"Where are you going, Master?"
"To the Havens, Sam."

You're leaving? Just like that? Mr. Frodo, how can this be?
Did I displease you in some way? You never said anything about
this. I thought you were going to Rivendell. But no, you're going over
the sea, and you're notcoming back. That seems unthinkable after all
we've been throughtogether. I thought we were both going to enjoy the
Shire for many years.

"But I have been hurt too deeply, Sam."

I know you were hurt, Mr. Frodo. I can't imagine anyone being hurt
worse than you were, unless it was me having to see you like that.
But you were healed, and honoured on the Field of Cormallen. You
even laughed and assured me that you were all right when we woke
together in Ithilien. You never told me you were still in pain.Why
not, Master? I would have been there for you; Rose would have
been too. You must have known that? How could you possibly not have?

"You will have to be one and whole, for many years."

How can I be without you? You're the best friend I ever had. You've
been such an important part of my life for as long as I can remember.
I thought you felt the same way about me, but maybe I was wrong. You
didn't tell me what was happening until we were half way here, and that
was in the middle of a crowd. This hurts, Mr. Frodo, more than anything
has in my life. Still I'm going to forgive you. I won't let hurt and
bitterness spoil the memories of our friendship.

Beside him stood Merry and Pippin, and they were silent.

Well, at least I don't have to go home along. That would have made it
very much worse. I can't believe you were going to leave without saying
good-bye to Mr. Merry and Mr. Pippin. They must be almost as hurt as I
am. Maybe you were afraid they'd try and stop you from leaving? I don't
think so, they've really grown and it had nothing to do with that Ent draught
either. Maybe, seeing as you were hurting yourself, you were kind of out
touch with the hobbits around. Still you might have left them a good-bye
letter. On the other hand, the letter might just have raised more questions
in their minds that no one could answer.

"Well, I'm back."

Rose has the fire lit, and I can smell dinner cooking. I don't know how she
knew I'd be back at this time. Did she also know I was going to be alone, that you
were going over the sea? No, she would have told me, knowing how hurt I'd be
finding out like I did. What's it like in Valinor, Mr. Frodo? Are you happy
there? You must be, from what I've heard about it. I'm starting to feel happy
too, for the first time since you left. I still have Rose and my beautiful
little Elanor, and who knows? Maybe some day we'll meet again, over the sea.