Chapter 7 Section 7: Entering Tom Bombardier's Home

The four hobbits stood inside the door, standing motionless, only blinking constantly.They were in a long, low room, and the oil lamps on the ceiling illuminated the room like daylight; on the polished black wooden table, there were also many thick yellow candles, emitting a warm light. On the other side of the room, a woman sat in a chair facing the door.She has shoulder-length blond hair and is wearing a long emerald green dress with silver threads that glisten like dewdrops.She wears a gold sash, delicately carved with lotus flowers, occasionally adorned with blue hearts of forget-me-nots.There are many green and earth-colored containers at her feet, with beautiful lotus flowers floating in them; for a moment, everyone has the feeling that she is floating in the lotus pond.

"Come in, my good guests!" As soon as she spoke, the four immediately knew that this was the owner of the clear singing before.They walked a few steps at a loss and bowed to their master, feeling that they were really clumsy.The four of them felt as if they were begging for some water at the door of a simple thatched cottage, but they did not expect to be received by an elf queen dressed in beautiful flowers.However, before they opened their mouths, she nimbly jumped over the water basin on the ground, and ran towards them with a charming smile.With her footsteps, the long skirt made a soft music like the breeze blowing through the flower beds by the river.

"You are welcome!" she said, taking Frodo's hand. "Be happy, let's have a good laugh! I am Jinberry, the Daughter of the River." Then, she turned lightly, and closed the door backwards. "Let's keep the night out!" she said. "Looks like you still have lingering fears of tree shadows, deep water, and wild life. Fear no more! Because you're under Tom Bombardier's protection tonight." The hobbits looked at her in surprise, and Goldberry smiled generously at everyone. "Beautiful Miss Goldberry!" Frodo felt filled with incomprehensible joy.His mind went blank, as if he was fascinated by the beautiful music of the elves; but this time the spell he wrote was of a completely different type. The pleasure was not so extraordinary, but closer to ordinary people and more touching. Not alienated. "Beautiful Miss Goldberry!" was all he could get out. "There is such a beautiful suggestion hidden in the song we just heard!"

Oh, slender as a willow branch!Oh, clear as spring water! Oh, fresh and tender like grass by the river!O beautiful daughter of the river! Oh, spring goes and summer comes and spring returns again! Oh, the breeze blows over the Wanzhang Waterfall, and the green leaves dance and laugh haha! * As soon as he realized that he had blurted out these verses, he immediately stopped stuttering.Goldberry smiled generously. "Welcome!" she said. "I didn't expect the Shire's guests to be so eloquent. However, I can tell from the light in your eyes and the tone of your song that you are a friend of the elves. This is very joyous! Please take a seat and wait for our family." Master is back! He is taking care of your tired horses and should be fine soon!"

The hobbit sat down politely in the upholstered chair, while every eye was fixed on Goldberry rushing in and out; her graceful dancing movements filled everyone's heart. joy.Another song came from behind the house.Between *jingling dingling, happy la* and *luohaha*, they could hear a few words repeating continuously: Old Tom Bombardier was a jolly fellow; He was wearing a light blue coat and warm yellow boots. * "Beautiful lady!" asked Frodo a little later. "Can you please answer my stupid question? Who is Tom Bombardier?" "It's him," said Jinberry, still maintaining a smile and graceful movements.

Frodo looked at her in bewilderment. "It's the guy you just met," she answered his doubts. "He is the master of forests, waters, and hills." "This strange land belongs to him?" "Of course not!" Her smile faded away. "It's too much of a burden," she added in a low voice, as if talking to herself. "All the flowers and trees that grow and live here have autonomy. Tom Bombardier is just the master. He has no fear. He can walk freely in the forest, by the water and on the mountains no matter day or night. Any force can interfere with him. Tom Bombardier is master."

Another door creaked open, and Tom followed into the room.His hat had come off, and his thick brown hair was now disheveled like red autumn leaves.He walked up to Goldberry, smiling, and took her hand. "Ah, my little beauty!" He bowed to the hobbits. "Our golden berries are beautiful in their green dresses and fresh flowers! Is the table all set? I see yellow cheese and fresh honey, soft white bread, butter, milk and cheese , and green herbs and ripe berries. Is that enough? Is dinner ready?" "It's ready," said Goldberry, "but maybe the guests aren't ready?"

