Chapter 15 Title: Trial by Equals Chapter rating: G

Doctor Thumo Havloc arrived in Hobbiton on September 30th; a cold, blustery autumn day. The elderly hobbit had traveled by pony from Micheldelving that day and was quite put out at the inconvenience he was suffering. Mayor Will Whitfoot had arranged for him to stay at the Mayor and Mistress Whitfoot's residence, but was meeting the doctor at the Green Dragon Inn since it was a common landmark for Hobbiton. Doctor Havloc was to investigate charges of malpractice against Iris Proudfoot, the local physician.

"Botheration and confoundedness," Thumo muttered, trying to untangle his traveling cloak from his saddle packs so he could dismount his little grey pony. It had been a long, cold journey for the portly gentlehobbit, who was not used to traveling. He desperately wanted to get off his animal and into the warmth of the Inn, but was having trouble with the wind. The Northerly breeze was whipping round the building, sending autumn leaves dancing in gravity-defying spirals. A few were caught in a backwater near the pony hitches, sending faded leaves to their final resting grounds at the feet of the patient animals.

Thumo finally succeeded in capturing his offending cloak and dismounted the pony. He stomped into the friendly pub, blinking at the sudden warmth in the hallway. A few patrons were at the bar enjoying their cups. As the doctor wandered into the dining area, an elderly hobbit stood up at one of the tables, leaning heavily on a cane, and waved the windblown doctor over.

"Doctor Havloc, I presume?" Mayor Whitfoot asked and offered his handshake.

"Yes, indeed," the doctor said. "You must be Mayor Whitfoot. Pleasure to meet you, sir." Thumo shook hands and sat himself at the proffered seat as the Mayor sat down rather heavily.

"Your Honor, sir?" the barkeep inquired, wiping his hands on a tea towel, "may I get you a fresher? And what will your guest be having?"

"Master Chas Limekiln, may I introduce you to Doctor Thumo Havloc of Micheldelving?" the Mayor boomed.

"Pleasure to meet you, sir," the barkeep bowed deeply to show his respect for the stranger. "We are all very glad you're here, and hope ta get this mess straightened up right away. Now, what may I get you gentlehobbits?"

"A pleasure to meet you too. A pot of very hot tea would be most appreciated, thank you," the doctor replied. The barkeep noted the Mayor's nod at his own tea cup, and disappeared into the kitchen for a fresh pot.

"It seems the reason for my presence is known to the populace," Thumo said.

"Well, you can't keep something like this under a bushel," the Mayor replied. Mister Limekiln brought over a large pot of fresh tea and an extra cup and saucer, plus a honey pot and scones for the table. "Yes, Hobbiton and Bywater are rife with rumors and gossip about this. We are so hoping you will be able to set things straight one way or another. The tension caused by the wait has been unbearable."

"Twas nothing to be done about the waiting," the doctor said as he stirred the honey into his tea and took a long sip. He could feel its warmth travel down into his ample stomach, heating him from the inside out. The scones were delicious and warm as well. Hobbiton might not be too bad a place to visit. Didn't want to live here, but not a bad place.

"I had to finish instructing my apprentice on a few things before trusting him with the practice to come here. But tush, that's all done. I hate having to do these inquiries. Upsets the stomach as well as the liver. I've only had to do two before, and mostly disliked both affairs. Emotions run high and I'm not one for overt emotional displays. I do hope to get this over with and be on my way before a Norther blows down heavy rain."

"We are all hoping the same thing," Will replied. "I've lined up interviews for tomorrow with all the parties involved. I took the liberty of scheduling the proceedings to take place at my home, if you do not mind. I find it increasingly difficult to travel about the countryside at my advanced age. My wife, Amanda, will act as the official recording secretary. Normally I would have asked Mister Baggins to do so, as his handwriting is excellent and he has a flair for politics even if he won't admit it. However, he is one of the witnesses to the case."

"I might have guessed a Baggins would have something to do with this," Thumo mumbled into his tea. Thumo was on the board of directors of the Micheldelving Mathom House. Bagginses had donated items to the Shire's official "museum" on several occasions, but most recently one had taken a couple of items back. It was most unusual for a donor to re-claim a donation. It didn't sit well with the Board and particularly not with Doctor Havloc. And the items those Bagginses donated . well, they were not your normal mathom. Too exotic and strange for the doctor's tastes. Anytime a Baggins was involved in something, it was a bother. Doctor Havloc was rather against the Bagginses and against Hobbiton in general. The news that a Baggins was involved in the malpractice investigation only confirmed Thumo's suspicions. Hobbiton was far too close to the Wild, and harbored strange and confused citizens, the nice Mayor none withstanding.

