Some nights Sam got scared.
Every night, actually.
Some nights were better than most. Gollum kept a wide berth, Mr Frodo was in better spirits. They sat side-by-side talking about days in the Shire. Occasionally Frodo would smile and even let out a laugh. They could almost have been back in The Green Dragon. Almost.
Tonight was a bad night. Gollum had disappeared, muttering incoherently to himself, which had made Sam nervous. Frodo was gazing out, at nothing in particular as far as Sam could tell. When he approached Frodo with some small scraps of food, Frodo had cowered away from him, whispering to be left alone. When Sam had shifted from foot to foot unsure of what to do, Frodo had snapped at him to stop hovering; to leave him in peace. Sam's eyes had filled with tears but he placed the food near to Frodo before backing away. He perched himself in the crevice that they had found for that night so that he could still have one eye on Frodo but ensured that he far enough away that he couldn't be accused of 'hovering'.
He heard the distant rumbling of the mountains. He tried humming to himself to block out the noise but not familiar, comforting tune came to his lips that day. He held his stomach miserably thinking of the untouched food near Frodo. Sam's meal that he had made for himself.
It was nights like these that Sam got scared. It was nights like this that he felt truly alone.
He ached to help Frodo. Every offer on a night like this fell on deaf ears. He felt helpless, worthless. Most of all though he missed his friend. His best friend. Every time Frodo glanced at him on nights like these he saw nothing of his friend left.
Sam began to weep softly. Usually he held back his sorrow, crying only when he was sure that Frodo was asleep or when he and his friend shed tears together of memories of home or of their friends. Tonight though Sam cried like he hadn't cried in a long time.
I don't want to be here. I don't want to be in this cruel place. I don't want Mr Frodo to be going through so much pain. I want to go home.
His shoulders shook as he gasped for air. He buried his face in his hands, drawing his knees up, trying to block out everything around him.
Suddenly, he felt a presence beside him and an arm creep around his shoulders.
He sniffed and glanced up. Frodo was crouched down beside him.
"Sam?"
Sam looked at Frodo. Frodo looked back at him, his eyes full of concern and remorse.
Sam knew that for now, his Frodo was back with him.
"Oh Sam, I'm so sorry for snapping. I…" Frodo looked confused for a moment. "I don't know why I did that."
Sam flung his arms around his friend and Frodo held onto him tightly.
"You have to let me look after you too sometimes, Sam."
Sam nodded against his shoulder.
"You forgive me?"
Sam pulled away, fresh tears forming in his eyes.
"There is nothing to forgive, Mr Frodo."