Aelfgifu - Bramblethorn just couldn't let go, could he? He was completely delusional.
Lucia I. Legaia Tanaka - There was no way this story could end without a little Frodo/Sam! Bramblethorn is gone, but I don't think he's forgotten!
Endymion2 - Merry read the whole diary, including the parts that were very painful to him. The vignette regarding young Frodo just served to help him understand just what a complicated thing had been going on and for how long. Frodo's recovery was not complete in the last chapter, but it was a step in the right direction. He's still going to need a lot of love and patience.
Trust No One - You've got to pity Bramblethorn for being so messed up. I wanted his obsession to be something like Gollum's.
Sam - Pippin is in this chapter too. Underneath the fun loving exterior, Merry is a very practical hobbit.
Stephanie - Things will start looking up for everyone now. We started the story with a harvest, and we'll end with one, and a party as well.
Breon Briarwood - Thank you. I'm glad you've enjoyed this story. I had a lot of fun writing it.
Hobbitfeet13 - It was hard for Sam to defy Frodo openly, but he had to. I'm not sure what I'll be doing next regarding new stories, but I have a few ideas.
Spootasia Tomoe - The rest of that closure is coming in this chapter.
Camellia Gamgee - Took - This is the last chapter, but it kind of brings everything together. Pippin is in this one too.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
My thanks to all of you who have read this story faithfully and made it a success!
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Epilogue
~*~ Almost a year later ~*~
Frodo and Sam arrived in the courtyard of Brandy Hall to the bustle of preparations for what promised to be one of the grandest Harvest Festival celebrations in recent memory. The crops in Buckland had been tended with the greatest care during the growing season, and the yield had been even greater than expected. There had been no sign of the weed with the red seedpods, nor had any other unwanted growth been tolerated in any quantity.
The courtyard was teeming with hobbits carrying tables and chairs, hanging lanterns and banners, and hammering away as they built a platform for the musicians who were to entertain the revelers. Merry leapt off the rung of the ladder he was climbing, the end of the banner he had been holding fluttering down to the ground as an indignant Pippin shouted, "Where are you going?!"
"Frodo and Sam are here," Merry called back at Pippin, causing his cousin to drop the banner entirely and scramble down from his ladder to follow Merry toward the new arrivals as they stood in the courtyard.
Hugs and laughter followed, and Frodo took in the scene with a genuine smile. "Your letter said the harvest was successful, but it must have really been something if all of this is any indication."
"We've hardly slept, we've been so busy," Merry crowed happily. "It's the best harvest in years."
"Wait until you try the ale and cider," Pippin enthused. "This year's batch is - "
"Half gone already, thanks to you," Merry quipped, with a look of mock disapproval for Pippin.
"He's exaggerating," Pippin informed them, bringing a fresh burst of laughter from the group.
"Well, come on," Merry beckoned the others. "You're in time for tea, and I could use a break from all this lantern stringing and banner hanging."
As they walked, Frodo gazed around him at the happy, healthy residents of Buckland. It looked as if all had survived the winter, perhaps not in ease and true comfort, but well enough at least. With a smile for his cousin, Frodo commented, "Everyone looks well. You too."
"Everyone is aware that last winter could have been much worse," Merry answered. "There was a genuine spirit of thankfulness and generosity in the Hall all season. Everyone shared what they had and no one asked for more than his portion." Merry regarded Frodo with a serious expression. "And our success was due in large part to you, you know that, don't you?"
Frodo shook his head slightly. "I did nothing, Merry. I allowed myself to fall into Bramblethorn's hands, and I caused you such worry and pain - "
"You bore unspeakable things at his hands," Merry protested sharply. "And all for the sake of Buckland. There are very few here who know the entire story, Frodo. They don't know what you were willing to bear for their sakes. They never will."
Frodo shook his head. "That doesn't bother me, Merry. They're safe. They're happy. It's enough."
"And what about you?" Merry kept his voice low, intending the conversation to be solely between himself and his cousin.
"I'm all right, Merry," Frodo answered. He met Merry's measuring gaze steadily. "Truly, I am." Frodo nodded toward his gardener, who walked a short distance ahead with Pippin. "Sam has not left my side during his waking hours since our return home. When he must be away from Bag End at all, he checks all the windows and doors before he goes. I couldn't be safer."
"Bless him," Merry said gladly. "You can always count on Sam, can't you?"
"Always."
~*~
Laughter rang in the warm night air and lively music drifted on the light breeze as green leaves whispered and lanterns swayed above the courtyard. Ale was flowing freely and a number of hobbits were dancing a lively jig. Merry and Pippin were part of the circle of dancers, of course, and were currently busy making everyone laugh as they 'accidentally' stepped on each others' toes while miraculously avoiding stomping on those of their actual dance partners.
