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Of Sam & Elves: The First Encounter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Summary: When the hobbits are stalked by the Black Riders, the nightmare becomes a dream for Sam. His most saught after wish is finally granted. To meet Elves. He wasn't however expecting to be given a mission by them as well. (Gildor Inglorian & Company)

Rated: G

Posted: February 10, 2004

Author: Stephie P. a.k.a. TheSilentSenshi

Contact: thesilentsenshi@Hotmail.com

Archive: Sure, just tell me first so I know where it is.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately I can't claim any of the lovely elves as mine, no matter how much I wish I could. Alas, a genius by the name of Tolkien has beat me to it. So, I'm just borrowing them for a little while. I'll return them when I'm through, in relatively worn, but good condition.

Notes: Well, here we are. The final part of this story. *runs over and glomps on 'rabidsamfan'! Thank you so much for reviewing. I was seriously considering not finishing it. As is there isn't much original stuff written in this part. Most of it is pure Tolkien, except for the most of the 'lil Sam bits. Don't let that deter you though, all the following stories will be purely me since Tolkien doesn't elaborate any further on Sam's dealings with the Elves. I for one, refuse to believe his obsession has been cured simply by meeting some. Hense the purpose of this series. It's also an excuse to get some of one of my favorite parts in the book in here. Heh heh heh. Since this story isn't getting much response, I didn't want to waste much more time on it and decided to begin work on the second story in the series. It will be called 'Mischief in Imladris', and I have the first 2 chapters already written, for the most part. It was a lotta fun to write and I hope it goes over well with you guys. I'll leave it a mystery as to who stars in it, but just by the title, I'm sure it gives you guys somewhat of an idea. It should be up probably by the end of the week, provided I have time to type it. That's it for now, thanks, for following it, my lone reviewer, and any future readers. |^_^| On with the finale! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 3: Musings

After a while, Sam got up, stifling a yawn and moved to Frodo's side. Frodo had been sitting conversing with the head-Elf, Gildor. Refusing the offers to accommodate him more comfortable sleeping arrangements, Sam sank to the ground at Frodo's feet. He closed his eyes and curled up, though not relinquishing his new guard for his friend. Frodo and Gildor apparently thought him to be asleep, and Sam decided to let them. So with closed eyes he followed their hushed conversation.

One part of it stood out from the others, and he listened even more intently, careful not to reveal his wakefulness.

Gildor was silent for a moment. "I do not like this news," he said at last. "That Gandalf should be late does not bode well. But it is said: Do not meddle in the affairs of wizard's, for they are subtle and quick to anger. The choice is yours: to go or wait."

"And it is also said," answered Frodo: "Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes." At this Sam couldn't help but smile a little. Even only dealing with the Elves so briefly he had learned that lesson well.

"It is indeed?" laughed Gildor. "Elves seldom give unguarded advice, for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, and all courses may run ill. But what would you? You have not told me all concerning yourself; and how then shall I choose better than you? But, if you demand advice, I will for friendship's sake give it. I think you should now go at once, without delay; and if Gandalf does not come before you set out, then I also advise this: do not go alone. Take such friends as are trusty and willing." Sam hid another smile. As though Frodo could get away from him! No way no how. "Now you should be grateful, for I do not give this counsel gladly. The Elves have their own labours and their own sorrows, and they are little concerned with the ways of hobbits, or of any other creatures upon earth. Our paths cross theirs seldom, by chance or purpose. In this meeting there may be more than chance; but the purpose is not clear to me, and I fear to say too much."

Sam heard no more, for try as he might, he found that Black Riders he may take on, but sleep was a foe he could not stave off for long.

-----

The next morning.

Frodo took quite a while in waking, for the breakfast was nearly gone when he got up, though Sam had fought off Pippin to save the last of it for his Frodo.

He watched silently as Frodo sat there brooding, though they all knew they should be on their way. Looking up Frodo noticed Sam's attention to him.

"You still mean to come with me?" he asked.

"I do," Sam answered honestly.

"It is going to be very dangerous, Sam. It is already dangerous. Most likely neither of us will come back." Sam smiled as he remembered the Elves saying much the same thing to him last night. He had given them his answer, and he did not mean to change it now. Or anytime soon, for that matter.

"If you don't come back, sir, then I shan't, that's certain," said Sam."'Don't you leave him!' they said to me. 'Leave him!' I said, 'I never mean to. I am going with him, if he climbs to the Moon; and if any of those Black Riders try to stop him, they'll have Sam Gamgee to reckon with,' I said. They laughed."

"Who are 'they', and what are you talking about?"

"The Elves, sir. We had some talk last night; and they seemed to know you were going away, so I didn't see the use of denying it. Wonderful folks, Elves, sir! Wonderful!" Sam's face was alight in delight as he recalled all that had occurred last evening. It was still rather difficult to believe, they would entrust something like that to him, of all people.

"They are," said Frodo, smiling at his friend. "Do you like them still, now you have had a closer view?"

"They seem a bit above my likes and dislikes, so to speak," answered Sam slowly. "It don't seem to matter what I think about them. They are quite different from what I expected-so old and young, and so gay and sad, as it were."

Frodo looked at Sam rather startled, half expecting to see some outward sign of the odd change that seemed to have come over him. It did not sound like the voice of the old Sam Gamgee sitting there, except that his face was unusually thoughtful.

"Do you feel any need to leave the Shire now-now that your wish to see them has come true already? He asked.

"Yes, sir. I don't know how to say it, but after last night I feel different. I seem to see ahead, in a kind of way. I know we are going to take a very long road, into darkness; but I have something to do before the end, and it lies ahead, not in the Shire. I must see it through, sir, if you understand me."

"I don't altogether. But I understand that Gandalf chose me a good companion. I am content. We will go together."

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Background Notes: In the Books, Sam really was awake during Frodo's conversation, but you don't know that til later on when he confronts Frodo with something he said. I always thought it funny and wondered why he pretended to be asleep. Whatever the reason, I figured it would be good to put in, seeing as I have a feeling it has something to do with his newly given 'charge'. I don't claim to be an expert on Tolkien, though I do try to research a bit before writing to make the story more interesting.

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That's it for this story. Next up, is Rivendell. Trust me, we'll have lotsa fun, though I don't know about poor Sam. heh heh. But don't wanna give to much away. ^__^ So look out for 'Of Sam & Elves: Mischief in Imladris' which should be out sometime later this week. ~*~Stephie P. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~