Chapter 5:
Frodo sat at her uncles desk trying to draft a letter. Another crumbled paper joined the pile on the floor and she leant back in the chair thinking. Nothing she wrote sounded right. She wanted to be direct but it sounded strange; forceful. It was hard to keep herself from saying too much. Frodo didn't trust that her mail wouldn't be tampered with. Frodo had a sense there were eyes everywhere. Maybe it was paranoia. Maybe it was the effect of the ring.
Frodo was becoming more and more reluctant to trust people and leave her Smial. She was the recluse the Thane claimed her to be. She didn't mind. She could care less what the Thane thought of her. She had faced the evils of this world. The people of the Shire could never comprehend— have yet to comprehend.
Eventually Frodo decided to write a simple letter.
Gandalf,
As a friend looking out for a friend, I have information possibly not known to you. Bag End was broken into and a message written in a dark language was left along with a morgul blade. I can't read it but perhaps you can decipher it?
Be careful,
Frodo
Frodo was sure that including her name wasn't the best decision, but whoever managed to get ahold of this message would have no idea who she was. Her parents weren't even born yet. It mattered more that Bilbo had not sent the letter, but an unknown. This would undoubtedly catch Gandalf's attention.
She hoped to meet with someone who could get word to him. A letter through the post wouldn't find its way. Only the Rangers would have a means of contacting him. From the past, tracking the Wizard down was difficult but not impossible.
Frodo made sure her Smial was locked and secure before heading out. It was still light out and would be for a few hours more. Walking into the long grass off of the main path, Frodo followed an invisible trail she'd walked a hundred times in her youth. She was concealed by large trees and a gentle breeze carded through her hair. The smell of earth and her bare feet in the silky grass caused a smile to blossom on her face.
Her path would get to her destination fairly quick, bypassing the main roads. Frodo was going to visit the only place that could help her:
Brandy Hall.
It wasn't that long ago since Sam, Merry, Pippin, and herself made their escape across the Brandywine river. The sight of it now seemed smaller than what she remembered as she walked across the bridge and up the path to Brandy Hall.
If there had been sighting of Ring Wraiths, the Brandybuck's would have seen something. They watched over the Old Forest, known for housing dark and evil creatures. Despite her distrust of Shire hobbits, Brandybucks weren't like the others. Frodo trusted that they would be more aware of the world. Besides, Frodo had to tell someone what was happening. Who knew if the people responsible for ransacking her Smial were still around? And what threat did their presence have on the people of the Shire?
She was curious to know if they were also blind to her identity like the Thane was.
The Smial rested within the hill and was a great deal bigger than Tookborough; hidden amongst the trees camouflaged. It was majestic and intimidating in its own right. Generations of hobbits lived in this Smial and a strong sense of nostalgia came over her. She remembered her rather brief time living here, surrounded by family and her parents. A part of her wondered what would have become of her if she had not been adopted by Bilbo. Would she have been the Master of Buckland? Such a position of authority had never crossed her mind. It was an interesting thought now, but one that seemed so far from reality.
Unlike Tookborough, there seemed to be no guards stationed at its entrance. Though she knew from experience there was always someone who watched and protected Brandybuck Hall as well as the roads leading to and from.
Frodo knocked at the door and it opened a few moments later, a gentle faced lady who greeted her with kind eyes. A mop of curling brown hair and a dark brown frock to match.
"What can I do for you?" She greeted amicably. Though she looked at Frodo's attire with a hint of confusion.
"I need to speak with the Master of the Hall, please." Frodo said out of breath from her trek here.
The hobbit gave her another quick once over before telling her to come inside and wait in the foyer.
The difference between Brandy Hall and Tookburough was that the Brandybucks' guards were secretive. Hidden in plain sight they milled about just like everyone else because they were just like everyone else. The secret was, every Brandybuck in Brandy Hall was armed. She herself had a kitchen knife at her belt, hidden beneath her jacket and cloak. And the maid in front of her had a weapon as well.
The Brandybucks cared about defense and protection and were the house the Shire called on when they needed a strong militia. The Master of the Hall, like the Thane of the Shire, had a duty to provide military support.
They communicated with the Rangers often. So if anyone had any information on what was really going on in the Shire, it would be the Master of Brandy Hall. Frodo certainly hoped so.
It was not long until the maid returned and led her to down a series of hallways and into a meeting room.
Entering the larger room, The Master of the Hall sat at a long oak table, alone, with a pile of documents spread out before him. He was rather young compared to the Thane, and she guessed he was in his 50's. He stopped writing and placed his quill down, he took off his reading glasses and looked up at the two females with an amicable expression.
The maid curtsied and left the room without a word.
"Who might you be?" He questioned, clasping his hands before him at the table and giving her his full attention.
Frodo felt her heart sink.
"My name is Frodo Baggins, Master."
The Master of the Hall had no recognition in his eyes for his granddaughter. Frodo was not surprised this time. The stress that consumed her this past week only morphed into a strange mix of relief and resignation.
