"Sam...Sam..."
Sam's eyes fluttered open at the sound of his name released in a sigh. He squinted, trying to adjust to the morning light, then blinked once and let his eyes pop wide open, to find himself looking directly into two bright blue orbs. He looked down slightly to see his arm still around Frodo's waist, as well as Frodo's small figure pulling back slightly. Sam gently pulled back his arm and sat up.
"Sorry, Mr. Frodo," he said with a blush. "My arm must've been boring into your side the whole night."
"No, Sam," replied Frodo with a weak smile. "I think your arms are probably the only warmth I had last night." He stood up and offered Sam his hand. Sam reached out and took hold of it, mostly pulling himself up from the ground.
"Your hand," said Sam in shock, still holding it in his own. "Why, it's ice cold!"
Frodo gave a small shrug. "Everything's cold," he said gloomily. "And it's so gray here. Even Mordor seems a brighter place than this." He took a few steps away and sunk down into a sitting position on the earth, his back against a large rock. Sam approached the rock and sat down next to Frodo, putting his arm around him.
"Come now, Mr. Frodo," he said gently. "Don't give up hope on me. Not when you've already made it this far."
Frodo cast his gaze upwards at Sam, his eyes brimming with tears and seeming to contain a wordless plead. "Oh Sam," he breathed, resting his head on the younger hobbit's chest.
"We'll make it," said Sam quietly.
There were a few moments of silence as Sam stared straight ahead and Frodo closed his eyes in an attempt to fight back his tears. "Sam?" Frodo asked at last, eyes still closed. His voice was shaky and concerned.
"What is it, Mr. Frodo?"
"What did I do to deserve you?" He waited for an answer, then looked up at Sam when he received none. "Why do you look so confused?" he asked him.
"Well, I suppose I am confused," answered Sam. "By your question, I mean. You don't have to do anything to deserve me. I'm here, I'll always be here."
"I know, Sam. But why?"
"Because I want to," Sam answered bluntly.
Frodo shook his head and looked into the distance. "You don't want to. No soul would ever want to be in this horrid place, heading in this path."
Sam nodded. "I know, I know, but...well, it isn't that I want to be in this place. I just...want to be wherever you are. And it isn't so much something I want, but something I have to do." Sam paused as Frodo turned his head to look at him. "Not that anyone was forcin' me to do it," said Sam. "But it's something I just have to do, regardless where it takes me."
Frodo smiled in sadness and gratitude. "Everything you say makes me realize how lucky I am to have you here with me." He shook his head and looked away from Sam again, sighing. "I'm so...hungry."
Sam chuckled. "I don't suppose it'll be any surprise what I have to offer you to eat."
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Guilty.
Sam felt guilty. This night was the same as the night before had been. He couldn't tear his eyes away from Frodo's sleeping face. Only in sleep did his master ever seem to possess the slightest expression of peace, and Sam was reluctant to let that image go. He felt guilty for staring, and more guilty for his kisses the night before. He also felt regretful about the previous night. He knew that if he hadn't kissed Frodo then, he wouldn't want to so much now. Frodo's peace came from sleep, but Sam's peace came from Frodo.
He found himself for the first time in his life truly tempted to do something he shouldn't. In his mind, he wrestled with the choice of whether or not to kiss his master again...just once more. He formed silent debates with himself, although he already knew which argument would win. He took Frodo's freezing hand in his own warm one, then turned to his side to face Frodo, leaning in towards his face almost immediately after. He touched Frodo's lips gently at first, as he had done the night before, but remained upon them for longer. His kiss became more involved, more...feeling. He was caught up in the moment, yet still noticed the small jerk Frodo's body made. Two pairs of eyes snapped open at the same time, and the larger blue ones widened. Sam broke the kiss and Frodo stared at him in surprised silence. He scrambled up into a sitting position and backed away from Sam, who sat up also.
"Mr. Frodo," Sam began, voice already shaking.
"Sam," Frodo whispered sharply, almost as if he were scolding the other. "What..." He cut himself off with a shake of the head.
"Oh please, Mr. Frodo, don't be angry." He sort of crawled a little bit closer to Frodo, who didn't make a move. "Please forgive me. You know I couldn't bear for you to be angry at me. It was only that...well, you were asleep and I know it was wrong of me..." The words spilled out hurriedly and almost unclearly. "But it was only that you looked so peaceful, an' all, but so tired, even in your sleep. So tired, but so beautiful."
Frodo looked at Sam, his face sad and confused. Sam opened his mouth to speak another plead of forgiveness, but Frodo surprised him by speaking first. "You're beautiful too, Sam."
Sam looked directly at his master, genuinely shocked. "What?"
"You're beautiful." Frodo reached out and held both of Sam's hand, sending a chill down Sam's spine by his skin's feel and touch. He sat with his legs folded, on his knees, closed his eyes, then leaned in quickly to kiss Sam on the lips. Sam's eyes bolted wide open and his heart leapt up, but he soon calmed himself enough to return the kiss. He slid his hands out from under Frodo's and placed them on the elder hobbit's shoulders, then gently pushed him to the ground. Sam knelt over Frodo, straddling his body with one leg on each side of him. He bent his neck down and kissed Frodo again, more passionately than he had ever before. He drew back and exhaled, then smiled down at Frodo, who smiled back at him. Sam leaned in once more, but as he did so, Frodo's smile faded and he placed his hand on Sam's chest and pushed him away. Sam sat up fully, as did Frodo.
"What is it?" Sam asked quietly. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No." Frodo shook his head. "No, no. But we cannot do this."
Sam was lost. "Why not?"
Frodo lifted his head and gazed at Sam. He took a ragged breath in. "Because," he said, tears forming in his eyes. "I don't deserve you. And you don't deserve this. You don't deserve any of this." He lifted his hand and motioned around him. He saw Sam open his mouth, but he silenced him with a tender kiss. "No objections, Sam, and no more speaking tonight. I'm confused about this...but happy. Let's be happy for one night, shall we?" He tried to smile, and Sam nodded, expressionless. Frodo lay down in the spot where he was, and Sam lay down a few feet away from him.
"Sam," Frodo called to him. "Come and lie with me." Sam rose obediently and walked to where Frodo was lying, then placed himself down by his master. They locked eyes. "Hold me, Sam," Frodo told him, and Sam drew Frodo to him in an embrace. Frodo closed his eyes.
"You've gone so thin, Mr. Frodo," said Sam softly. "I can feel your ribs..."
"Shh," said Frodo, his eyes fully closed. "No more speaking."
Sam nodded and closed his eyes, finally ready to greet a peaceful night's sleep.