LotRseer3350 - What trouble will Lobelia stir up? Hmm, not as much as her son! And yes, I did have the name of Sam's descendants in mind when I wrote the line about the name of Gamgee being connected with gardeners!
FrodoBaggins1982 - I was a little later getting this started than I planned. It took a while to get the main part of the story completed. I wouldn't mind living in a place like Bag End myself!
Bookworm2000 - Lotho is indeed going to be up to something in chapters to come.
Shirebound - I'm glad you're enjoying Bilbo's characterization. I see him as being much sharper than most other hobbits give him credit for, and I'll do my best not to let him forget that!
Amelia Rose - Thank you for your compliments regarding the story that preceded this one. I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.
Krista - Thank you for your kind words! Lotho will show up in this chapter and we'll see plenty of him as the story continues. He's sneaky, greedy and insolent, and those are some of his good points!
Midgette - Sam's got a good handle on it when he says Frodo is smart. You bet he is! He's also quite friendly and likely to believe the best of the people he meets, which may not prove to be a good thing in some cases.
Aratlithiel - Thanks for being my beta again! Tea with the S.Bs will be interesting indeed, at least I hope so! Bilbo is doing all he can to make Frodo comfortable in his new home, and sometimes that may prove a bit of a challenge.
Aelfgifu - Glad you like the story so far! Lotho is indeed waiting in the wings with his nasty machinations. Let's let him out of his cage, shall we?
Tavion - Can't wait to see what Lotho will be inflicting upon poor Frodo? More on that subject as the story progresses.
Kay - I hope you're right about the story being good! I've tried to make it so.
Iorhael - Frodo hasn't got a greedy bone in his body, so it's hard for him to understand the motives of folks like the Sackville - Bagginses. Sam will be of help to Frodo in chapters to come, when he's not busy in the garden with the Gaffer!
Endymion - The tone of the story will definitely change a little as Lotho gets up to his nasty tricks. Is there anyone Lobelia is happy with? I sincerely doubt it! Frodo's altruism is definitely part of his internal makeup, but he has been accustomed to a life of sharing. When it comes to greed, he doesn't see the need! FF.net's filter must have gone down, because my Frodo story was sandwiched in between a bunch of Elf tales. Hidden quite effectively!
~*~Author's note~*~
FF.net has had some problems with it's search engine, it seems. I've disovered that you can find this story much more easily if you use the search with Frodo as character one and Bilbo as character two. I did that and it popped up at the top of the page. So, until the filter starts working again, this will make it better.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Chapter 2 - Tea in the Garden
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Bilbo dithered nervously in the kitchen as the afternoon sun poured in through the window. He had finished his preparations for his guests, and awaited their arrival with apprehension. What would they think about Frodo? What would they say to him, he wondered. As if recent events weren't enough for the lad, he must encounter his least appealing family members in all their glory, just days after his arrival. It didn't seem fair to the boy.
Bilbo walked down the hallway to Frodo's room to see how he was getting on. The Sackville - Bagginses were rather pretentious in Bilbo's opinion, and they would undoubtedly arrive dressed in their very best, expecting the same of their hosts. It was a pity there hadn't been time to see to something new for Frodo. His best from Brandy Hall would have to do, and Bilbo fervently hoped Lobelia wouldn't pick the lad apart on sight.
Frodo was just fastening the top button of his best weskit as Bilbo tapped on the door. "Are you ready, Frodo?" he asked as he entered the room.
"How am I to define 'ready'?" Frodo asked in response as he smoothed his curls into place. If Bilbo meant ready in terms of being properly dressed, pressed and polished, he supposed he had done the best he could. If Bilbo was referring to his state of mind, Frodo was none too sure he was ready to spend the next hour or so in the company of people he had heard so many unflattering things about. Even so, he decided, he must form his own opinions and give his relations a proper chance.
