English class is really taking over my life now hehe. So many projects! So
here's a chapter before I'm swamped with due dates!! Thank you so much for
reading!
Ahh yes, I find hobbits very young. So there will be times where they are sophisticated, but they are so young at heart. I take advantage of the fact that they age slower and live longer than humans. ;)
Chapter 6: In the Company of You
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Yule lasted three more days after the last day of the year and Halfred left to the Northfarthings with Poppy to celebrate there. Hamson and Daisy stayed and they had a wonderful time of feasting and merriment. January brought only a little more snow and everyone was ready for Spring to start, even though it was still months away.
Near mid-February, Farmer Cotton was finally able to walk around (with the help of crutches). He had practiced all throughout the month, going up and down the stairs and his ankle had finally healed. Farmer Cotton was ready to start his projects and work and by the end of February, he was able to do many things. The doctor had told him only just another week and Sam still came over every week, but more than often.
One evening, Sam was outside the Cotton house. The snow was melted but the ground was still slightly frozen. The grass was pale and Sam couldn't wait to garden full time in the Spring. He kept to his cleaning of the first- floor windows when Farmer Cotton came out to the front porch on his crutches. Sam pulled him up a chair and Mr. Cotton rest his crutches against the porch wall. Sam continued his cleaning, assuming he came out for fresh air, but instead Mr. Cotton searched his pockets until he pulled out a small sack.
"Samwise-lad," He started and he shifted in his chair to get comfortable, "I want you to take this and---! I know what you'll say: 'that you don't deserve it'. And I know you were not in it for any kind of pay, but it's the only way I could repay you for what you've done. You earned every coin in there, Sam," Farmer Cotton said stoutly and Sam hesitantly took the pouch of coins.
He never liked taking anyone's money and he would have argued with ol' Cotton, but he figured not to after what he said. He put the money in his pocket and bowed his head, "Thank'ee, sir." And he lifted up the wet rag again to clean the windows. Farmer Cotton smiled at his generosity and said, "It's alright, Sam. You can go home now, I think our family can manage, thanks to you." Sam shyly put the rag back into the bucket, wishing he could have finished the job.
He came inside to grab his coat and Lily ran over to him. Farmer Cotton told her that he would tell Sam he could stop helping and she came up to him. "Sam, dear," Mrs. Cotton said, "I made this for you---for bein' such a sweetheart! If it wasn't for you that came over and cleaned up that shed, I would have never found my sewing basket!" Lily explained and handed him a green knitted scarf.
He gave a laugh and smiled completely overjoyed. He wrapped it round his neck and hugged Mrs. Cotton. "Thank'ee, Mrs. Cotton. It is very kind of you," He said sweetly and she kissed his forehead.
"Now you hurry on home. You've spent too much time here!" She joked and he walked out the door waving.
Rosie was in her room writing a letter to Nellia Goodchild when she spotted Sam walking home out her window. She knew it was too early for him to be leaving already and she rushed down the stairs, snatched her coat and hurried towards him.
Sam thought he heard footsteps and he looked behind him and saw Rosie. He grinned sheepishly and said, "Did I forget my mittens again?"
She laughed and walked by his side, "No, not this time. Are you going home already?"
"Aye, your father is doing much better and it's be best if I got back home, I suppose. Your mother made me this," He said and lifted the scarf around his neck.
"Oh, I see! My Ma can knit anythin'!" Rosie laughed and Sam put his hands in his pockets, something he always did when he was nervous.
"How--how come you came out here?" Sam asked and Rosie tossed her head and giggled.
"To freeze my feet off...to come walk with you, of course! My, my, you ask some silly things, Sam," Rosie said and Sam swallowed hard as they walked.
They came to the top of the hill where it overlooked the Water and Bagshot Row. Rosie looked back to her house and said, "Well, I reckon it's best if I don't go any further."
