"This stitching is suspect, Ms. Burrows," Camellia Sackville-Baggins said while scrutinizing the seam of the dress. "It looks as though it may positively burst at the slightest thing."
Celandine stood inside the large Hole of the Sackville-Bagginses, alone. Lilly had gone to the Green Dragon to help her mother for a day, and Berylla had stayed home to finish some other work.
"Really, dearest," her sister, Arabella Sackville, said nonchalantly. "I don't know why you keep these Hobbiton folk for seamstresses; the ones in Buckland are far better."
Celandine stood, quietly holding her tongue, but furious. That stitching had taken her days, as had every other aspect of the dress. This was not the first time she had been to the Sackville-Bagginses Hole, but she had never gone alone before. Her Aunt's presence seemed to keep Camellia from letting her tongue run, but Berylla wasn't there today. Celandine tried to stay impervious to the Mrs. Sackville-Bagginses insults, but it was not easy. When Camellia noticed that she did not react to her barbs, and grew even more irritated.
"Come here, lass, and put the dress on." Camellia said. Celandine looked at her in surprise. She did not know what to say to such an outrageous request.
"I beg your pardon?" Celandine said.
"I want to see how the dress looks look like on a hobbit, not just a stand," Camellia said impatiently. "Perhaps it will not look as cheap when it is being worn than when it is on a hanger."
Celandine wanted to protest, but Arabella grabbed her wrist and dragged into the closet, and began forcibly to remove her clothes. She roughly pulled the dress over her head and buttoned it up.
"Don't take forever, Arabella, we have several other things we need to get done today," Camellia yelled from the living room.
"We're coming, dearest," Arabella said as she dragged Celandine into the living room. Celandine froze as she saw Camellia sitting on the couch with her Husband Longo and their son Lotho. She understood what Camellia was doing now. Humiliating her in front of as many people as possible.
"Stand on the stool, dear. I want to get a better look," Camellia said sweetly. Celandine automatically did as she was told, looking strait ahead, at nothing.
"Well, my love," Camellia said, turning to her husband. "What do you think?"
"It is rather nice," he said with a derisive sniff. He grabbed the hem of the dress to inspect it further and nearly knocked Celandine off balance. Arabella snickered.
"Not very graceful, are you lass?" she said with false sympathy.
"Oh, goodness no," Camellia said with a laugh. "She is just a seamstress, after all. She would have no need to learn the proper graces of a lady. Still, it is a shame, her sisters are both very charming and attractive young hobbits." She turned to Celandine.
"It must be hard for you, having such beautiful siblings. You must be accustomed to having people overlook you."
Celandine felt her eyes fill with tears, but she fought them. 'They are not worth shedding tears for,' she told herself. 'You may not be a lady, but you are not dirt under their feet.'
"I am very often overlooked," Celandine stated, coldly. "I am afraid I haven't the talent for being vulgar and rude so as draw attention to myself. Instead I have spent my time learning how to do silly things like use my head and be polite to condescending prigs like yourself. Perhaps your ladyship would be kind enough to teach me how to be foolish and petty. Your ability exceeds any I have ever seen."
Camellia stared at her. Arabella's gaped, her mouth gaping open like a frog. Longo and Lotho stood sputtering, unable to think coherently enough to rebuke her. Celandine daintily lifted her skirts, stepped down from the stool, and picked up her things.
"I shall let myself out, since the rest of you seem to have forgotten how. Mrs. Sackville-Baggins, I trust you will find a more worthy and less offending seamstress in Buckland and will not be needing me anymore." She curtsied and left.
As soon as she shut the door she ran. Hot tears poured down her face, despite all her efforts to stop them. 'Stop it, stop it, you foolish creature,' her mind said. ' They are not worth your tears.' But she could not stop. She ran all the way to her Aunt's house. She burst in through the front door and threw her things on the floor.
"Goodness, gracious! Celandine, what happened?" she cried out, pulling Celandine into a hug.
"Oh, Berylla, I said something very wicked to Mrs.Sackville-Baggins, and I am afraid I made you lose any work you might have gotten from her," Celandine said tearfully. Berylla led her to the kitchen and sat her in a chair.
