Chapter 1:
The Errand
Cassa Baggins stared at the book again. It was a worn volume, containing much of the Shire's history. Normally, Cassa was quite interested in history, but today, her heart was not in it. She twirled her blonde hair in her fingers. She was one of the "lucky" hobbits that had been born with blonde hair. She looked over at her older brother.
Lobbo Baggins was furiously scribbling away at his parchment. He was learning about history of the rest of the world. He scrubbed his hands through his brown curls. He was three years older than she was, being born in 1418 by the Shire Reckoning. He was too young to remember any of the events at Bywater, or anywhere else in the Shire. He muttered something. Cassa winced. It was a good thing nobody was around to hear it.
"What did you say?" Master Meriadoc asked, sharply. Cassa hadn't even noticed him!
"I um… Master, I, well…" Lobbo stammered.
It was still hard to believe seeing Master Meriadoc standing so tall. They said he was taller than the Bullroarer! Cassa had read about him. He had taken off the head of an orc king. Master Meriadoc had a certain air about him. Maybe it was because he was Master of Buckland. But Master Peregrin always seemed so easygoing. He made Cassa feel happy inside. Master Meriadoc said, "Well I don't want to hear it again. Now I want you to deliver a message, but nobody must know. I want you to have your own little adventure. You can deliver this message to some friends in Bree. Go to the inn called the "Prancing Pony"."
"An adventure!" Lobbo yelled excitedly. "I knew you were the nicest hobbit in all of Middle Earth, Master Meriadoc!"
"Now, now, don't lose your little hobbit head," Master Meriadoc laughed. "I remember my adventures. I was older than you were, but I had quite a large adventure ahead of me. Now you two finish your lessons, then I will give you your message." He walked off, leaving Cassa and Lobbo to work.
Cassa quickly read through the chapter. Lobbo was furiously scribbling away at his parchment. His eyes went to the book, scanning, and then back to the parchment. Cassa jerked her eager eyes from the door and began reading again. Cassa shut the heavy volume. Lobbo looked up, then went back to work. He wrote something else, then closed the book and stood up.
"I'm ready for an adventure!" Lobbo announce happily. He stretched. Cassa felt relieved too. She had felt as if Lobbo would never finish. Cassa stood there, hopping by the door, her small satchel bouncing on her shoulder. "Okay, okay, I'm coming," Lobbo said. He walked out the door. Cassa bounded past.
Cassa flew around a corner and ran into Talat Grubb, Lobbo's best friend. Talat used to be brave, until he went into the Old Forest. Nobody knew what happened, but when he came out, he was a coward. Lobbo was still friends with him, though. Talat did seem to be brave, but he covered it up. Talat rubbed his back, "Ouch! Cassa, you would think you were going on an adventure, like one of those ghastly Tooks!"
"I am! I'm going to Bree! The bestest thing in the whole world! Bree!" Cassa exclaimed.
"You need to go back to Bywater to study grammar again," Lobbo said, coming up behind them.
"I want to go to Bree, not Bywater!" Cassa said.
Cassa and Lobbo had grown up with some respectable Bagginses. They went to different schools in the Shire. Bywater taught grammar and what little Hobbitish that was remembered. Math, which Cassa did not like very much, was taught in the Great Smials. However, since Master Peregrine Took himself taught it, it was quite interesting. Hobbiton was for basic writing, when Cassa was little. Then for older hobbits, it taught writing in other tongues, even Elvish! Buckland taught history, and many skills of the forest were taught in Woody End. Michel Delving taught many things pertaining to Hobbit history in general, and government. Cassa learned that in a year, Lobbo was to go off to Bree, to learn advanced math. Cassa would have to wait four years before she could have gone into Bree! But she was going now.
"What! You can't be serious!" Talat exclaimed. "In Bree, the Big Folk have enslaved hobbits and are friends with the goblins!"
"Oh, be quiet!" Lobbo said. "Those are just tales, and they aren't true. I read about Brae's history and they are fine folk!"
"Well then…" Talat considered. "Can I come?"
Lobbo looked at Cassa. "You know, we weren't supposed to tell anybody." Lobbo gulped.
Talat grinned. "I'll tell everybody, unless you let my come."
"But you're a cow…!" Cassa cut herself off. She was going to say coward.
"A cow! I am not a cow!" Talat exclaimed. "I'm going with you now, whether you like it or not."
Lobbo glared at Cassa. She shrugged. He scowled even harder.
Talat grinned widely and began walking north, to Buckland. He was going to a boarding school there. His parents did it 'For his own good', but they actually did it so Talat could be with Lobbo. Lobbo was the only person that seemed to understand Talat. Talat was apparently going to get his things. That reminded Cassa that she needed to get some things. Cassa headed toward Aunt Teello Brandybuck's house. She was married to Tarasil Brandybuck, some distant relation to Master Meriadoc.
Lobbo began to follow. After walking some distance, She saw the small cottage that Aunt Teello and Tarasil Brandybuck owned. Cassa walked up to the small cottage and opened the door. Aunt Teello looked up. She was reading a small volume entitled Breefolk and their Customs. "Hello Cassa, dear. Lobbo, how were your classes?"
"Great!" Cassa and Lobbo chorused.
"Well, dinner is on the table. Don't wait, I'm going out for a walk!" Aunt Teello yelled as they rushed into the small dining room. On the table was a heavenly hobbit midday meal. There was a basket containing rolls, with a stick of butter. There was a loaf of bread with ham and cheese. There was steamy apple cider, with two mugs for Cassa and Lobbo. There were mushrooms, delicious mushrooms, with some gravy to pour over them. And for desert there was a luscious cherry pie.
Cassa and Lobbo dug in with a will. Soon there were some crumbs, a little gravy, and a little bit of cider. Cassa smacked her lips appreciatively. Lobbo patted his stomach and said, "That was a great meal. Now, we can head upstairs and get ready."
Cassa agreed and headed up. She knew she had to pack lightly or she would be too burdened. She stared at the clothes and other miscellaneous items in her room. Methodically, she began packing items. Clothes, a small book, given to her by Master Peregrine Took, a small cloak, and a bag of sweets she received in the Southfarthing. She put the sweets, the book, and some silver pennies in a small satchel. She walked downstairs.
Lobbo had a large pack on his back. He held two walking sticks. He tossed one to Cassa and said, "Well, let's get going." He turned and walked out the door. Cassa turned and looked one more time inside. Then, she turned and walked out.
They headed most of the day northwards. They made good time on the road, and by the time they reached the Great East Road, the sun was setting. It rays slanted across the hills and shined on the paths. The two turned east and found Talat.
Talat was wearing a worn cloak. He had a walking a stick, with a small pack on his back. He shifted and a small coinbag jingled at his belt, which seemed to fit a little tightly. This shifting also brought into sight a small dagger!
"Where did you get that?" Lobbo asked in interest.
Talat fidgeted uncomfortably, "I was given it by my father. My mother had fits, but I somehow ended up with it. He said, 'Son, you'll never know when the next Battle of Bywater could happen'."
Lobbo laughed, "Well we best get going, before our disappearance is learned." He pulled out a sheet of parchment. "Master Meriadoc gave this to me. This is the message we must deliver. Don't read it," he said sternly, looking at Talat.
So with that last word, the trio set off to Buckland Gate.
