OPEN -- Late summer breeze

[TOM BOMBADIL]

The wind was ruffling in the crowns of the tall old trees in Tom Bombadil’s forest. A few yellow leaves fell down on the ground and made one aware that autumn was approaching. The sun’s shine somehow seemed more red and dark – and even at midday it was standing lower than it used to, the birds seemed a bit quiet, but they were still there. Old nests were shown in the bushes and some of the summer birds have gathered in the trees, planning their travel to the south. The flowers on the meadows had closed and the grass was still wet from the few drops of rain that had fallen during the night. Even now it was chilly outside, and every time the autumn wind blew through the forest, a shiver went through the spine of the wanderer. Even the lakes seemed somehow darker and less welcome as the red leaves fell on their dark blue surface and covered some of the mysterious depths. The insects have somehow gone to rest and left the waters lonely and only in the company of the leaves that were falling down from the surrounding trees.

The man with the top hat was walking through the forest with a basket in his hands. His warm greenish eyes glanced around at each tree and a smile played on his lips. He had just sung the old man willow to sleep and was not on his mission to gather the first juicy mushrooms whose chubby round brown hats were peeking out from underneath the blanket of leaves and twigs. Already now the basket was half filled with small orange Chantarelles and big brown Penny Buns. He had also picked some blue berries from the fields of Barrow-wights and some edible berries and apples from the bushes and trees around the forest. Right now the man was walking soundless through the familiar old forest, jumping like a young deer over the thick roots - just as if he was still a young boy. Actually Tom was so old, that he did not even remember the time when he was young. He had been in middle earth from the beginning of time and the only thing that was stuck in his memory was his many songs. One of them was one he used to sing in the autumn. His voice echoed in the silence of the forest, as the song played out from his lips – even the wind seemed like a violin that accompanied his melody.

Apples shine red on the branches of the trees,
The harvest comes to an end
Wandering through the woods all alone,
With my song as my friend.

Golden colours and late summer breeze
Fills the heart with sad music
Walking and humming a late summer song
And only the berries and mushrooms to pick

The summer breeze makes waves on the lake
Mysterious and black
Starling flocks hovers high about the land
They will be back.

Golden colours…

Scent the wood smoke among brown ferns
And only one rose
The quiet sum among leaves that grows paler
The evening is close

Golden colours…

Small rowanberries behind deep green branches
The winter is to come
Wandering through the woods all alone
Not far away from home.

Golden colours…

[tiff]

Brywynn lead Nani down the road in Bree-Land, towards The Old Forest. It seemed that Brywynn never left home without Nani, especially the Shire. She felt better when someone was with her, even if it was just Bree-Land. After all Bree was a cautious lass. Her baby blue and green eyes stayed on the road in front of her, moving to and fro if she heard a noise. Though generally it was just a wild animal like a bunny or even her imagination. Bree relaxed a little as she road side saddle on Nani, her eyes looked for a little opening where she could get into the Old Forest.

Nani opened her mouth a little and let out a soft nicker as they walked slowly down the road, growing bored or curious Bree thought. She gently touched Nani's mane with one hand before placing them on the reins again. Bree never rushed towards anything, always taking her time and taking everything in, being as she was observant. She only rushed when she was in trouble or danger, but that hardly happened. Her eyes caught a familiar opening and she smiled as she steered her towards it and off the road.

Bree always thought that the Old Forest looked beautiful in autumn, even though the lakes didn't look as sweet. They actually looked dead, almost closed off from everything else and getting ready for the bitterness of winter, compared to being inviting in the summer. Bree's eyes sparkled as they widened a little, the Old Forest was very lovely and to a little hobbit it was so large. Bree supposed it would seem large to anyone. Nani whinnied as she grew excited and after Bree heard someone singing, as if the voice was being carried by the wind. A gentle smile fell on her lips as she looked around with excitment, "Tom?" she spoke rather loudly.

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[TOM BOMBADIL]

A small stripe of sunlight broke through the dark trees and now landed on the man’s nose as he was walking on the forest floor and picking the mushrooms he could find. A few old apples were still hanging on one of his youngest apple trees and he greeted it with a warm ‘hello’ like an older brother would greet his little sister. He picked the best of the apples it had left and thanked it before continue searching for more mushrooms. His basket was already full, but the man believed that he still could get a few more things in there. He scratched his forehead as he thought about what else they needed back home. Actually, nothing at all. They had already plenty of food and the supply of medical herbs was over flooding their chamber. No, he was just picking these berries and mushrooms because he wanted to surprise his lovely Goldenberry with a wonderful addition to her delicious dinner tonight.

