King and their friends that they had come so far to see.
As they came up to the Citadel they were greeted by a tall fair looking young man who took their horses to the stables and then led them inside. Frodo and Sam were in awe of all the beauty that lay before them in the majestic statues and tall columns that filled all the halls within the Citadel. Baradur kept close to them as they were finally led into a great hall where two elegant thrones held within their arms King Elessar and his Queen Arwen. The young man left their side and went to the King to announce their arrival. Baradur went down to his knee and bowed his head and Frodo and Sam followed in suit as the King stood to his feet and made his way to them.
"Arise my friends." The King spoke as he touched his hands to Frodo and Sam’s shoulders. A warm feeling came over the both of them as they looked up to the King as a great smile came across his face. He gazed upon the young hobbits in awe as he knelt down before them.
"My eyes have seemed to deceived me after so many years." King Elessar replied. "My dear Frodo you look a splitting image of your father and your companion here looks just like your father’s old friend Frodo Baggins."
Samuel blushed and looked to Frodo with a smile.
"My father has told me that also." Frodo replied. "His name is Samuel Boffin but I just call him Sam."
"Frodo and Sam together again!" King Elessar said with a gentle laugh. "So where is your father, did he not come too?"
"Nay." Frodo replied softly. "That is why we have come. My father sailed over the sea a few years ago. I had sent word of his passing but I now know it never came. I felt it would only be right that I were to tell Merry and Pippin myself that he has gone."
"Ill tidings indeed." King Elessar sighed. "I wish it had not happened so soon but they will be glad to see you Frodo. It has been some time since they last seen your face."
"Many years in fact." Frodo replied. "I have not seen them in over twenty years."
"Then let us not waste any more time." King Elessar said leading Frodo and Sam away through the hall. "Come now, let me take you to them."
As King Elessar led Frodo and Sam down a long corridor, Frodo could feel his heart weighing heavy in his chest. He did not know what to expect when he seen Merry and Pippin or what they would say after hearing that his father was now gone. Soon they came to a large round door and there they stopped as King Elessar knelt down before them.
"I shall leave you here now so you may be alone. Meriadoc and Peregrin are within this room here, more likely than not sitting before the fire as they always do sharing stories of the past. Their time will be coming soon and it will be a great comfort for them to see the two of you together, for I know you will remind them of your father and his master Frodo." King Elessar replied as he stood back to his feet. He then walked away back towards the hall leaving Frodo and Sam standing before the closed door. Sam looked at Frodo and sighed deeply.
"If what everyone says is true, what will it do to Merry and Pippin if they see me looking like their old friend who they know has long passed?" Sam said softly.
"I do not know Samuel." Frodo whispered. He then reached behind Sam and pulled his cloak hood up over his head hiding his long dark curls behind his ears. "For now let us just hide your face until I tell them who you are. I do not want to scare them."
"But what of you Frodo?" Sam muttered from under his hood. "You look a splitting image of your father. Would it not break their hearts if they thought you were he since they do not know he has passed?"
"You are right Sam." Frodo said as he pulled his hood up over his head. "I shall show my face once they know I am not my father." Frodo sighed deeply and then looked to Sam as he reached for the knob on the door slowly turning it and peering inside. There before him he could see Merry and Pippin laughing among themselves before the fire that burned in the fireplace. Frodo opened the door a bit more and Merry and Pippin turned around hearing it creak open.
"Who is there?" Merry called out looking to Frodo and Sam.
"I am a friend of old." Frodo replied as he came in the door pulling Sam in behind him.
"Friend?" Pippin replied. "Your voice is not familiar to us. What brings you here?"
"We share a common interest I believe." Frodo replied. "I believe you knew a Samwise Gamgee."
"Knew?" Merry answered. "We still know of him. Where is he? Did he not come?"
"That he did not." Frodo said softly. "I am afraid that word never reached you that he has since sailed over the sea three years past. He has gone home to his dear master Frodo."
Merry and Pippin looked to each other as tears began to well in their eyes. A deep pain seemed to come within their hearts, as they knew they would never have the chance to say goodbye to their beloved friend. Merry then looked back to Frodo who was still standing by the door with Sam hiding behind him.
"Then who are you my friend?" Merry whispered. "May I have your name?"
Frodo bowed his head low and took down his hood letting it fall behind his shoulders as he looked back up to Merry and Pippin.
"I am Frodo Gardner eldest son of Samwise Gamgee." Frodo replied softly. Merry and Pippin looked to each other with eyes large as the sun as they sat up from their chairs coming over to Frodo. A smile came to Merry’s face as he touched Frodo’s cheek and pulled him into his arms.
"My boy I have not seen you in more than twenty years!" Merry replied through his tears. Pippin came and embraced them both as Samuel backed away towards the door trying not to be seen. Merry then held Frodo away from him looking him over from head to toe.
"If I had not known any better I would have thought you to be your father. You look just as he did when he was of your age."
Merry then noticed Sam who was standing by the door with his hood pulled down over his eyes.
"And who is this here?" Merry replied coming over to Samuel. Sam cowered away for Merry was much taller than he was and he felt uneasy about looking so much like Mr. Baggins. Frodo then came to Sam and stood at his side putting his hands on his shoulders.
"This is my friend Samuel Boffin." Frodo replied.
"Well why is he hiding?" Pippin muttered looking at him oddly.
"It was my idea to hide him." Frodo replied. "He looks like a friend of yours that has been gone for some time. I did not want to startle you when you seen him before you knew who he was." Frodo then looked down at Sam as he peered up to him from under his hood. Frodo smiled and shook his head as Sam slowly took down his hood showing his face. Merry and Pippin both put their hands to their mouths as tears began falling down their face.
"Why he looks just like Frodo Baggins when we last seen him as he sailed away from the Havens." Pippin said softly."
