Chapter 14
Coming Home Again
Fredegar stood in their family's store while his mother watched when Odovacar began to open the new shipment of fabrics in crates that his wife had order.
"I got the finest yards of cloth to make your new coat, pants and shirt for your wedding, Freddy! I also purchased extra bolts of lace and white silk to make Poppy's dress."
Rosamunda clasped her hands together thinking how much she was going to enjoy having a daughter in-law to fuss over and to make pretty dresses for. She had missed all the years since her daughter's death of all the cute little things that a mother would do for her daughter. Her heart soared when Odovacar lifted the lid on the first crate. She giggled when she pulled the bolts of cloth to show her son. Fredegar looked puzzled at his mother when he saw delicate fabrics of light-pink and white satins. There were yards and yards of new lace and pretty ribbons.
"I hope you are not intending to make my new coat from the pink satin you have here?" said Fredegar trying to tease his mother.
"Of course not!" said Rosamunda as she giggled with delight. "I guess, I did over do it some, with all the new bolts of cloth, laces and ribbons!"
Fredegar remembered when his sister was little, how his mother would sew for hours in front of the hearth in the evenings, making Estella new dresses to wear. There was that certain look of happiness that he remembered on his mother's face every time she did something for his sister. A happiness that he had not seen in her eyes until today as she admired the fine delicate cloth from these bolts. It tore at Fredegar's heart in knowing how much his mother had missed doting over a daughter. He knew his mother was going to love Poppy and spoil her beyond what any mother-in-law could possibly. Seeing his mother so happy lifted his heart to laughter. "Your daughter-in-law is going to love you, Mama!"
Rosamunda blushed a deep red and giggled. "Now be off with you! You go and enjoy your day! I've got a lot of work to do!" Rosamunda waved her son off as she studied the fabric trying to match the pretty lace to it.
Fredegar hugged his mother and was about to walk out of the store when Frodo and Sam walked in. He greeting his friends with a bright smile and shook their hands. "What are you two doing this fine afternoon?" said Fredegar to Frodo.
"We're in need of some pipe weed and a small keg of ale!" said Frodo. "We are celebrating this afternoon! Why don't you stop by Bag End and join us?"
"What are you celebrating?" asked Fredegar a bit curious seeing their smiles on their faces of his friends.
"Why, haven't you heard?" asked Frodo. "Our dear Samwise here, has just asked Rosie to marry him and she has said, Yes!"
Fredegar looked at Sam with a grin. "I would love to join you two! This is the best of news. I'm so happy for you, Sam! Rosie is a wonderful lass!"
"Thank you, Fredegar!" said Sam. "You'll be expected at our wedding at the end of this month!"
"Yes, yes of course. I'll be looking so forward to it?"
"Have you heard any word for Merry or Pippin, yet?" asked Frodo.
Fredegar shook his head as he too wondered what was keeping them or if they had truly found Poppy and if they were now heading back. "No, I've not heard a word! I'm off to the messenger's shop to see if there is any letter from them!"
"Well, then afterwards, come by Bag End and have an ale with us!" said Frodo and waved at his friend when he turned to head for the door.
Frodo tapped his hand on the counter when Odovacar rushed over to take Frodo's order.
Closing the door Fredegar looked over the familiar sights of Hobbiton with the same hobbits doing the same thing that they did everyday.
There was Mr. Proudfoots sitting in front of the Inn playing a game of checkers with Old Mr. Chubbs who watched him carefully to make sure he was not cheating. A long pipe stuck in between his teeth and a billow of smoke floating over his head.
There were hobbitesses carrying their baskets loaded with fresh bread from the baker's shop and their children running ahead of them in the street.
He saw the marketers selling their fresh vegetables that they had picked earlier in the morning, while hobbits haggled over their prices.
Everything was the same as Fredegar looked around the streets, everything but.... He paused and stared with a gapping open mouth in shock and surprise. There was Merry Brandybuck helping a young, beautiful lass down from her pony, while Pippin was doing the same with the other young lass that had accompanied them.
Merry stood Estella in front of him. "I could go find Fredegar for you, Estella. I could explain everything to him."
