A Gathering of Old Friends
Mar. 20th, 2017 08:27 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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b2memB2MeM Prompt and Path:A New Age begins, Red
Format:Ficlet
Genre:Gapfiller
Rating:G
Warnings:None
Characters:Sam, Merry, Pippin, Aragorn
Pairings:None
Creator’s Notes:Tolkien provided the sandbox, I merely play with the bucket and shovel he left behind. No profit of any kind is made from my fanworks.
Summary:It is widely given as fact that the Fourth Age began when the Ringbearers sailed into the Uttermost West along with the three Elven rings. The age of the Rings had ended, it was time for the Age of Man.
A Gathering of Old Friends
Pippin, Merry and Sam stood clustered in a small group watching the ship as it cast off from the dock and made for the open sea beyond the harbor's protective arms. Sam was unsure if it was the sun’s rays in his eyes, or the brilliant light from Frodo's glass of Elbereth, which was causing his tears. He refused to admit to himself that it was his heart breaking as his best friend and companion of many years left the shores of Middle Earth.
He felt arms tighten around him from each side. The three hobbits clustered together, unable to tear their eyes away from the sight.
The sound of a galloping horse came up from behind. "Blood!" came a familiar voice from behind. "Just that small bit too late. My horse threw a shoe and I was delayed while the farrier fashioned an attached a new one."
"Strider."
"Aragorn."
"Your Highness."
The three hobbits attempted to get their arms untangled and bow, but it was an easier thought than action and not accomplished quickly nor with grace.
"Nay, my friends. You do not bow before me at any time." Aragorn came to the three and hugged each of them in turn, Sam last.
“Well,” Aragorn said as he saw the last gleam of light pass from the ship into the sky. It was a final beacon of farewell from those aboard to those watching from shore. “I’m disappointed. Tell me of Frodo and Bilbo. How did they appear? And Elrond … and Galadriel. Tell me everything over one brew over here at the harbor inn, then I’ll ride with you to the border of the Shire. I left everyone else in my party behind at Barliman’s in Bree so that I could hurry out here.”
Sam stood, still looking at the empty sea ahead of him, but Merry and Pippin gladly accepted Aragorn’s invitation and they grabbed hold of his sleeves and pulled him away from the quay.
Soon they were seated in the tavern, beer in front of them along with generous portions of bread and meats. The hobbits tucked in to their second luncheon, or was it their first dinner? Well, it didn’t matter what it was called, the meal was welcome.
“Gandalf himself rode by to rouse us,” Pippin said.
“Yes, he said that this time Frodo must not leave us behind in the middle of the night. He woke most of the Hall, roaring ‘Merry Brandybuck, come out here immediately’. Half frightened my poor mum to death, he did.” Merry laughed. “I suspect I’ll be hearing about it for years to come.”
“The Thain was already up and about when he rode by Tookborough. But he was still quite fierce and wouldn’t take ‘No’ for an answer when me Da tried to ‘talk sense’ into him.” Pippin took a drink and then laughed. “Not much shuts down me Da. That was something to see.”
They all turned to Sam. “What about you, Sam? Did Gandalf wake half of Hobbiton to arouse you?”
“I was already up. I was holding Elanor and looking West. I … I just couldn’t believe he was going to leave me behind. Leave his Sam behind!” A tear escaped and ran down his cheek. “Gandalf rode right up to me, told me to leave Elanor with Rosie and come right back, packed for two days. When I returned he swung me up onto his horse and we rode like the very wind itself.”
“I’m glad the three of you, the most important hobbits in Frodo’s life aside from Bilbo, were able to be here to wish him a safe journey,” Aragorn said. “It feels as if everything is now starting over again. The First Age ended when Morgoth was defeated. The Second Age ended with the defeat of Sauron by the Last Alliance of Elves and Men and now we have the end of the Third Age with the departure of the Rings and the fading of the Elves.”
“Is it really the start of a new Age now, Strider?” Pippin asked, eyes wide.
“I think it is as historians will write it, Pippin,” Aragorn responded. “But I think we just witnessed the final act of the Third Age. Well, drink up and eat, my friends. It’s time to get you back to the Shire and me back to my guards who are certainly going stir-crazy wasting their time in the Pony.”
