Wow! Over 50 reviews already! I never expected such a wonderful response for my first story! Reviewer Number 50 was…(drum roll)
Obelia medusa! Well-done number one jellyfish fan!
Responses to Reviews
No 1 Fan- Of course I don't mind people pointing out my mistakes, it's the only way I'll learn! I said at the very beginning of the story that I would not say how old Sam and Frodo are. Hobbit ages are, as you say, different from our own, and though I said that as the story progresses, they get older, I am not going to label them with any age. I find that with memories, you can never tell exactly how old you were, just approximately. I think Frodo moved into Bilbo's house when he was a `tween` (that's 20's, early teens in human years) so work off that, and think that they get older as the story goes on. I don't think you'll go far wrong.
Shirebound- I'm glad you enjoyed the way things tied together at the end, I didn't actually have any idea when I was typing it out that it was going to end up like that, but I finished the story, and simply kept typing, and that's what I came up with.
Samwise the brave- I understand if you can't think of nice things to say, after all, you've reviewed everything that I have ever posted (I think) and everyone of those had nice words in. All I like to know is that you are enjoying it, that's what counts.
Loveofthering- Nice to see a new face! Do keep coming back, I like to know if you are enjoying my story or not. And you're Irish are you? Well there you go, I do try and put things in that will make everyone happy, and it seems as though I managed it this time around!
My Sam (LegyLuva)- I don't really remember my first tooth either, but I do remember finding out that the tooth fairy wasn't real, and wondering where the story had come from. So I decided to answer my own question! I'm glad the formatting was better on that last one, I shall continue to use the same method. And of course, check for spelling mistakes. (Just one final note, Cheese ||| )
Mousegal- yes indeed, you did review the, err (just let me work it out) chapter before last within half an hour! Aww and you think my stories are heart warming! How nice! You always have such nice words of encouragement! Oh, and I liked you smiley face at the end of your review by the way, was the & supposed to be curly hair? It looked as though it did. J
Bookworm2000- So pleased by your comments. Many people have said that I have a good way of describing things. I suppose it is simply because I see it happening so clearly in my head, I do my best to write what I can see, if that makes sense. And, Like I said, I like your name. No need to go changing it!
Obelia medusa- (review number 50) number one jellyfish fan- (few, that's a long title you have there!) Little Sam, don't we just all love him! I'm thinking of starting an `I Love the Gamgee Clan Club' what do you think? And `The Adventures of Samwise and Mr Frodo' was a sudden inspiration while I was teaching some little friends of mine a favourite game of mine when I was little.
Celebrindal- especially especially especially cute you say? Wow, that must be very cute! I have a feeling though, that he gets cuter in this chapter, I think you might like this one! I must admit, it is one of my favourite cute Sam chapters, if I am allowed to have favourite chapters of my own story.
Gamgeefest- yes I agree, Bilbo would have tired out eventually, which was, of course, exactly what Frodo was thinking when he said `make him so dizzy he can't stand up.` And yes now you do, at least, know my version of where the tooth fairy came from! Keep up with the great reviews!
Cosmo-queen- Indeed, Frodo comforting Sam during the storm was a reflection on Sam comforting Frodo later on. If you read carefully into my story, there are many of these, which have parallels with the Lord of the Rings story. But I'm not going to tell you where they are, you have to try and find them! Such as, in the last chapter, Sam seeing himself as Frodo's protector.
~*~~*~
Memories of a Gardener
By Michelle Frodo
Chapter 6- Honey and Soot
It was many many years later. Elanor was no longer a lonely child, already having 2 younger brothers, and younger sister, and another one on the way. She was 8 now in hobbit years, and Sam and Rose were so very proud of her. She was wise beyond her years, and Sam knew that one day she would grow to be a fine young hobbit lass.
So busy had he been over the last few years, that Sam had barely had time to dwell on the present, let alone on the past. It took the Birthday of his second son to take his mind back to the box.
"Happy Birthday Frodo!" Bag Ends hallways rang with the sound, as friends and relatives gathered round for the festivities. Sam was enjoying himself immensely, when Elanor came up to him.
"Can I talk to you Da'?" She asked.
"Of course you can my dear. Anytime, you know that. What's troubling you?"
"Not here." Elanor asked. She looked serious, so Sam followed her out of Bag End and into the gardens.
"What's the matter flower?" Sam asked again.
"Da'" Elanor said. "I got somethin' to tell you."
"And what might that be?"
