Chapter Eleven
Brealla Broadbeam greeted the visiting Roper's with hugs and kisses on the cheeks. Friagrin and Sogrin, who were groaning about having to get dressed up smart, pulled faces as Brealla kissed their cheeks, and then wiped off the invisible mark. Nina smirked and shook their head at them.
"Hey it's ok for you, I'm the one expected to marry him. . ." she whispered to her brothers.
"Come! Come!" Brealla gathered them into the front room. "Here! Have a seat! I'll call my husband and my son. He's very anxious to see you especially" she winked to Nina who couldn't even manage a weak smile. "Friabo! Friado!" Brealla called in a feminine squeal. Friabo Broadbeam walked into the room, a grin on his old face, a pipe in his mouth.
"Ah! Meruda!" Friabo smiled, shaking the old Roper's hand with enthusiasm. He then turned his attentions to Nina. "And how is my soon-to-be daughter in law?"
This time, Nina forced herself to smile. "Very . . . very well Mr Broadbeam, thank you"
"Ah, don't be silly young Nina! Call me Friabo please! Or better . . . papa!"
Friagrin and Sogrin sniggered underneath their hands and Lilla Roper silently scolded them both.
"Er . . . you're . . . very kind Sir . . . I mean . . ." Nina paused and tried to hide her scowls. ". . . Papa"
Friabo and Meruda exchanged glances of happiness.
"Ah! He finally enters!" Friado smiled at his father's remark and kissed Nina's hand, then looked to her family.
"So happy my future in-laws could come to this meal" he smiled to Meruda and Lilla. Nina turned and saw Portia sending her spine chilling looks. Portia was good at silent threats . . .
"Shall we eat? My good wife prepared a meal fit for a city of kings and princes!" Friabo boasted happily.
"Yes, yes, shall we" Brealla led the way, followed by the Ropers and last of all, Friado and Nina.
//
"Hullo!" Holly and Pippin entered Bag End with cheery glows in their faces. Rosie smiled and went to get them some tea.
"How is my favourite cousin?" Holly threw her arms around Frodo, who let out a small chuckle.
"You seem a lot happier today"
"I am Frodo, I am" "I heard about you and Miss Nina this morning" Pippin seated himself beside Sam and got out his pipe.
"Yes . . . well . . ." Frodo started. "All I can say is, if we had lost a split second, we would have been caught"
"Poor thing," Holly started. "She's expected to be at the Broadbeam's for second breakfast - the whole family are"
"How do you know that?" Rose asked, handing out mugs of steaming tea.
"Friagrin and Sogrin were moaning their little faces off this morning. In fact, everyone has been moaning today! First my Mama storms in and moans about the fact that I am still not married . . . like I really care about that! Then she moans about how I'm living . . . she called Merry and Pip slobs and then tries to persuade me to visit the Chubb lads more often! Next minute, she whisks Merry away to visit the Bolgers - seen as though Miss Estella has her eye on him."
"Estella Bolger and Merry ay?" Frodo cocked his eyebrows with surprise. "I had no idea . . ."
"She seems nice enough," Holly shrugged. "Anyway . . . next thing Friagrin and Sogrin visited and moaned about the fact they had to have a meal and dress up smart at the Broadbeam's. I got so sick of everyone moaning that me and Pip decided to make a vow to be happy for the rest of the day! And so, here we are!"
"Yes," Sam smiled. "Can always count on you two to be the happy bunch"
"That you can, Samwise, that you can!" Pippin chuckled.
"And Frodo, you are going to be happy all day too," Holly announced to her cousin. "Cannot have you moping around just because Nina is with Friado. Come on, you know she loves you . . . what does it matter where she is"
"Your statement makes no sense at all dear cousin, but I will be happy all day to please you!" Frodo laughed.
"Good," Holly put on a satisfied smile.
"So, tell us more about you, Merry, Estella Bolger and the Chubb's" Rose beckoned,
"Not much to tell . . ." Holly paused. "Mama insists we marry . . ."
"And are you going to be like Nina? Prevent it?" Rose asked again.
"Nothing to prevent" Holly said. "Because I won't marry a Chubb!"
"Yes . . . well, so much for being happy!" Frodo groaned.
