Thanks ShireElf: I know hobbits are only 3 foot 6 inches, this was just a
misfortunate typo and my poor editing abilities...(Oh my gosh my face is
red..scurries under the bed to pout....Loveofthering peeks out from under
the bed and promises to do better editing... "I promise, I promise!...I
promise on.... on the precious!"
I was so happy to see your reviews. I jumped and jumped around my room! I was so bored because I could not think of a story to write so I thought about Bilbo. Then, since you read, "What is in my pocket," this is a sequel to that story (or the beginning of that story) and hopefully I'll keep this very interesting and detailed so you will enjoy reading this.
MlynnBloom: Don't feel bad about reading, "What is in my Pocket" just yet! This story is going backwards to the beginning of Bilbo's story of "What is in my pocket". If you get my meaning...That story is about when Bilbo takes Frodo in as his heir of Bag End and has a side story about Bilbo's troubles in getting Frodo away from others who only want him for his money. Bilbo had to be very tricky in order to get Frodo as his legal heir.
I was not too sure that anyone would want to read a story that was a spin off from another story that I already wrote. I was thinking about deleting this, but if you are still interested in this story, I will continue. Loveofthering is going to be very evil in telling this story with all sorts of twists and plots that I hope will shock you and keep you wanting to read more. The introduction of characters are fun, but I am looking forward to the chapters ahead when the story really gets going.
Chapter 2
The Fall of the Plan
Bungo slowly walked through the tunnel first turning to the right and walking across the room to turn towards the left. He looked at the panel walls that he had built and the heavy wooden beams that supported the craved rounded boards that made the ceiling. His seventy-four year old body ached from his back to his shoulders and down into his slender hips. He sighed as he looked at the long wooden boards on the floor and remembered the hard work it took to place each one correctly. He rubbed is hands together and felt the throbbing pain from his swollen knuckles from the years of work on Bag End.
Walking down the tunnel that lead him closer to the common areas of Bag End, his eyes shifted from the right and to the left as he observed each room that he past. Rooms barely used except for when Belladonna would have a grand party and the guests would spend the night. Again he crossed another room to turn down another hallway that lead to the left and getting closer to the kitchen where he hoped to find his son.
Bungo stopped when he spotted a large X painted on the wall. He wondered how long that had been there. He reached his finger to touch the X and found that the paint was still wet. He knew Belladonna was planning on taking this wall out to make a new tunnel for the fourth section of Bag End. Bungo closed his eyes and wondered where he would find the strength to begin such a big project of building this for her.
He wiped the dot of paint from his finger onto his old work pants. Walking through one more room, he finally reached the open door that led to the kitchen and saw his son pacing around the kitchen leaving a trail of breadcrumbs behind him. His son mumbled under his breath, "Nasty disturbing, uncomfortable things. Going off without mid-afternoon morsels. It's unnatural, is all I have to say about it. Makes a hobbit late for his meal." Bungo knew he must be late for mid-afternoon morsels by the flustered appearance of his son with his long good-bye he gave to his wife. Bilbo was very upset by her leaving. He continued mumbling to himself. "Mothers should not be going off unless it was thoroughly planned and placed into the engagement tablet and this was unplanned. After all, the Old Took's party is not until next week. It is here in the tablet!" Bilbo glanced down at the table as he paced by it and took another nibble from the chunk of bread. Whenever Bilbo became the slightest bit flustered he would nibble on whatever was at hand and from the loaves of bread that sat upon the stone counter-top, Bungo could see half a loaf missing.
Bilbo seeing his father enter the kitchen, he scuttled off to the table and pulled a chair out for him to sit. "Please, please! Come sit yourself here and let me get you a cup of hot tea. The singing kettle is whistling!" Bilbo smiled thinking about the kettle that would whistle whenever the water boiled and the steam bellowed out. He scuttled over to the wood stove and grabbed a towel to lift the whistling kettle of boiling water from the hot flat iron it rested upon. He dashed over to the cups that sat ready on the stone counter-top and glanced at his father who sat down in the chair and pulled himself up to the table. Noticing the quietness about his father, he asked him. "Mother has made the finest loaves of bread that I've tasted and I can tell you first hand the splendor of them. I could cut you a chunk of cheese to have with your fresh bread, if you would like?"
Bungo looked up from the table and watched Bilbo carefully pouring the boiling water into the teacups. He smiled at his son. "Yes, a chunk of cheese would do nicely with the bread, that's if we have any left?"
"Lots!" said Bilbo as he placed the kettle on the cooler section of the wood-burning stove and watched the puffs of steam still spouting from the tip of the kettle. He loved this kettle the most and the sounds that it would make.
