Chapter 4: Concerning Hobbits

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit."

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again

The Master of Buckland, Saradoc Brandybuck, called the Maggots of the room out into the hall. Hugo Grubb hooked a finger to his forehead and nodded to her. "I'll likely see you in a day or two, Miss Tabi," he said.

"Uhm," she said, clearing her throat. "Thank you. I appreciate you looking at my head." She fiddled with the coverlet, hoping she sounded as grateful as she was and as polite as any other hobbit. "And I'm sorry, but I don't have any money to pay you."

"You are most welcome, lass. But do not worry yourself over it; it has been taken care of," he returned with a yellowed smile. Tabi returned the smile with a half-hearted one, and Master Grubb nodded once more to her. "Master Merry."

The two exchanged polite nods. "Master Grubb," was the courteous reply.

The Healer partially closed the door as he left, and Tabi became aware that she was alone with none other than Meriadoc Brandybuck. The pair looked at each other for a long moment, and Tabi took the opportunity to look at the Brandybuck. He had curled, shaggy brown hair and light blue eyes. He had fairer skin than the Maggots and Master Grubb, and she could not deny that he was handsome. He chewed on the bottom corner of his lip as he took her in in return. He was dressed in a yellow waistcoat, and she was reminded dimly of the movie's portrayal of him. She bit back a smile and looked away from him. He had a kind air and a mischievous glint in his eye as if he suspected something about her.

She instead focused on the window to her right and wished to see outside. After all, she was in the Shire, a place she knew was beautifully peaceful.

"Here," Merry said as if reading her mind. He walked to the window and opened the earthy printed curtains, revealing a pink-streaked sky, with purple slowly creeping along. She rubbed the back of her neck.

"Had no idea it was so late," she murmured.

"Would you like the window opened?" Merry asked.

Tabi looked up at him and nodded. "Thank you."

She wasn't sure how to measure his height, especially in relation to her own. As now, she assumed, she had shrunk by some kind of madness-induced delusion or some kind of magic. The men who had attacked her (and they indeed were real) had mentioned Saruman. She shook her head. Thinking hurt too much at the moment. The numbing agent was wearing off, and she began feeling exhausted. She rubbed her tired face and took a deep breath, relishing the outside air flowing freely into the room. It was the sweet scent of a warm summer day, lazily transitioning to a warm summer night. The hum of the summer insects calmed her frazzled nerves, and she leaned heavily back against the pillows, her eyes closed in a moment of contentment.

At the sound of slight rustling, she opened her eyes just as Merry took Mrs. Maggot's vacated seat. He was also looking out the window with a peaceful mien. A breeze blew into the room, blowing the curtain and making the fire dance in the hearth to her left. She breathed deeply and sighed, looking out at the rustling trees, a pine green against the sunset sky. Then she became aware of Merry's eyes on her as she sighed.

"It's beautiful here," she said in an answer to his unasked question.

"Aye, Bamfurlong is picturesque, and this window only looks out towards the chicken coop," was Merry's answer, said with a smile, looking back out the window.

She reached over her shoulder and wrapped a lock of hair around two fingers. Unused to the look or feel of curled hair, Tabi let go of the lock and looked at Merry. So far, the Brandybuck hadn't asked anything more than pleasantries and didn't seem keen on asking either. He looked young, and Tabi could only assume that the year was sometime before or after the quest. No—if it were after, he would likely be taller than all the rest of the hobbits, and he stood as tall as his father. But she needed to know for sure; she had to make plans to survive.

"C-could you tell me the date?" she asked quietly.

"Harvest begins in exactly thirty days, but it is the third of Wedmath," Merry answered.

Tabi grit her teeth. She wasn't sure what that meant; it was the Shire calendar, and she didn't know how to correlate her time. "What's the year," she asked after a debate. She likely sounded crazy, but for all Merry knew, she had forgotten that, too.

Merry looked at her with pity. "Fourteen-eighteen," he answered. "Or thirty-eighteen, if you are used to the King's Reckoning."

