The Master and the Gardener's Apprentice by Dreamflower

[dreamflower]

B2MeM Challenge: From this prompt by Grey Wonderer: Saradoc,young Sam,'What does the Master of Buckland do?
While Saradoc Brandybuck is either picking up or dropping off Merry at Bag End, Saradoc tries to explain the job of the Master of Buckland to a young, curious, Samwise Gamgee. Other characters welcome, the other Gamgee kids, Frodo listening in, Bilbo, the Gaffer, whatever you like.
Format: Ficlet
Genre: Fluff, Friendship
Rating: G
Warnings: n/a
Characters: Saradoc Brandybuck, Merry Brandybuck, Frodo Baggins, Sam Gamgee, Hamfast Gamgee (the Gaffer)
Pairings: n/a
Creators' Notes (optional): This story draws a lot on the fanon of my particular Shire-universe, in which Merry makes an annual long visit to Bag End every spring, and becomes good friends with Sam. Sam is about 11 in this story, which would make him about the physical equivalent of a Man-child of about 7, though he is more intellectually mature.
Summary: Saradoc Brandybuck has an interesting conversation with young Samwise.



The Master and the Gardener's Apprentice

Saradoc ambled along the path, watching as little Merry fairly flew ahead of him to where Frodo waited at Bag End's front door; he was carrying Merry's travelling case, and he was in no hurry. Let the young ones have their greeting.

He arrived at the step to hear Merry chattering away, telling his older cousin about the new foals in the Brandybuck stables, and other such important news. Frodo placed a gentle hand on top of Merry's head, and Merry instantly quieted down. "Hello, Uncle Sara. It's good to see you again," he said, "I've missed you and Aunt Esme."

But not enough to return to Buckland, Saradoc thought, pleased to see the healthy color and sparkling eyes of his cousin. "You are looking well, Frodo. Is Bilbo about?"

"You arrived a bit early." Frodo's tone was apologetic. "He had to go down to the market for a few things we were out of. He should have been back by now, though."

"Well," Saradoc handed Frodo Merry's case, "why don't you take Merry in and get him settled, and I'll have a pipe here on the bench by the door and wait for Bilbo?"

As the two youngsters turned into the smial, the chatter started up again, and Saradoc settled himself on the bench and took out his pipe. He leaned back and took an admiring look about the meticulously kept garden. Saradoc envied Bilbo the Gaffer, but knew he stood no chance of luring the fellow to Buckland. He was surprised to see young Sam on his knees next to the bed on the other side of the bench, trowel in hand and a flat of seedlings on the ground at his side. He smiled to see how carefully and quietly the child worked.

"Why, Samwise! You are so quiet, I didn't know you were there!"

"Thank 'ee, Mr. Brandybuck. Gaffer says as we should try not to be noticed when we work." Sam sat back on his knees, and tried to blow a sandy curl off his forehead.

Saradoc grinned; that was a gesture he'd often seen Merry make after he had been concentrating hard on a task. "Merry will be glad to see you, Sam. I hope that you will be spared from your work to play with him some while he is here."

Sam gave him a sunny smile, his warm brown eyes twinkling. "I hope so, too! Gaffer says so long as Mr. Bilbo still wants me to, I can when I finish my work in the morning. Mr. Bilbo won't let me work morning and afternoon anyhow."

"Bilbo is a wise hobbit. He knows that growing lads need to play as well as work."

"That's what he told Gaffer." A troubled shadow appeared on Sam's face. "Mr. Brandybuck, my Gaffer told me as when we get older, me 'n' Merry won't be friends, 'cause Merry's going to be Master of Buckland one day." Sam sighed. "Gaffer says as I shouldn't hold it against him, 'cause that's just the way it is, 'cause it's in the Brandybuck family, like me gardening is in the Gamgee family. What does the Master of Buckland do? Are you the Master of Buckland?"

