Disclaimer- I think- I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure- that I don't own LOTR. I claim this story and the characters in it that Tolkien did not mention.
A/N- Ah, the joy (not!) of midterms is nearly upon us- well, me- but I won't forget about this story! I promise!
Chapter 6- A Story in the Garden
After Dandelion, Poppy, and Tru were finished with their tea (and after numerous foiled attempts by Theo to take some of their food), the young Brandybuck was convinced to show them around Brandy Hall, as he had said he would. Dandelion had been there many times before, of course, and Tru had been staying there with his father for a few days, but Poppy had never visited the smial. Besides, there were always 'secret' tunnels and passages that only a resident of the Hall- in this case, Theo- would know about.
"If you go straight down this passage," he explained as they came to a place where several corridors met, "you can get to the kitchens. But if you go left, you'll come to one of the front doors."
"And if you go right?" asked Poppy, who was enjoying the 'tour'.
"That's where the bedrooms and guest rooms are. Though there are other places you can get to from there, as well."
"Like where?"
Theo's brown eyes sparkled in a way that reminded Poppy strongly of Dandelion. "Nowhere important, really," he said in a casual tone, "just some nice gardens and a pretty fountain that--"
"Oh, gardens!" exclaimed Poppy with excitement. "Let's go see!"
"I wasn't done, y'know," Theo grumbled as the two girls sped down the hallway, followed by Tru with Theo and Scamp last.
When the two girls reached another intersection, they paused, unsure of the way. As Tru and Theo came to it, the latter shook his head. "This is becoming a regular occurrence, Dandy. You getting lost yet again..."
"Oh, be quiet and show us the way to go."
"Well, since you asked so nicely," Theo replied, still a bit miffed since he had been interrupted before. He trotted quickly down the left passage, with the others following. He counted the doors on the right-hand side. "...five, six, seven, ah, here we are." He pushed open the round door and a golden light met the eyes of the hobbits. They instinctively shielded them, unused to such brightness in the halls of the smial. When their eyes had adjusted, they looked in wonder at the beauty of the garden.
Flowers in a myriad of colors nodded in the slight breeze. Rich green grass was everywhere, and it felt soothing to the hobbits' bare feet. A path built of large flat stones sloped down from the open door to a pond. Water leapt into the air from the pond; whenever one jet fell another would go up, from the exact spot the first had stopped. A small tree next to the pond waved its leaves gently. A slender white gate ran around the boundaries of the garden; beyond it could be seen some fields of corn.
"Ohhhh," cried both of the girls, enchanted. Tru looked about in open-mouthed astonishment. Theo beamed proudly. He had discovered the garden a few years before, when he had gotten in trouble and had been sentenced to helping the gardeners of Brandy Hall. It was more of a reward than a punishment, though, since Theo had found out many interesting things about gardening. But the best part was when he had followed Hank, the head gardener, out into this very garden. It had become a favorite place of his and, since it was known only to few hobbits, one of his private spots to rest.
"This is beautiful, Theo," said Dandelion, looking around. "Why have you never shown it to me before?"
"I only just found a couple of years ago, and most of the times you've been here since then were for Yule. I wanted you to see it when everything was green and alive." He shrugged sheepishly. "And, I sorta forgot." They laughed. Theo walked towards the pond. "Isn't this neat?" he asked, as a jet of water streamed up beside him and nearly hit him. He grinned impishly.
"Yes, it is. But where did you get it? If that was made by a hobbit, then I'm a dwarf," Tru replied, grinning back.
"No, indeed. Father said an elf gave it to his father, and that it was made by elves, too. I have no idea how it works, though. Probably some type of magic in it."
"Oh, Theo! It was made by elves, not wizards."
"Maybe. Maybe not." Dandelion replied to this by rolling her eyes in mock exasperation. Theo laughed again. "Anyway, I like to come here to rest, and daydream, and draw..."
"And hide from your parents if you've gotten in trouble," interrupted Dandelion.
Theo gave her a smug smile. "No, this is where they usually look first, so I've learned not to do that."