Tom clapped his hands and shouted, "Tom, Tom! You forgot to clean up your guests! Come on, dear friends, let Tom take care of everything for you! Wipe off your sticky hands and wash off your faces." sweat from your sweat, take off your dusty cloaks, and comb your tangled hair!" He opened a door, and the crowd followed him down a short passage, which turned at a right angle and brought them into a room with a low sloping roof. (It seems that this is a small attic built on the north side of the house).The walls of the room are made of neat stone blocks, but there are many green tapestries and yellow curtains hanging on them.The floor was paved with flagstones and fresh green rushes.In addition, there were four thick mats on the floor, each of which was piled high with white blankets.On the other side of the wall was a long bench filled with large clay basins, and beside the bench were many jars filled with clean water.Some jars were ice cold, others were steaming.Green soft slippers are placed beside the bed in the room.

Not long after, the hobbits had finished grooming, and they sat down at the dining table in twos, with Goldberry and the host on either side of the long table.The meal was long and enjoyable.Although the hungry hobbits gobbled it up, they couldn't finish the dishes on the table.The water in their bowls seems to be clear water, but it makes them feel comfortable and relaxed like fine wine.The little guests suddenly realized that they were singing happily, as if it was more natural than talking. After drinking and eating, Tom and Goldberry set about clearing the table.Every guest was ordered to sit obediently on the seat and put their tired feet on the small stool to rest.In the hearth before them was a warm fire, with a sweet aroma, as if burning applewood of the highest quality.After everything was tidied up, the hosts extinguished all the lights in the house, leaving only a pair of candles and oil lamps on the left and right sides of the fireplace.Then Goldberry stood before them with a candle, and said good night to everyone, and wished them sweet dreams.

"Sleep peacefully," she said, "sleep till dawn! Don't worry about any noises disturbing you! Nothing can pass through the doors and windows here except moonlight, starlight, and evening wind. Good night!" She was radiant out of the room.The sound of her footsteps sounded to everyone's ears like a stream flowing slowly along the hillside into the night. Tom sat beside them in silence for a moment, each of them trying to muster up the courage to ask the many questions that had accumulated in their minds.But their eyelids gradually became heavy.At last Frodo spoke:

