Many weeks passed by as Frodo and Sam sat within Merry and Pippin’s company on many nights before the roaring fire. They shared stories and songs from the distant past and ones of anew. It was now the first week of August. Five weeks had since gone by when Frodo and Sam arrived in Minas Tirith. Yet on this night while they sat within their room sharing laughter with Merry and Pippin a soft knock was heard upon the door. Sam stood up and made his way to the door as Frodo continued on with his story of how he and Samuel were caught stealing mushrooms from farmer Bolger’s field. Sam smiled as the story went on while he turned the knob on the door opening it slowly. His smile soon faded when he seen the solemn faces staring back at him in the hall.
"Is Frodo here with you Samuel?" King Elessar replied softly.
"That he is." Sam said his face filling with worry. "What has happened? Why has Baradur come with?"
"I must speak with Frodo." Baradur replied. "Bring him to me Sam."
Sam quickly scurried away from the door and went to Frodo who sat still sitting before the fire with Merry and Pippin. He leaned over to Frodo whispering in his ear and he stood to his feet staring blankly at the door. Frodo felt his heart sink as he began walking slowly towards the door as Merry and Pippin grew quiet with fear. As he neared the door he saw Baradur and King Elessar standing in the hall, their faces holding no expression. Sam followed closely at Frodo’s side as he finally came to the door stopping before Baradur. Baradur knelt down before Frodo and placed his hands on his shoulders as a deep sigh passed his lips.
"I bring both good and ill tidings I am afraid." Baradur said softly. "Our riders found Caldamar soon after I left here to return to Edoras. He was slain yet we have discovered our rider two weeks past dead along the trail. He never made it to the Shire Frodo. Your Hanna has yet to know you are here and safe."
Tears came forth from Frodo’s eyes as he fell to the floor on his knees. Sam knelt down beside him taking his dear friend within his arms to comfort his cries. Sam looked up to Baradur trying to find words to say.
"So much time has passed." Frodo replied through his tears. "She does not know that it has taken us longer to get here than expected. I know Hanna’s heart shall break for she will be expecting me home within this week. What have I done by staying here so long?"
"You have done nothing." Sam said as he dried the tears from Frodo’s eyes. "You did not know what had become of the rider."
"We must leave without haste." Frodo said as he pulled away from Sam. "We should leave tonight."
"Nay Frodo." Baradur replied. "With the rising of the sun my company shall take you and Sam back to the Shire. We will ride through many evenings and rest when it is only a necessity. If all goes well you shall be home within five weeks time."
"Then it must be so." Frodo replied as he stood to his feet. "We shall leave with the ‘morrow as soon as the sun rises."
"That we shall." Baradur said as he bowed low. "I will come for you and Samuel as the sun comes over the horizon." Baradur then left as King Elessar followed behind him. Frodo turned to Sam as he closed the door and a deep sigh passed his lips. Merry and Pippin looked on as Frodo slowly made his way to his bed and climbed onto it staring out the window into the vastness of the dark night before him. No words were said for not one within the room knew what to say. For hours Frodo sat lost among his thoughts before finally lying down and giving in to his will to sleep.
Throughout the night Frodo found his dreams filled with the very images that had haunted his mind when they stayed in Bree. He often woke sitting upright in bed as his heart raced within his chest. Sam would always wake when Frodo gasped as he sat up staying with him until he finally fell back to sleep. Soon the sun began to rise and Samuel woke looking over to Frodo, as he lay fast asleep in bed. The door slowly began to open and Sam sat up watching as two faces peered inside the doorway. It was Merry and Pippin. Sam put his finger to his lips as they walked inside coming to rest near the foot of the beds.
"Baradur has come." Merry replied softly. "He is waiting in the courtyard with his men."
Sam looked to Frodo as he lay sleeping. He did not wish to wake him for he had not found much sleep within the night but he came down from his bed and went to Frodo’s bedside gently shaking his arm.
"They are here Frodo." Sam whispered. "The ‘morrow has come. It is time for us to go home."
"Home." Frodo mumbled from his sleep.
"Yes home." Sam replied. "Hanna is waiting for you."
Frodo quickly sat up and looked all around as he was roused from yet another dream. He clutched at his chest as he breathed in deeply trying to catch his breath. Frodo then noticed Merry and Pippin standing in the room smiling while they stood near Sam.
