Chapter Rating: PG-13 (mild sexual situations)
Chapter Title: Arwen's Gift
May 1st S.R. 1420
Samwise Gamgee married Rose Cotton on May Day, S.R.1420. The "jumping the broom" ceremony took place at Farmer Cotton's farm house, with Master Tom Cotton and his wife, Lily holding one end of the broom, and Hamfast Gamgee holding the other. Sam's best man, of course, was Frodo, and maid of honor was Rosie's cousin, Merigold Cotton.
A very large party was held in a tent in the back pasture, with music, dancing and lots of ale. The Cottons knew how to throw a lively, if somewhat rustic, party. Rose and Sam stayed and danced at their party, mixing with the well-wishers and relatives from out-of-town. They eventually departed for their honeymoon at Crickethollow, riding in a beautifully decorated pony cart Merry and Pippin had thoughtfully provided. Bill the Pony appeared as festive as the bride and groom, with little bells and ribbons woven into his mane and tail. The party continued as Sam and Rose traveled off to Buckland.
For some reason Frodo had been feeling unquiet and anxious all day. He couldn't help thinking about another wedding he had recently attended; King Aragorn and Queen Arwen's elaborate state ceremony in Gondor. Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin were all talked into being active participants at that wedding, since they were members of the same Fellowship as the King. Frodo was reminiscing with Merry about the whole affair.
"Big People and Elves have strange notions about clothes," he said to Merry. "I felt absolutely ridiculous in that silly outfit they made me wear. Far too many decorative elements and embroideries for my taste. I hated that little gold crown thing too. Kept getting tangled up in my hair."
"Well, I look good in the Big Folk's clothes," Merry protested. "At least they fit. Do you know Pippin and I have to have all our clothes special ordered now? The tailors keep complaining about our size and the materials we like. Personally, I think Pippin can put away that black and silver military outfit now, but you know he fancies the lasses like 'em in it. So he wears it as often as he can."
"Yes," Frodo laughed, "he has become quite the lady's hobbit now."
Though Sam and Rosie's "jumping the broom" wedding was considerably smaller in size and grandeur, both weddings evoked the same emotion in Frodo. He felt as if life was passing him by. His friends were able to continue on with their lives after the War had ended. For Frodo, the War was continuing in his mind.
"Iris, would you care to dance?" Frodo asked as a slow number started playing. He took her by the hand and led her to the dance floor set up in the pasture. It was getting on into late afternoon, with the sun setting behind large pink and maroon clouds. The party would continue well into the night.
"Frodo, is something wrong?" Iris asked as they swayed to the music. She noticed he was unusually withdrawn today.
"Oh, no. It is nothing. I sometimes feel a bit awkward in large crowds, that's all," he improvised. "Would you like to come with me to one of my favorite places in the Shire?"
"As long as it's not an hours walk or more," she replied. She didn't want Frodo to back out of this important social engagement.
"Come on.it is just down the lane." Frodo and Iris walked hand-in-hand down the little country lane and into the dusk. He was leading her back to Bag Shot Row.
"What? We're going to Bag End?" Iris asked.
"Not quite. You will see," he said. They had reached Bag End, but instead of going inside, he led her around the side and up a faint footpath to the top of the hill. The three chimneys of Bag End poked out of the ground in the midst of lush green grass and white and gold wildflowers on the hill. Frodo took her to a small depression at the top of the hill near the largest chimney. It was just past dusk, and the stars were twinkling bright in the gloaming.
They sat inside the little depression in the soft grass and gazed out over Hobbiton and Bywater. The candlelight of the towns twinkled and glowed with happiness and the promise of the comforts of home. The Elvish stars reflected their tiny twinkling lights in the small slow river flowing through Bywater. The sound of its water gently splashing round the grist wheel combined with music floating up from the wedding party pasture and the sound of crickets and night creatures to make melody in the twilight.
"It's beautiful up here," Iris said. "But I bet I'm not the first lass you've taken up here." She grinned and playfully kissed his cheek.
"Miss Proudfoot," he mockingly replied, "I am not one to kiss and tell." He glanced sideways at her and the corner of his mouth creaked into a lopsided smile. "But I did loose my virginity up here."
"Oh, you rascal!" Iris pushed him back into the grass, "and you won't tell me who it was, will you?"
"No, I most certainly will not!" Frodo laughed. They laid side-by-side atop the hill, looking at the stars.
"This is one of my favorite places in all Middle Earth," Frodo quietly said. "In my journeys I have seen marvelous mountains, been inside fantastical Dwarvish caverns and halls, have briefly lived in the mystical autumn waterfalls of Rivendale and even walked enchanted golden Lothlorien. But this is where I wish to be. I used to hide here from Bilbo when he was calling me to come back inside and do chores or study. Funny how one becomes attached to where you were raised. There is really nothing special about the top of Bag End Hill. But it is more precious to me than all the dragon gold and mithril in Middle Earth."
