Chapter 17
With A Tap of His Toe
Sam slowly walked back to sit with the Gaffer at the Gamgee table. Sam held a pint of ale high above his head when a small group of hobbit children made a dash to the entertainment tent where Gandalf just let loose an explosion of butterfly fireworks. Sam would have normally chuckled at such a thing, but his spirits fell and was sadden.
Tom Cotton stood up and greeted Sam as he made his way towards their table. "Samwise, come have a seat next to me," Old Tom Cotton said as he offered Sam the chair beside him. "I have seen Bagshot Row, my boy. Tis a wonder what you have done with it. Ya got the Gaffer's touch, I say. A gardener to the heart."
"Thankee, kindly, Mr.Cotton, but I could not of done it without your trees and tatters," said Sam.
"You earned it fair, Samwise. Me own boys could not of done better in cleaning the barn," said Old Tom Cotton as he patted Sam on the back. "Anytime you have a mind ta walking by Bywater, you stop over. My Mrs. will cook you a fine meal and proud I'll be of you sitting at our table. After eatin what the Gaffer has served for many a week, a good meal won't hurt ya none."
"I'll be sure of doing that, Mr. Cotton," said Sam. "I'll leave you to your family."
Sam stood up and walked over to the Gaffer and sat down. The Fiddlers struck up their bows and began to play a lively tune. Before the hobbits had their toes tapping many of them found their way onto the dance floor.
The largest birthday cake that the hobbits had ever seen was being carried onto the party grounds by a group of hobbits and Merry Brandybuck helped guide them through the crowds of hobbits.
Seeing a cake of this size the hobbits began to cheer and clap their hands. The hobbits stood and cleared the way so they could place it onto the table of the guest of honor.
Pippin jumped up on the stage and grabbed his fiddle and bow. He too joined the fiddlers.
Rosie walked onto the dance floor with Ted Sandyman and they began dancing. Rosie turned and tapped her feet to the music as her blonde curls bounced with each step of her feet. Her eyes met those of Sam and she smiled sweetly at him. Sam's heart melted watching her, as he could not take his eyes away from her.
Sam did not hear a word the Gaffer and Daddy Two Foot were talking about as he sat there at the table.
Frodo noticed Sam watching Rosie. He quickly walked over to Sam and sat down next to him. "Sam why don't you ask Rosie for a dance?"
Sam only shook his head, No.
Frodo seeing Rosie coming close to were they sat suddenly pulled Sam to his feet and placed Sam's hand into Rosies, off they danced. Frodo grabbed Ted Sandyman's elbow and escorted him from the dance floor saying that Lotho was looking for him and that he should find him immediately.
Frodo sat back down in the chair and clapped his hands to the music as he watched Sam and Rosie dance.
Rosie gave Frodo a firm look and then smiled as she looked up into Sam's big, beautiful brown eyes.
Sam looked down at his feet trying to keep up with Rosie without stepping on her toes. His heart raced in fear of making a mistake. He could feel the palm of his hand beginning to sweat as his face began to blush.
"Sam don't be worrying so, you dance just fine," Rosie whispered to him.
Her soft gently voice echoed into his ears as his eyes slowly raised up to meet hers.
~*~
The cooks were in their tent opening the lids on their pots as the stream poured out into the open night air. A strong scent of herbs and spices blended with savory meats and vegetables greeted the hobbits as their mouths watered when they began to line up with their plates in hand. Fresh slices of oven baked bread cooled as the cooks placed them next to their open pots. Fresh cut vegetables line in array of blended colors of carrots, cabbages and mushrooms. Apples, cherries, strawberries and watermelon sat in huge trays, as the cooks stood ready to serve.
Streams of hobbits began to make their way to the cook's tent as the lines began to become longer and longer. Fast as rabbits the cooks placed servings into the plates that were handed to them, while the other cooks worked over hot stoves and open grills to keep the pots full.
Mr. Cotton stood and waved at Rosie to come join the family as they were heading to the cook's tent.
"Thank you, Sam, for the dance. Save me another later tonight," said Rosie as she spoke softly to Sam.
Sam only nodded as he watched Rosie walk over to her family. What sadness was once in Sam's heart was gone and now filled with the love he had for Rosie. "There could not be a more perfect night as this," Sam thought to himself.
"Come, boy! Or you'll not to get a crumb on a plate," shouted the Gaffer. He shook his head at Sam seeing him lost in a daydream about Rosie. Sam just moved his feet as he followed the Gaffer to the cook's tent.
