thoughtful wanderings (Sam)

[frodobaggins]

There was something exciting about taking long walks outdoors, Frodo thought. For one, it was peaceful. And for another, he could cheerfully avoid the less enjoyable distant relatives who had come to frequent Bag End recently. Since Bilbo had sent out the invitations for his 111th Birthday party, all sorts of hobbits were showing up giving well wishes, offering help, and some....simply sticking their noses in where they didn't belong. It was extremely frustrating, that was for sure. Especially since some who came often, were the Sackville-Bagginses, and they were disliked by both Bilbo and Frodo. They were still seeking to own Bag End, although they were no longer the ones who would receive it after Bilbo, not now that Frodo was named the heir. Frodo knew this was something that angered them extremely, but he was incredibly honored that Bilbo believed that Frodo would take good care of it. Bag End was, after all, a very nice hole, one which any hobbit would be proud to live in. Of course, Frodo was very close to Biblo, and at the way things were going, he didn't expect to inherit Bag End for quite some time. Because oddly enough, Bilbo didn't seem to age. He knew it was talk around the Shire, and many called him unnatural, but Frodo was used to it. There were times when he did wonder, and found it a little strange, but he had grown accustomed to it.

The more preparations were made for the party, the more Frodo found himself out of the house and wandering around along the roads, sometimes climbing hills to sit in the grass and read, or maybe take a nap in the shade, under a nice tree. He knew he couldn't avoid the issues forever, but it was mostly Bilbo's responsibility to plan such things, and since he had done his best to help Bilbo already, he figured he needed some time to simply walk about and allow himself to relax. Being outside was definitely one of Frodo's many joys, because the Shire was truly a beautiful place to live in. It was so peaceful, and yet Frodo couldn't get along with most of its' inhabitants. He felt that a lot of them were rather dull, and because of that, and because many of the other hobbits thought him odd, he mainly kept to himself. The only others he felt comfortable around besides Bilbo where Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took. Those three were the ones he got along with quite well, although he was closest to Sam, because not only was Sam his gardener, but he was a dear friend. Plus, Sam took things more seriously than Merry and Pippin, which was why Frodo found it a little bit easier to talk to him.

The dark haired hobbit sighed and made his way up to a hill that was across from Bag End, viewing the proceedings while letting himself relax. He would simply rest there for a little while before he returned. Just a little while he assured himself, before laying back and closing his eyes, relaxing in the sunlight.

[samwise]

It was Sam’s day off. No gardening on that day, no digging in the earth, no planting, no watering, no cutting off withered leaves or trimming the lawn. It was on days like these that Sam came to ponder on what else there was in this world besides gardening. Plants owned such a large piece of his heart and most of his time that – once he had spare time – most of his thoughts circled around plants. Plants, and his family. And Rosie, of course. He never could forget about dearest Rosie Cotton. And of course, there also were the hobbits he considered as friends: Frodo, Pippin, and Merry.

But what Sam was pondering about today was something a little different than to take notes in his mind as to which plants to take care of the next day, or to think about upcoming birthdays and what kinds of gifts he ought to purchase, or which kind of pipe he’d like to smoke later on. No, today his thoughts circled about something that lay outside of the Shire: Exotic plants, magical flowers, radiant in colour and smell. What plants where there that did not grow in the Shire? In his mind, Sam painted the most peregrine kinds of blossoms in the most daring colours.

Of course, were Sam a little more courageous, he’d pack his bag and make a small trip to explore the meadows and forests and riversides outside of the Shire to explore new plants. But he was not very venturesome. Yes, he liked to dream about such adventures, and about different plants and different people – especially about Elves. But he would never dare to actually go further than dreaming.

So, that day Sam found himself taking a stroll, softly humming a tune while being deep in thoughts. He prodded his hiking stick into the ground according to the rhythm of his humming. Images of elflike creatures – how Sam imagined the Elves to look like, without ever having seen one – passed his mind, and of huge plants with enormous blooms, and mountains as high as towers, and eagles just like old Master Bilbo had described them to him.

Sam was half way up a hill, already on his way back to the Bagshot Row, where his parent’s hole lay. He was gasping lightly for breath, when he recognized a figure not at all far away. ”Master Frodo!” He breathed out, making his way toward the dark haired hobbit. He came to stand beside him, first letting himself catch his breath.

