Simple and Clean

A/N: I have returned!! I apologize that this chapter has taken so long. You see, first I was not satisfied with it. Then when I finally was (Saturday) I had two auditions (which went horribly) and then I went to finally see Chicago. Then, on my way home from the movie I felt incredibly worn down and tired and my throat began to hurt. By Sunday it was much worse, my glands were swollen and so were my cheeks and I could scarcely talk. I couldn't do anything but sleep that day. Monday I went to the doctor and had a throat culture performed. Surprise! Strep throat. The doctor forbade me from going to school until Wednesday and gave me some medicine that has helped me to feel better. Since I had nothing to do for the rest of the day I rented a ton of movies and had a LOTR cast field day. After seven hours of watching The Good Son, Deep Impact, Oliver Twist, Rudy, Black Hawk Down, X-men, and the Matrix I popped in my E.E. of the Fellowship of the Ring and watched it straight through, something I haven't done in months. Of course, by the end I had to reread the books, even though it was 11 o clock at night. I got to "The Voice of Saruman" in the Two Towers before falling asleep. This morning I woke up determined to get this chapter posted today. Why? Because today (March 25th) is the anniversary of the destruction of the Ring of Doom, or as I shall dotingly name it from here forth Middle Earth Day. Yeah!!! Happy Middle Earth Day!!......You see what happens when one is sick? Odd things happen....

Review responses:

Seregon-I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Yes, Sam is strong isn't he? I think the movies display this very well. Ex.: Hauling Pippin up by the collar in the cornfield, vaulting over the fence with that cumbersome pack on his back while running the Bucklebury Ferry, tearing Gollum away from Frodo, etc. Attribute this to years of physical labor, plus his size.....he's a strong lil' thing, ain't he? ^_^

Nauganor-Thank you! I'm very flattered! I agree with you: give me romance over erotica any day. Let me take this opportunity to say that this fic will not have any sex in it. If that is your fancy then by all means, feel free to write your own. Just not my cup of tea. Besides, I like to think that Frodo and Sam's relationship is built on very strong foundations of love, not just physical lust.

Emiko-Oi! Gah, thank you, thank you millions of times for bringing that to my attention. I try to get everything right, but many times I do not. Thank you so very much. I plan to rectify that....I do love the song though! I only hope I'm getting the lyrics correct.

Violet Raven-My consistent reviewer!! All praise to you! I hope this chapter is enjoyable. No Merry and Pip in this one, alas. Next chapter thought.....

ZoSo Gamgee-Baggins- Welcome!! Gracious, you people flatter me. I must admit I laughed for quite a while regarding the comment about the party dress. For the love of Sean Astin indeed!^_^

Simple and Clean

Chapter Three

Faith

"The road goes ever on and on,

Down from the door where it began...." A deep melodic voice rolled out from underneath the wide rimmed grey pointed hat. The voice continued to hum as the cart rolled down the road, over the Bywater Bridge, and towards Bag End. The sun was shining, the birds were chortling, a fresh breeze was blowing. Nearly every hobbit in the Shire was outside on this beautiful September morning, and most of them were preparing for the huge party they'd been awaiting for months: Bilbo Baggins' 111th birthday (and Frodo Baggins' coming of age.) Banners had to be put up, streamers had to be hung, lanterns had to be lit, food had to be prepared by the ton. So many hobbits had turned up that morning that the decorating was almost like a party in itself.

As the singing driver in the grey hat steered his cart past the bustling party field a good many of the younger hobbits dropped what they were doing in utter delight.

"Hoy, Gandalf!! Gandalf is here!!" Fatty Bolger cried, waving at the wizard frantically.

Gandalf the Grey looked out from beneath his hat and smiled with a knowing twinkle in his eye.

"Hello, Fredgar!" he called.

"Gandalf! Gandalf!" cried a pretty young maid, her curls bouncing as she hopped up and down with excitement.

"Good morning, Angelica!" Gandalf waved.

