Chapter Four
When the sun was too bright to ignore, Nina opened her eyes and sat up in bed. She could hear her mother outside her bedroom, cleaning all the nooks and crannies in the house – making sure everything was spotlessly clean for the arrival of the Broadbeams. Looking out of the window, Nina watched as hobbits walked down the cobbled road, down to the market. In the mass of morning crowds she saw Holly skipping up the road towards the house.
"No this surely cannot be right" Nina stifled a giggle. "Holly is up early?!"
Within a matter of minutes, Holly skipped into Nina's bedroom.
"Hullo!" she said happily. "And how are we this morn?"
"Terrible" Nina sighed.
"Know the feeling!" she said, seating herself onto the bed, grabbed an apple from her pocket. "Hope Nissa didn't mind me taking this!" she chuckled.
"Why are you feeling terrible? You look on top of the world"
"I am, I am. But after last nights events…I feel like I could sleep forever"
Nina frowned; this certainly wasn't making any sense….and Holly hardly ever made sense!
"Last night, Pippin, Merry and I went to Bag End to see Frodo, Sam and Rosie. Frodo wasn't there but when he finally came home he looked…upset, disappointed almost"
Nina's eyes widened as Holly carried on.
"When we asked him what was wrong, he said he was fine. But Merry and I didn't believe him – so we suggested a minor party. We were on our way to the Green Dragon Inn, when I suggested that we call on you and ask if you wanted to come. Then Frodo explained that he had seen you earlier on that night and Portia had dragged you home in a hurry for some reason. Anyway, we got drunk, made merry and Sam, Rose and Frodo had to carry me, Merry and Pippin home! Mama went into a right fit and woke me up at the crack of dawn. I had to clean out the whole house! Lucky Merry lives with Pippin – he got no punishment what so ever. I suppose I should ask to live with Merry and Pippin, seen as though we spend most of our time together" Holly finally stopped for breath and bit into her apple.
"How is Frodo now?" Nina asked.
Holly shrugged, munching. "He still looked troubled after he carried me home – guess the party didn't help"
"Did he say what was wrong?"
"No" Holly said. "But I know you had something to do with it" she added after a long pause.
"Me?!"
"Yes" she grinned. "Nina, you are my best friend and Frodo is my favourite cousin! I know you two were together last night, and you got pulled away because of this suitor thing. I just added two and two together and came up with that conclusion. Am I right?"
"Yes" Nina answered. "You really are a peculiar hobbit Holly Brandybuck, how it that you know what I'm feeling? What I'm thinking? And what I want?"
"Because I believe I'm closer to you than your family are. I see it in your eyes; you're feeling love, but you are also feeling frustrated with this Broadbeam family. You're thinking that you want a better life; you're thinking that you want to be part of another family. And you want my cousin"
Nina was amazed. "You can tell all of that by just looking at me?"
Holly nodded with a smile. "And I can see that something nearly happened last night. Maybe that was why Frodo looked disappointed"
"Do you think that…he may…" she blushed. "He may…like me…?"
"Oh, he likes you alright!" Holly chuckled, teasing. "Who couldn't like you Nina?! You're great!"
"I don't mean like that! I mean…in a sort of…affectionate way…"
Holly stared at her friend. "You're a pretty hobbit, funny, smart…"
"Please answer the question!"
"Nina, Nina dear…" Holly smiled. "You will have to see. Don't reach for the moon"
"Reach for the moon?" Nina frowned.
Holly smiled knowingly. "You're taking risks. Such as…falling for Frodo and knowing that you will be carted around from suitor to suitor and not knowing whether he loves you or not. You're reaching for the moon before you know what's going on"
"You sound like Portia" Nina grumbled. "And speaking of those blasted suitors…he's coming today"
Holly's eyes widened. "Already?!" she called. "God, they don't waste anytime. You know, I reckon he's that ugly that he wants to get here as soon as possible and choose either Portia and Nissa before his friends work out that he's desperate!"
Though, with Holly's attempts of trying to make Nina better, the youngest Roper looked down.
