AUTHOR: Dreamflower
RATING: G
SUMMARY: A lot of things happened in 1427.
DISCLAIMER: Middle-earth and all its peoples belong to the Tolkien Estate. I own none of them. Some of them, however, seem to own me.

THE GREAT CONVOCATION OF 1427

In the large pavilion set up in the middle of the Michel Delving fairgrounds, the Heads of the families of the Shire, both the Great and Lesser Families, had assembled. The pavilion was crowded and there was the rustle of low conversation, as the various hobbits found their seats. In the front row, the Heads of the chief families were already seated, and in a chair facing all the rest, Wil Whitfoot glanced at his pocket-watch.

It was nearly one-thirty. Everyone should have finished luncheon by now and made their way to the meeting, and a glance at the room showed him the seats were nearly filled. They would start soon. There were three items of business before them, and one of those was to name his successor. After six terms--forty-two mostly good years (and he could scarcely count 1419 as a normal year) he was ready to give it up, and pass it on to one who most assuredly deserved the office, and would fill it well.

He closed the pocket-watch with a click, and stood up. Almost as soon as he did, the last few standing took their seats, and faces were turned attentively in his direction.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlehobbits. Welcome to the Hobbit-moot of 1427. While the main order of business is the selection of the new Mayor, there are a couple of other items we have to consider. I would like us to be able to finish the business today, by teatime, if possible; if not we will assemble again tomorrow morning."

He paused for a moment, and caught the attentive gazes of Thain Paladin, and of the Master of Buckland, Saradoc Brandybuck.

"We will now call on the Heads of the families: Took--"

Paladin stood. "I speak for the Tooks," he replied, according to the formula, and then sat down once more.

"Brandybuck--"

Saradoc rose: "I speak for the Brandybucks."

"Baggins--"

With a bit of assistance from his son-in-law, Fredegar Bolger, old Ponto stood. "I speak for the Bagginses." His face was sorrowful--there were scarcely any Bagginses *left* to speak for.

"Bolger--"

Fredegar himself stood. "On behalf of my father Odovocar, I speak for the Bolgers." Odovocar had suffered a severe case of gout, and had appointed Fredegar as his representative.

One by one the names rang out, and the ritual response was given.

"Boffin--"

A hobbit matron, with a dignified mien, rose. "I speak for the Boffins." As she took her seat, she took out a pocket-handkerchief and dabbed her eyes. Daisy Boffin's husband Griffo had succumbed to a lung fever the previous winter, and their only son Folco had been killed during the Year of the Troubles. The next in line to her as family head was a young cousin who would not come of age for another seven years. She was the first, but not the only widow this year to head a family. There had always been one or two, but enough sons had been lost that dreadful year so that her situation was not unique--there were five other widows waiting for their family name to be called.

"Bunce--"

The call went on…

________________________________________________

On a bench near the pavilion sat three hobbits, smoking their pipes and sipping from mugs of ale. Two, a bit taller, flanked one of average height. All of them were well-dressed, though the hobbit in the middle looked a bit uncomfortable with his finery.

"Cheer up, Sam. You knew this was coming."

"Of course I did, Merry. But now it's right on me, so to speak." He took a sip of his ale and shook his head. This waiting to be called in, and told officially, was wearing.

Pippin Took on his other side, gave him an encouraging smile. "You've done a fine job as Deputy Mayor, ever since Frodo gave it up."

"I never would've been picked as a Deputy Mayor if Mr. Frodo hadn't insisted, though. They'd've never chosen a gardener…"

Merry Brandybuck shook his head. "I wouldn't be so certain of that, Sam. You had already done a good deal helping the Shire to recover from Saruman's ravages--people don't forget that!"

Sam ducked his head and blushed. "That was the Lady's gift--"

Pippin put a hand on Sam's arm. "Sam, you are too modest. The Lady Galadriel would never have given that to you in the first place if she had not thought you worthy of it! You have high honours in the world outside the Shire, and the friendship of the High King. Not to mention the fact that a more loyal and devoted friend is not to be found--" he broke off and bit his lip. He and Merry would never forget for an instant that it was to Sam they owed their cousin's life.

