Chapter 10
The Hand of Elanor the Fair
"Mayor Gardener, I have brought you an ale. Would you have a drink with me?" asked Fastred.
"Yes, sit down, my boy," commented Sam in a tone of authority, all the while glaring at him trying to make him as uncomfortable as possible.
Fastred cleared his throat as he sat straight and proper in his chair. He brushed his thick, dark curls with his fingertips from his eyes. Taking his mug he lifted it to a toast. "Here is to the most beautiful hobbit, Elanor the Fair!" Fastred so eloquently stated. "This we both agree?"
"Yes! That we do, my boy!" stated Sam as he continued to stare at the boy, but it made him feel uneasy as he looked at Fastred eye to eye. There was something in his deep, blue eyes that spoke familiarity to Sam's heart. Almost softening his hard emotions. Sam placed his hand into his vest pocket and fingered the star of the Dunedain.
"Have I spoken to you about our new lands just between the Tower Hills and the Far Downs?" asked Fastred.
"Yes, I know of them," stated Sam.
"Our settlement is growing daily and our clan believes in the great potential for these lands. Already our gardens show good growth and a spectacular harvest this coming fall. Our Great Smial are almost finished and it makes Took's Smial small in comparison," bragged Fastred. "No offense, of course. The Tower Hills are just bigger in their natural resources than those of the Green Hills, here."
"So, you say!" commented Sam.
"Someday, being first born. I will be Master of those lands and our Great Smial," state Fastred. "With all of that, Mayor Gardener. Great wealth will come of it."
"How nice for you," commented Sam becoming bored with his bragging.
"With the growing settlement, the Shire will benefit greatly by it," added Fastred as he looked puzzled at Sam's lack of interest in what he was saying. He studied him intently. He pickup his ale and sipped it not speaking for awhile, waiting for Sam to comment. He said nothing.
"As you know, Mayor Gardener. I have come quite fond of your daughter, Elanor. She is the love of my life. I have never met a more wonderful woman, than she," commented Fastred.
"Not quite a woman as you speak of, my boy!" stated Sam.
"On the contrary, my dear sir. Quite the woman from where I see her," stated Fastred firmly. "I have come to ask for her hand in marriage."
"NO! Elanor is still a child. I will not have it, Fastred!" stated Sam just as firmly.
"Surely, sir, a father must let go of the child, for the child to grow," stated Fastred. "No disrespecting of your position, to be sure."
Sam turned and faced him directly and glared at him opening, "Until Elanor has reached her coming of age, I will never give my consent for her to marry nor my blessings!" Sam slammed down his ale and walked off.
Walking passed his family, Sam shouted, "We are leaving, Now!" Taking Ham's hand, he guided his son to their carriage.
"No!" cried Elanor as Fastred told her what her father had said.
She ran to her mother as the tears streamed down her face, "How can he do that me! I thought Da loved me and wanted me happy! Was that just a lie!" Elanor sobbed openly.
"Elanor, stop it! You are making a spectacle of yourself. Calm yourself!" ordered Rosie. "We will speak to your father, when we get home."
She led Elanor to their carriage, but stopped momentarily to give Pippin a hug and kissed his cheek. "If you need anything, send a message home. I want you to write me weekly!" stated Rosie.
"Yes, of course, Mama. I will," said Pippin.
Peregrin opened the carriage door and helped Rosie into the carriage with the rest of their children. Sam leaned on the back of the carriage outside waiting to speak to Peregrin.
"Don't worry yourself of Pippin. I care for him as much as my own son," stated Peregrin. "He'll do fine here at the Great Smial."
"Thank you, Peregrin. We really appreciate all you are doing for our son," stated Rosie.
Merry approached Pippin and hugged him, "I am going to miss you, Brother. More than what you know," said Merry as a sad expression crossed him face.
"Not worry, Mer. I'll be home before you even miss me!" said Pippin and he patted Merry's back, giving him a hug.
"Merry turned and took a few steps towards the carriage. Stopping in his tracks he said over his shoulder, "I love you, Pip!" Then not waiting for an answer he walked into the carriage and sat down.
Sam approached Peregrin and said, "Looks like we have a turn of events. I was not expected Elanor to get dragged into this. I do not think Rosie suspects a thing. It is hard keeping this from her."
"I know, Sam. Just remember what Aragorn told us just before he left that day on the Bridge. We must keep our wits about us, if we are going to stop them," added Peregrin.
"Promise me, Peregrin. That Pippin will not get overly involved with all of this. Keep him safe for me," said Sam.
