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

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1.1 Chapter 15: From Gondor

Rating: G

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On the day before Sam & Rosie were wed, several interesting things happened. One of the most interesting was the arrival of Gandalf. He came galloping up on Shadowfax in the morning of the last day of April, sending many hobbits running for their homes, for they had not seen him since he was transformed, indeed since before Frodo left on his long adventure, and they did not recognize him. Nor had they ever seen a horse as great as Shadowfax, or as beautiful.

"Confounded nuisance, Sam getting married just now," said Gandalf to Frodo, after dismounting and sending Shadowfax off for a graze in the party field, but his eyes were twinkling, "almost I couldn't make it, but your last letter nearly broke my heart with guilt – so I had to come."

"I'm glad you've come, Gandalf," said Frodo, "even if I had to beg you. If anything, I am more eager to see you than Sam."

"Indeed," said Gandalf, setting a large bundle inside the door of Bag End. "I don't doubt it." Then he laughed aloud and embraced Frodo, and his laughter was like the pealing of bells.

"Tell me how things are," said Frodo, once they had gone in and Gandalf was settled with his pipe and a cup of tea. "Have you seen Bilbo? What about King Elessar and the others? Are all the orcs destroyed? Have the elves decided when they are going?"

"One question at a time, Frodo my lad," laughed Gandalf, "you are much changed, but not in your curiosity!"

At that moment, Sam came bursting in to Bag End himself.

"Gandalf!" he cried, stopping short when he saw the wizard, and then running into his embrace, "I don't believe it!"

"Hullo, Sam," said Gandalf, "I hear you are getting married tomorrow?"

"Yes, sir," said Sam, grinning up at him, "To Rose Cotton, at 10 o'clock, at the mallorn. I hope you will come."

"Silly hobbit, why do you think I am here?" chuckled Gandalf.

Sam looked chagrined. "Well, I'd hoped so, but there's lots of more important things that could bring ye to the Shire, Mr. Gandalf."

Gandalf laid his hand on Sam's curly head. "I can't think of any more important than your wedding, Samwise Gamgee!" and he laughed merrily.

Sam and Frodo laughed too, then Sam suddenly remembered that he was in a hurry. "Oh! Mr. Frodo, I nearly forgot. Me Gaffer sent me running up here quick to tell you that there's a big post for you down in Hobbiton. He saw it when he was down this mornin', and he wants me to ask if ye'd like us to bring it up to Bag End. It's wrapped all strange and has Gondor markings on it, and he thought it might be important."

"Well, Sam, of course! You've always leave to pick up any of my posts, you know." Frodo replied, amused.

"I know, master, but me Gaffer always wants things done proper." Sam ginned and ran back out the door.

Gandalf chuckled, "Still haven't cured him of calling you master, eh, Frodo?"

"No," sighed Frodo, "I've told him time and again he needn't, but still he does. Touches my heart all the same, though, every time he does it."

"Ah, well, I can see that it would. He really is a remarkable hobbit. Just as you are, dear Frodo," Gandalf said with a smile, and he patted Frodo's shoulder.

They had hardly completed their catching up of news when Sam returned, with Hamfast Gamgee, and they were pushing the large wheelbarrow, upon which was balanced a large wrapped package. The package was addressed 'To Master Frodo Baggins, Bag End, Hobbiton, The Shire. ME-NW. Delivery urgent before April's end, Shire Reckoning.' It was sealed with the symbol of a white tree flowering under seven stars.

"Ah, the King's marking!" exclaimed Gandalf.

"It must be from Aragorn!" said Frodo, immediately tearing off the seal and beginning to unwrap the package. Within the heavy paper, he found 4 smaller packages, all individually wrapped. Each had an attached message written in beautiful script.

Frodo read the first one aloud:

"From the House of Elessar, High King of Gondor;

Holder of the Sceptre of Arnor; Greetings!

Dearest Frodo,

I hope and trust that you are well and

that The Shire is in order by the time

of this writing. Much glad news has reached

me in regards to your land and your circumstances,

and I hope to come soon myself and bring the

Lady Arwen to see your fair land. She also sends

her fondest thoughts towards you and your kin.

This package is for you, my friend, something

I would have sent with you had I possessed it

at the time we took leave of one another.

The other three packages are for Sam and his

bride, along with our deepest wishes of joy and

blessedness.

With sincere hopes of seeing you before long,

Aragorn, son of Arathorn

High King of Gondor

And below, in another hand, less flowery was added:

Frodo, my scribe thinks this is a shamefully crude

letter, but I see no reason not to speak to you

as I always have. Return post as soon as you are

able, dear friend. –Strider"

Frodo looked up, smiling at Sam and the Gaffer, who both stood with their mouths agape.

"For me? For us? For Rose and I - from the King?" Sam managed to say after a moment.

"Yes, Sam, you ninny," laughed Frodo, "From Strider. And the Lady Arwen. For your wedding! But don't think of opening them without Rosie!"

"Open yours, then, Frodo," suggested Gandalf. "Let us see what the King has sent!"

~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 these additional 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 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 plan to include a sweet romantic chapter, or more than one, involving Sam and his Rose.