Dear Ivy,

I hope you are well; it has been far too long since I visited Buckland. Contrary to what your mother thinks, I was quite happy to receive your letter and not as surprised as you might think. It is quite natural that you should wish to know about your aunt, especially since there is such a great deal of mystery concerning her. No doubt you have heard a great deal of nonsense from the gossipy housewives there (i.e. that she went mad and is living in someone's cellar in Bree, or that she was murdered and now haunts the Brandywine Bridge). I will tell you the truth of it, as far as I know. It is best, I think, to start from the beginning. In this case, when she first came to Hobbiton. I have sent the story to you as a narrative, a style taught to me by an old friend. It consists of my memory and the conversations and letters we shared. I hope you find it enlightening. I will send you more presently; my hands are quite fill, as my grandchildren are visiting; but I shall do my best to write you again soon.

All my love,

L.B.

P.S. I know your mother does not like to speak about what happened, so it would be best if you do not mention our letters to her or anyone else. I know I can trust your discretion.

The Beginning

The wheels of the cart creaked and tottered to and fro. Celandine watched the dirt road from Buckland grow smaller and smaller until it was just a brown thread in the hills. She sighed and reluctantly turned her gaze towards the small village ahead of them. The cart turned just before entering and went on a path to the outskirts of the village to a small group of cottages. It stopped at the last one, an older little place with a well beside it and flower boxes for the windows. Lily gave a little tug on her dress and whispered in her ear.

"I miss Buckland." Celandine gave Lily's hand a squeeze.

"We must all be very brave now and help Mama." And then leaning down to hug her, whispered in her ear, "I miss Buckland to."

A small group of curious Hobbits had gathered near the house, and Celandine could see her Uncle Berilac and his wife, Berylla, running down the lane to meet them. Celandine watched her mother's face soften at the site of her brother and his wife and she went out to meet them. The all hugged and laughed and wept and soon were talking of what repairs would be needed to made to the cottage and what should be done for the garden. Her aunt spied them and trotted over, enveloping both in hug.

"Where is Violet?" she asked glancing around the cart as though she would pop out from it unexpectedly.

"She's arriving with the rest of our things," Celandine explained. "She'll be here before nightfall."

Berylla nodded and finally noticed the throng of hobbits that had practically surrounded the cottage. Grabbing a bundle she motioned for the girls to do the same and headed for the cottage.

"Come along, Lasses; let's get this new home of yours in order."

Lily perked up immediately at her enthusiastic attitude and followed her lead. Her sister quickly followed and happily shut the door behind her.

Inside the cottage was small, but very cozy. There was a fireplace in the kitchen and one in the living room. There were two small bedrooms downstairs, three upstairs, and large cellar down below. The place had not been inhabited for a long while, which was made evident by the thick layer of dust and grime that covered everything. Even the broom, which was so dirty that Celandine had to wash it off before it could be used for sweeping. Berylla, Celandine, and Lily were soon on all floors, scrubbing the grime away.

Celandine was grateful to be doing anything because it gave less time for her to think about why she was in this little cottage scrubbing instead of at home in Buckland, taking a walk in the heather fields or sitting under a tree reading. A tear glided down her cheek but she quickly brushed it off. Her Aunt Berylla was bound to ask about it, and she did not want to cry again.

When Lily ran out to fetch some more clean water, Berylla paused her cleaning for a moment and turned her tender gaze on Celandine.

"Come here for moment lass." She said breathlessly, patting the clean spot beside her. Celandine obediently did so, resting her back against the wall.

"When Berilac received your mothers letter, she did not say much. Would you mind telling me about it, lass? There's no need to if it makes you too sad."

Celandine looked up in Berylla's face. Her face was gentle and sincere, not pitying or patronizing.

"He just didn't come home one day. We had all woken up early and had breakfast together. He had brought us all mushrooms and insisted we have them for breakfast, cooked anyway we wanted them. He left before sunup, and we all watched him leave. He always came home before it got dark outside, but that day he didn't. Mother tried to tell us that nothing was wrong, but we could see she was scared, too. She sent us to bed, and sometime in the night Master Brandybuck had come and told her that they had found him. He had drowned in the river. She woke us up one by one and told us what happened."

Large, glistening tears started falling down her face, and she felt a familiar tug on her dress. She looked down and saw Lily.

"Please don't cry, Celandine. Everything will be all right now. We have Uncle Berilac and Aunt Berylla now, and Violet will be coming soon. We will be happy here. You'll see." Tears started to fall down her face as well. "Everything must get better now, because it's all been so horrible. It's been so very bad it must get better now, mustn't it, Aunt Berylla?"

Celandine pulled Lily into a hug, and they both cried together. Berylla put her arms around them both and softly comforted them. Outside the sound of anther cart clattering up the hill reached their ears. Violet had arrived. Berylla wiped her nieces' tears and helped them get up to meet their sister.

"Yes Lily dear, it will get much better." She said, giving both of their hands a squeeze.

