Disclaimer- LOTR is not mine. I have yet to figure out how to gain the rights to Middle-earth and all it includes. The plot and new characters are my creation. Do not use without permission.
A/N- Hello! Long time no see. I'm actually *very* sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up. I had no idea my muse would move to Nepal right in the middle of it. But now, with Science Fair, Governor's Honors interviews, and Greek tragedy essays done with (I hope! The teachers have been putting it on thick this past semester), updates will be less few and far-between. I meant to post this last week, but Mardi Gras came. If you live in the south, this is a big holiday, and I couldn't finish it. To compensate, it's longer than usual. Enjoy!
Chapter 13- A Rumor Revealed
Rolo knocked confidently on the Bounder-house door, then waited for it to open. The three younger hobbits looked at the door expectantly. The large horse (that Dandelion presumed belonged to the Man) snorted at the loud noise and raised his head sharply. He looked disdainfully at the hobbit-ponies that had been tied near him and were now eating the grass he had been feeding on and considered them for a moment. Then he went back to his business - namely, dining. A minute passed. Eomer coughed. Rolo's brows furrowed and he rapped on the door loudly. Still, it showed no inclination of opening. The Bounder leaned over and put his pointed ear against the door, listening intently. It twitched once, then twice. He stood back upright and faced them, his back to the door. "There's someone in there, sir," he said to Eomer, "but I can't hear enough to tell who 'tis."
"Is the door unlocked?" Eomer replied impatiently, tapping his furry foot against the hard-packed dirt beneath it.
"Oh, not usually, sir," Rolo responded, groping for the handle behind his back. "If we're not outside, the--" The remainder of his sentence was lost because, his hand having found the knob, he turned it instinctively, causing it to swing inwards. Rolo fell backwards, though he managed to retain his balance enough to keep from crashing to the floor. He quickly regained his composure, mumbling apologetically that, "Yes, well, Pa must've known we'd be along afore long." A loud burst of laughter from down the hall followed his statement. He looked behind him nervously.
"Lead the way, please, Bounder Rolo. None of us know where to go," Eomer instructed. The other hobbit nodded and set off down the passage in the direction of the laughter, Eomer behind him, then Dandelion, Poppy, and Tru all in a line.
Poppy tapped Dandelion's shoulder and raised her eyebrows questioningly when her friend looked back. The blond hobbit shrugged, as if to say she didn't know who was laughing or why either. They found the answers as soon as they halted in the round doorway to a small, but pleasant, room with a large fireplace burning merrily along the right-hand wall (never mind the fact that it was only a few weeks after Baggins Day*, and so in the first week of Winterfilth**, and a fire was not strictly necessary). A door (probably leading to one of a hobbit house's numerous pantries) stood slightly ajar on the opposite wall. A table (it looked to be filled with the remains of tea) and several chairs, seeming far too small for one of its occupants, were placed in the middle. At their entrance, there was another roar of laughter from the two in the chairs, who apparently hadn't noticed their arrival.
"No!" gasped one as he managed to control his mirth. He was the Big Person, Dandelion noted with excitement, and dressed like the Rangers of old were said to, in deep green or perhaps black pants, shirt, and cloak, stained and worn and looking strangely as if they'd been recently wet. His cloak was thrown back over one shoulder and on the other was fastened a circular pin with seven stars about the edge and a minute tree flowering in the center. His hair was dark and wavy, and his gray eyes, though filled with humor, were keen. Strangest of all were the leather garments on his feet- boots, of course, but to hobbits boots were objects of fantasy stories. He chuckled again. "She didn't!"
"Aye, sir, that she did! New dress an' all, right off the Bridge and into the River!" The hobbit sitting across from him nodded decisively to emphasize his point. "She was sore at poor Rudy for near a month, she was, an' afterwards she--" He suddenly broke off, staring aghast at the newcomers. The Man followed his gaze and the two were out of their seats with alacrity, bowing respectfully and rattling off explanations without pausing for breath.
"That's quite all right, Bounder Rogo," Eomer cut in. He fixed them both with a no-nonsense stare, and Dandelion was reminded of the fact that, no matter how easy-going his normal manner, Eomer was the Master of Buckland, and the title was not unearned. "I understand you are a messenger from Gondor?" he said to the Man.
He bowed again. "Hedor, son of Hamon, messenger of Gondor, sent by Their Royal Majesties King Elessar Telcontar and Queen Arwen Undomiel, to His Majesty's Counselors in the North-kingdom."
