Author's note: Here it is. Review it. (Minimalist AN.) Dig it.
Disclaimer: All I own is Glory, her family, that dreadful Amaryllis, and this plotline.
Chapter Five: Withering
The weeks to come were filled with gossip of Bilbo Baggins losing his head over the new girl in town. They'd gone together to every party, been seen walking all over town, and there was even talk of Bilbo singing outside Amaryllis's window one night. Glory listened to these rumors with doom and gloom in her heart (though she doubted some, particularly the one concerning the "moonlight serenade").
She really wasn't unhappy, though. It wasn't in her nature to be depressed for too long, and even if it had been, she didn't have the time. Both her married sisters descended on the Bywater farmhouse that summer, with their husbands, plus Amy's new baby, in tow. Chrys was expecting a child in August, and she wanted her mother to assist when it was time, and Amy wanted to see the family again, not to mention show off her daughter, Alyssum.
Amy's husband was a Took who was charming and knew it. Glory liked Kendobras a great deal, but couldn't resist insulting him a little bit every once in a while, just to keep him from becoming unbearably conceited. This made Amy furious; Amy's opinion of her husband was higher than his own, though that hardly seemed possible. To his credit, he loved Alyssum to distraction, and Glory thought he had been much improved by fatherhood.
Chrys's husband, Ellisoran Brandybuck, was the other side of the coin. He had quite a reasonable opinion of himself, but he had it firmly entrenched in his mind that there was no hobbit-woman in Middle-earth as wonderful as Chrys. The second-eldest Bywater sister had always been an unassuming and submissive creature, and she was completely unused to having the burden of such worship put on her. She found it exceedingly pleasant, however, and his adoration had only increased since their marriage and impending parenthood.
Glory was kept in a constant frenzy of cooking and cleaning by all the extra company, and all the time she didn't spend working was filled with parties and outings contrived to entertain the visitors. The few quiet moments she found each day, however, were haunted by thoughts of her sisters' good fortune, and the increasing likelihood that she would never have a family of her own. She hadn't even come of age yet, and certainly wasn't an "old maid" like Opal, but most hobbit-girls had been courted or at least asked to a picnic or dance by the time they were her age. But deeper than that was the concern that even if she was courted by someone, it wouldn't matter if it wasn't the one she loved; she couldn't be happy with someone else, and it wouldn't really be right to even try. The rumors of Bilbo and Amaryllis weakened her hope, but not the strength or depth of her emotions. She'd made up her mind once and for all- Bilbo Baggins or no one.
She didn't see Bilbo except in passing that summer, until mid-July. The occasion where they spoke was an unhappy one; he'd thrown a party for the whole town, lasting from morning to late at night, for one specific purpose. Bilbo had asked Amaryllis to marry him.
He didn't make known the reason for the party until it was well underway. He announced it at the third meal of the day. Everyone was on their second helpings, and he climbed up onto a chair and called for attention. Every head turned in that direction, and he stood up in the dignified manner he often tried to affect. "I suppose you're all wondering why I asked you here today," he began in a booming voice. Really, none of the attending hobbits had given a thought to the reason for the party; they were just glad for an excuse to enjoy the considerable hospitality of the Baggins family, and really didn't care about the motivation. In the interest of keeping the host happy, however, they all gave an affirmative sort of murmur, and his address continued.
"I don't suppose many of you know it, but I've been courting Miss Amaryllis Cloverdowns ever since she came her from Michel Delving." A surprised murmur from the crowd, though every one of them had heard almost more than they cared to of the matter. "Well, I have asked you here today"- a dramatic pause- "to announce that she and I are going to be married this winter, and you're all invited to come!" An excited roar from the crowd, almost completely genuine this time. Parties, particularly party food, always lent more enthusiasm to hobbit crowds.
Glory had been eating a piece of bread while the speech was given, and she gulped most ungracefully when the final sentence was delivered. This sent her into a coughing fit, requiring Hom, who was sitting beside her, to thump her vigorously on the back. She shook her head and glared at him, and he stopped. "What on earth is the matter with you, Glor?"