A few months had passed, and things did get better. Because of their father's death, the whole family had to pitch in and find work. Violet and her mother worked with Uncle Berilac in the Green Dragon, a Pub in Hobbiton. Celandine and Lily worked with their aunt, who was the Hobiton seamstress. On one particularly fine day, Berylla and her two nieces made a trip to Bag End. Belladonna Baggins and her husband were going to a wedding in Bree and needed clothes for the occasion. Berylla had been to Bag End countless times, but this was Celandine and Lily's first. As they were walking, Celandine and Lily tried to guess which Hole was Bag End.

"Ooo, Berylla, is it that one?" Lily asked, pointing with wide eyes at a rather large hole.

"Don't point, love, it's not polite." Berylla said a little hastily as she lowered Lily's hand. "And no, that is not Bag End. That hole belongs to the Sackville-Bagginsses." She said the name with some distaste, and Celandine gave her a quizzical glance.

"The Sackville-Baggineses are close relatives of the Bagginses," Berylla explained. "And they are the most sour-faced hobbits I have ever known. They have wanted Bag End ever since it was built, but no Baggins would ever sell it to them. Their nasty folk, although they can be pleasant enough when it suits them and downright charming when they are desperate enough." Berylla gave a disapproving sniff. "They're nothing like the folks at Bag End, which, if you're wondering, is right there."

Berylla pointed to the largest hobbit hole they had ever seen. Celandine and Lily stared open-mouthed.

"They must be very rich indeed," Lily whispered.

Berylla and her nieces were welcomed into Bag End by the gracious Mrs. Baggins and given tea and biscuits before starting work. Berylla started making measurements while Celandine copied them down furiously. Lily brought out the squares of material and pieces of lace for her to choose from. Mr. Baggins joined them a while later. A few hours later Celandine collapsed on the couch, finally finished with scribbling her measurements. Mr. Baggins suggested tea, to which everyone heartily agreed. Mrs. Baggins stopped suddenly and turned to Berylla.

"I almost forgot," she said offhandedly, "do you have the time to measure Bilbo as well? Bungo and I finally persuaded him to join us, and he'll be needing a new suit, as well."

"Of course, Celandine and I will measure him now before tea," said Berylla.

Celandine and Lily stared glumly at the kitchen, their stomachs grumbling in protest.

"I'll go fetch him," Mrs. Baggins said. "He's downstairs in the cellar stocking some new Wineyard."

"Oh, don't trouble yourself Belladonna. Celandine will fetch him."

She turned to her niece, who was quiet vexed by this time, and gave her quick directions to the cellar.

"Besides, you've never seen a cellar before, love," Berylla said with a twinkle in her eyes.

Celandine huffily took off for the cellar. 'Never seen a cellar my foot,' Celandine thought. 'What is she up too?'

The stairs down the cellar were dark, and the air was damp and dusky. Celandine grew sulkier with each step.

"Hullo, Master Baggins?" she called, hoping he would appear quickly and she could get out of here.

"I'm here," said a muffled voice.

Celandine continued down the steps into cellar and saw a light peak through a door in the back of the room. Celandine knock on the door.

"Come in," the voice said.

Celandine opened the door and peaked inside. In the corner of the room she saw a hobbit seated at a desk. He had dark curls that fell across his forehead and his face and, although somewhat hidden by shadows, appeared to be very handsome. Celandine was very surprised to say the least. She had expected a lad, not some handsome young hobbit. She suddenly felt very silly and awkward.

"I beg your pardon, sir, but your mother asked me to fetch you upstairs," Celandine said, hoping she didn't sound to foolish.

He nodded but seemed very absorbed in what he was writing. She was very curious by nature, and before she thought better of it, asked him what he was writing. He looked up, surprised.

"Oh, just some letters." He said absentmindedly

"Letters?" Celandine inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"When my father was courting my mother, he wrote her letters while he was away in Bree, working for his father. She wrote him back and they both kept the letters. I am copying them down in our Family Tree so that they aren't lost."

Celandine was so surprised she almost didn't know what to say. Bilbo took her speechlessness as disapproval.

"You must think it rather silly," he said expectantly "Most of my kinfolk do. They say it's just sentimental dribble that's not worth saving."

"Your male kinfolk, I presume," she said a little defensively. "I think that it is rather sweet and romantic. Not many Hobbit lads have the patients for romance I think."

A surprised look passed across his face, but it quickly passed, and he carefully placed the letters and the book in the desk drawer.

"Well, let's get upstairs before mother thinks we got lost," he said with a sparkle in his eye. Celandine nodded and followed him upstairs.

"Well, there you are. Dear me, I was beginning to think you got lost!" Mrs. Baggins exclaimed.

Bilbo gave Celandine a knowing glance, and she grinned.

"Celandine, love, I am going to help Belladonna in the kitchen. You can take Master Bilbo's measurements, and Lily will write them for you."

