Chapter 35- Not scared
Sam awoke entwined in Frodo's arms. She rolled over and looked at him and brushed her finger along his lip. His eyes fluttered open slowly,
" Frodo," Sam whispered. Of all her journeys and adventures, last night had scared her the most.
" Shh," Frodo muttered. "I'm so sorry. That was wrong of me last night," he looked at her deep and sorrowfully. " You told me you were frightened, I fear I may have scared you further, and that was wrong of me. Please forgive me?" Sam took a deep shuddering breath. Even his nearness was intoxicating now.
"It's just that," she paused not knowing how to continue. " I'm new at this, you're the only lad I've ever loved, and everything seems to be going so fast. Last night was a lot for me, you seemed so different then I remembered you were." She chuckled even though in her eyes she looked like she was about to cry, " Do you know what I said to my Gaffer the day I met you?" She smiled, breathing a few quiet laughs, " I don't know if you remember when you met me and you read me a story…"
" I remember," Frodo smiled.
" I went home and to Bagshot Row and my Gaffer said to me, 'That Mr. Frodo is certainly a nice lad, isn't he Sammy dear?' I told him 'He was the nicest lad I'd ever met and that one day I am going to marry him,' my Gaffer laughed at me and said 'Are you now?' I told him that I would again and he laughed while my mother scolded him for encouraging me to think that way. She didn't think that a servant would ever marry her master." Sam smiled and sniffled back some tears at the memories. " She will be in for a big surprise," Sam finished. Frodo began to laugh. He laughed very merrily. Sam stopped smiling and looked at him with a joyous look of surprise on her face.
" What is it Sam?" He felt he should be concerned but couldn't stop smiling.
" You're coming back," she whispered. Sam was so happy that the tears were rolling down her cheeks.
"Oh, don't cry Sam! What are you talking about?"
" You're coming back," She repeated.
" Silly lass, I've always been here," he told her, broadly grinning.
"But…" she hesitated, " You were covered by a shadow that didn't allow me to see your laughter or your true smile. That was the first time I heard you laugh from your heart since we left," Sam whispered. Frodo wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, she leaned her head against his chest and sighed contentedly. She looked up at him a few moments later, "I'm not scared anymore," Frodo smiled again, from his heart. "I…I want to kiss you, Frodo," Sam whispered.
" You have kissed me before," Frodo told her smiling.
"Oh," she pushed herself up and kissed him gently. Still being very timid from last nights experiences she broke off fairly quickly. Frodo knew better then to press her. He moaned contently as she nuzzled her nose into his neck. She fell asleep like that.
~*~
About two hours later, there was a knock on the door. Pippin's timid voice came from the other side (he had apparently learned his lesson)
" Gandalf says it's about time we get going soon, breakfast is ready and out for us."
~*~
With a tearful good bye the four Hobbits were alone heading to the Shire, from Bree. Upon Gandalf's leaving everyone had shed some degree of tears, none so much as Pippin. Merry couldn't help a weak chuckle as Pippin was sobbing almost uncontrollably.
The Road home seemed so much shorter then it had been on the way to Bree. They had all left Gandalf with a sorrowful goodbye, but they all trudged on with a happiness stinging their hearts.
They were nearing their home at last. Frodo and Sam rode together on Bill, which, to Sam's delight, had made it back to Bree unscathed. Pippin and Merry rode two ponies, a brown one and a black one, that Butterbur and Nob had given to them.
The old forest loomed overhead and they took the road this time, remembering how it had been the first time.
~*~
Sam took Frodo's hand as they came up at the last hill that would bring them to the borders of Buckland. She smiled as he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. They came over the top of the hill to find that there was a large Gate built in middle of the road.
The four Hobbits exchanged confused looks. They nudged their horses a little faster and slowed as they came up to the entrance.
