Why is the mountain lonely?
Outside bag end sat a hobbit by the name of Bilbo Baggins, he was enjoying the quiet peacefulness of the evening. He thought of that adventure from time past when he riddled with dragons, met with elves and dwarves. He sometimes caught himself thinking of what they were up to now, his Took side wanted to go and visit those wondrous places again. The more sensible Baggins side decided against it as it meant he'd have to leave his comfortable hobbit hole in which his possessions could be auctioned off again. Bilbo's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of giggling hobbit children approaching him. The leader of the small group was seven year Frodo Baggins, his nephew who resided mainly in Brandyhall.
"Well hello Frodo, what brings you and your friends here?" He smiled warmly at the five mischief making hobbit children. Frodo grinned and scratched his head before speaking up, "I have…
We have a few questions about the stories you told us." He says fidgeting with his blue waist coat which was a little dirty from running through the corn fields all day with his friends and relatives.
Bilbo reached over and straightened the lads waist coat and ruffled his hair, "Up to no good I see, nevermind that what is your question?"
Frodo paused and looked at the others who urged him on, "Well uncle we were wondering... Why is the mountain lonely?"
"Also mister Bilbo…. wouldn't it be lonlier without the dragon to keep it company?" Added Opal Bracegirdle.
"Was the dragon mad because he didn't have a girl dragon with him and only a mountain for company?" Laroic Brandybuck asked.
"Can you get us dragons?!" Asked Primrose Took
Twins Pearl and Chrysanthemum Bolger spoke up in unison, "Are there girl dwarves?"
Oh the innocence and imagination of hobbit lads and lasses. Bilbo thought as he started to chuckle, "My my you have some good questions, why don't we all sit down inside and I can show you a map of where this mountain is and the answer the rest of your questions." He suggested fiddling with the ring as he spoke. The children loved this idea and ran inside the house before Bilbo could utter the words, "No running" he sighed, dwarves all over again. Well there's a slight difference actually. He thought and stepped into his spacious home where instead of quiet he now heard stomping of little feet and giggling. He went into his study and collected the map of the lonely mountain and what surrounded it. He brought it out to the five inquisitive hobbit children who were sat cross legged around his chair he usually sat at when telling them stories.
"I shall start with frodo, you wish to know why the mountain is lonely?" He looked down at the expressive blue eyes of his nephew who nodded at him, "Yes"
"This map should show you where and why it's all by itself" he rolled out the map on the floor for the children to look at, "oh...did the other mountains not likeded the lonely one?" Was the next question. Bilbo's grin grew wider at the next question. Unsure of how to answer that he merely shrugged, "I unfortunately do not speak mountain" frodo and the other children seemed to accept that answer and continued to look at the mountain and it's surrounding areas, "Lake Town? Is it a town made out of a lake?" Asked opal a little confused.
"No silly it's a town that is in a lake" laroic said.
Bilbo chuckled again at their questions and answers. Their imagination was a wonder to behold indeed.
"So it's lonely because of where it's placed?" Frodo tilts his head and points to the mountain range then the lone mountain. "Why doesn't another mountain grow beside it?" Thinking mountains grew like trees the seven year old thought that maybe if a mountain was planted by the lonely one….
"That I don't know Frodo, I would have to ask the dwarves as they spend most of their time in them." Bilbo tried to answer as best as he could in this instance.
"Could they build a tunnel connecting the mountain to the other mountains?" Primrose traced a line from the range to the lonely one.
"I think that could be possible actually" Bilbo said, and to answer your question next prim no, I cannot get you all dragons…. before you all protest it's because they are too big to fit inside your hobbit holes and would make a right mess of things." He said looking at the disappointed faces, maybe some toy dragons can be on order. He thinks.
"Now to answer your question Laroic, I am unsure. Maybe he could have been if he wasn't selfish about his gold. And yes I suppose the mountain would be lonlier without the dragon but it has dwarves now to keep it company" he answered laroic and opal to the best of his abilities on those questions.
"Why didn't you find a girl dragon to see what happens?" Pearl asked.
"We weren't sure where to look" was the simple answer for that.
"If dwarves keep it company that's gooder than being by itself." Opal decided tugging on one of her braids.
"Now the question of girl dwarves, yes there are. They just aren't seen as much." He says and prepared for the next round of questions.
"Are they pretty?" Chrysanthemum asked
"Like the elves?" Pearl finished the sentence of her twin.
"Do they like adventure too?" Primrose asked
"I have never seen one so I'm not sure if they are. No doubt to their husbands they are, as for adventure probably not." Bilbo was purely guessing on both fronts as he really hadn't seen any before.
The children nod in satisfaction however Bilbo could already sense more questions.
"Could we meet an elf or a dwarf?" Frodo asked thoughtfully.
"Maybe when you are older, they live far away" he answers.
Before they could ask more questions a knock is heard on his door, "I'll get it!" Shouts opal already running to the door.
It was Frodos parents Drogo and Primula, opal let them in but yelled loudly, "FRODO! YOU'RE MUM AND DAD IS HERE!"
"Indoor voice little opal" Primula chided gently.
"Oh sorry, Frodo your mum and dad are here" she said in a polite tone.
"Awe can't we stay longer?" He asked unhappy that his time with his uncle was being cut short.
"It's long past your bedtime and I'm sure uncle Bilbo needs some peace" his mother said.
Frodo sighs when he realised protesting wasn't going to work. "Come on, let's go" he said to the other kids.
As they all left Bilbo put away his map and began to think of his young nephew and the other children, mischief makers the lot of them. He then went to his study to continue some writing and staring at the ring he had found so long ago.