b2mem | FIC: "Celebration" (G/K) by Febobe (Reply)

B2MeM Challenge: N43, Hobbits (The Gamgees)
Format: Ficlet
Title: Celebration
Genre: Gen
Rating: G/K
Warnings: Mild angst in places, graphic food detail
Characters: Bell Gamgee, Daisy Gamgee, May Gamgee, Samwise Gamgee, Marigold Gamgee, Gaffer Gamgee, Halfred Gamgee, Frodo Baggins, Bilbo Baggins
Pairings: N/A
Summary: During Frodo's first autumn at Bag End, Bell Gamgee invites "Mr. Bilbo" and "Master Frodo" for dinner...and new friendships are formed.
Author's Notes: I don't hold to the theory that Frodo was totally heedless of social place at this point in his life, so no, I don't have him tell Sam to just call him Frodo. This fic reflects how conscious I think these hobbits would be about "place" and social standing, as well as Bilbo's and Frodo's sensitivities to the fact that not everyone was as fortunate financially as they. Also, my Frodo is definitely movieverse Frodo. Please don't burn me at the stake for it! :)

"I wonder what he'll be like," Daisy sighed as she stirred the soup. "Mam, have you ever seen him?"

"Of course I have, but there's no need to be telling tales on the young master, now. Mind you remember your place, Daisy Gamgee."

Daisy sighed again and went on stirring the mushroom soup. "I don't suppose he'll even notice me."

"And a good thing, too! First of all, you're too young yet for the fellows to be paying you mind. Second, he's the young master, Mr. Bilbo's heir, and you'd do well to set your sights on someone more suited to your station. Like as not the young master, when he *does* marry, will choose a Took lass, or a Brandybuck like his mother...poor lady."

"I heard they drowned," said May. "Is it true, Mam?"

"Aye, drowned on the Brandywine River, when young Master Frodo weren't but eleven years old. Poor lad." Bell looked about sharply, from one girl to another, then at Samwise and Marigold. "And I'll thank all of you to hold your tongues and not mention it. The young master's been through quite enough without anyone asking him fool questions."

All four children nodded dutifully. May went back to setting the table. Samwise busied himself with washing up pots and pans; only nine, he was already an industrious little fellow. Marigold dried as best she could. At six, she was a little small for helping in the kitchen, but Bell needed every hand she could get with the young master and Mr. Bilbo coming for supper.

"I still don't know how you got a turkey like this," said Daisy, peeking at the bird resting on the sideboard. "Da never does bring home anything this fine."

"Mind your tongue about your Da," said Bell. "He does the best he can. Mr. Bilbo bought it, said if we were going to ask him and Master Frodo to dinner, the least he could do was supply the feast. Took me with him to the market, he did, me and Halfred to help me, and insisted he'd buy the best of everything if only I'd cook it. A kind gentlehobbit, Mr. Bilbo is, and no mistake. And I'll thank you to remember how generous he is. Sends us that ham, every Yule, and more besides. Most gentlehobbits don't give their gardeners the time of day."

"I wonder what Master Frodo will be like when *he's* master," May mused.

"Well, that's all the more reason to mind your manners," said Bell, stirring the carrots and testing them for flavour, then adding a little more honey. "Young Master Frodo will *be* master someday; Mr. Bilbo told me so himself, and our fortunes may well ride on what kind of master he'll be. Not to mention that one should always be nice. There's not a person in the world worth a snub. I don't care who they are or what they've done."

"Well, *I* don't think that's true," said Daisy. Bell glared at her. "Well, I don't! Lily Twofoot is always stuck-up, just because sometimes she has things we don't."

"Lily Twofoot is none of your concern or mine," said Bell. "Right now, our concern is getting dinner on the table by the time they get here!"

"When will Da and Halfred be home?" asked Marigold.

"Soon. I've sent them to the market for summat special."

"What?" cried May.

"I'm not telling any of you, for I want it to be a surprise. Now, don't breathe a word that we even *have* a surprise. Understand?" All four children nodded. "Good. Now, let's hurry up and finish our work."

"How's it coming?" Gaffer Gamgee came into the kitchen, with Halfred right behind him. Halfred held a little sack which looked most intriguing to the children, but they all knew better than to ask what was inside. Bell looked up from the pearl onions she'd been creaming and kissed her husband on the cheek.

"Well enough. I think the rolls could've turned out a mite fluffier, but they'll do."

"I'm sure they'll be delicious. Can we help you with anything?"

"Help put those pots and pans away. Marigold and Sam are too small yet to be reaching and moving 'em far."

"What else can we do, Mam?" asked Samwise. "Now that the dishes are done, I mean."

"Go and watch for them," said Bell. "Tell me when they're coming."

Samwise and Marigold ran out to watch, leaving the smial a bit less crowded, but no less noisy, with all the rattling of pots and pans, of things being poured and dipped into serving-bowls and set on the table, covered with clean dishcloths to keep the heat in.

