The Epilogue (First Version)
And one evening in March Master Samwise Gamgee was taking his ease by a fire in his study, and the children were all gathered about him, as was not at all unusual though it was always supposed to be a special treat. He had been reading aloud (as was usual) from a big Red Book on a stand, and on a stool beside him sat Elanor, and she was a beautiful child more fair-skinned than most hobbit-maids and more slender, and she was now running up into her ‘teens; and there was Frodo-lad on the hearthrug, in spite of his name as good a copy of Sam s you could wish, and Rose, Merry, and Pippin were sitting in chairs much too big for them. Goldilocks had gone to bed, for in this Frodo's foretelling had made a slight error and she came after Pippin, and was still only five and the Red Book rather too much for her yet. But she was not the last of the line, for Sam and Rose seemed likely to rival old Gerontius Took in the number of their children as successfully as Bilbo had passed his age. There was little Ham, and there was Daisie in her cradle.
“Well dear,” said Sam, “it grew there once, because I saw it with my own eyes.”
“Does it grow there still, daddy?”
“I don't see why it shouldn't, Ellie. I've never been on my travels again, as you know, having all you young folk to mind – regular ragtag and bobtail old Saurman would have called it. But Mr. Merry and
Mr. Pippin, they've been south more than once, for they sort of belong there too now.”
“And haven't they grown big?” said Merry. “I wish I could grow big like Mr. Meriadoc of Buckland. He's the biggest hobbit that ever was: bigger than Bandobras.”
“Not bigger than Mr. Peregrin of Tuckborough,” said Pippin, “and he's got hair that's almost golden. Is he Prince Peregrin away down in the Stone City, dad?”
“Well, he's never said so,” said Sam, “but he's highly thought of, that I know. But now where were we getting to?”
“Nowhere,” said Frodo-lad. “I want to hear about the spider again. I like the parts best where you come in dad.”
“But dad, you were talking about Lórien,” said Elanor, “and whether my flower still grows there.”
“I expect it does, Ellie dear. For as I was saying, Mr. Merry, he says that though the Lady has gone the Elves still live there.”
“Where can I go and see? I want to see Elves dad and I want to see my own flower.”
“If you look in a glass you'll see one that is sweeter,” said Sam, “though I should not be telling you, for you'll find it out soon enough for yourself.”
“But that isn't the same. I want to see the green hill and the white flowers and the golden and hear the Elves sing.”
“Then maybe you will one day,” said Sam. “I said the same when I was your age and long after, and there didn't seem not hope, and yet it came true.”
“But the Elves are sailing away still, aren't they, and soon there'll be none, will there dad?” said Rose; “and then all will be just places, and very nice, but, but…”
“But what Rosie-lass?”
“But not like in stories.”
“Well it wouldn't be so if they all was to sail,” said Sam. “But I am told they aren't sailing any more. The Ring has left the Havens, and those that made up their mind to stay when Master Elrond left are staying. And so there'll be Elves still for many and many a day.”
“Still I think it was very sad when Master Elrond left Rivendell and the Lady left Lórien,” said Elanor. “What happened to Celeborn? Is he very sad?”
“I expect so, dear. Elves are sad; and that's what makes them so beautiful, and why we can't see much of them. He lives in his own land as he always has done,” said Sam. “Lórien is his land, and he loves trees.”
“No one else in the world hasn't got a Mallorn like we have, have they?” said Merry. “Only us and Lord Celeborn.”
“So I believe,” said Sam. “Secretly it was one of the greatest prides of his life. Well Celeborn lives among the trees, and he is happy in his Elvish way, I don't doubt. They can afford to wait, Elves can. His time is not come yet. The Lady came to his land and now she is gone; and he has the land still. When he tires of it he can leave it. So with Legolas, he came with his people and they live in the land across the River Ithilien, if you can say that, and they've made it very lovely, according to Mr. Pippin. But he'll go to Sea one day, I don't doubt. But not while Gimili's still alive.”
