Chapter 55
A Basket of Love
The day of the spring festival had come and the hobbits were excited to attend the celebration.
Tuckborough was decorated and booths where set up within the gates of the Great Smial. Hobbits came from all over the shire to celebrate the beginning of spring. The Green Hills of Tuckborough was dressed in array of color as the blooms of the flowers greeted the warm days of spring.
Many coaches approached the gates and began to form a line as each coach stopped one after another to let its passengers out.
Diamond, Peregrin and Faramir greeted their guests. Slowly the grounds of the Smial were full of hobbits that began to participate in the games and eating from the booths.
Tables lined sections of the ground where hobbitesses placed their very best cooked foods. There were pies, cakes and fancy breads in one booth, while other had stews and sweet meat. Peregrin had asked Fastred to judge this.
Seasoned turkey legs were a favorite of the younger hobbits and they licked their lips with their tongue at they stopped to stare at them.
Rows of kegs lined a large table of homemade ales ready to be judged by the Thain and named the best in the Shire. Peregrin looked forward to judging this event.
Other booths had tables of flowers and plants that the hobbits had worked very hard, all winter long, to especially grow the best flower. Samwise Gardner was given this to judge.
There was another booth that had caught the hobbit's attention. A table covered with linen to hide from others what was underneath. Some hobbits tried to venture a peek, but were shooed away by Hilbrand and Elbraad as Peregrin assigned them this table to guard.
Faramir was proud to judge the best shooting contest as he rechecked the arrows and bow strings that would be used for first event of the spring festival.
Hobbits began to gather around the booth as Tuckborough's best archers took their mark. Pippin proudly smiled at his wife as he marched up to stand next to the line of Tooks to try his hand with the bow. Faramir winked at Pippin Gardner as he handed him a bow and four arrows. "Archer's take your mark! Ready!...... Fire!" shouted Faramir.
Bellia's eyes widened as Pippin hit the center of his target. Looking at the crowd that gathered around her husband, she beamed with pride for her him.
Two Took's had missed hitting the center, while five from the Took clan had made their marks.
Again, Faramir signaled for the six archers to stand ready and he quickly shouted out, "Fire!"
One Took missed the center by an inch and he was eliminated. Pippin wiped the sweat from his brow as he took his third arrow and prepared himself.
The hobbits watched Pippin the most as this event had always been within the Took clan. No other had challenged them before.
Faramir raised his arm and suddenly dropped it to signal the archers to fire.
Two more Took's just barely missed the center mark and they were eliminated. Pippin smiled at Bellia making it this far in the competition.
Sam joined Bellia as he heard that his son was shooting arrows with the Took. It surprised Sam to see his son doing so well.
Faramir signaled the last three hobbits to prepare to fire. Faramir dropped his arm as they let their arrows fly. Pippin's face dropped as he completely missed his target and another Took missed by less than an inch. Palinard beamed as he was given the ribbon of the best archer as his arrow hit the center target four times in a row. The hobbits all cheered and congratulated Him.
Bellia hugged her husband for doing as well as he did.
It was Sam's turn to judge this year's best flower. There were no names on the flowers so Sam did not know which belonged to the contestants. Nor did he know who entered the contest. The hobbits gathered around the booth and watched Sam as his experienced eyes searched the many flowers set before him to on the table.
He slowly pulled one flowerpot to an empty table that he thought looked the best from the others. After he had picked six potted flowers, he began to judge the size and color of the blooms. He chose three that seemed to be the most colorful and larger among the six.
Still looking closer, he looked for perfection of the plant. Which plant had the straightest stem and perfect shape of the leaves? Sam chose two that were very close in appearance.
The contestant's eyes widened when Sam took his final look at the two potted flowers that stood side by side. Both flowers had the look of perfection. Sam smelt the flowers to see which one had the sweetest scent. Standing back, Sam pulled a ribbon and placed it upon the first potted flower. The hobbits clapped their hands as Sam asked which contestant this flower belonged to. Frodo took Ham's hand and guided him to accept the ribbon for his flower that he had grown all by himself.
