Disclaimer: As much as I'd LOVE to, I do not own Frodo Baggins. * sniff *
However I do own the Roper family, myself (Holly Brandybuck) and the
Broadbeam family. The rest were created by J. R. R. Tolkien. Don't sue coz
I'm saving up all my money to elope with Elijah Wood! (
Chapter One
She was the youngest daughter of the Ropers, a family with a large history that the whole of the Shire knew about. But unlike her elder brothers and sisters, Nina had other expectations in life. Ever since she was a young child, she longed for adventure, longed to seek riches and treasures. Longed to fight fire breathing dragons and see Elves, dwarves and humans.
Ever since Frodo Baggins had returned from the Undying Lands over six months ago, Nina had been to visit every night, where he would tell her the tales of his adventure and she would listen with admiration and happiness.
As she entered her house, she was welcomed by the gorgeous smell of cooked stew her mother was busy making in the kitchen.
"Hullo Mama" Nina smiled softly to her mother and seated herself down at the table.
Lilla Roper looked from her stew and smiled to her youngest child. "Have you had a good day dear?"
"Fantastic. Did you know that there is such a thing as heaven?"
"Really? And where did you hear that?"
"From Frodo" Nina exclaimed. "And the heaven is Lothlorien. Frodo told me all about it"
"So, you've been to Master Bagginses home again have you? Nina, dear, I think its time you spent less time there. I'm sure Master Baggins does not like to re-tell tales to young girls every day and I am sure there are some things he would wish to forget. Such as, how he came to have nine fingers"
"Oh mama, we do not spend the day just taking about his adventure. We talk of most things. And I am not a young girl. I'm grown up. I may be the youngest in the family but I certainly am not a child"
"That is true" Lilla smiled to her young girl. "You are a woman. And soon, in want of a husband"
"A husband!" Nina snorted. "Mama, I have no intentions"
"It is not your choice my dear, you know too well. It seems your father has many intentions on seeing you and your sisters wed"
"Be his intentions what they may, I shall not marry some hobbit lad whom my father sees fit. I wish to marry for love"
"Dear, you know that is not your choice. You are a Roper. And you must marry whom your father sees fit. That is something we cannot change"
Nina sighed, tucking a strand of her golden curls behind her pointed ear. Her hazel eyes narrowed as she thought of marriage.
True, it was in the family history that any daughter of a Roper must marry at her father's will. But Nina felt like she had all the time in the world before she got married. Her two elder sisters, Portia and Nissa had not yet had any offers for marriage and Nina, being the youngest had far to go yet.
"Ah! A fine day if ever there was one!" Meruda Roper stepped into his hole and gave his wife a light kiss on the cheek. "Hullo my child" he kissed his child on her head and sat down opposite her at the table.
"Good day Papa, you seem happy"
"I am Nina, I most certainly am. And it is my beautiful daughters' future that makes this day so wonderful"
"And why would that be?" Portia and Nissa entered the kitchen, giving their father a kiss on the cheek and seating themselves at the table.
"Because as I returned from my walk, I came across a letter placed in our mail box" Meruda put his hand into the inside of his jacket pocket and pulled out a letter. "It is from my old friend Friabo Broadbeam and he has news"
"Sweet Friabo, dear I have longed to see our old friends again" Lilla said excitedly, sitting beside her husband. "Do read out aloud"
"The letter is far too long but, if I may, shorten it so all can hear the news well"
"Go ahead Papa" Portia beckoned her father on and he obeyed her wishes.
"It clearly states that his son Friado is all grown up – a man hobbit, and handsome if ever there was one! He is of Portia's age and is in want of a wife. And he wishes to meet my young girls" Meruda's smile increased as he placed the letter back into his pocket. "I shall reply to him, informing him that Friado has the choice of any of my three girls"
Portia and Nissa wailed screams of excitement and giggled like young hobbits. Nina just sighed and played with the ends of her hair, ignoring everyone's excitement and endless joy.
"Nina, are you not excited?" Portia asked her sister.
"No, I am not" Nina stated clearly. "Master Broadbeam has the choice of only you and Nissa. I care not to take part in this unnecessary auction"
"Auction? My child, this is not an auction" Meruda snorted at his daughter's behaviour. "This is but a fair and graceful day, and a handsome rich hobbit would like to marry any of my daughters and I shall so happily give him permission to choice ANY of you"
"Who wants to marry them?!" Friagrin and Sogrin rushed into the kitchen, fully interrupting and Nina smirked at their entrance. Sometimes, her two elder brothers were the only people in the house that she could confide and have fun with.
"Somebody wishes to meet your sisters and has the choice of who they would like to wed" Meruda answered. "And I would much rather you enter the kitchen in a more polite manner"
"Why? It's not as though the mayor of Hobbiton is here" Sogrin joked. "Come on Papa, you tell us we must be polite and courteous in public, when do we get the chance to act like our normal selves if you wish us to be like that in the house?!"
