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This was written a long time ago. Like a lot of what I post, it was part of something bigger that never panned out. I've no title for it yet.

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It’s been five days, and Frodo is nearly mad. The constant voices, whispering or arguing or bullying him about. Never a moment’s peace in which he might pick up his pen and continue his writing. He stands at the window looking out on the sunlit fields, trying not to dwell on the work that must be put away for now. “It won’t be long,” he tells himself, and “the past will always be there,” while his fingers ache with the words trapped in them, and the desire to let them out.

Late that night, he comes upon Sam in the hall. They smile at each other, and Frodo sees that his friend is tired. "Well, Sam," he says quietly, "you've turned another corner."

"Aye, so it seems." His hand resting on the knob of his door, Sam asks, "How are you faring, Master?"

Waving a hand and shaking his head, Frodo answers, "Oh, I'm alright. I'm alright." The gesture is poignant to Sam. If Frodo only knew, he'd be startled at how much he resembled Bilbo just then.

Sam smiles. "Then I'll say goodnight, sir." He grips the knob, and then as though plunging into water, he blurts out, "Thank you, sir, for all you've done for us. For Rosie and me."

Frodo is puzzled, and then replies "No, Sam," and shakes his head. "It is only my thanks to you. Were it ten times more, it would not be enough. You know not what a comfort it is to me to see you so."

"Now you sound like Strider, beggin' your pardon," Sam chuckles. "Sleep well then, Master," the new father says as he opens the door.

"Good night, Sam," Frodo answers, and when the hall is dark, he stands still, listening to the silence.

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Here is a lovely interpretation:


On the Steps of Mount Doom - Donato Giancola


His work is often not what most people think of when they think of Tolkien (tends to make his Gondorians look like ancient Romans), but this one of particularly beautiful.

I do wonder, though, why so many artists don't seem to understand what hobbit feet are supposed to look like. It's not as if Tolkien never described them!

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Moonlight


Even though he'd never seen an Elf, Sam had always thought Mr. Frodo resembled one, and in the rounded, sunlit contours of Hobbiton, that made him odd to look at. He was fair all right, fair and fair, as might be said, and that beauty alone set him off. Hobbits were not, as a rule, beautiful.

But here in the light of the eldritch moon, Sam gazed on his master transformed. What were once shy shrugs and diffidence had become long silken lines, a glowing vision arching above him, one hand clutching his. A face beloved and familiar, now changed as all the world had changed, into something strange and magical, dangerous to such as him. The sight washed over him, as blue as the fabled sea.

"Sam," Frodo whispered, opening his eyes to gaze up at the stars. His hair moved in the breezes that floated through this place, and the sound of the water was as one with the light filling his eyes as he fell slowly, smiling, down to Sam's waiting mouth.

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"Mr. Frodo! Mr. Frodo!" The little voice piped like a whistle through the golden afternoon, and he looked up in time to see the bright-haired faunt running toward him, arms outstretched. He caught the lad in mid-leap, and found himself caged in small limbs, and his lips pressed in a warm kiss, loudly released. He smiled, dazed and a little taken aback at Hobbiton manners. Not something Merry would have done, that.

"It's so fine that you're back, Mr. Frodo!" Sam squeaked. "I'm sorry I wasn't here when you arrived." The child hugged him again, and Frodo laughed.

"You must tell me everything that has happened since I saw you last," Frodo said, as he set Samwise down, and the boy quickly took his hand. He began with the birth of the new calf as they started up towards the Hill, the sunlight warm upon the grass.

If you're reading this, then you have survived my f-list cut. (Don't you feel lucky? Don't you feel honored? You'd BETTER!) So hi and hello! Now, on to some news.


Sheesh. I can't believe I did THIS.

In case you don't realize, I can't pay for that. I really can't. At least, I can't pay for it now. It'll have to go in chunks, which the owner and seller have agreed to ahead of time. (Thank the gods for my excellent eBay rating, carefully nurtured over several years!)

But you know, I just had to bid on it. Because I've been wanting one of those for years now. It's the only thing Sideshow Weta has made that I've ached to have. I couldn't resist. *hangs her head*

However, I think I can swing it. If I tighten my belt real hard, and put off buying a few things, and work eBay hard as a seller over the next few weeks, I think I can swing it.

*is nervous*

Rei (mucun) has posted new pics!!


Dawn of the Fourth Age in Middle Earth

Little Sam

Brave Frodo and Sam


I do so love her pictures. Run over and enjoy!


P.S. GIP!

Gacked from lindelea1


The American Express meme:


( My Name.................Samwise Gamgee. )

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Samwise Gamgee. Best of hobbits, friend of friends. The moral and emotional centier of The Lord of the Rings. ( As a person in Middle-Earth, not just a character in a story, Sam is vastly unassuming... )

It would be cool to hear all the angles on this. So spill it. The microphones are on.



P.S. Sorry if there's anything eye-rolling up there. Felt like sounding high-falutin' for a while.