(no subject)
Title: Cornfields, Plow Horses, and Demons
Author: Frodo_naatulien
Pairing: F/S
Category: Pre-quest
Genre: AU
Rating: NC-17
Summary: An evening of spooky fun for our four hobbits turns out to be a real nightmare for Frodo.
Cornfields, Plow Horses, and Demons
(Part 2)
“Well, as I said, it happened a long time ago.” Frodo felt his throat suddenly go scratchy, covered his mouth politely and coughed into his hand a couple of times. “It didn’t even involve Merry,” he went on, “he was very young at the time, but he knows all about it.” And this made him angry again. “And for him to bring us out here and just leave us like this to get ourselves lost in this… this… forbidding cornfield is all too familiar and… if he thinks this is the least bit funny, I’ll give him something to laugh about all right. I’m going to kill him when I get my hands on him!”
Sam looked on without saying a word, simply waited patiently for Frodo to calm. Frodo clenched his jaw then sucked in a deep breath and continued.
“I was only around thirteen, or fourteen, at the time. I was living at Brandy Hall, as you know, and some older lads, there were three of them, tricked me and lured me into the Old Forest through a row of thick hedge that runs for miles along the Great East Road, Buckland side. They call it High-Hay, I’m sure you’ve heard of it.” Sam just nodded. “I don’t even remember now exactly how they got me in there but they did. I was such a fool. I was told over and over again, by my Uncle Sara, never to go in to those woods but I didn’t listen.”
More tears fell, but Frodo kept it together for the most part, his voice wavering only slightly, though it broke Sam’s heart to pieces. Seeing Frodo upset like this; all he wanted to do was grab him up, yank him in his arms and hold him. Instead, he swallowed the lump in his throat, focused his eyes on Frodo’s, and continued to listen.
“They lured me in and then… when they got me far enough in, where they knew I couldn’t find my way back out without their help, they all ran off and left me. I tried to run after them but I was much smaller than they were and I just couldn’t keep up, and suddenly I found myself all alone.” He paused again, trying to brush his windswept hair out of his eyes, and then continued.
Sam took careful note that Frodo’s breathing had become fast and shallow.
“There are many tales about the Old Forest, most of them quite unpleasant, that were told to me over the years by those lads and now… I found myself lost and alone in that very forest, the very place that haunted my dreams and startled me from sleep, countless times, drenched in a cold sweat and gasping for breath. And I was wholly terrified, Sam. Not only was I lost and alone in this frightening forest but… ” He swallowed hard again, choking back more tears, and was now shaking.
“Sam! They taunted me with dogs!” And then he paused, as if to catch his breath this time, brushed his sleeve across his face, and forced himself to go on. “I didn’t know it at the time, of course, but was told later that they had tied three dogs to a tree at the edge of the forest and, after running off and leaving me, went back and retrieved them then came back and followed me, keeping themselves hidden, of course, as I tried to find my way out. I could hear them running through the underbrush, barking and snarling ferociously. Only then, I thought they were wolves. They sounded more vicious than anything I’d ever heard. I simply started running, running as fast as I could. I didn’t know what else to do. And I didn’t dare look back. I was so afraid to look back, Sam. I didn’t want to see the vicious face of the creature that was about to tear me to shreds, piece by bloody piece… and literally,” he emphasized. “I’d developed a fear of dogs ever since that horrible incident with Farmer Maggot’s dogs, so you can imagine what my fear of a wolf would be. Most everybody knew of my fear, and apparently they did too, and used it against me.”
He paused, reached in his pocket, “I suppose, looking back on it now, the dogs weren’t chasing me at all, only trying to break free from their captors.” Then he let out a wry chuckle, “How do you like that? I forgot to put a tissue in my pocket. Bilbo would scold me for that you know,” he joked, trying unsuccessfully to put a smile on his face. Oh, how he wished that Bilbo were here now.
Sam reached in his own pocket and offered Frodo his. Frodo thanked him, blew his nose with shaking hands and went on-
“They nearly scared the life out of me, Sam. Or at least I thought so at the time. And if those lads wanted to leave their mark, I’d say they’ve more than succeeded, wouldn’t you?”
Sam was heartbroken. He found he had balled his hands into fists and was letting loose a few tears of his own. Why would anyone do such an awful thing to another, especially a kind person such as Frodo, and a child at that? There wasn’t a kinder, better soul than Frodo in all of Middle Earth and Sam thought to himself if he ever runs in to these lads, who’d be quite grown by now, mayhap even have young children of their own, well… he’d like to scare the fool out of them all right, give ‘em a taste of their own dangerous medicine.
“And that is the whole reason for Merry’s and my rift,” Frodo finished, as he stuffed the tissue in his pocket, not even noticing Sam’s tears through his own. “Merry thinks I’ve held on to that incident for far too long, that I should just let it be and bury it for good. And perhaps he’s right. But it didn’t happen to him and he just doesn’t understand that it’s not that easy. It happened a long time ago, I know that, and I don’t need him to tell me that. The incident frightened me horribly, Sam, and I don’t know that I’ll ever truly get over it. It happened about this same time of year, on a night much like tonight, and for Merry to act like he doesn't... Oh, I don’t know what’s gotten in to Merry for him to do this to us, Sam, I’m so sorry. But I can tell you, Merry’s going to be quite sorry when we get out of here!
He brushed his arm across his face, panic rising again in his voice. “Oh, Sam,” he cried, looking around frantically. “We have to get out of here. We have to get out of here before it gets too dark, Sam, please!” Frodo pleaded. And the next thing he knew he was wrapped tight and snug in Sam’s arms with Sam’s mouth covering his, gentling him with kisses, and guiding them slowly backwards until his back came into contact with something that felt much like the bark of a tree trunk.
Frodo gasped and then two things happened: One… Frodo’s heart stopped. Two… he’d never felt safer in all his life. Not in all his years at Brandy Hall, nor all the years in Bilbo’s care, not even the year and a half since Bilbo’s departure, with Sam up at Bag End day in and day out. Only here, now, held tight and snug in Sam’s arms did he feel wholly safe, and all the fear that he was filled with just moments ago seemed to vanish, like it was just picked up and carried off with that howling wind.
Sam pulled away slow then brought his lips to Frodo’s ear and whispered, “I won’t let nothin’ happen to you, Mr. Frodo. Not here, not ever. Not as long as I draw breath. I promise you that.”
He felt Frodo’s shaky grip tighten on his shirt, trying to pull him closer. It was a good sign indeed. And Frodo’s tight grip on his shirt and panting breath in his ear gave him the confidence he needed to take the next step. And since Frodo was now supported with his back against the tree, that next step was to press his body against Frodo’s and thrust his hips gentle as he could in to Frodo’s hips.
It turned out to be the right thing to do. Frodo’s breath caught in his ear and he felt Frodo harden to him instantly. It was the best thing he had ever felt in all his life. And if this was going to help Frodo forget his fears, and it sounded like it was - well, then, that was all the better.
Sam’s breath was heavy and his legs felt weak and jittery, and though he’d hoped and prayed for this very moment for as long as he could remember, and wanted Frodo right now more than he’d ever wanted him before, he was not going to go any further without making sure it was what Frodo wanted too. He was not about to take advantage of Frodo, or the situation.
Well, all right, mayhap just a little. He put his lips to Frodo’s temple, “Mr. Frodo?” he whispered soft then kissed him there gentle. And oh how Frodo’s hitching breath was music to his ears. “Are you all right with this, Mr. Frodo? I mean… is this what you want?”
Frodo squeezed his eyes shut. This couldn’t be happening. “Oh Sam,” he murmured. He drew his head back and let it rest against the tree trunk, gazing up at Sam, all of his fears silenced with Sam’s calmness and surety, and the sudden, startling awareness that Sam was wanting him in the way that he had wanted Sam for so very long. He had only one answer for him. “Oh Sam, yes… yes I do want this. More than you know.”