"I..I.." She stopped and bit her lip. Sam pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead softly, urging her to carry on.
"I broke the cupboard in the hall!" Elanor finally gasped, and started to cry.
"What in Bree do you mean, you broke the cupboard? How did you brake it?"
"Da' I don't know! But I was getting something out the other day, and the handle just wasn't there!" Elanor cried, tears running down her face. "Please don't be angry with me?"
"Ellie" Sam chuckled "You didn't brake the handle off the cupboard! The cupboard in the hall has never had a handle."
"Really Da'?" Elanor asked wiping her eyes when she realised that her father wasn't angry with her.
"Truly. In fact…" Then Sam stopped. He remembered now, the cupboard did used have a handle.
"Come with me Ellie, I want to show you something."
Sam took his daughter into the house, and into his and Rose's bedroom. He took a box off the shelf, which Elanor recognised as the one that her farther associated with Frodo. His Frodo.
Sam opened the lid, and took out a handle, that did indeed look as though it had once been part of the cupboard in the hallway. It was the same wood, and had the same intricate designs.
"It was me who broke the cupboard flower, not you."
~*~
Frodo awoke form a dreamless sleep, and immediately wished that he hadn't. He was cold, and his whole body ached. At the same time he was too hot, his mouth was dry, and he could feel a pounding under his eyes.
He groaned slightly and opened his eyes. The light in the room was so bright that he shut them again. He blinked several times so that he could see.
He was lying on the couch in the living room. He couldn't remember how he had got there, nor, for the moment, did he care. He groaned again, and heard a voice in his ear.
"Shh Frodo my lad, it's all right" Frodo looked up to meet Bilbo's anxious eyes.
For worried Bilbo was. It was mid winter, and he and Frodo had been walking back from the market, when the tweenager had said he felt dizzy. They had barely reached the green door of Bag End before Frodo had collapsed, and Bilbo had had to carry him into the lounge and lie him on the couch.
"Bilbo" Frodo croaked, "I'm hot, and I'm cold, and I ache, all over"
"It's all right lad, I know" Bilbo soothed, running a hand through Frodo's damp curls. He bit his lip, wondering what to do. It seemed to Bilbo that Frodo had a touch of the fever, and he needed a doctor. But doctor Proudfoots hole was on the other side of town; it would take a good half an hour to get there in this rain. And Frodo shouldn't be left alone for that long. Bilbo pondered what he should do, when a little mop of curly hair peered round the door.
"Mr Bilbo sir, Gaffer told me to bring these `taters to you, and wondered if you'd be wantin' any carrots?"
"Sam" Bilbo said, jumping up from the chair he had been sat on near the couch, where Frodo had fallen back to sleep. He walked into the hall, and grabbed his coat and cloak.
"I need you to look after Frodo for me while I go to Dr Proudfoots. Keep him warm, and give him some sweet honey tea of he asks for it. Can you do that for me Sam lad? If he gets really bad, run down for your mother. I shouldn't be more then a hour." And before Sam could open his mouth, Bilbo was out of the door and down the path, pulling his cloak close around him as protection from the rain that was pelting down.
Sam stood in the hallway, as though rooted to the spot. He didn't know how many carrots Bilbo wanted, he had no idea what to do with the `taters he had brought, and, it suddenly occurred to him, he didn't know where the honey was kept.
But suddenly his hobbit sense took over. He realised that the most important thing at the moment was Mr Frodo.
Sam crept back into the living room, trying to digest all the information that Bilbo had just given him. Keep Frodo warm, make him some honey tea, and go for his mother if things got too bad. He thought he could handle that.
Sam had never been in charge of a sick hobbit before. Plants were one thing, Mr Frodo was another. He wasn't sure what to do first.
He shuffled over to where Frodo was lay on the couch, and touched the sleeping hobbits forehead with the back of his hand, like he had seen his mother do. He didn't know what it was for, and it didn't make Frodo any better.
At his touch Frodo had turned over in his sleep, and Sam realised that his hands and fingers were icy cold.
"Got to keep him warm" Sam muttered to himself. He looked around the room. First thing first was to build a fire in the grate. He would have to fetch some wood from the store in the cellar.
In the mean time, Sam took off his coat and draped it over Frodo like a blanket, covering his poor frozen hands. He hoped that would keep him warm for a bit, while he ran to fetch some wood for a fire.
Several minutes later, Sam had a good fire going. He stood back from the hearth and turned to face the couch. He placed his hand on Frodo's head again, and felt his fingers. He left sooty fingerprints on the tweenager's pale skin.
