Chapter Twenty-Four
"I demand that you lock up Frodo Baggins before any more young women are subjected to the torture he gave my fiancé!" Friado banged his fist down on the wooden table, making the Mayor flinch.
"Please, be calm Mr Broadbeam, I am still trying to come to terms with this bombshell," the Mayor replied. "I simply cannot picture Master Baggins doing such a crime to young Miss Roper. I have seen them taking many walks together looking happy and contented. This news shocks me"
"Mr Mayor, I tell you, Master Baggins is a rapist!"
"And the way he saved The Shire from Sharkey's Men . . . we shall always treasure how he helped us . . . even all he had been through. Mr Roper, please, surely you do not believe such a thing?" the Mayor looked to Meruda who looked to Friado.
"Mr Mayor, I try not to believe it but it is true"
The Mayor opened his mouth in shock, just the thought of young Frodo Baggins doing such a thing - it simply wasn't a correct equation. The mayor himself had known Frodo since he was a young hobbit . . . such a kind and thoughtful hobbit he was . . . spending his time out and about, reading and listening to his Uncle Bilbo. Something seriously could be going wrong here, but the Mayor had a job to do now, and the Roper's seemed distraught.
"Tell me," the mayor said. "Where is Miss Nina?"
"She-" Lilla Roper started, but then paused. "She's in bed, nursing a young babe"
"A baby!" The Mayor smiled. "Oh joy! A sweet young baby, why congratulations!"
"That is the thing Mr Mayor, it is not mine . . . though this news must stay between these walls" Friado said quietly.
"Not yours? Whose is it?"
"Master Baggins . . . the rape got her pregnant"
"Oh dear," the mayor wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. "Poor Miss Nina . . . can she testify?"
"No, I would not Sir, she's still in shock. Just the mention of the word sends her in fits . . . please; she is in the most discomfort"
"But something is still not right . . ." the Mayor enquired. "Master Baggins would not do such a thing . . . he's always been faithful to the town, a true hero, a true gentlehobbit as we all call him. We know he went through some tortured times before he went away to get his scars healed . . . but now, he looks as fit a hobbit as ever I've seen! This still troubles me greatly"
"But you *must* believe," Friado pressed him. "My fiancé is in the greatest of shocks because of him, we wish to marry as soon as possible but I want our wedding to be a happy time. I care or her a lot and I wanted no harm to come to her . . . but I failed in taking the greatest care of her. I feel ashamed and so I want justice done!"
"How do you know it was Frodo Baggins? How can you be sure?"
"She never told me Mr Mayor, she was too scared to tell anybody. But then she had the baby and told me that Frodo was the father"
"Any witnesses?"
"Mr Roper, here" Friado said, bringing Meruda forward. "He was next to me"
"And are these terms true?"
All eyes turned to Meruda, who gulped and looked downwards. "They are true Mr Mayor" he answered at last.
"Right," the Mayor let out a sigh. "Then justice shall be served"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Merry and Pippin had returned to Brandyhall early that morning, not bothering to wake Holly and take her.
'She gets too cranky in the morning' Merry had explained with a huge yawn. 'She'd start hitting me all the way to Brandyhall!'
"Mr Frodo?" Sam smiled as he walked into the room to see Frodo walking around, admiring his daughter who was laid in his arms.
"Isn't she the most beautiful baby in the world Sam?" Frodo smiled.
"I haven't seen a baby as beautiful as that since my Elanor was born" Sam replied, looking into the bundle. "She certainly has inherited your eyes Mr Frodo!"
"As she should," Nina added, walking towards them. "She had to inherit Frodo's eyes to be this beautiful"
"Okay, you may see her! But Elanor! Calm down!" Rose came in, holding Elanor's hand as Elanor dragged her to Lömadia.
"Can I see her Mr Frodo?!" Elanor jumped up and down on the spot happily as Frodo kneeled down in front of her, showing her the baby. "She's beautiful!" the young hobbit gasped. "When can she play with me?!"
