Chance Encounter, part 31
Apr. 20th, 2005 10:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamflowerWell, what with drabbles and all, I've barely had time to type this in, but here it is...
PART 31
The Sun had scarce begun her journey the next morning when Sam crept into the kitchen. His first gift to his friends was going to be a spectacular first breakfast. But before he started, he thought he would give the first of his gifts out. Climbing the ingenious stepladder that had been placed in the kitchen for the hobbits--it had wheels to roll about, and a handbrake, so that it would be safe to climb--he opened the cabinet and took out one of the small sacks he had secreted there the day before.
He took it out, and carefully clambered down. Even this small climb made his heart go pit-a-pat. But he had done this several times since they moved in, and so far it had proven safe; he was beginning to get used to it--more or less.
He padded out to the courtyard where a tree had a small bench beneath it. But the person he sought would not be on the bench. He looked up into the branches.
“Mr. Legolas, sir!” he called softly.
“Yes, Sam. I am here,” the Elf replied. There was the very slightest movement of the branches, and Legolas landed gracefully before him. “Did you want something?”
Sam blushed. “Erm--not really, that is to say, it’s my birthday, and I’ve a gift for you. It’s not much, but, here--” he held the sack out.
Legolas took it, and gave him a smile. “Why, thank you, Sam! Let me see what I have here--” he opened the sack and looked within. “Ah, these smell wonderful! What are they called?”
“Those are gingersnaps, Mr. Legolas. And I know you don’t usually, but if you come to breakfast this morning, I’m making griddlecakes and sausage and bacon and eggs and we’ve some of those lovely orange fruits they grow down here.”
“You tempt me, Sam. I may very well join your birthday breakfast feast.”
Sam grinned, and returned to the kitchen. The smells soon began to permeate the house, especially after he brewed some coffee. That was bound to even waken Mr. Gimli, who usually slept until elevenses.
Merry and Pippin soon came into the kitchen. The smell of food was as good as an alarm clock for Mr. Pippin. They assisted him with some of the breakfast preparations, setting out the dishes and cutting the fruit. Mr. Frodo came in next, looking almost chipper. They had all been sleeping much better since moving into the house.
Gandalf also was not much behind Frodo. “Ah, Samwise,” he said, with a twinkle in his eye, “you have certainly been making good use of this kitchen.”
“It’s right nice to have a real kitchen to cook in again, sir. I mean campfires is all very well, but there’s a lot to be said for a real oven.”
“Indeed there is.”
“Do I smell coffee?” rumbled the voice of the Dwarf, as Gimli also made his way into the kitchen.
Legolas entered through the outside door. “I do think that I shall join you this fine morning,” he said, much to Sam’s delight. The Elf almost never took first breakfast, though he sometimes took second.
Legolas placed a hand in front of his mouth, as if to suppress a yawn. Gandalf looked at him sharply, and this time the Elf flushed.
“Before we sit down, I have somewhat for you all.” Sam started to push the ladder back to the cabinet, but Gandalf forestalled him.
“I will reach it down for you, Sam,” he offered, opening the cupboard door.
“Thank you, Mr. Gandalf! It’s them little sacks.”
Everyone was most appreciative of the gingersnaps. The wizard looked at Sam. “There are several more sacks here,” he said.
“Those is for Strider and some of the others as is up to the Citadel. I plan to take them up there after we eat.”
“Then, let us by no means delay this excellent meal any longer.”
Pippin’s mind was working furiously. Frodo and Merry and he had counted on Sam’s errand to deliver his gifts to keep Sam away until noon, when they would have the party preparations finished. They had decided to surprise him right before the stroke of noon, so that technically his gift would still be in order by Shire etiquette--though they were cutting it very fine indeed--but he knew that the King did not want any of the hobbits unaccompanied until after the morrow, when they planned to spring their trap on the scoundrels. He was afraid he might have to somehow confide in one of his companions, when a knocking came at the door.
He leaped up to answer.
It was Bergil.
“Hullo, Bergil,” Pippin said in surprise. The lad was on page duty, so he had not expected to see him.
“Sir Pippin,” he whispered, “I am supposed to be giving you a message from Targon, but really it’s so I can walk back up to the Citadel with Lord Sam. The King thought he might need to go up there this morning, and for some reason he doesn’t want him to go alone.”
Pippin grinned. Trust Strider to have the problem all figured out already. He gave a glance out of the courtyard gate. There were two of the Tower Guards, but not dressed in livery. Clearly they were there to keep an eye on things. He felt a wash of relief. Out loud he said, “Thanks for the message, Bergil. Join us for a little bit of breakfast before you go back.”
Bergil grinned. “That sounds nice, Sir Pippin, thank you!” as Pippin led him into the kitchen.