"Who's there?" a croaked voice came out from atop the wall-like gate. Frodo felt Sam recoil in front of him, remembering the cruel man. It was Bill Ferny. Merry and Frodo dismounted. Frodo cast Sam a comforting look before joining Merry and approaching the gate. Pippin stayed behind, slightly in front of Sam. She dearly did not have to have another confrontation with the crooked old man.
"If there are any Hobbits in there, open up for the Son of the Master of Buckland!"
"Mr. Merry? Is that you?"
"Yes, now let us in. We are allowed to come home after a long journey, aren't we?"
"Not after dark your aren't!" Ferny's voice came again. To all of their surprise, the door creaked open as a hobbit pushed it. He looked at Merry and Frodo gratefully,
"Please help us!" He told them in a hurried whisper.
"Help you from what? What is going on here?" Frodo asked him clearly confused. He motioned for Pippin and Sam to come forward with the three ponies. The came around the young Hobbit.
" The hobbits being controlled by bad men and the chief up at Bag-end. You have to help us Mr. Merry, a lot of us are forced to work and if we refused they would send us up into the Old Locks!" the little hobbit pleaded with Merry.
Out of the darkness someone grabbed Sam from behind by the scruff of the neck on her shirt. She was snatched clear off her pony. Frodo whirled around hearing her frightened squeal.
"Sam!" Ferny stood holding Sam at knifepoint. Merry and Pippin immediately drew their weapons. Frodo just glared at Ferny, fearing for his future bride. He knew better then to show it though. Sam writhed in his arms.
"Well, your travels have certainly taught you some bravery, little hobbit," Ferny spat the words into her ear.
"Let her down Ferny," Frodo said quietly. Sam looked at him; a rage she had not known before flared like fire behind his eyes. Ferny slowly began to back up from Frodo.
"Not until you leave will I let her down, now you three are either turn around and go back to where you came and little hobbit here will be safe with me, or you can not cooperate and you will be sent to the Locks and I'll leave pretty little Ms. Gamgee wasn't it, with the chief up in Bag-End,"
"What chief? You mean Lotho? Well, I'm glad he dropped the Baggins at any rate," Frodo sneered.
"Baggins? The Chief?" Ferny laughed as if he were in on some cruel joke that they were not, "A terrible name anyway, Baggins is,"
" I will only be too proud when I can share it," Sam muttered angrily. Ferny made a move as if to hurt Sam, but she resisted terribly. There was a sickening dull crack and a cry of pain. It was not Sam's though. Sam squirmed away from his grasp as he wailed in pain. Ferny sat hard down on the ground holding tight to his wrist. Sam half crawled half ran and hid behind Frodo and the other's.
" You broke my wrist! You broke it you repulsive little wench!" Ferny screamed. Sam visibly shuddered. Frodo drew Sting out in a flash and pressed it against Ferny's throat.
"I would not speak another word of my future wife, Bill Ferny. Now leave the Shire and never come back." Frodo's voice was low and threatening. Ferny did not need telling twice he got up and began to back away. Just before he was about to turn and flee, Bill the pony, kicked him hard. Ferny fell in a lump, got up, and ran limping away into the forest, never to be heard or seen of again.
Frodo turned away, venom still visible behind his eyes. It faded immediately as he turned to face Sam. He knelt down,
" Are you alright my love?" Frodo said very soothingly. Sam nodded and got to her feet slowly.
" I think that's the last we'll see of Bill Ferny for a long time," Merry said quietly.
" Hurry, I wish to find out what old Pimple face is doing to our friends back home," Sam said angrily. Frodo kissed Sam on the cheek quickly.
" Did you mean what you said?" He whispered into her ear.
" Every word of it," Sam answered confidently. " Let's go home," she whispered to him. Frodo smiled, the four hobbits bid fairwell to the little Hobbit and began the road to Hobbiton.
A/N: Sorry about the Length. I will make the next one longer. Plan for it to be posted Weds. Or Thurs. Please Review and tell me what you think. I have to extend my goal- I'm hardly done and have only a few more review to go to reach 250. I believe that my new goal will be 275.