Authors note- This is my very first chapter story. I am a poet at heart,
but this was an idea that would just not go away. But nobody need worry, I
will still be carrying on with my poems, at the same time as keeping up
with this story. I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer- Tolkien was a genius, no doubt about it. Do I look like a
genius to any of you out there? I did NOT create these characters; I just
like to borrow them. (Though I would like to add that Sam belongs to me.
He's mine, my own, my pressssiiioouuuss)
A/N again- The first 2 paragraphs, up to the first ~*~ comes from the last
chapter in the Return of the King. I would have written it in Italics, but
I still can't figure out how to work the formatting on fanfic.
Memories of a Gardener
By Michelle Frodo
Chapter 1-The End
"But to Sam the evening deepened to darkness as he stood at the Haven; and
as he looked at the grey sea he saw only a shadow on the waters that was
soon lost in the West. There still he stood far into the night, hearing
only the sigh and murmur of the waves on the shores of Middle-earth, and
the sound of them sank deep into his heart. Beside him stood Marry and
Pippin, and they were silent.
* * *
At last the three companions turned away, and never again looking back they
rode slowly homewards; and they spoke no word to one another until they
came back to the shire, but each had great comfort in his friends on the
long grey road.
At last they road over the downs and took the east road, and then merry and
Pippin rode on to Buckland; and already they were singing again as they
went. But Sam turned to Bywater, and so came back up the Hill, as day was
ending once more. And he went on, and there was yellow light, and fire
within; and the evening meal was ready, and he was expected. And Rose drew
him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap.
He drew a deep breath. "Well, I'm, back" he said.
~*~
The next morning, Samwise Gamgee awoke early, even before the sun had risen
on another day. He got out of bed quietly so as not to wake Rose, and
walked softly towards Frodo's room. "Frodo's old room" he corrected himself
silently.
Once inside, he lowered himself slowly onto the floor, and sat for a while
in silence.
His eyes scanned the room, wardrobe, bed and chest of draws. All in their
right places, and yet not right at all. It felt empty, lonely and cold. Sam
realised that tears were rolling down his cheeks. He sighed as he brushed
them away with the back of his hand.
He was doing exactly what he promised he wouldn't. Frodo had made him
promise that he wouldn't be sad after he had left for Valinor. Now here Sam
was, not even a day after leaving him, crying for his lost friend.
Some promises are harder to keep then others.
From his position on the floor, Sam could see underneath Frodo's bed. He
caught sight of a box, pushed right back to the farthest corner.
Curiosity got the better of him, as it so often had in the past. He crawled
under the bed, and pulled out the box. It was a handsome wooden box, made
from the finest strongest oak, with a lid on golden hinges.
Sam's face assumed a puzzled expression, and he opened the box. Inside was
a letter, folded in an envelope, addressed to `My dearest Sam`.
Holding his breath, Sam pulled the letter out of the box, paying no
attention to everything else that was inside it, and put the box on one
side. He turned the envelope over in his hands, and opened it. The letter
read:
`My dearest Sam,
If you are reading this, it means that I have finally left for the Heavens,
and that you are now back home. You knew just as well as I did that this
day was to come, and I remind you of your final promise, that you would not
get upset. `
Sam stopped, wiped more tears from his eyes, took a handkerchief from his
pocket, blew his nose, and continued reading.
`You have done so much for me over the years Sam. Were it not for you, it
is doubtful that I would even be here to write this, and for that I wanted
to thank you. There are no words in even the fair language of the elves
that could describe what you mean to me, and not enough words for all the
praise that you deserve.
Inside this box is a collection of objects that will stir your memory.
Bilbo always used to say that there was only so much you could remember,
and that there were bound to be things in your past that you forget. But I
don't want you to forget. I want you to remember.
Keep this close to your heart Sam, with the knowledge that you can never
forget, as long as there is someone to remind you.
Everything has a place in your heart, and though your mind may have limited
space, your heart can keep expanding. Remember Sam, that wherever I am now,
that is where you are, safe inside my heart, and that is where you will
remain.
My strength, my light, my kindred spirit.
My hope, my soul and my shining star.
Forever and Always
Frodo
X`
It was a full five minutes before Sam could stop his tears long enough to
read the letter again.
Rose had heard his sobs, and came to see what was wrong. She hovered in the
doorway; uncertain as to whether she should go in or not. She decided to
leave quietly, and come back later.
It was Frodo who Sam needed right now, and she hoped that by leaving him,
her husband might just find that person he was looking for. She walked back
to their bedroom to get dressed.
When Sam finally managed to read the letter through for a third time, he
wondered what was meant by ` a collection of objects that will stir your
memory`.
He folded the letter and placed it carefully back in its envelope. Then he
turned his attention to the earlier discarded box. He picked it up, put it
on his knee, and opened the lid again.
It turned out to be exactly what Frodo said it was.
Inside the box were objects, that would mean nothing to anyone else, but
each one was connected to a different thought, dream, feeling and memory,
that came flooding back to Sam as he looked upon them.
Mainly they were memories of Frodo and Sam's childhood, little things that
may seem silly to other people, but to Sam, his world came alive again
inside the box, and it turned out that Rose was right.
Sam found Frodo, and he took Frodo's advice, and kept him close to his
heart.
~*~
So just what is inside the box?
Curious?
Watch this space!
