**Even though society plants barriers between people to keep the apart, it
takes a good gardener to know how to trim them up right**
:~:
Frodo Baggins sat idly on the low branch of a tall tree that was on the top of a high hill. From his place, he could see the vast landscape of Hobbiton and the Shire. He could see Bag End, where he lived with his Uncle Bilbo Baggins. Frodo had only been 12 years old when his cousin Bilbo adopted him after his parents tragically died. Frodo was Bilbo's cousin a few times over but because of their tremendous age difference, Frodo referred to him as 'Uncle'.
Most of the Shire thought Bilbo to be a very odd Hobbit. Being one who never married and goes off on adventures with Dwarves and Wizards gave him a bit of a bad reputation which was now leaking over onto Frodo. Frodo was still quite young, only 25 years old, still 8 years away from his Coming-Of- Age. He didn't have much of an opinion of what people thought of him, though many of the rumors were rather strange.
Looking around, it seemed that everyone was busy at work. Frodo had work to do too, but not like most other Hobbits. Bilbo had been teaching Frodo a number of skills, such as how to read and speak Elvish and a bit of Dwarvish. He was supposed to be studying that at the very moment, but as soon as Bilbo had fallen asleep, he made a dash for the round, green door.
Looking out again towards Bag End, Frodo shielded his eyes from the sun and squinted so that he could see well. For a minute, he thought he saw someone in the garden. It was probably the Gaffer, checking on the roses, as usual.
No, it couldn't be the Gaffer, since he has slowed down quite a bit the past years and the figure was moving to quickly around the beautiful and well maintained garden. It must be Samwise, the Gaffer's youngest son. Samwise was 12 years younger then Frodo but they still got along well. Jumping down from the branch, Frodo took off at a light run down the lane towards Bag End.
:~:
Samwise Gamgee was busy in Bag End's beautiful garden. Kneeling down next to the blooming daisies and tulips, he moved the cool, fresh earth around. Surveying his work, he was about to get up and leave, when he spotted a bit of Kingsfoil growing out of the earth.
If there was one thing Sam could not stand, it was weeds in his gardens. Well, it wasn't exactly his garden. Sam's father, the Gaffer, worked for Mr. Bilbo Baggins and now that Sam was old enough, he could help. Sam loved working in the garden. He would spend all day out there if he could.
The Gaffer was home having afternoon tea when Sam pulled the bit of Kingfoil from the rich soil around it. He decided that, with his chores around Bag End done, he deserved a little break.
So, moving around to the side of Bag End, Sam sat down, leaning his back against the fence. He closed his eyes and let the warm sun heat him. He would only rest for a few minutes then he had to finish his other chores at home. That's right, just a few . . .
:~:
Frodo had just about reached Bag End when he thought he heard something. It was like a low growling from a small animal. Not sure what it could be, he slowly and carefully approached Bag End. Sam was no where to be seen but the sound continued. Looking around cautiously, Frodo slowly eased open the gate so as not to let is squeak. Not noticing anything out of the ordinary, Frodo was about to brush the incident off as a figment of his imagination.
That is, until, he saw a pair of furry feet sticking out from the other side of Bag End. Slowly sneaking in the direction of the feet, Frodo peered around the corner and had to quickly stifle a laugh from escaping his lips. There was the source of the growling; young Samwise Gamgee, taking a nap.
Knowing that the Gaffer could be back any minute now, Frodo decided that it was for the best to wake the sleeping hobbit. The Gaffer could be quite hard on the young lad and Frodo didn't want to see Sam getting into unneeded trouble. So, very slowly so as not to make much noise, Frodo made his way over to the sleeping Sam and knelt down besides him. Laying a hand on his shoulder, Frodo gently shook him.
"Sam. Sam, wake up." Frodo whispered just loud enough. Sam stirred a bit, but only brushed Frodo's hand away sleepily.
"Leave me alone, Halfred." Sam mumbled under his breath. Frodo sighed. This is what he gets for not having any siblings. After another attempt at shaking Sam awake, Frodo was beginning to wonder what else he could do. He didn't want Sam getting in trouble with . . .
"Sam!" A loud voice echoed. "Samwise, where are ya?" It was the Gaffer! Frodo knew that Sam would be in BIG trouble if the Gaffer caught him sleeping, especially with Frodo around.
"Sam, please wake up." Frodo pleaded as loud as he dared without the Gaffer hearing.
"Samwise Gamgee!" The Gaffer called again. Sam jolted out of his state of sleep at the commanding sound of his name. He jumped so far, that Frodo leaned back so as not to get hit. With his brown eyes wide with fright, Sam looked around franticly.
"M...Mr. Frodo, I...I..." Sam stammered out as his gaze landed on Frodo. But Frodo raised a hand to silence him.
