A/N I'm saying thank you again for your reviews! And also, due to requests
of killing off Friado and letting Frodo and Nina be together . . . you'll
have to be patient and wait and see! You all want a happy ending - and I'm
a hopeless romantic anyway so you're gonna get what you want; although in
some cases it will be a sad ending too. But hey, if I kill of Friado, will
ya all buy me Elijah Wood?! ( hehe, sorry, I am a HUGE fan of his (Duh! As
if you couldn't tell by now!) This story will be quite long, I should think
. . . and don't get all panicky if, let's say, things don't go to plan
again . . . remember! Be patient! ( Thanks again! Love Holly xxx****
Chapter Twenty-Three
Nina awoke feeling more relaxed the next morning. She found Rose in her room, admiring and cooing at Lömadia.
"Ah, good morning, lass" Rose said quietly, turning to face her. "I hope you slept well"
"Best I have had in a long time" Nina answered, gratefully. "I suppose Mama and Papa shall come again today"
"Aye," Rose sighed. "But not to worry, if they start any mishap, I'll have Samwise throw them out. They've caused enough damage already"
"How is Lömadia?" Nina yawned.
"She's doing perfectly fine," Rose smiled. "But I'll call in Mrs Proudfoot later on; we need a midwife to check on her also"
"Where is Holly?"
"Oh, she and Merry and Pippin are in the guest bedrooms. Sam and I slept in Frodo's bedroom last night. Afraid it was a party of bed swapping"
Nina turned her head and smiled at Frodo, who was sleeping peacefully beside her.
"So . . . when do you plan your special day?" Rose asked, whilst rocking the cradle gently, Lömadia stared up at her, curious.
Nina looked at Frodo. "Special day? I'm not sure, because, well . . ."
"Tongues may waggle but we know the full story, so don't let it bother you when the motor mouths out there start gossipin'."
"Oh, it doesn't bother me about that . . . well, you heard my Papa last night"
"And he was wrong Nina, I'm sure he'll understand once you explain"
"But will he let Frodo and I marry?"
"He's got no choice, lass"
Nina shrugged her shoulders, and then let out a laugh when she heard Lömadia squeal in delight as Rose cooed over her. She sat up and slowly got off the bed and walked over to her daughter.
"I don't want you out of that bed for too long," Rose stated. "You were weak last night, before and after the birth. I do not want you to walking around and working while you're this ill."
"Really, Rose, I'm fine"
Rose put her hands on her hips. "You may try to hide things Nina Roper, but you're not getting away with this one! Go on, get back into bed!"
"But can't I at least see my daughter?"
"She'll come to you!" rose pushed Nina back into bed, and the sudden jolts of the bed woke up Frodo.
"Morning sleepy head" Nina chuckled, as Frodo sat up and rubbed his eyes.
Holly poked her nose around the door, and Frodo and Nina looked at her wide eyed.
"What?!" the young Brandybuck enquired, rubbing her eyes, unaware of her hair all stuck up.
"I think the orcs have returned" Frodo commented as Holly sat on the bed, next to his legs.
"Knock it off," she yawned. "I got up early to see if you guys were okay, and this is the thanks I get?! Now, where's my little angel??!"
"She's here" Rose handed Lömadia to Nina, who cradled her gently, kissing her forehead ever minute or so. Frodo groaned as Holly climbed over the top of him to see Lömadia better. The young Brandybuck looked upon the child wide-eyed and completely fascinated. She looked so much like Frodo . . . she had his perfect, elf-like skin and his ocean blue eyes. Holly wagered that this one was going to have one too many suitors asking her hand in marriage when she was a young woman.
"She is too adorable," she looks so much like Elanor did when she was born" she commented, seeing her fair hair. "Maybe Shire folk will look upon her as Lömadia the Fair"
"Yes, just like Elanor" Rose smiled, noticing it too. "I believe this one shall have Nina's golden hair,"
"She already has Frodo's eyes, which I'm very grateful for," Mina smiled as she kissed Frodo's lips. "What other hobbit in the Shire has eyes like his?" Frodo smiled in satisfaction, almost proud.
"Well, she is not leaving this room until she has finished her tweens" Frodo said, kissing her forehead, well trying to reach over Holly at the same time.
"Why's that?" Nina laughed.
"I am already dreading the day she leaves and gets married"
//
Lilla, Portia and Nissa Roper sat dumbfounded in the room, listening to Meruda curse and sigh and nearly explode from anger and rage. Friado Broadbeam stood in the corner of the room, saying not a word, but all could see his was angry and riddled with jealously.
