Disclaimer- If LOTR was mine, do you think this would be a fan fiction? No. Not mine. Except for the plot and all characters mentioned that Tolkien didn't.

A/N- Okay, I've been working hard, and I'm going to try- key word- to post a chapter every week. I would have gotten this up sooner, but the FOTR SE came in the mail yesterday. Great happiness there! :) On we go!

Chapter 10- A Tale and a Few Pleas

Eomer leaped up from his comfortable chair and immediately wished he hadn't. The chair fell to the ground and landed on his foot. Doing his best not to wince, and succeeding (mostly), he turned to Rolo, who was getting off his pony. "What's all this about a Man at the east gate?"

Rolo was nearly breathless, though he had been riding, not running. "There's a young Man, says he's from Gondor, an' he's got a huge black horse. He's taller than an oak tree, sir, an' he says he needs to talk to you, or the Thain, or the Mayor in Hobbiton. He said he had an important message from the king an' the queen in Gondor. Said a lot of fancy sounding stuff, but that was what he meant."

Eomer ran to the stables. "Someone tell June. I'm going to get my pony saddled, and then I'm off to the east gate!"

Tru had been going outside to join his father and some of the other adults. He had made it to the door when Rolo came dashing up. After hearing the news, he hurried back to Theo's room, where he knew Dandelion and Poppy would be.

"Tell me a story, Dandy."

Dandelion nearly rolled her eyes. "Another one? Theo, I must have told you all of my stories a hundred times since you've been feeling better."

"Poppy?" Theo turned to her.

She held up her hands in defense. "How can I possibly hold a candle to Dandelion, the greatest storyteller in all of Tookland?"

"See, Dandy?" Theo said, giving her his most pleading and hopeful look.

Dandelion sighed. "Doesn't any hobbit know the meaning of 'no' anymore?" she mumbled. Theo shook his head, still smiling winningly. "Right, then." Her green eyes grew thoughtful as she remembered past days when she would visit her grandparents and they'd tell her tales of long-ago deeds of bravery, faith, and friendship. "How about one that happened when I was a little girl? It's not as exciting as something from the war, but..." She trailed off, as Theo was nodding. He closed his eyes as she began.

"One day, when we were both very young-we couldn't have been more than ten- Poppy and I had an argument. Now, this might not seem that significant; all people fight sometimes. But this seemed momentous because it was one of the first fights Poppy and I ever had. Though calling it a fight isn't really accurate: we were just arguing over some inconsequential thing I can't even remember. We both stormed off in different directions. Being the stubborn little lass I was, I wanted to storm off better than Poppy, so I stormed right off into a storm." She shivered at the memory. "We had been visiting Mayor Samwise and Mistress Rose."

"Were Bergil, Emmy, and Amy there?" Theo interrupted.

"Bergil was, but Emmy and Amy were too scared of the cold to go. They told me I'd catch my death of cold. They get more like Mum every day," Dandelion laughed quietly. Emerald and Amethyst, known as Emmy and Amy, were Dandelion's older sisters. "Anyway, it was the middle of winter, and I foolishly ran out of Bag End into a blizzard. I got lost quickly and I felt miserable. All I wanted was to go back to my nice warm bed with my mum and dad nearby. I eventually found my way to the mallorn tree in the Party Field. I huddled there for what seemed like ages; I'm sure I was almost frozen and soaked when my dad and granddad found me. They brought me back to Bag End, where Mum and Grandmother Rose were beside themselves with worry. Once I had gotten dried off and warmed up, Grandmother Rose checked me over to see if I was injured. As soon as they found I was not, they gave me a proper dressing-down and sent me straight to my bed.

"The next day, the adults thought Poppy and I would surely apologize to each other. Of course, we wouldn't; both of us knew that 'I was right, she was wrong.'" Dandelion met Poppy's eyes and they smiled. "Granddad was right upset when we didn't so much as look at the other that day. He took us aside separately and gave us a talk. I'll always remember what he said: 'Now, Dandy-lass, just because you two don't see eye-to-eye on something don't mean you aren't friends anymore.'

"'Yes it does!' I maintained. 'She just won't say I'm right.'

"'Do you even know what you were disagreeing about?' I paused; strangely enough, I had no idea. Granddad noticed the confusion on my face, and he shook his head and chuckled. 'See? Is it worth giving up a friend for something you don't even know what it is?'

"'I guess not,' I said slowly.

"He pulled me onto his lap and rocked me in his chair. 'Friends and family, Dandy-lass, are the most important things in your life, and don't ever forget that. Friends and family.'"

Dandelion shook her head. "I've never forgotten, and neither should you, Theo. It's something you can use for the rest of your life."

Theo opened his mouth to respond, but at that moment Tru burst into the room. The three stared at him in shock as he announced, "There's a Big Person at the east gate!"

