[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

We reached Parth Galen late yesterday and camped in that fair place. After breakfast, Aragorn brought up the question of where we should now go, but no one was willing to choose. Frodo is the Ringbearer, and he alone can decide his path. He then left the Company for a while to think, and to make his decision. After a time, I noticed that Boromir was no longer among us. I feared treachery and went in search of them both. From a distance, I heard the shouts of Boromir, but when I reached him the Ringbearer had vanished. Although he denied it, it was plain to me that Boromir had tried to seize the Ring from Frodo. I searched, but could find no trace of the small halfling.

I knew that if Frodo had chosen to leave the Company on his own, he would have to have a boat to cross to the eastern shore. I returned to our camp, and saw a most curious sight. An empty boat was on the water, and Sam was wading out towards it. As the water rose over his head, the boat turned on its own and Sam was pulled to the side of the boat by...nothing! The paddle dipped in and out of the water by itself until the boat reached the shore, whereupon Frodo was revealed when he took off the Ring.

The Ringbearer was dismayed that he had not managed to escape from Sam and myself, and tried to convince us to stay. When it was plain that we would not allow him to leave on his own, he gave in with a laugh. "Come along! It is plain that we [three] were meant to go together. We will go, and may the others find a safe road!" And so we are now among the trackless hills of the Emyn Muil on the final part of our journey. Legolas knows my mind, and I trust him to apprise the others of my choice. Frodo's departure will be hard on the two younger halflings, but they will be safe in Aragorn's care. Meanwhile, we will seek a path through the hills and down into the Land of Shadow.

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No one was there...A boat was sliding down the bank all by itself...The boat slipped into the water.

"Coming, Mr. Frodo! Coming!" called Sam, and flung himself from the bank, clutching at the departing boat...Gurgling he went under, and the River closed over his curly head.

...A paddle swirlded and the boat put about..."get hold of the side, and let me use the paddle!"...Frodo brought the boat back to the bank...took off the Ring and stepped ashore again.

..."Now, Sam," said Frodo, "don't hinder me! The others will be coming back at any minute. If they catch me here, I shall have to argue and explain, and I shall never have the heart or the chance to get off. But I must go at once. It's the only way."

"Of course it is," answered Sam. "But not alone. I'm coming too, or neither of us isn't going. I'll knock holes in all the boats first."

Frodo actually laughed. A sudden warmth and gladness touched his heart. "Leave one!" he said. "We'll need it. But you can't come like this without your gear or food or anything."

"Just hold on a moment, and I'll get my stuff!" cried Sam eagerly. "It's all ready. I thought we should be off today..."

"So all my plan is spoilt!" said Frodo. "It is no good trying to escape you. But I'm glad, Sam. I cannot tell you how glad. Come along! It is plain that we were meant to go together. We will go, and may the others find a safe road! Strider will look after them. I don't suppose we shall see them again."

"Yet we may, Mr. Frodo. We may," said Sam.

So Frodo and Sam set off on the last stage of the Quest together...shouldering their burdens, they set off, seeking a path that would bring them over the grey hills of the Emyn Muil, and down into the Land of Shadow.