Lassie Rowan Gamwich's fanfiction -A Washerwoman's Tale- Page 1

-A WASHERWOMAN’S TALE- by Lassie Rowan Gamwich from Archet Part 1 -A Little Introduction- There’s a fair chance that you’ve never heard of me or ever knew of my existence, but have you ever wondered how the Bagginses, mr Bilbo and young master Frodo always managed to look their Sunday best? Well, that’s where I come in. My name in The Shire is Lassie Rowan Gamwich from Archet, and I’m the Bagginses’ washerwoman at Bag End, but where I originally came from I’m better known as Nevdiliel. But I’m not ye ordinary Hobbit washerwoman, but I’m also half Elven, who was sent to Hobbiton by the Valor of Valinor and Gandalf to guide and look after Frodo, son of Drogo. But he doesn’t know it; he doesn’t need to just yet. The only Hobbit who knew about my true identity was Bilbo. When I arrived in Hobbiton with Gandalf a week before Frodo came to live in Bag End, he let Bilbo make a promise not to let anyone know where I came from, especially not to Frodo. He kept his promise ever since and from that time on Frodo and his friends only knew me as Lassie Rowan Gamwich from Archet. But on the other hand it rather surprised me that Frodo, clever and curious as he was, never wondered why I was taller than him and everybody else, as Hobbits were only about three to four foot in height, while I was about 5 foot and also had no furry feet… But as long as he didn’t ask questions about that, I wasn’t the one who was going to draw his attention to this. Or maybe he didn’t want to be rude. There were tall Hobbits with the height of four feet, but that was exceptional and considered unnatural. The Hobbits of Hobbiton where kind to me, but also thought that my appearance was rather different, so un-hobbit like except for my brown curly hair. But as I was part Hobbit as my father was a Gamwich and my mother an Elf from Rivendell this mix was to be expected. My parents met each other a very long time ago, long before the Gamwiches’ had changed their name into Gamgee. There is a family connection to Samwise Gamgee as he’s my distant cousin, but he couldn’t put a link on the name change, so I left it at that, since he and Frodo were bosom buddies and couldn’t keep secrets from each other. Why so much secrecy about my origin? This was the Valor of Valinor’s doing, because he had great plans for Frodo, as he saw in foresight that the young halfling was going to play a very important part in the peace-keeping of Middle-Earth. Because Frodo was still as innocent as a child the Valor had chosen me to learn Frodo about the other side of life and help Bilbo Baggin’s with the upbringing of his cousin. I had to be a confidante and a second mother to Frodo in time of need. Bilbo confided with Gandalf about Frodo’s adoption and because he was not used to having a young Hobbit walking around in Bag End. Then the wizard remembered that there was a grieving half Elf in Valinor, who could help out. Grieving, because she lost her husband during the war in the First Era and whittering away of sadness. That grieving half Elf was I. At first I felt reluctant of going back to Middle-Earth as I had a comfortable life in Valinor, but after Gandalf’s friendly persuasion and the serious words of the Valor, I was sent to Middle-Earth with a little pouch of coins and two dresses in the Hobbiton style. I arrived at the Grey Havens, where Gandalf waited for me with his cart to bring me to Bag End. He was grateful that I had changed my mind, but as the Valor had summoned me to go, I couldn’t refuse. When I first met Frodo he was shy but very well mannered. He also loved to read books and was always very curious about things around him. That hasn’t changed over the years. We both got along very well and I adjusted to my new life in Hobbiton. Bilbo took me in as a member of the family and he often confided in me about Frodo’s upbringing, but he also spoke his wish to travel again on his own to meet up with a few old friends from the past and showed me his old maps and told me the wonderful stories about his journey with Gandalf and the dwarves. Frodo, still un-aware of his uncle Bilbo’s plans to retire and move from Bag End to a more peaceful place, was also intrigued about the adventures his uncle had endured on his journeys and Frodo now more than ever wanted to see what lay beyond the borders of Middle-Earth and The Shire. There was surely more out there to explore. He wasn’t aware of the Dark Riders and Orcs and other dangers that were out there who were constantly at war or looting the villages outside The Shire. I often told him that life beyond Middle-Earth wasn’t always as peaceful as here in the Shire. I often told him about my life before I left for Valinor, in a little town called Archet. I had to be careful about what I could tell him without revealing too much about myself: originally being a half-Elf with the name Nevdiliel . Frodo only knew a little about me: that I used to live far from the Shire and that faith had brought me to Hobbiton to start a new life after becoming a young widow without children. TO BE CONTINUED…

