"Am I really going to spend all summer with Frodo Papa?" young Estella Bolger asked as she helped her father fold clothes and pack them.
"Yes, yes dear," Odovacar Bolger replied in his deep, hearty voice "while your mother, and brother and I are off in the Northfarthing visiting relatives, you will be staying with Frodo and Bilbo. They've promised to take excellent care of you."
Estella let her lips curl into a grin, she loved everything about visiting Bag End. The wonderful stories Bilbo told her, the games Frodo played with her, the delicious treats they would make, the songs they would sing by the fire.
"For the WHOLE summer?" she asked again. Odovacar shook his head with a grin.
"Most of the summer anyway." he answered, closing his daughter's bag and lifting her from the bed. She laughed as he swung her around.
"Are you two ready?"
Rosamunda Bolger was standing in the bedroom doorway, bags in her hands, bonnet on her head. Eyeing her husband curiously with bright green eyes. Odovacar often told his two children that he first fell in love with their mother because of her eyes. Estella's were almost identical to them, they were big and round and bright with a wise sort of innocence.
"We're coming Rosa, darling." Odovacar replied, setting his little, golden haired girl on the floor. She skipped to the edge of her bed and grabbed her stuffed bear. Something she had received from Frodo and Bilbo when she was just born. She had remained close to them ever since.
She ran to her mother and followed her out to the wagon parked on the road. She couldn't help but feel slightly sorry to be leaving her own home in Buckland but at the same time was eager to be off. Her elder brother, Fredegar joined them momentarily with a great smile spread over his face, as excited for his adventure as she was. Estella even felt it in her heart to grin at him despite their long standing dislike of each other.
"Are we ready then?" Rosamunda asked them as they began to clamber into the wagon.
"Yes! Yes!" Estella laughed, bouncing up and down in ecstasy. Odovacar smiled and hoisted her into a seat.
As they began down the path, Estella couldn't help turning to watch her home slowly dissolve into the landscape of the Shire. She couldn't shake the feeling that she would not be returning in the manner she was now. Yet, she was too young to make much of it and, shrugging the thought away, she turned back to face the road they were travelling.
It seemed years later when the wagon began climbing the hill up Bagshot Row, though in reality, it was only just over a day. Estella grinned in absolute delight as she caught sight of the familiar places and things that made up the town of Hobbiton. She was almost to Bag End, where she would be spending the entire summer in the company of Frodo and Bilbo. As the wagon drew up beside Bag End's gates, Estella leapt from her seat and charged into the garden.
"Frodo! Frodo!" she called out as she skipped up the steps. She suddenly felt strange eyes on her and turned to see a young hobbit boy. Not too much older than herself, with a head of slightly messed gold curls and a tanned, ruddy face, streaked with dirt. He knelt in the soil of Bilbo's garden with a trowel in one hand, and a flowerpot in the other. He stared at her curiously, with light blue eyes and simple wisdom.
"H-hullo," Estella said uncertainly. He replied with a wave, but, seeming shy, turned back to his garden without saying anything. Estella, outgoing as always, took a few steps towards him.
"My name's Estella," she said cheerfully "What's yours?" he sat back on his feet and looked up at her with a slight blush in his cheeks.
"Ummm, Samwise...Sam Gamgee." he said softly, scratching his head nervously.
"Pleased to meet you Sam!" Estella grinned, holding out a small hand to a newfound friend. Sam just looked at it for a moment.
"I don't bite." Estella urged, pushing her hand closer. Sam smiled and shook it.
"Pleased to meet you as well Miss Estella." he replied quietly.
"Just Estella will suit." Estella told him.
"Estella!"
The lovely familiar voice floated gracefully to Estella's ears and she turned to see Frodo with outstretched arms. The urge to run to him was uncontrollable and she did so. He lifted her up and swung her around as if she was his little sister and not just a friend. He kissed her cheek as she squeezed his neck in pleasure. So happy to finally be with the hobbit she had always felt was closer than any other. He lowered her to the ground and began asking her throngs of questions she was too excited to answer. Sam watched it all from his spot in the garden.
"How was your trip?" Frodo asked, the depths of his electric blue eyes grinning at her.
"Oh, fine, nothing special," Estella told him, shrugging her shoulders "But it seemed to take forever to get here! Can we go out to play now Frodo?" she questioned pleadingly. Frodo laughed.
"Not quite yet, 'Stella." he replied "After supper perhaps." he took her hand and led her back to the wagon where her family was unloading her things.
"Hullo Frodo." Rosamunda said politely, taking his outstreched hand and shaking it. "I hope Estella didn't run you down in her frenzy."
