Sam's Return
By LadyJea
Author's Note: This is extremely short. I captured a mood and wrote it down. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: Don't own it. Never did. Never will. Oh, and I made no money off of this.
There was a quietness about him, like heavy snow on the fields in the dead of winter's night. He did not come into the smial, but looked down at the threshold as though he could not bear to cross it alone. I stood before him, but he did not truly see me until I took his face in my hands and forced his eyes to look into mine. I'm still here. I did not speak the words aloud, there was no need. You are not alone, my dearest Sam. He has gone, as you knew in your heart that he would, but I am still here.
He hugged me then, as he has never hugged me before, and never did again. I have never been held so tightly. I imagine that, had my babe the strength, her grasping of my fingers would be much the same. I returned the embrace with all the strength of my body and soul, holding him desperately, brutally, as one holds the ropes at a barn-raising to lift the framework and keep it from crashing to the ground.
When his arms had slackened I took his hand and drew him inside from the chill of the evening. I led him to the fireside and pressed him gently into his chair. He complied with my guidance in a trance, like those who have just received a blow to the head, or terrible news. A part of me was afraid that he would never return from the place he was at that moment, so very far away. I brought Elanor to him and placed her in his lap. She grasped his forefinger and giggled as she tugged, initiating their favorite game.
He drew his breath sharply, like he does when his concentration's been broken, or he's startled from his sleep. It came out slow, just barely stirring the curls atop Elanor's head. His eyes met mine and he looked at me instead of through me.
"Well, I'm back."