"You look just fine, Frodo," Bilbo said, patting Frodo on the back gently. "Just remember, dear boy, the Sackville - Bagginses are not representative of the sort of folks you will meet as you settle in here. They are unusual in their lack of regard for the sensibilities of others. They may say things that will shock you, even hurt you, if you allow it." He continued as Frodo nodded. "No matter what they do or say, you must remember that you are a good lad, smart, thoughtful and with enviable wit and good graces. They will call you a Brandybuck, but you are a member of the family of Baggins of Hobbiton." Bilbo said the last sentence in a strident voice that sounded proud and confident. "Never forget that, Frodo."
"I shan't, Uncle," Frodo said, chuckling. "Is it often that they come around?"
"Thankfully, no," Bilbo replied as he smoothed the front of his weskit. "Every so often they will insist that I come to their home for tea, or they will invite themselves to Bag End. These visits are thinly disguised as social occasions, but they are in truth spy missions, meant to discern whether I am on my deathbed or not."
"Well, they shall be disappointed once again, Uncle, as you are clearly not anywhere near your deathbed, much less on it!" Frodo said with a laugh. Bilbo laughed as well, and the tension left both hobbits as they prepared to face the next hour with patience and restraint.
The bell chimed and Bilbo's ears twitched involuntarily. "Courage, my boy," the old hobbit said with a wink. He walked out of the room and down the hall muttering something about dragons and trolls.
Frodo took a deep breath and smiled. His reflection in the mirror smiled back at him, and he tried to think of himself as the young gentlehobbit Bilbo said he was. He vowed that he would be as pleasant as the other guests were not, for how bad could an hour with them truly be?
~*~
Bilbo forced a charming smile onto his face and opened the door to admit Otho and Lobelia. Their tweenage son Lotho was right behind them, wearing his customary narcissistic smirk.
"Otho, Lobelia, do come in! Lotho, how are you, lad?" Bilbo allowed himself a moment of self - congratulation regarding how well he was doing so far at playing the good host.
"I'm well, Cousin Bilbo," Lotho replied evenly. His gaze roved around the room as he wondered where this Frodo person was. His mother had said that Bilbo had company from Buckland, and had told him only a few things about Frodo. Lotho knew only that Frodo had been orphaned at the age of twelve, had grown up in Buckland at Brandy Hall, and was about four years younger than he.
Movement down a hallway caught Lotho's eye as Frodo made his way to the parlor to join the other hobbits gathered there. Lotho looked Frodo up and down as the younger tween approached, and decided there was nothing special about him.
Why was he so pale and thin? Did they lock him in his room at Brandy Hall and neglect to feed him? Lotho's gaze drifted over Frodo's attire almost mockingly. Those clothes may have been a perfect fit last season, he mused, but they were clearly in the process of being outgrown, and were of only marginal quality anyway. Common, one might even say. Some fine gentlehobbit this turned out to be, this distant cousin of his who was more Brandybuck than Baggins.
As Frodo entered the parlor, there was an uncomfortable moment when all conversation and movement seemed to come to a sudden halt. Bilbo broke the silence to introduce Frodo. "This is Frodo Baggins. He is the son of Drogo and Primula Baggins, and will be staying here at Bag End." He gestured to his guests. "Frodo, may I present the Sackville - Bagginses - Otho, Lobelia and Lotho."
"How do you do?" Frodo said shaking hands and bowing politely, attempting to give the impression of confidence and good manners. Manners were not a problem, as Frodo had been raised with attention to such details. Confidence was another matter, and Frodo felt his withering under Lotho's measuring gaze.
"Greetings, Cousin," Lotho said smoothly. "How long will you be staying in Hobbiton?"
"It hasn't really been decided yet," Frodo replied. "Several months at least," he finished, reminding himself to stand up straight and keep smiling. Something about Lotho made him uncomfortable, as if the older lad were inspecting him carefully and finding him somehow lacking.
"How nice for you," Lotho replied, his eyes holding Frodo's. "Bag End is quite a lovely place, especially compared to that warren in Buckland." The statement was made in a polite tone - perhaps a little too polite, doing nothing to hide an undercurrent of derision.
Bilbo cleared his throat, sparing Frodo the need to reply. "Shall we go out to the garden? It's such a lovely day, I thought we could take our tea outside, in the sunshine."
"Of course, Bilbo," Lobelia said, looking not at the older hobbit but at Frodo. "Come, Lotho." She took Otho's arm and turned away.