Sam's eyes widened. "Frodo, it is nice that you want Ham to collect a ribbon, but it is not fair to the others. Only those who grew their own plants can enter this event!"
Frodo smiled at his father, "But Da! Ham did grow this flower and cared for it all by himself. The second flower you have on this table was mine! I swear I did not help Ham with his flower!"
Sam looked at Ham as a slow smiled crossed his lips. Sam reached down and took Ham's hands. Turning them over to see his fingernails, Sam was shocked to see that his long fingernails were now short and worn down. His smooth hands, that once had never seen a hard days work, now had hands that looked like those of a gardener. There were dirt embedded deep into his short fingernails. There were thick calluses and small scrapes and scratches on the top of his hands and Sam could see that he had been working the ground as well as potted plants. Sam's eyes darted up to Ham's eyes and then over to Frodos. Sam's face had a look of confusion as he began to speak to Frodo. "Ham has gardener's hands, he's been working hard with his hands!"
Frodo smiled, "Yes, Da! It seems Ham has more talent than just playing the fiddle. His abilities to grow plants is quiet amazing!"
Tears of pride swelled up in Sam's eyes as he returned his stare to Ham's eyes. Ham began to rock back and forth on his feet and laughed, "Flowders!" Sam slowly wrapped his arms around his son and he fought to keep control of his tears of joy and pride. Memories of Mother Mags prediction after seeing Ham's hands when he was just a baby, saying that Ham had hands of a gardener, had come true.
Emma came over and gave Ham a hug after his father presented him with the ribbon for best flower, beating many experienced gardeners.
Rosie was so shocked she ran over to Sam and through her arms around his neck, crying. "After all this time, Sam. We have a gardener in our family!"
Sam began to laugh as he swung her in a circle. "This is the proudest day of my life! My son is a gardener!"
Rosie stroked Sam's cheeks and kissed him.
~*~
Diamond walked over to the booth with the linen covered table and removed it. There were fancy baskets with beautiful tied ribbons on the handle. Peregrin stood on a chair to gather the hobbits around him. "We are getting close to luncheon and for this event our young lads will be bidding on these baskets. Whichever basket is bid the highest will win the basket and what is in it. That is not all. The young lad will get to eat his lunch with the lass who made this basket!"
The hobbits laughed and giggled thinking about this.
Peregrin continued saying, "Now only young single lads can bid, and only young single lass had made the luncheon. The older marriage among us, which I'm happy to say, I'm one of them, being married to my lovely wife over there. We'll have our luncheon at the tables! Now on with the biding!"
Diamond handed Pippin the first basket as the young lads gathered in front of him. They took out their coins and counted them. Peregrin started off the lowest amount and only two hobbits bid on the basket. The bid went a little higher and Palinard Took raised his hand. Peregrin waited for another bid, but no one out bid him. When Peregrin announced that Palinard had won, Primrose walked from the group and claimed her basket. Giggling, her and Palinard walked off to eat their lunch together.
Podo groaned as he watched Primrose walk away with Palinard. Togo looked at Daisy and she nodded as Diamond walked her basket over to Peregrin to bid. Togo knew it was her basket next. He made sure he had enough to win it.
Once the hobbits saw the pretty lass that Palinard had won, they all began to enter into the bidding. The bids went high as many hobbit lads raised their hands. Togo began to tremble that he would not have enough coins to purchase Daisy's basket.
Togo turned to Podo and begged him for his coins. Podo shrugged his shoulders and handed him a stack of his coins. Walking off Podo went to sit with the old folk to eat his lunch. Togo won the bid and smiled when Daisy took his arm and walked off with her basket to eat lunch with her.
Diamond took a basket with a bright red ribbon tied to the handle and handed it to Peregrin to bid. The bidding again went really high as the lad fought among each other for the highest bid. Myall Baggins feeling this could be Druzy's basket because he knew she liked the color red, keep bidding. Winning the basket Myall looked at Druzy who did not move from her spot and Ruby Gardner's bright smile greeted him. Her long red hair was tied back in a single red ribbon. She wore a tightly fitted red vest and long green skirt. Ruby had finally became old enough to begin dating. She was only two years younger than Myall. Myall smiled as he took her arm and walked away to have lunch with her.