Sam was elated. He was excited, overjoyed, and just plain beside himself with happiness. He hadn’t planned this, he hadn’t planned any of it. It just happened. And, by the Valar, he was going with it - come what may.
“Then mayhap I can help you forget them bad thoughts for good,” he said. “Or…” and paused, sliding his tongue down Frodo’s throat and back up again. He felt Frodo’s legs buckle a bit but held him up with his own body, “mayhap I can plant some good thoughts to take the place of them bad thoughts - the kind that’ll put a smile on your face,” he whispered, then pressed his lips to Frodo’s again.
The wind was still tossing Frodo’s hair in his face, and now Sam's, so Sam pulled back and took both of his hands, ran his fingers through Frodo’s hair on either side of his head and held it back away from his face. He almost gasped aloud. Frodo’s hair was softer than he imagined, almost as soft as the pile of loose, down feathers he’d collected over the years from those that had worked their way out of Frodo’s pillows and bedcover every now and again. It felt so silky and wonderful in his hands he didn’t want to let go. He gazed tenderly into Frodo’s shimmering eyes, turned deep, sapphire-blue by the darkening skies, and the wanton look of desire on that beloved face staring back at him told Sam all he needed to know. Frodo had just given himself over to Sam right then and there. It shot a pain straight through to his groin, almost made him double over. There wasn’t another soul more beautiful than Frodo and Sam took his fill before leaning back in, pressing his lips to that beautiful face once more, dragging them slowly down along the side of Frodo’s face, across the sharp line of his jaw, kissing and nipping ever so gentle.
Frodo flung his arms around Sam’s neck, held on tight then thrust slow and hard against him. Sam was awakening a desire in him that he had learned to hide over the years and suddenly he was finding it very difficult to suppress that desire or concentrate much on anything now except Sam’s arms firmly holding him and Sam’s body pressed firmly against his. He felt incredibly safe yet had the faintest sensation that he was falling all of a sudden.
And that is exactly what was happening. Sam had taken them to the ground, bending cornstalks as they went down, to form a soft, makeshift bed. He laid Frodo gently down on them then crawled over him, straddling his hips then took his own coat off and placed it under Frodo’s head.
The wind was still gusting, the tops of the cornstalks whipping this way and that, but it didn’t penetrate down low into the field which made it that much more comfortable down close to the ground.
“Mr. Frodo, are you still scared?” Sam asked softly.
“No, Sam.”
“Would you be cold then?”
Frodo shook his head. “No, Sam. I’m quite warm.”
“But… but you’re still shakin’, sir.”
There was a brief pause then Frodo said, “It’s you, Sam.” Then chuckled at Sam’s confused look. “You’re making me shake, Sam,” he smiled. “Or tremble, I should say.”
Sam started to say something then caught Frodo’s meaning and simply muttered, “Oh!”
Frodo laughed and Sam bent down and kissed him quick on the lips and popped back up again. “Ah, now there’s a pretty sight, and no mistake,” Sam said, smiling. And now Frodo looked confused. “That’s the first true smile I’ve gotten out of you this entire day.”
They both chuckled lightly. Frodo could’ve made conversation but now was clearly not the time.
“Sam,” Frodo breathed, gazing up at him. “Let me see you, Sam. I want to see you.”
Sam ached like he’d never ached before. Frodo’s words turned over and over in his head - 'Let me see you, Sam. I want to see you. Yes… yes I do want this. More than you know. Sam, I want to see you' - making him dizzy. He began unbuttoning his shirt slowly, never taking his eyes from Frodo, while Frodo stared back at him, breathless. When he finished, Frodo’s hand went straight for the front of Sam’s breeches, trying to grab hold of and squeeze his trapped cock through his clothing. Sam rose up on his knees and pushed as best he could up against Frodo’s hand with a guttural moan, letting his shirt fall off completely.
Oh, why couldn’t they have a lantern, Frodo cursed to himself. He wanted to see Sam so bad, all of him.
And now, Sam went for the buttons on his own breeches, feeling way too restricted, and if he didn’t let himself out soon he was going to - meet his maker - as it were. He watched the intense look on Frodo’s face as he opened his breeches and let himself out, letting Frodo see him for the first time. He heard a soft whimper escape Frodo’s kiss-swollen lips and then Frodo’s brows furrowed, his eyes closed and he pushed up against Sam, hard, letting out a deep, throaty moan. And it was almost too much for Sam, for he thought he would burst from the loving expression on Frodo’s face alone. He dropped down and laid his body full length on top of Frodo, hugging him close and driving his hips gentle into Frodo’s, his breath heavy in Frodo’s ear.
Frodo moaned aloud. He was so highly aroused that his chest heaved in and out in a desperate attempt to get air in his lungs. “Oh Sam,” he groaned, lifting his hips, trying to push harder against him. “I want to feel you, Sam. I can’t feel you,” he panted almost desperate.
Sam wasn’t quite sure what he meant by that. He thought he might be too heavy for Frodo but now Frodo was saying he couldn’t feel him? Well that didn’t make any sense to him at all. He could feel Frodo all right, just as hard as he was. Only, how was it that Frodo was still buttoned up, he wondered. And then he chuckled.
“Oh!” was all he said then sat himself back up, spread Frodo’s coat open and began undoing the buttons on Frodo’s shirt - just like in his fantasy. “Oh sweet Eru!” was all he could put together. When he was done he spread it open ever-so-slowly, splaying his hands across his naked chest, and then practically fell back down on Frodo, his mouth latching soft and warm onto one of Frodo’s nipples. Frodo arched up, hissing through his teeth, while Sam licked and sucked gently and then Sam’s hand darted quickly to the front of Frodo’s breeches and the buttons there while his mouth went back up to Frodo’s. It didn’t take him long there either, and before either one of them had time to process what was about to happen, Sam pulled the front of Frodo’s breeches and underclothes open then laid himself back down on Frodo. And their naked bodies, though still not stripped of their clothing entirely, but in all the right places, were pressed together for the very first time; both of them crying out together, their hearts racing and pounding together as one, grinding their hard cocks into each other instinctively. They were both wild and desperate and their bodies began to sweat, despite the coolness in the air, from their frantic exertions. And still neither one could believe what was happening.
“Sam!” Frodo panted. His breathing was rapid and harsh and his body trembled uncontrollably with years of pent-up want and desire and the desperate need to finally share his love with Sam. “S-Sam,” he tried again. “ I’m… I’m already so close, Sam, I’m sorry,” he choked out breathless, fearing he’d not be able to stop himself, while his hands desperately latched on to the side pockets of Sam’s trousers and pulled Sam even tighter to him.
Oh, how Sam wanted to stay like this forever, Frodo writhing in this state of complete arousal beneath him but he, too, was right on the edge.
“Aye… well… “ Sam attempted to say then caught his breath, for he, too, was struggling for air. He knew he couldn’t hold back either. He’d wanted this so bad and, by the grace of the Valar, the time had finally come but it was all happening so fast and there was no stopping it, not now, and they hadn’t even touched each other but there wasn’t time. “I reckon, Mr. Frodo, I’ll be goin’ right along with you, if you take my meanin’.”
Frodo groaned and closed his eyes and then Sam reached down and took hold of Frodo’s wrists, brought them up beside his head and raised himself up on his own arms while holding Frodo down so he could drive his hips harder. And with a few more slippery thrusts - each into the other, and neither having to say when - their voices rose together in crescendo and a double dose of hot, wet liquid spilled out on their bellies between them. Their bodies jerked and twitched against each other, taut as bowstrings, until every last bit was expelled. And then they nuzzled and held each other, quivering, as they slowly recovered from their release, their gasps for breath intermingled.
It took them both a moment to catch their breath and when Frodo was finally able to catch his, he let his eyes open. And when he couldn’t see Sam in front of him, even though Sam was still on top of him, it seemed as if his breath was snatched right out of him again.
