Chapter 27-Of Diamond Rings and Real Diamonds
Diamond had been out walking in the early spring afternoon when it came on raining. She cursed and dashed for shelter under the nearest tree. It was just a springtime shower which probably wouldn't last long, but no hobbitlassie appreciates having her second-best skirt drenched, so she decided just to wait. She sat down on the little red-painted swing, which hung from the lowest branches (Sam had put it up for Elanor, Frodo and Rosie to play on, though Diamond had to confess it was a rather comfy size for herself). She was thinking.
Pip, who had come to find her, getting rather soggy in the process, saw her and silently came and leant on the trunk beside the swing. He also seemed to be thinking.
And it occurred to Diamond while she was swinging gently under the tree why it felt so very familiar. Almost a year ago, this was where they'd first met, in the bizarrest of manners, but still.
'Penny for your thoughts?' She said. 'Twa pennies fer yours,' he retorted, 'no' tha' ahd aisk ye tae pay. Not ais ah ken whit yer thinkin' aind. ah aim as weel' 'Huh, we know each other too well already. We're getting predictable!' Diamond smiled. 'Weel. ah wisnea jist thinking of tha'. Ah wis thinkin' of aiskin ye samethin' ais weel'.
Pippin glanced at the tree trunk, hoping to find reassurance and inspiration in the little heart with their names in that he'd childishly carved into the tree one time when he was bored. Instead, Merry, as a drunken prank, had vandalised it and smoothed part of it out so the lettering now read:
PIPPIN WANKS
Pip stared at it in a state of shock and moved to cover it up. But Diamond noticed and followed his horrified gaze and almost fell off the swing laughing.
Pip couldn't even protest, he just covered his beetroot face with his hands and wailed. Why why why why did these things always happen to him? It just wasn't fair! Diamond saw him wailing, got off the swing and pulled his hands away from his face, kissed him very sofly to comfort him and said: 'Pay no attention. The only people who do are the idiots who carved that, and they deserve to be chucked off the top of this tree. Now, tell me what it is you were going to ask, Pippin.'
Pip thought his nerve would fail him, but he took a deep breath and went ahead 'Weel, whit ah wis gaun tae do wis tae tak thus oot of mah pocket,' he declared, rummaging in his waistcoat pocket and producing a little velvety black pouch, 'aind ah wis gaun tae do thus,' he went on, kneeling down on the ground, 'aind ah wis gaun tae tak thus ring oot aind say, like ah planned tae, that though it's a wee ring wi' these little diamonds oan, nane of them will ever be ais beautiful or as precious ais ye aire tae me, but ye can haive the ring ainiway, because ah wanted tae ask ye if. if ye'd no' like tae marry me, wid ye?'.
He paused, looking up at the stunned expression on her face. 'Tho' ah guess th' effect is mebbe ruined aiftr that carvin''.
Diamond silently motioned for him to stand up, and, holding his hands and the ring, and replied: 'Pippin, that is quite frankly and most definitely the best idea you've ever had in your entire life. I can't bloody well think of a single thing I'd adore more than being married to you'.
Pip heaved a sigh of relief and hugged the little hobbitlassie, thrilled at the answer. After a few minutes the rain stopped and they both walked off together, contented.
Diamond had been out walking in the early spring afternoon when it came on raining. She cursed and dashed for shelter under the nearest tree. It was just a springtime shower which probably wouldn't last long, but no hobbitlassie appreciates having her second-best skirt drenched, so she decided just to wait. She sat down on the little red-painted swing, which hung from the lowest branches (Sam had put it up for Elanor, Frodo and Rosie to play on, though Diamond had to confess it was a rather comfy size for herself). She was thinking.
Pip, who had come to find her, getting rather soggy in the process, saw her and silently came and leant on the trunk beside the swing. He also seemed to be thinking.
And it occurred to Diamond while she was swinging gently under the tree why it felt so very familiar. Almost a year ago, this was where they'd first met, in the bizarrest of manners, but still.
'Penny for your thoughts?' She said. 'Twa pennies fer yours,' he retorted, 'no' tha' ahd aisk ye tae pay. Not ais ah ken whit yer thinkin' aind. ah aim as weel' 'Huh, we know each other too well already. We're getting predictable!' Diamond smiled. 'Weel. ah wisnea jist thinking of tha'. Ah wis thinkin' of aiskin ye samethin' ais weel'.
Pippin glanced at the tree trunk, hoping to find reassurance and inspiration in the little heart with their names in that he'd childishly carved into the tree one time when he was bored. Instead, Merry, as a drunken prank, had vandalised it and smoothed part of it out so the lettering now read:
PIPPIN WANKS
Pip stared at it in a state of shock and moved to cover it up. But Diamond noticed and followed his horrified gaze and almost fell off the swing laughing.
Pip couldn't even protest, he just covered his beetroot face with his hands and wailed. Why why why why did these things always happen to him? It just wasn't fair! Diamond saw him wailing, got off the swing and pulled his hands away from his face, kissed him very sofly to comfort him and said: 'Pay no attention. The only people who do are the idiots who carved that, and they deserve to be chucked off the top of this tree. Now, tell me what it is you were going to ask, Pippin.'
Pip thought his nerve would fail him, but he took a deep breath and went ahead 'Weel, whit ah wis gaun tae do wis tae tak thus oot of mah pocket,' he declared, rummaging in his waistcoat pocket and producing a little velvety black pouch, 'aind ah wis gaun tae do thus,' he went on, kneeling down on the ground, 'aind ah wis gaun tae tak thus ring oot aind say, like ah planned tae, that though it's a wee ring wi' these little diamonds oan, nane of them will ever be ais beautiful or as precious ais ye aire tae me, but ye can haive the ring ainiway, because ah wanted tae ask ye if. if ye'd no' like tae marry me, wid ye?'.
He paused, looking up at the stunned expression on her face. 'Tho' ah guess th' effect is mebbe ruined aiftr that carvin''.
Diamond silently motioned for him to stand up, and, holding his hands and the ring, and replied: 'Pippin, that is quite frankly and most definitely the best idea you've ever had in your entire life. I can't bloody well think of a single thing I'd adore more than being married to you'.
Pip heaved a sigh of relief and hugged the little hobbitlassie, thrilled at the answer. After a few minutes the rain stopped and they both walked off together, contented.