Rosemary for Remembrance 2: Lullaby
Hobbiton spring 1420
The loom's shuttle clacked briskly in the small, sunny room and a pattern began to emerge from the green and blue thread as Rosemary steeled herself for the meeting that would take placed later that day. She waited a week before sending a letter of greeting to Frodo. He sent a reply quickly and they were to have tea at Bag End today.
Rosemary's mother, Autumn Whitfurrows, was embroidering golden flowers on a dress the color of fresh cream for Rosie Cotton's marriage to Sam Gamgee. She noticed Rosemary's pensive expression and said, "I wish you would give up the idea of visiting him if it is going to trouble you so much."
The clacking of Rosemary's loom became more pronounced. She frowned and replied, "I am just nervous, mother. Anyway, both you and I own him more than a little worry."
The older hobbit woman sighed and said, "I know and, whether they realize it or not, the whole Shire owes him. Gaffer Gamgee told me what Sam and Frodo did. I am also grateful for his kindness after your father died. I am loath to have my only child wait for him forever, though. From the looks of things, I doubt he will be marrying anyone, although there was a time when I would have said he was a better match for you than I could dare hope for."
Rosemary replied, "I love you, mother, but I am of age and will do what I feel best."
Autumn pointed to the blue thread strung on the loom and said, "That blue thread is worth a lot and quite gift enough, although it will be awhile before you finish it."
Several hours later, Rosemary took a deep breath and knocked on Bag End's green door. She resolved that she would not burden him with her troubles and emotions and she certainly not cry. She marshaled all her resolve toward that goal.
He opened the door and looked pallid but handsome as he said hello.
She smiled, lifted the covered basket in her hands, and said, "I brought you some scones."
They said at the kitchen and sipped tea while the scones warmed. Rosemary began the conversation.
She said, "It is good to see Bag End looking so splendid. The gardens are a wonder."
Frodo smiled and said, "Yes, it is. It is also good to see you again, Rosemary. Sam tells me you are a dressmaker like your mother."
Replied, "I am, but I enjoy weaving more."
The scones were ready and they ate them while Rosemary told Frodo stories of various funny and amusing things that happed in the Shire since he left. She did speak of the time of the occupation or anything else unhappy and not mention she had no suitors.
"Rosemary," he said, "do you remember when you brought me a spice cake and a bouquet of dried lavender for my birthday?"
She blushed and said, "Yes, I do. You already had a cake and the lavender crumbled."
He smiled and said, "Yes, but the cake was very good and the lavender smelled wonderful, even though it had been dried several months earlier. I remembered it when I saw you brought these excellent scones and realized that you had been only twelve. You always seemed older than you actually were."
She laughed and said, "I don't know whether or not that is a compliment."
He said, "It most certainly is."
When they finished the tea, Frodo rose to make some more but Rosemary told him she would put the water on. When she returned to the table, he had a very thoughtful look on his face.
He said, "You have probably heard several versions of what happened but, since you are friends with the Gamgees, you probably have an accurate idea of what happened. You always liked my stories, would you mind if I told you a long and dark tale you already know?"
Rosemary swallowed hard and said, "If you think you want to tell me, I am more than willing to listen."
Much later, when the light outside was turning golden and lavender with the sunset, Frodo retired to the couch and lay down.
Rosemary was silent for a time and said, "I hope that didn't cost you too much in the telling."
He said, "No, but I do get tired in the evenings. Will you sing to me, Rosemary?"
She sang a lullaby her mother used at bedtime when she was a child. Frodo went to sleep but she sat by him until the sunset finished and the sky deepened into the blue of dusk. She kissed his injured hand before leaving and despite her resolve two tears fell on it.
The loom's shuttle clacked briskly in the small, sunny room and a pattern began to emerge from the green and blue thread as Rosemary steeled herself for the meeting that would take placed later that day. She waited a week before sending a letter of greeting to Frodo. He sent a reply quickly and they were to have tea at Bag End today.
Rosemary's mother, Autumn Whitfurrows, was embroidering golden flowers on a dress the color of fresh cream for Rosie Cotton's marriage to Sam Gamgee. She noticed Rosemary's pensive expression and said, "I wish you would give up the idea of visiting him if it is going to trouble you so much."
The clacking of Rosemary's loom became more pronounced. She frowned and replied, "I am just nervous, mother. Anyway, both you and I own him more than a little worry."
The older hobbit woman sighed and said, "I know and, whether they realize it or not, the whole Shire owes him. Gaffer Gamgee told me what Sam and Frodo did. I am also grateful for his kindness after your father died. I am loath to have my only child wait for him forever, though. From the looks of things, I doubt he will be marrying anyone, although there was a time when I would have said he was a better match for you than I could dare hope for."
Rosemary replied, "I love you, mother, but I am of age and will do what I feel best."
Autumn pointed to the blue thread strung on the loom and said, "That blue thread is worth a lot and quite gift enough, although it will be awhile before you finish it."
Several hours later, Rosemary took a deep breath and knocked on Bag End's green door. She resolved that she would not burden him with her troubles and emotions and she certainly not cry. She marshaled all her resolve toward that goal.
He opened the door and looked pallid but handsome as he said hello.
She smiled, lifted the covered basket in her hands, and said, "I brought you some scones."
They said at the kitchen and sipped tea while the scones warmed. Rosemary began the conversation.
She said, "It is good to see Bag End looking so splendid. The gardens are a wonder."
Frodo smiled and said, "Yes, it is. It is also good to see you again, Rosemary. Sam tells me you are a dressmaker like your mother."
Replied, "I am, but I enjoy weaving more."
The scones were ready and they ate them while Rosemary told Frodo stories of various funny and amusing things that happed in the Shire since he left. She did speak of the time of the occupation or anything else unhappy and not mention she had no suitors.
"Rosemary," he said, "do you remember when you brought me a spice cake and a bouquet of dried lavender for my birthday?"
She blushed and said, "Yes, I do. You already had a cake and the lavender crumbled."
He smiled and said, "Yes, but the cake was very good and the lavender smelled wonderful, even though it had been dried several months earlier. I remembered it when I saw you brought these excellent scones and realized that you had been only twelve. You always seemed older than you actually were."
She laughed and said, "I don't know whether or not that is a compliment."
He said, "It most certainly is."
When they finished the tea, Frodo rose to make some more but Rosemary told him she would put the water on. When she returned to the table, he had a very thoughtful look on his face.
He said, "You have probably heard several versions of what happened but, since you are friends with the Gamgees, you probably have an accurate idea of what happened. You always liked my stories, would you mind if I told you a long and dark tale you already know?"
Rosemary swallowed hard and said, "If you think you want to tell me, I am more than willing to listen."
Much later, when the light outside was turning golden and lavender with the sunset, Frodo retired to the couch and lay down.
Rosemary was silent for a time and said, "I hope that didn't cost you too much in the telling."
He said, "No, but I do get tired in the evenings. Will you sing to me, Rosemary?"
She sang a lullaby her mother used at bedtime when she was a child. Frodo went to sleep but she sat by him until the sunset finished and the sky deepened into the blue of dusk. She kissed his injured hand before leaving and despite her resolve two tears fell on it.
