Ah! Thank you for reading! I didn't think I'd get any response, lol, well I
hope you all had a Happy New Year! I'll probably get one more chapter up
before school (noooo!), but I already have up to chapter 5 written. It's
just the editing that needs to be done, which I'm horrible at!
~ There are a few 'other characters' that come up, I hope that's all right. Its just I didn't want the same Ted Sandyman or Lotho and such. :)
Chapter One: The Burrowes Brothers
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Late Fall, The Shire, 3014 T.A.
Hours after the cock had crowed, the sun shone through the misty clouds that covered the light sky. The leaves on the trees had stopped turning colors and they fell to the ground carpeting the green earth. Sparrow nests hung on the empty branches like little baskets, holding spotted eggs almost ready to hatch. Flowers stayed in bloom until the weather got cold, closing up until Spring welcomed them.
Samwise swept up the golden leaves off the patio and picked them out of the faultless gardens. Farmer Cotton came around to Hobbiton and down to Bagshot Row. He stopped his pony at number Three and Sam looked up from his sweeping.
"Hullo there, Samwise-lad. Is the Gaffer around?" He asked from his carriage and Rosie Cotton was seated next to him. Farmer Cotton held the reins and smiled from under his working hat. He had a kindly face and his neck and face was brown from days under the sun in his fields.
"Yes, sir. I'll go get him," Sam said and before he set his broom down, the Gaffer came from behind his smial and greeted Mr. Cotton warmly. The Gaffer had dirt on his hands and knees and he wiped his brow from under his brown hair.
"Hamfast, I came here looking for you! I was just on my way to the White Downs to talk to Old Mayor Will in Michel Delving about next year's harvest. Just came to stop by to see if you had wanted to discuss business with him. Before I head there though, I need to give Rosie a ride down into town," Farmer Cotton explained and the Gaffer came up to the wagon.
"In fact, I do need to see him. A friend of mine had some documents about a piece of land that Mayor Whitfoot wanted to know about and I have them here with me. Let me go get them, but first, I wouldn't want you to wait outside here for me!" The Gaffer said and he opened the side-door for Farmer Cotton and helped Rosie out.
Sam held the door to their smial and the Gaffer scurried around the kitchen, "I think Bell had some tea ready," He greeted his wife with a kiss in the kitchen, "Bell! Do we have any tea in the pot for the Cottons?"
Bell set out cups and saucers and Farmer Cotton smiled warmly at their hospitality, "Thank'ye Bell! We were only coming to pick up your husband, but if you insist..." He said and grabbed one of Bell's sweet pastries.
Bell continued making meals for later and Marigold came out from her room to see who was over. The Gaffer and Farmer Cotton talked for a little while before he left to his office to get the documents. Rosie sat quietly at the table with her papa as Sam sat in the living room in a chair. He felt it was better to sit alone in the opposite room than sitting in an uncomfortable silence across from Rosie. They never talked much and he never knew what to say when he tried to talk to her.
He found his smoking pipe where he left it and started a flame in it. He sat back, listening to the light conversation of his mother and Farmer Cotton, when Rosie came into the room. Sam didn't notice her until she bumped into the small table in the center of the room and he stood up out of good manners. She looked up the walls at painted family portraits and pointed, "That must be you, isn't it, Sam?"
Sam came up with his hands uncomfortably behind his back and he blushed, "Aye, Miss Rosie." It was one of the few pictures they could afford to get painted of their family. It was an older picture of the Gamgees, when Sam was just a little boy.
She glanced at Sam and smiled shyly, "It's a darling picture. Do you remember the days we used to swim down at Bywater that young?" Rosie asked and Sam put his hands in his pockets, "Yes---every one."
He turned back nervously back to his pipe on the side table and the Gaffer came out with his papers. Farmer Cotton came in, "Come on, Rosie. Let's get you into town," He said and she left, not sure how to respond to Sam.
~·· ··÷¦÷·· ··~
Rosie sat quietly as her father talked with Hamfast. She looked out around the carriage, remembering when she was young and played by the pool with Sam. Before long, Farmer Cotton pulled the reins and let Rosie out. He kissed her cheek and grinned, "Be home at a respectful time before your mother and I miss you," he said and she waved good-bye to him.
She passed by many booths and stopped to look every once in a while. She loved being out in town, even when she wasn't interested in buying anything. She walked into a goods-shop and spotted her friend, Nellia Goodchild, who was actually a younger cousin of Bell Gamgee.
"Rosie! It's been so long!" Nellia said and they embraced in a hug.
They walked around the small shop and talked busily, and decided to each buy a candy stick to chew on. Nellia spoke of her life in the Northfarthing with her new husband and child while they waited to pay.
"I still cannot believe you're married and with a child! It seems like only a little while ago we celebrated your coming-of-age," Rosie commented and she took out a coin and paid for her candy.
"Yes I know! And yours should be coming up soon, is it not?" Nellia asked.
