An Adventure of Hobbit Proportions RPG

[Thinlómien]

When they came out, Tansy could instantly say everything was not alright. Brown's face was serious, Rudy was paler than Tansy had ever seen him and Mira was crying. Gaffer Hugo was laying on the ground, unmoving. It was not difficult to guess what had happened.

Tansy took a few quick steps to where Mira was sobbing by her gaffer's side. She wrapped her arms around the girl and hugged her tight. That, of course, made the girl cry even more. Tansy stroked her hair and let her cry. She knew there were no words to make it better.

After a while, Mira pulled away from her and wiped her face with her sleeve. She looked up at her brother. "I don't want to go home now. We have to find the Entwives. Gaffer Hugo would have wanted us to. We have to find them, for him."

Tansy looked from one sibling to another. She could see both sides of the argument, all too clearly. Weren't these the exact same two sides, the responsible child and the adventurer, that had always been fighting in her own heart? She took a deep breath. Suddenly, she knew.

"You only must go home if you are truly needed there right now." She said this to Mira, resting her hand on the girl's shoulder, but she let her eyes travel to Rudy by the end of her sentence.

[Gwathagor]

Brown looked around at the scared, pale faces of the other hobbits, who now stood in a circle around Gaffer Hugo's lifeless form. Of course the expedition could not go on. They had just been out to have some fun before, but real life had taken a hand. Rudy and Mira would have to see to Hugo's burial, break the news to the family, and so on. And the others would likely be disheartened by the tragedy, which had cast a sudden dark pall over their merry adventure - which of them would wish to continue given the circumstances? It hardly seemed right.

Snatch wiggled his way through the legs of the observers and bounced up to Gaffer Hugo. Ordinarily he would have wanted to romp, but he immediately sensed that something was amiss. Snatch approached, sniffed Hugo's feet, and stepped back. Nothing happened. He barked sharply, and still Gaffer Hugo did not move. Snatch leapt up on the platform, sniffed Hugo carefully, and began to lick his face, whining softly all the while. The solemn band watched silently, and Mira cried on Rudy's shoulder.

Brown felt suddenly that he was intruding upon this mourning family, and, without a word, walked slowly back into the inn. They wouldn't be leaving for a while yet, he knew.

Sitting down at his bench again, he began to think. And, as he thought, he realized that there was no reason he couldn't continue north on his own, even if the others had no will to go on.

[Kitanna]

The stranger appeared to be struggling with his food. Peony wasn't inclined to see the poor fellow choke on his food, it would be a waste of food and of life. She jumped from her seat and hurried to his side. Her brother, Nick, was often the culprit of eating too fast and so Peony knew how to handle this.

"Come on, now," Peony gave his back a good hard smack and whatever he'd been eating made its way back up and onto his plate. "There now. Best to chew your food next time, friend." She smiled and patted his back. Color was returning to his cheeks, that was always a good sign.

"Thank you," he rasped.

Peony turned and it seemed her group had left. She was a bit hurt they had simply left her behind. She gave the stranger one more friendly smile before heading out herself. It'd be no good being left here, having to go home before the adventure even began.

Outside her mood changed almost immediately. Gaffer Hugo was just lying there. Rudy and Mira were crying and she felt her own eyes tearing up. But he couldn't be dead, right? He had been alive minutes before.

"You only must go home if you are truly needed there right now." Tansy said, putting her hand on Mira's shoulder.

"But how can we go on without Gaffer?" Peony choked back a loud and unseemly sob. "He wanted to be as much a part of this as the rest of us."

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

After receiving the not-at-all-gentle smack to his back from the rich-haired lass from the group, Michael finally caught his breath. His color was still changing, from regaining the lost air as well as from the embarassment he felt for causing such a commotion. As his saviour patted him rather friendly on the back, Michael managed to produce a faint "thank you" from his throat, along with the last piece of breakfast that remained there. He wanted to say more, the thoughts rushed inside him, but engulfed in total chaos and still not fast enough. Before he could come up with anything to say, the hobbit lass turned away with a smile and left the room.

