Chapter 1- An Impromptu Tea Party

The Shire, with all its peace and beauty, could be considered a place that many would want to live. Yet the only problem was that, because of its tranquility, nothing much ever changed. The seasons passed in the usual fashion, without much variance at all. Sometimes Lilly Banks thought it was like being asleep, or in a never ending dream. She awoke in the morning, she had breakfast with her Mum, Da, her brother Teddy, and her sister, Daisy, helped at her family's store, went home, had dinner, and fell asleep. Then she'd do it again the next day, and the next and the next. It wasn't a bad life by any means, but sometimes she wished that her life could be different. Maybe some small ups every once and a while would suit, something to break up the tedium. Perhaps it could be just a small thing, but nice or different. Was that too much to ask?

Maybe it was, Lilly thought one beautiful fall day. It was after luncheon now, and she should be heading downstairs to help Da out at the store where they sold almost anything, from "soup to nuts" as he would say. But she didn't feel like it. She lay on her bed, day-dreaming about what places there might be outside of the Shire. She'd heard stories, of course, from the seemingly one hobbit who'd ever traveled- Bilbo Baggins. He'd created fanciful tales about Elves and Rivendell, dwarves and dragons. They were fascinating to her, and she'd wished many times that she could meet one of the Elves. They sounded amazingly beautiful and wise to her, and she'd like to hear all their stories as well. Yet she sometimes wondered how much was true about Bilbo's tales. Though she did not consider Bilbo completely cracked like some of the other hobbits, she sometimes thought that he might have embellished some of it for the sake of the story. But she supposed she'd never know now. Old Bilbo had vanished at his one hundred and eleventh birthday party last fall, and no one had seen him since. No one had seen Frodo Baggins, his heir, Merry Brandybuck, or Samwise Gamgee for months either, and her cousin, Pippin Took was missing too. Where had they all gone?

"Lilly!"

Lilly sighed. Mum was calling her, and though she didn't particularly want to, she forced herself off her bed and walked downstairs to the kitchen. "Yes, Mum?" she said.

Mum stood at the table, putting scones in several different baskets. Lilly instantly wondered at that. Had a new hobbit family moved to Bywater or something? Mum glanced at her briefly, before she returned to her task. "Oh there you are, Lilly," she said. "I was hoping you could do something for me this afternoon, as long as you don't have any other plans."

She didn't really, not unless she counted sitting on her bed and thinking, which didn't truly count. Mum wouldn't count it; that was for sure. Besides, Da could probably use her help at the store as usual. "No, I don't have any plans," said Lilly. "What do you need?" She took one of the scones and nibbled on it.

"Well, I received a letter from your Aunt Eglantine the other day and Pippin is finally back," she said.

Lilly felt more than a little excited about that. Pippin was one of her favorite cousins. Life was never dull when he was around, and it certainly broke up some of the tedium. "Really? That's wonderful. I'm so glad."

Mum gave her a smile. "So I made these scones for him and Merry, and Ruby will make sure Merry gets some. Just as a welcome back, you know." Lilly nodded. Her brother in law, Rob Burrows, and her oldest sister, Ruby, lived closer to Buckland than they did, and it made sense that Mum would ask Ruby to help. It also made sense that her Mum would do something as kind and thoughtful as send scones to welcome those hobbits back. "I've sent some with Daisy to give to Sam Gamgee."

"That's nice, Mum," said Lilly sincerely. "It's so very gracious of you."

Mum looked pleased at the compliment. "Thank you, Lilly," she said. "But it's really the least we can do for them. From what Eglantine wrote, it doesn't sound like they had an easy time of it."

"That's a shame," said Lilly. "She didn't mention where they went, did she?"

Mum shook her head. "No," she said, almost to herself. "She didn't really say much on that at all."

Mum sounded slightly distracted, and Lilly wondered if there was something that Mum wasn't saying. She stared at the basket she had been filing with scones as if the answers of the world were in it. It wasn't like her mother at all. Ordinarily, she was so cheerful. "Mum?" said Lilly softly.

