Promises to Keep
Summery: In the woods of Lothlorien, Frodo seeks the comfort
of Sam after the fall of Gandalf.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: LotR also does not belong to me.
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep."
-Robert Frost, 'It is called Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening'
Gandalf the Grey had fallen into darkness
and yet one of his closest friends could find no way to mourn. For Frodo
Baggins mourning the lost wizard was admitting that he would never return.
Since meeting Gandalf Frodo had seen him perform miraculous feats and come
out without a scratch. This time it had seemed so final to Frodo; Gandalf
was gone. Now he would never return from the darkened depths of Moria.
His heart ached inside his chest at such a thought. He clutched at his
chest for relief, but only found the vial Ring that had started the whole
horrid quest.
A rustle among the leaves made him look to his
left and see a small figure gazing at him. He looked to his right to see
that his dear Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took were still fast in sleep,
but even dearer Sam Gamgee was not laying beside him. He looked cautiously
back to the silent figure and squinted in the moonlight to see better.
A light came from the dark suddenly as the figure released a covered lantern.
It was indeed Sam that had been the mysterious figure.
Frodo stood and walked to Sam, who had his back
to the group. He stood looking over the edge of the great tree. He looked
up to the tree across the way where the other members of the Company slept.
It was there first night sleeping in the woods and Sam seemed more than
ever to be fascinated by the Elves; he had never heard of any living in
trees before. He looked to Frodo and seemed startled, not expecting to
see anyone at all there.
"Nearly made me jump out of me breeches, Mr. Frodo,
I kid you not," said Sam with a startled laugh. Frodo gave him a half-hearted
smile and looked down to the ground, unable to see it even with the light
from Sam's lantern.
"Sorry," said Frodo quietly. He looked to the
where the other members of the Company slept. There was no sound from there,
no figures moving in the dark. Frodo had worried earlier in the evening
for his comrades. After the incident in Moria he did not want to let a
single one of them out of his sight, even in such a place as Lothlorien.
"Thinking of Gandalf?" asked Sam. His voice was
meek and hesitant. He would not look to Frodo as he said this for fear
of backlash. Frodo would not look at Sam either, for fear of being seen
in a state of near tears.
"Yes, a little. I miss him," answered Frodo. Slumping
down to the floor, Frodo let out a mournful sigh. Sam stood a moment staring
at his pudgy hands wondering what he should do. Eventually he sat down
beside Frodo and slouched forward away from the edge.
"Me, too," said Sam. All was quiet as night swarmed
around them as though trying to repair their sadness. Frodo leaned and
placed his head into his hands; silent cries overtook him. He felt a hand
rub his and down his spine in a sort of pale comfort. The hand was warm
enough so that Frodo could feel it through his shirt. The sudden heat sent
goosebumbs all over him.
"Are you cold, Mr. Frodo? Here have m' blanket,"
said Sam. He crawled to where he had been sleeping earlier and took the
green blanket he had slept under. Carefully, he brought it around the shoulders
of Frodo and he was warmed almost instantly. Frodo smiled graciously to
Sam as he slipped further into the blanket.
The night swirled around them quietly and with
not much action. Sam sat beside Frodo with his eyes shut for the better
part of an hour. Frodo for a moment believed Sam was asleep sitting up.
He reached over and shook carefully the shoulder of Sam. His eyelids fluttered
to reveal the blue eyes Frodo had so many times seen.
"I think you may have fallen asleep on me, Sam,"
said Frodo. Sam wobbled slightly where he sat. A blush escaped o his cheeks
as he stared to the floor.
"Terribly sorry, Mr. Frodo, but I'm wide awake
now. I give my word. If my name isn't Samwise Gamgee I'll stay up all night
with ya," Sam replied without a hint of drowsiness in his voice. Frodo
gave a light smile and sat propped up against the tree for support, staring
out into the darkened night. Sam was beside him, sitting in silence. There
was no moonlight that penetrated the dense tree tops over their heads,
they could not even see one another. Frodo, however, could feel the warmth
of Sam from beside him. Out of the darkness the pudgy hand of Sam came
to wrap around Frodo's hand.
In the cool breeze the warm hand sent chills up
the spine of Frodo. He let out a sigh and placed his head comfortably on
Sam's shoulder. The wind blew around them lightly, causing them no disturbance.
Time that neither paid much mind to went by quickly. It slowly became clear
to Sam that Frodo had fallen asleep.
"Good," thought Sam, "sleep, Mr. Frodo. Don't
you worry about nothing. Sam Gamgee won't let anything stand in our way
of detroyin' that ring, I promise." Frodo slept on oblivious to the arm
Sam snaked around him partial way through the night. Sam's eyes began to
flutter shut, though he fought sleep gallantly for some time. Soon, he
lost the battle and slept through the night, promises running in and out
of his mind and knowing that he would keep every one of them.
The End
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