"Nina . . . and Frodo Baggins?" Nissa repeated, shocked. "They had an affair . . .?"
"Yes," Meruda flapped his arms around unbelievably. "Behind our backs, behind Friado's back. And that Baggins only went and got her pregnant now didn't he? That is gentlehobbit-like in my views. He should be put behind bars . . . tortured! He is not fit to raise that child, nor is he fit to be with my daughter! She belongs to Friado, if he will still have her, which I doubt!"
"I still love Nina," Friado spoke up. "And I still want to marry her . . . be the father of our children, but that Baggins has ruined my life . . . how will I get Nina back?"
"Well, she's not staying with that Baggins, that's for sure!" Meruda paced the room, back and forth, back and forth. "You're still engaged to her Friado and you shall marry her, that is if you can find it in your heart to forgive her"
"I will forgive her because I love her," Friado smiled, patting Meruda on the back to calm him. "You have nothing to worry about Meruda, we'll get Nina back, we'll raise that . . . child as a Broadbeam. All we need to do is get that Baggins out of our lives"
"And how do you propose we do that?" Meruda folded his arms and looked to his wife and daughters. Portia looked away, she knew that she had to do something, but she wanted to remain true to her family. She wasn't going to fall to the same mistake Nina had already done. She was going to marry a rich gentlehobbit and make her parents proud, and carry on the generation.
"Well, report him to the Sheriffs" Friado said simply, his hand around Meruda's shoulders, in some way trying to persuade.
"For what? In the law's case, he has done no wrong"
"Rape," as Friado suggested it, everyone looked at him shocked. Portia spun around and opened her mouth to protest, but no sound came out.
"Rape?!" It was Nissa who called out. "But he did not rape her! He wouldn't do that! I do not know him all that well, but Nina used to tell me all the time, years go, what he was like and how much of a gentlehobbit he was! He would not do that! I'm sure! Please don't steep down so low and do such a thing! Surely you can think up something else!"
"It's the only way . . ." Friado looked at Meruda. "If we lock him up for rape, he can't harm our families, he can't break your family's history . . . Nina and I shall marry, have children. We'll all be happy . . ."
Meruda nodded. "Yes . . . that would be a way . . . yes,"
"No, Papa! Don't!" Nissa called.
"Be quiet, child" Lilla said, shaking a little through all the shock of the drama. She was willing to go along with her husband, right or wrong.
"Let's go see the Mayor," Friado suggested. "I want to be with your daughter ever so much Mr Roper. Please, I want to give her a second chance . . . but let's keep this away from my family, they would be distraught if they knew . . ."
"Yes," Meruda answered, as though he were in a trance. "Let's go, not a moment to waste"
//
Frodo couldn't put Lömadia down. He had played with her or most of the morning, and it seemed to be tiring Nina out more than anyone else.
"Let her sleep Frodo!" Holly laughed as Lömadia yawned in his arms, circling her tiny fingers around his index finger.
"I'll still hold her," Frodo commented, seating down on the bed beside Nina.
"Honestly Frodo! The way you are going, you'll still be holding her by the time she's 33!" Nina chuckled.
"Fine by me!" Frodo commented, finally placing Lömadia back into her cradle.
"Beggin' your pardon Mr Frodo," Samwise stepped in. "But Mrs Roper wants to see Miss Nina alone . . ."
Frodo and Holly looked to Nina who just nodded. "Can I see her?"
"We'll go," Holly said, getting up as Lilla entered the doorway and laid eyes on Frodo giving Nina a quick kiss.
"I'll be outside," he said as he passed Lilla. Sam shut the door behind her and Lilla walked over to the cradle. She folded her arms as she looked into it, seeing that beautiful baby girl.
"Name?" Lilla said simply, without even looking up.
"L-Lömadia" Nina bit her lip and fidgeted with her fingers nervously. "It's an Elvish name"
"Hmm . . ." Lilla sighed as she stroked the baby's cheek. Lömadia stirred in her sleep, but did not wake. She let out a baby sigh. Lilla closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "You always said when you were little that you were going to call your baby Daisy" she commented.
"Mama, I was a little girl back then . . . and opinions change"
"You said you'd call your first baby Daisy or Holly if it was a girl. And Frodo if it was a boy" Lilla continued. Nina bit her lip again at that comment and thought back to when she was a young hobbit playing with Holly Brandybuck . . . and Frodo Baggins. She remembered after a fantastic sunny day of playing, she rushed home screaming to Mama that she could not wait to have her own child and name it Daisy, Holly or Frodo.