"Nothing," she choked out. She regained her composure. "Nothing at all!"
"All right. Great spread, isn't it? I wish old Bilbo would get married more often, if it meant we got a feast like this!"
Glory let out a little huff of air, but held her tongue. She hadn't mentioned her feelings about Bilbo to Hom in the past few years, and he apparently thought it was a stage she had passed, or some such thing. But then, he might have just forgotten; sometimes he seemed to forget everything, except, of course, to eat as often as possible. Anyway, she should have expected an announcement like this. No use getting upset now.
Bilbo gave his speech an eloquent ending- "Well, that's all I was going to say, so go back to your food!" The crowd's happy reaction to this order was the most sincere all day. He hopped down off the chair and walked down the row of benches and tables, speaking to each guest cheerfully. His table was at the far end of the Party Field, and was occupied only by him, Amaryllis, and his mother. Glory glanced over and saw that Belladonna was sitting quietly, clumsily picking at her food. Bilbo's father had died two years past, and Belladonna had never been quite the same since.
Bilbo passed by the table occupied by the Bywater clan, as well as Hom and Dora Baggins, and he smiled cheerfully at Glory. "Hullo, Glory-friend. Isn't it wonderful news?"
Glory remembered a few months back when she'd lied to spare his feelings; he'd looked so happy at her words. "Yes, wonderful!" she said with all the same force of almost unwilling concern for him that had precipitated her first fib.
"You haven't met her, have you? I don't suppose any of you have." A wave of his hand indicated the all the occupants of the table. "I'll bring her by in a few minutes, and introduce you. She's simply lovely!" He bustled off with a dreamy smile on his face that Glory would have found adorable if it hadn't been caused by another girl- and the girl he was to marry, to boot!
Ellisoran, Chrys's doting husband, was sitting across the table, and he patted his wife's hand affectionately. "I'm sure she's not half as pretty as you," he whispered in a confiding tone, though most of the table heard and exchanged amused looks. Chrys, who usually took his compliments with a grain of salt, beamed delightedly; she was approaching her due date rapidly, and had been feeling much too fat lately.
Dora was sitting on Glory's other side; she was the only one who seemed aware of the situation, considering Hom's apparent oblivion. Alyssum was in need of a nap, and she began to cry. Hom had been holding her, and he grew quite pale, thinking perhaps he'd done something wrong. Amy laughed and reclaimed her daughter. "I guess I'd better put down a blanket somewhere for her to sleep on."
Glory popped up out of her seat. "Oh, I'll take her, Amy. I'd love to. You stay here and eat." Dora shot Glory a knowing look as she bundled up a blanket and picked up her niece. "You can't stay away from her forever, you know," she whispered as her friend retreated from the enemy, figuratively speaking.
Glory found an empty corner of the Party Field and spread the blanket out. She laid Alyssum down, hoping naively that she'd go to sleep at once, but instead the baby cried louder and kicked her feet unhappily. "Oh, goodness, dear, it's all right," Glory said breathlessly, still a little unused to babies and their noise. She cradled Alyssum in her arms and rocked her gently. She didn't really know any lullabies, so she hummed a tune she made up on the spot. It really was nice, taking care of a baby. She'd like to have one of her own someday.
Oh, no, she didn't want to think about that. She shouldn't think about it. She could never love anyone but Bilbo, and she didn't want to marry anyone but him, either. She'd be all alone, forever. Well, not alone. At home, with her parents. And Opal. "Oh, lawks," she sighed to herself. She shouldn't have thought about it.
Alyssum drifted off to sleep, and Glory set her down on the blanket as carefully as if she were made of china. Good. She didn't even stir. Glory knew she could have gone back to the table then; there were lots of people nearby, and it would be perfectly safe to leave Alyssum there. But she didn't want to go back and see Amaryllis, so happy and content, having everything Glory herself wanted to have, with the one person she wanted to spend her life with. She leaned back and stretched out on the blanket by the sleeping child. She didn't want to lie anymore.
