Disclaimer - You know this, right? "The Lord of the Rings", etc., aren't mine; the plot and all new characters are.
A/N - I tried to get this chapter out faster, but alas! Real life has been greedily taking most of my time. Hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 15 - Back to Buckland
Someone was calling her name.
"Dandy? Dandelion, wake up. It's morning. Are you awake? Dandelion?"
The same Someone was also shaking her, Dandelion guessed from the rocking motion.
"Dandy! Wake up, you stubborn Took!"
Dandelion did not want to wake up. She wanted to hold onto her dream just a little while longer, to try and puzzle out its meaning. It had been a very strange dream...
"Dandelion Took!"
...Tru had been shooting an arrow towards the moon, which had howled in pain when the arrow hit it. But the moon could not howl, like a dog or wolf could. What an odd dream.
"Dandy!"
"Hmm? What?" Dandelion's eyes opened slowly, revealing Poppy in front of her. The other hobbit sighed and stopped shaking her.
"Well, thank you for returning to the land of the waking! I've been trying to rouse you for a good five minutes!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Poppy, I was thinking about..." Dandelion's brow furrowed. What had she been thinking about? Something about a dream, and the moon. At least she thought it had been. She attempted to remember it, but it was like holding the Brandywine in her cupped hands. Already it was slipping through her mind. She shook her head, her blond curls falling in front of her eyes. She pushed them away and yawned. "What's the time?"
"Almost time for elevensies, by now," Poppy answered, sitting on the other's bed and crossing her arms.
Dandelion's eyebrows shot up. "Elevensies?"
"Mm-hmm," Poppy replied, catching her look. "And don't give me that indignant glare. Master Éomer knocked on our door and woke me up only a few minutes before I was given the task of waking you." A smile quirked the edges of her mouth that she tried to hide. "The lads are making elevensies by now, I should think. They were given the job by the Master."
Dandelion grinned outright and pushed away her covers. "What about Tru? And the Bounders," she added quickly.
"The Bounders have been taking shifts throughout the night, of course. They didn't know when we were to wake up, so they gave us a bit of a lie-in. Tru probably woke up a couple of minutes ago, since he's not such a slug-a-bed as you are." Poppy smirked, causing Dandelion to hit her with a pillow. "Ow!"
Dandelion stuck her nose in the air, trying not to laugh. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get dressed."
The pillow caught her a glancing blow in the head but Poppy dashed out of the room before she could retaliate. "Elevensies is in a quarter hour!"
* * *
After the meal (which, in hobbit fashion, was long and generous, and no worse for being made by two hobbit lads), Hedor stood and bowed to the Master. "If you will excuse me, sir, I must be on my way."
Dandelion looked at him in curiosity. "Where else do you have to take the message, Hedor?"
"To Rivendell, and the Queen's brothers. I shall return in a few weeks. Is that enough time, sir?" he asked Éomer.
The hobbit nodded. "I will be sure to send a letter to the Bounders, telling them how many will be going to Minas Tirith."
"Thank you." The Man bowed again. He retrieved his cloak from a peg on the wall where it had been left the night before and, stooping to get under the round door's frame, exited the Bounder-house. He nodded to Rolo, who had saddled his horse and was now waiting patiently for him outside. He mounted (with surprising gracefulness, considering how enormous both he and his horse were). "Thank you for your hospitality," he said formally to the Bounders, then a sudden smile brightened his face, "and for--"
Rogo chuckled. "Nonsense! What's a pipeful between friends? You keep practicing, now."
"I will." Hedor smiled again and rode past the gate Rogo held open for him. The hobbits stared as he disappeared into the trees.
"He's going through the Old Forest?" Rolo asked in a shocked whisper.
"Aye." Rogo scratched the back of his neck thoughtfully. "Rangers will come through it now an' again, if they've a mind to. Big People, friendly or no, are strange, an' no mistake!"
Inside, Theo hesitantly put forth the question, "Father, what do you mean by 'how many are going to Minas Tirith'?" Mat's eyes glanced up temporarily from his plate, then darted back down.
Éomer raised an eyebrow. "Oh, didn't hear that part of the conversation, did you?"
"We didn't hear any of it!" Theo replied indignantly, then hastily amended, "Sir."
