.
Again, I am sorry, but Flinn and Frerin would not be a good love match for little Holly. The age issue would simply not work out. And I don't think Holly would want to wait till she was 80 for one of them to notice her. ha ha. But they will always be great friends. I promise.
Now, on with the show!
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Chapter 156
~X~
So it was, the following day their official visit in the Shire began. Starting out with breakfast at Rory and Menegilda's home, since Bilbo's pantry had been stripped clean the night before. Everyone gathered at the cheery hobbit hole down the way, with Dwalin, Bergie and the twins arriving a bit late. Yet after noticing the playful touches and heated looks the dwarf and hobbit were giving each other, no one was foolish enough to comment on their tardiness.
After breakfast, Kili offered to mind the older children as they played outside, with Rory, Drogo, Saradoc, and little Merry joining them. This provided the perfect opportunity for all the lasses to head into town, with supplies to replenish and shopping on their minds. There were now two pantries that needed restocked, as well as Bergie and Marigold quite anxious to see how much things had changed in their absence. Thorin and Dwalin, on the other hand, told Bilbo they were interested in seeing the blacksmith shop, wishing to check out the progress the hobbits who had trained in Erebor were making. Gandalf simply stated that he had things to do, and wandered off down the road, saying he would be back in time for dinner.
It wasn't very far to the smithy, and the sound of hammers striking anvils seemed to draw the two dwarrow like a moth to a flame. When they stepped inside, most of the activity ceased, with the three hobbits working there instantly recognizing the king of Erebor from six years ago.
"King Thorin," Freddy Bolger greeted him, removing the thick leather apron as he gave a respectful bow. "It is indeed a pleasure to see you again. We were told that you would be visiting this summer."
"And I see that you and your brothers have put what you learned to good use," the dwarf commended taking note of the many tools, cooking utensils, and farm implements that were currently on display. "The Shire is fortunate to have three such fine blacksmiths."
"Only due to your fine instructions," Rufus pointed out, as he and Hugo came to stand beside their brother.
"Would you like to see what we are working on now?" the youngest Bolger asked, gesturing to a very large plow.
And while Thorin was more accustomed to inspecting swords and spears, he had to admit that he was rather impressed with the work they were doing. It reminded him of the time they were in exile, and how he had taken any job offered, be it sword, shovel, or frying pan.
"This is fine craftsmanship," he complimented the three hobbits. "The blacksmiths of Erebor will be happy to know their teaching was not in vain. I am certain that your wares are in high demand."
"Oh, yes," Freddy nodded proudly. "Folks come from all over the Shire to commission our services."
"And we take a wagon load of goods to Bree every month, and sell out just about every time," Rufus added.
"Excellent," Thorin nodded. "We will not keep you from your work then, and bid you farewell. Though we do hope we can stop in again and perhaps do a bit of crafting of our own. It has been quite some time since I've had the opportunity to tinker around for pure enjoyment. And since this is supposed to be a vacation of sorts, I would love to get a bit of smithing in…if you don't mind."
"Not at all, King Thorin," Hugo assured him. "Please, we encourage you and Captain Dwalin to stop in any time. There will always be a hot forge and a free anvil for your use."
"My thanks, good hobbits," Thorin said with a bow of gratitude. They said their farewells and headed out, the two dwarves already missing the smell of hot iron and the heat of the forge.
"Marigold will not be pleased if you choose to lock yourself in the blacksmiths every day while you are here," Dwalin warned his king.
"My dear wife will be thoroughly entertained by her family and friends, and far too busy to be fussing over what I am doing," Thorin assured his cousin, slapping him on the back.
"Just make sure you are home for dinner each night or I will be the one dragging you out by your ear," Bilbo told him with a laugh. "I have been deprived of your company for years as well, and don't wish to attempt carrying on conversations over the ring of your hammer."
"Fear not, old friend," Thorin assured him. "I will remember to surface from time to time, just to please you. And while I do have your ear, how about telling us how you and Daisy came to be wed. You never did go into very much detail in your letters."
