A/N: Thank you all for your reviews..it really helps in writing this story.
Chapter 11
To Remember
The laughter echoed within the walls of number three, as Daddy Two Foot reached over to help Bilbo stand. It took everything Daddy had not to laugh seeing Bilbo laid out on the floor covered with foam from the ale and dripping wet. The Gaffer made his way over to Biblo and directed him to his closet so Bilbo could change his clothes. He apologized a dozen times by the time they had entered the Gaffer's bedroom.
The Gaffer sat in a chair while Bilbo dressing in the clothes closet. When he came out, the Gaffer looked at Bilbo as if seeing him for the first time. No longer Bilbo stood before him in his finest vest and coat, but now looked like a hobbit who earned his keep.
Bilbo buttoned the front of the vest that the Gaffer had loaned him. The simple vest had a patch that Bell had darned and did her best to match a button that had fallen off. Though it was not much to look at, at least it was clean and pressed.
Bilbo wore it well and looked a nobler hobbit, thought the Gaffer. Bilbo scratched his head as if lost in thought as he stared openly at the Gaffer. The Gaffer noticed whenever Bilbo thought on something, he often would place his hand into his vest pocket and finger what he kept in there. However, this time it was not his own vest that he wore and seemed more distracted as he went in search of his own vest. The Gaffer saw him rifling through his pockets in search of the missing item. It seemed to anger Biblo as he cursed until he had finally found it. He placed it into the vest that he now wore. Bilbo took a moment to recollect his thoughts and he paced while saying, "There was something that I needed to tell you, Something that has been on my mind for days now. But what was it?" Bilbo paused long as he went over in my mind of the events of the passing days. His eyes lit up as he raised his eyebrows when it finally hit him. "Oh yes, It is about Master Samwise. I have been teaching Frodo at Bag End since I have adopted the boy. Mater Samwise stopped by a few days pass and he joined us for some lessons. I took notice that Samwise could not read his letters. I would like to teach Samwise also. It would help me out immensely for Frodo's sake as he could use the company. I would look upon this as a great favor coming from you, if you would agree to it."
"Now Mr. Bilbo, I don't reckon it proper for my Samwise to be learning his letters. I'll be warning ya, Bilbo. Trouble could come of it, I dare say," said the Gaffer. "However, seeing it would oblige you so. I will agree with it as long as it helps Master Frodo."
"Thank you, Master Hamfast. I knew I could count on you," stated Bilbo. "Whenever Sam is up to it, send him to Bag End after morning breakfast."
"I'll see to it," assured the Gaffer.
~*~
Sam's eyes slowly raised to meet Rosie's beautiful face. She immediately wrapped Sam into her arms and hugged him gently. "Aw, Sam. What a sad day this is? It broke my heart to pieces hearing the news of your mother. I loved your mother, Sam. No kinder a hobbit there is than Bell. She will always be in my thoughts and heart. You're a brave one, Sam Gamgee. To go through all that you have," said Rosie.
Sam looked up into her blue eyes and his breath caught in his throat as well as his speech. Sam could only nod. He would remember forever the scent of her hair and the gently hug she gave him.
"I picked a bunch of pink roses for you Sam. To bring you a bit 'o cheer to lighten your heart and to let you know that I am thinking about you," Rosie said.
"You're thinking about me?" asked Sam.
"Why yes, you ninny. I've been worried about you for days now. After all that you have done for my pony and then hearing about your mother. It caused me great worry for you."
"I am sorry for worrying you, Rosie."
Rosie smiled at Sam as she handed him the roses. "Here you better put these in water."
"You know something, Rosie. I have been wanting to tell you.." Sam was about to say until Halfred joined them and interrupted Sam.
"There you are, Rosie. I was wondering where you wandered off. Here Sam I will put Rosie flowers in water for her," said Halfred as he took the roses away from Sam. Sam glared at his brother and was about to tell him those flowers were for him, but Halfred walked away too quickly.
"You were saying, Sam?" asked Rosie
"Nothing, Rosie. I was not going to say anything important," said Sam.
Rosie gently touched Sam's hand and gave it a squeeze to reassure him.
"It is okay, Sam. I will wait for the next time you want to tell me something important," Rosie added.
Frodo noticed something different about Rosie. She had a special look about her every time she was standing by Sam. He also notice that Sam seemed to always sneak a look at Rosie and turn away when she would glance his way. Frodo smiled as an idea popped into his thoughts.
Sam turned back to the coffin and pulled a flower from a bouquet and he placed it into his mother's hand. He bent over and kissed her brow.
"Aw, Sam. That was a lovely thing to do," Rosie commented.
Halfred came back to stand next to Rosie and he asked her to take a walk with him outside.
Sam looked up at Rosie as she agreed and walked away with Halfred. Halfred took Rosie's arm as he escorted her outside.