That made more sense. She knew Sauron was defeated in 3019. So, she was in the year before, and if the harvest were to begin next week, as he said…this was sometime just before September. Oh my god, this is right before everything happens. The Conspiracy to help Frodo is going on right now.

"What is it?" Merry asked suddenly, leaning forward and gripping the arms of the chair he was sitting in. Have you remembered something?"

Tabi became suddenly aware of the awed look on her face. She schooled her features. "I—I guess I—I, no, I didn't remember anything."

"Then what is it?" he insisted.

Tabi looked over at him again, and the two eyed each other. Would Merry even believe me if I were to tell him the truth? Probably think I'm nuts.

"I realized I truly don't know how long ago anything happened."

At least, that was the truth. What was it that Claire said in Outlander? Stick as close to the truth as possible and only omit what must remain secret. Well, they certainly couldn't know she knew everything, the future, about the Ring. How would she ever get out of this? Tabi buried her face in her hands.

Merry eyed Tabi as she spoke. Her words felt primarily true, but there was something she was avoiding saying. Rubbing his chin, he sat back in the chair and crossed a foot over his knee. I'll have to watch her.

Tabi took a steady breath and removed her hands from her face. She assumed her posture when he first entered the room; one arm crossed over her stomach, propping up the other that rubbed her neck. Everything about her screamed nervousness, and he couldn't really blame her. I wonder what father would do in this situation. Merry racked his brain, but his father's thoughts were always mysterious.

Merry's thoughts were broken by a knock at the door. Flora Maggot nudged the door further with her foot and came in, bearing a loaded tray. Tilly followed shyly with a smaller tray of her own, with no legs. Both trays were laden with a loaded plate of Flora's famous stuffed mushrooms, two rolls a piece, and a bowl of sugared berries. A tankard of Maggot's beer was on Merry's tray, which Tilly shyly handed to him. He thanked her, and the hobbit lass blushed, muttered a 'welcome,' and hurried towards the door.

"Now, lass, I didn't know what you wanted to drink, so I just brought you water," Flora said, setting the legged tray over the girl's lap.

"Oh, thank you, water is fine," she said, looking gratefully at the lady.

Flora smiled. "Enjoy dinner, I'll be back in an hour for your trays." With that, Flora left the room in a flash blue skirt.

Merry picked up his knife and fork to see his charge slowly doing the same, eyeing the heaping plate of stuffed mushrooms. "Is something the matter?" He asked, cutting into a large cap.

"No, it's just... a lot of food," she said slowly.

Merry smiled sympathetically. After her ordeal today, she likely wouldn't have a large appetite, especially after head stitches. "Well, I can tell you, Mrs. Maggot will be forgiving in light of your circumstances if you don't finish your plate."

She smiled wanly at him as she cut into a cap and tried the delicacy. Merry had to admit that Tabi made a good go of the heaping plate. But then, good food usually overpowered anxiety and pain, at least in his experience.

True to her word, Flora returned in an hour but with Grip and Fang on her heels. "I hope you don't mind, lass, but the dogs were itching to see Mr. Merry and whoever else we had here."

Tabi smiled as the matron took her tray, and the two dogs walked to either side of the bed, ignoring Merry. Tabi automatically held out her hands low and let the dogs sniff her. After a long moment, the dogs each allowed Tabi to pat them on the heads. Fang even went so far as to paw onto the bed to sniff the lass and allow her to pet his sides.

Tabi smiled and chuckled lightly. "Well, it seems they like you, lass," Flora commented before taking Merry's tray on top of the larger one.

"They're adorable," Tabi replied with a smile.

"Hah! Don't let Maggot hear you say that," she laughed, going out the door. "Here, pups! Do you want to lick the plates or not!"

The two dogs loped from the room, their tails wagging and tongues hanging from their mouths. Tabi smiled, watching them as the third and largest dog entered the room. Merry thought that if ever there was a serious dog, it was Wolf, who indeed looked like his ancient ancestors.

