Simple and Clean

A/N: Greetings from the far corners of the earth!! Well spring is here and for once I did not have the urge to write something dark and angst. This fic has taken up most of my time; I've fallen in love with it and the song that inspired it: "Simple and Clean by Hikari." Its from Kingdom Hearts, and I did not create the lyrics on my own. I've decided to keep my author's note short this time and explain later if you have any questions. Thanks again to Violet Raven (who was the only one who reviewed my last two fics…..) ^_^

Chapter One

SIMPLE

When you walk away

You don't hear me say

Please, oh baby, don't go

Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight

Its hard to let it go……

"Firiel looked out at three o'clock

The grey night was going;

Far way a golden cock

Clear and shrill was crowing

The trees were dark, and the dawn pale

Waking birds were cheeping

A wind moved cool and frail

Through dim leaves creeping.

She watch the gleam at window grow,

Til the long light was shimmering

On land and leaf; on grass below

Grey dew was glimmering

Over the flower her white feet crept

Down the stair they twinkled

Through the grass they dancing stepped

All with dew be…..be….er….."

Samwise propped his head up with his hand and chewed his lip thoughtfully, staring at the word printed on the parchment. It was a long on, 11 letters, and the little hobbit, scarcely a teen, was a bit muddled. He shifted slightly from his place on the floor and squinted, hoping it would make the pesky adjective leap to realization in his head. It did no good. Now the words just looked blurry. Perhaps if he had some more light. The tiny stump of a candle hardly cast a flicker in the darkened room. However, that flicker was evidently enough to catch the attention of one Hamfast Gamgee, and as Sam tried to decipher the blurred word the gaffer knocked loudly on the bedroom door.

"Samwise!" He barked. "You still lyin' awake in there, boy?"

Sam cursed under his breath and quickly pinched the candle out. "I ain't lyin', da," He replied, scrambling to pick up the scattered pieces of paper. "I was just finishin' up my work for Mr. Bilbo."

"Them readings, I take you mean," the gaffer muttered disenchantedly. Sam finished gathering the papers and moved to place them safely aside, but he stumbled in the darkness and banged into the bed with a loud thump. At that the gaffer came in, and scowled as he saw his youngest son hopping on one foot and clutching at his bruising knee.

"Gracious lad, you'll have all of the Row awake with your racket! Ninny! Get your bones in bed. You've work tomorrow, if Mr. Bilbo, bless him, would put you to it instead of learning you all those silly things. Not that Mr. Bilbo's heart isn't in the right place, but them fancy writings ain't for the likes of you or me, Samwise."

Sam regained his dignity and slunk over to his bed, drawing back the covers and trying to bite back the remarks that threatened to hurl themselves at his illiterate father.

"Bless the old hobbit, but you'd be better put in his gardens," Hamfast stated firmly.

"Oh, but I do tend them, da," Sam stuttered. "Lovely things they are, too."

"'Course they are, halfwit," the gaffer said with the slightest trace of a smile. "Tended them meself for years as did my gaffer before me. We Gamgees will always be tending' the gardens of Bag End, and that's just where we belong: outside of Bag End, not in it learnin' of things bigger than us with hobbits of a....higher sort."

"Oh, but it was such a lovely story, Da," Sam burst out, unable to contain himself. "About an elvish lass and the Last Ship and the White Tower and-"

"Elves, he says!" The gaffer exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. Sam literally bit his tongue. Now he had done it.

"Don't you be getting and ideas, lad. Elves and dragons! Potatoes and cabbages are better for you and me. Have you got that?" Hamfast's tone left little to be argued. Sam wrung his small hands in the blanket and nodded sadly.

"Yes, Da."

"Elves he says," The gaffer sighed, then, looking at his son's downtrodden face, softened a little. "Go to sleep, Samwise. No doubt Mr. Frodo will be wanting you at work early."