Michael spent a short time trying to calm himself down, both from the struggle for breath and from all the other events that happened during the breakfast. He wasn't very succesful. However, suddenly one thought struck him with unexpected power, and chased away all the other thoughts: the travelers are gone! Alarmed even more than before, Michael jumped off from the table. However, at the very same moment, the figure of that other young male hobbit appeared in the doorway. Michael stood like frozen, as the guest walked slowly towards him, then stepped aside and sat back at the group's table. Michael gave out a quiet sigh of relief, and as it seemed that the travelers are not leaving yet, he picked up his empty cup and went to the back of the room. When he was returning a minute later with a mug of fresh milk, the hobbit was still sitting there.

Now it is the time to think of something, Michael thought as he sat down to his table. Are they going to invite me to their table, after all? Would it be possible for me to be so lucky? But right now, it seemed as if everybody had disappeared somewhere, except for that hobbit who was just sitting not that far from Michael's table. Perhaps this one - now that he is alone here - would be good to talk to? But how can I talk to them when I have lied to them before? And what should I say anyway? Such thoughts were rushing through the young tramp's head.

You could lie, something whispered to him suddenly. You could lie once again and tell them that you may accompany them and show them the way where they need it... They won't realise. The Shire sure looks all the same in the Northfarthing, where they are heading, too. You can make up something.

Childish fool, something else told him. Also, something pressed his chest, as he thought about lying again. He felt miserable. But was there any other way? He felt as if he were pulled against his own will. With clenched fists and teeth, he got up from the table, and with a few steps, he stood next to the now lone traveler's seat.

"Excuse me, sir," Michael realised his own voice is trembling more than usual, but that could not stop him from speaking. He felt like an observer, whatever was happening did not come from him.
"I have been talking with your friend, Rudy, and... miss Bunny... And now I remembered," that was the first lie – he certainly did not remember, but had his mind on it all the time, "that I overheard you talking about the North Moors." The pace of Michael's speech was increasing and increasing, while his sight was dimming and red and black wheels started to appear in front of his eyes. "And I thought if perhaps you could use somebody else to accompany you, somebody who has the knowledge of the places. I do." And that was the end. Michael felt as if he were just drowned into a hot, boiling water and he was not far from collapsing right on the floor. He felt his heart somewhere in his stomach, and he felt the sweat from his palms soaking the hems of his vest, as he clasped them. That was the end. He could not think any more. He could not do anything more. The only thing that could happen was... that something would happen.

[Valier]

Bunny exited the out-house at the back of the Inn. She felt much better and thought she might have just one more pint before they left.
Such a shame that already the old Gaffer was showing signs of his age, she thought. She knew they should never have let him come. Now that he was needing assistence to even get around (which she was sure Rudy and Brown would grow tired of quick), thier trip would be alot less fun.

As Bunny rounded the corner to the front of the Inn, fully engrossed in her own thoughts, she was snapped back quick when she saw what was playing out before her. There on the ground lay the old Gaffer, Rudy stood pale as a ghost beside his cring sister and a symathetic Tansy and Peony.

Bunny's face blanched, she had indeed been thinking just moments before that they should leave Hugo behind. She had never wanted anything like this to happen and she felt ashamed at her thoughts.

"My goodness!" Bunny exclaimed as she hurried to the small huddled group. "What happened?"
Rudy cleared his throat, "He just well....died. He just fell over just like that and...." his voiced trailed off. Mira began to cry louder and Snatch began to howl.

Bunny was at a loss for words. She did not know what to do. Would they all want to go home now? Should they even continue? Was it right? She knew there would be a funeral, and that meant many, many Hobbits attending (as it was at most Hobbit passings)
She had no intentions of sticking around for that, she knew her Family would surely find out that their young daughter Bella had indeed been in Budgeford, when she was supposed to be in Buckland with Tansy. She was ashamed that that was the first thing that came to her mind. She felt very sorry for their loss and was saddened that she hadn't been nicer to the Gaffer. She did not want to seem uncaring but there was no way that she would stay here any longer then she needed. She would carry on even if she had to go alone.

