Heyas!!

Okay, this is my first LOTR fic. It's after the book and Frodo has sailed away. I'm still a bit mixed up a bit over the years and dates. So I'm thinking its... 1426ish. So forgive me if I'm very very very very very wrong, dudes!!

This fanfic is dedicated to Spoony and Grem, as they have helped me correct sentences and helped me with dates. THANK YOU DUDES!!

Disclaimer- I do not own LOTR, or any of it's characters. I'm just a daydreamer.. sigh Wish I did own them though..... I can still dream though!!

Heart of a Hobbit

Sam walked quickly up the hill. The rain was lashing down in sheets. His cloak was soaked and iciness pinched his skin. His heart warmed a little, knowing home was round the corner; a crackling fire and a hot supper waiting for him.
A rumble of thunder echoed through the sky, followed by a small yelp.

"Hullo?", called Sam, trying to be heard over the pounding rain.

"Whoa", came the voice again as a small figure tumbled out the bushes.

"Oh my!", gasped Sam as he found a small human child. A girl no older than seven sneezed silently and looked up at him. Amber eyes gazed. Her hair was plastered down with the rain.

"Sorry mister", she stumbled onto her feet on the mud stricken ground and started to trudge away.
Sam sped in front of her, as fast as he could in the squelching mud; a shocked look on his wet features.

"What's your name?", he blurted out, the first thing coming to mind.

"L-Leah, mister", she stuttered, the ice rain chilling her bones. "Excuse me, mister. I n-need to find my P-Papa" "Not in this weather!" "But.. He s-said...achoo!!", she muffled her sneeze and wiped the wet sleeve of a ragged top over her face.

"Come on", he took hold of her chilled hand and pulled her along in the sinking mud to his home.

"But Papa said, mister, that.."

"We'll deal with your Papa later, Leah", the girl seemed to flinch at the word, looking at him with great curiosity. "We need to get you warm and dry, catch your death out here and we wouldn't want that".
Leah's face was a frown and a confused look all rolled into one. Sam ignored it and kept pulling her till he reached the gate, unhooked it, bounded down the garden path and swung the round door open. He pushed Leah in before practically running in himself.

"Oh, Sam! Thank goodness! Merry and Pippin are having-My, oh, my", Rosie stopped short at the kitchen door as she caught sight of the drowned Leah.

"Rosie, this is Leah. Out in that weather! You don't mind, do you?"

"Samwise Gamgee! You make me seem like a cruel hobbit! How could I turn her away, she's soaked through! Come here dear, and we'll get you nice and dry by the fire and you can tell us why you were out in that horrible weather!", Rosie smiled gently and held out her hand, trying to coax Leah forwards.

"Don't be shy", replied Sam; hanging up his drenched clock the pushing her the short distance to Rosie.
She steered Leah into the kitchen where two other hobbits were sitting at a wooden table, beside the huge fireplace. The flickering light helped Sam to see the child more clearly; a nasty scrape on her cheek, dirt flecked across her pale face. She looked more confused then scared.

"Sam, good gracious, you're soaked!", a hobbit with golden honey curls spoke up. "Who's this?"

"Leah", Sam slid down onto the seat and spoke under his breath. "You be careful what you say Master Merry, you as well Master Pippin. To tell the truth, I'm a bit worried".

"Worried?", asked Pippin, forgetting to keep his voice down.

"Pippin!", hissed Merry, slightly elbowing him. The three glanced to Leah who had been pushed towards the fire; she seemed very interested in her leather boots.
Rosie then trotted along, a fresh ironed linen shirt folded neatly over her arm. "Follow me, Leah, and we'll get you out of those wet clothes".
Leah followed her into the side room, which contained a writing desk and various stacks of paper.

"Miss Rosie", the child spoke timidly. "I-I don't think I understand".

"What don't you understand, dear?", Rosie replied, pulling off the wet ragged shirt that the girl wore.

"Why you are all being so nice. Aren't… aren't I in trouble?"

"Trouble?! Of course not! Now let's slip this on you and get you by that warm fire, hmmmm?" Before Leah knew it she was sitting beside a huge fire, a cup of warm milk in her hands. She was in an environment she never thought she would be in. Never even dreamed about. A home.

to be continued...

Well dudes, that's a wrap! Please review and tell me what you think!! Flames will be used to toast up some marshmallows for our Hobbit-friends!

Happy days dudes!