"Yes, Mother," Lotho replied, giving Frodo another sharp glance as he joined his parents on their way out to the garden.
Once clear of the Sackville - Bagginses, Frodo breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad of the momentary reprieve that retrieving the tea service would bring him. "I'll bring the tea, Uncle. I'll be but a moment," Frodo said as he placed the cups and teapot on a tray and began to rummage about for spoons, sugar and honey.
"Take your time, Frodo, lad." Bilbo understood that Frodo might need a moment to gather his composure. Making new acquaintances was always a bit awkward, but was even more so when one was being judged by them like a pony at the Free Fair. Bilbo had been almost surprised when Lobelia hadn't inspected Frodo's teeth and checked his forelock for fleas. Bilbo gave Frodo an encouraging smile and followed his guests out to the garden where a small table and chairs had been placed in a sunny spot.
"So how have you been keeping lately, Bilbo?" Lobelia inquired as always. How long was the old codger going to last, anyway? At his age he could at least have the decency to show some signs of aching joints or failing eyesight.
"Quite well, Lobelia. Never better!" Bilbo answered brightly, beaming at her. She struggled to hide her displeasure, but Bilbo knew it well and could see it through a stone wall, were one present between them. "And yourselves?"
"Likewise," Otho replied, finally squeezing a word in edgewise. "We've been well, but for Lotho's bout last month with Southfarthing Spotted Fever."
Bilbo couldn't resist. "Southfarthing Spotted Fever is a childhood illness, is it not?" His eyebrows went up as he commented, "Very strange for someone as mature as your Lotho to contract it, I would think."
Gotcha! Otho blinked, Lobelia's ears twitched, and Lotho's face began to turn as red as the fever spots themselves.
Frodo walked up to the table carrying the tray, arriving just in time to hear the exchange. He tried to keep his apprehension from showing as he set the tea service down in the center of the table and seated himself next to Bilbo.
Lobelia addressed Frodo as Bilbo poured the tea. "So what brings you to Hobbiton for such a long visit?" she asked. The question was accompanied by yet another measuring, almost suspicious glance.
"It was agreed that a quieter environment might be good for me for a while," Frodo answered, not wanting to give any precise details of events leading up to his arrival in Hobbiton.
"Did you find Brandy Hall to be somehow unsatisfactory?" Lobelia continued, with a raised eyebrow. "Of course, I have heard those Bucklanders are rather queer folk, to say the least." She managed a scandalized look as she said, "I even hear that the Master's own family works in the fields and orchards like the common folk."
Frodo could just imagine how Merry might have replied to such a statement, and he struggled with a response. "Everyone at the Hall works together for the good of all who live there," Frodo said, trying to keep the tightness from his voice. "There is much to be done, and all capable hands are used as needed, regardless of whose they may be."
"And to what use did the Master put your hands, Cousin?" Lotho inquired, the smirk on his face deepening. He reached out and took hold of one of Frodo's hands, examining it. "I don't see much by way of calluses here. He must have found something a little more proper for you to do than picking apples or plowing rows, I would imagine."
Frodo fidgeted uncomfortably and drew his hand out of Lotho's grip. "I was considered not yet old enough or big enough to work in the fields, so I helped in the library and with other tasks about the Hall," Frodo explained. "Mostly errands and such, and even the smallest youngsters find ways to help with the harvest. It was kind of fun, actually."
"From apple gathering errand boy to gentlehobbit in the blink of an eye," Lobelia observed primly. "Only a Bucklander could manage it, I daresay."
Frodo saw Bilbo's jaw muscles tighten as the elderly hobbit finished pouring the tea. "Drat!" he muttered as he took the top off the sugar bowl. "I've forgotten to refill this, and there's not enough here for all of us. If you will pardon me for a moment - "
"I shall help you, Cousin Bilbo," Lotho offered all too pleasantly. "I'll refill it for you." The tween held out his hand to take the sugar bowl from Bilbo.