"The Steward of Gondor and his wife have died," Éomer told them shortly. Theo's eyes widened and Mat looked up, his forgotten fork halfway to his mouth. "Lord Faramir's son, Boromir, is now the Steward. The King and Queen have invited the Thain, the Mayor, or myself to Gondor. We may also bring some others, if we wish." A bright, excited look grew in Theo's eyes that his father did not notice, or at least said nothing about. The older hobbit stood up. "Are all of you done?" Heads nodded around the table and Mat finally put down his fork. "We must be off, as well. We have to stop at Crickhollow," Mat's ears went pink at the tips and Theo looked down guiltily, "before we reach Brandy Hall, where there shall be a serious discussion, Théoden." He looked at the two lads with an unreadable expression on his face, then left the room.
Dandelion waited a moment, then picked up her own plate to give to Theo (the boys also had the task of washing up after elevensies). She tugged on his sleeve to get him to look at her and whispered, "Whatever were you two thinking, Theo?"
Theo shrugged uncomfortably and frowned. "You sound like my father," he said grouchily, then turned to get the others' plates.
Dandelion sighed. Poppy caught her eye and raised an eyebrow in question, but Dandelion shook her head. Poppy stood and said brightly, "Right, then. Why don't I gather our things and you two can get our ponies ready?" She swept out of the room, ignoring Dandelion's piercing glare and Tru's forehead creasing.
"Aren't the Bounders getting the ponies ready?"
"Well, they are supposed to be guarding the Bounds, aren't they? We can get them ready easily enough," Dandelion replied, silently vowing to talk to Poppy back at the Hall.
The two hobbits made their way down the path that Rolo directed them towards, hampered only slightly by puddles of rainwater and patches of mud. 'You've talked to him alone before, Dandelion Took,' the lass thought to herself, 'How is this any different?' She took a deep breath of the damp air and opened her mouth.
"Doesn't everything smell fresh after a rainstorm?" Tru asked suddenly, surprising her so much she nearly didn't jump over a small pool of water in her path.
"Oh," she answered and breathed in deeply again. "You're right, it smells like, like the world is new."
"And wet," Tru added, and they both laughed. They reached the stable and he held the door open for her.
"Thank you."
"You are quite welcome."
Dandelion went first to Sunbeam and stroked the darker fur that ran down the pony's nose. "Did they take good care of you, then?" she asked softly and the pony nickered back in answer. "Come on," the Took crooned, gently guiding her out of the stall and quickly saddling her. She eased the bridle onto her head and put the bit in her mouth carefully. "There's a good lass," the hobbit praised. "Now you wait here a minute while I get the rest and we'll go for a ride, hmm?" Sunbeam nodded her head and followed her movements around the stable attentively.
Tru watched both hobbit and pony out of the corner of his eye and murmured thoughtfully to Dusk, "Strange creatures lasses are, to be sure." The silver pony flicked his tail, catching his master in the face. "None of that, now," Tru said sternly and the pony quieted, though his tail continued to sweep from side to side serenely.
The pair made quick work of getting the other ponies ready and soon were leading them down the sodden path to the Bounder-house, each with a fistful of reins in one hand. Tru was telling a comical story of how hard training a litter of puppies was and Dandelion was laughing appreciatively as they secured the ponies' reins to the tree in front of the Bounder-house.
Poppy came out of the Bounder-house, her arms full, and stood at the door, grinning at her friends, until Dandelion noticed her and called out hastily, "Bring our things here, please, Poppy, and we'll wait on Uncle Éomer and the lads."
Poppy looked behind her and replied, "They're all coming. You had better free the ponies' reins from that tree."
Dandelion and Tru did so speedily while Poppy sorted out whose belongings were whose. She handed the other two their piles as the Master, Theo, and Mat exited the Bounder-house. Tru courteously helped the lasses mount their respective ponies and was surprised when they rode astride them instead of sidesaddle. "How can you - I mean, were you riding like this yesterday? I didn't notice, but I thought you would ride sidesaddle, like lasses usually do."
Dandelion laughed. "Don't be silly, Tru. Our skirts are separated for riding astride a pony," she explained. "Poppy had the idea to go riding yesterday, before we heard about Hedor, so we were already wearing our riding skirts, and Aunt June brought us another skirt each before we left. So we, unlike some ill-prepared hobbits, don't have to wear the same clothes two days in a row." She looked pointedly at Tru, Theo, and Mat as Poppy stifled a giggle.