"I doubt you could have done anything so horrible that would make her do that," she said reassuringly.
"I told her she was vulgar and rude, and that she should find herself a seamstress in Buckland," Celandine said. Berylla laughed heartily.
"My, my, what a brave lass you are! I have been wanting to say that to her for years!" Berylla said laughing. "If I lose her business it is no skin off my nose, so don't you worry your little head over it."
Celandine smiled and dried her tears. She smoothed out the folds of the dress and gave a little sigh as she admired its beauty. Berylla noticed her gaze and smiled.
"Why don't you step up on the stool over there for a second?" she said, that familiar twinkle in her eye. Celandine gave her a curious glance but did as she was told. Berylla walked over and inspected the dress.
"You've done some fine work here lass. Your stitching is so fine, it could been the work of the Elves!" Celandine glowed at her praise, knowing that it was trustworthy, and flatter just to lighten her spirits. Berylla circled around her, now and then fluffing up the ruffled fold of Lavender colored silk. She took a step back to inspect her handiwork.
"Well now, I can see what Mrs. Camellia's gotten her feather's in a ruffle for."
"What, did I forget to sew up more lace in the back?" Celandine asked worriedly. The notes she had made had gotten smeared, and she was a little unsure if she had done trim properly.
"No, no, the lace is perfect, my lovely," Berylla said with a laugh. "It's the dress. It looks absolutely beautiful on you. The color is perfect. I told her that she ought to wear something a little less purple, it takes all the color out of her face, but she didn't want to hear it." Berylla shook her head. "She hates being wrong. I am sure the sight of you looking so stunning really made her pucker." Celandine moved to step down, but Berylla stopped her.
"Not yet, not yet. Just let me fetch something." Berylla said, dashing of into the hallway. Celandine stood waiting while her Aunt rummaged for some unknown article. She heard door open and her Uncle come in.
"Berylla, Uncle Berilac is home for supper!" she called as she hopped of the stool and ran into the kitchen. It was dark, and she could see him shivering near the dying fire.
"You must be frozen stiff," she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck. "Would you like some tea?"
He kissed her cheek and pulled off his hat.
"Yes, please."
Celandine gasped. The shivering hobbit she had hugged was not her Uncle, but Bilbo Baggins! She stood speechless for a few moments. He made no move to let go of her, and she none to leave his arms.
"Oh, oh, I ..So sorry. I thought you were.."
"Somebody else," he finished for her.
"Celandine!" her Aunt yelled from the living room. Her voice broke the spell and she pulled herself from his embrace to go to her Aunt, but he did not give her up without some reluctance.
"Here it is!" her Aunt proclaimed with triumph. Beside her stood a floor length mirror with an ornate gilded frame.
"Oh, Berylla, its beautiful. Where did you get it?" Celandine exclaimed, touching the delicate framework.
"Bless me! Who cares for the frame, dearest! Look at the glass!" Berylla demanded. Celandine looked at her reflection and was surprised at what she saw. The dress was beautiful on her. The color made her skin seem to glow and brought out the deep green color of her eyes. In the reflection she saw Bilbo watching her. She turned around to face him.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't put your tea on," she said.
"Oh Master Bilbo," Berylla exclaimed. "I didn't realize you had come, I thought it was my husband." Celandine blushed at her Aunt's statement and walked pass them to the kitchen.
"I'll put the kettle on," she said.
"Oh, no that's all right, I just needed to fetch those buttons for my mother. She would have come herself, but she's feeling a might under the weather," Bilbo said, suddenly appearing a little embarrassed. Berylla gave him the buttons in an envelope.
"It's no trouble, Bilbo. Celandine and I would love for you to stay for tea," Berylla said coaxingly. Bilbo shook his head and walked to the kitchen.
"Your very kind, but I really should be going. Besides it's going to rain soon, and I would hate to be stuck walking home in the rain."
Berylla stared after him, a little confused. Celandine followed him into the kitchen. He had already put on his coat and hat. Celandine felt that there was something wrong, but she did not under stand what.