"How kind of you, Lotho," Bilbo said, handing the bowl to the tween. He didn't relish the idea of any of the Sackville - Bagginses entering Bag End unaccompanied, but it wouldn't do to be rude. What sort of example would he be setting for Frodo? "The sugar is in the far right cabinet in the kitchen." Bilbo watched Lotho's back as he strode away toward the smial. If Lobelia had put him up to pilfering the good silver, he would have no luck. Bilbo had hidden it quite securely in preparation for the visit. Lotho could snoop all he wished, but not so much as a spoon would be found.
~*~
Lotho entered Bag End and made for the kitchen. As he reached the junction where the main hallways met, he stopped and gazed down the one he had seen Frodo emerge from. A quick peek couldn't hurt, he decided, and he hurried down the hall until he found the room that must belong to his cousin.
A cursory inspection revealed little about the room's occupant. The armoire was far from filled and the clothing hanging there was of an even more common quality than what served the little Bucklander as his best attire. There were a few books, a family portrait, and not much else of interest.
He gazed at the portrait momentarily, noting the two adult hobbits and the pale, dark - haired child with them. Frodo must have been all of ten summers old when it was drawn, if that. So those were the parents who drowned in the river then. What business had hobbits floating about in boats anyway? Bucklanders, indeed, Lotho thought, shaking his head.
So Frodo didn't have much to his name, then. Perhaps that was common in a place like Brandy Hall, but Lotho disliked something about it. If Frodo had so little of his own, wouldn't he be wanting more? Was Lotho's younger cousin trying to worm his way into Bilbo's good graces in hopes of a large inheritance? Lotho sneered at the thought.
He turned and left the room, again going back toward the kitchen. This time it was Bilbo's study that distracted him. The room was an enormous mess, Lotho observed. How did that cracked old hobbit find anything with all those books, maps and papers strewn about?
He stood looking at the desk, and something caught his eye. A book lay open, showing handwriting and the date in the upper corner of the page was that very day. A journal? He smiled. It wasn't really proper to read someone's journal, but a peek into the musings of Bilbo Baggins was just too tempting to resist, and Lotho began to scan the entry on the page.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
'This day is best ended as soon as possible, I fear. It will be a day of sore trial for Frodo with the Sackville - Bagginses and their prying questions. After all that the lad has endured recently, I would have spared him this for some while to come. Fate and Lobelia have other ideas it seems, and we shall have tea this very afternoon.
I hope the boy will not be too troubled by his relations. Hobbiton is otherwise a fine environment for Frodo, and I believe he will thrive here. He has six months to make up his mind regarding whether he is staying, and I hope that he will. Should he decide to do so, I will finalize his adoption at Forelithe in Buckland. He shall one day be the Master of Bag End, for I can think of none more deserving than he. '
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Lotho stood in stunned silence. He couldn't believe what he was seeing! That little Bucklander stood to inherit Bag End, and Lotho and his family would then receive what? Nothing, most likely. How could Bilbo dare to slight them in such fashion? Were they not his closest relations? Frodo may be a Baggins by name, but he was also half Brandybuck from what Lotho had been told. Let him inherit whatever legacy they had to give him, but Bag End must not be given to that skinny little orphan!
Six months. Yes, the journal had said Frodo was to have six months to make his decision as to whether he was going to stay in Hobbiton. Suppose Frodo decided NOT to stay? Lotho's mind began to whirl with the possibilities. Suppose Frodo were to find himself unhappy here for some reason? Or perhaps Bilbo would prove to be a less than satisfactory guardian. The situation could still be salvaged. All he had to do was get rid of Frodo, and he had six months to do it.
Lotho left the study and refilled the sugar bowl as planned. By the time he reached the door of Bag End, he had replaced the sneer on his face with the ingratiating smile once again.
"Forgive me for being so long," Lotho said as he placed the sugar bowl on the table. "I spilled some and it took a few moments to clean it up."
Bilbo wanted so much to ask if Lotho had found any spare spoons about while he was dealing with the spilled sugar, but he restrained himself out of respect for Frodo's sensibilities. It wouldn't do to expose the lad to more old animosity than was strictly necessary at this point.
"Not to worry, lad," Bilbo assured the tween as he spooned sugar into the tea. "I am certain you have matters well in hand."
