Prepared?

Sam woke up, rubbing the sleep out of his bleary eyes. The sun was barely peeking above the horizon, the sky still a shade of purple pink. Sam sat up and looked around, his back hurting as he had been sleeping on a unfriendly root. 'Yes, just like old times.' He thought merrily as he glanced around, massaging his back. Everyone was asleep except for Frodo, who was reading a book he had brought along. It was one of the old fairy tales that Bilbo had written, and often read to the children before he left. Sam remembered how he and Frodo would beg Bilbo to read it when they were young. It was about an elvin maiden who was in distress, and many knights tried to rescue her but failed. In the end, the maiden gave up all hope of anyone trying to rescue her and ended up escaping by herself.

Frodo glanced away from the book to Sam when he sat up. Frodo smiled and put down the book, saying, "Morning, Sam. Did you sleep well?"

Sam replied, "I think so, but I was on a root and my back doesn't really enjoy it." Sam grimaced as he stood up, "And you? Did the owl bug you again?"

Frodo sighed and stared into the distance, "No," He replied in a faraway voice, "It was one of the best sleeps I have ever had. Just like on the road." He looked at Sam and snapped out of his misty stage, "But a lot more safer and more enjoyable since there are no more Ringwraiths floating around!"

Sam gave a small smile, wondering if it was appropriate to do so on such a grim topic. He heard Pippin groan as he woke up, sitting up slowly and shielding the little light away from his eyes.

"Morning?" He said in a questioning voice as he noticed Sam and Frodo.

"Back to you, you sluggish worm." Frodo replied, standing up alongside Sam.

Pippin yawned and stretched as he stood up, accidentally tripping over his pack and tumbling to the ground with a yelp. Frodo laughed and bent down, grabbing Pippin's hand and pulling him back up.

"It wasn't funny!" Pippin said grimly, rubbing his head. "Oh, I think my head was on a rock!"

Pippin turned around and bent down by Merry. Sam instantly knew what Pippin had in mind.

"Uh, Pippin?" He asked, but it was too late.

"MERIADOC BRANDYBUCK!!" Pippin shrieked, imitating his mother's shrill voice. "WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO!?"

Merry shot up, eyes wide in fear and screaming, "I didn't do it! It was Pippin! I swear!"

Merry looked around, Sam trying to contain his laughter while Frodo and Pippin roared in laughter. Merry looked very flustered and a great deal.

"Not very funny, guys, not funny at all." He said, casting his cloak to the side.

Pippin wiped a tear from his eye, his laughter dying down. He doubled over in pain and grasped his stomach. "Ohh. that doesn't really make a nice combination with my head."

"You deserve it." Merry said, picking up his cloak and shaking it while he grabbed his pack with the other.

Frodo bent down and gathered his stuff, saying, "Well, that was fun! I don't know about you, but I could do that again any time soon!"

"Heck, Frodo," Pippin said, "Just go on a little trip! You don't have to go far, just wander around for a week or two. It'll be a nice vacation for you, from.whatever you do that's so stressful!"

Sam tried not to groan while he bent down to get his pack. Sharp pains darted up his back. 'Yes, this was quite a little taste of traveling.' He thought as they headed back to Bag End, Pippin complaining that he needed another ale

***

Sam fidgeted nervously with his shears, trying to concentrate on pruning the other rosebushes. But it was kind of hard for Sam. He was a great deal nervous about the dinner he was having with Rosie, and the fact that he had to linger around a bunch of roses didn't help the butterflies in his stomach go away. Trying to ignore it, Sam readjusted his grip on the shears and began to prune. Sam couldn't help but notice one particular rose, which was perfect in every prospect. The petals were smooth as silk, the deep red color standing clearly out against the green, not too big and not too small. He shook his head and began to clip again. 'Just a rose, Samwise.' He told himself, 'Just another rose that you see every day. Nothing is special about it, just a rose.' He couldn't help but look at it again. 'Very pretty though.'

Finally discarding the thought of trying to garden in peace, Sam stood up with an exasperated sigh and dropped the shears into the rusty wheelbarrow in a defeated way. Very unfortunately, Merry saw him, and wasted no time in "helping" Sam with his problem.

"Nervous, Sam?" He asked, even though he knew what the answer was going to be.

