Chapter 7 – Part 2 Chapter 7 – Part 1
Chapter 6 – Part 2 Chapter 6 – Part 1
Chapter 5 – Part 4 Chapter 5 – Part 3
Chapter 5 – Part 2 Chapter 5 – Part 1
Chapter 4 – Part 2 Chapter 4 – Part 1
Chapter 3 – Part 2 Chapter 3 – Part 1
Chapter 2 – Part 3 Chapter 2 – Part 2
Chapter 2 – Part 1 Chapter 1
by Silent Draco
Chapter 8, Part 2 – To Please the Gardner
Sam, meanwhile, was entranced by plantings of nasturtiums, anemones, something which appeared like elanor but more brilliant, and trellised roses. “These are lovely, simply lovely! The colors are tremendous. Now,” he paused thinking deeply, “I’ll want to shift those taller orange and gold flowers and coreopsis there, with bluebells here, underfoot for them – better sun. I want a path to draw us out from the courtyard, lines with marigolds and pansies – oh, red, purple, an explosion of color of their choice. Out here … hmmm. A separate low bed to invite us out to walk. Aha! Massed snapdragons (best kind of dragon) in the center, with perhaps a border of thyme.” Coming back to himself, he whirled, embarrassed, to the Noldo. “I beg yer pardon, my lady! This is all lovely, and I would not want to spoil yer …” Moirendi laughed, low and long, smiling while shaking out her tresses. “No, No, Young One! This is our gift to you, a home to abide with us a while. We made a first selection from flowers we like, and will be glad to open our gardens for other choices.” Sobering a bit, she knelt down to smell some flowers. “Delightful. But for it to be your home, you should select and grow what your find a delight, which eases heart and spirit.” Sam nodded absently, thinking out loud, “Aye, an’ we ain’t making a journey back. Home will it be, so I’ll be needin’ tools to move these afore they get too comfortable. And lady,” he looked down awkwardly for a moment, “Where would be the kitchen garden, an’ the vegetable patch? Them an’ the, ah, composting?”
Moirendi looked at him blankly for a moment, then gathered thoughts. “Oh! Forgive me, Master Samwise. We normally get ours from the Grand Gardens and farms inland; we had not considered that you … that is, those Noldo who do not delve deep into lore, metals, or stone turn their skills to field and grove in similar ways. We had not considered …” she trailed off, abashed at simple questions.
“Ah, my lady,” Sam thought out loud, “we Halflings, Pheriannath, are a simple folk, living close to field, orchard, and stream. We like to keep our hands and minds busy with life, living, and enjoyment. For us, ‘tis a right proper thing to tend yer own flowers or garden, savin’ the great hobbits like Mr. Bilbo there, or Mr. Frodo. An’ he always wanted a hand with delphiniums and nasturtiums, like, just where he wanted ‘em. Now we’re not meaning a burden at all, so a small herb garden for the kitchen an’ such, and some space for me vegetables will work a treat.” He bent down and took a clump of soil, squeezing gently and smelling carefully. “Oh, ‘tis extra fine soil, perfect for about all. Now, the roots can be there, me onions an’ such behind them; pole and bush beans here, the squash in that patch with more pole beans; melons? P’haps there. An’ if I can get some seed for the Westmansweed, asea aranion beggin’ yer pardon, there’s a rich, sunny spot back there for them. Oh! The apple-garth there, an’ some peach trees in a small grove beyond them, pears of course …” The tall Elf looked at him in wonder, “A small garden?” “Oh, aye!” answered Sam. “I never did get to tell the Bagginses yet, but half the old lawn and meadow became an orchard and garden space, with vines on the hilly spots for cover and then fruits.”
“Master Samwise,” she added gently, “I will speak with our herb-lore and sylvan masters; they can persuade some of their smaller trees to come for an extended visit, and find any cooking or other herb and spice of your interest. We will be glad to help with the large things, at your direction. But there is one other thing to see,” she said, beckoning Sam to a shaded spot of the west side, overhung with covering vines. “We asked for a specific part of oak-root and log, and our herbal masters recalled the King’s fete. Behold!” She drew back a curtain of vines, and Sam beheld an old tree stump, one liberally festooned with mushrooms of several varieties. Sam gazed in surprise, then sniffed; digging gently and carefully into loose soil, be brought up: “Trubs! Oh, most glorious of all! Gracious Lady, thank you, I thank you from the bottom of me heart!” This burst out as Sam first kissed her hand, then danced a jig of joy. “Mushrooms with our first supper!”
So Master Samwise, as Chief Gardener, directed Bilbo and Frodo on where to place and move special flowers, while he tended to the garden beds with loving care. He was overjoyed with the smaller barrow and the re-sized tools: shovel, spade, mattock, fork, and the rest, provided by Noldori loremasters. They knew, like their cousins in metal and stone, that the best crafting was by a master intimately in touch with his tools and materials. By the beginning of summer, Sam had his roots seeded and growing, cabbages sprouted and filling in, and the squash and all matter of vines aloft. A special present, two dozens of fine seeds, let him start “leaf” in small pots, now ready to place where he desired them. “When they’re wee things, ‘tis easy to think o’ weeds an’ hoe out,” Sam noted. His most careful tending was one section of loose, heaped soil and compost, growing almost weekly; taters, of course, obtained in obscure trading among the plant masters.
At dinner on the second of May, Sam announced with shining face that he had a small relish-tray for them to begin with. Bilbo and Frodo looked amazed as Sam proudly placed a serving dish for them. On a bed of fresh greens, spinach, and herbs were moderate-sized radishes, a raft of young peas in tender pods, and a dozen small new potatoes, steamed gently. “Early taters, small and tender; ‘tis a wonder they grew in so fast, perhaps a moon! But I checked like usual, an’ there were the first few of a proper size.” Frodo leaned back from their choices, and asked Sam, “The Elves also said they can provide what we need for sustenance; what would you want to spend time …” Sam heard the other, unasked questions, and replied softly, looking down. “Nae, Mr. Frodo, them can provide what we ask for, but bein’ guests an’ all, no burden do I want to be. Besides, the soil is marvelous rich, an’ the plants seem to spring up double-quick somehow. And, sir, me hands stay busy, an’ me head thinking about what to harvest, weed, trim up, an’ such. Beggin yer pardon, too, but me head an’ heart feel better now, and stronger than since I were fifty, or thereabouts. The Great Lady Este, bless her name, it feels like she gave me back some o’ what was stolen, somehow.”
Bilbo finished some bacon and greens, and nibbled on sliced radishes. “Frodo, I believe that Sam is correct on things we overlooked. In many ways, this is a special thanks to those who healed us, and made us whole again. I move slowly but am much surer, and your shoulder no longer lags when you lift crocks or bottles up. We can share Sam’s garden with them, or trade for delicacies if we so wish, but we’re showing what we can do ourselves.” Stifling a mighty yawn, he continued, “But, my! I grow tired, though Anor is not quite down and resting; lads, I am off to bed. Sam, thank you; that was quite a special treat for us, and you do well for us.” Sam mumbled and blushed, as Bilbo stepped carefully down the hallway. Frodo watched his uncle move off, then thanked Sam. “The first bounty was a wonder, Sam; I’m glad that you and the Gaffer tended Bag End for me, over the years. And you’re grown from faithful servant to my best friend, close as Merry and Pippin. No, this needed to be said,” he continued over another burst of mumbles and shuffling, “for I would not have survived the journey there without you to guard and support me. This is part of my Healing, and now I see what they meant.”
to be continued…