Frodo and Pippin awoke early the next morning and set out after eating a small breakfast. They were determined to return before suspicions grew higher than they already were, and they did have to be back before Diamond's father reached Hobbiton.
They took to the road, and walked at a quick pace towards Hobbiton. "I should greatly like to see Horro Boffin's face when his father tells him Diamond is no longer bound to him. He shall be quite angry I am sure," said Pippin, laughing at the thought.
"Yes, indeed he shall, but now that he is out of the picture how do you plan on courting Diamond for yourself?" asked Frodo with a grin.
"I never said I wanted to court her, only that I wanted to help a friend," Pippin shot back, a little more defensively than he intended.
"Oh do not fool yourself, Pippin Took. I know full well you have taken a fancy to her, and now that you have the opportunity you should act on it."
"I shall not do a thing until I know that she feels the same," Pippin admitted, realizing his cousin had figured him out.
"Have you not read her book? Is that not proof enough?"
"I have read it, but how do you she isn't just using what happened for writing purposes. It is possible, you must admit."
"I should like to see to you married," replied Frodo.
"You are far too optimistic cousin, and even if we were to marry it would not be until she and I have come of age," Pippin observed.
Frodo did not respond to this. He was looking around calmly at the countryside they passed, and appeared as if he were trying to force himself to remember what it looked like. They walked the rest of the journey in silence, and soon found themselves at the edge of Bagshot Row. They could smell Sam's cooking from down the lane. They had made it back in time for second breakfast as they had promised.
Diamond, Merry, Pippin, Frodo, and Sam were all eating luncheon and talking amongst themselves when there came a knock at the door. Merry offered to get it since he was seated closest to the door. He stood up and walked casually over to the large green door, opening it slowly.
Outside stood a Hobbit that Merry had never seen before. He was older, and he looked as though he were quite annoyed at waiting outside the door.
"May I help you?" asked Merry.
"Yes, my name is Aradin of Long Cleeve. I am looking for my daughter, Diamond, and was told she was here," he said.
"Yes, Sir, she is here. Please come in I shall show you the way."
Merry led Aradin to the back of the house where the others sat eating. As soon as Aradin walked into the room Diamond audibly gasped. She stood up, and while looking rather pale and nervous addressed her father.
"Father! I am happy to see you," she lied, "but why have you come here?"
"I need to talk to you Diamond. It seems there will be a change in our agreement," he started, but before he could tell her the news Diamond cut him off.
"It has not been a year! I shall not marry now, you promised father!" she cried before attempting to run out of the house.
"Diamond, wait!" her father commanded in such a tone that Diamond stopped running from fear alone. "I do not wish to make you marry now, nor ever. Consider the agreement off. You are free to choose whomever you would like without my consent."
"W...What?" stammered Diamond.
"You are released from the agreement," said her father with a smile, one of the first Diamond had seen from her father's face in years.
"But why father? It is not like you to go back on a deal, and risk losing wealth," asked Diamond still stunned. "You speak truth when you say I am not one to go back on my word, but a new deal has presented itself. That is all I can say on the matter, but also someone told me that true love cannot be forced, and that happiness cannot be achieved without love. I do not wish to see you unhappy, my daughter," said Aradin, casting a glance at Pippin and Frodo.
"I know just the way to celebrate this occasion," said Merry. "I say we head to the Green Dragon for drinks and dancing!" "That is a wonderful idea!" said Pippin. "I could do for a good ale."
"I could not agree with you more," said Aradin happily. With that the group set out for the pub, Diamond's spirits higher than they had ever been. The group reached the Green Dragon, and went inside all laughing and talking cheerfully. As soon as they walked in Merry and Pippin noticed their friend Fatty Bolger and his sister Estella sitting at a table by themselves. They all walked over to their table, and Merry and Pippin introduced Fatty and Estella to the group.
Estella turned around to ask the waiter for another drink revealing her auburn hair that was pulled back just like Diamond's. "Diamond, she looks just like you from behind!" exclaimed Sam, looking from one Hobbit to the other.
"Turn around both of you, lets have a look," said Aradin.
Diamond and Estella smiled at each other and they both turned around. Everyone stared at the uncanny resemblance the two shared. If you did not see their faces it would be nearly impossible to tell them apart.
The waiter walked up with their drinks and the group sat down to talk. Talk soon turned to business, dominated mostly by Aradin, and it became obvious that neither Estella nor Diamond were very interested.