“Sam!” Frodo whispered loud and horrified. “Sam, it’s dark!”
Frodo’s fear came back ten-fold. He scrambled to his feet, practically throwing Sam clear off of him, while trying to button up his clothing. He stepped out on to the path then jumped, letting out a startled gasp at the huge, dark… then remembered the tree they’d been leaning up against.
Sam hadn’t quite come back to his normal self yet, “Mr. Frodo, don’t… don’t you want to clean up some?”
Frodo turned back, gave Sam an incredulous look, though he doubted Sam could even see him. “No! No, we can clean up later,” he whispered low, as though he thought they could be heard. But cleaning up was the last thing on his mind all of a sudden for panic was setting in fast. “Get your things back on, Sam, hurry!” Frodo looked around frantic, afraid to move. “Oh Sam, how will we ever find our way out of here now?” he said, alarm growing with each breath. “I never saw one cow bell in here, did you? We’ll never be able to find one now unless we run smack in to it. Oh, Sam, how are we to let them know we’re lost in here?” he babbled frantically. “And I don’t mind telling you, I’ll not be happy to wait until they harvest the field before they’re to find us.”
“Well that ain’t but a week or two off,” Sam said teasingly, thinking a little funnin’ might ease him a bit.
“That’s not funny, Sam!” Frodo replied, his breathing instantly short and rapid again. He said it a bit harsher than he’d meant to but fear was upon him now and it was real and he just wanted to get out of here.
“Now take it easy, Mr. Frodo,” Sam said as he picked himself up off the ground then chuckled to himself, "I reckon lovin’ only goes so far."
“Sam, I can barely see in front of my face. We’ll not be able t… “
“How many oak trees you think are in a cornfield, Mr. Frodo?” Sam interrupted suddenly, slipping his shirt back on and throwing Frodo’s train of thought.
“t-to… to get… what?” he asked, bewildered. “Sam, what on earth does that… “
“How many oak trees you think are in a cornfield?” Sam asked again then began chuckling at the totally perplexed look on Frodo’s face. For though he couldn’t see him clearly he could see just enough, and hear just enough.
“Sam, this is not a laughing matter. And I don’t understand why you’re asking me how many oak tr… “ And if Sam had been able to see clearly, he’d’ve seen Frodo’s face light up just now with sudden realization.
“None!” Frodo answered abruptly, and he too began to chuckle. “None, Sam! There aren’t any oak trees in a cornfield. There aren’t any trees in a cornfield,” he said excitedly.
“Aye, now, that’s what I were thinkin’,” Sam replied, lightheartedly. “And since this here’s an oak tree - that ain’t supposed to be here, mind you - then my guess is, we’re just on the outer edge of this here cornfield. Right close to gettin’ out if you follow me,” he finished, smiling, even though he’d figured it out earlier. But he wasn’t tellin’.
“Sam, you’re right! You’re absolutely right,” Frodo said, sighing with relief. “I do follow you, Sam, and I will follow you, straight out of this blasted cornfield. So please, lead the way… and quickly!” Frodo added, stepping to the side, and not wanting to stay in here one more second.
Sam chuckled, took Frodo’s hand in his - this time - and squeezed. Frodo simply smiled. “I reckon this way’s as good as any,” Sam said as he headed them around the other side of the oak tree.
They hadn’t gone but about twenty steps through the corn and they were out, with a huge sigh of relief coming from Frodo and an even bigger sigh of relief when they saw light coming from what must have been the entrance to the maze not too far off, which Sam confirmed.
“Aye, I reckon those are the lanterns I saw hangin’ on those big posts when we first went in. I can tell you, I’m mighty glad to see ‘em now,” Sam said, relief now heard in his own voice. They wasted no time at all in heading straight for them.
As they got closer they noticed more light. This light swinging about in lanterns being carried about by whom, they couldn’t make out.
“Oh!” Farmer Whitfurrow called out as they approached, minutes later, very relieved to see them. “There you are lads! I was just getting ready to send my boys in after you. Had me worried there for a bit, you did. Glad to see you found your way out. Did you have any trouble then?” he asked.
Frodo thought it best not to go into their ordeal and simply replied, “No, no trouble at all,” to avoid any further questions. Then asked, “My cousins, the two that went in with us, did you see them come out?”
“Oh yes, they came out about an hour ago. Said you all decided to split up and see who could get through the maze first. Told us to give you another hour or so then to go in after you, which is just what we were setting out to do when you came up on us here.” Then he exchanged a few words with one of his boys who walked over and grabbed two bags out of a large barrel and brought them back to his Da.
The farmer handed Frodo and Sam each a small, brown burlap bag with a picture of the plow horse painted in bright orange on the side and said, “Just a little something we like to give each of our guests to remember us by and to thank ‘em for coming.”
The bag contained one popcorn ball, a Butterscotch flavored candy on a stick in the shape of an ear of corn, a big red juicy apple, and a small pumpkin for pumpkin pie making.
“And if you want,” the farmer went on, “you can go on over there to the pumpkin patch and pick you out a nice pumpkin for carving to set at your doorstep on All Hallow’s Eve. We don’t open officially ‘til tomorrow so you’ve got the best of the lot to pick from.”
Frodo smiled to the farmer, looked to Sam, and then politely declined his offer. All he really wanted to do was get home to Bag End. And the sooner, the better. So they accepted their gifts graciously, along with a few much needed sips of water from the farmer's well, then thanked Mr. Whitfurrow and set off for home.
The walk home was a very pleasant one and so much nicer than the walk there. Frodo felt so much more at ease. In part, because this whole blasted ordeal was finally over now, but mostly because finally… after all these years, finally… he and Sam could love each other the way they’ve always wanted to love each other but were too afraid to confess to one another. He wondered if it hadn’t been for Merry if they would ever have confessed their love for each other. But now was not the time to think on that. Now was the time to walk home peacefully, hand-in-hand with Sam, and savor in his mind what they had just so intimately, and lovingly, shared together.
The walk home took more than an hour, though they could have easily walked it in forty-five minutes in daylight as they had on the way there. The darkness brought about cooler night air so there was a heavy fog hovering just above the ground that made for slower going, and the moon was out too, though trapped behind the thick layer of clouds, as had been the sun for most of the day, so it wasn’t much help in lighting their way. It actually looked spooky glowing behind the clouds like it was and Frodo thought to himself how eerie and ghostly it made everything look and that, before tonight, there would be no way he would be out here in these conditions. But things were different now. Sam was here with him, here with him in mind, body, and soul and he found he wasn’t scared in the least, especially since they weren’t in the cornfield anymore. They talked practically the entire way back, holding hands, confessing to each other all of their feelings and emotions, good and bad, that they’d had over the years for each other. It was quite a revelation for them both.
It was nearing the ninth hour when they reached Bag End, still holding hands, and Frodo felt like he’d walked more miles in this one day than he had the entire month. They entered through the back entrance and noticed two good-sized pumpkins at the back door. Merry and Pippin had obviously visited the farmers pumpkin patch and more than likely, Frodo assumed, they’d hitched a ride back on a pony-cart, for no way could he see his cousins carrying those large pumpkins all the way back to Bag End.
When they entered they were surprised to find Bag End’s kitchen with a well-lit fire burning in the hearth, and a kettle filled with water from the well waiting to be heated, and… a note on the table.
They set their things down and hung their coats up by the back door. Sam headed for the filled kettle on the stove and Frodo walked over to the table, swung his leg over the bench seat and sat down. He picked up the note slowly.
“It seems Merry’s guilt has caught up with him.” He began opening it then looked over at Sam and touched his hand lightly on the bench, “Come here and sit down with me, Sam, I think you should hear this also. If he’s apologizing, I imagine he will be apologizing to you too. He’d better be, he certainly owes it to you.”
