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A novel based in Tolkien’s Middle Earth of the Fourth Age - Quest for the Queen

Chapter One:

A Long Forgotten Party

Pippin Took was sitting on his favourite chair on the back porch of the smials outside his large yellow back door. It faced west and he could gaze across his land that bordered Tuckborough and watch the horses lazily pull their hobbit masters across the fields. A back lane ran along behind this small hill that formed the smials, which were another name for the large tunnellings of the more well- to-do hobbits in the shire. It was bordered by a low hedge over which Pippin now watched a curly head with a cap he recognized as Will Boffin's, bobbing up and down. Will was the post bringer and a notoriously slow one at that. He was whistling as he rounded the edge of the hedge and stopped short seeing the Thain relaxing in the quiet of his backyard.
“Hullo, Master Peregrin,” Will offered. “I've quite a pack of letters here for you all. They've come all the way from the tower hills.”
Pippin's interest rose. Any letter arriving from that distance would have had postmarks from Waymoot, Frogmorton, Whitfurrows and Stock owing to the round about way the post travelled while getting to Tuckborough. Pippin and his son Pal both collected these stamps and these letters would prove interesting.
“It looks like invitations,” added Will. “Lots of pretty gold lettering. I haven't seen that since the Brandybucks opened the new tunnel in the hall.”
“Thanks Will,” replied Pippin and he took a large packet of letters one for each of the Took family at Great Smials. Will was turning and going back down the lane when Pippin stopped him saying, “Hold on Will, you've got the ones for the Gardner's in Hobbiton here. They'll have to go back.”
“Oh my stars,” breathed Will. “How did that happen? Dear me am I go’na catch it from Holfast. Thanks Thain. I could get these back by dinner if I could cut across your fields, by your leave Thain.”
“By all means”, said Pippin. “Use one of the ponies if you like, and good speed.”
Pippin waved and Will hustled off to the stables down the path with a muttered, “Thanks Master Peregrin Holfast will...”
Pippin looked down at the postmarks that littered the face of the envelope and indeed saw recorded there its slow progress across the shire. When he looked closer at the dates he groaned, “Oh Will you ninny.” For the first date from the Tower Hills was over a month earlier. Pippin opened the letter and the afternoon sun glinted off the gold lettering which read; You are formally invited to the Undertowers of the Fairbairns in the Tower Hills to partake in the festivities surrounding the 120th birthday of Elanor Fairbairn (nee Gamgee) beginning this 25th day of March 1541.
Pippin squinted up at the sky and quickly counted. “March 25th... That’s 7 days away!” he cried. So he opened the round yellow door that lead into the smials and called out for his wife, “Ruby, Ruby...”
It was not Pippin's wife that greeted him but his young son Pal, poking his curly brown haired head into the hallway from the kitchen.
“Hullo Da,” Pal said. “Mum's off in the cellar looking for some things for tea.”
“Go and tell her we won't have time for tea today.” A disappointed look spread across Pal's face.
“Why's that?”
“Will's just delivered the mail. Here's yours. Read it and then you'll know.”
Pal glanced at the envelope, smiled at the post marks and carefully opened it. His smile turned to a frown when he realized how much time they had to make the long journey to the Tower Hills.
“Which way will we take?” Pal asked when he saw his father still wandering and handing out the invitations.
“Will handed the Gardner's invitations to me with ours if you can believe it, so he's borrowed a pony to take them back across the fields this afternoon. I'm hoping Holfast will wait for the morrow. We will go to Hobbiton and stay the night there bringing enough ponies for the Gardner's and set out early next morning on the east road, trying to make Michel Delving tomorrow at dusk.”
“What about getting a note to Holfast with Will?” said Pal. “He can't have gotten far yet.”
“That's hobbit sense Pal.” Pippin grabbed a piece of paper while Pal handed him a pen from a bottle on the window sill. When Pippin had finished writing he gave it to Pal who had found an envelope. “Check the stables and see that he doesn't take Cobbles I'd like to ride him to the hills myself.”
“I'll tell mum if I find her too.” and Pal raced out the door.
Pippin wandered the hall of the smials looking for the other members of his family. The first he found was his mother, Goldilocks, stitching a quilt in her study. She looked up and seeing her son smiled saying,
“Tea ready yet?”
“No mum I'm afraid we are going to have to eat on the run. Will Boffin just dropped the mail off and it seems there is a reunion for all the Gamgee family and their decendants at the Fairbairns. It's to celebrate Aunt Elanor's 120th birthday.”
