Created By

rosiegirl24

Rate this Story

Embed

Chapter Three………………VOICES IN THE NIGHT

            Danny awoke to the low murmur of voices outside his door.

The room was still dark, and no sign of light was seen from outside his window. It was very deep into the night. Who were the visitors?

He could easily distinguish his father’s voice, but the other two sounded unfamiliar to him.

He fidgeted in his bed, now restless. His curiosity got the better of him; he tossed off the covers and crept silently to the door. He pressed his ear against the well-worn wood, and listened.

                “…too late. The harvest has just started! I’ll need him here. He doesn’t need to come along on some fool trip,”

That was his father’s voice, and the tone he was using was one that Danny knew all too well.

                “But he’s a Brandybuck!” came one of the unfamiliar voices. “This sort of stuff comes naturally to him. Adventure is in his blood, like it or not, Phil,”

                “Adventure blood?” retorted his father. “Why, I’ve never heard such a load of hogwash in my life! He doesn’t have adventure blood – why don’t you sidle on down to Hobbiton? Those thick-headed Bagginses seem to have a decent amount of your adventure blood.”

Danny winced, hearing the sneer in his father’s voice. However, the strange voice merely chuckled.

                “That might just be your opinion, Phil. Why don’t you let me see the lad and let him answer for himself? I’m sure he is very capable,” said the voice. It sounded very calm and reasonable in contrast to the angry edge that his father’s voice was taking.

Danny suddenly had the bad feeling that they were talking about him. His fears were confirmed when there was a soft knock on his door. He reacted too slowly, and seconds later, his door swung open, sending him sprawling on the carpet.

                Light from the hallway flooded his dark room, and he squinted against the sudden light. Bewilderment was clear on his face.

His father sighed.

                “Of course, you’d already be listening in on the conversation,” he said. “Get up, Danny,”

Danny scrambled to his feet, and looked at the strangers. They were both fairly tall for hobbits, but hobbits were they. His father stood, looking furtive and sullen, beside them.

                “You gentlehobbits can introduce yourselves, I assume?”

                “Yes sir,” replied the stranger. Danny felt a jolt of recognition; he had met these hobbits before…He just couldn’t remember who they were. He racked his brains, but to no prevail.

                “I am Merry Brandybuck,” said the stranger, a smile playing on his lips. “I believe we met when you were very young, master Danny, so you probably don’t remember me too well. Your mother and I were friends as children,”

                “Oh,” Danny couldn’t think of much else to say.

                “This here,” Merry gave his friend a nudge. “Is Peregrin Took, who, unfortunately, had a difficult time getting out of bed to visit you,”

Pippin yawned hugely in response.

                “Hullo,” he muttered. “Sorry – ‘m just really tired, ‘s’all,”

Phil made a small sound of disgust. Pippin eyed him apprehensively, and took a step toward Merry.

                “So, ummmmmm….” Danny opened and shut his mouth, looking at them blankly.

Merry laughed.

                “You’re wondering what this all has to do with you, eh?” he grinned. “I was getting to that. Best get the formalities out of the way first though,”

                “Right,” Pippin took over. “We’re gathering a muster of fine young hobbits to join us on a nice little get-together trip at Rivendell. We-e-e-e-e-e-e…” he yawned again. “We wanted to know whether you wanted to come or not,”

Questions exploded in Danny’s head like fireworks. The first to pop out of his mouth was,

                “Who’s all coming?”

Pippin shrugged.