"I have not heard of you before. But then again, there are many Baggins, such as there are countless Tooks and Brandybucks. So I hope you will excuse me for my lapse in memory." He said with kinder eyes. "Tell me why you have come to see me? You look as if you are in great pain."
Frodo nodded her head and let out a deep breath. "I have no idea how to go about explaining this, or who to go to for help."
"I should think I can be of help, though it depends on what is asked of me."
"Okay…but what I have to say might sound crazy."
The Master of the Hall only gave her a perplexed look, his bushy salt and pepper eyebrows rising into his curly hair.
"Well then," He gestured for her to sit beside him at the table. "Come over here so that I may hear you better. You can tell me your tale and I can decide if it's crazy or not."
Frodo gave a nod and went to sit next to him, her grandfather far more considerate than she expected, coming to him as a complete stranger. She had only received his unwavering love and attention as a child. Now she found his attention nerve wracking. This was a side of him she had never interacted with before and she did not know the extent to which his kindness would reach.
Frodo thought of Bilbo and how he would start a story, but she wasn't dramatic like he was. No. She had no elegance to her words. She took a moment to gather her thoughts.
"It starts, well it starts with a hobbit on an adventure."
Frodo did not mention the Ring or the reason for having left the Shire. Only that she had traveled to Rivendale with friends and finding herself suddenly lost, as if none of it happened. Which was true, but leaving out everything else that had happened.
The Master of the Hall was attentive the whole time and reacted just as she hoped, equal parts intrigued, concerned, surprised and serious about her tale.
"You've had quite the journey." He supplied.
"That is not all. Everyone seems to think I'm Bilbo Baggins when they see me, and when I mention him at all, they look at me like I'm insane. It is though they don't even acknowledge me. And- and - they—" she cut herself off and took a breath. "I just need to know where Bilbo is. I'm worried for him. It's as if he doesn't exist."
"Hmmmm." He rubbed his chin and stood up from his chair.
"Your story is not unbelievable, though it's strange that they keep mistaking you for Bilbo Baggins. That doesn't sound right to me. Clearly you are not Bilbo Baggins. I've met the lad before, and you hardly resemble him. It's quite odd. You say he's not at Bag End and he's missing. You're his adopted niece?" She nodded and his eyebrows scrunched up in deep thought. "Strange indeed that a hobbit goes missing, and even stranger that Bag End should be broken into without any witnesses,"
"There has been no word of any suspicious activity in the Shire." He turned to her, seeing her crestfallen face. "I see the reality in your eyes Frodo. You're not lying. You believe what you have said to be true. The hobbits in Shire call you crazy, but the Brandybucks are considered crazy too. Just because we deal with the reality of the world around us doesn't make us crazy, Frodo. You may be out of place now, but you have found family again. I would not mistake a Brandybuck when I see one. And you, dear Frodo, are one of us."
Frodo swallowed thickly, his words hitting her hard. She wasn't crazy.
She wasn't crazy. The hope filled her and she blinked rapidly to rid the moisture in her eyes.
"In the meantime I'm going to look at the reports from my patrols and the Rangers. There have been no word of any 'Black Riders' that I am aware of- the guards would have seen or heard from the Rangers. You rest up and have some supper and stay the night. It's already dark and I will not have a young lady traveling by herself this late. There are dark creatures in the woods."
Frodo slumped in her chair relieved with the help. "Thank you for helping- I- thank you"
"It's my job Frodo. I am happy to look into this for you" He smiled and motioned for her to follow him out of the room. "Poppy will see that you get some food and a room." He led her to the same hobbit who greeted her at the front door.
"Poppy, please get Frodo a good meal and have a guest room set up. She'll be staying the night." The Master of Brandy Hall turned to Frodo, "I'll see to the reports and will get back to you on what I find."
"Thank you" her grandfather inclined his head before walking away. Frodo was led to her room first and made to eat a quick meal of beef stew in the kitchens.
She had never tasted anything so good in her life. The bowl was practically clean when she left.
She slept in a comfortable bed, the letter to Gandalf safe in her bag on the floor.
—
There was no sighting of Black riders from the Rangers. The news not upsetting when Frodo received it in the next morning.
Such reports were familiar in their disappointment and Frodo shoved the baked sweet potatoes in her mouth as she read the report in the kitchens. The cooks already bustling away with the days meals.
She would have stayed longer in the kitchens but the Chefs kept giving her food to try and she'd soon pass out from a food coma than accomplish what she needed to do. She already felt she was overstaying her welcome.
Frodo gave her letter to the Master and told him it needed to be sent to the Grey Wizard. With a pat on her shoulder he wished her well and that he'd send word to her if there was a response from the Wizard.
She left for home and didn't know what to do. Waiting for a response would take weeks or maybe months.
With a need to stay busy, Frodo considered her overgrown garden. The Thane had been right about one thing, her garden could use some work.
AN: We are getting somewhere!