-A WASHERWOMAN’S TALE- by Lassie Rowan Gamwich from Archet Part 2 -About Relationships and Making Preparations- One day I was slaving over a hot washtub and washboard when Frodo and Sam came running enthusiastically into the laundry room. “Lassie, have you heard about the party that uncle Bilbo is going to give on our birthday?” Frodo said with an eager tone in his voice. I smiled happily at the two young Hobbits and said : “ Yes, mr.Bilbo told me about it last night and he wants to make it a special occasion” And to Sam who stood there behind Frodo looking rather sheepish I said:” Rosie Cotton will be there too.” Samwise blushed and said with a deep sigh: ”Oh gosh, I love that lass, but I don’t have the guts to ask her if she wants to go to the party with me. Let alone dance with me. I bet that she doesn’t even know that I exist.” In the meantime Frodo helped me put the clean wet shirts in the basket that I always use to bring the clothes out to dry and I tried to reassure Sam by saying:” Samwise Gamgee, of course Rosie knows that you exist. You must have more confidence in yourself. If you’re as keen on her as you say you are, you must not be afraid and just go for it, let Rosie know how you feel about her. If you don’t do it someone else will, mark my word.” Sam gulped, he hadn’t thought about it that way but he became convinced. “Yes, you’re right Lassie Rowan” he said. “I’m going to ask her to come to the party with me.” “That’s the spirit Sam, very good of you” I said feeling pleased that I helped him overcome his fear . Now I went over to Frodo who was listening to our conversation and after he put the last shirt in the basket I asked him: “ And you master Frodo, what about you, have you set your eye on a young lass who you would like to dance with in particular?” It seemed that he was taken by surprise when I asked him this, he didn’t know what to say, because it never crossed his mind to bring a young Hobbit lass back to Bad End with him. “Why no, Lassie, there’s no one in particular, not since…” Frodo said trying not to get upset. I understood that he went through an unpleasant experience not so long ago, so I gave it a rest and patted him on the shoulder. Making friends didn’t really come natural to him. Not that he didn’t have any, he had Pippin Took and Merry Brandybuck but they were also his cousins and not to forget Samwise, his best friend and gardener. But the Hobbit lasses didn’t really seem interested in Frodo, because they thought he was a strange Hobbit, because he was adventurous and wanting to walk further than the fields of Westfarthing, where no one else dared and wanted to go and reading books and some of them where in the Elvish language. That was more than your average Hobbit could cope with, but Frodo was hungry and curious enough to learn about life beyond The Shire. So after being frequently let down, brushed off and laughed at by the Hobbiton lasses, Frodo lost his confidence and interest in them. For now anyway. Frodo turned around and asked me with a soft hopeful voice: ”Lassie Rowan, will you accompany me to the party, I’d be much obliged?.” I was surprised, but I felt very honoured at the same time. “I’d be very delighted to go to the party with you master Frodo.” I looked at the clock that was on the wall and said probably with a blush on my cheeks: “Come on lads, there are preparations to be made for this party, mr Bilbo gave me a long, long list of names and addresses for the invitations and there are so many things that have to be arranged, I can’t do it all by myself, but first I have to put these shirts up on the line to dry, it’s getting hot in here.” TO BE CONTINUED…