Estella smiled at Merry in knowing that he was trying to make it as easy for her as he possibly could. "No, Merry. It will be the hardest thing that I have ever done, but he needs to hear it from me!"
She saw Merry's face who had a look of surprise and then heard someone clearing their voice directly behind her. "Poppy!"
Estella closed her eyes and slowly turned around. Opening her eyes she saw her brother's very thin face and the look of shock as he backed up two paces. His eyes opened wide and his words caught in his throat. Teardrops began to slowly drip down from the corners of his eyes. "Estella!" his voice hoarsely whispered.
Within seconds his arms were wrapped so tightly around her as he held her in fear that she would suddenly disappear. She felt his arms tremble as he held her. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her cheek against his thin shoulder. He pulled slightly away to get another look at her dear face. Her eyes were full of tears standing in front of him and he reached to touch her face.
"Freddy! My dear brother!" Estella cried looking deeply into his eyes.
Fredegar looked up at Merry who could not control his own emotions when Merry's eyes filled with tears that threatened to overflow seeing them finally together. Pippin walked up to Merry and put his hand upon his shoulder as he too watched Fredegar's shocked face.
Fredegar again returned his eyes to look upon his sister's face. "How is this possible?" said Fredegar, not believing what he was seeing and shocked beyond all measure. "The storm.... The cloud.....it took you away! I thought you died!"
"It's me, Freddy! I've come back! That storm landed me in the North Farthing! It took my memory away. A kind family took me in and cared for me. When Merry showed up and my memory returned and now I've come home, Freddy. I've come home to never leave again!" said Estella.
Fredegar trembled as he stood in front of her and began sobbing as if his heart would suddenly fall from his chest.
Estella wrapped her arms around her brother and held him tightly. He stroked the curls of her soft brown hair and whispered in between his sobbing and laughter. "My sweet sister, My dearest Estella!"
Rosamunda carried a stack of bolts of cloth from the shop when Mrs. Brownlocks joined her to help her close the door. "You've got your arm's full there, Rosamunda! Looks like you'll be making a good number of dresses for yourself!"
Rosamunda giggled, "It's for my Freddy's wed....." Rosamunda looked up in shock seeing her son holding a young lass in his arms as he was sobbing hysterically. When Fredegar pulled the lass from his shoulder, she could see her face clearly. Rosamunda gasped as the bolts of cloth dropped from her arms and tumbled to the ground. Mrs. Brownlocks looked directly into Rosamunda's face and thought she was going to suddenly faint. Her face whitened and her eyes were as big as saucers. "Are you all right, Rosamunda!"
Rosamunda did not answer her and seemed totally unaware her friend that stood next to her. She stepped over the bolts of cloth and then began to run with her arms opened wide. She screamed out loudly in a voice of sheer happiness mixed with hysterically sobbing, "Estella!"
Estella pulled away from her brother when she heard her mother's voice calling out her name. "Mama!" cried Estella.
Estella bolted from Fredegar and raced towards her mother. Running across the street towards her mother, Estella cried out in happiness. All the long years she was parted from her mother was suddenly coming down to the next few steps that she ran. Her heart ached from the pain of missing her mother and her arms could not wait to hold her.
Rosamunda reached out her arms and brought her daughter close to her, cradling her tightly. Through her tears and laughter she spoke to her daughter. "My Estella! My sweet Estella has come home to me!"
"Oh, Mama! I've missed you so much!" cried Estella hold on to her mother and feeling her warm arms around her.
Rosamunda lifted her daughter's chin so she could see her dear face. She stroked her hair and placed her hand gently to the side of Estella's soft cheek and looked into her eyes. "You're all grow-up and so very, very beautiful! My dear sweet child! Your Mama missed you, your Mama missed you so very, very much!"
The Hobbits all gathered around them and not a dry eye was seen in the entire crowd. Husbands put their arms around their wives and mothers put their arms around their children and held them just a little tighter in knowing just how Rosamunda felt holding her daughter that she had not seen in the many long years that they were parted.
Mrs. Brownlocks opened the door of the Bolger's store and shouted to Odovacar. "Come quickly, Mr. Bolger! It's your daughter, Estella! She's come home again!"
