TITLE: "Brandywine"
AUTHOR: Mainframe
RATING: PG
PAIRING: None so far
Disclaimer: The Hobbits belong to J. R.R. Tolkien and are not of my creation and I make no money from this or other stories involving them, this is purely a non-profit fiction of my creation in honour of the book & movies. However this storyline is mine.
SUMMARY: It's been raining none stop for over a month in the shire and Bilbo is being driven mad by three young hobbits with too much energy to spend. But is his solution to the problem a wise one or could it led to disaster?
NOTES: Greetings! O.k., first of all I'd like to say thanks to Emerald and Lynne, glad your still enjoying the fic! I love reading your feedback, and if there's anything I'm screwing up on, let me know (No Flames please!). And Haleth asked: How could I kill Frodo? Answer: Many ways, and someone had to!
Mindel wanted to know if the torture will ever end? ….No! Hope you enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think.
By the way for all of you who haven't already found out…Xenobia has updated several of her LOTR's fic's…MUST READS!
Brandywine
1 Chapter 6: Sound the Alarm
Bilbo's head shot up from the sentence he had been writing. His hand pressed down heavily on the quill and it made a scratching sound of protest as the nib flayed under the pressure. He looked down at his shaking hand and to the blob of ink that leaked across the page marring the delicate spidery writing. He had ruined not only his pen but the last hour's work as well.
*Oh botheration! Old fool! * He mentally scolded himself.
The earlier feel of unrest had returned to him so suddenly that he'd been taken completely off guard, he stood and walked to the window. To his surprise it was dark when he peered out, time had escaped him, for the sky had turned grey and first stars of the night glinted from behind even darker clouds. It was raining steadily.
Bilbo shook his head in dismay and smiled to himself, he hadn't missed a meal since returning from his adventure with the dwarves many years before, until today. He frowned then, wandering why Frodo hadn't called him to dinner. His young cousin often helped prepare meals and under Samwise's careful supervision was starting to become quiet good!
He grinned to himself; Merry on the other hand was a complete menace to himself and others when in the kitchen. He had once in his enthusiasm to treat Frodo and himself to a surprise breakfast in bed, almost set the Kitchen on fire!
*That boy! Still his heart was in the right place* He mused.
Picking up his cup and swallowing the last gulp of cold tea he run his fingers through his thick light brown curls, they were just starting to become flecked with silver. He opened the door and walked briskly towards the kitchen.
His stomach which had started to rumble in anticipation of dinner, clenched painfully and he felt as if someone had placed a great weight upon his chest as he found it difficult to breath. The kitchen was silent and empty.
Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang!
Before Hamson could even rise from his chair by the fire to answer the door it was rapped on again, louder and more rapidly.
"Alright! Alright I heard ya!" He shouted in irritation at having to leave his nice comfortable, warm seat. Daisy pocked her head out of the kitchen still holding the plate she was drying.
Hamson opened the door to discover a dripping wet rather frantic Bilbo.
"Master Bilbo! Sir, sorry I took so long to answer the door, if I'd a known it were you I'd have hurried faster! Come in, come in!"
Gratefully Bilbo allowed himself to be ushered in, still puffing a bit from the run. It was very unhobbitlike for a grown hobbit to be in a hurry to do anything, and was seen as very distasteful and rude to do so. But such was the fear that washed through Bilbo's mind that he simply didn't care.
"Hello my boy, my apologue's for calling at such a late hour but it's very important" He finally caught his breath and composed himself "Can you tell me if Frodo, Sam, and Merry are here?"
Hamson frowned and Bilbo's hopes were dashed, he already knew the answer before it was spoken.
"I'm sorry Sir but no. I thought our Sam was stayin with Mr Frodo and Mr Merry at Bag-End with yourself".
"Yes he is" Bilbo pursed his lips in a bid to calm the bile in his stomach that was slowly starting to rise to his throat.
"Could you get your father lad, I need to speak with him in private".
"Yes Sir, right away!"
Hamson realising the urgency of the situation sped out the backdoor, down into the old wooden garden shed where Hamfast was busy tending a small crop of mushrooms.
"Would you like a cup of tea Mr Bilbo?" Offered May, who had been helping Daisy with her washing up choirs.
Bilbo smiled and declined the offer. Just then Hamson returned closely followed by his father. Hamfast took the cloth that his youngest daughter handed him and quickly cleaned the soft, delicate soil from his hands before offering one to Bilbo.
