A Rascal's Trick: Chapter 1 - Three Grand Dinners

Saelo checked his backpack and little sacks that Nubby would carry for the third time to see if everything essential was packed. It was his routine every time he went somewhere far. He would rather have more things to do before the journey instead of regretting and nagging till the end of it. Apparently, everything was ready, and the sun already had started to go down slowly. He grabbed his daggers and two little knives, hopped on Nubby’s back and started to ride slowly towards Waymeet.
It was a warm and quite lovely July afternoon. Grasshoppers were sounding like they were debating over something, and it did seem like something serious, as even birds had stopped singing and were listening them. The sun was still quite warm, although it had been a few hours since the noon. The scents of lilacs and sweet peas were heavy on the air. In short, there was nothing unusual than other days in the Shire, except a lot of Hobbits walking or riding to Waymeet for a big journey.
A tune played with flute touched Saelo’s ears and a big smile appeared on his face. There was only one person who could play flute with this enthusiasm in all Farthings and it was his friend Piper. Saelo nudged Nubby softly. He had missed his friend.
“Good evening, Piper!” he yelled from the top of a small hill. After a few seconds later, he already was at the meeting spot and talking with Piper while both of them grinning wide. There were too much to talk, and meantime they did not even realize how many hobbits had already gathered around them, although they had murmured greetings more than dozen times. Then Saelo raised his head and saw Diaspore approaching, and lost all his word followed by a loud gulping down. She would still cause him to sweet like the first day of their relationship.
As (seemingly) the last hobbit joined the crowd, Saelo climbed on a barrel nearby. Expectedly, everyone started to chant “Speech! Speech!” and of course, there was going to be a speech. It also was a very short and clear one, exactly the type everyone would prefer. He started by thanking everyone for joining, as the did not expect this many hobbits being eager to visit lands faraway. Then mentioned about things that were expected to happen on the way, but did not touch most of the annoying or perilous stuff to avoid disheartening them. After the speech a loud “hooray!” rose to the sky. Their favourite part was the promise of three dinners. They set on the road afterwards.
First a few hours of the walk were quite calm, except a few (especially Nimelia) nagging about being hungry. They visited Cotton’s farm on the way, agreeing to carry a letter in return of a few eggs. It helped to calm hobbits a little bit, but they did not look like stopping. When it got to the worst point, they reached Stock. Everyone rushed to an extremely large table at the garden of The Golden Perch, and Saelo went inside to talk to the innkeeper. In a few minutes there was no place on the table to put a finger on. Everyone looked satisfied finally. Even a drunkard found his way to the table, but no one minded it, particularly because they would rather focus on their meals.
After the feast the mood of the group was at the top again, and Saelo decided to use it as much as possible. Thus, they walked all the way from The Perch till the far edge of Buckland without stopping (except to roll eyes at another incident of a cow climbing on a roof). There was a feasting area, and apparently it was the second dinner Saelo had promised. Once again everyone settled down, eating, drinking and resting their feet. The morale of the of the group was quite high again, till Saelo started another speech. He looked uneasy and it spread to the group.
“So far, our walk was peaceful and easy,” he started to talk. “and I hope you all enjoyed it! But here, we will go through things not many are willing to!” A few people looked confused; the sharpest ones gasped as they understood where it was going. “We will be going through the Old Forest to cut our way short. We can’t afford going the long way, unless you want to sleep totally outside.” A dead silence followed it. People had heard a lot of stories about the Old Forest. Diaspore was the one who joined Saelo first. He took her hand and smiles. Diaspore smiled back. Saelo turned back to the crowd. “But, if you join me, I promise you our last, but most glorious dinner today!” It looked like moving people, as he already had kept his promise twice, and maybe there really was a glorious dinner somewhere there. Slowly and one by one they joined him. Except Piper, as he revealed that his intention was to walk till Buckland, and instead of leaving his mistress behind, he would walk home from there. They said goodbyes and split. Saelo walked towards the forest and everyone followed him.
First part of their journey was not even bad as much as the most positive of them expected. It was dark and slightly foggy, but they had torches, and Saelo seemed knowing where he was going. Only inconvenience was him taking a sudden turn to right, walking for a few minutes to see the road blocked. Saelo nagged something about a secret pass, but apparently it was closed. They returned to the road with Diaspore’s help. Nothing else happened till they made their way to Gillemin Brandybuck’s camp. They rested a little there, and nibbled on some sandwiches.
If you asked from anyone in the group, they would say crossing a narrow river was the worst part of the journey. A lot of nagging, huffing, cursing to Saelo’s name happened, but at the end everyone managed to make it to the other side. Except Nimelia, who was reluctant and trying to find another way. But it was Lina’s crossing with three huge leaps getting her moved, because it was a matter of honour at this point. She walked back, ran and ran, then took two huge leaps towards rocks in the middle of the river, and another one to the other side. “Dang!” she yelled as she landed, because her ankles got wet with water. Saelo just rolled his eyes. They started to walk again.
A steep slope was another moment Hobbits would be raging, but luckily Diaspore had run in advance, and brough new about a house at the end of the climb. It encouraged everyone to walk a little more. Everyone was relieved when they saw the house as well, but the best part was seeing their confusion for the host of this household. Tom Bombadil was singing and dancing around hobbits, cheering them up. There was a laughter on everyone’s face when they entered the house.
It was a huge wooden cabin, and the mistress, Goldenberry, was standing in the middle of the hall, welcoming them. She was like a dew on leaves right before the morning hour, and a sunbeam in a summer noon at the same time. So elegant, beautiful, but also strong and steady. Everyone watched her with open mouths while she guided them to the table.
No one remembered the details of the meal, except it really being glorious. Otherwise, everyone was so awe-inspired and feeling like in a tale. At some point Anerra gave up on eating, and instead curled up in a corner and started to watch Goldenberry. Everyone else finished their meals, thanked to the hosts and was guided to beds. Diaspore curled up by the fireplace, and fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow. Saelo attached a few flowers he picked from Goldenberry’s (and with her allowance!) garden to Diaspore’s hair, and went out to check on a few things. After a few minutes, the hall was full of noises hobbits were making in their dreams, and the soft whisper of Goldenberry telling tales for Anerra.