Mum blinked. "Yes, Lilly, I'm sorry. I haven't told you why I called you down, have I? It's not that complicated. I was just hoping you could go to Bag End and give some to Frodo Baggins."

Lilly had taken a bite of her scone, and now she nearly choked on it. "Um…Frodo?" Her mum wanted her to go to Bag End? She'd hear the rumors, of course, that Frodo was back when she was at the store and he was apparently even more cracked than before. Yet she wasn't sure how much of that were true. Probably none of it actually, concerning it mostly came from the Grubbs and the Chubbs. They weren't exactly known for their honesty, and she didn't think that he could be as cracked as they said. He'd never been cracked, not in her mind anyway. They just said that because he'd never been like them, which was a wonderful thing, to be sure. They were fairly shallow, and one thing that Frodo was not was shallow. So why should she not go? It would be certainly nice to see him again.

"Yes, Lilly," said Mum. "Could you please do this for me? I'd like to go, but with the store and everything-…."

"No, Mum," said Lilly, able to speak again. "It's fine. I'll go right now if you'd like me to."

A look of relief crossed Mum's face. "That would be wonderful, thank you." She handed Lilly a small basket of scones, and Lilly took it, after pulling on her shawl. "I'll be back for dinner," she said, and left after giving a smile to her Mum.

As she walked toward Bag End, Lilly mused that she hadn't seen Frodo for a long time- a year at least. Not since Bilbo's birthday party last September, if she remembered correctly. Her thoughts traveled backward, and she imagined that night in her mind. He had looked so very handsome, in that vest of his, and she had wished that he would dance with her.

He hadn't, of course. The closest she had been to anything remotely like it was when he danced by himself next to her. She almost laughed despite herself. He hadn't been particularly good at it either, though she was sure he probably didn't know that or didn't care. He had looked at her once and smiled, but soon after that he'd gone to talk to Sam about something.

She'd always had a soft spot in her heart for Frodo though. It wasn't something that had started last year or the year before that. It likely went all the way back to when Teddy was just a wee little hobbit and getting into trouble with Merry, Pippin, Fatty Bolger, and even Frodo too. She could recall one time when Mum had asked her to go find Teddy when he'd been off with them and tell him to come home for dinner. She had found them, all right, but they'd thought it be grand to hide from her, and then run away when she grew close to finding them again. Acts that she could only credit as something they thought was fun in their young and slightly juvenile (at the time, that is) minds. The little blighters! When she'd tried to run after Teddy and Pippin, she'd tripped and fallen right on her face, scraping up her knee. She'd been on the verge of tears, thinking that the five of them were acting perfectly beastly. But Frodo had come out of his hiding spot and asked her very sympathetically if she was all right.

She'd thought then that he was a special and exceptionally kind hobbit, and that opinion hadn't diminished over the years.

Lost in her own thoughts, she found that Bag End came up sooner than she thought it would, and she stared at the green door in hesitation. How should you greet someone whom you haven't seen in a year?

"Hello, Lilly," she heard Sam say behind her. "Thank you very much for the scones."

She turned to face him. It didn't surprise her much that he was here. He and Frodo had always been close friends, and she was sure that their journey together hadn't changed that. Besides, Sam was his gardener. Sam also happened to be one of the gentlest and kindest hobbits she knew. She smiled at him, glad that he liked the scones. Daisy must have already given them to him, which she certainly was happy about because Daisy could be flighty at times. "You're very welcome, Sam. I hope you liked them," she said.

He smiled back. "I reckon they were some of the best I've ever eaten, Lilly," he said. "But are you here to see Mr. Frodo?" An unreadable expression appeared in his eyes.

"Yes," she said, wondering if she should go. The way Sam looked wasn't exactly encouraging. "But if it's a bad time, I can-…" She stopped, biting her lip- something she always did when she was nervous about something. "I'm here to bring him his own scones because he returned too, but-…"

The door opened from behind her. "Sam, can you-…." She turned around, only to see Frodo standing there. She noticed that he looked mostly the same as he had before, with that dark curly hair. But there was an almost haunted expression in his blue eyes, his face was very pale, and his clothes almost hung on him. He'd always been thinner than some of the other hobbits, but now he looked almost like a scarecrow.

