Chapter 2: Lotho Sackville-Baggins

Chapter 2: Lotho Sackville-Baggins

It was near dusk. Days after we had passed Gandalf's company we arrived near the small dwelling place of the Halflings. I needed some followers if this was to work. Luckily I had negotiated with some ruffians along the way.

They can help me. Good. Now, who is the leader of this place? A Halfling will be an easy target, and one that can control all the doings of people here will be perfect.

"Hey, who are you?" a small, fat hobbit asked. He was full grown with a big fat belly and dark curly hair and a pipe so long that it ran all the way down to his big hairy feet. "I am a stranger here," I said. "And my poor servant is starving. I don't plan to stay here long… but is there someone, a governor or a mayor that I may speak to?" I used soft, slippery words alike to syrup, charming to those who heard it.

"Well, there's Lotho Sackville-Baggins up a ways there at Bag End," the hobbit said. "But he's more 'influential' than 'in charge' if you get my meaning." "I do," I courteously replied, the kindness rolling off my tongue. It tasted foul. "Thank you."

I leaned on my staff and hurried over to the little hobbit hole. It was cozy looking, with a ringlet of smoke rising from its chimney. I despised its very look. "Wait here," I commanded Grima, and then I knocked on the door. A mean-looking Halfling stood there, and I had to bend down to see him well. His brow was fixed in a wrinkled frown and his eyes looked me up and down and glared up at me. "You aren't Gandalf, are you?" He asked. "A disturber of the peace, you are!"

"No, no, not at all," I replied, the honey dripping from my tongue. "I am acquainted with him but I do not enjoy his rousing spirit. He disturbs the peace where'er he goes and I quite dislike his company. Er, might I come in? Are you Lotho Sackville-Baggins? I have a matter of business to discuss with you."

He looked at me rather distrustfully and then agreed to let me in. "Thank you," I said. He closed the door behind me and let me sit down on a big comfy chair. "I understand that Bilbo and Frodo Baggins have done you some injustices," I began. "Why, yes!" he replied, looking rather startled, and still not quite trusting me.

"Well, I unfortunately came to know several Halflings of undesirable mention, including the friends of the Bagginses: Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took, for some."

"I've heard of 'em." Lotho said.

"I thought so," I said and nodded understandingly "Well, I was walking along the road and they came riding by. And-" he cut me off. "Do you mean that they are coming back to Hobbiton?!" he asked, standing up. "Yes," I replied.

"And with the worst of intentions, too! Frodo regrets selling you his house and now wants you to give it back to him. And his friends have decided to help him, by any means necessary." "They can't do that!" Lotho shouted, enraged. "Well, if I may, I propose a plan." I said, coolly.

This kindness thing is killing me, I thought.

"What is it?" he asked, sitting down. "Well," I began. "If you put a gate in front of Hobbiton and make strict rules, they are likely not to want to come back. And if you continue these strict rules then you might have more of a …shall we say… powerful and meaningful authority?"

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Do the hobbits follow you? Obey you? Of course not! But if you were in charge and had authority over Hobbiton, you could do whatever you wanted to! Make taxes and become richer than Bilbo himself ever claimed to be! Feel the satisfaction of ordering sheriffs about. That's what I mean." I exclaimed. Finally, we were getting to the point.

It worked. The greed set in. Lotho's eyes became strangely far off… as if he were dreaming of wealth and happiness. Suddenly, he looked at me. "Who are you?" he asked. Oh, so many questions. Halflings are so tiresome. "Why are you doing this for me?"

"Let's just say that I am an old enemy of Gandalf, Bilbo, Frodo and the rest, and I don't want to see the downfall of innocent hobbits here in the Shire. And if I can help you and bring about my justice to them in the same process then I am more than willing to do so! What do you say?"

He thought a moment, and then agreed. We set our plan to work.