Frodo sipped his ale as he looked across the courtyard. Sam had been waylaid by Fredegar Bolger and was politely trying to extricate himself from the conversation while casting quick glances back at Frodo.
"Did you hear me, Sam?" Fredegar prodded as Sam turned his gaze from Frodo. "It was absolutely hilarious, I tell you."
"I'm right sure it was," Sam said hurriedly, before his garrulous companion could start in on another anecdote. "It's good to see you again and all, but Mr. Frodo's waitin' - "
"Ah, well, I suppose he is," Fredegar agreed with a nod. He turned and waved cheerfully to Frodo. His gaze wandered around the gathering. "And there's that pretty lass from Hardbottle. What's her name?" Fredegar fretted, then grinned. "Can't remember, but maybe I can get her to remind me," he said and departed with a tipsy wink.
Sam filled two tankards with ale and made his way back to Frodo's side, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Mr. Frodo. You know how ol' Fatty is when he gets to tellin' his stories."
"I do indeed," Frodo said, accepting the fresh mug Sam held out. "His tales are amusing, if somewhat unlikely at times."
"If you're tryin' to say that he's oft times wrappin' a grain of truth in a blanket of foolishness, I'll have to agree with you." Sam swigged his ale and leaned back against the tree he and Frodo had chosen to sit beneath.
"I think I should like to take a brief walk," Frodo said suddenly, and Sam looked at him in alarm.
"Now?" He asked, looking uncertainly from Frodo to his fresh mug of ale and voiced the thought that troubled him. "Alone?"
Frodo smiled kindly and shook his head. "Not necessarily. You can come with me if you want to."
"Of course I'm comin' with you," Sam said resolutely. "I'm not lettin' you wander off by yourself, nohow."
Frodo caught himself readying a protest that died unspoken. He felt perfectly safe there in the shadow of Brandy Hall, but he knew Sam would be looking out for the slightest sign of trouble. He rose from the blanket they were sitting on and helped Sam pull himself to his feet. Frodo handed Sam his ale and raised his own in salute. "Come along, then, Sam."
They wandered at a leisurely pace down a path that led down by the river as it flowed lazily between the banks. Perhaps it was an effect of the ale, but Sam found himself asking, "Did you come here when you lived at the Hall? I mean, even after - " he broke off, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
"Yes, Sam. Despite what I lost to the waters of this river, I've taken a measure of comfort in the sound and sight of it at times. It changes, but it doesn't." Frodo gazed around at the trees and reached out to lightly touch the gnarled bark of the nearest. "It's always been there and always will be despite the passing of time."
"Do you miss it? Brandy Hall, I mean?" Sam's expression was hidden by tree shadow and the mug of ale he raised to his lips.
Frodo smiled. "I've been long away from the Hall, Sam," he answered quietly. "Bag End truly is my home now, and has been since I was a tween. I'd not trade it for anything Brandy Hall has to offer."
"Not anything, Mr. Frodo?" This time Sam raised his eyes and looked directly at Frodo.
"Samwise, what's gotten into you?" Frodo asked, cocking his head to one side and peering into the semidarkness at his gardener. "Why do you ask?"
Aware that he could do nothing but finish the conversation he'd begun, Sam forged ahead. "When we returned here from Bree last season, Mr. Merry told me to help you. He said that he couldn't anymore, and that it had to be me. It was as if he was letting go of something once and for all."
Frodo nodded. "When we were younger, Merry always sort of watched over me in his own way. When I went to Hobbiton, it was hard for him at first. I think what he was trying to say is that he knows that I'm in good hands."
"Does he?" Sam's voice bore a plaintive note. Many had been the nights he had lain awake, thinking of all should have done.
"Let me make one thing quite clear to you, Samwise," Frodo said earnestly. "I know that wherever I go, I want you to be there with me."
"An' I promise I will be," Sam answered.
~*~
"He's gone, Merry!" Pippin said in alarm, pointing to the space Frodo and Sam had been occupying only minutes before.
For a moment Merry's eyes showed a hint of alarm and uncertainty until something occurred to him and he smiled at Pippin. "It's all right, Pip. Sam's with him."
Pippin looked again toward the abandoned blanket under the tree and sighed in relief. "I'm sorry. I thought for a moment - "
"It's all right, Pip. I think we'll all be looking after Frodo a bit more attentively now, whether we realize it or not," Merry answered. "Whether he realizes it or not."
At that moment Frodo and Sam emerged from the shadows. They were smiling, and Sam reached out to take Frodo's empty ale mug.
Merry and Pippin positioned themselves conveniently beside the nearest barrel of Buckland's finest, and nodded to Sam as he approached. "All is well, then, is it not, Sam?" Merry ventured.
"Aye, Mr. Merry. That it is," Sam replied, with a glance over his shoulder.
"And may it so remain," Merry said, raising his mug and smiling.