"I am Eomer Brandybuck, Master of Buckland and Counselor to the King, and these are representatives of the Thain: his daughter, Dandelion Took, and his first cousin-in-law (once removed), Poppy Cotton, and this is Truman Boffin, representing the Northfarthing," Eomer answered formally, indicating each of them in turn. Hedor's eyes scanned them, then he bowed again. Unsure of what would be the proper protocol in such circumstances, the girls curtsied and Tru bowed. Eomer merely inclined his head, accepting the polite gesture, and waited for the Man to continue.
Hedor did so by pulling a small bag, made of some leather-like material, from a pocket in his cloak and removing a scroll wrapped in black cloth. He unwrapped the cloth and unrolled the scroll, then straightened his posture and proclaimed in a formal tone: "Elessar Telcontar, who is also called Aragorn son of Arathorn and the Elfstone, of Gondor and Arnor King and Arwen Undomiel, the Evenstar, of Gondor and Arnor Queen to their friends in the Shire: Greetings! It is our sad duty to tell you of most grievous happenings of late: the Steward of Gondor and Prince of Ithilien Lord Faramir fell ill and passed away in his sleep in Narie (Forelithe in the Shire-reckoning). The Lady Eowyn was much aggrieved by his passing and joined him in eternal slumber soon afterward. The City of Minas Tirith mourns its loss as it celebrates the new Steward and Prince: Lord Boromir III, son of Lord Faramir and Lady Eowyn.
"Because of this and because it has been far too long since any of the Little Folk visited our City, we wish to extend a royal invitation to you and yours to come to Minas Tirith as soon as you are able. In especial we should like either Master Eomer, Thain Faramir, or one of the descendants of Mayor Samwise to come.
"Signed on this day the twentieth of Cermie, being the nineteenth day of Afterlithe in the Shire-reckoning, Fourth Age 82,
"Elessar Telcontar, Aragorn son of Arathorn, the Elfstone, of Gondor and Arnor King and Arwen Undomiel, the Evenstar, of Gondor and Arnor Queen."***
Poppy gasped, shocked by the news. She felt Dandelion beside her stiffen and then bow her head, though otherwise her friend outwardly did not show her grief. Tru looked uncertain though saddened by the tidings. Dandelion whispered to him quickly, "Lord Faramir was the brother of Boromir, one of the Nine Walkers, and Thain Peregrin saved his life once. My father was named after him. He was a good Man. And the Lady Eowyn was the sister of the old King of Rohan, Eomer. Master Meriadoc helped her slay the Witch-king, the chief of the Black Riders. She was an admirable lady." Then she fell silent.
Eomer, too, had gone rigid at Hedor's words, but said nothing. The Bounders, Rogo and Rolo, took off their caps respectfully. Rolo fidgeted and toyed nervously with the feather in his. Hedor rolled the scroll up and handed it and the black cloth with it to Eomer, who opened it and skimmed it quickly. He sighed, his face suddenly weary. "Thank you, Messenger Hedor. I must send word of this to the Tookland and to Hobbiton, as well as the Westmarch and other places. Pray, ride back with us to my home at Brandy Hall so that we may eat together and you can tell of anything else happening in the south."
Hedor shifted uncomfortably. "I am sorry, Master Eomer, but I have strict orders that say I may not pass into the Shire any more than is needed to fulfill my errand. I must return to Minas Tirith as soon as I may, and either bring word that you cannot come or escort you there. I will be content in this house for the duration of my stay here, if that is all right with Bounder Rogo and yourself, sir. Also," he added quickly, as if he had just remembered, "I must take another letter to the Lords Elladan and Elrohir from the King."
"Ah." Eomer nodded, then smiled, though it did not reach his eyes, which were sad. "I don't suppose you've anything left from - tea, was it? Or dinner?"
Rogo stepped forward, bobbing his head courteously. "A sort of tea an' dinner combined, sir. Would you an' the young madams and sir be wanting any supper? We have plenty of food, sir."
"Thank you, Bounder. Yes, we certainly would, and we shall leave for Brandy Hall on the morrow. It's far too late now," Eomer remarked, looking out the window. There was a muffled thudding noise and Dandelion started, but glancing around it seemed no one else had heard it. 'Must have been my imagination,' she thought.
With the meal and the talkative nature of hobbits the atmosphere soon became more relaxed, and Hedor answered the younger set's questions cheerfully. Tru wanted to know all about Minas Tirith, Dandelion pelted him with queries about the political state of Gondor and Rohan (she was very interested in government), and Poppy wished to hear more about the king and queen. Even Rolo dared to ask a few things. Eomer and Rogo listened to everything but said little, the one knowing little about the places and people the Man spoke of and the other content to hear and eat.
