In the House of Tom Bombadil

Frodo encounters a power entity and wonders if he's the solution

Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin all relaxed in the house of Tom Bombadil as his wife, Goldberry, sang songs to them and handed them tea.

“This Tom Bombadil certainly is an odd sort,” Sam whispered to Frodo. “I wonder who he really is.”

“We’re just lucky he came when he did,” Frodo said. “That willow tree nearly crushed Merry and Pippin.”

“What an adventure that was,” Merry stated. “Who knew old trees could attack like that.”

Frodo nodded. “Quite an adventure… still, if one were adapting everything we went through to another medium and needed to cut some things for time, I could see that adventure being one of those left out.”

“As nice as this place is,” Sam said. “We better get back to our journey. We can’t let those ring wraiths catch up with us and take the Ring.”

“Show me this precious Ring!” Tom said suddenly, and Frodo, to his own astonishment, drew out the chain from his pocket, and unfastening the Ring handed it at once to Tom.

Tom held the ring a moment and then held up the Ring and peered at the hobbits through it with his big blue eye, letting out a laugh. And in an instant, the Ring was on his finger, and the hobbits were astonished to realize Tom had not disappeared. Tom then spun the Ring in the air, and it vanished in a flash. Frodo gave a startled cry, but Tom simply leaned forward and handed the Ring back to Frodo with a smile.

As Tom went back to merry singing, Frodo looked at the Ring and then Tom, his face full of astonishment. “Sam, Merry, Pippen — did you see all that?” Frodo asked. “The Ring had no power over him.”

“What is this man?” Sam asked. “I’ve never seen any like him.”

“You heard him earlier claiming to be as old as this world,” Merry said. “Could he have great power — even greater than Sauron?”

“If so, maybe he can take care of the Ring for us,” Frodo stated. “Maybe even destroy it. There is no malice in him; I can’t see why he’d refuse.”

“Well, why don’t you ask him?” Sam suggested.

Cautiously, Frodo approached the jolly figure of Tom. “Derry dol, merry dol, ring a ding dillo!” sang Tom.

“Hey, I wanted to ask you something,” Frodo started.

“Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow,” Tom continued to sing. “Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow.”

“Yes, those are quite some yellow boots you have,” Frodo said politely, “but I wanted to discuss that Ring you saw earlier.”

“Ho ho, yes!” said Tom. “Quite a ring a ding dillo it was. Now let us enjoy good food and good drink!”

“Yes, food and drink are good and all,” Frodo admitted, “but we really need to talk more about the Ring. This Ring could mean the downfall of all of Middle Earth were Sauron to get it back. Thus, we were wondering if you could help us.”

“Look at me!” Tom exclaimed as he pranced about. “I’m doing a silly dance!”

Frodo nodded. “Yes, that’s quite a silly dance. But I really need you to concentrate a second on the Ring and the possible doom of everything.”

“Ring a ding dillo, I’m Tom Bombadillo!” Tom exclaimed as he continued to dance.

“Yes, we all got your name,” Frodo said patiently, “but you also seem to be a powerful being.”

“Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow,” Tom sang as he walked up to Frodo. “Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow.”

“Yes, a powerful being with… yellow boots,” Frodo said, struggling a bit to remain calm. “And you sure seem to like this forest here. How would you like it if Sauron and his forces came and burnt it all down? You wouldn’t like that, would you?”

Tom seemed to consider this for a moment. And then he did a jig. “I’m doing a silly dance again!”

Frodo growled in frustration. He then turned to Goldberry. “You’re his wife, right?”

“Yep, I married her,” Tom answered for her. “She’s the river daughter.”

“I don’t know what that means,” Frodo said, losing his cool a bit. “In fact, I don’t know what anything about you means. Nothing about you makes sense. I’m just sensing you’re quite powerful, and thus, I’m hoping you’ll help us before all we love dear is destroyed because of that Ring.”

Tom nodded. And then he sang, “Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow. Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow.”

“I swear to all that is holy,” Frodo screamed, “if you tell me your boots are yellow one more time…”

Sam patted Frodo on the back. “Maybe it’s time to go, Master Frodo.”

“And burn this house down on the way,” Frodo seethed.

“Ring a ding dillo!” Tom called to the four hobbits as they left.

“Shut up!” Frodo screamed.

As they got outside and mounted their ponies, Frodo growled, “Again, if someone one day adapts our adventures to another medium, they should leave out this whole part with Tom Bombadil because it’s stupid and pointless and I hate it!”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” Sam said, “but you’re probably right.”