Frodo was startled to see Strider actually crying. He wasn't sobbing, just tears were there, resting in his eyes.
"What're we going to do?" Frodo asked urgently.
"He's my brother," Strider answered, as if he hadn't heard Frodo.
"Pardon?" Frodo asked, not really wanting to comprehend.
"My brother," Strider said, "She's marrying my brother."
********
That night, Taryn snuck out of her dormitory and quickly went to her favorite spot under the old oak in the middle of the meadow. The stars were twinkling high above her and she sighed, trying to figure out what in the world she was going to do next. Suddenly, a rustling behind her gave her a start.
"Who's there," she whispered ferociously, jumping to her feet.
"It's only me," Frodo said, coming out from behind the bushes, "Sorry I frightened you, miss."
"Oh, Frodo," Taryn exclaimed, exhausted, and she sat right back down, "Frodo, I...," she began, but she thought better of it and just kept looking up at the sky.
"It's all right," Frodo said softly, sitting down beside Taryn and placing a hand gently upon her arm.
"What am I going to do?" Taryn asked, and for the first time, Frodo detected urgency in her voice.
Frodo laid down next to her and sung into her ear, "Fly away with me, for time cannot change what we have together..."
It was an old hobbit song, and at the sound of the tune, Taryn gently started to sing in Elvish, her eyes watering up with tears.