"That he does." Merry choked through his tears. "To see the two of you here is just like having our dear old friends with us once again. Come now the two of you." Merry said as he put his arms around Frodo and Sam. "We have so much to share with you."
Many hours slowly passed by as the day fell into the evening and the new moon hung high in the sky. Samuel was sitting before the open window looking down to the streets of the city below as lanterns shone within the darkened night. Far away Frodo still sat with Merry and Pippin before the fire sharing stories of old that he had heard many times before. Soon the time came when there was a moment of silence and Frodo looked over to Sam as he gazed out into the star filled night.
"It is still a wonder to us how you and Samuel remind us so of your father and Mr. Baggins Frodo." Pippin replied looking over to Sam. "Your friendship seems to be just as tight a bond as theirs was and more."
"That it is." Frodo replied softly. "We have been through much within our lives. More so within these last few weeks than any other time."
"How is it that you and Samuel met Frodo?" Merry asked quietly.
"It is funny you should ask that." Frodo said smiling as he laughed quietly to himself. "It was my father who brought us together. So many years have since past." Frodo replied his voice becoming soft. "It was late on a summer evening. My mother was sitting in the garden as my father tended to the garden. I was inside watching from the study window when I seen a young lad come up the garden path his face stricken with tears. He said his mum had just passed away and he asked my father for a rose to put on her grave. My father cut a red rose from a bush and handed it to him as tears fell down his face. The young lad smiled and thanked my father by telling him that he wished he too could someday grow flowers as beautiful as his. He then walked away and my father broke down in tears falling to his knees in the garden."
Merry and Pippin looked at each other and then pleaded Frodo to continue on.
"I was just twenty years of age then and it was the first time I had seen my father cry. I asked him later that night what it was that brought him to tears and that is when he told me that the lad looked just like Frodo and it tore at him so to see his face once again. Two days later the youngster came back to watch my father in the garden day after day. He soon took an interest in learning how things grow so my father did not hesitate to show him the trade. It was then when he introduced me to Samuel asking me if I could show him how to weed the garden and plant seeds. He was just ten years old then. Such a young thing with a heart bigger than all the mountains I have seen. To this day he still has come to the garden every morning tending to the flowers."
All was silent for a moment as all eyes turned to Sam as he looked back to Frodo and smiled. He had not heard the conversation but within he knew that Frodo had been speaking of him for his face was bright and joyful as it always was when he spoke of their friendship. He sighed and then took his glance back to the glorious sights that lay outside the window.
"Had your father ever spoken to you of how he came to meet Mr. Baggins?" Merry replied softly.
"He never had." Frodo said quietly. "I did not ask for I thought it would pain him more bringing back memories from his distant past. He and Frodo were very close and it hurt him deeply when he left."
"I can imagine so." Pippin replied. "It pained us too when we seen him sail away but now your father is with him once again and the pain will no longer be."
"That he is and it is a comfort to know his heart is no longer heavy." Frodo replied. He sighed deeply and then looked into the fire as small burning embers flickered into the air. A stillness filled the night as all within the room were silent and then suddenly Merry broke the silence.
"Frodo?" Merry whispered. "Would you like to hear of how your father and Frodo Baggins met?"
Frodo turned to Merry as a tear fell from his eye.
"That I would." Frodo whispered.
Merry smiled and then began his story…
"Your father was only nine when they first met. His mother too had just passed away. He came with your grandfather to the garden at Bag End to pick some roses for her grave. Frodo was twenty-one then and had just arrived at Bag End a few days before to come and live with his Uncle Bilbo. He was sitting in the study reading when he heard your father crying below the window. He dared not intrude but when Bilbo came back inside after talking to your grandfather he told Frodo what had happened. Frodo too had lost his mother and his father to a boating accident when he was just twelve. It hurt him so knowing what pain was in your fathers heart and that evening he went to his home and brought him a rose bush so that he would always have something to remind him of his mother. From that day on they were inseparable. They were there for each other in times of need and your father followed him to the ends of Middle Earth and back just so Frodo did not have to go alone."
"Much like Samuel has done for me." Frodo replied quietly. "It seems that the same circumstances had brought us all together."
Frodo was silent for a moment as he dried the tears from his eyes. He then looked to Merry and Pippin as a soft smile came to his lips.
"Now I know why my father was so fond of roses." Frodo softly replied. "There was a rose bush below the study window that he tended every day. He once said that it was a special thing to him for it reminded him of Frodo but I had never known why. It was more likely than not the very same one Frodo had given to him when he was a child. My mother too was fond of those blossoms and she would bring fresh cuts of them inside every morn. The day after my father sailed away Samuel came and planted some lilies beneath the rose bush to remind me of him. My father would often say those flowers reminded him of his friend from Bree." Frodo sighed deeply and looked to Sam who had finally made his way to one of the beds in the room. He was covered with a blanket snoring loudly.
"What of your mother Frodo?" Pippin softly replied. "How is Rose?"
"She too has passed I am afraid." Frodo whispered. "My father left just a few short months after. Without her he was empty again and he knew he could no longer stay in the Shire forever longing for all he could not have. That is when he chose to return to his dear master Frodo so his healing could begin."
Merry sighed deeply and looked to Pippin who was now beginning to yawn.
"It has been a long night Frodo." Merry replied standing up. "You need your rest. This room will be yours and Sam’s for as long as you wish to stay." Pippin then stood to his feet and smiled as he put his hand on Frodo’s shoulder.
"It was nice seeing you once again dear friend." Pippin replied. "We shall have much more to talk about as the days go by."
"That we will." Frodo said with a smile. Merry and Pippin then left the room closing the door behind them as Frodo made his way to his bed where he soon fell into a peaceful sleep.