Sam put the kettle on the stove for heating and walked over, straddled the bench also, and sat down at the table facing Frodo. Frodo felt his heart flutter then smiled. Just a tad bit closer and he could be sitting right in Sam’s lap. Oh, this was going to take some getting used to that was for sure. But oh, did it feel nice.
Frodo cleared his throat then began reading aloud-
Dear Frodo,
Pip and I are very sorry to have left you and Sam as we did.
Frodo stopped for a moment, “Well he’s off to a good start,” he said, still clearly annoyed with Merry, then went on.
I suppose I wouldn’t be too far off in assuming you were madder than a wet hen and… well, I suppose you had every right to be and I won’t hold it against you.
Frodo rolled his eyes. Merry had that right!
And before you decide to wad this up and toss it in the fire, as I’m sure you’ve already considered, please keep reading so that I may explain myself.
I admit I had fully planned on leaving you and Sam in there, I’m sorry, only not under those circumstances exactly. But since the opportunity, shall we say, slapped me in the face practically, then I thought it best for me to take full advantage of it.
I feel sure I’m not your number one cousin at the moment, but let me say that I had nothing but the purest of intentions and…
Merry’s words were already beginning to ease his heart, if not for the pitiable apology then for the absolute absurdity of the entire situation.
Blast it all, Frodo! One doesn’t have to be the sharpest tool in the shed to know that you and Sam have been pining for each other - for stars knows how long - forever it seems, and… well…
Frodo felt his face flush.
I don’t say this out of disrespect, dear cousin, so please don’t take this the wrong way, and you either Sam if you’re listening, but…
Sam’s an open book for bugger’s sake! If you can’t read between the lines then you’re as blind as a bat, Frodo, because everyone can plainly see where Sam’s heart is - everyone except you, that is.
Frodo paused and both he and Sam looked at each other in surprise, both of them blushing, before he continued.
And why Sam can’t see your face go through every shade of red under the sun whenever you lay eyes upon him, well… I’ll just never know!
To this Frodo’s mouth fell open. Merry always did have a way with words.
Anyway, what I’m trying to say, dear cousin, is that I hope things unfolded as I’d planned and that you and Sam are now reaping the benefits of, shall we say - my good intentions.
If, on the other hand, I have been sadly mistaken and saw things that weren’t really there - though I don’t see how that could be - then I am truly, very sorry and I shall make it up to you for the rest of my days. Pip and I will be staying at the Green Dragon tonight, as this was also part of my plan, so should you be in need of some comforting, you know where we’ll be. And just so you know, all drinks are on us.
Your ever-caring cousin,
Merry
P.S. One must face one’s own demons in order to rid one’s self of them. I hope it helped having Sam there with you.
Frodo let the note fall on the table, his mouth gaping open.
“He did know! Merry knew why I was upset and angry with him the entire time and he argued with me like that?! That little scamp! He knew! He planned this! He purposely used my fear of… to try to… Oh, and I’m not going to blame Pippin for any of this,” he said, ranting on, “I’m sure he did only what he was told to do. He might as well be a dog on a leash.”
And now Frodo began to chuckle. “A dog on a leash. That’s rather ironic, isn’t it, Sam?” And then he sighed, “Oh, if I didn’t love Merry so, and this hadn’t worked out the way that it did - and lucky for him, too, I might add - I would go out of my way to get back at him, I think.”
Sam’s arm slid around Frodo’s back pulling him just that tad bit closer, right into his lap. “Ah, but it did work out, didn’t it, Mr. Frodo?”
Frodo sighed contentedly, “It did,” he whispered low. "I suppose I'll be kissing him now instead of killing him," he winked. He wrapped his arms around Sam’s neck, kissed him slow and gentle then whispered low against his lips, “Perhaps, after we eat something (kiss) we can go back to my bedroom (kiss kiss) and take things much slower than before so that I may… read (kiss) between (kiss) the lines…(nip)” he muttered, catching Sam’s bottom lip gently between his teeth then letting go. “as Merry so bluntly put it. Apparently I don’t see very well,” Frodo said, smiling, his mouth over Sam’s again. “I certainly wouldn’t want to miss anything, Sam.”
Sam chuckled. “Aye,” he said, “I reckon you’ve seen one page already. Mayhap we can flip the page and see what happens next,” he suggested, with a shy grin. “Might be that we both missed more than we should have on that first go round.” He slid a hand down between Frodo’s legs, “But it ain’t just sight you’d be wantin’ to focus on,” he finished, squeezing him gentle.
Frodo groaned low, aroused instantly by Sam’s touch, his breath puffing hot against Sam’s neck.
“Oh Sam,” Frodo sighed then hugged him close. “I’m so in love with you, Samwise Gamgee.”
Sam hugged him back tight then let his hands run slowly up and down Frodo’s back in a massaging, soothing motion. Then he brought both hands up and cupped Frodo’s head, holding him close, burying his face in Frodo’s hair, “And I’m in love with you, Frodo Baggins,” he whispered in his ear, “and have been since the day I met you.”
Frodo pulled away, stared lovingly into Sam’s eyes, his own tearing a wee bit. He was so moved he didn’t know what to say.
Sam smiled then. He could see Frodo was lost for words so he kissed him on the forehead and pulled him back into that hug. “I don’t know about you but I’m feelin’ mighty hungry.”
Frodo giggled. It wasn’t often he found himself speechless, yet Sam had caused him to trip over his tongue more than once today. But then again, too, no one had ever said anything like that to him before, and he was glad for the save. “Me too, Sam, me too,” he smiled. “Let’s see what we can find.”
They prepared their meal in no time at all, and a rather large one at that, then sat together, contented, in the warm comfort of Bag End’s cozy little kitchen on this chilly, spooky night, and ate their supper, thankful for each other’s company, and grateful that today turned out the way that it did. But Sam had to chuckle a little. It was a rare sight to see Frodo eat such a large meal let alone watch him wolf it down like he was doing. But Sam followed suit for they had much better things to do and, after a quick cleanup, they found themselves laughing and stumbling their way back to Frodo’s room.
“Merry’s right,” Frodo giggled as they tripped and, luckily, fell onto his soft bed clutched in each others arms. “I’m blind as a bat.”
“Well, I reckon if we’d a’been willin’ to pull our lips apart some we coulda’ seen a bit more where we was goin’.”
Frodo giggled hysterically then smiling, said softly, “I don’t want to see anything but you, Sam.”
Sam kissed him gentle, “Then I reckon we better get some light in here,” he answered low then climbed off the bed and went over to the hearth. Frodo lit the small oil lamp on the bedside table and after all was said and done they were back on the bed, clothes flying every which way, clutched completely naked in each others arms again.
“Sam,” Frodo whispered low, already thrusting up against him. “Love me again, Sam, please?”
Sam smiled and hugged Frodo close to him. He planted a kiss in Frodo’s hair then pulled back and muttered, “Aye, I’ll do that, only… “ and he paused, looked Frodo in the face, smirking, “do you think you could do one thing for me?” he asked.
“Of course, Sam, anything,” Frodo replied fondly.
“Do you think, mayhap, you could try not to throw me off this next time?” he said with a huge grin.
Frodo burst out laughing, embarrassed though he was. “My apologies, Sam,” he said, chuckling, the color on his face taking on a shade of red Sam wasn’t quite sure he’d seen before. “I’m afraid fear has the most rude effect on me,” he said, trying very hard to look serious. “Turns me in to a monster you know,” he teased, and then burst out laughing again.
They both lay there giggling and after a moment Sam muttered with a smirk, “I reckon I’ll just have to tame you then.” Then rolled himself on top of Frodo and began rocking, thrusting slow and gentle this time, pressing his mouth to Frodo’s to stifle any further conversation then parted Frodo’s lips with his tongue and plunged deep inside.
The wind wasn’t the only thing howling on this spooky, autumn night.