"I still have a couple more years, and even by then I don't think I'll be off and away with a husband and babies, and I'm not exactly planning too," Rosie said and Nellia pointed out towards the window.
"I'm not too sure about that, Rosie dear. There's a lad right there that has been staring at you ever since we walked in here," Nellia said quietly and giggled.
They walked out and Rosie passed the hobbit she pointed at, "You mean Nolfarm Burrows? Ha! I'm sorry, Nellie, but the only reason he would want me as a wife is to show me off like a prize next to his fancy houses and piles of money. Everyone knows he's just looking for a girl to make himself look like the ideal hobbit of the Westfarthing." Rosie explained and Nellia shook her head.
"You never know, Rosie, maybe he really has an eye out for you.....," Nellia suggested and Rosie put her hands on her hips.
"Nellia! I've cleaned his empty mugs of ale when he has one too many and I danced with him many years ago once at Mr. Bilbo's party out of politeness when he asked, and I wouldn't doubt if he was a little ale-happy then. Maybe he is a decent hobbit, but I wouldn't know by the way he staggers out of the Green Dragon," Rosie said and they laughed heartily.
"Come with me, Rosie," Nellia said, "I've forgotten this part of the Shire and it's a beautiful day. The daises will be closing soon, and I want to see them before the snow comes." And they walked down to the meadow of white petals.
~·· ··÷¦÷·· ··~
Nolfarm Burrows leaned on the wall outside the shop that Rosie had left and he fingered his coins in his pocket. He shook his dark hair out of his eyes and turned to his brother, Polo, who was looking into the window of the shop, pondering what he should buy.
"Hey, Polo, what do you think about Rose Cotton over there?" He asked and Polo, not interested in wooing hobbit lasses yet at his age of 17, looked at Rosie and her friend laughing together.
He sighed and gave his brother a slight punch in the arm, "You cannot be serious, Nolfarm! A comely lass she is, I'd agree, but you were just courting a group of Boffins yester-eve! When will you make up your mind? You choose lasses like a serving at dinner," Polo said and Nolfarm smiled confidently.
"No, Polo, I think Rosie will be the one for me. She's pretty, no doubt 'bout that, and she's well managed. Yes, she will be the one," Nolfarm assured to himself and Polo snickered.
"Right, right, just like you said about that Boffin-lass last night with the pretty blue eyes---," Polo said and he walked inside to buy a little something for himself. Nolfarm took one last look at Rosie down the lane before he followed Polo into the store.
~·· ··÷¦÷·· ·· ··· ··÷¦÷·· ·· ··· ··÷¦÷·· ··~
~ There are a few 'other characters' that come up, I hope that's all right. Its just I didn't want the same Ted Sandyman or Lotho and such. :)
Chapter One: The Burrowes Brothers
~·· ··÷¦÷·· ·· ··· ··÷¦÷·· ·· ··· ··÷¦÷·· ··~
Late Fall, The Shire, 3014 T.A.
Hours after the cock had crowed, the sun shone through the misty clouds that covered the light sky. The leaves on the trees had stopped turning colors and they fell to the ground carpeting the green earth. Sparrow nests hung on the empty branches like little baskets, holding spotted eggs almost ready to hatch. Flowers stayed in bloom until the weather got cold, closing up until Spring welcomed them.
Samwise swept up the golden leaves off the patio and picked them out of the faultless gardens. Farmer Cotton came around to Hobbiton and down to Bagshot Row. He stopped his pony at number Three and Sam looked up from his sweeping.
"Hullo there, Samwise-lad. Is the Gaffer around?" He asked from his carriage and Rosie Cotton was seated next to him. Farmer Cotton held the reins and smiled from under his working hat. He had a kindly face and his neck and face was brown from days under the sun in his fields.
"Yes, sir. I'll go get him," Sam said and before he set his broom down, the Gaffer came from behind his smial and greeted Mr. Cotton warmly. The Gaffer had dirt on his hands and knees and he wiped his brow from under his brown hair.
"Hamfast, I came here looking for you! I was just on my way to the White Downs to talk to Old Mayor Will in Michel Delving about next year's harvest. Just came to stop by to see if you had wanted to discuss business with him. Before I head there though, I need to give Rosie a ride down into town," Farmer Cotton explained and the Gaffer came up to the wagon.
"In fact, I do need to see him. A friend of mine had some documents about a piece of land that Mayor Whitfoot wanted to know about and I have them here with me. Let me go get them, but first, I wouldn't want you to wait outside here for me!" The Gaffer said and he opened the side-door for Farmer Cotton and helped Rosie out.
Sam held the door to their smial and the Gaffer scurried around the kitchen, "I think Bell had some tea ready," He greeted his wife with a kiss in the kitchen, "Bell! Do we have any tea in the pot for the Cottons?"
Bell set out cups and saucers and Farmer Cotton smiled warmly at their hospitality, "Thank'ye Bell! We were only coming to pick up your husband, but if you insist..." He said and grabbed one of Bell's sweet pastries.