Frodo and Bilbo

-A WASHERWOMAN’S TALE- by Lassie Rowan Gamwich from Archet Part 3 Party Invitations…What’s the Use? After putting up the laundry to dry; Frodo, Sam and I started to work on the party invitations. Frodo read the guest-list, sighed deeply and said: “Uncle Bilbo has put a lot of work in to making this list, it will take us like forever to get this all done by this evening.” He went through the list now for a second time and then he spotted a few names of his relatives from Buckland. They weren’t his favourite people after how they treated his uncle Bilbo and him in the past, but they were family and would feel offended if they didn’t receive an invitation. So Mr. Bilbo must have put them on the guest-list as a formality. “I’d gladly like to forget to send this invitation, Sam.” Frodo said pointing at the Buckland address on the list. “Then they would miss the party altogether.” I overheard Frodo and said: ” Come, come, Frodo, you musn’t be so hateful, besides it’s all in the past now, at least for your Uncle Bilbo it is,” “He’s forgiven them of their deed, but not forgotten their greed and indespicable behaviour towards you and your future.” “ Lassie Rowan, you haven’t a clue how I felt every time we met coincidentally in the Town Centre, nobody does, the way they looked at me and those nasty remarks that came my way,” “It might have been in the past, but it still hurts thinking of it all again.“ Such strong words were said for a young, normally good natured Hobbit. It was said that Frodo’s Buckland family had tried to persuade Mr. Bilbo not to adopt Frodo and that they nearly succeeded, until the truth came out that they were only after a possible inheritance: Bilbo’s money and Bag End. Bilbo Baggins then decided to turn his back on them and went to Brandy Hall to pick up his young nephew Frodo and make him his rightful and only heir. And with Frodo now living in Bag End their hopes were blown out of the window for good. “Come, let’s get on with it the invitations and let our conversation be of a lighter nature now.” I said trying to change the subject.“Yes, you’re right Lassie Rowan,” Sam said in honesty while picking up an addressed envelope and handing it to Frodo to put in the box beside him. “What shall we do for music? A party without music is not a party in my books,” I said “Frodo you can play your drums and I know a few others who can play some sort of musical instrument. What do you think of a jam-session where anybody can join in?” Sam and Frodo were very pleased with the idea. “So, that’s settled then.” I said, while I dipped my goose feather pen into the ink-pot on the table. Then the door went open and Mr. Bilbo entered the sitting-room. “Hello to you all, still writing those invitations, I see?” “Hello uncle Bilbo, we’re nearly done, just about five more to go. Uncle Bilbo, must we really send an invitation to our rellies in Buckland, you know, after what had happened…?” Bilbo Baggins sighed and said : “ My dear boy, I know how you feel about all of this, what they’ve done wasn’t a good thing at all, but we sorted things out for the time being. The party was meant to be for the whole family, Buckland included and if we don’t send an invitation they’ll feel offended and come anyway and make a nuisance of themselves as usual and the party will be ruined.” After hearing this Frodo knew that he couldn’t refuse his uncle’s wishes, but he couldn’t help mumbling to himself: “Party invitations?…. what’s the use, if you don’t send one, they invite themselves and come anyway. “ TO BE CONTINUED...