"Good evening Master Bilbo" He smiled warmly as Bilbo shook his hand firmly. "Is all well? My son told me you wanted a word in private". One look at the old hobbits face was answer enough. He motioned Bilbo down one of the many side corridors of Bagshot Row and through a plain wooden door, which lead into a very small, cluttered room.
This room was infact one of the few rooms that Bilbo had never entered in all his long years of knowing Hamfast. It had no windows he observed as Hamfast carefully lit a lamp, turning it up high to revealing the room, which whilst small, was immaculately kept with a small fireplace in the centre of the far wall. Various documents of sale and receipts were filled in alphabetical order on the shelves to his right, and a ledger lay open on the table to his left with a single sheet of loose parchment resting on top, upon a brief glance Bilbo recognised the careful round delicate writing to be in Sam's hand. And with a grin he realised that the piece of writing was in fact one of the elven songs Bilbo had taught him.
Hamfast motioned Bilbo to a soft seat opposite himself beside the fire, noticing that Bilbo was soaked through and had obviously left Bag-End in a dreadful hurry, for he had even forgotten his coat and cloak. He smiled as he followed Bilbo's gaze to the open ledger.
"Aye Sir, I admit I was unsure weather I should let Sam learn his letters at first, t'seemed a lot of time away from his work. But I'm glad that he did. He's taken to it like duck to water and has saved this family a lot of bother at the market place, thought I don't think you'll be getting any thanks from one or two hobbit-folk from Bree!"
Bilbo's grin broadened as he faced the gardener.
No names were mentioned for the Gaffer was an honest man of principle, and would have found it too much like gossip to name names. But Bilbo knew the hobbits and the incident of which he spoke; indeed it had reached his ears some time ago from Frodo, who had been as incensed as Samwise if not more so.
The gaffer could neither read nor write, nor any members of his family save Sam. He was an honest hard worker and well respected throughout the Shire, for there was no other that could rival his knowledge of growing vegetables and anything to do with root. And his position as gardener at Bag-End meant that for the most part, his inability to read never became a problem. All hobbits as far a field as Buckland and Tuckborough knew that the Gamgee family in general were not to be mistreated in any way, or they would answer to Bilbo.
However a few years ago, late one harvest season, two hobbits arrived in the Shire from Bree looking for vegetables to buy. They had already missed the main trading and had been forced to travel the considerable distance to the Shire, hoping to find what they may before the season changed. Upon inquiring at 'The Ivy Bush' Inn on the Bywater road they were pointed towards Hamfast Gamgee's door, were they viewed the last of the produce that was for sale.
Samwise had come back just in time, for the wily pair had discovered his fathers weakness, and were in the process of duping him into signing a document for twice what Hamfast had to offer, at half the agreed price. It was as close to seeing his father in a fight as Sam had ever come, for Hamfast physically threw the two from his property. They left in disgrace and were never seen in the Shire again.
"It was my pleasure Hamfast, my pleasure, he's a fast learner" He paused then and got straight to the point of his late visit.
"Hamfast, I sent the lads out apple picking today, what with the break in the weather. I thought it would do them some good to get some fresh air…but they have not returned and I'm becoming very anxious"
He sighed frustratedly and continued, "I was hoping that they had called in here and forgotten the time, but Hamson informed me they haven't been seen."
"What time were they last seen?"
"Midday" Bilbo watched as Hamfast leaned forward in his chair, the muscles under his jaw clenched as he rubbed his large, rough hands together, digesting this unsettling piece of news.
"It's not like Sam to miss a meal," He said at length.
"Frodo has never had a big appetite much to my dismay, but he knows how I worry and always at least makes an appearance. And Merry! Well even if the smial was on fire the lad wouldn't leave his meal!"
"I see where your pointing Mr Bilbo…I'm jus tryin to remember which trees have already been harvested this season, that should give us some idea where our boys have gone to".
He gazed at the fire for a moment "Well if I remember correctly the only trees I can think of still with fruit, are the ones halfway to Bywater Pool"
Bilbo paled. He looked rounded eyed to Hamfast, his hard won composure finally crumbled.
"The Brandywine's in full flood" He shook "What have I done?"
"Unless you brought this weather I don't know how you did any wrong. You weren't to know, and my Sam knows better then to go near a river in flood, well find em".
