Author's Note: I have a paper due at the end of this week, so I wanted to
get this update out as I really need to concentrate on that for the next
few days (darn it!). So, I didn't want to leave you hanging any longer! I
hope you enjoy the chapter!
Nymredil27: I had to ignore Sam in the last chapter because I needed to get Frodo caught up in time! However, this chapter is all Sam, so that should make you happy!
BloodRoses9: I tried to get this up as quickly as possible to save you from harming yourself! Hope I was in time!
Janna Hawkins: This chapter holds the answer to your question!
Merimas Gamgee: (blush) you say the nicest things! I'm so glad you like my stories! I try to keep them interesting and not too obvious! Now, I'm curious – was your guess right?
Althea: I went to the Ferny School of Heartlessness. That's how! Anyway, I hope this chapter answers some of your questions!
AouraMaiden: Read on and you shall find out!
Lauralsjr: Well, the paper said the executions would begin and so they did. Saruman is punctual like that! I'm glad you find my story suspenseful – guess that means I'm doing something right! LOL! As for holidays, no, but summer school is really heating up with a couple of big projects looming in the near future! So, I shall update as quickly as possible (shouldn't be many more chapters anyway). And thanks, I did have a great time on my cruise!
Brownwyn: Again, the answer to your burning question lies in the words of this chapter! (Thought the pun was funny, btw!)
LalaithoftheBruinen: Thank you for your kind words! I'm really glad you liked the chapter. I tried to update as quickly as I could!
Arwen Baggins: Great to see you back! Wondered where you had disappeared to! I hope you'll make it through to the end! Just forget about work!
Baileymag: Wow, I am really flattered that you think so highly of this chapter! It's wonderful readers like yourself that really inspire me and make this so much fun! Every time I swear I have written my last Sam story, I think of all of you guys and next thing I know, I'm off torturing poor Sam again (There! It's all your fault he has such a tough time!). I hope you like this next chapter as well!
Chapter 30 A Reason to Live
It had been one of the longest nights of Sam's life. Miserably, he lay huddled in the corner of the shack, his body wracked with agonizing tremors. He was so cold and the shock from his injuries made things worse. He was too far gone to even scream anymore and his tormenter had become bored. Ferny now sat on a stool across the room, a nearly empty bottle clutched in his hand. He was drunk.
"Well, maggot," Ferny slurred lifting his bottle in salute, "Jus' a few more hours, then it's the end fer you!" he made a hanging motion and laughed. "Mebbe if you beg me hard enough, I can ask the Boss to delay a bit longer!"
Sam stared at him blankly. "I welcome death," he whispered faintly.
Ferny frowned. Sam had said this before and it bothered him. What fun would it be to kill someone if that's what they wanted? Ferny much preferred his victims to plead and fight. It made his victory so much more satisfying.
"What about yer family?" demanded the man almost angrily, "Yer frien's? Surely there's sumbody that'd miss you?"
Sam closed his eyes gave a weak, pain-filled laugh. "You've killed the only one that meant anything to me here," he gasped.
Ferny frowned again. What did this stupid halfling mean? Then his eyes fell on one of the wanted posters lying scattered about the small table beside him. He moved the lantern to study it more closely. Suddenly, a big, malicious grin split Ferny's dirty, stubbled, face. "That wench!" he cried in delight holding up the paper. "She's the one you killed ol' Fig over! I fergot!" He began to laugh, and spluttered as he took the final swig from his bottle. He looked at his bottle in dismay, then lurched to his feet. He leered over at Sam and shook his finger. "Now don't you go tryin' t' go anywhere!" he laughed and stumbled out of the hut, bolting the door behind him.
Sam allowed himself to relax for the first time that night. Maybe if he were lucky, he thought dimly, he would die before morning ever got there. He let his mind wander, wondering about Frodo and Hertig, Merry and Pippin. What of the rest of the Cottons? Well, none of it mattered anymore. His time was nearly through. He simply prayed that they would all be all right. He hoped they would think of him kindly from time to time. With that last, dismal thought, Sam slipped into blissful unconsciousness.