Frodo woke up, and feeling very groggy, stared at Sam, trying to work out if he was having a very bizarre dream. He still ached, still had a headache, and his mouth felt like cotton.
"Oh Mr Frodo" said Sam, realising that he was awake. "Can I get you a drink?" he didn't wait for an answer, and went to make some honey tea.
It seemed to take a long time between Sam saying the words and Frodo hearing them, so they made no sense. Frodo reached a hand to his forehead; the room seemed to be swimming in and out of focus.
Frodo drifted off into an uneasy sleep, wondering why he was wrapped in what appeared to be Sam's coat.
In the kitchen, Sam put some water on to boil, and started looking for the honey. He searched the cupboards and draws at the bottom, but couldn't find the jar. So he dragged a chair from the table across the floor, and started to search the top shelf. Still no honey. He stood on the chair, scratching his head, looking round the kitchen. Then he saw the honey on the table; Bilbo had left it out for him.
In his haste to get down, the chair overturned, and Sam landed with a bump on the floor. But he didn't think he had hurt himself too badly.
He picked himself up off the floor, grabbed the honey off the table, and began to stir it into a mug with some hot water and milk. He thought he might make himself a cup as well while he was at it.
He got himself a mug from the shelf, but unfortunately dropped it. In his haste to catch it, he knocked the honey jar off the table, and both cup and jar ended up on the floor in a sticky mess. He gave up making his own mug, and took Frodo's in to him.
He was quite upset to find that Frodo had fallen asleep in his absence. Sam left the mug of honey tea on the floor, in case Frodo wanted it when he woke up.
He went to stoke the fire again, covering the floor in yet more ash and soot. The rain was still falling heavily outside, and despite the fire, it was still cold. Sam realised with alarm that Frodo was shivering in his sleep.
"Got to keep him warm" Sam thought again, as he went into the hall cupboard to get some blankets. He opened the door to the cupboard and sighed. The blankets were on the top shelf, and he couldn't reach them.
He thought of standing on a chair, but the kitchen was all the way down the hall, and Sam didn't think he would be able to carry one of the heavy wooden chairs all that way. He was, after all, still only a young hobbit.
He looked around the hall for an idea, and saw that the cupboard was opposite Bilbo's study. There had to be a chair in there.
Sam slowly opened the door, and crept in. He had never been in Bilbo's study before. Sam stared in awe at the books and papers that were on the shelves. He gasped as he caught site of a sward hanging from the wall. He ran his fingers along the top of a beautifully carved desk, which was littered with paper, ink and feather quills. He could have looked around the room for hours, but he remembered that Frodo needed a blanket.
He got hold of the chair and managed to half drag it, half carry it, to the cupboard. Sam stood on the chair, but still couldn't quite reach the blankets. He stretched up as high as he could, stood on the very tips of his toes.
Suddenly and all at once, he caught hold of the corner of the bottom blanket; lost his balance; grabbed the cupboard door handle, which broke off; and Sam, blankets, handle and chair fell on the floor in a heap.
Sam picked himself up for the second time that day, picked up one of the many blankets that had fallen, and went back to Frodo in the lounge.
It had been quite a while since Sam had gone up to Bag End, and Bell Gamgee was on her way up to fetch him, worried that he was bothering the Baggins'. Just then Bilbo and Dr Proudfoot came up the hill in the doctors cart.
"Mr Bilbo Sir! What are you doin' out in this weather? And Dr Proudfoot! Is somethin' the matter Sir?"
"It's all right Bell, Frodo's just got a touch of the fever. I left Sam looking after him when I went to fetch the Dr. I'm sorry, I should have called in and let you know."
"No Mr Bilbo, Don't worry, I was just on my way up to check that everythin' was all right."
Bell, Dr Proudfoot and Bilbo hurried up the path to Bag End, opened the door, and went into the hall. All of them stopped at the site of the mess.
The hall cupboard was open, most of its contents littering the floor, and there was a chair in the middle of it all. Through the door to the kitchen, Bilbo could see a broken mug, a smashed jar of honey, and another upturned chair. There was soot, ash and honey everywhere.
Bilbo walked into the living room, becoming concerned. What he saw made a smile break out on his worried face. There was a good fire going in the grate, and an un-drank mug of tea on the floor. Frodo was curled up on the couch, draped in Sam's coat and a blanket, his face covered in soot. Sam was sat on the floor, his head resting against the couch near Frodo's feet. He was covered in soot and honey from head to toe. Both of them were fast asleep.
