Chapter 16
His Eyes Upon Them
Dust particles fell like snowflakes in the beam of the sunlight, floating, falling and drifting along. They kept the attention of the hobbit who sat up in his bed contemplating what he should do next. The keys seemed to weigh heavy in his nightshirt pocket as it did in his guilty conscience. He knew giving the keys to that hobbit, whom he once thought of as his brother was the wrong thing to do and even if it meant that he would be rid of him for the rest of his life as he had promised. He still could not bring himself to do it. Knowing Faradom as he did, he would use those keys to steal the Brandybucks blind and perhaps harm the ones who had brought down the rest of Faradom's family. His greed knew no limits nor the revenge and evilness that lived within him. Everything that the lad did was for himself solely. He cared for nothing or no one else.
Sheffield cursed the Tweksburys for destroying his life and taking him away from his rightful family, only to use him as their means to steal from other hobbits. All those years of growing up believing in something that was a lie. Perhaps he had once a good family, a wonderful mother who truly loved him. Maybe he had a father out there somewhere that he could look up to and be proud to be his son. He might have had a sister or a brother who would have filled his day with fishing or gardening, instead of stealing and cheating. His mind tried to go back to his earliest memories to bring up imagines of his past, but they were only shadows and nothing that he could truly put a face to or a remembered voice. The distant memories only held feelings of fear so dreadful it made him tremble trying to remember them.
His eyes shifted over to the bed next to his and the sleeping occupant under the thick blankets snoring quietly. Looking over at the table where he had taken the keys that the old cook had absentmindedly forgotten, he saw that the small medicine bottles and folded parchments were still there. He placed his hand into his pocket and produced the keys with the red ribbon tied through the keyholes. Sheffield decided to return them back where he had found them and whatever Faradom had planned for him, he no longer cared. Seeing the keys under the parchment made him feel better about himself and knew that no matter what, he was not a thief. He was born with a good heart and spirit and they could never drive that out of him.
Sheffield settled back down upon his pillow and pulled the blanket up around him. No sooner had he done that than the lad in the other bed began to stir and he watched him carefully. Tom sat up in his bed and for a moment almost forgetting where he was. This was not the familiar stable the lad woke up to every morning. There were no ponies gently munching on the hay or softly neighing in their stalls or waking with the fresh morning air to greet you. But still the bed was soft, comfortable and warm.
His arm gave him a twinge of pain when he tried to stretch out the stiffness that he felt and then his eyes drifted over to the next bed. Tom casually glanced at Sheffield and gave him a single nod of greeting and a quick half smile. Looking back towards the wall, he fumbled in his mind what to say to this hobbit. Tom was told who this hobbit was and that he would be sharing a room with him. This worried him some thinking about it. He knew the lad as one of the Tweksburys, a name that he would always remember and never forget. A hated name that had caused everyone so much pain for the evilness of deed that they rendered upon Brandy Hall and those that lived within its walls. He was a member of the Tweksburys, the same ones who had struck him upon the head and took Snowclad away. It was their fault that she delivered her foal too soon and caused her untimely death, so he thought or was so told by the younger Master of Brandy Hall. The pony's last month before the foal was delivered should have been days of rest and relaxation. He would have made sure of it, he would have brushed her and combed her soft white-gray mane. He would have covered her with her blanket when the nights had a certain chill in the air. He would have been with her when she delivered the fine little foal and helped her if need be. The pain of her passing stung his heart thinking about the pony that he had cared for all the time in the years he had lived at Brandy Hall, now gone forever. For Tom, hate was hard word for him to comprehend, a feeling that he had felt only another time in his life long ago when he was just a small lad and someone had stolen his younger brother from his bed when he was just a toddler. He remembered his mother whose crying had never seemed to end as she mourned endlessly until it brought her own death and eventually took her away from him also. He was mostly raised by his father, a kind hearted hobbit who loved him completely and devoted his life from then on to care for his last remaining son, until is death just prior to Tom coming to live with the Brandybucks as their stable boy.
He looked at the lad again from the corner of his eye and remembered everything that old Hatty, the cook and Master Paladin had told him just prior to bringing him into this room. It was Paladin who told him that the lad's own father tossed oil upon him and was about to set him on fire when they stopped him just in time. It was Sheffield who ran into the burning building knowing his shirt was drenched in oil to save Shimmering and brought her out before any harm was caused to her and the recount of his story in how badly he was burnt. These thoughts softened his heart and allowed Tom to give him a chance before condemning the lad before he knew all the facts.