It was with great annoyance that he slowly came back to himself. He could hear someone calling his name. Why can't he just leave me be? Thought Sam angrily. But, as he listened, Sam realized this voice wasn't Ferny's. It was different, softer, and filled with sorrow. The voice of an angel. With great effort, Sam forced his eyes open and tried to focus on the pale shape hovering above him.
"Oh, Sam!" the voice cried in distress, "What has that monster done to you!?" Sam could then feel a cool, damp cloth gently wiping his face. He blinked trying to see. Suddenly, the face became clearly illuminated as a lantern was moved closer to him. He gasped in shock and disbelief. There, carefully wiping the blood from his many injuries was Rosie Cotton!
"Rosie!?" he croaked trying to see her better. He struggled in his attempts to sit up, but Rosie tenderly held him back.
"Hush, Sam!" she said, tears pouring down her face. "Just rest!" Sam continued to gape at her in amazement. Her face was pale and thin and marred by an ugly bruise under her left eye.
"I...I thought you were dead!" Sam blurted, "Your name was on the list! They were supposed to execute someone!"
Rosie sat back on her heels and pressed her hand to her mouth. She closed her eyes for a moment in an effort to hold back her grief. "They...they did," she managed at last, but could not continue.
Sam stared at her in dismay. "Who, Rosie?" he asked faintly, "I must know."
She looked down at her hands, the damp rag clutched tightly in her grasp. "Jolly."
Jolly. Sam felt an unexpected mixture of anger, grief and relief. He was so happy to find Rosie still alive, but Jolly had died in her place. Poor, easy-going Jolly. He and Sam had had many adventures together as they grew up and it was Jolly who had come to his rescue when Sam was first captured. Sam felt tears burning in his eyes. He hadn't thought there were any left.
Sam painfully reached for Rosie's hand and held it to his breast. "I am so sorry," he said softly. Rosie nodded gratefully. Sam brought her soft hand to his lips but froze. There on her third finger was a small, silver ring. A simple thing really except for what it represented. It was a betrothal ring. Sam simply stared at it in shock, unable to say anything. Rosie, realizing what had he had seen, tried to pull her hand away.
Sam turned his anguished eyes to hers. "Rosie?" he gasped in dismay and bewilderment.
Rosie closed her eyes, unable to meet Sam's hurt-filled gaze any longer. "I...I don't know what to say, Sam." The ensuing silence was abruptly broken by the sound of Ferny's drunken laugh. Sam turned his head and realized Ferny had been sitting at his table all this time, a fresh bottle before him. He was watching at the hobbits with a self-satisfied smirk.
"So Sammy-boy," he chortled, "L'il Miss Rosie givin' you 'er good news, eh? She's gonna get married to my good frien', Master Sandyman! Ain'tcha gonna offer her yer congratulations?" He laughed even louder.
Now Sam turned his shocked gaze back to Rosie. "Ted Sandyman!?" he demanded in horrified disbelief. "You're going to marry that villain!?"
Fresh tears poured down Rosie's pale face. Unconsciously, her hand touched the bruise beneath her eye. "I have no choice, Sam," she wept, anger and defeat coloring her words, "If I don't marry him, they'll kill my father or perhaps Tom or Nibs. They still have them shut away in the Lockholes. It's just Mother and me at the farm now. I can't let them hurt anyone else! Surely you understand that!"
Of course Sam understood that, only all too well. Wasn't he here in this hell-hole for that very reason? If there was one thing Samwise Gamgee had learned on this year-long nightmare, it was self-sacrifice. He closed his eyes, feeling wearier than ever. But, as he listened to Rosie's gentle sobs and Ferny's obscene laughter, something happened. Gradually, the lethargy and sense of defeat that had immobilized him for so long, began to fall away. Sam had been convinced Rosie was dead and with her death went the last of his will to live. But now, not only was she alive, but was being forced to marry the worst devil in Hobbiton! Sam simply could not allow this to happen!
