Rupert and two of his chums are in Tom Bombadil's house talking with Tom and Goldberry when there is a knock at the door...
The Barrow-wight
They heard the click of the latch as Goldberry opened the door, and then a little cry of delight as she recognised the caller. They heard some girlish whispers and giggling, then Goldberry called out, "Rupert Bear come and see, here is a friend of both you and me!"
Rupert scrambled up and rushed through to see who it could be, Algy and Bill on his heels. What a surprise: it was Tigerlily, the daughter of the Chinese Conjuror!
"Greetings Rupert," she said, smiling. "Algy and Bill, too. Good, everyone is here."
"You and Goldberry are friends?" asked Rupert.
"Oh, yes, I met River Daughter in Nutwood," said Tigerlily, "she is often there, but never have I been to the house of Master Bombadil before."
"Who's that who speaks my name?" called Tom from behind them. "Did you bring these young folk here?"
"I bring a message to you from my father," she answered, handing a piece of paper to Tom. "It is about a friend of his who lives here in Middle Earth, a wizard."
Tom took the paper and looked at the strange writing on it. "Then it was your father who worked the spell to use Old Man Willow?"
"Yes," said Tigerlily," my father used the Willow Pattern spell to send us all here."
"And," said Tom, sternly but with a twinkle in his eye, "was it your father or you who enchanted Goldberry?"
"Tom, if I was under a spell," said Goldberry, "surely I could tell?"
Tigerlily giggled, and Rupert suddenly realised what Tom meant. "That's not kind of you, Tigerlily, making her speak in verse."
Tigerlily smiled and waved her wand, "There, undone and no harm done. I heard you singing a rather silly song, River Daughter, and thought I'd play a little joke on you. You are not cross with me, I hope? I do beg your forgiveness."
"Miss Tigerlily," said Tom, "give me one reason why I should not tell your father about this."
"I can give you two, Master. One: my father would punish me, and you are too kind for that. Two: it is more important to read my father's message; his friend the wizard needs help."
"Tom," said Goldberry, "do read the note. I know Tigerlily's father; he would not send her here if it was not very important."
While Tom puzzled over the message from the Conjuror of Nutwood, Tigerlily explained that her father used the Willow Pattern spell on her first, and was going to send others from Nutwood to share her adventure. "But I heard my friend River Daughter singing as soon as I got here and didn't wait for you as I should. I crept up on her without being seen."
"Is that the Willow Pattern that is on plates, you know, blue and white?" asked Bill Badger. "My mummy has some for special occasions."
"So has mine," said Algy and Rupert together.
"Yes," said Tigerlily, "the picture on the plates tells a story which your mothers can tell you, it is very sad and romantic. But there is also a magic spell in it which my father uses."
"Your father is a great magic man in Nutwood, I have no doubt," said Tom, "but he knows little of Middle Earth. He writes that one wizard has imprisoned another and wants Tom's help to free him. Well, Tom is a friend of Mithrandir and he would help if he could, but it is too far away by many a long league: from here to Isengard is too great a step for poor old Tom. The Old Forest is the wrong wood altogether! He should have sent you to Lothlòrien or to Fangorn Forest."
"Father says it is urgent," said Tigerlily, "How can we get there?"
"It would be weeks of travelling, and far too far for little folk like you. Go back to Nutwood and try again."
"We must walk back to the willow tree then?" asked Rupert.
Tom thought about this, stroking his great brown beard. He shook his head, "That won't do, young fellow. You'll not command Old Man Willow a second time, and Tom can't make him help you."
"Then we are trapped here until my father can rescue us," Tigerlily exclaimed.
"I'm sure Master Bombadil can help us some how," said Rupert, but he sounded rather uncertain.
"Maybe I can," laughed Tom, "but why 'trapped' or 'rescue'? Is not Tom Bombadil's house a fine place to be?"
"O Tom," said Goldberry, "Nutwood is these young peoples' home, where their families and friends live. Of course they must go home! Do not tease them so."
"There is a way back for them, if they are brave," said Tom, "and we must be off without delay: night comes soon, and the Barrow-downs are a long walk for short legs."
"Why Tom, have you forgotten the ponies?"
Tom clapped his hands and laughed aloud. "Why so I had! And a pony ride will change a tiring trek into a delight for these youngsters. Goldberry, do you lay the table while I see to our mounts." And with that he bustled out by a back door.
"Tom has his own pony," said Goldberry, "and we have ponies belonging to Farmer Maggot stabled with us. Do you like pony riding?"
Rupert, Algy and Bill had all ridden donkeys and ponies before, but Tigerlily had not.
"Not to worry, Tigerlily, you can ride with Tom on his pony, Lumpkin. I won't lay the table, though, I'll pack food for you all, and you can picnic out on the Downs."