~*~
Sam gulped his meal as fast as his fingers could lift the fork to his mouth. It had been days since he felt like eating and tonight he was starved. The food tasted as good as if he sat at a kings table.
When Daddy Two Foots told a joke, Sam laughed with a new spirit in him that the Gaffer thought had long disappeared. The change in Sam puzzled the Gaffer as he thought about this.
Rosie smiled as she watched Sam at his family's table eating and laughing with them. She too noticed a change in him.
When the meal ended the hobbits got up and began to mingle with each other. The night sky began to darken and the lit lanterns made a warm glow over the party ground.
Gandalf opened his tent and began bringing out the fireworks. There were rockets of all sizes. The largest were still in his wagon as Gandalf began to light the fireworks.
The hobbits all clapped as each one exploded in the distance sky with bright colorful sparkles that slowly drifted toward the ground as if it rained a rainbow.
All eyes looked upward as they watched one rocket after another burst into the blacken sky. All eyes, except two overly curious hobbits, who stolen a large rocket from Mr. Gandalf's wagon.
Rosie walked side by side with Sam as they wandered the party ground laughing and joking with each other. "Look Rosie, the fireworks sparkle brighter than the closest star. Someone should make a song of them to remember them by," said Sam.
"Perhaps you'll will Sam," said Rosie. "Someday, and everyone will be singing it for ages to come."
Sam took Rosie's hand in his as they both began walking back towards the party tree.
Without warning a loud hiss and sparkles flying as a large rocket soared into the sky. The brightness of the flames lit the entire sky as if the morning sun had risen.
Then a deafening explosion cracked as the hobbits held their ears and watched the sky. A huge fiery dragon appeared and soared downward upon the hobbits below.
Screams roared throughout the ground as the hobbits began to run knocking down tables and chairs in their path. As the fiery dragon soared just a few feet from the ground the hobbits fell flat on their bellies and held their hands over their heads to protect them.
Sam pulled Rosie down to the ground and he covered her with his arms to protect her. The loud flaming roar echoed just over their heads and the dragon suddenly exploded and a huge wave of color cascaded over the small hills of Hobbiton.
Sam lifted his head and watched the sparkling colors began to fade. He lifted his arm and underneath he saw a massive curly locks that framed the most beautiful hobbit that Sam had ever seen. Her eyes dance with a brightness so blue it took Sam's breath away. He lay there frozen in awe of her.
With A Tap of His Toe
Sam slowly walked back to sit with the Gaffer at the Gamgee table. Sam held a pint of ale high above his head when a small group of hobbit children made a dash to the entertainment tent where Gandalf just let loose an explosion of butterfly fireworks. Sam would have normally chuckled at such a thing, but his spirits fell and was sadden.
Tom Cotton stood up and greeted Sam as he made his way towards their table. "Samwise, come have a seat next to me," Old Tom Cotton said as he offered Sam the chair beside him. "I have seen Bagshot Row, my boy. Tis a wonder what you have done with it. Ya got the Gaffer's touch, I say. A gardener to the heart."
"Thankee, kindly, Mr.Cotton, but I could not of done it without your trees and tatters," said Sam.
"You earned it fair, Samwise. Me own boys could not of done better in cleaning the barn," said Old Tom Cotton as he patted Sam on the back. "Anytime you have a mind ta walking by Bywater, you stop over. My Mrs. will cook you a fine meal and proud I'll be of you sitting at our table. After eatin what the Gaffer has served for many a week, a good meal won't hurt ya none."
"I'll be sure of doing that, Mr. Cotton," said Sam. "I'll leave you to your family."
Sam stood up and walked over to the Gaffer and sat down. The Fiddlers struck up their bows and began to play a lively tune. Before the hobbits had their toes tapping many of them found their way onto the dance floor.
The largest birthday cake that the hobbits had ever seen was being carried onto the party grounds by a group of hobbits and Merry Brandybuck helped guide them through the crowds of hobbits.
Seeing a cake of this size the hobbits began to cheer and clap their hands. The hobbits stood and cleared the way so they could place it onto the table of the guest of honor.
Pippin jumped up on the stage and grabbed his fiddle and bow. He too joined the fiddlers.
Rosie walked onto the dance floor with Ted Sandyman and they began dancing. Rosie turned and tapped her feet to the music as her blonde curls bounced with each step of her feet. Her eyes met those of Sam and she smiled sweetly at him. Sam's heart melted watching her, as he could not take his eyes away from her.
Sam did not hear a word the Gaffer and Daddy Two Foot were talking about as he sat there at the table.
Frodo noticed Sam watching Rosie. He quickly walked over to Sam and sat down next to him. "Sam why don't you ask Rosie for a dance?"