With a cry of fury and defiance, Sam struggled to his hands and knees, ignoring the excruciating pain screaming throughout his body. Panting, he reached towards the wall and began to laboriously climb to his feet. Sweat dripped from his face from the exertion. Rosie, with a cry of dismay, reached out to help him, but he stopped her with a look. Once on his feet, Sam nearly collapsed as the world whirled around him. The pounding in his head almost drowned out Ferny's hoots of derisive laughter.
"Guess I found a reason fer you to live after all, eh Sammy?!" Ferny called out mockingly, taking another drink from his bottle. "I'm certain Miss Rosie 'ere will make Ted a fine wife! Course, 'ee might hafta beat up on 'er from time to time to keep 'er in line, but she'll learn!"
That was more than Sam could stand. The thought of anyone laying on hand on sweet, gentle Rosie drove him mad with an explosive anger. With a scream of rage, Sam flung himself across the room, intending to kill Ferny if at all possible. He must rescue Rosie and get her out of here! But, alas, despite his new found strength, Sam had been through too much and had suffered for too long. Even drunk, Ferny was more than a match for the traumatized hobbit and with an almost casual flick of his hand, the man back-handed Sam across the room. Sam slammed in to the back wall with a resounding thud. Dazed, but not defeated, the valiant hobbit again tried to regain his feet. Sam could hear Rosie crying out to him, but he couldn't seem to understand the words. Head spinning, Sam looked up and saw that Ferny had Rosie firmly by the hand was attempting to pull the struggling girl towards the door.
"I think visiting time is over," Ferny announced loudly over Rosie's desperate cries. The man grinned in triumph as he gazed at Sam's tortured face. The ruffian had accomplished exactly what he'd set out to do – given Samwise Gamgee a reason to live. Knowing that his beloved Rosie had survived after all, but was being forced to marry one of the most despicable hobbits in the Shire was enough to drive Sam to desperate measures to save her. He wouldn't simply give up without a fight now, thought Ferny in cruel satisfaction. This would certainly make hanging this troublesome hobbit much more enjoyable after all.
Ferny opened the door to cold, damp night and flung Rosie out into the mud. "So glad you could stop by!" he smirked watch as she struggled to her feet. "Hope we'll see you at the hangin'! Sam would most disappointed if ye didn't come!" Laughing harshly, he slammed the door, leaving a bereft and weeping Rosie huddled alone in the dark.
Rosie stood there for a moment, feeling more hopeless than ever before in her entire young life. She had been devastated by Jolly's murder and now seeing Sam beaten and barely alive, yet still fighting to protect her felt like a knife in her heart. Blindly, she stumbled away from the collection of huts and shacks that had been erected near Bag End, intending to make her way home to the dark, lifeless farmhouse she now shared with only her mother. However, she bypassed the way home and found herself nearing the Water. She could see the horrible mill glowing in the distance and sobs nearly overwhelmed her as she pictured Jolly's small body hanging forlornly over the foul water. Seeing the mill also brought to mind Ted Sandyman. Again, she lightly touched her bruised cheek. He had struck her the day before when she had refused his advances. He seemed to think that because he was forcing her to marry him, he already owned her. She hung her head in misery. However had things gotten so bad?
As she stood there staring into the desolately water, she gradually became aware of a quiet, almost furtive sound behind her. Whirling around, she cried out, "Who's there?" as bravely as she could. She knew that it was foolish to be out by herself in these terrible times and she now regretted her decision not to go home. There was a rustling in the dense brush near her and then slowly, cautiously, a small figure emerged. "Rosie?"
Rosie tried to make out the other hobbit's features in the dark, but it was impossible. "Who are you?" she demanded again warily stepping back but her apprehension seemed to be disappearing.
