Farmer Maggot (AU)

Intro When Frodo Baggins was young she lived in Brandy Hall and used to sneak into Farmer Maggot's fields to steal mushrooms. After catching Freid thieving several times, Maggot finally beat the young mushroom poacher and let him to his dogs, who chased Freida all the way to the Bucklebury Ferry. Frodo remained terrified of the old farmer and his dogs thereafter. However he was a good friend with Freida's cousin, Merry, who used to visit him with Peregrin Took. When he heard that Frodo had left to live with the queer folk of Hobbiton, he was worried about her. On 25 September of T.A. 3018, when a Black Rider approached Maggot his dog Grip yelped and ran off howling with its tail put down. When the rider asked him if he has seen Baggins, Maggot told him to leave, that there were no Bagginses here and recommended him to go back to Hobbiton. The rider said that Baggins had left and that he would come back and reward Maggot with gold if he informed him the next time that Baggins came. Maggot however, despite the chill this stranger caused him, told the rider to leave and not to come back and threatened him to call his dogs. The Black Rider sort of hissed, Maggot did not know if he was laughing or not, and spurred his horse at him, but Maggot jumped out of the way. Maggot called his dogs, but the rider turned around and rode away. Later that day Frodo, Erynion, Sam and Pippin came to Maggot's farm, and extra-cautious Maggot was ready to unleash his dogs this time if he didn't recognise his old friend Pippin, and also Frodo. After Mrs. Maggot served the travelers mugs of beer, Maggot related his story about the stranger.