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At first,
neither of them truly believed in the existence of spirits. Of course, they had heard stories and fairytales about them, when
they were children, but they just never took the time to think about it… they never believed in their hearts. But on
a beautiful, blessed night, both Frodo and Sam witnessed something special, something they were both a big part of…
something that would change their lives forever…
Sam looked up from
the flowers he was tending to in their garden to see the Gaffer standing on the front steps of their small hobbit hole. “Sam
my boy… I have something to tell you” said the Gaffer quietly. “W-what is it, Gaffer?” Sam asked with
concern in his voice. As he looked at his father, he couldn’t help but notice the traces of deep worry in his face.
What was going on? The Gaffer hardly ever worried about anything… Now he motioned for Sam to follow him inside. Hesitantly
Sam followed him into the kitchen. “Please sit down, Sam” said the Gaffer and Sam pulled slowly up a chair from
beside the table and looked questioningly at his father. The Gaffer sighed and laid his hand upon Sam’s own hand, which
he was resting on the table. “Yes?” Sam whispered quietly. “My lad…” said the Gaffer, “I…
I am not so young anymore… time is slowly taking away my strength… I cannot work anymore as well as I once used
to”, and here he let out a deep sigh. “Sam… we are poor… very, very poor. I have not worked for ages,
and your dear mother has been ill… Sam, do you understand what I am trying to say? We are in desperate need of money!
Soon we will starve!” Sam let out a small gasp, and was completely speechless for a moment. Then, he looked his father
in the eyes, and said doubtfully, “You… you are playing some trick on me, aren’t you, Gaffer? It cannot
be true! Tell me! Tell me it isn’t true! G-Gaffer…?” The Gaffer just looked at his son with grief, without
uttering a word. Suddenly Sam understood it all… he understood it all too well… He held out his hand and
laid it on his father’s shoulder in comfort. And together they sat in silence for a long time.
Frodo covered his mouth
with his hand in shock. He had been standing outside the Gamgees’ kitchen window, just about to pop up and say hello.
But he had stopped dead in his tracks when he accidentally overheard the Gaffer’s words. Not wanting to hear more, Frodo
retreated from the window as quietly as he could, and ran like the wind back to Bag End. He did not stop until he reached
the round front door, opened it and ran inside. There, he slammed the door shut behind him and slumped down on the floor with
his back resting against the door. He and his uncle Bilbo had not known the Gamgees for very long, and yet, Frodo felt like
they were the nicest hobbits ever, and he had especially taken a liking to young Samwise. But now it pained his heart to hear
how bad things actually were for them. This wasn’t right at all. Something had to be done… And that was when he
decided that the Gamgees would not have to suffer, not if he could help it!
He got up and determinedly
made his way towards Bilbo’s study. He knocked carefully at the door. “Uncle Bilbo? May I come in?” he called
softly. The only answer he got was a quiet “mm-hmm” from inside the study. Frodo opened the door and entered.
He had only been living a short time at Bag End, and had never actually been inside Bilbo’s study before. As he looked
around him at all the books and piles of parchment, Bilbo lifted his head from a piece of parchment he had been writing on.
He appeared to have been deep in thought. “Yes, Frodo, dear boy, what is it?” he asked. “Uh… I’m
sorry to interrupt your work, uncle…” Frodo began timidly, but Bilbo just gave a small wave with his hand. “Oh,
no need to apologize, my lad, it’s quite all right. Now, what do you have in mind?” “Uncle Bilbo…
I’ve only just heard… the Gamgees are not well. Not well at all. We have to help them.” And he told Bilbo
everything he had overheard by the window. When he had finished, Bilbo did not say anything for a long while and just seemed
lost deep in thought again. “Uncle?” Frodo had to give him a slight nudge to make sure he hadn’t fallen
asleep, as he sometimes used to. “Yes, Frodo… yes, what do you suggest?” Frodo thought for a while, and
then he said, “We should let the Gaffer and Samwise work for us here at Bag End. They could work in the garden, and
we could pay them for it. Then they will not have to starve. Please, uncle Bilbo, say you will agree to this… the Gamgees
are honourable and decent hobbits. They are our dear friends and we both want what’s best for them… so what do
you say, uncle?” Bilbo nodded and said, “You are an amazing young hobbit, Frodo Baggins, do you know that? You
always have everybody else’s best interests at heart… and that is a quality very few of us here possess. Treasure
that quality, Frodo, and always remember that goodness is rewarded. I would be honoured to have the Gamgees work for us…
nothing would make me more happy.” Frodo’s eyes brightened at the sound of Bilbo’s words and he threw his
arms around his uncle and hugged him warmly. “Thank you, Bilbo” he whispered before he let go of him.
