Authors Note: Hello, and welcome to the latest – and longest titled! – chapter of Cinder-Rose! I know, I know, took me over a month and a half to get this up. My sincere apologizes. I wish I could say that updates will become more frequent, but I can't. A lot of stuff is going on with school so I need to turn all my attention in that direction for the next several weeks. So, I have no idea when I will update this and my other chapter stories; one-chapter fics may possibly pop up here and there. But I am very sorry about this and hope you all will understand. When school is over for the summer I will probably be able to concentrate more on my stories.

My thanks to everyone who reviewed since the last update: DiamondTook3, aragorns-gurl33, Celebrindal, ben, Olivia, and Herculeha.

Dedicated: To aragorns-gurl33 and Herculeha who have been waiting very, very, very impatiently for this chapter. (Hope it is worth the wait!)


Chapter Thirteen: A Night Full of Stubborn Hobbits, a Lass on the War Path, Dancing with Cousins, Time Between Old Friends, and Ranting

Frodo and Sam start to rise from their seats only to be pushed back down onto the bench. Both look up at the two unusually tall hobbits that ruined their attempt of standing. The younger of the two smiles down at them and chuckles at their surprised faces.

"And just what do you two think you are doing?" Pippin asks in amusement, crossing his arms over his chest.

Next to him, Merry copies Pippins posture and raises an eyebrow.

Sam and Frodo exchange confused glances before resuming looking up at their friends.

"To the dance floor to resume dancing?" Frodo asks, also raising one eyebrow. "'Tis part of our duties here at the festival, I believe."

Merry shakes his head. "Oh, no. You two are staying right here," he says, hitting the table between the hobbits with his finger.

"We are?" Sam and Frodo say together.

"You are," Pippin answers in a serious tone, though his eyes are filled with laughter at the shocked looks on the sitting hobbits' faces.

"But--"

"But nothing," Merry unashamedly rides over his cousin's protesting. "It is only fair. We did, after all, abandon you two last night..."

Smiles slowly creep over Frodo's and Sam's faces at the sudden color filling Merry's and Pippin's cheeks. The seated hobbits mask their laughter in coughs.

"...Uh, to make ourselves up by entertaining the ladies tonight on the dance floor," Pippin says.

"We'll probably still be surrounded by them," Sam mumbles.

"At least you wont wear yourselves out by dancing," Merry points out.

"No," Frodo objects firmly, starting to stand. "We really should -- oof!"

Pippin reaches across the table and firmly plants his cousin back down in his seat.

"Tsk, tsk. Stubborn Baggins." Merry shakes his head. "You shall not dance tonight. And do not worry, dear cousin. This is only the second night of the festival. That leaves the rest of the week for the four of us to handle the ladies together," Merry assures.

Sam and Frodo open and close their mouths soundlessly in surprise.

Pippin smiles brightly. "Now that we are all at an agreement, Merry and I must answer duty's call. And you two should have another helping of dessert and a cup or two of ale," he says quickly.

And with that and two small nods, Merry and Pippin disappear into the crowd before either Sam or Frodo can get a word out.

Both hobbits at the table stare at where Merry and Pippin had once stood, jaws on the table. Sam recovers first, chuckling lightly and finally gets up onto his feet.

Frodo watches him silently.

"Don't want them to get all on our backs if we fail to carry out their wishes, do we?" Sam questions.

Frodo smiles. "No, we don't." He shakes his head.


She is the only one at the empty table; her back presses into the edge. Absently her feet tap to the tune drifting across the area from the band. Trying to keep her small smile from becoming a full-out grin, Rosemary, in amusement and silence, watches her sister pace back and forth before her, muttering under her breath, building up into a great rage.

"Can you believe it?" she practically growls, raising her voice, halting her walking to glare at Rosemary, as though it is all her fault.

"It is not really that hard to believe," Rosemary answers, fighting to keep her body still, and swallows down forcefully the giggles rising in her throat. She distracts herself by sipping some apple cider from her mug. There is a blank expression on her face when she looks back up at her sister.

