A/N: ShireElf: When I first read that part in Tolkien I too did not like it
nor did it make any sense to me. When I read it again and again, I found it
interesting and wondered what Tolkien was thinking. This is why I put this
in my story and tried to work out the detail of this to settle my own
thoughts about it. I wanted Rosie to fall into his arms the second she saw
him. So keeping with Tolkien and then finding a better way for those two to
really come together, I think I found something interesting in the next two
chapters to go. I sure hope you like it (Chapter 28 or 29 will be the end
of my story)..
Sorry for getting too long winded on Tolkien..what can I say? I love him!
Rose Cotton: Well you guessed it.I am going to do a part on Lotho's death in the next coming chapter..
I too thought it needed more of emotions when I first read that. But it does leave it open so others can write more about Rosie and Sam..Sorry about the last ending..yikes!
MlynnBloom: Yes, Sharky has to die, but Tolkien did a such a wonderful job on that, it is going to be hard to think how I am going to put that in just right..I'm still thinking about that. Look for Chapter 28 or 29 for the ending..
WhiteDevil: Thank you! You put a smile on my face by your kind words..
Ameilia Rose: Poor Sam, after all he has been through and having to see his home all torn apart..I think you will love the chapter when Sam goes to Bagshot Row and sees for himself what they have done to number #3..I'm still tired and need more sleep...What can I say, I'm a night owl..wink!
Okay on with the story: Thank you all for reading and reviewing..
Chapter 26
Remembering What Once Was
Rosie stretched out her hand and gently placed it on Sam hand, saying, "I think you look fine, Sam." Rosie gently smile and big beautiful blue eyes search his eyes to let him know that she was no longer angry or hurt. Her touch was like the finest velvet that Sam had felt in the house of the new king of Gondor. Sam smiled down at her and their unspoken words were enough for Sam to know that Rosie still cared for him. "Go on now! But take care of yourself, and come straight back as soon as you have settled the ruffians!"
Sam nodded as he kicked his pony onward back to the village.
By the time Sam got back to the village the entire town was aroused and more than hundred hobbits stood ready to meet the ruffians. More hobbits were pouring in by the minutes. Even the Shirriffs soon tossed off their feathers and join them.
Mr. Cotton got them all prepared as Merry told them what they needed to do. When the ruffians enter the streets of Bywater, they found themselves soon overtaken as two hundred hobbit surrounded them. The leader thought the hobbits weak and made an attempt to fight Merry, and before his knife could reach him, their hobbit with bows and arrows struck him down with four, killing him. The others were tied and locked up in an empty hut.
Still in the evening hours, they sensed that if would take the ruffian until daybreak before they would try another attack.
Sam thinking about his Gaffer asked Mr. Cotton where he was. Jolly told Sam that he would take him there.
When Jolly led Sam to the area where Lotho had built the new houses, he saw three shirriffs sitting about ten feet from the house that Jolly pointed out as they approached them. Sam asked them if they knew if the Gaffer was still there
"He's in there with our boss and been there for hours. He's been telling us we had to guard this house from over here and let no one enter. I hear tell, beggin' your pardon and all, that the Gaffer is a desperate criminal. Our boss being the only one who's to deal with such a fierce soul. Says your Gaffer is spitting mad and crazed. From our point of hearing they have been hollering and whooping going on in there for hours, the boss must be a torturing 'em." said the guard.
Sam dashed up to the house thinking his Gaffer was in great peril.
Sam ran at the door and hitting it with all of his strength, the door came crashing opened.
There sprawled out was the Gaffer, Daddy Two Foot and the Shirriff propped- up against the wall sitting on the mattress in front of the fire. They were three open kegs and each one had a pipe stuck between their teeth. The room was filled with pipe smoke and the three looking startled at first, and then let out a loud burst of hysterical laughter.
"Late as usual, boy!" said the Gaffer. "We just finished off the last keg of ale."
Sam stood there shocked as he could be and then recovered quickly as a smirk went across his lips, "Well, you're a group of stinkers to say the least! I should of known, you look no worse for wear!" said Sam.
"Nigh do you, being back from the grave and all," commented the Gaffer as his words came out in a slur.
"Fetch yourself a pipe and join us, boy. You'll find no finer long bottom leaf then the shire can produce," said Daddy Two Foots still chuckling to himself.
"But seeing how you have broken me jail house, I'll have to arrest you," said the shirriff as he made an attempt to stand, but then thought better of it. "Forget it! I'll be arresting you in the morning after I have slept off the ale."
