Chapter Rating: G
1.1 Chapter 5: The Plan
November 22nd
Sam and Nibs returned from their Shire-wide agricultural survey. They arrived at the Cotton farmhouse around noon. Sam didn't even wait to take a bath or changed his clothes before calling a meeting. Nick was sent to Bag End and Hobbiton to fetch Frodo, Rosie and Farmer Maggot. When they arrived, Sam, Nibs and Farmer Cotton joined them to discuss agricultural issues.
Agricultural and forestry damage to the Shire was immense. Nibs discovered that Sharkey's men were instructed to cut down or burn down all the trees in the Shire. Luckily, the big folk did not have time to complete their task. Many trees in the outlying areas were spared. But almost every tree in and around Hobbiton had been destroyed. The Water was polluted, was being dredged and salvaged. Most farms were left alone, but all the personal and communal gardens in Hobbiton and Bywater were destroyed. All Hobbiton farm and pasture animals had also been slaughtered.
Upon hearing the terrible news about the Hobbiton area, the good hobbits of the North Farthing volunteered to move and transplant numerous trees from their orchards and forests in order to re-forest Hobbiton. Farms in the West and South Farthings volunteered to donate up to half of their seed stock to the Hobbiton residents in order to re-establish community and private gardens. And various farms around the Shire pledged to donate animals for the pastures and farms come spring. Sam and Nibs had brought back a cartload of seed stock from the good folk in the Shire. Included were many herb seeds and some cuttings. The two had also located numerous stores of food, beer and supplies the Shirefolk had hidden away in barns, sheds and holes across the countryside.
On their way back to the Cotton farm, Sam and Nibs had taken selected cuttings over to Tandy Bofin's place for him to restart the medicinal apothecary garden. The rest of the seed stock was retained in one of the Cotton's barns for winter storage.
Frodo's ears perked up when Sam mentioned the medical herb garden. He had forgotten about Tandy Bofin's place. Perhaps Tandy knew of a physician willing to come to Hobbiton. Frodo made a mental note to drop in on the apothecary and have a discussion with Tandy as soon as possible.
Sam, Farmer Cotton and Farmer Maggot spent the rest of the day designing a plan for the re-forestation and gardening of Hobbiton. Since he was not needed, Frodo decided to act on his idea of interviewing Tandy Bofin. Grabbing his coat and cloak, he headed out into the late afternoon sun.
Frodo had a little trouble locating Tandy's place when he reached Hobbiton. The destruction of familiar hobbit holes and business landmarks, and the intrusion of Man-made shacks confused his since of direction momentarily. Eventually he found the converted shed Tandy was using as the make-shift Apothecary and as his own living quarters. Knocking on the door, Frodo entered the humble wooden and thatch building.
Tandy was there, sorting out the plant cuttings Sam had left him. "Frodo Baggins!" Tandy exclaimed, "Welcome. Welcome! Shut the door, will ya? It's blasted cold and I don't want these shoots to take any damage."
"Mister Bofin," Frodo said, "Good to see you too. It's been too long." Frodo sat down on an overturned barrel – the only available place to sit in the two-room shed. The rest of the tiny building was full of bottles and tins and boxes of various strange-smelling items.
"What brings you over, Frodo?" Tandy asked as he wiped the dirt from his hands. Tandy was a few years older than Frodo, and had known him since Frodo had moved in with Bilbo many years ago. Tandy had no problems addressing the younger Baggins in a familiar fashion.
"I'm in a bit of a pickle and thought you might be able to help out," Frodo said. "I'm worried about Hobbiton's lack of a physician. I know your Apothecary used to be right next door to Doctor Taller's office. What's the current situation as far as meeting the medical need of the area?"
"Well, you know them stinking Sharkey's Men went and killed old Doc Taller, don't you?" Tandy asked. "The Doc didn't take too kindly to the bullies hitting and beating folk. One day the Doc up and thrashed a squinty-eyed bloke who had backhanded this little hobbit lass for getting in his way. The ruffian pulled out a knife and stabbed old Doc and left him to bleed to death, curse 'em." Tandy spat into the fire.