* * *
"They're here already!" Theo hissed in a loud whisper as the lads and Roan approached the Bounder-house.
"They left earlier than you did. Did you really think you were going to beat them?" Mat asked, climbing out of the saddle and patting the pony's sweaty side.
His friend's shoulders slumped. "I suppose not, but now what are we going to do? We can't possibly get inside without them knowing."
"Maybe there's a window open somewhere we can climb through."
"Maybe," Theo answered as he tied Roan's reins to a tree branch with the other ponies and solitary horse.
Mat kept looking back as they walked quietly around the house and Theo noticed. "What's back there?" he asked, seeing that the yard looked as it had when they rode up.
"Oh," Mat said, "I was just thinking. That Man's horse is so big; how can there be a rider tall enough for it?"
"I dunno," Theo shrugged.
They finally saw a window lit brightly from within and neared it cautiously. It was closed but Theo, being the taller of the two, stood on his furry toes and peeked through it. He gasped and backed up quickly, running into Mat and they both fell to the ground with a thump. The hobbits looked up at the window, expecting a tall and threatening Man to leer at them out of it any moment. Fortunately, the window remained firmly closed.
"What was that all about?" Mat asked irritably as he rubbed an elbow that he had scraped on a rock as they fell.
"My father was looking out the window," Theo replied. "I guess he didn't see me."
"Did you see the Man?" Mat questioned excitedly.
"Not really. I just saw Dandy, a Bounder with a feather in his cap, a tall person all in dark clothes, and then my father. He was saying something, but I couldn't hear what."
"D'you suppose the Man knows what an Elf looks like?" Mat asked, his eyes full of mischief.
Theo looked at him with mock surprise. "You're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting, are you?"
Mat tipped over the sack he had been carrying and spilled out the contents. "It was your idea, or don't you remember?"
"When will I learn never to tell you anything?" Theo replied, picking up a shirt made of light green cloth.
Mat saw what he was doing and said, "Wait, you get to be the top? Again? Why am I always the bottom? You're taller than I am!"
Theo frowned. "But you're sturdier than I am. Whenever I'm the bottom, you fall off. And this was my idea, as you kindly pointed out, and so I get to choose which half I get to be."
"Now it's my turn to ask 'When will I learn never to tell you anything?'"
A few minutes later, the pair were nearly unrecognizable as hobbits. Mat wore a pair of pants whose color matched the long shirt Theo had donned. Theo also sported a green hat with golden hair messily sewn into it. He winced as he put it over his head and it pulled his curls. "I wish you had gotten one of your sisters to sew this."
Mat glared at him as he pulled the lengthy pants up to his chest. "If I had asked them to, they would have asked what it was for. And then they wouldn't have agreed to it and would've told my mum and yours. At least you don't have to wear this ridiculous thing!" He plucked at the fabric of his part of the costume moodily.
"Whose idea was this, anyway?" Theo grumbled. Mat stooped and Theo climbed onto his shoulders. The hobbit duo wobbled but remained upright as Mat stood back up, grunting with exertion.
"Yours, as I've told you who knows how many times."
They wiggled and tilted as Theo's precarious perch moved towards the window but, with the knowledge that comes from long practice, the Brandybuck shifted his weight against falling and managed not to tumble off each time. "Ready?" he breathed down to Mat, who, despite his complaining, was as excited as his friend.
"I'm waiting on you," he countered.
"Move to the left," Theo instructed softly. A little more and they would be in front of the window. Mat hopped in that direction and Theo could again see through the round glass. He tapped on the window and grinned brightly as all within looked at him. Poppy screamed at the strange apparition and Eomer, Rogo, and Hedor leapt to their feet and sprinted for the door, Hedor drawing a sword from its sheath at his side. Theo's grin disappeared. "Uh-oh," he muttered.
Unable to see, Mat said, "What 'uh-oh'? What's going on?"
"They saw me."
"They were supposed to!"
"But now they're coming after us!" Theo yelled as a side door crashed open and two hobbits and a Man barreled out.
"Uh-oh," Mat agreed.
"Run!" Mat tried, but he kept stumbling and Theo could see the sword gleaming in the moonlight quickly approaching. "Hop!" he improvised.