"What do you mean 'It is not really that hard to believe'?" Lily explodes, eyes widening. "They are among the guests of honor. Why should they not be at the dance floor?"

"Well," Rosemary says casually, "perhaps they are doing what Mister Took and Mister Brandybuck did the previous night. Nothing wrong with that." She quickly raises her mug to her lips again so her sister does not see the amused grin starting to replace her non-interested expression.

Lilys eyes widen even more. Her mouth moves soundlessly. Rosemary stares into her mug, her body shaking slightly as her sister makes her think of a fish out of water. The older girl first turns beet red in the face and then pure white seconds later.

"How dare you suggest such a thing, Rosemary Cotton!" Lily erupts in a roar. "The nerve...! It is none of our business who Mister Baggins and Samwise spend their time with. The very idea of their sneaking off with a lass and behind some bushes... I did not ask for details! I should really talk to Mother about these imaginations of yours! If I dare find Samwise in the arms of some...girl, I will be very, very upset. Who do they think they are?! Frodo Baggins is free, but last time I checked, Samwise was already taken..."

Lily's mutterings become fainter and fainter as she storms away, fortunately not seeing her sister burst into peals of laughter which she had held back for the last few minutes, holding her stomach. Slowly her laughter dies away, and she manages to catch her breath. Giggling, she wipes away tears from her cheeks. She shakes her head. Lily sure has it bad. Out hunting for gold, it seems. This thought causes more giggles to surface. Gaining control of herself, she sits up straight on the bench, and a calm, innocent look settles over her features.

"First off," she addresses the empty space before her, "I was simply saying that Misters Took and Brandybuck are taking a rest from a whole night of dancing and are spending time with friends. But I do agree it is none of our business who Misters Baggins and Gamgee spend their time with. Second, you were the one that jumped to conclusions and gave details about what the two hobbits are doing. So I should talk to Mother about all these things that you make up. And, third, I do not think there is a claim on Samwise the Brave. And last of all, I would go somewhere and cool off. We don't want you going and making a fool of yourself." Finishing her speech, Rosemary shakes with renewed mirth. Draining the last of her drink and placing the empty mug on the table, she wanders to the dance floor and watches the spinning couples.

She takes a step back as two children run pass and bumps into the person behind her. Quickly, Rosemary turns to find she had knocked into a young hobbit with a mug in one hand. He just manages to keep the ale from splashing on his vest.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Rosemary gasps, hands flying to her cheeks, staring wide-eyed at the hobbit that was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her cheeks turn red as three other hobbits laugh.

'Lay off, fellows," the hobbit rebukes his companions. He then smiles at the embarrassed lass. "No harm done, unless you want to count the ground now covered with ale."

This causes Rosemary to giggle, grateful for no hard feelings over the incident. "I am terribly sorry. I should make it up to you," she rambles.

The lad waves his hand in dismissal and hands the now half-empty mug to one of his companions, telling them to move on without him.

"Well, if it would make you feel better, you can make it up by dancing with me," the hobbit says, almost sounding uncertain.

"I-I would be honored," Rosemary answers, curtsying.

Smiling, the hobbit leads her onto the dance floor and takes her hand in his and puts his other one on her waist.

Chuckling, he says, "We have not been properly introduced, have we?"

"No," Rosemary answers, smiling shyly. "I'm Rosemary Cotton."

"A lovely name."

Rosemary feels heat rise in her cheeks again. "Thank you," she mumbles.

"I am Brandy Took."

One of the many Tooks! "A pleasure to meet you," she says politely.

"Likewise. How it is that a pretty lass like you is alone this night is amazing."

Rosemary lowers her eyes. "Do you always flatter every girl whom you encounter?" she teases, a smile playing on the corners of her lips.

Brandy throws his head back and laughs. "No, Miss Rosemary; that would be my little brother, Mosco. He will flirt with several at a time. Like honey attracting bees."

This causes the two to share another laugh.

"Mind if I cut in, dear cousin?"