Frodo and Samwise

-A WASHERWOMAN’S TALE- by Lassie Rowan Gamwich from Archet Part 4 And The Party Preparations Go On Amongst Other Things... It was nearly midnight when we finally finished writing the party- invitations. So that was a task that we could take off our list of things to do. We decided that we had earned a mug of ale before heading off to bed. It was a great relief for us that we didn’t have to worry about the catering, because there were quite a few relatives and friends of Mr. Bilbo who had volunteered to make the most delicious cakes, pies and other sweet and hearty delights. Hobbits were famous for their love for food and dear Frodo was no exception. He loved to help our cook in the kitchen, but the cook didn’t let him come near the pots and pans that were on the stove, because he didn’t want to reveal the special and secret ingredients he used while he was making the daily meals. Frodo, who really was keen to learn the trade never got a chance to do the actual cooking and this was something he wanted to try out someday. But he did get the knack for slicing and dicing vegetables and meat, boiling water, washing up the dishes and setting the table before every meal. He sometimes envied Sam, who on the contrary was a good cook and could make the most delicious dishes from very simple ingredients. His speciality was coney stew and cabbage soup. Sam’s father, also known as “The Gaffer” was very proud to have a son who not only was a good gardener but also was able to cook a decent meal as well. Early the next morning Frodo took his uncle’s cart and headed off to the Town Centre to bring the party-invitations to the post-office and pick up a few things that his uncle had ordered for the party at the market. “Out and about so early master Frodo?” the friendly postmistress asked him while she put the stamps on the large amount of envelopes that Frodo handed over to her. “Yes, ma’am, there’s still so much to organize and we only have about a week left,” “My uncle always wants to make something special out of our birthday parties. I think he’s planned something entirely different this year, but I can’t sense what it is, he can be so secretive sometimes” After Frodo had paid the post-mistress for the postage, he left for the market, where he met Pippin and Merry who were clearly up to something. “ See those big juicy apples there in those wooden boxes yonder, two have our name on it, you want one too?” Merry asked Frodo .“No thank you, I just had bacon and eggs for breakfast already,” Frodo said while he took two coins out of his vest pocket, and gave them to Pippin. “Here, buy the apples instead of taking them, before you get caught and are locked away in the constable’s prison cell, The party wouldn’t be much fun without you both.” “ Oh yes, your right, we don’t want to miss out on the pretty lasses and the ale and not to forget the fireworks,” “Gandalf is going to be there too, isn’t he?” Merry said enthusiastically. “Yes, he promised to come over in a few days, he has to, as he’s bringing the fireworks with him. I’m looking forward to seeing him again. He has so many great stories to tell my uncle Bilbo and I about his travels and his adventures abroad.” Frodo replied and as he had said that, his big blue eyes widened and a big smile came on his face. He didn’t even seem to notice that Pippin and Merry had walked away to the stall to buy the apples they were craving for. Frodo came back to reality when he was greeted by a familiar voice. He looked up and saw his uncle from Buckland and his wife. “Good morning Frodo, how are you and your uncle Bilbo, busy making arrangements for next weeks festivities?” he asked trying to be friendly. Frodo knew that they wanted to know if they were invited, but he wanted to keep them in suspense a little longer. “Uncle Bilbo and I are doing fine and I’m picking up some things for him. There are still a few things that have to be done, but we are managing.” “Good to know that the two of you are well.” Frodo’s uncle from Buckland replied. Just before they decided to go on their way, he wanted to stir things up by asking Frodo: “By the way, does that extremely tall Hobbit lass still work for the both of you, there’s something strange about her.” Frodo looked at his uncle. He couldn’t appreciate this remark and wanted to know why it was made. “If you’re referring to Lassie Rowan, yes, she’s still with us and what do you mean by that there was something strange about her?” “Well, you’d better ask Bilbo about that, my dear cousin.” The uncle said, knowing that Frodo who was good friends with me, was going to be upset in a minute, so he decided to go further: “Well, she’s not a Hobbit Frodo, she’s too tall, and has no furry feet! Haven’t you noticed that? No, I guess not, otherwise you wouldn’t be looking so surprised. I’ve heard rumours about her mysterious arrival at Bag End a week before Bilbo took you in.” And he decided to leave it at that and said: “Oh, come dear wife, it’s time to go back to the Ferry” taking his wife by the arm and hurried away. Frodo stood there a bit confused and dazed. What was his Buckland uncle trying to say? Was his uncle Bilbo hiding something from him? And why didn’t Lassie Rowan tell me why she was different then the other lasses in The Shire? It never occurred to him to look at my feet before, it just wasn’t a proper thing to do. He had so many questions and because he couldn’t figure it out, he shook his head and picked up the things Mr. Bilbo had ordered at the market for their big day. But now Frodo was determined to find out the truth about what was going on with his second faithful friend Lassie Rowan Gamwich… TO BE CONTINUED…….