So Mat did. Unluckily, he had not had the time to turn around; besides, he wanted Theo to be able to see where their pursuers were. On his third backwards jump, his ankle caught the edge of his pants and he slipped and fell with an "Oof!" Theo had been preparing himself for another spring and had pushed himself off a little, resulting in his falling a few feet behind Mat. "Uh-oh," the Goold whispered, now being able to see the Master, Bounder, and Messenger of Gondor standing a few feet away.
Eomer immediately recognized his face and marched towards him. Mat cowered, trying to hide inside his skin. For all that Eomer was feet shorter than the Man, Mat would have sworn he was leagues taller. "Matta Goold," Eomer said in an even, though anger-filled, voice, "what is the meaning of this?"
A tiny voice rang out, "Er, that is, actually, it was my idea, Father."
Eomer turned toward the other green lump of hobbit lad. "Theoden Brandybuck! Where are you supposed to be, young hobbit?"
"Brandy Hall," Theo said so softly it was barely audible.
"What was that?"
Theo straightened instinctively at his father's tone. "Brandy Hall, sir!" he stated smartly.
Eomer walked stiff legged to him and pulled him upright by his pointy ear. Theo winced but said nothing. "What, exactly, were you two doing?" He picked the hat off of his son's head and his mouth formed a thin line. "Don't tell me the rumors of Elves in Buckland were all because of a prank."
"They... were, sir," Theo said miserably.
Eomer towed him to Mat and collected the other by his ear, then strode back inside, Rogo and Hedor following silently. The latter sheathed his sword as they entered the Bounder-house.
Tru and Rolo had automatically leapt between the two lasses and the strange creature at the window. Dandelion had risen from her seat with a pale face, and Poppy had clutched the side of the table desperately. After it had disappeared and the others had rushed outside, Dandelion indignantly tried to edge between the two boys.
"Nay, miss, best whatever that be should be stopped by us instead o' you," Rolo said, blocking her way.
Tru turned his head to see her. His hazel eyes were frightened but determined and met her glaring greens coolly. "He's right, Dandy. I mean," he stuttered. He had never called her by her nickname or, indeed, anything but Dandelion since they had met again at Brandy Hall.
Dandelion smiled at him in spite of her anxiety and the fluttering of butterflies in her stomach. "You can call me Dandy, Tru. Unless you want me to call you Truman all the time."
He grimaced. "Certainly not." He turned back around and Dandelion made a face at her words. She was acting like her twin sisters when they mooned over this lad or that at the Great Smials!
Suddenly, Eomer trotted in, two hobbits in strange attire attached by their ears to his hands. Without a glance from her uncle (but many a pleading look from the two younger hobbits, whom she now recognized), they walked past the four that had stayed inside, out the down, and down the hall. Rogo and Hedor came in next.
"What was that, Pa?" Rolo asked eagerly.
Rogo shook his head. "Those two boys makin' some sort o' mischief or other. Dressed in right outlandish clothes, they were. I don't know quite what to make o' it."
"I do," Hedor said. All eyes turned to him in confusion. "Green garments, blonde hair, one on top of the other to make themselves taller - they were dressing up as Elves, though for what purpose I cannot imagine."
Dandelion and Poppy looked at each other, understanding dawning on them. "Elves," Dandelion repeated, sighing. Theo and Mat were in for it, this time.
* * *
A Whole Lotta Notes
*Baggins Day - Halimath (Hobbitish name for September) 22, Frodo and Bilbo's birthday. A non-canon holiday celebrated only by descendants of Mayor Samwise and a few of those of Master Meriadoc and Thain Peregrin.
**Winterfilth - Hobbitish name for October.
***Several notes about the letter: the style and tone were inspired by a letter to Sam from the King that was supposed to be in the Epilogue to LOTR. It didn't make it into the book, unfortunately, but can be found in "The End of the Third Age" Part 4 of the History of "The Lord of the Rings". Faramir and Eowyn's children's names were not recorded, so I have created the character of Boromir III. Narie, or Forelithe, is June and Cermie, or Afterlithe, is July. I may have fudged on the time it would have taken to get from Gondor to the Shire, but this is my best guess. Also, there should be two little dots over the 'e' at the end of Narie and Cermie, but my computer won't make them.
valerie- Thanks for your review! I'm glad I could help. :-)
acorngirl- I'm glad you enjoyed the references. I have a strange affection for obscure trivia. I'm sure I sounded desperate in the last chapter; I thought nobody liked the story anymore. :-( Nice to see they still do! I also like good female characters, as long as they're realistic. Thanks for your review!
cheerleader15- Though it may take *forever* for me to update, I will never abandon this story. It'll get finished- sooner or later (most likely the latter!).