"When she can walk and talk which will be months away!" Rose laughed. Elanor pouted. "Look why don't you go with your Papa and Mr Frodo to the market? We need more vegetables"
"More vegetables Rose?" Sam enquired.
"Yes, Nina and I are going to make you all a nice meal for Elevenses. "So, off you all go!"
"But I want to stay with Lömadia Mama" Elanor argued.
"Lömadia needs sleep" Rose hinted. Frodo caught the hint and kissed his daughter's forehead before placing her back into the cradle.
"You can her later" Nina promised. "I'll even let you hold her"
Elanor's face beamed and she tugged on Sam's arm. "Come on Papa! We need to get the vegetables quickly . . . then eat Elevenses quickly so I can hold Lömadia!"
"Patience! Patience!" Sam chuckled. "Will you be joining us Mr Frodo?"
"Yes he will!" Rose said. "Go on, Shoo!"
Frodo kissed Nina quickly before following Sam out of the door, Elanor pulling them both by the arms as they headed to the market. Nina followed Rose to the kitchen and helped fill up the pot above the fire.
"Thank you for letting me stay Rose," Nina smiled gratefully. "It means a lot"
"No problem, no problem at all. All you need to do now is marry Frodo before your father subjects you to another suitor" Rose began to wipe down the table ready.
"Can I help you?"
"No, no, you sit down there" Rose instructed. "Thank you for offering but I cook faster on my own!" Nina chuckled and sat down. "So, how is your Mama? Hope she wasn't too angry when she visited yesterday"
"she was not a angry as I expected, but she certainly was upset" Nina answered, beginning to fiddle with her fingers again. "She said they still want me to marry Friado . . . they want to take me away again"
Rose sighed and turned to face her. "When will your family get sense back into their heads?!"
"They're obsessed with this whole suitor thing - Papa especially. And they hate gossip . . . so I guess they want to have everything back to normal so they may seem a normal family"
"And they're not?"
"No, they're full of crack pots! I mean . . . my brothers may seem troublesome . . . but they understand me. Nissa thinks of nothing but herself . . . same with Portia. All she wants is to make Papa and Mama happy no matter what. Mama will follow anything Papa says and Papa is completely obsessed with trying to wed us all off."
"For what it's worth, I think you are the only member of that family with sense. Sure, in some cases, with that history . . . it is right, but you couldn't help falling for Frodo. It was similar with my Sam. People said I shouldn't marry him because of the Quest. They though he and Frodo were queer folk. But I had my own mind and I married him all the same because I love him. Love is a powerful feeling that no one, absolutely no one can control"
Nina smiled at this advise . . . feeling more at ease talking to Rose freely. "I fell in love with Frodo the night Bilbo left . . . I knew then and there I was in love with him, but I was too scared to say anything. And I knew Papa wanted me to marry a suitable hobbit. I knew Frodo was just that and I kept on planning to tell Papa about my feelings for him, but, I guess I was too late. It all happened so fast . . . Frodo telling me he was in love with me, and then suddenly I'm whisked away to that Broadbeam"
"Nina," Rose frowned. "I have been meaning to ask you something . . ."
"Yes?"
"When Friado kept you locked up . . . did he do anything to you?"
Nina looked down and Rose noticed her hands were shaking.
"Nina?" Rose, herself, began to get worried and sat down beside her taking her hand. "Please, you need to speak to somebody"
"Don't ever tell Frodo . . . don't ever tell Holly, or Sam, or anyone else . . ."
"Why?"
"Because, because I don't know how they will react. I want everything to be perfect . . ."
"I promise," Rose looked at the trembling hobbit.
"He raped me" she said aloud. Rose winced, wanting to cry, but remain strong at the same time.
"Nina-"
"You promised not to tell!"
"I won't, I say it's my word and I'll keep my word . . . but Nina, what about Frodo?"
"He doesn't know and I won't tell him."