He scurried over to the pantry and found a small wedge of cheese and brought it back over to place along side the cups of tea. He took two silver-spoons from the display rack that were given from the Baggin's side of the family's inheritance, in which Bilbo was also very proud of, as the handles had beautifully carved "B" marked on them. Taking a fresh loaf of bread and adding a small bowl of churned butter, he was ready to serve his father.
Bilbo sat down next to his father and carefully watched him. He could sense that his father was overwhelmed with building a new section of rooms onto Bag End. "Begging your pardon, but I did overhear that you'll be adding the new section of rooms," said Bilbo as he took another bite of cheese with his bread all the while watching his father for his reaction in the hopes of discussing this would not upset him.
Bungo only nodded as he took a big mouthful of cheese and bread. Chewing it awhile and swallowing it, he said, "Looks like tomorrow we'll be starting!"
"Well then, I should get my quill out and perhaps begin to make a map so we'll be able to find one another if we get lost in the maze of tunnels of Bag End!" commented Bilbo with a slight chuckle.
Bungo burst out laughing at Bilbo's half-truth on the matter as he could point out the obvious just at the right moment. "Good gracious me, that sounds like a good plan there, Bilbo! When we finish the new section a map might be just what we'll need!"
Bilbo and Bungo both enjoyed their laugh over this and he knew that he had lifted his father's spirit just a little.
~*~
Belladonna looked at her eldest brother and saw the family journal of accounts in his hand. She knew that he was onto her that she had been dipping into the inheritance for years to build Bag End. By his sobering appearance he was not happy about it either.
Belladonna squared her shoulders and her determination and followed her brother into the Took's office.
Belladonna's eyes widened when she entered the office. Gone where the Old Took's personal things and were replaced by Isengrim's favorite things that lay about as if he was just unpacking them.
Isengrim removed his small fiddle from on top the Old Took's desk. Belladonna noticed that the bottles of medicine and lotions were missing that her father used constantly to help with the pain in his knuckles. His favorite books were now put back high upon the shelf and the soft quilted pillows that she had made for him were carelessly tossed on the floor. Belladonna picked up the pillows and dusted them off and fluffed them up before she set them down upon the wooden bench next to the row of bookshelves. Taking her time she slowly walked over to a chair and sat down to prepared herself to face her brother. The beloved office where she had spent so much time with her father growing up in the Great Smial was in such disarray from her brother moving things about. He had replaced all the things that had brought her such fond memories and this only made her nerves all the more on edge and she shifted in the chair to wait for whatever Isengrim would say to her.
Isengrim sat down in front of his desk and carefully placed his small fiddle on the floor next to him. Opening the journal that he placed on the desk, he quickly found the page where his father had jotted down the amounts he had paid to his daughter.
Isengrim sat back in his chair and placed his fingertips together. "Well, now we both know where you got the money to built Bag End!"
Belladonna raised her right eyebrow and stared at her brother. "Yes, Isengrim! I've built Bag End with my own money! Is there something wrong with that?"
Isengrim sat up in his chair and looked in shock at his sister, "Yes, Bella! When you've taken what does not yet belong to you! These inheritance is suppose to be divided among the family and are not to be given until the death of our dear father!"
Belladonna shot back shortly, "I've carefully figured the amounts in equal portions and I've only taken what was to have gone to me! Besides, our father saw nothing wrong with it!"
"You presume too much, my dearest sister!" said Isengrim. "You're considering the fact that you are equal in the ranks of birth and you fall towards the bottom and are female of our kind! Our father's mind is feeble! He would have agreed to anything that you would have asked of him!"
Belladonna stood up in front of her brother, as her face became a shade of red in anger. "Being the first born, Isengrim, are you declaring you deserve the lions share! Isn't it enough you inherit the Took's title and the Great Smial. You now want most of the money for yourself! Your greed has no end!"
Isengrim too stood up and crossed his arms in front of himself taking a more dominant stance. "I am the Thain of the Shire and with those responsibilities much will be asked of me! It's not greed for myself, but for the good folk of our kind!"
Belladonna also folded her arms and she set her determined chin not to allow Isengrim to get the best of her. "Talking about dipping into the inheritance! You've declared your tittle long before it was to be given! Our father is not in his grave yet! If anyone assumes too much, it is you, Isengrim!"
Her brother narrowed his eyes and glared at his sister. "You know as well as anyone, the Old Took is well past his time and his mind is not as sharp to run this entire clan! I have stepped up to make our father's burdens easier to bare in the time that he has left! Where you on the other hand wishes to empty his pockets in order to better your own greed!"