“So it is! I remember it being mentioned last year. This cold weather had put it completely from my mind and...” She counted on her fingers. “It’s only days away. It’s the post again, isn’t it Pippin dear.” Her son nodded knowingly. “Well, it can’t be helped now.”
“Pal is just getting the horses ready now and I've made arrangements for those who are going to stay at the Gardner's tonight. Nob and Bridget will be here to serve you if you decide to stay. You know how long it is there and then the festivities and the ride back. So we'll understand if....”
“You won't have to understand Pippin, I wouldn't miss this for the crown.”
“That's great mum. We have plenty of time to pack today and make Hobbiton before dusk. I'm hoping we could set out early enough to make the Delving tomorrow night. Oh, here's the invitation. I'll sent Opal round to help you with your things.”
“Thank you son.” And with that Pippin continued his search for the rest of the family while leafing through the small packet of invitations.
“Isembold and Prilla, and Primularosa, Rosanna, Annaprimula, Lily, Daisy, Aunt Amethysta yes... Oh, here you are, Emeralda, Opal and... Pearl...good...” Then Pippin stopped and gazed at the ceiling. “Isembold was going to the Dwaling auctions when...yesterday...” He shook his head smiling sadly. “Poor Pal, travelling all the way with only the old maids maidens and mothers to keep him company besides me. I hope Harding is coming...Up, ho..” And he bumped into someone while gazing again at the names on the invitations.
“Coming where Da?”
“Opal, I'm looking for you. Here read this and round up your sisters we're heading to Hobbiton this afternoon to stay at Gardner's.”
“Wonderful! What's the occasion?”
“We stay there tonight before going on to the Tower Hills for a birthday party for your great Aunt Elanor. That's if you want to go of course...”
“Go! To the Tower Hills! Oooooo, how exciting.”
“It will take us five days at least and camping at least two days on the road.”
“Oh I don't care.” Opal stared off dreamily. “Do you think there will be elves there.”
“Yes, I've heard that,” said Pippin distractedly. “Please tell your sisters, oh, and help your grandmother with her packing.”
“And why me? Emeralda's the oldest.”
“And you're the youngest and grandmothers favourite, so hurry now, and here take these.”
Pippin carried on down the hall finding his two sisters in the parlour arguing over why the tea hadn't arrived. When Pippin told them where everyone was going they said they were not about to make the trip in five days. When Pippin explained that their mother was coming and so the servants also and that they were welcome to stay but would have to get about on their own they grumbled something about dancing off to Elvish nonsense and made off to their rooms to pack.
Pippin then went out his front door crossed over to another great tunnel. It had a huge green front door with pillars on either side which held up a balcony that exited from a second story. He knocked on the door and his sister-in-law Prilla answered.
“Will just brought these. There's a birthday party for Elanor Fairbairn in the Tower Hills next week. We're all going this afternoon. I'm afraid the post has done it again.”
“Oh we'll join you of course. The girls have been sulking ever since Isem took my brothers sons from Michel Delving and went up to the auctions.”
“Is Isem planning on adding to the herd.”
“I suspect so. Spring is coming and he's got some hired hands clearing the 40 acres towards Pincup.”
“I hope he's not to disappointed when he finds us all gone.”
“If he's back in time he may make the trip by himself.”
“Here's the invitations.”
“Thanks, Pippin. When are we planning on leaving?”
“I've made arrangements with Holfast to stay there the night. I'm hoping We can find some beds in Michel Delving the next night and then I suppose... are you up to a few nights of camping?”
“Yes, that I am,” said Prilla smiling. “Although I don't suppose I shall hear the end of it from the children.”
“The festivities should take their minds off that. You should see the horses lined up soon.”
“Yes I caught Pal running off to the stables a short while ago. See you shortly.”
Pippin found Pal in the stables putting on the sturdy hobbits saddles they would all be using with their ponies.
“You go and start packing Pal, I'll finish this.”
“Thanks. And I found Will. He had saddled up Cobbles but she's still here. I gave him Stubbles. It will be a fast but bumpy ride.”
“It will serve him properly the.”
“I hope Holfast leaves enough of him to bring the mail for next week.”
Pippin, laughing took the reins from Pal and started to lead the ponies out of the stables to where they could be loaded. Pal ran back to the smial's entrance meeting his mother coming out.
“Where's your father Pal?”