"Well" the doctor chuckled "seems you found someone to look after Frodo well enough Bilbo."
"Oh yes" Bilbo replied, chuckling as well. "Despite the mess he seems to have made of my house, it seems he did everything in his power to help his charge. I think I could trust Sam with Frodo's very life."
The doctor went over to examine Frodo. He didn't really like to wake him, but if it was a fever, then it was best caught and treated quickly. Bilbo shook Frodo's shoulder gently, waking him up. Sam awoke at the same time, and Bilbo hugged them both.
"Frodo lad, the doctor just wants to check if you're all right. I'm going to clear up some of the mess that this young scamp seems to have made in the hall and kitchen." Bilbo ruffled Sam's curls, squeezed Frodo's shoulder, and left the doctor to his work.
While helping to clear up, Sam told Bilbo and Bell what had happened, how everything had ended up all over the floor. Bell was shocked at the mess, but Bilbo laughed, and seemed to find the whole thing hilariously funny.
The doctor had checked Frodo's throat, his pulse and his eyes. He listened to his breathing and examined his chest, before he concluded that Frodo did indeed have a mild case of the fever. Dr Proudfoot gave Frodo some medicine, which made him feel a lot better. It seemed that sleep had done him good as well, for he was not as sore as he had been.
Dr Proudfoot left some herbs for a tea to settle Frodo's head, and instructions for a lot of rest. He tipped his hat to Bell, and left.
Frodo was sat up on the couch. He still had a headache, and his muscles still ached slightly, but he was no longer too cold.
Bell said she would make him some herb tea straight away, and left for the kitchen, taking Sam with her.
Bilbo sat with Frodo, and pulled him into a hug.
"You had me worried for a minute there. I was beginning to wonder.." he let the sentence hang in mid air.
"You mean the world to me lad, and I don't know what I would have done if.." he sighed, unable to find the words. Frodo gave him a squeeze.
"It's all right Uncle Bilbo, I don't feel as bad as I did. I'm sorry if a scared you, I really didn't mean to."
They stayed sat together for a moment, neither wanting to be the first to let go. Bilbo started to laugh, and Frodo pulled away with a quizzical look on his face.
"What's so funny?" he asked. Bilbo told him all about the trouble Sam had gone through to keep him warm. Frodo was laughing too when Sam brought his tea in.
"Thank you Sam" Frodo said, taking the tea from him. Then, looking concerned, he added, "You didn't hurt yourself falling from the chair did you?"
"Only a little." Sam replied, a bit embarrassed. "I was a bit too busy to really check myself over, if you follow"
"Well come here then" Frodo pulled Sam onto the couch next to him, though the movement hurt his head somewhat. "You have a bruise on your shoulder, but other then that, no lasting damage." Said Frodo with a smile. "And thank you for looking after me Sam" he added with a yawn.
"Oh no problem Mr Frodo, I enjoyed looking after you. I mean, made me feel important so to speak."
Bilbo laughed at the two of them. "In that case, I have a great idea. How would you like to look after Frodo all the time Sam? I need someone to look after the scally wag after all, and you seem a good choice. Frodo certainly enjoys your company, and I know you'd do well keeping an eye on him for me."
Sam stared wide eyed for a moment. Him? Look after Mr Frodo? He looked from Bilbo, to Frodo, and back to Bilbo again.
"I quite reckon I'd love to Mr Bilbo! I couldn't think of anything I'd like more!"
Frodo and Bilbo laughed, and Frodo pulled Sam into a hug to make it official.
"Well that's settled then. And woe betide you if you let anything happen to him Sam!"
~*~
Several days after little Frodo's birthday, Sam received a letter. It wasn't unusual for him, being Mayor of Hobbinton, but this letter was different. This letter filled him with excitement. This letter was from Buckland. This letter announced the coming of some old friends.
~*~
Just a little announcement that I feel I have to make at this point. I have actually met the real Sam Gamgee. My very own Sam (LegyLuva) and me were at a convention last weekend, and we got a hug off Sean Astin, who is such a nice guy! We also were stood 2ft away from Elijah Wood, and we met Dominic Monaghan. So Merry (and of course Pippin) will be appearing in my next chapter. (As you may have guessed by the ending of this chapter)
May Elbereth bless my reviewers; Flames will be used in destroying the Ring
This chapter was sponsored by The Green Dragon Inn, which provides warmth, comfort and the best Shire Ale to your author when she has no where else to go.