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Sam sifted through the bushes, intent on finding his special
place. It was early in the morning and already the sun out and
about and sweltering hot. Dipping his feet in the river
sounded like the perfect idea. And he knew the perfect place.
So now he was in the forest, beating away the brush from his
face, growing closer and closer. Finally, he arrived! He
found himself wandering into an opening with a river running
through it. He loved this spot! It was always so peaceful.
But, he was shocked to see, someone else had apparently
discovered his secret. Somebody was up by the river.....
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Pippin was standing next to the water occassionaly dipping a
toe into the running waters. His shirt was unbuttoned about
halfway down and his hair was waving in a gentle breeze that
was the only break from the morning heat. He squatted down in
front of the water and splashed some of the cool liquid on
face. Straightening up, he stretched and glanced around at his
surroundings. Quickly, his eyes lighted on his cousin and dear
friend, Samwise Gamgee. "Sam!" he cried, smiling and waving
excitedly. "I am so happy to see you!" He gestured for Sam to
join him by the water.
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Merry whistled a soft tune to himself as he enjoyed the cool
wind blowing beneath the shady trees. The smial in Buckland was
definitely getting to crowded with visiting family and much to
muggy for his tastes, and a walk through the woods seemed like
the perfect idea. Faintly he could hear the sound of running
water as he whistled and he stopped, standing still as he
listened to the soothing sound. After a while, Merry began to
hear familiar voices coming through and he smiled as he
recognized them, heading in their direction.
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It was just early morning, and the day was already shaping up
to be hot and muggy. As he wandered along the river's edge,
Bullman Tinker longed for the cool, sunny days of autumn, the
season of color-splashed leaves, harvest time, crackling fires,
and jack-o-lanterns. Alas, autumn was still a few months away,
so Bullman resigned himself to take what pleasures he could
from summertime.
And as he wandered along the river, its surface dappled and
sparkling with reflected sunlight, Bullman decided to indulge
in just such an enjoyable pleasure of the season: a quick swim!
He laid his leather traveling bag and walking stick on the
bank, set aside his pipe and tobacco, emptied his pockets, and
leapt, otherwise fully clothed, into the river.
The water was refreshingly cool and clear, a blessed relief
from the humid summer air. Bullman swam upriver for a bit, then
downriver to where his belongings lay on the bank, then across
the river, underwater, to the opposite bank. When he
resurfaced, water sluicing from his bald head and trickling
through his long beard, he found he was no longer alone. Four
young Hobbits sat in a shady spot, dangling their feet in the
water.
"Good morning to you, my good Hobbits!" exclaimed Bullman,
pulling himself from the river and shedding water like a shaggy
dog. He bowed low and extended his hand.
"Bullman Tinker, traveler, explorer, and Innkeeper, at your
service!" he said, awaiting a response from the startled group.
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Sam quickly stood up and eyed the newcomer warily. He had never
seen this stranger around before. But, he had always been
taught to be polite. So he quickly eased up and smiled.
"Samwise Gamgee," he said. "Folks call me Sam." He pointed
around. "These two are Merry and Pippin," Sam leaned closer, he
said a bit more quietly, "They're always gettin' into trouble,
so ya don't wanna be around 'em if they're pulling a prank or
stealin food...."
"Wonder where Mister Frodo is, though...." he added, more of a
thought than a statement. "He'd love this place. I hope he
didn't get lost from my directions...."
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A breathless Frodo hastened through the woods along with Tansy
Puddifoot. In his mind, there had been no doubt that Sam, Merry
and Pippin wondered what had taken him so long. What he didn't
expect was Tansy knocking on his door. It pleased him to see
her and although he planned on spending the day with Sam and
his cousins, he wanted to be with Tansy as well.
"I'm sure they wouldn't mind if Tansy joins us," Frodo thought
and then he stopped short when noticing there had been another
hobbit with the others. He wondered who it could be. Frodo
started off again with Tansy following him. When reaching the
hobbits, he said, "I didn't get lost." Frodo stopped, catching
another breath. "I hope you don't mind but I was with Tansy and
I invited her to come." Again he halted and eyed the hobbit who
had been a stranger. Frodo smiled politely. "Hullo. I'm Frodo
Baggins. This is Tansy Puddifoot."
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"Bullman Tinker, traveler, explorer, and Innkeeper, at your
service!" said the dripping wet Hobbit, awaiting a response
from the startled group.