Theo and Mat shared a look that clearly said, "Lasses." Tru made a face at Dandelion, causing her to laugh, and then mounted his own pony. Éomer looked around. "Are we ready? Right, let's be off." He kneed his pony into a brisk trot as the younger hobbits followed and waved at the Bounders, who waved back in reply.
"Well, that was something different an' no mistake about it," Rogo said, turning back to face the gate.
"Aye," Rolo agreed. "I think that's enough adventure for any hobbit."
* * *
It wasn't long before the group neared a small house - Crickhollow. Dandelion heard the hoof-beats behind her slowing and easily identified whose pony they belonged to. Theo sent his friend what was meant to be an encouraging smile, but turned into a pained grimace along the way. It did nothing to help Mat, who was slumped in his saddle, dread on his face. Soon the ponies were passing through the gate and stopping in the lawn in front of the door. A small face appeared in a window, then vanished from sight. A minute later, as Éomer and the lads were dismounting, a hobbit woman burst out of the door and grabbed Mat in a firm embrace.
"Matta Goold!" she exclaimed, bending down to look into his face. "Where were you? Your father and I were worried sick! Wil went up to Brandy Hall after we found you were gone to ask the Master--" It was at this point that she noticed her son wasn't alone in her yard and she curtsied to the Master with a startled gasp. "Master Éomer! Wherever did you find him? Did you meet Wil at the Hall? He's not with you..." she trailed off as she realized the absence of her eldest.
"Mistress Goold," Éomer answered quickly, "Unfortunately, I've been away from the Hall since yesterday. I had an urgent message from the Big Folk in the South, and my son knew we were riding to meet the Messenger at the Bounder-house at the Gate and decided to follow us. He also came to Crickhollow last night and persuaded your son to come along and engage in some, shall we say, mischievous doings. I trust you and Hal will have a talk with him? I must talk with you, as well, but I have to hurry on to the Hall. I'll send word with Wil, if I may."
Mira Goold nodded, her face angry, and curtsied again to the two Brandybucks as they mounted their ponies. The last thing Dandelion heard as they rode out of Crickhollow's gate was her furious voice scolding Mat and a slam of a door. She winced, recognizing all too well the sounds preceding some dire punishment, and knew Mat would not be the last lad to be treated such that day. She glanced at Theo and realized he understood it also.
Dandelion was not surprised, therefore, when the five hobbits were welcomed by the sight of the Mistress of Brandy Hall herself outside one of the Hall's front doors, her figure the definition of impatient frustration. Tru and Dandelion took the Master and Theo's ponies' halters (Poppy making no move to get off of her pony but opting to smile secretly instead, Dandelion noticed) as they walked slowly to Aunt June.
"Bed empty!" she greeted them. "Pony gone! It is only by some fortune that I was passing your room and heard that puppy scratching at your door and let him out so you would not have a mess in there to clean up! And of course I knew where you were off to, and then a storm last night and Wil Goold here this morning to see if Mat was here! You, my lad," she looked at her son, "are going to have some serious explaining to do."
"Yes, ma'am," Theo said meekly as she proceeded into the Hall, leaving the lasses and Tru to take care of the animals.
"I am certainly glad I was not a disobedient youth," Tru remarked quietly. Dandelion snorted and he grinned at her. The much diminished group continued on to Brandy Hall's stables while talking amongst themselves.
* * *
Theo had been sent to his room, properly chastised and awaiting sentencing on his deeds. The Master and Mistress were now having a conversation on said hobbit lad, though anyone who overheard it would have thought the better word was quarrel.
"You want him - and Mat Goold! - to come with you?!" June said in an outraged tone.
"Dearest, please listen. I did not come to this conclusion quickly but I'm convinced it's the best idea."
"'Best idea' indeed!" June sniffed in exasperation. "You know as well as I do that's the only thing he wants! If you allow him to go to that Big Persons' country," she waved her arm in a vague manner to the south, "he will think he's been given a reward for such behavior as you say he displayed. Besides that fact, what if he suffers a recurrence of brullia from being out in the wet?"
