In Dreams - Sam
Gandalf shook his head, waiting for the echoes of Boromir's scream to die away over the mountain slopes. At least none of the group has woken - Sam's grinning as though he's at home. At least some can have pleasant dreams out here in the Wild.
Sam felt his cheeks flame as Frodo looked at him. It really is a good party, isn't it, Master?'
Frodo smiled gently. 'Yes, Sam, it is. Bilbo planned it all very well indeed, what with the food and the dancing and everything. Not to mention Gandalf's fireworks. Have you asked Rosie to dance yet by the way?'
Sam blushed even harder, looking across at the pretty hobbit lass who was standing by a group of hobbit children. Bilbo was telling them a story about the great warhorses in a far away land, where every man was a warrior and women carried their flags into battle, with armour blazing in glorious sun and tack embellished with mithril. 'No, Master, not yet. She's been busy.'
'Not too busy to dance with you, Sam, I'd wager. Go and ask her.' Frodo gave his friend a gentle shove in her direction then chuckled wickedly behind his hands.
''Hello, Rosie. Uh…Do you - do you want to dance with me?' The last words were a confused jumble as he stumbled over them.
'Sorry, Sam?'
'Uh…Rosie, would you like to dance with me?'
She looked over at him, blue eyes meeting with his brown ones. Opposite them, Bilbo paused in his story telling to watch and only returned to his task when a small boy pulled at his waistcoat.
'If you want to, Sam.' She slipped her hand into his, led him over to the roughly marked area and settled into the dance with graceful ease. Sam knew the dance; he tried desperately to keep his steps in time with the music and not embarrass himself. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Merry and Pippin laughing despite Gandalf's icy blue glare.
The music enveloped Sam until he and Rosie might well have been the only people dancing. And when that song ended, it was Rosie's turn to look at him, ask him to dance. Their steps were surer this time each more sure of the other.
Much later, as the last chords of the last tune were spirited away into the hills, he reached up and kissed her softly on the lips.
Sam stopped dreaming then, but unlike the others, he did not wake.