"I'm afraid you have been spending too much time with that Took and Brandybuck" Meruda sighed.
"And I sincerely hope Friagrin and Sogrin Roper that that is not a carrot hanging from your pockets!" Lilla called to her twin sons.
"A carrot? Mama, why on earth would we have a carrot in our pockets?!" Friagrin said in an innocent tone to his mother. Lilla folded her arms and sighed.
"Because I'm suspecting you've been in Farmer Maggot's crops again!"
Nina tried to hide her smile and hold in her laughter. Her brothers were two of a kind. Like Merry and Pippin.
"Now why in middle earth would we go there?" Friagrin sniggered and Sogrin placed a hand over his mouth to hold in his laughter.
It was true Merry and Pippin had matured since returning from their adventure with Frodo – they were soldiers of Gondor and very good ones at that. But still, they let out their cheeky sides and still had a lot of fun. Friagrin and Sogrin placed themselves at the table and Lilla hissed at them when she spotted their hands covered in mud.
"So, who's the lucky guy who gets to marry you guys" Sogrin asked, stiffing his face full of stew.
"Manners!" Lilla scolded him and he winced.
"Friado Broadbeam" Nissa answered. "And he sounds so very handsome"
"Looks can be deceiving – all that glisters is not gold" Nina pointed out.
"I beg your pardon?" Nissa raised an eyebrow.
"This Friado may sound handsome, and for all I know he probably is…but it is inner beauty that counts, and inner beauty which I look for in love."
Nissa sighed and shook her head. "I care not for your theory sister, if he does choose me; I shall marry him with joy and happiness" Nissa paused. "I do believe that you, Nina, are trying to put off this marriage already" Nissa examined her sister's face. "He had not chosen you but still, you wish to put it off. Could it be another hobbit you have in mind? A hobbit with the charm and grace of a thousand princes and the fair looks of an elf…eyes like the blue ocean and a heart of gold?"
Nina looked sharply at her sister, that description was all too familiar. "Nissa, you…read my diary?"
Nissa shook her head. "I merely was cleaning and found the book open on your bed. I could not help but read. Do tell who is this fair prince in which you seek?"
Nina looked down as her family gazed upon her. "He is not of your concern"
"Or perhaps, you saw him in a dream…perhaps he is not real but you seek a hobbit like him" Portia suggested, as though her heart was floating. She was a hobbit of romance and loved romance tales.
"I do seek a hobbit like him" Nina answered, standing up and leaving the table, and walked to her bedroom. "I've found him" she muttered to herself, lying down on the soft bed. "And I love him…" she added.
Chapter One
She was the youngest daughter of the Ropers, a family with a large history that the whole of the Shire knew about. But unlike her elder brothers and sisters, Nina had other expectations in life. Ever since she was a young child, she longed for adventure, longed to seek riches and treasures. Longed to fight fire breathing dragons and see Elves, dwarves and humans.
Ever since Frodo Baggins had returned from the Undying Lands over six months ago, Nina had been to visit every night, where he would tell her the tales of his adventure and she would listen with admiration and happiness.
As she entered her house, she was welcomed by the gorgeous smell of cooked stew her mother was busy making in the kitchen.
"Hullo Mama" Nina smiled softly to her mother and seated herself down at the table.
Lilla Roper looked from her stew and smiled to her youngest child. "Have you had a good day dear?"
"Fantastic. Did you know that there is such a thing as heaven?"
"Really? And where did you hear that?"
"From Frodo" Nina exclaimed. "And the heaven is Lothlorien. Frodo told me all about it"
"So, you've been to Master Bagginses home again have you? Nina, dear, I think its time you spent less time there. I'm sure Master Baggins does not like to re-tell tales to young girls every day and I am sure there are some things he would wish to forget. Such as, how he came to have nine fingers"
"Oh mama, we do not spend the day just taking about his adventure. We talk of most things. And I am not a young girl. I'm grown up. I may be the youngest in the family but I certainly am not a child"
"That is true" Lilla smiled to her young girl. "You are a woman. And soon, in want of a husband"
"A husband!" Nina snorted. "Mama, I have no intentions"
"It is not your choice my dear, you know too well. It seems your father has many intentions on seeing you and your sisters wed"
"Be his intentions what they may, I shall not marry some hobbit lad whom my father sees fit. I wish to marry for love"
"Dear, you know that is not your choice. You are a Roper. And you must marry whom your father sees fit. That is something we cannot change"
Nina sighed, tucking a strand of her golden curls behind her pointed ear. Her hazel eyes narrowed as she thought of marriage.
True, it was in the family history that any daughter of a Roper must marry at her father's will. But Nina felt like she had all the time in the world before she got married. Her two elder sisters, Portia and Nissa had not yet had any offers for marriage and Nina, being the youngest had far to go yet.