Whew! Hope this was worth the long wait. See you next time and, of course, tell me what you thought and review!
A/N- Hello! Long time no see. I'm actually *very* sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up. I had no idea my muse would move to Nepal right in the middle of it. But now, with Science Fair, Governor's Honors interviews, and Greek tragedy essays done with (I hope! The teachers have been putting it on thick this past semester), updates will be less few and far-between. I meant to post this last week, but Mardi Gras came. If you live in the south, this is a big holiday, and I couldn't finish it. To compensate, it's longer than usual. Enjoy!
Chapter 13- A Rumor Revealed
Rolo knocked confidently on the Bounder-house door, then waited for it to open. The three younger hobbits looked at the door expectantly. The large horse (that Dandelion presumed belonged to the Man) snorted at the loud noise and raised his head sharply. He looked disdainfully at the hobbit-ponies that had been tied near him and were now eating the grass he had been feeding on and considered them for a moment. Then he went back to his business - namely, dining. A minute passed. Eomer coughed. Rolo's brows furrowed and he rapped on the door loudly. Still, it showed no inclination of opening. The Bounder leaned over and put his pointed ear against the door, listening intently. It twitched once, then twice. He stood back upright and faced them, his back to the door. "There's someone in there, sir," he said to Eomer, "but I can't hear enough to tell who 'tis."
"Is the door unlocked?" Eomer replied impatiently, tapping his furry foot against the hard-packed dirt beneath it.
"Oh, not usually, sir," Rolo responded, groping for the handle behind his back. "If we're not outside, the--" The remainder of his sentence was lost because, his hand having found the knob, he turned it instinctively, causing it to swing inwards. Rolo fell backwards, though he managed to retain his balance enough to keep from crashing to the floor. He quickly regained his composure, mumbling apologetically that, "Yes, well, Pa must've known we'd be along afore long." A loud burst of laughter from down the hall followed his statement. He looked behind him nervously.
"Lead the way, please, Bounder Rolo. None of us know where to go," Eomer instructed. The other hobbit nodded and set off down the passage in the direction of the laughter, Eomer behind him, then Dandelion, Poppy, and Tru all in a line.
Poppy tapped Dandelion's shoulder and raised her eyebrows questioningly when her friend looked back. The blond hobbit shrugged, as if to say she didn't know who was laughing or why either. They found the answers as soon as they halted in the round doorway to a small, but pleasant, room with a large fireplace burning merrily along the right-hand wall (never mind the fact that it was only a few weeks after Baggins Day*, and so in the first week of Winterfilth**, and a fire was not strictly necessary). A door (probably leading to one of a hobbit house's numerous pantries) stood slightly ajar on the opposite wall. A table (it looked to be filled with the remains of tea) and several chairs, seeming far too small for one of its occupants, were placed in the middle. At their entrance, there was another roar of laughter from the two in the chairs, who apparently hadn't noticed their arrival.
"No!" gasped one as he managed to control his mirth. He was the Big Person, Dandelion noted with excitement, and dressed like the Rangers of old were said to, in deep green or perhaps black pants, shirt, and cloak, stained and worn and looking strangely as if they'd been recently wet. His cloak was thrown back over one shoulder and on the other was fastened a circular pin with seven stars about the edge and a minute tree flowering in the center. His hair was dark and wavy, and his gray eyes, though filled with humor, were keen. Strangest of all were the leather garments on his feet- boots, of course, but to hobbits boots were objects of fantasy stories. He chuckled again. "She didn't!"
"Aye, sir, that she did! New dress an' all, right off the Bridge and into the River!" The hobbit sitting across from him nodded decisively to emphasize his point. "She was sore at poor Rudy for near a month, she was, an' afterwards she--" He suddenly broke off, staring aghast at the newcomers. The Man followed his gaze and the two were out of their seats with alacrity, bowing respectfully and rattling off explanations without pausing for breath.
"That's quite all right, Bounder Rogo," Eomer cut in. He fixed them both with a no-nonsense stare, and Dandelion was reminded of the fact that, no matter how easy-going his normal manner, Eomer was the Master of Buckland, and the title was not unearned. "I understand you are a messenger from Gondor?" he said to the Man.
He bowed again. "Hedor, son of Hamon, messenger of Gondor, sent by Their Royal Majesties King Elessar Telcontar and Queen Arwen Undomiel, to His Majesty's Counselors in the North-kingdom."
