Instruments
Chapter 2
by Beethoven's 7th
Written for Marigold's Challenge #9
Rated PG-13 for violence
In the peaceful Shire, few gave thought to the dangers that might be outside one's door on a late winter's night. When a knock was heard on the door Till opened it with no expectation of evil waiting. On a night such as this, the worst a hobbit could be normally be expected to find is a stranded neighbor looking for a warm place to sleep until morning. Unfortunately, evil had come to the Shire. Standing on the doorstep was one of the Big Folk. He was a smarmy looking creature. Immediately, Till's heart clenched with fear. Surely, this man could not intend good toward them.
He had heard rumors of men slowly filtering in to the Shire and up to no good, but remote as their farm was he had not yet seen any. Till had given the rumors very little thought. Even the story he had heard a month or so back of that Baggins fellow and his friends leaving the shire in a haste with black riders on their tail had not alarmed him overly much The Baggins and Tooks had reputations for doing and encountering unusual things, and causing unusual happenings. The occasional dwarf that passed through muttered about darkness and evil growing in the east. But Till was a simple hobbit with simple needs and pleasures. Such things did not concern him nor his family. They were a distant thing.
Moving to stand in the doorway and therefore block the man from entering the house, Till said "Good evening to ye sir. What can such hobbits as ourselves do for ye on this cold evening?"
"Ah, little mister, me name is Stor me friends here, Gant and Froag and I are simply passing through your area and find ourselves needing a warm place to stay the night. We mean you no harm sir. We're on our way home from a visit with a friend of ours, Mr. Lotho Baggins. Perhaps you've heard of him?"
The name given to him by the man further filled Till with dread. If Lotho Baggins was involved with these men, then he was sure they were up to no good, and so he answered warily, "Aye, I have heard of him, although I don't know him personally."
"Well there, that's fine then, but let me tell you. Lotho Baggins is going to become a power in these parts, make no mistake about that. I'm sure he would be plenty grateful to you ifen you were to let us come into your lovely house here and partake of your lovely wife there's hospitality. And my my, what a lovely daughter you do have! Why, I don't believe I've seen lovelier yet in this here Shire. "
"My apologies sir, but as ye can see, our humble home would be uncomfortably cramped for such great men as yourselves." Till told them.
"Oh but you are mistaken master hobbit. We are accustomed to wee hobbit holes and could make ourselves comfortable quite easily. So if you don't mind, we'll just be coming in and making ourselves comfortable." As he said this Stor tried to push past Till so as to enter the house.
With all the strength he possessed, Till pushed the man back and succeeded in shoving him back into the arms of his comrades. "I believe it is time for you men to be leaving. Ye will not enter my home. I suggest ye make yer way back to Lotho's or a public inn. And with that he made to push the door closed.
Stor and his men dropped all pretenses of kindness now and began to force their way through the doorway. "It was very unwise of you to refuse us welcome master hobbit. It is very cold outside and if you won't offer us your hospitality, why then we shall just have to find some other way to keep ourselves warm. Perhaps your purty daughter could come and keep me warm"
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