Sam quickly stood up and eyed the newcomer warily. He had never
seen this stranger around before. But, he had always been
taught to be polite. So he quickly eased up and smiled.
"Samwise Gamgee," he said. "Folks call me Sam."
"'Tis a pleasure to meet you, Sam," said Bullman. "My friends
call me Bull."
"These two are Merry and Pippin," Sam leaned closer, he said a
bit more quietly, "They're always gettin' into trouble, so ya
don't wanna be around 'em if they're pulling a prank or
stealin' food..."
Bullman leaned closer to Sam and spoke just loudly enough for
Merry and Pippin to hear what he said. "They sound like MY kind
of Hobbits!" he declared, then winked mischievously at Merry
and Pippin.
A breathless Frodo hastened through the woods along with Tansy
Puddifoot. "I'm sure they wouldn't mind if Tansy joins us,"
Frodo thought and then he stopped short when noticing there had
been another Hobbit with the others. He wondered who it could
be.
"I hope you don't mind but I was with Tansy and I invited her to
come." Again he halted and eyed the Hobbit who had been a
stranger. Frodo smiled politely. "Hullo. I'm Frodo Baggins.
This is Tansy Puddifoot."
"Hello, Master Baggins," said Bullman, then bowed to Tansy.
"And a good day to you, Mistress Puddifoot. Bullman Tinker at
your service, but my friends call me Bull."
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Merry noticed the new hobbit wink at him and he cocked his head
to one side. He smiled a little and leaned towards Pippin.
"What do you make of this character, Pip?"
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"I don't really know what to make of him, Merry!" Pippin's
eyebrows were slightly arched in wonder as he spoke. Quickly a
smile appeared on his face and he lowered his voice until he
was sure that only Merry would hear him. "I think," he paused
and glanced back at Bull, "that the best way to find out if you
like someone - and if they like you - is to see how the respond
to a little personal... umm... practical joke?" Pippin's eyes
were wide with innocence and his pleasant smile betrayed little
of the mischevious plan that was already filling his head.
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Merry's eyes widened slightly as he looked over at his younger
cousin. He smiled a similar grin and waggled his eyebrows up
and down. He placed a hand on Pippin's shoulders and whispered,
"Oh, Pip, you've read my mind. Now, what's your suggestion?"
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Pippin grinned widely at his friends like-mindedness. "Well, I
can't tell you it all! Not here and now, anyway! It would be
terribly rude of us! Anyway, you always do say 'A good
practical joke takes practical thinking and practical
planning!' Meet me tomorrow by the water! Four o'clock - no
wait! Make that four thirty - I don't want to miss teatime!"
With that Pippin replaced his sneaky smile with a friendly one
and turned to face the other hobbits who were conversing.
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"Well, my friends, now that proper introductions have been
made, I could do with a bit more breakfast," declared Bullman.
He'd noticed Merry and Pippin conversing in low tones, and
suspected that he would be the brunt of future friendly
pranks...and he looked forward to it!
"If anyone could suggest an Inn or Tavern in the Shire that
makes a decent strip of bacon," (which was Bullman's favorite
food...) "I would be eternally grateful. But first, I must
retrieve my gear," said Bullman, and without another word,
leapt back into the river. He emerged a few minutes later on
the opposite bank, again shedding water like a shaggy dog. He
gathered up his cloak, traveling bag, and walking stick,
refilled his pockets, then looked both ways up and down the
river. He noticed an arched stone bridge about one-quarter
of a mile down the river; pointing to it, he shouted across to
Frodo, Sam, Pippin, Merry, and Tansy.
"Meet me at yonder bridge, my friends!" Bullman shouted, "for,
unless my nose is clogged with water, I smell wood smoke on the
wind, and the aroma of bacon on the spit. All this swimming and
meeting of new Hobbits has made me hungry. My treat for the
meal, if you will permit me!"
Before the Hobbits could answer him, Bullman took off at a
quick walk for the bridge, lighting his pipe as he went.
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Sam watched Bull retreat for a moment, before turning and
giving Frodo a curious look. "Hullo Miss Tansy," he gave her a
quick greeting, then turned to Frodo and shrugged. "Shall we go
get some food then?"
A quick glance at Merry and Pippin left him wondering what they
were up to. They both had that look in their eyes that made Sam
a bit uneasy. Finally, he looked back to where Bullman had went
to, and began walking. Now that food was mentioned, he realized
how hungry he was.