~The End~
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! : D
Author: Frodo_naatulien
Pairing: F/S
Category: Pre-quest
Genre: AU
Rating: NC-17
Summary: An evening of spooky fun for our four hobbits turns out to be a real nightmare for Frodo.
Cornfields, Plow Horses, and Demons
(Part 2)
“Well, as I said, it happened a long time ago.” Frodo felt his throat suddenly go scratchy, covered his mouth politely and coughed into his hand a couple of times. “It didn’t even involve Merry,” he went on, “he was very young at the time, but he knows all about it.” And this made him angry again. “And for him to bring us out here and just leave us like this to get ourselves lost in this… this… forbidding cornfield is all too familiar and… if he thinks this is the least bit funny, I’ll give him something to laugh about all right. I’m going to kill him when I get my hands on him!”
Sam looked on without saying a word, simply waited patiently for Frodo to calm. Frodo clenched his jaw then sucked in a deep breath and continued.
“I was only around thirteen, or fourteen, at the time. I was living at Brandy Hall, as you know, and some older lads, there were three of them, tricked me and lured me into the Old Forest through a row of thick hedge that runs for miles along the Great East Road, Buckland side. They call it High-Hay, I’m sure you’ve heard of it.” Sam just nodded. “I don’t even remember now exactly how they got me in there but they did. I was such a fool. I was told over and over again, by my Uncle Sara, never to go in to those woods but I didn’t listen.”
More tears fell, but Frodo kept it together for the most part, his voice wavering only slightly, though it broke Sam’s heart to pieces. Seeing Frodo upset like this; all he wanted to do was grab him up, yank him in his arms and hold him. Instead, he swallowed the lump in his throat, focused his eyes on Frodo’s, and continued to listen.
“They lured me in and then… when they got me far enough in, where they knew I couldn’t find my way back out without their help, they all ran off and left me. I tried to run after them but I was much smaller than they were and I just couldn’t keep up, and suddenly I found myself all alone.” He paused again, trying to brush his windswept hair out of his eyes, and then continued.
Sam took careful note that Frodo’s breathing had become fast and shallow.
“There are many tales about the Old Forest, most of them quite unpleasant, that were told to me over the years by those lads and now… I found myself lost and alone in that very forest, the very place that haunted my dreams and startled me from sleep, countless times, drenched in a cold sweat and gasping for breath. And I was wholly terrified, Sam. Not only was I lost and alone in this frightening forest but… ” He swallowed hard again, choking back more tears, and was now shaking.
“Sam! They taunted me with dogs!” And then he paused, as if to catch his breath this time, brushed his sleeve across his face, and forced himself to go on. “I didn’t know it at the time, of course, but was told later that they had tied three dogs to a tree at the edge of the forest and, after running off and leaving me, went back and retrieved them then came back and followed me, keeping themselves hidden, of course, as I tried to find my way out. I could hear them running through the underbrush, barking and snarling ferociously. Only then, I thought they were wolves. They sounded more vicious than anything I’d ever heard. I simply started running, running as fast as I could. I didn’t know what else to do. And I didn’t dare look back. I was so afraid to look back, Sam. I didn’t want to see the vicious face of the creature that was about to tear me to shreds, piece by bloody piece… and literally,” he emphasized. “I’d developed a fear of dogs ever since that horrible incident with Farmer Maggot’s dogs, so you can imagine what my fear of a wolf would be. Most everybody knew of my fear, and apparently they did too, and used it against me.”
He paused, reached in his pocket, “I suppose, looking back on it now, the dogs weren’t chasing me at all, only trying to break free from their captors.” Then he let out a wry chuckle, “How do you like that? I forgot to put a tissue in my pocket. Bilbo would scold me for that you know,” he joked, trying unsuccessfully to put a smile on his face. Oh, how he wished that Bilbo were here now.
Sam reached in his own pocket and offered Frodo his. Frodo thanked him, blew his nose with shaking hands and went on-
“They nearly scared the life out of me, Sam. Or at least I thought so at the time. And if those lads wanted to leave their mark, I’d say they’ve more than succeeded, wouldn’t you?”
Sam was heartbroken. He found he had balled his hands into fists and was letting loose a few tears of his own. Why would anyone do such an awful thing to another, especially a kind person such as Frodo, and a child at that? There wasn’t a kinder, better soul than Frodo in all of Middle Earth and Sam thought to himself if he ever runs in to these lads, who’d be quite grown by now, mayhap even have young children of their own, well… he’d like to scare the fool out of them all right, give ‘em a taste of their own dangerous medicine.
“And that is the whole reason for Merry’s and my rift,” Frodo finished, as he stuffed the tissue in his pocket, not even noticing Sam’s tears through his own. “Merry thinks I’ve held on to that incident for far too long, that I should just let it be and bury it for good. And perhaps he’s right. But it didn’t happen to him and he just doesn’t understand that it’s not that easy. It happened a long time ago, I know that, and I don’t need him to tell me that. The incident frightened me horribly, Sam, and I don’t know that I’ll ever truly get over it. It happened about this same time of year, on a night much like tonight, and for Merry to act like he doesn't... Oh, I don’t know what’s gotten in to Merry for him to do this to us, Sam, I’m so sorry. But I can tell you, Merry’s going to be quite sorry when we get out of here!
He brushed his arm across his face, panic rising again in his voice. “Oh, Sam,” he cried, looking around frantically. “We have to get out of here. We have to get out of here before it gets too dark, Sam, please!” Frodo pleaded. And the next thing he knew he was wrapped tight and snug in Sam’s arms with Sam’s mouth covering his, gentling him with kisses, and guiding them slowly backwards until his back came into contact with something that felt much like the bark of a tree trunk.
Frodo gasped and then two things happened: One… Frodo’s heart stopped. Two… he’d never felt safer in all his life. Not in all his years at Brandy Hall, nor all the years in Bilbo’s care, not even the year and a half since Bilbo’s departure, with Sam up at Bag End day in and day out. Only here, now, held tight and snug in Sam’s arms did he feel wholly safe, and all the fear that he was filled with just moments ago seemed to vanish, like it was just picked up and carried off with that howling wind.
Sam pulled away slow then brought his lips to Frodo’s ear and whispered, “I won’t let nothin’ happen to you, Mr. Frodo. Not here, not ever. Not as long as I draw breath. I promise you that.”
He felt Frodo’s shaky grip tighten on his shirt, trying to pull him closer. It was a good sign indeed. And Frodo’s tight grip on his shirt and panting breath in his ear gave him the confidence he needed to take the next step. And since Frodo was now supported with his back against the tree, that next step was to press his body against Frodo’s and thrust his hips gentle as he could in to Frodo’s hips.
It turned out to be the right thing to do. Frodo’s breath caught in his ear and he felt Frodo harden to him instantly. It was the best thing he had ever felt in all his life. And if this was going to help Frodo forget his fears, and it sounded like it was - well, then, that was all the better.
Sam’s breath was heavy and his legs felt weak and jittery, and though he’d hoped and prayed for this very moment for as long as he could remember, and wanted Frodo right now more than he’d ever wanted him before, he was not going to go any further without making sure it was what Frodo wanted too. He was not about to take advantage of Frodo, or the situation.
Well, all right, mayhap just a little. He put his lips to Frodo’s temple, “Mr. Frodo?” he whispered soft then kissed him there gentle. And oh how Frodo’s hitching breath was music to his ears. “Are you all right with this, Mr. Frodo? I mean… is this what you want?”
Frodo squeezed his eyes shut. This couldn’t be happening. “Oh Sam,” he murmured. He drew his head back and let it rest against the tree trunk, gazing up at Sam, all of his fears silenced with Sam’s calmness and surety, and the sudden, startling awareness that Sam was wanting him in the way that he had wanted Sam for so very long. He had only one answer for him. “Oh Sam, yes… yes I do want this. More than you know.”