The figure stopped and Rosie herself stepped closer. She gave a small cry of surprise as she realized who stood before her. It was Frodo Baggins.
Nymredil27: I had to ignore Sam in the last chapter because I needed to get Frodo caught up in time! However, this chapter is all Sam, so that should make you happy!
BloodRoses9: I tried to get this up as quickly as possible to save you from harming yourself! Hope I was in time!
Janna Hawkins: This chapter holds the answer to your question!
Merimas Gamgee: (blush) you say the nicest things! I'm so glad you like my stories! I try to keep them interesting and not too obvious! Now, I'm curious – was your guess right?
Althea: I went to the Ferny School of Heartlessness. That's how! Anyway, I hope this chapter answers some of your questions!
AouraMaiden: Read on and you shall find out!
Lauralsjr: Well, the paper said the executions would begin and so they did. Saruman is punctual like that! I'm glad you find my story suspenseful – guess that means I'm doing something right! LOL! As for holidays, no, but summer school is really heating up with a couple of big projects looming in the near future! So, I shall update as quickly as possible (shouldn't be many more chapters anyway). And thanks, I did have a great time on my cruise!
Brownwyn: Again, the answer to your burning question lies in the words of this chapter! (Thought the pun was funny, btw!)
LalaithoftheBruinen: Thank you for your kind words! I'm really glad you liked the chapter. I tried to update as quickly as I could!
Arwen Baggins: Great to see you back! Wondered where you had disappeared to! I hope you'll make it through to the end! Just forget about work!
Baileymag: Wow, I am really flattered that you think so highly of this chapter! It's wonderful readers like yourself that really inspire me and make this so much fun! Every time I swear I have written my last Sam story, I think of all of you guys and next thing I know, I'm off torturing poor Sam again (There! It's all your fault he has such a tough time!). I hope you like this next chapter as well!
Chapter 30 A Reason to Live
It had been one of the longest nights of Sam's life. Miserably, he lay huddled in the corner of the shack, his body wracked with agonizing tremors. He was so cold and the shock from his injuries made things worse. He was too far gone to even scream anymore and his tormenter had become bored. Ferny now sat on a stool across the room, a nearly empty bottle clutched in his hand. He was drunk.
"Well, maggot," Ferny slurred lifting his bottle in salute, "Jus' a few more hours, then it's the end fer you!" he made a hanging motion and laughed. "Mebbe if you beg me hard enough, I can ask the Boss to delay a bit longer!"
Sam stared at him blankly. "I welcome death," he whispered faintly.
Ferny frowned. Sam had said this before and it bothered him. What fun would it be to kill someone if that's what they wanted? Ferny much preferred his victims to plead and fight. It made his victory so much more satisfying.
"What about yer family?" demanded the man almost angrily, "Yer frien's? Surely there's sumbody that'd miss you?"
Sam closed his eyes gave a weak, pain-filled laugh. "You've killed the only one that meant anything to me here," he gasped.
Ferny frowned again. What did this stupid halfling mean? Then his eyes fell on one of the wanted posters lying scattered about the small table beside him. He moved the lantern to study it more closely. Suddenly, a big, malicious grin split Ferny's dirty, stubbled, face. "That wench!" he cried in delight holding up the paper. "She's the one you killed ol' Fig over! I fergot!" He began to laugh, and spluttered as he took the final swig from his bottle. He looked at his bottle in dismay, then lurched to his feet. He leered over at Sam and shook his finger. "Now don't you go tryin' t' go anywhere!" he laughed and stumbled out of the hut, bolting the door behind him.
Sam allowed himself to relax for the first time that night. Maybe if he were lucky, he thought dimly, he would die before morning ever got there. He let his mind wander, wondering about Frodo and Hertig, Merry and Pippin. What of the rest of the Cottons? Well, none of it mattered anymore. His time was nearly through. He simply prayed that they would all be all right. He hoped they would think of him kindly from time to time. With that last, dismal thought, Sam slipped into blissful unconsciousness.