Sam made two fists from his hands as a hint of jealously surfaced towards his brother.
~*~
May Goodbody, approached the Gaffer and asked him if he would allow his girls to come to the Northfarthing and stay with her for rest of the summer. The Gaffer agreed, as he knew that his girls needed time to mourn for their mother and being around gentlefolk seemed the right thing to do.
"Go pack your things and I will see you off when May is ready," said the Gaffer.
Frodo walked over to his bag and pulled out a covered box. He approached Sam and asked him to open it.
Sam looked up at Frodo as he took the box and began to open it to see what was in it. Sam pulled out a picture frame and he turned it over. His eyes slowly glazed over as the tears began to sting his eyes. There was a picture sketched of is mother. The artist had drawn her with a warm smile and bright cheerful eyes, just the way that Sam wanted to remember his mother. His eyes darted up towards Frodo in surprise.
"That hobbit women that came with us this morning, sketched your mother so I could have a picture made for you Sam. Bilbo had two pictures made of my mother and father. I knew you would love to have one of your mother," Frodo explained.
"Oh, Mr. Frodo! Thankee!" Sam said as the tears streamed from his face. He clutched the picture to his chest and wrapped an arm around Frodo.
The Gaffer and everyone gathered around to see the picture and they commented how beautiful it was.
Frodo and Bilbo said their good-byes to the Gaffer and Sam. Bilbo reminded Sam that when he was able, that he expected him at Bag End to begin his lessons.
Sam looked up at the Gaffer in shock, knowing he had agreed for Sam to learn. "Yes, of course. Mr. Bilbo, sir!" stated Sam as he waved his good-bye to the Baggins.
The Gaffer turned and told Sam to bring his mother's things into the living room to begin giving his guests their gifts.
Sam picked up the box from his mother's closet and he walked back into the living room.
He took out the recipe box and the pie pans. Sam walked over to May Goodbody and handed them to her. "Mama would have wanted you to have these. She knew you loved her pies," Sam said as he smiled at his aunt. "She loved you too, aunt May."
May dab a tear from the corner of her eye as she accepted them.
Then Sam took out his mother gardening jacket and handmade woven vegetable baskets. He walked over to Mrs. Two Foot and handed them to her. "Mama was very proud to have you for her friend all these years, Mrs. Two Foot. She would have wanted you to remember her by having these things," said Sam.
She looked up with pride and gratitude as she too accepted them.
Sam took out a simple vase in which his mother always placed freshly cut flowers. He walked over to Rosie who just walked in with Halfred.
"Rosie, Mama remembered your kindness when you gave her the flowers. It brightened her day having them. She would have wanted you to have this vase to remember her by," said Sam as he shyly handed Rosie his mother's vase.
Rosie accepted the vase.
All throughout the afternoon, Sam handed out the gifts to their guests according to what meant something to each one of them.
After the gifts were all handed out, they said their farewells to their guests. Sam walked back over to the box and picked up the last item at the very bottom.
For Sam, he kept his mother's book of poems and short stories. He longed for the day that he could read them.
~*~
After the evening meal the healers came to prepare the coffin for burial. The Gamgee's walked outside with their shovels and began digging a spot for their mother next to little Marigold and the descendants of Goodbody.
The Gamgee's never spoke a word as they labored with their digging.
The Healers came out and carrying the coffin and gently laid it into the grave that they dug.
As they covered the coffin with dirt, they spoke in the old tongue of the hobbits, blessing the spot were Bell would rest.
The Gaffer placed a white wooden cross on her grave and draped the flowers over it. They all stood in silence as they gave their mother their last respects as the sun slowly slipped down into the horizon.
~*~
Sam walked into his bedroom and sat down on his bed. He sat the picture of his mother on the night table by his bed and placed a candle next to it. Climbing into his bed and pulling the warm patched quilt over him. He fluffed up his pillow as Hamson and Halfred walked into the bedroom.
"Are you moving back here, Hamson?" asked Halfred.
"No, I am heading back tomorrow. I really like living with the Roper and I am making a fare wage. There is even a hobbit lass that I have met. Perhaps she could be the one for me," commented Hamson.
"Ham, when I come of age in the next two years, I am going to ask Rosie to marry me. I am so in love with her," Halfred told him.
"But Halfred you are so much older than she is. She is even a few years younger than Sam," said Hamson.
"Does it matter? The Gaffer was a decade and a half older than Mama," added Halfred.
"By the time you come of age, my brother. You will have changed your mind more than a dozen times, I assure you!" teased Hamson.
"No, I won't! Rosie is the prettiest hobbit lass that I have ever met. None can compare to her," said Halfred.
"Your daft, Hal. Go to sleep!" Hamson said with a chuckle.
Sam pulled the covers almost to the top of his head and he stared at the blank wall.