"Mama . . . just say what you came to say. Is Papa truly mad?"
Lilla looked away from Lömadia and turned to her daughter. "More upset than mad Nina. Over hundreds of years, the Roper's have followed this ritual . . . their daughters would be given off to the perfect gentlehobbits, chosen by their father. You know the story Nina; you know how your Papa is about this history. But still, you went and had an affair with Frodo Baggins. Tell me, how long have you and Frodo been keeping this secret?"
"A few days before Friado came for the first time . . . so you see Mama, we didn't really have an affair, not really. Only Friado and Papa took me away from my real happiness and presented me with a life I did not want"
"And does Frodo truly love you in that sense that Friado does?"
"No," Nina answered. "Because Friado does not love me at all. He only wants a wife that does all the house chores and makes him a better hobbit than he was. He's using me to make his parents proud and I feel like nothing. But with Frodo . . . it's different. Frodo loves me, and I love him. Friado isn't even a quarter the gentlehobbit Frodo is. I would do anything to keep Frodo and I together, and I'd do more than anything to marry him"
Lilla sat down next to the bed and gave her daughter a smile. "Now I know why you were so happy," she commented.
"So . . . you understand?" Nina's eyes lit up, hoping that finally she was making her family see sense. But her eyes narrowed when Lilla shook her head at her. "Mama?"
"Nina, this doesn't change anything. Friado still wants to marry you, and even raise Lömadia. And your father has accepted Friado's wishes. They want to keep all the business with Frodo secret and you are never to see him again"
Tears sprung from no where and Nina grasped her mothers arm. "No, Mama, please, tell them! Tell them that I'm happy here! Tell Papa I'm sorry, I'm so sorry; please tell them I'm marrying Frodo!"
"That's what they won't accept," Lilla said softly. "I'm sorry child, but, there's nothing we can do about it. You're engaged to Friado still . . . you have no choice"
"Mama . . ." Nina pleaded. "I don't want to . . . I want to break the engagement . . . tell Papa that!"
"You can't Nina, you just can't" Lilla stood up. "They'll be here soon to take you and . . ."
"And what?!"
"Nothing," Lilla gave a weak smile. "You can come back and live with us until the wedding"
Lilla bent over and kissed her daughter's forehead as she cried. "I shall see you soon" she gulped.
Nina looked at her with teary, pleading eyes.
"Don't make me marry him Mama; he's not what you all think he is-"
"He's perfect, whether you think so or not" With that, Lilla turned on her heel and left.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Nina awoke feeling more relaxed the next morning. She found Rose in her room, admiring and cooing at Lömadia.
"Ah, good morning, lass" Rose said quietly, turning to face her. "I hope you slept well"
"Best I have had in a long time" Nina answered, gratefully. "I suppose Mama and Papa shall come again today"
"Aye," Rose sighed. "But not to worry, if they start any mishap, I'll have Samwise throw them out. They've caused enough damage already"
"How is Lömadia?" Nina yawned.
"She's doing perfectly fine," Rose smiled. "But I'll call in Mrs Proudfoot later on; we need a midwife to check on her also"
"Where is Holly?"
"Oh, she and Merry and Pippin are in the guest bedrooms. Sam and I slept in Frodo's bedroom last night. Afraid it was a party of bed swapping"
Nina turned her head and smiled at Frodo, who was sleeping peacefully beside her.
"So . . . when do you plan your special day?" Rose asked, whilst rocking the cradle gently, Lömadia stared up at her, curious.
Nina looked at Frodo. "Special day? I'm not sure, because, well . . ."
"Tongues may waggle but we know the full story, so don't let it bother you when the motor mouths out there start gossipin'."
"Oh, it doesn't bother me about that . . . well, you heard my Papa last night"
"And he was wrong Nina, I'm sure he'll understand once you explain"
"But will he let Frodo and I marry?"
"He's got no choice, lass"
Nina shrugged her shoulders, and then let out a laugh when she heard Lömadia squeal in delight as Rose cooed over her. She sat up and slowly got off the bed and walked over to her daughter.
"I don't want you out of that bed for too long," Rose stated. "You were weak last night, before and after the birth. I do not want you to walking around and working while you're this ill."
"Really, Rose, I'm fine"
Rose put her hands on her hips. "You may try to hide things Nina Roper, but you're not getting away with this one! Go on, get back into bed!"
"But can't I at least see my daughter?"
