What great responses to my story! I can't quite believe how many of you are enjoying this. Of course, I only write these things because I like to do it, but the fact that everybody actually wont's me to write more is a real boost to my creative mind! Thank you so much.
Many Thanks to my reviewers
Obelia medusa- Unfortunately it appears that position of `my number one fan` has already been filled, and the keeper is not willing to share. I can offer you ` number one jellyfish fan`. How's that?I actually did consider having Sam address Frodo as `Mr Frodo-Lad` but I found that the only person whose reaction I could visualise was Bilbo's, and that was just to laugh hysterically! So I decided to just leave it as Sam's thoughts.
Shirebound- I am so glad that I managed to hook you into my story! You write your own story so well, it really is an honour to think that you like mine even half as much as I enjoy yours!I'm glad you liked the Gaffer's dialogue. I actually do a lot of work on that. I think that the Gamgees would not have had an accent, but because they are of working class, would simply be used to shortening their words, and pushing two words together where possible. E.g. `T'aint`, short for `it ain't`, short of `it isn't. ` There is not a Gamgee word in the whole of my story that I have not looked at in detail!And please do keep pointing out my mistakes, especially with major places such as Bag End and Brandy Hall. I tend to write my story on paper first, and sometimes the books are not easily accessible. (For example, when travelling down the motorway in the car!) So if I type straight from my notes, I don't often think to check for things like that. You help me a lot!
Celebrindal- Ok Ok, my next chapter is here. I actually started to type it up after your review told me to `Go! Now!`. I'm glad you liked my Sam character. My inspiration for him comes mainly from the books, other people's fanfic (though I assure you, I steal nothing!) and a lot of my own imagination in there as well.
No 1 fan- Ok, I told that you were not willing to share your title, and I think you are well deserved of it! I don't want to know a lot about you, just simply your name and your age will do. I'm just interested to see what kinds of people like to read my stories (and poems). If you don't want to tell me that's fine, I won't hold it against you! And thank you very much for your compliments! They mean so much to me as a writer, and as a person.
Samwise the brave- your wait is over. Here is another chapter. And just to clarify, Mrs Frodo is actually a very good name. I'm telling you he's mine..my own..and I'm not sharing! But joking aside, Thank you for continuing to read! Hope to her more from you!
LegyLuva- So we all know I can't spell, and we all know I make `traditional` spelling mistakes. I tend to rely on my creative talents (if I have any) rather then my ability to spell. (Which is a good job, otherwise I really would be bottom of the pile!)Mine's your favourite story, mine's your favourite story *in a sing song voice* hehehe.Please don't die on me! I'll continue to post!
????- All right, its confession time. I don't know what you are talking about. Which bit from the extended dvd did I include? I wasn't even aware that I had done. But anyway, The idea from memory sparking items came because me and my friends had just left school, and everything and everywhere reminded us of something, so it seemed a good idea to make this true for Sam after Frodo had left as well. Putting them all in a box was only to make my job easier!
ElveNDestiNy- Glad to have you joining me on this journey through Sam and Frodo's early friendship! I also detest slash, so you won't be finding any here! (Does the fact that both the N's in your name are capitals have any significance? I know I shouldn't be so nosy, but I'm just curious!)
cosmo-queen- glad to see you are enjoying this. It gives me grate pleasure to know that people are enjoying my work, and that you happen to think it was ` wrote beautifully`. Thank you so much!
~*~
Memories of a Gardener
By Michelle Frodo
Chapter 3- Bag Ends Burglar
Rose had walked into Frodo's old bedroom at BagEnd to find Sam asleep on the bed. She sighed.
"Sam?" She whispered quietly, gently waking her husband. "Sam, are you all right?"
"I will be." Was Sam's only answer.
"You wanting any breakfast?" Rose asked with a smile, knowing the answer full well. Sam walked into the kitchen to be greeted with the sight and smells of toast, fried tomatoes and bacon, and a cup of soothing tea.
"Rose, up-until now, I never knew why I married you." Sam laughed playfully, pulling her into a kiss.
* * *
After his breakfast, Sam went about some of his normal chores around the house. But somehow, without Frodo there, he just couldn't seem to be able to do anything.
Everything reminded him of the day before, when he had seen his best friend sail off on an elven boat without him.
`If a job's worth doin' its worth doin' right.` as his Gaffer used to say. `An' if I ain't doin' it right, then it ain't worth doin' at all. So pull yourself together Sam Gamgee` he scolded himself.
Eventually, a few hours later, he gave up. His mind was still on the box, which lay where he had left it in Frodo's room. He sat down on Frodo's bed, and pulled out the next item.
It was a small, flat, rounded, wooden button.
~*~
"Oh Sam not another one!" Daisy sighed in exasperation. "That's the third one this week!"
Sam and Bilbo had returned to Hobbiton from Brandy Hall nearly a week ago. Bilbo had sorted Frodo's adoption out with the Mayor, prepared the boys room, and now had gone back to Buckland to bring Frodo home.
Sam just had to wait.
The young gardener knew that they should be arriving any day now, and he couldn't remember ever being so excited.
Like most hobbits, Sam had a bad habit. Some bite their fingernails; many of the girls like to play with their hair.
Whenever Sam was nervous or excited, he tended to twist the buttons on his shirt. He didn't even realise he was doing it, until he twisted it so much that the thread broke, and the button had to be re-sewn.
"Honestly Sam, I reckon I must 'a sewed more buttons on for you then for everyone else put together" Daisy laughed playfully.
She took the button from him and went to find a needle and thread while Sam took his shirt off.
