Understanding

~*~

Prologue: Ourside

Supper wasn't ready and the hedges were half done. The sky was purple, wavering around pink-orange; the globe that was the setting sun was the center of colored waves that roiled beautifully around that singular giant heat. Sam placed a soil-worn hand to his breast, and slid his fingers beneath rough cotton to rest against sweat, hair, and his cooling skin.

He breathed deeply, sinking into sighs from his earlier rough gasps, as the Sun had had his back and he was toiling: tilling, sowing, digging his palms into the weeded turf, and running smooth the mounds he had made for Junipers and lilies. They would be lovely come full summer, when the sky was brighter, and all he need do was water the earth and carry Mr. Frodo's things to and from market…and dust his table, and fill his lamps, and tend his larder, and such.

He imagined hearing scribbles and blots coming from the study window, but turned to see that it was shut.

"Ah, Frodo me dear…"

And that was all he could say. The light flip of the wind snatched his breathless words and scattered them among the hilltops. And his thoughts…

I'm out here, and you're in there, but there's no stopping it, you see. I feel the way I do because you're beautiful. And because you're so, you won't ever say 'nay.' So I'll sit out here and love you, and you'll write beautiful things in there, and all will be right with all!

"Sam!" Called the tired and tremulous voice from the suddenly open study window. "Sam, come inside! It's nearly time for supper."

"Yes Mr. Frodo! I'll be only a moment!"

And the gardener's son, tired and brown, turned loving eyes upon the dream-harboring window, before he heaved a sigh, and straightened his back, and went inside to the larder- and then to the small rounded kitchen to make supper, and tea, and fire.

…and soon to walk from the round doorway in the purple evening, and look back, feeling things he could only feel outside, wishing they were inside, but knowing that this was enough for the time, for then, for his heart.

_____________________

mlgary@netdoor.com

Or, read my Live Journal: www.livejournal.com/users/WitchElijah