"He is the only one I can fully trust. We do not know how many are involved with this. Until we find out more. All Pippin has to do is obey what I tell him," said Peregrin.
"He'll do that, he loves you Peregrin," said Sam.
"I too, love him. I will make sure he is never in harms way," Peregrin told him. "Take care of yourself while you are in Gondor!" Peregrin shook Sam's hand as Sam walked over to Pippin and hugged him, saying his good-bye. Sam could hardly let is arms free of his son as he looking longingly into his eyes. "I love you, my son!" said Sam.
"I too, Da! I'll be home again real soon," said Pippin.
"Take care of yourself and keep a watchful eye on the Thain," stated Sam.
Sam turned and opened the carriage door and climbed in. The coachmen cracked his whip and the carriage began to roll towards the gate of the Great Smail.
Pippin stood in the green grass and watched as the coach slowly disappeared around the curve in the road and behind the thick cluster of trees.
"Coming, Pip?" asked Peregrin.
~*~
"Why, Da?" cried Elanor.
"I'll not speak of it until we are home, Elanor," said Sam. "Enough hobbits have heard more than their share of our business. I'll not have the coach driver telling the rest."
Merry sat with his elbow leaning out the window and staring at the ground that move pass them.
"You're quiet, Merry!" said Sam. "Why the long face?"
"Why does Pippin get to have a job and live at the Great Smial?" said Merry as he began to pout.
"Well, I was going to tell you earlier, but I was so interrupted by other matters," said Sam as he glanced at Elanor. "Meriadoc has asked you to be his messenger for Buckland. You are to go there first thing in the morning."
Merry's eye perked up as he looked at his father. "Are you serious?" he asked.
"Quite so, Merry," said Sam. "Meriadoc asked me a week ago." Sam turned to Rosie and said, "I was going to talk it over with you at the party this evening after Peregrin and I agreed on letting Pippin be messenger for the Great Smial. I wanted sometime to think it over for myself before I agreed. But seeing how you thought it proper for Pippin, I knew you would not mind if Merry went to Buckland for awhile."
"That is great news, Merry. I am happy for you!" stated Rosie. "However, Sam. I'm not with you! You should have told me about this when you first heard."
"I am sorry, my dear," said Sam. "But I was not sure about it until this evening. I thought them too young for such a responsibility. But I can see now, they are ready."
"Oh! Thank you, Da! I would love to stay a Buckland with Meriadoc!" stated Merry.
"Well, it is done then. First thing in the morning you can ride out with me to Buckland. I still have to talk with Meriadoc about business matters," said Sam.
Ham pulled a soft fabric cord from the curtain on the coach window and wrapped it around his fingers while he hummed to himself.
Elanor's face was red with furry as she forced herself to sit thinking to herself.
~*~
Sam took Elanor's hand in his as he led her to his study and shut the door.
"I know you are angry with me, Elanor. But you must understand. The boarders are sealed to protect the Shire so the war of Bywater would never happen again in our land. I'll not have my daughter live outside of the Shire and unprotected."
"But Da, Fastred's clan are more than able to protect their land and themselves," Elanor tried to reason with him.
"You are too young and do not know foreign part or foreign people. The Big Folk are dangerous to us hobbits. We suffered beyond what we could bear during the war of Bywater," stated Sam.
"That was many years ago. It will never happen again!" stated Elanor. "Besides, even though I have not met the Big Folk, I have read all there is on the subject from the Red Books that we have worked on together."
"Listen to me, now! I love you, Elanor. It is for your own good. I will not consent to you marrying, Fastred! You're only 21 years old, a meer child. If you do marry, I'll not bless your union with no hobbit before your coming of age. No sooner. You hear me!" declared Sam.
"I will marry, Fastred, Da! I love him. I'll have no other! If I must wait, then wait, I will. Though it is unfair of you to force me!" snapped Elanor as she turned and stormed out of the study and slammed the door shut.
Sam sat his elbow on his desk and lowered his brow onto his hand as his head pounded with pain.
~*~
Sam walked into the garden and looked at the flowers growing in rows of vivid color. Placing his hand into his vest pocket he again fingered the star of the Dunedain, as his thoughts brought him to his old master, Frodo.
"I'm lost, Mr. Frodo! More lost then when we entered Emyn Muil. I need your counsel more than I have ever!" said Sam out loud to himself as he looked up at the star lit sky. Sam pulled out the Star of the Dunadain as a thought entered his mind. "Aragorn!" Sam shouted. "Gondor! That is it! I'll take my Elanor to Gondor with me! She'll be safe there and well out of their reach. Thank you, Mr. Frodo!" He placed his star back into his pocket and went inside to talk to Rosie.