"Never mind the arresting! We have roused the hobbits of Bywater and are clearing them of ruffians as we speak," said Sam. He walked up to the Gaffer and helped him to his feet.
"Good, good! Wake me when its over with, I'll drink to the celebration!" said the shirriff as he head slipped backwards and hitting it against the wall as he passed out. Daddy Two Foots raised his cup and tried taking a sip but it was empty, shrugging his shoulders, he folded his arms in front of himself and closed his eyes and passed out.
"Come, Gaffer! I'll be taken you to the Cottons so you can rest in a proper place," commented Sam.
"That's a good lad to your Gaffer. The Cotton's are good folk! Taken good care of your Gaffer, they did," said the Gaffer as he stumbled and leaned on Sam while he took him outside to his pony.
"I can see that fair enough," said Sam as he struggled to get him walking straight.
Jolly and Sam put him on the pony and walked him back to the Cottons.
~*~
Sam heard the Rohan horn blowing loudly and he turned to Jolly and told him to take the Gaffer back to his house. While he joined Frodo and his friends in Bywater. He told Jolly to hurry back. Sam jumped on Jolly's horse and took off in a flash back to Bywater.
When Sam entered the streets of Bywater he saw the Tooks and the Brandybuck with all hundreds of hobbits standing ready.
As he approached, he saw Merry climb down from his pony and stood before his father.
His mail shirt gleamed under the lit torches that the hobbits carried. His long flowing cape danced in the wind from behind him. "A boy has left the land of Buckland to travel beyond their foreign parts, he returns as its Master!" said Saradoc, as he extended his hand to his only son. "Merridoc!"
Merry stretched out his arm to his father as they both locked their hands in greeting. Before Merry could withdraw his hand, his father pulled him in a warm embrace holding him tightly.
As he withdrew, standing before his son, Saradoc looked long into his eyes and said, "Do my eyes deceive me? You have grown!"
"Yes, Da. That I have. If I want to continue to grow we have much work to do," said Merry.
Paladin, Pippin, Saradoc and Merry pulled their map and began to plan what needed to be done to stop the ruffians.
As morning light dawned a hundred of ruffians approached the East Roads of Bywater but stopped at the barrier the hobbits had set up. Merry road his pony up to them holding his sword. He told them they were surrounded and to drop their weapons, but the ruffians charged full force and spilt running in all different directions.
As Merry charged the ruffians who came at him, Merry swung his sword killing the men in his path. Pippin with the hunters of Tuckborough charged in behind Merry and broke the ranks of the ruffians.
Sam led the hobbits of Bywater, While Frodo came in with his hobbits of Hobbiton and hobbits of the surrounding township. The largest of the ranks of Ruffians were stopped in their tracks as they were surrounded.
The ruffians that spilt ran towards the outskirts of Bywater were met by Saradoc and the Bucklanders as their swords battled killing fifty of the men.
When the battle was over with, some of the Tooks and the Bucklanders escorted the men who could walk to the boarders of the Shire and were released. The boarders were guarded so they would not return.
Sam cast he sword down on the ground with full force as he had enough fighting and killing. The ground was littered in bodies of ruffians and hobbits. It pained Sam more than it did when he had fought orcs and such creatures because at his feet were hobbits of gentle spirit. Their dear faces now stone cold lay in the mix of harden ruffians in the very grasses where they use to run and play. Their feet would now lay under the ground forever. Sam was determined that they would never be forgotten hobbits of the Shire. Their bravery and fighting spirit to save the lands they loved more than their own lives. Sam vowed as he fell to his knees at the hilt of his own sword that no one hobbits would die by a sword ever again, nor their land that they loved would ever be seized again.
All around him Sam saw destruction, filth and garbage. No longer the beauty that was once the Shire. Even the trees that gave the Shire a place of such harmony were gone and he knew in his life time he would never seen the beauty of them again.
Sam closed his eyes hard and force himself to remember the beauty that was all taken away from them. The imagines rolled through his mind of the days that once was and perhaps will never be again.
When he opened his eyes again, Sam saw all the hobbits coming from all corners everywhere began picking up the garbage and lifting the dead branches. They brought carts, hoe, rakes, shovels and the little thin girl that Sam helped on the road to Bywater was filling a bag of trash from along the side of the road. Even though she did not have a home of her own, the Shire was enough for her not to give up on and she labored in cleaning it.