"Oh, yes." Lotho stirred his tea and smiled. "I do indeed."
~*~To be continued~*~
FrodoBaggins1982 - I was a little later getting this started than I planned. It took a while to get the main part of the story completed. I wouldn't mind living in a place like Bag End myself!
Bookworm2000 - Lotho is indeed going to be up to something in chapters to come.
Shirebound - I'm glad you're enjoying Bilbo's characterization. I see him as being much sharper than most other hobbits give him credit for, and I'll do my best not to let him forget that!
Amelia Rose - Thank you for your compliments regarding the story that preceded this one. I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.
Krista - Thank you for your kind words! Lotho will show up in this chapter and we'll see plenty of him as the story continues. He's sneaky, greedy and insolent, and those are some of his good points!
Midgette - Sam's got a good handle on it when he says Frodo is smart. You bet he is! He's also quite friendly and likely to believe the best of the people he meets, which may not prove to be a good thing in some cases.
Aratlithiel - Thanks for being my beta again! Tea with the S.Bs will be interesting indeed, at least I hope so! Bilbo is doing all he can to make Frodo comfortable in his new home, and sometimes that may prove a bit of a challenge.
Aelfgifu - Glad you like the story so far! Lotho is indeed waiting in the wings with his nasty machinations. Let's let him out of his cage, shall we?
Tavion - Can't wait to see what Lotho will be inflicting upon poor Frodo? More on that subject as the story progresses.
Kay - I hope you're right about the story being good! I've tried to make it so.
Iorhael - Frodo hasn't got a greedy bone in his body, so it's hard for him to understand the motives of folks like the Sackville - Bagginses. Sam will be of help to Frodo in chapters to come, when he's not busy in the garden with the Gaffer!
Endymion - The tone of the story will definitely change a little as Lotho gets up to his nasty tricks. Is there anyone Lobelia is happy with? I sincerely doubt it! Frodo's altruism is definitely part of his internal makeup, but he has been accustomed to a life of sharing. When it comes to greed, he doesn't see the need! FF.net's filter must have gone down, because my Frodo story was sandwiched in between a bunch of Elf tales. Hidden quite effectively!
~*~Author's note~*~
FF.net has had some problems with it's search engine, it seems. I've disovered that you can find this story much more easily if you use the search with Frodo as character one and Bilbo as character two. I did that and it popped up at the top of the page. So, until the filter starts working again, this will make it better.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Chapter 2 - Tea in the Garden
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Bilbo dithered nervously in the kitchen as the afternoon sun poured in through the window. He had finished his preparations for his guests, and awaited their arrival with apprehension. What would they think about Frodo? What would they say to him, he wondered. As if recent events weren't enough for the lad, he must encounter his least appealing family members in all their glory, just days after his arrival. It didn't seem fair to the boy.
Bilbo walked down the hallway to Frodo's room to see how he was getting on. The Sackville - Bagginses were rather pretentious in Bilbo's opinion, and they would undoubtedly arrive dressed in their very best, expecting the same of their hosts. It was a pity there hadn't been time to see to something new for Frodo. His best from Brandy Hall would have to do, and Bilbo fervently hoped Lobelia wouldn't pick the lad apart on sight.
Frodo was just fastening the top button of his best weskit as Bilbo tapped on the door. "Are you ready, Frodo?" he asked as he entered the room.
"How am I to define 'ready'?" Frodo asked in response as he smoothed his curls into place. If Bilbo meant ready in terms of being properly dressed, pressed and polished, he supposed he had done the best he could. If Bilbo was referring to his state of mind, Frodo was none too sure he was ready to spend the next hour or so in the company of people he had heard so many unflattering things about. Even so, he decided, he must form his own opinions and give his relations a proper chance.
"You look just fine, Frodo," Bilbo said, patting Frodo on the back gently. "Just remember, dear boy, the Sackville - Bagginses are not representative of the sort of folks you will meet as you settle in here. They are unusual in their lack of regard for the sensibilities of others. They may say things that will shock you, even hurt you, if you allow it." He continued as Frodo nodded. "No matter what they do or say, you must remember that you are a good lad, smart, thoughtful and with enviable wit and good graces. They will call you a Brandybuck, but you are a member of the family of Baggins of Hobbiton." Bilbo said the last sentence in a strident voice that sounded proud and confident. "Never forget that, Frodo."