Éomer found an opening and took quick advantage of it. "He's not displayed any signs of illness since last night, and I think it would have shown itself by now if he was sick. June, I know why Theo is acting like this. I acted much the same when I was his age, though on a lesser scale. Do you know why I did it?" June shook her head expectantly. "Because of the same reason he is now: he's weary of the Shire and its peacefulness. He would much prefer for something exciting to happen, and then he would be more content with the Shire."
June thought about this for a moment and Éomer could tell she was only now seriously considering the idea. "So, you believe that by taking the lads to - what was it called again?"
"Minas Tirith," Éomer said promptly.
"- to Minas Tirith," June frowned slightly at the strangeness of the name, "they will settle down when they return? Conduct themselves with manners that would be expected of young gentlehobbits, as opposed to wild ruffians?"
"Yes," her husband replied firmly.
"And you would, of course, keep an eye on them at all times?" June pierced him with a look of the kind that only mothers are able to produce.
"Of course," Éomer answered, his own years of rebellious teen- and tweenagerhood being recalled at the look.
"Then," June sighed, "if you can convince Mira and Hal, the lads may accompany you to Minas Tirith."
"Good," Éomer said brightly. "Now, I must write the Goolds and Faramir and Goldi. Wil can take the letter to his parents and Dandy-lass will take the letter to the Thain. Then, I must have a talk with Cousin Tunneler..." he left the room, still telling himself what needed to be done in the few weeks before a company of hobbits would meet the King's Messenger at the Bounder-house.
* * *
A/N II - Didn't get to the journeying bit this chapter, but we will next chapter. Promise! :-) In a week or so, I'll be off north to visit my own cousins, so I don't know how fast I'll be able to get the next chapter up. But it'll be up sooner or later! Have a good July 4th, everyone! Don't forget to review on your way out, there's a good reader...
acorngirl - Wow...[blushes] Thanks! Oh, that's a good way of putting it: 'seductiveness of adventure'. Remember that! (Hint, hint.)
Beaux Folle - Oh, you changed your name! Threw me for a loop, for a minute. :-) I like it, though. I'm glad I got Theo's responsibility to come off right. School's over, hooray! Don't worry, I won't kill myself! Badger myself relentlessly, but not kill myself. ;-)
A/N - I tried to get this chapter out faster, but alas! Real life has been greedily taking most of my time. Hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 15 - Back to Buckland
Someone was calling her name.
"Dandy? Dandelion, wake up. It's morning. Are you awake? Dandelion?"
The same Someone was also shaking her, Dandelion guessed from the rocking motion.
"Dandy! Wake up, you stubborn Took!"
Dandelion did not want to wake up. She wanted to hold onto her dream just a little while longer, to try and puzzle out its meaning. It had been a very strange dream...
"Dandelion Took!"
...Tru had been shooting an arrow towards the moon, which had howled in pain when the arrow hit it. But the moon could not howl, like a dog or wolf could. What an odd dream.
"Dandy!"
"Hmm? What?" Dandelion's eyes opened slowly, revealing Poppy in front of her. The other hobbit sighed and stopped shaking her.
"Well, thank you for returning to the land of the waking! I've been trying to rouse you for a good five minutes!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Poppy, I was thinking about..." Dandelion's brow furrowed. What had she been thinking about? Something about a dream, and the moon. At least she thought it had been. She attempted to remember it, but it was like holding the Brandywine in her cupped hands. Already it was slipping through her mind. She shook her head, her blond curls falling in front of her eyes. She pushed them away and yawned. "What's the time?"
"Almost time for elevensies, by now," Poppy answered, sitting on the other's bed and crossing her arms.
Dandelion's eyebrows shot up. "Elevensies?"
"Mm-hmm," Poppy replied, catching her look. "And don't give me that indignant glare. Master Éomer knocked on our door and woke me up only a few minutes before I was given the task of waking you." A smile quirked the edges of her mouth that she tried to hide. "The lads are making elevensies by now, I should think. They were given the job by the Master."
Dandelion grinned outright and pushed away her covers. "What about Tru? And the Bounders," she added quickly.
"The Bounders have been taking shifts throughout the night, of course. They didn't know when we were to wake up, so they gave us a bit of a lie-in. Tru probably woke up a couple of minutes ago, since he's not such a slug-a-bed as you are." Poppy smirked, causing Dandelion to hit her with a pillow. "Ow!"