Tbc ~
AUTHOR: Mainframe
RATING: PG
PAIRING: None so far
Disclaimer: The Hobbits belong to J. R.R. Tolkien and are not of my creation and I make no money from this or other stories involving them, this is purely a non-profit fiction of my creation in honour of the book & movies. However this storyline is mine.
SUMMARY: It's been raining none stop for over a month in the shire and Bilbo is being driven mad by three young hobbits with too much energy to spend. But is his solution to the problem a wise one or could it led to disaster?
NOTES: Greetings! O.k., first of all I'd like to say thanks to Emerald and Lynne, glad your still enjoying the fic! I love reading your feedback, and if there's anything I'm screwing up on, let me know (No Flames please!). And Haleth asked: How could I kill Frodo? Answer: Many ways, and someone had to!
Mindel wanted to know if the torture will ever end? ….No! Hope you enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think.
By the way for all of you who haven't already found out…Xenobia has updated several of her LOTR's fic's…MUST READS!
Brandywine
1 Chapter 6: Sound the Alarm
Bilbo's head shot up from the sentence he had been writing. His hand pressed down heavily on the quill and it made a scratching sound of protest as the nib flayed under the pressure. He looked down at his shaking hand and to the blob of ink that leaked across the page marring the delicate spidery writing. He had ruined not only his pen but the last hour's work as well.
*Oh botheration! Old fool! * He mentally scolded himself.
The earlier feel of unrest had returned to him so suddenly that he'd been taken completely off guard, he stood and walked to the window. To his surprise it was dark when he peered out, time had escaped him, for the sky had turned grey and first stars of the night glinted from behind even darker clouds. It was raining steadily.
Bilbo shook his head in dismay and smiled to himself, he hadn't missed a meal since returning from his adventure with the dwarves many years before, until today. He frowned then, wandering why Frodo hadn't called him to dinner. His young cousin often helped prepare meals and under Samwise's careful supervision was starting to become quiet good!
He grinned to himself; Merry on the other hand was a complete menace to himself and others when in the kitchen. He had once in his enthusiasm to treat Frodo and himself to a surprise breakfast in bed, almost set the Kitchen on fire!
*That boy! Still his heart was in the right place* He mused.
Picking up his cup and swallowing the last gulp of cold tea he run his fingers through his thick light brown curls, they were just starting to become flecked with silver. He opened the door and walked briskly towards the kitchen.
His stomach which had started to rumble in anticipation of dinner, clenched painfully and he felt as if someone had placed a great weight upon his chest as he found it difficult to breath. The kitchen was silent and empty.
Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang!
Before Hamson could even rise from his chair by the fire to answer the door it was rapped on again, louder and more rapidly.
"Alright! Alright I heard ya!" He shouted in irritation at having to leave his nice comfortable, warm seat. Daisy pocked her head out of the kitchen still holding the plate she was drying.
Hamson opened the door to discover a dripping wet rather frantic Bilbo.
"Master Bilbo! Sir, sorry I took so long to answer the door, if I'd a known it were you I'd have hurried faster! Come in, come in!"
Gratefully Bilbo allowed himself to be ushered in, still puffing a bit from the run. It was very unhobbitlike for a grown hobbit to be in a hurry to do anything, and was seen as very distasteful and rude to do so. But such was the fear that washed through Bilbo's mind that he simply didn't care.
"Hello my boy, my apologue's for calling at such a late hour but it's very important" He finally caught his breath and composed himself "Can you tell me if Frodo, Sam, and Merry are here?"
Hamson frowned and Bilbo's hopes were dashed, he already knew the answer before it was spoken.
"I'm sorry Sir but no. I thought our Sam was stayin with Mr Frodo and Mr Merry at Bag-End with yourself".
"Yes he is" Bilbo pursed his lips in a bid to calm the bile in his stomach that was slowly starting to rise to his throat.
"Could you get your father lad, I need to speak with him in private".
"Yes Sir, right away!"
Hamson realising the urgency of the situation sped out the backdoor, down into the old wooden garden shed where Hamfast was busy tending a small crop of mushrooms.
"Would you like a cup of tea Mr Bilbo?" Offered May, who had been helping Daisy with her washing up choirs.
Bilbo smiled and declined the offer. Just then Hamson returned closely followed by his father. Hamfast took the cloth that his youngest daughter handed him and quickly cleaned the soft, delicate soil from his hands before offering one to Bilbo.