Actually, on second thought, he didn't look the same at all, and her concern was immediately aroused. She wasn't able to recall him ever looking like this before. He'd always seemed so carefree, like most young hobbits were, even though not many had struck her as being as kind as he was. "Oh. Good day, Miss Banks," he said politely.

She gave a small curtsy, though she realized it likely wasn't necessary. Her Mum had drilled good manners in her from an early age though, and it was just part of her now. "Good day, Mr. Baggins." She realized that probably wasn't necessary either. But her mouth felt dry and she bit her lip again. "I-…uh…My mum sent these scones for you, just to welcome you back to the Shire."

She saw a hint of surprise cross his face. "Scones to….welcome me back?"

"Yes." She felt her cheeks heat up. Maybe he thought it was silly somehow. "I know that maybe it seems odd, but my mum thought it would be nice and I-…." She willed herself to stop babbling. Surely he had other things to do than listen to her prattle on. "Anyway, here you go," she said, shoving the plate toward him.

He smiled and took it, though she noticed again how incredibly sad he looked. She wondered what could have happened to cause such sorrow. "Thank you. It's so very kind of you and your Mum." Something appeared to catch his attention from behind her, and she almost turned around to look. But Sam was still next to the hole…maybe it had been him. "Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?"

"I'd love to," she said, smiling. He opened the door wider for her, and when she entered, she couldn't help a little gasp. "Oh." Bag End was positively beautiful, and so fancy with all the portraits and lovely furniture.

"Something the matter?" he asked.

"No," she said. She managed to smile. "It's just…well, this is the nicest hole I've ever seen, Mr. Baggins."

And it was. It was clean, cozy…everything a hobbit would want in a hole, and incredibly well-kept. She didn't think she saw even a spot of dust.

"Thank you," he said, taking her cloak and hanging it up for her. "But please, you can call me Frodo. Mr. Baggins is my uncle. Besides, we've known each other for years."

Mr. Bilbo, he meant, the old owner of Bag End. But she said nothing about how she heard everyone talk about how queer he was, always going on adventures, and didn't he know that hobbits were supposed to stay in the Shire, and never do anything unexpected? It was positively unnatural! But she had always liked Mr. Bilbo, despite his eccentricities. "And you may call me Lillian."

"Lillian."

"Or Lilly," she said. "Many people still call me Lilly. But it really doesn't matter which, as long as you don't call me Lillipad, which is what Teddy-…" Oh, do be quiet, she thought to herself. She sounded like the biggest dullard this side of the Brandywine. What was wrong with her today?

"Ah, yes," he said, walking to the kitchen. "And how is Teddy?"

She sat down at the table. "He's getting into all sorts of mischief, but I think he missed doing that with Pippin and Mr. Brandybuck."

He set the tea kettle on, and took two blue floral cups out, putting one in front of her. "That sounds like him," he said. "Though I think it will be a while before Merry and Pippin are ready for more mischief."

"Maybe," she acknowledged. "But I'm sure that he could drag them into it."

He managed to laugh, and it was one of the nicest sounds she'd heard in a while. "You could be right, Lilly."

Lilly….Her name sounded so lovely when he said it. The tea kettle began to whistle, and he took it off, pouring tea into the cups. As he did, she observed that part of one of his fingers was clean off, and she desperately wanted to know how that happened. Mum would have her head if she asked though, and she resisted the urge. Instead, she asked about something else. He had put the scones on the table, and she gestured toward them. "Wouldn't you like to try a scone, Frodo?"

"No, thank you," he said politely as he sat across from her. "I'm not…..I'm not particularly hungry at the moment, though I'm glad you brought them." He pushed them toward her. "But you may of course have one if you like."

Her worry for him increased exponentially. No healthy hobbit could ever refuse one of her Mum's famous scones. No wonder he looked so scrawny. "No, I'm fine," she said. Actually, she'd love to have one, but she wasn't going to eat if he didn't. "So, if I may ask, how were your travels?"

His eyes clouded over. She caught it easily, and she could tell whatever adventure he'd been on hadn't been completely….pleasant. "They were…..eventful."