Odovacar dropped the wooden lid to the barrel of the pipe weed on the floor as he stared at Mrs. Brownlocks. She waved her arms frantically. He ran to the door and looked out into the street to see all the hobbits gathering around and cheering.
Odovacar ran from the store and into the crowd until he stood right in front of his wife and Estella.
Estella looked up from her mother's shoulder and saw her father standing before her. "Papa!"
Odovacar fought the tears that filled his eyes as he held his arms open to her. Estella dashed over to him and hugged her father.
Rosamunda dabbed her handkerchief to her eyes still sobbing as she watched her husband's tears fall, while he held his daughter. Fredegar stood next to his mother and put his arm around her. "Freddy, she's home, our Estella is home!"
Frodo and Sam pushed through the crowd and stopped when they looked at Mr. Bolger sobbing holding on to his daughter. Frodo looked at Sam and they both started laughing from the happiness they felt seeing the Bolgers so overwhelmed with joy.
Fredegar looked at his mother as she trembled not able to take her eyes from her daughter. "Merry Brandybuck has found her and brought her home to us!" said Fredegar to his mother and the crowd that gathered around them.
Merry, Pippin and Lily joined Fredegar standing in the middle of the street.
The crowd of hobbits began to cheer Merry's name, while Rosamunda hugged Merry to thank him.
Fredegar looked at Lily and he slowly approached her and took her hands, "Poppy!"
Lily looked up at Fredegar and then over to Estella with shock. Her face blushed a deep red and was bewildered as to what to say to him.
Estella pulled away from her father and gently stroked his arm. "I'll be right back, Papa!"
Estella took Fredegar's hands from Lily and she turned him around to face her. "This is Lily! We lived together with a family who took care of us. I love her dearly as my sister!"
Estella fumbled in her pocket and pulled out the letters that Fredegar had written to her. She looked around for a private area in which to speak to her brother and escorted him away from the crowd.
She handed him the letters and Fredegar recognized them immediately. "What is this, Estella? How did you get these? Where is Poppy?"
Estella's tears fell as she looked up in her brother's confused eyes. "Freddy, I lost my memory and did not know who I was. The Took's brought me into their home and raised me as their own. Since I could not tell them my name, they named me, Poppy!"
Fredegar's eyes widened in disbelief as he gasped staring at her. Estella could see his face fall to sadness and knew his heart was breaking. "My foster father gave me your letter and wanted me to marry the gentle hobbit who wrote these. When I was Poppy and read those letters and my mind could not remember the name of my brother, my heart did. No wonder I instantly fell in love with you. Your letters and the bracelet you gave me, brought my memories back to me and I realized who I truly was! Your sister, who loves you more than anyone could possibly love another!" She put her arms around Fredegar. "I love you, Freddy! I am so sorry that I have hurt you!"
Fredegar held his sister tightly and sobbed upon her shoulder. "I love you, Estella and I'd gladly trade Poppy to have you back in my life!" He held his sister tighter as he cried.
Pippin and Merry watched Estella and Fredegar and knew whatever she had told him, that he was going to be okay. Pippin smiled at Merry and patted him on the back. "Now that everything is settled, are you going back to Buckland?"
Merry grimaced at Pippin thinking about sitting upon that pony again. "No, Pip! I don't want to see the backside of a pony for quiet sometime. The only thing I want to see is a copper tub full of the warmest water that my poor backside can find and soak for hours! I hope Frodo doesn't mind another guest for awhile!"
Pippin burst out laughing.
Rosamunda approached Lily and hugged the young lass. She welcomed her into her family calling her, her daughter.
~*~
The weeks passed quickly while Rosamunda was back making dresses for her two daughters and new shirts and pants for her son. Odovacar and Rosamunda were the happiest parents that any two hobbits could possibly be. Their days were full of laughter and joy. Fredegar spent a lot of time with Lily and began to find out many things about her.
Merry decided to stay at Bag End until Sam's wedding day before heading back to Buckland. He would stop by the Bolger's often to see Fredegar and Estella. Even Merry and Lily became very good friends.
