EPILOGUE
Four months later…
"A fine day, isn’t it, Sam?" The flowers in the box had been replaced, but the colors were still as stunning as ever. The water drizzled over the blooms that Sam had planted only a month before. Pippin had been sunning himself when Sam came through the doors, equipped with the watering can that was always near at hand out on the balcony.
"It’s beautiful today. I think that’s the first time I’ve seen the sky look quite so blue here, as blue as it is back home."
"Only a few more days, then off to Rohan, Rivendell, and then the Shire." Pippin heaved a sigh of contentment. As much as he loved his honorary home and his position as Guard of the Citadel, he did long to see the verdant fields and cozy hobbit holes of home.
"I can’t wait to get back. To see my Gaffer, my brothers and sister, and, well, everyone else. To get my hands in some fresh tilled earth and just tend the gardens at Bag End again is all I want right now. These flowers are pretty and all, but boxes and pots are not quite the same thing as a big yard to really get your hands dirty." His head tilted back to soak in the sunbeams, Sam didn’t notice Pippin’s eyes narrow on his face.
He’d been watching Sam for months now, ever since their talk on this very spot. In that time, Sam would still occasionally retreat into his room, and brood every once in a while, but he was slowly learning to forgive himself and move on. However, whenever they were within sight, Sam had never managed to keep his gaze away from the craggy skyscape that dominated the eastern view from Minas Tirith. Until today. Sam had come out to water his plants, talked cheerfully of the view from the balcony, and spoke of the future.
Not once did Sam’s gaze drop to the mountains bordering Mordor.
Yes, it was time to go home, Pippin thought. Time for all of us to move on, finally.
THE END