Tom Bombadil was a guardian of the old forest, and he knew every single leaf of the trees; he knew every small animal that breathed on his grounds and he knew every drop there was in the lakes. Nothing went past his eyes unnoticed – not even a hobbit – no matter how small she was. He knew that she was entering the forest, though with all the other sensations that came to him, he barely noticed it until she called out his name. He stopped singing and looked in the direction the voice had come from. Tom turned lightly around on his heel and started jumping/dancing towards the young hobbit girl. "Hey! Come derry dol! Hop along, my hearties! Hobbits! Ponies all! We are fond of parties. Now let the fun begin! Let us sing together!” He started singing, “Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo! Ring a dong! hop along! fal lal the willow! Tom Bom, jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!” Until he finally reached the young hobbit Brywynn who had often paid him a visit. “Hello young lady Bramble. What can I do for you today?” He said as he appeared from behind the big trees and walked up to her.

[tiff]

Bree laughed lightly as she heard him singing. Her eyes moved to where she heard leaves rustling and saw Tom emerge. He always seemed so cheerful, even if winter was going to be approaching before they knew it. But she guessed taking care of the Old Forest was what he loved to do, so what was there not to be happy about? Bree loved seam-stressing but she always wanted to try something different. Though she never knew what. Maybe she just needed a change in general?

Bree smiled warmly at him and gave him a light wave as she saw him emerge."Why hello Master Bombadil" she spoke with a light bow of her head, more of a gesture of greeting then anything. Nani moved her feet and gently knickered at him, she probably smelt the berries all over him. Nani did love little sweets. Bree didn't immediately get off of her pony because she liked the fact that she was almost the same height as him when she was on the pony. She found it slightly annoying when he looked down at her, so she generally sat on the pony or took a seat. She actually didn't like it when anyone looked down at her.

Finally Bree decided to get off Nani, not needing to hold the reins this time. "Oh I was just seeing if you were well" she spoke gently as she brushed herself off and looked up at him. "And" she spoke bashfully as she looked down for a second, her cautious side was getting the best of her "perhaps some blueberries? Not too many of course my mother was talking of making a pie and I knew you had the best. But of course I didn't say your name" she spoke gently as she was a little worried that he thought she would.

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[TOM BOMBADIL]

“Hello little Brywynn blossom.” He greeted her again as if the first greeting was not good enough. The man took off his hat, bowed, let the hat roll down his arm and with one single movement he threw it up in the air and made it land on top of his head again. The man could not really stand still at the moment – there was a century where he had liked to do that a lot – just stand and watch, but in this century he was more on the move. Actually he was not entirely sure if it was last century or the day before yesterday. When you were that old the days, years and decades melted together and made you completely unaware of time and space… Well if you were a man like Tom Bombadil for example. He had nothing to use time for. He was not in a hurry to do something and he was living in an everlasting moment with his lovely wife in a cottage by the lake.

A small smile formed on Tom’s face and he reached out and gently patted Nani. “I am always well. The winter is approaching, so the forest if filled with fruits, berries and mushrooms. I am out to collect all its gifts.” He told the young hobbit and showed her his basket. “Ah blueberries.” His friendly greenish hazel eyes that had almost the same colour as the forest floor smiled down at her. “Blueberry, blueberry where do you grow…” he started singing, “Tom finds them under pine before the snow.” The man smiled at her and placed a big hand on the hobbit’s shoulder. “Tom Bombadil knows just the place.” He said as he started leading her through the dark forest. He usually spoke about himself in third person for no particular reason. He walked slowly towards the tall pine trees he had passed by earlier today and pointed on the ground. Small bushes started to appear the further he led them into the forest, suddenly they were in an area where the bushes were filled with big round and juicy blueberries.

[tiff]

Bree laughed lightly at Tom's movements. He sure did like to move around and do little tricks, especially dances. He was a very happy man and that was just evident by his movements."Such treasures", referring to all the delights he had in his bucket, she grinned as Tom began to talk in rhyme about blueberries. Nani bent her head down and nuzzled Tom's shoulder. She was a very affectionate pony. Bree smiled as Tom touched her shoulder and said that he knew where they were. "Fantastic Master Bombadil, I thought you might have been angry with me if I were to ask" she spoke gently as she followed Tom with Nani behind her.