"Would it mean that Lömadia is probably Friado's?"
"No, no she's not . . . I was pregnant before he . . . did it . . ."
Rose just nodded her head, grasping Nina's hand comfortingly. "I won't tell, I promise. But . . . if Frodo has any suspicions . . . you have to promise me you'll tell him"
Nina looked up quickly. "It would hurt him though . . ."
"And it'll hurt you more; at least he can look after you properly. Promise me"
Nina looked back down, pausing for a while. "I promise"
"You could have told me, you know" Holly said from the doorway, obviously hearing the whole thing. "I am your best friend . . . it's my job to look after you too, Nina, we tell each other everything, why didn't you tell me?"
Nina stood up and took a few steps to her best friend. "I'm sorry Holly, please, understand . . . I know what you would say"
"Yes, I understand" Holly sighed. "I understand why you didn't tell me; because you know I would have told Frodo and that would be it."
"Forgive me?"
"I've got noting to forgive you for" she smiled and hugged her friend. "Just, wait till I get my hands on that good for nothing"
Elanor burst through the door crying and screaming. "Mama! Mama! They've taken him! They've taken him!" she cried.
"What? Elanor, love, where's Papa and Mr Frodo?!" Rose held her daughter; Nina and Holly looked to each other confused.
"They came and took him to the Locks Mama!"
Sam ran in, sweat trickling down his forehead. Nina looked to him, her eyebrows raised as she realised Frodo was not arriving.
"Where's . . . where's Frodo?"
"They took him away, they took Mr Frodo away to the Locks" Sam gasped, out of breath. Nina froze.
"W-hat-"
"They took him on charge of rape! The Sheriffs came and took him away . . . they wouldn't let me go and help him, they pushed me away, there was nothing I could do I-"
Holly put her hand on Nina's arm. "Rape?!"
"Yes, Mr Roper and Mr Broadbeam called the Sheriffs . . . they said that Mr Frodo had raped Miss Nina . . . Frodo's been arrested . . ."
"I demand that you lock up Frodo Baggins before any more young women are subjected to the torture he gave my fiancé!" Friado banged his fist down on the wooden table, making the Mayor flinch.
"Please, be calm Mr Broadbeam, I am still trying to come to terms with this bombshell," the Mayor replied. "I simply cannot picture Master Baggins doing such a crime to young Miss Roper. I have seen them taking many walks together looking happy and contented. This news shocks me"
"Mr Mayor, I tell you, Master Baggins is a rapist!"
"And the way he saved The Shire from Sharkey's Men . . . we shall always treasure how he helped us . . . even all he had been through. Mr Roper, please, surely you do not believe such a thing?" the Mayor looked to Meruda who looked to Friado.
"Mr Mayor, I try not to believe it but it is true"
The Mayor opened his mouth in shock, just the thought of young Frodo Baggins doing such a thing - it simply wasn't a correct equation. The mayor himself had known Frodo since he was a young hobbit . . . such a kind and thoughtful hobbit he was . . . spending his time out and about, reading and listening to his Uncle Bilbo. Something seriously could be going wrong here, but the Mayor had a job to do now, and the Roper's seemed distraught.
"Tell me," the mayor said. "Where is Miss Nina?"
"She-" Lilla Roper started, but then paused. "She's in bed, nursing a young babe"
"A baby!" The Mayor smiled. "Oh joy! A sweet young baby, why congratulations!"
"That is the thing Mr Mayor, it is not mine . . . though this news must stay between these walls" Friado said quietly.
"Not yours? Whose is it?"
"Master Baggins . . . the rape got her pregnant"
"Oh dear," the mayor wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. "Poor Miss Nina . . . can she testify?"
