"Frodo?" whispered Sam as he gently shook the older hobbit's arm.
"Mister Frodo," he said again as Frodo stirred in his sleep and reached out
his arms half blindly for Sam in the dark.
Not until Sam had lay down beside him under the relative warmth of his cloak did Frodo answer in a sleepy mumble, "What is it Samwise Gamgee that needs must you wake me form my well earned sleep?" He gave Sam a good natured squeeze and nuzzled his nose into the crook of his neck and shoulder.
Sam smelt of earth and the moss that grew on the banks of the small stream where they had all bathed, excepting Strider who seemed to be ever keeping watch.
Sam sighed, spooned closer to Frodo, and rushed his toes against the tops of Frodo's feet.
"Well, Sam?" asked Frodo, his words muffled by the other hobbit's shoulder.
Sam ignored the question and instead wrapped his rough hand around Frodo's warm one.
After a moment he said, "Frodo?"
Frodo stirred sleepily.
"This is the safest I've felt in days, Mister Frodo."
"I wish I could tell you, you were safe here with me, Sam. The fact is, you're not, and I'm very sorry for it."
"Now don't you go telling me that I shouldn't have come with you, or that I should turn back, or anything of the sort. I won't hear it!" Sam was so indignant he nearly sat up, or would have if it hadn't been for Frodo keeping a hold around his chest.
"No, Sam, I don't believe you'll ever let me leave you behind," said Frodo with a slight chuckle.
Sam relaxed and a smile touched his lips. It was the first time he had heard him laugh in days. Since before Bree.
"Now quit your staring and get some sleep, Sam. Strider and Pippin will keep good watch for the rest of the night." He propped himself up on an elbow and gave Sam a quick peck before pulling him down beside him once more.
That night, as the two hobbits slept, their minds were troubled by thoughts of black riders but their hearts were contented with each other.
.
Not until Sam had lay down beside him under the relative warmth of his cloak did Frodo answer in a sleepy mumble, "What is it Samwise Gamgee that needs must you wake me form my well earned sleep?" He gave Sam a good natured squeeze and nuzzled his nose into the crook of his neck and shoulder.
Sam smelt of earth and the moss that grew on the banks of the small stream where they had all bathed, excepting Strider who seemed to be ever keeping watch.
Sam sighed, spooned closer to Frodo, and rushed his toes against the tops of Frodo's feet.
"Well, Sam?" asked Frodo, his words muffled by the other hobbit's shoulder.
Sam ignored the question and instead wrapped his rough hand around Frodo's warm one.
After a moment he said, "Frodo?"
Frodo stirred sleepily.
"This is the safest I've felt in days, Mister Frodo."
"I wish I could tell you, you were safe here with me, Sam. The fact is, you're not, and I'm very sorry for it."
"Now don't you go telling me that I shouldn't have come with you, or that I should turn back, or anything of the sort. I won't hear it!" Sam was so indignant he nearly sat up, or would have if it hadn't been for Frodo keeping a hold around his chest.
"No, Sam, I don't believe you'll ever let me leave you behind," said Frodo with a slight chuckle.
Sam relaxed and a smile touched his lips. It was the first time he had heard him laugh in days. Since before Bree.
"Now quit your staring and get some sleep, Sam. Strider and Pippin will keep good watch for the rest of the night." He propped himself up on an elbow and gave Sam a quick peck before pulling him down beside him once more.
That night, as the two hobbits slept, their minds were troubled by thoughts of black riders but their hearts were contented with each other.
.