earendil-was-a-mariner:

I am completely convinced that Merry and Pippin could have talked their way through the Black Gates if they had gone with Frodo and Sam.

“Oh, us? We’re Orcs from the far West. You’ve never heard of short orcs – I mean Shorcs? That’s what we are, so let us through, Sauron needs to see us for some important Shorc business.”

elvenking:

And thus it was, the Fourth Age of Middle-Earth began, and the Fellowship of the Ring, though eternally bound by friendship and love, was ended.

Thirteen months to the day, since Gandalf sent us on our long journey, we found ourselves looking upon a familiar site. We were home.