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

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1.2 Chapter 19: Feast

Rating: PG

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"Just look at them, Pippin," said Merry, gesturing to the dance area, where Rosie and Sam clung to one another.

"What? Huh?" asked Pippin, somewhat indistinctly as his mouth was full of strawberries.

"Look how happy they are," Merry said.

"Eh? So?"

"Pippin!" Merry said, annoyed, "Don'tcha ever wanna get married?"

Pippin choked on his berries, and Merry had to pound him on the back until he could speak again.

"Married?!" Pippin spluttered at last, "Are you daft? How much fun do you think we would have if we were married?"

Merry looked at him with a serious face. "A lot of fun, Pip, or don't you know what married couples do in their own smials?" He elbowed the younger hobbit.

Pippin shoved his cousin, "Of course I know, ninnyhammer! But we'd have to work, Merry, and take care o'babies and such. I'd much rather tramp around the Shire and have fun!"

Merry rubbed his arm where Pippin had pushed him, but said nothing. Pippin watched him for a moment, then his eyes widened.

"Oh no," he said, shaking his head, "Merry, don't tell me ye've got yer eye on some lass." He grabbed his cousin's hand, "Don't do this to me, Merry, don't grow up on me - not yet."

"We are grown up, Pip," said Merry, "but don't worry. I'm not ready quite yet to settle down."

"Good," Pippin said, relief coloring his voice. "Let's go get some more food."

As they ran off, Gandalf set off another shower of butterflies, All of the fireworks he had brought for Sam's wedding (and he had not brought many) were of flowers, and birds, and butterflies. "Not near as exciting as old Bilbo's party back in 1401" Young Tom had commented to Marigold, "Those fireworks were dragons, and spears, and great trees! But then again, I never did see fireworks at a wedding before! I wonder if we could get some for our wedding next month?"

Sam ran his hands slowly up and down Rosie's back. He loved the feel of her wedding dress, silky beneath his fingers yet ridged with embroidery. Of course, he couldn't help thinking about the skin beneath the dress. Tonight he would be running his hands over her without the dress – without anything. His face reddened against her soft shoulder despite himself.

As if she could feel the turn of his thoughts, Rosie turned her head, placing her mouth against his ear. "I love you, Sam," she breathed softly, "I can't wait until we are alone."

Sam tightened his arms around her, pressing her firmly against him. A soft whimper escaped from his throat into her hair, and he kissed her behind the ear. "Aye," he whispered back, "Aye, love. I feel the same."

"Hey!"

Sam started, shocked by the tap of a hand on his shoulder. He and Rosie pulled apart abruptly. It was Frodo, grinning as if he had been up to some mischief. "Are you going to hog the bride all afternoon, Sam?" he asked.

Sam would have blushed, if he had not already been scarlet. "No, you can 'ave a dance, Mr. Frodo, so long as ye give her back to me."

Frodo laughed aloud, "Of course Sam!" and he bowed to Rosie, offering her his hand. The music had picked up, and they capered away into the crowd. Before Sam could fully register that she had been removed from his arms, his sister Daisy grabbed his hands and swung him into the dance.

The feasting and dancing lasted until almost sundown, which was quite long for a morning wedding. The hobbits ate and drank almost more than they could want, and the musicians had to change often, as someone was always wanting to dance. Many songs were sung, and poems spoken, and it was the first of many memorable weddings of that Spring. At one point, Frodo recited the ballad of Beren and Luthien the Fair, which he had committed fully to memory. Most of the hobbits had never heard it, and they called for a second recitation, despite its length.

At sundown, Sam's friends began to carry the gifts up to Bag End, stacking them neatly in the parlor. As if this was a signal of some sort, the hobbits began draining their mugs and gathering flowers (it was traditional to take flowers home from a hobbit wedding, for good luck, which was why so many flowers were needed), and those who were to clean up started to work.

Sam stood awkwardly near the mallorn, with Rosie beside him, shaking hands and hugging the many hobbits who came to give them a last congratulations before heading home. Sam felt odd, seeing others clean up while he stood in honor.

"Reminds me of Minas Tirith," he thought, "When we were the honored guests and ever' one waited on me and Mr. Frodo alike. Don't seem right, somehow." But he said nothing, having enough sense to know that he and Rosie were the reason for the party, and this was one of those occasions where too much humility was not appropriate.

"Sam," said Gandalf, who had come up to give his good wishes, "Congratulations." He bent down and hugged the hobbit, then shook his hand for good measure. "I have a gift for you, Sam, and I would very much like to give it to you tonight, before you retire to Bag End. It may be useful to you." Gandalf winked. "Find me before you go up."

Sam watched him as he walked away. Curiosity battled with embarrassment in his heart. What could Gandalf give him that would be useful tonight, of all nights?

Sam had to wait another hour to find out. It seemed as if every hobbit in the Shire had attended his wedding. By the time he had bid goodnight to everyone, the stars had started to come out in the eastern sky.

Sam found Gandalf sitting by the mallorn, smoking with Frodo. Rosie had gone to say thank you to her parents, who were gathering up the last of the flower garlands, so Sam was alone.

"Ah, Sam," said Gandalf, "Good. Here." He handed Sam a small package plainly wrapped in brown paper.

"Open it, Sam," urged Frodo.

Sam tore off the paper, revealing a pure white candle, very fat, with a luminous blue wick. Sam looked at it quizzically.

"It's a candle." Sam said, uncertainly. "Thank you, Gandalf, it's lovely."

"It is not just a candle, Samwise," said Gandalf, "It is a forbidding candle. I made it."

"Forbidding candle?" Sam asked, confused.

"Yes. Light it, and set it near the door in Bag End. It has some magic in it, Sam, that will give you a guarantee of privacy. If anyone has it in their heart or mind to come to Bag End, the thought will leave them as they draw near. In fact, no one will come within 5 or 6 ells of the candle, yet they will not know what has turned them away, or even that they have been turned away."

Sam looked at Gandalf, his eyes serious, "I don't know what to say, Sir." He said at last.

"Dear Sam, I am sure that no one will disturb you tonight." Gandalf said with a chuckle, "The entire Shire knows that this is your wedding night. But the candle will last for many, many nights, and tonight especially you will need confidence of your privacy. It may free your mind from worry, Samwise."

Sam looked at Gandalf, awe and embarrassment tangling in his mind. "Thank you, Gandalf," he said at last, "Thank you."

"It's a perfect gift, Gandalf," put in Frodo, speaking seriously so that Sam would know he was not being made fun of. "Sam does tend to worry, and perhaps this will help him not to."

With that, Frodo jumped up to his feet, laying his pipe down on the grass. He embraced Sam fiercely, holding him a long time.

"Go now, Sam," he said at last, pulling back but maintaining his grip on Sam's arm, "I have all my things from Bag End, and all of the gifts and leftover food have been moved there for you and Rosie. You won't be disturbed for a night and a day, at least, and longer if you light Gandalf's candle."

Sam looked at his master, tears glistening in his eyes. "Thank you, Frodo," he said with an effort, "for everything." And turning on his heel, he ran to find Rosie, clutching the precious candle in his hand.

~tbc~

WARNING: CHAPTER 20 WILL BE RATED R. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. IF YOU DO NOT WISH THE VISUALIZATION OF SAM & ROSIE'S WEDDING NIGHT, THEN DON'T READ IT!

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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