“What happened to Gimli?” said Frodo-lad. “I liked him. Please can I have an axe soon dad? Are there any orcs left?
“I daresay there are if you know where to look,” said Sam. “But not in the Shire, and you won't have an exe for chopping of heads Frodo-lad. We don't make them. But Gimli, he came down to work for the King in the City, and he and his folk worked so long they got used to it and proud of their work, and in the end they settled up in the mountains up away west behind the City, and there they are still. And Gimli goes once every other year to see the Glittering Caves.”
“And does Legolas go to see Treebeard?” asked Elanor.
“I can't say dear,” said Sam. “I've never heard of anyone as has ever seen an Ent since those days. If Mr. Merry or Mr. Pippin have they keep it secret. Very close are Ents.”
“And have they never found the Entwives?”
“Well, we've seen none here, have we?” said Sam.
“No,” said Rosie-lass; “but I look for them when I go in a wood. I would like the Entwives to be found.”
“So would I,” said Sam, “but I'm afraid that is an old trouble, too old and too deep for folks like us to mend my dear. But no no more questions tonight, at least not till after supper.”
“But that won't be fair,” said both Merry and Pippin, who were not in their teens. “We shall have to go directly to bed.”
“Don't talk like that to me,” said Sam sternly. “If it ain't fair for Ellie and Fro to sit up after super it ain't fair for them to be born sooner, and it ain't fair that I'm your dad and you're not mine. So no more of that, take your turn and what's due in your time, or I'll tell the King.”
They had heard this threat before, but something in Sam's voice made it sound more serious on this occasion.
“When will you see the King?” said Frodo-lad.
Sooner than you think,” said Sam. Well now, let's be fair. I'll tell you all, stay-uppers and go-to-bedders, a big secret. But don't you go whispering and waking up the youngsters. Keep it till tomorrow.”
A dead hush of expectancy fell on all the children: they watched him as hobbit children of other times had watched the wizard Gandalf.
“The King's coming here,” said Sam solemnly.
“Coming to Bag End!” cried the children.
“No,” said Sam. “But he's coming north. He won't come into the Shire because he has given orders that no Big Folk are to enter this land again after those Ruffians; and he will not come himself just to show he means it But he will come to the Bridge. And…” Sam paused. “He has issued a very special invitation to every one of you. Yes, by name!”
Sam went to a drawer and took out a large scroll. It was black and written in letters of silver.
“When did that one come dad?” said Merry.
“It came with the Southfarthing post three days ago.” said Elanor. “I saw it. It was wrapped in silk and sealed with big seals.”
“Quite right my bright eyes,” said Sam. “Now look.” He unrolled it. “It is written in Elvish and in Plain Language,” said Sam. “And it says: Elessar Aragorn Arathornsson the Elfstone King of Gondor and Lord of the Westlands will approach the Bridge of Baranduin on the first day of Spring, or in the Shire-reckoning the twenty-fifth day of March next , and desires there to greet all his friends. In especial he desires to see Master Samwise Mayor of the Shire, and Rose his wife, and Elanor, Rose, Goldilocks and Daisie his daughters, and Frodo, Merry, and Pippin and Hamfast his sons. There you are, there are all your names.”
“But they aren't the same in both lists,” said Elanor, who could read.
“Ah,” said Sam, “that's because the first list is Elvish. You're the same Ellie, in both, because your name is Elvish; but Frodo is Iorhail, and Rose is Beril, and Merry is Riben, and Pippin is Cordof and Goldilocks is Glorfinniel and Hamfast is Marthanc, and Daisie is Arien. So now you know.”
“Well that's splendid,” said Frodo, “now we all have Elvish names, but what is yours dad?”
“Well, that's rather peculiar,” said Sam, “for in the Elvish part, if you must know what the King says is Master Perhail who should rather be called Lanhail, and that means, I believe, “Samwise or Halfwise who should rather be called Plain-wise.” So now you know what the King thinks of your dad you'll maybe give more heed to what he says.