The Hand of Elanor the Fair
"Mayor Gardener, I have brought you an ale. Would you have a drink with me?" asked Fastred.
"Yes, sit down, my boy," commented Sam in a tone of authority, all the while glaring at him trying to make him as uncomfortable as possible.
Fastred cleared his throat as he sat straight and proper in his chair. He brushed his thick, dark curls with his fingertips from his eyes. Taking his mug he lifted it to a toast. "Here is to the most beautiful hobbit, Elanor the Fair!" Fastred so eloquently stated. "This we both agree?"
"Yes! That we do, my boy!" stated Sam as he continued to stare at the boy, but it made him feel uneasy as he looked at Fastred eye to eye. There was something in his deep, blue eyes that spoke familiarity to Sam's heart. Almost softening his hard emotions. Sam placed his hand into his vest pocket and fingered the star of the Dunedain.
"Have I spoken to you about our new lands just between the Tower Hills and the Far Downs?" asked Fastred.
"Yes, I know of them," stated Sam.
"Our settlement is growing daily and our clan believes in the great potential for these lands. Already our gardens show good growth and a spectacular harvest this coming fall. Our Great Smial are almost finished and it makes Took's Smial small in comparison," bragged Fastred. "No offense, of course. The Tower Hills are just bigger in their natural resources than those of the Green Hills, here."
"So, you say!" commented Sam.
"Someday, being first born. I will be Master of those lands and our Great Smial," state Fastred. "With all of that, Mayor Gardener. Great wealth will come of it."
"How nice for you," commented Sam becoming bored with his bragging.
"With the growing settlement, the Shire will benefit greatly by it," added Fastred as he looked puzzled at Sam's lack of interest in what he was saying. He studied him intently. He pickup his ale and sipped it not speaking for awhile, waiting for Sam to comment. He said nothing.
"As you know, Mayor Gardener. I have come quite fond of your daughter, Elanor. She is the love of my life. I have never met a more wonderful woman, than she," commented Fastred.
"Not quite a woman as you speak of, my boy!" stated Sam.
"On the contrary, my dear sir. Quite the woman from where I see her," stated Fastred firmly. "I have come to ask for her hand in marriage."
"NO! Elanor is still a child. I will not have it, Fastred!" stated Sam just as firmly.
"Surely, sir, a father must let go of the child, for the child to grow," stated Fastred. "No disrespecting of your position, to be sure."
Sam turned and faced him directly and glared at him opening, "Until Elanor has reached her coming of age, I will never give my consent for her to marry nor my blessings!" Sam slammed down his ale and walked off.
Walking passed his family, Sam shouted, "We are leaving, Now!" Taking Ham's hand, he guided his son to their carriage.
"No!" cried Elanor as Fastred told her what her father had said.
She ran to her mother as the tears streamed down her face, "How can he do that me! I thought Da loved me and wanted me happy! Was that just a lie!" Elanor sobbed openly.
"Elanor, stop it! You are making a spectacle of yourself. Calm yourself!" ordered Rosie. "We will speak to your father, when we get home."
She led Elanor to their carriage, but stopped momentarily to give Pippin a hug and kissed his cheek. "If you need anything, send a message home. I want you to write me weekly!" stated Rosie.
"Yes, of course, Mama. I will," said Pippin.
Peregrin opened the carriage door and helped Rosie into the carriage with the rest of their children. Sam leaned on the back of the carriage outside waiting to speak to Peregrin.
"Don't worry yourself of Pippin. I care for him as much as my own son," stated Peregrin. "He'll do fine here at the Great Smial."
"Thank you, Peregrin. We really appreciate all you are doing for our son," stated Rosie.
Merry approached Pippin and hugged him, "I am going to miss you, Brother. More than what you know," said Merry as a sad expression crossed him face.
"Not worry, Mer. I'll be home before you even miss me!" said Pippin and he patted Merry's back, giving him a hug.
"Merry turned and took a few steps towards the carriage. Stopping in his tracks he said over his shoulder, "I love you, Pip!" Then not waiting for an answer he walked into the carriage and sat down.
Sam approached Peregrin and said, "Looks like we have a turn of events. I was not expected Elanor to get dragged into this. I do not think Rosie suspects a thing. It is hard keeping this from her."
"I know, Sam. Just remember what Aragorn told us just before he left that day on the Bridge. We must keep our wits about us, if we are going to stop them," added Peregrin.
"Promise me, Peregrin. That Pippin will not get overly involved with all of this. Keep him safe for me," said Sam.
"He is the only one I can fully trust. We do not know how many are involved with this. Until we find out more. All Pippin has to do is obey what I tell him," said Peregrin.
