Chapter 10

Never to Look Back

When the time was getting on to the afternoon a feeling began to edge its way into Bilbo's mind and he had an overwhelming feeling that he had dropped something precious from his pocket. Bilbo stopped suddenly in his tracks and beads of sweat were beginning to appear on his brow. His fingers darted in and out of his pockets checking each one trying to find it.

"Where is it?" he snarled to himself frantically searching.

"Bilbo what are you looking for?" asked Frodo.

"It's gone!" said Bilbo fumbling through more pockets.

Frodo eyes widen watching the older hobbit pulling some items from his pants pocket frantically searching through them for something. He placed them back where he had found them and his fingers reached up towards his vest pocket. A relief came over his face when his fingers touched his precious possession, pulling his hand out he smiled. Tapping his vest pocket at least three times he said out loud mostly to himself.

"Ahh! I have found it. It is safe as can be!"

"What is in your pocket that you were searching for?" asked Merry when he too watched Bilbo with fascination while he stood next to Frodo.

"Something very precious to me," mumbled Bilbo almost confused by his own words. "Never mind about that. We must continue on our journey, come Meriadoc, the road is still long and our journey is yet before us!"

On and on they traveled while the shade of the trees were fading into the horizon and only the rounded and low-rising rocky hills in front of them. Tuckborough was around the next bend of the road.

The four travelers stopped in their tracks when they rounded the corner from the gates of the Great Smial. Biblo almost dropped his traveling bag and his shoulders slumped while his eyes locked on the carriage of the Sackville-Baggins.

"If she is looking for another fight, she has found it!" snarled Bilbo.

"Now Bilbo, don't you be losing your temper this time, Lobelia has two Baggins to contend with," added Frodo.

"And two Brandybucks, mind ya," commented Merry

Dinodas smiles at Merry and nodded.

The four marched up to the Great Smial and knocked at the door.

The door swung open to a beautiful hobbitesses of 17 years old with her twelve-year old sister Pimpernel and younger five-year old Pervinca holding the hand of the two-year old little Took, Peregrin.

"Oh my, the Tooks have been busy since the last time he knocked on their door," commented Bilbo.

"This can not be Pearl, can it?" asked Frodo graciously while he took her hand to greet her.

"How wonderful it is to see you again," Pearl batted her eyes at Frodo trying her best to flirt with him.

Pimernel stalked from the doorway and got eye to eye with Merry putting her hands on her hips and asked, "Who are you?"

"Why Merridoc Brandybuck of course, you silly girl! You know your cousin from Buckland," Merry narrowed his eyebrow at the girl looking at her suspiciously.

Merry's eye glance over to the younger hobbits of the group and saw Pervinca and her small toddler brother. He bent to his knee with a bright smile on his face and asked, "And who do we have here?"

"I'm Pervinca. I'm five years old," she said proudly while she held up five little fingers. "This is my brother, Peregrin."

Merry reached for the small toddler and picked him up in his arms and said, "So you're the new master of Tuckborough. Your just a little Pip of a child and Pip is your name I'll be giving you!" said Merry while he picked up the toddler and he spun him around in his arms. Pippin giggled with delight and wrapped his little arms around Merry's neck securely. When Merry stopped spinning him, little Pippin looked directly into Merry's eyes and said, "More! I want more, pez, Mer! More!"

Merry chuckled, "You're just a little rascal aren't you now!" And again Merry quickly spun him. Pippin laughed and laughed being in Merry's strong arms while he played with him. Setting Pippin down next to him the toddler grabbed his hand and held it not wanting to let go.

"Ask your father if he will see us today." Frodo asked of Pearl.

"I was not expecting you until tomorrow, as my letter indicated that I sent you a couple of days ago." Paladin stated, as he entered the hall were his guests now stood.

"We did not receive any letter from you Paladin," Bilbo told him.

"That is odd, I gave it to the messenger myself, but a fourth night ago. Then it is lucky that you all have made it early. Lobelia is here also and she has petitioned for Frodo to her custody. It looks like we will again have to hear from all sides." Paladin said and motioned for everyone to enter. "Lobelia is waiting for us in my office."

"Paladin, may I have a moment with her?" asked Bilbo.

Paladin nodded towards Bilbo and he turned walking down the hallway then squaring his shoulders while approaching the door to Paladin's office.