“And ask him lots more questions,” said Frodo.
“When is March the 25th?” said Pippin, to whom days were still the longest measures of time that could really be grasped. Is it soon?”
“It's a week today,” said Elanor. “When shall we start?”
“And what shall we wear?” said Rose.
“Ah,” said Sam. “Mistress Rose will have a say in that. But you'll be surprised my dears. We have had warning of this a long time and we've prepared for the day. You're going in the most lovely clothes you've ever seen, and we're riding in a coach. And if you're all very good and look as lovely as you do now I shouldn't be at all surprised if the King does not ask us to go with him to his house up by the Lake. And the Queen will be there.”
“And shall we stay up to supper?” said Rose, to whom the nearness of promotion made this an ever-present concern.
“We shall stay for weeks, until the hay-harvest at least,” said Sam. “And we shall do what the King says. But as for staying up to supper, no doubt the Queen will have a word. And now if you haven't enough to whisper about for hours, and to dream about till the sun rises, then I don't know what more I can tell you.”
The stars were shining in a clear sky: it was the first day of the clear bright spell that came every year to the Shire at the end of March, and was every year welcomed and praised as something surprising for the time of the year.
All the children were in bed. Lights were glimmering still in Hobbiton and in many houses dotted about the darkening countryside. Sam stood at the door and looked away eastward. He drew Mistress Rose to him and held her close to his side. “March 18th,” he said. “This time seventeen years ago, Rose wife, I did not think I should ever see thee again. But I kept on hoping.”
“And I never hoped at all Sam,” she said. “until that very day; and then suddenly I did. In the middle of the morning I began singing and father said “Quiet lass, or the Ruffians will come,” and I said “Let them come. Their time will soon be over. My Sam's coming back.” And he came.”
“I did,” said Sam; “to the most belovedest place in all the world. I was torn in two then lass, but now I am all whole. And all that I have, and all that I have had I still have.”
The Epilogue (Second Version)
One evening in March of 1436 Master Samwise Gamgee was in his study at Bag End. He was sitting at the old well worn desk, and with many pauses for thought he was writing in his slow round hand on sheets of loose paper. Propped up on a stand at his side was a large red book in manuscript.
Not long before he had been reading aloud from it to his family. For the day was a special one: the birthday of his daughter Elanor. That evening before supper he had come at last to the very end of the Book. The long progress through its many chapters, even with omissions that he had thought advisable, had taken some months, for he only read aloud on great days. At the birthday reading, besides Elanor, Frodo-lad had been present, and Rosie-lass, and young Merry and Pippin; but the other children had not been there. The Red Book was not for them yet, and they were safely in bed. Goldilocks was only five years old, for in this Frodo's foretelling had made a slight error and she came after Pippin. But she was not the last of the line, for Samwise and Rose seemed likely to rival old Gerontius Took as successfully in the number of their children as Bilbo had in the number of his years. There was little Ham, and Daisy, and there was Primrose still in her cradle.
Now Sam was having a bit of quiet. Super was over. Only Elanor was with him, still up because it was her birthday. She sat without a sound, staring at the fire, and now and again glancing at her father. She was a beautiful girl, more fair of skin than most hobbit maiden and more slender, and the firelight glinted in her red-gold hair. To her, by gift if not by inheritance, a memory of elven-grace had descended.
“What are you doing Sam dad dear?” she said at last. “You said you were going to rest and I hoped you would talk to me.”
“Just a moment Elanor,” said Sam, as she came and set her arms about him and peered over his shoulder.
“It looks like Questions and Answers, she said.
“And so it is,” said Sam. “Mr. Frodo, he left the last pages of the Book to me, but I have never yet durst to put hand to them. I am still making notes, as old Mr. Bilbo would have said. Here's all the questions Mother Rose and you and the children have asked, and I am writing out the answers, when I know them. Most of the questions are yours, because only you have heard all the Book more than once.”