"So we're now left with no physician. Doc didn't have an apprentice neither. Mistress Marigold Hornblower is still practicing her midwifery. She's good, but she don't have the training of a real physician like the Doc. I can prescribe tonics and lotions, and can even set a broken bone if put to it, but I don't have the training neither."
"Can you think of a doctor somewhere in the Shire who might be willing to relocate to Hobbiton?" Frodo asked.
Tandy sat on the dirt floor mentally reviewing all the Physicians he knew either in person or by reputation. "Well, Doctor Longcleeve is the physician up near Scary. But I don't think he would be willing to move. He's got a wife and family and they're all settled in up there. Plus he's the only one for the whole North Farthing. Tuckborough has a physician and a midwife. Can't recall their names though. I think they're a hobbit and wife team. You might want to ask the Thain about them. Out in the West Farthing…let me see… I think there's a physician at Little Delving. Micheldelving has two physicians and two midwives. That's were most folk go for their training. They've got a big medical garden there too. Then there's my cousin, Iris Proudfoot. She's sharing a practice with Mistress Weaver, the Physician and Midwife of the South Farthing out at Southway. You might get her to move. She's not married. Bree's got a hobbit physician, but you'll never get old Master Lilyman to move from Bree. Bree folk don't move to the Shire. And there's a Brandybuck physician at Brandy Hall, but I don't think he'll move either. Guess your best bet is to contact the school at Micheldelving or my cousin."
"Thanks, Tandy," Frodo said as he stood up to take his leave. "You've been a wealth of information."
"Frodo?" Tandy asked as he opened the door. "Can we rebuild Hobbiton the way it was before all this trouble? I would dearly love to have my Apothecary back. I saved as much of it as I could carry off and hide before the ruffians got to it. It would do me a world of good to put it all back together the way me and me Dad had it laid out."
"I'll see what we can do," Frodo said as he started his walk out of town.
It was twilight as Frodo made his way back to the Cotton's farm. "So much work to do," he thought. "How could Saruman have done so much damage in so little time? Isn't that the way of it though? It only takes a minute to undo a lifetime's work. Considering the damage done to the trees and the very earth itself, we'll be lucky if it only takes a generation to get things back to normal." Frodo had another headache starting.
Sam had been busy setting into place a plan for re-foresting the Shire. He had it laid out on the kitchen table. As Frodo sat down beside Sam to review the plan, Rose brought the three of them some steaming hot tea. Frodo sniffed his suspiciously. "Rose, what's in this tea?"
"Oh, Mister Frodo, I noticed you rubbing your temples, so I thought you could use a headache tea," Rosie blushed as she stood up and took his cup. "Forgive me if I made a mistake. I'll get you regular mint tea if you like."
1.2 "No, no," Frodo said, "You guessed rightly. Thank you. Let's take a look at this plan."
Frodo decided to incorporate Sam's agricultural plans into his own for the rebuilding of Hobbiton. Rosie could read and write, and had a fair hand for copying documents. She was also adept at map-making and watercolor. So Rosie Cotton was given the task of copying out Sam's plan, and creating maps and illustrations showing the details.
The next morning it was decided that copies of the agricultural plans were to be sent to Mayor Whitfoot for his approval, as hobbits are creatures of protocol and habit. Even though Frodo was Deputy Mayor, tradition dictated that any formal plans affecting public road works and such required the signature of the Mayor in triplicate and in red ink. And even though Frodo had the power to sign for the Mayor, he was extremely reluctant to use this power whilst Will Whitfoot was physically able to resume some of the Mayor's duties.
Frodo hiked over to Mayor Whitfoot's home with the agricultural plans, maps and illustrations. By the time he arrived he was shivering and his missing ring finger ached with phantom pain. Mrs. Whitfoot greeted him at the door.
"Young Mister Baggins," she said, "So good to see you. Do come in, dear. Let me take your cloak and walking stick. Let's get you warmed up by the fire, shall we? May I get you some tea or something stronger?"