"Ahhh, well, that is quite the story," Bilbo said with a wide grin. "Might we stop in at the Green Dragon and share the tale over a pint of ale?"
"Now you're talking!" Dwalin told him, giving the little hobbit a friendly slap on the back…one that nearly sent him face first into the dirt.
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Meanwhile, down in the meadow near the party tree, Kili, Saradoc, Drogo and Rory all sat on the grass while the little ones ran around and played. Merry had tried to keep up with them for a while, but soon his little legs got tired and he now sat on his father's lap, watching the fun with excited eyes.
"Run Frodo! Run!" the youngest Brandybuck shouted, clapping his little hands.
"I'm trying!" Frodo called back, laughing as he managed to outdistance Torin by a mere few feet at the finish line.
"They all appear to be getting along quite well," Saradoc noted, looking over at Kili.
"You doubted they would?" the dwarf prince laughed. "Flinn and Frerin have talked of nothing else but coming to see Frodo for the past year. And Rose, Tor and Tal are half hobbit themselves, so naturally they would enjoy their time in the Shire."
"And, they're all related…in one odd fashion or another," Drogo pointed out with a wide grin.
"Really?" Kili questioned, not quite sure how that all worked out. "How's that?"
"Well, let's see," he mused, trying to recall how he had explained it last time. "Marigold's father is Prim's eldest brother, which makes her our niece, and Thorin our nephew, by marriage. Thus their children are our second nieces, making Frodo, Holly, Flinn, Frerin, Rose, and Raina all cousins…twice removed."
"What?" Kili muttered in confusion, apparently having been unable to follow his dizzying explanation. "What about Torin and Talin? I know they're related to Flinn and Frerin through Dwalin."
"Through Bergie too, though not as closely," Saradoc spoke up. "Since she is step-sister by marriage to my mother, who is related to the Baggins, Tooks, and Brandybuck line, all of which Frodo and Holly are linked to as well. Then we can connect Bergie to Dwalin by marriage and then down to Thorin, Dis, Fili and Flinn! Making Torin and Talin cousins to Drogo's children, to a distant degree, but only by marriage, not by blood."
"And here I thought dwarves family trees were convoluted…you hobbits are even worse!" Kili laughed, still not understanding any of it, but willing to take their word on the subject.
"Hobbits are well versed on who is who, and how we are related to each other," Rory informed the confused dwarf. "Always makes for good conversation over a pint of ale."
"I would need at least three of those in order to even start to make heads or tails out of what they just said," Kili assured the older hobbit.
Just then Flinn and Frodo ran up to the group, followed closely behind by all the other children.
"Uncle Kili! Come play with us!" the oldest dwarfling begged, grabbing onto his hand and attempting to pull him up. "Show us a new game…something we've never played before!"
"A new game?" Kili laughed, allowing himself to be tugged to his feet. "Let's see…have any of you ever heard of elbow tag?"
"No…what's that?" Frodo asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Well, it is like regular tag…but elbows are involved," Kili began with a smile.
"We all have elbows!" Torin exclaimed, holding up his arms so that both of his pointed forward.
"I can see that," Kili nodded with a laugh. "So, here is how it works. You all pair up, two by two, and link elbows, like this," here he demonstrated by using Flinn as his partner. "Then the last two will be the tagger and the tagee. When the tagee gets tired of being chased, he runs to one of the linked pairs and grabs hold of one of them with his elbow, forming a new link, causing the other partner to now become the tagee. Now they have to run from the tagger until caught, whereupon they become the tagger, or they link elbows with another couple, sending one of them off to run. Understand?"
"Oh, yes!" they all cried out in excitement, each one grabbing hold of another as they linked elbows in excitement.
"You're it, Uncle Kili!" Flinn yelled as they all ran for the open field. "Come try and catch me!"
"You're in for it now," Saradoc laughed, seeing the speed in which the young ones could master.
"Something tells me you're correct," Kili said with an amused sigh. "All right…ready or not, here I come!" And off he went, weaving around the paired up groups of children as he attempted to catch wily little Flinn.