"He'll do that, he loves you Peregrin," said Sam.
"I too, love him. I will make sure he is never in harms way," Peregrin told him. "Take care of yourself while you are in Gondor!" Peregrin shook Sam's hand as Sam walked over to Pippin and hugged him, saying his good-bye. Sam could hardly let is arms free of his son as he looking longingly into his eyes. "I love you, my son!" said Sam.
"I too, Da! I'll be home again real soon," said Pippin.
"Take care of yourself and keep a watchful eye on the Thain," stated Sam.
Sam turned and opened the carriage door and climbed in. The coachmen cracked his whip and the carriage began to roll towards the gate of the Great Smail.
Pippin stood in the green grass and watched as the coach slowly disappeared around the curve in the road and behind the thick cluster of trees.
"Coming, Pip?" asked Peregrin.
~*~
"Why, Da?" cried Elanor.
"I'll not speak of it until we are home, Elanor," said Sam. "Enough hobbits have heard more than their share of our business. I'll not have the coach driver telling the rest."
Merry sat with his elbow leaning out the window and staring at the ground that move pass them.
"You're quiet, Merry!" said Sam. "Why the long face?"
"Why does Pippin get to have a job and live at the Great Smial?" said Merry as he began to pout.
"Well, I was going to tell you earlier, but I was so interrupted by other matters," said Sam as he glanced at Elanor. "Meriadoc has asked you to be his messenger for Buckland. You are to go there first thing in the morning."
Merry's eye perked up as he looked at his father. "Are you serious?" he asked.
"Quite so, Merry," said Sam. "Meriadoc asked me a week ago." Sam turned to Rosie and said, "I was going to talk it over with you at the party this evening after Peregrin and I agreed on letting Pippin be messenger for the Great Smial. I wanted sometime to think it over for myself before I agreed. But seeing how you thought it proper for Pippin, I knew you would not mind if Merry went to Buckland for awhile."
"That is great news, Merry. I am happy for you!" stated Rosie. "However, Sam. I'm not with you! You should have told me about this when you first heard."
"I am sorry, my dear," said Sam. "But I was not sure about it until this evening. I thought them too young for such a responsibility. But I can see now, they are ready."
"Oh! Thank you, Da! I would love to stay a Buckland with Meriadoc!" stated Merry.
"Well, it is done then. First thing in the morning you can ride out with me to Buckland. I still have to talk with Meriadoc about business matters," said Sam.
Ham pulled a soft fabric cord from the curtain on the coach window and wrapped it around his fingers while he hummed to himself.
Elanor's face was red with furry as she forced herself to sit thinking to herself.
~*~
Sam took Elanor's hand in his as he led her to his study and shut the door.
"I know you are angry with me, Elanor. But you must understand. The boarders are sealed to protect the Shire so the war of Bywater would never happen again in our land. I'll not have my daughter live outside of the Shire and unprotected."
"But Da, Fastred's clan are more than able to protect their land and themselves," Elanor tried to reason with him.
"You are too young and do not know foreign part or foreign people. The Big Folk are dangerous to us hobbits. We suffered beyond what we could bear during the war of Bywater," stated Sam.
"That was many years ago. It will never happen again!" stated Elanor. "Besides, even though I have not met the Big Folk, I have read all there is on the subject from the Red Books that we have worked on together."
"Listen to me, now! I love you, Elanor. It is for your own good. I will not consent to you marrying, Fastred! You're only 21 years old, a meer child. If you do marry, I'll not bless your union with no hobbit before your coming of age. No sooner. You hear me!" declared Sam.
"I will marry, Fastred, Da! I love him. I'll have no other! If I must wait, then wait, I will. Though it is unfair of you to force me!" snapped Elanor as she turned and stormed out of the study and slammed the door shut.
Sam sat his elbow on his desk and lowered his brow onto his hand as his head pounded with pain.
~*~
Sam walked into the garden and looked at the flowers growing in rows of vivid color. Placing his hand into his vest pocket he again fingered the star of the Dunedain, as his thoughts brought him to his old master, Frodo.
"I'm lost, Mr. Frodo! More lost then when we entered Emyn Muil. I need your counsel more than I have ever!" said Sam out loud to himself as he looked up at the star lit sky. Sam pulled out the Star of the Dunadain as a thought entered his mind. "Aragorn!" Sam shouted. "Gondor! That is it! I'll take my Elanor to Gondor with me! She'll be safe there and well out of their reach. Thank you, Mr. Frodo!" He placed his star back into his pocket and went inside to talk to Rosie.