Autumn came on and it was September when Frodo asked Sam to go on a journey with him; he promised it wouldn't be long seeing as how Elanor was not quite six months old yet. It seemed that Frodo wished to visit Bilbo on his 131st birthday (beating the age of the Old Took!). Sam found himself torn in two but Frodo assured him it wouldn't always be so. Frodo ordered his things before they left and gave his keys to Sam along with a large red book. It was filled with Bilbo and Frodo's writings; a full eighty chapters worth. Bilbo had written many titles on the first page including: "My Unexpected Journey. There and Back Again" (p. 307, The Return of the King). Each of the many titles had been crossed out. After Bilbo's titles ended came Frodo's handwriting:
"THE DOWNFALL OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS AND THE RETURN OF THE KING (as seen by the Little People; being the memoirs of Bilbo and Frodo of the Shire, supplemented by the accounts of their friends and the learning of the Wise.) Together with extracts from Books of Lore translated by Bilbo in Rivendell" (p. 307, The Return of the King). Sam was excited to see the almost finished book. "'I have quite finished, Sam,' said Frodo. 'The last pages are for you'" (p. 307, The Return of the King). On September 21st the two companions set out together. On the 22nd they reached the tree they hid behind when the Black Rider first came. Sam was lost in memories when he noticed Frodo singing Bilbo's traveling song with the lyrics slightly altered. Before he could ponder the meaning the song was answered by Elvish singing.
"There was Gildor and many fair Elven folk; and there to Sam's wonder rode Elrond and Galdariel" (p. 308, The Return of the King). Elrond wore Vilya, the greatest of the Three, a blue stone set in gold. Galdriel wore Nenya unveiled, a white stone set in mithril. Behind them rode Bilbo. They greeted Sam and Frodo. Galdariel commended Sam on his use of her gift. Bilbo said he was ready for his next journey and asked Frodo if he was coming. "'Yes, I am coming,' said Frodo. 'The Ring-bearers should go together.' 'Where are you going, Master?' cried Sam, though at last he understood what was happening. 'To the Havens, Sam' said Frodo. 'And I can't come.' 'No, Sam.'" (p. 309, The Return of the King). Frodo explained that Sam needed to be one and whole and it was not his time. Sam began to cry wondering why Frodo couldn't stay in the Shire. Frodo explained he was hurt too deeply; indeed, often when something needs saving, like the Shire, the rescue comes at the sacrifice of someone else.
Sam rode on with Frodo, Bilbo, Elrond, Galadriel, and many High Elves who were sad to leave Middle-earth but not bitter. They came at last to the Havens and were there met by Círdan the Shipwright: "'All is ready'" (p. 310, The Return of the King). Círdan led them to a white ship and waiting for them, wearing Narya with a red stone last of the Three, was Gandalf. Indeed, the Third Age was ended. The power of the Three Rings was ended."In that time the last of the Noldor set sail from the Havens and left Middle-earth forever" (p. 304, The Silmarillion). As they made ready to board the ship, with Sam full of sorrow, Merry and Pippin rode up with haste. They had been summoned by Gandalf, to say farewell to Frodo and so that Sam would not have to journey back alone. With kisses and tears the hobbits said good-bye. Gandalf spoke to them: "'Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil'" (p. 310, The Return of the King). Sam, Merry, and Pippin watched the ship depart in silence. "In the twilight of autumn it sailed out of Mithlond, until the seas of the Bent World fell away beneath it, and the winds of the round sky troubled it no more, and borne upon the high airs above the mists of the world it passed into the Ancient West, and an end was come for the Eldar of story and song (p. 304, The Silmarillion).
"And the ship went out into the High Sea and passed on into the West, until on a night of rain Frodo smelled a sweet fragrance on the air and heard the sound of singing that came over the water. And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise" (p. 310, The Return of the King). Sam, Merry, and Pippin returned to the Shire comforted by each other. Sam, now heir of Bag End, went home. "And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap. He drew a deep breath. 'Well, I'm back,' he said'" (p. 311, The Return of the King). If you are reading the story as Tolkien wrote it, which is a non-traditional and suspenseful way to go about it, these are the last words of The Lord of the Rings. And it is a very satisfying ending (if you aren't going on the appendices of course). I'll have several more readings since I'm going chronologically.