Belladonna stood her ground as her anger hit its boiling point. "Our father is the recognized Thain of our clan! It is the Thain that I will speak to of my matters which at this point does not concern you. Let the Thain himself tell me I do not deserve the inheritance of being his child! Until you are officially given and named the Thain, I will not recognize you as such! Just a loud mouth brother sticking his noise into matters that is none of his business!" Belladonna turned sharply away from her brother but froze in her steps as he added.
"I am the Thain and you'll not get a single coin more, Bella! Even if our father's passes on, your inheritance is all but spent! I am the Thain now! You will hear me, Bella!"
Belladonna spoke over her shoulder as she slowly turned around, "If all the money is spent then I'll not have a coin left to my name. Then what will I do?"
Isengrim said coldly, "Sell Bag End!"
Her eyes narrowed sharply and in her anger she shouted out loud. "I would die first rather than sell Bag End!"
Tears stung her eyes and she turned to rush out of the door. Slamming the door behind her, Belladonna heard curse words coming from behind the closed door as her raced down the hallway of the Great Smial. She headed to her father chambers.
~*~
The sun was just cresting the morning sky when Bungo finished the morning breakfast. His spirits were lively as he whistled taking the morning dished to the wash tub. He had slept well during the night and just like his wife had predicted he was looking forward to cutting the first new boards for Bag End's newest addition. After his game of checkers with his son last night and being miserably beaten by Bilbo; he had taken the drawings of his wife for the new section of rooms. He marveled at the intricate designs of leaves in her drawings. He envisioned the new beams would be extraordinary in this design as it intrigued him how he was going to cut the wood. He mentally planned which tool it was going to take to make those precision cuts. Even though the work was very draining on him, he loved building Bag End and being in his workshop surrounded by all of his tools.
Bungo heard Bilbo's fast approaching feet as he made his way down the hallway heading towards the kitchen. He had sent his son to fetch his toolbox and they would soon begin. He would remove the boards on the wall that his wife had marked with an X and replace those with delicate carved beams for the doorway. Then that design would flow into the entire section that he and Bilbo would make.
"Sorry if I kept you waiting, but I have found the tools that you have asked for!" stated Bilbo after taking a deep breath. Bilbo placed the toolbox on the table as his father joined him and rubbed his hands together being excited to begin. He riffled thorough his tools looking for the very thinnest chisel. "Yes, yes! Here it is!"
Bungo held the thinnest chisel up in front of him and admired the sleek thin handle and fine pointed end of this tool as if it was a fine crafted sword. He had never had a chance to use this tool before and he looked forward to trying it out. Bungo raised his eyebrows in delight and joviality in his voice when he turned to face his son. "Well, my lad! We're finally ready! I'll teach you a skill that Logo had shown me long ago, that even I've not used before, until today! Between your mother's designs and my skill with a chisel, Bag End's beauty will be like no others!"
Bungo had a way of being so enthused when he worked on a project that he drew others around him just to hear his tale in how he made this or that. His stories of building things were loved by the hobbits and it amazed them. Bilbo watched his father's face light up in anticipation to begin their work. He marveled at his father and his love of working with wood. He knew his love of stories first began when he was just a lad listening to his father's plan to build Bag End. His father's eyes would light up and he would make grand gestures with his hands as he described just what it was going to look like. These were his best memories of his father, as they would spend hours in his shop cutting and measuring the long boards and beams to build Bag End. Bag End was just not a hobbit home in which they lived. It was rather like Bag End was a beloved cherished family member. Bilbo tenderly smiled at his father as he watched him looking over the drawings one last time.
"You love Bag End! Don't you, Da!" stated Bilbo. "And for all of mama's badgering you would have built it any way!"
Bungo looked up at Bilbo with a fleeting glance and then back down to the drawings in front of him. "Yes, my lad. You know your father all too well and your mother knows if my hands were rested too long, that I would've found a reason to add another room or two myself!"
Both hobbits began to chuckle with this little bit of truth about himself.
As the morning passed, Bilbo and Bungo sat in the front yard at either end upon a thick beam with a chisel and hammer in their hands and had made generous cuts into the ends of the beam. And Again, the good folk of Hobbiton heard the constant hammering that was so familiar coming from The Hill.
Logo Bracegirdle opened the front gate to Bag End upon seeing his good friend Bungo and his son with their tools cutting into a beam.
Logo was a kind and gentle hobbit that had graced the inhabitance of the Shire. Hobbits admired him greatly and all sought him out to make fine furnishings for them. He was just a few years older than Bungo and had become the dearest of friends during the first time he had hired Logo when he first began to build their home. Logo had taken Bungo under his wing and taught him skills of building and respect of the wood that he carved. He taught Bungo about the trees, which to cut down and which to be saved and honored. For each tree Logo cut down, he replaced it with a seedling and cared for it until it reached a height and strength that it could endure on its own. In the groves of trees where Logo tended, there was no fallen tree or wasted wood that lay about the ground to rot.
