AUTHOR'S NOTES -


CHAPTER 11: ANNIVERSARIES
Sam journeyed back from the Northfarthing eager to reach Bywater. It was the first time he had been away from Frodo for so long; not only had he desperately missed being held in those dear arms, but his anxiety about Frodo had increased steadily, day by day. He had been unwell himself around the middle of the month, and that had delayed him. By sheer hard work, he had finished in time to ensure he was back by the twenty-fifth day of Rethe, a day he wanted to stay close to Frodo in case bad memories surfaced.

The Return of the King, The Grey Havens: “But the fit passed, and when Sam got back on the twenty-fifth, Frodo had recovered, and he said nothing about himself.”

Tolkien has Sam return from his forestry work on the twenty-fifth of March (Rethe). Since I cannot believe Sam would be so obtuse that he failed to recognise the significance of this date, and since I would prefer him to arrive back in the evening for reasons you may or may not appreciate, I have brought him back from the Northfarthing on the evening of the twenty-fourth instead.

But, standing back in the lane, the good-bye was drawn out, until Sam realised he couldn’t do it. He turned Bill’s head back up the lane.
In fact, Sam refused point blank to do anything I wanted him to; nothing I wrote went right until I allowed him to turn around and go back to South Farm with Frodo. This was my first taste of the stubbornness of my characters, I got used to it in the end, and didn’t waste so much time trying to make them conform to my story plan. I was going to lose anyway, so I learnt I might just as well give in gracefully as soon as they dug their heels in, and pretend it was all my idea.

‘I swear that pony knows every word you say,’ he said.

‘Haven’t I always told you so?’ said Sam, in all seriousness.
The Fellowship of the Ring, The Ring Goes South: “’The animal can nearly talk,’ he said, ‘And would talk, if he stayed here much longer. He gave me a look as plain as Mr. Pippin could speak it: if you don’t let me go with you, Sam, I’ll follow on my own.’”

‘Glory and trumpets, the Lady’s given us a mallorn.’
The Fellowship of the Ring, Many Meetings: “‘...But glory and trumpets!’ he cried, turning round with shining eyes and dancing on the floor. ‘It’s fine to see you up and yourself again, sir!...’”

Frodo dropped to his knees beside Sam, a look of wonder on his face. ‘Oh, Sam,’ he whispered, ‘It’s beautiful.’ He reached out a hand to touch the silver bark and fingered the long leaves, reverentially.
Return of the King, The Grey Havens: “His trees began to sprout and grow, as if time was in a hurry and wished to make one year do for twenty. In the Party Field a beautiful young sapling leaped up: it had silver bark and long leaves, and burst into golden flowers in April. It was indeed a mallorn.”

Their second surprise was awaiting them in two of the spare bedrooms. Merry and Pippin had been busy. The rooms were piled high with furniture and crates from Crickhollow.
Return of the King, The Grey Havens: “But the fit passed, and when Sam got back on the twenty-fifth, Frodo had recovered, and he said nothing about himself. In the meanwhile Bag End had been set in order, and Merry and Pippin came over from Crickhollow bringing back all the old furniture and gear, so that the old hole soon looked very much as it had always done.”

Frodo gave a deep sigh and looked at Sam. ‘Do you think the work will be finished by the sixth day of Astron?’ he asked. ‘I would love to celebrate your birthday here.’
I have taken Sam’s birth year as correct in his family tree, (The Return of the Kings, Appendix C) ie 1380. In ‘The Tale of Years’ (The Return of the Kings, Appendix B), his year of birth is given as 2983, ie 1383 SR. His birth date I have taken from The Return of the Kings, Appendix D: “There is no record of the Shire-folk commemorating either March 25 or September 22; but in the Westfarthing, especially in the country around Hobbiton Hill, there grew up the custom of making holiday and dancing in the Party Field, when weather permitted, on April 6. Some said it was old Sam Gardner’s birthday, some that it was the day the Golden Tree first flowered in 1420, and some that it was the Elves’ New Year.”

‘The only mallorn west of the Mountains, and east of the Sea,’ he whispered, and smiled at her.
The Return of the King, The Grey Havens: In after years, as it grew in grace and beauty, it was known far and wide and people would come long journeys to see it: the only mallorn west of the Mountains and east of the Sea, and one of the finest in the world.