"No, I would not Sir, she's still in shock. Just the mention of the word sends her in fits . . . please; she is in the most discomfort"
"But something is still not right . . ." the Mayor enquired. "Master Baggins would not do such a thing . . . he's always been faithful to the town, a true hero, a true gentlehobbit as we all call him. We know he went through some tortured times before he went away to get his scars healed . . . but now, he looks as fit a hobbit as ever I've seen! This still troubles me greatly"
"But you *must* believe," Friado pressed him. "My fiancé is in the greatest of shocks because of him, we wish to marry as soon as possible but I want our wedding to be a happy time. I care or her a lot and I wanted no harm to come to her . . . but I failed in taking the greatest care of her. I feel ashamed and so I want justice done!"
"How do you know it was Frodo Baggins? How can you be sure?"
"She never told me Mr Mayor, she was too scared to tell anybody. But then she had the baby and told me that Frodo was the father"
"Any witnesses?"
"Mr Roper, here" Friado said, bringing Meruda forward. "He was next to me"
"And are these terms true?"
All eyes turned to Meruda, who gulped and looked downwards. "They are true Mr Mayor" he answered at last.
"Right," the Mayor let out a sigh. "Then justice shall be served"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Merry and Pippin had returned to Brandyhall early that morning, not bothering to wake Holly and take her.
'She gets too cranky in the morning' Merry had explained with a huge yawn. 'She'd start hitting me all the way to Brandyhall!'
"Mr Frodo?" Sam smiled as he walked into the room to see Frodo walking around, admiring his daughter who was laid in his arms.
"Isn't she the most beautiful baby in the world Sam?" Frodo smiled.
"I haven't seen a baby as beautiful as that since my Elanor was born" Sam replied, looking into the bundle. "She certainly has inherited your eyes Mr Frodo!"
"As she should," Nina added, walking towards them. "She had to inherit Frodo's eyes to be this beautiful"
"Okay, you may see her! But Elanor! Calm down!" Rose came in, holding Elanor's hand as Elanor dragged her to Lömadia.
"Can I see her Mr Frodo?!" Elanor jumped up and down on the spot happily as Frodo kneeled down in front of her, showing her the baby. "She's beautiful!" the young hobbit gasped. "When can she play with me?!"
"When she can walk and talk which will be months away!" Rose laughed. Elanor pouted. "Look why don't you go with your Papa and Mr Frodo to the market? We need more vegetables"
"More vegetables Rose?" Sam enquired.
"Yes, Nina and I are going to make you all a nice meal for Elevenses. "So, off you all go!"
"But I want to stay with Lömadia Mama" Elanor argued.
"Lömadia needs sleep" Rose hinted. Frodo caught the hint and kissed his daughter's forehead before placing her back into the cradle.
"You can her later" Nina promised. "I'll even let you hold her"
Elanor's face beamed and she tugged on Sam's arm. "Come on Papa! We need to get the vegetables quickly . . . then eat Elevenses quickly so I can hold Lömadia!"
"Patience! Patience!" Sam chuckled. "Will you be joining us Mr Frodo?"
"Yes he will!" Rose said. "Go on, Shoo!"
Frodo kissed Nina quickly before following Sam out of the door, Elanor pulling them both by the arms as they headed to the market. Nina followed Rose to the kitchen and helped fill up the pot above the fire.
"Thank you for letting me stay Rose," Nina smiled gratefully. "It means a lot"
"No problem, no problem at all. All you need to do now is marry Frodo before your father subjects you to another suitor" Rose began to wipe down the table ready.
"Can I help you?"
"No, no, you sit down there" Rose instructed. "Thank you for offering but I cook faster on my own!" Nina chuckled and sat down. "So, how is your Mama? Hope she wasn't too angry when she visited yesterday"
"she was not a angry as I expected, but she certainly was upset" Nina answered, beginning to fiddle with her fingers again. "She said they still want me to marry Friado . . . they want to take me away again"
Rose sighed and turned to face her. "When will your family get sense back into their heads?!"
"They're obsessed with this whole suitor thing - Papa especially. And they hate gossip . . . so I guess they want to have everything back to normal so they may seem a normal family"
"And they're not?"
