Chapter 19: Two In A Day
The news that Eos Took had divorced her husband traveled wildfire-quick. Even more baffling for everyone was the fact that Frodo was seemingly courting her. But, as Eos and Frodo liked to joke with each other, no one knew the best part of the whole thing.
Certainly, they heard snatches of what people in town said about them.
"Right after getting her out of another marriage, he tries to get her into another one?"
"I sense adultery… I know it when I see it…"
"Oh, but it's damn good for Miss Eos to get out of a marriage with a man like that…"
"A Took and a Baggins… how cracked will a brat of theirs be, I wonder?"
Eos and Frodo were tempted to laugh when they saw how they were regarded in public. People looked at them with the most bizarre expression, a cross between a false smile and a curious gaze.
Sam had been disgruntled when he returned from his trip and discovered that Frodo had been ill.
"Why didn't anybody send for me? I could have done something!"
Rosie tried to sooth him. "It's alright now, Sam. Eos was wonderful with him. She was only at his bedside for a few minutes and he stopped tossing and turning." She bent and kissed Sam's nose. "Trust me. You had your trees, and the Shire needed them. It was all for the better anyway. Frodo and Eos made up over the baby, and he's happy. And he took the opportunity to tell her that the divorce was final. Also…I won't assume anything, but when Eos came out of Frodo's room, her cheeks were flushed. Do you think they…?" She trailed off suggestively.
Sam shrugged, his thumb tracing the rim of his mug. "Perhaps. Maybe it is all for the better. Did either of them talk to you about getting married?"
"No. But I suppose they didn't want it to seem too rushed, since Eos has just divorced her husband. By the way, have you thought about restoring Bag End yet?"
"Why, Rosie-lass, we've already started, about a month ago! Didn't I tell you?"
"No, of course not! You've spent so much time away that you haven't seized any opportunity to tell me anything!"
Sam took her in his arms and kissed her. "I'm sorry, Rose. I still love you." He paused. "Hmm… Rosie-lass, you know what I'm thinking?"
"What?"
"I think the beginning of May would be the right time for us to get married."
Rosie kissed him back. "I adore you, Sam Gamgee."
Eos scrubbed the dishes from second breakfast. Her belly was growing rounder with child, but not enough for many to notice. Neither she nor Frodo had told her daughter of the new coming baby, for she was still young and had a loose tongue.
She chuckled as she recalled the events of the night before. Frodo had come in the evening unexpectedly, at her usual bedtime. Her bedroom door had been wide open, and as she'd slipped on her gown she heard a sigh behind her. To her shock and delight, standing in the doorway was Frodo, come to see her after he'd tucked Crystal in.
She'd pulled him inside and closed the door behind him, calling him a Peeping Tom. He'd only laughed at this, then grabbed her and kissed her furiously. "How's the baby?" he'd whispered.
"He – or she – is sleeping right now," she'd answered. "Do you really want to wake the child up right now?"
"Are you sure he's asleep? I think I feel him kicking."
"How do you know it's a he? Mayhap it's a girl."
"Love, I know it's a boy. I just know it."
This was something Eos had noticed that was different about Frodo. He seemed to know everything that was about to happen. He'd said that Sam would go out and make the whole of the Shire flower again, and he'd been right. He'd simply touched her womb and known it was a boy. But then, there was yet to find out.
Frodo had pushed Eos onto the bed and started to kiss her throat and collarbone relentlessly. Her hands pulled his weskit and his bracers down. She would not let him undress her, not yet. Frodo fastened his teeth around a nipple through the cotton, and she tried her best to concentrate on her task. She opened his breeches and drawers and drew them down. Her hand brushed his desire, and his moan went poorly restrained.
His hands went under her gown, and she groaned as she pulled off his shirt. She kissed and nipped at his chest and nipples, and straddled him, pinning his arms to his sides. He lay naked before her, panting and at her mercy. She deliberately drew out the act of pulling her gown off, which made him squirm with desire. She climbed off his body, and he immediately reached for her.
"Not yet," she'd said. "I'm not finished with you, Mr. Baggins. I'm getting back at you for creeping up to my room without my knowing." She took hold of his already erect length and stroked it from one end to the other and back, over and over. Oh, how the smooth coolness of her hands made him want her!
