A Little Piece of Travel

Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin sat around the table. Most of the talking they did was humiliating Sam with his "luck" with Rosie. Sam had quickly whipped up a small dinner to busy himself and hide his blush. Now they were headed for the front steps of Bag End to enjoy a spot of Old Toby in the clean night air.

The night was fresh, crisp, clear and beautiful. Stars shone brightly in the black blanket that covered the sky and the moon hung luminously, casting a pale light about the land. The cool night wind made Sam sigh in comfort. It had been very stuffy and hot in the kitchen and a cold breeze cleared up his mind and woke him up.

Frodo pulled out his pipe and said, "It's so peaceful."

Merry nodded in agreement and light his pipe, "It's a glorious night too, I can't remember one so wonderful."
Sam, who was running his finger up and down the stem up his old pipe, recalled, "When we just left the Shire, our first night camping out on the road." Sam was a bit reluctant to bring up the Ring. He cast a look at Frodo's hand, which was balancing the pipe, and the stump where a finger should have been. Still, Sam figured that he should continue, "I was already homesick, believe me or not! And the stars were just.so bright and full of hope and joy." Sam had no other way to put it. He wished he could put more poetic words into his mouth and express himself freely, but he couldn't find the words. So simple he had to remain.

Pippin nodded, staring across the land with his unlit pipe in his hand. "Rivendell. First night in Rivendell. Frodo, you were still asleep and we were worried to death about your safety." Pippin turned and looked at Frodo at this, then turned back to gaze upon the stars. "The stars, they just seemed to soothe me and tell me that everything would work out." Pippin here laughed a little, looking down at the ground. "I know I sound stupid. Stars.stars telling me things."

"Not really, Pip." Merry said, blowing a thread of smoke from his lips. "Same here with me, except it was when we were with those awful orcs." Merry seemed to shudder at the mere thought of it. "I was in darkness, there didn't seem to be any desire to live or continue on. I just wanted to fall there and end it all." Merry's eyes seemed to contain a sadness beyond all belief and anguish unimaginable. "But the stars.they really did seem to encourage me on and assure me that we would get out alive. Alive and able to experience happiness again." Merry smiled a small smile, shaking his head.

Frodo was staring off into the distance, the familiar hopeless look on his face. He said in a shaky voice, "Mordor." Sam grew uneasy, Frodo never talked about Mordor often. Only when he needed to, and when he did it was short and simple. "Darkness was absorbing the life out of us, it was dragging us deeper into its depths and sucking everything happy and light away from us. It grew so large. But the stars, the stars always seemed to give more hope. Always."

They sat for awhile in silence, puffing on their pipes and watching the night grow.

Frodo finally spoke, "I miss traveling." Sam tried to contain his shock. Sam knew that Frodo loved the Shire, and he also knew that Frodo also enjoyed the open roads and wandering in the forest. But never did Sam think that Frodo would miss it, that he would be willing to leave the Shire again, for heaven knows how long! Frodo went on, "I know it seems crazy, but I do miss sleeping under the stars and walking long roads." Frodo laughed here. "It's not easy on the feet and at the moment I didn't really anticipate a long walk for the whole day, but if I were able to travel at my own pace and comfort.it would be wonderful."

There was more silence as they all sunk into their own thoughts. Sam puffed on his pipe and a trail of grey-blue smoke dissolved into the atmosphere.

Merry finally rested his pipe down and said, "Well, I don't see why we can't spend a night beneath the stars and our packs, cloaks, and the earth as our bed!" Merry got to his feet and opened the door and picked up his pack and cloak. "Come on, now! Just like old times except this time there's no Ringwraiths to haunt us!"

Even Frodo laughed, and he too rose to his feet and walked through the open doorway. "I'll try and find my pack and cloak; I can't remember where I put anything."

Sam stood up along with Pippin, "It would be fun, or it would be like traveling, a bit. A little piece of the experience." Sam said, heading to his room, hurrying quickly down the hallway.

Sam's room was slightly smaller than Frodo's, but good enough for Sam. There was a nice bed with a hand-made quilt his grandmother made on top, a nice dressing closet and drawers. There were several windows that let moonlight pour through them and light the room a bit. Sam knelt by his bed and pulled out his old Lothlorien cloak and his battered, ripped, and travel worn pack. Sam smiled and fingered the strap that Sam had often re- adjusted during the trip.