It was with great annoyance that he slowly came back to himself. He could hear someone calling his name. Why can't he just leave me be? Thought Sam angrily. But, as he listened, Sam realized this voice wasn't Ferny's. It was different, softer, and filled with sorrow. The voice of an angel. With great effort, Sam forced his eyes open and tried to focus on the pale shape hovering above him.
"Oh, Sam!" the voice cried in distress, "What has that monster done to you!?" Sam could then feel a cool, damp cloth gently wiping his face. He blinked trying to see. Suddenly, the face became clearly illuminated as a lantern was moved closer to him. He gasped in shock and disbelief. There, carefully wiping the blood from his many injuries was Rosie Cotton!
"Rosie!?" he croaked trying to see her better. He struggled in his attempts to sit up, but Rosie tenderly held him back.
"Hush, Sam!" she said, tears pouring down her face. "Just rest!" Sam continued to gape at her in amazement. Her face was pale and thin and marred by an ugly bruise under her left eye.
"I...I thought you were dead!" Sam blurted, "Your name was on the list! They were supposed to execute someone!"
Rosie sat back on her heels and pressed her hand to her mouth. She closed her eyes for a moment in an effort to hold back her grief. "They...they did," she managed at last, but could not continue.
Sam stared at her in dismay. "Who, Rosie?" he asked faintly, "I must know."
She looked down at her hands, the damp rag clutched tightly in her grasp. "Jolly."
Jolly. Sam felt an unexpected mixture of anger, grief and relief. He was so happy to find Rosie still alive, but Jolly had died in her place. Poor, easy-going Jolly. He and Sam had had many adventures together as they grew up and it was Jolly who had come to his rescue when Sam was first captured. Sam felt tears burning in his eyes. He hadn't thought there were any left.
Sam painfully reached for Rosie's hand and held it to his breast. "I am so sorry," he said softly. Rosie nodded gratefully. Sam brought her soft hand to his lips but froze. There on her third finger was a small, silver ring. A simple thing really except for what it represented. It was a betrothal ring. Sam simply stared at it in shock, unable to say anything. Rosie, realizing what had he had seen, tried to pull her hand away.
Sam turned his anguished eyes to hers. "Rosie?" he gasped in dismay and bewilderment.
Rosie closed her eyes, unable to meet Sam's hurt-filled gaze any longer. "I...I don't know what to say, Sam." The ensuing silence was abruptly broken by the sound of Ferny's drunken laugh. Sam turned his head and realized Ferny had been sitting at his table all this time, a fresh bottle before him. He was watching at the hobbits with a self-satisfied smirk.
"So Sammy-boy," he chortled, "L'il Miss Rosie givin' you 'er good news, eh? She's gonna get married to my good frien', Master Sandyman! Ain'tcha gonna offer her yer congratulations?" He laughed even louder.
Now Sam turned his shocked gaze back to Rosie. "Ted Sandyman!?" he demanded in horrified disbelief. "You're going to marry that villain!?"
Fresh tears poured down Rosie's pale face. Unconsciously, her hand touched the bruise beneath her eye. "I have no choice, Sam," she wept, anger and defeat coloring her words, "If I don't marry him, they'll kill my father or perhaps Tom or Nibs. They still have them shut away in the Lockholes. It's just Mother and me at the farm now. I can't let them hurt anyone else! Surely you understand that!"
Of course Sam understood that, only all too well. Wasn't he here in this hell-hole for that very reason? If there was one thing Samwise Gamgee had learned on this year-long nightmare, it was self-sacrifice. He closed his eyes, feeling wearier than ever. But, as he listened to Rosie's gentle sobs and Ferny's obscene laughter, something happened. Gradually, the lethargy and sense of defeat that had immobilized him for so long, began to fall away. Sam had been convinced Rosie was dead and with her death went the last of his will to live. But now, not only was she alive, but was being forced to marry the worst devil in Hobbiton! Sam simply could not allow this to happen!
