Lord of the Rings - written for Creative Challenges and FFFC

[prisca]

Title: The smell of pastry
Character: Samwise Gamgee, Rosie
Challenge: bakery (Clouds and Shadows) // anniversary LotR (FFFC)
Word Count: 251
Finished: 28.02.2021

:::

Sam stepped through the door, sniffling. Mhhh, fresh bakery. Instantly his stomach started to rumble. Rosie made the most delicious apple crumble of the Shire, and her fresh bread was well known even in Buckland and Tuckborough.

„I am home again,“ he said, and Rosie turned around, a wide smile on her face. „That's great; we have missed you.“

„It was only a day,“ he reminded her. „As the mayor of the Shire, I have to take on a lot of responsibility.“

„I know.“ She bent forward to place a kiss on his cheek. No, she would not tell him that even after all the years, she could not stop worrying about him; every time he left Hobbington, she wondered if maybe this time it would last months before he would be back home to her again. Like it had happened back then, when he had left her without a word, to follow Frodo on his faithful journey.

She had waited an eternity, and when he finally came back, he had changed. Oh, he was still a good husband, and he loved his children, and when he was in his garden, he could forget time and place. But deep inside, there was a sadness no one could heal, not even her love.

She shook off her thoughts; he was here; this was all that count for the moment. „I guess you are hungry? I've made some fresh strawberry tarts with cream. You should better hurry up before the children come back.“

Lord of the Rings - written for Creative Challenges and FFFC

[prisca]

Title: The journey without return
Character: Samwise Gamgee
Challenge: sea breeze (Clouds and Shadows) // anniversary LotR (FFFC)
Word Count: 218
Finished: 01.03.2021

:::

Sam closed his eyes again, trying to slip back into sleep. Impossible. He could hear seagulls through the open window, took in the salty sea breeze, felt the dumpy air on his face. A strange but interesting sensation. Maybe he would have been able to enjoy this adventure, at a different time, under other circumstances.

For the moment, he felt too numb to feel anything but deep sadness. Frodo had left Middle-earth behind, together with Bilbo, Gandalf, and the elves. He would sail into the West to heal. And he, Sam, would never see him again.

He felt some guilt rushing through his body. It was pretty selfish, wasn't it, to wish that the goodbye had been only a dream. The Shire was not good for Frodo anymore; he had tried to pretend that he was okay, but Sam knew better. He had seen the hidden pain in his eyes, had felt the lostness inside him, even when he laughed and joked with his friends.

He would finally find peace in the Undying Lands of the elves, Sam was sure of that, and when someone deserved peace, it was Frodo. It had been time for him to go.

„But I will always love you, Master Frodo,“ he whispered, feeling tears burning in his eyes, „cross my heart, I will.“

Lord of the Rings - written for Creative Challenges and FFFC

[prisca]

Title: Memories
Character: Samwise Gamgee
Challenge: wet grass/earth (Clouds and Shadows) // anniversary LotR (FFFC)
Word Count: 165
Finished: 01.03.2021

:::

Sam loved to get up in the early morning hours when everyone around him was still sleeping. First, he would have his coffee with lots of milk; then, he went outside into the garden to check out the trees, flowers, and vegetable plants.

The grass under his feet still wet. A smell of the moist soil in the air. The first sunbeams started to warm up the world. It would be a great day again.

Then Sam would close his eyes for a short moment, allow himself to think back to all the horrible which had happened some years ago. The price had been high, especially for his beloved Mister Frodo, but all the beauty around would not exist anymore without him. Sam needed to remember this, not let the sadness win, as much as he missed Frodo.

„I know, there was no other way for you,“ he murmured, „but I wish you would still be here to enjoy this new day together with me.“

Lord of the Rings - written for Creative Challenges and FFFC

[prisca]

Title: The smell of books
Character: Samwise Gamgee, mention of Frodo Baggins
Challenge: book (Clouds and Shadows) // anniversary LotR (FFFC) // book (FFFC Bingo)
Word Count: 149
Finished: 01.03.2021

:::

Most hobbits living in the Shire refused to learn how to write and read. It was important to know how to fish or to plant your vegetables, but books? One could use them to lit a fire or to balance out a wobbly table in the best case.

Frodo had always been different; he was sitting under his favorite tree in every free minute, his nose in a book. Sam had still been a toddler when he had started to join him. Silently he sat some feet away from the elder hobbit, watching him full of awe. Until Frodo finally put his book down, laughing.

„Do you want me to read to you,“ he asked, and Sam nodded eagerly.

:::

So much had happened since then, so much had changed. But the smell of books would always make him remember the happy, long gone summer days together with Frodo.