Chapter 11
To Remember
The laughter echoed within the walls of number three, as Daddy Two Foot reached over to help Bilbo stand. It took everything Daddy had not to laugh seeing Bilbo laid out on the floor covered with foam from the ale and dripping wet. The Gaffer made his way over to Biblo and directed him to his closet so Bilbo could change his clothes. He apologized a dozen times by the time they had entered the Gaffer's bedroom.
The Gaffer sat in a chair while Bilbo dressing in the clothes closet. When he came out, the Gaffer looked at Bilbo as if seeing him for the first time. No longer Bilbo stood before him in his finest vest and coat, but now looked like a hobbit who earned his keep.
Bilbo buttoned the front of the vest that the Gaffer had loaned him. The simple vest had a patch that Bell had darned and did her best to match a button that had fallen off. Though it was not much to look at, at least it was clean and pressed.
Bilbo wore it well and looked a nobler hobbit, thought the Gaffer. Bilbo scratched his head as if lost in thought as he stared openly at the Gaffer. The Gaffer noticed whenever Bilbo thought on something, he often would place his hand into his vest pocket and finger what he kept in there. However, this time it was not his own vest that he wore and seemed more distracted as he went in search of his own vest. The Gaffer saw him rifling through his pockets in search of the missing item. It seemed to anger Biblo as he cursed until he had finally found it. He placed it into the vest that he now wore. Bilbo took a moment to recollect his thoughts and he paced while saying, "There was something that I needed to tell you, Something that has been on my mind for days now. But what was it?" Bilbo paused long as he went over in my mind of the events of the passing days. His eyes lit up as he raised his eyebrows when it finally hit him. "Oh yes, It is about Master Samwise. I have been teaching Frodo at Bag End since I have adopted the boy. Mater Samwise stopped by a few days pass and he joined us for some lessons. I took notice that Samwise could not read his letters. I would like to teach Samwise also. It would help me out immensely for Frodo's sake as he could use the company. I would look upon this as a great favor coming from you, if you would agree to it."
"Now Mr. Bilbo, I don't reckon it proper for my Samwise to be learning his letters. I'll be warning ya, Bilbo. Trouble could come of it, I dare say," said the Gaffer. "However, seeing it would oblige you so. I will agree with it as long as it helps Master Frodo."
"Thank you, Master Hamfast. I knew I could count on you," stated Bilbo. "Whenever Sam is up to it, send him to Bag End after morning breakfast."
"I'll see to it," assured the Gaffer.
~*~
Sam's eyes slowly raised to meet Rosie's beautiful face. She immediately wrapped Sam into her arms and hugged him gently. "Aw, Sam. What a sad day this is? It broke my heart to pieces hearing the news of your mother. I loved your mother, Sam. No kinder a hobbit there is than Bell. She will always be in my thoughts and heart. You're a brave one, Sam Gamgee. To go through all that you have," said Rosie.
Sam looked up into her blue eyes and his breath caught in his throat as well as his speech. Sam could only nod. He would remember forever the scent of her hair and the gently hug she gave him.
"I picked a bunch of pink roses for you Sam. To bring you a bit 'o cheer to lighten your heart and to let you know that I am thinking about you," Rosie said.
"You're thinking about me?" asked Sam.
"Why yes, you ninny. I've been worried about you for days now. After all that you have done for my pony and then hearing about your mother. It caused me great worry for you."
"I am sorry for worrying you, Rosie."
Rosie smiled at Sam as she handed him the roses. "Here you better put these in water."
"You know something, Rosie. I have been wanting to tell you.." Sam was about to say until Halfred joined them and interrupted Sam.
"There you are, Rosie. I was wondering where you wandered off. Here Sam I will put Rosie flowers in water for her," said Halfred as he took the roses away from Sam. Sam glared at his brother and was about to tell him those flowers were for him, but Halfred walked away too quickly.
"You were saying, Sam?" asked Rosie
"Nothing, Rosie. I was not going to say anything important," said Sam.
Rosie gently touched Sam's hand and gave it a squeeze to reassure him.
"It is okay, Sam. I will wait for the next time you want to tell me something important," Rosie added.
Frodo noticed something different about Rosie. She had a special look about her every time she was standing by Sam. He also notice that Sam seemed to always sneak a look at Rosie and turn away when she would glance his way. Frodo smiled as an idea popped into his thoughts.
Sam turned back to the coffin and pulled a flower from a bouquet and he placed it into his mother's hand. He bent over and kissed her brow.
"Aw, Sam. That was a lovely thing to do," Rosie commented.
Halfred came back to stand next to Rosie and he asked her to take a walk with him outside.
Sam looked up at Rosie as she agreed and walked away with Halfred. Halfred took Rosie's arm as he escorted her outside.