"I shan't, Uncle," Frodo said, chuckling. "Is it often that they come around?"
"Thankfully, no," Bilbo replied as he smoothed the front of his weskit. "Every so often they will insist that I come to their home for tea, or they will invite themselves to Bag End. These visits are thinly disguised as social occasions, but they are in truth spy missions, meant to discern whether I am on my deathbed or not."
"Well, they shall be disappointed once again, Uncle, as you are clearly not anywhere near your deathbed, much less on it!" Frodo said with a laugh. Bilbo laughed as well, and the tension left both hobbits as they prepared to face the next hour with patience and restraint.
The bell chimed and Bilbo's ears twitched involuntarily. "Courage, my boy," the old hobbit said with a wink. He walked out of the room and down the hall muttering something about dragons and trolls.
Frodo took a deep breath and smiled. His reflection in the mirror smiled back at him, and he tried to think of himself as the young gentlehobbit Bilbo said he was. He vowed that he would be as pleasant as the other guests were not, for how bad could an hour with them truly be?
~*~
Bilbo forced a charming smile onto his face and opened the door to admit Otho and Lobelia. Their tweenage son Lotho was right behind them, wearing his customary narcissistic smirk.
"Otho, Lobelia, do come in! Lotho, how are you, lad?" Bilbo allowed himself a moment of self - congratulation regarding how well he was doing so far at playing the good host.
"I'm well, Cousin Bilbo," Lotho replied evenly. His gaze roved around the room as he wondered where this Frodo person was. His mother had said that Bilbo had company from Buckland, and had told him only a few things about Frodo. Lotho knew only that Frodo had been orphaned at the age of twelve, had grown up in Buckland at Brandy Hall, and was about four years younger than he.
Movement down a hallway caught Lotho's eye as Frodo made his way to the parlor to join the other hobbits gathered there. Lotho looked Frodo up and down as the younger tween approached, and decided there was nothing special about him.
Why was he so pale and thin? Did they lock him in his room at Brandy Hall and neglect to feed him? Lotho's gaze drifted over Frodo's attire almost mockingly. Those clothes may have been a perfect fit last season, he mused, but they were clearly in the process of being outgrown, and were of only marginal quality anyway. Common, one might even say. Some fine gentlehobbit this turned out to be, this distant cousin of his who was more Brandybuck than Baggins.
As Frodo entered the parlor, there was an uncomfortable moment when all conversation and movement seemed to come to a sudden halt. Bilbo broke the silence to introduce Frodo. "This is Frodo Baggins. He is the son of Drogo and Primula Baggins, and will be staying here at Bag End." He gestured to his guests. "Frodo, may I present the Sackville - Bagginses - Otho, Lobelia and Lotho."
"How do you do?" Frodo said shaking hands and bowing politely, attempting to give the impression of confidence and good manners. Manners were not a problem, as Frodo had been raised with attention to such details. Confidence was another matter, and Frodo felt his withering under Lotho's measuring gaze.
"Greetings, Cousin," Lotho said smoothly. "How long will you be staying in Hobbiton?"
"It hasn't really been decided yet," Frodo replied. "Several months at least," he finished, reminding himself to stand up straight and keep smiling. Something about Lotho made him uncomfortable, as if the older lad were inspecting him carefully and finding him somehow lacking.
"How nice for you," Lotho replied, his eyes holding Frodo's. "Bag End is quite a lovely place, especially compared to that warren in Buckland." The statement was made in a polite tone - perhaps a little too polite, doing nothing to hide an undercurrent of derision.
Bilbo cleared his throat, sparing Frodo the need to reply. "Shall we go out to the garden? It's such a lovely day, I thought we could take our tea outside, in the sunshine."
"Of course, Bilbo," Lobelia said, looking not at the older hobbit but at Frodo. "Come, Lotho." She took Otho's arm and turned away.
"Yes, Mother," Lotho replied, giving Frodo another sharp glance as he joined his parents on their way out to the garden.