Logo's white gray hair was long and he tied it loosely behind him with a leather strap. He was a thin hobbit and wore a long green cape that matched his vest and mid-calf brown pants. He always had on a white shirt with a long tailored collar and the cape's strings would rest just under that collar. About his waist he wore a thick brown belt that had pockets for his carving tools that he used for the different types of jobs he would do. With all the years of building, Logo was a wealthy hobbit and his home even though it was smaller compared the grandeur of Bag End, it was a cozy country home almost hidden from view as it blended into the surroundings in which it was built. There were thick bushes, shrubs and trees all around the Bracegridle's home. The rounded sward of his roof blended in with the color and texture of those plants. Only the rounded green door and a window was the only tell tale sign that a hobbit home was amongst these living things.
Logo placed his hands upon his hips as he observed Bungo working with the tiny chisel. He watched his skillful hands cutting the delicate leaf patterns that would adorn this beam. "I see that you have finally found a reason to use that tool I gave you years ago. You've got a talent, my friend! I've never seen a lovelier pattern of leaves!" Bungo smiled as he looked up from his work at his oldest and dearest friend. He dusted off the leaf he had just finished and stood to shake Logo's hand. "The pattern is my wife's plan, my talent is all that you have taught me. Logo, my friend! Good morning to you and How good it is to see you!"
Bilbo also greeted Mr. Bracegridle with a warm, "Good Morning, Sir!"
Logo patted Bungo on his shoulder after he had shook his hand. Turning he watch Bilbo cut the delicate pattern of the leaf. "It's a fine thing for you to be handing down your skills to your lad, Bungo. Bilbo will become the finest carpenter when he comes into his own!"
Bilbo admired the aged old hobbit and he politely asked him, "Please, sir! You must come along in, and have a second breakfast with us. I've planned a fine meal!"
Logo nodded his head politely, "That my dear, Bilbo. I was hoping for!"
Logo watched Bilbo make another slice with his chisel and noticed a bit of struggle with the small tool. "Here, my lad! Let me show you a trick I've learned with the years of carving that will make that pattern easier for you to cut," said Logo as he straddled the beam and sat down upon it. Taking the tiny chisel from Bilbo and the small wooden hammer. He placed the chisel at a lower angle and lightly tapped the hammer against the thin handle. Slowly a ribbon of wood curled around the pointed end as Bilbo admired this hobbit's skill. "You see, my lad. The wood will yield itself when you follow the curves of the grain. By lowering your chisel just so will make it glide smoothly across its surface in making those magnificent leaves!"
Bilbo nodded as he watched the hobbit carve. "Yes, yes, I see it. I worried whether I was getting an even line to the curl of those leaves."
Logo handed the small chisel to Bilbo and helped guide is hand until he felt the right angle of the chisel. Soon Bilbo was cutting the leaves with ease. When he finished the set of leaves, Bilbo stood next to Logo and his father.
"You got the finest son, Bungo. A son you can be proud of!" stated Logo. "I have always wished for a son, but I've only been blessed with a daughter! A daughter that cares not for the learning of the skills of her father nor the growing of the trees that allow me the craft of my skill!"
Logo put his arm around Bilbo to show him how much that he thought of him. Bilbo beamed with a brilliant smile toward Logo and then to his father.
"Proud of him, I am, Logo!" stated Bungo. "You couldn't ask for a finer son, than my Bilbo. Come now, it's getting on to ten o'clock and as expected, it is time for second breakfast and my stomach is aching from hunger! "
The three hobbits went into Bag End for the second breakfast and visited about the news of the Old Took's, one hundred and thirtieth Birthday. Logo told Bungo that he too was going to the Old Took's birthday party and was going to bring his daughter.
When the second breakfast was over with, Logo wanted to see where they were going to add the new addition onto Bag End. It was not long until the wall was removed and taking a lantern, they walked behind the framing beams that held up the tunnels of Bag End. Bilbo brought the lantern to his father while Bungo lit the candle and closed the glass around it. He hung the lantern upon a nail on the framing beam and looked at the dirt wall before them. The next day there would be rows and rows of buckets to remove the dirt to open this part of the hill. Bungo marked out the width of the tunnel that they would dig. After talking over the plans with Logo in what they were going to do, Logo agreed to come and help them.
