Frodo sat up groggily as the sun came streaming into his window. The events of his first day at Bag End came back to him like a flash. For Frodo it was a mixture of emotions. Some very good and others he'd rather not think about.

He was very happy to have met Samwise. He was proving to be one of the nicest hobbits Frodo had ever met, but the other hobbit Frodo met yesterday was quite the opposite. Lotho was very mean to Frodo and he wasn't sure why. Although it seemed to him that it had something to do with his uncle's vast riches.

Suddenly a knock came at Frodo's door, interrupting his thoughts.

"Good morning lad! How did you sleep?" Bilbo asked in a cheerful voice as he entered the room.

"Very well, Uncle." Frodo said smiling.

"I was wondering if you would like to take a walk around town with Samwise today after breakfast. I've got some errands to run and you two seemed to hit it off rather well yesterday."

"The sounds nice Bilbo." Frodo replied with a smile that went all the way to his eyes.

After breakfast, Frodo and Sam went on their way.

"How's your head, Mr. Frodo, if you don't mind me asking?" Sam said, taking Frodo's hand.

"It's feeling much better Sam."

"Well, that's good Mr. Frodo. Mr. Lotho sure ain't a very nice hobbit and that's no mistake."

"That does seem to be the case." Frodo agreed.

As they walked along the path, Frodo noticed all the beautiful gardens. He also noted that none looked as beautiful as his Uncle's.

"I love the gardens, Mr. Frodo!" Sam said happily, reflecting Frodo's thoughts.

"They are very beautiful Samwise." Frodo said, not noticing that he had used Sam's full name.

"Look at these, Mr. Frodo." He said, pulling Frodo off the path to a patch of little yellow flowers.

"These are dandelions. Me Gaffer says they're weeds, but I think they're pretty." Sam said, in adoration of the little plants, that most saw as pests that ruined otherwise beautiful lawns.

"What about these, Sam?" Frodo asked, pointing to bigger yellow flowers.

"Those are black-eyed susans. You see Mr. Frodo? Its like them flowers have big black eyes."

Frodo smiled. Then pointed to some other flowers. "And are these yellow-eyed susans?"

"Oh no Mr. Frodo! Beggin' your pardon sir. Those are daisies. I've a sister named Daisy sir. They're sure pretty flowers." Sam said, glowing with happiness.

Sam had always loved growing things. Whether animal or plant. But, he always loved flowers the most. They were so delicate and so beautiful. Even at Sam's young age, he knew that each and every one of them needed special care.

Then a small flower caught Sam's eye. He carefully plucked it out of the ground. "Look what I found Mr. Frodo!"

Frodo looked at the small yellow flower in Sam's hand.

"This one's a buttercup Mr. Frodo. If you holds it up to your chin and it shows yellow it means that you like butter." Sam said smiling.

"Well try it on me Sam." Frodo said. He knew that it was just the reflection of the sun off the flower, but it was so refreshing to see someone so happy to just be alive that Frodo made not mention of it. Sam truly was a gentle loving soul.

Sam held the flower under Frodo's chin. "You do like butter, sir!"

Frodo then took the flower from Sam and did the same to him. "Well so do you Sam!"

Both boy's laughed happily.

Their happiness was cut short though by yelling heard from farther up the hill. Frodo walked cautiously up the hill with Sam not far behind. The sight that met Frodo's eyes came quite as a shock to the young hobbit.

An older hobbit brought a whip down upon a smaller hobbit's back that couldn't have been much older than Sam.

Frodo was enraged. He had never seen any hobbit ever do such things to another hobbit.

"Why can't you do anything right?" The older hobbit yelled to the smaller one angrily.

"I'm sorry, master, sir." The younger hobbit whimpered.

Frodo could feel Sam shudder beside him. Sam knew how some masters could be. Some masters could be very cruel to their servants. The prospect had always scared Sam even though Bilbo had never and would never treat his father or him that way.

Frodo did not like the look of this. As he saw the whip come up again, he acted without thinking. He ran up the hill and quickly shielded the small hobbit with his body.

Frodo cried out in pain when the whip hit his small back. He had never felt such pain in all his life. The force of it caused him to fall on the smaller hobbit.

"What?" The older hobbit exclaimed, taken aback.

The smaller hobbit helped Frodo sit up. At this point Sam came running up the hill as fast as his short legs could carry him.

"Master! Master!" Sam cried. "Are you alright Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked, rushing to his master's side. Tears were streaming down his face in worry for his friend.

"Oh, Sam." Frodo said, reaching out to the boy.

Sam put his arms carefully around his master, not wanting to hurt him more than he already was hurt. He looked up into Frodo's blues eyes and saw pain there.

The older hobbit took on the scene in wonder, as did his small servant. Suddenly it clicked for the elder hobbit. The youngest hobbit was a Gamgee and that much he knew for sure. And if the Gamgee called the other boy master, well then, that boy must be a Baggins and very much a gentlehobbit.