Wolf liked his family and tolerated Merry and his father, hardly tolerating Pippin when he came around with him. But Wolf did not take kindly to strangers and would make it known quickly if he thought they were worth the time.

Merry watched as Tabi seemed to sense that this dog was different than the others. She did the same thing and held out a hand low and nonthreatening. Wolf sniffed her hand thoroughly, then sniffed down the bed, circled, and did the same thing on the far side. Both watched in silence as the dog made his rounds.

Then Wolf turned tail, and Merry thought the dog had deemed her tolerable, which would say much in his eyes. But instead, Wolf did something he had never seen out of the dog before. He jumped onto the foot of the bed, circled, and laid his head against the footboard, looking out the door.

A compliment indeed, Merry thought.

If the dog trusted her enough to hop onto the bed with her in it, she must not pose a threat or have evil in her heart. Merry stowed this thought to share with his father. She was curious, and that was a fact.

Merry decided that as the lass was not talkative, it might be best for them both to give her space. He got up from his seat. "Well, Miss Tabi," he began. I think I will retire for the evening. If you need anything, I am in the next room over. Please don't hesitate to call."

Tabi looked up at him, a look of relief in her eyes. "Thank you."

Merry nodded. "Come Wolf, let's leave the lass be." Merry snapped his fingers by his side, but the dog narrowed his eyes and refused to move.

Tabi withheld a smile. "He's okay where he's at."

Smiling, Merry nodded and left the room, leaving the door open just enough that Wolf could nose his way out if needed.

Merry was shown to Will's room, across the hall from his charge. After a long and valiant attempt to find some semblance of sleep, Merry sat up from the borrowed bed. He could not shake the memory of the lass's eyes, the way she looked at him with such remembrance, as if she had known him for years and knew all his secrets.

Stretching, Merry got out of bed and slid his jacket on. Night had fallen, but the moon was full, casting a pale light over the garden his window overlooked. Checking his breast pocket for his tobacco and pipe, Merry slipped silently from the room and out of the house's back door.

Re-lighting his previously started bowl, Merry walked the length of the house, his legs itching for movement. He passed the windows of the rest of the sleeping family before he stopped short at the opened window of his charge.

Inside the opened window, Merry could hear weeping. His heart broke as he heard her mutter, "I don't understand," repeatedly to herself. Merry closed his eyes at the surge of pity he felt and moved on, knowing her emotions were not for his ears.

On the opposite side of the house, another window was opened, one next to his room. It was Gill's room, where he and Will would sleep for the night, but it did not sound like the lads were asleep.

"What do you think of that lass? Of Miss Underhill?" Will asked.

"What do you mean? What do I think of her? She's a lost lass under the Master's protection."

"She's got a fair face," Will nudged.

"She's hurt and scared," came Gill's annoyed reply.

"I don't understand why Master Grubb is letting her up tomorrow. That wound was quite deep."

"Master Grubb knows better than you."

"Oh, c'mon Gill, you're thirty-seven! Don't tell me you haven't noticed the pretty lass across the hall!"

"She is none of my concern. What I have to prepare for the harvest is."

"A pretty lass ought to be your concern."

"And the harvest ought to be yours! She will be gone tomorrow to more capable hands than ours. Leave her be, Wilcome."

Will hmphed, and Merry could tell the younger lad had rolled over, giving up on his gossip about the strange lass. The Brandybuck sighed. At least Will shall only be a bother in the morning.

Tabi was awakened by a knock, and the door opened and closed. She opened her bleary eyes and began to sit up. The light was streaming in from the opened window, and the fire burned very low. "Good morning, Miss Tabi," came Flora's voice.

"Good morning," she answered groggily as a cup of cool water was pushed into her hands.

Tabi took a sip as she watched the hobbit matron set a bowl of water on the bedside table and sling an empty pack onto the chair. There came another knock. "I found it, ma," came a woman's voice.