With a sigh of his own, Saradoc shook his head. "The Master of Buckland is the Head of the Brandybucks, and must run things for the whole kit and caboodle of the kin who live in Buckland. And he also is responsible for those who live in Buckland and are not kin. I am not yet the Master. My father, Old Rory, still holds that duty, Sam. But I will be one day, and Merry will be the Master after me. I hope both those days are far off."

"How come, sir?"

"Because right now, I am the Son of the Hall, but I will become the Master when my da dies, and then Merry will be the Son of the Hall until I die."

"Oh." Sam looked distressed. "I hope they're far off days, too, sir! Merry would be mighty sad when that happens. Is that 'cause you're gentry? I can work in the garden and be a gardener now. I don't have to wait 'til the Gaffer dies." The child shuddered at the terrible thought.

"Yes, Sam, that is why."

"Well, then, I'm ever so glad I'm not gentry. But I will miss Merry being my friend when he gets old." He took his trowel and carefully planted another little bedding plant.

This was delicate. Saradoc did not wish to contradict Sam's father. The Gaffer had his own prickly pride. But Merry had already given his friendship to Sam, and he knew his son--he might not have the time to visit Bag End often when he grew older, but he would always consider Sam a friend. "Sam, you know, Merry won't stop being your friend. He might not be able to come as often, even to see Frodo, once he has his own duties. But he will still be your friend and you can be his."

"So, what does the Master do to take care of his kin?" Sam patted the soil around the tiny plant, and then dug another hole.

"Things are a little different in Buckland, Sam. The Master and his family work right along with everyone else when a job needs doing; but he also has to make sure that everyone else does their job as well. My da always says that the only difference between the working hobbits and the gentry is that the gentry have more responsibilities and have to wear more uncomfortable clothes."

Sam looked up at Saradoc in his wool suit and weskit, high collar and cravat, and giggled. "I don't think I could do any work in clothes like that, Mr. Brandybuck, begging your pardon."

"Samwise!" The Gaffer came around the corner of the smial. "Who are you a' talking to? You don't want to be pestering folk with all your yammer!" Then he caught sight of Saradoc sitting there. "Begging your pardon, Mr. Brandybuck! Has Sam been a' bothering you?"

"Not at all, Master Hamfast," replied Saradoc. "He is busy working, but we were also having a pleasant conversation."

"Well, I suppose that's all right, then." He turned to Sam. "Are you done with them bedding plants yet?" he asked.

Sam looked up at his father. "I just have two more as needs to go in the ground, and then take the watering can to them."

"Good job, then, see to it! And then put the can and the trowel and the flat back in the garden shed. It's time we go down to Number Three; your ma will be waiting lunch for us. I do believe she put a ham bone in the beans."

Sam grinned and hurried to finish his task, though he was still careful with the little plants. Then he rushed off to put his tools away, his father watching him run.

"Sam is a fine little gardener already, Master Hamfast." said Saradoc.

"Thank 'ee, kindly, Mr. Brandybuck. I think as he's shaping up well enough, though I say it as shouldn't. Are you sure he weren't bothering you?"

"He was not. I do hope you will allow him to come up after lunch. I know Meriadoc will be glad to see him. He looks forward to playing with Sam almost as much as he does seeing Frodo."

The Gaffer looked doubtful at that statement, but said, "Aye, Mr. Bilbo already asked could he come up and visit today after Master Merry came, and no doubt take tea as well. His mam will make sure he scrubs up good afore he comes back."

Saradoc saw and understood the doubt. "Sam's a good lad, and I am pleased that he and Merry get on. I think he's a good example for Merry."

This made the Gaffer blink. Mr. Brandybuck sure didn't act like gentry; mayhap things were different across the Brandywine. That might account for some of Frodo's easy ways--and mayhap Mr. Bilbo, too, who spent enough time there every winter. Folks always said Bucklanders was queer.

Sam came barrelling back around the side of the smial and skidded to a stop next to his father. "Everything is put away now, Gaffer!"

