Chapter 5
Much discussion took place that evening, most of it concerning Rosie and Eleanor's safety. Should they go? Could they manage it? How would they travel? Rosie had an answer to each of these.
"Rosie, there are so many things out there that could...um...put you in danger."
"Then we'll just have to face them together."
"And what about Eleanor? She's so young."
"And when will she ever get another opportunity like this? Sam, how long before you and Mr. Frodo left did you talk of seeing the elves. Was that not something you always wished for?" Well, that just about did it for Sam. Remembering his longing to meet the graceful and elegant elves and his excitement when he finally did; how could he deny his wife and daughter the same experience? But Frodo still had his doubts.
"But Rosie, it would take us three weeks to get to Rivendell, at least. That is a very long and hard journey. Trust me, we know." Frodo motioned to Sam who quickly nodded in agreement. "Do you think you and Eleanor will be able to manage it?" Normally, the hobbits would have ridden ponies the whole way and camped out each night just off the main road. But with Rosie and Eleanor, things would have to be done differently.
"We can borrow a cart from Fatty Bolger to carry the supplies in and I could drive it. Eleanor could ride up front with me, or rest in the back or even ride with Sam." It seemed that no matter what Sam and Frodo said, Rosie was not going to back down. So it was on their third pot of tea that an arrangement was made.
Frodo was going to rent a cart form Fatty Bolger, telling him that he was moving some of his old furniture to Brandy Hall and he was going to stay there for a while, visiting cousins and what-not. Sam was going to help him, then meet Rosie and Eleanor in Bywater to visit her family. All this was planned so as not to arouse suspicions. On their first journey, every percussion had to be taken and this time was no different. Except that they were no longer possessing the Ring of Power and they had two new traveling companions.
Since they had very little time to prepare, everything had to be done as quickly but discreetly as possible. Frodo asked The Gaffer to stay in Bag End and keep the place up in his absence. The Gaffer only agreed after Sam assured him that Frodo would return. Rosie immediately began to pack the necessary clothes for the journey. She knew that Sam would need a pair of traveling trousers and Eleanor needed a new dress for when they met with King Elessar. She was very handy with a needle but also knew that she had much to do in a short period of time. So, Rosie wasted no time and set right to work.
Sam was in charge of one of the most important things for the journey; provisions and cooking. This may come as no surprise since hobbits are known to eat at least 7 meals a day, so making sure they have enough food and the proper equipment was very necessary. Though Rosie would probably be doing much of the cooking, Sam felt it was his duty to make sure they had all the necessary equipment.
:~:
A week before they had planned to leave, there was an unexpected knock at the door. Frodo was, once again, in his study. Although his spirits had been lifted by the thought of seeing his old friends and the beautiful home of Lord Elrond again, he had continued to keep himself busy with his papers and book, barricading himself in the study.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in, Sam! I'm in the study!"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"It's open, Sam!"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Confound it." Frodo exclaimed as he slowly and heavily raised himself from the desk chair. Mumbling something under his breath, Frodo emerged from the study and answered the door.
"You know the door is always open, Sam. I don't know why you insist on knocking every time you..." He stopped the moment he saw that it was not Sam at his door.
"So this is how you treat family? Make us stand outside in the cold and then yell at us? Some hospitality!" Two (youthful) hobbits stood outside the round door of Bag End. The older one stood firmly in front of Frodo with his arms folded across his chest. Behind him there was a pile of traveling great and perched on top was a younger hobbit. He seemed to be busy re-packing one of the traveling bags when he heard his older cousins' comment.
"Oh come on Merry. It's not that cold out. It's actually quite nice."
"Pippin, stay out of my bag. I already have everything packed up!" Merry exclaimed. Frodo smiled.
"Well, well, well," Frodo said, approaching Merry, "And what would two very respectable hobbits, such as yourselves, be doing with all that traveling equipment? You wouldn't be planning on doing anything, unexpected, now would you?"
"My dear cousin, what on Middle Earth would ever give you that idea?" Merry said slyly. They both laughed and embraced each other in a strong hold.
"You better hurry up and bring all that stuff inside before someone sees and gets the 'wrong idea'." Frodo said pointing to the pile. Merry nodded in agreement then turned to Pippin.
"'Ey Pip! Stop searching through my bags and help me get this stuff inside." Merry said, pulling the pack out of Pippin's hands and putting it over his own shoulder.
"Find, but hen can we eat? I'm starving." Pippin asked, taking a big bite of the apple he had just taken out of Merry's bag.