As Ham had expected, Samwise's face perked up a bit at the mention of Frodo's name. The old hobbit knew that the young Gamgee admired Bilbo's adopted heir, and while Hamfast didn't particularly approve of his son's companionship with a "well-to-do" hobbit such as Frodo, neither did he forbid it. In a sense, he was glad that his son had a least one companion. Samwise was shy and softhearted, with a love of simple things, making him a target for bullies. Hamfast knew why his son had become do adept at wrestling.

"I don't want no more of this 'sneaking to read' at night. Use up all the candles that way," Hamfast said, turning to go. Sam climbed into his bed and pulled up the thin blankets.

"I think you'd like the elves, Da," Sam whispered. "If only you'd let yourself."

Hamfast pretended he had not heard and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

The Next Morning.....

Frodo looked up from his book and smiled as he heard Sam's whistling coming up the hill. It was a familiar tune, one that Bilbo often hummed to himself while cooking or writing. Frodo looked back at his book and began to softly whistle along. Subconsciously he began tapping his foot against the floor in time to the beat. Before long the sound of sheers delicately snipping could be heard and Frodo became lost in his reading.

Some hours later, Frodo looked up from his book long enough to notice that the sun was rather high in the sky. He had missed both second breakfast and elevensies, and judging by the fact that Bilbo had not called him Frodo guessed that his elder cousin had become absorbed in his writings and forgotten abut the time as well. However, it was odd that Samwise had not come in yet. Normally, the boy shared elevensies with Frodo and Bilbo; in fact he looked forward to it. It was the traditional time when Bilbo would teach Sam his daily lesson, be it reading, writing, or history. Frodo would normally watch quietly, offering words of encouragement when needed but otherwise not interfering with student and teacher. It had become so habitual every day that the absence of the young Gamgee at noon time was a trifle unsettling.

Frowning, Frodo set down his tale of Fingolfin, stood up, and listened. There was no sound of Samwise whistling. Frodo felt a twisting in his stomach that was more than hunger. Knitting his eyebrows slightly with mild worry, he stepped into the hallway.

"Bilbo!" Frodo called, making his way to his cousin's study. "Uncle! Its noon-time!" Frodo reached the study and opened the door without bothering to knock. Sure enough Bilbo was hunched over a stack of papers, writing furiously while mumbling to himself.

"On the thirtieth day......or was it the thirty-first? Oh botheration....." Bilbo muttered.

"Uncle?" Frodo interrupted.

Bilbo jumped and looked toward the door with a laugh. "Frodo my lad! My, but you startled me! Time for second breakfast already?"

"Luncheon, actually. I lost track of time as well....Uncle, did Sam return home ill?"

"Samwise? No, I don't believe so. Perhaps he is still working in the garden. Have you checked there, my lad?"

"No." Frodo suddenly felt silly. "But I did not hear him....and normally he comes in for his lesson at elevensies. I thought it a bit peculiar, but....oh, never mind."

Bilbo dismissed it at that. "Luncheon already you said?" He sputtered, reaching into his pocket to check his watch. "Looks as if you are correct, Frodo my lad. My, but time does fly on occasion." The aging hobbit stood up and wiped his ink smeared hands on his trouser legs. Suddenly Frodo had an idea of why so many Shire folk said Bilbo should take a wife. His bachelor characteristics made him more than a little sloppy. Not that Frodo was much better himself. In fact, if it wasn't for Samwise Frodo doubted the dishes would ever get done.

"I'll go put the kettle on," Frodo said, trying not to seem obviously anxious. "You should get cleaned up, uncle. I'll go see if Sam is ready to come in."

Bilbo looked down at his ink spotted hands and chuckled. "I suppose I should wash up a bit. I'll join you and the little Gamgee once I am finished."

Frodo nodded and exited back into the hallway. Bilbo laughed again as his "nephew" left and muttered to himself: "Odd lad.....takes after me."