Sam nodded and he looked down as he gathered all his courage to say what he was trying to tell her on their walk, "Rosie---I hope I'll be able to see you more often, after this I mean, if you follow me." He choked out and Rosie looked at him kindly.
"I'm sure we will, Sam. Come into the Green Dragon sometime and if I can, I'll try to walk home down your way," She said and his heart melted.
They said goodbye and went their separate ways and Sam though of his winter with Rosie.
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And so, Spring came and Sam was delighted to start up his gardening at Bag End again. Soon, Bagshot Row number Three was blooming with young flowers and Sam did an exceptional job over at Mr. Frodo Baggins's. The sun shown with a satisfying warmness, unlike the pale rays that came down during the winter months. Sam spent most of his time outside on the ground, working with his hands until mealtimes, only just to come back out again.
He thought about what Rosie said and one warm day in April he came down to the Green Dragon to see her. He made sure he looked his best and he went alone down to Bywater.
The Green Dragon glowed gold and green and it stood there like an old wooden hill. The aged sign outside the door was of a dragon painted with a deep green, which was peeling. It was loud with laughing hobbits and Sam walked in quietly. He came up to a booth in front, not normally where he would sit and looked around for Rosie. They had another barmaid walking around with mugs of ale and she came up to Sam.
"Anythin' I can get ya?" She asked. She was younger than Rosie and her light curls bounced on top of her head. He shook his head. "No, I'm quite all right for now." He said and she walked off to another table. He sat there for a while, keeping his head turned behind him in case she would show up at another table, when he felt a hand on her shoulder. He knew it was her and when he turned around, Rosie was behind the bar smiling at him brightly.
"Sam! It's been months! Such a wonder to see you!" She said friendly and she put the mugs down she had been cleaning.
"Aye, I was meaning to come in earlier," Sam said and she grabbed a clean mug.
"Shall I get you anything to drink?" She asked and he nodded and she went over to the kegs behind her.
Rosie handed him his mug and Sam looked to the window, "Rosie, do you remember how---," he said but he was interrupted by a dark-haired hobbit with an empty mug in his hand.
"Rosie-dear!" Nolfarm Burrows slurred and he came up next to Sam, "Would you mind fillin' this up for me?" Rosie took his mug refilled it for him with foaming ale.
"Thank'ee my love. Now if you could just fill up my fellows mugs over in the back, I would be very much obliged," Nolfarm said and he kissed her hand. "Such a striking lass, ain't she, boy?" Nolfarm nudged Sam and he kept to his mug with his teeth clenched.
She nodded displeased and smiled politely as her job as a barmaid, "Of course I will." She filled a handful of mugs and carried them to the back table. "This will only take a minute, I promise," Rosie whispered to Sam and he gave her doubtful smile.
When Rosie wasn't busy or when the other barmaid handled the tables, Rosie would lean over the bar to talk to Sam, who still had a problem with controlling his blushing. Nolfarm kept back to his table but would often call for her at their table with small talk and ask for more refreshments. But every time, Rosie would come back to visit with Sam, who was so used to just standing back and watching her while he drank. Now he was talking to her and he smiled at that thought.
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Sam visited the Green Dragon often, always making up some excuse to come in or be there even though she was the only reason he came. Sam respectfully had only one drink of ale when he came and Rosie always found time to talk to him.
April came and went just like the flash thunder and rainstorms, and suddenly the entire Shire was in bloom, with or without the gardening hands of the Gamgees. The May month was there and it was Sam's favorite month. After he woke up bright and early to tend his own garden at home with his Gaffer, he would care for Master Frodo's rose bushes and lily patches. Very often, Frodo would come out and have his afternoon tea with Sam just to be around the colors and the scents of the flowers.
Sam was working steadily with the flowers and watered Mr. Frodo's little vegetable patch (a new project Mr. Baggins wanted to try this year) and he heard the porch door squeak.
