GONE SHOPPIN'
Blimey! I aint never seen a place so grand. May mentioned Michel Delvin' in her letters but didn't tell the half. There's smials two and three row deep, dug in the hills. Then there's lines of grand cottages, all white plastered.
The market square is smaller than the one in Hobbiton, but they've got a whole road with proper shops on both sides of it! Mr Frodo says tis called High Street, but I don't know why, 'cause it runs in a valley. It should be Low Street. And there's eight inns! Beats me why they even need a fair.
END
-0-
HOMELY HOPE
Over thousands of years the Last Homely House was expanded and redesigned many times. Estel had been an inquisitive child, but even grown Aragorn could still be surprised by some new corner. The quarters of Bilbo Baggins were just such. Cosy as any smial and opening onto a small garden, it suited perfectly.
Whenever Aragorn returned to Imladris, he would seek out the frail gentlehobbit. Sharing a pipe before the hearth, they spoke not of dragons, but of parties, growing vegetables, and the laughter of simple folk.
If Rivendell was pale, enduring starlight, the Shire was all sunbeams and hope.
END
-0-
LOTHO
The Shire was a lush and lavishly watered land. All three smials on Bagshot Row shared a well, but the hill had another.
Accessed through one of Bag End's deepest cellars, was it's own well, above an underground stream. Few knew of its presence, the water pumped, via copper pipes, to kitchen and bathing room. Indeed, most thought Bag End supplied from the shared well.
It took time and much unpleasant effort to clean it after Sharkey's end. When they discovered a finger bone it was decided Lobelia need not know. Frodo earnestly hoped they had killed her son first.
END
-0-
NO GREATER HOPE
How many times had he played the captain? Looking back, Aragorn felt the weight of his years. The uniforms and battle gear of Rohan and Gondor had changed over time, but not so the hearts of those who wore them. Captains changed allegience with the ebb and flow of power, but soldiers held to their own truth...loyalty to their comrade in arms.
Once again Aragorn would lead, humbled by the stoic ranks awaiting his command. Today, victory could not be grasped by their hands. They died that others may reach for life, as soldiers always had, and soldiers always would.
END
-0-
PRECIOUS LIFE
The influenza epidemic of 1394 would ever remain in Frodo's memory. It was no Great Plague, such as the Shire's first generation had seen, but it carried off many an elderly matron and one or two unfortunate bairns.
Some said that the death of bairns was worst, that the old folk had seen their fair share of life. Frodo could not agree. He and Bartimus had, for some days, been the only lads fit and willing enough to bury both young and old, and his heart had broken with each grave dug. All life, whether long or short, was precious.
END