Dandelion stuck her nose in the air, trying not to laugh. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get dressed."
The pillow caught her a glancing blow in the head but Poppy dashed out of the room before she could retaliate. "Elevensies is in a quarter hour!"
* * *
After the meal (which, in hobbit fashion, was long and generous, and no worse for being made by two hobbit lads), Hedor stood and bowed to the Master. "If you will excuse me, sir, I must be on my way."
Dandelion looked at him in curiosity. "Where else do you have to take the message, Hedor?"
"To Rivendell, and the Queen's brothers. I shall return in a few weeks. Is that enough time, sir?" he asked Éomer.
The hobbit nodded. "I will be sure to send a letter to the Bounders, telling them how many will be going to Minas Tirith."
"Thank you." The Man bowed again. He retrieved his cloak from a peg on the wall where it had been left the night before and, stooping to get under the round door's frame, exited the Bounder-house. He nodded to Rolo, who had saddled his horse and was now waiting patiently for him outside. He mounted (with surprising gracefulness, considering how enormous both he and his horse were). "Thank you for your hospitality," he said formally to the Bounders, then a sudden smile brightened his face, "and for--"
Rogo chuckled. "Nonsense! What's a pipeful between friends? You keep practicing, now."
"I will." Hedor smiled again and rode past the gate Rogo held open for him. The hobbits stared as he disappeared into the trees.
"He's going through the Old Forest?" Rolo asked in a shocked whisper.
"Aye." Rogo scratched the back of his neck thoughtfully. "Rangers will come through it now an' again, if they've a mind to. Big People, friendly or no, are strange, an' no mistake!"
Inside, Theo hesitantly put forth the question, "Father, what do you mean by 'how many are going to Minas Tirith'?" Mat's eyes glanced up temporarily from his plate, then darted back down.
Éomer raised an eyebrow. "Oh, didn't hear that part of the conversation, did you?"
"We didn't hear any of it!" Theo replied indignantly, then hastily amended, "Sir."
"The Steward of Gondor and his wife have died," Éomer told them shortly. Theo's eyes widened and Mat looked up, his forgotten fork halfway to his mouth. "Lord Faramir's son, Boromir, is now the Steward. The King and Queen have invited the Thain, the Mayor, or myself to Gondor. We may also bring some others, if we wish." A bright, excited look grew in Theo's eyes that his father did not notice, or at least said nothing about. The older hobbit stood up. "Are all of you done?" Heads nodded around the table and Mat finally put down his fork. "We must be off, as well. We have to stop at Crickhollow," Mat's ears went pink at the tips and Theo looked down guiltily, "before we reach Brandy Hall, where there shall be a serious discussion, Théoden." He looked at the two lads with an unreadable expression on his face, then left the room.
Dandelion waited a moment, then picked up her own plate to give to Theo (the boys also had the task of washing up after elevensies). She tugged on his sleeve to get him to look at her and whispered, "Whatever were you two thinking, Theo?"
Theo shrugged uncomfortably and frowned. "You sound like my father," he said grouchily, then turned to get the others' plates.
Dandelion sighed. Poppy caught her eye and raised an eyebrow in question, but Dandelion shook her head. Poppy stood and said brightly, "Right, then. Why don't I gather our things and you two can get our ponies ready?" She swept out of the room, ignoring Dandelion's piercing glare and Tru's forehead creasing.
"Aren't the Bounders getting the ponies ready?"
"Well, they are supposed to be guarding the Bounds, aren't they? We can get them ready easily enough," Dandelion replied, silently vowing to talk to Poppy back at the Hall.
The two hobbits made their way down the path that Rolo directed them towards, hampered only slightly by puddles of rainwater and patches of mud. 'You've talked to him alone before, Dandelion Took,' the lass thought to herself, 'How is this any different?' She took a deep breath of the damp air and opened her mouth.
"Doesn't everything smell fresh after a rainstorm?" Tru asked suddenly, surprising her so much she nearly didn't jump over a small pool of water in her path.
"Oh," she answered and breathed in deeply again. "You're right, it smells like, like the world is new."
"And wet," Tru added, and they both laughed. They reached the stable and he held the door open for her.
"Thank you."
"You are quite welcome."
