[Noinkling]

The visit to Sam and Rose’s place recounted

Benat sopped up the last of his soup and sat back satisfied in his chair. He’d told Derufin and Anyopa a little of his visit as they sat eating, too. But mostly just the details of the Gamgee hospitality. Mistress Rose had set up a place beneath the big Elm tree in their back yard, with a table that held a large pitcher of cider and a number of platters of tempting sweets.

The children had been all agog at the big man who’d come striding up the path to their burrow. And despite the chiding of their father, one of the younger ones had managed to ask if he were indeed a giant. Rose had diverted their attentions be giving them each a mug of cider and a sweet and sent them off to play. Benat in like manner, and much to the delight of the children, sent Cullen off to play with them.

It was then, he told the two men, that Master Sam had brought out a large book, bound in Red Leather. Accompanying it had been some other slender volumes, three of them to be exact, also in red leather.

Dipping into The Red Book had been a wonder, he told Derufin and Anyopa. In it had been the story of Master Bilbo’s travels with Gandalf and the Dwarves. Benat wiped his hands clean on the legs of his breeches and turned eagerly to the story of the journey. Sure enough, there was the visit to his Granda’s house and after that the travels east under the dark eaves of Mirkwood and then to The Lonely Mountain. There were wolves and goblins and great eagles and the creature in the cave.

And the dragon! What a foe that would have been to face. Benat chuckled, ‘Imagine facing such a fierce being with only one’s wits as a weapon! That Master Bilbo must have had quite a large spirit to have done so.’ A little sparrow, he told them, in the end brought the bowman’s arrow to bear on the one chink in the dragon’s armor. ‘A little sparrow, mind you!’ he said again. ‘The small creatures are something one should not dismiss. My father taught me this as did his father before him. By such oversight are the mighty brought low.’

After that had come the great battle over the rights to the dragon’s treasure. Wood Elves and Men of the Lake on the one side. The Dwarves of Thorin and Dain on the other. Then had come, too, the Orc armies of Bolg. ‘My Granda came then to the battle, slashing the Orcs with his great paws, crushing Bolg in his mighty grasp. And the eagles, too had come to lend aid.

After this had come the return home for Master Bilbo and then in a second section of the Red Book was how he had traveled to Rivendell to live with the Elves. ‘But, oh what a story his nephew, young Master Frodo, had!’ Benat went on. ‘Sam promised that before I left I could look through that part also.’ Benat shook his head, remembering the short telling of it Sam had given him. ‘Went all the way to Mordor, that one did. And Sam by his side. Seems it was he, and not the new King and his armies, that brought down the foul shadow that dwelt there. Though I’m not saying the High King didn’t lend a hand as needed.’

On impulse, Benat called one of the servers over, and fishing in his pouch for some silver coin, said he was buying a round for the house. Questioning looks were cast at the servers as ale was poured all around followed by looks and nods of thanks to Benat. He raised his mug to those in the room saying in a great voice, ‘To the Shire Folk!’