A/N: I am sorry for ruining this story with so much of the book added in. I
did not want to do that originally, but I could not find away round it as I
wanted to tell Sam's entire story about him, but I got caught up in all the
history trying to get to Sam and Rosie's wedding. I guess I have learned
something about writing this story. So now that the history is over with, I
can get back to writing my own ideas of this story..Thanks for not flaming
me over this and having patience with me. You all are so awesome! I still
have so much to learn about good writing, but I am trying..Yikes!
Chapter 28 will be my own story lines of Sam and Rosie's love for each
other and the end. I love hobbit romance!
Chapter 27
It's Now Over With
Merry led the way up the dirt road towards Bag End. Frodo and his friends followed him. Behind them a hundred hobbits followed. Sam stopped on the road as his gaze caught the sight of the Party Tree lying cut down in the field. Its branched dried and withered.
If there was a place in all the Shire that Sam loved the most it was this place. This is where the hobbits gathered to laugh and dance. To celebrate and cheer. Sam's most happy memories of growing up in the Shire existed here in this special place. Here is where he had met Rosie, talked with her, danced with her and laughed with her. Memory after memory surfaced as he could hear the sounds of celebration that had happen here. The memory of his mother singing and laughing echoed in his hears. The fireworks that Sam had loved happen here, but now silenced forever with the ax that chopped it down.
Frodo came up behind Sam as he stood staring at the torn up gardens, and ugly huts the now lined the field. Huge ruts and holes replaced the lush green grass that once graced every corner of this field. Filth and garbage were thrown and littered everywhere. Small fires burning even made the air in which they breathed reeked with stench.
"They cut it down, they cut the Party Tree down!" Sam exclaimed to Frodo. "They have cut the heart out of the Shire and cast it down in the dirt as if it was nothing! Never in our lifetime, Mr. Frodo, that we will see a tree such as the one there. Even our children will not see it, nor their children. They'll not know the happiness that we've shared together under that tree."
Sam turned away from Frodo as the pain hit him full force and he openly cried and sobbed thinking about it. Frodo stood by Sam and his own tears fell as he looked and remembered what it meant to him. "They have cut out our heart, Sam. But they can never touch the memories we have shared under its branches. That tree will live again Sam, not is plain view, but in our stories that we will write so no one will ever forget. Do not lose your hope. You still have Galadriel's gift, perhaps there is some Elvish magic in that."
Sam dried his tears as he had forgotten the gift and his eyes darted to his pony's saddlebags where he had carefully placed it. This gave Sam hope that maybe it was possible.
Ted Sandyman leaned against the wall as he gazed out at the Party Tree. "Don't 'ee like it, Sam!" Ted sneered as he held open his arms toward the Party Tree. "But you have always been a bit soft, now haven't 'ee. Always talking of far away places, sailing-sailing," Ted made the hand motions of waves as he watched his hand intently as if he was talking to himself. "Thought you'd be off in one of those ships you prattled about." But Ted never looked at Sam as he talked, just kept gazing that the tree. "Why did you come fer? Now that there is so much work to be done!"
"But you haven't made an effort in cleaning it, now have you?" said Sam. He slowly walked around in front of Ted so he could look him in the eye. Sam stopped abruptly and looked at Ted in bewilderment. All though it looked like Ted and sounded like Ted, there was something different about him. It was something in his eyes the way he looked at you or rather saw through you as his eyes would not make contact with Sams. Sam thought that he had seen the look before. The image of Gollum came to his mind. Sam knew that Ted had lost him mind. Sam felt pity for him as he stared at him in shock.
"Where is Lotho?" asked Merry as he came around to stand next to Sam. Ted's face went white as a ghost and a cold clamminess appeared about his skin. In his eyes he stared at some unforeseen creature and a slow blackness began to cover his eyes.
"Where is Lotho? Merry asked again.
Lotho pointed to Bag End, but he's eyes did not follow in the direction that he pointed.
"You are dirty and insolent, Sandyman," said Merry. "And also very much out of your reckoning. We are going up the Hill to remove your precious boss. We have dealt with his men."
Ted's eyes suddenly darted at Merry and he could see the hobbits that followed him. He lifted his horn to his lips.
"Don't bother," said Merry. "I have a better!"
Merry winded the silver horn of Rohan and it clear sound echoed throughout the hills as hobbits came from their homes and around bushes and corner of buildings in answer to the call. They cheered as they too followed Merry and his friends up the hill to Bag End.
Ted ran off into the mill house that had once ground up the corn to feed the hobbits. Now lay in ruins, huge and ugly.
Merry opened the door to Bag End and Frodo followed from behind. The stench reeked as the filth in the house was scattered everywhere. Tables broken and old ugly chair lay in disarray. All of Frodo's furniture was missing and replaced with horrid ugly furnishings. There was blood on the floor that led dripping to the outside. Frodo closed his eyes to what he saw. He turned quickly and went back out again. Sam soon followed behind him.
"Where is that miserable Lotho hiding?" said Merry as he searched all the rooms but found no one around.
