Marigold was tapping her foot impatiently, waiting for Frodo, who should have been there by now. It wasn't her idea to move to Buckland, that's for sure, but Frodo wanted to get married and raise a family, and she wasn't going to argue to the one she loved when he said that he'd prefer their children grew up somewhere not quite so built up as Hobbiton. Marigold didn't see what all the fuss was about. Surely it wasn't that much of a difference, Buckland was certainly very busy as well, and it wasn't THAT important that the kids grew up swimming. Ugh, kids. Marigold hated children. Damn.
Anyway, Frodo was supposed to have arrived in Buckland with Samwise and Peregrin hours ago. Mmmm... Peregrin Took... No! Engaged hobbit... I am an engaged hobbit... must... not... stray. Obviously Marigold was having a little trouble staying faithful, regardless of the fact that she loved Frodo infinitely.
"Hey Frodo!" Marigold yelled at a figure along the road. Frodo! Is that you?"
The figure turned and Marigold realized that it was not Frodo. Nope, this creepy figure was a Nas Gul. Marigold regognized him very well. This was baaaaaad news to her. Very baaaaaaaaaad news. "No.... Sorry." She called. "My mistake!" but it was too late, she had caught the Nas Gul's attention, that was for sure, and it mounted the horse next to it, which Marigold hadn't previously noticed, or maybe she had thought it was Sam. The Nas Gul and horse trotted over.
"Yesss....?" It hissed.
"Oh, N... n... nothing." Marigold replied. "I... thought you were someone else... My fiance..."
"Bagginsssss...?"
Suddenly Marigold was overcome by a sharp pain and a white light flashed in front of her eyes. "Erg... No, The Baggins'es live in Hobbiton... that way." Marigold pointed down the road, since Frodo wasn't supposed to be going that way. "If you heard about him... moving to Buckland, you know... there's been a change of plans. He's not moving anymore. But you can visit him if you travel down that road to Hobbitton." Marigold forced a smile to look convincing. "You'll be a friend then?"
"Yessss...." The Nas Gul answered before it turned and swept away down the dark road.
"Phew." Marigold sighed. That flash was a warning, she was certain. The Nas Gul mobilized again... that could only mean one thing... Frodo certainly wasn't intending to stay in Buckland.
"I'm going to have to look into this..." Marigold said to herself quietly, a little afraid.
About ten minutes later, Marigold was warming herself by the fire in thier new home. Meriadoc was there, and Fredegar too.
Marigold waited until she was warm before confronting Meriadoc, it was very cold and the meeting with the Nas Gul hadn't helped.
"Meriadoc Brandybuck," Marigold started sternly, remembering the little fear that the hobbits seemed to harbour for her. "Come over here, by the fire. I meant to have a talk with you."
Meriadoc walked over to the fire and stared into it. "I'm afraid I don't know what you would talk about." He said nonchalantly.
"Frodo's been acting strange lately." Said Marigold. "And I saw a very queer person on the road today. Somethings about to happen."
"It may be that something is going to happen, Miss." Replied Meriadoc. "But I cannot admit to knowing anything about what you are telling me about. What can it possibly have to do with me?"
"Meriadoc, I think you know something about it. About what is going to happen."
"Me, Miss?" Asked Meriadoc. "What reason could you have for suspecting me of having knowledge that i haven't shared with you?"
"Hmmm... Let's see... Congregating in groups... whispering... looking knowingly at your friends." Marigold started. "Don't fuck around with me, Merry. Frodo's my fiance and if anything's going to happen to him, if he is going to do anything, I want to know about it."
Meriadoc looked shocked. "Um... Miss... I..." He stuttered. "Welll... I, I really don't know the details but we... I mean, we think Frodo may be leaving... forever."
Marigold cast her eyes down to the flames. "Then it is as I feared... The ring... Gandalf... He means to leave without me, doesn't he?"
"Well... um... er, i wouldn't be so sure... Miss..." Said Meriadoc unconvincingly. "Well, If he truly hasn't told you anything... then yes, I would say he means to leave without you."
"What else do you know? Or what can you deduce?"
"He... He means to leave, he may not be returning, and he means to leave from here, from Bucklands. I think Samwise is going with him as well, and Gandalf possibly. He... I am certain he thinks to leave secretly. I can tell it pains him greatly, to leave you, though."
"Leave me?" Marigold quipped. "What give you the idea that he'll be leaving me? I won't give him the pleasure."
"You... won't?"
"No, I won't. Fellow conspirator, we have a new plan."
"Huh? What plan? What?" Meriadoc looked a little frightened of Marigolds sudden determination.
"I'm going with him." Said Marigold. "and... you will go too. How about Pippin? Do you think Peregrin would like to go?"
"But... that was already the plan. Pippin and I were to follow Frodo."
"Really?" Said Marigold. "You are a most loyal friend then, Merry. Well, an addition to the plan then. Me."
"Ulp... Are you certain, Miss? It could be dangerous."
"Well..." Marigold began, her voice quivering nervously. "Almost..?"
"I think you should talk to Frodo about the situation, Miss." Ended Meriadoc. "I cannot know what he would wish for you."
"I think I shall talk to Frodo about this, Merry." Said Marigold. "But let's go on to a different strain of the same subject... shall we? You were, howsay, intending to FOLLOW Frodo, am I right? Not simply offer to go with him?"
"No, Miss." Replied Merry. "We... meant to follow him only."
"Not such a good friend then are you?" Marigold chided. "How would some sneaky assailants following help him if anything happened."
"How would worrying about the safety of two extra people, two friends, help?"
"Good call. But why not? If you convinced him that you were afeared for his safety, that would wished to go with him... wouldn't that waylay his worries."
"I don't know, Miss. When he screws himself up like this..."
"I know what he's like, yes... but try this phrase; 'You'd have to send us home ties up in a sack to stop us.' It emphasises how much you care for his safety over your own, as well as your determination to go with him."
"I may... we may just try that, Miss."
"Call me Mari."
"We may just try that, Mari. We may."
Marigold sat back in an overstuffed recliner, facing the fire, and eventually nodded off to sleep thinking about Frodo, whilst a more or less troubled Meriadoc wandered slowly back to Fredegar to discuss Frodo's troublesome girlfriend and her aims to impede on the secrecy of the conspiracy.

