All characters are still owned by Tolkien, apart from Theodred and Rowan,
who although Tolkien hints at, he never names them and so they are my own
creation. I hope you enjoy the story, and let me know what you think.
Chapter 1:
Theodred climbed back up the tree and into the treehouse. He didn't care that one of his cousins had arrived to stay, he was not going to climb down to meet her! He'd had enough of girls! Everytime one came round they were always so prim and proper, and generally they came with one thing in mind, marraige! God he was sick of it! Climbing higher into the tree he looked out across the grounds. Heading out towards the river were his sister Eowyn and her betrothed, Frodo Gamgee. They had been engaged for three years now, and they loved each other so much it made him feel ill to look at them together. Theodred was never going to fall in love! He was quite happy to be on his own for the rest of his life! Theodred had only recently come back to Brandy Hall, having been away staying with his relations and cousins on and off for the past four years, he did come home for family celebrations and various other occassions, but had enjoyed spending time travelling around the Shire and getting to know his relatives. Looking further out, Theodred could see the back-end of a carraige around the side of the hall.
"THEODRED BRANDYBUCK, GET DOWN HERE INSTANTLY!"
Sighing he climbed down from his branch. Although his mother was one of the most sweet tempered hobbits in the whole of the Shire, when she got angry Estella Brandybuck was extremly scary, and he didn't particularly want to have her wrath on him quite this early in the morning!
She was waiting for him at the backdoor, still slightly red in the face from her outburst,
"Come on, your late! Your cousin is already here! Wash your hands and come immeadiatly to the front sitting room!"
With that, Estella turned on her heel and went back inside the house. Muttering about the unfairness of life to himself, Theodred followed her, pausing briefly to splash some cold water on his face and hands to get rid of the dirt that had planted itself on him whilst he was out in the garden. He continued through the house, and was quickly standing outside the door to the sitting room. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Sat sipping on tea inside the room was his mother and his Aunt Diamond. Not drinking on tea but immersed deep in conversation were his father and his Uncle Pippin. The last member of the group had to be his cousin. Theodred grimaced, she was sat on a chair wearing an elegant frock and sipping on a cup of tea. His father finally noticed him stood hovering in the doorway, and jumped up to guide him further into the room.
"Ah, now here he is! Pippin, Di you've know Theo, but I don't believe you have met Rowan yet. Theo this is Pippin and Di's daughter Rowan."
Rowan inclined her head slightly, as did Theodred. When Theodred didn't say anything Merry elbowed him in the ribs. In a bored tone Theodred recited what every hobbit is taught to say when greeting another person,
"It is a pleasure to make your aquaintance Miss Took."
And she replied with,
"And yours Master Brandybuck."
She smiled sweetly at him before returning to her tea. Theodred sighed inwardly, it was going to be a long morning...
***
Theo felt like beating his head against a brick wall. That had to have been the most boring morning of his life! Rowan had been the perfect picture of demure young lady all morning, there was no fault Theo could find with the way she sat or the way she had eaten her food at lunch. She was perfect! In every way! He stormed to his room and threw himself down on the bed. He hated being the perfect little son and gentleman! Why couldn't he just be him?! Normally his parents were fine with how he was, but as soon as any female relations that might make a good wife for him came, he was expected to be perfect! He hadn't even come of age yet for goodness sake! Feeling fed up, Theo left his room and decided a walk in the gardens might help to calm him down. He had barely taken three steps outside his room when his mother came up to him. Taking him in a warm hug, she whispered in his ear,
"I'm sorry about this morning Theo, but I had already called you. You're not angry with me are you?"
When Theo smiled and shook his head, she smiled back and continued,
"Good, now try and be nice to Rowan! I know you don't like this sort of thing, but you can be such a little gentleman when you try! Please, for me and your father."
Theo smiled again and nodded to his mother. Estella smiled back at her son and continued on down the corridor.
Theo went out into the gardens through the back door, and set off in the general direction of the river. He was a good boy really, he just hated being paraded in front of the girls! He was admittedly one of the more handsome boys in the village, but surely the girls could treat him like a human instead of some god like creature who was good for nothing except a wife and a good house! He was soon at the river, and a noise disturbed him out of his thoughts. Glancing up, he saw Frodo and Eowyn kissing by the river side. Shaking his head, he turned quietly not wanting to disturb them and started off towards the orchard instead. He was soon lost in his thoughts again, and was irritated when he was again brought out of his daydreams, this time in the form of walking into something. He looked up to be greeted by Rowan, charming as ever, scowling at him.