"Well, come on in. We haven't got all morning. Hilly and Tilly will finish breakfast shortly," Flora announced.

The door opened and closed again, revealing a heavily pregnant hobbit lass carrying a green and brown bundle over one arm. "This is my eldest daughter, Milly," Flora introduced.

"It's nice to meet you," Tabi said, realizing the five children had rhyming names.

"And you, miss," she answered as Flora sat upon the bed, a wet cloth in hand.

"I suppose you would rather have a bath after your ordeal yesterday," Flora said. "But a spit bath must be good enough for you to meet the Master and Mistress."

"And don't fret over that," Milly said, hanging her bundle over a dressing screen in the corner. "They're good, kind folk, as you saw by Master Merry."

Tabi tried to look over the gown as Flora began to scrub at her face. The gown hung off a wooden hanger and was of a pine green. It hung low, longer than the dresses the two women were wearing, was long-sleeved, and was accompanied by a brown over-tunic.

"I-I can do this myself," Tabi said, attempting to take the cloth from the woman.

"Tush, let me fuss over this. You just wake yourself up and tell me how you are feeling. How is your head?"

Mrs. Maggot untied the thin shawl over her shoulders and began scrubbing around Tabi's neck and shoulders.

"It doesn't hurt horribly," Tabi said after a moment of taking stock of herself. Her head ached, and the skin felt tight around the stitches, but she was becoming aware of the aches on her back and sides. I do ache all over."

"Aye, falling out of a tree will do that to a person," Flora said.

Tabi hummed. She remembered she had fallen through a tree, not from. "I remember the tree," she murmured.

Flora gave her a small smile. "Aye, the fall likely scared you enough into remembering. Here now, enough of that," Flora got up and placed the rag in the bowl.

The woman pulled the curtain closed and turned back to Tabi. "Do you feel well enough to stand, lass?"

"Yes, I believe so," Tabi said, swinging her feet out of bed. She stood slowly, finding that her limbs were just as strong as before, and the dizziness she had yesterday was gone.

"Good on ye, lass," Flora said, striding forward. "Now, off with the nightgown."

"What?" Tabi asked in mild panic.

"Well, we've got to wash you some way," she said.

"I can do that myself," Tabi said, flushing.

"Tush, we're all ladies here; there's no need to be embarrassed, love." Flora quickly undid the ties at the back of the gown.

The gown fell from Tabi, and she flushed deeply, covering herself.

Feeling embarrassed and infantile, Tabi allowed Flora to wash her without saying anything more. She was not inclined to start an argument with the people who had saved her. She held her hair when asked to, turned when told, and allowed a shift to be pulled over her head when all was finished.

Flora wrapped an old girdle around her waist. When the garment was tied up, Tabi found that it held her breasts with as much support as any bra or corset could.

"Thank you," Tabi said, "for everything." Still reeling from embarrassment, Tabi pushed through to show her gratitude for all they had done, including literally taking her clothes off their backs. She hadn't the slightest idea where her pants and shoes had gone, and she certainly could not just wear her work shirt with nothing under it, though she noticed it was long gone.

"You are welcome, lass," Flora said with a smile, nodding to Milly. Her daughter stepped forth with the dress in one hand and the tunic in the other.

Flora held the green dress open so Tabi could slide herself through. The gown felt like soft cotton as it touched her shoulders and arms, and Flora and Milly pulled it down around her.

Flora tsked. "You're smaller than my girls," she commented as the gown nearly brushed the floor. The sleeves nearly pooled at her wrists, and the shoulders felt like they were drooping.

"'Tis a good thing it'll tighten in the back," Milly agreed.

Tabi felt Flora's fingers loosen the strings in the back of the gown and begin to tighten the dress. Milly took Tabi's arms and steadied her as Flora jerked the dress as tight as it would go. Tabi winced and gasped as the stiffness of the sides increased to a constricted feeling, and she wondered if that's how small animals felt when being devoured by a snake.

