"Chance Encounter" part 11
Feb. 2nd, 2005 09:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamflowerNow we will look in on the only two remaining members of the Fellowship we have yet to see...
CHANCE ENCOUNTER, PART 11
“Well, Samwise Gamgee, what do you think of it?” Gandalf gestured with his head at the courtyard about him.
“This is *your* house, sir?” Sam looked around with interest.
“No, it does not belong to me. But it was set aside for my use during the days of Ecthelion. It is a guesthouse belonging to the King.”
Sam looked at the empty planters and the dry fountain. There were a couple of trees, looked like they could use a pruning. His hands itched to get at this small excuse for a garden. He glanced dubiously at the house. It was a good three stories, of that cold white marble that everything around here seemed to be made of. It was most certainly a house of the Big Folk, and not meant for hobbits.
Gandalf smiled as he saw the thoughts fleeting across Sam’s broad face. “Do not worry, Sam; neither you nor the other hobbits would be asked to stay in an upstairs chamber. I know that is one of the things that fret you in the Citadel. Here we have set aside a chamber at ground level, and the King and the Steward have ordered the legs on the furniture cut down.”
“What’s Mr. Frodo have to say about this idea?” Sam asked.
“I showed him the place yesterday. He thinks that it is a splendid idea. I do not think he is any happier in the Citadel than you are.”
Gandalf led the way across the courtyard to a set of wide double doors set with large windows, and threw them open to show a large chamber. In it were a couple of chests, four chairs with the legs cut off, and a perfectly huge bed, with the legs also cut down.
“Faramir had originally ordered four small beds to replace this one, but Aragorn felt that with the troubles you all are having sleeping, that this might be more comfortable. You can comfort one another without crowding.”
“Mr. Gandalf, sir, eight hobbits wouldn’t be crowded in that big bed!”
The Wizard smiled. “Probably not, Sam.”
Sam followed curiously, as Gandalf led him from the bedchamber. “What’s the kitchen like, then?”
They went down a short hallway to the other side of the house. The kitchen was huge, and well appointed, and in addition to the large worktable in the center of the room, there was a table and chairs of hobbit-sized proportions. Frodo had instantly guessed that those had once stood in a noble nursery, but the thought did not occur to Sam.
“A complete set of cooking tools, pots, pans and dishes made to hobbit-size have been ordered, and I am told, will be ready in just a day or two.” Gandalf looked down at Sam, and was surprised to see him dashing away tears with an angry hand.
“I’m sorry,” he said, “I was just minded of my old pots and pans--all gone down a crack in the Black Land, and maybe covered up forever by ashes and fiery rocks--” There was a catch in his voice, and he shook his head sadly.
The wizard lay a sympathetic hand on Sam’s head, but answered him lightly and briskly in hobbit-fashion, “Well, Sam, It is a shame, but I daresay it was necessary.”
“Aye, it was needful.” He gave a little sniff, and said “Well, listen at me going on like a ninnyhammer. My old gaffer always said ‘the heart don’t grieve on what the mind don’t think on’ and ‘least said, soonest mended’.”
Gandalf sighed. Like many a rustic, the Gaffer was a font of pithy sayings, some of them wise, but a good many of them utter nonsense. “Well, Samwise, does this dwelling meet with your approval?”
“You say we’re all to come here, ‘cept for Strider, who has to stay up there and be King, poor Man. Well, what do the others think?”
“Legolas and Gimli have been down here, and are in agreement on it. Meriadoc and Peregrin are quite content to follow Frodo’s wishes in the matter.”
Sam glanced up shrewdly. “And you know I am that glad to go along with whatever Mr. Frodo wants, too. So why are you showing me about today?”
“Because Frodo expressly asked for your opinion, Samwise Gamgee.” He did not also mention that Frodo had asked him to get Sam out of the way, so that Frodo could make some plans.
“Well, if Mr. Frodo likes the idea, so do I.” Sam blushed before continuing. “But I like the idea right fine on my own account, too. It’s still a ways up, here, but it don’t feel so. That room up there--” he jerked his head in the general direction of the Citadel “--it’s like being perched like a bird. No way for a hobbit to live.”
Gandalf laughed. “If you say so, Samwise!”
Sam looked at Gandalf in wonder. The Wizard laughed so much more than he used to, and his laughter now reminded Sam of Elves, the way it lifted the heart to hear.
CHANCE ENCOUNTER, PART 11
“Well, Samwise Gamgee, what do you think of it?” Gandalf gestured with his head at the courtyard about him.
“This is *your* house, sir?” Sam looked around with interest.
