Looking After

Frodo is 18, Sam has just turned 7 (or 11 and 4 ½ in Man years)
Astron, 1387 SR
 

Frodo yawned and stretched languidly, enjoying the pull and stretch of slumbering limbs as they awakened into the new day. He kept his eyes closed though, not quite ready to open them to the sun-lit room he knew awaited him. He snuggled further into his bed sheets and turned onto his side, enjoying the softness of the mattress and the silkiness of the sheets.

He was fighting off a doze when he heard his door open and close and the pitter-patter of tiny feet approach his bed. When nothing else happened, he opened his eyes to the sight of Sam Gamgee standing up on tiptoe, stretching himself as tall as he could to peek over the edge of the bed. Frodo couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.

“Morning, Sammy,” Frodo said. “And what might you be doing in here, lad?”

Sam’s eyes opened wide at being discovered, but he did not run away as he would have just a year before. Instead, he grinned and said, “Mr. Bilbo said I could come in and make sure as you were still breathing.”

Now Frodo laughed again and propped himself up on his elbows. “And why wouldn’t I be breathing?” he asked.

The lad faltered on his feet then, his toes getting tired of propping him up for so long, and he settled on stepping away from the bed far enough that he could see the young Baggins more clearly. “Acause it’s nearly luncheon and you’ve missed half your meals, so I thought as maybe you stopped breathing acause I can’t be thinking of any other reasons why’d someone be missing their meals,” Sam explained.

Frodo chuckled at the lad’s logic and with an effort, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat up. “Well, I’m awake now and more than ready to catch up on my meals. What do you suggest I eat first?”

“The blueberry hotcakes were very good, but they’re all gone now. I tried saving you some, but then Mr. Bilbo had them for second breakfast,” Sam said. “There’s cheese toast sandwiches now and some fruit with cream.”

“I suppose I should go and defend my food then,” Frodo said with a smile in his eyes.

Sam looked up at him, as serious as only a child could be. “I’ll keep it safe for you if you want. I won’t let him get it this time. I’ll take it with me to check the next time Elves come to the door.”

“Is that what he told you?” Frodo exclaimed, nearly bursting with laughter now but for the look of intent in Sam’s face.

Sam nodded. “But I was too slow and they were gone by the time I got there. Then I came back and your food was gone too.”

Frodo shook his head. Only Bilbo would play a joke like that on a child as trusting as Sam.

Frodo slipped off the bed and stretched again. He knelt before Sam and said, just as seriously, “I thank you for the attempt, Sammy, and the next time Elves come to the door, I suggest you take not only my food, but Bilbo’s as well. It’s rude not to offer treats to your guests after all.”

Sam nodded. “Only if you don’t be minding them having your food.”

“Anything for the Elves,” Frodo said and patted the lad on his head. Then he stood and took the lad by the hand. “Whatever would I do without you here to look after me?”

“I wouldn’t like to think it, Master Frodo.”

“Neither would I, lad.”

And Frodo led Sam to the kitchen to join Bilbo for luncheon.
 
 
 

GF 8/13/05