Disclaimer on the 1st chapter, Cheers!
***
*When the policeman came over
She didn't know what to say Expect his shoes and socks were all gone
It seems he ran away.*
"Samwise Gamgee?" Tolman Cotton repeated thoughtfully leaning against his veranda as he refilled his pipe. "He's not been around since Mr. Bilbo's party. Figured he was busy."
"Meriadoc Brandybuck and Perigrin Took of Brandywine County have also gone missing." Mayor Whitefoot commented seriously.
" I thought Frodo was moving. Weren't they all supposed to help him moved?" Fatty Bolger asked quietly, puffing on his pipe.
" Strange happenings." Mr. Cotton said sorrowfully. "Whatever happened to decent hobbit behaviour? To staying at home and minding what's yours? I always knew Frodo was the curious sort but I thought that Samwise was smarter than that."
" I hear that wizard friend of theirs is to blame. Heard that one day Sam Gamgee eavesdropped into the wrong conversation and was turned into a toad." Mayor Whitefoot puffed. " I knew that it wasn't right to let strangers into our Shire." He added quietly.
"Eavesdropping?" Surprised Fatty Bolger almost dropped his mug. "Why, Sam Gamgee may be a curious chap but he wouldn't be dropping eaves."
" A toad you say?" Mayor Whitefoot repeated, ignoring Fatty Bolger. " I heard that he was killed by that gray wizard."
About to refill her father's glass of ale, Rosie dropped the glass she held. " I'm sorry." She murmured bending to pick up the remains. Pay them no mind, she thought to herself. They're probably all holed up in Brandywine County laughing at all the fuss they've caused.
The Shire had been running wild with rumors when it was heard that Frodo was moving away from Hobbiton and leaving Bag End to the Sackville- Baggins. Truth be told, it was strange. Everyone knew that Bilbo and is nephew could not stand the Sackville-Bagginses.
Rosie knew better than to listen to the gossip of hobbit folk but there was an ill change in the wind. She feared for the missing hobbits. Not dead, she knew they were not dead. but. what if there was something worse than death?
" They're hardly separated those two." Tolman Cotton said referring to Frodo and Sam. " I'll bet where ever they are they're together."
" But doesn't it strike you odd that Samwise Gamgee left without informing his Gaffer?" Mayor Whitefoot persisted.
Rosie frowned. This was true. Sam was devoted to his Gaffer; he wouldn't even leave to the market without informing him of his whereabouts.
"The Buckleberry went missing too. Do you suppose they stole that? Perhaps they went to see the elves"
" Now what would the elves want with the likes of Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee?" Fatty Bolger chuckled, tying to picture the scenario.
The table burst out laughing and slowly talk began to turn from Frodo and Sam to crops and the weather.
Rosie felt utterly alone.
**
It was a fool's hope. But that was all that she had left. Tired of the continuous gossip of the missing hobbits Rosie decided to go to Bag End. Knocking on the door, Rosie winced as she heard breaking of dishes coming from the kitchen.
" Answer the door!" Rosie heard Lobelia yell as more clattering was heard.
The door opened with a bang and standing in front of her was Ted Sandyman and Lotho Sackville- Baggins. Rosie groaned inwardly and tried to keep the smile from wearing off her face.
" Hello lads." She said calmly, ignoring the way Ted Sandyman's eyes raked over her. " I was hoping to speak with your mother Lotho. Is she in?"
" Why not speak with me?" Lotho leered.
" Just let her in!" Yelling came from the kitchen. "You're letting the insects in as well! Close the door!"
As Rosie headed towards the kitchen, she suppressed a shudder as Ted Sandyman placed his hand on her shoulders and whispered suggestively. "You know I'm always around for... help..."
" What are you doing here?" Lobelia asked sharply. "You don't expect me to feed you do you?"
" No ma'am." Rosie said quickly. "I just wanted to ask you something."
" Well get on with it then." Lobelia turned away from her. " I'm trying to make Luncheon."
" Well." Rosie started, feeling quite tookish. " I was wondering if you heard anything from Mr. Frodo... or, perhaps Samwise Gamgee?"