Brandy and Rosemary look to see Fosco coming towards them. He is smiling, but there is a strange gleaming in his eyes.

"Of course, cousin," Brandy answers. He bows to Rosemary. "Thank you for the dance. I enjoyed it very much." He kisses her hand and with a nod to Fosco leaves.

Rosemary turns to Fosco and is surprised by the almost challenging look he directs toward his retreating cousins back. For a moment, one would think he is jealous or something! But the look melts into one of pleasantry when he comes to her.

"Good evening," he greets before taking her into his arms.

"Good evening, Mister Took," she formally greets in return.

"Please, call me Fosco."

Rosemary nods. "Brandy is your cousin?"

"Yes, one of my closest cousins. I did not know that you two were acquainted."

"I owed him." She continues at Fosco's raised eyebrow. "I almost ruined his vest when I bumped into him."

"Aye," he nods in understanding.

A peaceful silence surrounds them as the music from the band washes over them. A happy smile spreads across Rosemarys face as she closes her eyes, unaware of the breathtaking picture she makes. Fosco observes her from under hooded lids and smiles. You have it bad, Fosco, a voice says in his head when Rosemary opens her eyes and gives him a bright smile. Very bad.


Sam rises from the table along with Tom Cotton. "It is wonderful to see you again, Tom."

"And it is wonderful seeing you," Tom says, clasping Sam's shoulder. "We all were worried about you, wondering what had become of you all. Rosie especially." Toms face falls a bit. "She always told us that she knew you were still alive. And that you were doing whatever job you had to do. But she knew you would come back as soon as you could."

Sam smiles sadly, his heart pounding. Rosie had not forgotten him! She had looked for him coming home...

"Still no word from her?" he asks.

Tom shakes his head. "Nothing."

"I'm sorry."

"Promise me, Sam. Promise me that you will believe she will come back somehow, someday. That you won't...forget her," Tom pleads.

"I could never forget her, nor do I want to," Sam says quietly. I...I love her." It is the first time he has admitted this out loud. Tom does not look the least bit surprised. "I love her so much that there is this pain in my heart cause she is gone. But I hope someday I will find her. And if not...," Sam trails off, not wanting to think about it.

Tom squeezes his shoulder. "My brothers and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Exchanging small smiles, they part ways. Sam bumps into an older hobbitess and apologizes. The woman also apologizes before moving on her way.


May rubs her temples. A headache is starting as her daughter's whines fill the air on the walk home.

"--look all around the edge of the party field. Behind all the bushes and trees. And I couldn't find him or Mister Frodo! I even went to the edge of the forest. But there was not a trace of him anywhere! He is very clever. He seems so shy and innocent, but appearances can be deceiving. It is obviously all an act. I wonder how many lasses he--"

"Lily Cotton! I will not hear you talking in such a manner regarding Mister Gamgee. He is an honorable hobbit. I am ashamed of you to suggest such a thing. He is not like that," May snaps at her daughter.

Lily quickly shuts her mouth and stares at her mother in astonishment. Never has she been spoken to by her mother like that before.

May frowns and resumes thinking in the blissful quietness. She is now beyond certain that Cinder-Rose is the one Samwise fancies. But what she shall do about it, she is uncertain --

"And so I spent several hours looking for him and all in vain! I was going to get something to eat but discovered my hair and dress a mess...I mean, look!" Lily wails.

May and Rosemary look at the articles in question. Lily's blonde curly locks which run down her back are filled with leaves and grass. The front of her blue dress is covered in mud from a fall.

"So I had to stay hidden the rest of the night. After all, how could I let myself be seen like this? So I have had nothing to eat or drink! I shall have to have Cinder-Rose prepares me some dinner when we get back..."

"Quiet! Please! I am starting to get a headache," May moans.

Lily frowns, glaring down at the ground.

Rosemary simply smiles in amusement. Very wisely, she does not mention that she saw Samwise talking with a young hobbit over some mugs of ale. Don't want to give her more to rave on about, Rosemary muses, shaking her head.