On his way out, his
eyes suddenly fell on a small green bottle on a shelf. He reached out and held it up, and when beams of light hit its surface,
it glittered like it was covered with hundreds of small jewels. “What is this?” he asked Bilbo. “Oh, that,
dear child, is a rare gift from the elves”. Frodo looked at Bilbo in amazement. “Yes” Bilbo continued, “Elrond
of Rivendell gave it to me once. And he said that one small drop of this will give you strength and make you feel so much
better, even if you were very ill”. “This is amazing!” Frodo exclaimed, to which Bilbo just sighed and said,
“Yes, well, I really don’t think that it will be of any use to me. You take it, go on”. Frodo was just about
to say that he couldn’t take it, but Bilbo insisted on it. “Well… if you say so, uncle Bilbo… I’ll
take it. Thank you”. Bilbo simply smiled and nodded. Then, Frodo left the study and gently closed the door behind
him, once again leaving Bilbo to his own thoughts and memories.
The next morning, Frodo
made his way towards the Gamgees’ hobbit hole to tell them about his plans to help them, and to ask them if they would
agree. But as he neared his destination, he suddenly got the feeling that something was wrong… and the feeling started
to get stronger and stronger all the while. By the time he had reached the Gamgees’ beautiful garden, he hesitated and
stopped. As he looked at the small hobbit hole, he could almost sense a deep grief that was surrounding the house. The very
air of it was different, so full of sorrow. Slowly, Frodo approached the front door and knocked on it a few times. At first,
nothing happened for a while, and he had to knock loudly several times to announce his arrival. He was just about to turn
around and leave, when the door slowly opened. But it wasn’t Samwise or the Gaffer behind the door. “Doctor Burrows?”
Frodo exclaimed in amazement, “What are you doing here, sir?” The doctor just gave Frodo a sad look and said,
“You had better follow me, young master Baggins…” Frodo felt as if he was going to faint. What was this?
He quickly picked up the pace alongside doctor Burrows as they made their way towards the bedroom. Before the doctor opened
the bedroom door, he turned to Frodo and said, “I must warn you, master Baggins… young Samwise is very ill…
He has got a fever the likes I have never seen before in my life… He has been delirious for hours and has been calling
out your name. I will have to ask you to stay calm and be strong for him. Can you do that?” Frodo swallowed hard and
simply nodded. He was completely lost for words. Slowly they opened the door and entered.
The bedroom was dimly
lit and the curtains were drawn. Frodo gasped at the sight of Sam lying in bed, feverishly muttering inaudible words. At his
bedside sat the Gaffer with his head bowed, holding Sam by the hand. Frodo walked slowly to stand beside the Gaffer and laid
a hand on his shoulder. “Gaffer… how is he?” Frodo’s words got somehow stuck in his throat and they
came out merely as a quiet whisper. The Gaffer turned to look at Frodo, “He is not well at all… doctor Burrows
says that… h-he says that…” he could not go on anymore and closed his eyes in sorrow. Shocked, Frodo
turned to face the doctor, “What? What is it, doctor? He’s going t-to be all right, isn’t he?” When
the doctor did not answer, Frodo grew impatient. “Isn’t he?! Why isn’t anyone telling me anything?! Please,
doctor…” Doctor Burrows laid his hand on Frodo’s shoulder and looked him in the eyes. But Frodo had already
begun to understand. His blue eyes widened and tears started to well up in them. Sam was going away… “No…”
Frodo gasped, “Oh no! Doctor… tell me you can help him! Tell me he will be all right again! Tell me…”
The doctor held unto Frodo with both hands to make him stand still. “Shhhh… calm down, Frodo… calm down…”
Frodo obeyed immediately but his breathing was still fast as if he had been running at great speed. He looked at the doctor
intensively, waiting for an answer. Doctor Burrows looked away for a second, as if it was very hard for him to speak, but
when he at length spoke, it was with a great effort. “I have done all that I can. I am so sorry.”
A few hours had now
passed since doctor Burrows had broken the devastating news to Frodo. It was now past noon and Frodo was sitting alone at
Sam’s bedside, watching over him, gently stroking his hair and speaking soft comforting words. Doctor Burrows had ordered
the Gaffer to get some sleep, while he himself had had to travel to Bywater. The Gaffer had trusted Frodo to take care of
Sam for as long as it took, but if things started to look far worse, he would have to be summoned immediately. While Frodo
sat there beside Sam’s bed, he understood that all he could do now was wait. He wanted nothing more than to help his
dearest friend in any way that he could, but he knew that there was nothing he could do. How he had prayed the valar for help…
How he had unsuccessfully searched in old books about the healing of old deceases… How he had wished for things to be
well again. As he sat there in silence, he suddenly started to softly sing Sam a lullaby he remembered his mother singing
to him once…so long ago…
Leave your sorrow behind
Fall into slumber deep
Just close your weary eyes
‘Tis now time to sleep
Let gentle winds take you
Wherever you may please
Where all is well and beautiful
Where you can be at peace
Sleep well, don’t shed a tear
Now mists and dreams unfurl
And close your tired heart
To the worries of this world
Far beyond the stars and moon
The winds of sleep will take you
Don’t be afraid, for you are safe
No evil will now break you
Let guarding spirits guide you
And bless your heart with light
In prayers I will remember you
For always, day and night
So close your eyes and do not weep
For I am always near you
Just fly, fly, let your heart be free
In dreams that softly carry you
During the song, Sam
suddenly grew very calm and still. He no longer muttered inaudible words, and no longer did his hands twitch. Frodo’s
voice trailed off and he broke down in bitter tears. It was so quiet now… Sobbing softly, Frodo leaned over Sam’s
still body and tenderly kissed his hair as his tears fell over Sam’s pale cheeks.