"I'm scared" she said quietly. "I'm scared that he'll choose me…and I'll have to marry him"
Holly put an arm around her friend. "Look, you have the same chance as either Portia or Nissa. And you know, even though you are the prettiest out of your sisters, I think he'll choose Portia"
"Why do you think that?"
"Well, your father he is more of Portia's age, and he'd want a wife within a good age range"
"Yes, I suppose you're right…"
"There you go" Holly smiled as she saw a smile creep up on Nina's lips. "You just wait for your gentlehobbit"
"What about 'don't reach for the moon'?"
"Ah! Blast it!" Holly laughed. "You reach as far as you can for that moon if you want it so bad Nina. I'll even help you!"
Nina laughed lightly. "Thank you"
"Hey, I'm here if you want me! I may be a Brandybuck, but we do use our brain cells once in a while!"
"Poor Merry!"
"Not forgetting Pippin either!"
"Or Friagrin and Sogrin!"
"Come on" Holly laughed. "Let's go to the inn, I think the Bolger's need help there. We could sing for everyone!"
"Oh Holly, I don't know…"
"Come on!" Holly called, happily. "It'll be fun – we may even get the full time job! Just think, singing on stage with everybody watching you and listening to every word you say. It's not often that people listen to us. Signing is the only answer"
"Only if we can make up songs which will make my father listen to how distraught I am about this auction!"
"Anything my friend! Anything!" Holly guided Nina out of the house and they laughed all the way to the inn.
*****
"I cannot believe you Holly Brandybuck!" Nina choked with laughter as the two hobbit friends headed home.
"Ah, but it took all your troubles away like I said"
"Ok, ok, you were right. Wow, it's dark already. We must have sung all night!"
"Possibly…but did you really have to sing the entire Treebeard song?!"
Nina laughed.
"You see? The world is a lot better when you smile"
When they finally walked to Nina's, the two girls hugged and waved their goodbyes with a final joke about the evening's events and Nina retired to the house.
She opened the door to find Portia and Nissa sat on the double seated chair, Friagrin and Sogrin on the opposite side of the room, looking bored. Her mother and father stood looking at her coldly, standing beside three other hobbits. The Broadbeams…
"Ah, she comes" Meruda answered in a less than friendly tone. "Late. Maybe you shouldn't be spending much time with that Brandybuck from now on. You're getting as bad as Friagrin and Sogrin"
"Meruda, please" Lilla gently laid a hand on his arm.
"Well, she knew this special day was coming, and yet she was still late for the occasion"
"It is perfectly fine Meruda, please introduce the last of your pretty daughters to my son" the father said.
"Well," Meruda cleared his throat and laying his hand on a young mans shoulder. "Nina, this is Friado Broadbeam, son of Friabo and Brealla Broadbeam. Friado, this here is my youngest daughter Nina"
Friado looked upon Nina with great satisfaction. "Good evening Nina" he lifted her hand and kissed it. Nina merely gave a weak smile. Portia looked at her sister all the while; she knew instantly that Friado wasn't interested in either her or Nissa…
"Let us rest, let us rest!" Friabo called out aloud. "Tomorrow evening we feast! We dine with Hobbiton! We dance the night away!"
"Here, here!" Meruda raised a glass. "And to celebrate the engagement your son holds with either of my daughters!"
Nina looked down. "Goodnight" she said, retiring to her bedroom.
"Goodnight, fair Nina" Friado called to her. She did not reply.
"Nina Roper! Open this window right now!"
Nina recognised that call immediately that was coming from outside her window.
"Holly?! It's the middle of the night!"
"I know, I know. I'm staying at Bag End. I got sent here!" she answered in a loud whisper.
"Bag End?! Who sent you?"
"The sender is on the hill" she replied with as smile. "And has something important to talk to you about"
"But I cannot go wandering through the Shire in the middle of the night!" but even a few seconds after saying that, Nina jumped out of the window and ran with her friend behind a bush.
"Trust me, you want to go" Holly said, wearing nothing but night clothes herself.
"Is it that important?"
"Very. Frodo saw the Broadbeams turn up at your house this evening…"
"Oh"
"So…what's he like?"