******

"Frodo, You're here finally!" Said Marigold, hiding the fact that she knew what he was planning. "I was looking around the place and I have absolutely no idea how we are going to decorate this place but then I thought... but that didn't work out so I decided... but that fell out as well so I tried to... and when that failed I concluded to just leave it to you. We're going to have so much fun here aren't we Frodo..."
"Umm... yes, yes we are going to have a wonderful time." Frodo smiled weakly at Marigold, but he was very distant. "Umm... I'm very busy at the moment, I'll discuss the decorating with you later, I promise."
Frodo walked past Marigold and into the house.
"Well." Said Marigold to herself. "How much money do I have to bet that he intends not to talk to me about decorations later."
She paused for a minute, reflefting on this, before gathering some flowers for a vase on then table and following Frodo inside.
There was the sound of great splashing coming from inside the house when Marigold entered.
"It sounds like a monsoon." Marigold said to whoever was listening, Meriadoc and Fredegar at the least. "How much water did you put in the tubs?"
"Filled them right up, Miss Marigold." Said Merry, from his place by the fire, as Marigold arranged the flowers.
"You doofus." Marigold exclaimed. "Haven't you ever heard of water conservation? Try filling them half full only next time... wait... if there is a next time..." Marigold trailed off.
"Are you having second thoughts, Miss Marigold?" Asked Merry, perking up. "Because if you are, that's alright. We'll-"
"No, I'm not." Marigold interrupted. "But just excuse me for one moment, will you?"
"Certainly, Miss." Said Merry, but then stopped when he saw Marigold walk into the bathroom. "Wait! You can't go in... there?"
Just as Marigold stepped in the bathroom, Peregrin made a huge splash in his tub, sending water flying all over the room and completely drenching Marigold. Her now totally soaked hair was plastered to her face and covered her eyes.
"I need to speak to Frodo, guys." Marigold said. "So cover yourselves before I uncover my eyes."
The hobbits quickly obeyed, covering themselves with whatever was near, sponges, facecloths or towels.
"Do you mind?" Asked Samwise, apparently perturbed. "I thought I could get a bit of privacy in here."
"Privacy?" Marigold asked, walking over to Frodo. "You're bathing with two other men and you say you had privacy? Get a life."
Samwise quietened and Marigold knelt down next to Frodo.
"Yes, Marigold?" Frodo asked. "What's so important that it requires you to crash the bathroom? You haven't pulled a stunt like this in ages."
"Yes... important." Whispered Marigold so that only Frodo could hear. "Well, Frodo, the thing is, the black riders paid me a visit today asking for you."
"Black riders?" Frodo stared at Marigold. "How much... do you know?"
"Alot." Said Marigold. "More than you."
"Then you know what I'm planning?"
"Yes." Marigold replied. "And I can see the sense in it."
"I'm... sorry." Said Frodo. "That i couldn't have told you sooner. It must be this way."
"You're right. I harbour no ill feelings. The ring must not stay in the Shire." Said Marigold, and these words made Frodo relax. "But that's why I've decided to come with you."
"What... no!" Frodo raised his voice but caught himself as he noticed the other hobbits trying earnestly to hear snatches of the conversation. "No... you don't understand... It's too dangerous."
"If I go... then I can keep you safe."
"Who will keep you safe?"
"I will."
"Oh, right. Your powers..." Frodo said. "Well I guess there's no stopping you."
"I could never let you face anything by yourself Frodo." Said marigold. "I'd worry too much about you."
"You care that much that you'd put yourself in danger?"
"Yes."
"At least now I won't have to say goodbye to you as well." Said Frodo. "You wouldn't believe how it felt each day, knowing that I was going to have to leave Pippin and Merry... and you too. Now it's not as painful."
"Okay, well I have to prepare some stuff if I'm gonna go then." Said Marigold and she stood up and walked out of the room.

******

"You knew they were going to come, didn't you?" Asked Frodo as they trudged through the forest, Merry, Pippin and Samwise ahead, but Marigold and Frodo trailing. "You knew all along."
"Well... Yeah." Said Marigold with a smile. "I convinced them to come."
"You what?"
"Well I convinced them to tell you they were comming. They were just gonna follow along behind."