Oak Tree

"Once again, we away!" Pippin yelled in a heroic voice, jumping atop a table and drawing an imaginary sword.

"What're you doing, Pip!?" Pearl hissed, tugging on the end of his trousers and glancing around the room. Almost everyone was looking in confusion at Pippin, in a heroic pose and a dramatic expression on his face. "Get down at once, Ma would never approve of it!"

Pippin looked down at her and smiled his carefree smile, "Ma isn't here, is she?"

"If she was, you'd be black and blue with beatings, Peregrin!" Pervinca replied sternly, "I don't think she'd like to see you with a server girl dangling off your neck!"

"Have a heart, Peri!" He said, jumping off and giving her puppy eyes, "Would you have such a handsome mug as this get scarred and mutilated?"

"Yes, and without hesitation!" She answered, but couldn't hold back a smile.

Frodo grabbed his cloak where he cast it on the back of his chair, saying, "Pippin is right, we must away! It's late and believe me, I could use the sleep!"

Merry grabbed his mug and finished off his ale, while Sam put on his cloak. Pearl was trying to slap Pippin, but he was making a great show of dodging her by jumping on tables, hiding behind chairs, and sticking his tongue out. Finally, everyone had finished off their ale, struggled on their cloaks, and pulled open the door into the chilly night.

"Whoo, it's freezing out here!" Merry stated, wrapping his cloak tighter around him .
Pearl was holding onto Frodo's arm, leaning close to him, and it was more then obvious she was doing it on purpose. Frodo looked slightly reluctant because of this, and he caught Sam's eye and gave him a pleading smile. Sam just winked and contained a laugh. They started up the dirt road, clumped together and trying block out the wind. The tree's branches waved dangerously in the stormy weather, and one of Pervinca's ribbons blew out of her hair. Dust was blown up from the dirt roads, and it was almost impossible to see or breathe.

"There's no way you can make it back to home in this gust!" Pippin called to Pearl and Pervinca, who were hiding behind Frodo and Sam, trying to block the wind and dirt. "You should stay the night then go home in the morning!"

Pearl looked to Frodo, "Is it alright, Frodo? Can we?"

Sam answered for Frodo, squinting as to keep as much dust out of eyes. "Not a problem, Mr. Frodo would never allow you two to try and fight this weather!"

Frodo gave Sam a scathing look, but then glanced to them and said, "I suppose it'd be the best."

Pearl smiled and then hugged Frodo, saying, "Oh, Frodo!"

They struggled up the hills and down the roads, but after a while they made it back to Hobbiton and to Bag End. There was a mad scramble as they all tried to get into the hold at the same time, shaking the dirt and grime out of their cloaks and hair. Pippin shook his head, curly hair shaking and dirt flying every which way.

"Pip! Stop it now!" Pervinca exclaimed, dancing out of the dirt's way.

Frodo shook his head lightly as well, but then said, "Baths down the hallway, and you can choose any guest room you wish."

After washing away all of the earth and dust, they all sat at the kitchen table with steaming cups of tea.

"So, Sam, tell me about you and Rosie!" Pervinca said excitedly. "I want to know everything!"

Sam reddened and stared into his cup while Pearl giggled. "Well," he started, "while I was walking back from the market we met, and I walked her home. Then, in front of her home she asked me to come to dinner the next day. I couldn't really decline-"

"He DIDN'T want to decline." Merry put in, and Pearl elbowed him in the side.

Sam went on as if he couldn't hear Merry, "and so the next day I had dinner with her family. Then, when I was about to leave." Sam went about two shades of red deeper, but smiled as he said, "and she gave me a kiss on the cheek."

Merry and Pippin whooped some more, but Pearl said, "Aw, Sam and Rosie! What a cute little couple! I could always see you two together! How sweet!" She gave Frodo a glance, but it was so quick Frodo didn't see.

"But now Sam doesn't know what to do next!" Frodo said, looking pointingly at Pervinca and Pearl.

But Pervinca already knew what do to, she leaned closer to Sam and said, "Alright then, Sam, what to do next." She and Pearl looked at each other, as if debating in their minds what to say.

"Well," Pearl put in, "after my friend Mena asked her now husband Jellin to dinner, he took her on a boat ride. But she fell in the pond and nearly drowned to death! Poor thing."

Pervinca's face lit up and she said happily, "Oh! I've got it! Take her for a walk in the woods, nice and quiet. Peaceful, then you can talk without interruption, get to know each other better!"

Pippin leaned back in his chair and said, "That'd work like a charm! Rosie is already head over feet in love with Sam." Pippin turned to Sam and pointed at him and said, "And DON'T try to deny it, Sam, it's obvious and you know it! You just don't want to believe it, for some strange reason."

Pervica yawned and said sleepily, "Well, I propose we talk about this tomorrow. I'm tired and I need sleep if I'm to plan the perfect night out for Sam and Rose, night all!"

