1.1 Sam's Tale

Reviews coveted and appreciated!

"I asks, yes. And if that isn't nice enough, I begs!"

Author: Nilramiel@aol.com, aka RosieCotton

Rating: G, PG, R

Genre: General/Romance

Setting: The Shire, mid-year's day, 1420

Author's Notes

FYI Sam's Tale is not over! It's just that RL has infringed on me a bit more than usual and slowed me down.

In the meantime, I have posted another story, also Sam/Rosie but further in the future, and have started an angst story (1st chapter posted).

You will be able to find both of these on my author page.

Thank you again for your wonderful reviews and support. Although I do this more as much for me than anyone else, you are my motivation.

Nilly

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1.2 Chapter 26: Mid Year's Day

Rating: G

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On mid-year's day that year, Frodo finally resigned the office of Deputy mayor.

He had held the office for over six months, plenty of time for Mayor Will Whitfoot to recover from his ordeal in Sharkey's lockholes (more than enough time, thought most, but no one begrudged him the rest), and he had done a fine job, though he always said he didn't do much.

There was a small ceremony in the town square, involving the signing of papers and the giving over of keys, and much applause from the onlookers. After several drinks of celebration at The Green Dragon, Frodo, Sam, Rosie and the Gaffer headed back up towards the Row.

It was a fine sunshiny afternoon, one of those fresh early summer Shire days, when hobbit children run laughing in the fields and splash in the ponds, trying to catch elusive green frogs and laughing in their clear joyful voices. The hobbits walked slowly, breathing in the warm air and talking.

"Do you know," commented Frodo, "That it was one year ago today that King Elessar and Queen Arwen were married."

"Why so it was!" Sam agreed. "An' it hardly seems it could have been a whole year already, and over half a year since we came 'ome." He reached over and captured Rosie's hand, as if to assure himself of her solidarity. She squeezed his fingers. "Ah, I wish you could have been there, Rose. It was so lovely."

They walked for a bit further, the soft breeze ruffling their curls. The Gaffer picked a large weed from the side of the path and stuck it between his teeth.

"So, Mr. Frodo," Rosie asked, turning her head towards the older hobbit. "What will you do now, with all your extra time? Will you work on your book?"

Hamfast Gamgee raised his eyebrows at Rosie, perhaps a bit surprised at her boldness, but then looked at Frodo, eager to know the answer himself.

"Yes," said Frodo, "That is weighing heavily on my mind. That, and other things. I want to get everything written down, quickly, before the memories fade."

"If they do fade," he added with a soft sigh. "Sam, I will need your help, you know, and Merry's help, and Pippin's."

"Aw, I'm no good at writin' Mr. Frodo," Sam said, "But sure as I'll help in any way I can. And I'm sure t'others will be glad to help as well. They certainly love to talk about it."

"I shall need them," Frodo said, "For there are a lot of bits in this story that you and I were not there to witness, Sam. And although we have been told them, in great detail, I think for a truly accurate account I shall need all three of you near at hand."

Sam nodded.

For a few more paces, no one spoke, but then the Gaffer burst out with the question that had been eating away at his mind for weeks.

"What's it all about, this red book? I mean, I know it's chock full o' adventures, of Mr. Bilbo's and yours, Mr. Frodo, but whys the need for scribin' it all down and bein' careful about details and such? Tales round here are mostly passed a'mouth, and sure as they get stretched a bit, but it makes for an even better tale at times for the stretchin'. Not that yer tales need any improvin' on, Sir," he clarified. "I'm not a reading man, meself, but my Sam is, and right proud of him I am, too, though I don't understand why he takes such stock in this red book o'yours, if you don't mind me asking." He stopped abruptly, seeming to feel that he had talked himself into a corner, and flushed deeply.

Frodo looked at the Gaffer, and he wanted to laugh, seeing his dearest friend Sam in much older form, shy with imagined "overstepping of his bounds." But he did not laugh, having the sense not to embarrass the older hobbit, and knowing also that the question was a genuine one, and more important than even the Gaffer realized.

"Well, Hamfast," he said seriously, "This tale, the tale of the War, and the Ring, and our part in it – it's – well, it's bigger than the normal tales we tell one another."

The Gaffer nodded, and Frodo continued.

"It's so important that we remember what happened, and that our children remember, and our children's children. Hobbits need to keep alive the memory of the age that is gone, so that they will always remember the Great Danger and love their beloved land all the more." He stopped for a moment, and the others stopped with him, so important this seemed to him.

"A great evil has departed from the world, Hamfast," Frodo said, looking first to the Gaffer then to Sam and Rosie in turn. "But evil itself will always be. So Gandalf told me. And to be on guard, to keep that evil from rising up again, we must always keep our History in mind. I do not want the Tale of the Ring to be lost to fairy tale and myth, like so many other great tales have been."

He resumed walking, laying an arm over the Gaffer's shoulders to let him know he was not displeased with him, and turning the conversation to the Gaffer's garden, which was uncommonly beautiful this year.

Sam watched his master, taking Rosie's hand again as they continued up the path, and he felt a fresh stirring of pride and love within his chest.

"Don't you worry, Mr. Frodo," he said to himself, and it was an internal vow. "If there's anything Samwise Gamgee can do about it, every soul in the Shire will know, and remember."

~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.