Notes to Readers:
The co-author on this chapter is, of course, Jodancingtree. She has added lots
of charming touches, thanks, Jo!
Thank you for the comments! Reviews are very motivating and give me insights
into the stories that make me dig deeper in writing, which I probably wouldn't
do were I the only one reading these stories... (I am sending them on to Jo,
and she thanks you as well.) And thank you for your patience as well! We are
getting there—there is at least one chapter left after this one. I cannot tell
you when it will be posted. Probably not for a week, but check back if you are
not signed up for "author notifications".
Aemilia Rose, thank you for the encouragement. Here's that update you asked
for.
Hai, yes, kind of a "meanwhile back at the ranch" situation (ever see any old
Western movies?).
Xena, I don't think Ferdi would have left at all if he'd thought Nell was about
to give birth. I am having fun thinking of Ferumbras, have even started a new
story where he's a character...
Bookworm, yes, Jo and I have had fun coming up with thoughts about life behind
the scenes at the Great Smials.
Tim, A turnabout sounds highly likely. What do you think, Jo?
FantasyFan, O, I know, but it is an instinct in men to protect womenfolk, I
think. At least that is my experience. I remember a situation where I and
another woman were trying to compete with men (we were placed in that position
by our career choice), and they kept trying to protect us, and we were
exasperated. We finally got through to them that we didn't want to be
cosseted... and they stepped back and let us fall flat on our faces (quite
literally). There has to be a balance somewhere, but it is awfully difficult to
achieve.
If you cannot access ff.net, try www.storiesofarda.com.
You can leave reviews there, as well (thanks SoA reviewers! See replies at SoA
as well), and there is a "reply" feature where an author can reply to
a review right there rather than within the text of the story. I have also
discovered the "author alert" feature. Amazing place, that SoA.
The next chapter of "A Small and Passing Thing" will be posted on Monday, if
all goes well. I'm not quite sure when the next chapter of "Runaway" will go
up; Jo and I are still busy hammering out bits and pieces and do not yet have a
draft chapter, but we are working at it. In the meantime, in between chapters
of "Small and Passing Thing" I will be posting three chapters of a very short
story I wrote back in February, called "Sunsets".
Enough admin notes. Let's get to the story.
***
Chapter 27. Not All the Talk...
The talk ran low about the Great Smials; there was not much to talk about with
the Thain and his son gone to Buckland, the Mistress evidently holding her own
with this new babe, and the sister of the Thain no longer suffering early
pains. There were only common things to talk about: the pigs somehow escaping
and having to be rounded up; Old Tom's youngest son being thrown from the pony
he was training, breaking an arm; the waste of a batch of holiday cakes due to
the fact that someone had switched labels on barrels of salt and sugar...
Tookish tongues were aching to wag on the day the Steward returned from
Tookbank. The only news of interest was that he'd concluded his business a week
early. That was to be expected from one as efficient as Reginard. Tookish teeth
were ready to sink themselves into something juicy, a scandal, perhaps, but
none offered itself for consumption. Ferdi had not yet returned, but that was
nothing to comment on. He'd taken the son of the Thain on to Buckland, after
all, and probably stayed to enjoy the Hall's famous hospitality and brandy in
the bargain. Tolly kept the Smials running smoothly; he'd a list of tasks as
long as his arm that Ferdi had drawn up for him before leaving, and it was a
wonder the head of escort found time to eat and sleep.
As it was, Tolly was in Tuckborough when Reginard returned around noontide, and
since the Steward took the midday meal with his family, the head of escort
didn't see him in the great room when he ate with Haldegrim and Isenard and
their families. Meadowsweet frowned to see her husband picking at his food. She
certainly hoped a message would come from Ferdi this day, before Tolly wasted
away to a shadow of himself. The talk was all about the loss of the
brandy-cakes and spicecakes and so Tolly did not hear of Reginard's return
until he sat down in the second parlour to a game of Kings with Isenard, the
first relaxation he'd allowed himself since Ferdi'd left.