~*~ The End ~*~
Lucia I. Legaia Tanaka - There was no way this story could end without a little Frodo/Sam! Bramblethorn is gone, but I don't think he's forgotten!
Endymion2 - Merry read the whole diary, including the parts that were very painful to him. The vignette regarding young Frodo just served to help him understand just what a complicated thing had been going on and for how long. Frodo's recovery was not complete in the last chapter, but it was a step in the right direction. He's still going to need a lot of love and patience.
Trust No One - You've got to pity Bramblethorn for being so messed up. I wanted his obsession to be something like Gollum's.
Sam - Pippin is in this chapter too. Underneath the fun loving exterior, Merry is a very practical hobbit.
Stephanie - Things will start looking up for everyone now. We started the story with a harvest, and we'll end with one, and a party as well.
Breon Briarwood - Thank you. I'm glad you've enjoyed this story. I had a lot of fun writing it.
Hobbitfeet13 - It was hard for Sam to defy Frodo openly, but he had to. I'm not sure what I'll be doing next regarding new stories, but I have a few ideas.
Spootasia Tomoe - The rest of that closure is coming in this chapter.
Camellia Gamgee - Took - This is the last chapter, but it kind of brings everything together. Pippin is in this one too.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
My thanks to all of you who have read this story faithfully and made it a success!
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Epilogue
~*~ Almost a year later ~*~
Frodo and Sam arrived in the courtyard of Brandy Hall to the bustle of preparations for what promised to be one of the grandest Harvest Festival celebrations in recent memory. The crops in Buckland had been tended with the greatest care during the growing season, and the yield had been even greater than expected. There had been no sign of the weed with the red seedpods, nor had any other unwanted growth been tolerated in any quantity.
The courtyard was teeming with hobbits carrying tables and chairs, hanging lanterns and banners, and hammering away as they built a platform for the musicians who were to entertain the revelers. Merry leapt off the rung of the ladder he was climbing, the end of the banner he had been holding fluttering down to the ground as an indignant Pippin shouted, "Where are you going?!"
"Frodo and Sam are here," Merry called back at Pippin, causing his cousin to drop the banner entirely and scramble down from his ladder to follow Merry toward the new arrivals as they stood in the courtyard.
Hugs and laughter followed, and Frodo took in the scene with a genuine smile. "Your letter said the harvest was successful, but it must have really been something if all of this is any indication."
"We've hardly slept, we've been so busy," Merry crowed happily. "It's the best harvest in years."
"Wait until you try the ale and cider," Pippin enthused. "This year's batch is - "
"Half gone already, thanks to you," Merry quipped, with a look of mock disapproval for Pippin.
"He's exaggerating," Pippin informed them, bringing a fresh burst of laughter from the group.
"Well, come on," Merry beckoned the others. "You're in time for tea, and I could use a break from all this lantern stringing and banner hanging."
As they walked, Frodo gazed around him at the happy, healthy residents of Buckland. It looked as if all had survived the winter, perhaps not in ease and true comfort, but well enough at least. With a smile for his cousin, Frodo commented, "Everyone looks well. You too."
"Everyone is aware that last winter could have been much worse," Merry answered. "There was a genuine spirit of thankfulness and generosity in the Hall all season. Everyone shared what they had and no one asked for more than his portion." Merry regarded Frodo with a serious expression. "And our success was due in large part to you, you know that, don't you?"
Frodo shook his head slightly. "I did nothing, Merry. I allowed myself to fall into Bramblethorn's hands, and I caused you such worry and pain - "
"You bore unspeakable things at his hands," Merry protested sharply. "And all for the sake of Buckland. There are very few here who know the entire story, Frodo. They don't know what you were willing to bear for their sakes. They never will."
Frodo shook his head. "That doesn't bother me, Merry. They're safe. They're happy. It's enough."
"And what about you?" Merry kept his voice low, intending the conversation to be solely between himself and his cousin.
"I'm all right, Merry," Frodo answered. He met Merry's measuring gaze steadily. "Truly, I am." Frodo nodded toward his gardener, who walked a short distance ahead with Pippin. "Sam has not left my side during his waking hours since our return home. When he must be away from Bag End at all, he checks all the windows and doors before he goes. I couldn't be safer."
"Bless him," Merry said gladly. "You can always count on Sam, can't you?"
"Always."
~*~
Laughter rang in the warm night air and lively music drifted on the light breeze as green leaves whispered and lanterns swayed above the courtyard. Ale was flowing freely and a number of hobbits were dancing a lively jig. Merry and Pippin were part of the circle of dancers, of course, and were currently busy making everyone laugh as they 'accidentally' stepped on each others' toes while miraculously avoiding stomping on those of their actual dance partners.
