A/N: Sorry this took so long. Double update for you as a result. There is a reason... I'm getting married. :D
Chapter Six
"Diamond, you have to come!' Isengrim insisted.
"Why?" she whined.
Isengrim sighed. "Because, I already told Pippin you were coming. Rosie Cotton will be there. It's not as if you'll be the only lass. Di, it's just tea!"
Diamond timidly looked up at her brother. "But it's at Frodo Baggins' home."
Isengrim gave his sister a funny look before it melted away into a mix of understanding and annoyance. "You don't need to be frightened of him."
Diamond knew this was true. Rosie had told her Frodo was very kind and good, but all the rumors she had heard about him since coming to Hobbiton were enough to make any hobbit wonder. "Well," Diamond said at last. "Who else will be there?"
"Merry Brandybuck, Berilac Brandybuck, Pippin's new lass, Lavender Brown, and Sam and Rosie." Diamond looked uncertain. "It's just tea. It'll be good for you to go."
"Alright."
Rosie welcomed Diamond with a girlish squeal and a hug. "I am so glad you came! It was going to be simply dreadful if you didn't show!"
"I'm glad to see you too, Rosie," Diamond smiled.
"We're having tea in the back parlor, but I want you to meet Mr. Frodo first." Rosie drug her friend into the room right off of the entry way, and Diamond was greeted with the sight of a somber looking hobbit sitting close to the fire with a book in his hand. He looked up when he heard the lasses enter his study, and Diamond almost gasped audibly when looked at her. She had never seen such eyes! She could see pain, sorrow, loss, suffering, but also love. Yes, there was much love in his eyes.
"Miss Diamond, I presume?" he asked, standing to greet her.
"Mr. Baggins," she said quietly.
He smiled. "Just Frodo, please."
Diamond felt herself smiling in return. "Then it's just Diamond, please." She wondered at the feeling of ease she had around him. It was odd, but when he had looked at her, she felt as though she already knew him, and had for a long time. Suddenly, she detested the rumors that flew around town just as much as Sam and Rose did. She felt sympathy wash over her, and she longed to take away every pain he had ever suffered, even though she knew it to be impossible. She wanted to be his friend.