Chapter Text
Bilbo hurried through the snow after Rosemary Bolger and her apprentice. Despite their brisk pace the young hobbitess had enough air to inform them of every new rumor and gossip she could think of. Her teacher had probably heard about all of the latest scandals already, but made no comment and silently pushed on through the woods. Bilbo had run for her smial close to the Bindbole Wood when his neighbor’s wife’s labor pains had set in much too early. Hobson Gamgee had appeared at his doorstep, frantic despite it not being their first child, but the harsh winter so soon after the Fell Winter had everyone on edge. Bilbo had ushered him back to his own home, put on his warmest jacket, grabbed his walking stick, and made his way through the knee-deep snow that had covered the Shire since a month already in order to fetch the midwife. Now, they were on their way back towards Hobbiton, often taking shortcuts through the woods, and hoping to reach the roper’s smial in time.
“And can you imagine? A talking bear!” Marigold exclaimed even more excited than during her previous tales. “I say Farmer Maggot likes the ale at the Green Dragon a little too much, but that’s his wife’s problem, if you ask me. He swears, he saw it though. And spoke to it. Told me so himself, yes, he did. Said, the bear stole some of his preserved meats, that he hangs into the backroom of his hayrick. Dreadful old barn, if you ask me, no wonder all kinds of animals can get into it, half the backside is full of holes! But that’s his problem, whether he wants to fix it or not. Said, he found golden coins on the floor, that’s how he noticed something was off. Golden coins in a barn! Dear me, I’d be delighted to find some. But not Farmer Maggot, no not him. He was on the lookout since then, and one night he saw it! A huge creature sniffing and growling, and full of hair. Oh, I would have been so scared, let me tell you! But not Farmer Maggot! He had some rocks at hand, had been prepared. And when he threw them at the animal, it retreated and growled something that sounded just like words! “Wait,” it said, “I pay you!” But Farmer Maggot just kept on throwing his rocks and called to the thing, “Don’t you dare come back here, you monster! I will have my dogs set on you!” Which of course he would never do, because the dogs would most certainly not stand a chance against a full-grown bear, but the creature didn’t know that, and disappeared into the night. That’s what he told me! A bear! In the Shire! Can you imagine! How dreadful so soon after the wolves!” Bilbo winced. “And when I told this to my cousin Magnolia, do you know what she said? Called me a liar, she did! Can you imagine? Me, lying! Even though everyone knows, that she is omitting at least one ingredient in every recipe that she hands out! That’s a proven fact, you know. It caused quite the scandal, during last year’s spring festival, when Aunt Margarite wanted to bake the cheese and peach pie that Missus Bolger had received for helping Peony Took when she got twins, right Missus Bolger?”
Rosemary only grunted, whether due to the fast pace through the heavy snow or as an answer, was not sure, but Marigold didn’t care much either way.
“Let me tell you, that was quite the affair, Master Baggins! You know, the recipe had been passed down to Peony from her great-great-grand-aunt twice removed. A true family secret! I wonder, do you know it as well perhaps, since your dear departed mother was a Took and all? If you do, you must tell me Master Baggins, that cake is truly marvelous! I thought it a very fitting thank-you-gift from Peony. Did I tell you that she had twins? Such lovely little boys. What were their names again? I am so bad with names, let me tell you. I believe the older one was named Fredegar. They call him Freddy now. Or was it the younger one? Freddy sounds more fitting for a younger brother, don’t you think? Not that it matters much, since Freddy, if Freddy is indeed the older one of the twins, is not their oldest boy anyway. I believe the oldest is almost ten now! What was his name again?”
Bilbo sighed, tried to turn out any noise, and willed the lights of the smials of Hobbiton to come into view faster. But as it turned out, Marigold’s voice was not the worst thing to happen to him this afternoon. They were close to the tree line, when he heard a growl. But although he stopped and turned, he did not see anything amiss.
“What is it, Bilbo?” Rosemary asked, a little out of breath.
“Oh nothing,” he answered with a smile, “I just thought I heard something.”
Marigold tutted. “Really now, Master Baggins, trying to scare us so! Did you think to see the giant bear? I still don’t quite believe it was not the ale talking, when Farmer Maggot told me that story. But he was quite convincing, let me tell you. I can mostly sense, when people are lying to me, you know? It’s all in the details, the made-up stories have no details, or too many! It has to be just right to be believable, you…”
She did not get further in her explanation, for just then a huge creature stepped out from the undergrowth to their right, and snarled at the three little hobbits, who stood frozen stiff in the face of the hairy beast.