[Crystal Heart]

Sam hears noises in the night

It was awfully dark and he was cold and hungry. And there, poking him in the side was the tip of some unfriendly tree’s root. Sam curled up in a little ball and huddled as best he could beneath his cloak. He was just on the brink of a little more sleep when the sound of feet scuffling along tapped at his consciousness and then voices drew nearer, bringing him fully awake.

At first, he was afraid. Who would be walking toward the Hobbit camp talking? Ruffians? Or worse yet, Orcs? Sam tried to be as still as he could, hoping they wouldn’t see him, but just a little, lumpy rock beneath a tree. He quieted his breathing and pushed his hands a little against his grumbly stomach to make it stop gurgling. His ears were straining to catch the sound of Orcish chatter . . .

‘Maybe Falco sent a message through you?’ drifted out to him from the darkness.

Wait a minute! Either he was dreaming still, or Falco had really turned against them. Sam pinched himself to make sure he was awake, then listened all the harder. It didn’t sound like he thought Orcs should . . . but still it could be ruffians. Then, the voices stopped and so did the footsteps.

Well, he couldn’t let the bad ‘uns get his friends! He picked up a good sized rock and rose up from his sleeping place, intending to clonk the ruffians on the head.

But there, in the pale moonlight, was Bingo . . . and Reggie! Sam rubbed his eyes, and took another look, making sure. He went running toward the two brothers, dropping the rock as he ran.

‘Hey! Wake up everybody!’ he called out with a grin on his face. ‘Reggie’s back!’