"Going into town today, Mr. Frodo?" He asked over his shoulder but when he did not respond, he turned around and saw Rosie.
"Rosie?" He asked and stood up and brushed his gloves off, "I'm sorry, I expected Frodo." He said skeptically and he wondered why she was in this part of the Shire.
She answered his question and said, "I was in town for my Ma and saw you when I was walking home down this way. I hope I'm not trespassing...I saw the sign, but---" Rosie explained and Sam smiled.
"No, it's quite all right. Mr. Frodo has kept Bilbo's sign on the door ever since the party, just a little remembrance of him, I suppose," Sam said and he took a look at the old sign on the fence. It had peeled and yellowed over the years and Frodo never thought of taken it down.
Rosie sat down on a rickety bench and set her small bag of oats down; she looked around while Sam tried to get back to work. It felt funny to be gardening in front of somebody other than Frodo or his dad and Rosie spoke. "How long have you been gardening at Bag End?"
Sam wiped his brow, "Well, I couldn't count the years I have been here altogether, but by myself, I would say it would be about twenty in a couple of years." Sam said and Rosie turned to him.
"Twenty? You must know every flower down to its roots, yes, Sam?" Rosie complimented and Sam nodded shyly.
Throughout the afternoon they had light conversations and Rosie was usually the one to start them up. Frodo saw her outside with him and decided best not to come out this day for tea. Sam noticed Frodo's absence during teatime and was hoping that maybe with Frodo around, it would be easier to talk.
Rosie marveled at the flowers and bent over a patch where Sam was watering, "What type of flowers grow here?"
"They are like common bluebells, only they have seemed to pollinate with the wild-flower type," Sam explained and mumbled, "It's like a little elvish flower-type."
Rosie brushed her fingers over the small, delicate blue flower and said, "You fancy Elves, Sam?" And Sam spoke up confidently for the first time, "Oh yes, Miss Rosie. Anytype of lore, lay, or tale of Elves is my favorite. I wish dearly I could see one, but I don't see why any Elves would come down to visit us hobbits very soon indeed." Sam said and Rosie gave a laughing smile when she saw the child-like look shine in his eyes when he spoke of them.
He finished his snipping of the rosebushes and Sam finally decided to ask something that had been eating at him for months, "Rosie, I know this is none of my business, but I can't help but wonder about Nibs. When he said he can't see colours, like red and green, what---what does that mean?" He asked and he looked at the colors of the roses, never imagining how he could not see it's vibrant red.
"Well, I'm not exactly sure m'self. I asked him once a long time ago and he says he just can't tell them apart. I expected him to say he saw black and white, but I was just a little girl." Rosie said and Sam shrugged insecurely, "That's what I thought too." And they giggled.
Rosie knew it would be getting late if she didn't leave, so she grabbed the oats on the bench, "I'm glad I stopped here at Bag End, Sam. I'd say it's about four now, and I need to be on my way home. I will be seeing you later I hope." Sam clipped his shears in the rosebush and came over to her before he lost his nerve.
"Here, Rosie. I want you to have this, just---just because," He mumbled and he handed her a pale pink rose from the garden. He fumbled with it as he tried to look secure but he was falling apart inside.
Rosie took it and smiled affectionately, "Thank'ee, Sam. I'm so glad we are friends." She gave him a warm hug and he opened the gate for her, his knees about to give in. He watched her until she got to the bottom of the hill and he picked up his shears. Friends. That's what we are, he thought.
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By the time Rosie came home, her mother was making supper with her father and she went upstairs. She still held the rose Sam gave her and he found an empty vase by her bedside, which she had been promising to fill. She put the rose in and gave it water. She sat there staring at its simple beauty and her heart fluttered and she wasn't even sure why.
Then Jolly broke into the room, "Rosie! Rosie, you'll never believe what I saw goin' across the bridge over Water! They have started to set up for the Free Fair! Can you believe it'll be here soon!?" Jolly burst out and Rosie jumped up delighted.