Dandelion went first to Sunbeam and stroked the darker fur that ran down the pony's nose. "Did they take good care of you, then?" she asked softly and the pony nickered back in answer. "Come on," the Took crooned, gently guiding her out of the stall and quickly saddling her. She eased the bridle onto her head and put the bit in her mouth carefully. "There's a good lass," the hobbit praised. "Now you wait here a minute while I get the rest and we'll go for a ride, hmm?" Sunbeam nodded her head and followed her movements around the stable attentively.
Tru watched both hobbit and pony out of the corner of his eye and murmured thoughtfully to Dusk, "Strange creatures lasses are, to be sure." The silver pony flicked his tail, catching his master in the face. "None of that, now," Tru said sternly and the pony quieted, though his tail continued to sweep from side to side serenely.
The pair made quick work of getting the other ponies ready and soon were leading them down the sodden path to the Bounder-house, each with a fistful of reins in one hand. Tru was telling a comical story of how hard training a litter of puppies was and Dandelion was laughing appreciatively as they secured the ponies' reins to the tree in front of the Bounder-house.
Poppy came out of the Bounder-house, her arms full, and stood at the door, grinning at her friends, until Dandelion noticed her and called out hastily, "Bring our things here, please, Poppy, and we'll wait on Uncle Éomer and the lads."
Poppy looked behind her and replied, "They're all coming. You had better free the ponies' reins from that tree."
Dandelion and Tru did so speedily while Poppy sorted out whose belongings were whose. She handed the other two their piles as the Master, Theo, and Mat exited the Bounder-house. Tru courteously helped the lasses mount their respective ponies and was surprised when they rode astride them instead of sidesaddle. "How can you - I mean, were you riding like this yesterday? I didn't notice, but I thought you would ride sidesaddle, like lasses usually do."
Dandelion laughed. "Don't be silly, Tru. Our skirts are separated for riding astride a pony," she explained. "Poppy had the idea to go riding yesterday, before we heard about Hedor, so we were already wearing our riding skirts, and Aunt June brought us another skirt each before we left. So we, unlike some ill-prepared hobbits, don't have to wear the same clothes two days in a row." She looked pointedly at Tru, Theo, and Mat as Poppy stifled a giggle.
Theo and Mat shared a look that clearly said, "Lasses." Tru made a face at Dandelion, causing her to laugh, and then mounted his own pony. Éomer looked around. "Are we ready? Right, let's be off." He kneed his pony into a brisk trot as the younger hobbits followed and waved at the Bounders, who waved back in reply.
"Well, that was something different an' no mistake about it," Rogo said, turning back to face the gate.
"Aye," Rolo agreed. "I think that's enough adventure for any hobbit."
* * *
It wasn't long before the group neared a small house - Crickhollow. Dandelion heard the hoof-beats behind her slowing and easily identified whose pony they belonged to. Theo sent his friend what was meant to be an encouraging smile, but turned into a pained grimace along the way. It did nothing to help Mat, who was slumped in his saddle, dread on his face. Soon the ponies were passing through the gate and stopping in the lawn in front of the door. A small face appeared in a window, then vanished from sight. A minute later, as Éomer and the lads were dismounting, a hobbit woman burst out of the door and grabbed Mat in a firm embrace.
"Matta Goold!" she exclaimed, bending down to look into his face. "Where were you? Your father and I were worried sick! Wil went up to Brandy Hall after we found you were gone to ask the Master--" It was at this point that she noticed her son wasn't alone in her yard and she curtsied to the Master with a startled gasp. "Master Éomer! Wherever did you find him? Did you meet Wil at the Hall? He's not with you..." she trailed off as she realized the absence of her eldest.
"Mistress Goold," Éomer answered quickly, "Unfortunately, I've been away from the Hall since yesterday. I had an urgent message from the Big Folk in the South, and my son knew we were riding to meet the Messenger at the Bounder-house at the Gate and decided to follow us. He also came to Crickhollow last night and persuaded your son to come along and engage in some, shall we say, mischievous doings. I trust you and Hal will have a talk with him? I must talk with you, as well, but I have to hurry on to the Hall. I'll send word with Wil, if I may."