Sam pick-up his sword as Frodo approached him. "We still have one more thing to finish Sam, before all of this is done."
"Yes, Mr. Frodo. We have saved the best for last. Let us find Sharky and end this once and for all," said Sam. "On to Bag End."
Sorry for getting too long winded on Tolkien..what can I say? I love him!
Rose Cotton: Well you guessed it.I am going to do a part on Lotho's death in the next coming chapter..
I too thought it needed more of emotions when I first read that. But it does leave it open so others can write more about Rosie and Sam..Sorry about the last ending..yikes!
MlynnBloom: Yes, Sharky has to die, but Tolkien did a such a wonderful job on that, it is going to be hard to think how I am going to put that in just right..I'm still thinking about that. Look for Chapter 28 or 29 for the ending..
WhiteDevil: Thank you! You put a smile on my face by your kind words..
Ameilia Rose: Poor Sam, after all he has been through and having to see his home all torn apart..I think you will love the chapter when Sam goes to Bagshot Row and sees for himself what they have done to number #3..I'm still tired and need more sleep...What can I say, I'm a night owl..wink!
Okay on with the story: Thank you all for reading and reviewing..
Chapter 26
Remembering What Once Was
Rosie stretched out her hand and gently placed it on Sam hand, saying, "I think you look fine, Sam." Rosie gently smile and big beautiful blue eyes search his eyes to let him know that she was no longer angry or hurt. Her touch was like the finest velvet that Sam had felt in the house of the new king of Gondor. Sam smiled down at her and their unspoken words were enough for Sam to know that Rosie still cared for him. "Go on now! But take care of yourself, and come straight back as soon as you have settled the ruffians!"
Sam nodded as he kicked his pony onward back to the village.
By the time Sam got back to the village the entire town was aroused and more than hundred hobbits stood ready to meet the ruffians. More hobbits were pouring in by the minutes. Even the Shirriffs soon tossed off their feathers and join them.
Mr. Cotton got them all prepared as Merry told them what they needed to do. When the ruffians enter the streets of Bywater, they found themselves soon overtaken as two hundred hobbit surrounded them. The leader thought the hobbits weak and made an attempt to fight Merry, and before his knife could reach him, their hobbit with bows and arrows struck him down with four, killing him. The others were tied and locked up in an empty hut.
Still in the evening hours, they sensed that if would take the ruffian until daybreak before they would try another attack.
Sam thinking about his Gaffer asked Mr. Cotton where he was. Jolly told Sam that he would take him there.
When Jolly led Sam to the area where Lotho had built the new houses, he saw three shirriffs sitting about ten feet from the house that Jolly pointed out as they approached them. Sam asked them if they knew if the Gaffer was still there
"He's in there with our boss and been there for hours. He's been telling us we had to guard this house from over here and let no one enter. I hear tell, beggin' your pardon and all, that the Gaffer is a desperate criminal. Our boss being the only one who's to deal with such a fierce soul. Says your Gaffer is spitting mad and crazed. From our point of hearing they have been hollering and whooping going on in there for hours, the boss must be a torturing 'em." said the guard.
Sam dashed up to the house thinking his Gaffer was in great peril.
Sam ran at the door and hitting it with all of his strength, the door came crashing opened.
There sprawled out was the Gaffer, Daddy Two Foot and the Shirriff propped- up against the wall sitting on the mattress in front of the fire. They were three open kegs and each one had a pipe stuck between their teeth. The room was filled with pipe smoke and the three looking startled at first, and then let out a loud burst of hysterical laughter.
"Late as usual, boy!" said the Gaffer. "We just finished off the last keg of ale."
Sam stood there shocked as he could be and then recovered quickly as a smirk went across his lips, "Well, you're a group of stinkers to say the least! I should of known, you look no worse for wear!" said Sam.
"Nigh do you, being back from the grave and all," commented the Gaffer as his words came out in a slur.
"Fetch yourself a pipe and join us, boy. You'll find no finer long bottom leaf then the shire can produce," said Daddy Two Foots still chuckling to himself.
"But seeing how you have broken me jail house, I'll have to arrest you," said the shirriff as he made an attempt to stand, but then thought better of it. "Forget it! I'll be arresting you in the morning after I have slept off the ale."
"Never mind the arresting! We have roused the hobbits of Bywater and are clearing them of ruffians as we speak," said Sam. He walked up to the Gaffer and helped him to his feet.