"Thank you Mrs. Whitfoot. Tea would be fine," Frodo said as she led him into a cozy room. "I've come on some official business with the Mayor. Is he able to take visitors? I promise you this won't take too long."
"Oh, he's doing much better now that he's back at home and able to get some proper rest and victuals," she said. "Please come into the study. Make yourself comfortable. I'll go get Mister Whitfoot and a spot of tea for the both of you while you do your official business."
The Mayor's study was a small room just to the right of the front door. Frodo settled down into a small leather chair opposite a writing desk near to the fireplace. He assumed this was the 'official' Mayoral desk, since it contained a multitude of different paper stocks, inkwells filled with various colors of ink, ribbons in several hues and sealing wax. After a moment, the Mayor shuffled in, wearing a well-worn black smoking jacket and leaning heavily on a beautiful cane carved to resemble a pony.
Frodo quickly stood up and helped the Mayor settle into the comfortable chair behind the desk. The chair and its occupant were evidently well- acquainted with each other, as both creaked and sighed as the Mayor sat down. Will Whitfoot was an elderly hobbit who had spent most of his life attending the official and unofficial politics of the Shire. He loved his position as Mayor, and the folk of the Shire loved the seriousness and pomposity he brought to that position, which was only befitting someone as important as the Mayor. But now he was thin and in ill-health following his detention in the Lockholes during the past year of troubles in the Shire. He was doing his best to regain his weight, as was expected for someone of importance like the Mayor.
"Well, my dear young Master Baggins," the Mayor said, "Welcome. Please pardon me if I haven't dressed properly for this occasion. It's good to have a visitor, even if he's only on official business as my wife tells me." He smiled kindly at Frodo. The Mayor liked Frodo and the entire Baggins family. He and Bilbo had been friends for years.
"It's so wonderful to see you up and about, sir," said Frodo. "It looks like your wife's ministrations have you on the mend. I apologize for disturbing your convalescence, but I have a little bit of business which requires your consideration."
Mrs. Whitfoot quietly came into the study, bringing a tray of tea and crumpets. Frodo and the Mayor thanked her and continued on.
"We've completed a survey of the agricultural needs of the Hobbiton, Bywater and Bag End areas damaged during the past year. Samwise Gamgee, Master Tom Cotton, his daughter Rose and Farmer Maggot have come up with a plan for the re-forestation of the area. It involves some large-scale transplanting of trees donated from the good hobbits in the North Farthing. This plan also incorporates rebuilding the damaged gardens, hedgerows, and parks. I've used this agricultural plan as a blueprint for working out a large-scale building and road works master plan. But we need to have you look over the agricultural plan and give your approval before we start any actual work. As you will see, I've also included a new public garden as a memorial to the hobbits slain during the Battle of Bywater."
Frodo came over to the desk and laid out Rosie's detailed map of the Hobbiton area. Areas marked for work are highlighted in yellow and green. Frodo also gave the Mayor a copy of the agricultural plan, then retook his seat. The agricultural plan had been carefully copied onto fine parchment paper and bound with an official-looking blue ribbon. The Mayor took the plan and studied it for several minutes. He asked Frodo a few questions, which Frodo answered to his satisfaction. After a few minutes spent studying the map, the Mayor set down the papers and lighted a candle on the desk.
"My boy," he said, "this is outstanding work! You've even had it bound with the proper color ribbon. You will make a fine politician someday if you keep this up! Your uncle Bilbo and I once discussed the possibility of you apprenticing me and taking over the Mayorship someday."
"Thank you, sir," Frodo smiled. He knew the Mayor was pleased to be included in the decision-making processes again. But Frodo had no intention of going into politics, either now or in the future.
"I approve this plan," the Mayor said. "Now let's see…where is that seal?" He fumbled around in the desk, finally producing a rather large, impressive looking carved seal and a stick of red wax.
"Mister Baggins," the Mayor asked, "Would you please ask my wife to come in and be a witness?"
Frodo went into the kitchen where Mrs. Whitfoot was putting away some dishes, and asked her to join them. She smiled, (she was used to doing this) and escorted Frodo back to the study.
