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the grey havens 1341
‘I see,’ said Frodo: ‘you want to get married, and yet you
want to live with me in Bag End too? But my dear Sam, how
easy! Get married as soon as you can, and then move in with
Rosie. There’s room enough in Bag End for as big a family
as you could wish for.’
And so it was settled. Sam Gamgee married Rose Cotton
in the spring of 1420 (which was also famous for its weddings),
and they came and lived at Bag End. And if Sam
thought himself lucky, Frodo knew that he was more lucky
himself; for there was not a hobbit in the Shire that was
looked after with such care. When the labours of repair had
all been planned and set going he took to a quiet life, writing
a great deal and going through all his notes. He resigned the
office of Deputy Mayor at the Free Fair that Midsummer,
and dear old Will Whitfoot had another seven years of presiding
at Banquets.
Merry and Pippin lived together for some time at Crickhollow,
and there was much coming and going between
Buckland and Bag End. The two young Travellers cut a great
dash in the Shire with their songs and their tales and their
finery, and their wonderful parties. ‘Lordly’ folk called them,
meaning nothing but good; for it warmed all hearts to see
them go riding by with their mail-shirts so bright and their
shields so splendid, laughing and singing songs of far away;
and if they were now large and magnificent, they were unchanged
otherwise, unless they were indeed more fairspoken
and more jovial and full of merriment than ever before.
Frodo and Sam, however, went back to ordinary attire,
except that when there was need they both wore long grey
cloaks, finely woven and clasped at the throat with beautiful
brooches; and Mr. Frodo wore always a white jewel on a
chain that he often would finger.
All things now went well, with hope always of becoming
still better; and Sam was as busy and as full of delight as even
a hobbit could wish. Nothing for him marred that whole
year, except for some vague anxiety about his master. Frodo