"A what?"

"A Big Person, y'know, a Man. He has a message for the Master, the Thain, and the Mayor. Master Eomer's saddling his pony now."

Dandelion hopped from her spot on Theo's bed. "Maybe he'll need an ambassador from Tookland. I should go ask him."

"Maybe one from the Northfarthing, too," Tru added as she hastened from the room. He followed quickly.

"I want to come!" Theo struggled out of bed, against Poppy's protests. He shuffled after the other hobbits, clutching a blanket in one hand and a handkerchief in the other.

Poppy threw up her hands in resignation. "If you can't beat them..." She trailed out of the room as well.

* * *

To the young hobbits' surprise, Eomer listened to them seriously as they spoke their plea to meet the strange Man from Gondor, instead of just brushing them off as 'little kids'. When they had finished, he regarded them a moment, then said, "Since the Man's message was for the Thain, the Mayor, or myself, I do believe it would be best if we had a representative- or two- for the Thain. Therefore, Dandelion and Poppy, you both may go. None of the Mayor's relations are here, though, so Tru can go with his father's permission. However," he turned to his son, who was now looking discouraged, "Theo, I don't think you should go."

"But, Father--"

"No buts. You have been ill for several days, and you're still not completely well, and I will not let you put yourself at risk to become even more sick. I am only looking out for your best interests, son," Eomer said softly.

Theo gazed at his furry feet, refusing to meet his father's eyes. "B- Father," he began, omitting the 'but', "this is a very rare event in the Shire since the King's declaration that no Big Folk can enter it. Seeing a Man, I mean. How many times has it happened since you were born? How many times will it happen in mine? Less than yours, I think. And I've never even traveled to one of the Big People's countries. I don't think I've even seen one of them!" He looked up, staring resolutely at his father, his brown eyes set and determined not to give way. "Please let me go."

Though Eomer was somewhat startled at his son's eloquent and persuasive speech, he wavered. His son's health was foremost in his mind, and he was keenly aware of Theo's weakened immune system. "Theo, I--"

"Excuse me for interrupting, Master Eomer." All five hobbits started at the noiseless entrance into the stable of Mrs. Hazelwood. She walked over to Theo and felt of his forehead and cheeks to check his temperature. "How are you feeling, Theoden?"

The young Brandybuck considered his answer carefully before replying. "A lot better than I did, Mrs. Hazelwood. I don't have a headache at all, my throat doesn't really hurt, it only sort of tickles, and I haven't sneezed in a while. My nose isn't even stopped up."

The healer considered him for a moment. In truth, Theo had gotten well much quicker than she had believed he would. She attributed it not to her treatments (though they had undoubtedly helped), but rather to the strange leaves called kingsfoil, a plant that had been scarce for many years but was now beginning to crop up ubiquitously in Buckland. She recalled Master Meriadoc telling her mother about its useful properties when she had been naught older than Theo. Whatever the herb had done, she was of the opinion that Theo was feeling quite well enough to take a journey to the east gate, provided it was a short trip. She told Eomer this, adding, "You'll pardon me for saying so, sir, but you can't keep a young hobbit locked up in Brandy Hall forever. And the weather has been uncommon warm for fall lately. 'Elvish summer', my mother called it. It'll last a few days more, sir, and you'll have plenty of time to get there and back again before it gets more wintry."

"Are you sure?" Eomer asked uncertainly, remembering how his son had been so weak and tired just a few days before. He certainly looked much improved, Eomer thought, though his cheeks were slightly pink. That was probably more from the slight chill in the air, he reasoned, than from an illness.

Mrs. Hazelwood drew herself up importantly. "I would be willing to stake my reputation as a healer on it, sir," she replied grandly.

"Then, Theo, you may go," Eomer resolved. He was still apprehensive, but he had full confidence in Mrs. Hazelwood's skills.

"Hooray!" Theo shouted in delight, causing the pony to whose reins Eomer held to shy nervously.

"Whoa!" Eomer cried out. He soothed the animal while the four younger hobbits chattered excitedly about seeing a real, live Man. "Get your ponies saddled, ambassadors. We'll be off as soon as you're ready!"

* * *

A/N II- Thanks for the 'happy birthdays'. I had a good time, thanks- 4 new books to read! Sorry if this chapter is somewhat shorter, but I'm already working on the next so it sould be up soon.

cheerleader15- Happy (belated) birthday! Thanks again for the compliments. Methinks the 'ego deflation arrows' aren't working, with all your great reviews. LOL.

GreyLadyBast- Thank you!!

acorngirl- Life is pesky sometimes, isn't it? Yes, now the characters will actually start to do things- well, really starting next chapter. Thanks for reviewing!