The Pub Series
Title: The Pub Series ~ Story 1 Politics
Author: Rachel Stonebreaker
Email: redirect@beckyswebdesign.com
Rating: G
Characters: Frodo, Pippin, Sam, Fatty, Lotho, and Merry.
Date: 6 June 2002
Summary: The Pub Series is a group of stories that take place in a pub auspiciously called Old Mother Red Cap. This story is called Politics. It's not the first. The first is actually Illusions. Makes me cry just thinking about it *snif*. But this one is supposed to be a tad funny, a bit of drama and a fluff filler while I finish writing Recovery which made me want to cry in the first chapter but has me wickedly thinking of something funny for the ending.
Review notes: Thank you Helga and Forest Silver for the reviews, I needed the encouragement. Yeah, Forest, of course they're after Pippin, the youngest always gets thrashed when trashed.
Story 1 ~ Politics
Chapter 8 ~ Support to be Counted On
With Pippin singing along to the violin and gitern players, Frodo lost track of the argument he used in countering Sam's latest comment. He'd had three ales himself, Pippin WAS rather entertaining and Sam could be very good at arguing the opposite side in a debate. Bless Sam, he remembered everything and tended to think things through before stating his opinion. Though he would talk your ear off given the chance and if he felt in good company. And right now, Sam felt he was in good company; and his counterpoint was solid. If Frodo could just focus on it! My, those ales hit him harder than he'd expected. Should have had a bite to eat before going out. Ah, yes, now he remembered. If a fee was to be imposed, as Frodo suggested, to cover the administration of the new proposal then not a soul would vote for it. It's not that hobbits were stingy with their monies, they didn't like change and there hadn't been a fee imposed for a shire wide proposal since anyone, including old Puddifoot, could remember.
"Sam, surely YOU understand, if we don't appoint someone to implement the flood control proposal, it will be a piece of paper only. It will all be in vain. Someone needs to be encouraged to make it happen. And the best way to do that is to PAY said person and give them a position of honor. And to pay said person, we've to set up a special levy." Sam couldn't disagree with that, the proposal needed to be implemented and making the position "important" AND paying this important person WAS a sure fire way to make it happen. Yet no one would vote for a fee, a levy for a levee, so to speak.
And without pay, who would take over the onerous job of directing the normally staid population into action? It was neigh on an impossible task. One doomed to failure before it started. And failure, at least in Sam's mind meant terrible consequences in the form of possibly more hobbit deaths plus lost livestock and ruined crops if this year's rains were half as bad as last. There were fell winds blowing over the Shire these days, Sam thought, fell winds indeed. something bad was brewing and it bothered him.
In Frodo's mind not getting the levees built meant failure for the health of the Shire. Plain and simply it meant Failure on his part. And he wasn't used to not getting his way when he finally decided to actually do something (he had trouble making closure on most tasks as the numerous piles of papers, studies, and treatises Sam was constantly attempting to tidy in Frodo's study would attest). Strange though it seemed, no one in Hobbiton saw his determined side. Never thought him as pushy or forward. For he'd learned his tact and diplomacy in Buckland where the Master of Buckland saw great potential in this studious, quiet and sometimes wicked young hobbit. Saradoc was quick to school him on voicing his opinion to elders and those of respect. He also directed him in the important matter of being diplomatic at all times. Quick with stern verbal lessons and if those didn't take (as sometimes they didn't during Frodo's very wild teens) then by brandishing a belt on his backside. But that was in Buckland and in Hobbiton, Frodo was the picture of quiet, rich gentry. No Frodo was never considered untoward by Hobbiton standards. Quite the opposite in fact. He managed to persuade folks of their minds without them even knowing that their minds weren't originally the same as his. Even Frodo didn't realize he was so strong willed as to demand and get his way! Probably the only persons who did were his uncle Bilbo, his uncle Saradoc, and his cousin Meriadoc. Oh, and of course his faithful servant, Sam, and that was only because Sam was himself strong willed. They'd gone at it many a time in the past over small matters (small to anyone else except two mule headed hobbits) before Sam learned that the only ones that mattered were the big ones and he usually seemed to feel the same way about the big things as his master. So, it had been many, many moons since the two disagreed over a serious matter. Just to keep things amusing, Sam had taken the habit of arguing the opposite side. It seemed to amuse Frodo. And the current issue of discussion, even if that foolish young Took paid no heed to its import was certainly significant. This normally unexciting subject of flood control.