"Mister Baggins is to be considered a hostile witness for the Wyncots," the Mayor continued, politely ignoring Doctor Havloc's frown. "Mister Fredigar Bolger will act as bailiff just in case emotions get out of hand. We shall get to that tomorrow. Whenever you are ready, we can get you settled in to my home."

Despite what Thumo Havloc said about Frodo Baggins, the Mayor was taking a liking to the visiting doctor. It was not often the Mayor had a visitor from Micheldelving, much less a hobbit near his own age and social status. The two stood and fastened their cloaks before heading out into the blustery autumn wind. Thumo lead the pony as the pair leisurely walked the short distance to the Mayor's home. Thumo even offered his arm to assist the Mayor. A friendship was born.

Freddy arrived promptly at 10 o'clock the next morning wearing his best coat and vest. The Mayor gave him a special red ribbon to wear tied about his arm, indicating his status as bailiff. Freddy was terribly pleased.

The Wyncots were the first witnesses to be interviewed. Amanda Whitfoot settled into her familiar chair to record the proceedings, with her husband acting as witness. He had decided to separate the Wyncots and have Doctor Havloc interview them one at a time. The Mayor was suspicious that Rudy Wyncot and his son Jack did not see the events in the same light as Maybell, and wanted to let the farmer and his son tell their sides to the story without having to placate Maybell at the same time.

The interviews started with Maybell Wyncot, as she was the aggrieved party and had brought up the charges. She recounted her objections to the way Iris Proudfoot had treated her son's injuries and became quite angry during the session. Doctor Havloc asked some pointed questions about her own behavior, causing the grieving mother to sputter and hiss, and finally utter curses at all doctors. Freddy ended up escorting the upset hobbitess from the Mayor's study and into a back bedroom.

Rudy Wyncot was next. He basically told the same story as his wife, with the exception of stating that Miss Proudfoot could not have arrived any sooner, or have acted any faster in her treatments. He was dismissed to go comfort his wife while Jack Wyncot was called in.

"Well, yer honors, sirs, I was there when poor Teddy died," the lad said.

"We've heard from your parents about what happened before they were removed from the room," Doctor Havloc said. "But since you returned to assist the doctor, I would be most interested in hearing your opinion as to her treatments."

"Well, sir," Jack cleared his throat and fidgeted with the buttons on his vest, "When me and Mister Baggins came back in ta room, the doc had calmed Teddy down and was trying to stop his bleedin'. He was awful bad by then. She gave him some medicine, which put 'im to sleep right fast. I don't think doc knew it would do so as fast as it did. Doc Proudfoot and Mister Baggins tried and tried, but Teddy didn't have much of a chance, really. There was too much bleedin'." A tear crept down Jack's face as he looked at his feet.

"Thank you, son," Doctor Havloc said. "I'm very sorry about your brother's death. But thank you for helping us with this matter. One final question, if you don't mind answering. Would you let Doctor Proudfoot operate or otherwise treat yourself, your mother or your father after what you witnessed?"

Jack thought about the question for a moment, then looked up at the stranger from Micheldelving. "Yes sir, yer honor, sir. Yes I would. She's a good doctor."

"Thank you, Jack," Mayor Whitfoot interrupted. "That will be all." Jack stood and bowed to his elders, then left the room. The Wyncots gathered their coats and headed out into the brisk noonday air.

"Seems pretty clear to me that Mistress Wyncot does not have a case," Thumo said to the Mayor. "I don't think I need call Mister Baggins, but I would like to talk with Doctor Proudfoot, if you don't mind."

"She is scheduled to arrive after lunch," the Mayor replied. "Shall we repair to the dinning room for a little refreshment ourselves?"

Iris arrived accompanied by Frodo about an hour afterwards. She was nervous and clung to his arm as they approached the round yellow door. "I don't know Doctor Havloc. I was supposed to go to Micheldelving and study with him for a year, but I ended up staying on with Mistress Weaver in Southway instead. Do you think he'll remember?"

"He probably will, but that is beside the point," Frodo patted her hand to reassure her. "Come now, it is time to lay this matter to rest." Frodo knocked at the door and was surprised when Fredigar answered. "Freddy! What are you doing here?"