"What was your favorite place?"

He didn't say anything for a moment, and she wondered if she shouldn't have asked it. "Minas Tirith was incredible," he said finally. "And I remember that Rivendell was beautiful too."

"Oh, so you saw the Elves!" she exclaimed. "How perfectly splendid! I always thought it be such a grand experience to see them."

He managed to smile, and she felt relieved. The last thing she wanted to do was upset him. "It was," said Frodo. "They were so very kind, but also wise and peaceful. Rivendell was like a home…away from home."

"But I'm sure you still missed the Shire," said Lilly. "There truly is no place quite like it, don't you think?'

"Yes, I do," he said. "If…if circumstances were different, I would have gone home after that." He fiddled with the handle of his cup. "You know, adventures aren't exactly what they are in books or tales, Lilly," he added in a low voice.

"You don't have to convince me," she said, then smiled. "The most adventurous thing I ever wanted to do was go see the Elves."

"Still, that's pretty adventurous for a hobbit," he said. "Most don't even want to leave the Shire."

"Maybe," she said. "But the Elves have always interested me, and I think it is perfectly wonderful that they have their own languages and everything."

"Yes," said Frodo, his expression finally brightening a little. He liked the Elves too, she could tell. "Sindarin and Quenya. They are truly beautiful."

"You know them?" she asked in surprise.

"Indeed," he said. "Bilbo taught me when I first moved to Bag End."

"Oh, you're so lucky!" said Lilly.

"Do you really think so?" he said. He looked at her like he was shocked another hobbit liked elves. Maybe he was. "If you truly feel that way, I could perhaps teach you some. But only if you wanted to."

For a moment, she couldn't say anything, she was so overcome with delight. "Thank you. That would be ever so kind of you," said Lilly. "I'd love that."

"You're welcome," said Frodo. "But I'll warn you now that they're not particularly easy to learn."

"That's quite all right," she said. "Worthwhile things seldom are."

His gaze dropped from her face to his cup. "How very true," he said softly.

Frodo's voice sounded far away, and Lilly made the decision to excuse herself. "Well, it's been wonderful to see you again, Frodo," she said, standing up. "But I should probably go home. My family will be expecting me."

Being the gentlehobbit that he was, Frodo rose to his feet as well. "All right," he said. "Let me walk you to the door."

"Oh, thank you," she said. She followed him to the door, and she smiled.

He smiled back though she noticed it did not reach his eyes. "Thank you for coming, Lilly," he said. "Tell your Mum thank you for the scones."

"I will," said Lilly. "Thank you for being willing to teach me some Elvish." She looked at him, wishing for the countless time that his expression wasn't so sad. "I hope…I hope it won't be too much of a bother for you," she added shyly.

"It's no bother at all," said Frodo. "In fact…it will be good for me to have something to do."

"Oh, I see," said Lilly. "Well, Tuesday afternoons usually would work for me."

Frodo nodded. "Yes, that would be fine for me as well. I suppose I'll see you then?"

"Yes, I'll be here," said Lilly. "Thank you. Fare well until we meet again."

"You as well, Lilly," said Frodo.

At that, Lilly left and walked home, a slight spring in her step and happiness in her heart. Well, imagine that, she thought to herself. She couldn't help but feel that something nice finally had happened.

XxXxXxXx

Frodo had barely shut the door when Sam came inside. He remembered quickly the look Sam had given him that prompted him to invite Lilly in the first place. He had no desire to be rude, though he probably wouldn't have done it otherwise. Lilly Banks was a perfectly kind lass, but he hadn't felt much like talking to people as of late. He didn't understand quite why. He just didn't. Something about it was….difficult. It was almost like he had to pretend he was all right, and he knew he wasn't. Not even in the slightest degree. "Yes, Sam," he said lightly. "I gave her a cup of tea."

Sam flushed. "I'm sorry, Mr. Frodo. It just seemed like the polite thing to do."

"Was it indeed."

"Yes, and begging your pardon," said Sam in his matter of fact way, "but if someone's kind enough to bring you scones, the least you can do is to invite them in for tea."

"Is that what you think?"