"I am Eomer Brandybuck, Master of Buckland and Counselor to the King, and these are representatives of the Thain: his daughter, Dandelion Took, and his first cousin-in-law (once removed), Poppy Cotton, and this is Truman Boffin, representing the Northfarthing," Eomer answered formally, indicating each of them in turn. Hedor's eyes scanned them, then he bowed again. Unsure of what would be the proper protocol in such circumstances, the girls curtsied and Tru bowed. Eomer merely inclined his head, accepting the polite gesture, and waited for the Man to continue.
Hedor did so by pulling a small bag, made of some leather-like material, from a pocket in his cloak and removing a scroll wrapped in black cloth. He unwrapped the cloth and unrolled the scroll, then straightened his posture and proclaimed in a formal tone: "Elessar Telcontar, who is also called Aragorn son of Arathorn and the Elfstone, of Gondor and Arnor King and Arwen Undomiel, the Evenstar, of Gondor and Arnor Queen to their friends in the Shire: Greetings! It is our sad duty to tell you of most grievous happenings of late: the Steward of Gondor and Prince of Ithilien Lord Faramir fell ill and passed away in his sleep in Narie (Forelithe in the Shire-reckoning). The Lady Eowyn was much aggrieved by his passing and joined him in eternal slumber soon afterward. The City of Minas Tirith mourns its loss as it celebrates the new Steward and Prince: Lord Boromir III, son of Lord Faramir and Lady Eowyn.
"Because of this and because it has been far too long since any of the Little Folk visited our City, we wish to extend a royal invitation to you and yours to come to Minas Tirith as soon as you are able. In especial we should like either Master Eomer, Thain Faramir, or one of the descendants of Mayor Samwise to come.
"Signed on this day the twentieth of Cermie, being the nineteenth day of Afterlithe in the Shire-reckoning, Fourth Age 82,
"Elessar Telcontar, Aragorn son of Arathorn, the Elfstone, of Gondor and Arnor King and Arwen Undomiel, the Evenstar, of Gondor and Arnor Queen."***
Poppy gasped, shocked by the news. She felt Dandelion beside her stiffen and then bow her head, though otherwise her friend outwardly did not show her grief. Tru looked uncertain though saddened by the tidings. Dandelion whispered to him quickly, "Lord Faramir was the brother of Boromir, one of the Nine Walkers, and Thain Peregrin saved his life once. My father was named after him. He was a good Man. And the Lady Eowyn was the sister of the old King of Rohan, Eomer. Master Meriadoc helped her slay the Witch-king, the chief of the Black Riders. She was an admirable lady." Then she fell silent.
Eomer, too, had gone rigid at Hedor's words, but said nothing. The Bounders, Rogo and Rolo, took off their caps respectfully. Rolo fidgeted and toyed nervously with the feather in his. Hedor rolled the scroll up and handed it and the black cloth with it to Eomer, who opened it and skimmed it quickly. He sighed, his face suddenly weary. "Thank you, Messenger Hedor. I must send word of this to the Tookland and to Hobbiton, as well as the Westmarch and other places. Pray, ride back with us to my home at Brandy Hall so that we may eat together and you can tell of anything else happening in the south."
Hedor shifted uncomfortably. "I am sorry, Master Eomer, but I have strict orders that say I may not pass into the Shire any more than is needed to fulfill my errand. I must return to Minas Tirith as soon as I may, and either bring word that you cannot come or escort you there. I will be content in this house for the duration of my stay here, if that is all right with Bounder Rogo and yourself, sir. Also," he added quickly, as if he had just remembered, "I must take another letter to the Lords Elladan and Elrohir from the King."
"Ah." Eomer nodded, then smiled, though it did not reach his eyes, which were sad. "I don't suppose you've anything left from - tea, was it? Or dinner?"
Rogo stepped forward, bobbing his head courteously. "A sort of tea an' dinner combined, sir. Would you an' the young madams and sir be wanting any supper? We have plenty of food, sir."
"Thank you, Bounder. Yes, we certainly would, and we shall leave for Brandy Hall on the morrow. It's far too late now," Eomer remarked, looking out the window. There was a muffled thudding noise and Dandelion started, but glancing around it seemed no one else had heard it. 'Must have been my imagination,' she thought.
With the meal and the talkative nature of hobbits the atmosphere soon became more relaxed, and Hedor answered the younger set's questions cheerfully. Tru wanted to know all about Minas Tirith, Dandelion pelted him with queries about the political state of Gondor and Rohan (she was very interested in government), and Poppy wished to hear more about the king and queen. Even Rolo dared to ask a few things. Eomer and Rogo listened to everything but said little, the one knowing little about the places and people the Man spoke of and the other content to hear and eat.