Nina shrugged. "Handsome yes…but…"
"Not Frodo" Holly filled in for her with a smile. "Go" she said. "I'll wait in your room and lock the door. Can't allow your parents to see me!"
"Thank you" Nina mouthed before hugging her again. "This means a lot"
Holly nodded with a smile as Nina darted over the road, not stopping or caring if she got caught.
As promised, Frodo was on top of the hill waiting for her.
"Nina!" he cried looking down on her. "You should have dressed first, you'll freeze out here!"
"I had to hurry, Holly said it was important"
"And it is" he said. "Before you were dragged away…"
"You were going to kiss me" Nina filled in, blushing tremendously.
"Y…yes…" Frodo turned a shade of pink himself. "I saw that young suitor turn up in the shire this evening…and I wanted to know what you thought about him"
That was it?! That was so important?!
"Well," Nina began, not really knowing where to begin. "I have yet to find out more about him…but I am not in love with him"
"Love tends to take time…sometimes" he looked to her. "Is he in love with you?"
"I hope not, he'll pick Portia or Nissa I am sure, he would want a wife of his own age"
Frodo nodded. Silence.
"Nina…?"
"Yes?"
"Renich i lú i erui govannem? Nauthannen i ned ôl reniannen."
"You…you said that before…before…"
"Before you were pulled away. Nina, you must forgive me. I am behaving in a most unfitting way. Especially as you shall be marrying…maybe not to this suitor, but to another suitor that chooses you. But I cannot help it; you must forgive the way I'm feeling"
"I don't understand, Frodo"
"Nina, I love you. And that's why you must forgive me. I cannot have you and…and it pains me. I think we should spend less time apart, for I cannot bear to watch you get wed to some other hobbit"
Nina was sure she was dreaming; she had to be. The one hobbit she thought about constantly was telling her he loved her…finally.
"Frodo, I –"
"Please forgive me"
"Why should I forgive you?"
"Because…Nina….I'm destroying our friendship for…oh I am selfish, I'm destroying it so I can be happy. I know it sounds terrible, but –"
"It sounds perfect to me" she said, with a smile and a twinkle in her eye.
"Really? So you believe too, that we should spend time apart?"
"What? No!" she could have laughed with sheer joy if she wanted, she could have run all the way down the hill screaming happily and telling the whole of the Shire that she had found her gentlehobbit. And, she could have done what she wanted to do ever since she decided she loved him…she did.
The kiss was as magical as Nina had dreamed and expected it to be. She sighed happily as Frodo kissed her back, holding her tightly against him and she fought to keep her balance.
"I do love you Frodo, I always have" she whispered as she placed sweet kisses on his neck. He tangled his fingers in her long golden curls, feeling something he had never felt before.
"I have too" he answered in a soft, caressing voice.
"Frodo, what does the Elvish mean?"
He smiled and caressed her cheek. "I asked if you remembered the first day we met. I thought I had strayed into a dream"
"The first day we met? Frodo, we were but young children!"
"And I cared for you then Nina, and as the years went on and we both grew up, it gradually turned into love and has been that way for years"
"Years?!" Nina wanted to hit herself constantly. All those *years* when she told herself that Frodo could never love her back, that he would never accept her as a lover…he had done all along?? "You've loved me for *years*?!" she tried to get round this, somehow. He nodded. "I could beat you over the head with a mallet a thousand times Frodo Baggins!" she let out a giggle. "I thought you'd only love me as a friend…all those *years* I told myself that, upsetting myself over that…you really did?"
"Silly isn't it?" he laughed and she snuggled against him, no longer feeling the cold air, but a warm, soft warm breeze. She was no longer reaching for the moon…the moon was reaching for her.
"Nina…shouldn't we…?"
"Shh…" she hushed him. "This is the best night of my entire life; let us not spoil it…"
"But…the Broadbeams…"
"Forget them my sweet Frodo" she smiled, looking up at his too handsome features. "We have eternity now, just us"
"Promise?"
"I promise" she said, leaning in for another taste of his sweet kisses. "Eternal love" she added then sealed off the promise with another kiss.