Bree didn't really talk when Tom lead her things, she wasn't sure why but she just felt like it would ruin the suspense. When they stopped, her eyes looked around until she saw bushes with big ripe berries on them. Her mouth fell in awe "Oh Tom they are perfect" she giggled as she went to the side of Nani and unhooked the satchel, she didn't really have anything else to put them in. Her small body moved as she walked over to the bushes and began picking from them "How is Goldenberry?" she asked gently as she continued to pick, she felt it was only proper. Nani walked around the little area they were at, seeing some grass by a tree, she began to much the sweet nibblets.

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[TOM BOMBADIL]

Nani was a lovely young pony. Tom really liked her gentle spirit and she seemed to really love her owner. It was such a joy to see animals being taken well cared off. He patted the pony’s head and gave it a warm smile before his forest ground coloured eyes (the creator has given up on describing their brown/greenish colour) looked back up at the hobbit girl. He liked her choice of words – it was treasures he had in his basket indeed. Not all treasures were of silver and gold – actually the best ones usually weren’t. He remembered a time of dragons and where people believed that they guarded treasures in their caves, so many died from going on a quest to kill the dragon and get the treasure. Of course, he had forgotten whether the dragons were really guarding treasures or if it was a story he had heard somewhere in the west. However, he had mainly focused on the sadness of the destiny of the mighty dragons. There were not many original dragons left – perhaps there were some colonies in the Far East?

Tom Bombadil smiled warmly at Brywynn after pulling himself out of his stream of thoughts. He liked thinking about old days and the time where he was young and there were elves who had visited his home in the Old Forest. And the time where he saw a nice little green Entling. “I will never get angry at you, young Brywynn. Young hobbits like Brywynn blossom keeps Tom Bombadil young and happy. He looks forward to their visit every day and every month.” He almost sang with a light chuckle. Tom Bombadil smiled at the hobbit’s respond to the berries and helped her picking some. He kneeled next to the blond haired girl and moved skilfully with his hands over the bushes, making juicy round berries fall down into his palms. “Goldberry is beautiful as ever. Her golden hair never fades and her gentle voice will never get hoarse.” He said with a smile filled with love as he looked down at the bushes. “How is hobbit-land?”

((I love writing as Tom when I am a bit tipsy))

[tiff]

"Oh thank you Tom and I love to visit you two, it helps to break away from the usual routine every now and then" Bree spoke with a grin as she dropped a handful of berries into the satchel. She loved her job, but it was more of her doing knitting all around Hobbiton, by herself, or only having Nani for company. Don't get her wrong she loved Nani, she just wanted some actual company. Nani herself was just chewing on some grass, and then found it comfortable to just lay under the tree. In her doing so she made a lot of noise because of the saddle.

Bree couldn't help but smile again as Tom talked about his wife, it was so sweet the way he talked about her. It seemed their love had lasted for centuries, maybe it had Bree didn't know. But it was sweet to hear."Ah Tom, I just love how you talk about Goldberry, its as if you only met her yesterday. It's really nice to hear how someone could love another so" she spoke gently as a light sigh left her lips. Bree loved hearing of romantic things, it always warmed her heart and made her think of the future. Her head moved as she stopped picking berries and began to answer his question "Well Master Bilbo's birthday is coming up,so its all a buzz with that, getting everything in order, presents and such" she spoke with a light smile. Bree liked Bilbo, he was a good-hearted man who had the courage to do something that she didn't. Though most hobbits didn't like what he did, Bree most certainly did.

Bree smiled back at Tom before continuing to pick some berries, the sound of them hitting the cloth of the satchel and then eventually each other.

((LMAO that certainly would help dude if Fizzle doesn't take Goldberry up, I so will lol...probably...more then likely XD))

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[TOM BOMBADIL]

“You are always welcome in the old forest.” Tom said and picked a handful of berries and dropped them lightly into her satchel as well before kneeling down and eating the next ones he picked. “Young people like you are always on the move, it must be nice for you to break free once in a while and experience something. I remember when I was young… A few years ago…” he paused. Or was it centuries? Time has passed so fast that he could barely keep up on it. “I always went on quests and journeys. It was a good time… It was a time where we had ents in the forest.” He said with a small nod. “Ents to keep the trees in line, so they wouldn’t cross the river.” Tom told. He was talking more to himself than he was talking to Brywynn and looked up at the sky above them. It was painted red by the setting sun and he shielded his eyes with once hand as the shine hit his face. “Now only few trees are still awake – like the Old Man Willow. It is sad times we live in right now. I hope that this forest will get visited by the elves once more… before they completely disappear from Middle Earth, so they can wake up the trees again… And teach them how to talk.” He rambled on.