Frodo gathered Iris into his arms and kissed her. It was a feather-light brush of lips to lips. She responded to his touch by lying back into the grass and inviting him into her arms. Frodo leaned over her and teasingly unknotted the ties on her bodice. Her breasts respond to his warm hands, and then his warmer mouth. Iris ran her hands through Frodo's thick curly hair, then down the front of his vest, unbuttoning as she went.
"Turnabout is fair play," she said. They laughed and played in the cool evening grass. Music from the wedding party drifted by on the late Spring breeze. Frodo was lying on the grass with his left hand behind his head as Iris playfully straddled his hips and finished unbuttoning his vest and shirt. Her hand strayed across a fine silver chain with a white gem like a star hanging about Frodo's neck.
"Oh Frodo," she said, "how lovely. What is it?" The pendant felt slightly warm in her palm, and it glowed with a pale whitish-pink light.
He smiled a rather sad smile, "It is a special gift from the Queen of Gondor, Arwen Evenstar, fairest of the Elves. I wear it at all times now. She gave it to me nearly a year ago. It is priceless beyond its loveliness, and worth more than you or I will ever know. It brings me comfort when my memories trouble me or when I am in pain. Somehow she knew I would need it."
The mood had turned slightly bittersweet for him, and he softly stroked Iris's hair and skin in random circles and lines. Iris could see the terrible hard white scar on Frodo's left shoulder by the faint light of the gem. The wound gleamed slightly in the starlight, radiating towards his heart.
Iris returned the pendant to his breast and gently caressed his scar. "I've known for some time that you carry the memory of great weariness and pain. Is there anything I can do to help ease your burden?"
"You have done it already. Iris, I have never talked about the Queen's gift to anyone - not even Sam. I do not want anyone to know about my troubles or what I have been through. There are some things that I cannot bear to talk about even now. But I feel I can open myself up to you. You are different from everyone else in the Shire. I do not know what it is about you, but I feel safe and comforted and at ease when I am with you."
With that confession he pulled her down to him and kissed her again. Iris laid her head into the crook of his right shoulder, stretching out alongside his body, resting her right hand on his breast, listening to his heartbeat. For the moment, they were content to rest in each other's arms lying on the sweet spring grass under the undying stars, with the sounds of merriment and dancing drifting up from Sam and Rosie's wedding party. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
The next day Frodo and Freddy took a pony cart over to Farmer Cotton's house. They met up with Merry and Pippin, who had driven another cart over from Crickethollow a couple of days previously. They are all there to help the Cottons move Rosie's belongings over to Bag End. The entourage traveled by way of the back portion of Bag Shot Row, stopping at #3 to retrieve Sam's belongs.
Merry and Pippin were spending the next two weeks with Frodo at Bag End while Sam and Rosie took over their house at Crickethollow. Sam had thoughtfully arranged it so that Frodo was spared the heavier physical labor of moving furniture. The four friends stayed up into the late hours of the night unloading the pony carts and lugging everything inside Bag End. After a late dinner, Freddy decided to also spend the night, since the beer was so good and the company was so excellent.
Freddy excused himself early the next day. "I'm off to Hobbiton. The lads finished up most of the business buildings yesterday, and folk are moving back in. The Doc and the Apothecary have already moved into their buildings. And I expect to be busy planning for the Free Fair."
"How soon will the Green Dragon Inn be back in business?" Pippin inquired.
"A few more days at the most," Freddy replied. "I predict they will pull the first pint on the 6th."
"Great!" Pippin said with a smile. "I think we should take Sam and Rosie over there when they get back on the 8th. You know.a 'welcome home' party of sorts."
"Pip, why don't you let the happy couple alone in their new house for a little while at least?" Merry complained. "We shouldn't overstay our welcome, you know."
"They won't be alone," Pippin protested. "Frodo will be there. What's a couple more house guests?"
"Pippin," Frodo said, "I will be so scarce that first week they will not even know I live there. But I think it is a grand idea for us to get together at the Green Dragon on the 8th, with or without Sam and Rose. Freddy? Could we all stay with you that night so Sam and Rose have Bag End to themselves?"
"Well. sure," Freddy replied. "Just be sure to bring along a sleeping role or something, seeings as I only have two beds in the place."
"Great!" Pippin exclaimed. "I don't mind sleeping on the floor. Merry and I have done more than our share of sleeping in worse places than your house."
"Have you ever seen Freddy's room?" Merry joked. "We might have to re- route The Water through it to give us a little space for the bedrolls before going to bed."