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Bullman reached the arched stone bridge first, crossed the
river and took a seat on the river bank, waiting for the others
to arrive. The aroma of sizzling bacon had grown stronger on
this side of the river, and it reminded Bull of all the
breakfasts he'd served (and eaten...) at his Inn at Bree, The
Bubbling Cauldron. Often overshadowed by another more famous
Inn, The Cauldron and The Prancing Pony both had a faithful
following of regular patrons as well as occasional visitors and
travelers. But the Cauldron boasted a unique feature that no
other Inn or Tavern in Middle-earth could claim: the Bubbling
Cauldron itself. An ensorcelled cooking pot, the Cauldron always
provided just the right foods and in just the right quantities
for whatever size crowd was on hand, or whatever meal was being
served.
Bullman had stumbled upon the Cauldron some years before during
an adventure he'd undertaken with Gandalf the Grey and a small
group of like-minded Hobbits and Bree-Men; Bull had built the
Inn around the Cauldron with his good friend, business partner,
and fellow adventurer, Jack Merrydew. The Inn had made both
Hobbits more than comfortably wealthy, allowing them to pursue
their various interests while wandering the countryside.
Bullman was on just such a journey, having left the Cauldron in
Jack's capable hands, in search of rare books, manuscripts, or
maps to add to his already extensive library at Tinker House in
Bree.
A stiff, bacon-scented breeze brought Bull out of his reveries
and back to the present. He rose from where he sat on the cool
grass near the bridge and looked upriver. The other Hobbits
were approaching, and he waved to them, his mind focused on two
of his favorite things: books and bacon...!
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Merry clapped Pippin on the shoulder and nodded at him. "Sounds
like you've got something cooking in that curly head of yours,
my dear cousin. I shall be anxiously awaiting to hear of this
plan of yours."
He looked up as Pippin and he began to walk away from the
river. He waved at Frodo and Tansy as they five of them rushed
off to keep up with the quickly moving Bull. His stomach
rumbled as he too noticed the delicious smell of food cooking
somewhere nearby.
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As Sam and the others all crossed the bridge, he wondered where
the wonderful scent was coming from. As they all began walking
by the river, he noticed smoke in the distance, definitely from
a chimney. But where? They were far enough out, very few
travellers came this far out of the way. But sure enough, there
was a place up ahead. The smell of bacon, and sheer curiosity,
made him quicken his pace a bit.
Finally, he remembered. He once heard a couple of hobbits
talking about an Inn which was quite far from the beaten path.
They also commented that if they hadn't been lost to begin
with, they would have never found the place. And Sam remembered
thinking at the time, why would anyone want to build an Inn in
such an unlikely place.
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The red-headed Tansy Puddifoot also noticed smoke and the scent
of bacon, stronger now, enticed her stomach to growl and
grumble. She had never walked so fast. But it wasn't only the
food, Tansy wanted to make sure she stayed close to Frodo. She
was in love with him...something she never thought would
happen. The hobbit lass wondered if he felt the same about her
or if the other hobbits were aware that she seemed a bit too
friendly around Frodo.
"Oh, stop it!" she said inwardly and berated herself for
thinking such things like her feelings for Frodo or what anyone
else thought. Instead, her mind wandered back to her growling
stomach and the mysterious Inn that hadn't been far off now.
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Sam glanced over at Tansy, seeing that look in her eye. It went
away quickly, but he had seen it, it had been there, if only
for a moment. That was the same look he always got, he was
sure, whenever Rosie Cotton was around. He couldn't help but
smile. He was happy. He liked Tansy, and thought the two would
make a nice couple.
But he wouldn't say anything. He'd never tell what he saw,
unless Tansy said something first. It really wasn't any of his
business, anyway. He just hoped Merry and Pippin hadn't noticed
the look. Or else they'd be jumping all over Tansy and Frodo,
even though he probably had no idea, making jokes and teasing
them....
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As the others approached, Bullman took off in the direction of
the aromas, led by his nose and his eyes, having spotted smoke
curling from a large chimney some distance away. Bull could
also see two prominent towers rising above the surrounding
countryside; this must be the Inn to which they were traveling,
tucked away in this far corner of the Shire. He looked upriver
and saw that the other Hobbits were closer; he waved to them,
and pointed in the direction of the towers and chimney.
