[Child of the 7th Age]

A small bay pony clattered noisily down the lane that stretched from Bywater to Hobbiton, a distance that spanned no longer than a mile. Its rider, one of the officially attired Shire messengers, brandished an envelope in his outstretched hand as he dismounted from his saddle and raced up to the front entrance of Bag-end.

Pulling down resolutely on the silver bellchain and nervously tapping his toes on the step, the lad waited a moment for someone to appear, then began banging insistently against the door. Please be home, he pleaded. I'd rather not have to face that old fellow again with empty hands.

His persistence was rewarded by the sudden appearance of a sturdy and stout-hearted hobbit, evidently in the prime of his years. The boy doffed his cap out of respect, "Mister Mayor, I beg your pardon, but I'm much oliged to find you here. It's an urgent message from an elderly hobbit, a newcomer to the Shire, who's staying at the Inn. He's a bit hard-headed and demands an immediate reply."

Sam glanced quickly at the handwriting on the envelope and grinned. He could recognize those spidery letters anywhere. Newcomer, indeed! And "hard-headed" to boot. Well, he had to agree with the latter assessment.

He scanned the note and immediately turned, making his way to the second-best bedroom which now served as a guest chamber. A tall, wooden wardrobe had stood there untouched for many long years. Untouched that is, except for the hands of Miz Rose who had made sure that everything was kept tidy and in good repair. There were a number of treasures still hidden in its drawers, but he fished about with his fingers and pulled out just two. One was a well-worn volume on the history of the Brandybucks and, the other, a soft and diaphanous garment of great beauty that looked to be made of green and yellow silk, but which was done in the fashion and style of hobbits from some time ago.

Sam scratched his head, wondering why these two were needed out of all the treasures stored here. The book he could understand. It had been given to Frodo by his mother when he was but a lad, and detailed the geneology of her family, going back for many a year. There was a loving personal message inscribed on the first page. This alone would explain why Frodo might want to bring it with him

But, the dress? Sam couldn't imagine what Bilbo could possibly want with his mother's antique wedding gown. He made sure to tuck in the envelope and note that went with it, a personal and very poignant missive from Belladonna Took to her handsome young son, with hopes expressed that Bilbo's own wife and daughters, or perhaps the wives-to-be of his sons, would one day wear this gown, and pass it down through their family.

Sam looked at it and sighed. A thing of beauty, but it also made him a bit sad. There'd been no bride for Bilbo, nor was Frodo likely to need it, and there were no others in the direct Baggins line. Perhaps Bilbo intended to sell it, although that would be surprising, since the elerly hobbit could be quite sentimental under that witty exterior.

Sam quickly made his way back down the hall, handing the dress and the book gently over to the messenger, before sharing one last word of advice, "I'd like to make a suggestion. Treat that elderly gentleman with respect. He's no newcomer here, but someone from long ago. He's done more for Hobbiton and the Shire than you can even imagine." Then, he tipped the lad generously and asked him to convey his regards to the sender, with the added promise that he would be seeing him very shortly.