"The young master's about Halfred's age, isn't he?" asked Daisy.

"A year older, close enough," said the Gaffer.

"I hope he isn't as *disgusting* as Halfred," said May, earning a glare from her brother and both parents.

"May, that'll do," said Bell. "Tend to your own knitting."

"They're coming, they're coming!" cried Marigold and Samwise, nearly tumbling over one another as they ran into the house.

"Good thing we're about ready!" said Bell, tying on a clean apron. "Now, Sam, go and greet them. It'll be your job to get them seated when they come in. Mr. Bilbo at the head o'the table, Master Frodo on his right, your Da at the opposite end from Mr. Bilbo. You sit across from Master Frodo."

Daisy scowled, and her mother shot her a look that would have frozen beer.

"Daisy, you'll sit on your Da's left. Halfred, on his right. May, you and Marigold take the other seats. I'll sit beside the young master, so's I can help pass things for them."

Daisy stomped toward the table...until, that is, Samwise returned with Master Frodo and Mr. Bilbo in tow. At once she straightened and fluttered toward them as if she were light on her feet.

"Why, hullo! May I have the pleasure of your acquaintance?"

Master Frodo blushed, but Bell stepped in. "So good of you to come, sirs! Our Sam will show you to your seats. We're almost ready to eat, if Mr. Bilbo will do the honour of carving the turkey."

"A pleasure, Mrs. Gamgee, and an honour, as always." Mr. Bilbo bowed to Bell, then to the Gaffer. "Thank you all for inviting us."

"The pleasure is ours, sir," said the Gaffer.

Everyone watched with eyes like saucers as Sam seated the young master first. Master Frodo was like no hobbit they'd ever seen. Tall and slender, willowy even, he looked as if he must hardly eat a bite. His skin was pale as ivory, his eyes large and blue, fringed by beautiful thick lashes that were jet black, like the curly hair that fell almost into his eyes.

Daisy couldn't stop staring.

May's mouth was open in a little O.

Bell reached over and closed May's mouth without a word.

"There's plenty of starters," she said, bringing over mugs of hot spiced cranberry cider. "Stuffed mushrooms, sugar-glazed pecans, pickled pumpkin with sugar and cinnamon and cloves, baked chestnuts with bacon and brown sugar, and roasted pumpkin seeds. We'll have dinner directly, but just you gentlehobbits help yourselves. Daisy and May, you help me. Samwise, Marigold, you and the Gaffer and Halfred join Mr. Bilbo and Master Frodo."

Daisy cast her mother a despairing look, but Bell was having none of it.

"Here, Frodo," said Mr. Bilbo. "Try a chestnut. They're Bell's specialty."

Master Frodo seemed shy to the Gamgee children, but when Samwise passed the stuffed mushrooms the blue eyes lit right up.

"These smell wonderful," Master Frodo said. "Like - like my mother's."

Everyone was quiet for a moment. Bell's eyes grew misty, but she smiled.

"Thank you, Master Frodo. I'd be happy to make some up for you any time you want."

Master Frodo beamed, then, and looked a little more at ease, and tasted some of every starter, and sipped his cranberry cider.

"What's it like in Buckland?" Samwise asked, curiousity written in his brown eyes. "I ain't never been past Bywater."

"Forgive him, Master Frodo," said Bell quickly as she set dishes on the table. But Master Frodo grinned.

"It's quite all right, Mrs. Gamgee," he said without hesitation. "I like to talk about places." And with that, he looked back at Samwise. "It's rather a long way from here," he said, "but my aunts and uncles and cousins all live in a great smial together, and that's where I lived. It's called Brandy Hall, the home of the Brandybucks. My mother was a Brandybuck before she married my father. That's why we spent so much time there. There's lots to do, like blackberrying in the summer; there are the most wonderful blackberry briars growing all around the Hall, and apple trees too, though I suppose there's plenty of those in Hobbiton too."

"Did you like having lots o'cousins around?"

"Sometimes. But sometimes it was still lonely. I didn't really fit in very well. I like to read." Suddenly he looked at Samwise more closely. "It's you, isn't it? You're the one Uncle Bilbo is teaching!"

Samwise blushed to the tips of his ears. "Yes, sir," he said shyly. "Mr. Bilbo's been teaching me my letters and how to write."

"Meaning no disrespect, young master," the Gaffer put in. "Mr. Bilbo thought it might be helpful to him and all. I ain't never learned my letters, myself, and I've done fine, but since Mr. Bilbo thinks it might help the lad, I didn't see no harm in it."

Master Frodo smiled. "No harm at all," he said. "I think every hobbit ought to have the chance to learn how to read and write. And Sam - " he added, turning back to the child, "I'm not a sir."

"What should I call you, then, Master Frodo?"

Master Frodo seemed to think about that for a moment. "What about Mr. Frodo?" he asked finally. "Like Uncle Bilbo. Mr. Frodo is fine. Formal enough for me, but not as fancy as sir."