"D'you like to draw, Theo?" asked Poppy.
"Oh, yes. In fact, before you two came crashing through the underbrush, I was making a picture of Scamp." At his name, the pup, who had been uncharacteristically quiet since they had entered the garden, barked and jumped up excitedly. From out of his pocket Theo pulled a small sketchbook. He flipped through the pages filled with pictures and stopped at his latest one. The others crowded around. The picture was very well done and very lifelike.
"That's good, Theo!"
"Really? You think so?"
"Oh, yes! Show us the others, please?"
"They're not very good..."
"Don't be shy- it's not like you."
Theo sighed. "Fine." He turned to the front of the book and leafed through it slowly so the others could see it. When he was done, the older hobbits looked at him in awe. He fidgeted nervously under their stares. "What do you think?"
"Wow, Theo, I never knew you could draw so well," Dandelion began.
"You're so modest! These are excellent," Poppy commented.
Tru looked through the book more slowly. "I agree with them, Theo, but why don't you have any pictures of people? Just animals and scenery, but no hobbits, or men, or dwarves, or even elves."
At the last, Theo started nervously and stammered, "W-well, I've never seen any elves, of course, and I haven't really- I'm not very good at drawing people."
"You're so silly, Theo," Dandelion replied as she and Poppy sat under the cool shade of the tree. "I'll bet you could draw people just fine."
The young Brandybuck flopped down beside them and looked into the pool of water at his reflection. "Tell me a story, Dandy."
"A story?" Dandelion rolled him on to his back and started tickling him. "What d'you mean, a story?"
"Haha- oh, stoppit- haha! A story about the war and all. Haha!" Theo managed to spin out of his cousin's reach and he laughed triumphantly. "Please?"
"All right, all right. Which one? I think you've nearly heard them all."
"Just pick one. Surprise me."
"Which war are you talking about? The War of the Ring? Do you know a lot about it?" Tru walked toward where the others were sitting, looking interested.
"Yes, of course the War of the Ring, and I do know a good deal about it," Dandelion responded, looking up.
"She saw the Red Book once!" Theo threw in.
Tru's face revealed his surprise. "Really?! I've heard about that book. Mr. Eomer told me that the whole history of the War of the Ring is in it."
Dandelion nodded proudly. "That's right. When I was very small, before your family removed to the Northfarthing, Tru, my grandfather Mayor Samwise showed me the Red Book. I don't very much remember what it looked like- it was obviously red, and it looked old but well taken care of. He read a little of it to me- it was the part about old Mr. Bilbo's Party, you know, the one he disappeared at. I'll tell you that story."
The other three hobbits listened eagerly to the old tale, while the sun drifted lower in the sky.
* * *
"And so, he said, 'Thirdly and finally, I wish to make an ANNOUNCEMENT. I regret to announce that- though, as I said, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to spend among you- this is the END. I am going. I am leaving NOW. GOOD-BYE!' Then, he vanished in a burst of light and was never seen in the Shire again."*
"Wow," said Tru, amazed. He was the only one of the four who had never heard the story (and most of what happened afterward) before.
"He put on the Ring, didn't he?" asked Theo. "And Gandalf helped with his fireworks so folks wouldn't get suspicious."
"Yes. I wish I had been able to meet them." Dandelion leaned against the tree and closed her eyes. "But they and Nine-Fingered Frodo sailed over Sea, into the West before even my father was born."
"You'll have to tell me the whole story sometime, Dandelion. I haven't ever heard the whole thing, just bits and pieces of it," Tru told them. "I'd like to hear more."
"Of course I'll tell you." Tru smiled gratefully at the Took, and she felt herself blush. "Maybe I can get my Aunt Elanor to show you the Red Book. Mayor Samwise gave it to her when he passed over Sea."
"That would be terrific!" Tru suddenly saw how low the sky was, and leapt to his feet. "Oh, I must be off! I promised my father I'd come help him fish a few hours after tea, and it's been at least that." He turned to Theo. "Would you like to come?"
"Sure!"
