Chapter 5: The Power of the Ring
"Gandalf?"
"What is it, Samwise?"
"Well at risk of sounding like Pippin, I'm curious to know, where are we going?"
Gandalf let out a hearty laugh. "Oh how I missed you, Samwise. Pippin and Merry too. How have they been?"
"Mr. Merry's been doin well. He's now the master of Brandy Hall. He wed Estella Bolger and most people call 'im Meriadoc the Magnifiscent which I don't believe he minds much. Though he doesn't let it go to his head, I must say. Pippin is somethin' else. Regailin' everyone round with stories. But he's matured."
"Oh?"
"Well Mr. Pippin has surely caught up to his age, if you follow. He married a lovely hobbit-lass, Diamond. They had a son whom they named Faramir. I s'pose Master Peregrin still loves and misses Gondor. But their son is a real gentle-hobbit, most unlike his father was." Sam laughed to himself. "He married my lovely Goldilocks so I guess you could be sayin' me and Master Pippin are related now."
"Why, Samwise, I never would have thought- Pippin and a wife." Gandalf shook his head and laughed, "That Took never ceases to amaze me, day by day. And how many little ones do you have yourself, Samwise."
"Little ones? Oh they're not little any more. They got families of their own now, most of em." Sam was quiet for a moment. Gandalf gave a worried look at the small hobbit. But Sam smiled and drew in a breath, "My eldest, Elanor wed Fastred in the spring of 1421, and Frodo-lad has two strong sons, Holfast and Harding. Good boys they are. There's also Rose-lass, and Merry, and Pippin; Goldilocks, of course, and her boy Thain Peregrin; Hamfast, Daisy, Primrose, Bilbo-lad, Ruby, Robin, and little Tom." A proud smile, accompanined by a strong blush, came across Sam's face. Gandalf could hardly recover from the shock.
"Why Sam-" was all he could say before the hobbit blushed again. "Well I can see the Lands of Valinor has done nothing to your memory."
"Oh no, Mr. Gandalf. I promised myself. I promised Rose. I'll never never forget them. Never ever."
After a few more moments Sam possed his question again, "Where are we going?"
"To see Bilbo."
The day was almost done, dusk had fallen on the elven homes and Sam still had not seen Frodo. This was not how he pictured it at all. He dreamt of it many times, trying to see how perfect it would be. He would stand on the top of the ramp, his eyes desperately searching the crowds of tall elves for one small figure. It wouldn't take him long to see the dark curly hair, the bright blue eyes, shining with pure delight and mirth as they set upon his own. There was Frodo, happy and healed, and running to embrace him after being apart for so long. And Sam would run down the ramp himself, almost falling to the ground as he so longed to hold his friend in his arms again. And they would stumble and break through the crowds, nothing keeping them from eachother. And all would be well again. He would be whole again. *You cannot always be torn in two* Sam shook his head. "Bother, couldn't you see? I was torn in so many pieces after you left, I thought I could finally pick them up and put them together by seeing you again. And now they shatter and break. So while I might not be torn in two, I'm still torn and broken."
"Sam?"
Sam found he had muttered that aloud, but barely audible. Did the wizard hear it? If he did hear the words he did not say so. He just showed Sam the door to Bilbo's room.
"You are not coming with me?"
"No, Sam."
"But he won't remember me."
"I think he might. Remember, Sam, the Ring did not have so strong a hold on him. It did not wound him as much. He had little to forget."
Sam nodded as the wizard took his leave. He found himself very nervous, standing there all alone. But this was Bilbo, what reason was there to be frightened. Sam laughed at himself and knocked on the door.
"Coming, coming," came Bilbo's voice. Sam found himself smiling at the very sound of his voice.
The door opened and revealed to Bilbo an extactic Sam. Sam was just as taken aback. Bilbo was so young. Sam could not remember a time ever seeing him in such youth and vigor. Not a grey hair nor wrinkle. Bilbo looked stunned for a moment then uttered the word, "Samwise?"
"Yes, Mr. Bilbo. I've come."
"Sam!" Bilbo threw his arms around him and Sam found it somewhat hard to breathe. "I thought you were just a dream!"
"What?" Sam choked out and Bilbo slackened his grip.
"Oh come in, how rude of me."
Sam bowed and stepped in. It was a perfect hobbit sized room. The elves have done it again, Sam thought, I hope they take such good care of Frodo. Bilbo sat down for a moment to take in Sam as if he was unreal.
"Mr. Bilbo?"
"Oh Samwise I'm sorry. I guess I should have expected this. Gandalf said we had a visitor, but he was very mysterious about it, as is his wont." Bilbo scoffed, "He never says anything just straight out. And I'm afraid, Sam, I almost forgotten you, the Shire. Gandalf said it was no worry, due to a Ring or something. I can't say I rightly understand what he talks about half the time."