"My lord, is it a coincidence that you appeared in front of us, or did you really hear my cry for help?" Tom was shocked, as if awakened from a dream. "Uh, what?" he said. "Are you asking if I heard your cries for help? No, I didn't. I was too busy singing. If you call this a coincidence, it's just a coincidence. It wasn't my plan, but I We are indeed waiting for you. We have heard of you, and we see that you seem to be wading nearby. We guess that you will come to the water before long; every road in this forest leads at last to the Wicker River. Old Gray Willow is a fine singer, and he's a hell of a lot harder for you little fellows to get out of. But I happen to have something to do over there, and it can't be delayed." Tom Nodding, as if dozing off again, but he went on singing: I have a mission to do: to gather the beautiful lotus, The verdant green leaves and white lotus are just to please my beauty, This is the last lotus in autumn, it can only be collected to survive the severe winter, Adorn her dainty slender feet till the frost thaws. I pick the flowers for her every late summer, Pick flowers from the deep and clear pond at the end of the wicker river; The lotus there blooms first in early spring and lasts in late summer. Right by that pool, long ago, I was destined to meet the daughter of the river, Beautiful maiden Goldberry sat on the grass by the pond. Her singing voice is sweet, and her heart is beating like a deer with joy! * He opened his eyes and looked at everyone with clear blue eyes: You are very lucky, because I will not go further into that puddles in the forest, Because it is the end of autumn and the beginning of winter.i will never again Passing the house of the old willow tree, for the spring is over, Until next spring, happy river girl, Bathe in the deep pool along the trail and that's when I get out. * He was silent again, but Frodo could not help asking the second question: that was the answer he most wanted to know. "Tell us, my lord," he asked, "about this old man Willow. What is he? I've never heard that name." "Oh, no!" Pippin and Merry sat up suddenly. "Don't ask now! Talk to me tomorrow morning!" "Exactly!" said Tom. "It's time to rest. Some things are not suitable for talking at night. Sleep until dawn! Don't worry about the noise at night! Don't worry about the willows!" As soon as he finished speaking, he blew out the oil lamp and grabbed Light a candle and lead everyone into the previous room. Their mats and pillows were soft and comfortable, and their blankets were of white wool.For this group of weary hobbits, their heads hit the pillows and the blankets were only half pulled before falling asleep. In the middle of the night, Frodo was in a dream without light.In his dream he saw a new moon rising, and in the thin light of the moon a towering black wall stood before him, the only gap in the black wall being a dark archway.Frodo felt himself lifted by some power, and flew over the black wall before him.It was only then that he discovered that the rock wall was a series of hills, and within the hills was a plain.In the middle of the plain stood a tall spire, which seemed impossible to build.On the top of the tower stood a man.The slowly rising moon seemed to stay for him for a moment, illuminating his white hair blowing in the wind.From the plain below came the evil cry and the howling of wolves.Suddenly, a shadow with huge wings flew across the air.The figure raised its arms high, and a ray of light shot from his staff.A majestic eagle swooped down and snatched him up.The voice below began to yelp, and the wolves began to howl.Then there was a sound like a gust of wind, accompanied by the sound of galloping horses' hooves from the east. "The Black Knight!" Frodo woke up suddenly, the sound of hooves still ringing in his ears.He began to doubt whether he had the courage to leave the shelter of the house.He lay motionless, listening to any disturbance around him.But the surroundings were completely silent, and there was no movement.Not long after, he fell into dreamland again and fell into a deep sleep. Pippin slept soundly next to him.But there was a sudden change in his dream, which made him turn over and howl.He woke up suddenly, and he could still hear the sound that disturbed his dream: *dongdong, creak*: This sound seemed to be the branches of old trees dancing in the wind, knocking on the windows and walls. * Creak, creak, creak. ＊He began to worry about whether there were willow trees planted near the house, and suddenly felt that he was not living in an ordinary house, but lying in a willow tree, listening to the terrifying voice laughing at him again.He sat up and made sure that he was lying on the soft quilt, so he lay down again with confidence.He seemed to be able to hear Tom's promise from before: "Don't be afraid! Sleep until dawn! Don't worry about noise at night!" Then he fell asleep again. In Meili's dream, there was the sound of water: the gurgling water spread quietly, as if engulfing the whole house into a bottomless pool.The water in the pool rolled by the wall, rising slowly and continuously. "I'll be drowned!" he thought. "Water is bound to come in, and then I'll be drowned." He felt as if he were lying in a muddy swamp, and he jumped out of bed with one foot on the cold stone floor.Only now did he finally remember where he was sleeping, so he lay back obediently.It seemed to him that he remembered, or heard again, the words: "Nothing can pass through the doors and windows here but moonlight, starlight, and evening wind." A sweet fragrance blew the