~*~
Belladonna sat on a stool next to her father's bed as he mumbled in his sleep. "Oh Da, Whatever am I going to do now!" she whispered softly. Slow tears began to fall from her eyes as she worried how she was going to tell Bungo that there was no inheritance left.
I was so happy to see your reviews. I jumped and jumped around my room! I was so bored because I could not think of a story to write so I thought about Bilbo. Then, since you read, "What is in my pocket," this is a sequel to that story (or the beginning of that story) and hopefully I'll keep this very interesting and detailed so you will enjoy reading this.
MlynnBloom: Don't feel bad about reading, "What is in my Pocket" just yet! This story is going backwards to the beginning of Bilbo's story of "What is in my pocket". If you get my meaning...That story is about when Bilbo takes Frodo in as his heir of Bag End and has a side story about Bilbo's troubles in getting Frodo away from others who only want him for his money. Bilbo had to be very tricky in order to get Frodo as his legal heir.
I was not too sure that anyone would want to read a story that was a spin off from another story that I already wrote. I was thinking about deleting this, but if you are still interested in this story, I will continue. Loveofthering is going to be very evil in telling this story with all sorts of twists and plots that I hope will shock you and keep you wanting to read more. The introduction of characters are fun, but I am looking forward to the chapters ahead when the story really gets going.
Chapter 2
The Fall of the Plan
Bungo slowly walked through the tunnel first turning to the right and walking across the room to turn towards the left. He looked at the panel walls that he had built and the heavy wooden beams that supported the craved rounded boards that made the ceiling. His seventy-four year old body ached from his back to his shoulders and down into his slender hips. He sighed as he looked at the long wooden boards on the floor and remembered the hard work it took to place each one correctly. He rubbed is hands together and felt the throbbing pain from his swollen knuckles from the years of work on Bag End.
Walking down the tunnel that lead him closer to the common areas of Bag End, his eyes shifted from the right and to the left as he observed each room that he past. Rooms barely used except for when Belladonna would have a grand party and the guests would spend the night. Again he crossed another room to turn down another hallway that lead to the left and getting closer to the kitchen where he hoped to find his son.
Bungo stopped when he spotted a large X painted on the wall. He wondered how long that had been there. He reached his finger to touch the X and found that the paint was still wet. He knew Belladonna was planning on taking this wall out to make a new tunnel for the fourth section of Bag End. Bungo closed his eyes and wondered where he would find the strength to begin such a big project of building this for her.
He wiped the dot of paint from his finger onto his old work pants. Walking through one more room, he finally reached the open door that led to the kitchen and saw his son pacing around the kitchen leaving a trail of breadcrumbs behind him. His son mumbled under his breath, "Nasty disturbing, uncomfortable things. Going off without mid-afternoon morsels. It's unnatural, is all I have to say about it. Makes a hobbit late for his meal." Bungo knew he must be late for mid-afternoon morsels by the flustered appearance of his son with his long good-bye he gave to his wife. Bilbo was very upset by her leaving. He continued mumbling to himself. "Mothers should not be going off unless it was thoroughly planned and placed into the engagement tablet and this was unplanned. After all, the Old Took's party is not until next week. It is here in the tablet!" Bilbo glanced down at the table as he paced by it and took another nibble from the chunk of bread. Whenever Bilbo became the slightest bit flustered he would nibble on whatever was at hand and from the loaves of bread that sat upon the stone counter-top, Bungo could see half a loaf missing.
Bilbo seeing his father enter the kitchen, he scuttled off to the table and pulled a chair out for him to sit. "Please, please! Come sit yourself here and let me get you a cup of hot tea. The singing kettle is whistling!" Bilbo smiled thinking about the kettle that would whistle whenever the water boiled and the steam bellowed out. He scuttled over to the wood stove and grabbed a towel to lift the whistling kettle of boiling water from the hot flat iron it rested upon. He dashed over to the cups that sat ready on the stone counter-top and glanced at his father who sat down in the chair and pulled himself up to the table. Noticing the quietness about his father, he asked him. "Mother has made the finest loaves of bread that I've tasted and I can tell you first hand the splendor of them. I could cut you a chunk of cheese to have with your fresh bread, if you would like?"
Bungo looked up from the table and watched Bilbo carefully pouring the boiling water into the teacups. He smiled at his son. "Yes, a chunk of cheese would do nicely with the bread, that's if we have any left?"
"Lots!" said Bilbo as he placed the kettle on the cooler section of the wood-burning stove and watched the puffs of steam still spouting from the tip of the kettle. He loved this kettle the most and the sounds that it would make.