"You don't remember the Ring?"
Bilbo shook his head, "Barely. It all feels like a dream now. I don't know what it did to me though, I don't understand magic, and frankly I don't want to."
"But you remembered me."
"How can I forget the best gardener in the Shire." Bilbo smiled, "I miss my gardens. I can remember those. Oh yes I can remember them so well. And I can remember I had to leave them, and I'd miss them, and my gardener, and Frodo. And now I'm here, doesn't play out right does it?"
"No, sir, but I can remember quite well. Would you like me to tell you the stories?"
"I can't tell you how lovely that would be."
Now Sam was regretting not keeping the Red Book, but he told that story so much and so often, he had it almost memorized. Nevermind the fact that he lived it. He must have driven those tales into the minds of many a young hobbit too. He laughed to himself. "Oh, Bilbo, how I missed you!" Sam threw his arms around the old hobbit again.
~~~
"...and here I am." Sam ended the tale that has grown so long in the telling that night was indeed upon them. He had told it quite well, he thought, leaving out a few things he thought the hobbit would rather not hear about. And he was a bit unclear on the accounts that happened when he was not around, seeming not to recall those parts in detail from the Red Book. He kept the description of their time in Mordor breif, but he told it like he was speaking to a young hobbit child. As Sam spoke Bilbo remembered more and more. The Ring never truly pained him like it did Frodo, and Sam was glad at this. He enjoyed telling most of the story- most of it. Bilbo had stopped him in some parts of his own tale; of how he came across the Ring, of the dwarves, and smaug; to add in a few memories he recalled. Sam was mighty proud of himself when it was all done, perhaps hours after they had begun.
Bilbo mused for a moment, "So I started all of that?"
"Oh no, Mr. Bilbo, infact you might have saved us by finding that old ring." Sam answered trying to make it sound more of an old tale than a real Danger that had afflicted the world.
"I suppose. That nasty creature Gollum could have kept it and done worse, I suppose." Bilbo fell deep into thought, "Isn't if funny?"
"What is, Mr. Bilbo?"
"That after all of that, Gollum was the one to destroy the Ring." Bilbo laughed, "It's all too much a dream to be true. It was a lovely tale, but I can't say I believe it."
Sam gulped, "You don't have to."
"Well I do trust you, Samwise, my lad, I know every word you speak is truth. But I still- I still can't believe it."
"It's alright."
"And Frodo's forgotten too I suppose?"
"Yes, sir."
"Perhaps it is for the best. From the way you tell me, it is better he doesn't remember."
"I know," Sam looked down at his feet, knowing how true those words were. "It is the power of the Ring. It held too tightly. Curse that wretched object. *So small a thing*" he remembered a snippet of Boromir's words. They sounded so wise now, from his own lips. When Boromire said them his lips were drenched with desire for the power of the Ring, and now that Sam could see, he did not blame Boromir, nor was he angry with him. He cursed that wretched ring once more under his breath. "It has taken everything I loved," he whispered.
Bilbo put an assuring hand on Sam's shoulder and this time he did not brush it away. "I do not know what the right thing to do is. I think only you know that. You and Frodo need eachother, from the very beginning you needed eachother, every since," a smile formed on Bilbo's lips, "You were little hobbit-lads. You were always part of eachother, two halves of the same whole, apart you are broken, nothing. Even now there is something amiss with Frodo, though even he does not know it. He is blind to it now. But he is still broken, Sam. There is another wound that the sea, the elves, nor their land could heal. Only you, Sam."
~Hey ppl. I must thank you soooo much for all the wonderfully nice reviews. As for your happy ending... Weeeeeelllll ::smiles secretly:: you'll all find out shortly I assure you. Frankly I'm more stunned than Bilbo ever could have been at seeing Sam. I'm stunned because I've never gotten any compliments about my work (except from my friends) but you can never believe them cuz they don't wanna hurt my feelings ^^;; This is really doing wonders for me and Frodo and Sam will meet in the next chapter!!! I am writing it now, that is after I do my geometry hw and stuff heeeheee. I'm definitely burnt out and its only the second day of skool volleyball has taken up my whole day but hopefully my writing won't suffer~~LadyHawk alls I can say is wowsers O_O NO ONE HAS EVER EVER LIKE MY WORK THAT MUCH!! I'm deeply honoured truly. Terribly sorry that I couldn't put it up didn't quite go along with how I had things planned for Frodo and Sam please take no offense it really was beautiful ::sniff:: I guess every author has their own point of view and they are equally beautiful I"ve read some of your work and it blew me away I will coment as soon as I get the time to return.. sorry bout how long this is taking. Much love and Chapter Six will be up soon and well ::grins:: you know what that means ^^;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ::trembles:: I hope y'all like it~
"Gandalf?"