There had been terrible floods the previous two springs when several of the small creeks and two of the larger rivers had overflowed their banks. In Sam's mind, this was a disaster beyond all proportion. All told, six hobbits perished ~ perhaps the worst cost, but many smials had flooded, crops were damaged and roads had washed out. Food shortages, difficulties in getting from one farthing to the other and the general horrors that flooding brings took their toll on the Shire folks. Most were willing to listen and consider action. And it seemed the weather was getting more unpredictable every year. It was almost as if, of late, something other than nature controlled the winter snows and summer rains. It surely was a mystery. But what WAS for certain was that the Shire had to gather together and make a decision about levees and burms and managing the rivers and streams so the deaths and damage didn't happen again.
To that end, Frodo proposed that the Mayor of Hobbiton, the Thain of the Shire, the Master of Buckland and several of the more influencial families band together to present a proposal. This flood control plan needed to be voted upon by the general population. Which meant it needed strong backing before it was even presented for vote. Which meant the up and coming younger generation, who tended to follow Frodo like so many baby ducklings needed to swing their parents into action before the vote was proposed. Voting on such a "different" issue was nearly unheard of in the current Shire hobbits' lifetimes. The last time anyone could recall having a Shire wide vote on a new proposal was after the terrible winter when the Brandywine had frozen solid, the white wolves ravaged the outlying smials, and miscreants had invaded properties causing death and wrecking havoc at homesteads in outlying areas. That spring everyone had voted on increasing the shiriff patrol. Becoming a sheriff had been a grand heroic occupation in the years that followed. Yes, being a sheriff was an honorable profession. And many years later, in these seemingly peaceful times, the honor was still there though it had become merely decorous and usually involved walking the roads to check their conditions and reporting back to the mayor on small issues. But now, flood management was at the top of nearly everyone's list when discussing things other than a neighbor's new paint scheme, the dinner menu, and next week's party. Hobbits were designed to think of comfort first and droll political matters last. But they COULD rise to the occasion when necessary. And right now, in Sam's mind, it was necessary. His father had seen the need but being from the lower class, he felt his comments didn't hold much sway in the political arena and acquiesced to his son's offer to help their Master in his stead.
Both of the Gamgees were knowledgeable about the weather, being master gardeners, and quite reliant on rain and sun. And though he believed it critical to the long term comfort of many a good hobbit, old Gamgee just sat back and shook his head at the idea of raising the entire Shire to participate in a coordinated effort. It would be an endeavor, that was for sure, to concoct the necessary burms, levees and diversions to prevent a third year of flooding as was promised by the heavy snow fall and fey winds. But Sam knew it could be done. He had faith in his Master Frodo. And to some extent in Mister Meriadoc. The two of thems were the smartest and hardest nosed hobbits he knew besides himself. Some folks thought Mister Merry was the most stubborn though both he and Mister Frodo were born and bred Bucklanders. Sam knew first hand just how stubborn Mister Frodo could be.
The last big blow up had been late in the summer when he was 21 and just before Frodo was nearing 33. One particular day they'd both been working long and hard, Frodo with his studies learning to decipher some elvish poetry Bilbo seemed to think was more important than anything else he could have been doing and Samwise with digging out some very woody pelargoniums that just were not thriving in the shade. Bilbo had been acting peculiar which tended to set both the Gaffer and Frodo in a bad mood. Both were inclined to take it out on Sam. Tempers were short, the day had been hot, the night had not come too soon. Frodo desperately wanted to be outside and Sam badly wished to be inside. When they were both finally released from their "duties" they'd met out front to have a smoke and chat about nothing in particular. Frodo took up a theme that was sore to Sam. He'd been pestering Sam to agree to talk to Miss Rosie Cotton at the upcoming Big Birthday Party. He snapped at Sam when Sam had refused to even consider it. Sam had yelled back that it weren't none o' his business. Days went by and neither would speak to the other. And over such a silly little thing. Frodo had wanted the best for Sam and Sam had wanted to not be pushed. If it hadn't been for the Big Birthday Party, Frodo's Coming Of Age and Bilbo's One Hundred and Elventyeth, then Sam wouldn't have given in and tried to make amends. They probably still wouldn't be talking. But then after Bilbo's disappearance, Sam felt particularly bad, knowing how much Bilbo's abrupt leaving reminded Frodo of his parents death. Frodo had tried to be chipper and put on a good face, but Sam could see that it was a heroic effort. Their inconsequential fight was too much for Sam and he vowed not to let little things stand between them. And he'd stand by his friend through thick and thin (and high water if it came to that)!
~ End Chapter
What would a Lord of the Rings story be without a plug for Enya?
http://www.enya.com/
Her home site should play "May It Be" automatically. If not or for the lyrics go to:
http://www.enya.com/song/07/01.asp