"She'll come to you!" rose pushed Nina back into bed, and the sudden jolts of the bed woke up Frodo.
"Morning sleepy head" Nina chuckled, as Frodo sat up and rubbed his eyes.
Holly poked her nose around the door, and Frodo and Nina looked at her wide eyed.
"What?!" the young Brandybuck enquired, rubbing her eyes, unaware of her hair all stuck up.
"I think the orcs have returned" Frodo commented as Holly sat on the bed, next to his legs.
"Knock it off," she yawned. "I got up early to see if you guys were okay, and this is the thanks I get?! Now, where's my little angel??!"
"She's here" Rose handed Lömadia to Nina, who cradled her gently, kissing her forehead ever minute or so. Frodo groaned as Holly climbed over the top of him to see Lömadia better. The young Brandybuck looked upon the child wide-eyed and completely fascinated. She looked so much like Frodo . . . she had his perfect, elf-like skin and his ocean blue eyes. Holly wagered that this one was going to have one too many suitors asking her hand in marriage when she was a young woman.
"She is too adorable," she looks so much like Elanor did when she was born" she commented, seeing her fair hair. "Maybe Shire folk will look upon her as Lömadia the Fair"
"Yes, just like Elanor" Rose smiled, noticing it too. "I believe this one shall have Nina's golden hair,"
"She already has Frodo's eyes, which I'm very grateful for," Mina smiled as she kissed Frodo's lips. "What other hobbit in the Shire has eyes like his?" Frodo smiled in satisfaction, almost proud.
"Well, she is not leaving this room until she has finished her tweens" Frodo said, kissing her forehead, well trying to reach over Holly at the same time.
"Why's that?" Nina laughed.
"I am already dreading the day she leaves and gets married"
//
Lilla, Portia and Nissa Roper sat dumbfounded in the room, listening to Meruda curse and sigh and nearly explode from anger and rage. Friado Broadbeam stood in the corner of the room, saying not a word, but all could see his was angry and riddled with jealously.
"Nina . . . and Frodo Baggins?" Nissa repeated, shocked. "They had an affair . . .?"
"Yes," Meruda flapped his arms around unbelievably. "Behind our backs, behind Friado's back. And that Baggins only went and got her pregnant now didn't he? That is gentlehobbit-like in my views. He should be put behind bars . . . tortured! He is not fit to raise that child, nor is he fit to be with my daughter! She belongs to Friado, if he will still have her, which I doubt!"
"I still love Nina," Friado spoke up. "And I still want to marry her . . . be the father of our children, but that Baggins has ruined my life . . . how will I get Nina back?"
"Well, she's not staying with that Baggins, that's for sure!" Meruda paced the room, back and forth, back and forth. "You're still engaged to her Friado and you shall marry her, that is if you can find it in your heart to forgive her"
"I will forgive her because I love her," Friado smiled, patting Meruda on the back to calm him. "You have nothing to worry about Meruda, we'll get Nina back, we'll raise that . . . child as a Broadbeam. All we need to do is get that Baggins out of our lives"
"And how do you propose we do that?" Meruda folded his arms and looked to his wife and daughters. Portia looked away, she knew that she had to do something, but she wanted to remain true to her family. She wasn't going to fall to the same mistake Nina had already done. She was going to marry a rich gentlehobbit and make her parents proud, and carry on the generation.
"Well, report him to the Sheriffs" Friado said simply, his hand around Meruda's shoulders, in some way trying to persuade.
"For what? In the law's case, he has done no wrong"
"Rape," as Friado suggested it, everyone looked at him shocked. Portia spun around and opened her mouth to protest, but no sound came out.
"Rape?!" It was Nissa who called out. "But he did not rape her! He wouldn't do that! I do not know him all that well, but Nina used to tell me all the time, years go, what he was like and how much of a gentlehobbit he was! He would not do that! I'm sure! Please don't steep down so low and do such a thing! Surely you can think up something else!"
"It's the only way . . ." Friado looked at Meruda. "If we lock him up for rape, he can't harm our families, he can't break your family's history . . . Nina and I shall marry, have children. We'll all be happy . . ."
Meruda nodded. "Yes . . . that would be a way . . . yes,"
"No, Papa! Don't!" Nissa called.
"Be quiet, child" Lilla said, shaking a little through all the shock of the drama. She was willing to go along with her husband, right or wrong.
"Let's go see the Mayor," Friado suggested. "I want to be with your daughter ever so much Mr Roper. Please, I want to give her a second chance . . . but let's keep this away from my family, they would be distraught if they knew . . ."