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As luck would have it, Bilbo brought Amaryllis to the Bywater table just as Glory arrived back. She had a brief moment where she considered turning and running, but of course she didn't. She wasn't a silly girl anymore. She had to keep her dignity.
She realized she'd already lost that battle when she heard Bilbo say to Amaryllis, "Oh, here's Glory! This is Morning Glory Bywater. She's a dear child, I've known her for ages."
Glory stared blankly, and Amaryllis's pretty face took on an indulgent smile. "Hello, Glory. Nice to meet you!" Her tone was friendly, in a condescending way.
"Hello," Glory said quietly.
"I was thinking you could bake the cake for our wedding, Glory," Bilbo said. "You do make the best cakes. Do you think you could?"
Our wedding, Glory thought. "Yes, of course!" she said.
"Oh, thank you; I was hoping you would. I'll see all of you at the wedding! Goodbye!" Bilbo and Amaryllis walked off holding hands, and Glory was left at the table with her false smile frozen on her face. ****************************************************************************************
Summer blossomed and withered in a stupor of heat, and Chrys's baby was born. A boy, named after his father and called Ell for short. Ell and his parents traveled back to Buckland, and Amy, Alyssum, and Kendobras went back to Tuckborough. Life went on as usual in the farmhouse. Dora and Hom visited Glory often, and gossip circulated through Hobbiton as always. Every moment of Glory's daily routine was the same as it had always been, but the thought of the impending wedding hung in the back of her mind day and night, and made everything seem heavier, more difficult, less pure. All her family and friends noticed it. Dora knew why, of course, but didn't understand the way her friend had suddenly become resigned instead of frantic. She'd kept Glory's secret well, and no one else would ever guess that the youngest Bywater girl had any sort of romantic attachment, let alone to Bilbo Baggins, twelve years older than she and engaged. So they attributed it to the weather, or to the flightiness common to those in their tweenage years, or thought perhaps she was getting sick. So Glory bore her burden alone, and almost began to long for the wedding, so things could be settled once and for all. She turned twenty-seven that August. She hadn't even come of age, and she already felt old.
The wedding date was set for mid-December, and the type of cake Glory was to make was established as white cake with pink sugar frosting. She began testing recipes in late November, and had a good time eating the ones she deemed unsuitable. It wasn't nearly as glum a task as she'd thought it would be; sweets cheered her up, no matter what her reason was for making them.
Finally, the day of the wedding was just week away. Hobbits began arriving from Michel Delving for the occasion, and half the town was contributing to the dinner or the ceremony in some way. Bilbo was deliriously happy, bustling around Hobbiton and making the arrangements. He loved a good party, particularly a good party thrown by him; and a wedding, after all, was the most important sort of party you could have.
From all accounts Glory had heard, Amaryllis was happy, too. She had a wedding dress unlike any ever seen in the Shire, and she seemed utterly devoted to Bilbo. They were always wandering about hand in hand, a perfect picture of the contented couple. Everything seemed set in place, and Glory had become almost accustomed to the idea by then. In fact, she was beginning to long for things to just be settled once and for all.
Then, on the morning of the day just before the wedding, a scandal swept Hobbiton. Amaryllis Cloverdowns had run off in the night and eloped with one of the party guests from Michel Delving, and Bilbo Baggins had locked himself in his room the moment he found out.
A/N: Hahaha, did you really think I'd let Bilbo marry her? By the way, I used our normal months because that's how things were listed in the timetable in the indexes at the end of ROTK, so I figured I could use the same conversion for my story. In actuality, of course, time would be measured with hobbit-month names and the Shire Reckoning, which can be read about in the same index if you're interested. Stay tuned for Chapter Six! By the way, NobleWynne, thank you so much for your great review, it really encouraged me as I was trying to get this last chapter finished. Thank you to everyone who reviewed!