"What Pippin's trying to say, Samwise Gamgee, known in the Kingdoms of Men and Elves as Lord Perhael, is that you are more than qualified to be the Mayor of the Shire." Merry gave a firm and emphatic nod, as if to punctuate his sentence.

"Besides," added Pippin, "Remember what Frodo said: 'Your hands and your wits will be needed everywhere'? Didn't he say you'd be Mayor? You don't want to prove him wrong!"

"Not that you could, anyway," Merry chuckled. "He was spot on so far about your children! It won't be long until I have a namesake!"

This made all of them grin.

__________________________________________________________

In one of the rooms at The Ivystone Inn three hobbit matrons surrounded a fourth, as she gave a sudden gasp.

"Are you all right, Rose?"

"I think so, Estella! He's just very active--oof!" And Rose Gamgee put her hand protectively over her swollen belly.

Diamond pursed her lips. "Rose, I think it may be more than that." Diamond was a healer, and though she was still young, she'd delivered her share of babies.

"Perhaps I should go fetch Samwise," said the fourth hobbitess, Diamond's sister-in-law, Pearl.

"No!" Rose's exclamation was sharp. "No, I won't have him brought away now, not when they may call him at any time! Him being Mayor is too important! Besides, I'm sure this is just false pains! You know that both Frodo-lad and Rose-lass were late in coming. I'm sure this one won't be early!" For she had insisted on the journey to Michel Delving, though she was so late in her term, as the baby was not due for two more weeks.

Another spasm shook her, and Diamond looked at her dubiously. It had been her experience so far that babies delighted in doing what was *not* expected, when it came to their arrival into the world. And in spite of Rose's insistence, she didn't think these were false labour pains.

____________________________________________________

"The first item of business is the status of the family Baggins. I call on Ponto Baggins to speak."

Once more Ponto stood, and took a deep breath. "Over the years, the Baggins family has grown smaller and smaller. Now the only ones who bear the name are myself and my brother Porto, and my daughter Angelica Baggins-Bolger. As all know, the previous Head of the Baggins family left no heirs of his own name, and was forced by ill health to leave the Shire. Yet Baggins is a proud and ancient name in the Shire, and we are loathe to allow it to die out. To that end, I have come to an agreement with the Bolgers." He turned and looked at Fredegar.

Freddy stood, and looked proud. "As most of you may know my wife and I have been recently blessed with a second son. By the agreement of the rest of the family, and with my own father's blessing, on coming of age, my younger son Filibert Baggins-Bolger will drop the 'Bolger', and retain the Baggins name, in the hope of renewing that family."

There was a stir. While not completely unheard of, the last time such a thing had been done was nearly lost in the mists of time.

Ponto, who still stood, said "And as an acknowledgement of how far the family has to go to restore itself, after this Convocation is ended, I will relinquish our place on the Roll. We will take our place at the bottom of the Greater Families until the number of Bagginses once more is great enough to warrant our original position, if this is acceptable."

There were nods at this magnanimous gesture. The name was an old one, and by rights, could keep its place until there *were* no more Bagginses.

A hand was raised. It was Polo Bunce. "A question. If something should happen to Ponto and Porto before young Filibert comes of age, who will represent the family?"

"With the agreement of the Convocation," said Freddy, "I would be willing to do so. However, I would understand if you do not wish to do it that way, as it will give me more say. We could also allow his mother to represent him, if you feel that would be better."

There was a bit of discussion, and a consensus was finally reached: until young Filibert came of age, his mother Angelica would represent the family Baggins, if the occasion arose. This was a precedent, and a few moments were taken while the decisions were written down.

__________________________________________________

From their bench, Sam, Merry and Pippin could see into the pavilion.