-A WASHERWOMAN’S TALE- by Lassie Rowan Gamwich from Archet Part 5 Frodo Wants To Know The Truth, But I Don’t Give In When Frodo returned to Bag End from the market, I was taking the dry clean clothes from the line in the back garden. “Good morning, Frodo did you have a nice time in town?” I asked him while I was folding one of his shirts. “Morning to you to Lassie, it was all right in town and I met up with Pippin and Merry.” And he started telling me what his friends were up to. After he unloaded the cart, Frodo walked up to me and asked me if I wanted to sit down with him because he wanted to talk to me. Once we were both seated on the garden-bench he went on :” I’ve also met my uncle and aunt from Buckland and my uncle mentioned something to me and I didn’t understand what he meant. Lassie Rowan, it’s about you.” I looked surprised at Frodo and asked him:” What did your uncle say about me, I’ve only seen him once in the passing by” Frodo sighed and said: “ I don’t even know if this is my business, but he said that you were too tall to be a Hobbit and….that you, well, how can I say this…it seems that you don’t have furry feet.” I felt a bit overwhelmed when I heard him say these words, but I had to watch out what I was going to answer him. I didn’t like the idea to have to lie to him, but I couldn’t tell him the truth either, not yet anyway. I hoped that he would believe me when I told him that I wasn’t the tallest Hobbit in The Shire and that I didn’t have much fur on my feet by nature. ” Some female Hobbits do and some don’t simple, as that.” Frodo looked at me and my heart started to pound and I felt a little nervous, but I managed to stay calm. Then he smiled again and said: ”Is that all?” I said: ”Yes, that’s all, you mustn’t let your uncle get to you like that.” And just as I wanted to get up and bring the washing to the ironing-room, Frodo grabbed my arm firm but gently. He didn’t want to let me off that easily. He wanted to hear the truth and was getting determined to get it. “Lassie Rowan, you maybe right, but I don’t want to offend you or anything, we’ve known each other since I moved in with uncle Bilbo and yet I don’t know much about you. You’re not related to our family, are you?” I started to feel somewhat uneasy again, and I didn’t want to let him feel that too. “Well Frodo, I’m a Gamwich and I’m related to Sam, I’m his very distant cousin.” I felt horrible to be dishonest to my dear friend. “Now what else do you want to know about me, master Frodo?” “Well, you seem to know so much about what lies far beyond The Shire, that intrigues me so. I know you originally come from Archet, but how do you know so much about …”. He didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence because his uncle who came to my rescue called out ” Frodo, don’t bother Lassie Rowan with your curiosity” when he came up to us from the Hobbit hole’s round back-door behind us and heard the little interrogation his nephew was giving me. “Let Lassie go on with her work and you can help me with some