Bunny noticed then, that Brown was not with them. He had probably gone back into the Inn, she thought maybe she should join him, seeing as she was not directly related to the mourning family.
But everyone seemed to not know what to do, so Bunny piped up slowly, "I think we should move his body. Then figure out what to do after we've done that. Tansy or Peony do think you could bring Mira inside and get her a drink? I'm sure the rest of us can move him."

[Gwathagor]

"As a matter of fact," said Brown cautiously, "It's not my decision. You'll want to talk to Bunny, who I suppose is more or less in charge right now - at any rate, this whole thing was her idea."

Brown wasn't sure what to make of this curious fellow, who looked as if he was asking to have his leg amputated: pale as a sheet and sweating bullets, he could hardly put two words together without sounding pained, much less even look Brown in the eye. Brown lost all idea of the hobbit being a rascal out to rob them or such mischief; he was far too...awkward. And frightened. That much was obvious.

"I may as well tell you," Brown continued in a concerned tone, trying to be forthright without sounding stuck-up, "That I know the North Moors as well as any hobbit who hasn't lived there. I'm - I'm not certain that we need any help finding our way..."

The hobbit's shoulders drooped visibly. Why did we want to come with them so badly? And why was he so afraid to ask? Brown was at a loss and he didn't want to be responsible for this.

"Why don't you go talk to Bunny? I think she's outside."

Brown pointed the hobbit toward the door.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Michael's mind was in such state that he could not even think about what the hobbit had told him. He was afraid, but after being sent to ask Bunny, he just nodded and, feeling the sweat all over himself, he more stumbled than walked towards the door.

Almost outside, finally the words of the hobbit caught up with his confused mind. "I may as well tell you that I know the North Moors as well as any hobbit who hasn't lived there. I'm not certain that we need any help finding our way..." Michael stopped.

I'm not certain that we need any help finding our way...

The thoughts came once again flowing through his head: They don't need any help. They can do well without me. Why should I go and ask that Bunny? What if she just says plain "no"? That would be even more embarassing than everything that already happened... Michael's teeth was rattling. Better not go there, he thought. Better just run away, quietly creep away, these people will forget me and I will never meet them again...

But at that moment another thought came to his mind. Never. That will mean losing the chance to go with them, and after all, this chance is close now... Are you really willing to throw it away? a quiet voice asked inside his head. Now that you have followed them all the way up here? And if you throw away your chance like that, how will you know if they wouldn't, after all, have taken you with them?

And then suddenly, from the knot of Michael's thoughts another one came up.

***

The day was cold and the autumn leaves were falling down, slowly, covering the road from Bywater to Frogmorton in a many-coloured carpet. Mist was climbing out of the fields on both sides of the road, and the silhouette of a round, long-legged hobbit treading the path was at times lost in the haze. The traveler was wrapped in a warm coat, but the feather behind his hat trembled in the chill air.

A young hobbit, also wrapped in a thick, bright yellow cloak, suddenly appeared out of the field at one side of the road and almost ran into the lone traveler. Only at the last moment he noticed somebody standing in front of him, gave out a loud shriek and stumbling, he fell on the ground. An empty basket flew from his hand and rolled away into the mist.

The long-legged hobbit stopped, and reaching his arm, he helped the youngster to get up. As he lifted him, suddenly a glimpse of smile appeared on what could have been seen of his face.
"Mishka! Good to see you, laddie."
The youngster's eyes widened, gazing at the long-legged hobbit. "U - uncle Richard! It's you?"
"No, I am the Mad Baggins coming to haunt you. Of course it is me. How did you end up here?"
Mishka cleared the dust and leaves off the front of his coat and looked over for his basket. "I was - um - going to visit grandpa, to Frogmorton."
"Ah, were you? I will be going there too. Even though I have also some official... hmm... business there."
"A Shiriff business?"
Uncle Richard smiled. "Yes, a Shiriff business," he said, looking directly into young Michael's eyes. "Look, Mishka, I don't know whether you look at me the same way your father does, but I am not ashamed to be a Shiriff. Now when I have finally become one, I am happy of it, because it is something I always wanted to do. I may have decided to back away from that when the family did not approve, but instead I went, and I do not pity it."

***

Michael took a deep breath, and picking all the courage he could find inside him, he stepped through the door. What he saw, however, was something he did not quite expect.