"Gandalf, Gandalf! G for grand!" shouted a group of very young lads and lasses as they hurried after the cart as fast as they could, eager to get a glimpse of the fireworks and other surprises they knew were hidden in the back of the wooden wagon. Gandalf chuckled to himself and looked down the road towards the approaching hill. It had been a while since the last time he had formally visited. He wondered how old Bilbo was faring. *No doubt as lively as ever.* Gandalf thought with a chuckle as the infamous hobbit hole came into view. *Hmmm.....the gardens look lovely.*

With an aged creak the cart pulled to a halt. Slowly, Gandalf slid onto the ground and with a heavy sigh, picked up his wooden staff up from the cart floor where it had lain at his feet. He chuckled at the sign posted on the front gate as he went through.

"No visitors except on party business indeed," the wizened wizard hummed to himself. "Old boy hasn't changed a bit."

A sudden bit of humming drifted to Gandalf's ears. He caught only snatches of the words, but he recognized the voice. His suspicions were justified as a stout, sun-browned hobbit came out from the back gardens carrying a watering can and a basket of freshly picked vegetables.

"Hello Samwise!" Gandalf boomed, startling the poor boy almost out of his mind and causing him to drop the watering can and spill water all over the walkway.

"Mr. Gandalf, sir! I hadn't a-seen you there!" Sam stuttered as he picked up the fallen can.

Gandalf bellowed with laughter. "Samwise Gamgee! My, but you have grown! Still tending the gardens, my lad?"

Sam straightened up and adjusted his basket. "Yessir, a few years now, its been. I'll be! You have come, just like Mr. Frodo said you would!" Sam exclaimed with an amused laugh.

"Oh?" Gandalf hummed, raising a bushy eyebrow and looking down his beaked nose at the gardener. "So Frodo spoiled the surprise, did he?"

Sam blanched and nearly dropped the watering can again, trying to cover his own mouth. "Oh no, Mr. Gandalf, no! He didn't say nothin'! I was just assumin'...."

Gandalf laughed once again and when he did it seemed that all growing things leaned towards the sound like they would sunlight, so loud and merry it was. Sam felt himself smiling despite his previous embarrassment.

"Of course, my lad, of course. You heard nothing, I am sure. Just another one of your astute observations, no doubt," Gandalf said with a wink. "You are keeping out of trouble, aren't you?"

"Oh...." Sam's hand went guiltily to his formally blackened eye. It had healed nicely, as had the other injuries. "Yessir....for the most part." Sam bit his lower lip, remembering. The gaffer had not been pleased with his young son. 'Keep this up and you'll come to a bad end,' he often said afterwards. However, after speaking to Bilbo one day he mysteriously ceased mentioning the incident itself.

At the present, Gandalf nodded approvingly. "Good lad. I daresay that Frodo could use some positive influence, rather than that Tomfool of a Took and that impish Brandybuck he's always about with. Those two are far more trouble that any fierce creature dear Bilbo may have told you about in his stories. Would you believe that on my way here I caught the two of them trying to steal some jam from Mrs. Chubb's windowsill?"

"Did they, sir?"

"They did indeed. I should not be surprised if the two of them showed up at the party this evening with rather red ears." The wizard sighed and shook his head good naturedly. Then, smiling once again, he said to Samwise "Come now, Sam Gamgee. Shouldn't you be refilling that watering can of yours?"

Sam started as if he'd just remembered. "That's right, sir, I should. A ninny I am, spillin' it all over like that! S'been fine seein' you again Mr. Gandalf!" Sam waved the best he could as he hurried back towards the garden, stumbling a little as he went.

Gandalf chuckled and turned back to the door. He'd business to attend to, and a reunion with a very old friend.

That afternoon....

"Hi, Mari, you've been in there for an hour! Mari! Marigold Gamgee open this door right now!" Daisy Gamgee pounded on the bedroom door in a rather unladylike manner. She had been waiting impatiently to change into her party clothes for some time. Marigold had locked herself in the room and was primping, preening, and fussing over her appearance like a peacock. The party began in little over an hour and a quarter and the Gamgee girls were in a positive uproar. Cries of "That's my ribbon!" and "Does this yellow go with this blue?" and "Have you seen the sewing needles? Where are the sewing needles!?" could be heard throughout Bagshot Row number three. Poor old gaffer Gamgee and his two elder sons could only watch helplessly and stay out of the girls' way.

