Frodo's Point of View
It has been almost two months since I asked Lalia if I could court her and it has been..magical. We definitely did turn more than a few heads when we went out together and it took a few weeks before the Hobbits of the Shire to leave us alone of at least not stare when we went out. Older Hobbit men would come up to me and say how they wished they had introduced their son's before I had gotten ahold of Lalia, Lobelia even made a comment that of course Lalia an I thought we were too good to be with anyone else. We just ignored her.
Merry and Pippin weren't too happy about not being the first to know, but we were soon forgiven after Lalia made us some lunch. Even Sam and Rosie seemed more excited out of everyone, Rosie constantly hinting that she can hear wedding bells in the air. But the best of it was spending time with Lalia, she kept me very level headed and was teaching me not to feel so guilty over things and events I couldn't change. We could spend hours just talking, sometimes about nothing.
I also had to admit how much I enjoyed learning the more intimate parts of courtships, kisses, holding hands, watching her cook in the kitchen or even watching her smoke her pipe as she read a good book. The smallest things could make my heart flutter, I still remember how red Lalia's face got when I asked her if she could teach me other ways to kiss her and it took a lot to make Lalia embarrassed. The image of her walking across her garden and and bringing her arms around my neck and pulling my head down to hers. The feeling of her velvet soft lips pressing against mine, our lips exploring every nook and cranny. The feeling of her lips opening against mine and feeling the wetness of her tongue-
"Those better be some innocent thoughts you're thinking with that smile on your face," Merry's voice said, taking me out my thoughts. I had completely forgotten that I was sitting down with Merry, Pippin and Sam at the Green Dragon, having some lunch while Lalia and Rosie spent the day together.
"I don't know about that Mer, would you be thinking innocently when you have a smile like that on," Pippin said before drinking from his pint.
"Oh hush you two, Mr. Frodo is a gentlemen he is, he and both very proper," Sam cut in. Merry and Pippin both chuckled.
"And what are you two laughing about," I asked, taking a bite of my bread.
"Oh nothing, just that half the Shire would probably disagree with Sam on that last comment," Pippin said.
"Ay, there's already rumors that you two are living together secretly," Merry said. My eyes got wide and I looked around the entire tavern, like everyone was listening to the conversation.
"Wait, what," I said. Sam shrugged his shoulders and looked over at me shyly.
"Well you two do spend a lot of time over at her house," he said.
"Well she can't come to my house all the time, people from here to Bree would be talking and why does it even matter," I asked. Lalia was given her parents blessing to leave her home and we were both adults, so it shouldn't really matter to anyone how much time we spend together. Merry rolled his eyes and groaned.
"Oh here's what it's really about," he said. I looked from Sam to Merry and then around at all of them, who looked like they knew what it was Merry was talking about but didn't want to bring it up.
"Well get me out of the dark, what is this really about," I asked sitting back and crossing my arms over my chest. Sam looked up from his drink and looked back up at me.
"Well it's just that people have noticed that 's parents haven't come here and you haven't gone there to see them," he said. I shrugged my shoulders feeling a little uncomfortable now, I was still very nervous about the thought of meeting Lalia's family and almost appreciated the fact that I didn't. But this wasn't the first time Sam had brought this point up. He and Rosie, being the "traditional" Hobbit's they were , they were slightly considered about how we were proceeding with our courtship.
"I'm just saying, what is so wrong with meeting her parents? Don't you think they would be bothered to find our their daughter was seeing someone from someone else," Sam said. Pippin threw his hands in the air and looked around the room.
"Like who, our families are the only one with the guts to go as far as Bree," he said. We all hushed him and looked around, luckily no one had heard him. The last thing we needed was a bar room brawl between us and a few angry lads.
"He does have a point though Sam, besides no one besides me and Merry's family would dare knock on the Sandheaver door," Merry said taking a drink. We all chuckled as Sam's jaw dropped a little.
"So are the rumors true then, about them being a disruptive bunch," he asked. I leaned back with a snork and rolled my eyes.
"Wow Sam, you've been sitting in the gossip circles lately haven't you," I asked. The tips of his ears started to turn bright red and he started fumbling with his drink.
"And they're not disruptive, they're just not like us laze about, smoke and eat all day Hobbit's," Merry said.