Lobelia stood when the door to Paladin's office opened and Bilbo walked in and shut the door.

Looking at Lobelia, Bilbo shivered slightly, she had aged so much that her face etched with deep long wrinkles and she chin all but disappeared in layers of thick lose skin. She had a face that could curdle milk. Shaking off his shudders he began to address her.

"Lobelia, I had enough of this fighting and it is time we settled this matter. I have waited far too long," stated Bilbo.

"What do you mean, Bilbo?" Lobelia asked as she raised her eyebrow at him.

"You and I both know that it is not Frodo you truly want. We both know that he is just leverage in order to get what you do want. I am willing to give you back your inheritance, dowry money and the spoons, if you agree to drop this fight over Frodo at once. You tell Paladin you changed your mind. You tell him that you no longer are seeking Frodo as your heir. Do we have an agreement, Lobelia?" Bilbo said in an even tone of voice.

"Perhaps I was too hasty in thinking that Frodo should live with us, but Bilbo there is one more thing that I want before I agree to drop all of this." Lobelia began to say and paused as she observed her opponent.

"What in Middle-Earth could that possibly be?" Bilbo shouted at her.

"I want Bag End."

"Absolutely not!" yelled Bilbo in animosity at her greediness.

"Then we continue with this suit. If I get Frodo, I still get Bag End and I will eventually get my money and my spoons, long after you are dead. So I still win" Lobelia stated claiming victory over Bilbo.

"Okay, Lobelia you have me! You win! I will sign over Bag End to you after my death, but I do not intent to die so easily, I will out live you." Bilbo snarled back at her.

"Agreed! I will have that in writing of course before I tell Paladin anything." Lobelia demanded.

Bilbo took the quill and dipping it in the ink. He scrolled in a delicate handwriting, eloquently written letters, as he read what he wrote, "I give Lobelia Sackville-Baggins all the money that was set in her inheritance, dowry and the family spoons of the Bracegirdle's of Hardbuckle. Her father gave the inheritance to me some sixty years ago. Regretfully I can no longer honor her father's last dying wish that he asked of me. I also give Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, Bag End, upon the death of," he paused and then mumbled the rest, "Baggins," "signed," as he also mumbled his name.

Lobelia grabbed the document out of Bilbo's hand and squinted as she tried to read his writing in the poor lighting of Paladin's office.

"Make your mind up now! Do you agree?" Bilbo pushed her to answer him.

"Okay, Bilbo we have an agreement. You take Frodo."

"Agreed!" Bilbo paused and a smile just broke the corner of his mouth. He looked at Lobelia then continued, "I hope the money and all the things you have will bring you happiness. I had hoped that with life experiences would have changed you Lobelia, but I see that it never will. You are a miserable soul and you are now dead to me. I will never again be associated with you. It is over with. Your inheritance will be delivered as soon as I return to Bag End. Now go to Paladin and tell him, just as you agreed to do."

Lobelia folded the document and stuck it in her pocket. Turning to the door she walked out of the office to speak to Paladin.

Frodo walked into the office and approached Bilbo who sat quietly by himself deep in thought and with the saddest expression on his face. "Bilbo are you all right?"

"Frodo, yes of course, why wouldn't I be? We have just won, you will now live with me at Bag End."

Paladin opened the door of his office and congratulated Bilbo. He presented the signed document with the required six signatures in red ink naming Frodo the heir of Bilbo Baggins giving him claim to everything that Bilbo owned. That is when Frodo reached his coming of age.

Bilbo tucked the document into his pocket and turned to Frodo, telling him, "Come my boy, it is time we headed home." Saying their good-byes to Dinodas and Merry. Bilbo and Frodo marched out of the Great Smial.

Biblo's heart soared while he and Frodo walked the long roads heading towards Bag End. Home again, where Frodo would live for the rest of his life and Bilbo's dream that a Baggins to live under its roof for all times.

When Bilbo entered Bag End and allowing Frodo to get settled. He went to his vault to take out the spoons. He separated the Bracegirdle's family spoons from the Baggins' spoons his mother gave him. Bilbo opened the fourth section of Bag End that his father never completed and placed the hidden panel to the side. Lighting a lantern he looked into the far corner of his vault and saw the large bag of the money that he had never spent. It sat in the same place as it did the first day he placed it their. He had never opened the bag nor knew of the amount of its contents.

