(no subject)

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Title: A Tookish Tradition
Author: mews1945
Disclaimer: fanfiction. Not for profit
Rating: G
Characters: Bilbo, Frodo, Sam
AN: I wrote this for shirebound a little while back, and think it makes a nice little Halloween story. I did add just a bit to it for this post.

A Tookish Tradition

The Gaffer had brought in a large, perfect pumpkin and placed it on the table for Bilbo to use in his famous harvest festival pie, and Bilbo, with Frodo and Samwise as his audience, was ready to bake. The two boys sat on the bench behind the table, swinging their feet, elbows propped on the table, and watched him as he mixed and rolled out the pie dough.

He placed the pastry carefully in a pie tin, pricked it with the tines of a fork, and placed it into the oven to bake a bit. The filling was next, a mixture of mashed pumpkin, spices, and honey with a generous dollop of cream and two beaten eggs for richness. By the time he had that done, the crust was ready, and he took it from the oven and let it sit on the counter to cool a bit before filling it. The pastry looked perfect, light and flaky and just faintly golden. Bilbo smiled, pleased. He was justly proud of his pastry.

"Now, lads," he said. "Lets see if we can't do something with this pumpkin shell."

He had cut off the top of the pumpkin and hollowed it out with a large spoon, leaving the shell intact. Now, with a sharp knife, he cut out triangles from the shell, creating openings to stand for eyes and nose and a mouth, then used the spoon again to dig out a little hole inside the bottom of the shell to hold a small candle.

When he had placed the candle inside and lit it with a taper from the fireplace, then set the carved pumpkin on the mantel, it made an eerie lantern, a face with fiery features. The lads gasped with delight, and Bilbo grinned at them.

"A harvest lantern," he said. "Not something they do in Buckland or Hobbiton. This is a Tookish tradition. Do you like it, my boys?"

"Bilbo, it's wonderful!" Frodo whispered.

Bilbo went back to the counter to fill the pie shell and place it carefully into the oven to bake.

"Just wait until you taste the pie," he said, and he seated himself in his chair by the fire, the two lads coming at once to sit at his feet. "Now, shall I tell you more of the tale of my Adventure whilst we wait for it to bake?"

"Please do, Bilbo!" "Yes, please, Mr. Bilbo!"

They huddled closer, gazing into the fire, as Bilbo spun a web of magic from words and took them back with him to days of adventuring, long ago and far away.

End

Comments

[cpsings4him.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love this scene! It makes me want to go home and bake a pumpkin pie from scratch!

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie. Oooh, yes, pumpkin pie. One of my favorite things about autumn.

[shirebound]

They huddled closer, gazing into the fire, as Bilbo spun a web of magic from words and took them back with him to days of adventuring, long ago and far away.

Ohhhh, I just love this imagery.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Janet. That's the paragraph I added to it, before I posted it here. It made a nice ending to the little tale. *hugs*

[surgicalsteel.livejournal.com]

Oh - I love this. Warm and cozy.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I want to write something a bit more in keeping with the season, but I'm not sure if I'll have time. Anyway, warm and cozy is really my style.

[surgicalsteel.livejournal.com]

I'd just picked a favorite ghost story from childhood and tweaked and had Serinde tell it - that's how I got started. The last little bit on my creepy story it was almost as if I was compelled to add it on, and I have no idea where it came from.

But warm and cozy's good, too. Esp on a blustery day. *hugs*

[lbilover.livejournal.com]

Lovely, Mews, so cozy and comforting, and your Bilbo is such a dear :)

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Thank you, honey. I love Bilbo so much, especially when he's taking care of our lovely lads.

[ink-gypsy.livejournal.com]

What a charming vignette. I love the idea of Frodo and Sam huddled together, not master and servant, but both just boys, enthralled by Bilbo's tradition. My visits to your Shire are always such a treat.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, sweetheart. I do love the two of them being young and good friends at Bag End with Bilbo. Perhaps it's not strictly canon, but it is in my version of the Shire.

[ink-gypsy.livejournal.com]

That's how I like them, too. If I ever do try seriously writing Frodo and Sam, I doubt it will be canon. I much prefer them closer in age, so I'm sure I'll be side-stepping canon, too. I've only dipped a toe into FPS so far, but I hope I'll become a little braver.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

I think you'll really enjoy it, once you give it a try.

[ink-gypsy.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I will, too. I just find it incredibly intimidating to try to do justice to characters beloved by so many people. In both of my FPS stories, there has been little interaction between characters.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

Mmmm...what a lovely scene! It makes me feel all cozy!

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Can't think of a cozier place than the kitchen at Bag End, with a pie in the oven, and Bilbo telling tales to the lads. Thank you, honey.

[estelanui.livejournal.com]

I watched Bilbo's cooking skill and I shared the lads' wonder for the harvest lantern. Now, with watery mouth, I'm listening tales, waiting for the pie.
Lovely!

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

I love cozy kitchen scenes with Bilbo and the lads. It always makes me feel good.

[aprilkat.livejournal.com]

Thanks for a cozy story on a wet and gloomy day! *hugs*

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Keep warm and dry, dear. Cozy is the watchword on a day like this. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[keye.livejournal.com]

This paints such a lovely picture. ♥

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Keye. It's such a pleasure to write something cozy for Halloween.

[althea-lady.livejournal.com]

This one feels so good. It's always a treat to drop in on happy times at Bag End and experience relaxed and homey scenes with Bilbo and his two boys. I can smell the baking pie and see the flickering pumpkin lantern. Hooray for Tookish traditions.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

thank you so much. I love that image too.

[i-o-r-h-a-e-l.livejournal.com]

I'd love to enjoy the story and the pie too!

:D

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Yes indeed. Pumpkin pie is so good, especially in the fall.

[honeyandvinegar.livejournal.com]

I didn't check your fic-rec from yesterday 'til now, and TOTALLY missed this gem. I can so see this; hobbits sitting in a firelit kitchen with warm spiced air and crisp butter crusts, making pumpkin lanterns. Oh, it's a delight!

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Thank you, darling. I love that image so.