"They're all mad!" Halfred exclaimed, throwing his hands into the air and settling onto a chair in the tiny kitchen. "Mad, I says!"

"And over-excited," agreed Hamson from across the table as he worked on braiding a rope. "What're they expectin' anyhow? For Frodo to make a proposal to one of them?"

"And where's Sam?" Halfred inquired. "He's been goin' on about this for weeks an' weeks. I'd expect he'd be here primpin' along with May and the others," Hal added with a smirk.

The gaffer puffed on his pipe and listened to Daisy's pounding for a moment before responding. "I expect he's still workin' at Bag End. I'd bet he'll be home any minute."

The time went on until it was nearly sundown. Marigold eventually came out and was promptly made to go back in by the Gaffer, who nearly had a heart attack seeing his youngest daughter decked out in the way she was. Once she was dressed more to the gaffer's approval, Marigold, May, and Daisy grew impatient waiting for their brother and left in a rush of enthusiasm. The gaffer began to grow worried. He hoped that his accident prone son had not gotten into another fight. However, it turned out that he had nothing to fear, because just a s the sun had set Sam burst through the door and ran straight to his room to get changed in a hurry.

"Oi!" cried Hal. "Sam, where 'ee been?"

"Mr. Bilbo's rose bushes," came the detached reply as Sam struggled to get into his good clothes. "They were too close together and them roots woulda got tangled if they grew anymore. So I had to move 'em."

"Rose bushes," Hamson mused quietly.

"You're gonna be late, Sam," stated the gaffer as he put down his pipe. Sam burst back out from his room, buttoning up his shirt. His jacket was flung over one arm.

"No, I don't think I'll be, da. Not if I run straight from here." He finished buttoning up his shirt, halted, and began putting on his deep navy blue jacket. "Say...." he began, taking in his brothers and father sitting placidly at the rickety kitchen table. "Why aren't you all dressed. Ain't you comin'?"

Hamson shook his head disdainfully. "We've things to prepare for the winter months.." He muttered.

The gaffer rubbed the back of his neck and cleared his throat. Hal snorted.

"Us? You must be mad, Sam. What're we gonna do at a big thing like this? To be straight, I'm surprised you're goin'."

"Why?" Sam asked hesitantly, slipping his other arm into the jacket sleeve.

"Just don't make no sense," Hal replied with a shrug. "I can see why the lasses want to go, Sam, but I don't see why'd you want to."

"Simple as this," Sam replied, doing up the clasps. "Mr. Frodo is my friend and I plan to go wish him luck when he comes of age."

"Friend?" Halfred stood up and took Sam by the shouldes. "Sam, do you know what folk are sayin' about that Frodo Baggins?" Hal whispered. "Cracked, they say, and worse...."

Sam grew irritated and shoved his brother's hand aside. "I don't believe a word of it. Not one!" He exclaimed stubbornly and headed for the door.

"Mind ye don't get into trouble, Samwise!" the gaffer called at the lad's retreating back. Sam paused, nodded, then left his house for the party.

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

Bang! The butterflies exploded into a shower of sparkling blue flame. The little hobbit lads and lasses shrieked with delight and jumped up and down, pulling on Gandalf's robes and crying "More! More!" The old wizard chuckled and set off a few more rockets, these taking the shape of flowers and stars.

Not too far away sat Sam Gamgee, puffing absently on his pipe as he watched the party scene unfold before him. Gandalf's firecrackers were more spectacular than before. Merry was munching on an apple and following around the enormous birthday cake (which was topped with exactly eleventy-one candles) with a train of giggling girls on his heels. Pippin was currently no where in sight. Somewhere in the huge crowd Sam knew his sisters were dancing. All around him hobbits ran, laughed, and danced in a swirl of music and color. Not far from the table Sam was sitting at was Frodo, dancing along with all the rest and looking incredibly jovial. Why, he even had a small fanclub of hobbit lasses dancing around with him. Marigold was one of them, Sam noticed with a smile. Like the others, they were drawn to Frodo's polite mannerisms and elvish good looks.

