01-09-2002
Meet Jaell Brandybuck: Chapter Two
Okay, this is it… what do I wear tomorrow? What? Why did I just ask myself that? Why do I feel so nervous?? I rubbed my hands together nervously, as if something big was about to happen… I was also very curious as to why I was so anxious about Frodo's big birthday party tomorrow. Hhmm… I thought, what could this anxiety possibly mean? I kept puzzling myself and only stopped to worry about making lunch and afternoon snacks for my family.
It pretty much began the 16th, I guess you could say. I'm confused. That was the day Frodo came by to invite Merry and our family to his party tomorrow. As he was finishing his tea, Merry and Da had come back with mushrooms, fresh milk, and some cabbage. Perfect, I thought, right on time for dinner. Merry came in to the kitchen to set down their gatherings and saw Frodo on the far end of the table and laughed. "Frodo! How long have you been here, cousin?" Frodo jumped up and laughed as well and hugged Merry. They were best friends almost their whole lives, although Frodo was considerably older… but not by many moons.
"Hullo, Merry! I was simply waiting for you and sipping tea and exchanging words with your beautiful-as-always sister, Jaell. Looks like you and your Da had a good day today!" Frodo exclaimed, referring to the bundles of goods in Merry's hands. Merry laughed. I 'hid' behind Merry, simply to conceal my blushing cheeks from compliment paid from Frodo.
"And you know it, my dear friend. Won't you stay for dinner?"
"Well, I don't know. I think I should tend to Bag End and do last-minute touches on details for tomorrow…" he trailed off as he saw my eyes meet his as if asking him to stay. "You know what, Merry? I may take you up on that. Please, let me return to Bag End and I'll wash up and be back!" I grinned inwardly and set my brain racking to make the best lunch with the fresh goods available.
Frodo left and Merry and our Da went to rest and wash as well. I busied myself in the kitchen with my mother, washing cabbage, churning some milk from the other day into butter for that night, cooking sliced mushrooms in grease, and setting the table as nicely as I possibly could. I felt this was a joyous occasion… I still did not know why. Odd.
About an hour later, Frodo came knocking at the door. Merry had been done washing and napping ten minutes before and ran to get the door. "Frodo, my good friend. Make yourself comfortable at the table!" Frodo nodded and smiled and went to the table and chose a seat near the end of the table, where he was sure he wasn't intruding on another person's regular fare.
I finished up baking some wheat loaf and taking cold beer out onto the table and joined the others at the table. I had taken extra care that night about the cooking and my washing up of myself. Why did I care so much was still a mystery to me… I tucked back a loose curl from my face as I sat there, eating quietly as the others dug into the fare, discussing local activities and current events.
"Oh, Old Man Brandybuck, did you hear of the coming marriage of …"
"How about the selling of those cattle to …"
It was just regular Hobbit talk about the regular things that go on in our little world. Not much happens, as we would later find out is much less than a half-truth. Then, suddenly, it grew quiet. A bit startled at the unexpected, I picked my head up from my barely eaten dinner and looked around. All eyes were on me. "Um.. yes?" It made me curious as to what made me so interesting all of a sudden.
"Frodo asked you a question, my dear sister." Merry said as gently as he could.
"OH! I'm sorry, Frodo. I was not paying attention… I mean, well… oh never mind. Would you mind repeating the question?" I said as politely as I could manage through slightly clenched teeth and blushing cheeks. I saw Frodo grin and try to hold in a giggle.
"Oh, it was nothing. I merely asked what you were going to wear tomorrow.. and that I hope you came ready to dance!" There was that adorable glimmer in his eyes again. "I can't wait to see you there, I hope you look as nice as you do tonight tomorrow."
"Oh.. thank you, Old man. I'll try my best." This time, I talked through a beaming smile and yet still blushing cheeks. No one seemed to notice… One thing I did notice was that even after my siblings and my parents went back to their plates, Frodo was still gazing in my direction and only stopped after I looked back at him. I must have smiled like a fool for the rest of the night.
The next day, I made it my business to get up extra early to get myself ready for that party. Picking out my nicest skirt, blouse, sweater, I gave them the once-over to be sure they were at their best. They looked better than when I had first received or made them. Finally, after an hour of consulting the mirror and my own opinion, I debuted myself to the rest of the house. "Ta-da!"
"Wow, Jaell! You outdid yourself tonight!" Da chimed in. I blushed, naturally.
"Thank you, Da." I said while planting a kiss on his cheek. I then went to my mother, asking of her thoughts as well. She hugged me and then, apologetically, 'fixed' my hair because she felt her expression of affection had somehow made me look tussled.
"You look wonderful," she whispered. I had a tugging feeling she knew what was going on… parents know best but how could she have known before me or even before Frodo? Odd.
As everyone finished making themselves presentable and making sure not to eat before we went as to save room for the fabulous feast we'd have laid out before us, we went on our way. We walked across the path and across the bridge to the party area and met with the other invitees. Excitement crowded the air as the line to meet with Frodo before the festivities began left little room for disappointment. The line came closer and I was behind two people before Frodo would be greeting me. He caught sight of me and sharply drew his breath in. Our eyes caught and the lights of Gandalf's fireworks danced in his eyes and on his face and then he went back to greeting the other two quickly. My turn…
"Hullo, Frodo. Merry holiday of a birthday, right?" Frodo nodded, seemingly speechless. I patted him on the shoulder and leaned in, as if to hug him, and whispered in his ear. "I cam ready to dance." I pulled away and smiled.
"What was that, Jaell? Since when have you done that for people who gave birthday parties?" Merry questioned urgently, as if probing into my thoughts. I shrugged and walked away, finding some of my family in the 'special area' as Frodo had promised.
More to come…