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"So there I was," Bilbo continued with his story, after taking a large sip from his mug. "Minding my own business and doing a bit of shopping for the day, when all of a sudden, I come face to face with the loveliest pair of green eyes I have ever seen."
"I fear I must halt you there, my friend," Thorin cut in, setting his drink down as he shook his head firmly. "For Marigold has the most beautiful green eyes in all of Middle Earth."
"Well, my wife's are the loveliest to me," Bilbo said with a roll of his own eyes, before pressing on. "Anyway, Daisy had come to Hobbiton from Tuckburrow, and had set up a small stand in the market place to sell her lacework. Now I assure you, I had no intention of shopping for doilies or lace curtains when I left Bag End that morning, but I'm not ashamed to admit that I walked away from Daisy's stand with an armload."
"Sounds like love to me," Thorin chuckled.
"Or just gullibility," Dwalin commented, guzzling down his pint of ale and banging his palm on the table in a request for another.
"Well, whatever it was, I was smitten," Bilbo told them, not at all put out by the bald warrior's jab. "Her lace goods were so well received, that she decided to stay on in Hobbiton for the rest of the summer, renting out a small place down near the party fields. Now I've never been known to be the dandy about town, but I couldn't help but skip down to the market every chance I got, eager to see our new Miss Lightfoot, and strike up a conversation if I could. Over the next week or so I learned that she was a widow, her first husband having met a terrible end in a boating accident down the Brandywine. She had no other family to speak of, except a great aunt over near White Downs, who has since passed on. Daisy seemed eager to make new acquaintances…and thankfully I was one of them."
"A smooth talker, were ya?" Dwalin asked, nodding politely to the pretty lass who came to refill his mug.
"Hardly!" came a voice from their left. "If I recall, Cousin Bilbo here, stumbled over his tongue more than his feet, and that is saying something!"
The three looked up to see two hobbits standing there with wide grins and mugs of ale in their hands. One Thorin and Dwalin recognized immediately, yet the other – the one that had spoken – was new to them.
"Hamfast Gamgee!" Thorin greeted, remembering the often shy hobbit very well from his time in Erebor. "Good to see you again, lad!"
"And it is good to see you both as well, King Thorin," he said with a small bow.
"Just Thorin while here in the Shire," he corrected, not wishing to deal with all the fuss. "You can drop the king part."
"Very well…Thorin," Hamfast agreed, feeling a bit awkward, but following his direction. "May I introduce Paladin Took, he's Esme Brandybuck's older brother, as well as a distant cousin to Bilbo."
"Ah, yes, Esmerelda mentioned you a time or two during her stay in Erebor," Thorin nodded, signaling for the two hobbits to take a seat. "Won't you join us?"
"Would be our pleasure," Paladin smiled, plopping down on the bench next to Bilbo. "May we buy you all the next round…we're celebrating!"
"Oh, and what has prompted that?" Bilbo asked, looking over at Hamfast with a glint of excitement. "Don't tell me your wife has given birth to that babe of yours, has she?"
"Aye, that she did, late yesterday evening," Hamfast stated proudly. "A little lad, he is, and a sturdy one at that. We named him Samwise."
"A fine name…so what does that make now, five children for you and…Bell, wasn't it?" Thorin asked, having tried to keep up to date on most of the hobbits who had traveled to the mountain six years ago.
"Yes indeed, three lads and two lasses so far, and no happier husband you will find for it," he grinned. "Yet that's not all we are celebrating," Hamfast continued. "Paladin here just found out that he too is to be a father again…for the fourth time."
"And we are truly hoping for a lad this time, what with three lovely lasses already," the younger hobbit laughed. "I've even got the name all picked out. Peregrin. Though my wife says we will call him Pippin for short."
"Another fine name," Bilbo praised, slapping Paladin on the back. "You will have to bring your wife and daughters by one evening to meet our guests and their little ones. I think Thorin's daughter, Rose, would be just about the same age as your youngest, Pervinca."
"We'd love to," Paladin agreed eagerly. "How does tomorrow night sound?"