"Ah! A fine day if ever there was one!" Meruda Roper stepped into his hole and gave his wife a light kiss on the cheek. "Hullo my child" he kissed his child on her head and sat down opposite her at the table.
"Good day Papa, you seem happy"
"I am Nina, I most certainly am. And it is my beautiful daughters' future that makes this day so wonderful"
"And why would that be?" Portia and Nissa entered the kitchen, giving their father a kiss on the cheek and seating themselves at the table.
"Because as I returned from my walk, I came across a letter placed in our mail box" Meruda put his hand into the inside of his jacket pocket and pulled out a letter. "It is from my old friend Friabo Broadbeam and he has news"
"Sweet Friabo, dear I have longed to see our old friends again" Lilla said excitedly, sitting beside her husband. "Do read out aloud"
"The letter is far too long but, if I may, shorten it so all can hear the news well"
"Go ahead Papa" Portia beckoned her father on and he obeyed her wishes.
"It clearly states that his son Friado is all grown up – a man hobbit, and handsome if ever there was one! He is of Portia's age and is in want of a wife. And he wishes to meet my young girls" Meruda's smile increased as he placed the letter back into his pocket. "I shall reply to him, informing him that Friado has the choice of any of my three girls"
Portia and Nissa wailed screams of excitement and giggled like young hobbits. Nina just sighed and played with the ends of her hair, ignoring everyone's excitement and endless joy.
"Nina, are you not excited?" Portia asked her sister.
"No, I am not" Nina stated clearly. "Master Broadbeam has the choice of only you and Nissa. I care not to take part in this unnecessary auction"
"Auction? My child, this is not an auction" Meruda snorted at his daughter's behaviour. "This is but a fair and graceful day, and a handsome rich hobbit would like to marry any of my daughters and I shall so happily give him permission to choice ANY of you"
"Who wants to marry them?!" Friagrin and Sogrin rushed into the kitchen, fully interrupting and Nina smirked at their entrance. Sometimes, her two elder brothers were the only people in the house that she could confide and have fun with.
"Somebody wishes to meet your sisters and has the choice of who they would like to wed" Meruda answered. "And I would much rather you enter the kitchen in a more polite manner"
"Why? It's not as though the mayor of Hobbiton is here" Sogrin joked. "Come on Papa, you tell us we must be polite and courteous in public, when do we get the chance to act like our normal selves if you wish us to be like that in the house?!"
"I'm afraid you have been spending too much time with that Took and Brandybuck" Meruda sighed.
"And I sincerely hope Friagrin and Sogrin Roper that that is not a carrot hanging from your pockets!" Lilla called to her twin sons.
"A carrot? Mama, why on earth would we have a carrot in our pockets?!" Friagrin said in an innocent tone to his mother. Lilla folded her arms and sighed.
"Because I'm suspecting you've been in Farmer Maggot's crops again!"
Nina tried to hide her smile and hold in her laughter. Her brothers were two of a kind. Like Merry and Pippin.
"Now why in middle earth would we go there?" Friagrin sniggered and Sogrin placed a hand over his mouth to hold in his laughter.
It was true Merry and Pippin had matured since returning from their adventure with Frodo – they were soldiers of Gondor and very good ones at that. But still, they let out their cheeky sides and still had a lot of fun. Friagrin and Sogrin placed themselves at the table and Lilla hissed at them when she spotted their hands covered in mud.
"So, who's the lucky guy who gets to marry you guys" Sogrin asked, stiffing his face full of stew.
"Manners!" Lilla scolded him and he winced.
"Friado Broadbeam" Nissa answered. "And he sounds so very handsome"
"Looks can be deceiving – all that glisters is not gold" Nina pointed out.
"I beg your pardon?" Nissa raised an eyebrow.
"This Friado may sound handsome, and for all I know he probably is…but it is inner beauty that counts, and inner beauty which I look for in love."
Nissa sighed and shook her head. "I care not for your theory sister, if he does choose me; I shall marry him with joy and happiness" Nissa paused. "I do believe that you, Nina, are trying to put off this marriage already" Nissa examined her sister's face. "He had not chosen you but still, you wish to put it off. Could it be another hobbit you have in mind? A hobbit with the charm and grace of a thousand princes and the fair looks of an elf…eyes like the blue ocean and a heart of gold?"
Nina looked sharply at her sister, that description was all too familiar. "Nissa, you…read my diary?"
Nissa shook her head. "I merely was cleaning and found the book open on your bed. I could not help but read. Do tell who is this fair prince in which you seek?"
Nina looked down as her family gazed upon her. "He is not of your concern"
"Or perhaps, you saw him in a dream…perhaps he is not real but you seek a hobbit like him" Portia suggested, as though her heart was floating. She was a hobbit of romance and loved romance tales.
"I do seek a hobbit like him" Nina answered, standing up and leaving the table, and walked to her bedroom. "I've found him" she muttered to herself, lying down on the soft bed. "And I love him…" she added.