Druzy crossed her fingers as her basket was up next for bidding. She kept her eyes upon Bilbo who had begun bidding in the last game. She knew Bilbo did not like losing, and only hoped he would bid the highest to beat the other lads.
The bidding continued and just as Druzy thought, Biblo would not let the others get a higher bid. Winning the basket, Druzy walked slowly up to Bilbo with a bright smile on her face.
She took his arm as they walked away to eat their lunch together.
Diamond handed Peregrin the basket with the yellow ribbon and both Rosie and Diamond crossed their finger that Faramir would out bid them. The bids took off fast with many lads raising their hand. Faramir gave up after a couple of rounds. Diamond seeing Faramir folding his arms in front of him, rushed over to him. "I think you want to bid on this basket, son!"
Faramir looked at his mother and shrugged his shoulders. "Let the other lads fight this out!"
"No, Faramir! This is Goldilocks's basket!" Diamond whispered and scowled at him, as Peregrin was just about to call it.
Faramir's eyes darted up to his father and raised his hand. "I'll give my entire purse for that basket. He held the coin bag up and they could see it was brimming full of coins. Enough coins to purchase one of the best ponies in the shire.
No one challenged the purse that Faramir offered. Peregrin gave the basket to Faramir. Just as Diamond told him, Goldilocks slowly approached him.
Faramir looked into her sky-blue eyes and his heart almost leaped with joy. He would finally get to be alone with Goldilocks without any interruptions. He offered her his arm and walked her slowly away from the crowd.
Goldilocks smiled up at Faramir. "Where would you like to eat your lunch?"
Faramir pointed down by the small creek and by the thickness of trees that grew there. They could hear the cheering of the other hobbits as the bidding continued.
Finding the right spot, Goldilocks opened the basket and pulled out the tablecloth on top and laid it on the ground. Faramir sat down on his knees and could not take his eyes away from her.
Goldilocks hands shook as she took out the seasoned turkey legs and bowl with a lid that was tied with a cloth. Her fingers had trouble trying to untie the knot. Goldilocks tried not to look into Faramir's eyes as she worked on the knot. Faramir should see her fingers tremble as he reached his hand over her fingers.
"I'll open that for you, Goldilocks."
She slowly raised her gaze until she was looking directly into his soft green eyes. The warm expression on his face almost made her heart leap in her chest as she stared at him.
Faramir could not take his eyes from hers. Setting the jar down, he took her hands and held them. "Goldilocks, When I was a lad I could not control the jealously and fear that was in my heart. Jealously of the attention others paid to you, and fear of being rejected by you. But I am not a lad any longer, Goldilocks and I know what is in my heart. I know the love I feel for you is real. A love that is true and would never fade over time. I have known you all my life, we share the same heart and the same dream. There is not a day that you are far from my mind. I know my words are bold, but I can not stop until you know my feelings. Whenever I am near you, I can feel my heart begin to beat. Every poem I read, I see your beautiful face. You are in my every thought and into my every dream. I wish to court you, Goldilocks until the day you realize your feelings for me. I will do whatever you wish, just as long as I can be with you!"
Goldilocks looked down to the ground trying to think but her emotions raced with happiness at his words. Seeing his hands that held on to hers, she let them go. She heard a deep sigh coming from his lips as she could feel his heart breaking by her gesture. Her fingertips gently stroked his hands as she raised her eyes to his. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw tears beginning to fill his eyes. "I am not a silly lass wanting to toy with affection any longer. I too have grown, Faramir. I have grown a heart that wants to know true love. I know now that the love that I have always been looking for has always been with you. I love you, Faramir. I have always loved you!" Faramir leaned closer to her, he whispered, "I love you!" and gently kissed her lips.
~*~
Bilbo sat down after Druzy set the tablecloth on the ground. He folded his arms in front of him as he scowled watching her carefully as she opened her basket. She tried to smile at Bilbo, but he would not smile back to her.
