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It was the biggest (and most important depending on who one asked) night of the Midsummer festivities for every young hobbit in The Shire.
The Night of Blossoms is held every year on Midsummer’s Eve under the stringed lights of the Party Tree. No one knows how this tradition began (although the whole ordeal did smell a bit Tookish if you ask some sensible hobbits). However, it did not stop the eager hobbits from every corner of the Four Farthings to gather in droves under the Tree every year. It was rather simple: a big dance is held and those wishing to participate were to bring a flower of their choosing. If a hobbit were to ask another to a dance, then they must pin their flower onto their partner (it wasn’t unusual to see some lads or lasses with their torsos completely covered in pinned flowers from so many dances). If a hobbit wants to continue being with their dance partner, then they must pin their own flower onto the other. And that reciprocity was what some hobbits were after, for it’s said that a dance couple is destined to be together if they returned each other’s flowers.
Frodo didn’t actually think that superstition is true, perhaps it was just a tease to a couple from long ago that grew a life of its own over time. But as he watched Sam, who was practically drowning in pinned flowers, politely bow out from a second dance with his current partner and get pinned for a dance as soon as the band struck up the starting note for the next number, he felt a little relieved.
He eyed Sam’s dance partner’s elusive prize: the small bunch of red camellias pinned on the lapel of his waistcoat. The festivities have been well underway and Sam showed no sign of giving it away anytime soon.
However, Frodo was ready to change that.
(Or attempt to change it at the very least)
For months, Frodo was aware his feelings for Sam had surpassed what was deemed acceptable among sensible hobbits (but when has a Baggins been known to be ‘sensible’?). Since his discovery, he had schemed and plotted on ways to confess his feelings to his dear gardener, however, Sam always seemed to have the upper-hand. It wasn’t as if Sam was doing it on purpose, if The Shire’s most handsome and eligible bachelor smiled and paid you any of his attention, you would also melt on the spot and forget everything that was on your mind.
Frodo downed the ale in his mug, his face set in determination. But not this night! Tonight will be finally be the night he confesses, even if he has to stumble through clumsy words to do so. However, he won’t need to stumble through his confession. Frodo would never admit it to anyone (maybe one day to Sam) but he’d been imagining how this situation would play out: Frodo confidently pinning his yellow lillies onto Sam’s waistcoat, them swaying and moving along to the beat of the band, both of them laughing at the stir they may have caused among the other hobbits, and then when the music was over and before the band could start up again, Frodo would finally tell Sam the words he had been meaning to say for so long, and hopefully, Sam would pin his camellias onto Frodo and they would start another dance.
He closed his eyes and sighed, the scene replaying in his head. It was silly, but it did help calm and distract him from his jitters a bit. So well, that Frodo didn’t notice being dragged up from his spot on the bench.
“Mr. Frodo!” Frodo looked up, startled to see that it was Sam. His face was flushed, his brown eyes sparkling under the lights of the Party Tree. Frodo’s tongue turned to mush and before he figured out what to say, Sam pinned his flowers onto him.
“Come, this one is my favorite!” Frodo was dazed as Sam led him to the dance floor, everyone else getting ready for the next number. His mind was reeling, is this truly happening, he thought. They got into position, Frodo felt Sam’s broad hand on his hip, their fingers intertwined in the other, the music started back up, and they fell into the beat.
(It’s really happening.)
Frodo knew the song and danced to this countless times before, but it felt as if he was dancing to it for the very first time. Not as if he was stumbling around with Sam like a newborn calf (and thank Yavanna that he didn’t make a fool of himself), but because of how aware he became of everything. How lights in the tree made everything look so ethereal, how the music blended in with the cheerful sounds of the dance, but most importantly: Sam.
They twirled and weaved through the crowd in time expertly, leaving Frodo breathless (had Sam always been this good a dancer?). He pulled Frodo in closer when they got too close to another couple but Frodo made no move to pull back after the close call. Frodo had never been this close to Sam before, and feel of Sam’s soft body against his own sent a thrill down his spine. How did they fit perfectly against each other so well? Was Sam thinking this too? Frodo looked up, and was caught under Sam’s gaze. Tender, brown eyes looking at him as if nothing else mattered in the world except for Frodo, a small smile on his lips. He wanted to say something, anything, but Frodo felt the words die on his tongue. All he could do was gaze back, hoping Sam could feel what he was feeling.
The song finally draws to a close to cheers and applause, and they slow to stop. Neither of them pulled away, and Frodo swore he could feel Sam’s heart beating against his own. Finally, Sam blinked, and the flush on his cheeks grew darker.
“It was a bit forward of me sir, begging your pardon,” Sam stammered. Something flashed in his eyes, and Sam straightened out. “There’s something I-“
He stopped short, staring as Frodo pinned his flowers onto Sam.
“I would dance with you forever if you’d have me,” Frodo said, feeling his cheeks burn hot.
They could hear the band striking the first note of the next song, and Sam laughed as he pulled Frodo back as they both tried to find the rhythm. Frodo held on, laughing at how much of a sight they probably were and feeling his heart soar out of his chest.
(Many dance-goers would later say Mr. Frodo and Sam did not leave each other’s arms for the rest of the night, not even as they walked back up The Hill but of course, that was none of their business).