"Freddy and old Ponto are standing up," said Pippin. "I suppose they are discussing little Bertie."

"It's a good decision," said Merry. "The Baggins name should not be lost."

Sam sighed. "Be better if there was Bagginses at Bag End."

Merry shook his head. "No, Bag End belongs to the Gamgees now--or 'Gardners' as some folks would have it."

"Maybe for Frodo-lad," Sam said, "but I was born a Gamgee, a Gamgee I'll stay, even if some calls me 'Gardner'. But there's no chance of the Gamgee name being lost now, is there?"

___________________________________________________

Estella and Diamond had Rose on the bed now, her legs propped up on pillows, as Diamond gave her slow sips of wine, in the hopes of slowing her labour.

She brushed the damp curls away from Rose's forehead. "I wish that you would give in, Rose. It's not false labour, and the baby's far enough along to not be endangered."

Rose shook her head stubbornly, and Diamond sighed and exchanged glances with the worried Estella. Diamond had commissioned Pearl to find a birthing stool. She was quite sure that this child did not want to slow down, in spite of the mother's insistence that "it wasn't time yet."

In an effort to lighten the mood, Estella, who was on the other side of the bed, holding Rose's hand chuckled. "Do you think that Frodo was right, that this will be a lad? If it isn't, Merry is going to be dreadfully disappointed."

Rose gave a weak smile. "Well, Mr. Frodo's not been wrong yet, I don't suppose he'll start now--oh!" Her smile turned to dismay.

Her water had broken.

______________________________________________

"The next item of business is from our King. I will ask Thain Paladin to tell us about it."

Paladin reached beneath his seat, and drew out a large leather document case. Standing, he took its contents out.

"As all of you know, the King said that after seven years, he would decide whether or not to make the Edict, banning Men from the Shire, a permanent one or not. Well, I have spoken to most of you before the Convocation, and I think that it has been general knowledge what that decision is: the Edict is working as it is, and since it is working we see no need to change it; Men seldom have need to be in the Shire, and when they do, then the Mayor, the Master of Buckland and I must agree to the exception. Here, then, is the official decree:

"From Elessar Telcontar, Aragorn son of Arathorn, the High King of Gondor and Arnor, Lord and Captain of the West,

Unto the Worthies of the Shire, Thain Paladin Took, Master Saradoc Brandybuck, Mayor Wil Whitfoot, and all of the Heads of the Families of the Four Farthings and Buckland:

We, Elessar Telcontar, High King of Gondor and Arnor, are pleased to Proclaim Our Land of the Shire a Free State, under the Protection of the Kingdom of Arnor, to belong to the Hobbits of the Shire so long as the Heirs of Our Body shall Occupy the Thrones of the Two Kingdoms.

May all know these words: We shall Protect the Shire from all Enemies Without. Howsoever, all that takes place Within shall be the Affair of the Leaders of the Shire without recourse to Arnor. And no Lands belonging to the Shire shall ever be ceded to the Race of Man.

Further, no Man shall enter the Shire without the express permission of the Thain, the Master of Buckland and the Mayor of the Shire. Any Man who violates these Edicts shall be returned to the Representatives of the King, the Rangers of Arnor, and taken before the Steward of Arnor for judgement.

The penalties for such violations will be dependent upon the circumstances, and the Steward will be advised in his judgement by the Thain, the Master and the Mayor.

Thus it is done, by Our Hand and Seal:

Elessar Telcontar, High King of Gondor and Arnor."

There were nods of satisfaction all around as he finished reading. There would be no more times like the Year of Troubles again.

________________________________________________________

"Well," said Pippin, "what do you think about the Edict?" He gave Sam a searching look.

Sam sighed. "I don't know; I had hopes that Strider might change his mind right up to last year, when that merchant tried his tricks in the Southfarthing."

"I know," Merry sighed. "I had nearly talked Da into supporting doing away with the Ban, and I know Uncle Paladin was almost convinced. But that set things back."

