4. Into the Storm
Sam's in the stables, filling saddlebags that night.
"Shouldn't you take more?" Fatty asks.
"Don't rightly know," Sam replies. "But Mr. Merry's reckoning'll get us to Bree."
Fatty shakes his head. Merry and Pippin! Adventuring's well enough for them, but Gamgees're Westfarthing to their toes.
"And... your Dad?"
Sam bows his head. "Tell him," he says, finally, "it wasn't curiosity – it's for Mr. Frodo."
"Of course." Fatty nods.
"Anyhow, you'll see to things." Sam returns to packing. "No cause to fear, then."
~0~
Cause creeps in as darkness. Afterward, Fatty wonders whether his stewardship's as ill-founded as Sam's other confidence!
Notes:
1. Day 17: Card: Temperance
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.
