We Saved the Shire

[engarian.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Prompt and Path:I will not say the Day is done, Red
Format:Ficlet
Genre:Gapfiller
Rating:PG
Warnings:None
Characters:Frodo, Sam
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:After Frodo and Sam succeeded in their quest, they emerged from the cavern of the volcano to find themselves in a valley of outcroppings surrounded by liquid lava, cut off from escape or rescue.




We Saved the Shire


In western lands beneath the Sun
the flowers may rise in Spring,
the trees may bud, the waters run,
the merry finches sing.
Or there maybe 'tis cloudless night
and swaying beeches bear
the Elven-stars as jewels white
amid their branching hair.

Though here at journey's end I lie
in darkness buried deep,
beyond all towers strong and high,
beyond all mountains steep,
above all shadows rides the Sun
and Stars for ever dwell:
I will not say the Day is done,
nor bid the Stars farewell.

To his dying day, Sam was never sure where the song had come from. He had never heard the words nor melody before. Yet, as all hope had died in that horrible Tower, the words appeared on his tongue. As he sang, his voice became stronger until, at the end, he heard a second thin voice joining his from above him, past the seemingly solid ceiling.

After he had rescued his Master, they had finally completed their impossible quest. Leaving the cave, they finally lost the last of their strength while on the lava outcroppings. As the heat and noxious gasses built up around him, he turned to the song once more. He had no voice left to sing, but the words still called to him. He held his master close, holding his poor maimed hand, and softly chanted into Frodo's ear.

"Though here at journey's end I lie
in darkness buried deep,
…
I will not say the Day is done,
nor bid the Stars farewell."

"We did it, Mister Frodo. We did it. We saved the Shire."

"I couldn't have done it without you, dear Sam," Frodo choked out.

"Look there, Mister Frodo," San said, pointing. "There's a star shining up there. The clouds have broken and the power of the Dark Lord has ended. The stars will shine again and they will shine on the Shire. Our Shire, Mister Frodo. Our home.

He glanced down and saw that Frodo was either unconscious or sleeping. At this point, it didn't really matter which since there was no way through the streams of living rock that surrounded them. He gently kissed Frodo's brow.

"We saved the Shire, Mister Frodo." With those words, he followed his master into sleep.

Comments

[shirebound]

Ohhhh. This really gave me chills. Dear Sam. How we love him for loving Frodo -- and the Shire -- so very much.

[engarian.livejournal.com]

The two hobbits accomplished what so many other great ones could only dream of. I think it was because they were willing to be hobbit-like - squeezing into the small spaces, as well as the knowledge that they very probably would not survive, but their beloved Shire would.

- Erulisse (one L)

[dreamflower]

You know, if Tolkien had ended the story right there, with Sam and Frodo sacrificed to save the Shire and the rest of Middle-earth, it would still have been a great story, though infinitely sadder.

I'm glad he didn't, though, very glad.

[engarian.livejournal.com]

I'm also delighted that he carried the story farther and tied off other loose ends. What really brightened my heart was the Scouring of the Shire and the amazing year of plenty that followed. A Mallorn tree in the Party Field, who would have believed it? LOL

- Erulisse (one L)

[dreamflower]

*grin*

I was fifteen when I read LotR the first time, and I HATED "The Scouring of the Shire"! It seemed so UNFAIR for them to come home and find everything ruined, and to be mocked by Ted Sandyman and threatened by Saruman and the PARTY TREE cut down after all they had been through, too!

Now that I am older, it's one of my favorite chapters. Yes, it was unfair, but nevertheless it gave us a chance to see hobbits being brave and defending their own--not just the four who went away, but hobbits who stayed. Fatty Bolger, and the Cottons--and even Lobelia of all people! Plus we had the chance to see the Shire bloom and thrive once more and Rosie and Sam wed, and little Elanor.

That's why I understood when PJ left out the Scouring, because too many in the audience who never read the book would have had the same reaction. Plus, he would have had to hack it up into something to short to do it justice.

But I agree: who would have thought of a Mallorn in the Party Field!

[periantari.livejournal.com]

omg what a beautiful moment to capture again and to expand on that scene makes me want to cry. Lovely ficlet. :)

[engarian.livejournal.com]

Thank you so VERY much. I'm so pleased that you loved my small effort.

- Erulisse (one L)

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

This was very touching.

[engarian.livejournal.com]

Thank you my dear friend!

- Erulisse (one L)

[mithrial.livejournal.com]

Reliving that moment.
Thanks for taking me back there.
Lovely ficlet. XX

[engarian.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I have always love this moment when the burden has finally been released and Sauron banished beyond the circles of the world. Finally Sam and Frodo can allow themselves to fall into sleep and just not care anymore and that's a tremendously freeing feeling. *hugs*

- Erulisse (one L)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

That is perfect with its own sense of peace and even contentment. And, for us, the knowledge that it is not the end it appears, to reassure us.

[engarian.livejournal.com]

It's such a hard time for the audience, but I think it is far less hard for Sam and Frodo because they know they've accomplished what they set out to do and now it's up to others to carry on.

Thanks for reading and commenting - I really appreciate it. *hugs*

- Erulisse (one L)