Sam sighed heavily, and sat down on the ground, "Can we stop for a while? I'm tired!"
Frodo sat down and put his head in his hands. He was confused, he didn't know what to do. This trip was NOT going the way he had planned. Not long ago, it had started to rain again. It wasn't a heavy rain, but it brought quite a chill to the air. Plus the storm the previous night. Sam was obviously sick, and Frodo wasn't feeling very well himself. He considered turning back, but without the map, could he find his way back? He sighed, what should he do? Why did everything have to go wrong? This was supposed to be fun… There was nothing ahead of them, except fields. Where would they go if it started raining harder?
Frodo looked over at Sam, "Sam, I think we should try going home…"
"Now?" Sam asked curiously.
Frodo nodded. "But… I'll need your help - I can't remember every way we came, do you think you could remember a little?" Sam started to say something, but Frodo cut him off. "Oh wait! Nevermind, I think we should keep going. If we keep going to the road, we might come across someone with a cart, who could give us a ride."
Sam shook his head, "Not many hobbits will be out in the rain."
Frodo nodded, "I know." He shrugged, "But we could at least give it a try…"
Sam sighed and nodded in agreement, "Okay."
Frodo stood up, "Alright, let's go."
"Already?" Sam protested. "But we haven't rested for very long."
"No, we haven't," Frodo agreed. "But the sooner we leave, the sooner you'll be home, sitting in front of a nice, warm fire."
Sam smiled at that thought. He nodded and sighed. He stood up, walked a few steps, and fell back down. He shook his head, "I can't, I'm too tired. Can't we stay just a little while longer?"
Frodo sighed and shook his head, "I don't think so, Sam, I'm sorry. I think we should get going." He put his hand out for Sam, "Come on."
Sam looked away, dissappointed. Finally, he sighed and taking Frodo's hand, stood up, "I'm sorry Mr. Frodo, but it's more than I'm just tired. I don't feel very well, and I don't feel like walking as far as home. I wish I was already there!"
Frodo nodded, "I know, so do I." He shook his head, "I don't feel very well either. If it was a nice day, I wouldn't mind staying here for a while. But if we're both sick, I don't think we should stay out in the rain anymore that we have to."
Sam nodded slowly, "You're right. Okay, I'll try…"
"Alright," Frodo smiled, and they started walking again.
~~~~~
They hadn't been traveling for long, though, when Frodo thought he heard something. "What was that?" he asked Sam.
"What?" Sam asked curiously. He shook his head, "I didn't hear anything."
"It sounded like--" Frodo started, looking around. "I'm sure it--" he found what he was looking for. "Yes, it was! Look, over there," he said, pointing. "There's someone there!"
"Indeed, Mr. Frodo," Sam agreed happily, "There is!"
"Come on, Sam," Frodo started running, and waved for Sam to follow.
"Who are ya', and what are ya' doin' here?" bellowed the old hobbit, once Frodo and Sam had both come over.
"Well," Frodo started nervously. "We're out on a little trip, and we got caught in the rain."
The hobbit looked at them both. Finally, he grumped, "It's cold and wet out here. Come on inside!"
"I'm sorry, sir," Frodo said, once they were inside. "We didn't know anyone lived here. We thought it was just an open field."
"Call me Simon," he told them. He shrugged, "You can stay here if ya' want – 'till the rain stops."
Sam sniffed and coughed. "Thank you," he said, before coughing again.
"Yeah well…" Simon said, starting a fire in the fireplace. Frodo and Sam both moved closer to it, trying to get warm.
"Th-Thank you," Sam said again, shivering.
"Yes, this is very kind of you," Frodo said. He shook his head, "And we'll try not to be a bother."
"Looks like ya' already have been…" Simon said gruffly. He pointed to Sam, "If he's sick."
Frodo looked down. If Simon thought they were going to be a problem, he might change his mind about letting them stay. But when he looked back up, he was surprised - Simon's face had softened, and… was that a smile?
"What are your name's?" Simon asked, still smiling, as he sat down in a chair near the fire.
"I'm Frodo, and he's Sam," Frodo told him, surprised at Simon's change in attitude.
"Hmm… You say you were on a trip?"
"Yes," Frodo nodded, then proceeded to tell him everything up to that point.
"Well, if you're worried about rain, you can stay the night," Simon told them. Then he added, "If ya' want…"
"I th-thought you said we c-could only stay until it s-stopped raining?" Sam asked, still shivering.
"Well…" The old hobbit shrugged, "Do ya' wanna stay or not?"
"Yes," Frodo told him. He looked over to Sam, "We might as well…" It didn't look like they'd be going much farther. Not today anyway – the sunlight was beginning to fade. And they might as well have someplace warm and dry to stay…
~~~~~
To Be Continued…
