Chapter 5 – Peregrins Birthday
The lazy summer days of July were just beginning and Robin was stood in her bedroom dressing. It was Pip's 30th birthday and as with any party in the shire it would be a big one. She sighed at her reflection. She had lost weight and her eyes were dark from lack of sleep and crying. If she cried anymore she would drown she was sure. She didn't know if Frodo was coming to the party, there had been no word from him and Pippin had been too busy to visit. She had already made up her mind that he had forgotten about her and though she tried to convince herself she couldn't believe that he had just used her.
'Well I shouldn't know what to do if he comes' she thought 'or if he doesn't'.
Her thoughts were roused by a knock on the front door and her mother's footsteps as she shuffled down the hall. 'Probably someone for the party' she thought. "ROBIN" her mother's footsteps came nearer to her room. "What in Bree's name is this?" she flustered walking into the bedroom carrying a large box in her arms. She put it down on the bed and looked at Robin expectantly. "What? I don't know what it is" Robin exclaimed "Well open it then, it is addressed to you" She hesitated than slowly took the top off the box. Inside was the most exquisite dress Robin had ever seen. She carefully lifted it out. It was full length, low necked and made of a material that was much softer than silk. It was cream in colour but it shimmered like pale sunlight on a still lake. "My giddy aunt" Mrs Took gasped "Now who would be sending you something like that?" she took the dress to examine it closer. Robin then noticed a piece of paper in the box. She picked it up her hands shaking. It read 'Annunal Gil-phwen sirithheru oro turin: No mortal on earth nor star in the heavens compares to your beauty' Signed Frodo. Robin choked struggling to hold back the tears.
"Well it is a fine piece and no mistake, that's never Shire work. Someone has been to the Elves for that" her mother handed the dress back "Well?"
Robin looked at her, her thoughts running wild "Well what?"
"Are you going to put it on?" Robin carefully placed the dress over her head then her mother tied it at the back. Looking in the mirror she stood shocked. The dress fitted perfectly. "My don't you look a princess" her mother huffed "Aye well don't be getting ideas" Robin couldn't speak all she knew was that he had been thinking about her.
"Happy Birthday my darling" Robin cried. The party had started and Robin was looking for her cousin. She came on Pippin looking very shifty near the ale kegs. "Shush" he whispered "That awful Myrtle Burrows is around and she wants to give me a birthday kiss"
Robin laughed "I cant imagine why. And she's not awful, just a little dizzy"
"She's a pain" answered Pip
"HELLO PERGRIN" Pip cowered down but it was only Merry.
"I would be quiet dear Meriadoc, Pip here would not be favorable with his ale if you reveal his hiding place" Robin said to him
"Then I shall be quiet for now" Merry answered "Though after a few ales I may not be so. Come Pip you cannot hide all night we should be celebrating" He grabbed Pippins arm dragging him into the throng of Hobbits.
Robin was left on her own. She stood and watched. A lot of people had come to celebrate the heir to the Thain's birthday. She was suddenly very aware of someone watching her. She looked through the crowds but couldn't see anyone. The feeling was getting stronger and she knew, 'he's here'. Then she saw him, half concealed under the trees. The light from the lanterns flicked on his face and the shadows made his features dark. Slowly he walked towards her, Robin couldn't move.
"Honored am I to look on thee again. My heart has been dark since you left" Frodo bowed low and kissed her hand. When he rose he looked into her eyes and the expression of love stung her heart. "Oh Frodo" she stepped into his embrace and felt the tears fall from her eyes. Frodo stepped away and looked at her again
"Do not cry, we have little time to be together and we should treasure it." He took her hand and started to lead her towards the party.
"Wait" Robin pulled him back. Embarrassed she looked at the floor "I would rather us be….umm….. alone?"
"Within all the hosts of Middle Earth, I wouldn't notice anyone but you. But yes lets go away from prying eyes."
They walked together all that night, talking of the things that had past since they had been apart. Though only 6 weeks had gone by Frodo felt like it had been years, and the nagging doubt that had started in him with his arrival back in the Shire had returned. He hadn't had intended to see Robin again, hoping beyond hope that she would be able to forget him and live her life as she should. But as the weeks had past the feeling of need to see her overcame even his uncertainty. Some nights it had been so strong that he could almost here her, calling to him. It had been Sam that had made up his mind for him.
"Frodo, sir not meaning to be blunt but you need a holiday. Why don't you goes and sees Pip, it is his birthday"
Frodo looked at Robin now and was glad he had come. "I am glad you like my present I was not sure how it would be received" Robin understood the question in his statement. She stopped and turned to him "I thought you had forgotten about me. I cursed myself for being too innocent and that I had done wrong to you, though what I did not know unless…………." She looked shyly at him, fearing his response. He gripped her hand tighter and smiled at her. "You have done nothing. It is my own stupid stubbornness and selfishness that has kept me away from you. I thought it would be easy to forget you but I was wrong" He pulled her gently to him and kissed her. All Robins senses fled as she melted into him and she forgot all else.