With a cry of fury and defiance, Sam struggled to his hands and knees, ignoring the excruciating pain screaming throughout his body. Panting, he reached towards the wall and began to laboriously climb to his feet. Sweat dripped from his face from the exertion. Rosie, with a cry of dismay, reached out to help him, but he stopped her with a look. Once on his feet, Sam nearly collapsed as the world whirled around him. The pounding in his head almost drowned out Ferny's hoots of derisive laughter.
"Guess I found a reason fer you to live after all, eh Sammy?!" Ferny called out mockingly, taking another drink from his bottle. "I'm certain Miss Rosie 'ere will make Ted a fine wife! Course, 'ee might hafta beat up on 'er from time to time to keep 'er in line, but she'll learn!"
That was more than Sam could stand. The thought of anyone laying on hand on sweet, gentle Rosie drove him mad with an explosive anger. With a scream of rage, Sam flung himself across the room, intending to kill Ferny if at all possible. He must rescue Rosie and get her out of here! But, alas, despite his new found strength, Sam had been through too much and had suffered for too long. Even drunk, Ferny was more than a match for the traumatized hobbit and with an almost casual flick of his hand, the man back-handed Sam across the room. Sam slammed in to the back wall with a resounding thud. Dazed, but not defeated, the valiant hobbit again tried to regain his feet. Sam could hear Rosie crying out to him, but he couldn't seem to understand the words. Head spinning, Sam looked up and saw that Ferny had Rosie firmly by the hand was attempting to pull the struggling girl towards the door.
"I think visiting time is over," Ferny announced loudly over Rosie's desperate cries. The man grinned in triumph as he gazed at Sam's tortured face. The ruffian had accomplished exactly what he'd set out to do – given Samwise Gamgee a reason to live. Knowing that his beloved Rosie had survived after all, but was being forced to marry one of the most despicable hobbits in the Shire was enough to drive Sam to desperate measures to save her. He wouldn't simply give up without a fight now, thought Ferny in cruel satisfaction. This would certainly make hanging this troublesome hobbit much more enjoyable after all.
Ferny opened the door to cold, damp night and flung Rosie out into the mud. "So glad you could stop by!" he smirked watch as she struggled to her feet. "Hope we'll see you at the hangin'! Sam would most disappointed if ye didn't come!" Laughing harshly, he slammed the door, leaving a bereft and weeping Rosie huddled alone in the dark.
Rosie stood there for a moment, feeling more hopeless than ever before in her entire young life. She had been devastated by Jolly's murder and now seeing Sam beaten and barely alive, yet still fighting to protect her felt like a knife in her heart. Blindly, she stumbled away from the collection of huts and shacks that had been erected near Bag End, intending to make her way home to the dark, lifeless farmhouse she now shared with only her mother. However, she bypassed the way home and found herself nearing the Water. She could see the horrible mill glowing in the distance and sobs nearly overwhelmed her as she pictured Jolly's small body hanging forlornly over the foul water. Seeing the mill also brought to mind Ted Sandyman. Again, she lightly touched her bruised cheek. He had struck her the day before when she had refused his advances. He seemed to think that because he was forcing her to marry him, he already owned her. She hung her head in misery. However had things gotten so bad?
As she stood there staring into the desolately water, she gradually became aware of a quiet, almost furtive sound behind her. Whirling around, she cried out, "Who's there?" as bravely as she could. She knew that it was foolish to be out by herself in these terrible times and she now regretted her decision not to go home. There was a rustling in the dense brush near her and then slowly, cautiously, a small figure emerged. "Rosie?"
Rosie tried to make out the other hobbit's features in the dark, but it was impossible. "Who are you?" she demanded again warily stepping back but her apprehension seemed to be disappearing.
The figure stopped and Rosie herself stepped closer. She gave a small cry of surprise as she realized who stood before her. It was Frodo Baggins.