The Making of Samwise by Bill the Pony (NC-17)

[vissy.livejournal.com]

Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: Frodo/Sam
Author on LJ: billthepony
Author Website: Bill the Pony @ West of the Moon
Why this must be read: This series has been one of the mainstays of my hobbit-reading career; I got sucked in despite my usual wariness of WIPS (and it is now finished) not just because the earlier chapters generally worked well as standalones but because they were just too good to resist. The series is a very long and winding exploration of Sam's life in the Shire from the time he is a wee toddler getting rescued from a mud puddle by Frodo to the moment he is caught 'trimming the verge' as their quest begins. It must be one of this fandom's finest examples of excruciatingly drawn-out UST, and whilst the long lead-up is sprinkled with delicious scenes of voyeurism, jealousy, masturbation, daydreaming, hurt/comfort and all-around pining, it is the sensuality found in everyday hobbity domesticity that particularly pleases me. Sam is the main narrator and tells his own tale with a self-effacing charm that is both endearing and frustrating, and when his would-be suitor Jolly Cotton interjects occasionally with his own point of view, a welcome spin on the Frodo/Sam dynamic is introduced. From skinnydipping and cherrypicking to pub brawls and duels of honour, this saga has all the romance, drama and fun you could ask for and should keep you up reading all night.

There ain't many of us around as don't know who Sam Gamgee belongs to in his heart of hearts, and that counts some as shouldn't. He can't make no secret of it from those as knows him well, not even now that he and I slip away together sometimes after a day's work to walk for a bit or maybe sit out under a tree, or even do just a bit more than sit.

Sam's got love enough in him for any ten hobbits, with plenty left over and to spare, and he's got a sweet mouth, and he's lonely and longing just like any boy his age, even me. We don't do naught that would harm nobody, just tangle our hands and curl up close and maybe steal a kiss or two.

But even then, there's times when his eyes go sober and his voice goes quiet and and he pulls back and won't do aught more than sit. And there's times when we pass by people on the Road or in the Market and he won't do so much as touch my hand. There's places that make his eyes go sad, and subjects his voice won't speak. There's days when I go hunting for him after he leaves off working the gardens and it takes me half the evening just to have a smile out of him.

It's Himself as is the problem: that Brandybuck lad playing at being a Baggins. Himself, as I call him, not liking to risk that someone might carry my talk up the Hill if they heard his name.

Himself turned Sam's head the very first day they met, and Sam just a young lad. I can even remember his wild tale of finding an Elf up on the Hill, and how we all laughed then. We laughed more later to learn it was just a hobbit he'd seen, though a hobbit not quite like no other.

I wouldn't have been laughing, maybe, if I'd known what it'd do to Sam.

The Making of Samwise

Comments

[stellahobbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reminding me about how great Bill The Pony is :-)