                “So far, we have Sam, Elanor, and Frodo Gamgee,” answered Merry, counting on his fingers. “The Burrowses twins - Harry and Holger, and Wilson Sandyman…”

Danny stifled a groan. Wilson was Ted Sandyman’s son, and the prince of populars among the young hobbits. Girls adored him, boys admired him. Danny loathed him. He was very, very self confident, and gave little heed to those below him – Danny included. He was taller than Danny, with a mop of bright blonde hair, a gleaming smile, and a handsome build. Even though he acted congenial, he was every bit as stingy as his old father. Not only that, but he had his own little gang to back him up. Either that, or his large blue eyes would sucker anyone up to believing him…

                “…young Tom Gamwich, Fred Proudfoot, old Fatty Bolger, Theo Underhill, Pippin and myself,” concluded Merry. “And yourself, of course – if you want to come,”

Danny felt slightly stunned. Theo – shy, fat Theo, of all people! Was going? And that snooty Wilson Sandyman…He wasn’t going to let some conceited prettyhobbit best him!

                “I’m coming, sir!” declared Danny. He almost quailed under the fierce gaze his father gave him.

                “Oh no you are NOT,” growled Phil. “Danny, I need you to help with harvest this year!”
                “But dad…Just this once…?”

                “No!”

Pippin and Merry looked nervously between them.

                “May I interject?” asked Pippin meekly.

                “No. Shut up,” snapped Phil. Danny felt a wave of resentment toward his father. Pippin looked indignant.

                “Listen, I believe it is the boy’s choice in the manner…”

                “Shut UP, Took,” interrupted Phil. “It’s no business of yours as to whether my son joins some ridiculous trip to…to Elf Land, or what ever it is, or if he stays to help his family with harvest, which HE WILL BE DOING,” he cast a warning glance at Danny, who swallowed.

Merry stood there quietly.

                “Well, what do you want to do, Danny?” he asked again. “Your father is right – it’s not our business to intrude on family affairs,”

                “But we have no family affairs!” said Danny, a bit heatedly. “We hardly even have a harvest – we only grow a bit of corn, and that’s not much to take care of! That’s not what I consider to be a family affair… Unless you’re counting the fact that my father seems to be the indisputable controller over my life!”

                “That’s enough, young man…” said Phil, his voice low and angry. Splotches of red appeared on his cheeks, and a muscle twitched in his jaw. “I do not dictate over your life, Danny. I do what I believe to be correct sometimes, and you may not always like it,”

                “I usually never like it,” muttered Danny. “And you don’t so it sometimes, you do it always. It’s like I’m not good enough for you, or something,”

                “That’s ENOUGH, Danny,” growled Phil.

                “Dad, I want to go! Theo’s going! Why can’t I? I’m hardly any help during the harvest, you know that!”

Phil fell silent, his expression brooding. Pippin shifted uneasily, and Merry looked embarrassed.

                “Fine!” Phil burst out finally. “Fine, then. Go! I don’t care what you do! Leave your family to toil in the field while you run off on some blasted fantasy!” His voice trembled with barely suppressed fury.

                Danny immediately felt guilty, but his anger towards his officious and boorish father made up his mind for him. His face felt hot.

                “I’m going, dad,” he said, almost apologetically. “I’ll go with them. Maybe Peter won’t complain as much as I do,”

Phil seemed to deflate. The tension in the room lessened, but Danny could still sense his father’s dissent. There was an awkward silence, and then…

                “Right!” Merry rubbed his hands together. “Danny, you won’t need much, perhaps a change of clothing and a jacket. We plan to leave tomorrow, and most of our volunteers are already at the Halls. You won’t mind leaving tonight, will you?”

                “No,” Danny looked quickly over at his father. Phil said nothing.

                “Bye dad,” said Danny quietly, trying to sound as cheerful as he could.

                “Goodbye,” said Phil stiffly. He grabbed him in a brief, one-armed hug, and tousled his sandy hair. “Be good,”

                Danny nabbed his coat off a hanger, and joined Merry and Pippin, who were waiting in the hallway. They thanked Phil, and assured him that Danny would be safe. They gave words of parting, and exited the hobbit-hole. Danny glanced at his father, standing stonily in the threshold. He managed a weak smile, and waved. Danny waved back. Then he turned, and followed Merry and Pippin into the night.