Frodo laughed suddenly, and it sounded like music, like raindrops on bells, like wind on harp strings. Sam's smile grew. He loved it when Frodo laughed; loved it when he was happy. If Frodo was happy so was Sam.

The shy gardener put his pipe down and sat thoughtfully for a while. A cool breeze blew across the field and caressed Sam's face gently. It felt pleasant and brought with it the memory of a summer day, when painful wounds had been tended by a gentle touch, and irrational fears had been stilled by kind words....

Sam felt his face flush for reasons he did not understand. He straightened up on the stool. *That was funny..* He thought. *For a moment it felt like I-*

There was no time to finish his thought because right then Frodo vaulted over the table and sat next to him, his face red as well, albeit from all the dancing.

"Are you having a good time, Sam?" Frodo asked with a big smile. He clapped his friend on the back.

Sam smiled back. "Yes, Mr. Frodo. You were right! Mr. Gandalf's display is amazin'! I'd of never seen so many colors."

"I'll drink to that!" Frodo exclaimed, taking up a nearby tankard of ale and inhaling a bit of it. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. I believe everyone else is, as well....although I am sure there are more hobbits here than were invited..." Frodo got a sudden glint in his eye. He slowly stood up and scanned the dancing crowd. After a moment or tow he found who he was looking for, spinning around with her arms in the air, her gold curls flying about her shapely face. Turning back to Sam, Frodo clapped him on the shoulder and said: "Go on, Sam. Ask Rosie for a dance."

Sam looked over his broad shoulder at Rosie, the prettiest maid in the Shire in her new blue dress. Sam felt panic rise in his throat. Sure, Rosie was very pretty and sweet, but Sam could not dance nor did he have any idea what to say to a maid who wasn't his sister. And besides all that he felt quite content to sit next to Frodo and not make a fool of himself. Quickly he looked for a diversion.

"Nah.....I think I'll just have another ale," the young Gamgee said with a shrug of his shoulders as he reached for one of the tankards on the table; not even sure if it was his, just hoping to divert Frodo's attention. However, young master Baggins would have none of it.

"Oh, no you don't!" Frodo cried, leaping to his feet. He grabbed Sam's shoulders and when Sam jumped in surprise he spun him in the direction of the dancers and pushed him towards them, burying his face in the gardener's back as he did so. Disoriented, Sam stumbled into the crowd. Rosie caught him up in a dance and then he was lost in the swirl, leaving a very amused Frodo behind him.

A lively dance had started up and the dancers twirled, skipped, and clapped in time to the melody. Rose Cotton had clasped her fingers through Sam's and Sam could do little except allow himself to flow with her movements. She certainly seemed happy anyways; Rosie was smiling and laughing like most everyone else. Sam supposed he should feel happy as well but he simply did not feel comfortable.

*Dimwit!* he thought as he and Rosie spun through a line of clapping hobbits. *Here you are with the prettiest lass in Hobbition and all you can think about is how to get away from her!* But no matter how much Sam berated himself he knew it was true. Even thought Rosie was a very kind girl Sam still found himself scanning the crowd, searching for Frodo. It was then that Samwise noticed that the music was getting more and more distant, and he and Rosie were getting farther and farther away from the main party crowd. Sam opened his mouth to inform his dance partner of this, but she beat him to speaking first.

"Sam," she said stopping her dance, her green eyes shining. "Lets go for a walk. I want to talk to you about something."

Sam's stomach flipped. he wanted to shake his head and run away, just get far away from Rose and hid under a table or something childish like that. He was merely too shy! He didn't know how to talk to a female and, truth be told, he had never truly wanted to. Rosie still had her small hand in his, and he knew he should feel elated, but he didn't. It just did not feel right. It didn't fill him with starlight like........like.......

