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

Rating: G, PG

Genre: General/Romance

Setting: The Shire, year 1420

Note: Another Sam & Frodo chapter. Don't worry, there will be plenty Sam/Rosie chapts coming. I just can't neglect this relationship!

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1.1 Chapter 12: Moving In

Rating: PG

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Sam was elated.

It was one week until his wedding, and he felt as if he was walking around an Ent's height from the ground all of the time. The past three weeks had been a flurry of preparation and changes.

The first order of business had been to talk with Rosie about the idea of living in Bag End. Sam felt a little chagrined that he had so eagerly accepted this arrangement without speaking to his betrothed, but Rosie was as enthusiastic as Sam, and she hopped up and down and clapped her hands.

"Oh, Sam, how lovely!" she exclaimed, "I would adore living in Bag End! And I shall certainly see more of YOU if we stay with Mr. Frodo," she added with a wink.

"Aw, Rose," Sam had said, a bit embarrassed because it was true, "You'll be seeing as much o'me as you like, whenever you like."

"I plan on it," Rosie replied coquettishly, and she put her arms around Sam's neck and gave him a deep and lingering kiss. "I expect you to be at my beck and call, at all times, Mr. Samwise Gamgee."

Sam returned the kiss eagerly, wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing her soft body against his own. "Yes'm," he murmured, "at all times, for always and forever, sweet Rose."

The wedding was planned for the first of May, one month after their engagement, which wasn't much time to plan for a wedding according to the standards of the big people, but which was plenty of time for Hobbits, who would much rather wed in the sunshine under a tree than in a great hall bedecked with silver and gold.

Sam spent part of this month moving his and Rosie's few things into Bag End. Frodo had generously given them the entire back end of the smial, which included a very large bedroom, a bath, and two smaller rooms. One of the smaller rooms had a fireplace and two round windows. Frodo suggested that this would make a lovely sitting room or parlor.

"It's really too much, Mr. Frodo," Sam had said to him, one afternoon when Frodo was helping him to move in and arrange the last of their few things, "All we need is a room and a bath, really."

"Nonsense, Sam," said Frodo, "I expect a small Gamgee within the year, and you and Rosie will need lots of privacy to accomplish that. I am taking the very front room for my own bedroom, nearest the kitchen, and the two of you can have most of Bag End for your own."

Sam blushed, "Aw, don' embarrass me, master. How will I be able to focus on Rose if I'm thinkin' of you sittin' in the front room an' smoking your pipe?"

Frodo grinned. "But embarrassing you is so easy to do, Sam," he said, "How can I resist? Besides, I am serious. You deserve all of the pleasure and joy that Rosie can give you. And I'll be spending the first week at the Cotton's anyway, NOT sitting in the front room, so you will be able to give Rosie your undivided attentions."

Sam laughed, "Now I will picture you AND me in-laws, all smoking your pipes together on the Cotton's front porch. I don't know which is worse!"

Frodo laughed with him, and they returned to their work for several minutes.

"Frodo," Sam said seriously, pausing for a moment, "You make my heart so glad. You have given me far more than I need."

"I could never repay you for Mordor, Sam, never," said Frodo, giving his friend a brief but sincere embrace, "Now, let's see if this chimney is cleaned out well enough to light a fire, shall we?"

Sam laughed, "You forget, Mr. Frodo, I am the one that directed the restorin' of this place. Gandalf could wipe the sleeve o' his white robe up in that flue and it would come out just as bright as it went in."

Frodo laughed aloud, and clapped Sam on the shoulders. "I believe you Sam!" He went to get some firewood from the pile, and sure enough a cheery blaze was easy to kindle, and the smoke was drawn up the chimney and out into the bright spring air.

Sam stood back and looked at the room. It really was as cozy and cheerful as could be, and yet another wave of gratitude washed over his heart, so intense that it brought tears to his eyes.

"I am the luckiest hobbit alive," thought Sam.

~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.