Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the rings. It is owned by Tolkien and New Line Cinema.

Warm Hearts

It was the night before Yule, and it was freezing outside Bag end. The wind was howling and whistling while it was blowing furiously. The snow was falling down at a dizzying speed, blanketing the similes, tree tops, and the ground making them look white. A few cardinals were standing on the trees, two squirrels were scampering about climbing up and down the trees, and a stray cat was walking through the area looking for prey.

Inside the parlor of Bag End, Frodo was sitting on the soft rug in front of the hearth telling a story to the Gamgee children, Elanor, Frodo-lad, and Rose, about his younger days with Sam. The fire from the hearth was making the room warm and cozy and the children were listening to him intensively barely noticing the strong wind that was howling and whistling from outside.

"Your father, Uncle Halfred and I were having a big snow ball fight when we were younger. We made snow fortresses and hid behind them. We attack each other with snow balls. We were having so much fun that a few other hobbit lads saw us playing and wanted to join in so we let them. There was six of us. Your halfred suggested that we have teams."

"Was Sam daddy and Uncle Halfred on your team Uncle Frodo?" Elanor asked

"Yes they were, and we were winning, then Your uncle Halfred and one of the hobbit lads decided that it was every hobbit for himself. I have been hit by so many snow balls that Uncle Bilbo almost thought that a snow man came into his house. I had so much fun that day."

"Was there a lot of snow Uncle Frodo?" Frodo-Lad asked.

"There was so much snow that day, that it went almost up to my waste. There has not been a snow storm that deep since the fell winter or afterwards."

"How do you know Elanor asked?"

"Uncle Bilbo told me."

Sam and Rosie were standing by the door outside the room listening to the story.

"The children love Frodo. He's a good story teller," Rosie said.

"He inherited that from his uncle Bilbo."

Sam slipped an arm around his wife.

"I'm glad we adopted him into our family Rosie. He is good to all of us."

"You two love each other like brothers."

"That's true. He was good to me while I was growing up. He treated me more like a friend than a servant."

"You were good to him too; traveling with him to Mordor and risking your life to protect him."

You know something Rosie love. I'm also glad I married you. You are so pretty, and you have such a kind heart."

"I'm glad to be married to you too Sam, you are so caring and brave, and wonderful to all of us."

Sam threw his arms around his wife and they kissed each other.

Inside the parlor Frodo continued on with the story.

"We decided to go sledding. We…"

Elanor got up.

"Where are you going Elanor? I'm not finished with the story."

"I want to look at the snow. Can I uncle Frodo?"

Frodo nodded his head.

"Can I too?" Frodo-lad asked.

"Yes you can Frodo-lad."

Rose climbed on Frodo's lap.

"I want to stay with you Unca Fodo."

Elanor and Frodo lad were looking at the snow through the window. The snow was falling so fast that it was blinding. The children were excited. They knew that it meant that they get to play in it tomorrow. Yule time was definitely going to be a fun time for them.

"I hope we get as much today as Sam-daddy and Uncle Frodo got that day; it would be so much fun," said Elanor.

"I hope so too," said Frodo. I can't wait till I play in the snow tomorrow, and I can't wait till the Yule Spirit brings me toys."

"I can't wait either."

A few minutes later they saw a small shape walking slowly in the snow. It was a little girl who was about six years of age. She was holding tightly to her old rag doll while the snow was falling on her long curly light brown hair, and clothes. She was walking for hours, and was tiring out from trudging through the snow and pushing against the strong wind. She sat her aching legs down, no longer able to move forward. She was holding her thin coat closely to her chest and she wrapped her arms around herself trying to get warm, but it was so cold outside that it went through her making her feel chilled to the bone. She wished she was wearing a thicker coat and that she was inside a warm simile.

By this time Sam entered the parlor.

Elanor ran to them.

"Daddy, Uncle Frodo! There is a child outside!"

"Are there any grownups with her?" Sam asked.

"No, she's all by herself," Frodo lad answered.

Frodo started to head outside the room.

"I'll go get her."

"No you don't Mr. Frodo. You just got over a bad cold. I'll go get her."

Sam walked into the hallway put on his heavy coat and headed outside in the blinding snow and freezing cold. He pushed against the strong wind that was blowing hard against him while he headed to where the little girl was. He found the little girl, lifted her in his arms, and carried her inside.

Rosie took the little girl from Sam's arms.

"This child is freezing. We must warm her up," Rosie said. "Frodo you heat up the fire place in one of the guest rooms. I'll put her to bed and Sam you make chicken soup for her."

The three adult hobbits went to work.

The Gamgee children watched Rosie carry the little girl into one of the guest bedrooms and wrapped several blankets on her. The child was hugging her rag doll. Frodo put several small logs on the fireplace and lit them. Then he left the room.

Rosie sat on the bed and began to talk to the little girl.

"Why were you outside all by yourself?" Rosie asked the child. "Where are your parents?"

"My parents died a few weeks ago," she answered.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Who's taking care of you now?"

"Nobody. My relatives don't want me. They threw me out."

"Why did they do that?"

"Because they didn't like my mother, and they said that I was nothing but a useless burden to them."

Rosie's insides were filled with anger. She couldn't understand how anyone could be cruel to a child who has just lost her mother.

The tiny hobbit child started to sob, and Rosie wrapped her arms around her to sooth her.

"Shush, it's ok now."

"It was awful walking through the snow," she said between her sobs. I thought that I was going to die."

"You are safe now, sweetheart."

She continued to rock the child in her arms until she calmed down. Rose whipped the tears from her eyes.

"What's your name?" Rosie asked the little girl.

"Tulip."

"My name is Rosie."

"You must be hungry Tulip."

"I am very hungry, I ate nothing today."

"Don't worry; my husband is making chicken soup. It will fill you up and warm you on the inside."

A few minutes later Sam handed the bowl of soup to Rosie.

"Here you go Rosie love," said Frodo.

He kissed Rosie on the cheek and smiled at Tulip before he left the room.

Rosie carefully fed the soup to Tulip who eagerly ate the whole thing. When she was finished, Rosie put the empty bowl down and laid Tulip on the soft pillows. Tulip, full from the soup and warm from the fire in the room and the blankets on top of her, fell asleep. Rosie kissed her lightly on the forehead and left the room closing the door quietly behind her.

Later on that night Rosie, Sam, and Frodo were inside the parlor talking. Rosie related to them what Tulip said. When it came to the part where Tulip was abandoned by her relatives, Sam became angry.

"How can anyone abandoned a child like that especially on a night like this?" Sam shouted.

To Be continued.