A Land to Call Their Own RPG

[Melisil]

The wolves were everywhere. Or so it seemed to the young Hobbit. May and Henry had stepped forward, in front of Alora and Crispin, but it hadn't stopped the young girl from seeing how close the wolves were to them. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, her dad apeared! Both of the 'Mr. Chubb's were with him. The three men faught the wolves, with the four children watching in terror.

Again, the bushes by them shook. More wolves? But no, out of the forest there came not more wolves, but more Hobbits! Alora was able to give a small laugh at this.

Finally, the wolves were gone! Alora ran to her dad, "Daddy! Daddy!" She hugged her dad tightly, hoping that they could now go home. Alora voiced her thoughts, "Daddy, I want to go home." she whispered in his ear.

[Regin Hardhammer]

Harold leaned over and embraced his two children, newly freed from the ravenous beasts. Stifling back a tear, he grasped May and Henry warmly in his arms. Grandpa Fordo stuck out one of his knobby fingers and began a half-hearted tirade, “Don’t you two ever go wandering off like that in the forest again. I was so worried what was going to happen. That was the most foolish thing you two bubble brains have ever done. What are you trying to do, make your old Grandpa sick? I’m so mad that I … I…” Then Grandpa took a step back and shook his head, a look of relief clearly settling over his face. “Well, the important thing is that you’re safe. Thank goodness nothing happened.”

Harold felt exactly the way his father did. He was a bit angry with the children, but he was even more relieved that they were unharmed. “Be more careful next time,” Harold warned, “You two must learn to be more responsible. When I heard those creatures howling I thought that you were wolf dinner for sure. Speaking of dinner, I bet you two are hungry. In my rush to save you, I neglected to bring any food, but your mom and I will get you something to eat.”

Harold looked around and saw a vast number of his fellow hobbits who had journeyed out to save them. A collaboration of Harfoot, Fallohide, and Stoor hobbits armed with swords, bows, and even farm implements such as Harold’s. Boy, it was a good thing that my friends and neighbors had come to save us from those nasty beasts. Harold was not quite as optimistic as his grandfather. The three of them would not have held up against the wolves if the large group hadn’t intervened. He had never been so glad to see Marcho in his life. Harold was not at all surprised that his fellow Hobbits had risked their lives to save him, as he would have done the same thing for them.

As the Chubbs turned to leave the forest, Harold felt many things that he chose not to verbalize. Kalimac had saved him, and even if he was a bit frustrated with his employer, he still owed him a heap of gratitude. The Fallohide had arrived and assisted Harold to scramble up on the horse’s back just when his own strength was flagging.

He was also embarrassed about his child-like behavior in the scuffle he had earlier with the Whitfoots. The children’s rescue had taught him that petty arguments do not matter nearly as much as his own family’s safety or that of the other Hobbits. As soon as possible, he intended to apologize and thank Kalimac for his help. Harold would be extremely relieved to leave this awful forest behind him and continue on to their new destination.

[Arestevana]

Elsa was still wandering helplessly through the trees when she suddenly heard a great eruption of shouts nearby. There were several howls, but they seemed somehow less frightening, and she felt heartened. Suddenly there was a great cheer, and she rushed toward the sound. She burst into a small clearing and was startled to see it full of armed hobbits.

Pushing her way through the crowd, Elsa nearly wept to see her children all right. She could see Sarah across the clearing, and for a moment felt relieved that the other hobbit had made it safely there. Then she forgot all about Sarah and ran to smother Alora and Crispin with kisses. Crispin was the closest, so he soon found himself subject to a hail of apologies, reprimands, and relieved embraces.

Elsa could not seem to decide if she was more thankful for her children's safety or angered at their leaving. Soon deciding on the former, she searched for Alora, pulling Crispin with her. The lass was with her father, so Elsa dragged Crispin over and hugged all three of them at once, sobbing hysterically. She tired to put some feeling into her reprimands, but her heart wasn't in it. She could hardly put her relief into words through her tears, so she soon gave up and set her heart on having a good cry.

After a few moments of sobbing (which her family tolerated remarkably well) Elsa noticed Adelard Proudfoot standing across the clearing with blood on his shirt. She turned to her children, wiping her eyes.
"Are you hurt?" she asked. Both children denied injury, but their mother insisted on checking them over thoroughly, and promised to serve them both a hot meal and send them to bed soon afterwards when they returned to the campsite.

Elsa knew that she was likely to get a reprimand from her husband for not staying behind as soon as the children fell asleep, and she would probably get another from Marcho soon after. Still, she felt that she could feel nothing but grateful. She hugged her children again, still crying in relief.

[Witch_Queen]

"Oh good their still alive." Out of everything that could happen Sarah didn't want her husband a children to die. She knew the wolves wouldn't eat Grandpa Chubb since all the meat would be tough to eat. Sarah almost laughed at the thought of wolvess trying to tear through Grandpa Chubbs flesh and then running away from his cane. She shook her head to get the picture to leave. She ran over to her family to hug her husband and children. Never had she been so happy to see them all safe and together. Everything is better now that my children are safe.

