* Sorry so late! Rosa, my cherished reviewer, I didn't know you wrote Narnia fanfic how cool.

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Oh this is holy war We must fight and fight again A thousand time for the sake of love But never once in vain

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Although there were few patrons, the Green Dragon radiated with life. Sam noted that even outside the thick stones walls one could here the last ruminants of a rowdy drinking song. With a heavyset sigh, Sam pushed open the door.

" Hello Sam!" Frodo said from his seat, looking far happier than he had only a few weeks ago. " You're back early!"

Sam merely nodded as he went to Frodo's table. " I'm heading home." He muttered avoiding Frodo's sudden silence.

"Why?" Frodo questioned, pulling away from the table. He cheery attitude was quickly replaced with a more sullen one. "Sam?"

" Never you mind, Mr. Frodo." Sam said, forcing himself to keep a light hearted appearance.

" What happened to your hand?" Frodo asked, suddenly aware of the small cuts bleeding on Sam's knuckles.

" Tomorrow Mr. Frodo." Sam looked away. "I must go see to my ol'Gaffer." He finally said leaving the bar.

" Oi!" Pippin laughed, his cheeks far redder than usual. " What's his hurry?" Pip asked sloshing his ale around in his mug.

" Must be that Rosie Cotton." Merry answered with a shrug before turning back to his conversation with Fatty Bolger.

" Must be." Frodo repeated quietly.

**

" Hullo, Tom. Is Rosie in?" Frodo asked standing in the doorway of the Cotton residence. Tom nodded and, Frodo presumed, left to call Rosie.

Rosie rushed to the door, her hair askew and her face filled with hope, which diminished when she saw whom it, was. " Mr. Frodo." She greeted. "I though you were... But that doesn't matter." " Hello Rosie, I was wondering if I could speak to you for awhile." Frodo asked, pointing to the road.

" Of course." Rosie nodded following Frodo.

Once they had cleared the Cotton laneway and all eavesdroppers, Frodo began his questioning. " Do you know what's wrong with Sam?"

" Is the anything?" Rosie feigned. " He certainly seems jovial enough." She added, with a slight hint of bitterness.

" Oh, I won't disagree Sam *seems* happy, he smiles and laughs when appropriate but I know that something great troubles him. It worries me."

" What has he told you?" Rosie asked, opting to look at the passing scene rather than Frodo's inquisitive face.

" Nothing. He spends so much time repairing the Shire that he barely speaks."

"Perhaps he is simply unsettled about his journey." Rosie said nonchalantly.

" Or perhaps he is unsettled by you." Frodo responded quickly. " Two weeks ago, the night after the scouring, after walking to meet with you he returned rather suddenly and has not been the same since."

Rosie was silent for a moment. "Aren't you supposed to be resting?" She questioned, looking for a way out of this conversation.

"Rosie don't this from me! I have been to the black gates of hell must you continue to torment me?" Frodo grabbed Rosie's arm and turned her to look at him.

Rosie's eyes filled with sympathy. " I'm sorry Mr. Frodo." She apologized. She looked around, assuring herself of their solitude. " What I say must be kept under the strictest lock and key." She said, and began to relate to Frodo what had happened between her, Sam and Ted.

" Do you know where Ted has disappeared to?" Frodo asked at the end of her speech.

" No. I wish to the heavens I did so this nightmare could be reckoned with. If he is dead or alive I do not know, but my heart wishes for death."

" If you explain this to Sam, I'm positive he will see the reason for your decision was an act of fear rather than love."

Rosie laughed sadly. " I fear, Mr. Frodo, I have tried. Each time I approach Sam or his house, he finds a reason to be elsewhere. No. He is finished with me."

"Rosie." Frodo pleaded. " Let me speak to him then. I know Sam; he is quick to anger and quick to cease. Let me tell him."

Rosie sighed heavily, staring into the treeless horizon, before answering. " You may."

**

"Sam?" Frodo stood over the bent gardener. The warm rays of sunlight shone down upon them as Sam tended to the Bag End garden. "Coming in for tea, I need to speak with you."

" Of course, Mr. Frodo." Sam complied standing, he wiped the dirt off his hands and followed Frodo in to Bag End. "About what?" He asked settling down to the table and pouring Frodo's tea.

Frodo took a deep breath and said loudly. " Rosie Cotton." He then cringed as his teapot fell to the floor with a dramatic crash.

*** Sorry so short a chapter but a lot of junk is going on right now and this had to take the back burner. The next installment will hopefully be tomorrow and might be the last chapter.