The Mayor asked Frodo to sign the front of the document, first in blue ink and then again in red. Then he himself signed the document in black ink and dated it. His wife signed in blue ink as witness under their signatures. Lastly, the seal was applied in red wax under the signatures.
"Thank you my dear," the Mayor said. Mrs. Whitfoot took the tea tray with her on her way out of the room. "There you go Mister Baggins. Now the work can commence. Any other plans you have may be sent to me via messenger if you need me to look at them and give comments. But I mostly leave the planning and organizing and such in your capable hands. If you need me for more official business, as long as it doesn't involve my going outside the house for awhile, please feel free to drop by. I'm not sure my wife would want me out and about this winter."
Frodo stood up and bowed to the elder hobbit. Taking the map and freshly- sealed plan, he said his goodbyes, got his cloak, and headed back to Bag End.
"That went well," he thought, tramping up the hill toward Bag Shot Row. "The old gentlehobbit needs professional care though. Many of the townsfolk are ill right now, and I fear this winter may bring more sickness. We need a proper physician. That's my next task. I have to find a physician who would be willing to relocate to Hobbiton." As if in sympathy, his ring finger started throbbing.
"And I'm not sure I can hide my own illnesses from Sam without professional help. He has enough on his mind without worrying about me as well. I don't want to burden him any more with my problems. He took care of me all through our journey to Mordor and back. I would have never made it without him, bless him. But enough is enough. He will never live his own life if he thinks he has to constantly take care of me. I need a proper hobbit physician to be at hand for the next time the poison strikes. Maybe I should travel to Rivendale and ask Lord Elrond if the Elves could do something else to ease this pain. But no, that is so selfish. That would only help me. That will not solve the problem of Hobbiton being without a physician."
He looked up and realized he was already at Bag End. The White Hand of Saruman painted on Bag End's once-hospitable front door mocked him.
"If I don't repaint that door soon I'm going to take a torch to it," Frodo thought with a sudden violent anger which surprised him. Passing his hand over his eyes, he wearily walked into his study. "No rest today. And with the nightmares, probably no rest tonight. I'm so tired of all this."
1.1 Chapter 5: The Plan
November 22nd
Sam and Nibs returned from their Shire-wide agricultural survey. They arrived at the Cotton farmhouse around noon. Sam didn't even wait to take a bath or changed his clothes before calling a meeting. Nick was sent to Bag End and Hobbiton to fetch Frodo, Rosie and Farmer Maggot. When they arrived, Sam, Nibs and Farmer Cotton joined them to discuss agricultural issues.
Agricultural and forestry damage to the Shire was immense. Nibs discovered that Sharkey's men were instructed to cut down or burn down all the trees in the Shire. Luckily, the big folk did not have time to complete their task. Many trees in the outlying areas were spared. But almost every tree in and around Hobbiton had been destroyed. The Water was polluted, was being dredged and salvaged. Most farms were left alone, but all the personal and communal gardens in Hobbiton and Bywater were destroyed. All Hobbiton farm and pasture animals had also been slaughtered.
Upon hearing the terrible news about the Hobbiton area, the good hobbits of the North Farthing volunteered to move and transplant numerous trees from their orchards and forests in order to re-forest Hobbiton. Farms in the West and South Farthings volunteered to donate up to half of their seed stock to the Hobbiton residents in order to re-establish community and private gardens. And various farms around the Shire pledged to donate animals for the pastures and farms come spring. Sam and Nibs had brought back a cartload of seed stock from the good folk in the Shire. Included were many herb seeds and some cuttings. The two had also located numerous stores of food, beer and supplies the Shirefolk had hidden away in barns, sheds and holes across the countryside.
On their way back to the Cotton farm, Sam and Nibs had taken selected cuttings over to Tandy Bofin's place for him to restart the medicinal apothecary garden. The rest of the seed stock was retained in one of the Cotton's barns for winter storage.
Frodo's ears perked up when Sam mentioned the medical herb garden. He had forgotten about Tandy Bofin's place. Perhaps Tandy knew of a physician willing to come to Hobbiton. Frodo made a mental note to drop in on the apothecary and have a discussion with Tandy as soon as possible.