"Just play along." Frodo ordered. Just at that moment, the Gaffer turned the corner and found Sam and Frodo sitting on the ground next to the fence.
"So THAT'S how you plant those beautiful roses." Frodo said louder then necessary. Sam looked quickly from his father, whose large shadow was now cast over him, to Frodo. Frodo looked at Sam with a sort of pleading glance, so Sam nodded, not saying a word. "Oh, hallo Gaffer." Frodo said innocently, looking up at the large, gruff hobbit.
"Sam was just explaining to me how you make the roses of Bag End grow so wonderfully." The Gaffer narrowed his gaze on his youngest son, who seemed to shrink back a bit. "I asked him to." Frodo added quickly. "I had always been so curious about it and since Sam had finished his chores, I thought now was a better time then ever."
"Well, Mr. Frodo, if you're ever interested in the ways of gardening, you know who to go to." The Gaffer said stiffly.
"Yes, I do." Frodo answered.
"Now, if you don't have anymore questions, Sam here needs to be getting home to finish his other chores." Jumping to his feet quickly at the mention of his name, Sam looked again from his father to Frodo.
"I understand." Frodo said. "If it is alright with you, I would like it if Sam could assist me with one last thing before he returns home."
"Of course, Mr. Frodo." The Gaffer answered a bit unconvincingly. "Sam, you come straight home when you are finished here, understand?"
"Yes, sir." Sam replied, bowing his head. So, with one last glance, the Gaffer walked off down the lane towards #3 Bagshot Row.
"Why . . . why did you say that, Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked when he was sure his father was far out of ear shot. Frodo looked at the young hobbit with shinning eyes.
"Because, Sam, I didn't want you to get into trouble."
"But...but..." Sam really wasn't sure what was going on. All he knew was one minute he was sitting there, resting his eyes, imagining himself visiting the elves; seeing the never aging, ever wise elves of the woods.
It felt so real, like there was an elf standing over him; a young elf with dark hair and deep, blue eyes, just like Mr. Frodo.
MR. FRODO!
It was a dream! He had fallen asleep! 'Oh how could you, Samwise Gamgee', Sam mentally scolded himself.
"Don't worry Sam. This will be our little secret." Frodo said, placing his hand on Sam's shoulder. Sam stared at Frodo for a minute, not really sure what to think. Then, finally, he relaxed his shoulders and sighed.
"Thank you, Mr. Frodo." He said gratefully. Frodo smiled.
"What's a little secret between friends?" Frodo asked, and Sam let out a little laugh.
:~:
Frodo Baggins sat idly on the low branch of a tall tree that was on the top of a high hill. From his place, he could see the vast landscape of Hobbiton and the Shire. He could see Bag End, where he lived with his Uncle Bilbo Baggins. Frodo had only been 12 years old when his cousin Bilbo adopted him after his parents tragically died. Frodo was Bilbo's cousin a few times over but because of their tremendous age difference, Frodo referred to him as 'Uncle'.
Most of the Shire thought Bilbo to be a very odd Hobbit. Being one who never married and goes off on adventures with Dwarves and Wizards gave him a bit of a bad reputation which was now leaking over onto Frodo. Frodo was still quite young, only 25 years old, still 8 years away from his Coming-Of- Age. He didn't have much of an opinion of what people thought of him, though many of the rumors were rather strange.
Looking around, it seemed that everyone was busy at work. Frodo had work to do too, but not like most other Hobbits. Bilbo had been teaching Frodo a number of skills, such as how to read and speak Elvish and a bit of Dwarvish. He was supposed to be studying that at the very moment, but as soon as Bilbo had fallen asleep, he made a dash for the round, green door.
Looking out again towards Bag End, Frodo shielded his eyes from the sun and squinted so that he could see well. For a minute, he thought he saw someone in the garden. It was probably the Gaffer, checking on the roses, as usual.
No, it couldn't be the Gaffer, since he has slowed down quite a bit the past years and the figure was moving to quickly around the beautiful and well maintained garden. It must be Samwise, the Gaffer's youngest son. Samwise was 12 years younger then Frodo but they still got along well. Jumping down from the branch, Frodo took off at a light run down the lane towards Bag End.
:~:
Samwise Gamgee was busy in Bag End's beautiful garden. Kneeling down next to the blooming daisies and tulips, he moved the cool, fresh earth around. Surveying his work, he was about to get up and leave, when he spotted a bit of Kingsfoil growing out of the earth.
If there was one thing Sam could not stand, it was weeds in his gardens. Well, it wasn't exactly his garden. Sam's father, the Gaffer, worked for Mr. Bilbo Baggins and now that Sam was old enough, he could help. Sam loved working in the garden. He would spend all day out there if he could.
The Gaffer was home having afternoon tea when Sam pulled the bit of Kingfoil from the rich soil around it. He decided that, with his chores around Bag End done, he deserved a little break.