Druzy knew that Bilbo was looking for her to prove herself to him and that this was her very last chance he would give her to show him that she had truly changed.
She set only one plate and filled it with Bilbo's favorite foods. She sat down next to him and began to feed him, lifting small amounts of food to his lips and watched him eat. Bilbo allowed her to continue to fed him, all the while saying nothing and just kept watching her. She would take a napkin and dab the corner of his mouth. She filled a glass and held it to his lips for him to drink. Her hands shook and her eyes began to fill with tears, as he still did not speak. Feeling she failed his little test, she took Bilbo's plate and began to fill her basket to leave.
Bilbo stood and took her hand, helping her to stand in front of him. He wiped the tears from her cheeks and looking deeply into her eyes. He leaned his lips closer to her and kissed her. Stepping back and still looking into her eyes, Bilbo said, "I love you, Druzy and I want to marry you!"
Druzy covered her hands over her eyes as she burst out crying. "How dare you tease me, when you know I love you so much!"
Bilbo put his arms around her and held her closely as she cried. "I'm sorry for making you cry, my love. You deserve better by me. Now listen to me, Druzy. I do love you. I am not teasing you. I have loved you from the moment I saw you. Little did I know your willfulness and your stubborn nature, but I needed to know your love for me was true. I am not cruel Druzy, nor do I want to be cruel. I wanted you to see me for who I am and not a silly lad willing to bend at the snap of your finger, even though I would have to keep your love. But that kind of love would not last. I wanted more from you. I wanted all your heart and your love that is willing to give without wanting anything in return. A love that would last a life time. I see that love in you now and I can finally tell you that I love you with all my heart and I trust your love. I want to marry you and live the rest of my life with you."
"Oh, Bilbo! I do love you! I love you so very much!" She put her arms around him and kissed him.
"You have not answered me, yet" said Bilbo. He bent down onto his knee and took her hand. "Will you marry me?"
Druzy lowered herself and sat upon his knee. Gazing into his eyes she said, "Yes!" Bilbo kissed her again and took a ring from his vest pocket and placed it on her finger.
A Basket of Love
The day of the spring festival had come and the hobbits were excited to attend the celebration.
Tuckborough was decorated and booths where set up within the gates of the Great Smial. Hobbits came from all over the shire to celebrate the beginning of spring. The Green Hills of Tuckborough was dressed in array of color as the blooms of the flowers greeted the warm days of spring.
Many coaches approached the gates and began to form a line as each coach stopped one after another to let its passengers out.
Diamond, Peregrin and Faramir greeted their guests. Slowly the grounds of the Smial were full of hobbits that began to participate in the games and eating from the booths.
Tables lined sections of the ground where hobbitesses placed their very best cooked foods. There were pies, cakes and fancy breads in one booth, while other had stews and sweet meat. Peregrin had asked Fastred to judge this.
Seasoned turkey legs were a favorite of the younger hobbits and they licked their lips with their tongue at they stopped to stare at them.
Rows of kegs lined a large table of homemade ales ready to be judged by the Thain and named the best in the Shire. Peregrin looked forward to judging this event.
Other booths had tables of flowers and plants that the hobbits had worked very hard, all winter long, to especially grow the best flower. Samwise Gardner was given this to judge.
There was another booth that had caught the hobbit's attention. A table covered with linen to hide from others what was underneath. Some hobbits tried to venture a peek, but were shooed away by Hilbrand and Elbraad as Peregrin assigned them this table to guard.
Faramir was proud to judge the best shooting contest as he rechecked the arrows and bow strings that would be used for first event of the spring festival.
Hobbits began to gather around the booth as Tuckborough's best archers took their mark. Pippin proudly smiled at his wife as he marched up to stand next to the line of Tooks to try his hand with the bow. Faramir winked at Pippin Gardner as he handed him a bow and four arrows. "Archer's take your mark! Ready!...... Fire!" shouted Faramir.
Bellia's eyes widened as Pippin hit the center of his target. Looking at the crowd that gathered around her husband, she beamed with pride for her him.
Two Took's had missed hitting the center, while five from the Took clan had made their marks.
