WHO: Sam Gamgee and Frodo Baggins WHAT: Frodo needs some fall decorations WHEN: Backdated to just before the silence plot WHERE: Gamgee Gardening RATING: Family Friendly STATUS: Complete
Frodo was trying to get out of the house more often. Although he didn’t blame Merrill, and certainly not baby Samwise, he’d come to treat his obsession with the Ring as a sort of cabin fever. He’d been needed at home more than ever now that Merrill was back to work--and his job was far more flexible. He could work from home. But spending so much time between the same walls had turned him back on to some of the old, anxious habits of his reclusive youth. To the point, he needed to get out, and now that his son was sturdy enough to travel, there were no more excuses. And because he was very behind on his autumn decorating, Frodo had decided to drive to Sam’s father’s shop, in the hopes that he’d find everything he’d need in one place.
Sam had been out at another client’s place, doing some major overhaul on part of their yard, so when he pulled into the parking lot of the shop, he was exhausted. Luckily, he didn’t have another job that day, so after checking in with his dad he would get to go home and just collapse. He’d been so busy lately that he hadn’t seen or talked to any of his friends and he made a mental note to text Padme soon and go drop in on Navi at the nursery. For now though, he just wanted to go home.
Getting out of the truck, he ran a hand through his hair as he made his way towards the shop, not even noticing Frodo’s car.
Frodo already had a bundle of things in his cart--and a baby strapped to his chest in BabyBjörn. He was piling in gourds and mums, pretty much anything that sparked his fancy and bespoke the season. California, as it was, didn’t get many seasons. In a special way decorations helped to remind everyone what time of year it was.
The Gamgees’ shop didn’t have nearly as many plants as Navi’s nursery did, which was why Sam always went there to get his plants and things for clients, but they did like to have something for clients and potential clients to look at when they came in. It was mostly seasonal items they carried, which were easier to get and take care of.
Sam’s dad was at the front of the shop, making a few notes on his laptop on a few clients’ pages when Sam approached. Up until a few years ago, Sam’s dad had insisted on keeping all files in folders and filing cabinets, which had eventually become too difficult to keep up with, so Sam and his mother decided to bring his father into the twenty first century.
Frodo caught the motion out of the corner of his eye, immediately recognizing the man who had come to be a friend in this world, and whom he so loved in the last one. “Sam!” he called, making his way through the aisles.
Sam turned at the sound of his name being called and was surprised to see Mr. Baggins. He had to do a double take in fact, because aside from the dreams, he had never seen Frodo anywhere outside his home, “Hi, Mr. Baggins.” His father didn’t know about the dreams and Sam didn’t usually befriend their customers and clients, so calling him Frodo would have seemed odd to his father, “Have you met my father?” As far as Sam knew, his father and Frodo had only ever spoken over the phone, but there were probably things that Sam wasn’t aware of.
Yes, but in another world, Frodo knew Sam’s father rather well, even if he was from Bilbo’s generation. He was an important hobbit in Hobbiton. He recognized him right away, and then had to pretend they’d never met. “No, I haven’t had the pleasure.” He held out his hand. “Your son does all the gardening at my house. And an excellent job of it.”
Frodo’s eyes were much more clear than the last time his path had crossed with Sam’s.
Sam’s father smiled at the complement Frodo gave to Sam, “He’s a hard worker. He’d stepped up a lot over the last few years.” They did have a few other employees, but Sam was the one who worked on the bigger clients’ yards most often.
“Hey, I’m just doing my job.” Sam shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest.
Frodo smiled warmly. He was a happy thing to see Sam and The Gaffer standing side-by-side. “Well, my property has never looked better. I never had a green thumb. My wife appreciates the work, since this little man keeps her so busy.” Baby Samwise squirmed in his carrier. Frodo stopped just short of sharing his son’s name.
