A Gift from the Sea

Their hearts heavy with grief the hobbits remained at the shore until the ship disappeared from sight. When at last they turned, Círdan approached and presented each with a beautiful, delicate shell, shining gold and silver in the pale moonlight.

"When you have need," Círdan said, "listen to these, and they will ease your hearts."

One by one the hobbits lifted the shells to their ears and with wonder they heard the Sea, not lapping against the nearby shore, but inside the shell. And though they did not speak, their hearts lifted. They would hear the Sea from the Shire.