Rosemary for Remembrance 3: A stolen season
May 1, 1420
The day of Sam and Rosie's wedding dawned clear and sunny. It was cooler than usual for May and breathing in the brisk little breeze was like drinking from a fresh mountain stream. The spring blooms were at the height of their beauty. Small, star-shaped blue flowers and yellow buttercups adorned the meadows. White violets carpeted the woods and the mallorn tree was still flowering in the Party Field.
Rosemary Whitfurrows was glad to see two of her childhood friends so happily married and tried not to think of how unlikely it was that she would ever get married. She refused to marry anyone but Frodo and he only wanted her friendship. Even if that were not so, he was too damaged. She could see that from the few visits she had made to Bag End but, although it caused her more pain that she thought possible, she went to see him whenever he requested her company or she could not bear to go any longer without seeing him. She took comfort in that fact that he seemed to enjoy her visits. She was mulling on this when she heard her mother's voice.
"Rosemary," Autumn called, "It is time to get ready for the wedding."
She replied, "I'm about to do that, mother."
Rosemary stepped away from her loom and went to get her dress. It was light yellow and had a pattern of green leaves around the collar, cuffs, and hem. She brushed her hair and put it up with her best hair combs, then left for the Party Field with her mother.
The Party field was resplendent with the mallorn blooms and all the hobbits in the Shire in their best, most colorful finery. Rosie looked wonderful in the dress Rosemary and Autumn made for her, which Autumn embroidered with yellow roses. After the brief ceremony, the ale and old winyards flowed. There was also no dearth of food and the cake, decorated with edible flowers like violets, was almost too beautiful to eat.
Rosemary sat at a table with a glass of winyards and a piece of cake while the others danced. The band was good and, in addition to a fiddle-player, had Pippin Took singing and Merry Brandybuck playing drums. Pippin had a strong, clear tenor and, to Rosemary's surprise, sang serious as well as humorous and lively songs. Despite this, she did feel like dancing. She was about to get another glass of winyards when Frodo sat down next to her.
He looked at her with assessing eyes and asked, "Why aren't you dancing, Rosemary?"
She mustered a weak smile and lied, "I am not such a good dancer and would rather watch Sam and Rosie dance. Sam is blushing furiously."
Frodo chuckled and said, "I know it is a large crowd, but I was hoping to see you."
She cast her eyes downward and said, "I though you would be busy with your cousins or Sam."
He shook is head and said, "My cousins are providing the entertainment and Sam is being twirled around by Rosie. Would you care to dance?"
Rosemary looked surprised and said, "Are you strong enough for dancing?"
He smiled and said, "Today is one of my better days. I can manage one or two slow songs."
He signaled Pippin and took Rosemary to join the crowd on the dance floor. Pippin began a slow and beautiful ballad and they swayed gently to the music.
At the end of the song, Frodo whispered, "Rosemary, I do care for you. First you were too young, then I inherited the ring, and now...now it is too late. I have little to offer you and I will have to leave before too much longer but I would love to see you whenever you can spare the time."
Rosemary barely kept her voice from quavering and said, "Any time I can spare from sewing and helping mother will be yours, for as long as you are here."
Throughout the summer, they were together almost every day. She brought him food and read to him. They took short walks and Rosemary continued to weave the green blanket with blue forget-me-not flowers. She knew this would not last. It was a stolen season.
The day of Sam and Rosie's wedding dawned clear and sunny. It was cooler than usual for May and breathing in the brisk little breeze was like drinking from a fresh mountain stream. The spring blooms were at the height of their beauty. Small, star-shaped blue flowers and yellow buttercups adorned the meadows. White violets carpeted the woods and the mallorn tree was still flowering in the Party Field.
Rosemary Whitfurrows was glad to see two of her childhood friends so happily married and tried not to think of how unlikely it was that she would ever get married. She refused to marry anyone but Frodo and he only wanted her friendship. Even if that were not so, he was too damaged. She could see that from the few visits she had made to Bag End but, although it caused her more pain that she thought possible, she went to see him whenever he requested her company or she could not bear to go any longer without seeing him. She took comfort in that fact that he seemed to enjoy her visits. She was mulling on this when she heard her mother's voice.
"Rosemary," Autumn called, "It is time to get ready for the wedding."
She replied, "I'm about to do that, mother."
Rosemary stepped away from her loom and went to get her dress. It was light yellow and had a pattern of green leaves around the collar, cuffs, and hem. She brushed her hair and put it up with her best hair combs, then left for the Party Field with her mother.
The Party field was resplendent with the mallorn blooms and all the hobbits in the Shire in their best, most colorful finery. Rosie looked wonderful in the dress Rosemary and Autumn made for her, which Autumn embroidered with yellow roses. After the brief ceremony, the ale and old winyards flowed. There was also no dearth of food and the cake, decorated with edible flowers like violets, was almost too beautiful to eat.
Rosemary sat at a table with a glass of winyards and a piece of cake while the others danced. The band was good and, in addition to a fiddle-player, had Pippin Took singing and Merry Brandybuck playing drums. Pippin had a strong, clear tenor and, to Rosemary's surprise, sang serious as well as humorous and lively songs. Despite this, she did feel like dancing. She was about to get another glass of winyards when Frodo sat down next to her.
He looked at her with assessing eyes and asked, "Why aren't you dancing, Rosemary?"
She mustered a weak smile and lied, "I am not such a good dancer and would rather watch Sam and Rosie dance. Sam is blushing furiously."
Frodo chuckled and said, "I know it is a large crowd, but I was hoping to see you."
She cast her eyes downward and said, "I though you would be busy with your cousins or Sam."
He shook is head and said, "My cousins are providing the entertainment and Sam is being twirled around by Rosie. Would you care to dance?"
Rosemary looked surprised and said, "Are you strong enough for dancing?"
He smiled and said, "Today is one of my better days. I can manage one or two slow songs."
He signaled Pippin and took Rosemary to join the crowd on the dance floor. Pippin began a slow and beautiful ballad and they swayed gently to the music.
At the end of the song, Frodo whispered, "Rosemary, I do care for you. First you were too young, then I inherited the ring, and now...now it is too late. I have little to offer you and I will have to leave before too much longer but I would love to see you whenever you can spare the time."
Rosemary barely kept her voice from quavering and said, "Any time I can spare from sewing and helping mother will be yours, for as long as you are here."
Throughout the summer, they were together almost every day. She brought him food and read to him. They took short walks and Rosemary continued to weave the green blanket with blue forget-me-not flowers. She knew this would not last. It was a stolen season.