curtain and wafted in.He took a deep breath and fell asleep again. Sam was the only one of the four who didn't have a dreamful night.Because he is as noisy as a piece of wood and cannot be woken up. ＊＊＊ The four of them woke up in the morning light at the same time.Tom whistled and cleaned up the room as loudly as birds.When he saw that all four were awake, he clapped his hands and shouted, "Hey! Here comes the joy! Jingle bells! Wake up my dear friend!" He flung open the yellow sash, and the hobbit Only then did I notice that there was a large window on the east and west sides of the room. Together they jumped out of bed refreshed.Frodo rushed at once to the east window, and found himself facing a small vegetable garden drenched with morning dew.Because of the vivid nightmare of last night, he had expected to see a large lawn covered with hoofprints.As a result, what he faced was a flower stand covered with bean vines, and in the distance was a hill that looked gray against the sunrise.The sky this morning looks a little pale, and the clouds in the eastern sky seem to be as fine as wool dyed red at the edges, with some yellow morning light mixed in the middle.The weather looked like it would be raining heavily, but even so the speed of the sunrise was not delayed; the small flowers on the bean vines were coming alive in the sun. Pippin looked out of the west window and saw a great cloud of mist.The entire forest was covered in mist, and it felt like looking down at the rolling sea of ​​clouds.Where the Willow River passed it carried the mist out a channel; it gurgled down the hills to the left and into the misty forest.Outside the window was a small garden, surrounded by a fence of silver netting, and outside the fence was a neat lawn covered with dew.There are no willow trees around at all. "Good morning, friends!" Tom opened the east window.A cool wind blew in, and it smelled like heavy rain was coming. "I don't think the sun will be out too long today. I walked outside at dawn, with dew on my feet, and a wet sky above my head. I sang Goldberry under the window, but dared not Wake up my guests early. These little ones will wake up in the middle of the night, and call them at dawn, of course! Jingle! Wake up, merry friends! Forget the sounds of last night! Jingle bells, dear friends, If you move quickly, breakfast is on the table, if you move too slowly, there will be nothing but grass and rain to eat!" Tom's threat sounded insincere, but the hungry hobbit rushed to the table like a wind blowing leaves;Neither Tom nor Goldberry appeared at the table.Tom was walking around in and out of the house and they could hear him cleaning in the kitchen, running up and down the stairs, singing here and there.The room in which they dined overlooked the mist-embraced valley, and the windows were wide open.Before they finished their meal the clouds closed together and pea-sized raindrops began to fall.The forest was completely obscured by the curtain of heavy rain. When they looked at the heavy rain outside the window, the clear and bright singing of golden raspberries came from upstairs as naturally as raindrops falling.They couldn't hear every word clearly, but they naturally knew that it was a song in praise of rainwater; the song described a story of a small stream that started from a spring in the mountains and flowed all the way to the sea.The hobbits listened contentedly.Frodo was glad from the bottom of his heart, and thanked Heaven for the rain that had come just in time to save them from leaving at once.From the moment he woke up, the thought of embarking on a journey again weighed on him like a heavy burden, and he couldn't breathe.Fortunately, judging from the current situation, they should not need to continue their journey today. The westerly wind subsided for a while, and more dense dark clouds poured rain on the rolling hills.The scenery around the house is shrouded in a curtain of water.Frodo sat at the door and watched the white path beyond which the rain had gathered so much that it became a milky brook running down the valley.Tom Bombardier came around from the other direction, waving his hands as if trying to keep out the rain.And when he walked into the house, only his boots were wet all over his body.After he had taken off his boots by the chimney, he drew up the largest chair and sat down, motioning for the guests to sit down beside him. "It's Goldberry's grooming day," he said, "and her time to get her autumn wash. It's a bit too wet for a hobbit, so take your chance and rest! It's a good day for stories, questions, and Come up with an answer, let Tom start first." Then he told many wonderful stories, sometimes as if talking to himself, and sometimes looking around suddenly with those shining blue eyes.He often leaves his seat while talking, dancing and singing.He told them stories of bees and flowers, of the way trees grow, and of all the strange creatures in the forest, good and evil, friendly and hostile, cruel and gentle, and Those secrets hidden in the bamboo forest that are not known to outsiders. Slowly, they began to understand the principles of how everything works in the forest, and felt that they were really out of place in this place where many creatures thrived.Old Willow kept coming up in his subject, and Frodo knew more than he cared to know; for, it was not a reassuring story.Tom frankly stated the thinking mode of these trees: their thinking is beyond the comprehension of ordinary creatures, and these old trees are full of resentment towards the animals that walk freely on the ground.For