Sunset in the shire was always so beautiful.
Gazing out the window, Rose Gamgee couldn't stop the small smile that curved onto her lips, despite all that weighted so heavily on her soul.
Sam would be returning soon.
And how was she to give him the comfort he would need?
With a small sigh, Rose turned from the window and moved back into the kitchen, pausing by the stove to stir the simmering stew before going to gather the dishes to set the table with. As she worked, she let her mind travel, settling as it was wont to these past few days on her former master and dear friend, Frodo Baggins.
Her heart thumped painfully as she gazed over to the doorway that lead to the parlor, knowing that resting on the mantelpiece just out of sight was the letter Frodo had written for her to give to Sam. She hadn't read it; she knew Sam would show her if he wanted, but she greatly suspected it was something he would want to hold dear as his own: his last link to the master and friend he'd known and loved his entire life. It wasn't something she would dream of trying to take from him, and she felt that, by reading the letter herself, she would be doing just that. So it sat, still sealed with Frodo's seal as it had been since she'd taken it from him.
She remembered that night with a sad smile.
Frodo had been sitting in his study for nearly the entire day when she'd found him weeping over a blank sheet of parchment. The sight had torn her heart it two, and she'd gone to him, comforting him and whispering words of strength she didn't even know she'd had in her. Telling him to leave the pages for Sam's tears, she'd given him a new sheet and an encouraging smile before retreating to the garden and breaking down, sobbing softly among the star-lit flowers. The pain of her master's burden settled heavily upon her, joining with her own and leaving her gasping. She'd been worried that Sam or Frodo would hear her, but she was careful not to let the wails building within her escape as more than soft, gasping moans. When she'd finally gotten control of her emotions, she'd wiped her face on her sleeve and retired to bed, sighing as Sam had sleepily wrapped his arms around her and kissed her gently on the forehead before drifting back off. He'd never known she'd been crying, and she was grateful; she wasn't sure how she'd be able to explain, and she knew he wouldn't be satisfied until she told him.
But the secret remained safe. After about an hour she'd heard Frodo retire to his own bedroom, and then the house had stilled, settling into silence as the night deepened.
Still, it was a long time before she'd slept.
The next morning Frodo had given her a secret smile at breakfast, and she returned it, knowing he'd accomplished his difficult task the night before. Later that day, when Sam had left to take the last of the summer's vegetables to market, Frodo had called her into his study.
"Here it is," he'd said simply, handing her a sheet of parchment filled with his small, graceful writing. She'd smiled, but hadn't read it, as Frodo had obviously intended; instead, she folded it neatly and handed Frodo his seal and wax.
Frodo gazed at her, confused. "Rose…?"
"It's for Sam," she had replied gently. "He's going to need it, Mr. Frodo. 'Twouldn't be right for me to take that from him, if you understand me."
Frodo had gazed at her for a moment before nodding once. "I do," he said, giving her a small smile. She'd nodded respectfully and left the study.
It wasn't until the night before they'd left that Frodo approached her about it again.
"I wanted to give this to you," he said softly, glancing carefully down the hallway where Sam was packing for their trip, unaware that they weren't going to Rivendell as Frodo let on.
Rose looked down. In her hand he'd placed another sheet of parchment, this one already folded and sealed, but written on the front had been her own name.
"Mr. Frodo…"
He shook his head once and gave her a smile. "He's not the only one who'll need strength," he whispered. "You've been so wonderful to me, Rose, and I know there's no way I could ever hope to repay you, but…" he looked down for a moment before meeting her gaze again. "I just wanted to say thank you."
She smiled, and they embraced briefly before Rose pulled away to go and help Sam prepare.
It had broken her heart to see him whistling so happily as he gathered some things of his and Frodo's. He'd smiled as she entered, talking cheerfully to her as she helped him pack, while her thoughts kept traveling to the letter she'd tucked away into her apron pocket.
What would Mr. Frodo have to say to her?
But she'd stayed her curiosity, resisting the temptation to run out into the garden and tear the letter open. She would need it more, she knew, during those long nights when Sam and Frodo were gone, one long to return, the other never to do so.
So she waited.
The next morning, she'd gotten up early to see them off. Frodo had held her for several long moments. "Be strong, Rosie," he'd whispered. "He'll need it. I'll never forget you, or all you've done for me." He'd then pulled away and kissed her cheek before turning to join Sam at the gate. Rosie walked with him, smiling as her husband pulled her into a brief hug and kissed her gently.
"Be back before you know it," he said softly, a tender smile on his face. Then they turned and began walking, side by side, down the winding path. She'd watched them until they vanished from sight, then turned back into the hole, walking at first, then trotting, then dashing into the bedroom where she'd hidden the letters. She pulled them out and opened hers with shaking hands.
*Dearest Rose,* it began, then she had to pause as she wiped away the tears blurring her vision before she could continue.
*Please don't be too sad. I understand it will be difficult for a time, but you and Sam will have each other, for many long and happy years. There will be many little ones to follow Elanor, and I suspect keeping them out of trouble will keep you far too busy to miss me very much.*
Rose paused here to laugh, despite the tears that were coursing down her cheeks, heedless of her failed attempts to stop them.