Again, Faramir signaled for the six archers to stand ready and he quickly shouted out, "Fire!"
One Took missed the center by an inch and he was eliminated. Pippin wiped the sweat from his brow as he took his third arrow and prepared himself.
The hobbits watched Pippin the most as this event had always been within the Took clan. No other had challenged them before.
Faramir raised his arm and suddenly dropped it to signal the archers to fire.
Two more Took's just barely missed the center mark and they were eliminated. Pippin smiled at Bellia making it this far in the competition.
Sam joined Bellia as he heard that his son was shooting arrows with the Took. It surprised Sam to see his son doing so well.
Faramir signaled the last three hobbits to prepare to fire. Faramir dropped his arm as they let their arrows fly. Pippin's face dropped as he completely missed his target and another Took missed by less than an inch. Palinard beamed as he was given the ribbon of the best archer as his arrow hit the center target four times in a row. The hobbits all cheered and congratulated Him.
Bellia hugged her husband for doing as well as he did.
It was Sam's turn to judge this year's best flower. There were no names on the flowers so Sam did not know which belonged to the contestants. Nor did he know who entered the contest. The hobbits gathered around the booth and watched Sam as his experienced eyes searched the many flowers set before him to on the table.
He slowly pulled one flowerpot to an empty table that he thought looked the best from the others. After he had picked six potted flowers, he began to judge the size and color of the blooms. He chose three that seemed to be the most colorful and larger among the six.
Still looking closer, he looked for perfection of the plant. Which plant had the straightest stem and perfect shape of the leaves? Sam chose two that were very close in appearance.
The contestant's eyes widened when Sam took his final look at the two potted flowers that stood side by side. Both flowers had the look of perfection. Sam smelt the flowers to see which one had the sweetest scent. Standing back, Sam pulled a ribbon and placed it upon the first potted flower. The hobbits clapped their hands as Sam asked which contestant this flower belonged to. Frodo took Ham's hand and guided him to accept the ribbon for his flower that he had grown all by himself.
Sam's eyes widened. "Frodo, it is nice that you want Ham to collect a ribbon, but it is not fair to the others. Only those who grew their own plants can enter this event!"
Frodo smiled at his father, "But Da! Ham did grow this flower and cared for it all by himself. The second flower you have on this table was mine! I swear I did not help Ham with his flower!"
Sam looked at Ham as a slow smiled crossed his lips. Sam reached down and took Ham's hands. Turning them over to see his fingernails, Sam was shocked to see that his long fingernails were now short and worn down. His smooth hands, that once had never seen a hard days work, now had hands that looked like those of a gardener. There were dirt embedded deep into his short fingernails. There were thick calluses and small scrapes and scratches on the top of his hands and Sam could see that he had been working the ground as well as potted plants. Sam's eyes darted up to Ham's eyes and then over to Frodos. Sam's face had a look of confusion as he began to speak to Frodo. "Ham has gardener's hands, he's been working hard with his hands!"
Frodo smiled, "Yes, Da! It seems Ham has more talent than just playing the fiddle. His abilities to grow plants is quiet amazing!"
Tears of pride swelled up in Sam's eyes as he returned his stare to Ham's eyes. Ham began to rock back and forth on his feet and laughed, "Flowders!" Sam slowly wrapped his arms around his son and he fought to keep control of his tears of joy and pride. Memories of Mother Mags prediction after seeing Ham's hands when he was just a baby, saying that Ham had hands of a gardener, had come true.
Emma came over and gave Ham a hug after his father presented him with the ribbon for best flower, beating many experienced gardeners.
Rosie was so shocked she ran over to Sam and through her arms around his neck, crying. "After all this time, Sam. We have a gardener in our family!"
Sam began to laugh as he swung her in a circle. "This is the proudest day of my life! My son is a gardener!"
Rosie stroked Sam's cheeks and kissed him.
~*~
Diamond walked over to the booth with the linen covered table and removed it. There were fancy baskets with beautiful tied ribbons on the handle. Peregrin stood on a chair to gather the hobbits around him. "We are getting close to luncheon and for this event our young lads will be bidding on these baskets. Whichever basket is bid the highest will win the basket and what is in it. That is not all. The young lad will get to eat his lunch with the lass who made this basket!"