"Yes, it is," said Sam. "Especially if they're as nice as she is."

"She is, isn't she."

"And pretty too."

He finally cracked a small smile. In truth, Sam was right about that. With her brown curls and green eyes, Lilly lived up to her name and was a pretty lass. He'd have to be blind not to notice, even if he felt like he was most of the time. But he'd never comment on Lilly's looks aloud. "But not as pretty as Rosie."

"No one's as pretty as Rosie," said Sam loyally. "But she's pretty in her own right, and as nice a hobbit lass as you'd ever want to meet."

Sam didn't often comment on any of the other hobbit girls, and Frodo's suspicion was immediately aroused. Sam didn't even seem to notice that any other girl existed besides Rosie. "Now, Sam, you're not playing matchmaker, are you?" he said.

"And what if I am?" he replied. "I just want to see you happy, Mr. Frodo."

"Dear Sam," he said fondly. "You are always so kind." He let out a sigh. "Some days I fear happiness is a ship that has long set sail without me."

Sam's face filled with sympathy. "I'm so sorry, sir."

"It's all right, it isn't your fault," said Frodo.

"I know, but I wish…" Sam's voice trailed off. "Did you at least have a nice time with her?"

Frodo thought about it. He remembered how they'd talked about his trip and then the Elves. But not once had Lilly asked about his finger. Not once. And he knew she'd noticed too. He'd seen the look in her eyes. Yet she'd respected his privacy, and he appreciated it more than he could say. "Do you know it, I did, Sam," he said at last. "She was very kind, and she was even interested in the Elves."

"Did she?" said Sam. "How nice. That's a rarity among hobbits."

"It is indeed," he mused. "She even seemed so interested that I offered to teach her some Elvish."

Sam's whole face lit up and he smiled. "Oh, you did? That's splendid; truly splendid. Maybe she'll be a new friend for you."

"I….have friends, Sam," said Frodo. "I don't think I'm particularly looking for new ones, especially because no hobbit could find any better friends than you, Merry, and Pippin in all of Middle Earth."

"Well, yes, I suppose," said Sam, always humble. "But you don't have one like her."

He finally realized what Sam truly meant by all this. He was playing matchmaker. "Oh, Sam," he said, shaking his head. "I don't think-…."

"I know you don't, Mr. Frodo," said Sam. "But well…..why not?"

Why not, indeed. He could think of a list of reasons as long as his arm of why not, but he decided not to mention any of them. "Oh, Sam," was all he said.

"Just think about it," said Sam. He glanced out the window of Bag End, and Frodo could see that the sun was beginning to set. He looked at Sam, and he knew what he was going to say.
"I should probably be getting home," said Sam. "My Gaffer and everyone will be expecting me."

"Oh, all right, Sam," said Frodo. "Have a good night."

"You too," said Sam. "See you tomorrow."

"Righto, Sam," he said. "Thank you."

Sam left after that, and immediately he was conscious of how very big and quiet Bag End felt now that he was the only one here. But he tried to put it out of his mind as he ate dinner, and instead think of other things. Like his conversation with Lilly.

It hadn't, he thought, been easy to answer her question about what his favorite place was, partly because so many of them had been so awful and he tried not to think about them. Yet Rivendell was wonderful as was Minas Tirith. Lothlórien and Caras Galadhon had been beautiful like the others, but that place was too wrapped up with the memory of the Lady Galadriel's mirror and his grief over Gandalf. He could not in any honesty say it was a favorite. But Lilly had been kind to even ask about his travels. Most hobbits were more interested in gossip than the truth. Lilly even seemed to know when to not ask any more questions too, like she could tell he didn't really want to talk about it. She even was interested in Elves, and wanted to learn their language.

Indeed, Lilly Banks didn't seem like most of the hobbits in the Shire, and if he were honest, there was something almost refreshing about that.


AN: So you may wonder how Lilly is related to Pippin. Well, it seems that Pippin's mother's name was Eglantine Banks before she married Paladin Took, and Lilly shares the same last name. So I thought that in this story, her father and Eglantine could be brother and sister.

Thank you to lady in black for her support of this story!