Author's Note: First fic, sorry if it sucks. Feel free to flame me. I like to use them for roasting Orcs. On that same note, I would like to thank Tidbit (my muse, who is an Orc), Hans (my window blind- such a sweetheart), and Edgar (the wall I always talk to for Speech.) I love you guys!

Disclaimer- I own nothing but my muses and my clichéd "imagination". Please don't sue me, I can't afford to go without elevensies again.

Of Dreams and Geraniums

The moon's huge, luminous face shone down on the sleeping countryside. The night was clear, though the air still bore a pale, lingering odor of rain. The grass danced with silver flame; the pleasant breeze rippled the otherwise still surface of an otherwise glassy pond. Under an apple tree, shadowed by it's maiden flowers, a pair of young lovers sat. The male was broad-shouldered and strong, the female the very epitome of loveliness. Their hands brushed across the other's from where their fingers rested on the grass. Looking deep into each other's eyes, they murmured vows of eternal and undying love, their faces drawing ever closer, until it seemed the moon itself would break with all the possibilities lying in the field below her. Then, just before their lips met...

...Estella woke up retching. "That was a truly disgusting dream," she informed a potted flower on her windowsill. "And I hereby vow on you, little geranium, that if ever I shall lower myself to such things, I shall ask the Earth to swallow me whole without delay." As an afterthought, she added, "And my...err...lover as well." The very word 'lover' made her want to gag. Affection was a useless thing. It did nothing but hinder those who associated with it. Of course, friends were fine, and her family too, but frolicking giddily with a lad through sun-drenched fields was not her idea of sweet. Especially if it were one of the lads from her own village. She realized she was giving herself a stomachache from thinking such putrid thoughts and abandoned them entirely.

She stood in front of her mirror for a moment. Knotted brown curls framed a round, tanned face spattered unceremoniously with freckles. Wide brown eyes- buggy piles of cow manure, she thought- made her look more alert and attentive than she usually was. Which, of course, was perfect for masking daydreams during the "Lady Lessons" her mother forced her to attend. At the moment, gazing at her own reflection, Estella pictured herself in a tunic and trousers, bravely fighting Orcs and evil Men without the assistance of shining mail, helm nor hauberk, only her trusty sword. Grabbing a walking stick leaning in the corner, she made sure her bedroom door was tightly closed and there was no one roaming the yard outside her window before stuffing the trailing edge of her nightgown into the top of her bloomers and striking a pose. "Hiii- YAH!!" she threatened imaginary Orcs in a stage whisper. "Come at me, foul beasts, and I'll show just how much damage one wee Hobbit lass can do!"

Her brother Fredegar walked in as she was hewing down an Oliphaunt bearing a score of Easterlings. Still twirling, slashing, and stabbing the invisible enemy, she was completely oblivious to Fatty's presence. After a moment of amused silence, Fatty tapped his sister on the shoulder from behind. She stopped abruptly and turned to face him slowly, her cheeks making their best efforts to force all of Estella's blood up to her face. "Err...uh, hallo, Fatty," She faltered, staring intently at her curly- haired toes. "I, uh...I didn't expect anyone to...uh...walk in...as it was." She lifted her eyes to see her brother shaking his head and laughing quietly. "Estella, sister dear, you know there are no more battles to fight in the Shire. Merry and Pippin have seen to that." He smiled fondly at his friends' names but Estella rolled her eyes. "Oh, please spare me the endearing details of their heroism!" She snorted, embarrassment quickly forgotten. Fatty searched her face for a brief second. "They really are good lads, you know." He eyed her warily. "They're going to make a lass very happy someday."

Estella choked. "Gods, Fatty, not you, too!" she moaned. "It's bad enough mother's always on my tail for not wanting anything to do with boys, but my own brother! You speak like a boastful mother hen exhibiting her pride chicks!" "Well, you are of age," came the reply, "and certainly too old for such nonsense as I saw you taking part in just a few minutes ago." "Fatty, you know I was just playing around! I had a particularly disgusting dream last night I wanted to forget as soon as a Hobbit possibly could." "Oh?" Fatty asked, suddenly interested. "Prithee, what about?"

After a halting rendition of Estella's dream, Fatty was nearly in tears from laughing so hard and Estella was angry. "To think my baby sister," he giggled, "is having wee dreams about moonlit escapades with lovey Hobbit lads!" He lapsed into a fit of helpless laughter. "Come on, it's not like I wanted to have it or anything," Estella said, glaring at him as she yanked a dress out from her drawer. "I'll have you know I was about to lose last night's midnight snack. Just ask the geranium." She gestured towards the plant.

Soon afterwards, Fatty took his leave, muttering something about invisible Orcs, romantic dream-strolls and talking plants, still laughing quietly. Estella made sure the door was closed a little harder than necessary behind him. "Bloody insolent little tweak," she muttered as she pulled on the dress. "I'll show him just what one wee Hobbit lass can do."

A/N: thankee for reading. I've probably already got a dwindling audience (Tidbit tells me I probably won't have an audience at all by now. I say poo on him... bloody muses) but I promise things will pick up when more characters have been introduced. Like Merry. Wink wink. I know this is a bit of fluff, but I wanted to... a) get a feel for what I was writing, and help you (the reader) get a feel for what you're reading, b) introduce characters somewhat so you'll know how I'm portraying them. And c) give people a chance to get familiar with my name and the title so they can avoid me in the future, should the need arise. See you next chapter! (Hopefully...maybe...) :oP