Sam was rather startled to find that he and Rosie had begun to walk. He did not know how or when but apparently somewhere within his panic attack he had nodded his consent to Rosie's suggestion. There was no turning back now.

"I heard of what happened between you and that Ted Sandyman," said Rosie with a laugh as she released Sam's hand (much to the latter's relief) to smooth out her dress.

Sam blushed. "I don't see why folk are making such a big noise 'bout it. It ain't nothin' no one else couldn't of done."

"Say what you want, Sam Gamgee, but the fact is that as much as people might've wanted to get that Sandyman you were the one that did it. And the townsfolk think that's a feat."

Sam shrugged his burly shoulders and mumbled something inaudible. They continued on in silence for a while, walking noiselessly over the fallen leaves. Then Rosie said softly and seriously "Sam? Why don't you ever come around? Marigold's always coming to and fro, but we hardly see anything of you."

"I-I'm sorry, Rose," Sam stammered. "I just been busy, with the gardens and such."

"But don't you get terribly lonely?" Rosie came to a halt and looked at Sam sideways. Sam stopped as well and shuffled his feet, unable to look the girl in the face.

"Well, no, to tell the truth. I like workin' at Bag End. Mr. Bilbo's there, and Mr. Frodo too. And sometimes Mr. Merry and Mr. Pippin stay there......its mighty hard to be lonely when there's so many folk around."

"But don't you ever wish there was someone you could talk to?" Rosie asked hopefully. However, Sam did not pick up on the hint.

"But I talk, Rosie, to Mr. Frodo. He's always there to listen, even if I've just a silly question to ask."

Irritation and hurt clouded Rosie's emerald orbs. She was misunderstanding Sam's answers; she believed he was deliberately trying to put her off.

"But don't you ever want to do more than work for an aging hobbit and his heir for the rest of your life?!" She cried. Sam was completely taken aback. He could do nothing but stare at the lass with his mouth agape.

Rosie could take no more. "Oooooooh, Sam Gamgee, you don't understand!" With that the girl turned and fled back towards the tents, tears springing to her eyes.

Sam was dumbstruck. He stared a moment longer then mentally shook himself.

"Rosie, wait!' he cried. "I-" The cry was cut short as someone hit him from behind, knocking him to the ground. With all the racket from the party and the confusion from Rosie, Sam had not heard the person approaching from the shadows behind him.

"It ain't polite to shout at a lady," a familiar voice seared. Sam's eyes narrowed and he growled "Sandyman...." He struggled to get up but only managed to turn over onto his back when three pairs of hands shoved him back down. Ted Sandyman stood back from his lackeys, glaring down at the younger hobbit. He was grinning, exposing three black gaps in his teeth.

"Thought I'd forget, did 'ee Sammy boy?" Ted hissed. "Naw, how could I forget when ye gave me a nice reminderin' every time I look in the mirror!"

Sam struggled to get up but the other hobbits held him fast. "Was you that started it, Sandyman! I told you to be off-"

"I would have had you arrested," Ted snapped, ignoring Sam and walking around to Sam's side. "If it weren't for that old crack-pot Baggins. Must have paid off the shirriff..." Ted stopped and crouched down close to Sam's ear. "But you ain't gonna go cryin' to Mad Baggins again, are ye, you filthy Gamgee?"

Anger and hatred flashed in Ted's eyes. Sam's self confidence wavered but he refused to let it show.

"Stop your prattlin', Ted. If you're still sore about that hit then let me up and fight me fair." Sam proclaimed, glaring up at his offender and struggling again against the restraining hands.

Ted laughed and his croonies followed his lead. "Sure, it'll be a fair fight. Leastways that's what everyone's gonna think. Little Baggins' whore wanted another go around, didn't he lads? 'Cept this time it'll be you what's black and blue and embarrassed." Ted nudged one of the younger ruffians beside him and the laughter grew louder. Sam's eyes grew wide with fury at the sound of THAT NAME. All the rumors he'd heard about his master flooded his mind.

