Chapter 07
Meanwhile Back in the Shire (part 2)
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It was three days before Gerontius Took regained consciousness.
"Bilba?" was the first thing he asked.
"The sheriff sent two of his own sons to Bree to look for her. They haven't returned yet," his wife, Adamanta, informed him tearfully. She was overjoyed to see him awake again.
"Willoughby Boffin?"
"Still in custody. Everyone wanted to wait for you to be well enough to preside over the trial yourself."
The Thain nodded and squeezed her hand, "Inform all the Heads of Family, sheriffs, and mayors there will be a full court trial when I am well enough, if they haven't been already." Then he slipped back to sleep, but this one was a more natural and restful one.
Adamanta held her husband's hand to her cheek for a few minutes before going to share with with their family the good news and pass on his directions.
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The sheriff met with the Thain in his bedroom the next day. Though he was still in bed, he was propped up on the pillows and his mind was awake and alert. His wife sat on the bed next to him, and the sheriff took a seat on a chair nearby.
"All the necessary people have been informed of the upcoming trial. They just await for you to set a date, Your Grace."
"Good. I hope to hold it in a week, my health permitting."
The sheriff looked uncomfortable for a moment. "There is something else, Your Grace. Willoughby Boffin's father has asked to speak with his son in private. He has also been asking about the charges his son faces in the trial. None of it has been shared because we do not know what charges you want him to face other than his attack on you."
It was only now the the Thain remembered he had not shared most of the contents of the letters with anyone. "The formal charges are: two counts of violence against a fellow hobbit, violence against a female with intent to compromise her virtue, and deception to hide his actions."
Both his wife and the sheriff gasped and wore identical expressions of horror.
"Now that you know, you can announce the charges. Mr. Boffin may see his son, but Willoughby stays in that cell. Now, there were two letters on the desk in my office that have accounts of the attack on Bilba. Bring them to me."
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The sheriff's sons returned later that day. Without Bilba.
"We're sorry, Your Grace, but Miss Bilba and the group she was traveling with left Bree the day before we got there," one lad said.
The other continued, "We asked around for information. She spent some time with Lily Proudfoot. She said Miss Bilba was in good spirits and didn't seem to be there by force. Even said she seemed to be friends with some of the dwarves, though one of them told Miss Bilba not to talk about their business to anyone."
"That supports what was written in Bilba's letter, but we still do not know where they are headed," the elderly hobbit sighed.
"We are sorry, Your Grace." They both looked down at their feet, ashamed.
"No, you did well. You have my gratitude. Go rest and recover from your trip."
"Thank you, Your Grace." They bowed and left followed by their father.
The Thain sighed heavily. "How do we find her now? How can I make amends if she is not here?"
"I'm sure you will think of something you can do that would show Bilba you are sorry for the part you played in her regrettable situation that doesn't require her presence. She must have been scared. I wonder how many other daughters and granddaughters have faced such fears," Adamanta said.
Gerontius looked intently at his wife. He knew what is was she hadn't said (couldn't say). Could he do that? There would be protests. If he handled it just right, he might even be able to make a few of the more stuffy and traditional hobbits faint! He smiled. Was he not the Thain? Was it not his responsibility to do what was right despite opposition, if it was the best for his people?
Adamanta looked thoughtful then said, "Perhaps one of the Rangers would be willing to search for her." She lay down next to him and he took her in his arms. When she rested her head on his shoulder he kissed her forehead and ran his hand gently through her white curls.
"My dear wife, you are brilliant. You have been beyond the finest partner I could have ever dreamed of having at my side all these years. I am a better Thain and hobbit because of you. Though the Twilight of Life is upon us, each moment with you is a joy, and so many years together has been a treasure. Thank you for marrying me."
"There is no one I would rather have spent my life with or have had as the father of my children, My Love."
They lay together like that for so long Adamanta thought her husband had fallen back to sleep, but when she moved he spoke.
"Send for my scribe, Dear Heart. I have much to do."
When the scribe arrived, instead of waiting for Adamanta to excuse herself as she usually did so they could conduct their business, her husband stopped her.
"Stay," he said. "I want you to be a part of this."
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Willoughby Boffin's trial was held a week later in the great hall of the Great Smials.
A full court trial in the Shire required the attendance of all the Heads of Family, every sheriff and every mayor. This group formed a sort of jury. Though the Thain held the final say on judgment, the jury suggested punishments they felt fit the offense.
The great hall was full of many more hobbits who came to witness the extremely rare occurrence of a full court trial.
"Willoughby Boffin, you are charged with two counts of violence against a fellow hobbit, violence against a female with intent to compromise her virtue, and deception to hide your actions," stated the Thain from his chair. "What is your response to these charges?"