Once clear of the Sackville - Bagginses, Frodo breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad of the momentary reprieve that retrieving the tea service would bring him. "I'll bring the tea, Uncle. I'll be but a moment," Frodo said as he placed the cups and teapot on a tray and began to rummage about for spoons, sugar and honey.
"Take your time, Frodo, lad." Bilbo understood that Frodo might need a moment to gather his composure. Making new acquaintances was always a bit awkward, but was even more so when one was being judged by them like a pony at the Free Fair. Bilbo had been almost surprised when Lobelia hadn't inspected Frodo's teeth and checked his forelock for fleas. Bilbo gave Frodo an encouraging smile and followed his guests out to the garden where a small table and chairs had been placed in a sunny spot.
"So how have you been keeping lately, Bilbo?" Lobelia inquired as always. How long was the old codger going to last, anyway? At his age he could at least have the decency to show some signs of aching joints or failing eyesight.
"Quite well, Lobelia. Never better!" Bilbo answered brightly, beaming at her. She struggled to hide her displeasure, but Bilbo knew it well and could see it through a stone wall, were one present between them. "And yourselves?"
"Likewise," Otho replied, finally squeezing a word in edgewise. "We've been well, but for Lotho's bout last month with Southfarthing Spotted Fever."
Bilbo couldn't resist. "Southfarthing Spotted Fever is a childhood illness, is it not?" His eyebrows went up as he commented, "Very strange for someone as mature as your Lotho to contract it, I would think."
Gotcha! Otho blinked, Lobelia's ears twitched, and Lotho's face began to turn as red as the fever spots themselves.
Frodo walked up to the table carrying the tray, arriving just in time to hear the exchange. He tried to keep his apprehension from showing as he set the tea service down in the center of the table and seated himself next to Bilbo.
Lobelia addressed Frodo as Bilbo poured the tea. "So what brings you to Hobbiton for such a long visit?" she asked. The question was accompanied by yet another measuring, almost suspicious glance.
"It was agreed that a quieter environment might be good for me for a while," Frodo answered, not wanting to give any precise details of events leading up to his arrival in Hobbiton.
"Did you find Brandy Hall to be somehow unsatisfactory?" Lobelia continued, with a raised eyebrow. "Of course, I have heard those Bucklanders are rather queer folk, to say the least." She managed a scandalized look as she said, "I even hear that the Master's own family works in the fields and orchards like the common folk."
Frodo could just imagine how Merry might have replied to such a statement, and he struggled with a response. "Everyone at the Hall works together for the good of all who live there," Frodo said, trying to keep the tightness from his voice. "There is much to be done, and all capable hands are used as needed, regardless of whose they may be."
"And to what use did the Master put your hands, Cousin?" Lotho inquired, the smirk on his face deepening. He reached out and took hold of one of Frodo's hands, examining it. "I don't see much by way of calluses here. He must have found something a little more proper for you to do than picking apples or plowing rows, I would imagine."
Frodo fidgeted uncomfortably and drew his hand out of Lotho's grip. "I was considered not yet old enough or big enough to work in the fields, so I helped in the library and with other tasks about the Hall," Frodo explained. "Mostly errands and such, and even the smallest youngsters find ways to help with the harvest. It was kind of fun, actually."
"From apple gathering errand boy to gentlehobbit in the blink of an eye," Lobelia observed primly. "Only a Bucklander could manage it, I daresay."
Frodo saw Bilbo's jaw muscles tighten as the elderly hobbit finished pouring the tea. "Drat!" he muttered as he took the top off the sugar bowl. "I've forgotten to refill this, and there's not enough here for all of us. If you will pardon me for a moment - "
"I shall help you, Cousin Bilbo," Lotho offered all too pleasantly. "I'll refill it for you." The tween held out his hand to take the sugar bowl from Bilbo.