paper-work inside.” I felt relieved and grateful that Mr. Bilbo came outside, what was I to say to Frodo, he was even brighter than I thought. I stood up and took the basket with the clean and dry clothes to the ironing-room. Before I went in I stopped and looked at myself standing in front of the mirror in the hall. Did I really look so different from the others? I agree that I was taller then the average Hobbit, but I was also too short for an average Elf with a normal height. But being half Hobbit and half Elf the differences were visual and questions could be expected. Then I looked down at my small furless feet. No, that didn’t look right either. I sighed deeply and walked on to the ironing-room. “I can’t change the way I look.” I told myself. Because I wanted to avoid Frodo for the rest of the morning, I decided to do the ironing on a slower pace than I was normally used to doing. I could hear Frodo talk to his uncle, but couldn’t understand what they were saying to each other. Sam came by in the afternoon and Frodo decided to give him a hand in the vegetable-garden. I felt relieved because I didn’t have to see him and risk another game of “Thousand Questions”. During dinner I knew that Frodo wanted to ask me more about my life, but I could sense that he didn’t dare ask me too much at the same time. It was clear that he had been asking Sam about the Gamwiches which made me feel nervous and uneasy again. “And what could master Samwise tell you?” I asked trying to sound as relaxed as possible. “Oh, not much, only that the Gamwiches were good gardeners, nearly as good as the Gamgees.” Sam’s family seemed to have lost contact with the Gamwiches years ago, until you came back to Hobbiton quite unexpectedly with Gandalf. But Sam and Mr. Gamgee have never heard of you”. I answered:” That well may be possible Frodo, the family moved away from Hobbiton to Archet long before I was born. And yes, that’s right, Frodo, Gandalf did bring me to Bag End, we met on the road, so he gave me a lift here”. I said. Well, that part was true because he was sent to the Grey Havens to pick me up from the ship that arrived from the Undying Lands. But I couldn’t tell that to Frodo. When Bilbo was alone that evening, I asked him for advice about his nephew’s growing curiosity. “Mr. Baggins, I just don’t know what more I can tell about myself to Frodo, he already knows what I’m allowed to tell him, and if I say more, I’ll be breaking the rules Elrond and Gandalf have set up for this operation.“ Bilbo knew that I was concerned about this and so was he. We both understood that we had to do something about it and fast. “Frodo is young and isn’t aware that he’s making it difficult for you with all his questions. I suppose it was my fault, telling him stories of my adventures and now he wants to know everything about yours. Lassie Rowan, don’t worry I’ll have a word with him again and if Gandalf arrives next week I shall seek his advice as well. Frodo’s curiosity will harm him one day if he doesn’t watch out.” TO BE CONTINUED……