Lily stood in the living room, beaming at her promotion and ready with pencil in hand. Celandine tried not to blush as she led Bilbo to the stool in the living room.

"Just stand on here if you please," she directed.

Bilbo did as he was asked, and Celandine pulled out the measuring tape. She began making the measurements and tried not to think about those charming curls or the fact that her fingers were trembling slightly.

"How do you like being a seamstress, Miss Celandine?" he asked.

Celandine gave such a start that she pricked her finger with the needle she was using to hold the tape in place.

"How on earth did you know my name?" Celandine asked before sticking her injured finger in her mouth.

"The shire is crawling with my spies," he said with a mischievous grin.

Lily giggled. Celandine shook her hand to try and ease the painful pinprick. Bilbo took her hand and gave her finger a squeeze. She felt her face turn scarlet and gently took her hand back. She quickly resumed her work and risked a glance at him while she expressed her thanks. Bilbo smiled.

"You have very lovely eyes," he said and then blushed, as he didn't realize he had spoken aloud. Celandine could only manage a soft "thank you" in her shock.

Bilbo continued to charm Lily and Celandine with his wit. Celandine tired to finish quickly. She kept telling herself that he was probably this charming to everyone, and she was no different. She had a particular weakness for charm.

Tea was absolute torture. Berylla insisted that Bilbo sit with them, and he pulled up a chair next to Celandine.

"Your Hole is very large, Master Bilbo," Lily said nonchalantly. "Are you very rich?"

Celandine choked on her tea.

"Lily!" She hissed, elbowing her in the ribs.

Bilbo laughed. "I suppose so," he said.

"I'm glad." Lily said, ignoring her sister. "Because my Aunt in Buckland told me that I should marry someone very rich so we could move back, and I like you very much. Perhaps I should marry you."

Everyone at the table burst out laughing.

"Lily, don't ask such silly things,"  Berylla said, finally a little embarrassed by her niece's tongue.

"Besides," Bilbo interjected, glancing at Celandine "I thought it was customary to have the oldest daughter get married first."

Celandine felt her face grow hot. She tried to keep her eyes on her cup of tea.

"You would have to marry Violet, then? She is the oldest," Celandine said coolly.

"Oh, you have another sister?" he asked, lifting his eyebrows.

"Yes, Violet. She works at the Green Dragon with our Uncle."

"Is she your sister? I've seen her there," Bilbo said, sounding quite surprised.

"She is very pretty, our Violet. Everybody in Buckland said she was the prettiest little hobbit lass they had ever seen, and there wasn't a lad there who wasn't smitten with her at one time or another." She said this with a little pride.

"What about you?" Bilbo asked.

Celandine looked at him puzzled. "What about me?" She asked.

"You must have had the lads in a flutter, as well," he said, smiling at her.

'He must be mocking me,' she thought.

"No, not at all. The Hobbits of Buckland had their hands full with my sister. I am too quiet and not nearly pretty enough to inspire that kind of admiration."

"What makes you think that?" he asked, almost indignantly.

Celandine was surprised. He was looking at her so intensely. Celandine felt as though the background of the kitchen faded away, and it was just herself and Bilbo, looking at each other with forgotten teacups in their hands. Celandine had always known she was the plainest of her sisters and was used to being overlooked in favor of her older sister's angelic looks and personality and her younger sister's adorable charm. She tired very hard not to be silly and think herself enamored of some hobbit that, in reality, never thought twice about her, but sometimes it was so very hard. She kept trying to tell herself he couldn't possibly think she was anything but some plain hobbit lass who was a seamstress. But then why was he looking at her like that?

"I, I don't know." She said, nearly forgetting the question from the heady feeling she got from looking into his eyes. They sat like that for a few minutes until they began to notice that everyone had stopped talking and were looking at them.

"Would you like some more tea?" Belladonna asked a little awkwardly.

"Yes, please!" replied Bilbo and Celandine simultaneously.

On the way home Lily chatted non-stop about Bag-End and its wonderful inhabitants. How nice Mrs. Baggins was! And how big and beautiful their Hole was!

"And, Celandine," Lily said, tugging on her dress. "How very handsome Master Bilbo is!"

Celandine blushed. "Yes Lily, Master Bilbo is very handsome," Celandine said distractedly.

"He likes you!" Lily said, skipping about.

"What silly thing to say!" Celandine exclaimed. "Of course, he doesn't."

"Oh, yes, he does! He kept looking at you while you took his measurements. And he said you had pretty eyes!" Lily exclaimed triumphantly. Celandine opened her mouth to protest, but her Aunt Berylla stopped her.

"I have it on good authority that Master Bilbo only agreed to go to the wedding so he could meet you when he had his suit made," she said, grinning from ear to ear. Lily clapped her hands in delight.

"Where did you such a ridiculous story?" Celandine demanded in disbelief.

"My spies, dearie. Hobbition is crawling with my spies," she said with a wink.