To the End of His Days

[gamgee_fics]

Title: To the End of His Days
Rating: PG
Warnings: Cannon character death
Genre: General, Drama
Length: Tribble
Summary: In the year 1384 SR, after the death of his wife, Sam leaves Middle-earth and sails to Valinor.


Continued from 1. Mourning



2. Promises


It happened the last time we visited the King and Queen at Lake Evendim. I opened my big mouth, saying as I’d take word to Lady Arwen’s folks about her and the children if I ever sailed to Valinor. It had seemed an impossible dream then, despite the Sea-calling. Now it is a foolish hope, which I’ve learned over the years is the best kind of hope.

Rose had known. She’d once dreamt of me there and described things to me as I couldn’t imagine. She’d even drawn it, white beaches behind sparkling towers. I pull out that drawing and stare at it, tracing it lightly with withered fingers. I wonder if she’d been right. I suspect as she was. She’d had the Vision, though it didn’t come to her often. If I go and it’s just as she saw it, it’ll be as though a part of her is there.

I’ve no delusions that Frodo will be there. Arwen had warned me the Undying Lands can be hard on mortals. Oh, he’d be healed sure enough, but it would shorten his natural life. He’d be nearly as old as the Old Took now. Even the Old Took wouldn’t have lived so long there, and he hadn’t had Frodo’s ills. There’s a chance Frodo might’ve chosen to wait, despite the stress as it’d cause him. I hope not. Much as I’d love to see him again, I wouldn’t want him in pain acause of me.

Do I leave my children and my home? I’ll be leaving them eventually either way. I doubt I’d make it through the winter if I stay.

I’ll go then, see my friends, meet some Elves, them as had never set foot on Middle-earth. And I have a promise to keep, before the end.


GF 7/23/2012


Continued in 3. Expectations

Comments

[verangel.livejournal.com]

Your statement about shortening their lives is the first I have ever seen. When I first saw ROTK I dived deep into the meaning of Frodo leaving andf possibilities of him being there for Sam...The main view from Tolkien's writings that were relayed from people was that time was different there. It wasn't known how Frodo might age compared to Sam in that time. Mostly that Frodo would not age as quickly as in mortal years. Its all debatable. :)

[gamgee-fics.livejournal.com]

The shortening of mortal lives is found in The Silmarillion. That's why the Numenoreans were forbidden from seeking out Valinor, not because Eru wanted to be mean and keep immortality from them, but because it would actually shorten their lives significantly to go there. To attempt to use the power of Valinor to try to expand their lives would have been a torment to them, similar to the effects of mortals who bear the One Ring. Tol Eressea is somewhat removed from Valinor proper, so the effects wouldn't have been as intense if Frodo and Bilbo had gone to Valinor but they would have still been present. As for time moving differently there, there's nothing in cannon to support that, at least not that I've been able to find.