"No, they're full of crack pots! I mean . . . my brothers may seem troublesome . . . but they understand me. Nissa thinks of nothing but herself . . . same with Portia. All she wants is to make Papa and Mama happy no matter what. Mama will follow anything Papa says and Papa is completely obsessed with trying to wed us all off."
"For what it's worth, I think you are the only member of that family with sense. Sure, in some cases, with that history . . . it is right, but you couldn't help falling for Frodo. It was similar with my Sam. People said I shouldn't marry him because of the Quest. They though he and Frodo were queer folk. But I had my own mind and I married him all the same because I love him. Love is a powerful feeling that no one, absolutely no one can control"
Nina smiled at this advise . . . feeling more at ease talking to Rose freely. "I fell in love with Frodo the night Bilbo left . . . I knew then and there I was in love with him, but I was too scared to say anything. And I knew Papa wanted me to marry a suitable hobbit. I knew Frodo was just that and I kept on planning to tell Papa about my feelings for him, but, I guess I was too late. It all happened so fast . . . Frodo telling me he was in love with me, and then suddenly I'm whisked away to that Broadbeam"
"Nina," Rose frowned. "I have been meaning to ask you something . . ."
"Yes?"
"When Friado kept you locked up . . . did he do anything to you?"
Nina looked down and Rose noticed her hands were shaking.
"Nina?" Rose, herself, began to get worried and sat down beside her taking her hand. "Please, you need to speak to somebody"
"Don't ever tell Frodo . . . don't ever tell Holly, or Sam, or anyone else . . ."
"Why?"
"Because, because I don't know how they will react. I want everything to be perfect . . ."
"I promise," Rose looked at the trembling hobbit.
"He raped me" she said aloud. Rose winced, wanting to cry, but remain strong at the same time.
"Nina-"
"You promised not to tell!"
"I won't, I say it's my word and I'll keep my word . . . but Nina, what about Frodo?"
"He doesn't know and I won't tell him."
"Would it mean that Lömadia is probably Friado's?"
"No, no she's not . . . I was pregnant before he . . . did it . . ."
Rose just nodded her head, grasping Nina's hand comfortingly. "I won't tell, I promise. But . . . if Frodo has any suspicions . . . you have to promise me you'll tell him"
Nina looked up quickly. "It would hurt him though . . ."
"And it'll hurt you more; at least he can look after you properly. Promise me"
Nina looked back down, pausing for a while. "I promise"
"You could have told me, you know" Holly said from the doorway, obviously hearing the whole thing. "I am your best friend . . . it's my job to look after you too, Nina, we tell each other everything, why didn't you tell me?"
Nina stood up and took a few steps to her best friend. "I'm sorry Holly, please, understand . . . I know what you would say"
"Yes, I understand" Holly sighed. "I understand why you didn't tell me; because you know I would have told Frodo and that would be it."
"Forgive me?"
"I've got noting to forgive you for" she smiled and hugged her friend. "Just, wait till I get my hands on that good for nothing"
Elanor burst through the door crying and screaming. "Mama! Mama! They've taken him! They've taken him!" she cried.
"What? Elanor, love, where's Papa and Mr Frodo?!" Rose held her daughter; Nina and Holly looked to each other confused.
"They came and took him to the Locks Mama!"
Sam ran in, sweat trickling down his forehead. Nina looked to him, her eyebrows raised as she realised Frodo was not arriving.
"Where's . . . where's Frodo?"
"They took him away, they took Mr Frodo away to the Locks" Sam gasped, out of breath. Nina froze.
"W-hat-"
"They took him on charge of rape! The Sheriffs came and took him away . . . they wouldn't let me go and help him, they pushed me away, there was nothing I could do I-"
Holly put her hand on Nina's arm. "Rape?!"
"Yes, Mr Roper and Mr Broadbeam called the Sheriffs . . . they said that Mr Frodo had raped Miss Nina . . . Frodo's been arrested . . ."