He scurried over to the pantry and found a small wedge of cheese and brought it back over to place along side the cups of tea. He took two silver-spoons from the display rack that were given from the Baggin's side of the family's inheritance, in which Bilbo was also very proud of, as the handles had beautifully carved "B" marked on them. Taking a fresh loaf of bread and adding a small bowl of churned butter, he was ready to serve his father.
Bilbo sat down next to his father and carefully watched him. He could sense that his father was overwhelmed with building a new section of rooms onto Bag End. "Begging your pardon, but I did overhear that you'll be adding the new section of rooms," said Bilbo as he took another bite of cheese with his bread all the while watching his father for his reaction in the hopes of discussing this would not upset him.
Bungo only nodded as he took a big mouthful of cheese and bread. Chewing it awhile and swallowing it, he said, "Looks like tomorrow we'll be starting!"
"Well then, I should get my quill out and perhaps begin to make a map so we'll be able to find one another if we get lost in the maze of tunnels of Bag End!" commented Bilbo with a slight chuckle.
Bungo burst out laughing at Bilbo's half-truth on the matter as he could point out the obvious just at the right moment. "Good gracious me, that sounds like a good plan there, Bilbo! When we finish the new section a map might be just what we'll need!"
Bilbo and Bungo both enjoyed their laugh over this and he knew that he had lifted his father's spirit just a little.
~*~
Belladonna looked at her eldest brother and saw the family journal of accounts in his hand. She knew that he was onto her that she had been dipping into the inheritance for years to build Bag End. By his sobering appearance he was not happy about it either.
Belladonna squared her shoulders and her determination and followed her brother into the Took's office.
Belladonna's eyes widened when she entered the office. Gone where the Old Took's personal things and were replaced by Isengrim's favorite things that lay about as if he was just unpacking them.
Isengrim removed his small fiddle from on top the Old Took's desk. Belladonna noticed that the bottles of medicine and lotions were missing that her father used constantly to help with the pain in his knuckles. His favorite books were now put back high upon the shelf and the soft quilted pillows that she had made for him were carelessly tossed on the floor. Belladonna picked up the pillows and dusted them off and fluffed them up before she set them down upon the wooden bench next to the row of bookshelves. Taking her time she slowly walked over to a chair and sat down to prepared herself to face her brother. The beloved office where she had spent so much time with her father growing up in the Great Smial was in such disarray from her brother moving things about. He had replaced all the things that had brought her such fond memories and this only made her nerves all the more on edge and she shifted in the chair to wait for whatever Isengrim would say to her.
Isengrim sat down in front of his desk and carefully placed his small fiddle on the floor next to him. Opening the journal that he placed on the desk, he quickly found the page where his father had jotted down the amounts he had paid to his daughter.
Isengrim sat back in his chair and placed his fingertips together. "Well, now we both know where you got the money to built Bag End!"
Belladonna raised her right eyebrow and stared at her brother. "Yes, Isengrim! I've built Bag End with my own money! Is there something wrong with that?"
Isengrim sat up in his chair and looked in shock at his sister, "Yes, Bella! When you've taken what does not yet belong to you! These inheritance is suppose to be divided among the family and are not to be given until the death of our dear father!"
Belladonna shot back shortly, "I've carefully figured the amounts in equal portions and I've only taken what was to have gone to me! Besides, our father saw nothing wrong with it!"
"You presume too much, my dearest sister!" said Isengrim. "You're considering the fact that you are equal in the ranks of birth and you fall towards the bottom and are female of our kind! Our father's mind is feeble! He would have agreed to anything that you would have asked of him!"
Belladonna stood up in front of her brother, as her face became a shade of red in anger. "Being the first born, Isengrim, are you declaring you deserve the lions share! Isn't it enough you inherit the Took's title and the Great Smial. You now want most of the money for yourself! Your greed has no end!"
Isengrim too stood up and crossed his arms in front of himself taking a more dominant stance. "I am the Thain of the Shire and with those responsibilities much will be asked of me! It's not greed for myself, but for the good folk of our kind!"
Belladonna also folded her arms and she set her determined chin not to allow Isengrim to get the best of her. "Talking about dipping into the inheritance! You've declared your tittle long before it was to be given! Our father is not in his grave yet! If anyone assumes too much, it is you, Isengrim!"
Her brother narrowed his eyes and glared at his sister. "You know as well as anyone, the Old Took is well past his time and his mind is not as sharp to run this entire clan! I have stepped up to make our father's burdens easier to bare in the time that he has left! Where you on the other hand wishes to empty his pockets in order to better your own greed!"