“No, it does not belong to me. But it was set aside for my use during the days of Ecthelion. It is a guesthouse belonging to the King.”
Sam looked at the empty planters and the dry fountain. There were a couple of trees, looked like they could use a pruning. His hands itched to get at this small excuse for a garden. He glanced dubiously at the house. It was a good three stories, of that cold white marble that everything around here seemed to be made of. It was most certainly a house of the Big Folk, and not meant for hobbits.
Gandalf smiled as he saw the thoughts fleeting across Sam’s broad face. “Do not worry, Sam; neither you nor the other hobbits would be asked to stay in an upstairs chamber. I know that is one of the things that fret you in the Citadel. Here we have set aside a chamber at ground level, and the King and the Steward have ordered the legs on the furniture cut down.”
“What’s Mr. Frodo have to say about this idea?” Sam asked.
“I showed him the place yesterday. He thinks that it is a splendid idea. I do not think he is any happier in the Citadel than you are.”
Gandalf led the way across the courtyard to a set of wide double doors set with large windows, and threw them open to show a large chamber. In it were a couple of chests, four chairs with the legs cut off, and a perfectly huge bed, with the legs also cut down.
“Faramir had originally ordered four small beds to replace this one, but Aragorn felt that with the troubles you all are having sleeping, that this might be more comfortable. You can comfort one another without crowding.”
“Mr. Gandalf, sir, eight hobbits wouldn’t be crowded in that big bed!”
The Wizard smiled. “Probably not, Sam.”
Sam followed curiously, as Gandalf led him from the bedchamber. “What’s the kitchen like, then?”
They went down a short hallway to the other side of the house. The kitchen was huge, and well appointed, and in addition to the large worktable in the center of the room, there was a table and chairs of hobbit-sized proportions. Frodo had instantly guessed that those had once stood in a noble nursery, but the thought did not occur to Sam.
“A complete set of cooking tools, pots, pans and dishes made to hobbit-size have been ordered, and I am told, will be ready in just a day or two.” Gandalf looked down at Sam, and was surprised to see him dashing away tears with an angry hand.
“I’m sorry,” he said, “I was just minded of my old pots and pans--all gone down a crack in the Black Land, and maybe covered up forever by ashes and fiery rocks--” There was a catch in his voice, and he shook his head sadly.
The wizard lay a sympathetic hand on Sam’s head, but answered him lightly and briskly in hobbit-fashion, “Well, Sam, It is a shame, but I daresay it was necessary.”
“Aye, it was needful.” He gave a little sniff, and said “Well, listen at me going on like a ninnyhammer. My old gaffer always said ‘the heart don’t grieve on what the mind don’t think on’ and ‘least said, soonest mended’.”
Gandalf sighed. Like many a rustic, the Gaffer was a font of pithy sayings, some of them wise, but a good many of them utter nonsense. “Well, Samwise, does this dwelling meet with your approval?”
“You say we’re all to come here, ‘cept for Strider, who has to stay up there and be King, poor Man. Well, what do the others think?”
“Legolas and Gimli have been down here, and are in agreement on it. Meriadoc and Peregrin are quite content to follow Frodo’s wishes in the matter.”
Sam glanced up shrewdly. “And you know I am that glad to go along with whatever Mr. Frodo wants, too. So why are you showing me about today?”
“Because Frodo expressly asked for your opinion, Samwise Gamgee.” He did not also mention that Frodo had asked him to get Sam out of the way, so that Frodo could make some plans.
“Well, if Mr. Frodo likes the idea, so do I.” Sam blushed before continuing. “But I like the idea right fine on my own account, too. It’s still a ways up, here, but it don’t feel so. That room up there--” he jerked his head in the general direction of the Citadel “--it’s like being perched like a bird. No way for a hobbit to live.”
Gandalf laughed. “If you say so, Samwise!”
Sam looked at Gandalf in wonder. The Wizard laughed so much more than he used to, and his laughter now reminded Sam of Elves, the way it lifted the heart to hear.
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no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 04:13 pm (UTC)‘cept for Strider, who has to stay up there and be King, poor Man
LOL! Ooooh, and what ARE these mysterious plans?
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:16 pm (UTC)LOL! I just figured that is how Sam would see it. He's not too far wrong, either, is he?
Well, clearly they are a surprise...
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 04:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:20 pm (UTC)I love any personal interaction between Gandalf and one of the hobbits. I'm sure that Gandalf enjoyed showing Sam the preparations, even if Frodo had asked him to get Sam out of the way.
And we'll come back to Pippin, Menelcar and the others very soon...
no subject
Date: 2005-02-03 09:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-05 02:36 am (UTC)