”Master Frodo!” Sam repeated. ”Are you enjoying the view?” He said, not noting that Frodo had his eyes closed. Pushing his right hand inside one of his pockets, he pulled out a sandwich and took a big bite from it. Yes, the life in the Shire probably was far more comfortable than outside in the wilderness. No need to go there at all, when one could dream of the adventures, but stay here, enjoying the comfort of a well planned day with at least four or five meals a day, and a chance for a sandwich at any time.

[frodobaggins]

As Frodo lay there, he was completely unaware of how much time was going by. He had a rough guess by the sounds coming from down the hill, and from the fact that he could still feel the sun on his face. Like most hobbits, Frodo loved nature. He loved the grass, and the trees, and the flowers. It was all a very serene atmosphere, and Frodo took it in with pleasure. After all, it was nice weather, and the Shire was always peaceful. And yet, as he laid there, perfectly comfortable, he had this desperate desire for adventure. It was one of the reasons he didn't fit in so well with most of the hobbits of the Shire. The other being he thought most of them were dull. In any case, the hobbits of the Shire thought of him as extremely unusual. Frodo didn't mind this at all, since they though Bilbo was unnatural as well, but Frodo found him to be the most interesting hobbit in the Shire. He loved the stories Bilbo had told about the trolls, and the dragon, and Gollum. They were all so interesting, and far more exciting than talking about the potatoes being grown, or the best type of leaf to smoke.

Frodo lay there and daydreamed, fantasizing about his own adventures. He hoped that one day he could go on an adventure with Bilbo, but he had his doubts about the possibility. After all, Bilbo didn't seem to want to travel lately, although he had stuck himself into his room for hours on end, which was odd even for him. Frodo didn't say anything, because he knew Bilbo would be back to normal eventually, but it did bother him somewhat. If only because it meant he really needed to get out of Bag End in order to relax. So many people called on their hole these days, it was getting to be an incredible hassle. Sure, this party in particular was going to be grand, and once it was all set up, no doubt it would be wonderful, but right now, it was just annoying. After all, so many people came to Bag End unannounced, many of them not even bothering to have party business as their reason for calling, and then the Sackville-Bagginses were frequent visitors.

Frodo started to doze off, but his mind didn't drift for long when a voice called him back out from the hazy beginnings of a dream. His eyes fluttered open, and he stared up at the hobbit with a bit of confusion, before he finally registered what was going on. There was Samwise Gamgee, standing in front of him. Of all the hobbits in the Shire, the person he was closest to other than Bilbo was Sam. As he heard Sam's question, the darker haired hobbit smiled and shook his head. "To be honest Sam, I think I fell asleep for a little there. But I can say that the view is nearly always nice in the Shire." Frodo replied cheerfully. It really was a very beautiful spot that he had selected to rest. Still, he felt it was a little odd that Sam had come over there. After all, Sam was usually found working on the garden at Bag End. "What brings you over here Sam?" Frodo asked curiously, figuring he might as well start a conversation. It was better than going back to the hole and dealing with uninvited hobbits. Or organizing the party details, because those gave him a headache.

[samwise]

Spring was Sam’s favourite season. After the long and dull whiteness of winter, all those colours, cheerful and bright, were a very welcome relief to the young hobbit. The birds that chirped, the water that unfroze and gurgled again, and of course – needless to mention for a gardener – all the green, blooming plants and the bees that hummed from bud to bud – it all was very delightful to any hobbit’s eyes and ears and noses, and to their feet as well. What a change to have soft warm grass beneath the hairy feet instead of cold slippery ice. And how fortunate not to have to take a footbath after each walk outside! Yes, spring was a very comfortable and cheerful season. It seemed as if the whole Shire awoke and shook off its icy white bed sheets and took a deep breath.

This also was one of the reasons Sam took his walk this day. To enjoy the sunshine, the sweet air and the warm wind in his hair. And what a lucky coincidence the young gardener happened to stumble upon his boss, Master Frodo, during his walk! Chewing on a bit of his sandwich, Sam sat down beside Frodo, cheerful and happy. Now that may seem a little forward to some, an employee merrily sitting down beside his employer. But it has to be mentioned that Sam’s and Frodo’s relationship was not only based on the work relation. No, it went far beyond that – even if Sam insisted on calling Frodo Mister or Master. They were friends, both of them cared much for old Mister Bilbo and shared the same interest for Bilbo’s wonderful stories of dragons and orcs and trolls and countries so far away Sam found it hard to imagine them. And there weren’t so many hobbits who were interested in such stories. After all, hobbits were a peace loving, adventures despising folk who enjoyed the simplicity of an every day life without many changes, interruptions or uncommon things happening. And being a little different from those other hobbits in just this one aspect brought Sam and the elder, dark haired hobbit together.