The day of Sam's wedding was a busy day at Bag End. The servants filled the kitchen making the wedding feast. The party field was lavishly decorated since there was only a sprout of a tree beginning to grow where the old tree had once stood after it was cut down during the war of Bywater. Hobbits were coming from every where to this grand event.
Frodo and Sam greeted their guests and watched as their numbers grew rapidly. Three coaches pulled up that Frodo recognized as the Took's from Tuckborough and saw Pippin escorting Diamond and her family to the wedding. Frodo winked at Sam saying, "I'm betting Pippin will be the next one married!"
Sam looked at Pippin holding Diamond's hand and smiled. "That sir; we can be sure of!" After Paladin had married Sam and Rosie, they joined their guests to dance.
Fredegar had noticed from the many times that Merry had come to visit them, that he looked at Estella in a special kind of way. He knew that Merry had strong feelings for his sister.
Seeing Merry standing off a short distance away from Estella while he watched her laughing and celebrating with her family. Fredegar approached Merry and stood next to him. He sipped his glass of ale and looked at his best friend. "You know Merry, having you for a brother-in-law would make me very happy! Why don't you ask her for a dance!"
Merry looked at Fredegar with a sly simple smile. "Would it, now?" Merry handed his glass of ale to Fredegar and gave him a wink. He strolled over to Estella and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Care to dance with me?" asked Merry.
Estella looked up into Merry's soft brown eyes and nodded while she took his hand.
Fredegar watched and smiled seeing Merry holding Estella in his arms as they danced.
Fredegar saw Lily sitting by herself at their family's table and he slowly approached her. "Lily, would you dance with me?"
Lily stood up next to Fredegar and took his hand. They walked over to the dance floor. Placing his arm around her and holding her gently, they both stared into each other's eyes as they began to dance. Lily leaned closer to Fredegar and sighed when she laid her head upon his shoulder as they slowly circled around the floor.
The End
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thank you all for your reviews and I hope you enjoyed reading this! Please review this last chapter and let me know if you like this!
Until my next story......Bye for now!
Coming Home Again
Fredegar stood in their family's store while his mother watched when Odovacar began to open the new shipment of fabrics in crates that his wife had order.
"I got the finest yards of cloth to make your new coat, pants and shirt for your wedding, Freddy! I also purchased extra bolts of lace and white silk to make Poppy's dress."
Rosamunda clasped her hands together thinking how much she was going to enjoy having a daughter in-law to fuss over and to make pretty dresses for. She had missed all the years since her daughter's death of all the cute little things that a mother would do for her daughter. Her heart soared when Odovacar lifted the lid on the first crate. She giggled when she pulled the bolts of cloth to show her son. Fredegar looked puzzled at his mother when he saw delicate fabrics of light-pink and white satins. There were yards and yards of new lace and pretty ribbons.
"I hope you are not intending to make my new coat from the pink satin you have here?" said Fredegar trying to tease his mother.
"Of course not!" said Rosamunda as she giggled with delight. "I guess, I did over do it some, with all the new bolts of cloth, laces and ribbons!"
Fredegar remembered when his sister was little, how his mother would sew for hours in front of the hearth in the evenings, making Estella new dresses to wear. There was that certain look of happiness that he remembered on his mother's face every time she did something for his sister. A happiness that he had not seen in her eyes until today as she admired the fine delicate cloth from these bolts. It tore at Fredegar's heart in knowing how much his mother had missed doting over a daughter. He knew his mother was going to love Poppy and spoil her beyond what any mother-in-law could possibly. Seeing his mother so happy lifted his heart to laughter. "Your daughter-in-law is going to love you, Mama!"
Rosamunda blushed a deep red and giggled. "Now be off with you! You go and enjoy your day! I've got a lot of work to do!" Rosamunda waved her son off as she studied the fabric trying to match the pretty lace to it.
Fredegar hugged his mother and was about to walk out of the store when Frodo and Sam walked in. He greeting his friends with a bright smile and shook their hands. "What are you two doing this fine afternoon?" said Fredegar to Frodo.