Frodo looked up to the older hobbit with anger. "How could you do this to your servant?" He demanded.

"I, I'm sorry Mr. Baggins." The hobbit stammered. "I was just a bit angry. You know how stupid servants can be. Never doing anything right."

"I wouldn't know about that." Frodo said evenly. He slowly stood up as if the act pained him. Sam let go of Frodo in the process and then resorted to hugging his master's legs tightly.

"You should treat your servant much better than that." Frodo insisted. He knew he shouldn't talk this way to his elders, but this was something that Frodo was very passionate about. No one should be treated how this hobbit had treated his servant.

"Of course. Of course." The older hobbit said, shaking his head in wonderment. He had never seen so much care come from someone in the high position that the young Baggins must be in. "I'm very sorry for hitting you, young sir." The hobbit, never intended to hit someone of a Baggin's stature and that was for sure.

"It was worth it, if I could spare the pain of this young one." Frodo said, reaching down to gently untangle Sam from his legs.

Sam hesitantly let go of Frodo. He hadn't known Frodo for much more than a day, but he had already been hurt twice in his presence.

Frodo took Sam's hand and then walked over to the other servant boy.

"Thank you very much sir." The boy said.

Frodo smiled at him and patted his arm, letting go of Sam's hand in the process. "Come on Samwise." Frodo said, keeping a stoic face.

As soon as they were back on the path, Frodo couldn't hold in his pain any longer. He feel to his knees in the middle of the path and let the tears stream down his face. A small sob escaped from his throat.

Sam turned at the sound. "Oh, Mr. Frodo!" Sam yelled in surprise, running back to his master.

"Oh, it hurts so very much Sam. How could anyone ever do that to someone else?"

"I don't know sir. Not all masters are very nice." he said, helping Frodo to sit up. He carefully slipped Frodo's braces from his shoulders and lifted his shirt up. There was an angry red welt on his back. It was slightly bloody, but not too bad.

Sam quickly ran to a nearby stream and soaked his handkerchief in the cool water. He ran back to where his master sat and began washing the wound.

Frodo whimpered a little.

"It's all right, me dear." Sam said quietly. "Your Sam will fix you up real good, sir."

"Thank you Sam."

When Sam had finished, he carefully brought Frodo's shirt back down, frowning at the small stain of blood on one of his master's brand new shirts.

Frodo pulled his braces back up over his shoulders and stood carefully.

"Let's get you back home Mr. Frodo."

"Thank you Sam." Frodo said, again. Smiling down at his friend.

"Your welcome, sir." Sam said, once again taking Frodo's hand.

As they walked back to Bag End, Sam came to a conclusion. Mr. Frodo was just as delicate, beautiful, and in need of love just as much any of the flowers in Mr. Bilbo's garden. He vowed from then on to always be there for his master, no matter the cost.

************************************************************************

Please review!

Obelia medusa: Thanks for your comments. I hope my hobbit speech is a little better in this chapter. I tried to notice these things, but okay just seemed to slip by me. I'm glad you like my characterization of Sam. I keep trying to let him act like the little hobbit he is, while still making him very loyal and protective of Frodo. Not an easy thing I tell you!

crazytook: I'm glad you like my story. You know, I'm not really sure about that whole Sam-thinks-Frodo-looks-like-an-elf-thing. I thought it may have said something about Frodo being elvish in the books, but I can't remember. I did know that he was described as being fairer than most. Although you are right the movie definitely does help. Elijah Wood looks almost elvish himself. I'm glad you liked the scene between Frodo and Lotho. I agree with you about Frodo and the class systems. I don't think he cares much about them.

Zorra: Thanks!

Katani Petitedra: Oh man! The Evil Frying Pan of Destruction TM! Sam wields it very well! I don't like Lotho very much either. I'm happy that you still like this!

Michelle Frodo: I like Lotho bullying stories too, even though they are EVIL because poor Frodo gets hurt! Speaking of little boys in church, I kind of babysat little Elijah after church last week. His parents had play practice so I was playing with him. I'm not usually one to like small children. (They're too loud and I have sensitive ears.) But, Elijah is just the sweetest, he didn't want me to leave. If I ever had a kid I'd want him to be like him. I don't think Frodo has strange eyes. I think they are lovely. But, I also can relate with you. I have big blue-gray eyes. I always do the bug-eyed look to purposely disturb people. You know, I never even noticed that Elijah Wood had big eyes until I read it somewhere. But, I came to the conclusion that I didn't notice because I had big eyes myself. Oh, and your welcome on the compliments on your poetry.

hmsgirl: Yes, I agree Frodo is very cool. (Or groovy as I would say.) And pre-LOTRs fics are some of my favorites also. I do agree Elijah Wood is incredibly attractive. (Don't get me started on my fascination problem with him!)

Wow, I've written some long responses to your reviews. I guess it comes from being home sick for nearly a week. I hate being sick. Stupid viruses. Oh well…