Frodo leaves for the Grey Havens: Sam and Rosie must learn to live with their memories. No slash/no violence.
Disclaimer: The characters belong to the Master, JRRTolkien. I borrow them only to love them and promise to give them back.
A LONGER ROAD
CHAPTER 4
Sam allowed Lord Elrond to attend to his injured hand. The knuckles were bruised and swollen. He cleaned the wounds carefully and applied a soothing salve before applying a light bandage.
"Where is Mr Frodo?" he asked quietly.
"He sleeps over by the large campfire close to Bilbo. I gave him something to help him rest and to sleep without dreams".
"I must go to him, I would not have him wake and find that I am not at his side".
Sam moved soundlessly across the clearing. Few of the Elves were sleeping although some had settled down to the open eyed resting that he had become accustomed to seeing from Legolas during the time they had travelled together. As he approached the largest campfire he saw the two sleeping Hobbits swaddled in blankets. His own bedroll, supplemented with extra blankets was laid out next to Frodo. He edged it closer and taking one of the blankets to wrap around himself, he lowered himself down and, sitting cross-legged, he began his sleepless vigil. When Frodo stirred he crooned to him softly, tenderly brushing the hair from his brow. Sam tucked the blankets closely around him and rested his hand on his chest.
"Sam….!"
"Shush now… your Sam is here" Sam rocked himself backward and forwards, forcing down the tears that were so near the surface. The beauty and stillness of his beloved master cutting like a knife to his heart.
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As the sun rose, its warmth and light brought the company to life. Frodo awoke to find Sam sitting beside him with his hand on his chest. Frodo looked up at his friend and realised that he had fallen asleep, sitting upright, his head slumped forward onto his chest. The events of the previous day returned to Frodo with a sudden clench of his heart. He struggled to sit up, cursing the weakness that left him feeling so helpless. Lord Elrond helped him to sit up and offered him a warm drink to ease him into the day. Frodo eyed the liquid uncertainly and raised an eyebrow in silent question to the Elf.
"It is only tea, I assure you Mr Baggins" said Elrond. "I also have some for Sam; I believe he will be stiff and sore when he wakes, for he has not rested this night!"
"Is he alright"
"Frodo, he is brave and strong, and he loves you very much. But yesterday was a shock for him. It may take a while for him to understand your reasons for leaving. At the moment his grief and pain are great but he will, in time, see that it was the only way."
Lord Elrond moved around behind Sam and began to gently massage the muscles in his shoulders. Sam's head came up as he became aware of the hands easing the tension out of his rigid and quite painful muscles. He opened his eyes to see Frodo holding a cup towards him.
"Good morning Sam". One look into the depths of the deep blue eyes of his friend all he needed to know that the anger and recriminations of the previous day were forgiven and forgotten.
"How about some breakfast, Mr Frodo"?
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All that day and the next the party travelled steadily to the West. Even the Elves were subdued, the sad and solemn atmosphere of the Hobbits dampening their normal enthusiasm. Bilbo appeared to sleep for much of the day, propped safely on his pony by elves on either side. Frodo and Sam rode side-by-side, rarely speaking but occasionally reaching to touch the other as if to reassure themselves that they were as yet united.
When the party stopped for the night Sam attended to Frodo with his usual diligence. The Elves relieved him of the necessity of caring for the ponies and of preparing meals. When he was sure that Frodo had eaten his fill he set out his bedroll and helped him to get comfortable. He watched his friend until he was sure that he slept, and politely refused all offers from those who offered to take watch in his stead. By sheer willpower alone he forced himself to stay awake, unwilling to surrender one minute of the short time he had left be with his master.
On the third day of travel Sam's plight became a cause of concern to all who saw him. His face looked gaunt and grey with exhaustion and dark smudges shadowed his eyes. The weather had turned colder and a light drizzle added to his misery. He shivered within his cloak and pulled his hood down over his face. At midday they stopped to rest and to eat, taking shelter from the rain under a thick grove of trees. Sam insisted on attending on Frodo even though his hands were shaking so badly he could barely hold his cup. He drank his own tea in silence, not even having the energy to eat his own rations. Even Lord Elrond couldn't break through the barrier of will he had erected
"Sam this is madness, you are making yourself ill! You must rest and take care of yourself"
"Leave me be! I have the remainder of my life to rest and look after myself. I promised to care for my Master and care for him I will, until you take him away from me! I have not given him into your care yet and I will not do so till the very end…. so please leave me be!"
Lord Elrond backed off, his healers' sense telling him that to push harder would only worsen the situation. Before the party started off again he spoke quietly to Gildor and asked him to stay close to Sam as they travelled. It was not long before Sam's shoulders began to droop and his head dropped forward onto his chest. Gildor moved up quickly, he put his arm around Sam's shoulder to support him, and peering under his hood realised that Sam was fast asleep. Sam never stirred as he was lifted gently from his pony and cradled in the arms of the Elf. Sheltered with the folds of the Elven cloak his slept for the remainder of the day's journey. When they stopped for the night pavilions were erected to protect the travellers from the rain. Sam slept on, cocooned within a nest of blankets, Frodo on one side, Bilbo on the other.
Sam fought his way to wakefulness. He could hear softly spoken voices and at first thought them to be part of his dream. He felt a hand on his face and heard someone call his name.
"Sam, it is morning, are you with us?" He opened his eyes in confusion, expecting to see his familiar bedroom at Bag End.
"Mr Frodo…..!"
"Hush Sam, I'm here," He saw Frodo at his side and behind him, Lord Elrond. "Come Sam, sit up and drink this and then we will have a proper Hobbit breakfast…. Lord Elrond's orders!"
"I don't understand," he said shaking his head as if to rattle some sense into his muddled brain "What happened?"
"You fell asleep Sam, Gildor caught you before you fell to the ground and you have hardly stirred since".
"Is this your doing Lord Elrond? Did you have a hand in this?" accused Sam.
"No Sam, though I was sorely tempted" said the Elf with a wry smile. "I had it on good authority from Gandalf that The Baggins clan were the most stubborn in the Shire but I believe you surpass even them! Now we will not move another step until you have had a proper breakfast so I suggest that you stir yourself!"
"Yes SIR" said Sam rather forcefully for the normally respectful Hobbit.
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