The door of the bedroom opened and Tom smiled seeing the lovely face of Tulsi who bounced in with a tray full of food for first mourning breakfast. "Good morning ta ya, Tom!" Tulsi called out from the doorway as she entered. "Are ya feeling much better and in need o' a bit ta fill yer poor parched stomach!"
Tom licked his lips seeing and smelling the wonderful plate filled full of Hatty's finest fixings. A smile creased his lips and his eyes sparkled when she approached him and tucked in a long napkin in the front of his nightshirt. "Is yer poor arm paining ya hurtful like and need me to scoop yer vittles?"
Tom kept his eyes upon Tulsi's face and shook his head, no. A deep blush drifted upon his cheeks but still grinning a smile from ear to ear. "No, thank you, Miss Tulsi. But it's kind of ya to ask."
She turned away to fetch the plate from the tray and brought it back with a thick towel under it and placed it upon his lap. "I want ta thankee, Tom, fer tellin' 'em last night that I had no free will in doin' what they forced unto me. It's kindhearted o' ya ta think about me poor shelf as ya did!"
Tom's face seem to throb as a deep and darker blush appeared upon his cheeks and slowly drifted up to the top of his brow and down to the hair upon his feet. The tips of his pointed ear seemed to twitch with a deep shade of red. "Now, Miss Tulsi, ya shouldn't be thankin' me none when ya know it was Mistress Esmeralda and Mistress Estella who was tellin' 'em ya done no wrong!"
"If truth be known, Tom, that be so, but it's yer words that touched old Hatty enough ta keep me in da kitchen instead o' makin' beds and washin' floors. Fer that, I'm beholdin' ta ya!"
"I'd do it again any time ya be needing a kindly word, Miss Tulsi," Tom added politely and lowered his eyes so it did not appear that he was staring too long at her and admiring her so.
Tulsi's smile was as sweet as apple cider on the warmest summer day and it made Tom's heart race every time he saw it. He watched her carefully as she turned to take another plate from her tray and walk over to Sheffield. Tom's roommate did not miss the affection the two had for each other and he smiled while he watched them.
His stomach gurgled loudly when he caught the aroma of the food that Tulsi placed in his lap and handed him a napkin. His stomach was empty and he could hardly wait to eat it. When Tulsi placed the spoon his in hand, he gave her a bright warm smile to thank her.
Looking into his eyes and taking in his smile, she thought she saw something there, a familiarity the echoed in the back of her mind. She gazed at him for what seemed too long and proper standing before him and Sheffield froze for a moment with the spoon in his hand. Thinking that she was going to say something to him, he waited patiently for her to speak.
Tulsi could feel her cheeks beginning to burn and could not think of a thing to tell him of why she was staring so long at him. Her eyes caught the small medicine bottles, parchment and Hatty's keys sitting on the table in between both the beds. Knowing that Hatty must have forgotten her keys, she rushed over to pick them up. The keys were very important to the old cook and knew that she would soon miss them. Her face slowly cooled and returned to its normal huge as she took a deep breath and dismissed the uncomfortable feelings she was having.
Returning back to Tom, she knew that he would be interested in the young foal that Berilac had in his room. She had brought him a fresh bottle of milk for the foal just prior to bringing Tom, his tray of food. "I've seen the foal this morning Tom and she's a finest filly ya set eyes upon," she commented.
Tom immediately put down his spoon upon his plate as his eyes darted up to her as his excitement grew in knowing more about the youngest foal just born last night. "So ya seen her, have ya. Tell me about her if yer able, Miss Tulsi and don't spare no detail if'n ya know my meaning!"
Tulsi giggled at seeing Tom's excitement and softly spoke. "When yer done with yer meal, I'll take ya ta her so ya can see fer yerself!"
Tom immediately pushed his plate to the side of the bed and pulled the covers off of him. His bear hairy legs where directly in the servant lasses view as he forgot himself in his excitement in seeing the young foal. Tom quickly stood and pulled down his nightshirt making sure it covered his legs and himself properly and again his face emitted a bright crimson shade. He fumbled and stuttered trying to recollect himself in front of the lass. "I-I-I'm so sorry, Miss Tulsi. I've forgotten my self some. I-I-I do beg yer pardon fer me forwardness of dress!" Tom's eye could not look upon her and kept them humbly upon the floor becoming so embarrassed by his actions.
