Chapter 2

"Sam!" a voice called out. Sam awoke, startled, then fearful when he saw Legolas crouched over him. The dawning rays of the sun peeked through the dense trees and found Sam signaling it was morning. Legolas looked at him strangely for a second.

"Are you all right little master?" the Elf asked generally concerned that the hobbit was suddenly afraid of him. Sam looked around noticing he was in the campsite, not a stone hallway, Frodo was wake and not lying dead, ravaged, and Legolas was not a gruesome orc.

"I, I, I-I'm fine; just-just, you startled me for a moment," Sam lied rather poorly in fact. Legolas got up and woke the others. Sam shook his head and gently rubbed his eyes. He took one more look around. "Everything is fine, Sam; as my gaffer said dreams are just that...dreams.

Once the group was packed they left quickly and quietly. Sam stayed with Bill but this time along Merry and Pippin were with him talking about the times in Rivendell.

"Where are we?" Pippin asked looking around dumbfounded by the surroundings.

"You should have studied more maps instead of goofing off." Merry retorted. Pippin sighed and looked at Sam and Merry.

"You know I think I had a dream with Elves in it. It was like we were back in Rivendell again." Sam turned to Pippin looking slightly astonished. Pippin looked around him then gave a hobbit-confused look.

"What," Pippin asked then continued, "surely you dreamed of something peaceful last night, Sam?" The red head shook his head and looked at the ground silent. He finally answered.

"You could say Elves were in my dreams, Pippin."

***

Just as before nightfall fell upon the travelers covering them with the chill of the winter night air and the cold blackness of the still moonless night. Sam looked around letting his eyes try to pry through the darkness and see the things around him--nothing, just darkness.

Frodo walked beside him silent. Earlier they spoke of Rivendell, the Shire and of Bilbo. Each time Sam neglected to mention his dream. Even now in almost total darkness he watched Frodo to see if his hobbit companion would somehow transform into a wicked demon or would drop dead.

Dreams are just that...dreams.

"If that is so why am I so fearful that Legolas is going to attack me and Frodo is going to drop dead?" his thoughts argued. To pass the time he thought of songs he had learned as a young hobbit. Sam calmed down a bit, but still felt tense. He puzzled the dreams till his head hurt then tried thinking of songs involving dreams. He found very few, and they were not helpful.

"Maybe I should speak to someone about these dreams," Sam thought and looked in the dark for the company. Most were buried within the darkness, but Sam knew where everyone was direction wise. "Gandalf! Gandalf, will know what to make of the dreams." Sam shook his head, "Now lets not get anyone started worryin' about me. It's a silly dream that means absolutely nothing."

"Nothing..." he said aloud. Frodo turned his head to Sam.

"What'd you say Sam?" Sam faced Frodo and smiled in the darkness.

"N-N-N-nothing but darkness is here." Sam stuttered then looked at the empty darkness to emphasize his point. Frodo, from what Sam could tell, nodded in agreement.

"Everyone has a heavy heart about this quest, and this darkness is doing nothing to help that. I'll be glad when I see the morning light again. At least then I can see the things around me and not guess." Frodo said melancholy himself.

"So do I, Mr. Frodo. So do I."

***

Just as before the group settled in a secluded area with someone to watch the group. Tonight was Strider's watch night, and his face was sterner than usual. Sam was still awake while everyone else was asleep, peacefully it seemed.

"Master Samwise," Strider called from a few yards away, "you're not tired?"

Sam couldn't see much of Strider's face but instead looked in the direction of the voice then answered "Just not sleepy I guess--a lot on my mind I suppose." Sam thought he saw Strider nod then re-adjust himself to a crouch position.

"Try to sleep anyway. We'll be making our final run before we get to the mountains." Sam laid down and curled up pondering about home and Bilbo's party. He drifted in and out of sleep before unconsciousness over took him completely.