Chapter Thirty-Three
"Sam! Rose!" Nina screamed in delight, hugging her friends tightly. "I am so very glad you both came!"
"That we are too lass," Sam smiled, looking rather nervous.
"You are here early," Nina smiled. "We weren't expecting you both until tomorrow. Oh, no matter! I'm glad you came! We're getting married tomorrow night, and the Elves are making my dress and the bridesmaid's dresses!"
"It's going to be a festive occasion" Rose commented, a slight smile.
"So . . . who did you bring with you?!"
"Well . . ." Sam started. "We brought your brothers - they're with Merry and Pippin somewhere . . ."
"And Mama and Papa?" Nina asked hopefully.
Sam and Rose exchanged glances.
"I'm sorry lass," Sam said quietly. "We went to see them before we left . . . at first your father tried to keep us away, but he gave in and let us speak. We tried to convince him that you wanted them both to be there . . . your Mama was very keen and wanted to join us, however, sadly, your father insisted he did not . . . and your Mama followed suit"
"Oh," Nina said quietly, looking down. "I see"
Frodo was immediately at her side, holding her hand tightly. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Nina nodded. "I'm fine," she answered. "It is their loss . . . Samwise? Would you give me away at the alter?"
A smile spread across Sam's face. "Oh, it would be an honour Miss Nina, a true honour"
"Thank you," she smiled to them before turning around to Lömadia who started crying in her cradle.
"She's a mite bit upset Mr Frodo" Sam whispered. "And I can sure tell she's trying to hide it"
Frodo nodded. "What can we do though Sam? She'd be a lot happier on our wedding day if her parents were there"
"Aye, sir, aye" Sam sighed.
"I can't help but think that tomorrow night; she won't go through with it - not without her parents . . ."
"She will, Frodo, she will. She loves you . . . and she wouldn't have gone through all that trouble to see you if she didn't. And she put you before her family - she snuck around away from them just to see you . . . don't worry" Rose assured him.
Frodo, himself, was not so sure.
//
Friagrin and Sogrin spent the rest of the day gawping at the Elven maidens who were most positively beautiful . . . Sam spoke with Aragorn and Faramir a great deal . . . so happy to see his old friends again. Frodo and Nina were mainly with Legolas and Gimli for the day.
Some hours later, Legolas and Gimli excused themselves to see Lord Elrond, leaving Frodo and Nina alone. It was mainly silence between the two and Frodo could not help but feel uncomfortable. Did Nina still love him; did she still want to marry him?? Frodo did not have the answers, and that troubled him a lot.
Nina smiled gently to him and sat down on a marble bench next to a small pool with a waterfall. She skimmed her hand through the cold water, almost as if the water was smooth. Frodo took a seat beside her and sighed aloud, he needed an answer, now or never.
"Nina . . . something is bothering me" he said, cursing himself in his mind, knowing he should have started with something better.
"Oh?" Nina looked up at him, scanning his perfect face. "What is it?"
"Well . . . its, you see . . . well . . ."
Nina smiled gently. "Tell me," she beckoned.
"Nina, will you marry me?" he said after a long pause, thankfully, her smile widened and she let out a laugh.
"Frodo, darling, are you alright?!" she giggled helplessly. "Have you got a fever of some sort?" she put a hand to his forehead.
"No" he answered, feeling suddenly bashful and silly.
"Then why ask such a ridiculous question?" she was still smiling.
"Because . . . well, I thought you . . . didn't want to"
"Frodo, when I said 'Yes, I'll marry you,' I meant it, you know! I didn't say it for the good of my health!"
"Yes, but . . ."
"Besides, it's our wedding tomorrow evening . . . and I cannot wait for it, the happiest day of my life! Now, you know that, so tell me, what has gotten into you?!"
Frodo looked away, hiding his now cherry coloured face. "I thought that because you're parents aren't coming that you wouldn't want to"
Nina shook her head with a smile. "Oh bother Mama and Papa!" she laughed. "They've caused enough trouble already! And yes, I do admit, I wanted them to be here - but they aren't and there's nothing I can do about it! I'm not losing out on anything because I'm marrying *you* and that's all I want!"
Frodo broke out into a small smile, feeling even more stupid!
"Good," was all he could answer, sending Nina into more hysterics.