So, moving around to the side of Bag End, Sam sat down, leaning his back against the fence. He closed his eyes and let the warm sun heat him. He would only rest for a few minutes then he had to finish his other chores at home. That's right, just a few . . .
:~:
Frodo had just about reached Bag End when he thought he heard something. It was like a low growling from a small animal. Not sure what it could be, he slowly and carefully approached Bag End. Sam was no where to be seen but the sound continued. Looking around cautiously, Frodo slowly eased open the gate so as not to let is squeak. Not noticing anything out of the ordinary, Frodo was about to brush the incident off as a figment of his imagination.
That is, until, he saw a pair of furry feet sticking out from the other side of Bag End. Slowly sneaking in the direction of the feet, Frodo peered around the corner and had to quickly stifle a laugh from escaping his lips. There was the source of the growling; young Samwise Gamgee, taking a nap.
Knowing that the Gaffer could be back any minute now, Frodo decided that it was for the best to wake the sleeping hobbit. The Gaffer could be quite hard on the young lad and Frodo didn't want to see Sam getting into unneeded trouble. So, very slowly so as not to make much noise, Frodo made his way over to the sleeping Sam and knelt down besides him. Laying a hand on his shoulder, Frodo gently shook him.
"Sam. Sam, wake up." Frodo whispered just loud enough. Sam stirred a bit, but only brushed Frodo's hand away sleepily.
"Leave me alone, Halfred." Sam mumbled under his breath. Frodo sighed. This is what he gets for not having any siblings. After another attempt at shaking Sam awake, Frodo was beginning to wonder what else he could do. He didn't want Sam getting in trouble with . . .
"Sam!" A loud voice echoed. "Samwise, where are ya?" It was the Gaffer! Frodo knew that Sam would be in BIG trouble if the Gaffer caught him sleeping, especially with Frodo around.
"Sam, please wake up." Frodo pleaded as loud as he dared without the Gaffer hearing.
"Samwise Gamgee!" The Gaffer called again. Sam jolted out of his state of sleep at the commanding sound of his name. He jumped so far, that Frodo leaned back so as not to get hit. With his brown eyes wide with fright, Sam looked around franticly.
"M...Mr. Frodo, I...I..." Sam stammered out as his gaze landed on Frodo. But Frodo raised a hand to silence him.
"Just play along." Frodo ordered. Just at that moment, the Gaffer turned the corner and found Sam and Frodo sitting on the ground next to the fence.
"So THAT'S how you plant those beautiful roses." Frodo said louder then necessary. Sam looked quickly from his father, whose large shadow was now cast over him, to Frodo. Frodo looked at Sam with a sort of pleading glance, so Sam nodded, not saying a word. "Oh, hallo Gaffer." Frodo said innocently, looking up at the large, gruff hobbit.
"Sam was just explaining to me how you make the roses of Bag End grow so wonderfully." The Gaffer narrowed his gaze on his youngest son, who seemed to shrink back a bit. "I asked him to." Frodo added quickly. "I had always been so curious about it and since Sam had finished his chores, I thought now was a better time then ever."
"Well, Mr. Frodo, if you're ever interested in the ways of gardening, you know who to go to." The Gaffer said stiffly.
"Yes, I do." Frodo answered.
"Now, if you don't have anymore questions, Sam here needs to be getting home to finish his other chores." Jumping to his feet quickly at the mention of his name, Sam looked again from his father to Frodo.
"I understand." Frodo said. "If it is alright with you, I would like it if Sam could assist me with one last thing before he returns home."
"Of course, Mr. Frodo." The Gaffer answered a bit unconvincingly. "Sam, you come straight home when you are finished here, understand?"
"Yes, sir." Sam replied, bowing his head. So, with one last glance, the Gaffer walked off down the lane towards #3 Bagshot Row.
"Why . . . why did you say that, Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked when he was sure his father was far out of ear shot. Frodo looked at the young hobbit with shinning eyes.
"Because, Sam, I didn't want you to get into trouble."
"But...but..." Sam really wasn't sure what was going on. All he knew was one minute he was sitting there, resting his eyes, imagining himself visiting the elves; seeing the never aging, ever wise elves of the woods.
It felt so real, like there was an elf standing over him; a young elf with dark hair and deep, blue eyes, just like Mr. Frodo.
MR. FRODO!
It was a dream! He had fallen asleep! 'Oh how could you, Samwise Gamgee', Sam mentally scolded himself.
"Don't worry Sam. This will be our little secret." Frodo said, placing his hand on Sam's shoulder. Sam stared at Frodo for a minute, not really sure what to think. Then, finally, he relaxed his shoulders and sighed.
"Thank you, Mr. Frodo." He said gratefully. Frodo smiled.
"What's a little secret between friends?" Frodo asked, and Sam let out a little laugh.