"We're in need of some pipe weed and a small keg of ale!" said Frodo. "We are celebrating this afternoon! Why don't you stop by Bag End and join us?"
"What are you celebrating?" asked Fredegar a bit curious seeing their smiles on their faces of his friends.
"Why, haven't you heard?" asked Frodo. "Our dear Samwise here, has just asked Rosie to marry him and she has said, Yes!"
Fredegar looked at Sam with a grin. "I would love to join you two! This is the best of news. I'm so happy for you, Sam! Rosie is a wonderful lass!"
"Thank you, Fredegar!" said Sam. "You'll be expected at our wedding at the end of this month!"
"Yes, yes of course. I'll be looking so forward to it?"
"Have you heard any word for Merry or Pippin, yet?" asked Frodo.
Fredegar shook his head as he too wondered what was keeping them or if they had truly found Poppy and if they were now heading back. "No, I've not heard a word! I'm off to the messenger's shop to see if there is any letter from them!"
"Well, then afterwards, come by Bag End and have an ale with us!" said Frodo and waved at his friend when he turned to head for the door.
Frodo tapped his hand on the counter when Odovacar rushed over to take Frodo's order.
Closing the door Fredegar looked over the familiar sights of Hobbiton with the same hobbits doing the same thing that they did everyday.
There was Mr. Proudfoots sitting in front of the Inn playing a game of checkers with Old Mr. Chubbs who watched him carefully to make sure he was not cheating. A long pipe stuck in between his teeth and a billow of smoke floating over his head.
There were hobbitesses carrying their baskets loaded with fresh bread from the baker's shop and their children running ahead of them in the street.
He saw the marketers selling their fresh vegetables that they had picked earlier in the morning, while hobbits haggled over their prices.
Everything was the same as Fredegar looked around the streets, everything but.... He paused and stared with a gapping open mouth in shock and surprise. There was Merry Brandybuck helping a young, beautiful lass down from her pony, while Pippin was doing the same with the other young lass that had accompanied them.
Merry stood Estella in front of him. "I could go find Fredegar for you, Estella. I could explain everything to him."
Estella smiled at Merry in knowing that he was trying to make it as easy for her as he possibly could. "No, Merry. It will be the hardest thing that I have ever done, but he needs to hear it from me!"
She saw Merry's face who had a look of surprise and then heard someone clearing their voice directly behind her. "Poppy!"
Estella closed her eyes and slowly turned around. Opening her eyes she saw her brother's very thin face and the look of shock as he backed up two paces. His eyes opened wide and his words caught in his throat. Teardrops began to slowly drip down from the corners of his eyes. "Estella!" his voice hoarsely whispered.
Within seconds his arms were wrapped so tightly around her as he held her in fear that she would suddenly disappear. She felt his arms tremble as he held her. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her cheek against his thin shoulder. He pulled slightly away to get another look at her dear face. Her eyes were full of tears standing in front of him and he reached to touch her face.
"Freddy! My dear brother!" Estella cried looking deeply into his eyes.
Fredegar looked up at Merry who could not control his own emotions when Merry's eyes filled with tears that threatened to overflow seeing them finally together. Pippin walked up to Merry and put his hand upon his shoulder as he too watched Fredegar's shocked face.
Fredegar again returned his eyes to look upon his sister's face. "How is this possible?" said Fredegar, not believing what he was seeing and shocked beyond all measure. "The storm.... The cloud.....it took you away! I thought you died!"
"It's me, Freddy! I've come back! That storm landed me in the North Farthing! It took my memory away. A kind family took me in and cared for me. When Merry showed up and my memory returned and now I've come home, Freddy. I've come home to never leave again!" said Estella.
Fredegar trembled as he stood in front of her and began sobbing as if his heart would suddenly fall from his chest.
Estella wrapped her arms around her brother and held him tightly. He stroked the curls of her soft brown hair and whispered in between his sobbing and laughter. "My sweet sister, My dearest Estella!"
Rosamunda carried a stack of bolts of cloth from the shop when Mrs. Brownlocks joined her to help her close the door. "You've got your arm's full there, Rosamunda! Looks like you'll be making a good number of dresses for yourself!"