"Yes, they're very hard working and though they are much like us their eyes are more opened since they live closer to the outside world," Pippin said.
"Oh specially Lalia's father. He always said us Shire Hobbits had it much easier because we were chose to be ignorant to things going on outside and we can't adapt to anything than what we are use to we and had sticks up are...well you know," Merry said. As I looked around the room, thinking about the head Sandheaver's words, I couldn't say he was completely wrong.
"And that's why all the Sandheaver children are able to read and write a little, but Lalia grasped it the best, she even learned a little Elvish," Pippin said. My head froze in mid turn and I looked back over at Pippin.
"Lalia can read and write Elvish," I asked, feeling my eyes grow widder and widder. Even Sam looked quite surprised.
"She doesn't like to brag since she only knows a little, but her father says she can hold a small conversation," Pippin said nodding his head.
"But who'd she learn that from," Sam asked. Merry and Pippin shrugged their shoulders.
"Her family told us that a dark haired ranger that happened to know the language gave her a few lessons when she worked at the Prancing Pony," Merry said. "He was saying a few things in ELvish and she asked if he could teach her, so whenever he would pop in he would speak to her in Elvish...wait".
I had the biggest smile on my face as I looked around the table and sputtered trying to keep in my laughter. Sam gasped with a smile and Merry and Pippin were also trying to hold in our laughter. How funny would it be if Lalia knew that she had been speaking to the now king of Gondor?
Lalia's Point of View
"Lalia you know just because my bum is stuck in this chair right now doesn't mean that we are done with this conversation," Rosie said as I went to the other side of her kitchen to get some more of the scones I had brought for her. Mostly to shut her up. She had been going on again about how she didn't understand why I hadn't invited my family here to meet Frodo, or gone there.
"Me dear Rosie, what would ever make me think that just because you are debilitated that a conversation is over. I haven't known you for a long time but I know a stubborn woman when I meet one, trust me," I said putting some scones on the empty plates and started piling on some extra cream on Rosie's, thank goodness Bertha produced a lot. Rosie pouted and looked at her swollen feet that I propped up on a stool. We were outside in the garden, but it got so hot and Rosie was insisting to pick this herb for me that her feet got swollen to the point that it looked like a small potato.
"The joys of bringing life," she said, reaching out for her plate as I started to bring it over. I laughed as she grabbed for it and started digging in. The trance didn't last long though and she was opening her eyes and covering her mouth to speak to me. "But seriously, why hasn't he met your family yet"?
Oh Rosie, I don't know it just hasn't come up...and I can't say that I completely mind the fact that he hasn't met them yet," I said rolling me to another side of the room. I heard her gasp and I almost jumped out me seat thinking that something was wrong, but she was just giving me her angry pregnant woman look.
"Lalia Sandheaver! I for once wouldn't think that you were actually thinking about being a..a..fornicator," she said whispering the last word. You would think since we're alone that we wouldn't need to, but there were ears everywhere in the Shire I'm learning. I rolled me eyes again and laughed at her.
"No Rose, that's not it. I just..I don't know being courted by Frodo is much different then when I was with Odo," I said.
"Well of course, they're two different people," she said.
"Yes of course, but also I'm older and not under me parents roof, so I don't have to abide their rules. Me brothers aren't crowding all over over us, reminding him where to keep his hands. Me sisters aren't bagering all over me, telling me what I should wear on each date and "oh you might as well get use to it now, you're going to be married one day and have to do this everyday". Ugh it was horrid, do you know what it's like to have to deal with twelve older siblings"!
"You have telve older siblings," Rosie asked as she almost choked on her scones and fanned herself. "No wonder you haven't invited your family here".
I laughed and ran me hands through me hair.
"Well, that's part of it but I mostly like the idea of having Frodo to meself for a little while longer," I said. Rosie pushed her food around on her plate and frowned at me. "What's wrong now"?
"Nothing, I just wish I was as brave as you. I couldn't think of not telling my parents that me and Sam were courting," Rosie said.
"Well, if it makes you feel better your parents are just a few hills over. I don't think you would've been able to hide it from them," I said, making Rosie laugh.
"How do you think your family would react to Frodo though," she asked. I crossed me leg over the other and thought about it for a moment.