"Watch where you're going!"
Theo snapped at her, before trying to brush past and continue on his walk through the gardens. He was brought to a halt when a firm hand was placed on his arm, preventing him from going anywhere.
"I wasn't the one who wasn't looking where they were going!"
She had a beautiful voice he noticed, that had a hint of laughter in it, and for the first time since he had been introduced to her he actually looked at her. She had beautiful chestnut hair, and hazel eyes that had a smile in them, just waiting to appear. She was slim and looked like any other fragile lass that came to stay, but the strong grip on his arm showed that looks could be misleading. She was amused by his long silence, and showed this by saying,
"What? Have you never seen a girl before?"
Theo found his tounge at this comment, and replied scathingly with,
Just never one as unnaturally tall as you!"
Rowan blushed at this comment, and her grip tightened on his arm. The remark was true, that was why it cut so deep. Theo was competing with Merry and Pippin in terms of height, so to have a lass that was almost as tall as him was quite a rare occurance.
"I thought you were supposed to be a gentleman, I must have been misinformed!"
She retorted back at him quietly.
"I should watch your tounge, Miss Took, unless you fancy a ducking in the river!"
Rowan grinned at him when he siad this, and said in a mocking tone of voice,
"Ah, but who would be doing the ducking?"
Theo was about to make a furious reply, when Rowan moved quick as lightening, and before Theo knew what was happening he was sat on the floor with a thump. He opened his mouth in surprise, and grinning Rowan bent down and whispered in his ear,
" If I were you, I would think twice before making any more comments like that to me!"
And patting him on the head, she left him there and headed back towards the house.
Theo remained sat on the grass for some minutes, before eventually getting up and dusting himself down. It was going to be an interesting couple of weeks...
Well, what did you think? I think it's good that Theo got taken down a peg or two, by a girl no less!!! Please let me know what you think about it, and i'll get the next chapter out as soon as possible.
Chapter 1:
Theodred climbed back up the tree and into the treehouse. He didn't care that one of his cousins had arrived to stay, he was not going to climb down to meet her! He'd had enough of girls! Everytime one came round they were always so prim and proper, and generally they came with one thing in mind, marraige! God he was sick of it! Climbing higher into the tree he looked out across the grounds. Heading out towards the river were his sister Eowyn and her betrothed, Frodo Gamgee. They had been engaged for three years now, and they loved each other so much it made him feel ill to look at them together. Theodred was never going to fall in love! He was quite happy to be on his own for the rest of his life! Theodred had only recently come back to Brandy Hall, having been away staying with his relations and cousins on and off for the past four years, he did come home for family celebrations and various other occassions, but had enjoyed spending time travelling around the Shire and getting to know his relatives. Looking further out, Theodred could see the back-end of a carraige around the side of the hall.
"THEODRED BRANDYBUCK, GET DOWN HERE INSTANTLY!"
Sighing he climbed down from his branch. Although his mother was one of the most sweet tempered hobbits in the whole of the Shire, when she got angry Estella Brandybuck was extremly scary, and he didn't particularly want to have her wrath on him quite this early in the morning!
She was waiting for him at the backdoor, still slightly red in the face from her outburst,
"Come on, your late! Your cousin is already here! Wash your hands and come immeadiatly to the front sitting room!"
With that, Estella turned on her heel and went back inside the house. Muttering about the unfairness of life to himself, Theodred followed her, pausing briefly to splash some cold water on his face and hands to get rid of the dirt that had planted itself on him whilst he was out in the garden. He continued through the house, and was quickly standing outside the door to the sitting room. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Sat sipping on tea inside the room was his mother and his Aunt Diamond. Not drinking on tea but immersed deep in conversation were his father and his Uncle Pippin. The last member of the group had to be his cousin. Theodred grimaced, she was sat on a chair wearing an elegant frock and sipping on a cup of tea. His father finally noticed him stood hovering in the doorway, and jumped up to guide him further into the room.
