The sun was beginning to sink on western horizon. It cast long golden rays over the peaceful fields of Hobbiton, which were now showing the new growth of spring. The weather was mild for this time of year, and the flowers had bloomed early. There were many folks still busy outside, giddy with the fresh spring air. This was the time for airing out hobbit holes that had been shut against the long winter chill. It was nearing supper time, so most hobbits were making their way towards home.
In the last rays of the sun sat Elanor at the foot of the great Mallorn tree which had grown right in the center of the Party Field. She was called 'Elanor the Fair' by many people because of her light golden hair, which was quite a rarity among Hobbits, and also because her beauty had a somewhat Elvish quality to it. This pleased her more than she would ever admit out loud, for she had the same humble demeanor as her father Samwise.
Elanor was fifteen years old, which was considered to be very young by hobbit standards. She hadn't even reached her 'tweens' which for Hobbits was the period of time between the ages of 20 and 33. She was very independent and curious, traits which her father joked, could only have come from some unknown Took relative.
She had taken to copying stories from the Red Book which her father kept. This was a book of wonderful tales about important people and places. It was a very special book indeed, originally begun by Bilbo Baggins himself, an especially famous and adventurous hobbit. His dealings with Smaug the Dragon were legend, as was of course, his finding of the Ring of Power.
Bilbo had handed down the book (and the ring) to his nephew Frodo Baggins, who had been Sam's closest friend and companion. Frodo had added to the book the tale of the Ring of Power, and had left it to Sam before departing to the Grey Havens. She could hardly believe that the father she knew was none other than Samwise The Brave, one of the chief characters of the stories. He was a doting father and husband, and had a love of gardening unparalleled in these parts. She was proud to know that he had been so brave and important. Samwise would not yet let her read all of the stories in the book, but that restriction only fueled her desire to read them even more!
Elanor dreamed of these adventures, and frequently begged her father for further details of his travels...at least the parts he was willing to talk about. She had never been outside of the Shire even once in her life, but the stories in the Red Book inspired her young imagination. Just as she closed her eyes to imagine the high cliffs and waterfalls of Rivendell, something tickled her face. She hastily opened her eyes and brushed off what turned out to be blades of grass. A young boy of about seven stood giggling at her.
"You are a little brat," huffed Elanor at her younger brother Frodo, although he could tell by the sparkle in her eye that she wasn't really cross. Little Frodo also had golden hair like his sister, as did a few of Sam & Rosie's other children.
"Mum and Dad say they need us to come home right away," said Frodo, breathless from just having just run all the way from Bag End. "There is some big news in the Shire," he said breathlessly. "They wouldn't tell me what it was, but I saw old Hob on the post road, and he said The King is coming. Here!"
Elanor's eyes shot open, and any trace of sleepy daydreaming was shocked out of her.
"The King? Here? Is the Queen coming too?" she gasped.
Tales of the beauty of the Elven Queen Arwen were well known, even among Shire folk. But before she could say another word Frodo was off like a shot, already racing over the field towards home. She took off after him, just as fast. She was a sturdy lass, and hobbit children are quick as jack rabbits, and just as nimble.
As she approached Bag End (which Sam had also inherited from Frodo Baggins) she saw her father sitting on the bench outside, smoking his pipe with a rather pensive expression on his face.
"Hullo, Sam-Dad," said Elanor, catching her father's mood and hoping to cheer him up with her special nick name for him.
"Oh, hullo Elanorelle," said Sam warmly, greeting his daughter with his own made-up Elvish version of her name.
"Is it true?" she blurted out, unable to control her curiosity. "Is the King coming to the Shire?"
Sam sucked on his pipe and nodded. "Aye, he is. And Queen Arwen, too!"
Elanor jumped up and clapped, unable to contain herself. Sam remained seated and regarded her with a quiet and serious expression. Elanor picked up on this.
"What's wrong, Sam-Dad?"
Sam tamped out his pipe and smiled. "Nuthin'. Nuthin' at all. In fact, it's all wonderful news. Let's go inside and look at the letter together!"