When the sun was too bright to ignore, Nina opened her eyes and sat up in bed. She could hear her mother outside her bedroom, cleaning all the nooks and crannies in the house – making sure everything was spotlessly clean for the arrival of the Broadbeams. Looking out of the window, Nina watched as hobbits walked down the cobbled road, down to the market. In the mass of morning crowds she saw Holly skipping up the road towards the house.
"No this surely cannot be right" Nina stifled a giggle. "Holly is up early?!"
Within a matter of minutes, Holly skipped into Nina's bedroom.
"Hullo!" she said happily. "And how are we this morn?"
"Terrible" Nina sighed.
"Know the feeling!" she said, seating herself onto the bed, grabbed an apple from her pocket. "Hope Nissa didn't mind me taking this!" she chuckled.
"Why are you feeling terrible? You look on top of the world"
"I am, I am. But after last nights events…I feel like I could sleep forever"
Nina frowned; this certainly wasn't making any sense….and Holly hardly ever made sense!
"Last night, Pippin, Merry and I went to Bag End to see Frodo, Sam and Rosie. Frodo wasn't there but when he finally came home he looked…upset, disappointed almost"
Nina's eyes widened as Holly carried on.
"When we asked him what was wrong, he said he was fine. But Merry and I didn't believe him – so we suggested a minor party. We were on our way to the Green Dragon Inn, when I suggested that we call on you and ask if you wanted to come. Then Frodo explained that he had seen you earlier on that night and Portia had dragged you home in a hurry for some reason. Anyway, we got drunk, made merry and Sam, Rose and Frodo had to carry me, Merry and Pippin home! Mama went into a right fit and woke me up at the crack of dawn. I had to clean out the whole house! Lucky Merry lives with Pippin – he got no punishment what so ever. I suppose I should ask to live with Merry and Pippin, seen as though we spend most of our time together" Holly finally stopped for breath and bit into her apple.
"How is Frodo now?" Nina asked.
Holly shrugged, munching. "He still looked troubled after he carried me home – guess the party didn't help"
"Did he say what was wrong?"
"No" Holly said. "But I know you had something to do with it" she added after a long pause.
"Me?!"
"Yes" she grinned. "Nina, you are my best friend and Frodo is my favourite cousin! I know you two were together last night, and you got pulled away because of this suitor thing. I just added two and two together and came up with that conclusion. Am I right?"
"Yes" Nina answered. "You really are a peculiar hobbit Holly Brandybuck, how it that you know what I'm feeling? What I'm thinking? And what I want?"
"Because I believe I'm closer to you than your family are. I see it in your eyes; you're feeling love, but you are also feeling frustrated with this Broadbeam family. You're thinking that you want a better life; you're thinking that you want to be part of another family. And you want my cousin"
Nina was amazed. "You can tell all of that by just looking at me?"
Holly nodded with a smile. "And I can see that something nearly happened last night. Maybe that was why Frodo looked disappointed"
"Do you think that…he may…" she blushed. "He may…like me…?"
"Oh, he likes you alright!" Holly chuckled, teasing. "Who couldn't like you Nina?! You're great!"
"I don't mean like that! I mean…in a sort of…affectionate way…"
Holly stared at her friend. "You're a pretty hobbit, funny, smart…"
"Please answer the question!"
"Nina, Nina dear…" Holly smiled. "You will have to see. Don't reach for the moon"
"Reach for the moon?" Nina frowned.
Holly smiled knowingly. "You're taking risks. Such as…falling for Frodo and knowing that you will be carted around from suitor to suitor and not knowing whether he loves you or not. You're reaching for the moon before you know what's going on"
"You sound like Portia" Nina grumbled. "And speaking of those blasted suitors…he's coming today"
Holly's eyes widened. "Already?!" she called. "God, they don't waste anytime. You know, I reckon he's that ugly that he wants to get here as soon as possible and choose either Portia and Nissa before his friends work out that he's desperate!"
Though, with Holly's attempts of trying to make Nina better, the youngest Roper looked down.