They all stood up, said goodnight, and headed to their rooms. Sam opened the door to his room, the wind whistling outside. He could see leaves blow past his window, but ignored them as he pulled on his night clothes. He laid down in the darkness, staring up at the ceiling. Already he could see Rosie's smiling face in his mind. Turning onto his side, he murmured, "Enough, time to sleep." And he drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

** *

Sam awoke to the sun on his face and the birds outside his window chirping merrily. He blinked in the sudden brightness, lifting his head and looking at the beams of sunlight running through his room. In the ray of light he saw the dust floating through the air, then he let his head fall back onto his pillow. He didn't want to get up, he liked where he was now. But, knowing that if he didn't get up willingly then Merry and Pippin would come in with a cup of cold water. He pulled the covers away and got up, pulling off his night clothes. He grabbed a clean shirt from his drawer, buttoning it up he thought about the day ahead. Pearl and Pervinca would probably insist on staying a day or two, to the distress of Frodo. Pearl would be delighted though. He didn't have to do much gardening today, since he did most of it yesterday with Pippin, Frodo, and Merry. He grabbed some trousers and pulled those on as well, then got out a vest.

He heard someone calling down the hallway, "Frodo, you better come see this!"

"Coming!" he heard the reply, and footsteps hurrying down the hallway. Sam opened his door, buttoning up his vest as he walked out. Frodo had just run down the hall, and Pearl was following at top speed.

"What's going on?" he asked her, and she stopped, replying, "No idea, come on, Sam. We'll find out together."

He walked down the hallway, and saw that the door to Bag End was open with Merry and Pippin outside, looking disgusted and angry, with Frodo at their side, miserable as well. Pervinca was no where to be seen.

"What-?" he started, but Pippin told before he could finish asking.

"It's that stupid tree, darn wind took care of it right." He said sourly, gesturing to the garden. Sam took one look and groaned. The oak tree in the garden had gotten a beating from the wind, a branch had been ripped from the tree and now lay on the ground. The oak tree was sick, and some of the branches were dead. Sam had always meant to cut them off, but never got around to doing it, which wasn't like Sam. Sam also, however, didn't enjoy heights much. He used to climb trees as a child, but after falling out and breaking his arm, once, he had lost his interest for climbing. Pervinca was by the tree, looking up into the boughs.

"I'll go see as well." Sam said, squinting in the sunlight. If it hadn't been for the fact that a branch had been blown off, it would have been a glorious day. The leaves were starting to turn red and yellow since fall was coming, and some of the flowers were beginning to wilt as well. Sam felt a little sad, he hated to see flowers die, but it was the way of life.

"Hello, Sam." Pervinca said, still staring into the tree's limbs. "I think the tree is safe, but that little bit of dead wood there doesn't look very pretty." Sam looked up as well, and saw that only part of the branch had been blown off. About one third was still on the tree, and Sam knew he would have to get rid of it.

He sighed, "I'll get the saw, I know I'll never rest until that's off."

Pervinca smiled and said, "You never really rest, do you? I think you ought to lay off a bit."

"I don't mind." He replied, "If I didn't garden then I'd probably get bored. Sure, maybe at times I'd rather be inside reading, but this is my passion."

They both walked back up, everyone looking pretty grim.

"Not bad." Sam said, "Just a little bit of branch still on the tree, I'll cut it off, not a problem." Sam sounded confident, but he really wasn't. The idea of climbing a tree to cut down a branch didn't sound very pleasing to Sam, but he didn't want to sound too helpless. "Then I can lug that old twig away."

"We'll help." Merry announced, beginning to walk down. "We'll take care of the branch, you can cut off the remainders."

"What shall we do?" Pearl asked.

Pippin gave a grin and said, "You go make breakfast! Sam'll be hungry, since he slept through the first." He gave Sam a push.

"Very well, though I'd rather help."Pearl muttered, walking back in, Pervinca following.

Merry grimaced and said, "She just wants to get a little closer to dearest Frodo, eh?"

Frodo grimaced, "Shut up, Merry!" He said, then started down to the tree.

"Well, what a way to start the day!" Pippin said cheerily, "but not a worry, we'll have this hunk of firewood gone soon."

Sam watched them leave, and he sighed, looking at the large tree, the very large and tall tree.very tall. Sam blinked and turned to the wheelbarrow, grabbing the large, hefty saw. 'Stop being such a wimp, Sam, you can climb a tree if you walked through Mordor with orcs on your tail and Black Riders crawling everywhere.' He started down the hill, Frodo, Merry, and Pippin were already lifting up the branch and heaving it away.

Sam walked past them as they came up, saying, "Well you did that quick." He said in what was hopefully a cheerful, carefree voice.

"Not a problem!" Frodo said, "the rest of the branch on that tree is all yours."