"It's just as well Dago Bracegridle was gone. Old Uffo was not about to fall for any of the Man's sly offers. He brought the letters straight to Father," Pippin said. "But it certainly undid all our efforts. I can't say how sorry I am that I'll never be able to host Strider at the Great Smials."

All three of them sighed. Visits South were all very well, but it would have been nice to play host for a change. Still, the new capital at Annúminas was coming along nicely. Perhaps it would not be long until they could at least visit their friends here in the North, if not in the Shire.

Just then, a young hobbit lad came rushing up. "Beg pardon, sirs!"

They recognized him as one of the serving lads up at the inn. "What is it, lad?" asked Sam.

"Mistress Estella, she told me to come fetch Captain Merry!" He gulped at the three looks of alarm that greeted him. "No, no sirs! It's not bad news, but she says she needs to see him for a bit!"

Merry sighed and shook his head, even as he rose. "Hopefully this won't take long! I'd like to be back when they call you in, Sam!"

Sam smiled. "Pippin's still here! Now, don't you keep your wife waiting!"

_____________________________________________

Merry had still not been able to shake off a feeling of alarm, in spite of the little servant's reassurance, and seeing Pearl waiting for him at the inn door had not lessened his apprehensions. She grabbed his arm and hustled him along.

"What's going on, Pearl?" he asked his cousin crossly.

"Rose is having her baby," she replied tersely.

Merry jerked away. "Then why in the world did you not send for Sam?" He started to turn, but Pearl grabbed him again.

"Because Rose is even more stubborn than her husband, and she does not want his big moment in becoming Mayor spoiled! Diamond and Estella and I have had no luck in persuading her. We hoped you might talk some sense into her!"

Merry sighed, and shook his head. If Rose Gamgee did not wish to be persuaded, he certainly did not think he stood much chance.

As they bustled along the corridor, Pearl was explaining, "I went to find a birthing stool, and ended up bringing the mid-wife along as well, so Diamond has some help." It was not common knowledge yet, for Diamond and Pippin had only wed at the beginning of Astron, but Diamond herself had already quickened. Her family tended to worry about her, though she insisted that as a healer, she was just fine working during her pregnancy.

They came to the room, and Pearl reached out to knock on the door.

________________________________________________

"The final item of business is to select the new Mayor," said Wil. "I have had a good long run at the job, but we all know who has done the major part of the work for the last several years. I would have liked to turn this job over to Frodo Baggins, but he is gone, and in his wisdom he left us someone else just as capable. Samwise Gamgee has done a lot for the Shire, and he could do a lot more. In addition, he has the friendship of the High King and other important people Outside. No one else has offered for the job, but if there are any doubts and discussion, now is the time for it."

Saradoc Brandybuck stood. "This is all I have to say: when the dark times were on us, Sam was with my cousin Frodo. They were doing a dangerous job that none of the Big Folk could do. Frodo himself, as well as my son Merry, have told me of how loyal Sam was, and how he stuck to him through everything--no food, no water, an enemy after them. It was Sam's determination that helped Frodo do what had to be done, and Sam's hope that enabled them to be saved from certain death when it was over. I don't pretend to know the half of what they did out there, but I do know that we'd all be in a good deal worse trouble now than we ever were, if it weren't for Samwise Gamgee."

There were some nods here, though a goodly number of hobbits looked uncertain. While the rumour that Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee had done *something* great while they were gone was rife, almost no one was willing to part with any details.

The Thain stood, as Saradoc sat down. "I can't add much to what my brother-in-law has said, except I have found that Sam is an intelligent and hard-working hobbit, and there is no doubt he will work even harder for the Shire than he already has. And he has the full support of all the Tooks, and most especially of my son Peregrin, the Heir."

That carried a lot of weight. A bond of friendship already existed between Samwise Gamgee and the future Thain and the future Master of Buckland. It would bode well for them working together. There were general murmurs of agreement.