"Yes," Meruda answered, as though he were in a trance. "Let's go, not a moment to waste"
//
Frodo couldn't put Lömadia down. He had played with her or most of the morning, and it seemed to be tiring Nina out more than anyone else.
"Let her sleep Frodo!" Holly laughed as Lömadia yawned in his arms, circling her tiny fingers around his index finger.
"I'll still hold her," Frodo commented, seating down on the bed beside Nina.
"Honestly Frodo! The way you are going, you'll still be holding her by the time she's 33!" Nina chuckled.
"Fine by me!" Frodo commented, finally placing Lömadia back into her cradle.
"Beggin' your pardon Mr Frodo," Samwise stepped in. "But Mrs Roper wants to see Miss Nina alone . . ."
Frodo and Holly looked to Nina who just nodded. "Can I see her?"
"We'll go," Holly said, getting up as Lilla entered the doorway and laid eyes on Frodo giving Nina a quick kiss.
"I'll be outside," he said as he passed Lilla. Sam shut the door behind her and Lilla walked over to the cradle. She folded her arms as she looked into it, seeing that beautiful baby girl.
"Name?" Lilla said simply, without even looking up.
"L-Lömadia" Nina bit her lip and fidgeted with her fingers nervously. "It's an Elvish name"
"Hmm . . ." Lilla sighed as she stroked the baby's cheek. Lömadia stirred in her sleep, but did not wake. She let out a baby sigh. Lilla closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "You always said when you were little that you were going to call your baby Daisy" she commented.
"Mama, I was a little girl back then . . . and opinions change"
"You said you'd call your first baby Daisy or Holly if it was a girl. And Frodo if it was a boy" Lilla continued. Nina bit her lip again at that comment and thought back to when she was a young hobbit playing with Holly Brandybuck . . . and Frodo Baggins. She remembered after a fantastic sunny day of playing, she rushed home screaming to Mama that she could not wait to have her own child and name it Daisy, Holly or Frodo.
"Mama . . . just say what you came to say. Is Papa truly mad?"
Lilla looked away from Lömadia and turned to her daughter. "More upset than mad Nina. Over hundreds of years, the Roper's have followed this ritual . . . their daughters would be given off to the perfect gentlehobbits, chosen by their father. You know the story Nina; you know how your Papa is about this history. But still, you went and had an affair with Frodo Baggins. Tell me, how long have you and Frodo been keeping this secret?"
"A few days before Friado came for the first time . . . so you see Mama, we didn't really have an affair, not really. Only Friado and Papa took me away from my real happiness and presented me with a life I did not want"
"And does Frodo truly love you in that sense that Friado does?"
"No," Nina answered. "Because Friado does not love me at all. He only wants a wife that does all the house chores and makes him a better hobbit than he was. He's using me to make his parents proud and I feel like nothing. But with Frodo . . . it's different. Frodo loves me, and I love him. Friado isn't even a quarter the gentlehobbit Frodo is. I would do anything to keep Frodo and I together, and I'd do more than anything to marry him"
Lilla sat down next to the bed and gave her daughter a smile. "Now I know why you were so happy," she commented.
"So . . . you understand?" Nina's eyes lit up, hoping that finally she was making her family see sense. But her eyes narrowed when Lilla shook her head at her. "Mama?"
"Nina, this doesn't change anything. Friado still wants to marry you, and even raise Lömadia. And your father has accepted Friado's wishes. They want to keep all the business with Frodo secret and you are never to see him again"
Tears sprung from no where and Nina grasped her mothers arm. "No, Mama, please, tell them! Tell them that I'm happy here! Tell Papa I'm sorry, I'm so sorry; please tell them I'm marrying Frodo!"
"That's what they won't accept," Lilla said softly. "I'm sorry child, but, there's nothing we can do about it. You're engaged to Friado still . . . you have no choice"
"Mama . . ." Nina pleaded. "I don't want to . . . I want to break the engagement . . . tell Papa that!"
"You can't Nina, you just can't" Lilla stood up. "They'll be here soon to take you and . . ."
"And what?!"
"Nothing," Lilla gave a weak smile. "You can come back and live with us until the wedding"
Lilla bent over and kissed her daughter's forehead as she cried. "I shall see you soon" she gulped.
Nina looked at her with teary, pleading eyes.
"Don't make me marry him Mama; he's not what you all think he is-"
"He's perfect, whether you think so or not" With that, Lilla turned on her heel and left.