Sarah thought she was actually going to have to use her rolling pin to defend her family but remembered that it was still back at the cart. She was in so big of a hurry that nothing could keep her away from her children. Not even Marcho could have stopped her. "I'm glad to see that your ok. Did any of you get hurt?" Sarah thought they would all say no but noticed that Harold's pants leg was ripped. "Oh Harold what happened to you leg. You didn't take a tumble again did you?" She was worried now because she had to make sure Harold was going to be ok.

Sarah needed Harold to be ok. We've got to get this fixed. Sarah didn't care about the pants all she wanted to know was if Harold was ok.The pants can be fixed but Harold can't be replaced. She wanted to cry but held it back. Her family was safe for a little while at least. Its all my fault. If we hadn't of been fighting then the children wouldn't have ran off. We need to be extra careful since they aren't all full grown yet. It doesn't matter how old they get May and Henry will always be my babies.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

My Dearest Prim,

Well I hope you won’t think the less of me for what I’m about to tell you, but there’s no way to get around what’s happened. I never lied to you when you were with me and I don’t think as it’s right to start doing so now.

I’m afraid my love that your husband has behaved like a tom-fool knotbrain. I can’t say as I didn’t have good reason, but that’s no excuse. First, I got into a bit of a tussle with young Mister Whitfoot, if you can believe it. There was a ballyhoo between our Harold and Sarah, and those Whitfoots, and I got in the middle of it, pretty quick. Well, one thing lead to another and before I knew it I had accidentally hit that Kalimac with my cane and then he came at me – and then, would you believe it? Our Harold rushed in like a bull that’s been baited too far and nearly knocked that Kalimac down the pegs he needs knocking down! I don’t mind admitting to you that I was that proud of him. And you should have seen Sarah, too, giving those Whitfoots a proper piece of her mind. I begin to think that she might be developing some sense after all.

But there’s even more. Right in the middle of all this there was a whole pack of wolves that attacked us, and the children were gone into the Forest and there was such a panic and a cry as you’ve never heard. Well, I don’t need to tell you that Harold and I were off at once to save Henry and May, and who came with us but that fool of a Whitfoot Kalimac. You see, his children are so unruly, and his wife such a delicate mother, that our Henry and May are the ones who take care of the Whitfoot little ones now – so they were all off together in the woods with those demons!

It turns out that Harold and I would have been better to think a bit before roaring off into danger, as we soon got lost, and when we did get found again we were attacked by the wolves and very nearly done in by them. I did put one of them back a step, but it was only by the luckiest of chances. Still, the others seem to think that I did something grand and old as I am, I’ve learned that when folk think well of you, that’s no time to go telling them they’re wrong.

But here I am nattering on about myself when I can hear you wanting to know about the children. May and Henry are fine – that May apparently put up quite a fight of her own; she has some grit in her. That young Adelard Proudfoot had got himself mixed up in things too, and he took a bit of a bite from a wolf, but he’ll recover. I should say here that Sarah was there too, ready to do battle with the beasts with her bare hands.

At any rate, all’s well that ends well, and things ended well indeed. It was that touching to see Harold and Sarah getting the little ones back all safe. They were so glad to see Henry and May that they didn’t take the time to give them the proper scolding, so I had to see to that. We had a nice meal back at the camp after all this so the adventure seems to be over for now. I just wish I could be sure it was the last one of this wretched trip, but I’m not so crack-brained as to think that it could be!

I hope that you are well and happy. I miss you awfully.

Your husband,

Grim

P.S. In all fairness I should say that it was young Marcho Bolger who saved us from the wolves.

[Memory of Trees]

It was all over before long. The wolves were driven off, and the sounds of the "battle" grew quieter and changed to the happy noise of reuninted families. May kneeling at Adelard's side when she heard a familiar voice call out, "May! Henry!"

"Daddy!" she cried, jumping to her feet. Harold Chubb clasped his two children in a warm embrace. May put her arms around him and buried her face in his chest, breathing in her father's warm, earthy smell. "Oh, Daddy," she whispered, and suddenly all the braveness went out of May. She began to tremble, and she felt weak and frightened.

Grandpa Fordo stood to one side, and began to scold both children half-heartedly. “Don’t you two ever go wandering off like that in the forest again," he said, shaking a knobby finger at them. "I was so worried what was going to happen. That was the most foolish thing you two bubble brains have ever done. What are you trying to do, make your old Grandpa sick? I’m so mad that I … I…” Then Grandpa took a step back and shook his head, a look of relief clearly settling over his face. “Well, the important thing is that you’re safe. Thank goodness nothing happened.”

"Oh, Grandpa," May said, laughing through her tears. She pulled away from her father and planted a kiss on the old man's cheek. "I don't think there's any chance of this happening again." Her grandpa looked both surprised and pleased.