So, now that Sam was sitting beside Frodo, his feet crossed, with his left hand on his belly and his right holding the rest of his sandwich, he swallowed his piece of sandwich to answer Frodo. ”I feel like falling asleep, too!” He claimed, drumming his fingers on his belly. ”Why, with that warm sunshine there’s nothing better than to relax and stretch your legs.” And he did right that then.

And after a short pause, he answered Frodo’s question. ”Oh, the garden doesn’t need me today, no it doesn’t, Mister Frodo.” He explained happily. ”So I thought to myself ‘Why not making some use of those legs of yours, Samwise Gamgee, and going for a walk, exploring the new Spring time!’ And I did just that, Mister Frodo. Until I stumbled upon you, that is.” And with that, he took another bite of his sandwich, and spoke to Frodo (with his mouth being half filled) ”Are you hungry, too? I have one sandwich in my bag still, to share.”

[frodobaggins]

The fact that he was able to stay there without dealing with any interruptions was wonderful. Frodo liked to be up there where he could watch all the proceedings without being engulfed by them. It was far more reassuring to be here, rather than down there. And from here he could still watch what was going on and go down if his presence was needed to fix up some major mistake. He doubted that would be necessary though. The hobbits that were working to prepare the party were doing pretty well. And since they were all excited for the chance to eat even more than usual and to receive gifts from Bilbo, he didn't think they would need to be encouraged either. The only part that really bothered him so much that he would rather just hide inside Bag End until the whole thing was over was the uninvited guests. People like the Sackville-Bagginses, who felt they were entitled to be there even if they hadn't been sent an invitation and even though it was pretty clear that neither Bilbo nor Frodo liked them. In fact, they were frequently pounding on the door to Bag End, demanding that Bilbo or Frodo talk to them, and discuss the thought of selling Bag End to them. Even though Frodo knew that Bilbo would absolutely never sell the place to them. He knew that he was pretty pleased that he had found Frodo to become his heir, just so it really wouldn't become theirs in any time in the near future.

Seeing Sam brightened Frodo's day immensely. It wasn't just that Sam was his gardener. They were definitely friends, close friends in fact, and Frodo always felt like he could talk to Sam about everything. At least, he understood how Frodo felt about adventures, and the fascinating stories that Bilbo told, and everything pretty much. It was nice to have him around, because Frodo could talk about what was bothering him about the party goers and the overall event in general, and he knew that Sam would listen. Because above all other things, Samwise Gamgee was a great listener. He had many other great qualities, but it was the listening one that Frodo was extremely grateful for. Because a lot of the time, most hobbits didn't really heed what Frodo said. Sure, they listened, but they didn't find what he said to be incredibly interesting. But Sam listened, which was something very important to Frodo.

He watched his friend curiously, before smiling as Sam sat down beside him. It would definitely be nice to sit there and simply talk away the afternoon. Frodo preferred that over the party stuff any day. In truth, he was already sick of the planning and preparing that he wasn't even sure if he was excited anymore. Sure, he was coming of age, which was a big deal in the Shire, but he didn't really think it meant much. He had spent so much time running around in the outdoors, and he had never considered what he might do once he came of age. He didn't really dream of marriage, he didn't know of any profession that might suit him. All he ever dreamed of was adventuring like Bilbo. Which made it difficult for him to be understood by other hobbits. Because most of them thought the outside world as strange, and scary. They didn't venture out far from their homes at all. The furthest they might go was Bree, and that was even rather unlikely. Frodo smiled at his friend's words. Sam Gamgee was always a very cheerful hobbit, and he brought Frodo out of the rather unhappy thoughts that he had been dwelling at. At least, the negative ones about the party. ”I couldn't agree more.”