"I think me ma and sisters would think he's very handsome and would comment on how beautiful our babies would be. Me brothers would question and watch everything he'd say. Me pa would just be mindful and watchful, as he always is," I smiled as I thought about me pa, a large Hobbit with the same chocolate skin as meself and wavy hair. He would always be sitting in his easy chair and smoking his pipe, watching the events around us and talking when he wanted to.
"Are you worried that Frodo may not live up to how Odod was"?
"Of course not! Me family loves me and though I take their advice, they know that any decision I make is me own".
We both turned when we heard the front doors handle start to turn. It must be the boys, Frodo knew I was here today and I knew that he and Sam were going to spend some time together today.
"Oh it must be the boys coming back from lunch," Rosie said. As soon as she said it, Sam and Frodo were coming down the hall and Sam waltzed right over to her and planted a sweet kiss on her cheek before looking over at me.
"Well hello ," he said. I gave him a little wave, though my attention was on the other Hobbit walking over to me with a smile on his face. He grabbed me hand and wrapped his fingers around mine as he gently pulled me to him and gave me a kiss in the corner of me mouth.
"So how was your lunch," I asked.
"Well Merry and Pippin didn't have to be escorted home, we weren't left with the bill and no fight broke out, so it was a good and uneventful," he said smiling down at me. "And how are you today Rosie"?
"Just fine Frodo, here let me get you some tea," she said trying to get up from her chair, with the plate of scones still on her belly. Frodo raised his arm and shook his head with a small smile.
"Oh there's no need for that Rosie, Actually, if it was alright with the two of you, I wanted to take Lalia and...talk about a few things". I raised me brow as I look at Frodo from the corner of me eye, wondering what this "talk" he wanted could be about.
"Of course, Rosie you need to be getting some rest anyway," Sam said helping Rosie to her feet after taking to plate of her belly and placing it on the table.
"And you can keep the rest of the scones and cream," I said, noticing that Frodo was slowly pulling me towards the door, but not taking his eyes off our friends.
"Oh thank you Lalia, you know these cravings are driving me insane," she said. Frodo already had us half way down to the door and waved behind us.
"We'll see you two some other time then, bye," he said and whisked us out the door and started walking us down the trail that would lead towards me house.
"Now what's got you in such a hurry," I said as he said looking around us as we walking down the trail. No one was around and when he was done looking he pulled me to him and put a hand around me waist as the other rested on me check and cradled it.
"I wouldn't be able to do this at Sam and Rosie's house," he said before bringing his lips down to mine. I sighed as a pressed mesef closer to Frodo as he wasted no time with opening his mouth and brushing his tongue against me bottom lip. Frodo had been a fast learner when it came to the art of kissing, ever since that day when he asked me if I could teach him what I knew so far he had taken every opportunity to get a kiss in when we had the chance.
Of course Hobbits like Rosie and Sam would probably never dream of kissing or holding each other like this before marriage. So, we made sure to not show our displays of affection in front of them, not that we already had an option since if we ever did show how we cared about each other in front of others around here, they'd probably drop dead from shock.
As we heard the sound of a wagon coming, we parted ways with a soft growl from Frodo and tried to get our breathing under control as we held each other's hands between us. I smiled and tried to hold back a giggle as I watched Frodo glare at the passing cart.
"In such a hurry today," I whispered playfully.
"I can't help it, as much as we were talking about you today it made me miss you even more than usual," he said holding me hands tighter, I could tell he wasn't joking by the almost longing look in his eyes that made me knees shake a little. Before I could have the chance to fall to the ground, Frodo grabbed me hand and started walking us in our original direction.
"So I'm guessing that Sam was just as persistent as usual," I asked laughing.
"I think he was even more today," he said rolling his eyes. I laughed again and brushed some hair out me eye. "So, I guess Rosie was just the same"? I nodded me head and sighed.
"I sometimes think they get up in the morning and make a strategy when they know they're going to both be seeing us," I said shrugging me shoulders. "But I think that they mean well. They just don't want us going too fast and doing something we regret".
"And have you regret anything so far," he asked with a hint of worry in his voice. I shook me head and tried to reassure him but getting a tighter grip on Frodo's hand.