Sam was elated. He was excited, overjoyed, and just plain beside himself with happiness. He hadn’t planned this, he hadn’t planned any of it. It just happened. And, by the Valar, he was going with it - come what may.
“Then mayhap I can help you forget them bad thoughts for good,” he said. “Or…” and paused, sliding his tongue down Frodo’s throat and back up again. He felt Frodo’s legs buckle a bit but held him up with his own body, “mayhap I can plant some good thoughts to take the place of them bad thoughts - the kind that’ll put a smile on your face,” he whispered, then pressed his lips to Frodo’s again.
The wind was still tossing Frodo’s hair in his face, and now Sam's, so Sam pulled back and took both of his hands, ran his fingers through Frodo’s hair on either side of his head and held it back away from his face. He almost gasped aloud. Frodo’s hair was softer than he imagined, almost as soft as the pile of loose, down feathers he’d collected over the years from those that had worked their way out of Frodo’s pillows and bedcover every now and again. It felt so silky and wonderful in his hands he didn’t want to let go. He gazed tenderly into Frodo’s shimmering eyes, turned deep, sapphire-blue by the darkening skies, and the wanton look of desire on that beloved face staring back at him told Sam all he needed to know. Frodo had just given himself over to Sam right then and there. It shot a pain straight through to his groin, almost made him double over. There wasn’t another soul more beautiful than Frodo and Sam took his fill before leaning back in, pressing his lips to that beautiful face once more, dragging them slowly down along the side of Frodo’s face, across the sharp line of his jaw, kissing and nipping ever so gentle.
Frodo flung his arms around Sam’s neck, held on tight then thrust slow and hard against him. Sam was awakening a desire in him that he had learned to hide over the years and suddenly he was finding it very difficult to suppress that desire or concentrate much on anything now except Sam’s arms firmly holding him and Sam’s body pressed firmly against his. He felt incredibly safe yet had the faintest sensation that he was falling all of a sudden.
And that is exactly what was happening. Sam had taken them to the ground, bending cornstalks as they went down, to form a soft, makeshift bed. He laid Frodo gently down on them then crawled over him, straddling his hips then took his own coat off and placed it under Frodo’s head.
The wind was still gusting, the tops of the cornstalks whipping this way and that, but it didn’t penetrate down low into the field which made it that much more comfortable down close to the ground.
“Mr. Frodo, are you still scared?” Sam asked softly.
“No, Sam.”
“Would you be cold then?”
Frodo shook his head. “No, Sam. I’m quite warm.”
“But… but you’re still shakin’, sir.”
There was a brief pause then Frodo said, “It’s you, Sam.” Then chuckled at Sam’s confused look. “You’re making me shake, Sam,” he smiled. “Or tremble, I should say.”
Sam started to say something then caught Frodo’s meaning and simply muttered, “Oh!”
Frodo laughed and Sam bent down and kissed him quick on the lips and popped back up again. “Ah, now there’s a pretty sight, and no mistake,” Sam said, smiling. And now Frodo looked confused. “That’s the first true smile I’ve gotten out of you this entire day.”
They both chuckled lightly. Frodo could’ve made conversation but now was clearly not the time.
“Sam,” Frodo breathed, gazing up at him. “Let me see you, Sam. I want to see you.”
Sam ached like he’d never ached before. Frodo’s words turned over and over in his head - 'Let me see you, Sam. I want to see you. Yes… yes I do want this. More than you know. Sam, I want to see you' - making him dizzy. He began unbuttoning his shirt slowly, never taking his eyes from Frodo, while Frodo stared back at him, breathless. When he finished, Frodo’s hand went straight for the front of Sam’s breeches, trying to grab hold of and squeeze his trapped cock through his clothing. Sam rose up on his knees and pushed as best he could up against Frodo’s hand with a guttural moan, letting his shirt fall off completely.
Oh, why couldn’t they have a lantern, Frodo cursed to himself. He wanted to see Sam so bad, all of him.
And now, Sam went for the buttons on his own breeches, feeling way too restricted, and if he didn’t let himself out soon he was going to - meet his maker - as it were. He watched the intense look on Frodo’s face as he opened his breeches and let himself out, letting Frodo see him for the first time. He heard a soft whimper escape Frodo’s kiss-swollen lips and then Frodo’s brows furrowed, his eyes closed and he pushed up against Sam, hard, letting out a deep, throaty moan. And it was almost too much for Sam, for he thought he would burst from the loving expression on Frodo’s face alone. He dropped down and laid his body full length on top of Frodo, hugging him close and driving his hips gentle into Frodo’s, his breath heavy in Frodo’s ear.
Frodo moaned aloud. He was so highly aroused that his chest heaved in and out in a desperate attempt to get air in his lungs. “Oh Sam,” he groaned, lifting his hips, trying to push harder against him. “I want to feel you, Sam. I can’t feel you,” he panted almost desperate.
Sam wasn’t quite sure what he meant by that. He thought he might be too heavy for Frodo but now Frodo was saying he couldn’t feel him? Well that didn’t make any sense to him at all. He could feel Frodo all right, just as hard as he was. Only, how was it that Frodo was still buttoned up, he wondered. And then he chuckled.
“Oh!” was all he said then sat himself back up, spread Frodo’s coat open and began undoing the buttons on Frodo’s shirt - just like in his fantasy. “Oh sweet Eru!” was all he could put together. When he was done he spread it open ever-so-slowly, splaying his hands across his naked chest, and then practically fell back down on Frodo, his mouth latching soft and warm onto one of Frodo’s nipples. Frodo arched up, hissing through his teeth, while Sam licked and sucked gently and then Sam’s hand darted quickly to the front of Frodo’s breeches and the buttons there while his mouth went back up to Frodo’s. It didn’t take him long there either, and before either one of them had time to process what was about to happen, Sam pulled the front of Frodo’s breeches and underclothes open then laid himself back down on Frodo. And their naked bodies, though still not stripped of their clothing entirely, but in all the right places, were pressed together for the very first time; both of them crying out together, their hearts racing and pounding together as one, grinding their hard cocks into each other instinctively. They were both wild and desperate and their bodies began to sweat, despite the coolness in the air, from their frantic exertions. And still neither one could believe what was happening.
“Sam!” Frodo panted. His breathing was rapid and harsh and his body trembled uncontrollably with years of pent-up want and desire and the desperate need to finally share his love with Sam. “S-Sam,” he tried again. “ I’m… I’m already so close, Sam, I’m sorry,” he choked out breathless, fearing he’d not be able to stop himself, while his hands desperately latched on to the side pockets of Sam’s trousers and pulled Sam even tighter to him.
Oh, how Sam wanted to stay like this forever, Frodo writhing in this state of complete arousal beneath him but he, too, was right on the edge.
“Aye… well… “ Sam attempted to say then caught his breath, for he, too, was struggling for air. He knew he couldn’t hold back either. He’d wanted this so bad and, by the grace of the Valar, the time had finally come but it was all happening so fast and there was no stopping it, not now, and they hadn’t even touched each other but there wasn’t time. “I reckon, Mr. Frodo, I’ll be goin’ right along with you, if you take my meanin’.”
Frodo groaned and closed his eyes and then Sam reached down and took hold of Frodo’s wrists, brought them up beside his head and raised himself up on his own arms while holding Frodo down so he could drive his hips harder. And with a few more slippery thrusts - each into the other, and neither having to say when - their voices rose together in crescendo and a double dose of hot, wet liquid spilled out on their bellies between them. Their bodies jerked and twitched against each other, taut as bowstrings, until every last bit was expelled. And then they nuzzled and held each other, quivering, as they slowly recovered from their release, their gasps for breath intermingled.
It took them both a moment to catch their breath and when Frodo was finally able to catch his, he let his eyes open. And when he couldn’t see Sam in front of him, even though Sam was still on top of him, it seemed as if his breath was snatched right out of him again.