"Good evening Master Bilbo" He smiled warmly as Bilbo shook his hand firmly. "Is all well? My son told me you wanted a word in private". One look at the old hobbits face was answer enough. He motioned Bilbo down one of the many side corridors of Bagshot Row and through a plain wooden door, which lead into a very small, cluttered room.
This room was infact one of the few rooms that Bilbo had never entered in all his long years of knowing Hamfast. It had no windows he observed as Hamfast carefully lit a lamp, turning it up high to revealing the room, which whilst small, was immaculately kept with a small fireplace in the centre of the far wall. Various documents of sale and receipts were filled in alphabetical order on the shelves to his right, and a ledger lay open on the table to his left with a single sheet of loose parchment resting on top, upon a brief glance Bilbo recognised the careful round delicate writing to be in Sam's hand. And with a grin he realised that the piece of writing was in fact one of the elven songs Bilbo had taught him.
Hamfast motioned Bilbo to a soft seat opposite himself beside the fire, noticing that Bilbo was soaked through and had obviously left Bag-End in a dreadful hurry, for he had even forgotten his coat and cloak. He smiled as he followed Bilbo's gaze to the open ledger.
"Aye Sir, I admit I was unsure weather I should let Sam learn his letters at first, t'seemed a lot of time away from his work. But I'm glad that he did. He's taken to it like duck to water and has saved this family a lot of bother at the market place, thought I don't think you'll be getting any thanks from one or two hobbit-folk from Bree!"
Bilbo's grin broadened as he faced the gardener.
No names were mentioned for the Gaffer was an honest man of principle, and would have found it too much like gossip to name names. But Bilbo knew the hobbits and the incident of which he spoke; indeed it had reached his ears some time ago from Frodo, who had been as incensed as Samwise if not more so.
The gaffer could neither read nor write, nor any members of his family save Sam. He was an honest hard worker and well respected throughout the Shire, for there was no other that could rival his knowledge of growing vegetables and anything to do with root. And his position as gardener at Bag-End meant that for the most part, his inability to read never became a problem. All hobbits as far a field as Buckland and Tuckborough knew that the Gamgee family in general were not to be mistreated in any way, or they would answer to Bilbo.
However a few years ago, late one harvest season, two hobbits arrived in the Shire from Bree looking for vegetables to buy. They had already missed the main trading and had been forced to travel the considerable distance to the Shire, hoping to find what they may before the season changed. Upon inquiring at 'The Ivy Bush' Inn on the Bywater road they were pointed towards Hamfast Gamgee's door, were they viewed the last of the produce that was for sale.
Samwise had come back just in time, for the wily pair had discovered his fathers weakness, and were in the process of duping him into signing a document for twice what Hamfast had to offer, at half the agreed price. It was as close to seeing his father in a fight as Sam had ever come, for Hamfast physically threw the two from his property. They left in disgrace and were never seen in the Shire again.
"It was my pleasure Hamfast, my pleasure, he's a fast learner" He paused then and got straight to the point of his late visit.
"Hamfast, I sent the lads out apple picking today, what with the break in the weather. I thought it would do them some good to get some fresh air…but they have not returned and I'm becoming very anxious"
He sighed frustratedly and continued, "I was hoping that they had called in here and forgotten the time, but Hamson informed me they haven't been seen."
"What time were they last seen?"
"Midday" Bilbo watched as Hamfast leaned forward in his chair, the muscles under his jaw clenched as he rubbed his large, rough hands together, digesting this unsettling piece of news.
"It's not like Sam to miss a meal," He said at length.
"Frodo has never had a big appetite much to my dismay, but he knows how I worry and always at least makes an appearance. And Merry! Well even if the smial was on fire the lad wouldn't leave his meal!"
"I see where your pointing Mr Bilbo…I'm jus tryin to remember which trees have already been harvested this season, that should give us some idea where our boys have gone to".
He gazed at the fire for a moment "Well if I remember correctly the only trees I can think of still with fruit, are the ones halfway to Bywater Pool"
Bilbo paled. He looked rounded eyed to Hamfast, his hard won composure finally crumbled.
"The Brandywine's in full flood" He shook "What have I done?"
"Unless you brought this weather I don't know how you did any wrong. You weren't to know, and my Sam knows better then to go near a river in flood, well find em".
Tbc ~