"What is it, Samwise?"
"Well at risk of sounding like Pippin, I'm curious to know, where are we going?"
Gandalf let out a hearty laugh. "Oh how I missed you, Samwise. Pippin and Merry too. How have they been?"
"Mr. Merry's been doin well. He's now the master of Brandy Hall. He wed Estella Bolger and most people call 'im Meriadoc the Magnifiscent which I don't believe he minds much. Though he doesn't let it go to his head, I must say. Pippin is somethin' else. Regailin' everyone round with stories. But he's matured."
"Oh?"
"Well Mr. Pippin has surely caught up to his age, if you follow. He married a lovely hobbit-lass, Diamond. They had a son whom they named Faramir. I s'pose Master Peregrin still loves and misses Gondor. But their son is a real gentle-hobbit, most unlike his father was." Sam laughed to himself. "He married my lovely Goldilocks so I guess you could be sayin' me and Master Pippin are related now."
"Why, Samwise, I never would have thought- Pippin and a wife." Gandalf shook his head and laughed, "That Took never ceases to amaze me, day by day. And how many little ones do you have yourself, Samwise."
"Little ones? Oh they're not little any more. They got families of their own now, most of em." Sam was quiet for a moment. Gandalf gave a worried look at the small hobbit. But Sam smiled and drew in a breath, "My eldest, Elanor wed Fastred in the spring of 1421, and Frodo-lad has two strong sons, Holfast and Harding. Good boys they are. There's also Rose-lass, and Merry, and Pippin; Goldilocks, of course, and her boy Thain Peregrin; Hamfast, Daisy, Primrose, Bilbo-lad, Ruby, Robin, and little Tom." A proud smile, accompanined by a strong blush, came across Sam's face. Gandalf could hardly recover from the shock.
"Why Sam-" was all he could say before the hobbit blushed again. "Well I can see the Lands of Valinor has done nothing to your memory."
"Oh no, Mr. Gandalf. I promised myself. I promised Rose. I'll never never forget them. Never ever."
After a few more moments Sam possed his question again, "Where are we going?"
"To see Bilbo."
The day was almost done, dusk had fallen on the elven homes and Sam still had not seen Frodo. This was not how he pictured it at all. He dreamt of it many times, trying to see how perfect it would be. He would stand on the top of the ramp, his eyes desperately searching the crowds of tall elves for one small figure. It wouldn't take him long to see the dark curly hair, the bright blue eyes, shining with pure delight and mirth as they set upon his own. There was Frodo, happy and healed, and running to embrace him after being apart for so long. And Sam would run down the ramp himself, almost falling to the ground as he so longed to hold his friend in his arms again. And they would stumble and break through the crowds, nothing keeping them from eachother. And all would be well again. He would be whole again. *You cannot always be torn in two* Sam shook his head. "Bother, couldn't you see? I was torn in so many pieces after you left, I thought I could finally pick them up and put them together by seeing you again. And now they shatter and break. So while I might not be torn in two, I'm still torn and broken."
"Sam?"
Sam found he had muttered that aloud, but barely audible. Did the wizard hear it? If he did hear the words he did not say so. He just showed Sam the door to Bilbo's room.
"You are not coming with me?"
"No, Sam."
"But he won't remember me."
"I think he might. Remember, Sam, the Ring did not have so strong a hold on him. It did not wound him as much. He had little to forget."
Sam nodded as the wizard took his leave. He found himself very nervous, standing there all alone. But this was Bilbo, what reason was there to be frightened. Sam laughed at himself and knocked on the door.
"Coming, coming," came Bilbo's voice. Sam found himself smiling at the very sound of his voice.
The door opened and revealed to Bilbo an extactic Sam. Sam was just as taken aback. Bilbo was so young. Sam could not remember a time ever seeing him in such youth and vigor. Not a grey hair nor wrinkle. Bilbo looked stunned for a moment then uttered the word, "Samwise?"
"Yes, Mr. Bilbo. I've come."
"Sam!" Bilbo threw his arms around him and Sam found it somewhat hard to breathe. "I thought you were just a dream!"
"What?" Sam choked out and Bilbo slackened his grip.
"Oh come in, how rude of me."
Sam bowed and stepped in. It was a perfect hobbit sized room. The elves have done it again, Sam thought, I hope they take such good care of Frodo. Bilbo sat down for a moment to take in Sam as if he was unreal.
"Mr. Bilbo?"
"Oh Samwise I'm sorry. I guess I should have expected this. Gandalf said we had a visitor, but he was very mysterious about it, as is his wont." Bilbo scoffed, "He never says anything just straight out. And I'm afraid, Sam, I almost forgotten you, the Shire. Gandalf said it was no worry, due to a Ring or something. I can't say I rightly understand what he talks about half the time."