Sam, Farmer Cotton and Farmer Maggot spent the rest of the day designing a plan for the re-forestation and gardening of Hobbiton. Since he was not needed, Frodo decided to act on his idea of interviewing Tandy Bofin. Grabbing his coat and cloak, he headed out into the late afternoon sun.
Frodo had a little trouble locating Tandy's place when he reached Hobbiton. The destruction of familiar hobbit holes and business landmarks, and the intrusion of Man-made shacks confused his since of direction momentarily. Eventually he found the converted shed Tandy was using as the make-shift Apothecary and as his own living quarters. Knocking on the door, Frodo entered the humble wooden and thatch building.
Tandy was there, sorting out the plant cuttings Sam had left him. "Frodo Baggins!" Tandy exclaimed, "Welcome. Welcome! Shut the door, will ya? It's blasted cold and I don't want these shoots to take any damage."
"Mister Bofin," Frodo said, "Good to see you too. It's been too long." Frodo sat down on an overturned barrel – the only available place to sit in the two-room shed. The rest of the tiny building was full of bottles and tins and boxes of various strange-smelling items.
"What brings you over, Frodo?" Tandy asked as he wiped the dirt from his hands. Tandy was a few years older than Frodo, and had known him since Frodo had moved in with Bilbo many years ago. Tandy had no problems addressing the younger Baggins in a familiar fashion.
"I'm in a bit of a pickle and thought you might be able to help out," Frodo said. "I'm worried about Hobbiton's lack of a physician. I know your Apothecary used to be right next door to Doctor Taller's office. What's the current situation as far as meeting the medical need of the area?"
"Well, you know them stinking Sharkey's Men went and killed old Doc Taller, don't you?" Tandy asked. "The Doc didn't take too kindly to the bullies hitting and beating folk. One day the Doc up and thrashed a squinty-eyed bloke who had backhanded this little hobbit lass for getting in his way. The ruffian pulled out a knife and stabbed old Doc and left him to bleed to death, curse 'em." Tandy spat into the fire.
"So we're now left with no physician. Doc didn't have an apprentice neither. Mistress Marigold Hornblower is still practicing her midwifery. She's good, but she don't have the training of a real physician like the Doc. I can prescribe tonics and lotions, and can even set a broken bone if put to it, but I don't have the training neither."
"Can you think of a doctor somewhere in the Shire who might be willing to relocate to Hobbiton?" Frodo asked.
Tandy sat on the dirt floor mentally reviewing all the Physicians he knew either in person or by reputation. "Well, Doctor Longcleeve is the physician up near Scary. But I don't think he would be willing to move. He's got a wife and family and they're all settled in up there. Plus he's the only one for the whole North Farthing. Tuckborough has a physician and a midwife. Can't recall their names though. I think they're a hobbit and wife team. You might want to ask the Thain about them. Out in the West Farthing…let me see… I think there's a physician at Little Delving. Micheldelving has two physicians and two midwives. That's were most folk go for their training. They've got a big medical garden there too. Then there's my cousin, Iris Proudfoot. She's sharing a practice with Mistress Weaver, the Physician and Midwife of the South Farthing out at Southway. You might get her to move. She's not married. Bree's got a hobbit physician, but you'll never get old Master Lilyman to move from Bree. Bree folk don't move to the Shire. And there's a Brandybuck physician at Brandy Hall, but I don't think he'll move either. Guess your best bet is to contact the school at Micheldelving or my cousin."
"Thanks, Tandy," Frodo said as he stood up to take his leave. "You've been a wealth of information."
"Frodo?" Tandy asked as he opened the door. "Can we rebuild Hobbiton the way it was before all this trouble? I would dearly love to have my Apothecary back. I saved as much of it as I could carry off and hide before the ruffians got to it. It would do me a world of good to put it all back together the way me and me Dad had it laid out."
"I'll see what we can do," Frodo said as he started his walk out of town.