Frodo sipped his ale as he looked across the courtyard. Sam had been waylaid by Fredegar Bolger and was politely trying to extricate himself from the conversation while casting quick glances back at Frodo.
"Did you hear me, Sam?" Fredegar prodded as Sam turned his gaze from Frodo. "It was absolutely hilarious, I tell you."
"I'm right sure it was," Sam said hurriedly, before his garrulous companion could start in on another anecdote. "It's good to see you again and all, but Mr. Frodo's waitin' - "
"Ah, well, I suppose he is," Fredegar agreed with a nod. He turned and waved cheerfully to Frodo. His gaze wandered around the gathering. "And there's that pretty lass from Hardbottle. What's her name?" Fredegar fretted, then grinned. "Can't remember, but maybe I can get her to remind me," he said and departed with a tipsy wink.
Sam filled two tankards with ale and made his way back to Frodo's side, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Mr. Frodo. You know how ol' Fatty is when he gets to tellin' his stories."
"I do indeed," Frodo said, accepting the fresh mug Sam held out. "His tales are amusing, if somewhat unlikely at times."
"If you're tryin' to say that he's oft times wrappin' a grain of truth in a blanket of foolishness, I'll have to agree with you." Sam swigged his ale and leaned back against the tree he and Frodo had chosen to sit beneath.
"I think I should like to take a brief walk," Frodo said suddenly, and Sam looked at him in alarm.
"Now?" He asked, looking uncertainly from Frodo to his fresh mug of ale and voiced the thought that troubled him. "Alone?"
Frodo smiled kindly and shook his head. "Not necessarily. You can come with me if you want to."
"Of course I'm comin' with you," Sam said resolutely. "I'm not lettin' you wander off by yourself, nohow."
Frodo caught himself readying a protest that died unspoken. He felt perfectly safe there in the shadow of Brandy Hall, but he knew Sam would be looking out for the slightest sign of trouble. He rose from the blanket they were sitting on and helped Sam pull himself to his feet. Frodo handed Sam his ale and raised his own in salute. "Come along, then, Sam."
They wandered at a leisurely pace down a path that led down by the river as it flowed lazily between the banks. Perhaps it was an effect of the ale, but Sam found himself asking, "Did you come here when you lived at the Hall? I mean, even after - " he broke off, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
"Yes, Sam. Despite what I lost to the waters of this river, I've taken a measure of comfort in the sound and sight of it at times. It changes, but it doesn't." Frodo gazed around at the trees and reached out to lightly touch the gnarled bark of the nearest. "It's always been there and always will be despite the passing of time."
"Do you miss it? Brandy Hall, I mean?" Sam's expression was hidden by tree shadow and the mug of ale he raised to his lips.
Frodo smiled. "I've been long away from the Hall, Sam," he answered quietly. "Bag End truly is my home now, and has been since I was a tween. I'd not trade it for anything Brandy Hall has to offer."
"Not anything, Mr. Frodo?" This time Sam raised his eyes and looked directly at Frodo.
"Samwise, what's gotten into you?" Frodo asked, cocking his head to one side and peering into the semidarkness at his gardener. "Why do you ask?"
Aware that he could do nothing but finish the conversation he'd begun, Sam forged ahead. "When we returned here from Bree last season, Mr. Merry told me to help you. He said that he couldn't anymore, and that it had to be me. It was as if he was letting go of something once and for all."
Frodo nodded. "When we were younger, Merry always sort of watched over me in his own way. When I went to Hobbiton, it was hard for him at first. I think what he was trying to say is that he knows that I'm in good hands."
"Does he?" Sam's voice bore a plaintive note. Many had been the nights he had lain awake, thinking of all should have done.
"Let me make one thing quite clear to you, Samwise," Frodo said earnestly. "I know that wherever I go, I want you to be there with me."
"An' I promise I will be," Sam answered.
~*~
"He's gone, Merry!" Pippin said in alarm, pointing to the space Frodo and Sam had been occupying only minutes before.
For a moment Merry's eyes showed a hint of alarm and uncertainty until something occurred to him and he smiled at Pippin. "It's all right, Pip. Sam's with him."
Pippin looked again toward the abandoned blanket under the tree and sighed in relief. "I'm sorry. I thought for a moment - "
"It's all right, Pip. I think we'll all be looking after Frodo a bit more attentively now, whether we realize it or not," Merry answered. "Whether he realizes it or not."
At that moment Frodo and Sam emerged from the shadows. They were smiling, and Sam reached out to take Frodo's empty ale mug.
Merry and Pippin positioned themselves conveniently beside the nearest barrel of Buckland's finest, and nodded to Sam as he approached. "All is well, then, is it not, Sam?" Merry ventured.
"Aye, Mr. Merry. That it is," Sam replied, with a glance over his shoulder.
"And may it so remain," Merry said, raising his mug and smiling.
~*~ The End ~*~