Chapter 7 – A child is born
Three days later Robin received a letter, it was from Frodo. Rose had given birth to her first child and mother and child were doing well. It was a girl and they had named her Elanor. Frodo wrote that Sam was over the moon and had become quite the doting father. Robin relayed the news to Pip and Merry, who was staying at the Smials.
"Isn't it wonderful" she cried, "Rose and Sam will make wonderful parents"
"And Frodo a wonderful uncle?" Merry laughed at his own joke "I can just imagine a baby disturbing his peace and quiet"
Robin scowled at him "I'm sure Mr. Baggins will be great with Elanor" she said quietly
"So are we all going to visit the new family" interrupted Pip "I shall write and tell them to expect us"
Robin was grateful to Pip for suggesting this and forgave Merry his joke. "Come dear Merry where is this wine you have brought" she asked, "Lets us celebrate together"
They all enjoyed a fine dinner and toasted the new baby. The three of them had a very pleasant evening but Robin's thoughts kept returning to Frodo. Her heart had never been so confused about seeing him again. But as she returned home something happened that stopped her going to Bag End all together.
As she got to her home she noticed a pony and trap sat outside and good deal of Hobbits bustling in and out. She spotted her brother stood beside the front door. "Andadin, what's happening" she called
"Auntie Ruby isn't so well" he answered "mother's inside, she wants to speak to you"
Robin entered her house to find her mother hastily packing a suitcase. "Mother what is happening, where are you going?"
"Dear me Robbie, thank the king your home. Listen your Aunt Ruby has had a funny turn and her been on her own since Uncle Banjo passed on and all, she needs someone round the house."
"Of course" Robin answered "are you going straight away"
"Yes" Mrs. Took replied "You see Robin, much as I love your brothers they can't look after themselves. I need you to see to the house while I'm away" Robin's heart missed a beat 'Frodo' she thought. She struggled to speak.
"Anyway" continued her mother "It will be a perfect opportunity for you to learn to be a good little housewife, settle you down a bit, eh?"
"But how long will you be gone" her voice rose in anxiety.
"A month, maybe longer. Why Robin its not like you will be leaving Tookborough now is it" her mother laughed.
"That's fine" Robin whispered, turning so her mother wouldn't see the tears starting.
An hour later her mother had gone. Robin sat at the kitchen table, the house was quiet.
Half of her was crying out that it wasn't fair. Her heart screamed for Frodo. But the other sensible, not so Tookish half of her said it would be for the best. 'He would be better of without me but I care for him so' her mind and heart were divided.
The next three days passed in a blur. Robin's time was taken up with feeding her brothers, seeing them off to work then tidying up after them. She had never realised how much work her mother had done for them, she had been so busy she hadn't had time to think of Frodo.
So that was how Pip found her 4 days after her mother had left.
"Robin, we are to ride to Bag End this afternoon" Pippin said coming into the kitchen were Robin was washing.
"Well I hope you take pleasure in what I cannot" she answered without turning.
"What do you mean I thought you were to ride with us"
"What I mean is that my mother has left me to look after the house, there's a huge pile of clothes that need washing, drying and pressing, the beds have to be made the kitchen is a mess and my brothers will be home soon wanting lunch" Robins voice rose in distress. "I can't do this Pip" She broke down onto the floor, sobbing into her apron. Pip hurried over helping her to a chair. When her tears subsided she looked at Pippin. "I am sorry" she said, "I didn't mean to be cross with you. My mother has gone to Aunt Ruby's leaving me in charge, but I have a lot to learn before I can become a wife. I will not be able to come to Hobbiton with you and Merry, there is far too much to do here."
"What message shall I carry?" asked Pip carefully
Robin sighed. "Send my apologies for not coming, I would have loved to see the new baby but I'm sure Rose will understand. Tell her and Sam that I will come when I can"
"And any other?" queried Pip, "what should I tell Frodo"
"What I would say to him you cannot carry. Here is a letter, will you bear it to him for me?"
"If that was all I could do to ease your heart it would be a pleasure, though I fear it is not"
Then Pip looked on Robin and her face was pained. He took her hand and kissed it. "I shall return soon" He then departed leaving Robin on her own.