"Eos…" he almost whined, like a child for his mother. But she was merciless. She bent down and kissed him from his belly to his curls. Then she kissed along his length, enjoying the sight of his suffering. She took him in her mouth and sucked on him until he had cried out, "Eos, you're killing me!"
"Oh, I'm sorry dear, I didn't know I was," she'd replied, smirking. He glared back, but gave in to her sweet smile.
"I love you," he said, in hopes of mollifying her.
"I love you too," she said, and she reared and impaled herself on him. He gasped at the suddenness of this, but soon responded to her downward movements with small upward thrusts. How good he felt inside of her, she'd thought. And she'd never before tried it on top of him, and this was worth the experimentation.
The two moved together, sprinting towards the brink and falling right over. Eos cried out with pleasure and just barely heard Frodo's ecstatic scream. Somehow she had lain across Frodo's body and wrapped her arms around him as she pushed herself onto him. They had lain there, spent for a while, and then their desires overtook them and they made love all over again. It was another two hours before Eos practically forced Frodo to return to the Cottons', delirious with lovemaking and his lips swollen from the passionate kisses.
Eos shook her head. She and Frodo had planned to remain chaste, but they'd been breaking the rules a lot lately. No matter how much she told herself that chastity was easier said than done, she knew that she and her lover ought to have more self control.
Frodo had told her he would come over today with Crystal, and this time she really hoped to follow the rules they'd set for themselves for once.
Frodo had borrowed a cart from the Cottons' stables and took it to Berylla's hole instead of walking there. Crystal sat on his lap, quiet with wonder of actually riding in the front of a cart.
He was still filled with guilt for his lack of self control with Eos. He shouldn't have made love with her last time! It was true that Eos was already pregnant, but shouldn't they act like a conventional couple for the time being?
He pulled up in front of the hole and took a deep breath. "Come on, Crystal. Time to see Mother."
The little girl skipped ahead of him, carefully avoiding the cracks in the cobblestones. It was something she'd learned from her friends, that you'd break your back if you stepped on the crack.
"Don't step on the crack, or you'll fall and break your back," she chanted in her high pitched voice. "Don't step on the crack or you'll fall and break your back. Don't step on the crack, or…"
Frodo shook his head. Even he hadn't been that superstitious when he was little.
Eos opened the door at the first ring of the bell and blushed when she saw Frodo. However, she picked up Crystal and kissed her. Frodo chastely kissed her cheek and went in.
"Is she still reading books?" Eos asked anxiously, as they sat on the parlor couch.
"She doesn't read books, she eats them up – like a wolf," said Frodo, adding the last bit awkwardly. They both knew all this talk was just to fill up the space. They were itching to throw themselves into each other's arms and kiss until their lips were too swollen for anymore. Crystal, however, was oblivious to this tension.
"My doll Big Opal has a new dress, but she got sick so Frodo told me to leave her at home. Guess what? Viowet never wead books before! I showed her one, and she couldn't wead!"
"Yes, she brought a picture book to her friend Violet's," Frodo explained. "She was quite surprised that she was the only literate one among all the children."
"Of course. Many of those farm children learn chores before their letters," replied Eos. "But the book had pictures – did Violet like the pictures, Crystal?"
"Yeah, but she didn't know what elves are."
She slid out of Eos's lap and amused herself by playing with the tassels of the carpet. Frodo reached over and took Eos's hand. He stroked it with his thumb as they talked.
"How have you been?" Frodo asked. "How's your store?"
"Erm… fine," said Eos awkwardly. "Business in the store has been running strong, surprisingly. I guess people come just to stare at me, I suppose, or to get information about… well… us."
They were interrupted by a rustle at the door. There was the sound of a ball bouncing, and Berylla and her son came in.
"Oh, Mr. Baggins! How good of you to come! Has Eos given you anything to drink? You don't need anything? Are you sure? Good! Let me know if you need anything," she said in a rush, and bustled to the kitchen.
"Ham, wait!" shouted Crystal. "I wanna play ball." And she ran out after Berylla's son.
Finally, Frodo thought. He turned back to his lover. She was gazing at their hands, entwined like their own bodies were when they went to bed. He leaned forward and kissed her gently.
It was the gentlest kiss they had ever shared, made of only tender brushings of the lips. When it was finished, Eos leaned into Frodo's arms and sighed.