Frodo could think of nothing to hide his embarrassment except kiss her. She let out a giggle and kissing him back. "Silly hobbit" she whispered as she pulled away with a grin.
"Hope we're not interrupting" Holly, Merry and Pippin stood over the two lovers, grinning.
"What's wrong?" Nina asked.
"Well . . . we think Frodo has lost his mind and therefore we want to teach him some sense" Pippin stifled a giggle.
Frodo's raised his eyebrows. "You were listening?!"
"Purely accidental cousin, I assure you!" Merry chimed in. "We were merely walking through the woods and we overheard your . . . proposal!"
"I was nervous," Frodo defended himself.
"Which is perfectly normal," Holly grinned. "Except for the fact that you have already asked that question and the wedding is tomorrow!"
Nina giggled again. "I thought he had a fever!"
"Go ahead! Laugh!" Frodo pretended to sound hurt. "I'll laugh on the day all of you marry!"
"With every right . . . except we'll be laughing first, as it is your day tomorrow!" Pippin squeaked in laughter.
//
Frodo and Nina were told specifically to stay away from a certain area of the woods by the Elves. Of course they knew the one reason . . . some of the Elves was setting up the place were the ceremony would be held. Pippin, Merry and Holly had already taken a peak, unable to resist their curiosity and had come back nagging and insisting that they would not tell what they had seen.
Glorfindel and Ril-Gania approached them in the early evening, smiles all over their faces.
"The dresses are finished. Calil-Gadien is fitting up the bridesmaids. If we go to your room Miss Roper, we can fit on your dress" Ril-Gania smiled, and Nina knew this Elf woman was trying her hardest not to squeal out in laughter and delight.
"And Master Baggins . . . you follow me" Glorfindel smiled knowingly. "You won't be sharing a room with your bride this night."
Frodo frowned.
"Did you not know that it is bad luck?" Glorfindel raised his eyebrows with a smile. "You cannot see the bride until tomorrow morning"
"Morning?! I thought it was evening?" Nina cried out.
"Well, since Master Samwise arrived early, Lord Elrond changed the time. I think morning suits better, don't you?" Nina nodded at Glorfindel.
"Say your farewells . . . this is the last time you'll see one another before the ceremony" Ril-Gania smiled as she and Glorfindel left them both for a moment.
"They take it seriously, don't they?" Frodo half chuckled.
"All the better," Nina smiled falling into his arms. "And they are right too . . . it is bad luck if you see me before the wedding. I think spending tonight apart will make it more exciting"
"Suppose so," Frodo involved his arms around her waist tenderly. "On the other hand, I'll miss you" his blue eyes full of warmth made her heart melt.
She kissed him, long and passionately, holding him tighter and tighter. She pulled away with a smile. "The next time we kiss, I'll be your wife"
Frodo smiled and kissed her quickly. "On the contrary . . ." he grinned.
"You know what I meant!" she slapped him playfully.
"Come on Nina!" Ril-Gania called out. "Plenty of time for that tomorrow! Come! We have a dress to fit!"
Nina slipped out of Frodo's embrace. "See you tomorrow"
He just smiled sweetly, watching her as she jogged to Ril-Gania.
//
"Here we go!" Ril-Gania admired her final creation after pulling the dress out. Eowyn and Arwen had stood Nina up on a stood in front of a large mirror in her room so they could fit the gown.
"My goodness!" Arwen chocked out. "It's beautiful! I have a dress made of out that very fabric!"
Nina couldn't even speak - the very splendour of the dress had her speechless . . .
Ril-Gania, Eowyn and Arwen helped her with it on and Nina did not dare move in case it would break . . . Eowyn noticed and laughed.
"There, there, young hobbit, you may breathe, it sharn't shatter into a million pieces!"
Nina forced a smile at her embarrassment. This was the moment she had been waiting for . . . for so long. But never did she think she would have a dress such as that . . . Ril-Gania had done a terrific job on it, perfect.
"Frodo's mouth shall trail on the floor, my dear" Arwen smiled. "He won't know what's hit him"
Nina blushed slightly, her beautiful gentlehobbit would truly be *her's* from tomorrow morning. She would be Mrs Baggins . . . wife of Frodo . . . at all played out in her mind, reaching happiness she did not think was possible. She would be a good wife, give Frodo all the children he wanted and love him forever. As for her Papa and Mama . . . they wouldn't be given a final thought.