Rosamunda giggled, "It's for my Freddy's wed....." Rosamunda looked up in shock seeing her son holding a young lass in his arms as he was sobbing hysterically. When Fredegar pulled the lass from his shoulder, she could see her face clearly. Rosamunda gasped as the bolts of cloth dropped from her arms and tumbled to the ground. Mrs. Brownlocks looked directly into Rosamunda's face and thought she was going to suddenly faint. Her face whitened and her eyes were as big as saucers. "Are you all right, Rosamunda!"
Rosamunda did not answer her and seemed totally unaware her friend that stood next to her. She stepped over the bolts of cloth and then began to run with her arms opened wide. She screamed out loudly in a voice of sheer happiness mixed with hysterically sobbing, "Estella!"
Estella pulled away from her brother when she heard her mother's voice calling out her name. "Mama!" cried Estella.
Estella bolted from Fredegar and raced towards her mother. Running across the street towards her mother, Estella cried out in happiness. All the long years she was parted from her mother was suddenly coming down to the next few steps that she ran. Her heart ached from the pain of missing her mother and her arms could not wait to hold her.
Rosamunda reached out her arms and brought her daughter close to her, cradling her tightly. Through her tears and laughter she spoke to her daughter. "My Estella! My sweet Estella has come home to me!"
"Oh, Mama! I've missed you so much!" cried Estella hold on to her mother and feeling her warm arms around her.
Rosamunda lifted her daughter's chin so she could see her dear face. She stroked her hair and placed her hand gently to the side of Estella's soft cheek and looked into her eyes. "You're all grow-up and so very, very beautiful! My dear sweet child! Your Mama missed you, your Mama missed you so very, very much!"
The Hobbits all gathered around them and not a dry eye was seen in the entire crowd. Husbands put their arms around their wives and mothers put their arms around their children and held them just a little tighter in knowing just how Rosamunda felt holding her daughter that she had not seen in the many long years that they were parted.
Mrs. Brownlocks opened the door of the Bolger's store and shouted to Odovacar. "Come quickly, Mr. Bolger! It's your daughter, Estella! She's come home again!"
Odovacar dropped the wooden lid to the barrel of the pipe weed on the floor as he stared at Mrs. Brownlocks. She waved her arms frantically. He ran to the door and looked out into the street to see all the hobbits gathering around and cheering.
Odovacar ran from the store and into the crowd until he stood right in front of his wife and Estella.
Estella looked up from her mother's shoulder and saw her father standing before her. "Papa!"
Odovacar fought the tears that filled his eyes as he held his arms open to her. Estella dashed over to him and hugged her father.
Rosamunda dabbed her handkerchief to her eyes still sobbing as she watched her husband's tears fall, while he held his daughter. Fredegar stood next to his mother and put his arm around her. "Freddy, she's home, our Estella is home!"
Frodo and Sam pushed through the crowd and stopped when they looked at Mr. Bolger sobbing holding on to his daughter. Frodo looked at Sam and they both started laughing from the happiness they felt seeing the Bolgers so overwhelmed with joy.
Fredegar looked at his mother as she trembled not able to take her eyes from her daughter. "Merry Brandybuck has found her and brought her home to us!" said Fredegar to his mother and the crowd that gathered around them.
Merry, Pippin and Lily joined Fredegar standing in the middle of the street.
The crowd of hobbits began to cheer Merry's name, while Rosamunda hugged Merry to thank him.
Fredegar looked at Lily and he slowly approached her and took her hands, "Poppy!"
Lily looked up at Fredegar and then over to Estella with shock. Her face blushed a deep red and was bewildered as to what to say to him.
Estella pulled away from her father and gently stroked his arm. "I'll be right back, Papa!"
Estella took Fredegar's hands from Lily and she turned him around to face her. "This is Lily! We lived together with a family who took care of us. I love her dearly as my sister!"
Estella fumbled in her pocket and pulled out the letters that Fredegar had written to her. She looked around for a private area in which to speak to her brother and escorted him away from the crowd.
She handed him the letters and Fredegar recognized them immediately. "What is this, Estella? How did you get these? Where is Poppy?"