"Ah, now here he is! Pippin, Di you've know Theo, but I don't believe you have met Rowan yet. Theo this is Pippin and Di's daughter Rowan."
Rowan inclined her head slightly, as did Theodred. When Theodred didn't say anything Merry elbowed him in the ribs. In a bored tone Theodred recited what every hobbit is taught to say when greeting another person,
"It is a pleasure to make your aquaintance Miss Took."
And she replied with,
"And yours Master Brandybuck."
She smiled sweetly at him before returning to her tea. Theodred sighed inwardly, it was going to be a long morning...
***
Theo felt like beating his head against a brick wall. That had to have been the most boring morning of his life! Rowan had been the perfect picture of demure young lady all morning, there was no fault Theo could find with the way she sat or the way she had eaten her food at lunch. She was perfect! In every way! He stormed to his room and threw himself down on the bed. He hated being the perfect little son and gentleman! Why couldn't he just be him?! Normally his parents were fine with how he was, but as soon as any female relations that might make a good wife for him came, he was expected to be perfect! He hadn't even come of age yet for goodness sake! Feeling fed up, Theo left his room and decided a walk in the gardens might help to calm him down. He had barely taken three steps outside his room when his mother came up to him. Taking him in a warm hug, she whispered in his ear,
"I'm sorry about this morning Theo, but I had already called you. You're not angry with me are you?"
When Theo smiled and shook his head, she smiled back and continued,
"Good, now try and be nice to Rowan! I know you don't like this sort of thing, but you can be such a little gentleman when you try! Please, for me and your father."
Theo smiled again and nodded to his mother. Estella smiled back at her son and continued on down the corridor.
Theo went out into the gardens through the back door, and set off in the general direction of the river. He was a good boy really, he just hated being paraded in front of the girls! He was admittedly one of the more handsome boys in the village, but surely the girls could treat him like a human instead of some god like creature who was good for nothing except a wife and a good house! He was soon at the river, and a noise disturbed him out of his thoughts. Glancing up, he saw Frodo and Eowyn kissing by the river side. Shaking his head, he turned quietly not wanting to disturb them and started off towards the orchard instead. He was soon lost in his thoughts again, and was irritated when he was again brought out of his daydreams, this time in the form of walking into something. He looked up to be greeted by Rowan, charming as ever, scowling at him.
"Watch where you're going!"
Theo snapped at her, before trying to brush past and continue on his walk through the gardens. He was brought to a halt when a firm hand was placed on his arm, preventing him from going anywhere.
"I wasn't the one who wasn't looking where they were going!"
She had a beautiful voice he noticed, that had a hint of laughter in it, and for the first time since he had been introduced to her he actually looked at her. She had beautiful chestnut hair, and hazel eyes that had a smile in them, just waiting to appear. She was slim and looked like any other fragile lass that came to stay, but the strong grip on his arm showed that looks could be misleading. She was amused by his long silence, and showed this by saying,
"What? Have you never seen a girl before?"
Theo found his tounge at this comment, and replied scathingly with,
Just never one as unnaturally tall as you!"
Rowan blushed at this comment, and her grip tightened on his arm. The remark was true, that was why it cut so deep. Theo was competing with Merry and Pippin in terms of height, so to have a lass that was almost as tall as him was quite a rare occurance.
"I thought you were supposed to be a gentleman, I must have been misinformed!"
She retorted back at him quietly.
"I should watch your tounge, Miss Took, unless you fancy a ducking in the river!"
Rowan grinned at him when he siad this, and said in a mocking tone of voice,
"Ah, but who would be doing the ducking?"
Theo was about to make a furious reply, when Rowan moved quick as lightening, and before Theo knew what was happening he was sat on the floor with a thump. He opened his mouth in surprise, and grinning Rowan bent down and whispered in his ear,
" If I were you, I would think twice before making any more comments like that to me!"
And patting him on the head, she left him there and headed back towards the house.
Theo remained sat on the grass for some minutes, before eventually getting up and dusting himself down. It was going to be an interesting couple of weeks...
Well, what did you think? I think it's good that Theo got taken down a peg or two, by a girl no less!!! Please let me know what you think about it, and i'll get the next chapter out as soon as possible.