Still weeping heartbreakingly,
Frodo dashed out of the room and out the front door. When he reached the garden, he stopped, took a deep breath and let out
an agonised cry, which came from the very bottom of his broken heart. “This is not fair!” he shouted through his
tears, looking up to the heavens. “Why?! Why are you taking him, he who hasn’t done anything wrong!”, and
calming down a bit, he then whispered, “He means so much to me… do not let him die…” All of a sudden
Frodo turned around and to his amazement saw a blinding light emerging from inside Sam’s bedroom. Startled, he ran back
inside and, following the light, made his way back to the bedroom, where the light came from. Suddenly he noticed how quiet
and dark everything was. Only minutes ago the sun had been shining, but now dark clouds covered the sun. No birds were singing
outside any longer… time itself seemed to stand still. Slowly, Frodo re-entered the bedroom, and there he witnessed
something extraordinary. The sight that met his eyes there would alter his view on life for all eternity
There, surrounded by
a bright halo of light, carried by a strong, cool breeze, as beautiful and frightening as the day and night, and more powerful
than eternity, stood a beautiful woman, clad in white robes. Her hair was also white, and it was swaying lightly in the breeze.
At first, Frodo thought she was an elf, but when he looked closer, he noticed that she seemed to be floating in the air. Her
hands were outstretched towards Sam’s lifeless body on the bed. Gasping, Frodo backed away against the wall, not being
able to believe his eyes. After a while, he finally got the courage to speak. “W-what is going on…? Who are you?”
Slowly the spirit turned to look at Frodo. And when she spoke, it was like her voice came from everywhere around Frodo, and
it was frightening. “The time has come for this young hobbit to go. I have come to take him with me”. Frodo’s
vision was blurred by the tears in his eyes. “He has been brave”, the spirit said, “he has fought hard,
but he is losing the battle. He will be at peace soon”. “Spare him…” Frodo pleaded in a whisper, “Do
not take him yet, please… I-I will do anything, I promise, take me instead, but let him live…!” The spirit
paid no heed to his words, but extended her hands over Sam again. “No…” Frodo gasped through his sobs. If
only he could do something to save Sam… if only there was a way… In his desperation, he accidentally brushed with
his hand against his vest pocket, and felt a small lump there. He reached his hand into the pocket and pulled out the small
green bottle Bilbo had given him the day before. He had forgotten all about it, and now, as he looked at it as it glittered
in his hand, something woke up inside of him. An insane, desperate idea, which was still worth a try
Gathering up all the
courage he could muster, Frodo ran over to Sam, sat down on the bed beside him, and quickly opened the bottle. Then he gently
poured some of the liquid into Sam’s throat and held his arms about him to protect him. “Come back to me, Sam…”
he whispered as the breeze in the room started to grow into a small storm, “Come back… please come back…”
He squeezed his eyes shut, holding a firm grip of Sam, but despite his eyes were closed, he could still see how the light
behind him grew stronger and stronger, until he no longer dared to look behind him again.
And all of a sudden everything went quiet and dark again.
Slowly, Frodo opened
his eyes and carefully looked over his shoulder. The room was back to normal, and no sign of anything out of the ordinary
could be seen. He was so bewildered by what had just happened that he didn’t realize that Sam was talking to him. “What’s
the matter, Frodo?” “Nothing, Sam…” Frodo began to say dismissively, but it wasn’t until then,
when he realized that Sam had actually just spoken. “What?!” Frodo shouted in amazement and turned to look at
Sam. He was sitting up in bed and his eyes were bright and his lips wore a smile. Completely lost for words, Frodo couldn’t
at first believe what he was seeing, and slowly he reached out his hands and gently touched Sam’s cheeks. Sam looked
at him quizzically, “Are you all right, Frodo?” And like he had woken up from a nightmare, Frodo suddenly embraced
Sam and wept once more. “You are alive…” he said quietly. “I feel so much better” Sam reassured
him, “Only a while ago I didn’t know if I would have the strength to fight anymore… but then I tasted something
that I can’t explain… it was like the nectar of the rarest and most beautiful flowers in the world, and it gave
me strength and hope…”
And all at once Sam
noticed the small bottle in Frodo’s hand. He looked at Frodo in deep gratitude, for he now understood that it was he
who had saved him. “You are a very lucky hobbit, Samwise Gamgee” said Frodo, “You must have a guardian angel
up there somewhere…” But Sam simply took Frodo by the hand and said, “It seems now that I have my very own
guardian angel right here with me”.
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