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Flowers, Gems And Estella – Chapter XXXV
Though the wedding was not planned to occur for several more months – April was the intended date – Estella was intent on making sure that everything was more than ready by that time. Here it was, already halfway through December, and she had yet to find a suitable dress, and she certain that Merry was even less prepared.
“First of all,” she’d said to him one day, “We need to decide where it will be held – of course, it will either be in Buckland or Bywater. What’s your opinion, Merry?”
“Ah, wherever,” he said nonchalantly, then noticing the look of annoyance on her face, “Don’t worry, Stella, we’ve got plenty of time to figure this out,” he said with an impish grin plastered upon his face – Estella crossed her arms and looked at him sternly, but still his expression did not change.
That had been nearly a month ago, and he still had not done any sort of preparation – he hadn’t even considered the outfit to be worn, and she would no doubt have to select it for him. The list of those to be invited included all members of the Bolger family and those friends of hers from Bywater and Hobbiton, but it was definitely lacking in its Brandybuck invitees. “Do you want any members of your family to come?” His response had been, “Just invite them all.”
For the past few nights, just as she had with Rosie’s wedding, she’d remained awake far into the night to write out the invitations – even though they weren’t to be sent out for several more weeks, a large pile of completed letters already dominated most of her writing desk. Rosie had volunteered to help – “As payment for all the help you gave me,” she said, her stomach now very large – as did Celandine, who visited her in Bywater every now and then. During this time, Rosie was a valuable help to Estella, having had experience in planning a wedding already, as was Celandine.
“Well, you’ll want to invite our cousin Berilac, and Uncle Merimac and his wife, of course – Marmadas and his family, as you well know,” she said with a grin, “And I’d never forgive you if you forget me – my brothers, I suppose, you should invite as well, and our parents. Pretty much everybody who lives around Brandy Hall and Newbury will want to come of course, and a few down near the River Shirebourn, Minto Brandybuck and his two sons, Togo and Till – a cousin of ours, Amaryllis, though she’s now a Proudfoot, and her family. And –” She cut off, trying to think of a certain name. “Ferne! And her husband,
Fard Bracegridle – no kids, mind you, but I’m sure they’d love to come.”
“Anyone down near Longbottom and
Sarn Ford?” Rosie asked, “I’ve known of a few Brandybucks living down there.”
“Distant relations, mostly,” Celandine admitted, “Don’t really know too many of them down there, and those I do know –” She rolled her eyes while she said this. “Well, let’s just say they’re not anybody I’d want to invite to my wedding.”
“Ferne, and – Fard,” Rosie said aloud as she was writing the names down, “Anyone else?”
“Well, that’s just the ones I know off the top of my head – you’ll have to ask Merry for sure, but I’d say I named most of them.”
“Where exactly is Merry?” Rosie asked, “Shouldn’t he be at all involved?”
“Oh, he’s been going between visiting me here, seeing Pippin at the Great Smials, and doing whatever it is he’s does when he’s at home in Buckland,” Estella said, “So who knows, really?”
Celandine yawned suddenly, stretching her arms above her head. “How late is it, anyway?”
“Um,” Rosie said, lifting the bottom of the curtains over the circular window, “It’s both very late and quite early – after sunrise, actually.”
“Really? We’ve stayed up that late?” Estella queried, “Then I think it’s time for some breakfast.”
“Good idea, I’m starving!” Rosie said, rising from her seat slowly, aided by Celandine, “This little fellow’s quite hungry as well,” she said with her hand on her abdomen.
“No doubt Sam’s worried sick about you, Rose, staying out at all hours of the night,” Estella said.
“Oh, goodness,” she responded nonchalantly, waving her arm, “He’s more worried about my condition than I – I’ll be quite fine to return home after I get some food in me.”
“We’d better walk you there, then,” Celandine said, following behind.
“Thank you – I don’t really need the assistance, but I could use the company.” And the three of them headed downstairs, Estella walking in front of Rose on the stairs with Celandine following behind, the two of them making sure she didn’t fall.
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Elanor Gamgee,” Estella commented upon seeing the babe, “And I thought you said it was to be a lad.”
A great host of hobbits were currently gathered in Bag End – though it was by no means more than the hole could possibly contain, it was a rather unexpected amount to Sam and Rosie. But being that it was the birth of their first child, and one of the first babes to be born after the Occupation, it was an excellent excuse to have family and friends over.