"It's quiet all right, Tom. Ya need not apologize none ta me, ya have a fine set of sturdy legs and ya shouldn't be ashamed o' 'em." She pulled a small woven blanket from his bed and covered his shoulders to give him some extra warmth while they walked down the hallway to Berilac's room. She made sure to tuck it in gently around his injured arm. Smiling at him, she led the way out of the room.
Sheffield gulped his food to fill the emptiness of his stomach and slightly giggled at the same time seeing how uncomfortable this strange lad was around the lass. Shaking his head, he continued to wolf down his food.
A guard stood just outside of the door and pretended to stand at attention as if he was ordered to watch this door. Tom thought nothing of this and only nodded slightly to the lad, not looking up towards him. Knowing that a Tweksbury rested inside, he half expected this knowing Master Paladin and his doubting ways.
Tulsi tucked her hand around Tom's good arm to help him down the hallway and never took her eyes away from him when they passed the guard. Her giggle drifted back to the ears of the guard who was horror struck at seeing both of them together. Then something else caught his eye as he turned away from the door that he guarded. A small lad and a finely dressed hobbit walked out into the hallway and down the farthest length holding hands with each other.
Faradom instantly recognized the small lad and knew that they were on to him. A plan came to his mind in how he was going to get his revenge upon these hobbits, his riches and escape all at the same time. Carefully he watched their backs and made his way following them silently down the length of the corridor waiting for the right moment.
XXX
BedTimeMonster: The game is turning towards Faradom and what he has planned next......Thanks for the reviews they keep me writing and update! Your stories that I have been reviewing are awesome!
ShireElf: I know another reason why you call yourself ShireElf, it's those sharp eyes that tell you something darker is coming in this story. Hehehehehe..... However, I left you at a pause in this story so I can tie up some loose ends, but still giving you enough information for the upcoming chapters! Enjoy my friend!
Merry lad: Thank you for the encouraging words and that you liked the last chapter. I am having a blast writing this and having these wonderful reviews that keep me updating the chapters. So here are a couple more for you to read and hopefully enjoy....You made me smile!!!!
His Eyes Upon Them
Dust particles fell like snowflakes in the beam of the sunlight, floating, falling and drifting along. They kept the attention of the hobbit who sat up in his bed contemplating what he should do next. The keys seemed to weigh heavy in his nightshirt pocket as it did in his guilty conscience. He knew giving the keys to that hobbit, whom he once thought of as his brother was the wrong thing to do and even if it meant that he would be rid of him for the rest of his life as he had promised. He still could not bring himself to do it. Knowing Faradom as he did, he would use those keys to steal the Brandybucks blind and perhaps harm the ones who had brought down the rest of Faradom's family. His greed knew no limits nor the revenge and evilness that lived within him. Everything that the lad did was for himself solely. He cared for nothing or no one else.
Sheffield cursed the Tweksburys for destroying his life and taking him away from his rightful family, only to use him as their means to steal from other hobbits. All those years of growing up believing in something that was a lie. Perhaps he had once a good family, a wonderful mother who truly loved him. Maybe he had a father out there somewhere that he could look up to and be proud to be his son. He might have had a sister or a brother who would have filled his day with fishing or gardening, instead of stealing and cheating. His mind tried to go back to his earliest memories to bring up imagines of his past, but they were only shadows and nothing that he could truly put a face to or a remembered voice. The distant memories only held feelings of fear so dreadful it made him tremble trying to remember them.
His eyes shifted over to the bed next to his and the sleeping occupant under the thick blankets snoring quietly. Looking over at the table where he had taken the keys that the old cook had absentmindedly forgotten, he saw that the small medicine bottles and folded parchments were still there. He placed his hand into his pocket and produced the keys with the red ribbon tied through the keyholes. Sheffield decided to return them back where he had found them and whatever Faradom had planned for him, he no longer cared. Seeing the keys under the parchment made him feel better about himself and knew that no matter what, he was not a thief. He was born with a good heart and spirit and they could never drive that out of him.
Sheffield settled back down upon his pillow and pulled the blanket up around him. No sooner had he done that than the lad in the other bed began to stir and he watched him carefully. Tom sat up in his bed and for a moment almost forgetting where he was. This was not the familiar stable the lad woke up to every morning. There were no ponies gently munching on the hay or softly neighing in their stalls or waking with the fresh morning air to greet you. But still the bed was soft, comfortable and warm.