His suggestion was met with a round of happy nods, along with an offer for Hamfast and Bell to join them as well, but only if the new mother was feeling up to it. Once that was settled, they all sat back and enjoyed their mugs of ale.
"Now, what was it you were discussing when we interrupted?" Paladin asked, leaning back against the wall. "The tale of how Bilbo won himself a wife?"
"Aye, he was telling us how it all came about," Thorin nodded.
"Well, don't listen to a word he says on the matter," Hamfast chuckled. "If you get the story from Bilbo, he will make it out as if he rode in on a white pony and swept the lady off her feet."
"When in truth, it was quite the opposite," Paladin insisted.
"Oh? Did Daisy sweep Bilbo off his feet instead?" Dwalin asked with a wily grin.
"No, it was more like Bilbo pestered the poor thing till she just gave up and married him out of pity," Hamfast told them, earning a scowl from the resident of Bag End.
"Do tell," Thorin snorted, trying not to laugh at his friend's expense, yet still wanting to hear the tale.
"Well, there was Daisy Lightfoot, pretty as a picture, though don't go telling my wife I said that," Paladin began. "And she had all the single males buzzing around her like bees to honey, yet she was not giving any of them the time of day…not even our Mister Baggins, if truth be told."
"Now hold up!" Bilbo squawked. "That's not true, she talked to me every time I came to her stand."
"Of course she did, she is painfully polite," Hamfast cut in. "She wasn't about to hurt anyone's feelings, now was she? But the plain truth was, Daisy weren't looking for a husband, and made that perfectly clear to any and all who happened by. Thankfully Bilbo didn't get the hint."
"He followed her around like a lost puppy, begging for her attention like scraps from the table." Paladin paused just long enough to take a sip of his ale. "Till one day, when Bilbo was around, along came Otho Sacksville-Baggins, and we all know he is just as nasty as his wife, Lobelia. Well, Otho began to get on about Bilbo and his traveling, spouting off about how he was known to cavort with wizards, elves, men, and worst of all…dwarves!"
"Oh, the scandal!" Dwalin said in mock horror, wiping the foam from his mustache as he signaled for them to continue the story.
"Well, after a good ten minutes of Otho's ranting, Daisy had apparently had enough," Hamfast said, picking up where Paladin left off. "Stepping around her stand, she stood toe to toe with him and gave him a scolding he will never forget. When it was all over, she grabbed Bilbo by the hand and informed him that he was taking her to the Green Dragon for dinner…NOW!"
"We all think it was out of pity sake," Paladin grinned, earning yet another scowl from Bilbo. "But after that, you couldn't find one of them without the other nearby. They were inseparable."
"Ah, so you were a smooth talker then?" Thorin asked his flustered looking friend.
"Well…no, not really," he admitted. "However, it turned out that Daisy had a bit of a wild spirit herself. And for once, my tales of our journey to Erebor were met with fascination, and not disgust."
"Glad we could be of help there," Dwalin mused, raising his mug to Bilbo in salute before taking a long drink.
"Well, I didn't know if she found my stories of particular interest, or me personally, but either way, it gave me the courage to keep inviting her out for walks and dinner," Bilbo continued. "So much courage in fact, that exactly one month to the day after we first met, I asked her to be my wife."
"And she said yes?" Thorin asked, choking a bit on his drink as he did. "Durin's Ax, Bilbo, you moved just about as fast as Dwalin here!"
"Better than taking your own sweet time like you did," the tattooed warrior grumbled, shooting his king a gruff look.
"She said yes, of course," Bilbo told them, ignoring the little jabs the two dwarves were exchanging. "And the rest, as they say…is history."
"True," Hamfast agreed, downing the last of his ale. "And the best part is, Otho has not gone anywhere near Bilbo since that day! He's too afraid of Daisy, it would seem."
"That doesn't seem to stop Lobelia though," Paladin said, wrinkling his nose as if he smelled something terrible. "That crabby old turnip just loves sticking her nose where it doesn't belong! Always prancing around in those ridiculous looking hats, with that sneer of disdain on her pruney old face!"