Sam made two fists from his hands as a hint of jealously surfaced towards his brother.
~*~
May Goodbody, approached the Gaffer and asked him if he would allow his girls to come to the Northfarthing and stay with her for rest of the summer. The Gaffer agreed, as he knew that his girls needed time to mourn for their mother and being around gentlefolk seemed the right thing to do.
"Go pack your things and I will see you off when May is ready," said the Gaffer.
Frodo walked over to his bag and pulled out a covered box. He approached Sam and asked him to open it.
Sam looked up at Frodo as he took the box and began to open it to see what was in it. Sam pulled out a picture frame and he turned it over. His eyes slowly glazed over as the tears began to sting his eyes. There was a picture sketched of is mother. The artist had drawn her with a warm smile and bright cheerful eyes, just the way that Sam wanted to remember his mother. His eyes darted up towards Frodo in surprise.
"That hobbit women that came with us this morning, sketched your mother so I could have a picture made for you Sam. Bilbo had two pictures made of my mother and father. I knew you would love to have one of your mother," Frodo explained.
"Oh, Mr. Frodo! Thankee!" Sam said as the tears streamed from his face. He clutched the picture to his chest and wrapped an arm around Frodo.
The Gaffer and everyone gathered around to see the picture and they commented how beautiful it was.
Frodo and Bilbo said their good-byes to the Gaffer and Sam. Bilbo reminded Sam that when he was able, that he expected him at Bag End to begin his lessons.
Sam looked up at the Gaffer in shock, knowing he had agreed for Sam to learn. "Yes, of course. Mr. Bilbo, sir!" stated Sam as he waved his good-bye to the Baggins.
The Gaffer turned and told Sam to bring his mother's things into the living room to begin giving his guests their gifts.
Sam picked up the box from his mother's closet and he walked back into the living room.
He took out the recipe box and the pie pans. Sam walked over to May Goodbody and handed them to her. "Mama would have wanted you to have these. She knew you loved her pies," Sam said as he smiled at his aunt. "She loved you too, aunt May."
May dab a tear from the corner of her eye as she accepted them.
Then Sam took out his mother gardening jacket and handmade woven vegetable baskets. He walked over to Mrs. Two Foot and handed them to her. "Mama was very proud to have you for her friend all these years, Mrs. Two Foot. She would have wanted you to remember her by having these things," said Sam.
She looked up with pride and gratitude as she too accepted them.
Sam took out a simple vase in which his mother always placed freshly cut flowers. He walked over to Rosie who just walked in with Halfred.
"Rosie, Mama remembered your kindness when you gave her the flowers. It brightened her day having them. She would have wanted you to have this vase to remember her by," said Sam as he shyly handed Rosie his mother's vase.
Rosie accepted the vase.
All throughout the afternoon, Sam handed out the gifts to their guests according to what meant something to each one of them.
After the gifts were all handed out, they said their farewells to their guests. Sam walked back over to the box and picked up the last item at the very bottom.
For Sam, he kept his mother's book of poems and short stories. He longed for the day that he could read them.
~*~
After the evening meal the healers came to prepare the coffin for burial. The Gamgee's walked outside with their shovels and began digging a spot for their mother next to little Marigold and the descendants of Goodbody.
The Gamgee's never spoke a word as they labored with their digging.
The Healers came out and carrying the coffin and gently laid it into the grave that they dug.
As they covered the coffin with dirt, they spoke in the old tongue of the hobbits, blessing the spot were Bell would rest.
The Gaffer placed a white wooden cross on her grave and draped the flowers over it. They all stood in silence as they gave their mother their last respects as the sun slowly slipped down into the horizon.
~*~
Sam walked into his bedroom and sat down on his bed. He sat the picture of his mother on the night table by his bed and placed a candle next to it. Climbing into his bed and pulling the warm patched quilt over him. He fluffed up his pillow as Hamson and Halfred walked into the bedroom.
"Are you moving back here, Hamson?" asked Halfred.
"No, I am heading back tomorrow. I really like living with the Roper and I am making a fare wage. There is even a hobbit lass that I have met. Perhaps she could be the one for me," commented Hamson.
"Ham, when I come of age in the next two years, I am going to ask Rosie to marry me. I am so in love with her," Halfred told him.
"But Halfred you are so much older than she is. She is even a few years younger than Sam," said Hamson.
"Does it matter? The Gaffer was a decade and a half older than Mama," added Halfred.
"By the time you come of age, my brother. You will have changed your mind more than a dozen times, I assure you!" teased Hamson.
"No, I won't! Rosie is the prettiest hobbit lass that I have ever met. None can compare to her," said Halfred.
"Your daft, Hal. Go to sleep!" Hamson said with a chuckle.
Sam pulled the covers almost to the top of his head and he stared at the blank wall.