Rosa Cotton: Really? Thanks! I found Frodo amusing as well : )

Aemilia Rose: They're seeking advice seemed practical to me, after all they are very inexperienced. It was a fun chapter to write!

Lily Among The Thorns-89: You're welcome! Your comment was interesting; I'll try to maintain the standard concerning the emotions. Please continue giving your opinion; it's invaluable to me.

Tom watched as his younger brothers played a game of checkers. Intent upon the other's motives and strategies, they barely noticed the anxious twiddling of his thumbs, a mannerism uncommon to the placid hobbit. Jolly moved a knight, all the while carefully observing the play of expressions upon Nib's face. It went from downcast, to gleeful triumph, then sunk again to the depths of depression. Jolly smiled, sticking his thumbs into his front trouser pockets in confident display. As Nibs scratched his head, his thoughts must have been thus stimulated, for he yelled in terrible victory and quickly moved his queen.

"Checkmate!"

"Not again."

"Up for another?"

"Not on your life."

The disappointed Jolly turned to his eldest brother. It was only then did he notice Tom's wrinkled forehead, sure proof that something was amiss. He shifted his chair closer to Tom's, curiously peering at his thoughtful expression. Just then, Nick entered from the kitchen, in his hands a large platter of cake. He gingerly set it down upon the side table, waving his hands as a demanding clamor erupted about him. Setting out the slices on the plates, he looked over at the brooding Tom.

"What's the matter with him?" He mouthed silently to his brothers. Shrugging his shoulders in careless dismissal, Nibs tucked voraciously into his portion.

"You made this?" He asked, incredulous. "It's edible."

"Umm..yeah." Nick waved his hand experimentally before Tom's eyes, starting back as his elder brother stirred restlessly.

"Jolly, have you noticed Rosie's liking for Sam?"

Jolly scratched his head at the abrupt question. The possibility that his young sister might have feelings for a hobbit had never occurred to him and he answered as he saw fit.

"No."

Tom took a vicious bite of his cake, slowly rolling the piece about his mouth.

"I overheard mother speak to her a few days ago. I didn't understand the little that reached my ears and asked mother about it. She didn't say much, but from the hints she dropped, I think Rosie may possibly be, well, in love."

Nibs snorted, promptly proceeding to choke on his cake in a highly undignified manner, while Jolly thumped him solemnly on the back. Nick rolled his eyes, being at the age where it is accustomed to either regard such matters with putrid disgust or acute embarrassment. Once Nibs had recovered, he exclaimed, in a spray of flying crumbs,

"Our Rosie! In love?!"

Tom nodded forlornly. Jolly was less appalled, being a somewhat more practical hobbit.

"Hobbit girls do to tend to be a bit silly at this age," and in illustration, he pointed to a romance novel Rosie had left lying on the sofa. He retrieved it with interest, while Nick shrank shuddering away. Jolly inspected the cover, wherein was depicted a bosom hobbit lady draped daintily over the arm of a buffed hobbit. He perused its pages, reading aloud a sentence here and there.

" 'she cried aloud, "Love me! Don't ever leave me!"; he took her in his strong arms, muscles rippling as she clung wistfully about his neck' ". Jolly laid aside the novel, ruminating upon the passages. Nick was, by this time, a deep shade of red, and chewing his cake with admirable assiduity. Nibs had risen to his feet and, with a disdainful glance at the wretched girl on the cover, banged his fist against the table, causing his fork to leap most frightfully.

"We can't let Rosie become like that! She'll be the laughing stock of the town! Whatever should we do?" he moaned despairingly.

"There must be a way!"

"Oh dear, oh dear."

Jolly interrupted the woe-begotten lot.

"But," he considered, "it would be fun to watch."

The other brothers turned to each other, eyes widening as each imagined Rosie and Sam enacting one of the passages in the novel.

"Do you really think they'll be like that?" Nick whispered in awe. Nibs, having seated himself once more, clapped him reassuringly on the back.

"There's only one way to find out." He answered bravely.

* * *

"A picnic?"

"Yes, yes!" cried Nibs, beaming in the most charming manner. He and Nick had presented themselves at the Gamgee's front door come late evening, their express purpose being to procure Sam's acceptance to their invitation.

"I don't know. I was goin' to trim the verge tomorrow."

Nick hurriedly spoke up, determined to succeed.

"Come on Sam, it's been so long since all us boys had a little fun together. Please?"

"Is, erm, Rosie going?" asked Sam, keeping his tone as casual as he possibly could. Nick and Nibs exchanged brief, significant glances, before Nibs commenced the last and most delicate stage of their assignment.

"No, she's not coming." He let out a deep breath, uncrossing the fingers behind his back. Sam smiled in acquiescence.

"Sure, why not?"

* * *

"Are you boys up to something?" Rosie cracked her knuckles, her gaze resting on her brothers suspiciously.

"Of course not!" Tom exclaimed, brushing off the accusation with a wave of his hand, his heart pounding dangerously. Beside him, Jolly's expression was carefully detached, his whole body tensed to make a mad dash should fortune be unkind to them. The two eldest having been appointed with the more risky of the two ventures, had agreed among themselves that the garden would be the best place for a confrontation. It was nearest the most convenient route of escape; the front gate. Now as Tom groped desperately behind him for its latch, he fervently hoped that he would have time enough to execute his escape.

"All right." Rosie's voice pierced his vague mist of apprehension, its certainty leaving him breathless.

"All right?" reiterated Nibs, hardly daring to trust to his ears.

"Why not? It sounds like fun," she smiled, "Besides, I'm delighted Nibs is taking an interest in drawing. I'd be more than happy to be his model."

The two boys smiled dumbly, watching as their little sister returned to the house. Jolly turned to Tom.

"I don't think Nibs is going to appreciate your little idea."