Mira Goold nodded, her face angry, and curtsied again to the two Brandybucks as they mounted their ponies. The last thing Dandelion heard as they rode out of Crickhollow's gate was her furious voice scolding Mat and a slam of a door. She winced, recognizing all too well the sounds preceding some dire punishment, and knew Mat would not be the last lad to be treated such that day. She glanced at Theo and realized he understood it also.
Dandelion was not surprised, therefore, when the five hobbits were welcomed by the sight of the Mistress of Brandy Hall herself outside one of the Hall's front doors, her figure the definition of impatient frustration. Tru and Dandelion took the Master and Theo's ponies' halters (Poppy making no move to get off of her pony but opting to smile secretly instead, Dandelion noticed) as they walked slowly to Aunt June.
"Bed empty!" she greeted them. "Pony gone! It is only by some fortune that I was passing your room and heard that puppy scratching at your door and let him out so you would not have a mess in there to clean up! And of course I knew where you were off to, and then a storm last night and Wil Goold here this morning to see if Mat was here! You, my lad," she looked at her son, "are going to have some serious explaining to do."
"Yes, ma'am," Theo said meekly as she proceeded into the Hall, leaving the lasses and Tru to take care of the animals.
"I am certainly glad I was not a disobedient youth," Tru remarked quietly. Dandelion snorted and he grinned at her. The much diminished group continued on to Brandy Hall's stables while talking amongst themselves.
* * *
Theo had been sent to his room, properly chastised and awaiting sentencing on his deeds. The Master and Mistress were now having a conversation on said hobbit lad, though anyone who overheard it would have thought the better word was quarrel.
"You want him - and Mat Goold! - to come with you?!" June said in an outraged tone.
"Dearest, please listen. I did not come to this conclusion quickly but I'm convinced it's the best idea."
"'Best idea' indeed!" June sniffed in exasperation. "You know as well as I do that's the only thing he wants! If you allow him to go to that Big Persons' country," she waved her arm in a vague manner to the south, "he will think he's been given a reward for such behavior as you say he displayed. Besides that fact, what if he suffers a recurrence of brullia from being out in the wet?"
Éomer found an opening and took quick advantage of it. "He's not displayed any signs of illness since last night, and I think it would have shown itself by now if he was sick. June, I know why Theo is acting like this. I acted much the same when I was his age, though on a lesser scale. Do you know why I did it?" June shook her head expectantly. "Because of the same reason he is now: he's weary of the Shire and its peacefulness. He would much prefer for something exciting to happen, and then he would be more content with the Shire."
June thought about this for a moment and Éomer could tell she was only now seriously considering the idea. "So, you believe that by taking the lads to - what was it called again?"
"Minas Tirith," Éomer said promptly.
"- to Minas Tirith," June frowned slightly at the strangeness of the name, "they will settle down when they return? Conduct themselves with manners that would be expected of young gentlehobbits, as opposed to wild ruffians?"
"Yes," her husband replied firmly.
"And you would, of course, keep an eye on them at all times?" June pierced him with a look of the kind that only mothers are able to produce.
"Of course," Éomer answered, his own years of rebellious teen- and tweenagerhood being recalled at the look.
"Then," June sighed, "if you can convince Mira and Hal, the lads may accompany you to Minas Tirith."
"Good," Éomer said brightly. "Now, I must write the Goolds and Faramir and Goldi. Wil can take the letter to his parents and Dandy-lass will take the letter to the Thain. Then, I must have a talk with Cousin Tunneler..." he left the room, still telling himself what needed to be done in the few weeks before a company of hobbits would meet the King's Messenger at the Bounder-house.
* * *
A/N II - Didn't get to the journeying bit this chapter, but we will next chapter. Promise! :-) In a week or so, I'll be off north to visit my own cousins, so I don't know how fast I'll be able to get the next chapter up. But it'll be up sooner or later! Have a good July 4th, everyone! Don't forget to review on your way out, there's a good reader...
acorngirl - Wow...[blushes] Thanks! Oh, that's a good way of putting it: 'seductiveness of adventure'. Remember that! (Hint, hint.)
Beaux Folle - Oh, you changed your name! Threw me for a loop, for a minute. :-) I like it, though. I'm glad I got Theo's responsibility to come off right. School's over, hooray! Don't worry, I won't kill myself! Badger myself relentlessly, but not kill myself. ;-)