"Quite a rough start to the morning I would say." Pippin softly laughed. "Dreaming were we Frodo?"
"That I was." Frodo replied as a smile came to his face. "What a sight it must have been when I jumped up from my sleep."
"A joyful sight it was." Merry replied. "But the time has come for us to say goodbye my dear Frodo. Baradur has come to take you back home."
"Home." Frodo said softly to himself. "My heart has so longed to see it once again."
"And so you shall." Sam replied as Frodo came down from his bed. "And Hanna will be there waiting for you once you return."
"Yet I just pray that her heart still believes I will return after all the time that has passed." Frodo replied. "When we do come back to the Shire almost two months will have went by from the time I said I would be home."
"Do not worry yourself with such things." Sam replied.
"I have tried not to Sam." Frodo said. "But my mind has been filled with those dreams once more. I can not help but worry what has become of my Hanna." Just then a young man came into the room and bowed low before the hobbits.
"My liege wishes to see Frodo and Samuel before they ride home." The man replied. "He is waiting in the great hall."
"Thank you young sir." Frodo replied. "Tell him that we shall be there in a moment." The young man then nodded and left the room leaving Frodo and Sam with Merry and Pippin.
"So this is it." Frodo said with a deep sigh. "Time for goodbye."
Merry and Pippin smiled and came to Frodo taking him and Samuel within their arms. They embraced them tightly and came away allowing Frodo and Sam to stand before them.
"Our paths will cross once again." Merry said softly. "Though we could not see your father Frodo seeing you and Samuel filled all the emptiness within our hearts that was lost with their passing."
Frodo smiled brightly as tears fell from his eyes. Samuel too smiled as he dried away the small tears falling slowly down his cheeks.
"May your journey be well." Pippin replied. "You both will forever be within our thoughts."
"As you in ours." Frodo said softly. He then looked to Sam as he still dried the tears from his eyes. "Come now Sam." Frodo replied. "It is time for us to see the King."
After gathering their few things Frodo and Sam left with Merry and Pippin at their side to say their farewell to King Elessar. They walked slowly down the long corridor that led to the hall for Frodo’s heart was heavy with the thoughts of his dreams. Soon they came into the hall and there standing before them was the King with Baradur at his side.
"Your presence has graced us within these past weeks." King Elessar replied. He then came to Frodo and Sam and knelt down to the floor smiling as he looked within their eyes. "I know I speak not for myself when I say that having you both here was like having your father and Frodo Baggins with us once again. Although they are gone their spirits seem to live within the two of you." Frodo smiled and put his arm around Sam bringing him close as King Elessar stood back to his feet. He then held his hand out to his squire who stood behind him. He came forth holding two small golden chests adorned with shimmering white jewels.
"These are for you." The King replied as he handed a chest to both Sam and Frodo. "For your bravery dear Frodo and your undying will to keep to your word Samuel. May they keep you and your families well throughout the years."
Sam looked to Frodo as tears filled his eyes. They both opened the small chests and within were held many golden coins and brilliant shining jewels with colors of crimson red and sapphire blue. Frodo smiled as he closed the lid to his golden treasure.
"No words can express the many thanks I wish to say." Frodo whispered.
"Just two words would be all I need." King Elessar said with a smile.
Frodo and Sam smiled to each other and said a deep thank you as they bowed low before the King. They then placed their gifts within their packs and turned to Baradur who still stood at King Elessar’s side.
"It is time we leave." Baradur replied. Frodo and Sam then began walking with him as they made their way through the hall and out into the courtyard at the entrance to the Citadel. As they came down the steps and to the horses that were in waiting to take them home, Frodo and Sam both turned back to Merry and Pippin, as they stood with the King at the top of the marble stairs and waved their final goodbye. They knew not when they would be able to return but someday their road would lead them back to the white city of Minas Tirith. Baradur then took Frodo by his waist and lifted him up onto his horse followed by Sam. Baradur then took the reins and drew himself onto another horse at their side. Sam held tightly onto Frodo and looked back to the wonderful city as Merry and Pippin smiled brightly waving to them. In his heart he knew that he would never see them again but their memory would live on forever within his heart. Baradur then let out a cry charging his company to ride on as Sam watched while Minas Tirith slowly faded over the horizon at they set out on their journey home.
