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Bilbo stomped into the courtyard. His helmet was too big. His armour clanked. “I am a BRAVE knight,” he said. “A proper, grown-up, serious knight.”
Then Bilbo saw the castle gate. It leaned. It wobbled. It creaked. “A brave knight fixes wobbly things,” he said. So he rolled up his sleeves.
Bilbo pushed. He grunted. He pushed harder. The gate did not move — not even a bit. Bilbo was surprised because he pushed very bravely. “Hmm,” he said.
He tied a rope to the gate. He pulled. He pulled and pulled and PULLED. Slip! Bilbo sat down hard in the mud. “Knights do NOT sit in mud,” he grumbled.
He found a mallet. He gave the gate a WHACK. Clang! Bang! WOBBLE. The gate leaned even MORE to the left. Bilbo felt a tiny bit worried.
Just then, Pip ran in with a yellow scarf flying. “Need help, Bilbo?” Bilbo puffed up his chest. “I am a knight. I do NOT need help.” But his helmet flopped over his eye.
Pip giggled — just a little. Then he held up a bucket of stones. “What if we WEDGE it?” said Pip. “No pushing. No pulling. Just clever.” Bilbo blinked. That was… a very good idea.
“I will hold the gate,” said Pip. “You wedge the stones, Sir Bilbo.” Bilbo climbed. He wedged. He hammered each stone quick and sure. They worked together because two knights are braver than one.
CLUNK. The gate stood STRAIGHT. Bilbo jumped. Pip jumped. They both cheered LOUD. “We fixed it!” yelled Bilbo. The gate did not wobble at all.
Bilbo reached into his pocket. He pulled out his shiniest badge. “This is for you,” said Bilbo. “You are a brave knight too, Pip.” Pip beamed and pinned it on his scarf.
They sat against the straight, still gate. Apples in hand. Helmets tilting. Bilbo was still small. Everyone still knew it. But brave knights, he thought, find the best helpers. And that felt very grown-up indeed.