Merry went outside to find Frodo. "Sauroman!" Merry shouted.
Frodo held his hand up to Merry to stop him as Frodo talked with Sauroman.
Frodo found out the he was the Sharky that his men had talked about and behind everything that had happened in the Shire. Sauroman laughed wickedly at Frodo. It angered Sam that a snake like him could talk to Frodo in that way. It hurt Sam in thinking that what Frodo had suffered and all that he had been through and still going through. Sam placed his fingers firmly around the hilt of his sword as it laid in the sheath.
Frodo told him that he had pity upon Sauroman as Gandalf had told him from before. He ordered Sauroman out of the shire and cast him back into the wilderness and took back everything that Sauroman had stolen away from them.
Sauroman called for Grima to come to him as he turned to leave, But Frodo asked Grima to stay as he knew that Grima was poisoned by Sauroman and made to do his dirty deeds.
Sauroman lashed out at Frodo with his knife by only hit the mail shirt that he wore. Sam drew his sword as the hatred for Sauroman filled him and lunged out at him with all of his strength.
"NO! Sam!" shouted Frodo as he grabbed Sam's arm that held the sword. Just as Sam had held Frodo back when the maddest over took him, so Frodo did likewise. "Sam! Look at me, you must stop! Please Sam!" shouted Frodo.
Sam looked into his master's eyes and saw the compassion and tenderness that was so much a part of Frodo that Sam treasured most about him. Slowly, Sam lowered his arm and sword and he understood what was truly in Frodo's heart. It touched Sam to his very soul. The kindness and goodness of Frodo was unlike anything that he had ever known. It made Sam realize that the only thing that mattered in the world was what was in ones heart and soul, not the evil that existed around them. Sam put his sword back into its sheath and stood next to Frodo, They watched Sauroman walk away as Grima began to follow him when he called.
Frodo called out to Grima to stay with them at the Shire and that he did not have to follow Sauroman.
But Sauroman and his evil words as he told Frodo that Grima had eaten Lotho while Ted Sandyman watched and buried his bone somewhere in the Shire.
Grima rose up and killed Sauroman as he stood and the hobbit in fear shot Grima with their arrows killing him where he stood.
Sauroman within moments began to melt away as if years of decay would have done before their eyes; until nothing remained but his bones and ashes. A thin mist hung over the hills for a moment and a wind blew them away as it would a cloud.
Frodo took the cloak that laid about the bones of Sauroman and covered it saying, "It is now finally over with!"
"It will never be over with, Mr. Frodo. Until the Shire has been restored," said Sam.
They all looked around them at the total destruction and filth that remained.
I still have one more thing to do, see to Bagshot Row," said Sam.
"Sam I will come with you," said Frodo.
"No, this is something I need to do by myself, Please understand Mr. Frodo," Sam called back to him as he kept walking down the hill to his home.
Chapter 27
It's Now Over With
Merry led the way up the dirt road towards Bag End. Frodo and his friends followed him. Behind them a hundred hobbits followed. Sam stopped on the road as his gaze caught the sight of the Party Tree lying cut down in the field. Its branched dried and withered.
If there was a place in all the Shire that Sam loved the most it was this place. This is where the hobbits gathered to laugh and dance. To celebrate and cheer. Sam's most happy memories of growing up in the Shire existed here in this special place. Here is where he had met Rosie, talked with her, danced with her and laughed with her. Memory after memory surfaced as he could hear the sounds of celebration that had happen here. The memory of his mother singing and laughing echoed in his hears. The fireworks that Sam had loved happen here, but now silenced forever with the ax that chopped it down.
Frodo came up behind Sam as he stood staring at the torn up gardens, and ugly huts the now lined the field. Huge ruts and holes replaced the lush green grass that once graced every corner of this field. Filth and garbage were thrown and littered everywhere. Small fires burning even made the air in which they breathed reeked with stench.
"They cut it down, they cut the Party Tree down!" Sam exclaimed to Frodo. "They have cut the heart out of the Shire and cast it down in the dirt as if it was nothing! Never in our lifetime, Mr. Frodo, that we will see a tree such as the one there. Even our children will not see it, nor their children. They'll not know the happiness that we've shared together under that tree."
Sam turned away from Frodo as the pain hit him full force and he openly cried and sobbed thinking about it. Frodo stood by Sam and his own tears fell as he looked and remembered what it meant to him. "They have cut out our heart, Sam. But they can never touch the memories we have shared under its branches. That tree will live again Sam, not is plain view, but in our stories that we will write so no one will ever forget. Do not lose your hope. You still have Galadriel's gift, perhaps there is some Elvish magic in that."
Sam dried his tears as he had forgotten the gift and his eyes darted to his pony's saddlebags where he had carefully placed it. This gave Sam hope that maybe it was possible.
Ted Sandyman leaned against the wall as he gazed out at the Party Tree. "Don't 'ee like it, Sam!" Ted sneered as he held open his arms toward the Party Tree. "But you have always been a bit soft, now haven't 'ee. Always talking of far away places, sailing-sailing," Ted made the hand motions of waves as he watched his hand intently as if he was talking to himself. "Thought you'd be off in one of those ships you prattled about." But Ted never looked at Sam as he talked, just kept gazing that the tree. "Why did you come fer? Now that there is so much work to be done!"