these animals bite, gnaw, chop, burn, destroy everything, disturb everything.It is not for nothing that this forest is called an old forest.It is the remnant of an ancient forest, in which grew the old trees that have watched indifferently for generations, who have lived through a time when trees ruled all.These countless years have filled them with wisdom and pride, but also with resentment.The most terrifying of these is the great willow tree: it has a corrupt heart, and its strength is at the height of its power.It is cunning and more able to grasp the changes of the wind and clouds; and its thoughts and songs are transmitted unhindered on both sides of the river.Its gray hungry soul draws its strength from the earth, spreading its dense web beneath the earth and spreading its invisible branches through the air.In the end, it took for itself all the forest from the High Hedge to the Tombstones. Suddenly, Tom took the topic away from the forest, and began to talk about the clear stream, the waterfall with splashing water, the round pebbles and the riverbed scattered with strange rocks, describing the green grass and the small flowers in the mountain gaps, and finally, all the way Came to the rolling hills.They listened to the passing of these verdant hills, the circles of stone above them, and the dark valleys between.The goats moved in groups, and green and white walls were built one after another.There is a condescending fortress on the high ground.The kings of the small countries fought with each other, and the hot sun shone on their red steel swords, watching their greedy drama.There are glorious victories, and there are tragic defeats.Towers fell, fortresses were burned, flames rose to the sky, and wars ran everywhere.The gold was piled in the tombs of the dead kings and queens, and the heavy stone doors were closed, and the barren grass covered everything.The goats roamed and grazed on the hills, and then disappeared without a trace.A distant specter sprang up, and the bones in the tomb also began to stir.The tomb wight wearing the ring started to squirm, roaming in the wind.In the moonlight, the circle of stones became teeth in a grinning mouth. The hobbit felt a chill.Even in the Shire they had heard tales of the Tomb Wights and the Tomb Hills.It's not a lighthearted story to pass the time, even if they're in the distance by a warm fire.The four of them suddenly remembered what they had forgotten because of the joyous atmosphere of the place: Tom Bombardier's house was located under these terrifying hills.For a while, the four of them looked at each other, unable to concentrate on listening to each other's stories. By the time they came to their senses, his story had drifted to the strange land of everyone's memory and historical records; the world was still vast at that time, and the sea ran directly to the west coast??? But Tom kept telling it, and time went back. In the age of old starlight, only elves lived in the world in the distant past.Suddenly he stopped, and the hobbit noticed that he was nodding, as if asleep.The four people sat in front of him motionless, unable to shake off the special magic power; under his singing, the wind and rain ceased, the clouds dispersed, the sky darkened, and darkness swept in from the east and the west.In the sky, there are only shining stars left. Frodo could not tell whether it was day or night, or whether many days had passed.He wasn't hungry or tired at all, just full of spinning thoughts.Starlight shone through the window, and the silent sky seemed to surround him.In the end, he was afraid of the silence, and he couldn't help expressing his inner doubts: "Who are you, my lord?" he asked. "Eh? What?" Tom sat up straight, his eyes twinkling in a haze. "Don't you already know my name? That's the only answer. Can you introduce yourself without your name? All I can say is that you are young and I am very old. I am the oldest of all things Mark my words, friend: Tom existed before rivers and trees; Tom saw the first drop of rain fall and the first acorn grow. He was there before the big one came Roaming here, he watched the little one arrive. He was here before kings, tombs, and wights. Tom was here before the elves began to migrate west, before the seas moved. He too Through the age of fearlessness under the night starlight, before the Dark King appeared from beyond." A shadow seemed to pass by the window, and the hobbits hurriedly turned their heads to look.When they turned back, Goldberry was standing at the door, bathed in light.She held the candle in one hand and guarded its flame with the other; the light of the candle streamed through her thin white fingers like sunlight on a white cloud. "The rain has stopped," she said, "and the brook is babbling under the stars. Let's cheer up and laugh!" "Everyone, let's eat and drink!" Tom shouted. "Such a long story makes me thirsty. Hearing it from morning to night should make people hungry!" As soon as he finished speaking, he took down the candle from the fireplace, lit a fire from the goldberry candle, and jumped go outside. He quickly returned with a large and heavy pallet.The two then started busy setting the table again.The hobbits watched with amazement and delight: Goldberry moved with inexplicable grace, and Tom's grotesques were so exultant.Even so, the actions of these two people coordinated seamlessly like a pas de deux, and did not hinder each other in the slightest.They come and go, walk around the table, and quickly arrange the food, drink and lighting.There are many yellow or white candles on the table.Tom