1 Sam's Tale

Reviews coveted and appreciated!

"I asks, yes, I asks. And it that isn't nice enough, I begs!"

Author: Nilramiel@aol.com, aka RosieCotton

Genre: General/Romance

Setting: The Shire, year 1419

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Chapter 4: Seeds and Saplings

Rating: G

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Rosie's mind and heart were joyful as she walked with Sam down the South lane. Every few steps she gave a little skip, and she felt as happy as she had since she had seen Sam leap from the pony in shining mail two months ago.

"So where so we start, Sam?" she asked.

"Well," answered Sam, "First we'll be needing some saplings, and some seeds, to plant 'round the Shire. I was thinking the young wood yonder would be a good place to find 'em."

"Yes," said Rosie, her curly hair bouncing on her shoulders, "That wood is full of young growth, and those horrid ruffians never went down this way, anyhow. Partly because t'ain't much to plunder, and partly 'cause of my father. He stood up to them, many times, when they came down this way. He always had Nibs or one of the other boys watching the road, and if one of 'em came along, or even a group of 'em, he'd go running out to the road with his axe, just as you saw him t'other night, and usually with a couple of my brothers in tow, armed up the same. He managed to hold 'em back, too, and keep us safe. 'Course we are a ways out from the main part of town, and that helps a good bit."

This was quite a long speech for Rosie, and she blushed a little, but Sam looked at her with respect.

"Aye," he said, "I've heard of yer dad's bravery, and yer brothers' too. You ought to be right proud of 'em Rosie. I know I am, and Mr. Frodo, too."

Rosie stopped him for a moment, laying her hand on his arm. "And you've been brave too, Sam, the bravest of all, from what I hear. And that ain't overmuch you know, though I'd dearly love to hear more."

Sam blushed deeply, "I'd love to tell ye more, Rosie," he said, "but some of it's fierce hard, and dark, and I'm not ready to speak it all yet. But I'll tell ye all willingly, in time."

Rosie smiled at him. "Then tell me whatever you are now willing to share, Samwise Gamgee, and only that much, 'til your heart can bear it!" And lifting her hand from his arm, she resumed walking alongside him.

So Sam told her first of the elves, of Lorien, and more of the Lady Galadriel, since their errand concerned her gift. And Rosie listened raptly to Sam's descriptions of the great Mallorn trees, with their golden leaves and soft silver bark, and of the sweet elanor flowering in the green grass.

"I'd dearly love to see it, Sam," exclaimed Rosie, "It sounds like stuff that dreams are made of, and you're like a poet when you speak of it."

"Aye, you'd so love it," said Sam as they arrived at the young wood, and passed under the shadow of the green boughs. He laid a calloused hand on the bark of an ash. "These trees are lovely, but to compare them to Lorien, well, it can't be done, really."

Sam and Rosie then set about searching for young saplings. They gathered all kinds, choosing always the ones that looked strong and fair, and using Sam's tools to remove them from the ground without causing hurt to the roots. The saplings they set in the wheelbarrow, and they had well over 20 when they paused to rest.

"The sun's riding high now," said Rosie, "Let's have a bite. She washed her dirty hands in the stream and dried them on her skirt. She was glad that she had changed, and was wearing some rugged breeches under her skirt. This allowed her to stoop and kneel and bend, without fear of being immodest. They had been Jolly's breeches, but she had taken them when he got too big for them, and she had been doing the same for years. Her parents had no objection, as long as she wore them under her skirts, and not alone.

"That girl does as much climbing and running as any of our lads," said Mrs. Cotton to her husband, "and many of the lasses do so now, in the spirit of modesty, and not its opposite."

Now Sam and Rosie sat side-by-side, and dabbled their feet in the stream, and ate. After he had taken the edge off his hunger, Sam spoke again.

"Next, Rosie, I'd like to gather some seeds. If yer not overtired, that is. All sorts as we can find, of sweet herbs and flowers and such. We won't find much 'round here, I fear, for winter's coming on, but we could ask folks to spare a bit of what they've got laid by, to fill in the gaps."

"Overtired!" exclaimed Rosie with mock indignance, "Why Sam, you forget that I'm a farmer's daughter, and used to hard work." She grinned at him, but her heart sighed, and she thought, "I could work like this by your side for many days, Samwise Gamgee, and not tire at all, so glad am I of your company!" Yet she did not speak this thought aloud, for something in her heart told her to wait a bit longer. And she was content, for now, just to be with him and to hear his talk.

After a bit of rest, they stood and went in search of seeds, and they were surprised to find many in the young glade, though they found no flowers. After this, they visited many farms and smials, and every hobbit who had seed gave some of it to Sam and Rosie, and the barrow was filled to overflowing with saplings and small packages when they returned to the Cotton farm near the setting of the sun.

"Well, Sam," said Rosie as they walked tiredly up the path to her door, "What time shall we start tomorrow? At daybreak?"

Sam looked at her and grinned. She had smudges of dirt on her face, and her curly hair was mussed, but her face wore a genuine smile, and he knew that she had enjoyed the day as much as he had.

"Oh, Rosie," he said, "I'd love for you to help me again tomorrow, with the plantin', but are you sure your Mum can spare your help around the farm?"

"I'll ask," said Rosie, and she ran up the steps, disappearing inside for only a moment, then popping back out. "She says of course I may go, and asks if you'd like to stay to dinner, Sam," said Rosie with a hopeful smile.

"I'd dearly love to, Rosie," said Sam sincerely, "But I really must get back to my Gaffer."

"Well, at least leave the barrow here, in the side yard," said Rosie, "and come back as early as you like, tomorrow."

"I will," promised Sam, and he pushed the wheelbarrow to the side yard, then waved to Rosie before trotting back up the lane.

Despite the hard work of the day, Sam felt very light, and he was grinning broadly as he ran.

~TBC~

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Please do not copy or post this story to another website, or use it for your own purposes, without my permission and/or without the introductory comments. Feel free to link away!

Acknowledgements: The characters, setting, and much of the dialog belong to J.R.R. Tolkien, and I give full credit to him. This story focuses on the relationship of Samwise Gamgee and Rose Cotton, and it is how I imagine the events following the Hobbits' return to the Shire following the War of the Ring and King Aragorn's coronation and marriage. If you have read the book, The Return of the King, you will find the events and much of the dialogue familiar. I have tried to "fill in the gaps," regarding Sam's courtship to Rose Cotton. Sam is my favorite character in Tolkien's work, and this is written with the deepest respect for both Tolkien and the noble Samwise. There may be slight departures from the timeline of The Lord of the Rings. If so, please forgive the oversight.

Rating: The first several chapters are rated G; however, eventually I may include a sweet romantic chapter, or more than one, involving Sam and his Rose.