May 1st S.R. 1420
Samwise Gamgee married Rose Cotton on May Day, S.R.1420. The "jumping the broom" ceremony took place at Farmer Cotton's farm house, with Master Tom Cotton and his wife, Lily holding one end of the broom, and Hamfast Gamgee holding the other. Sam's best man, of course, was Frodo, and maid of honor was Rosie's cousin, Merigold Cotton.
A very large party was held in a tent in the back pasture, with music, dancing and lots of ale. The Cottons knew how to throw a lively, if somewhat rustic, party. Rose and Sam stayed and danced at their party, mixing with the well-wishers and relatives from out-of-town. They eventually departed for their honeymoon at Crickethollow, riding in a beautifully decorated pony cart Merry and Pippin had thoughtfully provided. Bill the Pony appeared as festive as the bride and groom, with little bells and ribbons woven into his mane and tail. The party continued as Sam and Rose traveled off to Buckland.
For some reason Frodo had been feeling unquiet and anxious all day. He couldn't help thinking about another wedding he had recently attended; King Aragorn and Queen Arwen's elaborate state ceremony in Gondor. Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin were all talked into being active participants at that wedding, since they were members of the same Fellowship as the King. Frodo was reminiscing with Merry about the whole affair.
"Big People and Elves have strange notions about clothes," he said to Merry. "I felt absolutely ridiculous in that silly outfit they made me wear. Far too many decorative elements and embroideries for my taste. I hated that little gold crown thing too. Kept getting tangled up in my hair."
"Well, I look good in the Big Folk's clothes," Merry protested. "At least they fit. Do you know Pippin and I have to have all our clothes special ordered now? The tailors keep complaining about our size and the materials we like. Personally, I think Pippin can put away that black and silver military outfit now, but you know he fancies the lasses like 'em in it. So he wears it as often as he can."
"Yes," Frodo laughed, "he has become quite the lady's hobbit now."
Though Sam and Rosie's "jumping the broom" wedding was considerably smaller in size and grandeur, both weddings evoked the same emotion in Frodo. He felt as if life was passing him by. His friends were able to continue on with their lives after the War had ended. For Frodo, the War was continuing in his mind.
"Iris, would you care to dance?" Frodo asked as a slow number started playing. He took her by the hand and led her to the dance floor set up in the pasture. It was getting on into late afternoon, with the sun setting behind large pink and maroon clouds. The party would continue well into the night.
"Frodo, is something wrong?" Iris asked as they swayed to the music. She noticed he was unusually withdrawn today.
"Oh, no. It is nothing. I sometimes feel a bit awkward in large crowds, that's all," he improvised. "Would you like to come with me to one of my favorite places in the Shire?"
"As long as it's not an hours walk or more," she replied. She didn't want Frodo to back out of this important social engagement.
"Come on.it is just down the lane." Frodo and Iris walked hand-in-hand down the little country lane and into the dusk. He was leading her back to Bag Shot Row.
"What? We're going to Bag End?" Iris asked.
"Not quite. You will see," he said. They had reached Bag End, but instead of going inside, he led her around the side and up a faint footpath to the top of the hill. The three chimneys of Bag End poked out of the ground in the midst of lush green grass and white and gold wildflowers on the hill. Frodo took her to a small depression at the top of the hill near the largest chimney. It was just past dusk, and the stars were twinkling bright in the gloaming.
They sat inside the little depression in the soft grass and gazed out over Hobbiton and Bywater. The candlelight of the towns twinkled and glowed with happiness and the promise of the comforts of home. The Elvish stars reflected their tiny twinkling lights in the small slow river flowing through Bywater. The sound of its water gently splashing round the grist wheel combined with music floating up from the wedding party pasture and the sound of crickets and night creatures to make melody in the twilight.
"It's beautiful up here," Iris said. "But I bet I'm not the first lass you've taken up here." She grinned and playfully kissed his cheek.
"Miss Proudfoot," he mockingly replied, "I am not one to kiss and tell." He glanced sideways at her and the corner of his mouth creaked into a lopsided smile. "But I did loose my virginity up here."
"Oh, you rascal!" Iris pushed him back into the grass, "and you won't tell me who it was, will you?"
"No, I most certainly will not!" Frodo laughed. They laid side-by-side atop the hill, looking at the stars.
"This is one of my favorite places in all Middle Earth," Frodo quietly said. "In my journeys I have seen marvelous mountains, been inside fantastical Dwarvish caverns and halls, have briefly lived in the mystical autumn waterfalls of Rivendale and even walked enchanted golden Lothlorien. But this is where I wish to be. I used to hide here from Bilbo when he was calling me to come back inside and do chores or study. Funny how one becomes attached to where you were raised. There is really nothing special about the top of Bag End Hill. But it is more precious to me than all the dragon gold and mithril in Middle Earth."
