Scrapbook by Independence1776

Maglor paused at the open gate. A tiny plant grew between one of the cracks in the upright wood post; the sun made its leaves shine green-gold. He smiled and walked up the stepping stone and gravel path toward the small cottage tucked away in the woods. Before he reached halfway, the green-painted door opened and his mother stepped onto the covered porch. She wore a casual, brown, button-up shirt and matching trousers, though her feet were bare. It was her smile that nearly broke him.

“Mother,” he said and hurried up the two steps, his bag bouncing at his side.

She embraced him. “Welcome home, Makalaurë.” She pulled back and eyed the bag hanging from his shoulder. “What did you bring me?”

He smiled. “A scrapbook of images of many places I visited in Middle-earth. Some are drawings; others are what Men call photographs.”

“Come inside and show me.”

He did.

[Image description: The photo collage has nine photos total in three rows.

Row 1: Photo 1: Sand beach of Tel Aviv looking south toward the ancient port city of Jaffa. Photo 2: Cave painting of hands; unknown location. Photo 3: Louisville, Kentucky bridge over the Ohio River; the bridge is outlined in blue lights. Photo 4: A stone statue of the Buddha seated in half lotus; the statue is in Thailand’s Sukhothai Historical Park.

Row 2: Photo 5: The ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru. Photo 6: Hilly rural Worcestershire farmland with hedgerows. Photo 7: The Sydney Opera House at dusk.

Row 3: Photo 8: Panorama of Cape Town at dusk; the city lights are aglow and Table Mountain is barely visible against the dark sky. Photo 9: The rock-cut structure dubbed “The Monastery” of Petra.]