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, 1420



Chapter Note: This chapter attempts to touch on the fact that Samwise was impacted deeply by the journey to Mordor. Although his hurt was not as deep as was Frodo's, I believe that he also suffered greatly because of the darkness they faced.



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1.1 Chapter 8: Courtship

Rating: G

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Now that Sam was courting Rosie "officially," the news of it swept through the Shire like a wildfire. There were a great many other romances in the making that year, and as the winter deepened (although it was as mild a winter as the Shire had ever seen), many young pairs could be seen walking about hand in hand, or sitting side by side deep in talk. One of these was Sam's own younger sister, Marigold, and Rosie's oldest brother, Tom. Sam and Young Tom were the same age, born in the same year in fact, and Marigold and Rosie were just a year apart, so there were whispers among the older hobbits of a possible double wedding in the coming year.

Sam and Rosie spent more and more time together, indeed whenever they could be spared from their other responsibilities. And there was plenty to do, around the Cotton farm, and up at the New Row, too, which was still being restored although a few hobbits were already living in it again. Sam was directing the cleaning up and restoration of Bag End, and he took great care with every detail.

Once the healing of Bag End was well underway, Sam started taking walks over the Shire, checking on the plantings they had made, although there was not much to see yet; and the weather was fair enough that he was not overly worried about the young growth taking any harm from ice or snow. Sometimes Rosie joined him on these trips, but more often they had to make time for one another in the cool evenings, after the tasks of the day were finished.

Many moonlit walks they took, often by the lake or in the young wood south of Rosie's, and they spoke earnestly of many things. And Sam at last told her the whole tale of his dark journey to Mordor with Frodo, and of Gollum, and of the Ring. The darkest bits he told with tears, his hands pressed firmly between Rosie's, and with her gentle eyes full of encouragement.

"Oh, Sam, how horrid!" said Rosie one evening, her eyes round and troubled. Sam had just told her of Cirith Ungol, when he had feared his master dead, and had taken the Ring upon himself for a short time. He told her of the horror of Shelob, and the evil tower, and the search for Frodo, and their escape from darkness into deeper darkness.

The telling had been hard for Sam, and his face and collar were wet with tears. "Dear sweet Sam, how did you bear it?" said Rosie, and she drew him into her arms and kissed his wet cheeks, and he was comforted.

Sam found that sharing thus with Rosie was very healing for him. He had talked long with the other travelers about all of these things, and much also with his Gaffer, who always wanted to hear of the battles, and was more and more amazed by the great events into which his son had been caught up. But Sam did not weep with them, as he did with Rosie. Merry and Pippin seemed almost recovered from their adventures, and indeed seemed the merrier and stronger for them. And Sam was loathe to stir up Frodo's pain, which ran far deeper than his own, so he was as encouraging to his master as he had been on the long trek to Mt. Doom, and when he needed catharsis for the hurts in his own soul, he went to Rosie.

She was a fabulous listener, and she would sit cross-legged across from him, holding his hands in hers and caressing his fingers gently as he spoke. She always kept her gaze fixed on his face, and her heart ached for him whenever his dear eyes leaked tears. Truth be told, she was also a bit awed – her Sam off saving the world with Mr. Frodo! And how close it had come, too! Almost the dark lord had triumphed, and almost she had lost her Sam forever. Rosie felt very small in the midst of these great events, but also very, very blessed.

It must be remembered, however, that the outcome of all of Sam's adventures was ultimately of Goodness, and triumph; of the return of the King and the overthrow of darkness. Rosie was adept at steering Sam back to these happier memories. Often when the pain grew intense in his eyes, or if he had shared a particularly difficult memory, Rosie would smile at him softly and say, "Tell me more about Eowyn and Faramir, and Ithilian," or "Tell me more about the elves, Sam." And his heart and face would lighten, and he would chatter animatedly about the more joyful parts of his journey.

Before winter's end, these happier memories had almost eclipsed the evil ones, and Rosie rejoiced to see it, for Sam was a cheerful and optimistic hobbit to his core, and none who loved him could bear to see him cast down.

Frodo, too, seemed to be recovering from the spiritual wounding he received from his quest. In fact, in most ways he was the same hobbit who had lived peacefully at Bag End before the adventure began. That winter, he spent much time at the New Row's Bag End, which had been quickly cleaned out but was still being "fixed up." He said that the memories were sweet there, and reminded him of Bilbo, plus he wished to be involved with Sam in its restoration. Other days were occupied with his appointment as Deputy Mayor of Hobbiton. He had agreed to serve in the office while Will Whitfoot recovered from his long and difficult stay in Sharkey's lockholes, but all he really did as deputy was reduce the sheriffs to their proper functions and numbers. The chilly nights Frodo stayed with the Cottons, who had plenty of room, and whose home was not under construction. This proved very convenient for Samwise, who felt a need to be close both to his master and to Rosie, but who was staying with his Gaffer at New Row #3, so as to look out for him.

If Frodo noticed the development of Sam and Rosie's relationship, he did not speak of it, but it can be assumed he was aware, since they behaved like two planets drawn towards the same sun. And all of the hobbits were kept busy through the winter, for although it was a gentle winter, food was short, and there were many other lingering effects of the ruffians' presence.

~TBC~

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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 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 are some slight departures from the timeline of The Lord of the Rings, for which I apologize; however, creative license is a part of fanfic, right? smile.

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