"Sam! Rose!" Nina screamed in delight, hugging her friends tightly. "I am so very glad you both came!"
"That we are too lass," Sam smiled, looking rather nervous.
"You are here early," Nina smiled. "We weren't expecting you both until tomorrow. Oh, no matter! I'm glad you came! We're getting married tomorrow night, and the Elves are making my dress and the bridesmaid's dresses!"
"It's going to be a festive occasion" Rose commented, a slight smile.
"So . . . who did you bring with you?!"
"Well . . ." Sam started. "We brought your brothers - they're with Merry and Pippin somewhere . . ."
"And Mama and Papa?" Nina asked hopefully.
Sam and Rose exchanged glances.
"I'm sorry lass," Sam said quietly. "We went to see them before we left . . . at first your father tried to keep us away, but he gave in and let us speak. We tried to convince him that you wanted them both to be there . . . your Mama was very keen and wanted to join us, however, sadly, your father insisted he did not . . . and your Mama followed suit"
"Oh," Nina said quietly, looking down. "I see"
Frodo was immediately at her side, holding her hand tightly. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Nina nodded. "I'm fine," she answered. "It is their loss . . . Samwise? Would you give me away at the alter?"
A smile spread across Sam's face. "Oh, it would be an honour Miss Nina, a true honour"
"Thank you," she smiled to them before turning around to Lömadia who started crying in her cradle.
"She's a mite bit upset Mr Frodo" Sam whispered. "And I can sure tell she's trying to hide it"
Frodo nodded. "What can we do though Sam? She'd be a lot happier on our wedding day if her parents were there"
"Aye, sir, aye" Sam sighed.
"I can't help but think that tomorrow night; she won't go through with it - not without her parents . . ."
"She will, Frodo, she will. She loves you . . . and she wouldn't have gone through all that trouble to see you if she didn't. And she put you before her family - she snuck around away from them just to see you . . . don't worry" Rose assured him.
Frodo, himself, was not so sure.
//
Friagrin and Sogrin spent the rest of the day gawping at the Elven maidens who were most positively beautiful . . . Sam spoke with Aragorn and Faramir a great deal . . . so happy to see his old friends again. Frodo and Nina were mainly with Legolas and Gimli for the day.
Some hours later, Legolas and Gimli excused themselves to see Lord Elrond, leaving Frodo and Nina alone. It was mainly silence between the two and Frodo could not help but feel uncomfortable. Did Nina still love him; did she still want to marry him?? Frodo did not have the answers, and that troubled him a lot.
Nina smiled gently to him and sat down on a marble bench next to a small pool with a waterfall. She skimmed her hand through the cold water, almost as if the water was smooth. Frodo took a seat beside her and sighed aloud, he needed an answer, now or never.
"Nina . . . something is bothering me" he said, cursing himself in his mind, knowing he should have started with something better.
"Oh?" Nina looked up at him, scanning his perfect face. "What is it?"
"Well . . . its, you see . . . well . . ."
Nina smiled gently. "Tell me," she beckoned.
"Nina, will you marry me?" he said after a long pause, thankfully, her smile widened and she let out a laugh.
"Frodo, darling, are you alright?!" she giggled helplessly. "Have you got a fever of some sort?" she put a hand to his forehead.
"No" he answered, feeling suddenly bashful and silly.
"Then why ask such a ridiculous question?" she was still smiling.
"Because . . . well, I thought you . . . didn't want to"
"Frodo, when I said 'Yes, I'll marry you,' I meant it, you know! I didn't say it for the good of my health!"
"Yes, but . . ."
"Besides, it's our wedding tomorrow evening . . . and I cannot wait for it, the happiest day of my life! Now, you know that, so tell me, what has gotten into you?!"
Frodo looked away, hiding his now cherry coloured face. "I thought that because you're parents aren't coming that you wouldn't want to"
Nina shook her head with a smile. "Oh bother Mama and Papa!" she laughed. "They've caused enough trouble already! And yes, I do admit, I wanted them to be here - but they aren't and there's nothing I can do about it! I'm not losing out on anything because I'm marrying *you* and that's all I want!"
Frodo broke out into a small smile, feeling even more stupid!
"Good," was all he could answer, sending Nina into more hysterics.