The Gaffer and Sam took their leave, Sam holding his father's hand and skipping alongside him. At the gate, both paused to give Bilbo a nod as he entered, a laden market basket on his arm.

Bilbo smiled to see Saradoc there. "Well, hello, Sara! I am sorry I was delayed and could not be here to greet you, but Lobelia cornered me at the greengrocer's and I had to listen to her harangue me on letting down the Baggins family standards. It's good to see a pleasant face."

"That's quite all right, Bilbo! I was enjoying a nice conversation with little Sam! He's quite a treat."

"He is, indeed," agreed Bilbo, "and Frodo has no stauncher friend here in Hobbiton."

"I'm glad to hear it! Now, I do hope that you have a substantial luncheon planned, for my stomach is trying mightily to get my attention!"

Bilbo laughed as they entered the smial. "I should say so," he said. "There is a lamb stew on the hearth, and fresh bread, as well. Not to mention some of my honeycakes for afters..."

Comments

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

"Sam is a fine little gardener already, Master Hamwise." said Saradoc. Oops, I think Sara meant Hamfast, didn't he, but he just may not be well acquainted with the Gaffer yet! *grin* It's a pity the poor Gaffer thinks Sam and Merry can't be friends when Merry becomes Son of the Hall - I do hope Saradoc's little chat with Sam and the Gaffer put them right on that account. Sam really is a wonderful friend to both Merry and Frodo, and of course to Pippin, too, I'm sure, even though Sam's careful about not insulting the 'gentry'. I just want to snuggle Sam, poor lad, thinking he'd have to lose his friends!

Ah, poor Bilbo, cornered by Lobelia! No doubt because he's having his cousins from across the Brandywine over for a visit. *rolls eyes at Lobelia* Honestly, of all the ridiculous nonsense. Brandybucks are just as sensible a lot as the rest of the Shire-hobbits, even if they do like boats and swimming!

[dreamflower]

Thanks for spotting my typo! Fixed now.

Right now Pippin's not even a faunt yet. But, yes, Sam will be his friend too.

I think the Gaffer is worried about Sam getting hurt in the future. He's basing it on most of the proper hobbits he knows in Hobbiton. In addition, he doesn't want Sam to be ostracized for "getting above himself" by the otherwise working hobbits. He has Sam's best interests in mind, but he truly doesn't understand that the situation is different.

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

Welcome! I really wasn't sure if it was your typo or Saradoc's, LOL!

That's true, Pippin's not even a faunt yet! It's hard to remember that.

Ah, yes, if the Gaffer is used to "proper" Hobbiton gentry, no wonder he's cautioning Sam - the S-B's for one would never take to that attitude. But Saradoc Brandybuck is certainly a different kind of gentry from them!

[zdenka]

A charming story, and their personalities come through very well! I love this sight of small Sam working in the garden -- I'm sure he would be just that careful and conscientious even at a young age.

[dreamflower]

Thank you! That's how I've always felt about him. He loves what he does.

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

Interesting and entertaining story and a very interesting bit of sociological analysis explaining the differences and distances being the working class and the landed gentry among Hobbits. It is crystal clear in LotR that there is such a difference, but never any explicit discussion of it.

[dreamflower]

Thank you! I think it's subtle in LotR, so much a fact of life that it's not discussed for the most part. And yet it's seen--especially in the scenes where we see the Gaffer and/or Sam in the inns talking to their peers.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

That's a very interesting examination of class structure, very nicely done and I like the way you pick out the distinction between Buckland and Hobbiton which is definitely hinted at in the book but not really examined.

[dreamflower]

Buckland was a frontier. It technically wasn't even a legal part of the Shire; I see the difference rooted in the fact that Bucklanders would all have needed to work together to get their little land up and running, and so it developed as being much less formal the "civilized" areas west of the Brandywine. (Kind of like the differences between the Eastern US in the 19th century and the "Wild West".)

And the Gaffer would have been raising Sam in the tradition of a "proper" servant, striving to be neither seen nor heard while about the work, and never seeking to get "above himself". He would never have thought of this as being bad for Sam's self-esteem; to the contrary, he would have thought of it as being in Sam's best interests.