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Ahh yes, I find hobbits very young. So there will be times where they are sophisticated, but they are so young at heart. I take advantage of the fact that they age slower and live longer than humans. ;)
Chapter 6: In the Company of You
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Yule lasted three more days after the last day of the year and Halfred left to the Northfarthings with Poppy to celebrate there. Hamson and Daisy stayed and they had a wonderful time of feasting and merriment. January brought only a little more snow and everyone was ready for Spring to start, even though it was still months away.
Near mid-February, Farmer Cotton was finally able to walk around (with the help of crutches). He had practiced all throughout the month, going up and down the stairs and his ankle had finally healed. Farmer Cotton was ready to start his projects and work and by the end of February, he was able to do many things. The doctor had told him only just another week and Sam still came over every week, but more than often.
One evening, Sam was outside the Cotton house. The snow was melted but the ground was still slightly frozen. The grass was pale and Sam couldn't wait to garden full time in the Spring. He kept to his cleaning of the first- floor windows when Farmer Cotton came out to the front porch on his crutches. Sam pulled him up a chair and Mr. Cotton rest his crutches against the porch wall. Sam continued his cleaning, assuming he came out for fresh air, but instead Mr. Cotton searched his pockets until he pulled out a small sack.
"Samwise-lad," He started and he shifted in his chair to get comfortable, "I want you to take this and---! I know what you'll say: 'that you don't deserve it'. And I know you were not in it for any kind of pay, but it's the only way I could repay you for what you've done. You earned every coin in there, Sam," Farmer Cotton said stoutly and Sam hesitantly took the pouch of coins.
He never liked taking anyone's money and he would have argued with ol' Cotton, but he figured not to after what he said. He put the money in his pocket and bowed his head, "Thank'ee, sir." And he lifted up the wet rag again to clean the windows. Farmer Cotton smiled at his generosity and said, "It's alright, Sam. You can go home now, I think our family can manage, thanks to you." Sam shyly put the rag back into the bucket, wishing he could have finished the job.
He came inside to grab his coat and Lily ran over to him. Farmer Cotton told her that he would tell Sam he could stop helping and she came up to him. "Sam, dear," Mrs. Cotton said, "I made this for you---for bein' such a sweetheart! If it wasn't for you that came over and cleaned up that shed, I would have never found my sewing basket!" Lily explained and handed him a green knitted scarf.
He gave a laugh and smiled completely overjoyed. He wrapped it round his neck and hugged Mrs. Cotton. "Thank'ee, Mrs. Cotton. It is very kind of you," He said sweetly and she kissed his forehead.
"Now you hurry on home. You've spent too much time here!" She joked and he walked out the door waving.
Rosie was in her room writing a letter to Nellia Goodchild when she spotted Sam walking home out her window. She knew it was too early for him to be leaving already and she rushed down the stairs, snatched her coat and hurried towards him.
Sam thought he heard footsteps and he looked behind him and saw Rosie. He grinned sheepishly and said, "Did I forget my mittens again?"
She laughed and walked by his side, "No, not this time. Are you going home already?"
"Aye, your father is doing much better and it's be best if I got back home, I suppose. Your mother made me this," He said and lifted the scarf around his neck.
"Oh, I see! My Ma can knit anythin'!" Rosie laughed and Sam put his hands in his pockets, something he always did when he was nervous.
"How--how come you came out here?" Sam asked and Rosie tossed her head and giggled.
"To freeze my feet off...to come walk with you, of course! My, my, you ask some silly things, Sam," Rosie said and Sam swallowed hard as they walked.
They came to the top of the hill where it overlooked the Water and Bagshot Row. Rosie looked back to her house and said, "Well, I reckon it's best if I don't go any further."
Sam nodded and he looked down as he gathered all his courage to say what he was trying to tell her on their walk, "Rosie---I hope I'll be able to see you more often, after this I mean, if you follow me." He choked out and Rosie looked at him kindly.