"Make haste, my friends!" he called to his friends, again
pointing to the two towers and fieldstone chimney. Bullman
increased his pace, striding along an old cart path for a bit,
then through unmown fields of rich summer grass that rose, then
dipped into a small dale. The cart path emerged once more on
the downward slope of the hill, now wider and wheel-rutted, and
ran past the destination they sought: a rambling,
dressed-stone-and-timber building, whose profile was dominated
by the two towers and stone chimney glanced from afar. The
building jutted into the hillside behind, so much so that it
seemed to grow out of the earth itself. A brightly painted
sign, depicting a traveler with backpack, walking stick, and
smoking a pipe trekking along a meandering road, announced the
name of the Inn: The Journey's End. As Bull approached, several
patrons waved to him from where they sat on padded benches on a
wide, covered porch that encircled the Inn. Bullman waved back
and called a greeting.
"Good morning to you!" he exclaimed, sniffing the
woodsmoke-laden morning air. "My nose tells me that bacon is on
the menu, and just in time for a second breakfast!" Bull looked
over his shoulder toward the top of the hill, searching for
Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Tansy...
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Merry found himself practically running to keep up with the new
hobbit as he rushed off towards the puffs of smoking rising
ever higher in to the air. He huffed as he picked up speed,
hoping that the food was well worth the effort he was putting
in to find it.
The smell grew stronger, as did the ferocity of Merry's
grumbling stomach as he followed the worn dirt wagon path. His
eyes widened as he saw a quite prominent building sitting in
practically the middle of nowhere and he stopped for a second,
taking in the sight. He smiled to himself as he noticed the
brightly colored sign and caught sight of Bullman not far off.
He waved and jogged over to meet him.
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"Good morning to you!" exclaimed Bullman, sniffing the
woodsmoke-laden air. "My nose tells me that bacon is on the
menu, and just in time for my Elevensies!" Bullman turned and
looked toward the hill and saw the other Hobbits approaching,
with Merry far outpacing his friends; the young Hobbit waved as
he joined Bull on the road opposite the Inn. As Bullman and
Merry exchanged greetings, the Inn's front door opened, a
round, green-painted door with brass hinges and a shiny brass
doorknob at its center, and a very large Hobbit (both tall and
wide) stepped onto the front porch.
"Your nose had led you true, good sir!" bellowed the Hobbit,
somehow having heard Bull's comments about bacon. He wiped his
hands on a white cotton towel tucked into the waistband of his
apron. "Bacon is indeed on the menu here at the End, for every
meal if that's yer fancy. The best bacon East of the Grey
Havens and West of Dale, if you'll permit me to blow my own
horn a bit!" He bowed to Bull and Merry and introduced himself.
"Nicolas Gates, owner and Innkeeper of The Journey's End, at
your service," he said. "Come in, my friends, come in and be
welcome!" Bull introduced himself and Merry; Nicolas waved,
then reentered the Inn heeding calls for service from his
patrons.
While he and Merry waited for Sam, Frodo, Pippin, and Tansy to
join them, Bull noticed that, except for the two stone towers
and chimney, The Journey's End resembled a large Hobbit-house,
rising up from, and built into, the grassy hill behind it. Neat
rows of large, round windows rose up several stories from
ground level, and a hand-laid fieldstone wall ran along the
front of the property, disappearing right and left around the
hillside. In the center of the wall was a wide wooden gate,
painted bright green with brass accents like the front door,
that opened onto a cobblestone walkway. Several Hobbit ponies
were tied to hitching posts on the opposite side of the road
from the wall, and in a larger corral stood a number of carts
and wagons.
"All things considered, a fine establishment!" declared
Bullman. He opened the gate and walked along the cobblestones
to the front porch, taking a seat on a very comfortable
cushioned chair. He beckoned for Merry to join him as they
waited for the others to arrive.
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Sam smiled as he saw Merry running so quickly in search of
food. He, too was hungry, and though he didn't want to run and
leave the others, he didn't quicken his step a bit.
When the group reached the point where they could see the Inn,
Sam felt his spirits soar. From here, the aroma of bacon was
all the stronger; he felt as if he could taste it already. And
it was delicious. Suddenly, he started walking even faster, he
was so anxious to taste the bacon for real.
Finally, he reached the door and walked in, searching for Merry
and Bullman.
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