*That Frodo Baggins is queer, alright. Ain't right in the head. Not that it ain't understandable, losing his parents at such a young age, the poor thing. Must have been so traumatic; its no wonder....* I heard he's been trying to seduce some of the younger lads. Don't you find it odd that he's almost of age and he spends all his time with those young cousins of his?* *Half Brandybuck, he is. That blood line's all odd. Knowing to swim and boat, and the like. Ain't natural...*

It was all a lot of nonsense and any sensible hobbit would dismiss the accusations immediately. Still, things were said and often that was enough.

"I won't have you sayin' things of that sort!" Sam yelled. One of the lads holding him down slapped a dirty hand over Sam's mouth to stifle his cries.

"Shut up," the lad wheezed. "Wouldn't want to disturb Old Bilbo's party, now would you?"

Ted sniggered. "Naw, we wouldn't want that," he said in an eerily calm and quiet tone. Sam looked about in a panic. The tents seemed so far away and everyone was too busy with the party festivities to notice the scene. Silently Sam cursed his inherited bad luck.

Then suddenly with a loud bang and a flash of sparkling fire a spectacular shape flew into the sky. Ted and his lads jumped at the sudden noise and looked up in time to see a great red dragon emerge from the cloud of red sparks. The creature unfurled its wings and swept down.

"Dragon!!" One of the boys shouted, pointing at the beast. Sam saw his chance and took it. Taking advantage of the gang's inattentiveness he twisted suddenly to the right, tearing free from the grips on his mouth and shoulders. As quick as he could manage he struggled to his feet, pushed through the gang of hobbits and ran off as fast as he could towards the tents. Behind him he heard Ted's angry curses but they were cut short as the dragon flew over the Bywater and burst into a dazzling fountain of gold. Sam kept running.

Back at the bottom of the hill, Ted's gang was recovering from the shock of Gandalf's prized "Smaug's Revenge."

"He got away!" cried the lad who had stifled Sam's cries.

"Should we go after him?" asked another, his voice still wavery from fear of the dragon. Ted thought a moment, crossing his arms in ponderance.

"Nah, I'll wait for him. Something's bound to come my way one of these days and when it does it'll get Sam Gamgee somewhere he can't heal...."

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

Sam kept running until he rounded the farthest of the party tents......and ran smack into a rather tall figure. Sam fell backwards onto his backside with a startled cry but the person he had bumped into merely chuckled and leaned on his staff, grey robes swishing in the dust. Sam felt his face go red and looked up bashfully at the aged face of the Grey Pilgrim.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Gandalf, sir. I wasn't watchin' where I was goin'. " Sam mumbled as he picked himself up off the ground.

"That much is apparent," Gandalf said with a laugh. "Think nothing of it. I was in a hurry myself. In fact, I am still in quite a hurry." Fro the briefest of moments something like worry clouded the wizard's eyes, but as quickly as it had come it was gone. "Where had you been, my boy? You missed Bilbo's birthday speech. And his rather.......surprising conclusion. I wonder what the old rascal is up to now...."

Sam cringed. It seemed he'd missed a good deal of the party. *I hope Mr. Bilbo doesn't think me rude for disappearin'.* Sam thought. Luckily there was no need to answer the wizard's question because seemingly Gandalf had other things on his mind.

"Well I've things to see to, important things. Stay out of trouble Samwise." Gandalf winked then turned on his staff and virtually disappeared into the night, heading in the direction of Bag End.

Sam was left feeling embarrassed and very stupid. In one night he had succeeded in alienating Rosie, getting into another skirmish with Ted, and ran into a wizard who could have, if he'd been more foul tempered, turned the little gardener into a toadstool. On top of that he had missed wishing Bilbo and Frodo a happy birthday.

Sam gasped in sudden realization. Frodo! He had just left him without saying a word!

"Stupid, half wise ninny!" Sam berated himself out loud. "Now what will he think....me goin' off like that...."

Still muttering to himself Sam drifted over to the party crowd. No one was dancing now; everyone was too busy talking about how Mad Baggins had done it again. Sam picked his way through the crowd. He could not find Frodo anywhere. After much searching Sam decided that Frodo had probably tired of the event and gone home to spend the night quietly with Bilbo. Sighing Sam decided to go home as well. He felt thoroughly miserable.

