Meanwhile Maddy was almost to the town square of Hobbiton. He had
contemplated where to spend his time, and thought that a good visit to the
Green Dragon tavern would be enjoyable.
As he walked across the wet grass of a field he sighed in content. It was a beautiful evening, despite the rain. Actually the rain added to the beauty. The mist it created made Maddy feel as if he was walking through a dream. His hair was soaked through and a few clumps of curls were plastered to his face. His feet were muddy and his cloak was wet, but other than that he was perfectly warm.
He came over the hill and walked over the bridge leading to the town square. There was plenty of activity still going on in the town, even though the rain slowed people down a little bit. Not many people noticed Maddy, because they were too interested in trying to get their wagons out of the mud. His best friend recognized him, though.
"Hey Maddy! I thought your ma wouldn't let you out in rain…" Aridoc Fletcher shouted to Maddy as he ran up to him. Pleased to see his friend and to be able to tell his tale Maddy smiled. "Oh no, I know that grin… what happened?" Aridoc asked.
"Well, you're right. Mum wouldn't let me out in the rain, nor snow, nor sun if she had her way. I had to take liberties of my own accord." Maddy spoke with an unquenchable confidence.
"Oh don't tell me you snuck out again! Remember what happened last time? You couldn't sit comfortably for two whole days!" Aridoc looked horrified at what would become of his friend this time.
"Oh you worry too much. And I didn't sneak out as you put it. I merely walked out the door. It couldn't have been simpler. Look, I got out, so why dwell on what'll happen to me when I get back? I can't change that now, and I wouldn't even if I could! You don't know what it's like living with four sisters. C'mon, lets go to the Green Dragon and drown our worries, whadda you say?"
"All right, I suppose we could… but if I get caught with you while you're a fugitive they'll think I had some hand in this won't they?"
"S'pose so, why?"
"Well, as much as I am jealous of your reputation I don't think I am quite ready to expand mine as of yet… if you take my meaning," Aridoc looked at his friend with a little smile of friendship.
"Well, don't worry, I'll be sure to never tell anyone who pushed you into the mud," Maddy said matter-of-factly. Aridoc gave him a confused look.
"But I haven't been pushed in the mu--" He started to say when he was interrupted by Maddy shoving him into a large mud puddle. Maddy stopped and laughed at his muddy friend before Aridoc got up and tackled Maddy back into the muck. The boys were having a good time while covering themselves in mud and attracting attention to themselves as they fought. They didn't even notice the weird looks people were giving them. There were hobbits of all kinds watching them. The adults would usually stop to hope that it wasn't their child being so foolish, and when they saw that little Maddy Black was in it they would smile to themselves and wonder if Matagrin knew what a disturbance his son was making in the town square.
Maddy and Aridoc kept at it for a while until, covered in thick mud, they had been pulled apart by a few of the hobbit peacekeepers. The boys noticed they were being touched very lightly as they were escorted to the guardhouse. Neither of the boys cared very much, they were still too wound up from having so much fun.
As he walked across the wet grass of a field he sighed in content. It was a beautiful evening, despite the rain. Actually the rain added to the beauty. The mist it created made Maddy feel as if he was walking through a dream. His hair was soaked through and a few clumps of curls were plastered to his face. His feet were muddy and his cloak was wet, but other than that he was perfectly warm.
He came over the hill and walked over the bridge leading to the town square. There was plenty of activity still going on in the town, even though the rain slowed people down a little bit. Not many people noticed Maddy, because they were too interested in trying to get their wagons out of the mud. His best friend recognized him, though.
"Hey Maddy! I thought your ma wouldn't let you out in rain…" Aridoc Fletcher shouted to Maddy as he ran up to him. Pleased to see his friend and to be able to tell his tale Maddy smiled. "Oh no, I know that grin… what happened?" Aridoc asked.
"Well, you're right. Mum wouldn't let me out in the rain, nor snow, nor sun if she had her way. I had to take liberties of my own accord." Maddy spoke with an unquenchable confidence.
"Oh don't tell me you snuck out again! Remember what happened last time? You couldn't sit comfortably for two whole days!" Aridoc looked horrified at what would become of his friend this time.
"Oh you worry too much. And I didn't sneak out as you put it. I merely walked out the door. It couldn't have been simpler. Look, I got out, so why dwell on what'll happen to me when I get back? I can't change that now, and I wouldn't even if I could! You don't know what it's like living with four sisters. C'mon, lets go to the Green Dragon and drown our worries, whadda you say?"
"All right, I suppose we could… but if I get caught with you while you're a fugitive they'll think I had some hand in this won't they?"
"S'pose so, why?"
"Well, as much as I am jealous of your reputation I don't think I am quite ready to expand mine as of yet… if you take my meaning," Aridoc looked at his friend with a little smile of friendship.
"Well, don't worry, I'll be sure to never tell anyone who pushed you into the mud," Maddy said matter-of-factly. Aridoc gave him a confused look.
"But I haven't been pushed in the mu--" He started to say when he was interrupted by Maddy shoving him into a large mud puddle. Maddy stopped and laughed at his muddy friend before Aridoc got up and tackled Maddy back into the muck. The boys were having a good time while covering themselves in mud and attracting attention to themselves as they fought. They didn't even notice the weird looks people were giving them. There were hobbits of all kinds watching them. The adults would usually stop to hope that it wasn't their child being so foolish, and when they saw that little Maddy Black was in it they would smile to themselves and wonder if Matagrin knew what a disturbance his son was making in the town square.
Maddy and Aridoc kept at it for a while until, covered in thick mud, they had been pulled apart by a few of the hobbit peacekeepers. The boys noticed they were being touched very lightly as they were escorted to the guardhouse. Neither of the boys cared very much, they were still too wound up from having so much fun.