The laundry is put up to dry first before Frodo, Sam and I start writing the party invitations

-A WASHERWOMAN’S TALE- by Lassie Rowan Gamwich from Archet Part 6 -Tossing and Turning- The next morning I woke up early because I couldn’t sleep very well that night. Thinking of Frodo’s growing curiosity kept me wide awake most of the time. I hoped that today would be a more peaceful day for me and that Mr. Bilbo wouldn’t forget to talk to his nephew if things were getting out of hand. I decided to get out of bed because I felt a headache coming up and filled the basin with water from the well outside and washed myself with the cold water which made me shiver. After making the bed and tidying up the room, I went into the living room where Bilbo and Frodo were sitting at the table. “Good morning to you both.” I said. “Morning to you too Lassie Rowan.” Frodo said cheerfully as always. “Have you slept well?” he asked me and I answered: “ Yes, Frodo I slept well.” But Bilbo knew that it wasn’t the truth and he nodded at Frodo who then stood up and walked up to me. “Lassie, I want to apologize to you, I didn’t realise that I upset you yesterday, it wasn’t my intention to do so, but you know how I am, I sometimes get carried away. I hope you will accept my apologies Lassie.” Frodo looked at me with those big lovely blue eyes and he meant what he said and of course I couldn’t refuse. “Yes Frodo, I accept your sincere apologies and then we embraced each other with love. Bilbo who witnessed this felt just as pleased and relieved as I did and smiled happily at us. The breakfast I had tickled my taste-buds, especially after losing my appetite the evening before. Even my head-ache started to vanish into thin air. Then I couldn’t help but noticing that Frodo was peeking at me and when I looked in his direction, he quickly looked the other way. Was he trying to flirt with me? “No, that couldn’t be” I told myself. “But what if it was, than I had to put a stop to it before things got out of hand. Again I felt quite uneasy and after breakfast I left Frodo and his uncle alone in the dining-room and set for the kitchen. It wasn’t that I didn’t feel flattered by Frodo’s sudden forward interest in me, but being who I was, it didn’t seem right. Elves were immortal and Hobbits were mortal as Men. And they even could live up to be over a hundred years old. I was with my 2000 years a considerably young Elf. Being a mixture of both Cultures, it seemed that I inherited an immortal life and had to live in a tall Hobbit body. Frodo was a young Hobbit who still hadn’t reached the coming of age yet and the age differences could become a problem at the end. It was certain that I would be left a lonely widow. The thought of that alone was unbearable to me. I was so pre-occupied with myself that I didn’t notice that Frodo was standing behind me and trying to get my attention. When he tapped me on my arm, I was a bit shocked. “Oh Frodo, I didn’t see you come in the kitchen” I said. “Lassie Rowan, are you alright, you seem so troubled?” I smiled and said: “Oh Frodo, it’s nothing, I’m fine”, I told him. “What can I do for you?” “Lassie, are you busy this afternoon, because I need your help with my outfit for the party?” he asked me with a tender voice. “Sure Frodo, I’m very happy to help you, but I think that you need a new outfit, those shirts and trousers in your closet wouldn’t do anymore, lets go to town and you’ll leave it all up to me.” In the years that I lived in Bag End I was the one who sorted out and bought clothes for him, which gave me much pleasure. Mr. Baggins was also relieved and pleased that I had taken this assignment upon me, because he believed that task needed a feminine touch and he wasn’t really into the latest Hobbiton fashion. But he always looked smartly dressed himself. “That’s settled then, Frodo we’re going to get you some new clothes” and I also told him that I was really looking forward to it. After he left the kitchen, I left to go to my room, but I stopped at the coat-rack in the hall and inspected Frodo’s coat and a cloak that were hanging on the pegs. “He’s in desperate need of a new coat and cloak too, where has this silly Hobbit been roaming through?” The cloak was in need of a good soaking. Where did all the mud come from? I shook my head while I took the cloak off the coat-peg and the practically worn down and torn brown coat too. It was Frodo’s favourite coat, but it had to go, but before I could put it away, I had to tell him what I was planning to do with it. As expected he didn’t want to part with his coat, and he even took it from me. But after hearing his arguments that his coat was comfortable and still nice and warm, I was much to my surprise able to convince him that a new coat and a new cloak seemed a better option, instead of the rag of a coat that was no longer suitable to be mended over and over again. Then I showed him the various tears on the sleeves and collar of the coat that I wasn’t able to mend without it being too visible. Then Frodo sighed deeply and handed his old brown coat back to me. “I guess you’re right, Lassie Rowan, I’m in for a change.” “Yes Frodo, you won’t be disappointed and you’ll be the best dressed Hobbit in the Shire after I’m done with you.” I said enthusiastically then I took the ragged coat and filthy cloak with me to the laundry-room and put the coat into a box with the other old worn down clothes that had to be put away. Then I put in the cloak in the wash-tub with hot water to soak. TO BE CONTINUED…….

