The Journey Alone: Chapter 7
March 20, 3002 (T.A.) 1402 (S.R.)
Frodo's POV
Pearl and I continued to enjoy our life together, and both of us were looking forward to the birth of the baby. Pearl was liable to overtax herself because of her condition, so I spent lots of time insisting she rest. I cooked a lot of meals and did a lot more things usually done by Pearl for those few months. This was why I was nervous when Lobelia Sackville-Baggins knocked on the door one day in March.
o0o
I was in my study when I happened to look up and see Lobelia Sackville-Baggins marching up the Hill, with her umbrella under her arm. She looked disdainfully at Sam working in the garden, sniffed, and continued up the Hill.
"Pearl!" I called out. I got up to find her, knowing she wouldn't be able to get to me before Lobelia made it to the door. I found her in the kitchen, struggling to get up with her growing belly. I helped her get up and guided her to the living room.
"Lobelia is here, no doubt to find out for herself if I've married and already conceived an heir," I explained. Pearl nodded. I helped her settle into an overstuffed arm chair. Then I heard a knock at the door. "There she is," I groaned.
I took my time getting to the door, no more eager to speak to her than she was to find out that I had an heir. I opened the round door slowly, and tried to school my features to a surprised face. "Lobelia!" I said. "How are you? Won't you come inside?" Lobelia was already pushing her way inside and nosily looking around.
"I can take your umbrella," I said, trying to be polite.
"No, thank you, Frodo. I prefer to carry it myself," she said.
"Come meet Pearl," I said, leading her into the living room. I showed Lobelia into the living room, and sat in the chair beside Pearl. She raised an eyebrow at me when she saw Lobelia. I barely hid my smile, but nearly laughed out loud when I turned around to see Lobelia. She was staring at the obviously pregnant Pearl with shocked expression on her face.
"Won't you sit down, Lobelia? This is Pearl," I said. Lobelia lowered herself onto the nearest chair.
"Well, Frodo, I never thought you would take a mistress and adopt her child as your heir. You must have felt so sorry for her after the Tooks kicked her out," Lobelia said. I sat there, shocked at how offensive she was being. I was speechless for a moment, before I rose to my feet and angrily addressed her.
"How dare you Lobelia! Pearl is my wife, we got married in October! I never thought even you would stoop so low," I said, my fury growing as Lobelia continued to sit on the chair. At that moment I heard a sniff from behind me, and I realized that Pearl was crying, but was trying to hide it. Lobelia looked so smug, I wanted to slap her.
"I see that it hits close to the truth," Lobelia said, nodding toward Pearl.
"Lobelia, I demand that you get out of my house now!" I said and I stepped toward her and pointed to the door. Lobelia grinned at me and left quickly, no doubt fearing my wrath. I turned toward Pearl and wrapped my arms around her shaking form. She continued to sob, and I tried to reassure her.
"I'm so sorry Pearl. Lobelia can be offensive, but she's never said something like that to my face before. If I'd known what she was going to do, I never would've let her in," I said. Pearl nodded.
"I'm sorry, Frodo. I shouldn't be crying so much at such a ridiculous thing, but…," Pearl said, but she started sobbing all the more. I hugged her again and kissed her cheek.
"Oh, Pearl!" I said. I continued to hold her until Pearl had stopped crying and was only sniffing. "Would you like some tea?" I asked. She nodded. I went into the kitchen and poured a cup of tea for her. I gave it to her, and he calmed down a lot more as she drank it.
"You know what Pearl? I am going to go talk to Otho and see if I can get an apology out of Lobelia before she spreads that filth around Hobbiton," I said.
"Good idea. How dare Lobelia go around saying that I'm your mistress! Everyone knows we're married," Pearl said.
"I'll see if I can find Pippin to come with me, too. He's probably somewhere around here: he's always coming up to Hobbiton to see us," I said. Pearl smiled.
"Now I fear for Lobelia. When Pippin finds out what she said about us, his wrath will be uncontainable," she said. I laughed.
"Somehow I have no sympathy for Lobelia whatsoever," I said. "Will you be alright if I go right now?"
"I'll be fine. You worry too much," she said. I kissed her forehead.
"That's my job, though," I said. She smiled softly. I got ready to go and said my goodbyes to Pearl.
o0o
Pearl's POV
Lobelia's comments shocked and deeply offended me. Lobelia didn't even know me and she still said that to my face, so I was not impressed with her at all. No matter how untrue what she said was, it still hurt and I suppose they pushed me to the breaking point. The littlest things can make you cry when you're pregnant.
After Frodo left I continued to drink my tea and watch the fire. I must've fallen asleep, because when I woke up, the fire had gone out and I was starving. I got up, but I must have gotten up too quickly because I was light headed. The next thing I knew I was on the floor. I had passed out.
o0o
Frodo's POV
I went outside and told Sam what had happened. He was so angry at what Lobelia had said that he volunteered to come with me. We went into the village and saw Pippin enjoying the products of his mischief-making: he was eating stolen mushrooms.
Pippin was indignant when I told him what Lobelia had said to Pearl and I. He exhibited all the signs of a wrathful Took and immediately agreed to go with us to demand an apology from Otho and Lobelia.
We made our way to the Sackville-Bagginses. Once there, Pippin banged on the door. Otho answered.
"Yes?" he said, not bothering to take his pipe out of his mouth. He looked each of us up and down, trying to figure out what why we were there.
"Otho, we have something very important to speak with you and your wife about," I said.
"Well, come in then," he said. He showed us into their parlor, where Lobelia was sitting. She looked surprised that we had come so soon.
"Lobelia, what you said to Pearl and I today was unacceptable. You have deeply offended us and what you said was untrue and harsh, especially considering Pearl's condition," I said.
"You've also deeply offended the Tooks. My father doesn't know about what you said yet, but he shall. And when he finds out, I'm sure you'll have both the Mayor and the Master of Buckland's authority to reckon with, not to mention my father's authority as the Thain," Pippin said with surprising maturity for his age. Lobelia paled and Otho looked confused.
"What's going on? What did Lobelia say? And what do you mean, 'Pearl's condition'?" Otho asked.
"My wife Pearl is pregnant with our first child, Otho. And perhaps Lobelia should tell you herself what she said when she came over to our hole today," I said. Otho raised an eyebrow and took his pipe out of his mouth.
"Whatever did you say, Lobelia?" he asked. Lobelia looked flustered.
"Well, I… I mean, I…," Lobelia stuttered.
"She accused Pearl of being Frodo's mistress and that their child was illegitimate," Pippin interrupted, looking angry. Otho's mouth dropped open, and he stared at his wife, who was shaking with anger. He was clearly speechless.
"Mr. Frodo would like an apology," Sam said, speaking for the first time. Otho seemed to partially recover, and he looked at his wife.
"I think an apology is in order, Lobelia," Otho said. Lobelia stood, her pride clearly showing in the look on her face.
"What? I never apologize. He should apologize to us for robbing us of Bilbo's inheritance," she said, and she stalked out of the room. Otho looked angrily after her, but when he turned back to us, his expression softened.
"I apologize for my wife's behavior," he said sincerely. "If you would excuse me, I need to speak to my wife." I nodded in acknowledgement of his apology.
"Thank you, Otho. We'll just be going then," I said, turning to leave.
"Congratulations on becoming a father," Otho said as we were leaving. I smiled at him.
"At least Otho seems to be decent," I said as we walked back to the village.