"Of course not, I couldn't be happier," I said smiling. He smiled back at me and we continued walking.
"I have been thinking though...maybe they are right...in some aspects". His comment made me head turn and I looked over at him with me eyes widened.
"How so"? Frodo stopped us and looked down at me.
"Well it has been going on to two months now and we are happy together".
"Well yes, we are". He stopped walking and looked over at me.
"Are we maybe being selfish by not sharing what we have with your family"? The question made me breath get caught in me throat. Selfish, is that what you would call it? I mean we were doing something somewhat out of regular tradition, but I wouldn't call it being selfish.
"Where is this all coming from," I asked. Frodo chewed on his bottom lip from a moment before looking ahead of us.
"Sam said something today that just had me thinking is all". I nodded and pulled us to the side of the road, where there was some soft grass for us to sit followed me without much effort on me part and sat down next to me as he but an around around me.
"What did he say," I asked. I watched as Frodo's face scrunch up as he brought a hand to tap his chin. "Good Valar, did he say something horrible about me family or something. I swear half of the rumors aren't true".
At least I believe half of them weren't true. Frodo shook his head as he choked on some laughter.
"No, no that's not it. He just made a good point and now that I'm here looking at you I can see what he meant. If we...if we ever had a daughter and she started seeing someone, I think I would want to meet the man who was trying to steal her heart". I felt me cheeks brighten up and couldn't help but smile as I watched Frodo look up at the clouds.
"You think you have stolen me heart," I asked. He turned to look at me and leaned down to steal a quick peck.
"Like a burglar in the night, but that doesn't mean I want to treat our relationship like it it something I am hoarding in my hole," he said.
"But you can't take all the blame, I know that I've probably enjoyed not having to give me family an explanation a little too much," I admitted. I hated being an adult and responsible sometimes. It was shameful to admit, but I was liking the little freedom I was having with Frodo and I wasn't really sure when I wanted to share him. "It just seems so much easier to have these moments we have without sharing you".
"I know and I have to admit I have been finding it easier to not have to worry about what your family may think of me when they meet me, but I know in some aspects Sam and Rosie are right," he said. I groaned and made a little whine as I let meself fall back on the grass and stretch out.
"Oh don't let them hear you saw that, we'll never hear the end of it," I said. Frodo turned his body so he was leaning half way over me and looking down at me.
"I know, I can't believe I'm even saying it , I actually sound "normal" and proper". He brought a hand up and brushed the back of a finger down the back of me cheek. "But, I think I can risk that if it means that we do this correctly". I smirked up at him and brought his hand on me cheek to me lips and kissed it. Who really was the more strange one, me or him?
"You think you can handle having that many Sandheavers in one hole? I also have to warn you, they may not even let you go back home while they're here and you may gain a pound or two," I said chuckling, trying to hide me own nervousness. How would would me family react to this new man in me life? Frodo brought me out of me thoughts as he took me hand helped me up from the grass.
"I think I can handle it, if you're there by my side," he said in a convincing tone. I wanted to say no as I looked into his blue eyes, that maybe it was a little too soon but the part of me that knew I was fooling meself. Maybe it was fear, the fear of bringing another man into me world, around me family, my other world? It was almost like I was afraid that once he took that step, he would be taken away from me...like Odo was. When I looked up into his blue eyes though and saw how nervous and hopeful he was, it brought me some hope.
I sighed and tightened me grip on his hand and pulled him back towards me house.
"Well, if you say you can handle it...I will send a letter to me parents and ask them when they want to come and visit," I said. I could feel Frodo trip over his feet behind me before he straightened and quickened our step.
"Really Lalia," he asked with an excited look on his face.
"Keep that excitement, you're going to need it when me brothers are here and they want to wrestle," I said as we made our way to me house.
I don't know why this meeting of the parents feels like when my fiancee first met mine. Cept, I'm not going to have Lalia's dad threatened Frodo like my dad did. Even though everyone isn't lucky enough to have a retired bomb specialist, who tells your at the time boyfriend that if he hurts you he'll come after him with a group of hos motorcycle buddies and a shotgun lol. I'm going to try to get this out as quickly as possible since i've been thinking about these next few chapters for a while though, thanks!