May Elbereth bless my reviewers, flames will be used in destroying the
Ring.
but this was an idea that would just not go away. But nobody need worry, I
will still be carrying on with my poems, at the same time as keeping up
with this story. I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer- Tolkien was a genius, no doubt about it. Do I look like a
genius to any of you out there? I did NOT create these characters; I just
like to borrow them. (Though I would like to add that Sam belongs to me.
He's mine, my own, my pressssiiioouuuss)
A/N again- The first 2 paragraphs, up to the first ~*~ comes from the last
chapter in the Return of the King. I would have written it in Italics, but
I still can't figure out how to work the formatting on fanfic.
Memories of a Gardener
By Michelle Frodo
Chapter 1-The End
"But to Sam the evening deepened to darkness as he stood at the Haven; and
as he looked at the grey sea he saw only a shadow on the waters that was
soon lost in the West. There still he stood far into the night, hearing
only the sigh and murmur of the waves on the shores of Middle-earth, and
the sound of them sank deep into his heart. Beside him stood Marry and
Pippin, and they were silent.
* * *
At last the three companions turned away, and never again looking back they
rode slowly homewards; and they spoke no word to one another until they
came back to the shire, but each had great comfort in his friends on the
long grey road.
At last they road over the downs and took the east road, and then merry and
Pippin rode on to Buckland; and already they were singing again as they
went. But Sam turned to Bywater, and so came back up the Hill, as day was
ending once more. And he went on, and there was yellow light, and fire
within; and the evening meal was ready, and he was expected. And Rose drew
him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap.
He drew a deep breath. "Well, I'm, back" he said.
~*~
The next morning, Samwise Gamgee awoke early, even before the sun had risen
on another day. He got out of bed quietly so as not to wake Rose, and
walked softly towards Frodo's room. "Frodo's old room" he corrected himself
silently.
Once inside, he lowered himself slowly onto the floor, and sat for a while
in silence.
His eyes scanned the room, wardrobe, bed and chest of draws. All in their
right places, and yet not right at all. It felt empty, lonely and cold. Sam
realised that tears were rolling down his cheeks. He sighed as he brushed
them away with the back of his hand.
He was doing exactly what he promised he wouldn't. Frodo had made him
promise that he wouldn't be sad after he had left for Valinor. Now here Sam
was, not even a day after leaving him, crying for his lost friend.
Some promises are harder to keep then others.
From his position on the floor, Sam could see underneath Frodo's bed. He
caught sight of a box, pushed right back to the farthest corner.
Curiosity got the better of him, as it so often had in the past. He crawled
under the bed, and pulled out the box. It was a handsome wooden box, made
from the finest strongest oak, with a lid on golden hinges.
Sam's face assumed a puzzled expression, and he opened the box. Inside was
a letter, folded in an envelope, addressed to `My dearest Sam`.
Holding his breath, Sam pulled the letter out of the box, paying no
attention to everything else that was inside it, and put the box on one
side. He turned the envelope over in his hands, and opened it. The letter
read:
`My dearest Sam,
If you are reading this, it means that I have finally left for the Heavens,
and that you are now back home. You knew just as well as I did that this
day was to come, and I remind you of your final promise, that you would not
get upset. `
Sam stopped, wiped more tears from his eyes, took a handkerchief from his
pocket, blew his nose, and continued reading.
`You have done so much for me over the years Sam. Were it not for you, it
is doubtful that I would even be here to write this, and for that I wanted
to thank you. There are no words in even the fair language of the elves
that could describe what you mean to me, and not enough words for all the
praise that you deserve.
Inside this box is a collection of objects that will stir your memory.
Bilbo always used to say that there was only so much you could remember,
and that there were bound to be things in your past that you forget. But I
don't want you to forget. I want you to remember.
Keep this close to your heart Sam, with the knowledge that you can never
forget, as long as there is someone to remind you.
Everything has a place in your heart, and though your mind may have limited
space, your heart can keep expanding. Remember Sam, that wherever I am now,
that is where you are, safe inside my heart, and that is where you will
remain.
My strength, my light, my kindred spirit.
My hope, my soul and my shining star.
Forever and Always
Frodo
X`
It was a full five minutes before Sam could stop his tears long enough to
read the letter again.
Rose had heard his sobs, and came to see what was wrong. She hovered in the
doorway; uncertain as to whether she should go in or not. She decided to
leave quietly, and come back later.
It was Frodo who Sam needed right now, and she hoped that by leaving him,
her husband might just find that person he was looking for. She walked back
to their bedroom to get dressed.
When Sam finally managed to read the letter through for a third time, he
wondered what was meant by ` a collection of objects that will stir your
memory`.
He folded the letter and placed it carefully back in its envelope. Then he
turned his attention to the earlier discarded box. He picked it up, put it
on his knee, and opened the lid again.
It turned out to be exactly what Frodo said it was.
Inside the box were objects, that would mean nothing to anyone else, but
each one was connected to a different thought, dream, feeling and memory,
that came flooding back to Sam as he looked upon them.
Mainly they were memories of Frodo and Sam's childhood, little things that
may seem silly to other people, but to Sam, his world came alive again
inside the box, and it turned out that Rose was right.
Sam found Frodo, and he took Frodo's advice, and kept him close to his
heart.
~*~
So just what is inside the box?
Curious?
Watch this space!
May Elbereth bless my reviewers, flames will be used in destroying the
Ring.