Frodo put the kettle on as promised then went outside and went around the back of Bag End to its gardens. As it was springtime, all the flowers were in bloom and as he pushed open the gate Frodo was met with an explosion of color and a perfume of sweetness. Samwise had only recently begun to work in the garden on his own and so far he was doing a stand out job. However, as Frodo strolled through the flowers and vegetable the talented gardener was no where to be seen.

"Sam?" Frodo called, brushing past Bilbo's prized rosebushes. No answer. The sun beat down. The twinge in Frodo's stomach intensified. It wasn't like Sam to just up and leave without saying goodbye to Frodo at least. Frodo called Sam's name again, louder this time. The only answer was the sound of the tin cans tied to the fence to scare birds away banging in the breeze.

Frodo kept walking, his worry growing by the minute. What if Samwise had hurt himself? What if he had fainted in the hot sun? What if one of the elder hobbit lads had come along and started bullying him? That wasn't really likely as most of them were too frightened of "Mad Baggins" to go near Bag End's gardens. Suddenly Frodo gasped as a new thought sprang into his mind. What if the boy had been kidnapped? It wasn't impossible. Suppose someone, an old enemy of Bilbo's or someone after his fortune perhaps, had come by and mistaken Sam for Frodo....

"Sam!" called Frodo, approaching the garden shed. "Samwise Gamgee!"

"Sir?" a timid voice ventured from behind the shed. Out stepped Sam carrying a hoe. Dirt was streaked on his face and hands and he looked thoroughly perplexed. Frodo felt himself blush and mentally kicked himself. What a fool he had been!

"There you are, Sam," Frodo said, making himself smile. "Have you been here all morning?"

"Of course I have, Mr. Frodo, "Sam replied as he set the hoe in the ground and leaned on it. The confusion on his face suddenly changed to guilt. "I'm sorry if I worried you. I was off in my head day dreamin'." At that he blushed. "Had you been callin' me for a long while?"

"Not long, Sam." Frodo paused awkwardly. "We missed you at elevensies. Had you gone home for meal time?"

"No sir, May brought me my sup. I didn't want to disturb you none."

"What of your lesson though? Have you finished 'The Last Ship?"

At this Sam shifted uncomfortably. "I did, sir. Got up early this morning to. It was a most amazing tale, it was! But.....Da says I've a-learned all what's proper for me to, and I should bother you or Mr. Bilbo no more about it."

Frodo smiled again, genuinely this time. "Sam, you truly believe you are a bother to us? Bilbo loves having such an apt pupil. No other hobbit-child in the Shire will sit through his stories as often as you do! He adores teaching you."

Sam bit his lower lip. "Da says I'm suppose to stay outside o' Bag End. Says I'd do better good in the gardens."

"Sam, you do a wonderful job in the gardens but you cannot truly mean to stay out here and never come visit inside again. That would break Bilbo's heart!"

Sam shuffled his feet and did not say anything. Frodo could see he did not agree with his gaffer but also did not want to disobey him. Frodo thought a moment then snapped his fingers.

"Aha! I've got it!" Frodo gave Sam a sly look and then dropped to his knees and, using his finger, wrote a long word in the dirt. P-a-n-a-c-e-a. Once finished he motioned for Sam to come over and see. Sam hesitated a moment then walked over to where Frodo was crouching and knelt also, still clutching the hoe. He looked at the word, then to Frodo's dirtied hand, then finally to Frodo's face.

"Mr. Frodo it ain't proper for you to play in the mud."

Frodo burst into laughter at the serious tone in the younger hobbit's voice. "I'm not playing," Frodo said, still laughing. "I'm writing. Try to read it."

Sam was unsure, but if his future master wanted him to read the word then he would try. His lips moved as he tried to figure out the different syllables. Frodo waited patiently until at long last Sam let out a huge sigh and said: "I don't think I'm sayin' it right. Looks like......pan-uh-kia?" the lad looked up at his elder in doubt, his brown eyes swimming with confusion.