“Three times,” said Elanor, looking at the carefully written page that lay under Sam's hand.
Dwarves : Frodo-lad says he likes them best. What happened to Gimli? Have the Mines of Moria been opened again? Are there any Orcs left?
A . Gimli: he came back to work for the King, as he said, and he brought many of his folk from the North and they worked in Gondor so long that they got used to it and they settled there, up in the White Mountains not far from the City. Gimli goes once a year to the Glittering Caves. How do I know? Information from Mr. Peregrin, who often goes back to Minas Tirith, where his is very highly thought of.
Moria: I have heard no news. Maybe the foretelling about Durin is not for our time. Dark places still need a lot of cleaning up. I guess it will take a lot of trouble and daring deeds yet to root out the evil creatures from the halls of Moria. For there are certainly plenty of Orcs left in such places. It is not likely that we shall ever get quite rid of them.
Q. Legolas: Did he go back to the King? Will he stay there?
A. Yes, he did. He came south with Gimli, and he brought many of he people from Greenwood the Great (so they call it now). They say it was a wonderful sight to see Elves have made the City, and the land where Prince Faramir lives, more beautiful than ever. Yes, Legolas will stay there, at any rate as long as Gimli does; but I think he will go to the Sea one day. Mr. Meriadoc told me all this, for he has visited the Lady Eowyn in her white house.
Q. Horses: Merry is interested in these; very anxious for a pony of his own. How many horses did the Riders lose in the battles, and have they got some more now? What happened to Legolas's horse? What did Gandalf do with Shadowfax?
A .Shadowfax went in the White Ship with Gandalf, of course. I saw that myself. I also saw Legolas let his horse run free back to Rohan from Isengard. Mr. Meriadoc says he does not know how many horses were lost; but there are more than ever in Rohan now, because no one steals them any longer. The Riders also have many ponies, especially in Harrowdale: white, brown, and grey. Next year when he comes back from a visit to King Eomer he means to bring one for his namesake.
Q. Ents: Elanor would like to hear more about them. What did Legolas see in Fangorn; and does he ever see Treebeard now? Rosie-lass is very anxious about Entwives. She looks for them whenever she goes in a wood. Will they ever be found? She would like them to be.
A . Legolas and Gimli have not told what they saw, so far as I have heard. I have not heard of any one that has seen an Ent since those days. Ents are very secret, and they do not like people much big or little I should like the Entwives to be found too; but I am afraid that trouble is too old and too deep for Shire folk to mend. I think maybe, Entwives do not want to be found; and maybe Ents are now tired of looking.
“Well dear,” said Sam, “this top page, this is only today's batch.” He sighed. “It isn't fit to go in the Book like that. It isn't a bit like the story as Mr. Frodo wrote it. But I shall have to make a chapter or two in proper style, somehow. Mr. Meriadoc might help me. He's clever at writing and he's making a splendid book all about plants.”
“Don't write any more tonight. Talk to me Sam-dad!” said Elanor, and drew him to a seat by the fire.
“Tell me,” she said, as they sat close together with the soft golden light on their faces, “tell me about Lórien. Does my flower grow there still, Sam-dad?”
“Well dear, Celeborn still lives there among his trees and his Elves, and there I don't doubt your flower grows still. Though now I have got you to look at, I don't hanker after it so much.”
“But I don't want to look at myself, Sam-dad. I want to look at other things. I want to see the hill of Amroth where the King met Arwen, and the silver trees, and the little white niphredil, and the golden Elanor in the grass that is always green. And I want to hear Elves singing.”
“Then, maybe, you will one day, Elanor I said the same when I was your age and long after it, and there didn't seem to be no hope. And yet I saw them, and I heard them.”
“I was afraid they were all sailing away, Sam-dad. Then soon there would be none here; and then everywhere would be just places and…”
“And what, Elanor?”