"What's got you so excited Sam?" She asked, walking back into the room with a needle.
"Mr Bilbo comin' home `o course. It shouldn' be long now, not more 'n a few days. And he's bringing Mr Frodo with him."
"T'aint like you to mix with gentle hobbits. Before your trip to Buckland you was even afraid o' walking past Mr Bilbos' gate! What changed?"
"I d'know Daisy. Mr Frodo ain't like other gentle hobbits. He actually wanted to spend more time with me then with his friends at Brandy Hall. He's really friendly. I s'pect you'll get what I mean when he gets here. He's just such a happy person, specially when Mr Bilbo's around. He sort of got a spring in his step when he walks, and its kind'a infectious. You just can't stand round him for more'n a few minutes without catching a smile, if you follow."
Daisy finished with the button, and handed Sam his shirt back. "Well, if everythin' you and Da' been saying about him is true, I reckon he's gonna be a mighty fine one to work for, just like Mr Bilbo. Speakin' o' which, you better be goin' back up to Bag End and finish your gardening."
Sam kissed Daisy's cheek.
"Thanks for sewin' me button back on"
"Your welcome. Just don't you be tellin' Mam you pulled another one off, she's about ready to bury you up to your neck if you loose another, you lost one at Bag End only yesterday"
"I did try an' look for it Daisy, really I did, bit it just vanished. I reckon a caterpillar musta' eaten it."
* * *
Bilbo had given Sam a patch of garden at Bag End for his very own. He had said that Sam could do whatever he liked with it.
Sam had been so very happy when he discovered that his `garden` could be seen from what was soon to be Frodo's new room.
Sam decided that he was going to plant some of the prettiest flowers that would grow.
He was quite worried that maybe Frodo wouldn't like it in Hobbiton, and would want to go back to Buckland. So by making the view from Frodo's window the nicest he knew how, he hoped to get his new friend to stay.
* * *
The next morning, Sam was working on his `garden` as usual, pulling up any weeds that even dared to poke their heads up.
He was having difficulty with a particularly large dandelion, which didn't want to give up its space in Sam's flower bed.
"Come up darn you! I'm rightly gonna' pull your head off, just you see if I don't!" he spoke to the weed, while vigorously tugging at it.
Suddenly, Sam was aware of a noise.
Aside from the usual sounds of the breeze blowing through the leaves, the birds in the trees, the miller's cart passing on the road to market. It was as though someone was moving around inside Bag End.
The young gardener sat up and listened, hardly daring to breathe. There was a burglar in Bag End!
Sam pulled himself up on Frodo's window ledge. His little heart began to beat fast.
He was going to catch a burglar!
Maybe his Gaffer would reward him for taking on a troll single-handed. `No, it's not a troll. ` Sam thought to himself. `It's a dragon, that's what it is! `
His heart was beating so loud Sam was sure whatever it was inside would be able to hear it. He took up all of his courage, and peered in through the window.
Somebody else peered out at the same time. Sam's green eyes met with a pair of startled blue ones.
That was too much for the young lad. With a cry, he fell to the ground in a dead faint.
* * *
Sam came round a few minutes later, and at first couldn't understand why he was lying on the ground.
Then he remembered the Burglar!
He sat up quickly, and came face to face with the same pair of blue eyes. But this time he could see who they belonged to.
"Mr Frodo!" The child cried, seeing Frodo hanging out over of his window ledge.
"Sam, are you all right?" Frodo asked concerned. "You fell with quite a bump. What ever startled you so?"
"I..I..I thought you was a burglar Mr Frodo!" Sam stuttered. "I didn't realise you was home and I heard a noise, and.." He stopped, because Frodo was laughing.
"What's so funny?" he asked, getting to his feet.
"You thought I was a burglar" Frodo laughed "and I thought you were coming to eat me"
"Beg your pardon Mr Frodo? Eat you? What are you talkin' about Sir?"
"Who's head were you threatening to rip off?" Frodo asked with a smile at his friend.
"Oh!" Sam cried, blushing. "Well it certainly weren't yours Mr Frodo. It was this weed here."
Just at that moment the Gaffer appeared round the corner.
"Sam? Sam I need you t'help me plant this apple blossom tree. Oh, Good Mornin' Mr Frodo! So pleased to see you."
"And the same to you Gaffer. I trust you got over your cold?"
"Agh, t'weren't nothin' to be worried abou'. Settlin' in all right young master?"
"Fine thank you, though we only arrived late last night. I think I shall go and join my uncle for breakfast." Frodo answered.
"Good idea Sir. I shall see you round."
He walked off around the other side of the garden, and Sam began to follow him. Just as Frodo was pulling away from the window, something caught his eye in the grass.
"Sam?" He called the young gardener back. Sam walked back to stand in front of Frodo.
"Aye Sir?"
"Is that your button on the grass there?"
Sam looked down at the ground, and picked the little wooden button up.
"I reckon so Mr Frodo."
"Another one who likes to twist his buttons off are you?" Frodo asked with a smile.
"How'd you know that Sir?" Sam asked startled.
"Merry used to do it a lot back at Brandy Hall" Frodo explained. "I was forever following him round with his lost buttons. Now it seems I shall have to be doing the same for you."
Sam placed the button in his pocket with a smile, then turned round to offer the Gaffer some help with his tree.
~*~*~
Ok, so a bit of a shorter chapter then the last one, but the next one promises to be a bit longer.
May Elbereth bless my reviewers; Flames will be used in destroying the Ring
This chapter was brought to you by ent-draughts, which you cannot go drinking and expect no more to come of them than a pot of beer. (In the words of Gimli the dwarf)