Sam was almost dreading meeting with Merry. He knew that Merry would try to give him advice, then he'd change his mind about what he said and start the "lessons" all over again.

"Seems so, Merry." Sam said, dejected.

Merry shook his head and put his arm around Sam's shoulder, leading him into Bag End. "Sam, Sam, Sam. You need to be more confident in yourself! Walk in Rosie's door and thrust a bunch of flowers in her arms, eat the food, compliment on it, I mean REALLY compliment it, give her a nice, big kiss goodnight then stride off feeling good about yourself!"

"Easier said than done." Sam replied, feeling even sicker to his stomach. "Oh, this is not a very good day!"

"Relax, Sam!" Merry said, giving him the just-listen-to-what-I-say look. "Stop wallowing in your own anxiety and smell the roses!"

They stepped into the dark hallway and shut the door behind them, Sam sighing and heading to the kitchen. Frodo and Pippin were seated there, trying to play a game of cards. Frodo was losing, and Pippin had an evil grin on his mischievous face.

"Sweet day, eh Sam?" Pippin said, laying down his cards in triumph while Frodo moaned and took another gulp of tea. Sam, who had no idea how to play cards, looked at the table in confusion. Then he shook it off and sunk into a seat. Merry, grabbing a chunk of bread off of the loaf sitting on the counter, sat next to him.

"Sammy's got the twitchies," he said, chewing on the bread slowly. "He is in need of our knowledge, Pippin."

Pippin rushed over to the empty seat next to Sam and said, "Well, should've said so earlier! I know all there is to know about women! Ask the pro!"

Frodo snorted and said, "No you don't! All you know is that the pretty ones that you find in bars usually enjoy a kiss and a cuddle!"

Pippin wrinkled his nose in disgust and replied indignantly, "Oh, and you'd know how to please a maid, wouldn't you? Mr. I-think-I'll-hide-in-my- hole-for-the-rest-of-my-days-and-hardly-talk-to-anyone-i-don't-know!" Pippin turned back to Sam and, without trying to lower his voice, said, "Frodo couldn't please a girl even if the requirements were written on his finest shirt and waved in front of him!"

Frodo whacked Pippin playfully on his head and got up to wash the dishes, leaving Sam very alone with Merry and Pippin to bombard him with advice.

"Bring her flowers." Merry said helpfully. "Give her roses! You have some nice ones in your garden!"

"No, no, no!" Pippin said, shaking his head. "Give her some daisies! They're pretty!"

Merry shook his head as well, "No, roses! It's her name, see? Rosie, roses! It makes sense!"

"No! That's just oozing with cheesiness and sap! Daises are nice and simple but are still romantic!"

"Sam's got some nice roses in his garden. HIS garden! From HIM! Girls love that."

"Look, don't ask me to participate in your junk if you don't like the way I do it!" Pippin said, pointing a finger at Merry sternly.

Merry buried his face in his hands and moaned in frustration. "Sam," He muttered, "Just give her some flowers. Women like flowers."

Pippin couldn't help but to put in. "You know what women really like? A sense of humor and a kiss or two."

Merry got an exasperated look on his face and said, "No, that's what bar wenches like! And that's the only kind of woman you know."

"Taunt me now, Merry. You're just jealous because I'm just too dang hot for you to compete with." Pippin said in mock seriousness.

Sam, all the while, was trying to sort out all of the "advise" Merry and Pippin had spat at him. 'Oh, how I wish that I was smart enough to figure out what was going on!' Finally he decided that he had better start on the flowers, he tried to stand up and pick some out.

"Hold it, Samwise Gamgee!" Merry said with fake sternness, grabbing Sam's arm and looking at him straight in the eye. "Where do you think you're off to, eh? We're trying to give you advice and you run off!"

Frodo, who couldn't help it, burst out, "No, you're arguing about flowers and poor Sam is trying to understand it all!"

"Oh, Frodo, I'd like to see you do better!" Pippin snorted, folding his arms in front of him stubbornly, looking like a little child.

Frodo rubbed a plate thoughtfully and said, "Be polite, pleasant, don't get too nervous, just be yourself with a little more charm than you'd usually show!"

Merry shook his head, "Pathetic."

"Well, it's better than arguing over daises and roses!" Frodo pointed out. "Better get ready, Sam, it's almost time!"

Sam nodded, still feeling nervous, and headed down the hallway to take a bath.