"Close," said Frodo. "Panacea. It means: a cure-all. Like a remedy for everything. And I do believe that I've found a panacea for this little dilemma. You do not really want to stop seeing Bilbo and myself, correct?"

Sam shook his head quickly. "No sir. I like Mr. Bilbo's stories. And I do like chattin' with you, sir, if you don't mind me saying so."

Frodo held up a hand. "Not at all. Now, I know you wish to continue your studies but I also know you don't want to disobey your gaffer."

"Yes sir, begging pardon, that's just it. Me gaffer's awfully stuck on 'our right place' and he won't let no one budge him on it. His minds been made up and I don't want to cause no uncomfortable situations in the house. Everything's been a bit strained since Ma died...." Sam trailed off and began poking at the dirt with his thumb.

"Well, I certainly would not want to cause any bit of tension in your household, Sam-lad. Which is precisely the reason why we are going to hold your lesson outside, here in the garden. That way, you won't be disobeying your gaffer because you will not be inside Bag End," Frodo finished proudly.

Sam twisted his fingers in his dusty curls and gazed at the word etched on the ground. "Why, that'd be lovely Mr. Frodo, but I don't want to hinder you none."

"Nonsense!" Frodo exclaimed. "I shall teach you myself for as long as you like. Although I do believe we should tell Bilbo so he does not think you've gone off somewhere to fight dragons of your own." With that he ruffled the little hobbit's hair and Sam smiled despite his previous misgivings.

"Mr. Frodo you know I'm nothin' like that."

"Oh? Do I truly?" Frodo chuckled and stood up, stooping to take Sam under the arms and set him on his feet. Then straightening up himself, Frodo said, "I'd rather like a little adventure in my own life. I hope that if you ever get the opportunity to do some 'exploring' of your own you'll let me tag along."

Sam scratched his head, but smiled bashfully. He knew Frodo was teasing him, trying to get him to cheer up. In a sense it had worked. Sam did feel a bit better knowing that he wasn't going to have to stop visiting Bag End.

As the two young hobbits set about dusting the dirt from their knees, there came from around the front of the house the call of "Frodo! Tea is ready! Frodo?"

"Coming uncle!" Frodo called and then looked back at Sam.

"You know," Frodo said slowly with a twinkle in his eye and a thoughtful smile on his lips. "I am almost positive your gaffer wouldn't mind if you had luncheon with Bilbo and I. As.......part of your job! Surely he could not object to that."

Sam thought carefully and then slowly, slowly broke into a knowing smile. "Oh, I suppose I could sir. If it were part of my job."

"I insist," Frodo said, crossing his arms in a pseudo-stern manner. "As your future employer."

Still smiling Sam nodded and went to the shed. He put the garden hoe carefully away, then shut and locked the doors, slipping his key in his pocket like a good, trustworthy hobbit. Frodo couldn't help but chuckle at his young companion's seriousness.

*The lad does not act his age,* Frodo thought. *He's no more than a boy and already he's working and handling all this responsibility...*

Frodo' s thoughts trailed off as a sudden pang of guilt hit him. He'd always known that the Gamgees were not as well off as the Bagginses or their cousins, but it had never really seemed noticable. Now, however, Frodo realized that that was because he had never paid attention to detail. Sam's clothes were too small hand me downs, sewed and patched many times. He had very few toys; in fact, Frodo could not recall ever seeing the lad with any. The lad's face was smudged with dirt from working in the gardens. Frodo realized that Sam's presence at Bag End wasn't there just for his enjoyment. Sam was there to work, enjoyable though it was. Somehow, realizing this bit of information made Frodo feel somewhat responsible for the boy, made him want to take care of him.

"Come on, Sam-lad," chirped Frodo as he knelt down to the boy's eye level. "I'll give you a pig-a-back ride down the hill."

