Leah Beth - Oh, good, so that wasn't just me going crazier. :P Thank you so much, I'm really glad you like it!

Okay, those last two chapters were just to get some depth into Goldie's character (not sure if it worked, but I gave it my best shot :P ). Now, we're moving into the juice of the story. As always, hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer - I own only what you don't recognize, which is very little. Everything else belongs to those fine folks at Tolkien Enterprises.



A Little Change of Heart

Chapter 4 - A Simple Glance

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Hobbiton, 1448 S.R.

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Spring was in full bloom in the Shire the day that Faramir went with his father and Merry, along with Merry's son Boromir, into Hobbiton. The two older hobbits were joviantly singing one of the many songs they had heard on their travels long ago, and while Faramir had heard the song so many times that he had it mostly memorized, he was content to merely hum along. Boromir remained silent, a strange state for the usually talkative Brandybuck. Faramir noticed this and edged his pony closer to Boromir.

"You don't look very excited, Boromir," he commented.

Boromir raised an eyebrow at the younger hobbit. "About being in Hobbiton?"

"No, silly!" Faramir laughed. "Three days, remember? You're going to turn twenty in three days - instead of an irresponsible child, you get to be an irresponsible tweenager!"

Boromir gave a lop-sided smile at this. "Why yes, I suppose that is a good thing. Makes me feel a bit old, though."

"*You* feel old?" Merry and Pippin's song had ended and they were now staring at Boromir with mock astonishment. His father spoke to him again. "My lad, when you have two children who are tweenagers, then you can complain about old age. But for now, you just leave that to myself, the Thain, and our good mayor."

Pippin grinned at this. "Oh, I think Mayor Samwise has felt old for much longer than you or I. I suspect he and Rosie have sprouted at least ten grey hairs for every child."

"I know I certainly have," Merry replied with a small grin.

"Come now, Father, give Lily and me the proper respect" Boromir said. "You know you have more than twenty grey hairs."

Merry shot his son a foul look. "You've the wit of your mother. It is quite frustrating." He then grinned and laughed along with the others.

As the four ponies neared Bag End, Faramir began to hear a soft, gentle voice singing some distance ahead of them. For a moment, he did not recognize the voice, but something about it enthralled him. He didn't even pay attention to the words being sung, content to simply lose himself in that sweet voice that grew steadily louder and clearer as they continued up New Row. He closed his eyes for a moment, forgetting his companions, one of whom was now staring at him strangely.

Several minutes later, when the ponies had stopped right outside of Bag End, Faramir found that the singing voice was much closer than it had been. He opened his eyes, surveying his surroundings, and searching for the owner of that voice. When he found what he looked for, he inhaled sharply.

She sat on the soft grass, her golden curls dancing in the light breeze that flowed through them. She had not changed since last Faramir had seen her, but there was something different about her, something he had never noticed before. In that one glance, it was as though Faramir saw Goldilocks Gamgee for the first time. In her, he saw beauty and grace and everything he could ever wish for.

When Faramir realized what he was thinking, he gave his head a good shake to clear it. 'What is *wrong* with me? With the way my thoughts are going, it's as though I'm in love with--'

He stopped in mid-thought. 'In love? With Goldie?'

Faramir shook his head again, refusing to aknowledge what he had just been thinking. Instead, he dismounted his pony and looked up to find Merry smiling at him strangely.

"What?" Faramir demanded.

Merry's smile widened. "Nothing," he replied innocently, throwing a glance in Goldilocks's direction. Something about Merry's tone made Faramir's face redden, and he turned away from the older hobbit to find that Goldilocks had stopped singing and now stood with her father to greet the visitors.

"Faramir!" she called, grinning broadly.

Fighting down another blush, Faramir gave her a somewhat shaky smile. "Hello, Goldie!"

She rushed over to embrace him, then grabbed his hand and began running towards the Party Field. "Come on, there's something I want to show you!"

Faramir allowed himself to be lead down the hill and to the edge of the field, to where a small group of pale blue flowers were beginning to bloom.

"Look!" she said exitedly, pointing to the cluster of flowers. Faramir stared at them blankly for a moment, doing his best to sort through his cluttered thoughts. Seeing the strange look he wore, Goldilocks inquired, "Don't you remember? We planted some seeds in this spot the last time you were here. And now look at them!"

Recognition dawning on him, Faramir gave a small smile. "They're beautiful," he said softly.

"I know," she replied, sitting down beside the tiny flowers. "I've been tending to them while you were gone, but they've only now begun to bloom." She reached out a finger and gently caressed one of the delicate petals. When Faramir sat down on the other side of the flowers, she spoke again. "I'm sorry you had to hear my singing just now. I'm afraid I have a bad habit of breaking into song while I work in the garden." She laughed. "Yet another gardening habit I picked up from the Gamgee side of the family."

'Come to your senses, Faramir,' he thought to himself as she spoke. 'One glance isn't going to make you fall in love. Just keep your head on straight, and this'll pass soon enough.'

Outloud, he said, "I didn't mind hearing you." Realizing his tone must have sounded strange to Goldilocks, judging by the look she now gave him, he cleared his throat and stretched out on the grass, putting his hands behind his head. "I've heard better, of course. From cows, and dying birds, and things of that nature..."

Goldilocks gave him a look that was half scowl and half grin. She plucked a few blades of grass from the ground and sprinkled them over his face. Laughing, he pulled himself up and, being careful to avoid the flowers, tackled her. She let out a shriek that soon turned into a laugh, and they rolled around in the grass for quite some time before Goldilocks managed to gain the upper hand, pinning her friend to the ground.

Faramir's laughter slowly died away as he stared up at Goldilocks. Her yellow curls, now sprinkled with blades of grass, brushed against his face. After reaching up to tuck a few strands behind her ears, he allowed his hand to linger on her face. He was about to speak when the voice of Elanor Gamgee called down, announcing dinner.

Goldilocks grinned and stood, pulling Faramir up with her. "Come on, I suppose a healthy young Took such as yourself must be starving by now."

Faramir returned her grin and allowed her to lead him away, all the while very much aware of the effect her voice had on him, and unsure of whether he would be able to release her hand later on.

'Just keep your head on straight,' he repeated to himself. 'And this will pass soon enough.'

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