Beautiful

--by Egon Starcollector

Disclaimer: the way my week's gone, I'm even questioning whether I own Bella! ;)

Author's Note: My Quenya is VERY weak (I really should take that online course), so I may not be entirely accurate when Frodo breaks into Quenya later in this chapter.



The change in Frodo was dramatic. His step had a lightness not seen in years, and he sometimes whistled a happy tune as he strolled over the hills.

Bella, for her part, changed little, but her whole being now seemed to be lit from within by the glow of a woman who knows she is loved.

They were openly affectionate now; Frodo would never let her leave his sight without asking for the kisses she so-gladly gave. Bella had developed a habit of standing by Frodo's chair and playing with his curls. Their friends were unsure as to whether this was a good or a bad thing.

"I give up!" Merry declared to Rosie one day. "They frustrate the whole of the Shire by pining after each other for a year and a half, and now they're making us all sick as if we'd missed second breakfast!"

"Now Merry, I remember how you and Estella were at first. Sam and I were the same way--"

"Still are," snorted Merry.

"But Mister Frodo's finally happy! Isn't that the important part? You should be glad your cousin's found someone as good as Bella."

"I'll be glad when they quit spoiling my appetite!"

Shortly before Frodo's birthday, Rosie announced that she was going to spend an evening with Elanor and her family. Frodo therefore arranged to give Bella the night off to visit her parents so that he and Sam could have Merry and Pippin over. "It'll be just like we were young hobbits again!" Sam declared.

"That," Rosie whispered to Bella, "Is exactly what I'm afraid of."

On the appointed evening, Merry arrived just as Rosie was going out the door. Literally; they smacked right into each other. Merry apologized profusely and bowed her on her way; he was, when the occasion demanded it, the most proper of gentlehobbits.

"Merry! You're just in time. Bella's almost finished setting out dinner." As he spoke, Bella put the last of the dishes on the table and took off her apron. "Going now, love?"

"I am. Thank you."

"My pleasure; you need to spend time with your family, and I need to spend time with my friends. Kiss?" he asked, giving her his famous puppydog eyes again.

"Of course!"

"Inye iirecce, Bella."

"You take great comfort in my housekeeping?" This from a very confused Bella.

Frodo chuckled, "Well, that too. I have to admit, I was 'showing off,' as the young hobbits say. 'Inye iirecce,' well...that's how an elf says 'I love you.'"

"Oh, you...! I love you, too!" She kissed him warmly, then grabbed her cloak and set out.

"She's a lovely girl, cousin Frodo."

"That she is, Merry. That she is."

"What will she do when you go the the Havens?"

"Oh, but I'm not going!"

"What?"

"I've changed my mind. When Pippin gets here, I can explain...that should be him now." Frodo crossed the room and answered the knock at the door. "Do you have it, Pip?"

"Yes, yes I do. Sorry I'm a bit late; Diamond had me moving furniture."

"Again? That's the third time this season you've rearranged!" Merry cried.

"Do me a favor. Don't remind my back."

After the four hobbits had done justice to Bella's excellent dinner, they sat around quietly smoking their pipes. Merry at last broke the silence. "Now what was it you were going to explain once Pippin got here?"

"Probably this," Pippin said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a folded paper. He passed it to Frodo, who opened it up and looked at it.

"Yes, that's it exactly. Pippin, you've outdone yourself." He passed it over so Merry and Sam could see it. Sketched on the piece of paper was a silver ring with a flower embossed in the top. In the center of the flower sat a tiny crystal.

"It's very pretty, Mister Frodo, but what's it for?"

"Sam! I think our Frodo's going to pop the question!"

"What question?"

"You know! THE question! The one you asked Rosie all those years ago."

Sam looked at him blankly. "'Have you seen my horse?'" Merry put his face in his hands and sighed.

Frodo chuckled. "Sam, I'm going to ask Bella to be my wife."

Sam lit up. "Why Mister Frodo, that's wonderful! I knew you two would be perfect together. This is the best news I've heard since Rosie told me our Elanor was coming along!" He grabbed his master into a hug, nearly choking the poor hobbit unconscious in his joy.

When Frodo recovered, he explained that he was taking the sketch to the jeweler's shop in the village the next day. "It should be ready by the end of the month. Then I'll just have to find the perfect time to ask her."

"As soon as possible?" put in a smiling Pippin.

"I thought that was a given," Frodo smiled in response. He chuckled pensively. "I always thought I'd marry a sweet hobbit lass. Lily Proudfoot, perhaps; I quite fancied her as a tweenager. Then after the War, I gave up on ever marrying. Who would have dreamed I'd marry a human-- with the heart of a hobbit?"