'Where's Haldi?' he asked, moving a piece.
Isen studied the board, knitting his brows. 'Dancing attendance upon the
Steward,' he replied absently.
'Regi's back?' Tolly said, abruptly sitting upright. 'Why didn't anyone tell
me?'
Isenard looked up, surprised at first at Tolly's reaction, but of course, the head
of escort took his job seriously. 'You were out,' he said. 'I imagine he'll
call for you sooner or later.'
Just before teatime, the call came.
***
Gorbibold burst into Diamond's sitting room without knocking. 'Mum! Come quick
- they've arrested Da and they're taking him off somewhere!'
'What!' Meadowsweet sprang up, her sewing thrown aside. 'Where?' she demanded.
'Where is he?'
'They were just leaving the Thain's study, and Mum! They tied Da's hands!'
Diamond's face had gone white as milk. 'Go, Sweetie, find out what's going on!'
she said, her voice faint. But Meadowsweet was gone already, the door left open
behind her and her son at her heels.
She nearly ran into them in the main corridor, Tolly with his hands bound,
Haldi hanging onto his arm, a crowd of staring, whispering hobbits following.
'Tolly, what's happened? Where are they taking you?' she cried, ignoring the
other hobbits as if they hadn't been there at all. Tolly shook his head at her.
Don't make things worse, his eyes pleaded. But Haldigrim brushed her
aside. Tolly wasn't talking! Dread clutching her heart, Meadowsweet
realised that they'd warned him against speaking until interviewed by the
Thain, serious business indeed, the kind of thing that led to shunning or
banishment...
'Business of the Thain,' Haldi said grimly, refusing to look at her. Though
Meadowsweet couldn't see it, he was sick at heart at this turn of events. He
didn't think Tolly had conspired to harm the son of the Thain, but evidently
Reginard and Everard, two of the sharpest minds in Tookland, did. 'Tolly, do
you want...?' Did he want Meadowsweet to accompany him to the hearing? It was
his right, and hers.
Tolly shook his head again, then glancing at Haldi as if feeling the gag
already in his mouth, he whispered, 'All will be well, Sweetie. Take care of
the children. I--' She saw Haldi's knuckles whiten as he gripped Tolly's arm,
and her husband broke off. As Haldi pulled Tolly away, nearly dragging him by
the arm, Meadowsweet saw in her husband's eyes what he'd not been allowed to
say: I love you! Meadowsweet was left standing in the corridor, twisting
her apron in her hands. Around her was a buzz of talk as hobbits poured into the
corridor, staring at the spectacle of the head of escort being led away bound.
She pushed through the crowd to one of the sitting rooms at the front of the
Smials where she could see outside. She pressed her face to the glass, watching
as ponies were brought up, already saddled and carrying gear for travel. Tolly
came in sight, still held firmly by Haldigrim. He looked back to the Smials,
and she tapped on the window, mouthing 'I love you!' when he glanced her way.
He nodded and smiled at her, and then Haldi was helping him to mount his pony
as his wrists were still bound before him. Reginard joined them and a moment
later they were riding away, Regi a little ahead of the others, Haldi and Isen
flanking Tolly's pony. She watched them out of sight and then sank to the
floor, covering her head with her shawl, shuddering with sobs.
Nell found her there half an hour later, huddled under the window. She had
finished weeping and sat with her legs pulled up, her face on her knees, shawl
still thrown over her head.
'Sweetie? Are you awake?' Nell asked gently, tugging the shawl away.
Meadowsweet looked up. Her face was swollen and blotchy, but her eyes were dry.
'Business of the Thain,' she said bitterly. 'He wouldn't allow me one minute with
my husband, he was that full of himself; wouldn't so much as let Tolly say he
loved me.' Her voice rang in the empty room, fear and sorrow overborne by
outrage. 'We give our hearts and lives to serving the Thain; I neglect my own
childer to watch over his wife, and his escort drags my husband away before my
eyes and all he can say is Business of the Thain!' She got
up slowly, her limbs stiffened from sitting so long in one position.