It was nice to be able to talk to Sam. Seeing as he had felt very stressed and anxious lately, talking to Sam would be a great break from that. Even if it wouldn't be a super long chat. After all, Frodo would eventually have to return to Bag End to check to see what supplies they already had, and what they still needed to get before the party. Hearing Sam talk, it was a relief to hear such positive words. Well, Sam was naturally more positive and cheerful about things than Frodo was, but it was refreshing. Because of the crazy manner of the party preparations, most hobbits' nerves were rather hard to deal with. Especially Bilbo, because he had been rather odd lately. Hiding himself in his room, looking over a bunch of old maps. It was really suspicious, however Frodo had seen him look over them before, so he didn't think too much of it. Still, he was acting unusual even for Bilbo. "Well I'm glad you decided that Samwise Gamgee. Because otherwise I might have slept longer than I should have. Tell me Sam, what have you been up to?" Frodo spoke warmly, feeling his own mood lifted from Sam's own enthusiastic manner.

As Frodo thought about Sam's question, he suddenly realized he hadn't eaten in hours, and his stomach growled at the thought. Unlike most hobbits, he didn't take nearly as many meals, but even for him it was a long time. And the thought of a sandwich definitely was a pleasant one. And hopefully it would bring him enough energy to be able to handle a few more of the party procedures in a little while. "If you're sure you don't want it I'd be glad to take it. Truth be told I don't remember how long ago it was that I ate." Frodo replied with a sheepish grin. He really didn't pay much attention to the time. Ever since he was a young hobbit he spent more time daydreaming and roaming about than noticing meal times and times when to do work or whatever it was Bilbo asked of him. In any case, to most, he was a very unusual hobbit.

[samwise]

Sam leaned back, his sandwich resting on his belly, and he stared down into the valley. The hobbits were busily at work there, preparing Mister Bilbo’s birthday party, which was not very far away in time anymore. At least the invitations had already been sent, all across the Shire – and Sam Gamgee was tremendously proud of having been invited. Of course, Sam reminded himself, it was not only Bilbo’s, but also Mister Frodo’s birthday party – more precisely, his coming of age party. Sam smiled. He himself, being twelve years younger than Frodo, could not yet imagine how it was like to come of age. Being considered an adult from one day to the next. Being under full responsibility. Sam himself was in his tweens currently, twenty-two years old since the past April 6th.

Of course, Sam in his young age already carried at least one large responsibility – after all, he had followed his father in being the head gardener of the Bag End garden, a few years prior. The reason why Sam followed in his father’s footsteps and took over all his father’s responsibilities so early in his life already was that Sam was one of the youngest children of the Gamgees. In fact, he was the second youngest of six children. His father Hamfast already was an elderly hobbit and had not wanted to continue working so hard. And with his son Sam being so ambitious about being a gardener, old Gaffer had taught Sam everything he knew about plants and watering and ploughing, until Sam was ready to take over his place.

The Gamgees have been taught from early age onward to choose an occupation they full heartedly liked. And thus, Sam’s eldest brother, Hamson Gamgee, moved to Tighfield and became a roper at their cousin Andwise’s. Halfred, another brother, moved to the Northfarthing. And Sam – Sam stayed at his parents’ home and followed in his father’s footsteps, handing his heart to flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses and trees.

Back to the upcoming party. Sam himself was not needed for the preparations – ’Luckily’, as he thought. To Sam, it was far too much bustle about such a feast. Such hectic, so much to think of, and far too many people involved. Sam just would have been confused in this hullaballoo. He wouldn’t have been able to do anything with it. Plus, of course, gardeners weren’t exactly the most needed working party for any party preparations.

”Then I’m glad.” Sam replied to Frodo telling that he had not interrupted, but rather had been a welcome alarm clock, rousing Frodo from his sleep. Further, the gardener answered ”Ah, I think after my walk I shall keep my mother company. Help her in the household, perhaps. And later on, I plan on visiting the Green Dragon for a nice, cool mug of ale.” Bell, Sam’s mother, had been a little lonely these past days. Over the past weekend, Sam’s brother Hamson had come for a visit, and had left again three days ago. And Sam, being the sensitive fellow he was, felt that she missed her eldest son. So therefore, he had decided he would help her out a little more than usually, and spend time with her. Although he knew not what it felt like, he yet tried to imagine what it must feel like letting a child leave from the warm comfortable home out to the world – in this case, Tighfield.

”Oh, but of course, Master Frodo!” Samwise exclaimed, and already he was handing the last sandwich out to his friend. ”You ought to eat regularly. You look just like skin and bones!” the young hobbit observed, with a touch of a protective, sitting-hen like tone. ”Me mom always says ’It’s the most important of things, stopping regularly whatever it is you’re doing to devote your entire attention to eating.’*” And Sam nodded to emphasize the importance of these words even more.



* modified quote of Luciano Pavarotti