The Faculty - written for FFFC and Creative Challenges

[prisca]

Title: Daydreaming
Characters: Casey Connor
Prompts: nature (FFFC), watching the clouds (Creative Challenges)
Word Count: 210
Finished: 07.08.2020

:::

Even if the man never said a word, Casey knew that he was a disappointment for his father. At school, his dad had been the captain of the football team; later, he coached the junior team of Herrington. He visited almost every game of the Cincinnati Bengals. And, of course, he had expected that his only son would share his love for sports.

Casey, though, was different. A good student, yes, but he failed miserably at gym. Instead of this, he was the photographer for the school's magazine, and he visited the chess club every Friday afternoon.

His free time he loved to spend outside in nature. Taking photos, feeding the ducks, reading. Or just lying on the meadow, watching the clouds.

This was the best; to forget the world around him and to imagine to fly with them to faraway places, where he was not a geek anymore but a hero. Where people wouldn't laugh about him but admired him. Where he could be just like he was, and his parents would be proud of him.

Even if reality told something different, as long as he could watch the clouds wandering over the sky, he would never give up hope that one day all his dreams could come true.

Lord of the Rings - written for FFFC and Lands of Magic

[prisca]

Title: The promise
Characters: Samwise Gamgee, Frodo Baggins
Prompts: promise (FFFC), Royal Rumble - Sam (Lands of Magic)
Word Count: 410
Finished: 09.08.2020

:::

Already when Sam was still a toddler, he had started to follow Frodo all day long. When the older hobbit was sitting at the lake, fishing, Sam turned up at his side with a fishing rod as long, that he could barely handle it. When Frodo was lying on the meadow, under his favorite tree, reading, Sam was sitting beside him in silence, until Frodo gave up and started to tell him a fairy tale. And when Frodo planned to visit the farmers market, it didn't last long until Sam stepped into his way, grabbing for his hand. But Frodo never complained; to be honest, he enjoyed having Sam around. And it would stay like this for years until one day everything changed.

:::

„Sam!“ Slowly Frodo put his backpack back onto the ground, looking distressed. „It's impossible. This time you can't come with me. I don't know where my way will lead me to, but I guess it won't be a pleasant one.“

Tears sparkled in Sam's eyes. „But Master Gandalf told me not to leave me alone. He will turn me into a rabbit if I do.“

This made Frodo smile a bit. „I will ask him not to do so,“ he said, „because it's not your fault. My fate is not yours, Sam. You need to stay here, in the Shire, live long and happy, together with Rosie.“

Sam's eyes darkened. „I can't be happy when I know you are on a dangerous way without any help.

I have made a promise once, Master Frodo, when we met first. That I will never leave you alone again, for the rest of my life.“

„You were still a child, Sam. And things have changed since then. I'm sorry, this is something I have to do alone.“

Wildly resolved, Sam stepped into his way, when Frodo bend down, to shoulder his backpack again. „You can't force me to stay here. I will follow you wherever you will go. I will be there whenever you need me. And I will take care of it that you come home again. After whatever you have to do is done.“

His usually so calm eyes sparkled, and still reluctantly, Frodo finally nodded. Inwardly suddenly feeling so much better. It might be the wrong decision, a selfish one, but he knew, with Sam at his side, the world was such a better place, and everything would be much easier to endure.