Milly gave Tabi a pitying look as she gave a restricted sigh when Flora finished lacing up the dress. The tunic followed quickly, and they were all (especially Tabi) happy to see that it fit well enough without tightening. The tunic hung around the mid-thigh and covered the dress well, sufficient from potential travel stains.

"Now," Flora said, straightening out a sleeve. "You look good enough to meet the Master now. Milly will help with your hair; make it nice now, and I will pack you a bag."

"Oh, please. You've been so kind; I couldn't take anything else," Tabi said, stopping Flora.

Both women laughed. "This here is my second. Like as not, it'll be a good long time before I fit back into my courting dresses," Milly said, patting her swollen belly.

"It will also give Mistress Esmeralda time to find clothing in your size, for you are as thin as a willow wand," Flora said. "Now, hup to it. Breakfast will be done shortly, and then I will show you the proper way of greeting the Master and the Mistress before your escorts arrive."

Tabi very nearly shuddered at the word escorts, remembering what those men had called themselves. "Escorts?" she questioned instead.

"Aye, Master Merry's cousins, the Masters Berilac and Doderic, will arrive with a cart after first breakfast," she explained.

"Do I call them master or mister?" Tabi questioned.

"Either will work, dear," Flora said, patting her cheek. Now, let's worry about that after breakfast. Let's get the hair brushed. I'll pack you up some clothes."

Before Tabi could argue, Milly took her hand and pulled her in front of the vanity near the fire. Tabi looked over the combs and brushes, some newer, some beaten and weathered. Milly took a soft, bristled comb and skilfully worked the brush through Tabi's brown hair. She watched for a few moments at the gentle and clever attention, committing to memory how to at least try to care for her newly curled hair. But before long, Tabi was lulled into a relaxation that allowed her mind to wander to other things.

She took herself in, trying to ignore the stitches near her hairline. The pain was ever present, and if she raised her brow too suddenly, she felt the tight pinpricks that were the stitches being pulled. Her scar was still present and showing on the opposite side of her face, which she was unnerved by. As light as it was, Tabi hated the permanent reminder of the day her grandfather died.

Milly pulled two forelocks of hair behind her head and tied them off with a dark-colored ribbon. "There," she announced, patting Tabi's shoulders. "Ready for a ride to the Hall."

Tabi looked over, feeling very much out of place in the clothing. As much as she had always wanted to dress and even be a hobbit in her wildest daydreams, she felt overwhelmed by the pure cotton of her borrowed clothes. The tightness of the dress and girdle were both things she had never considered, and her curled hair was foreign. She didn't look like herself.

A knock on the door brought Tabi from her musings. Flora opened the door as she stood up, smoothing over her skirts. Tabi was shocked to see Merry on the other side of the door, thinking perhaps he had other things to attend to rather than wait for her to get ready. "Good morning, Master Merry," Flora said with a welcoming grin. "I just got her all done up." She beckoned Merry to step inside the door.

As the young Brandybuck stepped inside, he and Tabi looked each other over. He wore the same clothes he had the previous day, but they showed no signs of sleepwear. It dawned on Tabi then that perhaps one of the brushes on the vanity was used for clothes, keeping them fresher with fewer washes.

"Did you sleep well, Miss Underhill?" he asked.

"Yes, I slept very well," she said, though the Brandybuck raised his eyebrow quickly in disbelief. He looked as tired as she felt, with circles beneath his pale blue eyes.

"And how is your head?" he asked.

"Better than it was," she answered.

Merry nodded, but a call came from down the hallway before he could ask another question. "Breakfast is ready!"

Merry smiled and offered Tabi his arm. After a confused moment and a nudge from Milly, Tabi approached and linked her arm with his. As the Brandybuck escorted her towards the dining room, Tabi noted he smelled strongly of pipeweed, as if he had spent the night smoking, mulling over her sudden appearance. At least he had been able to smoke; she had laid in bed and cried most of the night before finally falling asleep.