Then a rather cross-looking hobbit in the fifth row--the newly made head of the Brownlocks--stood. "But he's just a gardener!"

There were several derisive snorts at this, and a number of glares were aimed in his direction.

Wil Whitfoot took a step forward. "And before I became Mayor, *I* was just a grocer! And for all your money, the Brownlocks are just shopkeepers--"

The hobbit's face grew rather red at this reminder.

"Gardening is a perfectly good and honest profession, and I don't know a better one in the Shire." There were a lot of sharp nods at this pronouncement of the Mayor. The harvest of 1420 was still considered a miracle, and due almost solely to the efforts of Sam Gamgee.

The Brownlock sat down abruptly, realizing that no one else agreed with him.

Wil gave a triumphant smile. "So, if there is no further discussion, what is the consensus?"

___________________________________________________

Pippin was tapping his foot nervously, and Sam found himself twitching a bit as well.

"What *do* you suppose is keeping Merry?" Pippin asked. "It's not like Estella to interrupt something important like this! And from the looks of things, they appear to be nearly finished."

Sam's stomach gave a growl. He scowled; that was hardly dignified. "They must be. It's nearly tea-time."

Just then they glance back at the pavilion to see a figure heading in their direction. It was Freddy Bolger. He was wearing a grin, which turned to puzzlement.

"They are ready for you, Sam," he said. "Where's Merry?"

"He had to go back to the inn for something," said Pippin, as he and Sam stood. "We thought he'd be back by now."

Freddy shook his head. "No time now. Come along, Mr. Mayor," he said to Sam, and the three of them went into the pavilion.

____________________________________________________

The door cracked open a bit, and Merry saw Estella peek out. She looked tired and a bit dishevelled, and she gave him a tiny and mysterious smile, before saying, "Just a moment," and closing the door again.

It was only for an instant, and then it opened again, and Merry went in.

There in the bed lay Rose Gamgee, with a little squirming bundle at her shoulder. "Meet your namesake, Merry Gamgee," she said shyly.

He walked over, and winked at the baby. "I'll have a lot to teach you, my lad!" He looked at Rose, and shook his head. "Oh, Sam's going to have words about this!"

She gave a tired giggle. "I suppose he will, at that. He fretted about my coming, and he'll not be happy at not being told the baby was on the way. But I think he'll forgive me."

"I'm certain of it, Rose," said Merry. "Well, now I suppose I will have to go and fetch His Honour the Mayor! I'm sure they've finished the business by now!"

______________________________________

Sam was surrounded by well-wishers, as Merry forced his way to the front of the crowd, where his friend stood with the symbol of his position--the Key to the Mayor's Office-- hanging about his neck on a red ribbon. Sam was flanked by Pippin on one side, and the former Mayor on the other.

"What on earth kept you, Merry?" Pippin asked crossly. "You missed everything!"

"Oh, it seems the wives have cooked up a surprise for the new Mayor," he replied, and shot a glance at Wil.

"Let's not keep Sam from his missus, then," said Wil. "We will see everyone at the banquet later tonight. It *is* tea-time now, after all."

This brief reminder of food was all it took to get the assembled hobbits to disperse, and Sam headed off, trailed by Merry and Pippin. Merry leaned over as they walked and whispered to Pippin, who choked off an exclamation of surprise, and then grinned, and gave a little bounce.

The two of them stood back, beaming, as Sam entered the room. His eyes grew wide at the sight of his wife in the bed. "Rose Gamgee!" he said, "What have you done!"

She laughed. "It's a gift for the new Mayor, don't you see? Come meet your son!"

Estella, Pearl and Diamond quietly exited the room and joined Merry and Pippin, leaving Sam alone with Rose.

"Well," said Pippin cockily, "Cousin Frodo was right again--so I suppose he'll be right about the rest. In a few more years there's going to be a Pippin living in Bag End with a Merry!"

Estella and Diamond laughed, but Pearl said "Good heavens! Poor Rose and Sam! I don't know how the smial will stand it