The hobbits laughed and giggled thinking about this.
Peregrin continued saying, "Now only young single lads can bid, and only young single lass had made the luncheon. The older marriage among us, which I'm happy to say, I'm one of them, being married to my lovely wife over there. We'll have our luncheon at the tables! Now on with the biding!"
Diamond handed Pippin the first basket as the young lads gathered in front of him. They took out their coins and counted them. Peregrin started off the lowest amount and only two hobbits bid on the basket. The bid went a little higher and Palinard Took raised his hand. Peregrin waited for another bid, but no one out bid him. When Peregrin announced that Palinard had won, Primrose walked from the group and claimed her basket. Giggling, her and Palinard walked off to eat their lunch together.
Podo groaned as he watched Primrose walk away with Palinard. Togo looked at Daisy and she nodded as Diamond walked her basket over to Peregrin to bid. Togo knew it was her basket next. He made sure he had enough to win it.
Once the hobbits saw the pretty lass that Palinard had won, they all began to enter into the bidding. The bids went high as many hobbit lads raised their hands. Togo began to tremble that he would not have enough coins to purchase Daisy's basket.
Togo turned to Podo and begged him for his coins. Podo shrugged his shoulders and handed him a stack of his coins. Walking off Podo went to sit with the old folk to eat his lunch. Togo won the bid and smiled when Daisy took his arm and walked off with her basket to eat lunch with her.
Diamond took a basket with a bright red ribbon tied to the handle and handed it to Peregrin to bid. The bidding again went really high as the lad fought among each other for the highest bid. Myall Baggins feeling this could be Druzy's basket because he knew she liked the color red, keep bidding. Winning the basket Myall looked at Druzy who did not move from her spot and Ruby Gardner's bright smile greeted him. Her long red hair was tied back in a single red ribbon. She wore a tightly fitted red vest and long green skirt. Ruby had finally became old enough to begin dating. She was only two years younger than Myall. Myall smiled as he took her arm and walked away to have lunch with her.
Druzy crossed her fingers as her basket was up next for bidding. She kept her eyes upon Bilbo who had begun bidding in the last game. She knew Bilbo did not like losing, and only hoped he would bid the highest to beat the other lads.
The bidding continued and just as Druzy thought, Biblo would not let the others get a higher bid. Winning the basket, Druzy walked slowly up to Bilbo with a bright smile on her face.
She took his arm as they walked away to eat their lunch together.
Diamond handed Peregrin the basket with the yellow ribbon and both Rosie and Diamond crossed their finger that Faramir would out bid them. The bids took off fast with many lads raising their hand. Faramir gave up after a couple of rounds. Diamond seeing Faramir folding his arms in front of him, rushed over to him. "I think you want to bid on this basket, son!"
Faramir looked at his mother and shrugged his shoulders. "Let the other lads fight this out!"
"No, Faramir! This is Goldilocks's basket!" Diamond whispered and scowled at him, as Peregrin was just about to call it.
Faramir's eyes darted up to his father and raised his hand. "I'll give my entire purse for that basket. He held the coin bag up and they could see it was brimming full of coins. Enough coins to purchase one of the best ponies in the shire.
No one challenged the purse that Faramir offered. Peregrin gave the basket to Faramir. Just as Diamond told him, Goldilocks slowly approached him.
Faramir looked into her sky-blue eyes and his heart almost leaped with joy. He would finally get to be alone with Goldilocks without any interruptions. He offered her his arm and walked her slowly away from the crowd.
Goldilocks smiled up at Faramir. "Where would you like to eat your lunch?"
Faramir pointed down by the small creek and by the thickness of trees that grew there. They could hear the cheering of the other hobbits as the bidding continued.
Finding the right spot, Goldilocks opened the basket and pulled out the tablecloth on top and laid it on the ground. Faramir sat down on his knees and could not take his eyes away from her.