It was now her father's turn to lecture. “Be more careful next time,” Harold warned, “You two must learn to be more responsible. When I heard those creatures howling I thought that you were wolf dinner for sure." Then his expression softened. "Speaking of dinner, I bet you two are hungry. In my rush to save you, I neglected to bring any food, but your mom and I will get you something to eat.” He took her hand and started to go back, but May stopped him.

"Wait, Daddy," she said suddenly, halting. "I forgot about Adelard!" Her father looked puzzled, and May hurried to explain. Pulling her father over to where the Proudfoot boy lay, she said,"Something has to be done about him. I think he's hurt pretty bad, Daddy. Are his parents here?"

Harod said he didn't think so, but assured his daughter that someone would see that he got back to the camp safely. Reluctantly, May left with her father. Something was bothering her. Adelard never would have come into the forest if it weren't for her and Henry, and he had been rather brave fighting the wolf. And there was something else, too. Adelard's parents hadn't come looking for him, which meant one of two things: one, that his parents had never realized he was gone, or two, that they didn't care enough to come looking for him. Maybe there's more to Adelard Proudfoot than meets the eye, she realized.

[Regin Hardhammer]

After Harold had reunited with his children, he made a point to go find his wife and let her know the injury he'd received from fighting the wolves was only a small scrape. “Don’t worry about me, " he responded with a broad grin. "I'm fit as a fiddle and ready to push on. Why don’t you fix something for May and Henry here? I bet they’re starving.”

After a hug from his wife, Harold remembered another important task that still needed to be done. He wanted to get the chore of apologizing to the Whitfoots out of the way, since he was not exactly looking forward to that. He turned to offer Sarah an explanation before continuing on his way. “As much as I'd love to eat and relax with the family, I have some pressing business with Kalimac that needs tending. After what happened with the wolves, our great hubbub with the Whitfoots looks kind of silly, and I think it’s important we put such trifling scuffles behind us. I've decided to go to Kalimac and apologize for my atrocious behavior. Even thought it could be awkward, it’s the right thing to do. Save some food for when I get back.”

Harold meandered slowly over to Kalimac’s campsite still struggling in his head to find what words to use. He discovered the Fallohide landowner in the midst of an intense conversation with Marcho. Harold hesitated for a moment; he had not planned for Marcho to hear his apology, but finally reasoned that he probably owed some explanation to both of them. Getting up his courage, Harold approached the two Hobbits, tugged on his cap, and politely interrupted, “I am so sorry to horn in on your conversation, but I did need to share something important with Kalimac. Marcho, I think you should hear this too.”

As Marcho and Kalimac looked up, Harold stared resolutely at the ground, a little reluctant to look them squarely in the face. He continued on more slowly. “I’d like to offer my humble apology for my rash actions and words in our argument. And also say thanks for your help to me when I got in trouble with the wolves. In truth, I don’t really know why I got so mad earlier. Lately, I find myself getting upset easily because of everything that’s happened on this trip. It seems I’m risking my family’s life, yet I don’t quite know why."

Harold wondered if he'd said too much and looked nervously over towards Marcho, stammering a bit. "Begging your pardon, sir. I'm sure you know best, of course. It's just that nothing's really changed for myself and the other Harfoot Hobbits. When we reach the White Downs, things won't be much different than they were back in Bree. The Fallohide landlords will still own the land, and I and the other Harfoot will work hard and fork our rents over to them. We won't even own the burrows that we live in. That's fine, I suppose. And I do get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing things grow. Only I could have done all that back in Bree without risking my children's lives"

"I’m sorry Kalimac, but no one ever asked me or my buddies whether or not we wanted to move. There we all were, sitting in the Prancing Pony, quaffing a brew, having a good time, and enjoying ourseves, just like always. Suddenly, the Pony was gone and everything had changed."

"Not that it wasn't a good idea, of course....., things being crowded and such in Bree." Harold respectfully nodded in Marcho's direction. "Still, things like that can nibble at the edge of a Hobbit's mind, and maybe that's part of the reason I got so angry earlier. In any case, I'm very sorry.”

Harold tipped his hat again and then took a step backward. He couldn't tell from the look on Kalimac's face exactly what the Fallohide was thinking, and he didn't want to prolong the situation any further. He quickly walked away, relieved to be done with it but feeling better about himself for taking responsibility for his childish actions. He wasn't so sure about the other things he'd said. He hadn't meant to reveal his inner feelings to Kalimac, but some of his complaints had just come blurting out. And the funny thing is that some of these feelings were probably as new and unexpected to Harold as they were to the people he was telling.

Quickly Harold pushed the uncomfomfortable experience to the side, and concentrated on more immediate matters. His children and wife were safe, which was the most important thing in the world. His stomach growling like a hungry wolf, Harold returned to his family's wagon and joined in the dinner, purposely saying nothing about what had just happened.