Much discussion took place that evening, most of it concerning Rosie and Eleanor's safety. Should they go? Could they manage it? How would they travel? Rosie had an answer to each of these.
"Rosie, there are so many things out there that could...um...put you in danger."
"Then we'll just have to face them together."
"And what about Eleanor? She's so young."
"And when will she ever get another opportunity like this? Sam, how long before you and Mr. Frodo left did you talk of seeing the elves. Was that not something you always wished for?" Well, that just about did it for Sam. Remembering his longing to meet the graceful and elegant elves and his excitement when he finally did; how could he deny his wife and daughter the same experience? But Frodo still had his doubts.
"But Rosie, it would take us three weeks to get to Rivendell, at least. That is a very long and hard journey. Trust me, we know." Frodo motioned to Sam who quickly nodded in agreement. "Do you think you and Eleanor will be able to manage it?" Normally, the hobbits would have ridden ponies the whole way and camped out each night just off the main road. But with Rosie and Eleanor, things would have to be done differently.
"We can borrow a cart from Fatty Bolger to carry the supplies in and I could drive it. Eleanor could ride up front with me, or rest in the back or even ride with Sam." It seemed that no matter what Sam and Frodo said, Rosie was not going to back down. So it was on their third pot of tea that an arrangement was made.
Frodo was going to rent a cart form Fatty Bolger, telling him that he was moving some of his old furniture to Brandy Hall and he was going to stay there for a while, visiting cousins and what-not. Sam was going to help him, then meet Rosie and Eleanor in Bywater to visit her family. All this was planned so as not to arouse suspicions. On their first journey, every percussion had to be taken and this time was no different. Except that they were no longer possessing the Ring of Power and they had two new traveling companions.
Since they had very little time to prepare, everything had to be done as quickly but discreetly as possible. Frodo asked The Gaffer to stay in Bag End and keep the place up in his absence. The Gaffer only agreed after Sam assured him that Frodo would return. Rosie immediately began to pack the necessary clothes for the journey. She knew that Sam would need a pair of traveling trousers and Eleanor needed a new dress for when they met with King Elessar. She was very handy with a needle but also knew that she had much to do in a short period of time. So, Rosie wasted no time and set right to work.
Sam was in charge of one of the most important things for the journey; provisions and cooking. This may come as no surprise since hobbits are known to eat at least 7 meals a day, so making sure they have enough food and the proper equipment was very necessary. Though Rosie would probably be doing much of the cooking, Sam felt it was his duty to make sure they had all the necessary equipment.
:~:
A week before they had planned to leave, there was an unexpected knock at the door. Frodo was, once again, in his study. Although his spirits had been lifted by the thought of seeing his old friends and the beautiful home of Lord Elrond again, he had continued to keep himself busy with his papers and book, barricading himself in the study.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in, Sam! I'm in the study!"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"It's open, Sam!"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Confound it." Frodo exclaimed as he slowly and heavily raised himself from the desk chair. Mumbling something under his breath, Frodo emerged from the study and answered the door.
"You know the door is always open, Sam. I don't know why you insist on knocking every time you..." He stopped the moment he saw that it was not Sam at his door.
"So this is how you treat family? Make us stand outside in the cold and then yell at us? Some hospitality!" Two (youthful) hobbits stood outside the round door of Bag End. The older one stood firmly in front of Frodo with his arms folded across his chest. Behind him there was a pile of traveling great and perched on top was a younger hobbit. He seemed to be busy re-packing one of the traveling bags when he heard his older cousins' comment.
"Oh come on Merry. It's not that cold out. It's actually quite nice."
"Pippin, stay out of my bag. I already have everything packed up!" Merry exclaimed. Frodo smiled.
"Well, well, well," Frodo said, approaching Merry, "And what would two very respectable hobbits, such as yourselves, be doing with all that traveling equipment? You wouldn't be planning on doing anything, unexpected, now would you?"
"My dear cousin, what on Middle Earth would ever give you that idea?" Merry said slyly. They both laughed and embraced each other in a strong hold.
"You better hurry up and bring all that stuff inside before someone sees and gets the 'wrong idea'." Frodo said pointing to the pile. Merry nodded in agreement then turned to Pippin.
"'Ey Pip! Stop searching through my bags and help me get this stuff inside." Merry said, pulling the pack out of Pippin's hands and putting it over his own shoulder.
"Find, but hen can we eat? I'm starving." Pippin asked, taking a big bite of the apple he had just taken out of Merry's bag.