Sam only shook his head, No.
Frodo seeing Rosie coming close to were they sat suddenly pulled Sam to his feet and placed Sam's hand into Rosies, off they danced. Frodo grabbed Ted Sandyman's elbow and escorted him from the dance floor saying that Lotho was looking for him and that he should find him immediately.
Frodo sat back down in the chair and clapped his hands to the music as he watched Sam and Rosie dance.
Rosie gave Frodo a firm look and then smiled as she looked up into Sam's big, beautiful brown eyes.
Sam looked down at his feet trying to keep up with Rosie without stepping on her toes. His heart raced in fear of making a mistake. He could feel the palm of his hand beginning to sweat as his face began to blush.
"Sam don't be worrying so, you dance just fine," Rosie whispered to him.
Her soft gently voice echoed into his ears as his eyes slowly raised up to meet hers.
~*~
The cooks were in their tent opening the lids on their pots as the stream poured out into the open night air. A strong scent of herbs and spices blended with savory meats and vegetables greeted the hobbits as their mouths watered when they began to line up with their plates in hand. Fresh slices of oven baked bread cooled as the cooks placed them next to their open pots. Fresh cut vegetables line in array of blended colors of carrots, cabbages and mushrooms. Apples, cherries, strawberries and watermelon sat in huge trays, as the cooks stood ready to serve.
Streams of hobbits began to make their way to the cook's tent as the lines began to become longer and longer. Fast as rabbits the cooks placed servings into the plates that were handed to them, while the other cooks worked over hot stoves and open grills to keep the pots full.
Mr. Cotton stood and waved at Rosie to come join the family as they were heading to the cook's tent.
"Thank you, Sam, for the dance. Save me another later tonight," said Rosie as she spoke softly to Sam.
Sam only nodded as he watched Rosie walk over to her family. What sadness was once in Sam's heart was gone and now filled with the love he had for Rosie. "There could not be a more perfect night as this," Sam thought to himself.
"Come, boy! Or you'll not to get a crumb on a plate," shouted the Gaffer. He shook his head at Sam seeing him lost in a daydream about Rosie. Sam just moved his feet as he followed the Gaffer to the cook's tent.
~*~
Sam gulped his meal as fast as his fingers could lift the fork to his mouth. It had been days since he felt like eating and tonight he was starved. The food tasted as good as if he sat at a kings table.
When Daddy Two Foots told a joke, Sam laughed with a new spirit in him that the Gaffer thought had long disappeared. The change in Sam puzzled the Gaffer as he thought about this.
Rosie smiled as she watched Sam at his family's table eating and laughing with them. She too noticed a change in him.
When the meal ended the hobbits got up and began to mingle with each other. The night sky began to darken and the lit lanterns made a warm glow over the party ground.
Gandalf opened his tent and began bringing out the fireworks. There were rockets of all sizes. The largest were still in his wagon as Gandalf began to light the fireworks.
The hobbits all clapped as each one exploded in the distance sky with bright colorful sparkles that slowly drifted toward the ground as if it rained a rainbow.
All eyes looked upward as they watched one rocket after another burst into the blacken sky. All eyes, except two overly curious hobbits, who stolen a large rocket from Mr. Gandalf's wagon.
Rosie walked side by side with Sam as they wandered the party ground laughing and joking with each other. "Look Rosie, the fireworks sparkle brighter than the closest star. Someone should make a song of them to remember them by," said Sam.
"Perhaps you'll will Sam," said Rosie. "Someday, and everyone will be singing it for ages to come."
Sam took Rosie's hand in his as they both began walking back towards the party tree.
Without warning a loud hiss and sparkles flying as a large rocket soared into the sky. The brightness of the flames lit the entire sky as if the morning sun had risen.
Then a deafening explosion cracked as the hobbits held their ears and watched the sky. A huge fiery dragon appeared and soared downward upon the hobbits below.
Screams roared throughout the ground as the hobbits began to run knocking down tables and chairs in their path. As the fiery dragon soared just a few feet from the ground the hobbits fell flat on their bellies and held their hands over their heads to protect them.
Sam pulled Rosie down to the ground and he covered her with his arms to protect her. The loud flaming roar echoed just over their heads and the dragon suddenly exploded and a huge wave of color cascaded over the small hills of Hobbiton.
Sam lifted his head and watched the sparkling colors began to fade. He lifted his arm and underneath he saw a massive curly locks that framed the most beautiful hobbit that Sam had ever seen. Her eyes dance with a brightness so blue it took Sam's breath away. He lay there frozen in awe of her.