Frodo gathered Iris into his arms and kissed her. It was a feather-light brush of lips to lips. She responded to his touch by lying back into the grass and inviting him into her arms. Frodo leaned over her and teasingly unknotted the ties on her bodice. Her breasts respond to his warm hands, and then his warmer mouth. Iris ran her hands through Frodo's thick curly hair, then down the front of his vest, unbuttoning as she went.
"Turnabout is fair play," she said. They laughed and played in the cool evening grass. Music from the wedding party drifted by on the late Spring breeze. Frodo was lying on the grass with his left hand behind his head as Iris playfully straddled his hips and finished unbuttoning his vest and shirt. Her hand strayed across a fine silver chain with a white gem like a star hanging about Frodo's neck.
"Oh Frodo," she said, "how lovely. What is it?" The pendant felt slightly warm in her palm, and it glowed with a pale whitish-pink light.
He smiled a rather sad smile, "It is a special gift from the Queen of Gondor, Arwen Evenstar, fairest of the Elves. I wear it at all times now. She gave it to me nearly a year ago. It is priceless beyond its loveliness, and worth more than you or I will ever know. It brings me comfort when my memories trouble me or when I am in pain. Somehow she knew I would need it."
The mood had turned slightly bittersweet for him, and he softly stroked Iris's hair and skin in random circles and lines. Iris could see the terrible hard white scar on Frodo's left shoulder by the faint light of the gem. The wound gleamed slightly in the starlight, radiating towards his heart.
Iris returned the pendant to his breast and gently caressed his scar. "I've known for some time that you carry the memory of great weariness and pain. Is there anything I can do to help ease your burden?"
"You have done it already. Iris, I have never talked about the Queen's gift to anyone - not even Sam. I do not want anyone to know about my troubles or what I have been through. There are some things that I cannot bear to talk about even now. But I feel I can open myself up to you. You are different from everyone else in the Shire. I do not know what it is about you, but I feel safe and comforted and at ease when I am with you."
With that confession he pulled her down to him and kissed her again. Iris laid her head into the crook of his right shoulder, stretching out alongside his body, resting her right hand on his breast, listening to his heartbeat. For the moment, they were content to rest in each other's arms lying on the sweet spring grass under the undying stars, with the sounds of merriment and dancing drifting up from Sam and Rosie's wedding party. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
The next day Frodo and Freddy took a pony cart over to Farmer Cotton's house. They met up with Merry and Pippin, who had driven another cart over from Crickethollow a couple of days previously. They are all there to help the Cottons move Rosie's belongings over to Bag End. The entourage traveled by way of the back portion of Bag Shot Row, stopping at #3 to retrieve Sam's belongs.
Merry and Pippin were spending the next two weeks with Frodo at Bag End while Sam and Rosie took over their house at Crickethollow. Sam had thoughtfully arranged it so that Frodo was spared the heavier physical labor of moving furniture. The four friends stayed up into the late hours of the night unloading the pony carts and lugging everything inside Bag End. After a late dinner, Freddy decided to also spend the night, since the beer was so good and the company was so excellent.
Freddy excused himself early the next day. "I'm off to Hobbiton. The lads finished up most of the business buildings yesterday, and folk are moving back in. The Doc and the Apothecary have already moved into their buildings. And I expect to be busy planning for the Free Fair."
"How soon will the Green Dragon Inn be back in business?" Pippin inquired.
"A few more days at the most," Freddy replied. "I predict they will pull the first pint on the 6th."
"Great!" Pippin said with a smile. "I think we should take Sam and Rosie over there when they get back on the 8th. You know.a 'welcome home' party of sorts."
"Pip, why don't you let the happy couple alone in their new house for a little while at least?" Merry complained. "We shouldn't overstay our welcome, you know."
"They won't be alone," Pippin protested. "Frodo will be there. What's a couple more house guests?"
"Pippin," Frodo said, "I will be so scarce that first week they will not even know I live there. But I think it is a grand idea for us to get together at the Green Dragon on the 8th, with or without Sam and Rose. Freddy? Could we all stay with you that night so Sam and Rose have Bag End to themselves?"
"Well. sure," Freddy replied. "Just be sure to bring along a sleeping role or something, seeings as I only have two beds in the place."
"Great!" Pippin exclaimed. "I don't mind sleeping on the floor. Merry and I have done more than our share of sleeping in worse places than your house."
"Have you ever seen Freddy's room?" Merry joked. "We might have to re- route The Water through it to give us a little space for the bedrolls before going to bed."