“Sam!” Frodo whispered loud and horrified. “Sam, it’s dark!”
Frodo’s fear came back ten-fold. He scrambled to his feet, practically throwing Sam clear off of him, while trying to button up his clothing. He stepped out on to the path then jumped, letting out a startled gasp at the huge, dark… then remembered the tree they’d been leaning up against.
Sam hadn’t quite come back to his normal self yet, “Mr. Frodo, don’t… don’t you want to clean up some?”
Frodo turned back, gave Sam an incredulous look, though he doubted Sam could even see him. “No! No, we can clean up later,” he whispered low, as though he thought they could be heard. But cleaning up was the last thing on his mind all of a sudden for panic was setting in fast. “Get your things back on, Sam, hurry!” Frodo looked around frantic, afraid to move. “Oh Sam, how will we ever find our way out of here now?” he said, alarm growing with each breath. “I never saw one cow bell in here, did you? We’ll never be able to find one now unless we run smack in to it. Oh, Sam, how are we to let them know we’re lost in here?” he babbled frantically. “And I don’t mind telling you, I’ll not be happy to wait until they harvest the field before they’re to find us.”
“Well that ain’t but a week or two off,” Sam said teasingly, thinking a little funnin’ might ease him a bit.
“That’s not funny, Sam!” Frodo replied, his breathing instantly short and rapid again. He said it a bit harsher than he’d meant to but fear was upon him now and it was real and he just wanted to get out of here.
“Now take it easy, Mr. Frodo,” Sam said as he picked himself up off the ground then chuckled to himself, "I reckon lovin’ only goes so far."
“Sam, I can barely see in front of my face. We’ll not be able t… “
“How many oak trees you think are in a cornfield, Mr. Frodo?” Sam interrupted suddenly, slipping his shirt back on and throwing Frodo’s train of thought.
“t-to… to get… what?” he asked, bewildered. “Sam, what on earth does that… “
“How many oak trees you think are in a cornfield?” Sam asked again then began chuckling at the totally perplexed look on Frodo’s face. For though he couldn’t see him clearly he could see just enough, and hear just enough.
“Sam, this is not a laughing matter. And I don’t understand why you’re asking me how many oak tr… “ And if Sam had been able to see clearly, he’d’ve seen Frodo’s face light up just now with sudden realization.
“None!” Frodo answered abruptly, and he too began to chuckle. “None, Sam! There aren’t any oak trees in a cornfield. There aren’t any trees in a cornfield,” he said excitedly.
“Aye, now, that’s what I were thinkin’,” Sam replied, lightheartedly. “And since this here’s an oak tree - that ain’t supposed to be here, mind you - then my guess is, we’re just on the outer edge of this here cornfield. Right close to gettin’ out if you follow me,” he finished, smiling, even though he’d figured it out earlier. But he wasn’t tellin’.
“Sam, you’re right! You’re absolutely right,” Frodo said, sighing with relief. “I do follow you, Sam, and I will follow you, straight out of this blasted cornfield. So please, lead the way… and quickly!” Frodo added, stepping to the side, and not wanting to stay in here one more second.
Sam chuckled, took Frodo’s hand in his - this time - and squeezed. Frodo simply smiled. “I reckon this way’s as good as any,” Sam said as he headed them around the other side of the oak tree.
They hadn’t gone but about twenty steps through the corn and they were out, with a huge sigh of relief coming from Frodo and an even bigger sigh of relief when they saw light coming from what must have been the entrance to the maze not too far off, which Sam confirmed.
“Aye, I reckon those are the lanterns I saw hangin’ on those big posts when we first went in. I can tell you, I’m mighty glad to see ‘em now,” Sam said, relief now heard in his own voice. They wasted no time at all in heading straight for them.
As they got closer they noticed more light. This light swinging about in lanterns being carried about by whom, they couldn’t make out.
“Oh!” Farmer Whitfurrow called out as they approached, minutes later, very relieved to see them. “There you are lads! I was just getting ready to send my boys in after you. Had me worried there for a bit, you did. Glad to see you found your way out. Did you have any trouble then?” he asked.
Frodo thought it best not to go into their ordeal and simply replied, “No, no trouble at all,” to avoid any further questions. Then asked, “My cousins, the two that went in with us, did you see them come out?”
“Oh yes, they came out about an hour ago. Said you all decided to split up and see who could get through the maze first. Told us to give you another hour or so then to go in after you, which is just what we were setting out to do when you came up on us here.” Then he exchanged a few words with one of his boys who walked over and grabbed two bags out of a large barrel and brought them back to his Da.
The farmer handed Frodo and Sam each a small, brown burlap bag with a picture of the plow horse painted in bright orange on the side and said, “Just a little something we like to give each of our guests to remember us by and to thank ‘em for coming.”
The bag contained one popcorn ball, a Butterscotch flavored candy on a stick in the shape of an ear of corn, a big red juicy apple, and a small pumpkin for pumpkin pie making.
“And if you want,” the farmer went on, “you can go on over there to the pumpkin patch and pick you out a nice pumpkin for carving to set at your doorstep on All Hallow’s Eve. We don’t open officially ‘til tomorrow so you’ve got the best of the lot to pick from.”
Frodo smiled to the farmer, looked to Sam, and then politely declined his offer. All he really wanted to do was get home to Bag End. And the sooner, the better. So they accepted their gifts graciously, along with a few much needed sips of water from the farmer's well, then thanked Mr. Whitfurrow and set off for home.
The walk home was a very pleasant one and so much nicer than the walk there. Frodo felt so much more at ease. In part, because this whole blasted ordeal was finally over now, but mostly because finally… after all these years, finally… he and Sam could love each other the way they’ve always wanted to love each other but were too afraid to confess to one another. He wondered if it hadn’t been for Merry if they would ever have confessed their love for each other. But now was not the time to think on that. Now was the time to walk home peacefully, hand-in-hand with Sam, and savor in his mind what they had just so intimately, and lovingly, shared together.
The walk home took more than an hour, though they could have easily walked it in forty-five minutes in daylight as they had on the way there. The darkness brought about cooler night air so there was a heavy fog hovering just above the ground that made for slower going, and the moon was out too, though trapped behind the thick layer of clouds, as had been the sun for most of the day, so it wasn’t much help in lighting their way. It actually looked spooky glowing behind the clouds like it was and Frodo thought to himself how eerie and ghostly it made everything look and that, before tonight, there would be no way he would be out here in these conditions. But things were different now. Sam was here with him, here with him in mind, body, and soul and he found he wasn’t scared in the least, especially since they weren’t in the cornfield anymore. They talked practically the entire way back, holding hands, confessing to each other all of their feelings and emotions, good and bad, that they’d had over the years for each other. It was quite a revelation for them both.
It was nearing the ninth hour when they reached Bag End, still holding hands, and Frodo felt like he’d walked more miles in this one day than he had the entire month. They entered through the back entrance and noticed two good-sized pumpkins at the back door. Merry and Pippin had obviously visited the farmers pumpkin patch and more than likely, Frodo assumed, they’d hitched a ride back on a pony-cart, for no way could he see his cousins carrying those large pumpkins all the way back to Bag End.
When they entered they were surprised to find Bag End’s kitchen with a well-lit fire burning in the hearth, and a kettle filled with water from the well waiting to be heated, and… a note on the table.
They set their things down and hung their coats up by the back door. Sam headed for the filled kettle on the stove and Frodo walked over to the table, swung his leg over the bench seat and sat down. He picked up the note slowly.
“It seems Merry’s guilt has caught up with him.” He began opening it then looked over at Sam and touched his hand lightly on the bench, “Come here and sit down with me, Sam, I think you should hear this also. If he’s apologizing, I imagine he will be apologizing to you too. He’d better be, he certainly owes it to you.”
