Robert did not remain in Frogmorton for long. He stayed only a single night at The Floating Log Inn, using the time to rest and reorganize his thoughts. Early the next morning, he made preparations to depart. After breakfast, he guided his carriage to the pier by the river and boarded a ferry heading across the Brandywine.
Naturally, he brought his carriage and horses with him.
The ferry glided steadily across the wide waters of the Brandywine River, carrying Robert toward Buckland, the land that lay on the eastern bank. Buckland was a peculiar region—technically part of the Shire, yet markedly different in atmosphere and temperament.
Buckland occupied the narrow stretch of land between the Brandywine River and the ominous Old Forest, serving as the Shire's eastern frontier. Most of its inhabitants belonged to the extensive Brandybuck family, and compared to other Hobbits, they appeared taller, sturdier, and more robust.
Perhaps it was because they lived so close to danger.
The Old Forest was no ordinary woodland, and the Hobbits of Buckland had learned long ago that complacency could be fatal. As a result, they were more vigilant and resilient than their kin in the western parts of the Shire. They were also among the few Hobbits who regularly wore shoes, a small but telling sign of their practicality and readiness to face the outside world.
Buckland Hobbits interacted more frequently with outsiders, especially the Men of Bree. Their clothing styles and architecture subtly reflected human influence, blending Hobbit traditions with sturdier, more defensive designs.
Robert remembered something Bilbo Baggins had once told him.
Hundreds of years ago, the ancestors of the Buckland Hobbits had crossed the Brandywine from the Eastfarthing of the Shire. They settled on Bucklebury Hill, carving out the great smial known as Brandy Hall. As generations passed and the family grew, Buckland gradually took shape around it.
Though Buckland was nominally part of the Shire, it functioned more like an independent country. It was ruled by the Brandybuck family and largely governed itself, with little interference from Hobbiton or Michel Delving.
Once the ferry reached the opposite bank, Robert disembarked and resumed his journey by carriage, heading toward Bucklebury, the capital of Buckland.
The road followed the river for some distance, passing through several quiet Hobbit villages. Along the way, Robert saw one of Buckland's most striking features—the High Hedge.
The hedge formed a vast, unbroken barrier between Buckland and the Old Forest. Tall, thick, and ancient, it stretched as far as the eye could see, an unmistakable line drawn between safety and danger.
The story of the High Hedge was well known.
When the Hobbits first settled this land, they cut down trees to build homes and fields. To protect themselves, they planted the High Hedge between their settlements and the Old Forest. This act, however, enraged the forest.
The trees of the Old Forest were not like ordinary trees.
They could think.
They could move.
And they remembered grudges.
The forest had once attempted to breach the hedge, with trees pressing forward, roots tearing at the earth as if trying to invade Buckland itself. In response, the Hobbits retaliated with fire and axes, cutting down hundreds of trees and burning back the forest's edge.
The scorched clearing left behind became known as Bonfire Glade.
Rather than resolving the conflict, the violence only deepened the hatred between forest and folk. The Old Forest grew more hostile, its trees attacking travelers and twisting paths to ensure that those who entered rarely found their way out.
As a result, the Hobbits of Buckland lived in constant wariness. They guarded the High Hedge carefully and never attempted to cross into the forest.
Robert, however, felt something very different.
Curiosity.
The trees of the Old Forest fascinated him.
Although he currently had no wand, Robert knew that wandmaking consisted of two essential components: the core and the shaft.
Cores were made from magical creatures—phoenix tail feathers, dragon heartstrings, unicorn hair, and the like.
The shaft, however, came from wood.
In the wizarding world, wandmakers identified suitable trees by the presence of Bowtruckles, magical creatures that lived only in wand-quality wood. But Bowtruckles did not exist in Middle-earth.
If Robert wished to craft his own wand someday, he would need to find an alternative method of identifying suitable materials.
The trees of the Old Forest were clearly extraordinary.
They possessed awareness, movement, and an unnatural vitality.
Robert suspected that such trees might be ideal for wand shafts.
He was the sort of wizard who planned far ahead. The more locations he signed in at, the more knowledge and opportunities he would gain. Even if he could not craft a wand yet, gathering materials in advance was a wise strategy.
With that thought in mind, Robert made a mental note of the Old Forest for the future.
By midday, his carriage reached Bucklebury.
The sight made Robert pause in genuine surprise.
Bucklebury was built entirely around Bucklebury Hill, with the Brandywine River flowing nearby. A massive hedge wall encircled the settlement, enclosing the entire hill like a natural fortress.
Most of the Hobbit homes were constructed from wood, sturdy yet cozy in appearance. At the very center and highest point of the hill stood a colossal smial carved deep into the earth.
It was Brandy Hall.
The ancestral home of the Brandybuck family.
The heart of Buckland.
Rather than seeking an inn, Robert pulled out a folded slip of paper and studied it carefully.
"Let me see… 35 Ferry Road."
He guided his carriage through the winding streets, checking house numbers as he went. Eventually, he stopped in front of a traditional smial with a round green door.
"This is it."
Robert stepped down, opened the gate, and knocked.
"Coming!" a voice called from inside.
The door opened to reveal a young Hobbit with curly brown hair, who looked up at Robert with visible confusion.
"Who are you?"
Robert bent slightly to meet his gaze and smiled politely.
"Excuse me. Are you Mr. Drogo Baggins? I am Robert the Wizard. I apologize for the sudden visit. Bilbo Baggins sends his regards."
Recognition dawned instantly on Drogo's face.
"Oh! You must be the wizard Bilbo wrote about. Please, come in!"
Drogo stepped aside warmly.
The interior of the smial reminded Robert strongly of Bag End. The ceilings were low, the furniture comfortable, and the walls decorated with maps and family heirlooms.
Drogo quickly served cookies and desserts, eager to play host.
As they talked, Drogo asked eagerly about Bilbo's recent life and adventures. The two cousins corresponded often, and Drogo clearly missed him.
Robert, of course, knew something Drogo did not.
This Hobbit would one day be the father of Frodo Baggins, the future bearer of the One Ring.
But for now, Drogo was unmarried, and Frodo had not yet been born.
When Drogo learned that Robert had already visited Great Smials, Tuckborough, Longbottom, and Frogmorton, his eyes shone with envy.
Hobbits rarely traveled, even within the Shire. Hearing Robert recount his journeys filled Drogo with fascination, and he immediately invited Robert to stay.
Robert accepted.
Over the next few days, Robert remained in Buckland. Through Drogo's introductions, he met the Master of Buckland, head of the Brandybuck family, and was warmly welcomed into Brandy Hall itself.
At last, the familiar system prompt appeared.
[Hogwarts Sign-in System: Location confirmed — Shire · Buckland · Brandy Hall.
Do you wish to sign in?]
"Sign in."
[Sign-in successful!
Congratulations on obtaining:
'Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection']
The textbook covered a wide range of dark creatures, including werewolves, Red Caps, and other dangerous beings. It also detailed several essential defensive spells:
Repelling Charm
Petrificus Totalus
Expelliarmus
Impedimenta
Finite Incantatem
Shield Charm
Robert was extremely satisfied.
Though primarily defensive, these spells were practical, reliable, and vital for survival. Once mastered, they would significantly enhance his combat awareness and defensive strength.
For a wizard walking the uncertain roads of Middle-earth, such knowledge was priceless.
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