7th Astron 1430 SR

       "Hello Nibs. How are you this morning? Recovered from the party? Here, let me help you with those churns."

       Nibs blinked. He wanted to pinch himself. The dark-haired Man now lifting the churns from the cart and greeting him like a friend was the High King of Arnor and Gondor. The hobbit shook his head bemusedly and followed Aragorn up the path. What was he supposed to call this Man now? Your Majesty? My lord? And his brother-in-law cheerfully addressed him as Strider!

       "Good morning, my lord. I suppose I'm used to being up early, parties or no."

       "I always wake early - too many years of sleeping under hedges or in strange and sinister places."

       Aragorn filled the milk jugs and then placed the other churns in the cold room and brought out the empty ones. "I've just made some tea." He gestured to the bench and Nibs sat down. Kings who knew how to make tea, wash up, cook and sew.....! Aragorn saw his expression and chuckled. "As you can see, I'm well-trained. And Rose has certainly sharpened my kitchen skills in the past week."

       "My sister certainly has a way with her. I always said it would be a very brave or foolish hobbit who tried to argue with her, and now I see that even kings obey her."

       Aragorn poured two mugs of tea and sat down. "I think I feel as Frodo does - Rose is the sister I never had. She has a gentle maternal side which reminds me of my mother, but there is such strength in her. It would put some Men to shame."

       Nibs agreed, and helped himself to a biscuit. "She never wavered, all the time Sam was gone. She always said 'I don't know where Sam is but I know he and Mister Frodo will be back and everything will be alright.' She knew, the day the Ring went into the fire. It had been so dark in the east, and we all wondered what was about to happen. It felt like it does before a storm, only much worse. Then the sky cleared and Rose started singing, and she said Sam was coming home."

       "A remarkable person, our Rose. Such faith and, it seems, some foreknowledge. If only my mother could have borne to wait a little longer.........." The King's voice tailed off on a note of regret and, without thinking, Nibs rested his hand over the Man's much larger one in unspoken sympathy.

       "I'm sure she is very proud of you, my lord, and she'll watch over you. It must be harder sometimes for those who watch and wait."

       Aragorn smiled, and Nibs realised that he would have followed this Man anywhere. "Staying for breakfast? Frodo and Sam will be back from the stables soon and Rose is dressing the little ones."

       Nibs stayed for breakfast, and before leaving he delivered a message from his mother, to say the Cottons would be proud if everyone from Bag End would come to the farm for dinner. Tables would be set up in the meadow and Lily Cotton was planning to serve her famous cottage pie.

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       The menfolk arrived in Bywater for a meeting with the Thain, the Master and various Shire worthies and heads of families. Aragorn wished to discuss the edict forbidding Men to enter the Shire without written consent from its rulers, which was due to be ratified, and there were various other things to talk about. He also wanted to thank the hobbits for their generosity to the starving people of Angmar.

       Along the way hobbits had called out cheerful greetings to the King and his fellows. They were respectful but still with a warm friendliness which knowledge of the Lord Thorongil's true identity had not diminished. Several small children handed him posies of flowers and some of the farmers' wives shyly presented him with pots of jam or pickle.

       "They never feed a body right in foreign parts! Needs some good Shire provender, he does!"

       The Elves sniggered. "They think you're much too thin, Estel," said Elladan.

       "Thin? I'll need new clothes and new armour when I reach Gondor! I think I need to walk across Rohan to trim off all the extra weight I've acquired in the last week."

       Tarondor and his brother laughed. "I'm hoping to taste hobbit cooking when the new Shirriff and Ranger post is finished. It will be a good excuse to call in."

       Aragorn turned to Frodo. "I've been meaning to ask you a question. Now that Lotho Sackville-Baggins is no more, and Ted Sandyman is living in Bree, who is the most unpleasant hobbit in the Shire?"

       "Murdo Bracegirdle," said Sam and Frodo in unison, without hesitation.

       "I don't remember meeting him at the party."

       "You didn't. He is not allowed to leave the South Farthing. Murdo - and his almost equally horrible brother Marco - were the most guilty because they conspired with Lotho to put a stranglehold on farms and businesses. Murdo wrote most of the crooked contracts because he was Lotho's lawyer, and as crafty as two dozen Wormtongues. He also creamed off a good deal for himself because he wasn't above deceiving Lotho either. He is no longer allowed to practice law and has to do menial work, which he hates. He hates us because we put an end to all his schemes."

