'Who Ever Said Romance Was Over'
It was around luncheon when all four hobbits finally awoke. Merry and Pippin were in the bathroom while Sam and Frodo were getting dressed. Frodo buttoned up his white, cotton shirt while his wet, curly hair dripped onto his shoulders and down his forehead. He pulled his braces up and slumped onto the unmade bed. Sam sighed as he sat down on the floor close by. "Why so glum Sam?" asked Frodo. "Well… You see, ever since I danced with Rosie Cotton last night, I haven't stopped thinkin' about her. I keep thinkin' about her pretty smile and the way her small 'and fit perfectly into mine and…" "Oh Sam. You really care about that girl don't you?" "Sure I do, she is the most beautiful and kindest girl in all of Middle – Earth, and one day, I am going to marry her." "Try not to get too ahead of yourself Sam." Frodo said with a laugh. Merry burst into the room with Pippin not far behind. "How about this for an idea? What if we go to the Bolger's house and ask for Fatty and Estella?" Merry asked. Sam stuttered excitedly "And and and she can round up all her friends and…" "Good idea Sam," interrupted Merry, "let's do it!" The four boys ran down the stairs and out of the house in a huddle. Merry and Pippin picked up a small basket full of food and drink to have a picnic with. They arrived at the Bolger's house and the hobbit lads waited for Estella and Merry to return with the rest of them. They took a little long than expected but there was no telling what Merry had got up to on their way to collect the other girls.
Once all the young hobbits were reunited, they slowly made their way towards an open space on the bank of the frozen Brandywine River. Frodo couldn't help but stare at how soft Elanor's hair looked as the bright white snow began to land on her head. They set a thick blanket down on to a patch of land. Pippin immediately started to dig into the food that was in the basket, unknown to the fact that Diamond and shuffled up beside him and was fluttering her eyelashes. Sam had, very gentlemanly, offered Rosie a drink and was sat, gazing at her while she told him about her family's yuletide celebration. Frodo could feel something inside him tingling and he watched how sweetly Elanor played with her hair and how beautiful her laugh was. He felt like every time she smiled, everything was right with the world. He couldn't describe how he felt. He had never felt like this about any other hobbit before. The only thing he knew is that he liked this feeling. A lot.
"Are you coming with us?" Sam asked Frodo. Pippin and Merry had decided that taking a walk along the river side in the snow would be a fun idea. They had persuaded Sam, Rosie, Estella, Fatty and Diamond to come along too. Elanor refused to go; she claimed her feet would get too cold. "Someone should stay and look after Elanor." Frodo smiled at Elanor. "Come on then, let's go!" shouted Pippin excitedly. "Have fun you two" Merry smirked as they walked away.
They were alone. Frodo felt his nerves getting the better of him as palms began to clam up. "I really admire your art work Elanor." Frodo said nervously as she moved a little closer to him. "Thank you." She giggled while she moved a piece of hair from out of her eyes. She thought she knew exactly what Frodo felt towards her. They were best friends again. However, Frodo wasn't so sure. "So… maybe soon I can do a drawing of you?" Elanor leaned back against the tree behind her and tilted her head slightly. Frodo's stomach began to flip. He had never seen her look more beautiful than she did at that moment. She turned her head sideways, looked him in the eyes, and smiled sweetly. Frodo couldn't control himself. He leaned in close to her face, closed his eyes and kissed her hard on the lips. He found his hands running down her arms and holding her waist close to his. She kissed him back; grabbing the back of his neck with the palm of her hand and pulling his head in even closer, threading her fingers through his curly hair. They could feel each other's hearts skip a beat inside their chests. Frodo pulled away for air; resting his forehead on hers. He knew now exactly what he was feeling. He had fallen in love. They continued to kiss each other passionately until Elanor retreated, opened her eyes and sank into Frodo's embrace. She laid one her other hand on his upper trunk. Frodo kept his eyes shut. He never wanted this feeling to stop. He felt totally at ease with her in his arms. He adjusted the way they were sitting so she was sat across his lap. He tried to talk but she hushed him, putting one of her thin fingers gently on his lips. Instead, they just sat there; Elanor moved her hand further towards the back of Frodo's hair and entangled her fingers in it as they hugged for what seemed like a life time. "I've missed you, Frodo Baggins." Elanor whispered into Frodo's ear. "I have missed you too." Frodo replied with a sigh of delight.
The two hobbits snapped back into reality when they heard the sound of their friends' voices in the distance. They hadn't noticed that the snow had stopped falling and had left a thin layer of snow on top of the picnic basket. Elanor shyly got up and tried to find something to do. Frodo sat there; admiring every movement she made while he laid back, resting against a nearby rock. Elanor returned to sit beside him and she knotted her fingers with his. "What's goin' on 'ere?" Sam asked as he approached his friends.
None of them ever did find out exactly what Frodo and Elanor got up to on that snowy day in winter; but it blossomed into the most beautiful romance that the two lovers could ever had dreamt of. Full of love, compassion, but above all, inevitable loss.