Disclaimer: All Characters and recognisable features belong to Tolkien Enterprises.
Chapter 1
The trudge of unknown feet was heard for miles around on that quiet night. Were the water in the pool at the bottom of the forest was as still as the shadows of runes and the rustling of the leaves came as a glad relief in the deadly silence. In the distance a horse drawn cart slowly worked its way along the track with its rider fast asleep and his secret cargo safe in the cart.
Asleep in his bed Sam knew nothing about any of this. He lay there silent dreaming of food, plants and food. Sam like many other Hobbits did not concern himself with things outside the shire. The only things that were on his mind were the party the next day, the wizard that was due to arrive and what plants to put in Mr Bilbo's garden. He was at peace.
The next morning when Sam woke up it was sunny, a clear day. He sniffed the air and smelt the clear morning air, the freshly cut grass and…yes the smell of Gaffer Gamgee cooking bacon and eggs "mmmm" (his stomach growled). He got up, got ready and went down to a breakfast of fried bacon, eggs, tomatoes, sausages and bread all washed down with some freshly squeezed orange juice. After breakfast Sam went out into the Garden to see how the strawberries were doing. He was in his element, he loved things that grew (plants…flowers…Rose!)
Walking past the gate he saw Merry and Pippin going past carrying bundles of carrots, lettuces and mushrooms. The were panting as if they had just been running and had a glint in their eye's that told him that they had just been up to some mischief (probably stealing from Farmer Maggot again). He would see them later at the party so he didn't stop them to ask what they had been up to. This party was to be in celebration of Frodo and Mr Bilbo's birthday, which fell on the same day. The whole shire had been invited though Sam and the Gaffer felt particularly honoured.
Later on that day he would have to go and say happy birthday to Frodo and Mr Bilbo. But that could wait as Frodo had gone off to meet the wizard. The wizard in question was of course Gandalf the Grey, famous in Hobbiton for his fireworks and his ability to get respectable hobbits into trouble. Sam was just wandering about all the nasty predicaments that the wizard could get him roped into when he tripped over a log.