Normally, it's Autumn when I get the itch to take extra-long walks in the Shire. However, I awoke several mornings ago feeling the need for a nice long trek. Sometimes, on such hikes I merely wander with no preordained destination in mind. But on this particular occasion, I thought I might enjoy a visit to Michel Delving, as long as I steered clear of the Mathom-house. After the fiasco that took place there with Merry and Pippin on my last visit, I wasn’t too sure I’d be welcome there.
I usually enjoy solitary walks, but this time I was felt inclined for some company. Neither Pippin nor Merry happened to be at hand, this time. (Probably for the best.) Folco Boffin, however, was and I enlisted him to join me on my trek. Fatty Bolger had declined, saying the only way he would travel that far would be by wagon. Sam had turned down my invitation as well, stating with a regretful expression, that the gardens at both Bag End and at home were in need of watering and weeding, and the “taters” especially needed to be watched carefully for signs of bugs. So it was that Folco and I were left to each other’s company. The journey was pleasant enough. The weather was fine for walking, not too hot during the day with a bright, starry sky providing the perfect canopy for camping underneath.
We managed to arrive in Michel Delving just in time for dinner, so we made haste to the Rose & Thorn Inn, where I stayed during my last visit. It is well known that the head cook there, one Mrs. Dimple Puddlejumper, makes the best meat pies and dumplings in the entire West Farthing. I had my heart, and stomach set on one of those tasty treats. After securing a room for the night, we tidied up a bit so as to sample Mrs. Puddlejumper's fare as quickly as possible. We came into the common room just in time to hear a familiar voice wafting over the crowd.
"Father, tell me again why I have to join you and the solicitors?"
Folco and I looked at each other in surprise. Pippin! Not just Pippin, mind you, but his father, Paladin Took, as well.
"You are here to learn how the solicitors tend to our land holdings." Paladin was saying in a voice tinged with a hint of impatience. "We went over all of this on our journey here. After all, should anything happen to me, you will be next in line to become Thain. It's time you began to learn what it is I do, as ‘Thain in waiting’."
"Thain in waiting," Pippin sighed. "Why do I have to learn this stuff if you haven't even become Thain yet? Grandfather Ferimbras will be Thain for a long time, yet!"
Paladin frowned. "Peregrin Took, there will be no more discussion tonight. I expect you to refrain from endless questions and listen for a change." Pippin sighed and nodded. It was obvious his heart wasn't into learning to be a Thain... at least, not the business part of Thainship.
I motioned for Folco to find us a table while I went over and invited Paladin and Peregrin to join us.
"Good evening, Paladin," I said, clasping his shoulder as I came up to the two. "Fancy meeting you in Michel Delving!"
Pippin's eyes grew large. "Frodo! What are you doing here? Are you on business, too?"
"Not really," I said with a smile. "For some reason I felt the urge to get out and do some walking. Folco's here, too, by the way." I pointed to where Folco had found a table and was waving for us to join him. "I was wondering, could we pry you away from business and have you join us for Dinner?"
Paladin smiled warmly. "Why certainly, my lad!”
We sat and enjoyed a rather lovely meal of meat and mushroom pies and cooked carrots and parsnips, potatoes with gravy and more than a few rounds of the Inn's best ale. With our bellies full, we took out our pipes and settled back to discuss the latest news among families. Which prompted Paladin to comment on the reason for his and Pip’s visit. Michel Delving was where the offices of the Took family solicitors were and it was high time that Peregrin learn a few things about the business and responsibility of what it took to be master of such vast property holdings as the Tooks possessed. "After all," Paladin said. "There is more to being Thain than being first in line for meals and feasts!"
It was apparent that the main thing on Pippin’s mind was to get as far away as possible from boring business as possible. If anything, he was more interested in a group of hobbits sitting by the fireplace, telling tales and such to whomever would listen. His attention drifted between his father’s well meaning advice and the laughter that came from the revelers.
“You two like a good story, don’t you, Frodo, Folco?” Pip suggested, casting a hopeful glance our way. "Ummm...Father, why don’t we go and have a listen?” he suggested.
Paladin shook his head but let Pippin go. Without waiting to see if Folco and I were going to join him, Pippin fairly leapt up from the table, so eager was he to get away from any further discussion of boring business. Paladin watched Pippin scurry away before he spoke to me.
"I fear that Peregrin will never be much of a Thain when he gets older. He spends far too much time being his Mother's pet, and getting into trouble these days."
"Ah, I wouldn't worry too much, Paladin," Folco said. "Pippin has a lot of growing up yet to do and his coming of age isn't for some time to come."
Paladin nodded and we spoke of other things for the time being.
That's when we were interrupted by another voice. "Well, well, well!"
We turned to see the cheery face of Mayor Will Whitfoot smiling at us. "I knew that you would be in town, Paladin," he said. "But I would have never thought I would see Frodo Baggins or Folco Boffin in town at the very same time. Welcome to Michel Delving!"
We invited him to join us for a drink, which he gladly accepted. “I was just starting home for the night. Myself and my wife and darling daughter are headed to Sackville tomorrow for the opening of a new inn. And as Mayor, I am to officiate." "Ah, well...I do hope you and your family have a pleasant journey." Paladin said. "Tis a pity that you are leaving tomorrow, though. I had hoped to speak to you about that problem you were telling me about the last time I was here."
Folco and I exchanged curious glances.
"Oh, that!" the Mayor replied. "It has been taken care of. In fact, we have people there right now about to do an inspection."
Now my curiosity was truly piqued and I had to ask, "Inspection? Of what?"
The Mayor and Paladin then told us of how cracks had been found developing in the roof of the Town Hole. The Hole had occupied its place of prominence for many a year without so much as a sign of anything amiss, and it was only after an inordinate amount of rainfall this past spring that the first crack had blatantly appeared, soon followed by others. There had been some leaking, but it had been an immeasurably small amount, fortunately. Upon learning of this news, Paladin, had offered to send the best carpenters and smial builders to work on shoring up the roof and doing any necessary repairs. But the Mayor in turn assured him that the local builders had agreed to do some patch work. In fact, they had been working there this very day, and were pleased to report that there seemed to be no major problems. Therefore, Mayor Whitfoot was going to attend the party as was only right, being the Mayor of the Shire.
"Can't let a party go by without the good Mayor present!" he said as he patted his ample belly.
The evening was getting on and the Mayor excused himself in order to stop by the Town Hole for a final inspection of his own before he settled in for the night. As he hefted himself to his feet, he asked if we would like to join him. We accepted his offer, knowing full well that he would be telling us stories of some of the officiating he had done at various sites around the Shire. Paladin had to drag Pippin away from his spot by the storyteller. He wasn't about to leave Pippin on his own for very long, especially after the Mayor commented on Pippin’s last visit to Michel Delving. I felt my face grow hot with embarrassment. I hadn’t realized that talk of our escapade in the Mathom-house had gotten back to Mayor Whitfoot himself. With cheeks blushing scarlet, I set off along with Folco, Paladin, Pippin and the Mayor to see the progress being made on the roof of the Town Hole.
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