"No use for an empty pack." Sam told himself, peering inside. "Need to fill it up with something." Sam grabbed his pillow and set it neatly inside his pack. "Slightly more comfortable than a bunch of pots and pans, that'll be good." Sam told himself as he headed out the door and out into the night.

Frodo was already outside, the cloak that he had first used at the beginning of the quest. It was a great loss that the orcs had taken Frodo's own Lothlorien cloak and probably ripped it to shreds. Sam frowned at the memory, but was determined to remain happy. 'There's been enough misery and suffering for one lifetime.' He thought as Merry started down the path.

"We'll head to the clearing in the forest." He said in a happy voice. He had obviously missed the open road as well. In fact, Sam now realized that he too missed traveling. He missed the wind on his face, brushing through his hair and refreshing him as he traveled down the road. There was always the horrible things of traveling. Lack of food, water, weariness and fatigue. But now he could travel in comfort, walk as much as he wanted to, rest when he wished, go at his own pace. The idea sent a tingle up his spine, he could travel how he wanted to!

Frodo inhaled deeply and laughed, "This is the best feeling in the world! I haven't felt this wonderful for a long time!" Frodo cast a look at Sam and said, "Well, except for perhaps this afternoon when I found out that Sam had a girlfriend."

Sam was lucky it was dark, because his blush didn't show. "She's not my girlfriend, Mr. Frodo."

Merry, who was in the lead, snorted and muttered rather loudly, "Not yet."

They all laughed, except for Sam, and Frodo said, "But you know it, Sam! According to the story Rosie was the one who started it all. She asked for the walk, she took hold of your hand, she invited you for dinner."

Pippin, who was in front of Frodo, laughed and said, "Come on, Sam, she practically threw herself at you! All you have to do now is catch her!" Pippin held out his hands in front of him and looked back at Sam. "Nice and smooth, see?"

Sam replied, confused. "Not really."

Pippin shrugged it off and said, "Eh, it's the dark, but who cares!" He slowed down and put his arm around Sam's shoulder and looked at him, saying, "Women are like bottles of wine without labels. Some of them will blow you away and some aren't worth your time. Go for the strong and delicious ones!" He gave Sam a wink, then went up ahead.

Frodo called out, "Pippin, everything to you is alcohol, isn't it?"

Pippin merely held up his arm with a thumbs up.

Merry laughed and added, "Actually, women to me are more like the seasons. Some are cold, some are warm, some are hot and others are breezy!"

"Women are like female versions of us and a heck lot more confusing!" Pippin called back.

Frodo nodded and said, "I agree with Pippin!"

"Geez, Sam!" Merry said, giving him a playful shove. "You're the reasons we're blabbing but you have nothing to say!" He looked at Sam, as if expecting a good reply.

Sam looked around, confused, then said, "Well, my gaffer used to say, 'Samwise, women are like flowers in that there garden! Some have a stunning fragrance, some have a hornet hidden inside of their pretty petals, but most are beautiful and have grown in good soil.'"

"I don't get that." Pippin said, "It has nothing to do with alcohol!"

"Clamp it, Pip." Merry said. "Who cares what women are like? It'll end with a success or a failure any way."
"Oh, that makes Sam feel all warm and fuzzy inside!" Pippin told Merry sarcastically, "His first dinner with Rosie in a day or so and you're talking about failure!"

Frodo, who had been squinting ahead in the darkness, said, "Hey, here's our clearing! Just a little way ahead!"

Sam soon stepped into clear moonlight, and he could get a fairly clear view of the clearing. In a way, it wasn't really a clearing. There were still some odd trees around, but not nearly as thick as before. They threw their packs on the ground and propped their heads up on them, staring up at the stars.

Sam heard Merry sigh after a long period of silence. "Memories, eh?"

Sam shifted his shoulders in discomfort while Pippin said, "Hey, I can see a constellation!"

"Which one?" Frodo asked.

"Dunno, but there's probably one up there I can't recognize."
"Peachy."

They lay in silence for awhile, then one by one they drifted off to sleep. Sam, being the last one to fall asleep, stood up for a considerable amount of time, thinking about the day. Rosie Cotton had asked him to dinner, Merry and Pippin were back from their trip, and tomorrow was definitely going to be no ordinary day.

"No wonder I can't sleep." Sam muttered, then turned onto his side and eventually drifted off.