'Who was it, Sweetie? Who wouldn't let you speak to Tolly?' Nell was alarmed;
she had never seen Meadowsweet in such a mood.
'I'm going back to my quarters, Nell. Send my childer there if you see any of
them, please.' A sudden thought struck her; Woodruff was attending Diamond just
now; Mardi would be at his home in Tuckborough and wouldn't know that his
younger brother had been arrested and escorted off somewhere. She must send
word to him!
'O Sweetie, won't you come back and talk to Diamond? She's terribly upset about
this; she sent me to find you.' Nell moved to put an arm around Meadowsweet,
but her friend stiffened and put her off.
'She's upset! I'm surprised she even wants to see my face after my
husband's been hauled away in bonds!' she snapped.
'I'm sure it's all some sort of misunderstanding,' Nell soothed, but
Meadowsweet rounded on her.
'Misunderstanding!' she said sharply. 'They don't bind your hands and tongue
over a misunderstanding! Next I hear, Tolly might be under the Ban, or banished
completely!'
'It'll hardly come to that,' Pimpernel said, but Meadowsweet shook her head.
'You lived away from Tookland too long,' she said. 'You've forgotten the
Thain's justice.'
Pimpernel was stunned silent. When she finally was able to speak, she said
slowly, 'Peregrin is not Paladin.'
'Well it looks as if the acorn hasn't fallen far from the tree!' Meadowsweet
retorted.
Pimpernel held her temper with an effort. 'Sweetie,' she said, hand on her
friend's arm, but Sweetie was thinking of Mardi, and pulled away.
'I've got to tell him,' she said.
'Tell who?' Nell said, confused.
'Mardi! He doesn't know Tolly's in trouble,' Meadowsweet said. 'He's eldest
brother, he ought to be there to stand up for Tolly!'
A servant stuck his head in at the parlour door. 'Begging your pardon,' he
said, 'but the Mistress sent me to see if you need anything.'
'You know of the arrest?' Meadowsweet said, drawing herself up to her full
height.
'Yes'm,' he said apologetically. 'It's all the talk, ma'am.'
'Then go – send a message to Healer Mardibold, he's at home in Tuckborough,
tell him what's happened,' she ordered.
'Yes'm,' came the deferential answer. Meadowsweet wondered how long the
deference would last. With Tolly arrested, how soon would the whispers and
stares assail herself and her little ones? Perhaps they ought to leave the
Smials now, before the Talk could hurt the children.
'Well?' she demanded. 'What are you waiting for?'
'The Mistress sent me,' the servant repeated. Meadowsweet realised that already
her orders were being questioned. She might have to go to Tuckborough herself,
or send one of the lads.
'Yes, yes,' Pimpernel broke in impatiently. 'We'll see to the Mistress. You
have your orders, carry them out!'
'Yes'm,' the servant said, and bowed his way out.
Meadowsweet stood stiff a moment longer, then sighed and patted Nell's hand.
'You're a good sort, Nelly. Yes, I'll go to Diamond after I've seen to my
little ones. 'Tisn't her fault, poor poppet.' She looked Pimpernel in the face,
and her brown eyes had lost all their sparkle. 'I'll help you care for Diamond,
but it's for her own sake and not for the Thain. Pippin Took has Haldigrim to
look out for his business, and that's more than enough – he'll get no help from
me!'
'Sweetie –' Nell hardly knew how to respond. 'Pippin's my brother, you know.'
Meadowsweet nodded. 'I haven't forgotten that. I won't hold it against you,
though.' She turned and was gone, and Nell stood with her mind whirling. Pippin
was in Buckland – did he even know of Tolly's arrest? What was going on – and
where in heaven's name was Farry?
That night and the next day were agony for Meadowsweet and her little brood.
