Chapter 1. Frodo Baggins of the Shire trudged down the road to the home of his friend and gardener, Sam. He ran his fingers through his curly brown hair as he walked with a slow pace. Frodo had always liked walking here in the quiet neighbourhood with lovely green grass and bushes lining the road on both sides. The houses were small, not as big as his own, but then again, he was one of the "well off". He shook his head, living in a rich home may be lucky but he did tend to get quite lonely. Ever since returning from the great journey to destroy the ring of Sauron, he had been avoiding solitude as thoughts of the horror he had seen on the journey and the pain he had to endure kept haunting him every time he was alone. So he tended to stay with people more to get his mind off things rather than relive the whole experience which his mind was so eager to make him do. He reached the front door, which was a bright green shade, and knocked twice. A minute later, Sam's wife Rosie opened the door and beamed at him, "Well hello, mr Frodo, come right in, I just made a cup of hot tea." Frodo smiled slightly and nodded as he followed her in through the little hall and into the main den. It was a square room with a dining table at one side and seats for lounging on the other. The room was brightened up by lovely flowers in vases. Rosie directed Frodo to the table and left the room. Probably to the kitchen, he thought as he fidgeted with the end of the blue table cloth. This was a place he came to often. Mostly because Sam was the only one who could understand his troubles. Good old Sam. At times it struck Frodo at how the whole ordeal seemed to have matured Sam. He felt the same about himself as he didn't feel like the old happy, fun-loving Frodo anymore, and even though he was young, he felt old. He had seen too much. Someone placed a cup of tea in front of him and pulled over a chair, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Need to get something off your chest?" Sam voice was heavy and concerned. Frodo looked at him and shook his head. He didn't want to act like he was always coming to him for his problems. He just wanted to talk about something else. "I just wanted to see how you and your family are doing." Sam hesitated, clearly not having bought this. "Did it happen again? The dream.. Did you see it again last night?" ".. Yes." "The same one?" "No this one was slightly different... The previous ones were all about Orcs and dark rooms where I would be wounded and hurt. But in this one.. I also heard him." Sam studied his cup, "you heard.. Sauron? What was he saying?" ".. He was talking about the ring. Asking me to bring it to him. It was..." Frodo broke off closing his eyes, slightly shuddering at the memory. Sam was quiet for some time. Then he reached forward and placed a reassuring hand on Frodo's, "Frodo," he started gently, "I know that you had to go through a lot, but you mustn't worry. The ring is gone, and Sauron is dead. These dreams... They're just... Distorted memories." Rosie rushed in just as Frodo opened his mouth to reply. "Sam, Lily has ruined her new shoes! Please get them fixed by tomorrow, remember Sissy Bagpipe's invitation to dinner?" Sam nodded, "Alright, alright," he turned to Frodo, "this is the the third pair of shoes that little girl has ruined in a month. Either playing in the mud or water. Honestly, I don't know what I am to do with her," he shook his head and grinned. Frodo felt a small familiar pang of envy which he tried to ignore. "You are quite lucky to have such a lovely family." he tried to smile as sincerely as possible. Sam nodded knowing not what else to say. He knew Frodo missed his uncle bilbo and felt lonely in his big house all alone. He tilted his head slightly, suddenly thinking, "don't you worry Frodo, I have a feeling things will turn around for you. I'll see you later then." Frodo nodded and left for home. Sam watched him walk away from the window for a while then turned to Rosie, "honey, can you fetch me my cloak? I'm going out." She looked at him in surprise, "where?" Sam smiled, "I just realised how to make Frodo happy. Permanently."