" Gamgee? You mean that daft gardener that Bilbo insisted on hiring now that that blithering Ol' Hamfest is aging? Why on earth should I hear from him? He probably can't even read or write. I've heard quite a lot of rumors about that Gamgee family. Poor as dirt, my mother used to say."
For a reason Rosie couldn't comprehend, an angry flush filled her body. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from striking the older woman. " I just wanting to know if they was any word left behind of where they were headed off to."
Lobelia rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. "Frodo said he left all messages at the Post 'should anyone care to inquire', his exact words. Now." Lobelia pointed her fingers towards the door. " Would you mind?"
**
"Samwise Gamgee?" Merilyn Proudfoot repeated, looking through the piles of letters once more. "I'm sorry dear, but it seems you must be mistaken. There is nothing here from a Samwise Gamgee."
Rosie's face fell. It was foolish to expect Sam to leave a goodbye note to her. Although they were raised together, since their coming-of-age they seldom spoke to each other. A simple dance is no reason to expect any extra thought straying your way. Rosie chided herself. She was about to leave when on a whim she asked if there were any messages left from Frodo Baggins.
"Frodo Baggins?" Merilyn Proudfoot looked down at the letters once more. " Yes. Here it is. Addressed to Miss Rosie Cotton. I'm sorry that it hasn't been delivered soon but our horse went lame so there'll be no delivering until the next horse comes along."
Rosie bowed her head in thanks and left the shop. The moment outside she tore open the letter.
Dear Rosie Cotton,
Despite constant persuasion it seems, for whatever reason, my friend Samwise Gamgee is still unable to write you a letter. So, seeming as his is the letter that it bound to be incomplete by the time I move, I'm taking it upon myself to write you on his behalf.
Sam would like to thank you again for the dance and hopes to see you soon. Incase of a prolonged journey I have taken it upon myself to leave you this gift. I would like to make it loudly and widely known that this is Sam's favorite and most cherished of flower. If you get my meaning.
Signed most merrily,
Frodo Baggins
Feeling inside the envelope Rosie pulled out a fragile dried flower.
A rose.
***
*When the policeman came over
She didn't know what to say Expect his shoes and socks were all gone
It seems he ran away.*
"Samwise Gamgee?" Tolman Cotton repeated thoughtfully leaning against his veranda as he refilled his pipe. "He's not been around since Mr. Bilbo's party. Figured he was busy."
"Meriadoc Brandybuck and Perigrin Took of Brandywine County have also gone missing." Mayor Whitefoot commented seriously.
" I thought Frodo was moving. Weren't they all supposed to help him moved?" Fatty Bolger asked quietly, puffing on his pipe.
" Strange happenings." Mr. Cotton said sorrowfully. "Whatever happened to decent hobbit behaviour? To staying at home and minding what's yours? I always knew Frodo was the curious sort but I thought that Samwise was smarter than that."
" I hear that wizard friend of theirs is to blame. Heard that one day Sam Gamgee eavesdropped into the wrong conversation and was turned into a toad." Mayor Whitefoot puffed. " I knew that it wasn't right to let strangers into our Shire." He added quietly.
"Eavesdropping?" Surprised Fatty Bolger almost dropped his mug. "Why, Sam Gamgee may be a curious chap but he wouldn't be dropping eaves."
" A toad you say?" Mayor Whitefoot repeated, ignoring Fatty Bolger. " I heard that he was killed by that gray wizard."
About to refill her father's glass of ale, Rosie dropped the glass she held. " I'm sorry." She murmured bending to pick up the remains. Pay them no mind, she thought to herself. They're probably all holed up in Brandywine County laughing at all the fuss they've caused.
The Shire had been running wild with rumors when it was heard that Frodo was moving away from Hobbiton and leaving Bag End to the Sackville- Baggins. Truth be told, it was strange. Everyone knew that Bilbo and is nephew could not stand the Sackville-Bagginses.
Rosie knew better than to listen to the gossip of hobbit folk but there was an ill change in the wind. She feared for the missing hobbits. Not dead, she knew they were not dead. but. what if there was something worse than death?