bowed to his guests. "Supper is ready," said Goldberry.Only then did the hobbits notice that she was wearing silver clothes with a white belt around her waist, and her shoes shone like fish scales.Tom is dressed in strong blue with green socks on his feet.This dinner was even richer than the previous one.Under Tom's magical storytelling skills, they missed many meals; but when the food arrived, the gluttons in their stomachs woke up immediately, leaving them hungry as if they hadn't eaten in a week.This time they were so focused on their work that they didn't have time to sing or talk.It wasn't long before they were satisfied and started talking and laughing loudly. Goldberry sang many songs with them after supper was over.The melodies of these songs begin with joyful mountain tops, flow down with gentle babble, and end with lost silence.In this silence, an incomparably clear and deep pool of water seemed to appear in front of their eyes, and the reflection of the sky and the stars shone like jewels on the water.At last, as on the night before, she bade everyone good night again, and left them sitting before the fire.The only difference was that Tom seemed quite sober this time, and asked them many questions in succession. He already seemed to know their backgrounds and ancestry inside out, even their past in the Shire, which they barely remembered.They were not surprised by this, but the other party did not hide that they knew it all from Farmer Maga.Moreover, Tom valued this person more than they imagined. "He's got his feet on the ground, he's got dirt on his hands, he's seen the wind and the waves, and his eyes are alert," Tom said.Apparently, Tom also had dealings with elves; somehow, he also seemed to know Frodo's whereabouts from Gildor. Tom really knew a lot, and his questions were more direct; Frodo found himself revealing to him many fears and thoughts that he had not even expressed to Gandalf.Tom kept nodding, a faint twinkle in his eye when he heard the black knight. "Show me this precious ring!" he interrupted suddenly.Frodo himself didn't know what was going on, but he obediently took out the ring from his pocket, untied it and handed it to Tom. When the ring was placed on his large brown hands, it seemed to suddenly increase in size.He jerked the ring up to his eyes and started laughing.For a brief moment, the harpy people saw a sight that people didn't know whether to relax or worry: his blue eyes flashed strangely from the ring.Then Tom held the ring to the candlelight, and put his little finger in it.The hobbits didn't notice any change for a while, and then they all gasped, Tom was not invisible. Tom laughed again and tossed the ring up; it disappeared in a flash.Frodo gave a low cry, and Tom leaned forward and handed the ring back to him, smiling. Frodo looked at the ring with suspicion (like someone who lends jewels to a magician).It was the same ring, at least it looked and weighed the same.Every time the Lord of the Rings is in Frodo's hands, he feels extra heavy.However, there seemed to be some force that made him want to make an extra confirmation.He seemed a little displeased that Tom had dismissed Gandalf's prized ring.As the conversation continued, he kept looking for a chance to test the treasure.Tom happened to be describing the behavior of the badgers in the forest, and he seized the opportunity to put the Ring on. Meili turned her head to say something to him, but there was a very surprised expression on her face.Frodo was quite pleased: it was indeed his ring, for Merry stared at his seat with a frightened expression, as if he could see nothing.He stood up, moved quietly away from the fireplace, and walked towards the door. "Hey! Wait!" Tom's eyes flashed menacingly. "Hey! Frodo, hello! Where are you going? Tom Bombardier is not too old to see! Take your gold ring! Your hands are prettier without them. Come back quickly! Don't make a fuss Now, sit down beside me! We've got to talk some more, and think about what we're going to do tomorrow morning. Tom's got to tell you how to get there, so you don't get lost again." Frodo smiled (he tried to feel better), took off the Ring, and sat back in his place.Tom told them now that he thought the sun would be up tomorrow, and it would be a fine morning, perfect for the journey.However, they have to leave early tomorrow morning, because even Tom is not sure about the weather nearby, and it may change rapidly. "I'm not a master weather forecaster," he said, "no guy who walks on two legs should be able to." Under his suggestion, the group decided to go north from his residence and follow the relatively low hills to the west.In this way, they may be able to set foot on the Eastern Avenue in one day, and they can also avoid the ancient tombs.He told them not to think too much, but to go on their way. "Walk on the grass. Don't deal with those rocks and wights, let alone disturb their dwellings, unless you are as brave as a bear!" He emphasized this sentence more than once, and even suggested that if they don't Approach this place with caution, preferably past these ancient tombs from the west.Then, he also taught them a tune, which should be sung immediately in case of misfortune the next day. Ah!Tom Bombardier, Tom Bombardier! By the water, in the woods, on the hills, by the grass and under the willows, Like flames, like the scorching sun, like the moon, listen to our call! Come on, Tom Bombardier, we need your help! * After everyone sang along, he patted everyone on the shoulder and led them back to their bedrooms as if nothing had happened.