* * *
"They're here already!" Theo hissed in a loud whisper as the lads and Roan approached the Bounder-house.
"They left earlier than you did. Did you really think you were going to beat them?" Mat asked, climbing out of the saddle and patting the pony's sweaty side.
His friend's shoulders slumped. "I suppose not, but now what are we going to do? We can't possibly get inside without them knowing."
"Maybe there's a window open somewhere we can climb through."
"Maybe," Theo answered as he tied Roan's reins to a tree branch with the other ponies and solitary horse.
Mat kept looking back as they walked quietly around the house and Theo noticed. "What's back there?" he asked, seeing that the yard looked as it had when they rode up.
"Oh," Mat said, "I was just thinking. That Man's horse is so big; how can there be a rider tall enough for it?"
"I dunno," Theo shrugged.
They finally saw a window lit brightly from within and neared it cautiously. It was closed but Theo, being the taller of the two, stood on his furry toes and peeked through it. He gasped and backed up quickly, running into Mat and they both fell to the ground with a thump. The hobbits looked up at the window, expecting a tall and threatening Man to leer at them out of it any moment. Fortunately, the window remained firmly closed.
"What was that all about?" Mat asked irritably as he rubbed an elbow that he had scraped on a rock as they fell.
"My father was looking out the window," Theo replied. "I guess he didn't see me."
"Did you see the Man?" Mat questioned excitedly.
"Not really. I just saw Dandy, a Bounder with a feather in his cap, a tall person all in dark clothes, and then my father. He was saying something, but I couldn't hear what."
"D'you suppose the Man knows what an Elf looks like?" Mat asked, his eyes full of mischief.
Theo looked at him with mock surprise. "You're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting, are you?"
Mat tipped over the sack he had been carrying and spilled out the contents. "It was your idea, or don't you remember?"
"When will I learn never to tell you anything?" Theo replied, picking up a shirt made of light green cloth.
Mat saw what he was doing and said, "Wait, you get to be the top? Again? Why am I always the bottom? You're taller than I am!"
Theo frowned. "But you're sturdier than I am. Whenever I'm the bottom, you fall off. And this was my idea, as you kindly pointed out, and so I get to choose which half I get to be."
"Now it's my turn to ask 'When will I learn never to tell you anything?'"
A few minutes later, the pair were nearly unrecognizable as hobbits. Mat wore a pair of pants whose color matched the long shirt Theo had donned. Theo also sported a green hat with golden hair messily sewn into it. He winced as he put it over his head and it pulled his curls. "I wish you had gotten one of your sisters to sew this."
Mat glared at him as he pulled the lengthy pants up to his chest. "If I had asked them to, they would have asked what it was for. And then they wouldn't have agreed to it and would've told my mum and yours. At least you don't have to wear this ridiculous thing!" He plucked at the fabric of his part of the costume moodily.
"Whose idea was this, anyway?" Theo grumbled. Mat stooped and Theo climbed onto his shoulders. The hobbit duo wobbled but remained upright as Mat stood back up, grunting with exertion.
"Yours, as I've told you who knows how many times."
They wiggled and tilted as Theo's precarious perch moved towards the window but, with the knowledge that comes from long practice, the Brandybuck shifted his weight against falling and managed not to tumble off each time. "Ready?" he breathed down to Mat, who, despite his complaining, was as excited as his friend.
"I'm waiting on you," he countered.
"Move to the left," Theo instructed softly. A little more and they would be in front of the window. Mat hopped in that direction and Theo could again see through the round glass. He tapped on the window and grinned brightly as all within looked at him. Poppy screamed at the strange apparition and Eomer, Rogo, and Hedor leapt to their feet and sprinted for the door, Hedor drawing a sword from its sheath at his side. Theo's grin disappeared. "Uh-oh," he muttered.
Unable to see, Mat said, "What 'uh-oh'? What's going on?"
"They saw me."
"They were supposed to!"
"But now they're coming after us!" Theo yelled as a side door crashed open and two hobbits and a Man barreled out.
"Uh-oh," Mat agreed.
"Run!" Mat tried, but he kept stumbling and Theo could see the sword gleaming in the moonlight quickly approaching. "Hop!" he improvised.
So Mat did. Unluckily, he had not had the time to turn around; besides, he wanted Theo to be able to see where their pursuers were. On his third backwards jump, his ankle caught the edge of his pants and he slipped and fell with an "Oof!" Theo had been preparing himself for another spring and had pushed himself off a little, resulting in his falling a few feet behind Mat. "Uh-oh," the Goold whispered, now being able to see the Master, Bounder, and Messenger of Gondor standing a few feet away.