"As you like, Mr. Frodo."

"Well," Bell said, setting the turkey out with a flourish, "shall we eat? Mr. Bilbo, if you wouldn't care to do us the honour of carving this pretty bird - "

"Of course," said Mr. Bilbo, rising. "Thank you, Mrs. Gamgee. It smells wonderful. And everything smells and looks absolutely splendid."

Bell blushed and handed Mr. Bilbo the carving-knife. Within a few minutes, the serving-platter was filled with slices of turkey, and the side dishes were begining to make their way around, beginning with Mr. Bilbo and Master Frodo, at Bell's insistence. There was no shortage of food: creamy mushroom soup, roasted apple turkey with apple brandy gravy, cornbread and apple dressing, cranberry sauce, honey-glazed carrots, a sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy, green beans, creamed pearl onions, roasted butternut squash with sage and cranberries, rolls with sweet butter, honey-roasted applesauce...and that did not even begin to include the desserts, which waited on the sideboard. There was plenty of tea and coffee, and apple cider as well, not to mention the bottles of wine brought by Mr. Bilbo. Mr. Frodo and Halfred were considered old enough to have wine too, but Daisy and May, and of course Samwise and Marigold, had to content themselves with cider, which was fine with everyone except Daisy, who shot her father a pleading look, to which he only shook his head firmly.

"This is one of the nicest meals I've ever eaten," said Master Frodo midway through the dinner. "I don't know how you make everything taste so delightful, Mrs. Gamgee."

"It just comes with practise, Master Frodo," Bell said, but everyone could tell she was pleased as could be with his reaction.

"The boy's right," said Mr. Bilbo. "I never cease to marvel at your talents in the kitchen. Why, remember that vegetable soup she brought for your first night home, Frodo?"

Master Frodo's eyes lit up. "Oh, yes! It was perfect. And that cornbread with it, too...."

Bell blushed outright. "I'm glad you liked it, young master. I just reckon a body don't feel like trying to cook after a long journey, and I thought it'd be a shame you having to go out your first night back, and tired and all, and not in the mood to be stared at."

Master Frodo nodded eagerly. "You've no idea. Everywhere I go people stare. One would think I had a cow-tail or something."

Daisy laughed, a little too loudly, and Bell elbowed her under the table. "People round here just ain't used to people from Buckland," she said, "even if they rightfully belong here as much as anybody else in Hobbiton. I reckon people think you'll be different from them, and they forget you're just someone like anyone else, who just wants to get on with his life and not be troubled."

Master Frodo looked serious, his blue eyes sombre as he nodded. "I was always the odd one out at the Hall. And now I'm the odd one out here too. But I'd rather be odd here than there. Uncle Bilbo understands the things that interest me. And - " He hesitated, swallowing, then dipped a little more mashed potato onto his plate and smothered it in mushroom gravy. "He cares about me. Up at Brandy Hall I'm mostly underfoot. People find me a chore."

"That'll never be the case here, my lad," said Mr. Bilbo, his voice suddenly hoarse. He reached over and ruffled Master Frodo's dark curls. "I want you here, and the Gamgees are glad to have you here, and we'll all make you feel at home. Always."

"We're glad you're here," Samwise piped up, and Bell looked at her son gratefully. "Maybe some time Mr. Bilbo will let me read for you, if you ain't too busy."

"I should like that," said Master Frodo.

"Well," said Bell, rising from her seat, "who wants dessert?"

There was plenty for dessert, too, what with red wine poached pears, pumpkin pie, cranberry-apple cobbler, and blackberry cobbler. Mr. Frodo tried some of everything, but pronounced the blackberry cobbler his favourite, and accepted a second, even a third, helping at Bell's urging. But at the close of the meal, when everyone was settling back comfortably, stuffed as stuffed could be, Gaffer Gamgee stood up.

"We've got a little surprise," he said with a grin. "Something special we wanted to get for everyone. Take a couple and pass the bag around."

And with that, he handed the sack he and Halfred had brought in to Master Frodo, who opened it curiously.

"Oh!" he said, breaking into a smile, "it's peppermints! The best peppermints from the candy-shop, the ones soft like pillows!"

Mr. Bilbo looked up at the Gaffer and smiled, and everyone could see the tears in his eyes.

"Thank you," he said softly. "Thank you for making my lad feel welcome."

After the bag was passed around twice, with everyone well and truly satisfied with peppermints, Master Frodo stood up, holding up his wine-glass.

"I would like," he said, a little nervously, "to make a toast." He glanced at Mr. Bilbo, who nodded, and then across at Samwise. "To good food and new friends."

Everyone joined him in the toast. It was a day none of the Gamgees would ever forget...least of all Samwise, who carried the treasured memory in his heart through long years to come. In the darkness of Mordor, near the foot of Mount Doom, he sat and thought of his young master standing in his family's home, pink-cheeked and well-fed, raising his glass to friendship.

-the end-