Bilbo thought back to the day this bag of money was first given to him.

Bilbo was a young hobbit of less than 40 years old when he sat in a chair next to Logo Bracegirdle's deathbed. Bilbo listened as Logo whispered, "I have thought of you as my son, dear Bilbo. A son that I never had. It was my wish that you marry my only daughter, Lobelia. Little did I realize just how badly I had spoiled her? I tried to give her all the things I could possibly give to her because I love her so much and only wanted her happiness. She had broken my heart to bits when she ran off with Otho. A cowardly, narrow-minded lad, that would never amount to anything. He will only bring her to more ruin because he does not have a backbone strong enough to stand up to her and her strong will. You made me see the errors of my ways with my daughter. You were the only one who had the spunk to stand up and not allow her to win. Eventually she would have seen for herself the kindness and warmth that lays just on the surface of herself. I give you Lobelia's entire dowry and inheritance to keep until she has out grown her willfulness and pride. Hopefully by keeping her away from this will teach her the things that I could not when I was alive. Watch over her for me, Bilbo and keep her safe, my son."

Bilbo promised Logo and he held to his word. He cried the day Lobelia's father died. Lobelia never made it back in time to see her father's final hours. It was Bilbo who tried to comfort her after her father's passing. She only pushed him away and shed no tear for her father. She only wanted her inheritance and her dowry. It angered Bilbo so much that he swore an oath never to give it back. Bilbo did not see this as his inheritance or Lobelia's either, she did not deserve it. It was Logo's money, the kindness hobbit that he had ever met and a second father that he loved. It pained Bilbo that his hand was forced to give it back to Lobelia, but for Frodo, he must.

Bilbo hired a messenger and wrapped Lobelia's inheritance in a plain everyday box and tied it with a ribbon. He took out an pen and label as he wrote, 'upon opening this box, I wash my hands of you and never to look back again.' These same words that had haunted Bilbo for years, words said by Lobelia when she realized her father had died.

Bilbo handed it to the messenger and closed the door of Bag End.

"Frodo, where are you, my lad?" Bilbo called to his heir.

Frodo ran from the study with one of Bilbo's books in his hand. Bilbo wrapped his arms around Frodo and brought him into a warm hug. "My boy, have I ever told you about the time I spent in the Misty Mountain on one of my greatest adventure and what I found in those caves?" Bilbo paused a moment and then continued, "I met an interesting creature who enjoyed riddles as much as I did. I found in those caves something that I have kept ever since. So I have a riddle for you, It is round and golden, at times it fits snuggly upon a finger, but falls off and tries to roll away. It is precious to me. Can you guest what is in my pocket?"

"That is an easy one, Bilbo. I know what is in your pocket!" Frodo laughed at Bilbo's love of riddles.

"A true Baggins and as smart as can be!" Bilbo laughed placing his arm around him.

Two postal-service messengers carried the heavy box up the walk to the Sackville-Baggins home. Setting down their heavy load, one of them knocked on the door. Before the messenger had a chance to finish his series of knocking, the door suddenly opened wide and Lobelia stood before them. Looking down at the package she quickly ushered them into carrying the heavy box. "This is the heaviest box that the postal-service messenger's have ever delivered? I don't know what you are expecting to be in this box, but it feels like a ton of brick!" commented one of the messengers while both of them set it down on the floor of her sitting room.

"This is none of your business! You know your way out!" She squawked at them.

Watching them intently to make sure that they had left she returned back to the box.

Lobelia's hands shook as she ran her hand across the lid of the box and knew the contents of what was in it. After all her long years of waiting, she finally got her inheritance and her dowry. She now owned everything from her family the Bracegirdle's of Hardbottle.

Seeing the label she carefully read each word. She repeated the last of Biblo's word out loud, "Never look back again," Lobelia paused a moment and remembered back to the day when her father had died when she said these same words. Shrugging her shoulders feeling no remorse or emotions of her father, she tossed the label in the garbage and opened the box. Her eyes widened at the amount of money and jewels that were tucked into the many bags in the box. She picked up the spoons and placed them on the floor next to her and smiled with delight. She pulled out the document signed by Bilbo and reread it. A loud scream "Bilbo!" echoed throughout the halls of the Sackville-Baggins as she read that after Frodo's death she would inherit Bag End long after she herself was died. Bilbo had tricked her for the very last time!

The END