*There's so much I need to say to you, but no way to do so. How can I ever hope to thank you enough for all you've given me? Your comfort and strength have been no less than a blessing for these past few months. I never should have been able to do what I now must, if not for you. For this, I thank you.*
Rose closed her eyes for a moment, feeling a sudden warmth was over her.
*Rose, I'm leaving everything to you and Sam. Everything I had, everything I might have had, is yours now. Keep them and enjoy, and please know that my thoughts and my love are always with you, though we may all be so far apart. Remember me, Rose, as I used to be, before the Shadow became too great a burden for me to bear. And I ask you to take care of Sam. You will be his strength, and he will greatly need it, and you, when he returns. Take care of him, Rose. I know you will.
Remember that I love you and Sam very dearly, and that I will never forget you.
All my love and thanks,
Frodo Baggins.*
Rosie had been surprised when, at the end of the letter, she'd suddenly felt strength filling her limbs and warmth spread through her soul. She would miss Frodo, of that there was no doubt, but she would carry on. She would not try to forget him to lessen the pain; that would not help anything, she knew. Wounds neglected would never heal, and while the healing may be painful, she knew it would be worth it in the long run. Worth it, when she and Sam could sit and talk of their friend without tears, or perhaps with only tears of joy.
Well worth it, indeed…
Yes, she would be Sam's strength. She would take care of him, provide him a warm home where he was safe and loved and cared for, for all the days of his life.
*I promise, Mr. Frodo…*
A sudden noise from outside made Rose start where she stood in the kitchen, still holding the dishes. She glanced out the window and saw Sam making his way through the gate. Even from where she stood, she could see how his head was bowed, his shoulders stooped with sorrow. Her heart went out to him, and she set the table quickly before hurrying to open the door.
He looked up at her and gave her a weak smile as she pulled him inside, drawing him gently to the table and setting him down. Elanor burbled happily as Rose lifted the child and placed her in Sam's lap.
*Please, Sam* she thought. *Please, see what you still have…see what you will still be able to keep, even though he's left us…*
Her heart soared when he looked up and his eyes lost the glazed look they'd held. Smiling, he sighed once and said, "Well, I'm back."
With a sob of relief and joy, she threw her arms around his neck, smiling as he wrapped his free arm around her waist and Elanor giggled happily between them.
*Yes, Frodo,* she though, *I'll take care of him. And together, we'll be all right…*
Gazing out the window, Rose Gamgee couldn't stop the small smile that curved onto her lips, despite all that weighted so heavily on her soul.
Sam would be returning soon.
And how was she to give him the comfort he would need?
With a small sigh, Rose turned from the window and moved back into the kitchen, pausing by the stove to stir the simmering stew before going to gather the dishes to set the table with. As she worked, she let her mind travel, settling as it was wont to these past few days on her former master and dear friend, Frodo Baggins.
Her heart thumped painfully as she gazed over to the doorway that lead to the parlor, knowing that resting on the mantelpiece just out of sight was the letter Frodo had written for her to give to Sam. She hadn't read it; she knew Sam would show her if he wanted, but she greatly suspected it was something he would want to hold dear as his own: his last link to the master and friend he'd known and loved his entire life. It wasn't something she would dream of trying to take from him, and she felt that, by reading the letter herself, she would be doing just that. So it sat, still sealed with Frodo's seal as it had been since she'd taken it from him.
She remembered that night with a sad smile.
Frodo had been sitting in his study for nearly the entire day when she'd found him weeping over a blank sheet of parchment. The sight had torn her heart it two, and she'd gone to him, comforting him and whispering words of strength she didn't even know she'd had in her. Telling him to leave the pages for Sam's tears, she'd given him a new sheet and an encouraging smile before retreating to the garden and breaking down, sobbing softly among the star-lit flowers. The pain of her master's burden settled heavily upon her, joining with her own and leaving her gasping. She'd been worried that Sam or Frodo would hear her, but she was careful not to let the wails building within her escape as more than soft, gasping moans. When she'd finally gotten control of her emotions, she'd wiped her face on her sleeve and retired to bed, sighing as Sam had sleepily wrapped his arms around her and kissed her gently on the forehead before drifting back off. He'd never known she'd been crying, and she was grateful; she wasn't sure how she'd be able to explain, and she knew he wouldn't be satisfied until she told him.
But the secret remained safe. After about an hour she'd heard Frodo retire to his own bedroom, and then the house had stilled, settling into silence as the night deepened.
Still, it was a long time before she'd slept.
The next morning Frodo had given her a secret smile at breakfast, and she returned it, knowing he'd accomplished his difficult task the night before. Later that day, when Sam had left to take the last of the summer's vegetables to market, Frodo had called her into his study.
"Here it is," he'd said simply, handing her a sheet of parchment filled with his small, graceful writing. She'd smiled, but hadn't read it, as Frodo had obviously intended; instead, she folded it neatly and handed Frodo his seal and wax.