Belladonna stood her ground as her anger hit its boiling point. "Our father is the recognized Thain of our clan! It is the Thain that I will speak to of my matters which at this point does not concern you. Let the Thain himself tell me I do not deserve the inheritance of being his child! Until you are officially given and named the Thain, I will not recognize you as such! Just a loud mouth brother sticking his noise into matters that is none of his business!" Belladonna turned sharply away from her brother but froze in her steps as he added.
"I am the Thain and you'll not get a single coin more, Bella! Even if our father's passes on, your inheritance is all but spent! I am the Thain now! You will hear me, Bella!"
Belladonna spoke over her shoulder as she slowly turned around, "If all the money is spent then I'll not have a coin left to my name. Then what will I do?"
Isengrim said coldly, "Sell Bag End!"
Her eyes narrowed sharply and in her anger she shouted out loud. "I would die first rather than sell Bag End!"
Tears stung her eyes and she turned to rush out of the door. Slamming the door behind her, Belladonna heard curse words coming from behind the closed door as her raced down the hallway of the Great Smial. She headed to her father chambers.
~*~
The sun was just cresting the morning sky when Bungo finished the morning breakfast. His spirits were lively as he whistled taking the morning dished to the wash tub. He had slept well during the night and just like his wife had predicted he was looking forward to cutting the first new boards for Bag End's newest addition. After his game of checkers with his son last night and being miserably beaten by Bilbo; he had taken the drawings of his wife for the new section of rooms. He marveled at the intricate designs of leaves in her drawings. He envisioned the new beams would be extraordinary in this design as it intrigued him how he was going to cut the wood. He mentally planned which tool it was going to take to make those precision cuts. Even though the work was very draining on him, he loved building Bag End and being in his workshop surrounded by all of his tools.
Bungo heard Bilbo's fast approaching feet as he made his way down the hallway heading towards the kitchen. He had sent his son to fetch his toolbox and they would soon begin. He would remove the boards on the wall that his wife had marked with an X and replace those with delicate carved beams for the doorway. Then that design would flow into the entire section that he and Bilbo would make.
"Sorry if I kept you waiting, but I have found the tools that you have asked for!" stated Bilbo after taking a deep breath. Bilbo placed the toolbox on the table as his father joined him and rubbed his hands together being excited to begin. He riffled thorough his tools looking for the very thinnest chisel. "Yes, yes! Here it is!"
Bungo held the thinnest chisel up in front of him and admired the sleek thin handle and fine pointed end of this tool as if it was a fine crafted sword. He had never had a chance to use this tool before and he looked forward to trying it out. Bungo raised his eyebrows in delight and joviality in his voice when he turned to face his son. "Well, my lad! We're finally ready! I'll teach you a skill that Logo had shown me long ago, that even I've not used before, until today! Between your mother's designs and my skill with a chisel, Bag End's beauty will be like no others!"
Bungo had a way of being so enthused when he worked on a project that he drew others around him just to hear his tale in how he made this or that. His stories of building things were loved by the hobbits and it amazed them. Bilbo watched his father's face light up in anticipation to begin their work. He marveled at his father and his love of working with wood. He knew his love of stories first began when he was just a lad listening to his father's plan to build Bag End. His father's eyes would light up and he would make grand gestures with his hands as he described just what it was going to look like. These were his best memories of his father, as they would spend hours in his shop cutting and measuring the long boards and beams to build Bag End. Bag End was just not a hobbit home in which they lived. It was rather like Bag End was a beloved cherished family member. Bilbo tenderly smiled at his father as he watched him looking over the drawings one last time.
"You love Bag End! Don't you, Da!" stated Bilbo. "And for all of mama's badgering you would have built it any way!"
Bungo looked up at Bilbo with a fleeting glance and then back down to the drawings in front of him. "Yes, my lad. You know your father all too well and your mother knows if my hands were rested too long, that I would've found a reason to add another room or two myself!"
Both hobbits began to chuckle with this little bit of truth about himself.
As the morning passed, Bilbo and Bungo sat in the front yard at either end upon a thick beam with a chisel and hammer in their hands and had made generous cuts into the ends of the beam. And Again, the good folk of Hobbiton heard the constant hammering that was so familiar coming from The Hill.
Logo Bracegirdle opened the front gate to Bag End upon seeing his good friend Bungo and his son with their tools cutting into a beam.
Logo was a kind and gentle hobbit that had graced the inhabitance of the Shire. Hobbits admired him greatly and all sought him out to make fine furnishings for them. He was just a few years older than Bungo and had become the dearest of friends during the first time he had hired Logo when he first began to build their home. Logo had taken Bungo under his wing and taught him skills of building and respect of the wood that he carved. He taught Bungo about the trees, which to cut down and which to be saved and honored. For each tree Logo cut down, he replaced it with a seedling and cared for it until it reached a height and strength that it could endure on its own. In the groves of trees where Logo tended, there was no fallen tree or wasted wood that lay about the ground to rot.