The lazy summer days of July were just beginning and Robin was stood in her bedroom dressing. It was Pip's 30th birthday and as with any party in the shire it would be a big one. She sighed at her reflection. She had lost weight and her eyes were dark from lack of sleep and crying. If she cried anymore she would drown she was sure. She didn't know if Frodo was coming to the party, there had been no word from him and Pippin had been too busy to visit. She had already made up her mind that he had forgotten about her and though she tried to convince herself she couldn't believe that he had just used her.
'Well I shouldn't know what to do if he comes' she thought 'or if he doesn't'.
Her thoughts were roused by a knock on the front door and her mother's footsteps as she shuffled down the hall. 'Probably someone for the party' she thought. "ROBIN" her mother's footsteps came nearer to her room. "What in Bree's name is this?" she flustered walking into the bedroom carrying a large box in her arms. She put it down on the bed and looked at Robin expectantly. "What? I don't know what it is" Robin exclaimed "Well open it then, it is addressed to you" She hesitated than slowly took the top off the box. Inside was the most exquisite dress Robin had ever seen. She carefully lifted it out. It was full length, low necked and made of a material that was much softer than silk. It was cream in colour but it shimmered like pale sunlight on a still lake. "My giddy aunt" Mrs Took gasped "Now who would be sending you something like that?" she took the dress to examine it closer. Robin then noticed a piece of paper in the box. She picked it up her hands shaking. It read 'Annunal Gil-phwen sirithheru oro turin: No mortal on earth nor star in the heavens compares to your beauty' Signed Frodo. Robin choked struggling to hold back the tears.
"Well it is a fine piece and no mistake, that's never Shire work. Someone has been to the Elves for that" her mother handed the dress back "Well?"
Robin looked at her, her thoughts running wild "Well what?"
"Are you going to put it on?" Robin carefully placed the dress over her head then her mother tied it at the back. Looking in the mirror she stood shocked. The dress fitted perfectly. "My don't you look a princess" her mother huffed "Aye well don't be getting ideas" Robin couldn't speak all she knew was that he had been thinking about her.
"Happy Birthday my darling" Robin cried. The party had started and Robin was looking for her cousin. She came on Pippin looking very shifty near the ale kegs. "Shush" he whispered "That awful Myrtle Burrows is around and she wants to give me a birthday kiss"
Robin laughed "I cant imagine why. And she's not awful, just a little dizzy"
"She's a pain" answered Pip
"HELLO PERGRIN" Pip cowered down but it was only Merry.
"I would be quiet dear Meriadoc, Pip here would not be favorable with his ale if you reveal his hiding place" Robin said to him
"Then I shall be quiet for now" Merry answered "Though after a few ales I may not be so. Come Pip you cannot hide all night we should be celebrating" He grabbed Pippins arm dragging him into the throng of Hobbits.
Robin was left on her own. She stood and watched. A lot of people had come to celebrate the heir to the Thain's birthday. She was suddenly very aware of someone watching her. She looked through the crowds but couldn't see anyone. The feeling was getting stronger and she knew, 'he's here'. Then she saw him, half concealed under the trees. The light from the lanterns flicked on his face and the shadows made his features dark. Slowly he walked towards her, Robin couldn't move.
"Honored am I to look on thee again. My heart has been dark since you left" Frodo bowed low and kissed her hand. When he rose he looked into her eyes and the expression of love stung her heart. "Oh Frodo" she stepped into his embrace and felt the tears fall from her eyes. Frodo stepped away and looked at her again
"Do not cry, we have little time to be together and we should treasure it." He took her hand and started to lead her towards the party.
"Wait" Robin pulled him back. Embarrassed she looked at the floor "I would rather us be….umm….. alone?"
"Within all the hosts of Middle Earth, I wouldn't notice anyone but you. But yes lets go away from prying eyes."
They walked together all that night, talking of the things that had past since they had been apart. Though only 6 weeks had gone by Frodo felt like it had been years, and the nagging doubt that had started in him with his arrival back in the Shire had returned. He hadn't had intended to see Robin again, hoping beyond hope that she would be able to forget him and live her life as she should. But as the weeks had past the feeling of need to see her overcame even his uncertainty. Some nights it had been so strong that he could almost here her, calling to him. It had been Sam that had made up his mind for him.
"Frodo, sir not meaning to be blunt but you need a holiday. Why don't you goes and sees Pip, it is his birthday"
Frodo looked at Robin now and was glad he had come. "I am glad you like my present I was not sure how it would be received" Robin understood the question in his statement. She stopped and turned to him "I thought you had forgotten about me. I cursed myself for being too innocent and that I had done wrong to you, though what I did not know unless…………." She looked shyly at him, fearing his response. He gripped her hand tighter and smiled at her. "You have done nothing. It is my own stupid stubbornness and selfishness that has kept me away from you. I thought it would be easy to forget you but I was wrong" He pulled her gently to him and kissed her. All Robins senses fled as she melted into him and she forgot all else.