Frodo gazed at her, confused. "Rose…?"
"It's for Sam," she had replied gently. "He's going to need it, Mr. Frodo. 'Twouldn't be right for me to take that from him, if you understand me."
Frodo had gazed at her for a moment before nodding once. "I do," he said, giving her a small smile. She'd nodded respectfully and left the study.
It wasn't until the night before they'd left that Frodo approached her about it again.
"I wanted to give this to you," he said softly, glancing carefully down the hallway where Sam was packing for their trip, unaware that they weren't going to Rivendell as Frodo let on.
Rose looked down. In her hand he'd placed another sheet of parchment, this one already folded and sealed, but written on the front had been her own name.
"Mr. Frodo…"
He shook his head once and gave her a smile. "He's not the only one who'll need strength," he whispered. "You've been so wonderful to me, Rose, and I know there's no way I could ever hope to repay you, but…" he looked down for a moment before meeting her gaze again. "I just wanted to say thank you."
She smiled, and they embraced briefly before Rose pulled away to go and help Sam prepare.
It had broken her heart to see him whistling so happily as he gathered some things of his and Frodo's. He'd smiled as she entered, talking cheerfully to her as she helped him pack, while her thoughts kept traveling to the letter she'd tucked away into her apron pocket.
What would Mr. Frodo have to say to her?
But she'd stayed her curiosity, resisting the temptation to run out into the garden and tear the letter open. She would need it more, she knew, during those long nights when Sam and Frodo were gone, one long to return, the other never to do so.
So she waited.
The next morning, she'd gotten up early to see them off. Frodo had held her for several long moments. "Be strong, Rosie," he'd whispered. "He'll need it. I'll never forget you, or all you've done for me." He'd then pulled away and kissed her cheek before turning to join Sam at the gate. Rosie walked with him, smiling as her husband pulled her into a brief hug and kissed her gently.
"Be back before you know it," he said softly, a tender smile on his face. Then they turned and began walking, side by side, down the winding path. She'd watched them until they vanished from sight, then turned back into the hole, walking at first, then trotting, then dashing into the bedroom where she'd hidden the letters. She pulled them out and opened hers with shaking hands.
*Dearest Rose,* it began, then she had to pause as she wiped away the tears blurring her vision before she could continue.
*Please don't be too sad. I understand it will be difficult for a time, but you and Sam will have each other, for many long and happy years. There will be many little ones to follow Elanor, and I suspect keeping them out of trouble will keep you far too busy to miss me very much.*
Rose paused here to laugh, despite the tears that were coursing down her cheeks, heedless of her failed attempts to stop them.
*There's so much I need to say to you, but no way to do so. How can I ever hope to thank you enough for all you've given me? Your comfort and strength have been no less than a blessing for these past few months. I never should have been able to do what I now must, if not for you. For this, I thank you.*
Rose closed her eyes for a moment, feeling a sudden warmth was over her.
*Rose, I'm leaving everything to you and Sam. Everything I had, everything I might have had, is yours now. Keep them and enjoy, and please know that my thoughts and my love are always with you, though we may all be so far apart. Remember me, Rose, as I used to be, before the Shadow became too great a burden for me to bear. And I ask you to take care of Sam. You will be his strength, and he will greatly need it, and you, when he returns. Take care of him, Rose. I know you will.
Remember that I love you and Sam very dearly, and that I will never forget you.
All my love and thanks,
Frodo Baggins.*
Rosie had been surprised when, at the end of the letter, she'd suddenly felt strength filling her limbs and warmth spread through her soul. She would miss Frodo, of that there was no doubt, but she would carry on. She would not try to forget him to lessen the pain; that would not help anything, she knew. Wounds neglected would never heal, and while the healing may be painful, she knew it would be worth it in the long run. Worth it, when she and Sam could sit and talk of their friend without tears, or perhaps with only tears of joy.
Well worth it, indeed…
Yes, she would be Sam's strength. She would take care of him, provide him a warm home where he was safe and loved and cared for, for all the days of his life.
*I promise, Mr. Frodo…*
A sudden noise from outside made Rose start where she stood in the kitchen, still holding the dishes. She glanced out the window and saw Sam making his way through the gate. Even from where she stood, she could see how his head was bowed, his shoulders stooped with sorrow. Her heart went out to him, and she set the table quickly before hurrying to open the door.
He looked up at her and gave her a weak smile as she pulled him inside, drawing him gently to the table and setting him down. Elanor burbled happily as Rose lifted the child and placed her in Sam's lap.
*Please, Sam* she thought. *Please, see what you still have…see what you will still be able to keep, even though he's left us…*
Her heart soared when he looked up and his eyes lost the glazed look they'd held. Smiling, he sighed once and said, "Well, I'm back."
With a sob of relief and joy, she threw her arms around his neck, smiling as he wrapped his free arm around her waist and Elanor giggled happily between them.
*Yes, Frodo,* she though, *I'll take care of him. And together, we'll be all right…*