Title: Gardening is All About Filling Holes
Author: Kait
Rating: G
Pairing: Sam/Frodo
Summary: The seeds of loyalty were planted in Frodo Baggins' heart long ago...


Gardening is All About Filling Holes

Sam had always loved planting things. From the time he was old enough to toddle after the Gaffer in the little garden at number 3 Bagshot Row, Sam had his mind in the Earth and his fingers in the soil.

"Knows his place, that boy does. Born to garden," old Hamfast used to say with a proud smile and a twinkle in his eye. It wasn't long before he was helping out at Bag End, weeding and pruning, but mostly planting and tending to saplings and budding flowers with a reverence and natural ability that seemed out of place for a child.

When Frodo Baggins came to live at Bag End after the death of his parents, there was a hole in his heart too large for even the kind and patient Bilbo to fill. Sam remembered clearly the day that Bilbo's young heir arrived. Morose and silent, he did not exit the house for three whole days. When he did, it was at Bilbo's urging and he got no further than the garden.

"The fresh air will do you good, lad," Bilbo insisted, a hand between Frodo's shoulders gently pushing him out of the door. "You can properly greet Master Hamfast and young Samwise." Frodo nodded mutely, looking small and scared. He was far too thin and pale, even Sam, young as he was, saw that. And so forlorn. Sam could feel his heart breaking and stopped what he was doing to stare. The Gaffer caught him and cuffed him lightly on the shoulder.

"It ain't polite to stare, Sam-boy," he said sternly. "Young Master Frodo don't need to be gawked at." Sam bit his lip and frowned, stepping behind his Gaffer as Bilbo and Frodo approached. "Hello there, Mister Bilbo; Young Master Frodo. What would ye be needin’ today?"

"Just getting Frodo out from that musty hole and into the light. That old study is no place for a growing teenager." Frodo's eyes were trained to his feet and he said nothing.

"Mind your manners, boy!" Bilbo said firmly, but not unkindly. "Say hello to the Gaffer and his boy." Frodo looked up, embarrassed, and offered the weakest of smiles. Sam was immediately taken with the boy's eyes. Bright blue. Stunningly bright blue although they were rimmed with red.

"Hello," he said meekly. "I'm Frodo Baggins. I'm pleased to see you again, Master Gamgee." Sam stuck his head around the Gaffer's knees and was soon pulled out by his shirt collar.

"Tis a pleasure to be seein' you again, though it's a right awful reason. This'd be me youngest, Samwise." Sam remained silent, blushing slightly. "Go on, Sam, greet the young master right proper. You're old enough to know that."

"Hullo, Mister Frodo," Sam muttered shyly. Satisfied, Bilbo and Hamfast turned to business.

"There's a bit of a problem with that side hedge, Mr. Bilbo. If you'd be havin' a minute, we could take a look." Bilbo quickly agreed and turned to his new heir.

"Now Frodo, you be a good lad and stay back here. I don't want to hear you a mucking about in the house again." Frodo nodded sullenly and sunk into the bench against the house, leaning back and staring at his hands.

"And you leave Mr. Frodo to his business, boy," the Gaffer warned. "Go and tend to them posies and mind yourself." Sam nodded and watched them go, quietly returning to the garden. He sighed with almost audible relief as he sunk his hands into the soil. It was cool and familiar and he soon set to work movie and planting and tending to the small flowers. After a few moments he suddenly realized there was another presence behind him. He turned slowly and met Frodo’s eyes. He couldn't help the blush.

"Would you be needin' something, Mister Frodo?" he asked. Frodo shook his head.

"I was just wondering what you were so entranced by," he said with a sheepish shrug.

"It's just Mr. Bilbo's posies," Sam murmured. "They're right pretty this year." Frodo nodded and kneeled down next to Sam, watching as his fingers pressed the soil gently around each flower's stem. When he was done, he looked up and was surprised to see tears in Frodo's eyes. "Are you okay, Mr. Frodo?"

"My Mum liked posies," he whispered. Same rocked back and tentatively placed a hand on Frodo’s shoulder.

"Don't be sad, Mr. Frodo," he said pleadingly. "Please!"

"My mum and da are dead, Samwise," he sniffled. "And they've taken me from Brandy Hall. I love my Uncle Bilbo, but no one here does anything but spread rumors about us. I feel like I have no one left for me in the world." He curled up, pulling his knees to his chest and laying his head on the top of them. Sam threw his arms around the other hobbit without even giving it a second thought.

"Oh, Mister Frodo, don't think that!" he cried. "You're not alone! You have Mister Bilbo! And...and me! I won't leave you, Mr. Frodo, not ever! Don't you worry about it, no sir! You can go all across the Shire and I won't go leaving you all alone by yourself! I'll make sure that I can stay and take care of you, because that's what my Gaffer says. He says, 'Sam, Mr. Bilbo brought Mr. Frodo to live with him and be his heir and you make sure that he stays happy and that he gets taken cared of!' And I says, 'Of course, I'll take cared of him, da!' and I will, don't you think I won't!" It was probably more than Sam had ever said to anyone all at once before in his life, but he couldn't stop himself. Frodo needed it. Frodo needed him, someone to watch him, just like the Gaffer had said. Sam didn't know exactly why, but he wanted to be that person more than anything else in all of Middle Earth.

"I don’t want a servant, Sam," Frodo said with a small laugh, despite the tears that continued to flow. "But...I'd like a friend."

"Whatever you need, sir! I promise. I promise forever and ever."

---

"He hasn't left the ringbearer's side since they arrived." Elrond came to stand behind Gandalf, staring down at the two hobbits in front of him. Samwise Gamgee was leaning over the large Elven bed that Frodo Baggins was situated in, sleeping restlessly with his hand wrapped tightly around that of his companion. Frodo had been in a healing coma for many days, now.

"And he shan't for as long as they're both living, I think," Gandalf replied. "The seeds of loyalty and love were planted in Frodo Baggins' heart many years ago, Lord Elrond. And Samwise Gamgee is a most excellent gardener."


.end.