“And the light would have faded.”
“I know,” said Sam. “The light is fading, Elanor. But it won't go out yet. It won't ever go quite out, I think now, since I have had you to talk to. For it seems to me now that people can remember it who have never seen it. And yet,” he sighed, “even that is not the same as really seeing it, like I did.”
“Like really being in a story?” said Elanor. “A story is quite different, even when it is about what happened. I wish I could go back to old days!”
“Folk of our sort often wish that,” said Sam. “You came at the end of a great age, Elanor; but though it's over, as we say, things don't really end sharp like that. It's more like a winter sunset. The High Elves have nearly all gone now with Elrond. But not quite all; and those that didn't go will wait now for a while. And the others, the ones that belong here, will last even longer. There are still things for you to see, and maybe you'll see them sooner than you hope.”
Elanor was silent for some time before she spoke again. “I did not understand at first what Celeborn meant when he said goodbye to the King,” she said. “But I think I do now. He knew that Lady Arwen would stay, but that Galadriel would leave him. I think it was very sad for him. And for you dear Sam-dad.” Her hand felt for his, and his brown hand clasped her slender fingers. “For your treasure went too. I am glad Frodo of the Ring saw me, but I wish I could remember seeing him.”
“It was sad, Elanor,” said Sam, kissing her hair. “It was, but it isn't now. For why? Well, for one thing, Mr. Frodo has gone where the elven light isn't fading; and he deserved his reward. But I have had mine too. I have had lots of treasures. I am a very rich hobbit. And there is one other reason, which I shall whisper to you, a secret I have never told before to no one, nor put in the Book yet. Before he went Mr. Frodo said that my time maybe would come. I can wait. I think maybe we haven't said farewell for good. But I can wait. I have learned that much from the Elves at any rate. They are not so troubled about time. And so I think Celeborn is still happy among his trees, in an Elvish way. His time hasn't come, and he isn't tired of his land yet. When he is tired he can go.”
“And when you're tired, you will go Sam-dad. You will go to the Havens with the Elves. Then I shall go with you. I shall not part with you, like Arwen did with Elrond.”
“Maybe, maybe,” said Sam kissing her gently. “And maybe not. The choice of Luthien and Arwen comes to many Elanor, or something like it; and it isn't wise to choose before the time.”
“And now, my dearest, I think that it's time even a lass of fifteen spring times should go to her bed. And I have words to say to Mother Rose.”
Elanor stood up, and passed her hand lightly through Sam's curling brown hair, already flecked with grey. “Good night, Sam-dad. But…”
“I don't want good night but…” said Sam.
“But won't you show it to me first? I was going to say.”
“Show you what dear?”
“The King's letter of course. You have had it now more than a week.”
Sam sat up. “Good gracious!” he said. “How stories do repeat themselves! And you get paid back in your own coin and all. How we spied on poor Mr. Frodo! And now our own spy on us, meaning no more harm than we did, I hope. But how do you know about it?”
“There was no need for spying,” said Elanor. “If you wanted it kept secret, you were not nearly careful enough. It came by the Southfarthing post early on Wednesday last week. I saw you take it in. All wrapped in white silk and sealed with great black seals: any one who had heard the Book would have guessed at once that it came from the King. Is it good new? Won't you show it to me, Sam-dad?”
“Well, as you're so deep in, you'd better be right in,” said Sam. “But no conspiracies now. If I show you, you join the grown-ups side and must play fair. I'll tell the others in my own time. The King is coming.”
“He's coming here?” Elanor cried. “To Bag End?”
“No, dear,” said Sam. “But he's coming north again, as he hasn't done since you was a mite. But now his house is ready. He won't come into the Shire, because he's given orders that no Big Folk are to enter the land again after those Ruffians, and he won't break his own rules. But he will ride to the Bridge. And he's sent a very special invitation to every one of us, every one by name.”
