I watched "The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies" tonight, the last of the three-part saga, and the last of our adventures in Middle Earth. I remember seeing the Shire on the screen for the first time thirteen years ago and letting the movies take me visually to that wonderful world to share in the adventures of Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves, and Men.
Tonight, I felt an ache, much like Frodo felt at the end of the Trilogy. His was from a Morgul blade and wasn't a good memory, but it kept the story alive for him.
My pain is from knowing I'll never get to see more of Middle Earth. I'll never get to visit Rivendell or Gondor and the see white towers blazing in the morning sun. It's a pain that may ease with time, but won't ever fully go away.
I've read the books and watched the movies and I'll probably re-read the books and re-watch the movies often to help assuage the ache and help me remember the details, but the story will stay with me and for that I'm grateful, so it's not really goodbye…
All Things Elda 