Last chapter! I hope everyone enjoyed my trip through Hobbiton. Not that I own Hobbiton, or Sam and Rosie, or anything else by Tolkein. Enjoy!
-The Author
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"I can see the Shire. The Brandywine River… Gandalf's fireworks… the lights… the party tree…"
"…Rosie Cotton dancing. She had ribbons in her hair. If ever I was to marry someone, it would have been her. It would have been her."
"I'm glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee, here at the end of all things."
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Today was a day of Special Magnificence. Rosie tied her hair in ribbons to celebrate.
"Don't you look lovely," her mother said at second breakfast.
Rosie explained that today was a day of Special Magnificence.
"Maybe," said Jolly at the table, "Ted Sandyman'll propose today."
Nick and Nibs grinned. Rosie made a face at them.
Her mother set her to stirring the bread dough. "You ought to think about it," she told her. "You're no longer in your tweens, you know, and you haven't looked at a boy since Sam Gamgee left with Master Baggins for Crickhollow. You can't live like this in this house forever, you know. As much as your father and I love you." This comment went unvouched for by Farmer Cotton, in the garden with his prize pumpkin; today was November Second, the day of the annual Vegetable Weighing Contest.
Said Nibs, "We love the way you pour us drinks.
Nick jumped up and led the brothers in singing:
We love you Rosie
Oh yes we do!
We love you Rosie
Oh yes it's true!
When you're not with us
We're blue!
Oh Rosie we love you!
Rosie and her mother applauded and Rosie stuck her tongue out at them.
"Anyway," said Rosie, "Today, everything is going to change."
The Green Dragon was being led in song again, but not by Meriadoc Brandybuck and Pippin Took. It felt off without them standing on the table, tapping their feet and generally directing the song.
Oh, you can search far and wide
You can search the whole town dry
But you'll never find a beer so brown
As the one we drink in our hometown
You can drink your fancy ales
You can drink 'em by the flagon
But the only brew for the brave and true
Comes from the Green Dragon
Ted Sandyman jumped around, waving his arms to lead, and patting hobbit's backs. He lifted Camellia Boffin up from her seat by the waist and danced her around. Her beau, Mungo Gamwich, jumped up and chased after them. Camellia laughed and twirled when Ted lifted her arm up. When she turned back around, there was Mungo, glaring at them both. Camellia fell into his arms in a fit of giggles, and Ted leapt away. Mungo brought her back to his table, and everyone applauded.
Rosie sighed. It was all too ordinary. Something of Special Magnificence was going to happen today. Where was it?
"Rosie," said Ted, "Rosie, my pretty lass, another ale, if you don't mind."
Rosie was starting to mind Ted and his ales. At the very least, he could ask for one without puckering his lips at her. She gave him his ale without another word, and off he went, without a thank you. She glanced at Sam's old table, where his Gaffer, the Miller, and Old Noakes were gossiping away, as always. Ted's seat was empty, as its owner was currently talking to a train of other young hobbits playing a board game by the fire, but Sam's seat was occupied, by Blanco Goodbody. The other three older hobbits were fascinated by what he had to say.
The Gaffer called Autumn Toadfoot over to his table. Autumn ordered, and hurried off to Rosie.
"Rose," she said, "Do we have anything special?"
"You would know better than I would," Rosie replied. She picked up a dirty cup and started wiping it. Autumn went behind the counter and began searching the stores. Rosie suddenly remembered her Magnificent feeling, and she turned and set the cup down. "Why? What's going on?"
Autumn looked up, a skin of wine in her hands. "I don't know," she said. "All I know is it's something special enough for the Gaffer to want something specially magnificent."
The Gaffer was a steady sort of hobbit, who never really wanted anything magnificent, really; those sort of inclinations were generally left to Brandybucks or Baggins. Rosie wondered if Sam was home, from Crickhollow or wherever he was. She shook her head; she ought to get beyond that, like her mother said. She picked up her cup and starting wiping it again.
Her father brought in his prize-winning pumpkin. Everyone cheered and stood in a parade to watch him bring his pumpkin to his table. Rosie smiled, and turned and set the now-clean cup out to dry on the rack. She turned around, and saw Frodo Baggins, smiling at her, from the other side of the counter.
Her mind leapt from one thought to the next – she had always like Master Baggins – if he was back, didn't that mean Sam was back, too? – she really ought to get her mind off of Samwise Gamgee.
"Rosie," he said, "I'd like four ales, please."
Rosie gave him his four ales. He picked them up, and thanked her, like he always had. She followed his dark brown head across the room, by the column in the middle of the room. He set his four ales out, to each of his companions. He sat down. There, sitting across from him, was Samwise Gamgee.
Her hands shook. She turned to her cups. She wiped her hands on her apron. She looked up to see if anyone noticed. They were all looking at her father, as he polished his perfect pumpkin. Her father laughed loudly.
"Rosie?"
She turned, saw Mungo Gamwich.
"Rosie, can I have another two cups of brew?"
She nodded, turned, and grabbed two cups. They didn't match. She didn't care. She set them right side up, and looked up, and saw Samwise, looking at her. There was a strange look on his face.
She grinned at him, like she hadn't done in so long.
He didn't look away.
Her smile grew wider.
"Rosie?" said Mungo.
She looked away, to pick up Mungo's cups and fill them with ale. She poured them, just right, and thought how, so long ago, on Sam's coming-of-age of all days, she had thought it difficult to pour some ale out of a barrel. She turned, and gave Mungo his cups. He nodded and went back to Camellia.
"Rosie?"
Sam was standing behind to the counter, where only employees could stand.
"Yes, Sam?"
She hoped he didn't ask for ale; looking at him, she doubted he would.
"Um," he said.
Her smile was so broad her cheeks hurt.
"Yes, Sam?" she said.
He reached over and took her hand. His thumb ran along her hand; the skin was harder than she last remembered.
"I don't know how to do this," he said.
Rosie shrugged, and still smiled at him. "Guess," she said.
"Alright," he said.
He leaned over and kissed her. He was soft and gentle with it; Rosie lifted up her free hand and pulled him closer to her. He let go of her hand and wrapped his both arms around her. When they finally let go of each other, Rosie was quite surprised to discover that the whole inn was applauding. Meriadoc Brandybuck and Pippin Took jumped up on their table, mugs in hand, and started a round of song:
Oh, you can search far and wide
You can search the whole town dry
But you'll never find a beer so brown
As the one we drink in our hometown
It was all magnificent.
"Rosie Cotton," said Sam, his eyes dancing, "Will you marry me?"
"Sure," said Rosie.
(5/5)