Sam went to a drawer, unlocked it, and took out a scroll, and slipped off its case. It was written in two columns with fair silver letters upon black. He unrolled it, and set a candle beside it on the desk, so that Elanor could see it.
“How splendid!” she cried. “I can read the Plain Language, but what does the other side say? I think it is Elvish, but you've taught me so few Elvish words yet.”
“Yes, it's written in a kind of Elvish that the great folk of Gondor use,” said Sam. “I have made it out, enough at least to be sure that it says much the same, only it turns all out names into Elvish. Yours is the same on both side, Elanor, because your name is Elvish. But Frodo is Iorhael, and Rose is Meril, and Merry is Gelir, and Pippin is Cordof, and Goldilocks is Glorfinniel, and Hamfast is Baravorn, and Daisy is Eirien. So now you know.”
“How wonderful!” she said. “Now we have all got Elvish names. What a splendid end to my birthday! But what is your name, Sam-dad? You didn't mention it.”
“Well, it's rather peculiar,” said Sam. “For in the Elvish part, if you must know, the King says: “Master Perhael who should be called Panthael.” And that means: Samwise who ought to be called Fullwise. So now you know what the King thinks of your old father.”
“Not a bit more than I do, Sam-dad, Perhael-adar dearest,” said Elanor. “But it says the second of April, only a week today!” When shall we start? We ought to be getting ready. What shall we wear?”
“You must ask Mother Rose about all that,” said Sam. “But we have been getting ready. We had a warning of this a long time ago; and we've said naught about it, only because we didn't want you all to lose your sleep of nights, not just yet. You have all got to look your best and beautifullest. You will all have beautiful clothes, and we shall drive in a coach.”
“Shall I make three curtsies, or only one?” Said Elanor.
“One will do, one each for the King and the Queen,” said Sam. “Fr thought it doesn't say so in the letter, Elanor, I think the Queen will be there. And when you've seen her, my dear, you'll know what a lady of the Elves looks like, save that none are so beautiful. And there's more to it even than that. For I shall be surprised if the King doesn't bid us to his great house by Lake Evendim. And there will be Elladan and Elrohir, who still live in Rivendell – and with them will be Elves, Elanor, and they will sing by the water in the twilight. That is why I said you might see them sooner than you guessed.”
“Elanor said nothing, but stood looking into at the fire, and her eyes shone like stars. At last she sighed and stirred. “How long shall we stay?” she asked. “I suppose we shall have to come back?”
“Yes, and we shall want to, in a way,” said Sam. “But we might stay until hay-harvest, why I must be back here. Good night, Elanor. Sleep now till the sun rises. You'll have no need of dreams.”
“Good night, Sam-dad. And don't work any more. For I know what your chapter should be. Write down our talk together – but not tonight.” She kissed him, and passed out of the room; and it seemed to Sam that the fire burned low at her going.
The stars were shining in a clear dark sky. It was the second day of the clear bright spell that came every year to the Shire towards the end of March, and was every year welcomed and praised as something surprising for the season. All the children were now in bed. It was late, but here and there lights were still glimmering in Hobbiton and in houses dotted about the night-folded countryside.
Master Samwise stood at the door and looked away eastward. He drew Mistress Rose to him and set his arm about her. “March the twenty-fifth!” he said. “This day seventeen years ago, Rose wife, I did not think I should ever see thee again. But I kept on hoping.”
“I never hoped at all Sam,” she said. “Not until that very day; and then suddenly I did. About noon it was, and I felt so glad that I began singing and mother said “Quiet lass! There's ruffians about.” and I said “Let them come. Their time will soon be over. Sam's coming back.” And you came.”
“I did,” said Sam; “To the most belovedest place in all the world. To my Rose and my garden.”
“They went in, and Sam shut the door. But even as he did so, he heard suddenly, deep and unstilled, the sigh and murmur of the Sea upon the shores of Middle-earth.