Chapter 2 everyone!
I'm so happy for all the positive response so far, thank you all, both for reading, following, adding as favourite and revewing!
Flynalien: Thank you so much for your kind words! It really means a lot to me and I'm really glad you liked the chapter :) Here you have a hobbit chapter! About Legolas, don't worry; he'll get his own chapter in time and then we get to see his thoughts (I'll have that hint in mind when I write that chapter).
Proud2BGeek: Thank you! I'm so glad to hear that you liked the chapter and me writing this story.
Guest: Thank you, glad you liked it and continue I shall!
ClaraS: Thank you! It makes me happy that you like it :)
Jessie Rae Baby: Thank you! Glad you like it. Here you have a hobbit chapter :)
ElvesRule: Thank you! :) It's great to hear that you like the story so far and I thought it logical as well of Tauriel to go around and get a hint of what kind of persons the members of the fellowship are.
I do not own any characters or places; J.R.R Tolkien or Peter Jackson and Co do.
Enjoy!
Chapter 2: Sam and the Lady
Sam had always been fascinated by elves, ever since he was a little fauntling. Their air of mystery and wisdom, of their legendary beauty and skills with no equal, they had always been a perfect fairytale, representing kindness and adventure.
Sam was counting himself lucky. There were not many hobbits that could say that they had seen an elf, let alone spoken with one. Sam had not only done that; he had seen many elves in a short time and he was in awe of them, just like he had been as a young boy listening to Bilbo's stories.
Rivendell was a beautiful place, a calm and safe place. The valley offered him the answer of what he always had imagined it to look like from Bilbo's tales.
Sam was strolling around the gardens alone. He felt like he needed some time to think. At first, this journey had only been one with a simple goal; to accompany Frodo to Rivendell with the Ring. It had turned out to be more of a challenge than planned and Sam had felt that it was enough with adventure for him. They had been chased by foul creatures that previously only had existed in nightmares and they had seen things that not even the greatest fairytale could have done justice. Yes, seeing Rivendell and the elves had been wonderful, but Sam was prepared to go home. They had done their duty.
But then it had been the meeting. Now, Sam had not planned to sneak inside and eavesdrop – but who else was going to look after Merry and Pippin so they didn't do anything stupid? – though when it all came down to it, he was glad that he did. He had offered to go with Frodo and the others without a second thought. He could never have returned home to the Shire, knowing that his friend was out in the wide world, risking his life where other greater men had not offered. It was unheard of, so Sam would come and he would follow Frodo to Mordor, even if it was the last thing he would ever do.
Sam knew he wasn't the best of fighters – which made him glad that they would have company that was – but he could look after their packing and carry double if he must. Frodo would be carrying the heaviest burden of them all.
An impulsive decision, it had been, though Sam didn't regret it. However, he did need to spend some time alone to really let it sink in. He had travelled farther than he had ever done before and now he would almost cross the whole world. To an ordinary hobbit, that was quite alarming.
Since he had always liked flowers, he had ended up in the gardens. It was peaceful there and it was easier to think. His mind kept going over things they would need for their journey.
"It's a beautiful place, don't you think?"
Sam was startled at the soft, female voice and he turned on the spot and his eyes widened slightly at the sight of the red-haired elf making her way down the narrow garden path.
"Yes", Sam answered and stumbled over his words. "Yes it is. It's nothing like any other place I've ever seen."
The elf graced him with a smile, her expression soft and peaceful.
"I agree", she said and looked out over the flowerbeds and streams. "There are many different places in this world of ours, but this is truly a special place."
The elf looked to be lost in memories as she took in the calm surroundings and Sam did not dare to speak and break this illusion. He had never spoken to this particular elf before. He knew that she had arrived with Legolas, who would join them on their quest, but he did not know anything else about her.
She was different from the elves he had talked to in Rivendell. The most obvious thing was her hair, in that color of leaves in the autumn, but there was also the fact that her expression was somewhat jagged, hardened by something not many elves in Rivendell possessed. It was not melancholic wisdom or sadness, but something tired and fierce. Then another thing that separated her from the others was that she had sought him out. It wasn't like the other elves ignored him; on the contrary. Every time they were in the same room, they made sure to speak with Sam. They were polite, but none of them had ever come up to him just for a chat. Why should they? He was just Samwise Gamgee from the Shire. He had helped bringing the Ring to Rivendell and would now attribute with whatever he could on the journey for it to be destroyed, but when it all came down to it, he was just your usual gentle hobbit.
With all that in mind, Sam did not know how to act when the red-haired elf had just walked up to him. He nervously kicked a couple of pebbles with his toe.
"Where I come from", the elf spoke up and broke the silence, "we have not had flowers blooming for many years. I've missed it."
"Really?" Sam asked surprised. "No flowers? Not even during spring or summer?"
The elf smiled sadly.
"No", she confirmed and put one of her long strands of hair behind her pointy ear. "Which is why I'm going to enjoy my visit here as long as it lasts."
She sent another smile Sam's way and crouched down, reaching out a slender finger to gently caress one of the flowers. When the elf was crouched down, Sam was taller than her and he found it quite strange. The elf's long hair almost touched the ground, but she didn't seem to mind. The expression now upon her fair face made the battered hardness that previously had been carved into her features almost disappear. Sam thought this new expression suited her better and he worked up his courage to keep the conversation going, just so she wouldn't think of whatever it was that made her eyes steely.
"We have an awful lot of flowers in the Shire", he informed her and nodded as if to emphasize what he'd just said. "Mostly during spring and summer, of course, but there was still quite the lot of them when I left with Mister Frodo."
"I see." The elf turned to look at him and he thought that her eyes were so deep green that they almost appeared black. "Do you like flowers?"