Sam put the kettle on the stove for heating and walked over, straddled the bench also, and sat down at the table facing Frodo. Frodo felt his heart flutter then smiled. Just a tad bit closer and he could be sitting right in Sam’s lap. Oh, this was going to take some getting used to that was for sure. But oh, did it feel nice.
Frodo cleared his throat then began reading aloud-
Dear Frodo,
Pip and I are very sorry to have left you and Sam as we did.
Frodo stopped for a moment, “Well he’s off to a good start,” he said, still clearly annoyed with Merry, then went on.
I suppose I wouldn’t be too far off in assuming you were madder than a wet hen and… well, I suppose you had every right to be and I won’t hold it against you.
Frodo rolled his eyes. Merry had that right!
And before you decide to wad this up and toss it in the fire, as I’m sure you’ve already considered, please keep reading so that I may explain myself.
I admit I had fully planned on leaving you and Sam in there, I’m sorry, only not under those circumstances exactly. But since the opportunity, shall we say, slapped me in the face practically, then I thought it best for me to take full advantage of it.
I feel sure I’m not your number one cousin at the moment, but let me say that I had nothing but the purest of intentions and…
Merry’s words were already beginning to ease his heart, if not for the pitiable apology then for the absolute absurdity of the entire situation.
Blast it all, Frodo! One doesn’t have to be the sharpest tool in the shed to know that you and Sam have been pining for each other - for stars knows how long - forever it seems, and… well…
Frodo felt his face flush.
I don’t say this out of disrespect, dear cousin, so please don’t take this the wrong way, and you either Sam if you’re listening, but…
Sam’s an open book for bugger’s sake! If you can’t read between the lines then you’re as blind as a bat, Frodo, because everyone can plainly see where Sam’s heart is - everyone except you, that is.
Frodo paused and both he and Sam looked at each other in surprise, both of them blushing, before he continued.
And why Sam can’t see your face go through every shade of red under the sun whenever you lay eyes upon him, well… I’ll just never know!
To this Frodo’s mouth fell open. Merry always did have a way with words.
Anyway, what I’m trying to say, dear cousin, is that I hope things unfolded as I’d planned and that you and Sam are now reaping the benefits of, shall we say - my good intentions.
If, on the other hand, I have been sadly mistaken and saw things that weren’t really there - though I don’t see how that could be - then I am truly, very sorry and I shall make it up to you for the rest of my days. Pip and I will be staying at the Green Dragon tonight, as this was also part of my plan, so should you be in need of some comforting, you know where we’ll be. And just so you know, all drinks are on us.
Your ever-caring cousin,
Merry
P.S. One must face one’s own demons in order to rid one’s self of them. I hope it helped having Sam there with you.
Frodo let the note fall on the table, his mouth gaping open.
“He did know! Merry knew why I was upset and angry with him the entire time and he argued with me like that?! That little scamp! He knew! He planned this! He purposely used my fear of… to try to… Oh, and I’m not going to blame Pippin for any of this,” he said, ranting on, “I’m sure he did only what he was told to do. He might as well be a dog on a leash.”
And now Frodo began to chuckle. “A dog on a leash. That’s rather ironic, isn’t it, Sam?” And then he sighed, “Oh, if I didn’t love Merry so, and this hadn’t worked out the way that it did - and lucky for him, too, I might add - I would go out of my way to get back at him, I think.”
Sam’s arm slid around Frodo’s back pulling him just that tad bit closer, right into his lap. “Ah, but it did work out, didn’t it, Mr. Frodo?”
Frodo sighed contentedly, “It did,” he whispered low. "I suppose I'll be kissing him now instead of killing him," he winked. He wrapped his arms around Sam’s neck, kissed him slow and gentle then whispered low against his lips, “Perhaps, after we eat something (kiss) we can go back to my bedroom (kiss kiss) and take things much slower than before so that I may… read (kiss) between (kiss) the lines…(nip)” he muttered, catching Sam’s bottom lip gently between his teeth then letting go. “as Merry so bluntly put it. Apparently I don’t see very well,” Frodo said, smiling, his mouth over Sam’s again. “I certainly wouldn’t want to miss anything, Sam.”
Sam chuckled. “Aye,” he said, “I reckon you’ve seen one page already. Mayhap we can flip the page and see what happens next,” he suggested, with a shy grin. “Might be that we both missed more than we should have on that first go round.” He slid a hand down between Frodo’s legs, “But it ain’t just sight you’d be wantin’ to focus on,” he finished, squeezing him gentle.
Frodo groaned low, aroused instantly by Sam’s touch, his breath puffing hot against Sam’s neck.
“Oh Sam,” Frodo sighed then hugged him close. “I’m so in love with you, Samwise Gamgee.”
Sam hugged him back tight then let his hands run slowly up and down Frodo’s back in a massaging, soothing motion. Then he brought both hands up and cupped Frodo’s head, holding him close, burying his face in Frodo’s hair, “And I’m in love with you, Frodo Baggins,” he whispered in his ear, “and have been since the day I met you.”
Frodo pulled away, stared lovingly into Sam’s eyes, his own tearing a wee bit. He was so moved he didn’t know what to say.
Sam smiled then. He could see Frodo was lost for words so he kissed him on the forehead and pulled him back into that hug. “I don’t know about you but I’m feelin’ mighty hungry.”
Frodo giggled. It wasn’t often he found himself speechless, yet Sam had caused him to trip over his tongue more than once today. But then again, too, no one had ever said anything like that to him before, and he was glad for the save. “Me too, Sam, me too,” he smiled. “Let’s see what we can find.”
They prepared their meal in no time at all, and a rather large one at that, then sat together, contented, in the warm comfort of Bag End’s cozy little kitchen on this chilly, spooky night, and ate their supper, thankful for each other’s company, and grateful that today turned out the way that it did. But Sam had to chuckle a little. It was a rare sight to see Frodo eat such a large meal let alone watch him wolf it down like he was doing. But Sam followed suit for they had much better things to do and, after a quick cleanup, they found themselves laughing and stumbling their way back to Frodo’s room.
“Merry’s right,” Frodo giggled as they tripped and, luckily, fell onto his soft bed clutched in each others arms. “I’m blind as a bat.”
“Well, I reckon if we’d a’been willin’ to pull our lips apart some we coulda’ seen a bit more where we was goin’.”
Frodo giggled hysterically then smiling, said softly, “I don’t want to see anything but you, Sam.”
Sam kissed him gentle, “Then I reckon we better get some light in here,” he answered low then climbed off the bed and went over to the hearth. Frodo lit the small oil lamp on the bedside table and after all was said and done they were back on the bed, clothes flying every which way, clutched completely naked in each others arms again.
“Sam,” Frodo whispered low, already thrusting up against him. “Love me again, Sam, please?”
Sam smiled and hugged Frodo close to him. He planted a kiss in Frodo’s hair then pulled back and muttered, “Aye, I’ll do that, only… “ and he paused, looked Frodo in the face, smirking, “do you think you could do one thing for me?” he asked.
“Of course, Sam, anything,” Frodo replied fondly.
“Do you think, mayhap, you could try not to throw me off this next time?” he said with a huge grin.
Frodo burst out laughing, embarrassed though he was. “My apologies, Sam,” he said, chuckling, the color on his face taking on a shade of red Sam wasn’t quite sure he’d seen before. “I’m afraid fear has the most rude effect on me,” he said, trying very hard to look serious. “Turns me in to a monster you know,” he teased, and then burst out laughing again.
They both lay there giggling and after a moment Sam muttered with a smirk, “I reckon I’ll just have to tame you then.” Then rolled himself on top of Frodo and began rocking, thrusting slow and gentle this time, pressing his mouth to Frodo’s to stifle any further conversation then parted Frodo’s lips with his tongue and plunged deep inside.
The wind wasn’t the only thing howling on this spooky, autumn night.
~The End~
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! : D