"Really," Dwalin mused. "Can't wait to get a gander at that troll!"
"Oh, trust me…you can wait," Bilbo said with a heavy sigh. "I just hope the women folk don't run into her at the market. She has the power to spoil anyone's day, and I would hate to have her bully any of my guests!"
"Oh, something tells me that if they did, she will probably be the one who left with a sour stomach," Dwalin chuckled. "My Bergie don't take no guff from anyone!"
And little did he know just how right he was.
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As it turned out, there was very little that appeared different to Marigold and Bergie's eyes, the Shire not having seemed to change one bit. Everywhere they went, friendly faces greeted them with a polite wave or a friendly nod. Granted, the usually shy hobbits were a bit taken back to find a tall elf lass walking amongst them, but once they heard that she was a guest of the Baggins, they settled right down. Apparently Bilbo and Daisy had been spreading the word about their upcoming visitors, and since everyone was by now rather used to the somewhat eccentric couple, they waved it off as nothing out of the ordinary…for a Baggins.
The group of ladies had just left the bakery, their baskets loaded down with bread, when they ran headlong into the very last person they had hoped to meet. Lobelia Sackville-Baggins.
"Well, well," she sneered, placing her hands on her protruding hips as she stared at the group before her. "Just look what the cat dragged in."
"Good day, Lobelia," Daisy greeted the quarrelsome woman in a rather exasperated tone. "Now if you will excuse us, we have quite a lot of shopping to do."
"I would imagine so," Lobelia continued, not budging or allowing them to pass. "The rumor is that you are once again housing a bunch of miscreants in that ill-gotten home of yours. One that should rightfully have been mine years ago!" She then leveled Prim with a cold glare. "You and Drogo bullied Bilbo into it, didn't you? Convincing him to name your lad as his heir, thus cutting us out of any chance of ownership to Bag End."
"We've been over this a million times, you greedy sow," Daisy spat, no longer even attempting to appear pleasant. "It's Bilbo's home, to do with as he pleases, and if he wishes to bequeath it to young Frodo, that is his right and no one's business but his own."
"That still does not excuse the fact that he encourages unwanted visitors to drop by any time they wish," she huffed, pointing her finger directly at Tauriel. "Elves...we've no need for their likes in the Shire!"
"And I assure you, Mistress Hobbit, I have no need for the likes of you either," Tauriel retorted in a deadly calm voice. "Unless it be for target practice."
This caused most of the ladies to snicker a bit, but apparently Marigold had been the first, thus incurring Lobelia's wrath.
"And you!" the horrid hobbit spat, turned on Marigold, who was currently holding a wide eyed Raina on her hip. "How dare you show your face around here, after abandoning your home and family to go live in a dwarf infested mountain! Look! I see you even brought one of your little half-breeds with you."
At this, Esme and Tauriel had to physically hold Menegilda back, the enraged hobbit now out for blood at the horrible insults being leveled at her daughter and grandchild.
"Lobelia!" Bergie all but growled, stepping forward in a threatening manner as she stood up for Marigold and herself. "You and I might be cousins, twice removed, but that will not stop me from laying you out flat on your arse if you utter one more foul insult from that filthy mouth of yours."
"Ah, yes, Bergamot," she continued, undeterred. "The number one blight on the good name of Bracegirdle."
"Oh, and here I thought you alone long held that title," Bergie retorted, causing Lobelia to grow even angrier. "Now listen here, Marigold and I have never done you, or anyone else, a bit of wrong in this world, and it's only your biggity attitude that prevents us from being friends. So what if Marigold and I chose to marry dwarves! And neither of us are one bit ashamed of the children we were blessed with through those unions. We are also very happy to call Tauriel our friend and kin, unlike you! Now don't let me catch you pointing that bony finger in our direction ever again, or it just might get cut off!
"Well, I never!" Lobelia shrieked, acting outraged by such a blatant threat.