"How kind of you, Lotho," Bilbo said, handing the bowl to the tween. He didn't relish the idea of any of the Sackville - Bagginses entering Bag End unaccompanied, but it wouldn't do to be rude. What sort of example would he be setting for Frodo? "The sugar is in the far right cabinet in the kitchen." Bilbo watched Lotho's back as he strode away toward the smial. If Lobelia had put him up to pilfering the good silver, he would have no luck. Bilbo had hidden it quite securely in preparation for the visit. Lotho could snoop all he wished, but not so much as a spoon would be found.
~*~
Lotho entered Bag End and made for the kitchen. As he reached the junction where the main hallways met, he stopped and gazed down the one he had seen Frodo emerge from. A quick peek couldn't hurt, he decided, and he hurried down the hall until he found the room that must belong to his cousin.
A cursory inspection revealed little about the room's occupant. The armoire was far from filled and the clothing hanging there was of an even more common quality than what served the little Bucklander as his best attire. There were a few books, a family portrait, and not much else of interest.
He gazed at the portrait momentarily, noting the two adult hobbits and the pale, dark - haired child with them. Frodo must have been all of ten summers old when it was drawn, if that. So those were the parents who drowned in the river then. What business had hobbits floating about in boats anyway? Bucklanders, indeed, Lotho thought, shaking his head.
So Frodo didn't have much to his name, then. Perhaps that was common in a place like Brandy Hall, but Lotho disliked something about it. If Frodo had so little of his own, wouldn't he be wanting more? Was Lotho's younger cousin trying to worm his way into Bilbo's good graces in hopes of a large inheritance? Lotho sneered at the thought.
He turned and left the room, again going back toward the kitchen. This time it was Bilbo's study that distracted him. The room was an enormous mess, Lotho observed. How did that cracked old hobbit find anything with all those books, maps and papers strewn about?
He stood looking at the desk, and something caught his eye. A book lay open, showing handwriting and the date in the upper corner of the page was that very day. A journal? He smiled. It wasn't really proper to read someone's journal, but a peek into the musings of Bilbo Baggins was just too tempting to resist, and Lotho began to scan the entry on the page.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
'This day is best ended as soon as possible, I fear. It will be a day of sore trial for Frodo with the Sackville - Bagginses and their prying questions. After all that the lad has endured recently, I would have spared him this for some while to come. Fate and Lobelia have other ideas it seems, and we shall have tea this very afternoon.
I hope the boy will not be too troubled by his relations. Hobbiton is otherwise a fine environment for Frodo, and I believe he will thrive here. He has six months to make up his mind regarding whether he is staying, and I hope that he will. Should he decide to do so, I will finalize his adoption at Forelithe in Buckland. He shall one day be the Master of Bag End, for I can think of none more deserving than he. '
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Lotho stood in stunned silence. He couldn't believe what he was seeing! That little Bucklander stood to inherit Bag End, and Lotho and his family would then receive what? Nothing, most likely. How could Bilbo dare to slight them in such fashion? Were they not his closest relations? Frodo may be a Baggins by name, but he was also half Brandybuck from what Lotho had been told. Let him inherit whatever legacy they had to give him, but Bag End must not be given to that skinny little orphan!
Six months. Yes, the journal had said Frodo was to have six months to make his decision as to whether he was going to stay in Hobbiton. Suppose Frodo decided NOT to stay? Lotho's mind began to whirl with the possibilities. Suppose Frodo were to find himself unhappy here for some reason? Or perhaps Bilbo would prove to be a less than satisfactory guardian. The situation could still be salvaged. All he had to do was get rid of Frodo, and he had six months to do it.
Lotho left the study and refilled the sugar bowl as planned. By the time he reached the door of Bag End, he had replaced the sneer on his face with the ingratiating smile once again.
"Forgive me for being so long," Lotho said as he placed the sugar bowl on the table. "I spilled some and it took a few moments to clean it up."
Bilbo wanted so much to ask if Lotho had found any spare spoons about while he was dealing with the spilled sugar, but he restrained himself out of respect for Frodo's sensibilities. It wouldn't do to expose the lad to more old animosity than was strictly necessary at this point.
"Not to worry, lad," Bilbo assured the tween as he spooned sugar into the tea. "I am certain you have matters well in hand."
"Oh, yes." Lotho stirred his tea and smiled. "I do indeed."
~*~To be continued~*~