"This is ridiculous!" he shouted.
"I have in my possession two letters, one from Bilba Baggins and one from the wizard Gandalf the Grey, in whose integrity I have the utmost trust in. Both mention an attack you made against Bilba. Do you deny this attack took place?"
"Of course I do. I was merely showing Bilba the affection I am entitled to as her betrothed."
The Thain proceeded to read both letters out loud. "You were not betrothed. There was never any official agreement, and you were entitled to NOTHING!" he bellowed.
"Bilba is MINE! We are meant to be together! The combination of her father's fine estate, her excellent cooking, and her beauty are unmatched by any other lass in the Shire and compliment me perfectly, or will when she learns her place!"
This caused gasps and muttering to fill the hall. It was such an un-hobbit thing to think! They'd all thought Willoughby loved Bilba, not her father's estate! Though Bag End was the finest smial in Hobbiton and the estate held extensive farms on the outskirts of the village, such greedy thoughts were just not right and certainly no reason to marry!
"You came to me and told me that Bilba had been abducted by a group of dwarves, one of whom, I would guess, was the one that saved my granddaughter from your 'affections.' After investigating your claim and finding it false I confronted you in the presence of the Sheriff of Tookland. When I told you that you would never marry my granddaughter, you attacked me."
"You deserve it for trying to keep Bilba from me!" Willoughby said and he tried to charge at the Thain. Four of his sons stopped the enraged hobbit and forced him into a chair.
"You should be grateful it was the dwarf that caught you, not Gandalf. He would have turned you into something unnatural," the Thain sneered.
Mr. Gamgee, the sheriff's two sons, and witnesses to Bilba's departure with the dwarves were brought forward to tell what they knew.
"Does anyone have anything to say in Mr. Willoughby's defense?" the Thain asked.
It was silent except for the sobbing of Willoughby's mother.
"Jury, have you any questions?"
"No, Your Grace."
"All those who agree with my judgment of guilty say 'Aye'."
There were many.
"All those who oppose say 'Nay'."
Nothing.
"Guilty has it. Jury, you may deliberate on suggestions for punishment in the next room for one hour."
They departed and the rest of the hall settled in to wait.
When the time was up, the jury re-entered the hall and took their places.
"What are your suggestions for punishment for Willoughby Boffin's crimes."
One by one, each member shared their recommendation.
"Shaved feet and banishment," was stated over and over again until it was finally the turn for the last member: the Head of the Boffin's family and Willoughby's father.
Mr. Boffin thought back on his private conversation with his son, how he'd spouted nonsense like he had in the trial today. Where had they gone wrong? What could have turned his son into this? Tears rolled down his cheeks and his voice shook as he said, "Shaved feet and banishment."
Mrs. Boffin began to wail.
"So be it. From this day Willoughby Boffin is banished from the Shire, never to return on pain of death. He is condemned by his own actions, but other things contributed to the difficult situation my granddaughter, Bilba, found herself in. We are none of us guiltless, certainly not I, since I hold the power to change at least one of those things.
"By Official Decree, on this day I, Gerontius Took Thain of the Shire, declare females equal to males of the Shire. They shall have all the rights and privileges entitled to male heirs including, but not limited to: owning property, controlling finances, holding government offices, and being masters of their own persons."
There were shouts of outrage, but they were nothing to the cheers that went up from many women in the hall. Mrs. Boffin had even stopped her wailing in shock. Others had tears beginning to pour down their cheeks. From the hard thumps on the floor, the Thain figured he had been successful in making a few of them faint.
"For so long we males have thought we were protecting our females from a harsher life, when we were in fact oppressing them. We should not deny them the opportunity to challenge themselves and grow as individuals. Our daughters and granddaughters deserve to choose the kind of life they wish to lead as much as our sons and grandsons do. They are our loved ones, not pretty birds to be kept in a cage."
There were many nods in the crowd, male and female. Overall, it was a positive reaction. If this decree was the only thing remembered from his time as Thain, he'd be content.
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It took six hobbits to pin Willoughby down so his feet could be shaved. Twenty accompanied him to his family's home where he was allowed to pack a bag of personal items. Then he was escorted to the border of the Shire.
Willoughby was furious. Bilba Baggins would pay for this! He would make her regret casting him aside. She would come back this way and he'd be waiting. He would still see her in his bed at his mercy and he would make her give him beautiful children. If she begged for it prettily enough, he might even still marry her. One day. Maybe. Oh, her screams would be beautiful. He would spend a long time imagining them.
Willoughby Boffin had become Bree's problem.
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