"I do", Sam responded eagerly. "My old Gaffer's a gardener you see. Taught me everything I know."
"Hm. I guess that you must have a lovely garden then?" smiled the elf kindly.
Sam smiled back, a faint blush appearing on his cheeks.
"Well, yes", he admitted. "It's very nice. One of the most well-kept gardens in the whole of Hobbiton, perhaps even in the whole Shire if I may be so bold to say."
"That does sound really lovely."
"It is."
Sam trailed off, not knowing what to say next. The elf did not fill the silence with her soft voice. She was carefully touching the thin petals of a white flower that seemed to glow in the gloomy, but yet so clear light of the garden.
"Do you think it is magic that keep the flowers from withering?" Sam blurted out and smiled sheepishly as the elf turned her gaze towards him. "It's just…. I've never seen flowers so healthy before."
"We elves cherish the nature above many things", the elf explained and she looked tranquil, sitting down and surrounded by flowers. "In return, it helps us. Our presence may grant it longer life, but the nature was here before us. It may listen to us and aid us, but it doesn't bow to us."
She looked around over the sea of flowers, searching with her eyes. Sam stood quiet and waited. The elf smiled as she came across a small, white flower shaped as a star.
"This is my favorite", she informed the hobbit, not picking up the flower, but letting it be.
"A starflower", Sam said knowingly and nodded. "In the deepest of forests, I'll gladly live with you. That's what starflower means or represents", he hurried to say and awkwardly shifted his bare feet.
"Is it? I've never known."
"Well, my Gaffer's an enthusiastic gardener", said Sam and tried not to be too proud of knowing something not even an elf knew.
"Hm. And this?"
The elf gestured at a rose in almost the same color as Sam's curls, only a bit brighter and colorful.
"It means fascination or enchantment", he explained and felt pleased when the elf's face seemed to relax even more. "And cornflower means that the most beautiful is not always the most important", he added before the elf could ask.
"It's truly a gift you have", she smiled and let her hand fall from the cornflower. She stood up, tall once again. "What is your favorite flower?"
Sam furrowed his brows and thought of it. It was not a question he was usually asked, almost like it was silly for a gardener to have a favorite amongst his subjects. Sam could think of a lot of flowers that had a certain appeal to them; the coltsfoot, yellow and a sign of spring, the rose with their soft petals and strong colors, the lilac with its tiny flowers and wildness. There were so many different flowers.
"I like the simple flowers", Sam admitted with a small smile. "I'm a simple hobbit."
"I disagree", the elf said, much to Sam's surprise. "I think you are very brave. I heard that it was not an easy journey for you here, not with what you were carrying, but you and your friends managed. And now, you're leaving to face the unknown in this world."
"My Lady", Sam stuttered, turning red and glancing shyly at her from beneath his lashes. "I'm not brave."
"And I am not a Lady", the elf countered, but her smile was still kind.
"Well", Sam said slowly, still appearing to be a bit flustered. "My mother always said to treat girls like they were a lady. Besides", he continued, looking at her with curiosity. "How can you be anything else when travelling in the company of a prince?"
The red-haired elf averted her eyes and her smile was a bit sad now. Sam immediately felt bad for having offended her and he hurried to say:
"Forgive me if I offended you, my Lady…."
"There is no need for apologizing", the elf assured him. "It is not strange for assumptions to be made." She paused, a small wrinkle appearing between her eyebrows, before straightening up and smiling again. "Your mother raised you well", she praised him. "I am sure that whomever you chose to love will be a lucky woman."
Sam thought of Rosie Cotton – of the way she used to have ribbons in her curly hair and the way dimples appeared when she smiled whenever he had brought her a flower – and he felt a pang of sadness when his thoughts of her were replaced with thoughts of uncertainty of what lied ahead of him and his companions.
"One can hope", he smiled wistfully; his dark eyes holding a sad look to them.
"Yes", the elf said softly and she looked at him gravely. "As long as one can hope, everything is not lost."
Sam glanced to the ground and then out over the garden. A few birds were chirping and the air shook by the slight thrill of the flowing streams. He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets and sighed in content as peace filled his chest, drove away any dark thoughts he might have.
The elf watched him. Sam could feel her eyes on him. He tried not to squirm under the power of her gaze. It was as if she was trying to decide what to think of him and Sam thought she could do that without him trying to chatter. His mother had also taught him not to bother a lady.
When the elf spoke again, her voice was still soft, but she sounded pleased all the same. Sam thought that he had passed whatever test it was she had put him through.
"I shall leave you to enjoy the rest of the garden. The prince will probably need to speak with me."
Sam looked up at her and she smiled down at him. She bowed her head with an elegant move of her neck and Sam felt a bit flustered at the formal and respectful gesture. Who would believe him home in the Shire if he told them that he had seen elves, spoken to them and that one had even bowed to him?
"It was a pleasure to meet you, Samwise Gamgee", the elf continued and rewarded him with a wide smile that made her face seem to glow.
"Likewise, my Lady", stuttered Sam and hastily bowed, averting his eyes from her unearthly beauty.
Giving him one last kind smile, the elf turned on her heels and walked away in the same direction she had come from. Her steps did not make any sound as her feet touched the ground. Sam watched her go with a thoughtful face. Her walk was proud and graceful; her words had been kind and her smiles even kinder.
Sam thought as the elf disappeared up the path, soon hidden by trees, that while she may not be the lady of his heart, she still was a lady. Perhaps the lady of the prince's heart?
So, that was Sam. Hope you liked it!
The fact about the flowers have I got from the internet, though I'm not 100% sure if 'starflower' is the correct name in English, but I hope you get what kind of flower I was aiming for.
Thanks for reading!
