Chapter Seven

Lobelia, Lotho, and Frodo sat in the parlor sipping tea. Lobelia eyed both of them. Frodo still looked dazed from his second encounter with the umbrella, and Lotho seemed to be deciding his next move. She'd gotten the Ring back from him, thank goodness. What Gandalf would have said if her greedy fool of a son had kept it. Although truth be told it might have done him good; a long journey on short rations was just the thing to make a man of him. And she would not have had to leave Otho.

Frodo stirred. He held one hand to the back of his head, and the other hand clutched the tea cup.

"Do you have it?" he asked. He sounded much calmer about it than she had expected. It would only last until the headache wore off, she was sure.

She had no idea if she should tell him, nor did she want Lotho to know anything beyond what he already knew. She would risk it all, she decided.

"Yes I do," she said. Then she nodded as imperceptibly as she could toward her son. Hopefully Frodo wasn't fool enough to speak about such things in front of him. "Gandalf already knows. We've … discussed what to do. I'll come over to Bag End tomorrow afternoon, if you want to talk about it." By then she and Gandalf would be off, and there would be no need for such an awkward conversation.

Frodo nodded and got up slowly. He seemed unsteady on his feet and his eyes were unfocused. "Then I will say goodnight."

Lotho showed him to the door and then came back.

"What's it all about, ma?" he asked. "Frodo Baggins of all people burgling our home! And what have you got of his? Is it that ring?"

"Enough of your questions." She rose, her bones protesting the lateness of the hour and the fall she had taken. "I'll make us an early first breakfast and then you should get back to bed."

"No ma, you're not getting rid of me like that; not this time you aren't. You've been talking with that wizard Gandalf; don't think I haven't seen him in and out as if you and he was best of friends. You've been mighty strange acting ever since the day Frodo was hit over the head in the lane. And then you nigh about bit my head off over that ring. Something funny is going on and I'm going to get to the bottom of it."

"You're a fool, Lotho Sackville-Baggins, as I've said before today." Lobelia shook her finger in his face. "Meddling about with things that don't concern you. I've a mind not to cook you another meal for a month unless you promise to drop the whole affair."

Tap tap tap. Gandalf. He would know how to deal with Lotho. She went to the door and let the wizard in. He followed her into the kitchen and seemed to take in the situation: Lotho with his bull dog look probably gave it away nicely.

"I see things shall have to be explained," Gandalf said when he had heard the story. "Lotho must come with us, I am afraid."

"I'm not going anywhere!" Lotho protested. "I just want to know what's going on. If we're not careful the Sackville-Bagginses will have a reputation just like the Bagginses."

"At least the Bagginses don't go about stealing and backbiting," Gandalf said, bristling his eyebrows at Lotho. "Besides, you know too much already and we can't have you blabbing to the neighbors before we're five miles away."

"We?" Lotho said. Lobelia had never seen her son so sharp before. "Do you mean to tell me that my mother is going with you on this mad … expedition?" He turned to her. "There has never been a Sackville-Baggins, or a Sackville, for that matter, who ever went on adventures. We haven't got any Tookish blood in us. Send this troublemaker back to Bag End where he belongs."

"Lotho Sackville-Baggins!" The wizard stood, and the air fair crackled with energy around him. "For once in your life, do as you are told. You are coming on this adventure if I have to tie you to my horse. This is a perilous matter and I have no time to waste on foolish hobbits who will run their mouths instead of listening."

Lotho sat quieter and straighter than Lobelia had ever seen him in her born days. His mouth, shocked and fish like, kept opening and closing without making a sound. There was silence for a few minutes, as Gandalf kept his fierce glare fixed on Lotho. Then the wizard subsided and sat down again.

"This quest will be difficult and dangerous," he said. "I will take you to Rivendell and there Elrond will advise us."