They were about to leave when Poppy said, "What about us?"
Theo wrinkled his nose. "You can't come. You're girls."
Dandelion stood and put her hands on her hips. "So?"
"Girls don't fish!"
"Who says?"
"Me!" said Theo laughing as he, Tru and Scamp ran back into the Hall.
"Humph! Men- and boys!" Dandelion's parting shot was, unfortunately, not heard by the two.
"Come on, Dandy. They might need help with supper." Poppy, accompanied by a fuming Dandelion, reentered the Hall.
* * *
The boys and puppy raced through Brandy Hall, causing many hobbits to stare at them curiously and almost running into others. They dashed out the door and down the lane to Bucklebury Ferry. "Ha! I win!" Theo crowed as he reached the water's edge, closely pursued by Tru and Scamp.
"That was a close one," Cousin Tunneler remarked from his perch on the Ferry. He had observed them running headlong toward him, and now he chuckled. "Take a pole and some string, boys, an' see if you can catch a big fish to bring to the Hall for supper!"
Theo and Tru followed his advice and sat down to wait. As is the way with teenaged hobbits, Theo quickly tired of this and wandered out to the edge of the Ferry, peering across the Brandywine at the opposite shore. "Be careful, Master Theo, you don't want to fall in," Cousin Tunneler called to him.
"Yessir!" Theo replied. He leaned toward the water, marveling at how fast the silvery fish were.
"Theo, I think you're--" Tru had no time to finish his warning as at that moment, Theo fell into the river with a loud cry.
* * *
*- Quoted from "The Fellowship of the Ring"- Chapter 1-A Long Expected Party.
A/N Part II- Hey, you! Yeah, you! Reading this chapter! What did you think? Please tell me in a review! Thanks so much! ;)
Anonymous petition person- Uh, good luck?
GreyLadyBast- Glad you like it. Thanks for the compliment! (blushes)
acorngirl- Sorry you were sick; I know how that's like. You liked the descriptions? I usually don't have many in a story, but I'm trying- unusually hard, mind you- to add more. As to where we're going- you'll just have to wait and see, won't you? ;)
A/N- Ah, the joy (not!) of midterms is nearly upon us- well, me- but I won't forget about this story! I promise!
Chapter 6- A Story in the Garden
After Dandelion, Poppy, and Tru were finished with their tea (and after numerous foiled attempts by Theo to take some of their food), the young Brandybuck was convinced to show them around Brandy Hall, as he had said he would. Dandelion had been there many times before, of course, and Tru had been staying there with his father for a few days, but Poppy had never visited the smial. Besides, there were always 'secret' tunnels and passages that only a resident of the Hall- in this case, Theo- would know about.
"If you go straight down this passage," he explained as they came to a place where several corridors met, "you can get to the kitchens. But if you go left, you'll come to one of the front doors."
"And if you go right?" asked Poppy, who was enjoying the 'tour'.
"That's where the bedrooms and guest rooms are. Though there are other places you can get to from there, as well."
"Like where?"
Theo's brown eyes sparkled in a way that reminded Poppy strongly of Dandelion. "Nowhere important, really," he said in a casual tone, "just some nice gardens and a pretty fountain that--"
"Oh, gardens!" exclaimed Poppy with excitement. "Let's go see!"
"I wasn't done, y'know," Theo grumbled as the two girls sped down the hallway, followed by Tru with Theo and Scamp last.
When the two girls reached another intersection, they paused, unsure of the way. As Tru and Theo came to it, the latter shook his head. "This is becoming a regular occurrence, Dandy. You getting lost yet again..."
"Oh, be quiet and show us the way to go."
"Well, since you asked so nicely," Theo replied, still a bit miffed since he had been interrupted before. He trotted quickly down the left passage, with the others following. He counted the doors on the right-hand side. "...five, six, seven, ah, here we are." He pushed open the round door and a golden light met the eyes of the hobbits. They instinctively shielded them, unused to such brightness in the halls of the smial. When their eyes had adjusted, they looked in wonder at the beauty of the garden.