Sam chewed his lower lip. "Is that proper, sir?"

"Proper is as proper does. Now what wouldn't be proper is you carrying me. It wouldn't look quite right for a little hobbit to be carrying a larger one. Not to mention a bit of a strain on you, I daresay. But seeing that you are lighter than I, I should say that its quite proper for me to carry you." Frodo nodded intelligently. Sam stared at him in confusion. Then he noticed that the elder boy's shoulders were shaking in silent laugher.

"Mr. Frodo, you'll be teasing me again," Sam said with a laugh. In answer Frodo laughed out loud and lifted Sam onto his shoulders. Sam nearly lost his balance so Frodo had to grasp his hands to keep him steady.

"Hold tight, Sam-lad. It would not do for you to go tumbling down the hill, now would it?"

"No sir." Sam gave Frodo's hand a squeeze and looked down. "My, but its awfully high up here."

Frodo laughed and began the trek down the hill. "That's just because you're so tiny. Though I daresay you're growing bigger everyday. I would not be too surprised if someday soon you actually were able to carry me about."

"Lor' save me, but I bet I could. You can't weigh hardly more than a feather pillow, Mr. Frodo. I could get May to cook for you, or when I get better at it, mayhap I could," Sam stated, now more relaxed on Frodo's shoulders, albeit still a bit wobbly.

Frodo pushed open the gate with his hip and went through. "The townsfolk shall think me even queerer if they discover I've a hobbit a good many years younger than I cooking for me."

Sam frowned. "You shouldn't bother yourself with them folk. Always a yarn spinnin' in their mouths, the most of them. And anyways they don't know you, nor Mr. Bilbo neither for that matter."

"I daresay I like it that way." They'd reached the round green door of Bag End. Through the kitchen window wafted the smell of food cooking and the sound of Bilbo humming. Frodo lifted Sam from his shoulders and set him down on the well-trodden walkway.

The boy mumbled a shy "thank you, sir" then looked up at Frodo to suggest going inside, only to stop and gape. Frodo was looking down at Sam, waiting for him to say something, with the noon sun behind him, illuminating him from behind in an angelic way. Sam was struck dumb by the beauty of the image even with his childish mind. Vaguely, Sam thought to himself *that must be what an elf looks like....A wonder Mr. Frodo is. Simply as that.* Then, noticing that his future employer was giving him a rather confused look, Sam shook his head slightly and stuttered: "The sun's real pretty today, sir." He hopped over to the door and put his hand on the familiar knob. Then he hesitated.

"I wanna thank you, sir. I'd be an unhappy hobbit if I had to stay away from Bag End. But you went an' solved the problem easy-like. Oh, and if its worth a thing to you I don't think you queer at all, or Mr. Bilbo neither. Right as rain, I'd say." He puffed out his chest proudly. "And I'd be willin' to fight on that, if someone had a mind to try it."

Frodo's laughter was a clear and happy sound. "Well as of the moment I believe we should take luncheon. No doubt Bilbo will be wanting to begin the meal soon."

"That he is, lads," Came Bilbo's voice from the window. "And if you two are through standing on the door step and have a mind to come inside we can begin the first course!"

"Coming uncle!" Frodo cried. Then to Sam he said: "Honestly, you would think my dear cousin had never crawled through the tunnels of the Misty Mountains or snuck into a grove of trolls or walked for days on end the way he is so impatient. Come, lets go in before he eats everything without us."

And that they did, not knowing that that day a fire had been kindled that would burn for an age of the world.

You're giving me

Too many things

Lately, you're all I need

You smiled at me....

TBC

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Next time: Frodo is joined by the daring duo of Merry and Pippin on a trip to the river. But back at Bag End all is not well. It seems some rumors have been started, namely by one Ted Sandyman. Will Sam take that lying down? Me thinks not. But then what will be in store for him?

Comments, questions, criticisms, the story of your life, etc. are always appreciated!!