An Olympian's Daughter

Years of peace

"And thus it was, the Fourth Age of Middle-Earth began, and the Fellowship of the Ring, though eternally bound by friendship and love, was ended. Thirteen months to the day, since Gandalf sent us on our long journey, we found ourselves looking upon a familiar site. We were home."

The four hobbits ride into Hobbiton. They ride past a grumpy old hobbit who's out cleaning his yard.

The old hobbit shakes his head at the four adventurers. At the Green Dragon, the four hobbits sit down for a drink. A familiar-looking hobbit polishes a pumpkin.

Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin pause to look at each other, then raise their mugs.

Sam notices Rosie Cotton.
"Good night, Rosie." Some of the other drinking hobbits bid her good night "Good night, lads." She responds politely.

Rosie gives Sam a smile. Sam takes a drink from his tankard, then stands up and walks deliberately towards her. The other hobbits watch on in amusement.

Sam and Rosie stand together on their wedding day. They kiss. Rosie throws her bouquet, which is caught by Pippin. Pippin catches the eye of a hobbit woman next to him.

Frodo walks inside Bag End. "How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart, you begin to understand, there is no going back?" Frodo mutters to himself.

Frodo sits at at Bilbo's desk, writing.
"There are some things that time cannot mend. Some hurts that go too deep... that have taken hold."

Frodo flips to the front of the Red Book. He adds a second title to the front page. Sam enters Bag End. Frodo winces and grabs his shoulder.
"Mister Frodo? What is it?" Sam asks. "It's been four years to the day since Weathertop, Sam. It's never really healed." Sam reads from the title page of the book.
"There and Back again, a Hobbit's Tale by Bilbo Baggins'... and 'The Lord of the Rings by Frodo Baggins.' You finished it!" Sam looks delighted

Frodo closes the book.
"Not quite. There's room for a little more." He smiles. Gandalf's carriage pulls into Hobbiton.

"Bilbo once told me, his part in this tale would end. That each of must come and go in the telling. Bilbo's story was now over. There would be no more journeys for him... save one."

Frodo and Bilbo sit together in the carriage.
"Tell me again, lad, where are we going?" Bilbo asks "To the harbor, Uncle. The elves have accorded you a special honor. A place on the last ship to leave Middle-Earth." Frodo answers "Frodo, any chance of seeing that old Ring of mine again? Hmm? The one I gave you?" Bilbo looks up at his nephew. Frodo pauses. Frodo lies "I'm sorry, Uncle... I'm afraid I lost it."
"Oh, pity. I should like to have held it, one last time."

Bilbo leans on Frodo and falls asleep. Frodo sits and thinks. At the Grey Havens, the hobbits look out at the sea. "Oh! Here is a sight that I have never seen before." Bilbo looks astonished.

Elrond, Celeborn and Galadriel stand next to a docked ship. "The power of the three rings is ended. The time has come for the Dominion of Men." Galadriel says becoming the halflings closer.
"I Aear can vên na mar." (The sea calls us home.)

"I think I'm quite ready for another adventure!" Bilbo cheers with glee letting go of Frodo's arm.

Elrond helps Bilbo onto the ship.
Galadriel smiles at Frodo and then also boards.

Gandalf turns to the hobbits and leans on his staff.
"Farewell... my brave hobbits. My work is now finished." Gandalf says
The hobbits start to cry. "Here at last, on the shores of the sea, comes the end of our Fellowship. I will not say, do not weep, for not all tears are an evil." Gandalf walks towards the ship, but stops and turns around.

"It is time, Frodo." Gandalf calls out to the other Baggins. The other hobbits turn to give a confused look at Frodo. "What does he mean?" Sam asks tears in his eyes. "We set out to save the Shire, Sam. And it has been saved. But not for me." Frodo clasps his shoulder. Sam crying "You don't mean that! You can't leave!"
Frodo hands Sam the Red Book.
"The last pages are for you, Sam."
Frodo embraces each hobbit in turn, also kissing Sam on the forehead.

With Gandalf, Frodo walks onto the ship. Frodo turns and give a last smile at his friends. Frodo finally appears at peace. The ship sails out of the Grey Havens.

Sam returns to his wife and children in Hobbiton.

"My dear Sam, you cannot always be torn in two. You will have to be one and whole for many years. You have so much to enjoy and to be, and to do. Your part in this story will go on." Frodo said left in a letter for his dearest of friends.

"Well, I'm back." Sam enters the house and closes the front door.