Flowers in a myriad of colors nodded in the slight breeze. Rich green grass was everywhere, and it felt soothing to the hobbits' bare feet. A path built of large flat stones sloped down from the open door to a pond. Water leapt into the air from the pond; whenever one jet fell another would go up, from the exact spot the first had stopped. A small tree next to the pond waved its leaves gently. A slender white gate ran around the boundaries of the garden; beyond it could be seen some fields of corn.
"Ohhhh," cried both of the girls, enchanted. Tru looked about in open-mouthed astonishment. Theo beamed proudly. He had discovered the garden a few years before, when he had gotten in trouble and had been sentenced to helping the gardeners of Brandy Hall. It was more of a reward than a punishment, though, since Theo had found out many interesting things about gardening. But the best part was when he had followed Hank, the head gardener, out into this very garden. It had become a favorite place of his and, since it was known only to few hobbits, one of his private spots to rest.
"This is beautiful, Theo," said Dandelion, looking around. "Why have you never shown it to me before?"
"I only just found a couple of years ago, and most of the times you've been here since then were for Yule. I wanted you to see it when everything was green and alive." He shrugged sheepishly. "And, I sorta forgot." They laughed. Theo walked towards the pond. "Isn't this neat?" he asked, as a jet of water streamed up beside him and nearly hit him. He grinned impishly.
"Yes, it is. But where did you get it? If that was made by a hobbit, then I'm a dwarf," Tru replied, grinning back.
"No, indeed. Father said an elf gave it to his father, and that it was made by elves, too. I have no idea how it works, though. Probably some type of magic in it."
"Oh, Theo! It was made by elves, not wizards."
"Maybe. Maybe not." Dandelion replied to this by rolling her eyes in mock exasperation. Theo laughed again. "Anyway, I like to come here to rest, and daydream, and draw..."
"And hide from your parents if you've gotten in trouble," interrupted Dandelion.
Theo gave her a smug smile. "No, this is where they usually look first, so I've learned not to do that."
"D'you like to draw, Theo?" asked Poppy.
"Oh, yes. In fact, before you two came crashing through the underbrush, I was making a picture of Scamp." At his name, the pup, who had been uncharacteristically quiet since they had entered the garden, barked and jumped up excitedly. From out of his pocket Theo pulled a small sketchbook. He flipped through the pages filled with pictures and stopped at his latest one. The others crowded around. The picture was very well done and very lifelike.
"That's good, Theo!"
"Really? You think so?"
"Oh, yes! Show us the others, please?"
"They're not very good..."
"Don't be shy- it's not like you."
Theo sighed. "Fine." He turned to the front of the book and leafed through it slowly so the others could see it. When he was done, the older hobbits looked at him in awe. He fidgeted nervously under their stares. "What do you think?"
"Wow, Theo, I never knew you could draw so well," Dandelion began.
"You're so modest! These are excellent," Poppy commented.
Tru looked through the book more slowly. "I agree with them, Theo, but why don't you have any pictures of people? Just animals and scenery, but no hobbits, or men, or dwarves, or even elves."
At the last, Theo started nervously and stammered, "W-well, I've never seen any elves, of course, and I haven't really- I'm not very good at drawing people."
"You're so silly, Theo," Dandelion replied as she and Poppy sat under the cool shade of the tree. "I'll bet you could draw people just fine."
The young Brandybuck flopped down beside them and looked into the pool of water at his reflection. "Tell me a story, Dandy."
"A story?" Dandelion rolled him on to his back and started tickling him. "What d'you mean, a story?"
"Haha- oh, stoppit- haha! A story about the war and all. Haha!" Theo managed to spin out of his cousin's reach and he laughed triumphantly. "Please?"
"All right, all right. Which one? I think you've nearly heard them all."
"Just pick one. Surprise me."
"Which war are you talking about? The War of the Ring? Do you know a lot about it?" Tru walked toward where the others were sitting, looking interested.
"Yes, of course the War of the Ring, and I do know a good deal about it," Dandelion responded, looking up.
"She saw the Red Book once!" Theo threw in.