“He's bringing out the horses mum. I'll pack my things and then help you with the food.”
“Thanks Pal. Be sure to pack your books and pen. I'm sure there will be lots to record on this visit.”
Ruby Took walked on towards the stables holding the invitation in her hand. When Pippin saw her he let go the reins and walked to her.
“What do you think of all this.” he said smiling.
“I'd heard there was going to be something going on for Elanor's 120th last fall. But with this unseasonably cold weather I had no idea late March was upon us until I saw this invitation. I'll bring the jars from the basement. Mother tells me we'll need 3 or 4 days provisions after Hobbiton. Is that party tent still sound after Pearl's 33rd birthday last year?”
“I'll check it for holes and pack it if it is. If not let's hope Holfast has one. I'm hoping we can make the first camp on the third night at the Far Downs. There's some nice fields where the east road meets the way to Sarn Ford.”
The rest of the afternoon went by quickly. Hobbits were running here and there checking and double checking to see that all provisions necessary were taken. (particularly the food and the utensils to cook it in, not to mention the matches to start the fire).
Pal was finally up in his room having pulled out his canvas pack and put the clothes he would need for the trip and visit he expected would last over two weeks. The weather was still somewhat chilly in the evenings so he put some heavy woollen tunics his grandmother had knitted along with the other kinds of breeches, legging, socks, and shirts. High up in his wardrobe he took down a beautifully carved oak table chest. He opened it with a key and pulled out a hood and cloak. Its material was soft and supple, having a warm silky feel to the touch. The colour shimmered and in the afternoon light coming in Pals bedroom window through the branches of the bare tree outside it appeared brown and then possibly grey. It had been a gift to his great grandfather long ago. In the bottom of the small chest was a brooch to tie the cloak round his shoulders, shaped like a green leaf veined with silver. He attached to brooch to the hood and stowed them lovingly in his pack. Then he found his pens and ink, his books and leaving them in their travelling box he packed them also.
Pearl, walking by his door stopped and said, “Can you believe it, the Tower Hills and the Fairbairns. Do you think its true what they say.”
“What do they say,” asked Pal.
“Haven't you heard of the Elven towers? And Great Aunt Elanor marrying Lord Fastred and the King giving them an Elven tower that looks to the sea to seal their love by.”
“Yes but I wasn't aware that Great uncle Fastred was a Lord.”
“Well... its something like that.They say that there was once a stone which could look into the heavens and see the great lovers of legend among the stars.”
“I hadn't heard that but I think you're talking of the Palantiri, the seeing stones, and they only looked to other stones, or to things on the earth that their masters wished to look at.”
“Oh , phluff! That history stuff you read in your books. Its not as interesting as the stories I've read.”
“You.... read?” Pal had to duck a pillow from his bed aimed at his head.
“The legend of romance is lost on children” and Pearl sniffed at Pal with her closing remark and marched down the hall.
“Elven towers and heavenly visions,” muttered Pal. Yet he was very intrigued about this trip to the Fairbairns. Not just for the book on family history that he was writing but with the thought of seeing one of the pieces of history he had read about so often. The tower the Fairbairns called home now was indeed a gift from King Elessar to Elanor just after her wedding over ninety years ago. He had read that one of the seeing stones had been kept in that tower, along with certain other articles of Elven heritage. But he knew also that that particular stone had departed over the sea with the Elven Lord Elrond at the end of the third age, the year his Aunt Elanor was born. The Fairbairns had kept the tower very much intact and Elves still lived in it while the Fairbairns had hallowed out a great network of smials beneath and around it on the green hill where it stood. They had also erected a great hall in which it was said Elven Lords would sometimes meet to discuss their wishes and plans for departure over the sea. The hospitality and table of the Fairbairns was renowned and Pal wondered why there had not been a reunion before this. A hearty yell from the hall brought him out of his thoughts and he realized he had promised his mother some help with the food. Pal picked up his pack and walked out in the direction of the kitchen. When he got there the last of the jars on the table was being put into travelling packs.
“There you are Pal,” said his father. You can start taking these out to the ponies. Puddles, Thicket, Noddles, and Stray can be used for this.”
Pal picked up the packs one at a time and strapped them to the animals backs waiting outside in the yard. This finished he went over to his pony Arator and climbed on. His aunts had a covered carriage pulled by two ponies and he could hear them arguing over who had to sit in the sun. The aunts would be travelling west on the roads to Took Bank and then north to Waymeet, then east to Hobbiton because of their insistence on taking the carriage. The rest of the Tooks would be cutting across the fields as Will Boffin had done and probably reach Hobbiton in half the time.
