02-04-2002
Notes: This story takes place at the end of 'Lord of the Rings' and Sam, Merry, and Pippin have come back to the Shire. I will be using the last bit of the book to show where they were leaving off.
Disclaimer: All characters are Tolkien's, please do not sue me unless you really want my copy of 'Lord of the Rings,' 'The Silmarillion,' and some dirty Youth Group t-shirts, 'cause that is all I have. :P Any other characters are created by me and are solely mine… so be nice, ask permission, 'kay? 'Kay.
The Good Life – Chapter One
The following is taken from Lord of the Rings: Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien. Page 1008 of the paperback, film-cover edition.
" At last they rode over the downs and took the East Road, and then Merry and Pippin rode on to Buckland; and already they were singing as they went. But Sam turned to Bywater, and so came back up to the Hill, as day was ending once more. And he went on, and there was yellow light and fire within; and the evening meal was ready, and he was expected. And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap.
He drew a deep breath. 'Well, I'm back,' he said.'"
'Yes, I am back,' he continued, softly stroking the fair hair of Elanor. He looked at her intently then wrapped his arm around her tiny shoulders. 'Are you hungry, wee one?' Elanor silently sat, looking into the sadness of his big brown orbs and saw the faintest glimmer of happiness and relief, suspicious of long-ago happenings, or so it seemed, as only a half-a-yearling could do.
Rose set down a plate of her cooking before him and he got up and placed Elanor onto her own chair in front of her table setting. Dinner at the Gamgee household was a silent one. That is, until Rose offered in her insights.
'I am glad you came back as soon as you did. I imagine it was a hard journey for you, much like the one before… all the letting go and the sadness of it all. Perhaps you have felt a flood of the awful emotion spectrum that you need not go through again. You need a good sleep and perhaps a holiday is in order.' Sam shook his head.
'And take a holiday from my newfound duties? No, dear Rose, that is not possible at this time.'
'No? I ask that you stay home tomorrow and have your ale and rest. I will tend to much of the gardening, have you no worries of that. Elanor is a fine helper as well. She will accompany me… do not worry yourself overmuch.' Sam nodded and smiled at the adorably plump six-month old and felt the small box, gift of Galadriel, in his breast pocket. Oh, the memories of the Fair Maiden. Sam winced at a flash of memories of the Dark Lands, of happenings longing to be forgotten but tug at the mind every now and again.
With only the sound of the dishes and utensils hitting with a faint rustle of Rose going to the large kitchen, Sam took up Elanor again. 'One day, Ellie, one day…' he whispered into her tiny pink ear. 'One day you will know my pain… I will tell you my story.' Elanor giggled and tugged at a few loose curls of his head and stuck them into her mouth. Sam laughed and Rose stood in the doorway, a silhouette and nothing else, watching him handle the girl they called their own, wishing to take the pain and the anguish Sam felt at his memories of not too long ago. Oh, to wrap him in her arms and to make sure he knew that her love for him was a never-ending thing that would never let go and hoping that he knew that was all she could do.
More to come… …