Frodo could think of nothing to hide his embarrassment except kiss her. She let out a giggle and kissing him back. "Silly hobbit" she whispered as she pulled away with a grin.
"Hope we're not interrupting" Holly, Merry and Pippin stood over the two lovers, grinning.
"What's wrong?" Nina asked.
"Well . . . we think Frodo has lost his mind and therefore we want to teach him some sense" Pippin stifled a giggle.
Frodo's raised his eyebrows. "You were listening?!"
"Purely accidental cousin, I assure you!" Merry chimed in. "We were merely walking through the woods and we overheard your . . . proposal!"
"I was nervous," Frodo defended himself.
"Which is perfectly normal," Holly grinned. "Except for the fact that you have already asked that question and the wedding is tomorrow!"
Nina giggled again. "I thought he had a fever!"
"Go ahead! Laugh!" Frodo pretended to sound hurt. "I'll laugh on the day all of you marry!"
"With every right . . . except we'll be laughing first, as it is your day tomorrow!" Pippin squeaked in laughter.
//
Frodo and Nina were told specifically to stay away from a certain area of the woods by the Elves. Of course they knew the one reason . . . some of the Elves was setting up the place were the ceremony would be held. Pippin, Merry and Holly had already taken a peak, unable to resist their curiosity and had come back nagging and insisting that they would not tell what they had seen.
Glorfindel and Ril-Gania approached them in the early evening, smiles all over their faces.
"The dresses are finished. Calil-Gadien is fitting up the bridesmaids. If we go to your room Miss Roper, we can fit on your dress" Ril-Gania smiled, and Nina knew this Elf woman was trying her hardest not to squeal out in laughter and delight.
"And Master Baggins . . . you follow me" Glorfindel smiled knowingly. "You won't be sharing a room with your bride this night."
Frodo frowned.
"Did you not know that it is bad luck?" Glorfindel raised his eyebrows with a smile. "You cannot see the bride until tomorrow morning"
"Morning?! I thought it was evening?" Nina cried out.
"Well, since Master Samwise arrived early, Lord Elrond changed the time. I think morning suits better, don't you?" Nina nodded at Glorfindel.
"Say your farewells . . . this is the last time you'll see one another before the ceremony" Ril-Gania smiled as she and Glorfindel left them both for a moment.
"They take it seriously, don't they?" Frodo half chuckled.
"All the better," Nina smiled falling into his arms. "And they are right too . . . it is bad luck if you see me before the wedding. I think spending tonight apart will make it more exciting"
"Suppose so," Frodo involved his arms around her waist tenderly. "On the other hand, I'll miss you" his blue eyes full of warmth made her heart melt.
She kissed him, long and passionately, holding him tighter and tighter. She pulled away with a smile. "The next time we kiss, I'll be your wife"
Frodo smiled and kissed her quickly. "On the contrary . . ." he grinned.
"You know what I meant!" she slapped him playfully.
"Come on Nina!" Ril-Gania called out. "Plenty of time for that tomorrow! Come! We have a dress to fit!"
Nina slipped out of Frodo's embrace. "See you tomorrow"
He just smiled sweetly, watching her as she jogged to Ril-Gania.
//
"Here we go!" Ril-Gania admired her final creation after pulling the dress out. Eowyn and Arwen had stood Nina up on a stood in front of a large mirror in her room so they could fit the gown.
"My goodness!" Arwen chocked out. "It's beautiful! I have a dress made of out that very fabric!"
Nina couldn't even speak - the very splendour of the dress had her speechless . . .
Ril-Gania, Eowyn and Arwen helped her with it on and Nina did not dare move in case it would break . . . Eowyn noticed and laughed.
"There, there, young hobbit, you may breathe, it sharn't shatter into a million pieces!"
Nina forced a smile at her embarrassment. This was the moment she had been waiting for . . . for so long. But never did she think she would have a dress such as that . . . Ril-Gania had done a terrific job on it, perfect.
"Frodo's mouth shall trail on the floor, my dear" Arwen smiled. "He won't know what's hit him"
Nina blushed slightly, her beautiful gentlehobbit would truly be *her's* from tomorrow morning. She would be Mrs Baggins . . . wife of Frodo . . . at all played out in her mind, reaching happiness she did not think was possible. She would be a good wife, give Frodo all the children he wanted and love him forever. As for her Papa and Mama . . . they wouldn't be given a final thought.