Meriadoc was also at least six inches taller than she was. She barely reached his chin. Jesus, how tall is he? she wondered. How tall am I? Merry had told her the exact date yesterday. They were well before he drank any Entdraught. How much height had she lost in this… madness? There would be no way of riddling it out until she met Aragorn. She knew he stood at roughly six feet.

If it weren't for the ache in her head, Tabi would have slapped the label of dream on this experience. But her body still ached, her head hurt, and, as she told herself last night, those men had been seen by four other people. Those men had mentioned Saruman. This was…this was something else.

Tabi's whirling mind slowed as they approached the dining table. Merry released her arm and pulled out a chair near the end of the table for her. She thanked him quietly and sat as Merry took the chair and the end of the table next to her.

Merry sat next to his charge, aware that she was nervous and stiff, her eyes darting around the table. The table was yet to be set, and Maggot and his sons came in, followed by the two farmhands. One was Isembold, Milly's husband, and the other was Adelard, Hilly's suitor if he believed the rumors and the looks the two sent each other across the table. Gill had taken the seat next to his father, and Merry noticed Will had taken the seat across from his charge.

"Good morning, Miss Tabi," Maggot said as he took the seat at the head of the table. "I trust you slept well."

"Good morning," she greeted in return. "I did sleep well. And thank you for everything." Merry allowed her the white lie. He had, after all, told Maggot the same thing. But her gratitude was as genuine as it could be.

Maggot beamed at the thanks. "No need to thank me, lass," he said, waving it off like it was nothing. "So long as we can save as many of our folk from the Big ones, it'll never be a problem."

Tabi smiled, clearly unsure of what to say to the farmer. "My father said he would send out inquiries about these Men," Merry said, nodding his thanks to Tilly as she set a plate and silverware in front of him.

"Let's hope he finds them and heaves them out of Buckland," Maggot commented as Hilly and Flora brought out the food dishes.

As everyone around the table served themselves, Merry noticed his charge taking smaller portions than nearly everyone else, though, he noted, she had branched out and taken the offering of apple juice from Hilly rather than water. He committed this to memory but allowed for the ache in her head and the nervousness she likely felt, for she kept her eyes on her plate as the talk around the table drifted from the harvest to the doings of the Marish.

"I hear that Mister Frodo is returning to Buckland," Gilbert said. "Is there any truth to that?"

The question was innocent enough, but any mention of Frodo always put Merry's guard up. Merry swallowed his food. "Aye, a home in Crickhollow looks to be what he's got his eye on," Merry answered. "I am sorry that your family must return to protecting the mushroom fields."

The table laughed, and Merry noticed that Tabi, too, giggled quietly into her cup as she drank. To Merry, it seemed, this was more than a polite laugh at a joke she was not part of; it felt amused. Merry took his drink, aware that Tabi clearly felt his eyes on her, for the smile fell from her face, and she eyed her plate.

I am being paranoid, Merry told himself, taking another bite of his food. How could a lass outside the Shire know anything of Frodo or me? However, another part of his mind argued. Strange timing for such an odd girl to show up when the Conspiracy was just beginning to put its plan into motion.

Merry swallowed, deciding that he might keep any further oddities he found about this lass to himself until he was sure of her. After all, other hobbits loved mushrooms and more than just Frodo had been caught trespassing for them. It was likely she was thinking of her own experiences with such things.

"Sorry, Tabi, dear," Flora said with a laugh. "Master Merry's cousin, Frodo, used to live in Buckland. He would come across the Marish to steal from our crop. 'Best mushrooms he ever had' was his excuse each time."

Tabi smiled at Flora. "I can see why he would think that," she said, raising her fork to them.

The table chuckled in agreement, but Tabi met Merry's eye, and he felt that was something she had already known. Merry twitched his nose and broke eye contact first. He could never tell his father his suspicions without telling him the entire Conspiracy. Yes, I will have to keep a close eye on her.