crack_van | Fairer Than Most by Adrienne (NC-17)

Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: Frodo/Sam, Merry/Pippin, Ted/Lotho
Author on LJ:

irisbleu
Author Website: Flowers in a Lightning Storm
Why this must be read: This is a very romantic pre-quest series which traces Frodo and Sam's roundabout courtship in a meandering and utterly mesmerising fashion. Frodo and Sam are almost treacle sweet on each other as they wend a long path through parental objections, awkward sex and annoying interruptions to something like a marriage. Adrienne combines a flair for wringing the emotional maximum out of an OTP with an intriguingly elusive style of writing where you need to pay as much attention to the space between the lines as to the words themselves.

"Son, oughtn't you be along to Bag End soon?"

Sam dropped his trowel, ducked forward into the hedge as best he could. "N--No, sir. I finished the weeds up yesterday, and I thought our own bit of ground could use some tendin'."

"Good lad," the Gaffer murmured, shading his eyes as he squinted at the sky. Chill it was, but painfully bright. "Though somethin' tells me that perhaps your Mr. Frodo's in need of it worse."

Sam rocked back on his heels, gasping in frustration. "Dad! I've been there for all of these few days past, what makes you think--"

"He's the only thing you'd cry over, Samwise, exceptin' perhaps a patch o' failed posies."
"Cryin'," Sam muttered, and picked up his trowel.

"Don't you try hidin' it," the Gaffer warned, kneeling beside his son. "If it's Bell you've done fought over, I told you not to--"

"It's lots of things, Dad," Sam whispered, setting the trowel down again. He turned and looked his father in the eye, biting his lip hard against fresh tears. He'd struggled against them all night, albeit unsuccessfully.

The Gaffer rubbed his chin, stared once more at the sky. "Don't take a fool t'see he'd like more of you to himself than he's already got," he murmured.

"Hidin' it? I ain't never tryin' again," Sam sniffed, closing his eyes on a deep breath. "What am I supposed to do? I...I couldn't leave...and I'm sure you wouldn't think much of me decidin'--"

"That would be your choice, Sam-lad, no matter that your old Dad ain't used to such a thing," the Gaffer sighed, eyes drifting back to earth again. "It'd be right strange without you 'round here, no mistake--"

"Then, that settles--"

"I ain't finished, Sam. You listen."

Sam sighed, knowing that tone meant he'd better look his Gaffer in the eye, and fast.

"No sense in hidin' reasons from your Mum. She knows more'n you could possibly think, more'n I do, like as not. Lasses have got a sense like that. But me, I'm a sight more practical than my Bell, or leastaways I hope. Mr. Frodo's got an awful big place on his hands, and gentlehobbits ain't raised for that kind of caretakin'. If he's a sight as clumsy at the griddle as you say he is, he's in need of a constant cook. Winter's nigh here, son. This's the last of green things that'll need your hands for a long while. And I s'pose when spring comes, this garden here's not beyond me own. Bag End, now, that takes a right strong lad," the Gaffer said, tipping Sam's chin up meaningfully. "So does the gentlehobbit that lives in the hole beside."

Sam's throat tightened. "Dad--"

"He loves you, son. Don't take eyes as keen as once I had, or as keen as you have, neither, to see it. You think on that," the Gaffer said, stretching as he rose, eyes on the parting clouds. "It's a clear day, and no mistake. But that don't mean a thing if you don't make the best of it."

Sam was left staring at his trowel, wondering if he'd really heard what he thought he had.

I - The Night Before
II - Fairer Than Most
III - Into His Own
Trying
IV - Blessings
V - Heirloom
Engagements