Andrew Peterson is a musical artist wrote a song called The Havens Grey on his album The Far Country and it is a beautiful picture of Frodo's closing act. Though the Story goes ever on.
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3021 March through September
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 305-310; The Silmarillion, page 304; The Return of the King, pages 310-311
"THE DOWNFALL OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS AND THE RETURN OF THE KING (as seen by the Little People; being the memoirs of Bilbo and Frodo of the Shire, supplemented by the accounts of their friends and the learning of the Wise.) Together with extracts from Books of Lore translated by Bilbo in Rivendell" (p. 307, The Return of the King). Sam was excited to see the almost finished book. "'I have quite finished, Sam,' said Frodo. 'The last pages are for you'" (p. 307, The Return of the King). On September 21st the two companions set out together. On the 22nd they reached the tree they hid behind when the Black Rider first came. Sam was lost in memories when he noticed Frodo singing Bilbo's traveling song with the lyrics slightly altered. Before he could ponder the meaning the song was answered by Elvish singing.
"There was Gildor and many fair Elven folk; and there to Sam's wonder rode Elrond and Galdariel" (p. 308, The Return of the King). Elrond wore Vilya, the greatest of the Three, a blue stone set in gold. Galdriel wore Nenya unveiled, a white stone set in mithril. Behind them rode Bilbo. They greeted Sam and Frodo. Galdariel commended Sam on his use of her gift. Bilbo said he was ready for his next journey and asked Frodo if he was coming. "'Yes, I am coming,' said Frodo. 'The Ring-bearers should go together.' 'Where are you going, Master?' cried Sam, though at last he understood what was happening. 'To the Havens, Sam' said Frodo. 'And I can't come.' 'No, Sam.'" (p. 309, The Return of the King). Frodo explained that Sam needed to be one and whole and it was not his time. Sam began to cry wondering why Frodo couldn't stay in the Shire. Frodo explained he was hurt too deeply; indeed, often when something needs saving, like the Shire, the rescue comes at the sacrifice of someone else.
Sam rode on with Frodo, Bilbo, Elrond, Galadriel, and many High Elves who were sad to leave Middle-earth but not bitter. They came at last to the Havens and were there met by Círdan the Shipwright: "'All is ready'" (p. 310, The Return of the King). Círdan led them to a white ship and waiting for them, wearing Narya with a red stone last of the Three, was Gandalf. Indeed, the Third Age was ended. The power of the Three Rings was ended."In that time the last of the Noldor set sail from the Havens and left Middle-earth forever" (p. 304, The Silmarillion). As they made ready to board the ship, with Sam full of sorrow, Merry and Pippin rode up with haste. They had been summoned by Gandalf, to say farewell to Frodo and so that Sam would not have to journey back alone. With kisses and tears the hobbits said good-bye. Gandalf spoke to them: "'Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil'" (p. 310, The Return of the King). Sam, Merry, and Pippin watched the ship depart in silence. "In the twilight of autumn it sailed out of Mithlond, until the seas of the Bent World fell away beneath it, and the winds of the round sky troubled it no more, and borne upon the high airs above the mists of the world it passed into the Ancient West, and an end was come for the Eldar of story and song (p. 304, The Silmarillion).
"And the ship went out into the High Sea and passed on into the West, until on a night of rain Frodo smelled a sweet fragrance on the air and heard the sound of singing that came over the water. And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise" (p. 310, The Return of the King). Sam, Merry, and Pippin returned to the Shire comforted by each other. Sam, now heir of Bag End, went home. "And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap. He drew a deep breath. 'Well, I'm back,' he said'" (p. 311, The Return of the King). If you are reading the story as Tolkien wrote it, which is a non-traditional and suspenseful way to go about it, these are the last words of The Lord of the Rings. And it is a very satisfying ending (if you aren't going on the appendices of course). I'll have several more readings since I'm going chronologically.
Andrew Peterson is a musical artist wrote a song called The Havens Grey on his album The Far Country and it is a beautiful picture of Frodo's closing act. Though the Story goes ever on.
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3021 March through September
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 305-310; The Silmarillion, page 304; The Return of the King, pages 310-311
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