Logo's white gray hair was long and he tied it loosely behind him with a leather strap. He was a thin hobbit and wore a long green cape that matched his vest and mid-calf brown pants. He always had on a white shirt with a long tailored collar and the cape's strings would rest just under that collar. About his waist he wore a thick brown belt that had pockets for his carving tools that he used for the different types of jobs he would do. With all the years of building, Logo was a wealthy hobbit and his home even though it was smaller compared the grandeur of Bag End, it was a cozy country home almost hidden from view as it blended into the surroundings in which it was built. There were thick bushes, shrubs and trees all around the Bracegridle's home. The rounded sward of his roof blended in with the color and texture of those plants. Only the rounded green door and a window was the only tell tale sign that a hobbit home was amongst these living things.
Logo placed his hands upon his hips as he observed Bungo working with the tiny chisel. He watched his skillful hands cutting the delicate leaf patterns that would adorn this beam. "I see that you have finally found a reason to use that tool I gave you years ago. You've got a talent, my friend! I've never seen a lovelier pattern of leaves!" Bungo smiled as he looked up from his work at his oldest and dearest friend. He dusted off the leaf he had just finished and stood to shake Logo's hand. "The pattern is my wife's plan, my talent is all that you have taught me. Logo, my friend! Good morning to you and How good it is to see you!"
Bilbo also greeted Mr. Bracegridle with a warm, "Good Morning, Sir!"
Logo patted Bungo on his shoulder after he had shook his hand. Turning he watch Bilbo cut the delicate pattern of the leaf. "It's a fine thing for you to be handing down your skills to your lad, Bungo. Bilbo will become the finest carpenter when he comes into his own!"
Bilbo admired the aged old hobbit and he politely asked him, "Please, sir! You must come along in, and have a second breakfast with us. I've planned a fine meal!"
Logo nodded his head politely, "That my dear, Bilbo. I was hoping for!"
Logo watched Bilbo make another slice with his chisel and noticed a bit of struggle with the small tool. "Here, my lad! Let me show you a trick I've learned with the years of carving that will make that pattern easier for you to cut," said Logo as he straddled the beam and sat down upon it. Taking the tiny chisel from Bilbo and the small wooden hammer. He placed the chisel at a lower angle and lightly tapped the hammer against the thin handle. Slowly a ribbon of wood curled around the pointed end as Bilbo admired this hobbit's skill. "You see, my lad. The wood will yield itself when you follow the curves of the grain. By lowering your chisel just so will make it glide smoothly across its surface in making those magnificent leaves!"
Bilbo nodded as he watched the hobbit carve. "Yes, yes, I see it. I worried whether I was getting an even line to the curl of those leaves."
Logo handed the small chisel to Bilbo and helped guide is hand until he felt the right angle of the chisel. Soon Bilbo was cutting the leaves with ease. When he finished the set of leaves, Bilbo stood next to Logo and his father.
"You got the finest son, Bungo. A son you can be proud of!" stated Logo. "I have always wished for a son, but I've only been blessed with a daughter! A daughter that cares not for the learning of the skills of her father nor the growing of the trees that allow me the craft of my skill!"
Logo put his arm around Bilbo to show him how much that he thought of him. Bilbo beamed with a brilliant smile toward Logo and then to his father.
"Proud of him, I am, Logo!" stated Bungo. "You couldn't ask for a finer son, than my Bilbo. Come now, it's getting on to ten o'clock and as expected, it is time for second breakfast and my stomach is aching from hunger! "
The three hobbits went into Bag End for the second breakfast and visited about the news of the Old Took's, one hundred and thirtieth Birthday. Logo told Bungo that he too was going to the Old Took's birthday party and was going to bring his daughter.
When the second breakfast was over with, Logo wanted to see where they were going to add the new addition onto Bag End. It was not long until the wall was removed and taking a lantern, they walked behind the framing beams that held up the tunnels of Bag End. Bilbo brought the lantern to his father while Bungo lit the candle and closed the glass around it. He hung the lantern upon a nail on the framing beam and looked at the dirt wall before them. The next day there would be rows and rows of buckets to remove the dirt to open this part of the hill. Bungo marked out the width of the tunnel that they would dig. After talking over the plans with Logo in what they were going to do, Logo agreed to come and help them.
~*~
Belladonna sat on a stool next to her father's bed as he mumbled in his sleep. "Oh Da, Whatever am I going to do now!" she whispered softly. Slow tears began to fall from her eyes as she worried how she was going to tell Bungo that there was no inheritance left.