Estella's tears fell as she looked up in her brother's confused eyes. "Freddy, I lost my memory and did not know who I was. The Took's brought me into their home and raised me as their own. Since I could not tell them my name, they named me, Poppy!"
Fredegar's eyes widened in disbelief as he gasped staring at her. Estella could see his face fall to sadness and knew his heart was breaking. "My foster father gave me your letter and wanted me to marry the gentle hobbit who wrote these. When I was Poppy and read those letters and my mind could not remember the name of my brother, my heart did. No wonder I instantly fell in love with you. Your letters and the bracelet you gave me, brought my memories back to me and I realized who I truly was! Your sister, who loves you more than anyone could possibly love another!" She put her arms around Fredegar. "I love you, Freddy! I am so sorry that I have hurt you!"
Fredegar held his sister tightly and sobbed upon her shoulder. "I love you, Estella and I'd gladly trade Poppy to have you back in my life!" He held his sister tighter as he cried.
Pippin and Merry watched Estella and Fredegar and knew whatever she had told him, that he was going to be okay. Pippin smiled at Merry and patted him on the back. "Now that everything is settled, are you going back to Buckland?"
Merry grimaced at Pippin thinking about sitting upon that pony again. "No, Pip! I don't want to see the backside of a pony for quiet sometime. The only thing I want to see is a copper tub full of the warmest water that my poor backside can find and soak for hours! I hope Frodo doesn't mind another guest for awhile!"
Pippin burst out laughing.
Rosamunda approached Lily and hugged the young lass. She welcomed her into her family calling her, her daughter.
~*~
The weeks passed quickly while Rosamunda was back making dresses for her two daughters and new shirts and pants for her son. Odovacar and Rosamunda were the happiest parents that any two hobbits could possibly be. Their days were full of laughter and joy. Fredegar spent a lot of time with Lily and began to find out many things about her.
Merry decided to stay at Bag End until Sam's wedding day before heading back to Buckland. He would stop by the Bolger's often to see Fredegar and Estella. Even Merry and Lily became very good friends.
The day of Sam's wedding was a busy day at Bag End. The servants filled the kitchen making the wedding feast. The party field was lavishly decorated since there was only a sprout of a tree beginning to grow where the old tree had once stood after it was cut down during the war of Bywater. Hobbits were coming from every where to this grand event.
Frodo and Sam greeted their guests and watched as their numbers grew rapidly. Three coaches pulled up that Frodo recognized as the Took's from Tuckborough and saw Pippin escorting Diamond and her family to the wedding. Frodo winked at Sam saying, "I'm betting Pippin will be the next one married!"
Sam looked at Pippin holding Diamond's hand and smiled. "That sir; we can be sure of!" After Paladin had married Sam and Rosie, they joined their guests to dance.
Fredegar had noticed from the many times that Merry had come to visit them, that he looked at Estella in a special kind of way. He knew that Merry had strong feelings for his sister.
Seeing Merry standing off a short distance away from Estella while he watched her laughing and celebrating with her family. Fredegar approached Merry and stood next to him. He sipped his glass of ale and looked at his best friend. "You know Merry, having you for a brother-in-law would make me very happy! Why don't you ask her for a dance!"
Merry looked at Fredegar with a sly simple smile. "Would it, now?" Merry handed his glass of ale to Fredegar and gave him a wink. He strolled over to Estella and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Care to dance with me?" asked Merry.
Estella looked up into Merry's soft brown eyes and nodded while she took his hand.
Fredegar watched and smiled seeing Merry holding Estella in his arms as they danced.
Fredegar saw Lily sitting by herself at their family's table and he slowly approached her. "Lily, would you dance with me?"
Lily stood up next to Fredegar and took his hand. They walked over to the dance floor. Placing his arm around her and holding her gently, they both stared into each other's eyes as they began to dance. Lily leaned closer to Fredegar and sighed when she laid her head upon his shoulder as they slowly circled around the floor.
The End
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thank you all for your reviews and I hope you enjoyed reading this! Please review this last chapter and let me know if you like this!
Until my next story......Bye for now!