"Would you care to go for a walk?" Diamond asked Estella quietly. "I have grown quite tired of this conversation."
"Sure," Estella whispered back.
The two stood up, and quietly took their leave to the nearly deserted streets of Hobbiton. They walked along the paths carelessly; happy to be free of the dull conversations they left behind.
"So do you live in Hobbiton as well?" asked Diamond.
"No, we live near the borders of Buckland, my brother and I."
"Really? I have never seen you around before, and I live in Buckland with my sisters."
"I spend most of my time outdoors, in the woods. I like to draw," replied Estella.
"What kinds of things do you draw?" asked Diamond.
"Usually birds, trees, things in nature. I love to draw people, however, there is never anyone interesting to draw. I am not very talented at lifelike scenes in nature," Estella responded with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Can I see some of your drawings?" asked Diamond.
Estella nodded and reached into the pocket of her dress. She pulled out a small sketchbook and handed it to Diamond. Diamond paged through the sketchbook, and was thoroughly amazed at what she saw. The drawings seemed to leap right off the page at her. The colors were alive and vibrant, and the detail was incredible.
"Estella these are wonderful. Say, I have an idea. Could you perhaps draw the characters from my book for me?"
"You are writing a book?"
"Yes, and a mural of the characters would be wonderful! Would you do it for me?" Diamond asked excitedly.
"A mural! That would be incredible, but I cannot just draw from a description. I need a subject, or subjects, to go by," said Estella.
"Then I shall describe the type of person and you can find your own subjects," said Diamond.
"That would work fine," she responded.
"My book is about two lovers, Daisy and Peterin are their names. The scene I want is one in which Daisy and Peterin are together perhaps in a public place, and there are Hobbits hurrying here and there busily, but the only thing they see is each other. And for that moment they should share this amazing gift, and both are so happy that they have finally found each other that you can see it in their eyes, in the way they look at each other, and in the way they laugh. Both should be so extremely happy that it couldn't be described in words, which is why I need a picture."
"Oh, Diamond you are a writer," said Estella, awestruck. "I will try my hardest to find someone to match that description, though it may be difficult."
"I am sure you will find someone," said Diamond. "Come let us get back to the Green Dragon, we have been gone for a while."
The two new friends walked back to the pub, and when they got inside they saw that a band had begun to play and people were dancing all around.
"They look awfully lonely over there," said Estella to Diamond, gesturing at Merry and Pippin who now sat alone talking. Frodo and Sam were both dancing, and Aradin had found someone else to talk business with.
"Should we ask them to dance?" asked Diamond.
"Yes! That would be fun," said Estella laughing.
They walked over to where Merry and Pippin sat talking and Estella tapped Merry on the shoulder. "Would you care to dance?" Estella asked him when he turned around.
"Sure," he responded and the two walked onto the dance floor.
"Do you want to dance as well?" Diamond asked.
"I suppose I have to, so I can draw even with Merry," said Pippin jokingly, attempting to cover his excitement.
They walked out onto the dance floor as well. Estella was happily dancing with Merry when she looked over at Diamond and Pippin dancing. The look in both of their eyes, Diamond's especially, was unmistakable. It seemed to be a work of fate that this scene so closely resembled the one Diamond had just described.
"I think I just found my subjects for the mural," thought Estella as she let herself be swept away by the dance.
"What do you mean they bought her freedom?" shouted Horro Boffin angrily. "We had a deal with Aradin!"
"Yes, but a better deal came along my son," Shirno replied. "Believe me I was just as angry as you are, but do not give up hope yet. I believe I may have a plan, Horro. I know a way for you to win her over on your own, and just think son. She is now a partial heir to some of the fortunes of Bag End, thanks to Frodo Baggins and his friend."
"But how father? How can I possibly court her now, when she knows that her friends freed her? Wouldn't she be more likely to choose them?"
"Ah, that is the beauty of this. You would think that would be the case, but it seems that Diamond is not one who likes to be rescued. If she ever found out she would hate them, assuming they thought her too weak to help herself," said Shirno with a smile.
"So she doesn't know?"
"Nay, they wished to keep it quiet."
"She would not believe it if I tried to tell her," said Horro looking defeated.
"But what if you had proof?" Shirno replied craftily.
"I have no proof father!"
"Yes, but I do."