"Huh?"
"Well this subject is hardly a happy subject is it? Come on! You were the one who vowed to be all happy today!"
"Okay! Okay!" Holly laughed. "Pretend I never mentioned the subject!"
//
"Lovely meal Mrs Broadbeam" Portia complimented Brealla for what seemed the thousandth time in the last half hour.
"Thank you Miss Portia . . . Friado helped me with some of it"
"Ah, you see!" Meruda nudged Nina with his elbow lightly. "Not only is he to be your husband and take care of you . . . he can also cook!"
Nina didn't dare let out that she didn't even like the taste of the food. She began to get uncomfortable when Friado put his hand under the table and tried to grasp her hand. She put her hands on top of the table . . . think he got the message?
"Friado . . ." Nina started. "Have you ever visited anywhere outside of the Shire?"
Friado turned to look at her and smiled. "No, I'm afraid not darling. Not yet anyhow. I have heard the stories of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins . . . and I've also heard their stories inspire you a great deal. I intend, as soon as we are wed, to take you on our own little adventure"
"Do you know the way to any . . . places in Middle Earth?"
"No, come to think of it I don't dearest!" he laughed to himself.
"That Frodo Baggins . . ." Meruda started. "He's visited all over Middle Earth on that darn quest he went on . . . he may know the way . . . or at least, have a map"
"No, Papa, I don't think Frodo wants to be reminded of it . . ." Nina winced.
"Oh nonsense!" Meruda called. "He tells you tales of the quest! Surely he could be able to lend Friado a map of Middle Earth!"
"But . . ."
"No buts, sweetest!" Friado succeeded in grasping her hand in his. "You want an adventure, I shall give you one! As soon as we are wed, I shall take you away!"
"Excuse me," Nina excused herself from the table without no explanation.
"She wasn't all well this morning" Portia lied to the frowning hobbits. "I'll see to her,"
Portia found Nina stood outside, her back to her.
"Nina Roper! You have an explanation to give!" Portia placed her hands on her hips angrily. "How far do you intend to take this?! Can't you see that you are engaged to a hobbit who loves you?! You're throwing it all away you selfish, selfish girl!"
"You're calling me selfish?!" Nina turned around sharply and Portia saw that her youngest sister was crying. "Why do you call me such a thing?! I fell in love with Frodo . . . but I can't be with him because my family want me to marry someone I do not love. Am I really selfish?!" tears streamed down Nina's cheeks as she burst into hysterical sobs.
"Well . . . I . . ." Portia struggled for words, looking upon Nina's pained, unhappy eyes made her heart ache for her. "Nina, you're already engaged . . . you being with Frodo would mean you're having an affair . . . that's wrong . . ."
"On the contrary . . . the night before the party, Frodo and I confessed our love to one another . . . so really, this began before that, that Broadbeam entered my life"
"Does Frodo love you? I mean . . . does he honestly, truly love you with all his heart and soul?"
"Yes . . . Portia he does and I love him just as much . . ."
"You've slept with him . . ."
Nina looked down. "I know what you must think of me for doing so . . ."
"I think nothing except for the fact that you may be carrying his babe . . . I think the sooner you sleep with Friado the better . . . have Friado's babe above Frodo's. And the sooner you and Friado are wed the better . . . that way you can forget all this nonsense and be happy"
"With Friado?! With no offence to Friado at all, I am sorry but I shall never be happy as his bride"
"But you'll have to . . ." Portia added. "You have no choice"
"You're right, I don't have a choice, I don't have a say in my life! I'm not allowed my opinions; I'm not allowed to be happy in my own way . . ."
Portia was silent for a few moments. "You're wanted inside" she finally said quietly.
"I'm going home" Nina turned around, but Portia grasped hold of her arm.
"To our house . . . or to Bag End?"
Nina didn't answer.
"Don't you dare Nina . . . if you're going home, don't go to Frodo . . ."
"Why? With him, it's the only place where I feel at home"
"Stop it Nina, I'll let you go, on account that you promise me you'll go straight home - to our house"
Nina pulled her arm and ran off, leaving Portia with no promise, no answer.
Portia shook her head in defeat. This was going too far for her to take . . .