As Sam trudged away from the party, he shoved his hands in his pockets and hummed a tune to cheer himself up a bit. A cold breeze had picked up, making the young Gamgee's teeth chatter and ruining the effect of the song. The moonlight cast black shadows on the empty road. Sam felt uneasy for a reason he could not quite put his finger on. Lost in his thoughts, Sam walked right past his home and continued on up the hill towards Bag End. Suddenly he felt a sharp bite on his foot. He halted with a pained cry and glared down at the ground to see a tiny, dark, eight-legged insect scurry away into the grass. Sam sighed. It was just a spider.

Leaning down to rub the side of his throbbing foot, Sam noticed that he was very near to the round, green door of his employer's home. Sam thought for a moment, then deciding he owed it to Frodo and Bilbo to explain himself he went up to Bag End. A minute later he reached the smial and raised his hand to knock on the door, only to find that it was slightly ajar. Knitting his eyebrows in confusion Sam pushed open the door.

"Mr. Frodo? Sir? Mr. Bilbo? S'me, Samwise...."Sam called timidly as he entered the main hall.

"In here, Sam," came Frodo's soft response. Sam followed the sound of the voice to the parlor. There Frodo stood in front of a smoldering fire, gazing at a sealed envelope that was clutched in his hand.

"Mr. Frodo?" Sam ventured haltingly. Frodo turned to gaze at his friend with shining eyes and a sad smile.

"He has gone, Sam. He talked for so long of leaving....but he's finally done it." Frodo's voice hitched in his throat and he turned back to the fire. With a sinking heart Sam realized what had happened. Bilbo had left the Shire, for good this time. The aging hobbit's wander lust had finally become too much to suppress. Sam felt a tearful lump rise to his throat. He'd loved the old hobbit like a second father and was sad to hear that he had gone.

A soft noise caused Sam's ears to perk up and he returned his gaze to Frodo. The tears that Frodo had been suppressing had over flown his eyes and now cut two thin streams down his pale cheeks. Sam's heart broke at the sight. He forgot his own troubles; forgot Ted Sandyman; forgot Rosie; forgot the townsfolk; forgot everything, shoved it somewhere deep inside himself and put forth everything else he had to help Frodo.

Frodo jumped as a comforting hand was laid on his shoulder. He looked over his shoulder, knowing full well who it was.

"He'll be alright, Mr. Frodo," said Sam. It was such a simple, obvious statement and yet it was said with such surety and sincerity that Frodo could not deny it was the truth. Though it did not make Frodo make miss Bilbo any less, it was a comfort to know that the old hobbit was going somewhere he had long desired to go and would be well taken care of. After all, Gandalf had said the Bilbo was going to live with the elves....

Turning from the fire to face his young friend Frodo said, "I know, Sam. He was never really settled here, was he?" He sighed. "No, something got into him long ago, something bigger than the Shire. He said he wanted to see mountains again, and the elves." He sat down heavily onto a nearby chair and set the envelope aside on the table. Sam sat down across from him.

"Its funny, Mr. Frodo," Sam began. "You spend your whole life learnin' about things. Folk tell you tales about the outside world but you never really think of them things as bein' real. Its like you know it is, you see the proof, but you can't picture it the way it was, the way it really happened, no matter how much its described."

Frodo raised his eyes slightly to watch his companion. Sam was busy looking at the walls covered in maps and the shelves full of books.

"And I think maybe that's why Mr. Bilbo had to go. Because he saw them things we only know as stories. Then he came back home and started to forget. Maybe them pictures in his mind began to fade, to become fairy stories to him like they were to everyone else. Maybe that's why Mr. Bilbo had to go. So he wouldn't forget." Sam paused to clear his throat and turned his gaze to Frodo. "Leastways....that's how I see it."

