In the Shadow of the Star: Part 1

[Orual]

Sam enjoyed talking with Bilbo as they peeled the potatoes, and washed and cut the mushrooms. They spoke a lot of Sam's job as mayor, of his family, of Rosie, and of the Shire, and little of Bilbo and Frodo, but that was all right. Here there was not that tension, the worry to say the wrong word that seemed to have existed between Frodo and Sam. The West wasn't spoken of much, but it was because the conversation didn't steer that way. The Shire and the doings of the Gamgee family made for plenty of conversation material.

Sam was in the middle of telling a particularly funny story about Pippin, Goldilocks, and a skunk, when someone knocked on the door. "One moment!" he called, and put down the knife he had been using to peel the taters. "Just a moment," he added as he hurried to the door.

"Hullo, Mr. Frodo!" he said cheerfully, gesturing for Frodo to come in. "Mr. Bilbo and I were just fixing some things for the dinner. We're in the kitchen--come join us!"

Frodo agreed, and they went into the kitchen.

[ March 18, 2003: Message edited by: Orual ]