       "The best of the bunch is Jago, their cousin," Merry explained. "You met him at the party. His mother is a Boffin and he doesn't have the Bracegirdle nature."

       "Jago's father feels he's too old to be family head so Jago has taken over. He won't take any nonsense from Murdo and Marco either."

       Merry and Pip led the way to a shady spot under the trees in the square, where tables and benches were set. A very large chair was placed at the head of the tables and Paladin and Saradoc bowed as they conducted Aragorn to his place. Other family heads were there, including Farmer Cotton, Tully Noakes, Olo Proudfoot, Fredegar Bolger, Minto Hornblower, Will Whitfoot, Lando Tunnelly, Milo Burrows and Gordo Boffin, who was Frodo's lawyer, and Sam's too.

       Minto Hornblower placed two large jars of pipeweed on the table and everyone took their seats.

       "My friends, this is a joy to be able to discuss these matters face to face. When I drew up this edict about Men not being allowed in the Shire - and I included myself in that ban - I believed that you truly wished no Men to ever enter the Shire. However, Thain Paladin tells me that you wish to have the option to allow Men to enter at your discretion."

       "You will surely visit us again, my lord King?"

       "And King Eomer may wish to see Captain Meriadoc."

       "And what if Captain Beregond and his son want to visit Captain Peregrin?"

       "Or the Lord Steward and his brother need some good hobbit fare?"

       Aragorn laughingly held up his hands. "I see I am well and truly bested. It shall be as you desire - Men may enter but only if the Thain, the Master and the Mayor consent."

       Tarondor placed the newly worded scroll before him, a bottle of red ink was opened and Aragorn signed his name. Paladin, Saradoc, Sam and Frodo penned their signatures. Both Stewards did likewise, followed by the family heads. Three copies were signed: one copy, in red ink, went to the hobbits and would be stored at Michel Delving in the Council Hole, one would go into the care of the Steward of Arnor and the third was returned to Faramir's keeping to be deposited in the Citadel in Minas Anor.

       "Excellent! As far as other laws in the Shire, you may make your own. Any law decided by the Thain, Master and Mayor, in consultation with the heads of families, will be ratified automatically. I trust your judgement."

       "Thank you, my lord Elessar. If there is anything we are doubtful about we will ask the Lord Steward for advice. We are still learning how to deal with the outside world and all this diplomacy takes some getting used to," said Paladin

       Saradoc laughed. "We leave diplomacy to the smooth-talking Tooks. The Brandybucks call a spade a bloody shovel most of the time!"

       Frodo snorted in disbelief. "Pip is hardly diplomatic! In fact at one time he could cause an argument just trotting across the market square in Michel Delving. Too honest to be a diplomat - he once heard Mrs Proudfoot described as 'two-faced' so he walked up to her, looked her over very carefully and then shouted back to Merry 'She can't be two-faced. She wouldn't use this one if she was!'"

       Everyone howled with laughter at this, while Pip grinned and bowed.

       Various changes were discussed and some were agreed while others were delayed for a while, to give the Shire hobbits more time to think about the outer world. Aragorn was concerned that the hobbits might be exploited by wealthy merchants, particularly for wool, but the hobbits proved to be tough and canny negotiators. Wool for Harad and other countries outside Gondor would pass through the hands of the merchants in Minas Anor but the sheep farmers of the Shire had formed themselves into a Guild and were now allied to the Guilds of the Two Kingdoms.

       "If anyone should profit by the sale of this wool it should be us, I reckon," said Tully Noakes. "We've done all the hard work, looked after the animals, seen to the shearing, and like as not, our lasses have spun the wool, dyed it and woven it into cloth. We deserve to be paid a proper rate."

       "I agree, and I am delighted that you have become a Guild. The Merchants Guild cannot sell the wool for exorbitant prices without passing the money back to you." Aragorn paused as the innkeepers arrived with wine and ale.

       "Don't know about exorbitant, my lord. All we ask is a fair price. We have pretty much all we need. We barter most of our own goods within the Shire after all, but it would be nice to have funds to fall back on for emergencies. I know the Thain and Master and Mister Frodo see us right but they shouldn't have to bear all the costs for things." Lando Tunnelly took a long pull of his ale and beamed.

