Pairing: Sam/Frodo
Disclaimer: Don’t own these characters. No offence intended or money made.
"Oh, damnation!"
Frodo climbed even higher into the tree, hoping that Farmer
Maggot's dogs would be unable to pick up his scent. He knew that
if he was caught this time there would be no escaping a
thrashing; he had been warned often enough.
There they were, tearing across the field; huge beasts with
flaming red eyes and slavering jaws. Oh well, perhaps not, but to
a wild young hobbit trying to escape them, they certainly seemed
very large and somewhat angry.
"Go away, go away, go away…" Frodo chanted under
his breath as they approached the tree and began to sniff around
the base. "I'm not here, I'm not here, I'm not
here…" The baying that the animals set up gave the lie
to that particular remark. He was done for. Farmer Maggot would
find him, he would be starved out of the tree, and Bilbo would be
forced to punish him. From previous experience, Frodo knew that
the look in Bilbo's eyes would be punishment enough - the strap
would be just an added torture.
"'Ere, you lot, what's all the noise and palaver
about?" Frodo looked down so suddenly that he nearly lost
his grip on the branch. Little Samwise Gamgee, the gardener's
boy, had appeared seemingly out of nowhere and was watching the
dogs with great interest. "There's nothing to be seeing or
doing around here. Get off with you!"
Frodo opened his mouth to tell Sam to get away before he was
ripped limb from limb by the maddened creatures when the sudden
appearance of Farmer Maggot shut him up.
"Young Gamgee, is that you?" Farmer Maggot peered at
the little hobbitlad. "What are you doing here, causing such
a ruckus? You been at my crops?"
"Never!" Sam drew himself up to his full, albeit not
very impressive, height, and looked as shocked as it was possible
for a hobbit to look. "You know, Mr Maggot, sir, that I
don't do things like that. I'd get the strap for even thinking
such a thing."
"Aye, that you would, Sam," agreed Farmer Maggot. He
scratched his head thoughtfully. "You haven't seen that
Baggins boy running around, have you? I'll wager he's got
something to do with all this."
Frodo held his breath. Sam didn't lie, ever. If he had been seen,
he was in trouble.
"No, Farmer, I haven't seen Mr Frodo for a week or so, I
don't think. He's probably studying something with Mr Bilbo, you
know how they are up at Bag End."
"You're probably right." Farmer Maggot turned to go,
whistling the dogs away from the tree. "Well, don't you come
around here disturbing the dogs again, young Gamgee, or your
Gaffer'll be hearing something of it."
Sam muttered something and watched as the farmer vanished and
then, with the slightest upward tilt of his head, he spoke aloud.
"My Gaffer says that some hobbits need more looking after
than others; some hobbits have their heads in the clouds more
than they should." Sam smiled, his young face lighting up.
"But that's a good thing, I think."
"Sam?" Frodo whispered. "Why did you lie?"
Sam looked up, eyes wide. "Why, Mr Frodo, I didn't realise
you were there. I didn't lie, sir, I hadn't seen you, not as
such." He smiled again. "When I'm grown, sir, I'll take
on the looking after of you. My Gaffer says you need it."
"I think your Gaffer's right," Frodo agreed, clambering
nimbly out of the tree. "But for a while at least, I'll do
the looking after of you." He held out his hand and Sam
obediently took it. "Come on, let's get away from here
before Farmer Maggot comes back."
As the two hobbits walked away, Frodo reached into his pocket and
took out his handkerchief, which he had wrapped around his
spoils.
"Tell me, Sam. Do you like mushrooms?"
The End
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