"But you haven't made an effort in cleaning it, now have you?" said Sam. He slowly walked around in front of Ted so he could look him in the eye. Sam stopped abruptly and looked at Ted in bewilderment. All though it looked like Ted and sounded like Ted, there was something different about him. It was something in his eyes the way he looked at you or rather saw through you as his eyes would not make contact with Sams. Sam thought that he had seen the look before. The image of Gollum came to his mind. Sam knew that Ted had lost him mind. Sam felt pity for him as he stared at him in shock.
"Where is Lotho?" asked Merry as he came around to stand next to Sam. Ted's face went white as a ghost and a cold clamminess appeared about his skin. In his eyes he stared at some unforeseen creature and a slow blackness began to cover his eyes.
"Where is Lotho? Merry asked again.
Lotho pointed to Bag End, but he's eyes did not follow in the direction that he pointed.
"You are dirty and insolent, Sandyman," said Merry. "And also very much out of your reckoning. We are going up the Hill to remove your precious boss. We have dealt with his men."
Ted's eyes suddenly darted at Merry and he could see the hobbits that followed him. He lifted his horn to his lips.
"Don't bother," said Merry. "I have a better!"
Merry winded the silver horn of Rohan and it clear sound echoed throughout the hills as hobbits came from their homes and around bushes and corner of buildings in answer to the call. They cheered as they too followed Merry and his friends up the hill to Bag End.
Ted ran off into the mill house that had once ground up the corn to feed the hobbits. Now lay in ruins, huge and ugly.
Merry opened the door to Bag End and Frodo followed from behind. The stench reeked as the filth in the house was scattered everywhere. Tables broken and old ugly chair lay in disarray. All of Frodo's furniture was missing and replaced with horrid ugly furnishings. There was blood on the floor that led dripping to the outside. Frodo closed his eyes to what he saw. He turned quickly and went back out again. Sam soon followed behind him.
"Where is that miserable Lotho hiding?" said Merry as he searched all the rooms but found no one around.
Merry went outside to find Frodo. "Sauroman!" Merry shouted.
Frodo held his hand up to Merry to stop him as Frodo talked with Sauroman.
Frodo found out the he was the Sharky that his men had talked about and behind everything that had happened in the Shire. Sauroman laughed wickedly at Frodo. It angered Sam that a snake like him could talk to Frodo in that way. It hurt Sam in thinking that what Frodo had suffered and all that he had been through and still going through. Sam placed his fingers firmly around the hilt of his sword as it laid in the sheath.
Frodo told him that he had pity upon Sauroman as Gandalf had told him from before. He ordered Sauroman out of the shire and cast him back into the wilderness and took back everything that Sauroman had stolen away from them.
Sauroman called for Grima to come to him as he turned to leave, But Frodo asked Grima to stay as he knew that Grima was poisoned by Sauroman and made to do his dirty deeds.
Sauroman lashed out at Frodo with his knife by only hit the mail shirt that he wore. Sam drew his sword as the hatred for Sauroman filled him and lunged out at him with all of his strength.
"NO! Sam!" shouted Frodo as he grabbed Sam's arm that held the sword. Just as Sam had held Frodo back when the maddest over took him, so Frodo did likewise. "Sam! Look at me, you must stop! Please Sam!" shouted Frodo.
Sam looked into his master's eyes and saw the compassion and tenderness that was so much a part of Frodo that Sam treasured most about him. Slowly, Sam lowered his arm and sword and he understood what was truly in Frodo's heart. It touched Sam to his very soul. The kindness and goodness of Frodo was unlike anything that he had ever known. It made Sam realize that the only thing that mattered in the world was what was in ones heart and soul, not the evil that existed around them. Sam put his sword back into its sheath and stood next to Frodo, They watched Sauroman walk away as Grima began to follow him when he called.
Frodo called out to Grima to stay with them at the Shire and that he did not have to follow Sauroman.
But Sauroman and his evil words as he told Frodo that Grima had eaten Lotho while Ted Sandyman watched and buried his bone somewhere in the Shire.
Grima rose up and killed Sauroman as he stood and the hobbit in fear shot Grima with their arrows killing him where he stood.
Sauroman within moments began to melt away as if years of decay would have done before their eyes; until nothing remained but his bones and ashes. A thin mist hung over the hills for a moment and a wind blew them away as it would a cloud.
Frodo took the cloak that laid about the bones of Sauroman and covered it saying, "It is now finally over with!"
"It will never be over with, Mr. Frodo. Until the Shire has been restored," said Sam.
They all looked around them at the total destruction and filth that remained.
I still have one more thing to do, see to Bagshot Row," said Sam.
"Sam I will come with you," said Frodo.
"No, this is something I need to do by myself, Please understand Mr. Frodo," Sam called back to him as he kept walking down the hill to his home.