His arm gave him a twinge of pain when he tried to stretch out the stiffness that he felt and then his eyes drifted over to the next bed. Tom casually glanced at Sheffield and gave him a single nod of greeting and a quick half smile. Looking back towards the wall, he fumbled in his mind what to say to this hobbit. Tom was told who this hobbit was and that he would be sharing a room with him. This worried him some thinking about it. He knew the lad as one of the Tweksburys, a name that he would always remember and never forget. A hated name that had caused everyone so much pain for the evilness of deed that they rendered upon Brandy Hall and those that lived within its walls. He was a member of the Tweksburys, the same ones who had struck him upon the head and took Snowclad away. It was their fault that she delivered her foal too soon and caused her untimely death, so he thought or was so told by the younger Master of Brandy Hall. The pony's last month before the foal was delivered should have been days of rest and relaxation. He would have made sure of it, he would have brushed her and combed her soft white-gray mane. He would have covered her with her blanket when the nights had a certain chill in the air. He would have been with her when she delivered the fine little foal and helped her if need be. The pain of her passing stung his heart thinking about the pony that he had cared for all the time in the years he had lived at Brandy Hall, now gone forever. For Tom, hate was hard word for him to comprehend, a feeling that he had felt only another time in his life long ago when he was just a small lad and someone had stolen his younger brother from his bed when he was just a toddler. He remembered his mother whose crying had never seemed to end as she mourned endlessly until it brought her own death and eventually took her away from him also. He was mostly raised by his father, a kind hearted hobbit who loved him completely and devoted his life from then on to care for his last remaining son, until is death just prior to Tom coming to live with the Brandybucks as their stable boy.
He looked at the lad again from the corner of his eye and remembered everything that old Hatty, the cook and Master Paladin had told him just prior to bringing him into this room. It was Paladin who told him that the lad's own father tossed oil upon him and was about to set him on fire when they stopped him just in time. It was Sheffield who ran into the burning building knowing his shirt was drenched in oil to save Shimmering and brought her out before any harm was caused to her and the recount of his story in how badly he was burnt. These thoughts softened his heart and allowed Tom to give him a chance before condemning the lad before he knew all the facts.
The door of the bedroom opened and Tom smiled seeing the lovely face of Tulsi who bounced in with a tray full of food for first mourning breakfast. "Good morning ta ya, Tom!" Tulsi called out from the doorway as she entered. "Are ya feeling much better and in need o' a bit ta fill yer poor parched stomach!"
Tom licked his lips seeing and smelling the wonderful plate filled full of Hatty's finest fixings. A smile creased his lips and his eyes sparkled when she approached him and tucked in a long napkin in the front of his nightshirt. "Is yer poor arm paining ya hurtful like and need me to scoop yer vittles?"
Tom kept his eyes upon Tulsi's face and shook his head, no. A deep blush drifted upon his cheeks but still grinning a smile from ear to ear. "No, thank you, Miss Tulsi. But it's kind of ya to ask."
She turned away to fetch the plate from the tray and brought it back with a thick towel under it and placed it upon his lap. "I want ta thankee, Tom, fer tellin' 'em last night that I had no free will in doin' what they forced unto me. It's kindhearted o' ya ta think about me poor shelf as ya did!"
Tom's face seem to throb as a deep and darker blush appeared upon his cheeks and slowly drifted up to the top of his brow and down to the hair upon his feet. The tips of his pointed ear seemed to twitch with a deep shade of red. "Now, Miss Tulsi, ya shouldn't be thankin' me none when ya know it was Mistress Esmeralda and Mistress Estella who was tellin' 'em ya done no wrong!"
"If truth be known, Tom, that be so, but it's yer words that touched old Hatty enough ta keep me in da kitchen instead o' makin' beds and washin' floors. Fer that, I'm beholdin' ta ya!"
"I'd do it again any time ya be needing a kindly word, Miss Tulsi," Tom added politely and lowered his eyes so it did not appear that he was staring too long at her and admiring her so.
Tulsi's smile was as sweet as apple cider on the warmest summer day and it made Tom's heart race every time he saw it. He watched her carefully as she turned to take another plate from her tray and walk over to Sheffield. Tom's roommate did not miss the affection the two had for each other and he smiled while he watched them.