Eomer immediately recognized his face and marched towards him. Mat cowered, trying to hide inside his skin. For all that Eomer was feet shorter than the Man, Mat would have sworn he was leagues taller. "Matta Goold," Eomer said in an even, though anger-filled, voice, "what is the meaning of this?"
A tiny voice rang out, "Er, that is, actually, it was my idea, Father."
Eomer turned toward the other green lump of hobbit lad. "Theoden Brandybuck! Where are you supposed to be, young hobbit?"
"Brandy Hall," Theo said so softly it was barely audible.
"What was that?"
Theo straightened instinctively at his father's tone. "Brandy Hall, sir!" he stated smartly.
Eomer walked stiff legged to him and pulled him upright by his pointy ear. Theo winced but said nothing. "What, exactly, were you two doing?" He picked the hat off of his son's head and his mouth formed a thin line. "Don't tell me the rumors of Elves in Buckland were all because of a prank."
"They... were, sir," Theo said miserably.
Eomer towed him to Mat and collected the other by his ear, then strode back inside, Rogo and Hedor following silently. The latter sheathed his sword as they entered the Bounder-house.
Tru and Rolo had automatically leapt between the two lasses and the strange creature at the window. Dandelion had risen from her seat with a pale face, and Poppy had clutched the side of the table desperately. After it had disappeared and the others had rushed outside, Dandelion indignantly tried to edge between the two boys.
"Nay, miss, best whatever that be should be stopped by us instead o' you," Rolo said, blocking her way.
Tru turned his head to see her. His hazel eyes were frightened but determined and met her glaring greens coolly. "He's right, Dandy. I mean," he stuttered. He had never called her by her nickname or, indeed, anything but Dandelion since they had met again at Brandy Hall.
Dandelion smiled at him in spite of her anxiety and the fluttering of butterflies in her stomach. "You can call me Dandy, Tru. Unless you want me to call you Truman all the time."
He grimaced. "Certainly not." He turned back around and Dandelion made a face at her words. She was acting like her twin sisters when they mooned over this lad or that at the Great Smials!
Suddenly, Eomer trotted in, two hobbits in strange attire attached by their ears to his hands. Without a glance from her uncle (but many a pleading look from the two younger hobbits, whom she now recognized), they walked past the four that had stayed inside, out the down, and down the hall. Rogo and Hedor came in next.
"What was that, Pa?" Rolo asked eagerly.
Rogo shook his head. "Those two boys makin' some sort o' mischief or other. Dressed in right outlandish clothes, they were. I don't know quite what to make o' it."
"I do," Hedor said. All eyes turned to him in confusion. "Green garments, blonde hair, one on top of the other to make themselves taller - they were dressing up as Elves, though for what purpose I cannot imagine."
Dandelion and Poppy looked at each other, understanding dawning on them. "Elves," Dandelion repeated, sighing. Theo and Mat were in for it, this time.
* * *
A Whole Lotta Notes
*Baggins Day - Halimath (Hobbitish name for September) 22, Frodo and Bilbo's birthday. A non-canon holiday celebrated only by descendants of Mayor Samwise and a few of those of Master Meriadoc and Thain Peregrin.
**Winterfilth - Hobbitish name for October.
***Several notes about the letter: the style and tone were inspired by a letter to Sam from the King that was supposed to be in the Epilogue to LOTR. It didn't make it into the book, unfortunately, but can be found in "The End of the Third Age" Part 4 of the History of "The Lord of the Rings". Faramir and Eowyn's children's names were not recorded, so I have created the character of Boromir III. Narie, or Forelithe, is June and Cermie, or Afterlithe, is July. I may have fudged on the time it would have taken to get from Gondor to the Shire, but this is my best guess. Also, there should be two little dots over the 'e' at the end of Narie and Cermie, but my computer won't make them.
valerie- Thanks for your review! I'm glad I could help. :-)
acorngirl- I'm glad you enjoyed the references. I have a strange affection for obscure trivia. I'm sure I sounded desperate in the last chapter; I thought nobody liked the story anymore. :-( Nice to see they still do! I also like good female characters, as long as they're realistic. Thanks for your review!
cheerleader15- Though it may take *forever* for me to update, I will never abandon this story. It'll get finished- sooner or later (most likely the latter!).
Whew! Hope this was worth the long wait. See you next time and, of course, tell me what you thought and review!