It was twilight as Frodo made his way back to the Cotton's farm. "So much work to do," he thought. "How could Saruman have done so much damage in so little time? Isn't that the way of it though? It only takes a minute to undo a lifetime's work. Considering the damage done to the trees and the very earth itself, we'll be lucky if it only takes a generation to get things back to normal." Frodo had another headache starting.
Sam had been busy setting into place a plan for re-foresting the Shire. He had it laid out on the kitchen table. As Frodo sat down beside Sam to review the plan, Rose brought the three of them some steaming hot tea. Frodo sniffed his suspiciously. "Rose, what's in this tea?"
"Oh, Mister Frodo, I noticed you rubbing your temples, so I thought you could use a headache tea," Rosie blushed as she stood up and took his cup. "Forgive me if I made a mistake. I'll get you regular mint tea if you like."
1.2 "No, no," Frodo said, "You guessed rightly. Thank you. Let's take a look at this plan."
Frodo decided to incorporate Sam's agricultural plans into his own for the rebuilding of Hobbiton. Rosie could read and write, and had a fair hand for copying documents. She was also adept at map-making and watercolor. So Rosie Cotton was given the task of copying out Sam's plan, and creating maps and illustrations showing the details.
The next morning it was decided that copies of the agricultural plans were to be sent to Mayor Whitfoot for his approval, as hobbits are creatures of protocol and habit. Even though Frodo was Deputy Mayor, tradition dictated that any formal plans affecting public road works and such required the signature of the Mayor in triplicate and in red ink. And even though Frodo had the power to sign for the Mayor, he was extremely reluctant to use this power whilst Will Whitfoot was physically able to resume some of the Mayor's duties.
Frodo hiked over to Mayor Whitfoot's home with the agricultural plans, maps and illustrations. By the time he arrived he was shivering and his missing ring finger ached with phantom pain. Mrs. Whitfoot greeted him at the door.
"Young Mister Baggins," she said, "So good to see you. Do come in, dear. Let me take your cloak and walking stick. Let's get you warmed up by the fire, shall we? May I get you some tea or something stronger?"
"Thank you Mrs. Whitfoot. Tea would be fine," Frodo said as she led him into a cozy room. "I've come on some official business with the Mayor. Is he able to take visitors? I promise you this won't take too long."
"Oh, he's doing much better now that he's back at home and able to get some proper rest and victuals," she said. "Please come into the study. Make yourself comfortable. I'll go get Mister Whitfoot and a spot of tea for the both of you while you do your official business."
The Mayor's study was a small room just to the right of the front door. Frodo settled down into a small leather chair opposite a writing desk near to the fireplace. He assumed this was the 'official' Mayoral desk, since it contained a multitude of different paper stocks, inkwells filled with various colors of ink, ribbons in several hues and sealing wax. After a moment, the Mayor shuffled in, wearing a well-worn black smoking jacket and leaning heavily on a beautiful cane carved to resemble a pony.
Frodo quickly stood up and helped the Mayor settle into the comfortable chair behind the desk. The chair and its occupant were evidently well- acquainted with each other, as both creaked and sighed as the Mayor sat down. Will Whitfoot was an elderly hobbit who had spent most of his life attending the official and unofficial politics of the Shire. He loved his position as Mayor, and the folk of the Shire loved the seriousness and pomposity he brought to that position, which was only befitting someone as important as the Mayor. But now he was thin and in ill-health following his detention in the Lockholes during the past year of troubles in the Shire. He was doing his best to regain his weight, as was expected for someone of importance like the Mayor.
"Well, my dear young Master Baggins," the Mayor said, "Welcome. Please pardon me if I haven't dressed properly for this occasion. It's good to have a visitor, even if he's only on official business as my wife tells me." He smiled kindly at Frodo. The Mayor liked Frodo and the entire Baggins family. He and Bilbo had been friends for years.
"It's so wonderful to see you up and about, sir," said Frodo. "It looks like your wife's ministrations have you on the mend. I apologize for disturbing your convalescence, but I have a little bit of business which requires your consideration."
Mrs. Whitfoot quietly came into the study, bringing a tray of tea and crumpets. Frodo and the Mayor thanked her and continued on.