Goldilocks hands shook as she took out the seasoned turkey legs and bowl with a lid that was tied with a cloth. Her fingers had trouble trying to untie the knot. Goldilocks tried not to look into Faramir's eyes as she worked on the knot. Faramir should see her fingers tremble as he reached his hand over her fingers.
"I'll open that for you, Goldilocks."
She slowly raised her gaze until she was looking directly into his soft green eyes. The warm expression on his face almost made her heart leap in her chest as she stared at him.
Faramir could not take his eyes from hers. Setting the jar down, he took her hands and held them. "Goldilocks, When I was a lad I could not control the jealously and fear that was in my heart. Jealously of the attention others paid to you, and fear of being rejected by you. But I am not a lad any longer, Goldilocks and I know what is in my heart. I know the love I feel for you is real. A love that is true and would never fade over time. I have known you all my life, we share the same heart and the same dream. There is not a day that you are far from my mind. I know my words are bold, but I can not stop until you know my feelings. Whenever I am near you, I can feel my heart begin to beat. Every poem I read, I see your beautiful face. You are in my every thought and into my every dream. I wish to court you, Goldilocks until the day you realize your feelings for me. I will do whatever you wish, just as long as I can be with you!"
Goldilocks looked down to the ground trying to think but her emotions raced with happiness at his words. Seeing his hands that held on to hers, she let them go. She heard a deep sigh coming from his lips as she could feel his heart breaking by her gesture. Her fingertips gently stroked his hands as she raised her eyes to his. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw tears beginning to fill his eyes. "I am not a silly lass wanting to toy with affection any longer. I too have grown, Faramir. I have grown a heart that wants to know true love. I know now that the love that I have always been looking for has always been with you. I love you, Faramir. I have always loved you!" Faramir leaned closer to her, he whispered, "I love you!" and gently kissed her lips.
~*~
Bilbo sat down after Druzy set the tablecloth on the ground. He folded his arms in front of him as he scowled watching her carefully as she opened her basket. She tried to smile at Bilbo, but he would not smile back to her.
Druzy knew that Bilbo was looking for her to prove herself to him and that this was her very last chance he would give her to show him that she had truly changed.
She set only one plate and filled it with Bilbo's favorite foods. She sat down next to him and began to feed him, lifting small amounts of food to his lips and watched him eat. Bilbo allowed her to continue to fed him, all the while saying nothing and just kept watching her. She would take a napkin and dab the corner of his mouth. She filled a glass and held it to his lips for him to drink. Her hands shook and her eyes began to fill with tears, as he still did not speak. Feeling she failed his little test, she took Bilbo's plate and began to fill her basket to leave.
Bilbo stood and took her hand, helping her to stand in front of him. He wiped the tears from her cheeks and looking deeply into her eyes. He leaned his lips closer to her and kissed her. Stepping back and still looking into her eyes, Bilbo said, "I love you, Druzy and I want to marry you!"
Druzy covered her hands over her eyes as she burst out crying. "How dare you tease me, when you know I love you so much!"
Bilbo put his arms around her and held her closely as she cried. "I'm sorry for making you cry, my love. You deserve better by me. Now listen to me, Druzy. I do love you. I am not teasing you. I have loved you from the moment I saw you. Little did I know your willfulness and your stubborn nature, but I needed to know your love for me was true. I am not cruel Druzy, nor do I want to be cruel. I wanted you to see me for who I am and not a silly lad willing to bend at the snap of your finger, even though I would have to keep your love. But that kind of love would not last. I wanted more from you. I wanted all your heart and your love that is willing to give without wanting anything in return. A love that would last a life time. I see that love in you now and I can finally tell you that I love you with all my heart and I trust your love. I want to marry you and live the rest of my life with you."
"Oh, Bilbo! I do love you! I love you so very much!" She put her arms around him and kissed him.
"You have not answered me, yet" said Bilbo. He bent down onto his knee and took her hand. "Will you marry me?"
Druzy lowered herself and sat upon his knee. Gazing into his eyes she said, "Yes!" Bilbo kissed her again and took a ring from his vest pocket and placed it on her finger.