"And if you know what's good for you, you never will again!" Daisy spoke up, stepping forward to stand next to Bergie. "Bilbo and I have put up with your snide remarks and thinly veiled threats for long enough as well. All you do is creep around like a hungry spider waiting for someone to fall into your web so you can chew them to pieces. Well, family or no, I've had enough! Till now I have bit my tongue and tried to be nice to you, but you've made that no longer possible. How dare you insult my guests and friends! No one but you sees Marigold and Bergie as anything but what they truly are, fine hobbits with stellar reputations and good character. And as for their children…if I ever hear you calling them such horrible names again, I will personally rip every hair from that swelled head of yours!" She then took out one of the long loaves of bread from her bag and hefting it over her head, she slammed it down on top of the ridiculous looking hat that Lobelia wore. "So, you best bridle that barbed tongue of yours, or you might just find it residing behind a mouthful of broken teeth! Now go!"
Lobelia, obviously shocked by the normally kind hobbit's words, stumbled backwards, nearly tripping over her own feet, before turning and hurrying off at a speedy pace. No one had noticed that a small crowd had gathered around them as the confrontation had taken place, and after a few moments of stunned silence, the spectators all broke out in cheers and applause.
"Good for you!" one called.
"About time you put Lobelia in her place," said another.
"She got what she deserved!" cried a third.
The group of ladies all accepted the accolades in a somewhat embarrassed manner, not at all ashamed of their actions, but still not wanting to be praised for them either. Still, what was done was done, and as they said, Lobelia long had it coming.
"Oh, dear…what have I done?" Daisy lamented, looking rather disheartened as she stared down at the ground in sorrow.
"Only what was right!" Menegilda insisted, placing her hand on her friend's shoulder. "Bilbo dislikes that harpy as much as the rest of us, he won't find fault in what you did…in fact he'll most likely praise you for your words."
"Oh…I know that," Daisy, assured them, bending down and picking up the now broken pieces of the loaf of bread. "I was talking about this! As good as it felt to hit her with it…it truly was a waste of good bread."
This caused not only the women to laugh, putting an end to the angry and uncomfortable feelings Lobelia had left behind, but those standing around found it rather humorous as well.
Yep, Lobelia got what she deserved!
And now we know a bit more about Daisy's character. As well as how Bilbo and Daisy got together.
Plus, we got to meet up with Hamfast and Paladin. Looks like Sam was just born and little Pippin is on the way.
Was everyone able to follow how everyone was related? I don't think Kili did. ha ha.
And has anyone ever played Elbow Tag before, or is it just something unique to my childhood?
Guest Reviews:
Feu d'Argent: Glad you saw, and liked, the picture. After I got your message that you saw it, I went ahead and replaced it with the old one. You KNOW that Frerin goes for the tall, willowey type, like Tauriel. haha. Hey, I think Dwalin is pretty cute and fluffy like a bunny! haha. Hope you enjoyed their first day in the Shire. Thanks.
abc: I understand, signing in is hard at times when I try and review on my phone or tablet. I NEED my desktop with a full keyboard! And that WAS a precious scene that the reader chose to draw, wasn't it? So, the guest review I am responding to below is probably yours...but just in case...I erred on the side of caution.
Guest: Frerin was a bit star-struck. I mean he was meeting the famous Frodo Baggins, Sword-brother extraordinaire for the first time. ha ha. OH yes, Dwarves love teasing hobbits...especially Bilbo. OH yes, two...or more...spoiled children coming right up. And yes, it WAS a good thing Dwalin and Bergie got a room...although it was the room that kind of prompted the activity. ha ha. Thanks.
Emrfangirl: You liked Dwalin and Bergie did ya? *Nudge nudge, wink wink, indeed* And hmmmm, I wonder why I didn't think of little Tor...oh...wait, maybe I did. ha ha. You will just have to wait and see. Thanks.
darkone7142: Glad Dwalin tickles your fancy...he does that to Bergie too. Glad you liked the reunions. And no, Frodo and the other 8 do not stop by Erebor on their journey to destroy the ring...it is a bit out of their way. But don't worry, I got it all figured out. Wait and see... Thanks.