Three days later Robin received a letter, it was from Frodo. Rose had given birth to her first child and mother and child were doing well. It was a girl and they had named her Elanor. Frodo wrote that Sam was over the moon and had become quite the doting father. Robin relayed the news to Pip and Merry, who was staying at the Smials.
"Isn't it wonderful" she cried, "Rose and Sam will make wonderful parents"
"And Frodo a wonderful uncle?" Merry laughed at his own joke "I can just imagine a baby disturbing his peace and quiet"
Robin scowled at him "I'm sure Mr. Baggins will be great with Elanor" she said quietly
"So are we all going to visit the new family" interrupted Pip "I shall write and tell them to expect us"
Robin was grateful to Pip for suggesting this and forgave Merry his joke. "Come dear Merry where is this wine you have brought" she asked, "Lets us celebrate together"
They all enjoyed a fine dinner and toasted the new baby. The three of them had a very pleasant evening but Robin's thoughts kept returning to Frodo. Her heart had never been so confused about seeing him again. But as she returned home something happened that stopped her going to Bag End all together.
As she got to her home she noticed a pony and trap sat outside and good deal of Hobbits bustling in and out. She spotted her brother stood beside the front door. "Andadin, what's happening" she called
"Auntie Ruby isn't so well" he answered "mother's inside, she wants to speak to you"
Robin entered her house to find her mother hastily packing a suitcase. "Mother what is happening, where are you going?"
"Dear me Robbie, thank the king your home. Listen your Aunt Ruby has had a funny turn and her been on her own since Uncle Banjo passed on and all, she needs someone round the house."
"Of course" Robin answered "are you going straight away"
"Yes" Mrs. Took replied "You see Robin, much as I love your brothers they can't look after themselves. I need you to see to the house while I'm away" Robin's heart missed a beat 'Frodo' she thought. She struggled to speak.
"Anyway" continued her mother "It will be a perfect opportunity for you to learn to be a good little housewife, settle you down a bit, eh?"
"But how long will you be gone" her voice rose in anxiety.
"A month, maybe longer. Why Robin its not like you will be leaving Tookborough now is it" her mother laughed.
"That's fine" Robin whispered, turning so her mother wouldn't see the tears starting.
An hour later her mother had gone. Robin sat at the kitchen table, the house was quiet.
Half of her was crying out that it wasn't fair. Her heart screamed for Frodo. But the other sensible, not so Tookish half of her said it would be for the best. 'He would be better of without me but I care for him so' her mind and heart were divided.
The next three days passed in a blur. Robin's time was taken up with feeding her brothers, seeing them off to work then tidying up after them. She had never realised how much work her mother had done for them, she had been so busy she hadn't had time to think of Frodo.
So that was how Pip found her 4 days after her mother had left.
"Robin, we are to ride to Bag End this afternoon" Pippin said coming into the kitchen were Robin was washing.
"Well I hope you take pleasure in what I cannot" she answered without turning.
"What do you mean I thought you were to ride with us"
"What I mean is that my mother has left me to look after the house, there's a huge pile of clothes that need washing, drying and pressing, the beds have to be made the kitchen is a mess and my brothers will be home soon wanting lunch" Robins voice rose in distress. "I can't do this Pip" She broke down onto the floor, sobbing into her apron. Pip hurried over helping her to a chair. When her tears subsided she looked at Pippin. "I am sorry" she said, "I didn't mean to be cross with you. My mother has gone to Aunt Ruby's leaving me in charge, but I have a lot to learn before I can become a wife. I will not be able to come to Hobbiton with you and Merry, there is far too much to do here."
"What message shall I carry?" asked Pip carefully
Robin sighed. "Send my apologies for not coming, I would have loved to see the new baby but I'm sure Rose will understand. Tell her and Sam that I will come when I can"
"And any other?" queried Pip, "what should I tell Frodo"
"What I would say to him you cannot carry. Here is a letter, will you bear it to him for me?"
"If that was all I could do to ease your heart it would be a pleasure, though I fear it is not"
Then Pip looked on Robin and her face was pained. He took her hand and kissed it. "I shall return soon" He then departed leaving Robin on her own.