When the young female hobbit commented on the way he was talking about his wife, a cold wind blew through Tom’s hair and made his cheeks blush, just like they would on a teenager that was talking about his newfound girlfriend. “It feels like I’ve just met her yesterday… even though it has been years… centuries…” he paused again. Forgetting how long time has passed since him and Goldberry had married. “At least I remember it like it was yesterday.” Tom continued with a deep and comfortable sigh. “Ah young master Bilbo!” the old man said and nodded when Brywynn told him about the hobbit’s upcoming birthday party. “How is that young hobbit. How old is he going to turn again? Fifty? Seventy?”

[tiff]

"Thank you Master Bombadil" she spoke gently as she reached for a berry and popped it into her mouth. The berries were so sweet and she couldn't help but grab another before putting them in her satchel. She listened to Tom's words, though it seemed he was talking to herself."Oh I could never do that, go off on adventures or anything, I don't want to get into trouble that I can't get out of", she spoke with a small smile as she looked over at Nani, just to make sure she was ok before plucking berries again. Something he said however did catch her attention, "Elves? Elves used to come here?" she asked curiously.

Bree blinked and looked from him, down to the ground as he talked of the sadness. Even though she never went farther then the Old Forest, she did hear things, other going ons in Middle Earth. Maybe that was why she was so cautious, but she hoped it wouldn't reach the Shire. Whatever it was. Her eyes looked up at him as a cold wind blew and she saw him blush, speaking of his beloved wife again. Her hand fell to her chest as he spoke of her again and a gentle sigh left her lips "Oh Tom I hope I find what you two have" she spoke with a light laugh as she continued to pick berries again.

"It's going very well" she spoke gently referring to Bilbo's birthday plans, "Umm a hundred and eleven" she spoke with a small smile, noticing that Tom was way off."You should attend with Goldberry" she spoke with a light grin as she waited for his response.

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[TOM BOMBADIL]

Tom Bombadil smiled warmly at Brywynn before turning his head back to look at the ground. “Well, you hobbits don’t seem to be fond of travelling. I would eat my old hat the day I see another hobbit than you coming to my forest.” He said with a small chuckle, even though he somehow felt that this day was not far away. However it was of course impossible. No hobbits entered the Old Forest, not to mention walking all the way to the centre where they could actually happen to meet Tom Bombadil. Only Brywynn, and other creatures; elves, wizards, animals, birds and a few humans have visited him. His eyes looked up again when the young hobbit asked him about the elves, and he stared out in front of him as if there was something between the trees.

“Yes, long time ago, this forest was filled with elves. They were young and happy. Sang songs and danced all day. But sadly those days are now far gone. The elves are leaving Middle Earth. The ones who are staying are staying in their main lands. None of them seem to want to travel to places like this old forest anymore. An even older forest named Fangorn… It is situated in the Far East… near Rohan… is left all alone.” Tom Bombadil told the young hobbit. However even though it was a sad story, his voice remained neutral – he could as well have talked about the weather with her, and it would not make a difference. Tom saw it as the circle of life. The road of destiny. It is supposed to be like this.

He laughed with her when she commented on him and Goldberry. “I am sure you will. Love always find people. Whether they like it or not.” He chuckled. “However some people tend to not notice the love, even if it is right in front of you.” He spoke. Tom gently shook his head when Brywynn said that he should attend young Bilbo’s birthday. “I would rather hear about the party from you.” He declined and trailed off. “Bilbo is getting old so fast. And one hundred and eleven years… Is that normal for a hobbit?” he asked curiously.

[tiff]

Brywyn smiled as she stopped picking berries and closed the satchel, belting it. A light laugh soon left her lips as he spoke of hobbits not leaving the Shire "Yes yes that is true, most of us don't, but Bilbo did", she spoke with a smile. A gentle sigh left her lips as she began to pick berries again, this time however was for herself. Her eyes left the bush as she looked up at Tom and listened to him speak of the old days, it sounded kind of sad actually. "Why are they leaving Master Bombadil? Do you know?" Bree asked curiously as she popped a blueberry into her mouth.

A small smile on her lips as he talked of love. Bree had never been in love before, which she thought must have meant that she hadn't found it yet. She hoped she didn't over look it like Tom had just spoken of. That would truly make her sad, considering she believed in a one true love and all. But most of the time she didn't let not finding love bring her down, she was young after all and had plenty of chances.

"And I would love to tell you and Goldberry, Master Bombadil, though I don't know if I can tell it as excitingly as it probably will be" she spoke with a light laugh. Bree wasn't much of a story teller, she did like to read, but she wasn't very good at reciting them back. Bree nodded to answer Tom's question "Yes it is, he's aging very well actually" she spoke with a smile.

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