Chapter Four: This Rose Now Gone
I wonder what Rosie did today. Sam sighs and gazes up at the night sky that is filled with stars, pausing in his journey home. He has spent an evening at Bag End with the other Travelers, as theyve come to be called: Frodo, Merry, and Pippin.
They had enjoyed a great supper of mushroom soup and mashed potatoes with bread. Then they had moved to sit on the back porch, overlooking the restored party field. They had enjoyed some Old Toby and watched the sun sink behind the earth.
The conversation had first been of events of the day. Sam shared about his experience at the market and how he had been rescued by a girl. His friends chuckled.
"May this serve as a warning," Pippin said solemnly, "that no matter where we go, we shall always be tried to be married off."
All the hobbits laughed, but Sam sobered first. The smile slowly left his face, and his gaze became glazed as his eyes landed on some of the roses in Frodos garden. Rose. The flowers made him think of Rosie and her brothers -- for the hundredth time.
When Sam and the others returned to the Shire, his relief and joy was short lived when he discovered how the Shire had changed. Then he took part in the Scouring of the Shire, when all the bad men had been driven out, the Chief disposed of, and Wormtongue and Saruman were no more. So much had happened.
Finally, Sam could really check up on all the friends he had not seen since his hasty departure with Frodo -- and later joined by Frodo's cousins, Merry and Pippin -- from the Shire. He was happy to see them and saddened as he heard stories of what they had been through during the last couple of months.
One night the four Travelers were with the Gaffer, and Frodo remarked that he had not seen any of the Cotton family and asked about them. Thus the Gaffer told them a story that pierced Sam through the heart.
The Cotton family had lost Mrs. Cotton in the winter, and then lost Farmer Cotton soon after. All the Cotton children had taken the lost of their parents very hard -- particularly Tom and Rosie, who were suddenly in complete charge of the family. They were orphans, and their beloved Shire was also crumpling before their eyes. They had drawn closer together to survive. But then they were torn away from each other. Tom and Jolly went to Crickhollow to live with family friends. Nick and Nibs had been sent off to Needlehole also to live with friends of their parents. And Rosie, all by herself, went to Deephallow to live with her fathers brothers family.
Here the Gaffer had paused in his storytelling, and wiped away a tear in the corner of his eye. The other hobbits had only stared at him, wide-eyed, disbelief and sadness clearly written on their faces. Why the siblings could not stay together, the Gaffer said with a shake of his head, he did not know.
Occasional letters came from the Cotton children in Needlehole and Crickhollow, telling of how their lives were, and asking if there had been any news regarding their sister. They never received letters from her, they said. The Gaffer and others had tried sending letters to Deephollow. If Rosie got them, they never knew. She never sent any letters in return. Then a few months ago, those who still sent letters to Deephallow got them back, saying "undeliverable." If Rosie and her relatives were still in Deephallow or had moved elsewhere no one knew.
This story had caused Sam to fall into a greater sadness than he had felt over the Shire. He had hoped to see Rosie soon after his return but had not given much thought to it, for there had been other matters that needed tending to.
Sam could hardly believe it. He had longed to see Rosie so much. No one knew, except for maybe Frodo, that she had been a source of strength and hope to Sam. Many days when he had started to despair of being able to keep going, Rosie's face would come to his mind. And he knew that if he and Frodo failed in their quest...he would not be able to face her. And when he dreamed of her at night...those were when he got his most peaceful sleeps. Yes, she -- and his devotion to Frodo -- was what had kept him placing one foot forward. When it was all over and he was healed in body and soul, his heart longed to see her in the flesh after carrying a dream of her with him for so long. And how he wanted to speak! But then he discovered that his precious rose had been pulled up from the ground and was gone.
Sam's heart felt like breaking.
Sam started and discovered his friends looking at him with sympathy and sadness. They had noticed his sad mood and what had held his attention. How long had he drifted out of the conversation he was uncertain of.
Pippin spoke first. "Don't stop, Sam. Don't stop dreaming of seeing Rosie again."
Sam sighs and turns Pippin's words over in his head. Is it too much to dream? He has no idea where Rosie is, and yet he believes he could actually see her again?
His eyes suddenly shine with a secret fire.
"Don't think I've forgotten about you, Rose," he whispers softly to the wind.
Finally we have the entrance of Samwise the Brave. I felt like crying while I wrote this. *sniff* Poor lad. Anyway, please review and tell me your thoughts.
