1.1 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

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

1.2 Chapter 17: Sam's Gifts

Rating: G

CHAPTER NOTE: I would like to specifically thank my dear friend Fionnbharr, also an author on fanfiction.net, for help concerning Aragorn's gift to Samwise

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The opening of Sam's gifts had to be delayed until the afternoon, because Rosie was very much occupied that day with her mother, who was putting the finishing touches on her dress. Marigold was helping. She had come to the Cotton Farm to tell Rosie about the packages, and was waiting to bring her back when Rosie could be spared. They had worked all morning on Rosie's wedding promises (Hobbits always write their own), then eaten a quick lunch, then worked on the dress until midafternoon.

"Ow, mum! Be careful!" Rosie flinched as her mother adjusted the hem under her arm.

"Sorry, love," Mrs. Cotton mumbled through her pins. "I am almost done now."

"There's a loose piece of lace here," put in Marigold, pointing to the back of the bodice.

"Thank you m'dear. I can fix it once it is off her," said Mrs. Cotton. "Okay, Rose, let me see you." She held her daughter's hands and backed up to arms length. "Ah, you are the picture of loveliness! You will knock Sam over onto the grass!"

"Gracious, mother, I hope not!" exclaimed Rosie with a grin. She wiggled out of her dress and handed it to her mother, kissing her squarely on the cheek. "But thank you. Thank you for everything."

Mrs. Cotton lifted her hand to her daughter's cheek. "Aye, you're well worth it, love. And I think I can finish without another fitting, so run on up to the Row and see what it's all about."

Rosie gave her mother a hug and another kiss, then taking Marigold's hand, ran from the farmhouse and up the path.

They arrived at Bag End rather out of breath, and were surprised to see that the company had grown. Merry and Pippin and Fatty were there, as was Young Tom Cotton, who beamed at Marigold and took her hand from Rosie's. The Gaffer was not there, having gone back to #3 to attend to some other things, but Sam was, and Gandalf, and all of them were engaged in animated talk and the sharing of afternoon tea.

They swiftly gave chairs to the girls, and drinks, and cakes, and for a little while laughed and talked together.

Finally Pippin could stand it no longer. "Sam, she's here now. Don't you think it's time to open 'em?"

"Aw, Pip, maybe they want to open them in private, later," said Merry, but his eyes twinkled with the same curiosity.

Sam got up and retrieved the three packages from the counter, then coming back to the table, sat next to Rosie, placing his left hand around her waist as he sat down. He smiled and pushed the first one towards his betrothed with his right hand.

Rosie leaned over and kissed Sam on the cheek, then removed the note from the package, unsealed it, and read:

"For Samwise Gamgee, and Rosie Cotton,

Congratulations and wishes for all

happiness. This is a new craft that we

have developed, And I hope it will bring

you joy. From Gimli, son of Gloin, and his kin."

Rosie tore the paper off carefully. Inside was an intricate looking contraption, wrought of a metal she did not recognize. On one side was what looked like a key, and attached to the key was a small note that said simply: "turn."

Rosie twisted the key, then released it, and to everyone's astonishment, the contraption began to sing! So startled was Rosie that she nearly dropped it, but instead she laid it upon the table. Small moving parts could be seen within the beautiful thing, and a sound like delicate instruments came from it. After a moment, it ceased moving and fell quiet.

"Is it magical?" asked Pippin with awe in his voice. "It's a little like the magical toys from Dain at Mr. Bilbo's birthday party so long ago. But much more complicated looking."

"No, I think not," said Gandalf. Looking to Sam for permission, he picked up the device and turned it in his hands. He wound the key and watched carefully as the device began again to emit music. "See the key pulls this coil of metal tight (he pointed through an opening) and then as it uncoils, it moves these small wheels, which causes the metal parts to strike against each other. How amazing!" He handed it to Merry who was practically bouncing up and down. "Be careful, Merry, it looks a bit fragile."

Merry, Pippin, Tom, Marigold, Fatty, and Frodo all looked at the contraption and turned the key, and all agreed that it was simply amazing. After a bit, it was set aside, and Sam took up the next package.

He read:

"For Sam and his bride,

Greetings from Mirkwood! I will soon be traveling

again to Gondor, to assist the King in the restoration

of Ithilian and the White City, but I wished to send

these to you first, as I received word that you were

to be wed. The first requires no explanation, and comes

from my forest and also from Fangorn, by the leave

of Treebeard. May they bring you joy in the Spring of

your land. The second is for your wedding ceremony,

if you should desire to use it. My people use a cord

such as this in weddings, and it bears great symbolism.

If you choose to use it so, I have written instructions

for you. If not, may it be of use to you in other ways,

as I know that you love the craft of rope making.

May the stars shine upon your faces,

Legolas Greenleaf"



Sam lifted from the package a soft wallet of leather, which when opened revealed a rather large quantity of seeds. They were twisted into small packages with labels, names of the various plants it can be assumed, and some had specific notes such as "needs much water" or "place in shade" or "good for eating." Most of them Sam did not recognize.

Rosie grinned widely at the look of joy that had come across her Sam's sweet face. She squeezed him around the middle. "More planting for us, Sam!" she cried happily, "and more elvish growing things. How wonderful!"

Sam set the packages down with reverence and reached for the other item. It was a rope. But it was unlike any rope that Sam had ever seen. It was soft and silky like the ropes of Lorien, but much, much thicker, and ornate – made of strands of deep greens and blues and browns, and russets, and it had silvery glints shot through it, as if mithril itself was woven into it. It was not a long rope, perhaps half of an el in length, but each end held a tassel, and it was clearly a thing of value. With the rope was a short list of instructions for its use in a wedding, which Rosie picked up and began to read silently.

After all had admired the rope and the seeds, Sam reached for the largest package. The one from the King. He offered it to Rosie to open, but she pushed it back towards him and resumed reading.

Sam opened it, and lifted out a folded bundle of heavy fabric. A note was attached in Aragorn's hand that said simply:

"For Sam, from Strider and his house.

May it bring to your home beauty and

fond remembrance. How I wish I could

be with you as you join your life to

another's. Know, dear friend, that I

understand your joy, and my heart cries

out to yours in kinship across the leagues."

Sam wiped tears from his eyes, then stood up, and taking the fabric by the edges, allowed it to unfold. It was a tapestry.

There was a gasp from Frodo, Merry and Pippin, and Gandalf raised one eyebrow. Sam tried to look at it, but he was behind and above, and could not get a good view.

Gandalf reached out, and taking the tapestry, turned it to face Sam and Rosie, who had looked up. And now they both gasped as well. Rosie because she was struck by its great beauty and detail, and Sam because of the depiction woven upon the fabric.

"Now that," said Merry with an awestruck voice, "That is a kingly gift, indeed."

~tbc~

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry to leave you hanging but this chapter is far too long already. Next chapter is the wedding. I will come back to the tapestry after the wedding, I promise.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

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 will include a sweet romantic chapter, or more than one, involving Sam and his Rose.