He raised his mug. “To the Fourth Age,” and drained the remnants, his example followed by the rest. It was time to go.
Format:Ficlet
Genre:Gapfiller
Rating:G
Warnings:None
Characters:Sam, Merry, Pippin, Aragorn
Pairings:None
Creator’s Notes:Tolkien provided the sandbox, I merely play with the bucket and shovel he left behind. No profit of any kind is made from my fanworks.
Summary:It is widely given as fact that the Fourth Age began when the Ringbearers sailed into the Uttermost West along with the three Elven rings. The age of the Rings had ended, it was time for the Age of Man.
A Gathering of Old Friends
Pippin, Merry and Sam stood clustered in a small group watching the ship as it cast off from the dock and made for the open sea beyond the harbor's protective arms. Sam was unsure if it was the sun’s rays in his eyes, or the brilliant light from Frodo's glass of Elbereth, which was causing his tears. He refused to admit to himself that it was his heart breaking as his best friend and companion of many years left the shores of Middle Earth.
He felt arms tighten around him from each side. The three hobbits clustered together, unable to tear their eyes away from the sight.
The sound of a galloping horse came up from behind. "Blood!" came a familiar voice from behind. "Just that small bit too late. My horse threw a shoe and I was delayed while the farrier fashioned an attached a new one."
"Strider."
"Aragorn."
"Your Highness."
The three hobbits attempted to get their arms untangled and bow, but it was an easier thought than action and not accomplished quickly nor with grace.
"Nay, my friends. You do not bow before me at any time." Aragorn came to the three and hugged each of them in turn, Sam last.
“Well,” Aragorn said as he saw the last gleam of light pass from the ship into the sky. It was a final beacon of farewell from those aboard to those watching from shore. “I’m disappointed. Tell me of Frodo and Bilbo. How did they appear? And Elrond … and Galadriel. Tell me everything over one brew over here at the harbor inn, then I’ll ride with you to the border of the Shire. I left everyone else in my party behind at Barliman’s in Bree so that I could hurry out here.”
Sam stood, still looking at the empty sea ahead of him, but Merry and Pippin gladly accepted Aragorn’s invitation and they grabbed hold of his sleeves and pulled him away from the quay.
Soon they were seated in the tavern, beer in front of them along with generous portions of bread and meats. The hobbits tucked in to their second luncheon, or was it their first dinner? Well, it didn’t matter what it was called, the meal was welcome.
“Gandalf himself rode by to rouse us,” Pippin said.
“Yes, he said that this time Frodo must not leave us behind in the middle of the night. He woke most of the Hall, roaring ‘Merry Brandybuck, come out here immediately’. Half frightened my poor mum to death, he did.” Merry laughed. “I suspect I’ll be hearing about it for years to come.”
“The Thain was already up and about when he rode by Tookborough. But he was still quite fierce and wouldn’t take ‘No’ for an answer when me Da tried to ‘talk sense’ into him.” Pippin took a drink and then laughed. “Not much shuts down me Da. That was something to see.”
They all turned to Sam. “What about you, Sam? Did Gandalf wake half of Hobbiton to arouse you?”
“I was already up. I was holding Elanor and looking West. I … I just couldn’t believe he was going to leave me behind. Leave his Sam behind!” A tear escaped and ran down his cheek. “Gandalf rode right up to me, told me to leave Elanor with Rosie and come right back, packed for two days. When I returned he swung me up onto his horse and we rode like the very wind itself.”
“I’m glad the three of you, the most important hobbits in Frodo’s life aside from Bilbo, were able to be here to wish him a safe journey,” Aragorn said. “It feels as if everything is now starting over again. The First Age ended when Morgoth was defeated. The Second Age ended with the defeat of Sauron by the Last Alliance of Elves and Men and now we have the end of the Third Age with the departure of the Rings and the fading of the Elves.”
“Is it really the start of a new Age now, Strider?” Pippin asked, eyes wide.
“I think it is as historians will write it, Pippin,” Aragorn responded. “But I think we just witnessed the final act of the Third Age. Well, drink up and eat, my friends. It’s time to get you back to the Shire and me back to my guards who are certainly going stir-crazy wasting their time in the Pony.”
He raised his mug. “To the Fourth Age,” and drained the remnants, his example followed by the rest. It was time to go.
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