Sam smiled, though he felt like hiding behind something. The tree got larger and taller with every step he took, until, at the base of the trunk, he felt like a very small bug. The rough bark was like thick armor and the branches large and strong. Sam almost felt intimidated, then told himself harshly, "It's a tree, Sam, you can climb a tree! Climb the stupid tree, Samwise, climb it!" He tucked the saw into his belt and then, without realizing how, he jumped and grabbed one of the lower branches, got a grip with his feet on the trunk, and lifted himself up onto the branch. He gave a gasp as he glanced down, the ground was very far down to him. Holding on for his dear life, so it seemed, Sam closed his eyes and grasped the tree tighter. "Don't panic, you can do it." he said to himself again, then summoned up enough courage to let go of the tree with one hand and reach for the next. He gripped the next branch with both hands and lifted one foot. It slipped and he held onto the tree with only his hands. Containing a cry of terror, he closed his eyes again, saying, "It's not that high, up, trust me. The dead branch is just below you, get a grip of yourself." he lifted up one leg and wrapped it around the branch, and then he did the same with the other. Sighing in relief, he lifted himself up and seated himself on the branch, feeling very proud of himself.

"Go, Samwise." He said to himself, then took out the saw. The dead branch was just below, not very far away, and he began to saw as fast as he could. He was proud of himself, but he didn't wish to stay up in the tree for long. It still was very high up for him. With relief, one portion of the branch fell harmlessly to the ground. 'About four more pieces that big and I'm done.' He thought to himself, starting to saw again. His arm was getting a little tired and achy, but it didn't matter.

Bits of sunlight shone through the leaves, putting spots of daylight on him. There was a brisk breeze in the air, and he could hear some hobbit children screaming and playing. Another part of the branch fell to the ground, Sam was beginning to feel relieved. He was about three fourths way through the third piece, then someone happened to drop by.

"Sam?" a voice called.

Sam, jumping at the sudden noise, lost his grip on the branch. His fingers slipped from the rough bark and saw, and he fell off the branch, and with a sickening thud to the ground. Sam felt pain surge through his body, especially his left arm, since he had landed on it. There was a sharp sting in his calf, indicating that the saw at cut through it. He closed his eyes, and kept them shut as the voice screamed, "SAM!"

Sam lay on the ground, trying hard not to cry out in pain. His arm was killing him and his head was throbbing, eyes feeling like they were going to pop out and his back was in agony. He felt a hand on his arm and he yelled in pain.

"Sam? Oh, heavens and light, Sam!"

Sam painfully opened his eyes and saw Rosie's face looking absolutely terrified, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Rosie?" He said, then groaned, it hurt to talk.

"Shh!" She said, brushing his hair away from his forehead as she lay her hand on it. "Oh, what did it do!?"

Sam, though it was painful, said, "Not a problem." He grimaced but sucked in breath, "My fault. I think I'm okay." He tried to sit up, but it was too agonizing.

"I'll go get someone." Rosie said, getting up to leave.

"Don't!" he said, lifting up his uninjured hand. "I'm okay, just need to sit up." This time he dealt with the excruciating ache as he sat up, and then he looked at the damage. The saw had made a gash in his lower right leg, but it wasn't very deep. Still, there was blood. He looked down at his arm, which was at an odd angle. "Not that bad."

"Sam, you need-" Rosie started, but Sam cut her off.

"Help me up, Rosie, I refuse to be carried by Pippin and Merry. They'd probably do more damage." He gave her a reassuring smile, the pain wasn't as bad anymore, but not nearly painless enough.

Rosie smiled in return, tears now streaming down her cheeks. She wiped them away and then said, "Here, Sam, put your arm around my shoulder."

Sam tried not to wince in pain as he did so, but he did feel the awkwardness of the situation. Her face was only four inches away from his, and he felt heat rise in his face as he blushed. Wisps of her curly hair fell into her eyes and her lips were so close to his. Sam contained a gasp, and tried hard not to think about it.

"On the count of three." he said, breaking the silence. "One.two.three." they both stood up, Sam trying not to lean on Rosie, he could act stronger, at least. He grimaced in pain, though, as his arm swung a bit. Shots of flame ran through it, and he tried hard not to cry out.

They began to walk up to Bag End, and never did it seem so far away. Every step was agony, and his arm was killing him. He felt light-headed and a bit nauseous, but he refused to show it. He felt some blood slide down his leg.

"You're very brave." Rosie said suddenly, her right hand holding his as it draped over her shoulder.

He looked at her, "Pardon?" he asked, not sure of what he heard.

She looked at him and smiled, "If I had fallen out of a tree, I would be crying as a newborn babe! You hardly even cried out in pain, you're strong. And you refused to be carried up, that's for sure!"

Sam blushed again, not sure of what to say. "Well, this is what gardening does for you, toughens you up like no other."

Rosie laughed, and so did he, it was painful, but he laughed all the same. They came to the door, and Rosie opened it with her right hand, Sam trying to stand up on his own.

Frodo, Pippin, and Merry were in the entrance room, laughing at a joke someone had told, but upon seeing Sam leaning on Rosie, blood running down his leg and a dislocated elbow, they stopped and stood stunned.

Sam gave a weak smile, the pain and weariness finally catching up with him. "I'm back." then he fainted.