Brealla Broadbeam greeted the visiting Roper's with hugs and kisses on the cheeks. Friagrin and Sogrin, who were groaning about having to get dressed up smart, pulled faces as Brealla kissed their cheeks, and then wiped off the invisible mark. Nina smirked and shook their head at them.
"Hey it's ok for you, I'm the one expected to marry him. . ." she whispered to her brothers.
"Come! Come!" Brealla gathered them into the front room. "Here! Have a seat! I'll call my husband and my son. He's very anxious to see you especially" she winked to Nina who couldn't even manage a weak smile. "Friabo! Friado!" Brealla called in a feminine squeal. Friabo Broadbeam walked into the room, a grin on his old face, a pipe in his mouth.
"Ah! Meruda!" Friabo smiled, shaking the old Roper's hand with enthusiasm. He then turned his attentions to Nina. "And how is my soon-to-be daughter in law?"
This time, Nina forced herself to smile. "Very . . . very well Mr Broadbeam, thank you"
"Ah, don't be silly young Nina! Call me Friabo please! Or better . . . papa!"
Friagrin and Sogrin sniggered underneath their hands and Lilla Roper silently scolded them both.
"Er . . . you're . . . very kind Sir . . . I mean . . ." Nina paused and tried to hide her scowls. ". . . Papa"
Friabo and Meruda exchanged glances of happiness.
"Ah! He finally enters!" Friado smiled at his father's remark and kissed Nina's hand, then looked to her family.
"So happy my future in-laws could come to this meal" he smiled to Meruda and Lilla. Nina turned and saw Portia sending her spine chilling looks. Portia was good at silent threats . . .
"Shall we eat? My good wife prepared a meal fit for a city of kings and princes!" Friabo boasted happily.
"Yes, yes, shall we" Brealla led the way, followed by the Ropers and last of all, Friado and Nina.
//
"Hullo!" Holly and Pippin entered Bag End with cheery glows in their faces. Rosie smiled and went to get them some tea.
"How is my favourite cousin?" Holly threw her arms around Frodo, who let out a small chuckle.
"You seem a lot happier today"
"I am Frodo, I am" "I heard about you and Miss Nina this morning" Pippin seated himself beside Sam and got out his pipe.
"Yes . . . well . . ." Frodo started. "All I can say is, if we had lost a split second, we would have been caught"
"Poor thing," Holly started. "She's expected to be at the Broadbeam's for second breakfast - the whole family are"
"How do you know that?" Rose asked, handing out mugs of steaming tea.
"Friagrin and Sogrin were moaning their little faces off this morning. In fact, everyone has been moaning today! First my Mama storms in and moans about the fact that I am still not married . . . like I really care about that! Then she moans about how I'm living . . . she called Merry and Pip slobs and then tries to persuade me to visit the Chubb lads more often! Next minute, she whisks Merry away to visit the Bolgers - seen as though Miss Estella has her eye on him."
"Estella Bolger and Merry ay?" Frodo cocked his eyebrows with surprise. "I had no idea . . ."
"She seems nice enough," Holly shrugged. "Anyway . . . next thing Friagrin and Sogrin visited and moaned about the fact they had to have a meal and dress up smart at the Broadbeam's. I got so sick of everyone moaning that me and Pip decided to make a vow to be happy for the rest of the day! And so, here we are!"
"Yes," Sam smiled. "Can always count on you two to be the happy bunch"
"That you can, Samwise, that you can!" Pippin chuckled.
"And Frodo, you are going to be happy all day too," Holly announced to her cousin. "Cannot have you moping around just because Nina is with Friado. Come on, you know she loves you . . . what does it matter where she is"
"Your statement makes no sense at all dear cousin, but I will be happy all day to please you!" Frodo laughed.
"Good," Holly put on a satisfied smile.
"So, tell us more about you, Merry, Estella Bolger and the Chubb's" Rose beckoned,
"Not much to tell . . ." Holly paused. "Mama insists we marry . . ."
"And are you going to be like Nina? Prevent it?" Rose asked again.
"Nothing to prevent" Holly said. "Because I won't marry a Chubb!"
"Yes . . . well, so much for being happy!" Frodo groaned.