"I'm scared" she said quietly. "I'm scared that he'll choose me…and I'll have to marry him"
Holly put an arm around her friend. "Look, you have the same chance as either Portia or Nissa. And you know, even though you are the prettiest out of your sisters, I think he'll choose Portia"
"Why do you think that?"
"Well, your father he is more of Portia's age, and he'd want a wife within a good age range"
"Yes, I suppose you're right…"
"There you go" Holly smiled as she saw a smile creep up on Nina's lips. "You just wait for your gentlehobbit"
"What about 'don't reach for the moon'?"
"Ah! Blast it!" Holly laughed. "You reach as far as you can for that moon if you want it so bad Nina. I'll even help you!"
Nina laughed lightly. "Thank you"
"Hey, I'm here if you want me! I may be a Brandybuck, but we do use our brain cells once in a while!"
"Poor Merry!"
"Not forgetting Pippin either!"
"Or Friagrin and Sogrin!"
"Come on" Holly laughed. "Let's go to the inn, I think the Bolger's need help there. We could sing for everyone!"
"Oh Holly, I don't know…"
"Come on!" Holly called, happily. "It'll be fun – we may even get the full time job! Just think, singing on stage with everybody watching you and listening to every word you say. It's not often that people listen to us. Signing is the only answer"
"Only if we can make up songs which will make my father listen to how distraught I am about this auction!"
"Anything my friend! Anything!" Holly guided Nina out of the house and they laughed all the way to the inn.
*****
"I cannot believe you Holly Brandybuck!" Nina choked with laughter as the two hobbit friends headed home.
"Ah, but it took all your troubles away like I said"
"Ok, ok, you were right. Wow, it's dark already. We must have sung all night!"
"Possibly…but did you really have to sing the entire Treebeard song?!"
Nina laughed.
"You see? The world is a lot better when you smile"
When they finally walked to Nina's, the two girls hugged and waved their goodbyes with a final joke about the evening's events and Nina retired to the house.
She opened the door to find Portia and Nissa sat on the double seated chair, Friagrin and Sogrin on the opposite side of the room, looking bored. Her mother and father stood looking at her coldly, standing beside three other hobbits. The Broadbeams…
"Ah, she comes" Meruda answered in a less than friendly tone. "Late. Maybe you shouldn't be spending much time with that Brandybuck from now on. You're getting as bad as Friagrin and Sogrin"
"Meruda, please" Lilla gently laid a hand on his arm.
"Well, she knew this special day was coming, and yet she was still late for the occasion"
"It is perfectly fine Meruda, please introduce the last of your pretty daughters to my son" the father said.
"Well," Meruda cleared his throat and laying his hand on a young mans shoulder. "Nina, this is Friado Broadbeam, son of Friabo and Brealla Broadbeam. Friado, this here is my youngest daughter Nina"
Friado looked upon Nina with great satisfaction. "Good evening Nina" he lifted her hand and kissed it. Nina merely gave a weak smile. Portia looked at her sister all the while; she knew instantly that Friado wasn't interested in either her or Nissa…
"Let us rest, let us rest!" Friabo called out aloud. "Tomorrow evening we feast! We dine with Hobbiton! We dance the night away!"
"Here, here!" Meruda raised a glass. "And to celebrate the engagement your son holds with either of my daughters!"
Nina looked down. "Goodnight" she said, retiring to her bedroom.
"Goodnight, fair Nina" Friado called to her. She did not reply.
"Nina Roper! Open this window right now!"
Nina recognised that call immediately that was coming from outside her window.
"Holly?! It's the middle of the night!"
"I know, I know. I'm staying at Bag End. I got sent here!" she answered in a loud whisper.
"Bag End?! Who sent you?"
"The sender is on the hill" she replied with as smile. "And has something important to talk to you about"
"But I cannot go wandering through the Shire in the middle of the night!" but even a few seconds after saying that, Nina jumped out of the window and ran with her friend behind a bush.
"Trust me, you want to go" Holly said, wearing nothing but night clothes herself.
"Is it that important?"
"Very. Frodo saw the Broadbeams turn up at your house this evening…"
"Oh"
"So…what's he like?"