"Oh no," Frodo laughed. His laugh was different than the other male hobbits Estella knew. While hobbits like her father laughed in deep, rumbling voices, Frodo's was lighter and higher, and altogether nicer to Estella's ears.
Odovacar hefted the last of Estella's things from the wagon and placed it on the ground.
"Well, well Frodo," he smiled "She's already caused some excitement around here I see. I hope she won't be too much trouble for you and Bilbo?"
"Oh no sir," Frodo answered "she's the perfect addition to Bag End."
"That depends how you look at it." Fredegar interuppted from his seat in the wagon. Estella glowered at his sarcastic face. But Frodo just laughed.
"Indeed, it does depend how you look at it Fredegar," he said "And I choose to look at it positively." Estella grinned, defending her from her brother was one of the many reasons she enjoyed being in Frodo's company.
"Where's your uncle then Frodo?" Odovacar asked "We have to be on our way soon and I'd like to see him before we go."
"Well, we didn't realize you'd be so early so he stepped out for a bit. So sorry."
"Oh, that's fine. Just be sure to tell him 'hello' for us. And 'thank you' for taking care of our dear Estella." Odovacar said bending down to wrap his daughter in a hug.
"I will." Frodo answered softly, watching the Bolger's say 'good-bye' to their little girl. He felt slightly sorrowed when he saw Estella being fawned over and adored by her parents. Since the tragic death of his own mother and father many years ago, he always became sensitive to a sweet family parting like this. But he swallowed the lump in his throat and put on his best smile as the family said their last farewell's.
"Be a good girl for Frodo and Bilbo alright?" Rosamunda told her precious daughter, the building up of tears choking her voice. Estella nodded.
"I will Mama." Estella replied, a few tears falling down her rosy cheeks. The feeling she'd had earlier was creeping back, stronger and stranger now. She felt that this really was the last time she would see her family and it confused and upset her. She buried her face in her mothers shoulder and hugged her tightly before letting Frodo pry her away and take her hand. She instantly felt comforted and was able to smile and wave to her family as they pulled out and down the road.
"Bye 'Stella!" Fredegar called, sounding almost sincere.
"Bye!" Estella returned "Bye..."
Estella stood clutching Frodo's hand tightly, watching her small family disappear into the rolling green hills of Hobbiton.
"Come now Estella," Frodo said softly, sensing her distress "Bilbo and I prepared the guest room for you." Estella turned away from the road, and followed Frodo up the steps to the house.
"Sam!" Frodo called "Can you help me with Estella's things?" Sam immediately dropped his spade and came running.
"Be right there Mr Frodo!" he answered. Estella could see the eagerness in his steps as he came to aid his master. She knew at that moment, that this young hobbit would follow her dear Frodo anywhere. She wished she had such a friend at her side. Sam grabbed the last bag, which Estella's bear was perched on. He took it and held it out to her.
"Is this yours?" he asked softly. She nodded gratefully and took it from his dirty, outstretched hand.
"You still have that old bear I got you?" Frodo asked, slightly surprised.
"Uh-huh!" she replied "I never go anywhere without him!" Frodo smiled and led her into the house with Sam following closely behind.
The interior of Bag End was in disarray as usual, but Estella hardly noticed as she took in the sights and smells of her favorite place in all the Shire.
"It's as lovely as ever!" she exclaimed, tracing her fingers over some of Bilbo's collectibles.
"Only you would say that when it's in such a state!" Frodo laughed, taking the bag from Sam and letting him return to his gardening.
Estella skipped into the living area which was strewn with maps and books and all manner of learning material she desperately wanted to read and study. Frodo peeked his head into the room.
"Would you like to see you're room now?" he asked. She smiled and nodded, following him down the hall and into her new room.
It was a lovely little place with a windowseat and white walls, a fireplace, and a rosebud print on the bedsheets. A nice little wood dresser and floors that shone radiantly in the morning sunshine.
"You did this for me?" Estella asked, walking in carefully so as not to mess up the floors.
"It wasn't too much work, I got it cleaned up pretty quickly." he replied, his ever-shining blue eyes grinning at her as she explored her new abode.
In reality, cleaning up the room had been a long and difficult process but Frodo had hardly minded at all. He adored Estella and wanted only the best for her. He couldn't imagine her sleeping in anything not fit for a princess. And indeed, as far as hobbits' rooms went, it was a space fit for a princess.
Estella turned and ran to him to wrap him in a grateful hug.
"I'm really glad you're here Estella." he said, eyes watering slightly as he embraced his fair-haired friend. How this little girl had captured his heart! She was one of his dearest and closest friends. He loved her terribly and would take the best care of her while she stayed.
"I love you Frodo. Lots." she told him in a sweet whisper.
A steady stream of the morning sunlight poured into the room, illuminating the surreal scene in the guest room of Bag End.