His stomach gurgled loudly when he caught the aroma of the food that Tulsi placed in his lap and handed him a napkin. His stomach was empty and he could hardly wait to eat it. When Tulsi placed the spoon his in hand, he gave her a bright warm smile to thank her.
Looking into his eyes and taking in his smile, she thought she saw something there, a familiarity the echoed in the back of her mind. She gazed at him for what seemed too long and proper standing before him and Sheffield froze for a moment with the spoon in his hand. Thinking that she was going to say something to him, he waited patiently for her to speak.
Tulsi could feel her cheeks beginning to burn and could not think of a thing to tell him of why she was staring so long at him. Her eyes caught the small medicine bottles, parchment and Hatty's keys sitting on the table in between both the beds. Knowing that Hatty must have forgotten her keys, she rushed over to pick them up. The keys were very important to the old cook and knew that she would soon miss them. Her face slowly cooled and returned to its normal huge as she took a deep breath and dismissed the uncomfortable feelings she was having.
Returning back to Tom, she knew that he would be interested in the young foal that Berilac had in his room. She had brought him a fresh bottle of milk for the foal just prior to bringing Tom, his tray of food. "I've seen the foal this morning Tom and she's a finest filly ya set eyes upon," she commented.
Tom immediately put down his spoon upon his plate as his eyes darted up to her as his excitement grew in knowing more about the youngest foal just born last night. "So ya seen her, have ya. Tell me about her if yer able, Miss Tulsi and don't spare no detail if'n ya know my meaning!"
Tulsi giggled at seeing Tom's excitement and softly spoke. "When yer done with yer meal, I'll take ya ta her so ya can see fer yerself!"
Tom immediately pushed his plate to the side of the bed and pulled the covers off of him. His bear hairy legs where directly in the servant lasses view as he forgot himself in his excitement in seeing the young foal. Tom quickly stood and pulled down his nightshirt making sure it covered his legs and himself properly and again his face emitted a bright crimson shade. He fumbled and stuttered trying to recollect himself in front of the lass. "I-I-I'm so sorry, Miss Tulsi. I've forgotten my self some. I-I-I do beg yer pardon fer me forwardness of dress!" Tom's eye could not look upon her and kept them humbly upon the floor becoming so embarrassed by his actions.
"It's quiet all right, Tom. Ya need not apologize none ta me, ya have a fine set of sturdy legs and ya shouldn't be ashamed o' 'em." She pulled a small woven blanket from his bed and covered his shoulders to give him some extra warmth while they walked down the hallway to Berilac's room. She made sure to tuck it in gently around his injured arm. Smiling at him, she led the way out of the room.
Sheffield gulped his food to fill the emptiness of his stomach and slightly giggled at the same time seeing how uncomfortable this strange lad was around the lass. Shaking his head, he continued to wolf down his food.
A guard stood just outside of the door and pretended to stand at attention as if he was ordered to watch this door. Tom thought nothing of this and only nodded slightly to the lad, not looking up towards him. Knowing that a Tweksbury rested inside, he half expected this knowing Master Paladin and his doubting ways.
Tulsi tucked her hand around Tom's good arm to help him down the hallway and never took her eyes away from him when they passed the guard. Her giggle drifted back to the ears of the guard who was horror struck at seeing both of them together. Then something else caught his eye as he turned away from the door that he guarded. A small lad and a finely dressed hobbit walked out into the hallway and down the farthest length holding hands with each other.
Faradom instantly recognized the small lad and knew that they were on to him. A plan came to his mind in how he was going to get his revenge upon these hobbits, his riches and escape all at the same time. Carefully he watched their backs and made his way following them silently down the length of the corridor waiting for the right moment.
XXX
BedTimeMonster: The game is turning towards Faradom and what he has planned next......Thanks for the reviews they keep me writing and update! Your stories that I have been reviewing are awesome!
ShireElf: I know another reason why you call yourself ShireElf, it's those sharp eyes that tell you something darker is coming in this story. Hehehehehe..... However, I left you at a pause in this story so I can tie up some loose ends, but still giving you enough information for the upcoming chapters! Enjoy my friend!
Merry lad: Thank you for the encouraging words and that you liked the last chapter. I am having a blast writing this and having these wonderful reviews that keep me updating the chapters. So here are a couple more for you to read and hopefully enjoy....You made me smile!!!!