After saying goodbye and 'thank you' to Goldberry - which they found as difficult to do as the next set of guests would a few days later – they rode off up hill on their ponies. Tom led the way on Lumpkin with Tigerlily mounted in front of him. At the top of the hill they could see the Barrow-downs stretched out ahead of them. They enjoyed riding, but soon were feeling hungry, so Tom stopped at the top of the next rise, and they picnicked on the grass while their ponies grazed.
"Hurrah," cried Algy. "This picnic is better than jelly and ice cream; these little honey cakes are scrumptious!"
The others all agreed with him, and tucked in with a will.
While they ate, Tom told them where he was leading them. "These are called the Barrow-downs because of the old burial barrows. They were built very long ago, when people lived here, now there are just a few sheep. I am taking you to one which is open. When you go inside, Tigerlily's magic will find you the way back to where you came from."
They had a lovely picnic, but Tom was soon urging them to get on: "Already the sun is low in the sky and we must get you home before nightfall. The Barrow-downs is no place to be straying after dark."
They rode on, up and down the rolling green Downs. There were no paths, but Tom knew the way. As they went he pointed out standing stones left behind by the people who once lived there, and on the hill tops the rounded green mounds which Tom said were old barrows. It was a lonely place, they saw a few sheep and a rabbit or two, but that was all. By the time they reached the right barrow the sun was setting.
"Be quick and quiet," said Tom, "or you might wake the old Barrow-wight and he will try and block your way. I can't go in with you for the entrance is too small; if I broke my way in it would break the door to Nutwood too."
There was a narrow, low doorway in the hillside made from great pieces of stone, and inside it looked as black as night. After thanking Tom and saying goodbye to him and the ponies, the four pals crawled in on hands and knees, one after the other. Inside there was more space, but it was dark. Tigerlily held her wand in one hand and a magic key given her by her father in the other. She whispered to Rupert beside her, "We have to find the keyhole, then this key will open the door to our homes. But it is so dark, we should have brought a lantern."
"Oh dear," said Rupert, "We could be fumbling around for hours." Then he remembered: "Algy," he called, "have you forgotten the torch in your pocket?"
His voice sounded loud and Tigerlily hushed him: "Rupert, remember what Tom said, we must be very quiet."
Algy found his torch and switched it on; the battery was new and it gave a strong light. "I hope," he said quietly, "I hope this light doesn't wake the Wight. What is a Wight, Tigerlily, they don't sound friendly?"
"Tom told me that they are the guardians of treasures left in the barrows hundreds of years ago."
Using Algy's torch Tigerlily soon found the tiny door which Tom had told her to look for. "You first Algy," she said, "go towards the light." Algy handed his torch to Rupert and squeezed through the opening. Rupert could just see a dim light ahead of Algy. Soon, Algy was out of sight.
"Bill, you next," Tigerlily whispered. As Bill was scrambling through, Rupert heard a sound behind them. He turned round, but saw nothing except that there was a slight pale-green glow he had not noticed before. He shivered, suddenly feeling cold.
"We must wait for Bill to get home," said Tigerlily, "then it's your turn next, Rupert."
"You first, Tigerlily," said Rupert bravely, "I've got the torch."
Tigerlily knew there was no time to waste in an argument. "Thank you, Rupert. Be sure to close the door behind you."
As soon as Bill Badger was out of sight Tigerlily began to crawl after him. "Do not forget the door, Rupert," she hissed.
Rupert watched her go. Then he heard footsteps behind him and a sad slow voice said "Do not go, stay here."
"Are you the Barrow-wight?" asked Rupert. "Please don't be afraid, we don't want your treasure, we are just going home." He shuffled round to look at the Wight, a tall thin stooping figure with long arms and great pale staring eyes. As the Wight came closer Rupert could see that its long straggly hair was thick with dust, and its yellowish skin was equally filthy. Rupert felt sorry for it, shut up in the cold dark stone-hard barrow for years and years.
"You shall stay!"
"I have to go," said Rupert, "I am sorry we came in without asking, but I have to go home. I should be sleeping in my bed."
"Stay, and sleep here 'til the world ends."
"Please," said Rupert, "I must go." He shone the torch on the Wight's face, and the creature screeched and backed away, covering its eyes with its long-fingered hands. Rupert turned back and started squeezing through the little doorway as fast as he could. The Wight, muttering to itself, came up behind him, but instead of reaching in and grabbing Rupert it slammed shut the little door behind him with a crash.
Rupert turned off the torch and looked for the light which would guide him home. He crawled on hands and knees until he found himself in the wardrobe of his own bedroom. Very tired and sleepy after all his adventures he slipped off his slippers and climbed between the sheets.
In the morning he changed out of his pyjamas while thinking about the vivid dream he had had during the night. Then he opened the wardrobe for his clothes and found Algy's torch in his pocket. Was it a dream, it did seem so real? He couldn't wait to see Algy and Bill!