"Good, good! Wake me when its over with, I'll drink to the celebration!" said the shirriff as he head slipped backwards and hitting it against the wall as he passed out. Daddy Two Foots raised his cup and tried taking a sip but it was empty, shrugging his shoulders, he folded his arms in front of himself and closed his eyes and passed out.
"Come, Gaffer! I'll be taken you to the Cottons so you can rest in a proper place," commented Sam.
"That's a good lad to your Gaffer. The Cotton's are good folk! Taken good care of your Gaffer, they did," said the Gaffer as he stumbled and leaned on Sam while he took him outside to his pony.
"I can see that fair enough," said Sam as he struggled to get him walking straight.
Jolly and Sam put him on the pony and walked him back to the Cottons.
~*~
Sam heard the Rohan horn blowing loudly and he turned to Jolly and told him to take the Gaffer back to his house. While he joined Frodo and his friends in Bywater. He told Jolly to hurry back. Sam jumped on Jolly's horse and took off in a flash back to Bywater.
When Sam entered the streets of Bywater he saw the Tooks and the Brandybuck with all hundreds of hobbits standing ready.
As he approached, he saw Merry climb down from his pony and stood before his father.
His mail shirt gleamed under the lit torches that the hobbits carried. His long flowing cape danced in the wind from behind him. "A boy has left the land of Buckland to travel beyond their foreign parts, he returns as its Master!" said Saradoc, as he extended his hand to his only son. "Merridoc!"
Merry stretched out his arm to his father as they both locked their hands in greeting. Before Merry could withdraw his hand, his father pulled him in a warm embrace holding him tightly.
As he withdrew, standing before his son, Saradoc looked long into his eyes and said, "Do my eyes deceive me? You have grown!"
"Yes, Da. That I have. If I want to continue to grow we have much work to do," said Merry.
Paladin, Pippin, Saradoc and Merry pulled their map and began to plan what needed to be done to stop the ruffians.
As morning light dawned a hundred of ruffians approached the East Roads of Bywater but stopped at the barrier the hobbits had set up. Merry road his pony up to them holding his sword. He told them they were surrounded and to drop their weapons, but the ruffians charged full force and spilt running in all different directions.
As Merry charged the ruffians who came at him, Merry swung his sword killing the men in his path. Pippin with the hunters of Tuckborough charged in behind Merry and broke the ranks of the ruffians.
Sam led the hobbits of Bywater, While Frodo came in with his hobbits of Hobbiton and hobbits of the surrounding township. The largest of the ranks of Ruffians were stopped in their tracks as they were surrounded.
The ruffians that spilt ran towards the outskirts of Bywater were met by Saradoc and the Bucklanders as their swords battled killing fifty of the men.
When the battle was over with, some of the Tooks and the Bucklanders escorted the men who could walk to the boarders of the Shire and were released. The boarders were guarded so they would not return.
Sam cast he sword down on the ground with full force as he had enough fighting and killing. The ground was littered in bodies of ruffians and hobbits. It pained Sam more than it did when he had fought orcs and such creatures because at his feet were hobbits of gentle spirit. Their dear faces now stone cold lay in the mix of harden ruffians in the very grasses where they use to run and play. Their feet would now lay under the ground forever. Sam was determined that they would never be forgotten hobbits of the Shire. Their bravery and fighting spirit to save the lands they loved more than their own lives. Sam vowed as he fell to his knees at the hilt of his own sword that no one hobbits would die by a sword ever again, nor their land that they loved would ever be seized again.
All around him Sam saw destruction, filth and garbage. No longer the beauty that was once the Shire. Even the trees that gave the Shire a place of such harmony were gone and he knew in his life time he would never seen the beauty of them again.
Sam closed his eyes hard and force himself to remember the beauty that was all taken away from them. The imagines rolled through his mind of the days that once was and perhaps will never be again.
When he opened his eyes again, Sam saw all the hobbits coming from all corners everywhere began picking up the garbage and lifting the dead branches. They brought carts, hoe, rakes, shovels and the little thin girl that Sam helped on the road to Bywater was filling a bag of trash from along the side of the road. Even though she did not have a home of her own, the Shire was enough for her not to give up on and she labored in cleaning it.
Sam pick-up his sword as Frodo approached him. "We still have one more thing to finish Sam, before all of this is done."
"Yes, Mr. Frodo. We have saved the best for last. Let us find Sharky and end this once and for all," said Sam. "On to Bag End."