It was shortly after dinner time before everyone set off. There were probably two hours of full sun left but Pippin was assuring everyone that Holfast would have something ready for them to eat. Pal's great aunt Amethysta Took (His grandfather Faramir's sister) was riding a pony and insisting that the trip would do her no harm. His grandmother Goldilocks to insisted he would ride her pony to Hobbiton and Pippin was vowing to put his two sisters on Stubbles who would be waiting at Bag End for the journey on the East Road.
The trip was almost 15 miles across well tended Hobbit fields, over small streams, and by shady groves of evergreens and hardwoods just beginning to put out their spring buds. Except for one small incident where Opal insisted she saw a serpent in one stream and caused her pony to bolt throwing her into the water, it was a pleasant trip. Dusk was falling as the troop, slightly weary walked their ponies up past the smials of New Row to Bag End. Holfast was there with a lamp waiting for them and welcomed them in. A hearty supper was laid out on the table and couches and large chairs had to suffice for some of the smaller hobbits, Pal included. But no matter. Everyone slept soundly that night and it was just before dawn that Holfast and his son Harding went round all the rooms with a little bell ringing it to wake everyone up.
Pal was sleeping on the big arm chair by the fireplace when he awoke to the sound of Harding lighting the kindling beside him. Harding's father Holfast was ringing the small bell down the hall towards the bedrooms where Pal's parents and aunts were. He rubbed his eyes sleepily and greeted his cousin,
“Good morning Harding. Is that bacon I smell?”
“Yes, and eggs, jam, honey, some fruit mom set up last fall, and her best bread.”
“This is starting out just fine then.” Pal jumped from the chair and hastened towards the washstand in the corner but his sister Opal rushed off her couch grabbing at the towel on the rack before him. He turned back to his chair with a sigh and grinned at Harding who said,
“Aw, come down to my room and use the basin there Pal. And then will you help me pack? I haven't had the chance with getting ready for everyone.”
“Gladly,” said Pal.
The two hobbits made their way between their relations and down the long hall of Bag end to Harding's room. He was the oldest of Holfast's children and so had one of the bedrooms all to himself, his younger brothers normally sharing theirs two to each however were bunking with him this night their bedrooms being used and Pal now saw two of them burst out of the room and race down the hall in the direction of the kitchen.
“We'll have it all to ourselves,” said Harding.
Pal washed up and began helping Harding with his things. At the bottom of Harding's bureau drawer Pal lifted up a pair of breeches and his eyes opened with wonder. Harding noticed him standing there hesitating for a moment and came over to look. He reached down and pulled out the mail shirt and the belt of pearl and silver. Dad gave this to me six years ago when I came of age. Its always been passed on to the eldest and I was glad to have it. Do you know where it came from?”
Pal nodded for hobbits educated their children in the home and the stories of their peoples deeds in the histories of the realm were required information for any young hobbit, particularly when the heroes involved were ancestors. He recognized the shirt of mail that had been a gift of Thorin Oakenshield to Bilbo Baggins and had turned the blade of many an orc sword from Bilbo's famed nephew Frodo Baggins. The mail that had been taken to The Dark Lord himself and then brought out before the representatives of the enemies of Mordor sent to parley before the gates of the Morannon. It glittered has it hung there from Harding's hands and Pal knew why it was mithril that was so highly prized among the metals of the earth.
“I've heard about it in story and song. It's a good thing such apparel is no longer needed in the Kingdom.”
“Yes. things are very quiet these days,” agreed Harding. “Nothing like the history we've heard. But that is one reason I'm so excited about this reunion. It will be a chance for an adventure even if it is travelling a few days by pony to some quiet elven hills to visit a great aunt. I hear there is going to be a story telling and a chance to show some of the family heirlooms, readings from the Red book and such like that. This will bring a bit of reality to the tales, aye?”
“To be sure,” grinned Pal. “Say, I've got that Elven cloak and the brooch given to Pippin Took. Does your family have the one given to Sam?”
Harding thought for a moment. “No, I don't ever recall seeing it. What did it look like?”
“I'll show you on the road. Why don't we wear them?”
“Say that's an idea. Here set this in the green bag. And lets go get something to eat before my brothers get to the table.”