"I'm sure we will, Sam. Come into the Green Dragon sometime and if I can, I'll try to walk home down your way," She said and his heart melted.
They said goodbye and went their separate ways and Sam though of his winter with Rosie.
~·· ··÷¦÷·· ··~
And so, Spring came and Sam was delighted to start up his gardening at Bag End again. Soon, Bagshot Row number Three was blooming with young flowers and Sam did an exceptional job over at Mr. Frodo Baggins's. The sun shown with a satisfying warmness, unlike the pale rays that came down during the winter months. Sam spent most of his time outside on the ground, working with his hands until mealtimes, only just to come back out again.
He thought about what Rosie said and one warm day in April he came down to the Green Dragon to see her. He made sure he looked his best and he went alone down to Bywater.
The Green Dragon glowed gold and green and it stood there like an old wooden hill. The aged sign outside the door was of a dragon painted with a deep green, which was peeling. It was loud with laughing hobbits and Sam walked in quietly. He came up to a booth in front, not normally where he would sit and looked around for Rosie. They had another barmaid walking around with mugs of ale and she came up to Sam.
"Anythin' I can get ya?" She asked. She was younger than Rosie and her light curls bounced on top of her head. He shook his head. "No, I'm quite all right for now." He said and she walked off to another table. He sat there for a while, keeping his head turned behind him in case she would show up at another table, when he felt a hand on her shoulder. He knew it was her and when he turned around, Rosie was behind the bar smiling at him brightly.
"Sam! It's been months! Such a wonder to see you!" She said friendly and she put the mugs down she had been cleaning.
"Aye, I was meaning to come in earlier," Sam said and she grabbed a clean mug.
"Shall I get you anything to drink?" She asked and he nodded and she went over to the kegs behind her.
Rosie handed him his mug and Sam looked to the window, "Rosie, do you remember how---," he said but he was interrupted by a dark-haired hobbit with an empty mug in his hand.
"Rosie-dear!" Nolfarm Burrows slurred and he came up next to Sam, "Would you mind fillin' this up for me?" Rosie took his mug refilled it for him with foaming ale.
"Thank'ee my love. Now if you could just fill up my fellows mugs over in the back, I would be very much obliged," Nolfarm said and he kissed her hand. "Such a striking lass, ain't she, boy?" Nolfarm nudged Sam and he kept to his mug with his teeth clenched.
She nodded displeased and smiled politely as her job as a barmaid, "Of course I will." She filled a handful of mugs and carried them to the back table. "This will only take a minute, I promise," Rosie whispered to Sam and he gave her doubtful smile.
When Rosie wasn't busy or when the other barmaid handled the tables, Rosie would lean over the bar to talk to Sam, who still had a problem with controlling his blushing. Nolfarm kept back to his table but would often call for her at their table with small talk and ask for more refreshments. But every time, Rosie would come back to visit with Sam, who was so used to just standing back and watching her while he drank. Now he was talking to her and he smiled at that thought.
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Sam visited the Green Dragon often, always making up some excuse to come in or be there even though she was the only reason he came. Sam respectfully had only one drink of ale when he came and Rosie always found time to talk to him.
April came and went just like the flash thunder and rainstorms, and suddenly the entire Shire was in bloom, with or without the gardening hands of the Gamgees. The May month was there and it was Sam's favorite month. After he woke up bright and early to tend his own garden at home with his Gaffer, he would care for Master Frodo's rose bushes and lily patches. Very often, Frodo would come out and have his afternoon tea with Sam just to be around the colors and the scents of the flowers.
Sam was working steadily with the flowers and watered Mr. Frodo's little vegetable patch (a new project Mr. Baggins wanted to try this year) and he heard the porch door squeak.
"Going into town today, Mr. Frodo?" He asked over his shoulder but when he did not respond, he turned around and saw Rosie.