She kept to her rooms with her little ones as much as possible. Rusty brought
their meals and cleared away; he buffered them as well as he could from the
wild talk and speculation that ran round the Smials, for Tolly and Sweetie and
their children were like a second family to him. Tolly was as honourable and
upright as the day was long – what could have possessed the Steward, to
have him bound and carried away?
Mardibold came at once from Tuckborough and divided his time between Diamond and
Meadowsweet.
'I haven't been summoned to attend a hearing,' he said in reassurance that
night, after the little ones were abed, but Meadowsweet was not reassured.
'What could it be?' she asked apprehensively. 'His wretched wagering? I could
see how it might earn him a reprimand, but this?'
A terrible storm had broken over Tuckborough that night, mirroring the storm of
fear and anger buffeting Meadowsweet. Deep inside the Smials as their suite
was, they still felt the effects of the storm as the wind roared outside,
sending gusts down the chimneys to flatten the dancing flames on the hearths
throughout the dwelling. As yet another gust roared down the chimney,
Meadowsweet shivered. 'They're out in this,' she whispered, 'wherever it is they've
gone.'
'I'm sure they sought shelter,' Mardi said.
'Shelter,' Meadowsweet said bleakly. 'More hobbits to see him bound, more to
talk...'
Mardi took her hand. 'We'll weather this blow,' he said. 'My brother is an
honourable hobbit, and if his debts have landed him in trouble... well, I have
a bit put away. He's welcome to it, if it'll help.'
'O Mardi!' Meadowsweet said, her eyes filling with tears. She squeezed his hand
but could say no more. A tap came on the door of the suite, and Mardi went to
answer, Rusty having gone off duty by this time.
'Is Sweetie in?' a sober voice inquired. Two hobbits stood at the door. Mardi
was ready to put them off, but Meadowsweet rose, seeing the visitors: Hildigrim
Took and Fortinbrand, two of her husband's largest creditors.
'Come in,' she said cautiously. 'May I offer you tea?'
'No, thank you,' Hildigrim said, waiting to seat himself until she was seated.
She took comfort in this small courtesy.
Fortinbrand, always one to go straight to the point of a matter, said abruptly,
'Tolly's in trouble.'
'You heard,' Sweetie said wryly.
'It's all the Talk,' Hildigrim answered apologetically. 'We've come —'
'We've come to offer any aid we can,' Fortinbrand broke in. 'It was a bit of
bad luck for him, that pony pulling up lame. I tried to talk him out of
wagering so heavily, but — '
'Very kind of you, I'm sure,' Sweetie said ironically, and he shot her a sharp
glance.
Hildigrim said stubbornly, 'We've come to forgive his debts. That'll take some
of the burden from him, if it's the debt that has put him in trouble.' Debt was
a disgrace to any self-respecting hobbit, and perhaps the Thain did not
tolerate it in his subordinates. Though Thain Peregrin was not a harsh
taskmaster, he was an exacting one. He took a paper from his waistcoat and gave
it to Fortinbrand who added his own paper to it and extended them both to
Meadowsweet.
'There you are,' Fortinbrand said. 'He owes us nothing now, and I won't take
any more wagers from him, not even for a mug of ale.'
'Nor I,' Hildigrim said. 'Wagering is one thing, but ruining someone is quite
another.'
Meadowsweet took the papers and looked from one to another, at a loss for
words. Fortinbrand looked to Hildigrim and both rose. 'We won't impose any
further,' the latter said.
Meadowsweet rose as well. 'I—' she said, holding the papers absently.
'Thank you,' Mardibold put in smoothly, escorting the two to the door.
Fortinbrand said in parting, 'If there's anything we can do, anything at
all...'
'Thank you,' Mardibold repeated. 'We'll keep that in mind.' He closed the door
firmly behind them. 'You see?' he said, returning to the sofa. 'Not all the
talk is against you.'
'That's a mercy,' Meadowsweet said softly. 'I can only hope the Thain feels the
same way.'