" They're hardly separated those two." Tolman Cotton said referring to Frodo and Sam. " I'll bet where ever they are they're together."
" But doesn't it strike you odd that Samwise Gamgee left without informing his Gaffer?" Mayor Whitefoot persisted.
Rosie frowned. This was true. Sam was devoted to his Gaffer; he wouldn't even leave to the market without informing him of his whereabouts.
"The Buckleberry went missing too. Do you suppose they stole that? Perhaps they went to see the elves"
" Now what would the elves want with the likes of Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee?" Fatty Bolger chuckled, tying to picture the scenario.
The table burst out laughing and slowly talk began to turn from Frodo and Sam to crops and the weather.
Rosie felt utterly alone.
**
It was a fool's hope. But that was all that she had left. Tired of the continuous gossip of the missing hobbits Rosie decided to go to Bag End. Knocking on the door, Rosie winced as she heard breaking of dishes coming from the kitchen.
" Answer the door!" Rosie heard Lobelia yell as more clattering was heard.
The door opened with a bang and standing in front of her was Ted Sandyman and Lotho Sackville- Baggins. Rosie groaned inwardly and tried to keep the smile from wearing off her face.
" Hello lads." She said calmly, ignoring the way Ted Sandyman's eyes raked over her. " I was hoping to speak with your mother Lotho. Is she in?"
" Why not speak with me?" Lotho leered.
" Just let her in!" Yelling came from the kitchen. "You're letting the insects in as well! Close the door!"
As Rosie headed towards the kitchen, she suppressed a shudder as Ted Sandyman placed his hand on her shoulders and whispered suggestively. "You know I'm always around for... help..."
" What are you doing here?" Lobelia asked sharply. "You don't expect me to feed you do you?"
" No ma'am." Rosie said quickly. "I just wanted to ask you something."
" Well get on with it then." Lobelia turned away from her. " I'm trying to make Luncheon."
" Well." Rosie started, feeling quite tookish. " I was wondering if you heard anything from Mr. Frodo... or, perhaps Samwise Gamgee?"
" Gamgee? You mean that daft gardener that Bilbo insisted on hiring now that that blithering Ol' Hamfest is aging? Why on earth should I hear from him? He probably can't even read or write. I've heard quite a lot of rumors about that Gamgee family. Poor as dirt, my mother used to say."
For a reason Rosie couldn't comprehend, an angry flush filled her body. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from striking the older woman. " I just wanting to know if they was any word left behind of where they were headed off to."
Lobelia rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. "Frodo said he left all messages at the Post 'should anyone care to inquire', his exact words. Now." Lobelia pointed her fingers towards the door. " Would you mind?"
**
"Samwise Gamgee?" Merilyn Proudfoot repeated, looking through the piles of letters once more. "I'm sorry dear, but it seems you must be mistaken. There is nothing here from a Samwise Gamgee."
Rosie's face fell. It was foolish to expect Sam to leave a goodbye note to her. Although they were raised together, since their coming-of-age they seldom spoke to each other. A simple dance is no reason to expect any extra thought straying your way. Rosie chided herself. She was about to leave when on a whim she asked if there were any messages left from Frodo Baggins.
"Frodo Baggins?" Merilyn Proudfoot looked down at the letters once more. " Yes. Here it is. Addressed to Miss Rosie Cotton. I'm sorry that it hasn't been delivered soon but our horse went lame so there'll be no delivering until the next horse comes along."
Rosie bowed her head in thanks and left the shop. The moment outside she tore open the letter.
Dear Rosie Cotton,
Despite constant persuasion it seems, for whatever reason, my friend Samwise Gamgee is still unable to write you a letter. So, seeming as his is the letter that it bound to be incomplete by the time I move, I'm taking it upon myself to write you on his behalf.
Sam would like to thank you again for the dance and hopes to see you soon. Incase of a prolonged journey I have taken it upon myself to leave you this gift. I would like to make it loudly and widely known that this is Sam's favorite and most cherished of flower. If you get my meaning.
Signed most merrily,
Frodo Baggins
Feeling inside the envelope Rosie pulled out a fragile dried flower.
A rose.