"Huh?"
"Well this subject is hardly a happy subject is it? Come on! You were the one who vowed to be all happy today!"
"Okay! Okay!" Holly laughed. "Pretend I never mentioned the subject!"
//
"Lovely meal Mrs Broadbeam" Portia complimented Brealla for what seemed the thousandth time in the last half hour.
"Thank you Miss Portia . . . Friado helped me with some of it"
"Ah, you see!" Meruda nudged Nina with his elbow lightly. "Not only is he to be your husband and take care of you . . . he can also cook!"
Nina didn't dare let out that she didn't even like the taste of the food. She began to get uncomfortable when Friado put his hand under the table and tried to grasp her hand. She put her hands on top of the table . . . think he got the message?
"Friado . . ." Nina started. "Have you ever visited anywhere outside of the Shire?"
Friado turned to look at her and smiled. "No, I'm afraid not darling. Not yet anyhow. I have heard the stories of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins . . . and I've also heard their stories inspire you a great deal. I intend, as soon as we are wed, to take you on our own little adventure"
"Do you know the way to any . . . places in Middle Earth?"
"No, come to think of it I don't dearest!" he laughed to himself.
"That Frodo Baggins . . ." Meruda started. "He's visited all over Middle Earth on that darn quest he went on . . . he may know the way . . . or at least, have a map"
"No, Papa, I don't think Frodo wants to be reminded of it . . ." Nina winced.
"Oh nonsense!" Meruda called. "He tells you tales of the quest! Surely he could be able to lend Friado a map of Middle Earth!"
"But . . ."
"No buts, sweetest!" Friado succeeded in grasping her hand in his. "You want an adventure, I shall give you one! As soon as we are wed, I shall take you away!"
"Excuse me," Nina excused herself from the table without no explanation.
"She wasn't all well this morning" Portia lied to the frowning hobbits. "I'll see to her,"
Portia found Nina stood outside, her back to her.
"Nina Roper! You have an explanation to give!" Portia placed her hands on her hips angrily. "How far do you intend to take this?! Can't you see that you are engaged to a hobbit who loves you?! You're throwing it all away you selfish, selfish girl!"
"You're calling me selfish?!" Nina turned around sharply and Portia saw that her youngest sister was crying. "Why do you call me such a thing?! I fell in love with Frodo . . . but I can't be with him because my family want me to marry someone I do not love. Am I really selfish?!" tears streamed down Nina's cheeks as she burst into hysterical sobs.
"Well . . . I . . ." Portia struggled for words, looking upon Nina's pained, unhappy eyes made her heart ache for her. "Nina, you're already engaged . . . you being with Frodo would mean you're having an affair . . . that's wrong . . ."
"On the contrary . . . the night before the party, Frodo and I confessed our love to one another . . . so really, this began before that, that Broadbeam entered my life"
"Does Frodo love you? I mean . . . does he honestly, truly love you with all his heart and soul?"
"Yes . . . Portia he does and I love him just as much . . ."
"You've slept with him . . ."
Nina looked down. "I know what you must think of me for doing so . . ."
"I think nothing except for the fact that you may be carrying his babe . . . I think the sooner you sleep with Friado the better . . . have Friado's babe above Frodo's. And the sooner you and Friado are wed the better . . . that way you can forget all this nonsense and be happy"
"With Friado?! With no offence to Friado at all, I am sorry but I shall never be happy as his bride"
"But you'll have to . . ." Portia added. "You have no choice"
"You're right, I don't have a choice, I don't have a say in my life! I'm not allowed my opinions; I'm not allowed to be happy in my own way . . ."
Portia was silent for a few moments. "You're wanted inside" she finally said quietly.
"I'm going home" Nina turned around, but Portia grasped hold of her arm.
"To our house . . . or to Bag End?"
Nina didn't answer.
"Don't you dare Nina . . . if you're going home, don't go to Frodo . . ."
"Why? With him, it's the only place where I feel at home"
"Stop it Nina, I'll let you go, on account that you promise me you'll go straight home - to our house"
Nina pulled her arm and ran off, leaving Portia with no promise, no answer.
Portia shook her head in defeat. This was going too far for her to take . . .