Nina shrugged. "Handsome yes…but…"
"Not Frodo" Holly filled in for her with a smile. "Go" she said. "I'll wait in your room and lock the door. Can't allow your parents to see me!"
"Thank you" Nina mouthed before hugging her again. "This means a lot"
Holly nodded with a smile as Nina darted over the road, not stopping or caring if she got caught.
As promised, Frodo was on top of the hill waiting for her.
"Nina!" he cried looking down on her. "You should have dressed first, you'll freeze out here!"
"I had to hurry, Holly said it was important"
"And it is" he said. "Before you were dragged away…"
"You were going to kiss me" Nina filled in, blushing tremendously.
"Y…yes…" Frodo turned a shade of pink himself. "I saw that young suitor turn up in the shire this evening…and I wanted to know what you thought about him"
That was it?! That was so important?!
"Well," Nina began, not really knowing where to begin. "I have yet to find out more about him…but I am not in love with him"
"Love tends to take time…sometimes" he looked to her. "Is he in love with you?"
"I hope not, he'll pick Portia or Nissa I am sure, he would want a wife of his own age"
Frodo nodded. Silence.
"Nina…?"
"Yes?"
"Renich i lú i erui govannem? Nauthannen i ned ôl reniannen."
"You…you said that before…before…"
"Before you were pulled away. Nina, you must forgive me. I am behaving in a most unfitting way. Especially as you shall be marrying…maybe not to this suitor, but to another suitor that chooses you. But I cannot help it; you must forgive the way I'm feeling"
"I don't understand, Frodo"
"Nina, I love you. And that's why you must forgive me. I cannot have you and…and it pains me. I think we should spend less time apart, for I cannot bear to watch you get wed to some other hobbit"
Nina was sure she was dreaming; she had to be. The one hobbit she thought about constantly was telling her he loved her…finally.
"Frodo, I –"
"Please forgive me"
"Why should I forgive you?"
"Because…Nina….I'm destroying our friendship for…oh I am selfish, I'm destroying it so I can be happy. I know it sounds terrible, but –"
"It sounds perfect to me" she said, with a smile and a twinkle in her eye.
"Really? So you believe too, that we should spend time apart?"
"What? No!" she could have laughed with sheer joy if she wanted, she could have run all the way down the hill screaming happily and telling the whole of the Shire that she had found her gentlehobbit. And, she could have done what she wanted to do ever since she decided she loved him…she did.
The kiss was as magical as Nina had dreamed and expected it to be. She sighed happily as Frodo kissed her back, holding her tightly against him and she fought to keep her balance.
"I do love you Frodo, I always have" she whispered as she placed sweet kisses on his neck. He tangled his fingers in her long golden curls, feeling something he had never felt before.
"I have too" he answered in a soft, caressing voice.
"Frodo, what does the Elvish mean?"
He smiled and caressed her cheek. "I asked if you remembered the first day we met. I thought I had strayed into a dream"
"The first day we met? Frodo, we were but young children!"
"And I cared for you then Nina, and as the years went on and we both grew up, it gradually turned into love and has been that way for years"
"Years?!" Nina wanted to hit herself constantly. All those *years* when she told herself that Frodo could never love her back, that he would never accept her as a lover…he had done all along?? "You've loved me for *years*?!" she tried to get round this, somehow. He nodded. "I could beat you over the head with a mallet a thousand times Frodo Baggins!" she let out a giggle. "I thought you'd only love me as a friend…all those *years* I told myself that, upsetting myself over that…you really did?"
"Silly isn't it?" he laughed and she snuggled against him, no longer feeling the cold air, but a warm, soft warm breeze. She was no longer reaching for the moon…the moon was reaching for her.
"Nina…shouldn't we…?"
"Shh…" she hushed him. "This is the best night of my entire life; let us not spoil it…"
"But…the Broadbeams…"
"Forget them my sweet Frodo" she smiled, looking up at his too handsome features. "We have eternity now, just us"
"Promise?"
"I promise" she said, leaning in for another taste of his sweet kisses. "Eternal love" she added then sealed off the promise with another kiss.