Bell continued making meals for later and Marigold came out from her room to see who was over. The Gaffer and Farmer Cotton talked for a little while before he left to his office to get the documents. Rosie sat quietly at the table with her papa as Sam sat in the living room in a chair. He felt it was better to sit alone in the opposite room than sitting in an uncomfortable silence across from Rosie. They never talked much and he never knew what to say when he tried to talk to her.
He found his smoking pipe where he left it and started a flame in it. He sat back, listening to the light conversation of his mother and Farmer Cotton, when Rosie came into the room. Sam didn't notice her until she bumped into the small table in the center of the room and he stood up out of good manners. She looked up the walls at painted family portraits and pointed, "That must be you, isn't it, Sam?"
Sam came up with his hands uncomfortably behind his back and he blushed, "Aye, Miss Rosie." It was one of the few pictures they could afford to get painted of their family. It was an older picture of the Gamgees, when Sam was just a little boy.
She glanced at Sam and smiled shyly, "It's a darling picture. Do you remember the days we used to swim down at Bywater that young?" Rosie asked and Sam put his hands in his pockets, "Yes---every one."
He turned back nervously back to his pipe on the side table and the Gaffer came out with his papers. Farmer Cotton came in, "Come on, Rosie. Let's get you into town," He said and she left, not sure how to respond to Sam.
~·· ··÷¦÷·· ··~
Rosie sat quietly as her father talked with Hamfast. She looked out around the carriage, remembering when she was young and played by the pool with Sam. Before long, Farmer Cotton pulled the reins and let Rosie out. He kissed her cheek and grinned, "Be home at a respectful time before your mother and I miss you," he said and she waved good-bye to him.
She passed by many booths and stopped to look every once in a while. She loved being out in town, even when she wasn't interested in buying anything. She walked into a goods-shop and spotted her friend, Nellia Goodchild, who was actually a younger cousin of Bell Gamgee.
"Rosie! It's been so long!" Nellia said and they embraced in a hug.
They walked around the small shop and talked busily, and decided to each buy a candy stick to chew on. Nellia spoke of her life in the Northfarthing with her new husband and child while they waited to pay.
"I still cannot believe you're married and with a child! It seems like only a little while ago we celebrated your coming-of-age," Rosie commented and she took out a coin and paid for her candy.
"Yes I know! And yours should be coming up soon, is it not?" Nellia asked.
"I still have a couple more years, and even by then I don't think I'll be off and away with a husband and babies, and I'm not exactly planning too," Rosie said and Nellia pointed out towards the window.
"I'm not too sure about that, Rosie dear. There's a lad right there that has been staring at you ever since we walked in here," Nellia said quietly and giggled.
They walked out and Rosie passed the hobbit she pointed at, "You mean Nolfarm Burrows? Ha! I'm sorry, Nellie, but the only reason he would want me as a wife is to show me off like a prize next to his fancy houses and piles of money. Everyone knows he's just looking for a girl to make himself look like the ideal hobbit of the Westfarthing." Rosie explained and Nellia shook her head.
"You never know, Rosie, maybe he really has an eye out for you.....," Nellia suggested and Rosie put her hands on her hips.
"Nellia! I've cleaned his empty mugs of ale when he has one too many and I danced with him many years ago once at Mr. Bilbo's party out of politeness when he asked, and I wouldn't doubt if he was a little ale-happy then. Maybe he is a decent hobbit, but I wouldn't know by the way he staggers out of the Green Dragon," Rosie said and they laughed heartily.
"Come with me, Rosie," Nellia said, "I've forgotten this part of the Shire and it's a beautiful day. The daises will be closing soon, and I want to see them before the snow comes." And they walked down to the meadow of white petals.
~·· ··÷¦÷·· ··~
Nolfarm Burrows leaned on the wall outside the shop that Rosie had left and he fingered his coins in his pocket. He shook his dark hair out of his eyes and turned to his brother, Polo, who was looking into the window of the shop, pondering what he should buy.
"Hey, Polo, what do you think about Rose Cotton over there?" He asked and Polo, not interested in wooing hobbit lasses yet at his age of 17, looked at Rosie and her friend laughing together.
He sighed and gave his brother a slight punch in the arm, "You cannot be serious, Nolfarm! A comely lass she is, I'd agree, but you were just courting a group of Boffins yester-eve! When will you make up your mind? You choose lasses like a serving at dinner," Polo said and Nolfarm smiled confidently.
"No, Polo, I think Rosie will be the one for me. She's pretty, no doubt 'bout that, and she's well managed. Yes, she will be the one," Nolfarm assured to himself and Polo snickered.
"Right, right, just like you said about that Boffin-lass last night with the pretty blue eyes---," Polo said and he walked inside to buy a little something for himself. Nolfarm took one last look at Rosie down the lane before he followed Polo into the store.
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