       "If only all my dealings were with hobbits," the King murmured. "Not everyone is so reasonable. Now tell me about the Shire schools." He sipped a cup of New Winyards and looked at the contents with appreciation. "And I will place an order now, if I may, for some of this year's pressing. Magnificent wine! The people of Gondor and Harad will be clamouring for it."

       Will Whitfoot chuckled. "Mister Frodo has been going on about schools in the Shire for years, but since his journey he is even more anxious for us to learn more of the outside world."

       Frodo was bouncing in his seat. "The first one is being built nearby - we'll show you afterwards. The children seem eager to begin, Garnet Tunnelly has agreed to teach simple healing, I shall teach poetry and history and we've even persuaded Gimli and Legolas to call in occasionally and teach them metalwork and archery."

       "It sounds as though you have everything planned. Sam said something about gardening."

       "Oh, naturally Sam will teach them about growing flowers and vegetables. He's the expert. There will be flowers surrounding the building and a vegetable patch for the children to tend."

       "My cousins can hardly wait for the new Shirriff and Ranger post to be finished. Undoubtedly the thought of all that appetising food will entice them to the Bridge regularly."

       Saradoc and Gimli spread the plans on the table for all to see. "There's a large kitchen with pantries and an ice cellar on the ground floor, plus bathing rooms and privvies, and the sleeping quarters and an office for hobbits, and upstairs we have the bedrooms and an office for Men. There are stables for both horses and ponies, a hayloft, and grazing land alongside the river. It provides a good view of the road and can be fortified if necessary."

       "I see my cousins are extremely interested in the kitchens," said Aragorn, grinning wickedly at Tarondor and Halboron.

       "Of course they are," said Will. "We Shire-folk enjoy cooking for our friends and I've no doubt we'll be delighted to cook for any Ranger who shows his face at the Bridge."

       "I won't be able to keep away," said Halboron, and everyone laughed.

       Aragorn looked around and spoke. "I have one more thing to say. Thank you to you all for your generosity to the people of Angmar. Without you they would have starved in their hundreds, but the grain and vegetables you sent helped to tide them over a sharp winter, and then they overthrew their self-serving leaders and placed themselves under the protection of the Reunited Kingdom. Your expertise gave them back their farming skills and they are almost able to be fully self-supporting. After this year's harvest they should be able to cope."

       "We could hardly see women and little 'uns starving when we had more grain than we could use. I gather they're being good to their cats again and have dropped all that superstitious nonsense?" Tully Noakes re-filled his pipe.

       "They wouldn't dare be otherwise since Isumbrand gave them a scolding," Pip chortled.

       "Now my friends, the only task left for me to do is to announce that tomorrow will be a half-holiday and feasts have been arranged in all four farthings, the Marish and Buckland."

        Cheers erupted all over the market-place and rebounded from the walls of the shops as every hobbit present gave vent to his or her true feelings.

                                                                          ************

       Lunch in Bywater was followed by more shopping, and the hobbits were left relecting on the contrast between Sharkey's 'gatherers and sharers' and the King and his fellows, who spent their coin freely and insisted on paying the proper price for everything.

       Aragorn found some beautiful little necklaces for his daughters and a lovely silver bracelet with a large pendant heart-shaped garnet for Arwen. A jewelled cloak-clasp for Eldarion completed his purchases, although all the Men went into a huddle and then bought a magnificent bolt of woollen velvet in a deep lavender, as a gift for Rose. The shopkeepers and stall-holders of Hobbiton and Bywater had earned more in one afternoon then they sometimes took in a week.

       The walk to the Cotton's farm took little time and soon they were settled in the meadow, drinking mulled ale and playing with the children while they waited for the cottage pie. Rose and the children were waiting for them and took them on a tour. They inspected the farm and met Patches the pig and her daughter Holly, born on First Yule. Patches was a calm old thing and cared not a jot who was scratching her back. Aragorn amazed his cousins, and young Bergil by milking a cow and Farmer Cotton laughingly offered him a job as cowman, should he ever tire of kingship.

       The cottage pie was every bit as good as they expected and they ate until there was nothing left and every corner was well and truly full.

       "I wish everyone was as easy to deal with as hobbits. No squabbling over silly clauses, no stalking off in affronted silence at some imagined insult......... Just common sense and a desire to sort things out before the next mealtime. I can see I shall have to knock some sense into some of the diplomats who appear before me."

       "Just tell them there are more important things to attend to - like dinner," said Pip cheerily, and Aragorn promised he would.