"Come in Doctor. Frodo," Freddy gestured while holding the door ajar. "I'm bailiff, so don't you be teasing me none. The Mayor thought it wise to have someone here when Mistress Wyncot arrived. Good thing too. She sure knows some good curse words. I'll have to try them out on Sandyman next time I see 'em."

Frodo thought that was funny. Iris did not. Freddy escorted them into the study where they were introduced to Doctor Havloc. Frodo thought he recognized the Micheldevling doctor from a visit to the Mathom House he and Bilbo had taken years ago, but perhaps he was mistaken. Bilbo was donating something to the Board of Directors and Frodo was free to roam about the large building, looking at the various mysterious (and some hideously ugly) items on display, reading the strange descriptions and ignoring the dedicatory plaques. It was a very long time ago he realized.

The Mayor dismissed Frodo from the proceedings, much to his chagrin. Freddy escorted Frodo back into the living room as the door to the study snicked shut behind them. This left the Mayor, Doctor Havloc, Amanda Whitfoot and Iris alone. Iris took the proffered seat and gulped hard. She was a nervous wreck.

"Doctor Proudfoot," the Mayor began, "thank you for coming. Doctor Havloc and I hope to finish up these proceedings today and get this ugly business behind us. Please answer the doctor to the best of your ability. And relax, dear." The Mayor and Amanda smiled at Iris. Iris gamely smiled back. Doctor Havloc's expression of slight disapproval did not change. Iris quickly lost her wane smile and resumed looking at her hands folded in her lap.

"Doctor Proudfoot," Thumo began, "please describe the condition of your patient when you first saw him."

Iris cleared her tight throat. "He was lying on a bed at the farmhouse with a compound fracture of the upper left arm. It was strapped to a board. The bone was splintered and the wound covered with hay dust and manure. It was bleeding heavily. The patient was still conscious and able to talk. However, his pallor was quite white and his breathing shallow and ragged."

"Did the bleeding ever stop during your treatment?" the elderly hobbit asked.

"No," Iris replied. "I could not stop it. I tried direct pressure. I tried arterial pressure, but it continued." She could hear the faint ticking of a clock off somewhere in the back of the room. It reminded her of a heartbeat.

"Why didn't you amputate and cauterize the wound to stop the bleeding?" the doctor asked. He knew the answer before she said it. It was clear to him that Iris had followed recommended procedures, whether the Wyncot family realized it or not. The only question he really had for Iris would be asked next.

"I did not have time," she whispered.

"Could you please repeat that a bit louder, dear?" Amanda interrupted. "I couldn't quite hear."

"I did not have time to get the cauterizing iron hot for amputation," Iris spoke up. "He died before I could even get the iron out of the bag."

"Doctor Proudfoot," Thumo looked directly at her, "why did you stop and administer a sedative when time was of the essence?"

Iris sighed and looked at her hands again. "I didn't want him to suffer any more pain during either procedure. Whether setting the bone or amputating, I prefer that my patients be unconscious so they do not feel the pain. However, Ted Wyncot died before the sedative had time to take effect."

"So he would have died no matter what you did, is that correct?" the Micheldelving doctor quietly asked.

A tear escaped from Iris's eyes. "Yes. I tried my best, but I could not save him. I am sorry, but it was far too late for poor Ted." Too late. The clock ticked. Time dribbling away. Too late.

"Your honor?" Doctor Havloc addressed the Mayor, "I have heard enough testimony to render my verdict. Doctor Proudfoot, you may leave now, and thank you. Someday you will have to come visit us at Micheldelving. I understand you have some expertise in treating patients with unbalanced humors, especially melancholics. I would be interested in learning about your work. Good day to you, Doctor."

Iris stood up and bowed. "Good day, Doctor. Your honor. Mistress Whitfoot." She left the room.

Frodo and Iris retrieved their coats and were again escorted to the front door by Freddy.

"When will we know the outcome?" Frodo asked as he helped Iris into her coat.

"I suspect the Mayor will post it on the marketplace board tomorrow," Freddy said. "I'll probably have to do the town crying around noon or so. If that's not the case, I'll send word to ya, Miss Proudfoot."

Iris whispered her thanks as she and Frodo walked back to her Offices. Time stretched into immeasurable lengths. The rest of the day was spent in waiting. The only sounds to reach Iris's ears was the constant tick of the hallway clock. Tick. Tock. Too late.