PART 31
The Sun had scarce begun her journey the next morning when Sam crept into the kitchen. His first gift to his friends was going to be a spectacular first breakfast. But before he started, he thought he would give the first of his gifts out. Climbing the ingenious stepladder that had been placed in the kitchen for the hobbits--it had wheels to roll about, and a handbrake, so that it would be safe to climb--he opened the cabinet and took out one of the small sacks he had secreted there the day before.
He took it out, and carefully clambered down. Even this small climb made his heart go pit-a-pat. But he had done this several times since they moved in, and so far it had proven safe; he was beginning to get used to it--more or less.
He padded out to the courtyard where a tree had a small bench beneath it. But the person he sought would not be on the bench. He looked up into the branches.
“Mr. Legolas, sir!” he called softly.
“Yes, Sam. I am here,” the Elf replied. There was the very slightest movement of the branches, and Legolas landed gracefully before him. “Did you want something?”
Sam blushed. “Erm--not really, that is to say, it’s my birthday, and I’ve a gift for you. It’s not much, but, here--” he held the sack out.
Legolas took it, and gave him a smile. “Why, thank you, Sam! Let me see what I have here--” he opened the sack and looked within. “Ah, these smell wonderful! What are they called?”
“Those are gingersnaps, Mr. Legolas. And I know you don’t usually, but if you come to breakfast this morning, I’m making griddlecakes and sausage and bacon and eggs and we’ve some of those lovely orange fruits they grow down here.”
“You tempt me, Sam. I may very well join your birthday breakfast feast.”
Sam grinned, and returned to the kitchen. The smells soon began to permeate the house, especially after he brewed some coffee. That was bound to even waken Mr. Gimli, who usually slept until elevenses.
Merry and Pippin soon came into the kitchen. The smell of food was as good as an alarm clock for Mr. Pippin. They assisted him with some of the breakfast preparations, setting out the dishes and cutting the fruit. Mr. Frodo came in next, looking almost chipper. They had all been sleeping much better since moving into the house.
Gandalf also was not much behind Frodo. “Ah, Samwise,” he said, with a twinkle in his eye, “you have certainly been making good use of this kitchen.”
“It’s right nice to have a real kitchen to cook in again, sir. I mean campfires is all very well, but there’s a lot to be said for a real oven.”
“Indeed there is.”
“Do I smell coffee?” rumbled the voice of the Dwarf, as Gimli also made his way into the kitchen.
Legolas entered through the outside door. “I do think that I shall join you this fine morning,” he said, much to Sam’s delight. The Elf almost never took first breakfast, though he sometimes took second.
Legolas placed a hand in front of his mouth, as if to suppress a yawn. Gandalf looked at him sharply, and this time the Elf flushed.
“Before we sit down, I have somewhat for you all.” Sam started to push the ladder back to the cabinet, but Gandalf forestalled him.
“I will reach it down for you, Sam,” he offered, opening the cupboard door.
“Thank you, Mr. Gandalf! It’s them little sacks.”
Everyone was most appreciative of the gingersnaps. The wizard looked at Sam. “There are several more sacks here,” he said.
“Those is for Strider and some of the others as is up to the Citadel. I plan to take them up there after we eat.”
“Then, let us by no means delay this excellent meal any longer.”
Pippin’s mind was working furiously. Frodo and Merry and he had counted on Sam’s errand to deliver his gifts to keep Sam away until noon, when they would have the party preparations finished. They had decided to surprise him right before the stroke of noon, so that technically his gift would still be in order by Shire etiquette--though they were cutting it very fine indeed--but he knew that the King did not want any of the hobbits unaccompanied until after the morrow, when they planned to spring their trap on the scoundrels. He was afraid he might have to somehow confide in one of his companions, when a knocking came at the door.
He leaped up to answer.
It was Bergil.
“Hullo, Bergil,” Pippin said in surprise. The lad was on page duty, so he had not expected to see him.
“Sir Pippin,” he whispered, “I am supposed to be giving you a message from Targon, but really it’s so I can walk back up to the Citadel with Lord Sam. The King thought he might need to go up there this morning, and for some reason he doesn’t want him to go alone.”
Pippin grinned. Trust Strider to have the problem all figured out already. He gave a glance out of the courtyard gate. There were two of the Tower Guards, but not dressed in livery. Clearly they were there to keep an eye on things. He felt a wash of relief. Out loud he said, “Thanks for the message, Bergil. Join us for a little bit of breakfast before you go back.”
Bergil grinned. “That sounds nice, Sir Pippin, thank you!” as Pippin led him into the kitchen.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-04-19 03:55 pm (UTC):D
no subject
Date: 2005-04-20 01:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-19 04:23 pm (UTC)I wouldn't mind some of Sam's gingersnaps. Although perhaps he needs to keep them in a lower cupboard. Roll on party time!
no subject
Date: 2005-04-20 01:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-20 06:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-20 01:17 pm (UTC)Gandalf is keeping his eyes open.
And the party is coming soon.