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to know about his deeds and adventures； their admiration and respect were given mostly to Mr。
Meriadoc and Mr。 Peregrin and （if Sam had known it） to himself。 Also in the autumn there
appeared a shadow of old troubles。
One evening Sam came into the study and found his master looking very strange。 He was very
pale and his eyes seemed to see things far away。
'What's the matter； Mr。 Frodo？' said Sam。
'I am wounded；' he answered； 'wounded； it will never really heal。'
But then he got up； and the turn seemed to pass； and he was quite himself the next day。 It was
not until afterwards that Sam recalled that the date was October the sixth。 Two years before on that
day it was dark in the dell under Weathertop。
Time went on； and 1421 came in。 Frodo was ill again in March； but with a great effort he
concealed it； for Sam had other things to think about。 The first of Sam and Rosie's children was
born on the twenty…fifth of March； a date that Sam noted。
'Well； Mr。 Frodo；' he said。 'I'm in a bit of a fix。 Rose and me had settled to call him Frodo； with
your leave； but it's not _him_； it's _her_。 Though as pretty a maidchild as any one could hope for；
taking after Rose more than me； luckily。 So we don't know what to do。'
'Well； Sam；' said Frodo； 'what's wrong with the old customs？ Choose a flower name like Rose。
Half the maidchildren in the Shire are called by such names； and what could be better？'
'I suppose you're right； Mr。 Frodo；' said Sam。 'I've heard some beautiful names on my travels；
but I suppose they're a bit too grand for daily wear and tear； as you might say。 The Gaffer； he says：
〃Make it short； and then you won't have to cut it short before you can use it。〃 But if it's to be a
flower…name； then I don't trouble about the length： it must be a beautiful flower； because； you see； I
think she is very beautiful； and is going to be beautifuller still。'
Frodo thought for a moment。 'Well； Sam； what about _elanor_； the sun…star； you remember the
little golden flower in the grass of Lothlórien？'
'You're right again； Mr。 Frodo！' said Sam delighted。 'That's what I wanted。'
Little Elanor was nearly six months old； and 1421 had passed to its autumn； when Frodo called
Sam into the study。
'It will be Bilbo's Birthday on Thursday； Sam；' he said。 'And he will pass the Old Took。 He will
be a hundred and thirty…one！'
'So he will！' said Sam。 'He's a marvel！'
'Well； Sam；' said Frodo。 'I want you to see Rose and find out if she can spare you； so that you
and I can go off together。 You can't go far or for a long time now； of course；' he said a little
wistfully。
'Well； not very well； Mr。 Frodo。'
'Of course not。 But never mind。 You can see me on my way。 Tell Rose that you won't be away
very long； not more than a fortnight； and you'll e back quite safe。'
'I wish I could go all the way with you to Rivendell； Mr。 Frodo； and see Mr。 Bilbo；' said Sam。
'And yet the only place I really want to be in is here。 I am that torn in two。'
'Poor Sam！ It will feel like that； I am afraid；' said Frodo。 'But you will be healed。 You were
meant to be solid and whole； and you will be。'
In the next day or two Frodo went through his papers and his writings with Sam； and he handed
over his keys。 There was a big book with plain red leather covers； its tall pages were now almost
filled。 At the beginning there were many leaves covered with Bilbo's thin wandering hand； but most
of it was written in Frodo's firm flowing script。 It was divided into chapters but Chapter 80 was
unfinished； and after that were some blank leaves。 The title page had many titles on it； crossed out
one after another； so：
_My Diary。 My Unexpected Journey。 There and Back Again。 And What Happened After。_
_Adventures of Five Hobbits。 The Tale of the Great Ring； piled by Bilbo Baggins from his own
observations and the accounts of his friends。 What we did in the War of the Ring。_
Here Bilbo's hand ended and Frodo had written：
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 th