"Are you sure you won't stay?" she asked.
He glanced up at her face. He wanted to stay; she could tell.
"No," he said with some resignation in his voice. He turned and left.
Celandine stared at the door. 'Why would he not stay?' she wondered.
"Poor lad, something must be on his mind," Berylla said. Celandine nodded.
"I hope his mother is not sicker than he is saying," Berylla said worriedly.
"I don't think so," said Celandine.
"You don't think so?" Berylla asked in surprise. "Than what?"
"I don't know," Celandine said, puzzled.
"Oh look, he left the buttons," Berylla said pointing at the forgotten envelope that lay on the table. Celandine snatched it up.
"I'll go bring it to him. He can't have gotten far," She said. Berylla looked at her in surprise. Celandine opened the door and blast of cold air hit her face.
"Celandine let me fetch your coat, before you go," her aunt said.
"I'll be quick, don't worry." She dashed outside before she could make any other protest. She ran and soon made out the figure of Bilbo, walking on the hill towards Hobbiton contrasting the stormy blue sky.
"Master Bilbo!" she called out. He turned, and saw her running towards him. The wind billowed around, making her hair whip across her face. She pushed it away. Bilbo stared at her in amazement.
"You forgot the buttons," she said, handing the envelope. He accepted the proffered envelope.
"It's freezing out here, why didn't you bring a coat?" He took her hand and pulled her towards him. She pried her hands from his fingers, miserably. She didn't know how to do this, how to act around someone that you…that you felt this way about. She was doing it all wrong, but if she could just know, for sure. That feeling that she felt a hundred times a day when she thought of him, that buzz in her head that she felt when he was standing close to her. If she could just know that she wasn't alone with feeling those things.
"Why did you not stay for tea?" she asked him. He looked at her incredulously.
"What?"
"Was it because of your mother? Is she very sick?" she asked. He turned away.
"No, she'll be fine. Just a little cough," he said. He turned to keep walking. She reached out and grabbed his arm.
"What is it then?" she yelled. He turned to her. His eyes had that look again.
"I can see it when I look at you, there is something you want to say, I know. When you spoke to me I could tell also. Something is wrong, something is hurting you," she said panting for breath. Then she boldly placed her hands on either side of his face, forcing him to look at her.
"Bilbo, will you not tell me what it is?" she asked. He gently reached to stroke her hand.
"Why are you never happy to see me?" he asked. Celandine gave him a puzzled look.
"What do mean?" she asked. He sighed, sadly, and pulled her hands from his face.
"Whenever you see me, it is as if you can't bear to be in my presence," he said.
"I am always happy to see you," Celandine said shocked.
" I didn't want to tell you because I knew it would only make you uncomfortable but, seeing as I seem to do that to you already, there can be no harm in saying that, that" He pulled her close to him and gently touched her cheek. "I am always so happy to see you," he said, his voice fading into a whisper.
Celandine felt as though her heart would burst. She could feel a few stray tears falling down her cheeks. She was so stunned she did nothing when he moved away from her.
"I am sorry," he said miserably. "I didn't mean to make you cry."
Celandine said nothing, only looked him in astonishment. 'Go to him you idiot!' her brain shouted. She moved without knowing it. She grabbed his hand and held it close to her, her glowing with happiness.
"If I ever gave you any pain, I never meant to," she began.
"Celandine," he sighed, trying to pull his hand from her. She would not relinquish it. She gripped it tighter.
"I never meant to. I only didn't know what to say or how to act or what to do. I would see you coming, and my heart would pound in my chest. If you spoke to me, I said nothing because I was afraid the words would burst from my lips. You cannot imagine my happiness at just seeing you for a second glance, nor the afterglow I would feel all day. If it seemed any different, it was because I was afraid you would see. You would see how much I loved you, and I didn't know, I didn't know what you felt." Celandine brought the captive hand to her lips and kissed it.
"But I know now," she said. Bilbo stared at her in shock and amazement. A smile slowly began to grow on his face. He pulled her into his arms, and this time she did not struggle.