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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。
'Why； you have nearly finished it； Mr。 Frodo！' Sam exclaimed。 'Well； you have kept at it； I must
say。'
'I have quite finished； Sam；' said Frodo。 'The last pages are for you。'
On September the twenty…first they set out together； Frodo on the pony that had borne him all
the way from Minas Tirith； and was now called Strider； and Sam on his beloved Bill。 It was a fair
golden morning； and Sam did not ask where they were going： he thought he could guess。
They took the Stock Road over the hills and went towards the Woody End； and they let their
ponies walk at their leisure。 They camped in the Green Hills； and on September the twenty…second
they rode gently down into the beginning of the trees as afternoon was wearing away。
'If that isn't the very tree you hid behind when the Black Rider first showed up； Mr。 Frodo！' said
Sam pointing to the left。 'It seems like a dream now。'
It was evening； and the stars were glimmering in the eastern sky as they passed the ruined oak
and turned and went on down the hill between the hazel…thickets。 Sam was silent； deep in his
memories。 Presently he became aware that Frodo was singing softly to himself； singing the old
walking…song； but the words were not quite the same。
_Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate；
And though I oft have passed them by；
A day will e at last when I
Shall take the hidden paths that run
West of the Moon； East of the Sun。_
And as if in answer； from down below； ing up the road out of the valley； voices sang：
_A！ Elbereth Gilthoniel！
silivren penna míriel
o menel aglar elenath；
Gilthoniel； A！ Elbereth！
We still remember； we who dwell
In this far land beneath the trees
The starlight on the Western Seas。_
Frodo and Sam halted and sat silent in the soft shadows； until they saw a shimmer as the
travellers came towards them。
There was Gildor and many fair Elven folk； and there to Sam's wonder rode Elrond and
Galadriel。 Elrond wore a mantle of grey and had a star upon his forehead； and a silver harp was in
his hand； and upon his finger was a ring of gold with a great blue stone； Vilya； mightiest of the
Three。 But Galadriel sat upon a white palfrey and was robed all in glimmering white； like clouds
about the Moon； for she herself seemed to shine with a soft light。 On her finger was Nenya； the ring
wrought of _mithril_； that bore a single white stone flickering like a frosty star。 Riding slowly
behind on a small grey pony； and seeming to nod in his sleep； was Bilbo himself。
Elrond greeted them gravely and graciously； and Galadriel smiled upon them。 'Well； Master
Samwise；' she said。 'I hear and see that you have used my gift well。 The Shire shall now be more
than ever blessed and beloved。' Sam bowed； but found nothing to say。 He had forgotten how
beautiful the Lady was。
Then Bilbo woke up and opened his eyes。 'Hullo； Frodo！' he said。 'Well； I have passed the Old
Took today！ So that's settled。 And now I think I am quite ready to go on another journey。 Are you
ing？'
'Yes； I am ing；' 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 e。'
'No； Sam。 Not yet anyway； not further than the Havens。 Though you too were a Ring…bearer； if
only for a little while。 Your time may e。 Do not be too sad； Sam。 You cannot be always 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。'
'But；' said Sam； and tears started in his eyes； 'I thought you were going to enjoy the Shire； too。
for years and years； after all you have done。'
'So I thought too； once。 But I have been too deeply hurt； Sam。 I tried to save the Shire； and it has
been saved； but not for me。 It must often be so； Sam； when things are in danger： some one has to
give them up； lose them； so that others may keep them。 But you are my heir： all that I had and
might have had I leave to you。 And also you have Rose； and Elanor； and Frodo…lad will e； and
Rosie…lass； and Merry； and Goldilocks； and Pippin； and perhaps more that I cannot see。 Your hands
and your wits will be needed everywhere。 You will be the Mayor； of course； as long as you want to
be； and the most famous gardener in history； and you will read things out of the Red Book； and
keep alive the memory of the age that is gone。 so that people will remember the Great Danger and
so love their beloved land all the more。 And that will keep you as busy and as happy as anyone can
be； as long as your part of the Story goes on。
'e now； ride with me！'
Then Elrond and Galadriel rode on； for the Third Age was over； and the Days of the Rings were
passed； and an end was e of the story and song of those times。 With them went many Elves of
the High Kindred who would no longer stay in Middle…earth； and among them； filled with a sadness
that was yet blessed and without bitterness； rode Sam； and Frodo； and Bilbo； and the Elves
delighted to honour them。
Though they rode through the midst of the Shire all the evening and all the night； none saw them
pass； save the wild creatures； or here and there some wanderer in the dark who saw a swift shimmer
under the trees； or a light and shadow flowing through the grass as the Moon went westward。 And
when they had passed from the Shire； going about the south skirts of the White Downs； they came
to the Far Downs； and to the Towers； and looked on the distant Sea； and so they rode down at last
to Mithlond； to the Grey Havens in the long firth of Lune。
As they came to the gates Círdan the Shipwright came forth to greet them。 Very tall he was； and
his beard was long； and he was grey and old； save that his eyes were keen as stars； and he looked at
them and bowed； and said： 'All is now ready。'
Then Círdan led them to the Havens； and there was a white ship lying； and upon the quay beside
a great grey horse stood a figure robed all in white awaiting them。 As he turned and came towards
them Frodo saw that Gandalf now wore openly upon his hand the Third Ring； Narya the Great； and
the stone upon it was red as fire。 Then those who were to go were glad； for they knew that Gandalf
also would take ship with them。
But Sam was now sorrowful at heart； and it seemed to him that if the parting would be bitter；
more grievous still would be the long road home alone。 But even as they stood there； and the Elves
were going aboard； and all was being made ready to depart； up rode Merry and Pippin in great haste。
And amid his tears Pippin laughed。
'You tried to give us the slip once before and failed； Frodo。' he said。 'This time you have nearly
succeeded； but you have failed again。 It was not Sam； though； that gave you away this time； but
Gandalf himself！'
'Yes；' said Gandalf； 'for it will be better to ride back three together 'than one alone。 Well； here at
last； dear friends； on the shores of the Sea es 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。'
Then Frodo kissed Merry and Pippin； and last of all Sam； and went aboard； and the sails were
drawn up； and the wind blew； and slowly the ship slipped away down the long grey firth； and the
light of the glass of Galadriel that Frodo bore glimmered and was lost。 And the ship went out into
the High Sea and passed on into the West； until at last 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。
But to Sam the evening deepened to darkness as he stood at the Haven； and as he looked at the
grey sea he saw only a shadow on the waters that was soon lost in the West。 There still he stood far
into the night； hearing only the sigh and murmur of the waves on the shores of Middle…earth； and
the sound of them sank deep into his heart。 Beside him stood Merry and Pippin； and they were
silent。
At last the three panions turned away； and never again looking back they rode slowly
homewards； and they spoke no word to one another until they came back to the Shire。 but each had
great fort in his friends on the long grey road。
At last they rode over the downs and took the East Road； and then Merry and Pippin rode on to
Buckland； and already they were singing again as they went。 But Sam turned t