“Well, that’s what I thought too,” Rosie exclaimed, holding her daughter close to her, “But she’s a hobbit, and a Gamgee, no less – and I suppose a healthy appetite is due whether lass or lad.”
Currently gathered in the sitting room of Bag End were Sam and Rosie, of course, and the Old Gaffer, beaming as proud as if Elanor were his own daughter, as well as Rosie’s parents – Merry and Pippin were present, with Pippin’s sisters chatting in the corner amongst themselves. Estella’s brother Fredegar, she noticed, was carrying on a conversation with Celandine Brandybuck.
“You stayed with me for four months,” Celandine had written in a letter some weeks prior, “It’s only right that I stay with you as well, help you plan the wedding and all.”
She grinned to herself, remembering the scene long ago, and took another sip from her mug of water before sitting herself down in a cushy chair – all around her were the sounds and sights of happiness, and content, the same scene that she hoped to see some weeks later – a crowd of hobbits, with bright smiles upon every face, to celebrate her becoming Mrs. Brandybuck.
“Estella!” she heard Rosie say from across the room, and rose to make her way over to the sofa where she and Sam sat holding the babe. Rose scooted over to make way between her and Sam, where she instructed Estella to sit, and placed the wriggling infant in her arms.
“You’ll probably need to be used to dealing with infants,” Rosie said next to her.
“What?” Estella said, grinning, looking upon the cherub-like face of the babe as it cooed in delight, “Are you and Sam planning to have any more children?” She looked to see Sam’s face lower in his lap, his ears burning bright red under his sand-colored hair – on her other side, Rosie giggled to herself, holding her hand over her mouth before composing herself finally and speaking.
“Well, not that we may never have any more children,” she said as Estella handed Elanor back, holding the child close to her, “But I was talking about you and Merry! When can we expect a child from you two?”
Merry apparently had heard this, as Estella looked over to see him grin at her, and take another sip from his ale. “Well, perhaps it’s a bit early to be thinking about that – I mean, we’re not yet even married, Rose,” she said, and she could feel her face getting nearly as red as Sam’s.
In the corner of her eye, she caught the image of a dark shadow moving in the dark of night through the circular window, as though someone were outside. Excusing herself, she ventured outside – squinting her eyes, she looked around for the stranger, and saw a dark form sitting before Bag End’s well-tended garden.
“Hello, Estella,” said a voice she recognized as Frodo’s, and realized for the first time that night that she hadn’t seen him at all within the hole.
“Evening, Frodo,” she responded, “What are you doing out here?” she said as she sat beside him on the bench.
“Oh, just thinking, I suppose,” he said, and Estella now noticed that he held a clenched hand to his chest, and his face slightly winced in an expression of pain.
“What’s wrong?” she asked of him.
“Oh – just an old wound acting up again. Nothing to be concerned with,” he said, and removed his hand from his chest. His face did no lighten up in it expression though. “Congratulations on your engagement.”
“I’ve been engaged for almost five months, now,” she said, grinning, “But thank you nonetheless.”
The two of them fell silent here, merely enjoying the tranquility of the March twilight. Estella was surprised when Frodo spoke again. “I am glad that Merry has found someone like you – I hope that you have many happy years together.”
“Oh, thank you – I hope that you and I shall be friends always as well,” she said, smiling.
“Perhaps,” he sighed wearily, as if tired.
“Are you weary, Frodo? Perhaps you should retire inside –”
“I am fine, Estella – a little tired, yes. Such days have made me wearied, and I fear that there is little time left for me.”
“Time?” Estella said, concerned, “What do you mean?”
Frodo shook his head. “Nothing that you should be worried about, Estella dear – you have your life ahead of you, full of happiness. You have no reason to worry about the future, for yours is to be a cheerful existence – there are others, though, who are not as lucky. There are those who have cursed lives, wounds that will never heal –”
“Frodo? Is something ailing you?” she asked of him.
He looked up, smiling despite his earlier mood. “No, I’m fine – think nothing of what I said. Merely the incoherent ramblings of an old hobbit.”
“You’re not that old.”
“Not in years, perhaps – but never mind. We should retire inside, no doubt
Gamgee is worrying about you.”