Young Sam Gamgee walked almost apologetically into the meeting place of Galadriel. Taking a seat opposite the elf, he fumbled nervously with his clothing.
"You have troubles on your mind, dear Sam?" spoke Galadriel, smiling with reassurance. "There is no need to feel judged within this place."
Sam smiled, her words relaxing his posture.
"I do have troubles, yes," he admitted. "I find myself attracted strongly to another in the fellowship and I know not how to act."
Galadriel nodded.
"It is Frodo you speak of," she replied understandingly. "I see it clearly as do others. You are both close-"
"I am so sorry to interrupt, fairest Galadriel!" gushed Sam, nerves tingeing his words. "For I must say that I am confused. You believe it is Frodo for which I have an attraction?"
Galadriel was caught momentarily without words.
"You...are not attracted to Frodo?" she asked, clearly surprised.
Sam shrugged his shoulders. "I feel the attraction of a friend, yes, but Master Frodo is like a brother to me. It would be most strange indeed to be attracted to another if I thought of him as a relation, would you not think?"
Galadriel could not help but let a small laugh escape her lips before she replied. "Yes, indeed Sam, that would be most strange."
"I apologize again," continued Sam with confusion. "But did you say that you and others believe that I am attracted to Frodo?"
"Oh, yes indeed I did say that," replied Galadriel, feeling slightly humbled in her years by her mistake in observation. "We had thought as much as you are so doting on your companion. Spending time with him, sleeping with him, and speaking often of him. These are the reasons we thought as we did."
Sam seemed not convinced but chose to let the matter go to give preference to his actual troubles. "Might I instead talk of my true love?"
"Yes, please do," replied Galadriel, glad for the change of topic. "Who is it then that you speak of?"
"Aragorn, of course!" exclaimed Sam in a sudden, his expression lighting at the thought.
"Aragorn?"
"Aragorn!" confirmed Sam. "He is a tall one, indeed, but I still feel the relationship could blossom. He is unlike any other I have known - so strong yet restrained. So courageous and fierce. He is masculine in a way I have never encountered before."
"Then what is the trouble you speak of?" asked Galadriel.
Sam shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I seem to have become fixated with him in a rather specific way," he admitted. "He has...growth upon his face which I cannot ignore!"
"Stubble, you speak of?" queried Galadriel.
"Yes, for the beginnings of a beard he has continually. It is like nothing I have witnessed before! For whence it begins it stays true. Do you understand my words?"
Galadriel nodded. "You speak of how Aragorn seems to achieve the same length of beginning growth without it ever lengthening or indeed being shortened by the blade of a knife."
"I do!" exclaimed Sam emphatically. "For surely it must be magic! I cannot understand its ways, but it holds my attention strong. I want so much to feel its sharpness, kiss it until a rash would appear from its harsh love. I myself have never grown a beard of any degree, and neither have most of my kind - it is such an extraordinary feature that I am concerned that my attraction is based solely on its presence upon Aragorn's face. He is a man like no other I have ever known."
"Manly stubble," murmured Galadriel, though Sam's sharp ears registered the words.
"Yes, that is my woe!" he cried. "Please, fair Galadriel, guide me in how to face this obsession."
"You mentioned earlier that you felt the difference in height might be troubling to this intended relationship," she replied after giving much thought to the matter.
"I did," spoke Sam. "For the object of my obsession is always to far out of my reach to possess!"
"Then instead I offer an alternative," continued Galadriel. "Have your thoughts ever strayed towards Gimli?" She paused to allow Sam a moment's reflection. "I speak of him for if you find the beginning beard of Aragorn pleasant in view, then could you not be ready to tackle the challenge of a far greater growth of forest upon the face of your companion dwarf?"
Sam's expression was open and clear as the emotions of suggestion entered his mind. "I do see this as a possibility, yes!" he cried. "This might well be the solution I am seeking!"
Springing from his seat, Sam rushed forward to embrace the elf, before stepping back in excitement and embarrassment.
"I am sorry but I am so cheered by this I must act upon it now!" he cried, before rushing off through the trees, shouting words of thanks behind him.
Galadriel was again left alone in her meeting place. Celeborn soon walked into view, a forced smile upon his face.
"I see we are now even," he spoke to her, to which she nodded.
"I have one more to council and then we will see the end of the tally," she replied with confidence. "For can even you not clearly see how easy it is to guide their hearts along the path they already wish to take?"
Celeborn nodded without words and left the clearing. Galadriel indulged in a smile and waited patiently for her final meeting to commence.
THE END.