Frodo remained quiet for a moment then smiled ever so slightly. "You know Sam, you are wiser than you think you are. Where does myth end and history begin, I wonder? Perhaps myth is myth because people moved on and forgot, like you said, and history is history because someone wrote it down. One can't truly say for sure, can they? I suppose that eventually even the written word falls to nothing more than written legend..."

Sam sat in awe. "You sound almost like Mr. Gandalf, Mr. Frodo!" He exclaimed.

Frodo laughed a little and Sam's heart was gladder for it. "The day I begin to sound like Gandalf is the day you start lying and cheating, Sam Gamgee."

Sam blushed and bit his lower lip. He wondered where the old wizard had gone, but before he could voice his thoughts Frodo answered them.

"Gandalf has left as well. He said he had 'questions that needed answering.' Close as usual, old Gandalf." Frodo sighed and rubbed his forehead wearily. "It seems that everyone is leaving for grander things these days. There is a big world out there, Sam. I wonder if I shall every see more of it than the Four Farthings."

Sam took his master's hand between his own and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "You may sir. Who knows yet. And.....you know I'd never leave you, right Mr. Frodo?"

Frodo looked at his friend gratefully and smiled with tired eyes. "Of course I do, Sam. I know you'd come with me into Smaug's Lair if I'd ask you to." With his free hand he absently brushed some of Sam's dusty curls out of his eyes. He let his fingers trace the side of his friend's face before finally resting his hand along Sam's cheek. The crickets chirped and the two hobbits remained still, Sam still clasping Frodo's hand, the both of them just taking in the other's presence, seeking comfort in each other's eyes.

At length it was Sam who stirred. "Must be late, sir." He said quietly. "My...my gaffer will be wonderin' where I am. Will you be alright here alone, Mr. Frodo?" he asked.

Frodo hesitated. To be honest he did not want to be alone in the huge smial without friend or family for the first time. Yet he surprised himself by saying "Yes, Sam. I'll be alright."

Sam gave him a reassuring smile, squeezed his hand a final time, and stood to go. Frodo felt a panic rise to his throat, threatening to choke him. He realized that if Sam left he would be stuck with a lonely gap in his heart for the rest of the night.

"Don't go...." he squeaked , hardly audibly, even to his own ears. Sam stopped immediately and turned to regard his employer.

"Mr. Frodo?" he ventured, concerned. Frodo immediately berated himself. How selfish he was being! How could he ask his friend to sit up with him all night? Surely he could survive for one evening....

Forcing a smile Frodo whispered, "Good night, Sam."

Sam studied Frodo for a moment longer then said in a soft, low voice "Good night, Mr. Frodo. I'll be here early tomorrow morning. Happy birthday." He waited a moment longer then on leaden legs walked out of Bag End, shutting the door behind him. Frodo let out a long shuddering breath.

"Sam..." he sighed, glancing at the envelope on the table. "How I wish I could tell you everything that's happened tonight...." He continued to stare at the envelope, remembering Gandalf's words. *Ah......Bilbo's ring.* *He's left everything to you, including the ring.* *I have questions......questions that need answering.* *Keep it secret.....keep it safe....* *Secret......Safe........*

With a sudden uncomfortable urge Frodo seized the envelope and its precious contents. He did not want to look at it, harmless though it seemed. Quickly he stalked over to the wooden chest against the wall, opened the lid, thrust the envelope deep inside and slammed the lid shut.

"There......it is secret," He whispered to himself. "It is safe....." Then the loneliness returned and he crept into bed, breathing in the scent of the rose bush Sam had replanted under his window and crying silent tears.

When you walk away

You don't hear me say

Please, oh baby, don' t go

Simple and clean is the way that you're making me fell tonight

Its hard to let it go....

TBC

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Hmm.....this seemed a bit more movie based than book based. ::Shrug::

Next chapter: Frodo and Sam both begin to contemplate certain feelings, but Gandalf's sudden reappearance interrupts everything. Last chapter before the Quest begins!!!

I'd just like to add something about what Ted Sandyman said. If you've read the Return of the King: The Scouring of the Shire, you'll understand what this is foreshadowing. If you haven't don't worry!! I shall cover it in later chapters.