"Rosie?" He asked and stood up and brushed his gloves off, "I'm sorry, I expected Frodo." He said skeptically and he wondered why she was in this part of the Shire.
She answered his question and said, "I was in town for my Ma and saw you when I was walking home down this way. I hope I'm not trespassing...I saw the sign, but---" Rosie explained and Sam smiled.
"No, it's quite all right. Mr. Frodo has kept Bilbo's sign on the door ever since the party, just a little remembrance of him, I suppose," Sam said and he took a look at the old sign on the fence. It had peeled and yellowed over the years and Frodo never thought of taken it down.
Rosie sat down on a rickety bench and set her small bag of oats down; she looked around while Sam tried to get back to work. It felt funny to be gardening in front of somebody other than Frodo or his dad and Rosie spoke. "How long have you been gardening at Bag End?"
Sam wiped his brow, "Well, I couldn't count the years I have been here altogether, but by myself, I would say it would be about twenty in a couple of years." Sam said and Rosie turned to him.
"Twenty? You must know every flower down to its roots, yes, Sam?" Rosie complimented and Sam nodded shyly.
Throughout the afternoon they had light conversations and Rosie was usually the one to start them up. Frodo saw her outside with him and decided best not to come out this day for tea. Sam noticed Frodo's absence during teatime and was hoping that maybe with Frodo around, it would be easier to talk.
Rosie marveled at the flowers and bent over a patch where Sam was watering, "What type of flowers grow here?"
"They are like common bluebells, only they have seemed to pollinate with the wild-flower type," Sam explained and mumbled, "It's like a little elvish flower-type."
Rosie brushed her fingers over the small, delicate blue flower and said, "You fancy Elves, Sam?" And Sam spoke up confidently for the first time, "Oh yes, Miss Rosie. Anytype of lore, lay, or tale of Elves is my favorite. I wish dearly I could see one, but I don't see why any Elves would come down to visit us hobbits very soon indeed." Sam said and Rosie gave a laughing smile when she saw the child-like look shine in his eyes when he spoke of them.
He finished his snipping of the rosebushes and Sam finally decided to ask something that had been eating at him for months, "Rosie, I know this is none of my business, but I can't help but wonder about Nibs. When he said he can't see colours, like red and green, what---what does that mean?" He asked and he looked at the colors of the roses, never imagining how he could not see it's vibrant red.
"Well, I'm not exactly sure m'self. I asked him once a long time ago and he says he just can't tell them apart. I expected him to say he saw black and white, but I was just a little girl." Rosie said and Sam shrugged insecurely, "That's what I thought too." And they giggled.
Rosie knew it would be getting late if she didn't leave, so she grabbed the oats on the bench, "I'm glad I stopped here at Bag End, Sam. I'd say it's about four now, and I need to be on my way home. I will be seeing you later I hope." Sam clipped his shears in the rosebush and came over to her before he lost his nerve.
"Here, Rosie. I want you to have this, just---just because," He mumbled and he handed her a pale pink rose from the garden. He fumbled with it as he tried to look secure but he was falling apart inside.
Rosie took it and smiled affectionately, "Thank'ee, Sam. I'm so glad we are friends." She gave him a warm hug and he opened the gate for her, his knees about to give in. He watched her until she got to the bottom of the hill and he picked up his shears. Friends. That's what we are, he thought.
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By the time Rosie came home, her mother was making supper with her father and she went upstairs. She still held the rose Sam gave her and he found an empty vase by her bedside, which she had been promising to fill. She put the rose in and gave it water. She sat there staring at its simple beauty and her heart fluttered and she wasn't even sure why.
Then Jolly broke into the room, "Rosie! Rosie, you'll never believe what I saw goin' across the bridge over Water! They have started to set up for the Free Fair! Can you believe it'll be here soon!?" Jolly burst out and Rosie jumped up delighted.
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