The two hobbits finished packing and Harding escorted Pal to the kitchen. To their relief there was still plenty left. However since they were one of the last ones to finish they felt obliged to help with the dishes. This finished Pal was called by his father to go out and help with the horses. Besides the seventeen beasts the Tooks had brought for themselves they had to bring ten more for the Gardner's and Baggins who made their home at Bag End. Harding had four sisters who were fast friends with Pals sisters, they all being about the same age and then there were Harding's four brothers as well. Holfast's parents Frodo and his wife, Lily (she was a Bracebridge) had long since past away, but Holfast's sister Primrose had married Pomer Baggins (a descendant of Ponto Baggins, a great uncle of the Bilbo Baggins). Although it was a distant connection the family took great pride in once again bringing the Baggins name back to Bag End. With all those Baggins children, the Gardner's and their guests one can imagine how full Bag End was that morning.
Despite everyone being up before dawn the great exodus of hobbits did not get underway until the sun had melted most of the frost off the grass on the lawn in front of Bag End. There were golden leaves falling from the Mallorn tree in the Party field and occasional swirls of wind made a golden tornado of leaves has the hobbit train moved slowly through Hobbiton. Many hobbits were poking their heads through windows and shouting their greeting to the heads of two of the most well respected families in the Shire.
Pal rode beside Harding who had his own pony he had named Bakosh. Their sisters laughed when they both came out both wearing the elven cloaks of long ago for Win, Harding's mother had indeed looked around the closets and pine chests of Bag End because she could remember seeing the cloak that had belonged to Sam Gamgee tucked reverently away somewhere. The brooch had long before been given away to some other relative so Harding used one of his own clips to hold the front of it together. They cut across the fields in a line south crossing the party field and under the branches of the majestic Mallorn tree, now beginning to shed many of its leaves and put forth its spring buds. When they reached the East road they turned to their right and in a south easterly direction the ponies began to make good time. The day was clear and not to cold although a light wind was blowing from the east that seemed to push them on their way and urge them to make haste. But that, it didn't need to worry about. Holfast and Pippin were planning on stopping for lunch at Waymeet and then forego tea at three to make for Michel Delving for dinner. There was an inn run by Prilla's brother Tolman and he would not be too anxious to see thirty or so hobbits come to stay for the night along with their horses and baggage to be stowed.
Pal’s aunt's were now riding on ponies and while one of them was not Stubbles or his brother Stumbles they were glowering under the dark broad rim of their hats. As the day wore on however the complaints from their direction seemed to lessen and when a family of hedgehogs crossed their path for a moment giving them reason to halt they were actually quite pleasant at the sight and Pervinca got down from her pony to get a closer look.
Pal's grandmother Goldilocks and her sister in law Amethysta now sat in a carriage, as did Pomer and Primrose Baggins as they owned one. The rest enjoyed riding on their ponies and hoped they would not meet with rain in the next four days.
Pal and Harding rode beside each other and discussed the matters that each had witnessed since the last time they met which had been back several months during the Yule season. Harding to was a lover of books and although his library was not as extensive as the one at Took's smials he was a well read hobbit.
“Did you bring your books, Pal?”
“Oh yes, mother says there will be plenty of stories. I've written down much about our people but I've heard very little about the Elves. I'm hoping to remedy that with some time spent with some of the elves who visit the tower.'
“I've heard there are quite a few of them there. Did you know a whole company of them moved from the havens and dwell now in the tower above the Fairbairns smials?”
Pal shook his head no saying, “Then I won't be disappointed.”
The families made good time and decided not to stop in Waymeet but to go on to the fork where another road led off north west to Little Delving. There were tables and a cleared lawn for such purposes and the Hobbits made a comfortable stop before trodding the next twentyfive miles or so still on the East Road to Michel Delving. When they arrived it was nearly dusk and they were all very weary.
Tolman Goodbody, Prilla's brother was overjoyed to see them and was just considering sending off someone to tell them he had see various Gamgee's, Greenbanks (Daisy Gamgee had married Will Greenbank) Furfoots, and Longbottoms (Primrose and Ruby Gamgee respectively) all making their way from places like Nobottle and Oakbottom where now the descendants of Samwize and Rose Gamgee had spread. In fact the first had been Robin Gamgee and his family who had settled in Bree and had come through nearly a week before.
The horses were seen to and local hobbits had to lend some space in their own sheds and barns to accomidate them all but there was plenty of room at The White Stag. It had been a fixture in Michel Delving since it was settled and its white limestone walls stood right on the East road with a large field behind affording a view of the white downs themselves.