"You don't remember the Ring?"
Bilbo shook his head, "Barely. It all feels like a dream now. I don't know what it did to me though, I don't understand magic, and frankly I don't want to."
"But you remembered me."
"How can I forget the best gardener in the Shire." Bilbo smiled, "I miss my gardens. I can remember those. Oh yes I can remember them so well. And I can remember I had to leave them, and I'd miss them, and my gardener, and Frodo. And now I'm here, doesn't play out right does it?"
"No, sir, but I can remember quite well. Would you like me to tell you the stories?"
"I can't tell you how lovely that would be."
Now Sam was regretting not keeping the Red Book, but he told that story so much and so often, he had it almost memorized. Nevermind the fact that he lived it. He must have driven those tales into the minds of many a young hobbit too. He laughed to himself. "Oh, Bilbo, how I missed you!" Sam threw his arms around the old hobbit again.
~~~
"...and here I am." Sam ended the tale that has grown so long in the telling that night was indeed upon them. He had told it quite well, he thought, leaving out a few things he thought the hobbit would rather not hear about. And he was a bit unclear on the accounts that happened when he was not around, seeming not to recall those parts in detail from the Red Book. He kept the description of their time in Mordor breif, but he told it like he was speaking to a young hobbit child. As Sam spoke Bilbo remembered more and more. The Ring never truly pained him like it did Frodo, and Sam was glad at this. He enjoyed telling most of the story- most of it. Bilbo had stopped him in some parts of his own tale; of how he came across the Ring, of the dwarves, and smaug; to add in a few memories he recalled. Sam was mighty proud of himself when it was all done, perhaps hours after they had begun.
Bilbo mused for a moment, "So I started all of that?"
"Oh no, Mr. Bilbo, infact you might have saved us by finding that old ring." Sam answered trying to make it sound more of an old tale than a real Danger that had afflicted the world.
"I suppose. That nasty creature Gollum could have kept it and done worse, I suppose." Bilbo fell deep into thought, "Isn't if funny?"
"What is, Mr. Bilbo?"
"That after all of that, Gollum was the one to destroy the Ring." Bilbo laughed, "It's all too much a dream to be true. It was a lovely tale, but I can't say I believe it."
Sam gulped, "You don't have to."
"Well I do trust you, Samwise, my lad, I know every word you speak is truth. But I still- I still can't believe it."
"It's alright."
"And Frodo's forgotten too I suppose?"
"Yes, sir."
"Perhaps it is for the best. From the way you tell me, it is better he doesn't remember."
"I know," Sam looked down at his feet, knowing how true those words were. "It is the power of the Ring. It held too tightly. Curse that wretched object. *So small a thing*" he remembered a snippet of Boromir's words. They sounded so wise now, from his own lips. When Boromire said them his lips were drenched with desire for the power of the Ring, and now that Sam could see, he did not blame Boromir, nor was he angry with him. He cursed that wretched ring once more under his breath. "It has taken everything I loved," he whispered.
Bilbo put an assuring hand on Sam's shoulder and this time he did not brush it away. "I do not know what the right thing to do is. I think only you know that. You and Frodo need eachother, from the very beginning you needed eachother, every since," a smile formed on Bilbo's lips, "You were little hobbit-lads. You were always part of eachother, two halves of the same whole, apart you are broken, nothing. Even now there is something amiss with Frodo, though even he does not know it. He is blind to it now. But he is still broken, Sam. There is another wound that the sea, the elves, nor their land could heal. Only you, Sam."
~Hey ppl. I must thank you soooo much for all the wonderfully nice reviews. As for your happy ending... Weeeeeelllll ::smiles secretly:: you'll all find out shortly I assure you. Frankly I'm more stunned than Bilbo ever could have been at seeing Sam. I'm stunned because I've never gotten any compliments about my work (except from my friends) but you can never believe them cuz they don't wanna hurt my feelings ^^;; This is really doing wonders for me and Frodo and Sam will meet in the next chapter!!! I am writing it now, that is after I do my geometry hw and stuff heeeheee. I'm definitely burnt out and its only the second day of skool volleyball has taken up my whole day but hopefully my writing won't suffer~~LadyHawk alls I can say is wowsers O_O NO ONE HAS EVER EVER LIKE MY WORK THAT MUCH!! I'm deeply honoured truly. Terribly sorry that I couldn't put it up didn't quite go along with how I had things planned for Frodo and Sam please take no offense it really was beautiful ::sniff:: I guess every author has their own point of view and they are equally beautiful I"ve read some of your work and it blew me away I will coment as soon as I get the time to return.. sorry bout how long this is taking. Much love and Chapter Six will be up soon and well ::grins:: you know what that means ^^;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ::trembles:: I hope y'all like it~