"Tersa! Does anyone know where my daughter is?" Queen Brigina yelled, rushing around.
"Hello, Aunt Brigina," said a tall, strawberry blonde-haired young man in royal garb.
"Good morning, Aunt Brigina," said another tall, golden brown haired young man next to the first.
"Oh, Peregrin, Merriadoc, have you seen your cousin?" Brigina asked stopping briefly. For a moment, they glanced at each other smugly before deciding it was best not to be sarcastic with their aunt so distraught.
"Tersa?" the boys asked in unison.
"No, actually, we were coming over to wish her a happy birthday," Peregrin said.
"Yes, I've been told to ask you if we may stay here until after Tersa's Birthday Ball," Merry asked holding out an envelope to Brigina who promptly accepted it.
"Oh, you boys are welcome anytime. I wouldn't be a very good aunt if I didn't let my sisters' sons stay for their cousin's party, now wouldn't I? (AN: Actually, sisters-in-law, but just go with it.) Now where is that girl?"
It was a beautiful Wednesday morning as Sam finished his morning chores. He made himself an early lunch and ran to the old ruins.
When he arrived, he found Duet already there, smiling as she spotted Sam.
"Hello. I almost thought you weren't coming," she said smiling.
"How long have you been here?" Sam asked sitting down.
"I snuck out at dawn. I wasn't sure I'd be able to get away from my mother if I stayed longer. So, what's up?" She turned away, hiding her blush, and sat down.
Sam started to tell Duet about his family and friends, and as he began to change the subject, Duet interrupted him.
"Wait, what about your girlfriend? There has got to be someone who you fancy," she asked rather seriously.
"Nope. I don't rate anyone," Sam said aloud, though secretly, he wasn't sure he believed it. "What about you?"
"Me? Not really. I have no idea what I'm going to tell my mother about marrying someone."
"Hmm…."
They sat in silence for a moment then started talking again until, once again, they had talked the day away. The almost-full moon sat on the horizon line as Sam and Duet spent their first quiet moment together since the awkward silence that had ensued earlier.
"Sam?" Duet asked, gazing longingly at the stars.
"Yes, Duet?" he replied, turning to face her.
"What do you think about me?" she asked, this time, deliberately turning her face away from him.
"What? Oh, well, I think you're beautiful and smart and kind—"
"Do you like me?"
"What?"
Duet spun around quickly, her face mere inches from his. "Do you like me? Because I really like you, and I'd like you to meet my mother, but that would mean that you'd have to come to the Ball because I doubt my mother would travel all the way out here…," she rambled. "So, do you like me?"
"Well, to be quite honest, are you daft?! I've all but been drooling over you the past two days!" Sam laughed. Duet's smile broadened to show all of her perfectly white teeth.
"So you'll go to the Ball? You'll meet my mother?"
"Yeah."
Duet jumped up, spun around excitedly, and stopped by Sam, bending over and kissing him.
"I think I love you, Sam," she half laughed. She was so giddy. "Oh, I won't be able to meet you tomorrow. I have my dress fitting for the Ball. Is that okay?"
"Yeah, sure," Sam said a bit out of it from the kiss.
"Okay. I must go. Goodbye." With that, she scampered off and out of sight.
When the rooster crowed its morning greeting, Sam was still awake from the night before. He quickly performed his daily chores and rushed to the market in search of his friend, Frodo Baggins, the vegetable farmer's nephew.
"Frodo!" Sam yelled spotting his companion from across the marketplace.
"Ah, Sam! Haven't seen you lately," Frodo cried as his friend drew nearer.
"I met this girl," Sam said stepping up beside Frodo. "She's beautiful and smart and kind, and she likes me. She wants me to meet her mother at the Ball tomorrow night. Now I know you won't want to dance with the princess on account of your fancy of that milkmaid, Rosie Cotton, but will you at least come to aid me in case I get nervous?"
"Alas, Sam, as much as I want to, my uncle has me harvesting crops tomorrow night, but do not despair. You say she likes you, so do not worry. Things will turn out the way they were meant to be."
Authoress' note: Short, I know, but more is on the way. I promise.