"We've completed a survey of the agricultural needs of the Hobbiton, Bywater and Bag End areas damaged during the past year. Samwise Gamgee, Master Tom Cotton, his daughter Rose and Farmer Maggot have come up with a plan for the re-forestation of the area. It involves some large-scale transplanting of trees donated from the good hobbits in the North Farthing. This plan also incorporates rebuilding the damaged gardens, hedgerows, and parks. I've used this agricultural plan as a blueprint for working out a large-scale building and road works master plan. But we need to have you look over the agricultural plan and give your approval before we start any actual work. As you will see, I've also included a new public garden as a memorial to the hobbits slain during the Battle of Bywater."
Frodo came over to the desk and laid out Rosie's detailed map of the Hobbiton area. Areas marked for work are highlighted in yellow and green. Frodo also gave the Mayor a copy of the agricultural plan, then retook his seat. The agricultural plan had been carefully copied onto fine parchment paper and bound with an official-looking blue ribbon. The Mayor took the plan and studied it for several minutes. He asked Frodo a few questions, which Frodo answered to his satisfaction. After a few minutes spent studying the map, the Mayor set down the papers and lighted a candle on the desk.
"My boy," he said, "this is outstanding work! You've even had it bound with the proper color ribbon. You will make a fine politician someday if you keep this up! Your uncle Bilbo and I once discussed the possibility of you apprenticing me and taking over the Mayorship someday."
"Thank you, sir," Frodo smiled. He knew the Mayor was pleased to be included in the decision-making processes again. But Frodo had no intention of going into politics, either now or in the future.
"I approve this plan," the Mayor said. "Now let's see…where is that seal?" He fumbled around in the desk, finally producing a rather large, impressive looking carved seal and a stick of red wax.
"Mister Baggins," the Mayor asked, "Would you please ask my wife to come in and be a witness?"
Frodo went into the kitchen where Mrs. Whitfoot was putting away some dishes, and asked her to join them. She smiled, (she was used to doing this) and escorted Frodo back to the study.
The Mayor asked Frodo to sign the front of the document, first in blue ink and then again in red. Then he himself signed the document in black ink and dated it. His wife signed in blue ink as witness under their signatures. Lastly, the seal was applied in red wax under the signatures.
"Thank you my dear," the Mayor said. Mrs. Whitfoot took the tea tray with her on her way out of the room. "There you go Mister Baggins. Now the work can commence. Any other plans you have may be sent to me via messenger if you need me to look at them and give comments. But I mostly leave the planning and organizing and such in your capable hands. If you need me for more official business, as long as it doesn't involve my going outside the house for awhile, please feel free to drop by. I'm not sure my wife would want me out and about this winter."
Frodo stood up and bowed to the elder hobbit. Taking the map and freshly- sealed plan, he said his goodbyes, got his cloak, and headed back to Bag End.
"That went well," he thought, tramping up the hill toward Bag Shot Row. "The old gentlehobbit needs professional care though. Many of the townsfolk are ill right now, and I fear this winter may bring more sickness. We need a proper physician. That's my next task. I have to find a physician who would be willing to relocate to Hobbiton." As if in sympathy, his ring finger started throbbing.
"And I'm not sure I can hide my own illnesses from Sam without professional help. He has enough on his mind without worrying about me as well. I don't want to burden him any more with my problems. He took care of me all through our journey to Mordor and back. I would have never made it without him, bless him. But enough is enough. He will never live his own life if he thinks he has to constantly take care of me. I need a proper hobbit physician to be at hand for the next time the poison strikes. Maybe I should travel to Rivendale and ask Lord Elrond if the Elves could do something else to ease this pain. But no, that is so selfish. That would only help me. That will not solve the problem of Hobbiton being without a physician."
He looked up and realized he was already at Bag End. The White Hand of Saruman painted on Bag End's once-hospitable front door mocked him.
"If I don't repaint that door soon I'm going to take a torch to it," Frodo thought with a sudden violent anger which surprised him. Passing his hand over his eyes, he wearily walked into his study. "No rest today. And with the nightmares, probably no rest tonight. I'm so tired of all this."