Tru's face revealed his surprise. "Really?! I've heard about that book. Mr. Eomer told me that the whole history of the War of the Ring is in it."
Dandelion nodded proudly. "That's right. When I was very small, before your family removed to the Northfarthing, Tru, my grandfather Mayor Samwise showed me the Red Book. I don't very much remember what it looked like- it was obviously red, and it looked old but well taken care of. He read a little of it to me- it was the part about old Mr. Bilbo's Party, you know, the one he disappeared at. I'll tell you that story."
The other three hobbits listened eagerly to the old tale, while the sun drifted lower in the sky.
* * *
"And so, he said, 'Thirdly and finally, I wish to make an ANNOUNCEMENT. I regret to announce that- though, as I said, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to spend among you- this is the END. I am going. I am leaving NOW. GOOD-BYE!' Then, he vanished in a burst of light and was never seen in the Shire again."*
"Wow," said Tru, amazed. He was the only one of the four who had never heard the story (and most of what happened afterward) before.
"He put on the Ring, didn't he?" asked Theo. "And Gandalf helped with his fireworks so folks wouldn't get suspicious."
"Yes. I wish I had been able to meet them." Dandelion leaned against the tree and closed her eyes. "But they and Nine-Fingered Frodo sailed over Sea, into the West before even my father was born."
"You'll have to tell me the whole story sometime, Dandelion. I haven't ever heard the whole thing, just bits and pieces of it," Tru told them. "I'd like to hear more."
"Of course I'll tell you." Tru smiled gratefully at the Took, and she felt herself blush. "Maybe I can get my Aunt Elanor to show you the Red Book. Mayor Samwise gave it to her when he passed over Sea."
"That would be terrific!" Tru suddenly saw how low the sky was, and leapt to his feet. "Oh, I must be off! I promised my father I'd come help him fish a few hours after tea, and it's been at least that." He turned to Theo. "Would you like to come?"
"Sure!"
They were about to leave when Poppy said, "What about us?"
Theo wrinkled his nose. "You can't come. You're girls."
Dandelion stood and put her hands on her hips. "So?"
"Girls don't fish!"
"Who says?"
"Me!" said Theo laughing as he, Tru and Scamp ran back into the Hall.
"Humph! Men- and boys!" Dandelion's parting shot was, unfortunately, not heard by the two.
"Come on, Dandy. They might need help with supper." Poppy, accompanied by a fuming Dandelion, reentered the Hall.
* * *
The boys and puppy raced through Brandy Hall, causing many hobbits to stare at them curiously and almost running into others. They dashed out the door and down the lane to Bucklebury Ferry. "Ha! I win!" Theo crowed as he reached the water's edge, closely pursued by Tru and Scamp.
"That was a close one," Cousin Tunneler remarked from his perch on the Ferry. He had observed them running headlong toward him, and now he chuckled. "Take a pole and some string, boys, an' see if you can catch a big fish to bring to the Hall for supper!"
Theo and Tru followed his advice and sat down to wait. As is the way with teenaged hobbits, Theo quickly tired of this and wandered out to the edge of the Ferry, peering across the Brandywine at the opposite shore. "Be careful, Master Theo, you don't want to fall in," Cousin Tunneler called to him.
"Yessir!" Theo replied. He leaned toward the water, marveling at how fast the silvery fish were.
"Theo, I think you're--" Tru had no time to finish his warning as at that moment, Theo fell into the river with a loud cry.
* * *
*- Quoted from "The Fellowship of the Ring"- Chapter 1-A Long Expected Party.
A/N Part II- Hey, you! Yeah, you! Reading this chapter! What did you think? Please tell me in a review! Thanks so much! ;)
Anonymous petition person- Uh, good luck?
GreyLadyBast- Glad you like it. Thanks for the compliment! (blushes)
acorngirl- Sorry you were sick; I know how that's like. You liked the descriptions? I usually don't have many in a story, but I'm trying- unusually hard, mind you- to add more. As to where we're going- you'll just have to wait and see, won't you? ;)