These hills shone white in the sun and parts of them were covered with groves of ancient woods where it was rumoured white stag had once frequented. The soil was a chalky consistency because of the white chalk cliffs and hills that made up the downs and the fields around Michel Delving. They were used mainly for grazing the various kinds of cows, and goats that were popular with hobbit farmers.
The White Stag was on the north side of the road and its back windows looked north to the hills which occasionally revealed the white chalk that was under the topsoil particularly where the road to Hardbottle had been cut into the side of a hill in its northward journey. It was this sight that Harding and Pal gazed out at as the sun was setting.
“They've got some decent fare waiting down stairs,” said Harding. “Let's eat and take a walk. Have you ever been to Michel Delving before?”
“Only visiting here at the White Stag,” said Pal. “It's an old kind of place. Like nothing ever changes around here. I would think those goats along the fence out there were in the same place last fall if I'm not mistaken.'
“Yes, you've got it,” said Harding who then got up from his chair. “I'm going to show you a place I think you'll find interesting.”
Pal interest piqued. He nodded and followed Harding down the stairs to the dining room. They finished their meal and with some of the pewter mugs from the White Stag filled with some of Tolman's malt they strolled out the back door. Harding led Pal along behind the rows of low stone houses and behind the yards that sloped up the steepening hill to the occasional round window of a hobbit hole, until they came to a tall red brick building like the ones along the water in Hobbiton. Harding walked up to a rear door and pulled out a copper key.
“What place is this?” asked Pal.
“The museum.”
“The old mathom house! I've never been in. This is a treat Harding. But how did you get a key?”
“There are several pieces on loan from Bag End. They leave a key with some benefactors like Dad so I borrowed the key from him.” Harding turned the key in the door and it swung inward with a creak. A stale musty smell slipped out into the night air and they stepped inside. Harding lit a lamp that stood on a small table inside the door and they walked down a hall worn with the passing of many hobbit feet. It ended in a large room lined with glass cases. Boxes and crates lay everywhere. Various stuffed animals were suspended from the ceiling. Strange looking weapons hung on the walls. Clothes were dressed on forms of leather sewn onto iron frames. Paintings and charts illuminating family trees also hung in guilded frames and leaned against the walls.
“I'm looking for some of the lineages of the Gamgee's, Baggins and Fairbairns, explained Harding. “I've heard mention of them and they would be interesting to set up in Elfstan's hall.” Pal looked at him questioningly. Harding, catching his look assured him. “Dad will clear it with old Doddy. Here take this.” Harding took a lamp from the wall, lighted it and gave it to Pal. “I would lay odds there's a frame of Took's around here somewhere.”
Pal eagerly took his lamp and shone it around at the various frames, all immensely huge and ornate, some gilded in gold others richly carved from oak and dark exotic woods Pal could not recognize. He gazed at portraits of hobbits of renown and others he did not know. There were a few scenes he recognized from around the Shire and even west towards what he assumed must have been the Blue mountains. There were family trees beautifully drawn in inks of red black and gold. He hoped that one of the Tooks if it was here would be as nicely done. A cry from Harding brought him over to a small alcove that looked like a closet. Harding was bent over a smaller but beautiful frame that bore in bold green letters the name Took.
“Here's one of yours Pal. Do you recognize any names on it?”
Pal gazed at the roll of names and dates. “It looks like Gerontius Took’s family listed across the bottom. This is good. The Brandybucks, Baggins and Tooks all share part of this tree. But look at this! This lineage takes back the names of all the Thains to Isumbras I in 740. If it was drawn up in Gerontius' day its now over 250 years old!”
“Set it up there by the door Uncle Pomer can take it in his carriage... along with this!” and Harding pulled a scroll with intricate wooden ends on it and the flowery script reading Fairbairn showing on the outside. Harding unrolled it to make sure it was the family he was looking for and set it beside the other. A longer search produced no other apparent families trees that would be of interest at the reunion. Only some beautiful watercolours which Harding looked at in surprize and added to Pal, “Farlun will be very interested to see these.” They contained some beautiful scenes of the countryside around Greenholm in the northfarthing. Pal had never been there.
The two hobbits gathered their prizes and left the museum walking now along the cobblestone road that went north towards Little Delving. They were walking south back to the intersection of this road with the East road and had only the lamps that hung on the tall posts to light their way.

Second part of Chapter one; if not posted email me and I will send it.