The outlandish Buckland attitude would have confused him no end.

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

I adored Sam's reaction to the fact that Saradoc had to die before Merry could be Master of Buckland. Lol. I also liked Saradoc's explanation about uncomfortable clothing. I liked the way Saradoc made things easier for Sam with the Gaffer and the Gaffer's private thoughts on those queer Brandybucks. : ). Thank you for writing this one. I enjoyed it very much!

[dreamflower]

Thank you so much for the lovely prompt! I wanted to make it funny and dialogue heavy for you, but it just came out this way and I guess that's for the best.

I'd used the "uncomfortable clothes" line in a previous fic as being a saying of Old Rory, and it seemed like it fit right in with this story. And of course it would seem dreadful to Sam to think about anyone's family dying--even if it was far off the horizon!

I'm so glad I spent a farthing on your bunny! We need some more hobbity bunnies in this b2mem!

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

I'm having trouble posting. I'm using an iPad because the computer isn't wirking and the IPad isnt letting me post. I was attempting to post an Eowyn Eomer prompt in the Rohan stall and it kept blocking it so I gave up.

[dreamflower]

(((hugs))) sometime computers just hate us.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

What a lovely conversation for Merry and Saradoc. I especially enjoyed "the gentry have more responsibilities and have to wear more uncomfortable clothes." Thank Goodness Sam did grow up on friendly terms with Bilbo and his family or the quest would have failed.

[dreamflower]

Thank you! I'd used the line about "uncomfortable clothes" in a previous fic, as being one of Old Rory's sayings, so it felt right in place to have Saradoc quote his father here.

That's one of the reasons I have postulated a long-standing friendship between Sam and Merry. Otherwise Merry would never have dared ask Sam in on the Conspiracy, and Sam would never have accepted spying on his Master if he did not know he could trust Merry.

[addie71.livejournal.com]

Aw, wee Sam is such a delight. :)

[dreamflower]

Isn't he cute? He takes his work in the garden seriously, and loves it very much even at this young age.

[rhymer23.livejournal.com]

I like this! It's made me think, which is always good. When I first read LotR as a child, I completely failed to notice that Merry, Pippin and Frodo are distinctly "upper-class," clearly independently wealthy. With our modern egalitatian viewpoint, we might not want the issue of class to be there, but there it is; Sam is often referred to as Frodo's "servant," after all - although of course he turns out to be so much more. Nice to see the early seeds of that here.

(frozen)

[dreamflower]

It's not very obvious in the books; it's something so much a part of life that the characters don't ever think to talk about it much. Probably pretty much the way things were in England when JRRT was a child.

We see it most when the Gaffer and Sam are in the inns talking to their peers, in the various attitudes in the first two chapters. But we don't find out the real extent of it until we learn Pippin's position as heir to the Thain when he's in Mina's Tirith, and then see the Family Trees, to learn how the three cousins are related.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

I love how seriously Saradoc talks to Sam, and how he knows his son so well that he expects Merry to maintain their friendship even when they are both grown up. And of course even he has no inkling of the trials and the quest that will forge that friendship into something even deeper and stronger.

[dreamflower]

Saradoc does know Merry's young heart very well. Merry is nothing if not fiercely loyal to anyone whom he thinks of as a friend, and Sara knows that won't change when he gets older.

And of course time and trials will most certainly make that friendship even deeper.

[engarian.livejournal.com]

I really loved this light-hearted exploration into the class structure, duties and how friendships can transcend those economic and job classes. It was a delight to read.

- Erulisse (one L)

[dreamflower]

Thank you! I really enjoyed writing it; I've always seen Saradoc as an exceptionally wise father, and it was good to get a chance to write him once more.

[elliska.livejournal.com]

I love this Samwise! This was great!

[dreamflower]

Isn't he so earnest? I just see him as being very serious as a child, but also very curious as well.