"I missed you," she murmured.
"And I you," he replied. "So did Crystal. But she has dozens of little girlfriends, unlike you and me."
"She's a happy girl. She was always a sweet child," said Eos. "You did a good job, Frodo."
"Please!" protested Frodo, but glowing inside.
They sat like that for a few minutes, until Eos stood up to throw another piece of coal into the fire. "March is neither cold nor warm. I never favored this month of the year."
"Nor I," said Frodo, remembering Shelob's stinger. "But Eos – " he stood up as well, "Eos, I really did need a talk with you."
"Hmm?" Eos turned to him.
"I've been a little worried about us lately…" Frodo trailed off.
"Worried?" Eos frowned at this.
"Yes, I've been thinking about the fact that you are pregnant and also divorced, and I've been running out of solutions for this…" Frodo frowned.
"Worried? Solutions? Those two words don't sound good together," said Eos. "Do you mean… that… we…?"
"That we can't be together? No, no, not at all!" He pulled Eos to him. "I don't mean that at all! I meant to ask you to marry me!"
Eos drew away, wide-eyed.
"I'd meant to wait a little longer, since I didn't want this to look so rushed, but I really truly want to marry you," said Frodo. "Well, what do you say?"
"Well, it is the slightest bit rushed, but…" Eos looked into the flames. "If you want to marry me, Frodo, I want to know that you are not marrying me just for the sake of saving face."
Frodo's brow furrowed. Eos went on.
"The baby is due in October – seven months from now, I believe. It is true that it will be best to marry as soon as possible for the child's sake. And it is true that I am free to remarry whoever I want now that I am no longer married to Olo. But can you convince me that those are not the only reasons you made this proposal?"
Frodo took her face in his hands. "You and your suspicious mind! We're meant to be, you see? I trust too easily, and you doubt even the one who loves you best. But this you must believe. I love you, Eos. All those reasons you named are true and were part of my decision, but I've waited so long to have you! Believe me, Eos. I'm sorry if I made my proposal so hurriedly… but how does one make a perfect wedding proposal?"
"Let me think…" Eos considered. "The man has a trinket of some sort to mark the decision made with his woman. He is tender with said woman, and does not do things in a hurry!"
"Well then, what do you think?" Frodo pulled a tiny wooden box out of his pocket and opened it. Eos gasped. Inside was a silver ring with an elaborate band, and set with a beautiful blue stone. She blinked tears away from her eyes as Frodo slipped the ring onto her finger.
"I…I…" she stammered, transfixed by Frodo's hand holding her adorned one. "I can't believe it. You're too good, Frodo."
"No, Eos, it is you I was never good enough for," said Frodo, cupping her hand in both of his own. "But I promise you, when we're married, I'll do everything to make you and the children happy. But you haven't exactly answered the question yet."
"'The children.' I like the sound of that. Yes, I will marry you," answered Eos. She took Frodo's face in her hands and gently brushed her lips against his.
They held each other by the fire for a long time, Eos's head propped against Frodo's chest while he stroked it.
"I was thinking…" said Eos.
"Hm?"
"Perhaps we could act like a proper engaged couple tonight and remain chaste. We've had more than our share of… nights together, and we could do with some practice, don't you think?"
"Yes, I was thinking that, too. But at least come to dinner at the Cottons'. Something tells me that Sam and Rosie may have some news for us as well."
They both slipped on light cloaks and went outside, where they found Ham and Crystal playing in the yard. They collected the little girl and headed to the Cottons'.
"Sam, Rosie, would you like to tell Mr. Baggins and Miss Took your news?" said Farmer Cotton after they all had eaten.
"Er… yes," stammered Sam, wiping his forehead with the back of his sleeve. He stood up, holding Rosie's hand. "Mr. Frodo, after you'd given me the idea recently, I proposed to Rosie, and she said yes. So, that's that… we're engaged."
The whole table gathered round to embrace the couple with congratulations and blessings. Frodo looked at Eos, whose arms were around Rosie, and she nodded to him.
"Eos and I have some news too," said Frodo, clearing his throat. "We've decided to get engaged as well."
Everyone stared for a moment, then broke down in merry laughter. "Two marriage proposals in one day! This is an eye-opener and no mistake!" exclaimed Farmer Cotton.