-A WASHERWOMAN’S TALE- By Lassie Rowan Gamwich from Archet Part 7 -A New Wardrobe for Frodo - It was early in the afternoon, when Frodo and I were on his uncle Bilbo’s cart heading off for the town centre. Frodo was looking forward to buying new clothes, but he also disliked the idea of endless fittings and fidgeting he had to go through with me. Especially when I was the one who was looking out for something special for Frodo to wear. “It has to be a perfect match.” I told him and added teasingly: “The lasses must want to fight over you at the party.” After hearing that Frodo looked a bit sarcastically at me and said somewhat bitter: “You must be joking, Lassie Rowan. Those lasses aren’t interested in me, you know that. They just start giggling and whispering when I walk passed them.” I listened to what Frodo told me but was very pleased to tell him that there was absolutely nothing wrong with him. “Frodo, the lasses are interested in you, but they don’t know how to approach you, they’re somewhat shy and so are you”. They giggle because they’re nervous. Frodo looked at me in disbelief. “What shy? Me? and why are they nervous then?” “Yes, shy you are, and why do you walk away if they try to say something nice to you?” I asked. “They’re just trying to start a conversation with you, but the way they go upon it isn’t the correct way.” Frodo sighed and said: ” Lassie Rowan , you’re a lass and you always let me know if there’s something wrong or if you have an opinion on things, you know, I really feel comfortable with you by my side.” This confession took me a bit by surprise and I didn’t know where this conversation was now leading to, but I felt pleased that we had built a great friendship over the years, that was based on trust. “Thanks very much Frodo, I’m flattered by your kind words” I told him. We now entered the town centre, where it was busy as always. Frodo parked the cart by the stables so, the horse could have a rest, feed and drink. The clothes and dress shop was nearby and they had the style clothes I had in mind: Nice and warm with earthy colours, just the thing that looked so good on Frodo. The only thing I couldn’t get used to were the trousers, always too short, but that was a normal snit in Hobbit fashion. Frodo and I looked around and after a while he came back with a very nice chocolate brown three piece suit.(a waist-coat, trousers and a long coat) “Lassie Rowan, what do you think of this?” Frodo asked me a little uncertain. I looked at the suit and held a cream white shirt next to it. “You’ve got good taste for fashion for a young Hobbit Frodo. Try it on with this shirt and come back to me so I can look you over.” He left for the fitting room with an arm full of clothes and I knew that he disliked the fittings, but today amazingly he didn’t complain. After a few minutes he came out and stood before me. “Oh my word Frodo, you look absolutely gorgeous.” I said. “So, I assume you like it then?” Frodo asked with a sheepish look on his face. “Like it Frodo, like it, I love it” I answered while I walked around him in a circle. “And now for something sharp for you to wear at the party. He walked back to the fitting room to change his clothes again. He must have thought that it was a down right miracle that I was easily pleased today. In the meantime I found a lovely brown-red waist-coat with little colourful paisley motifs and a pair of black matching trousers. The shirt we already had matched perfectly with this combination too. I also found a nice blue-green cloak with a deep hood with a nice and distinctive shoulder button closure. This would keep him nice and warm. I brought the new items of clothing over to Frodo who was waiting for me in the fitting-room and yet again I was very delighted when he had it all on. ”You’ll be the best dressed Hobbit at the party wearing this.” Frodo blushed from ear to ear after I said this, but when he saw that I was happy with his new wardrobe, he thanked me for the well meant compliment. Even he was content with his new clothes. “And now we’ve got almost everything you need. ”I said when we were standing outside the shop. “Almost everything Lassie, I thought we had everything?” Frodo answered curiously. “There’s something important still missing here in that bundle you’re carrying under your arm and that something is more self-confidence, unfortunately you can’t buy that in any shop in Middle-Earth or anywhere else in The Shire.” Frodo didn’t say anything, but just smiled at me. He knew that I was right. After we picked up a few things at the market, we rode back to Bag End where mr. Bilbo was waiting for us with the good news after reading Gandalf’s letter writing that he was on his way to Hobbiton with the fireworks for the party. “He could arrive here today or otherwise somewhere tomorrow.” Mr. Bilbo said. It was always a joyous event for everyone when Gandalf made his presence here. For mr. Bilbo and I, this meant that we had to inform him about Frodo’s well-being. The only thing we could report on Frodo was his growing curiosity about life outside The Shire and his interest concerning yours truly…. TO BE CONTINUED……

At midnight Frodo finished writing the last invitation

Main Page

-Alone Amongst Many- by Frances Barratt

-Moving Home- by Frances Barratt

Frodo riding to the Town Centre

-Burying The Past- by Frances Barratt

-A Fork In The Road- by Frances Barratt

-Transition- by Frances Barratt

-Forever Friends- by Frances Barratt

Page 2>>