For a moment, Sam had thought Frodo was going to mention the baby’s name, which would have been slightly awkward. Samwise was a very uncommon name and chances were, Sam’s father would have asked Frodo how they had come up with the name and then Frodo would have had to come up with something on the spot.
“I’m glad to hear that you’re satisfied with Sam’s work.” Sam’s father said, smiling as he glanced down at baby Samwise, “How old is he?” Sam had mentioned Frod and Merrill’s son before, but Sam’s father could get so busy with the shop that he didn’t always remember certain details of conversations.
The older Sam did have reason to be nervous, because Frodo’s mind was occasionally like a sieve. The years alone has left him a little, hm, socially awkward. But he had his bearings at the moment. “Quite nearly six months.”
“I remember when Sam was that age.” Sam knew that if he didn’t stop his father, then he was bound to tell some embarrassing story and that was the last thing Sam needed his father to do in front of Frodo.
“Dad, I’ve got the check from the Jones’.” Sam pulled the folded up slip from his pocket and handed it to his father so the older man would go into the back to put into the safe, “I’ll mark it off on their file.” His father nodded, said goodbye to Frodo then headed into the back.
Frodo was quiet for a few moments. The silence hung in the air, pregnant with meaning. At last he smiled. “You know, I recall your father from my dreams of the Shire,” he said, lowering his voice just in case old Gamgee could still hear.
“If he stayed out here any longer he was going to start telling embarrassing stories and he’s told way too many people those stories.” Sam explained, smirking a little as he glanced down at baby Samwise then back up at Frodo, nodding at what he said, “I know what you mean. I have the same thing now. Memories of him here and memories of him there. It’s a little weirder than having memories of you here and there, because I’ve known him longer here.” He hoped that, that made sense to Frodo.
Frodo bit his lip as his smile broadened. What would Sam think when he saw himself with Rosie Cotton and a small army of little ones. “I wonder if your father will ever dream...” he wondered aloud, glancing back towards the door. Not everyone did, not everyone did at the same rate. “I wonder if my son will appear at any point…” But he highly doubted it.
Sam shrugged, “I’ve wondered the same thing about my dad, but so far he hasn’t brought up any hobbit related conversations,” He wonder what exactly his father would dream if he did. Probably mostly just Hobbiton stuff. As far as he recalled from the dreams, his father spent pretty much all his time in The Shire.
It was then that Frodo’s smile finally began to fade, though it didn’t disappear altogether. His expression became full of thought. “If we have been set aside,” he began, “Why do you think that is?”
“Do you mean, why are we the only two having the same dreams?” Not for the first time, Sam wondered how the dreams worked. “Because if that’s the case then I have no idea.” Frodo had mentioned that Merry had been in Orange County before and he’d had dreams, but he’d left. Did that mean his dreams stopped? Sam had no idea.
Frankly, Frodo had no idea, either. Since he’d moved back to Texas, Merry had fallen quiet, the same way had Gandalf; and Pippin, the last in their hobbit troop, had yet to appear. “I have no idea, either. Although I do know I’m glad you’re here, more so than anyone else who traveled with us.”
Sam may not have had any idea how the dreams worked, but he was pretty sure it had something to do with Valarnet. How a website could cause strange past life or other life dreams or whatever they were, Sam didn’t know, but it appeared that those were the only people having the dreams right now, “Well, I’m glad too. It’s definitely weird, but it’s fun and I’m glad I got the chance to meet you here. I think I’d be even more confused about everything if I hadn’t met you.”
“Hey, if there’s anything I can ever do to help,” replied Frodo, placing his basket on the counter. After all, Sam Gamgee had journeyed with him across Middle-earth. They’d nearly died together, and Sam was perhaps the only reason why they hadn’t on many occasions.
Sam smiled, “Of course. I’ll let you know if there’s anything you can do.” He was wondering exactly what was going to happen in his next dream now that he and Frodo had branched off from the rest of the Fellowship. He just hoped it was nothing bad.