Flowers, Gems And Estella - Chapter XXXVII
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“This dress needs smoothing out, Rosie.”
“Well, I’m fixing up your hair, I only have two arms, you know – get someone else to do it.”
Estella sighed – most everyone, content that the bride’s wardrobe was complete, set to fixing up their own. Her mother and the rest of the wedding party, save for Rosie, were away, getting themselves dressed and prepared for the morning’s ceremony.
“Never mind, I’ll do it myself,” Estella said finally, and bent down to smooth out the bottom of the dress with her hands – Rosie, who had been styling her hair, exclaimed in protest as the brown locks which she had been styling suddenly flew out of her hands.
“Stella! You need to hold still or I’ll never get this done, and then you’ll be late for your own wedding – and how nice do you think that would look?”
“Sorry,” she said, standing up once more, “I’m just –”
“Nervous? Excited? Unable to sit still?”
“A little of all three, actually – but I suppose you would know, having gone through this yourself.”
“True, but I don’t believe I was this bouncy – hold still, will you!” she said, staying Estella with a firm hand upon her shoulder, “I’m almost done – just one more pin – there! Now you can hop about the room like a little rabbit as I suspect you’ve been wanting to.”
“Rosie! I am not a little rabbit!” she said, pacing the floor quite nervously.
“No, you’re not – you’re a tall, lovely and graceful rabbit who is about to get married. And I think I hear your mother rabbit coming.”
As per Rosie’s words, Mrs. Bolger came into the room, dressed in a lovely gown of lavender. “Good, you’re nearly done, then – they say no one takes longer to get ready than the bride.”
“I might have been ready earlier had someone remained here to help me,” Estella said, though she held a smile upon her face.
“Never mind that, are you ready or not?” Stepping down from the pedestal before the mirror, Estella nodded, and followed her mother and Rosie out of the room.
In another part of Brandy Hall, things were not as efficient, and Mrs. Bolger’s words were proved untrue, as Peregrin Took stood before the mirror, quite unprepared.
“Pippin, would you please brush that hair? It’s quite unruly!” Sam said from behind him.
“But I already did so ten minutes ago!” he whined back.
“It doesn’t matter how long ago you did it last,” Frodo said calmly, as the voice of reason, “You must do it again because it has somehow gotten re-Pippinified.”
“Pippinified?”
“Another term for being messed up,” Sam said, and immediately fell silent as Merry entered the room in a rush, hurrying to stand before the mirror, pushing Pippin aside in his haste. Dressed in his suit of armor as a knight of Rohan, he took several minutes to examine every inch of his wardrobe before finally declaring it satisfactory, and made to exit the room once more. Sam and Frodo, who took this as a cue that the ceremony would soon begin, followed him – the door flew open again, though, as Merry entered the room a second time, and, facing Pippin, said, “Brush your hair,” before quickly disappearing into the hallway once more.
Sam and Frodo smiled at this, and exited the room as Pippin, pouting with arms crossed, tromped up to stand before the mirror.
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Unlike Sam and Rosie’s wedding nearly a year earlier, there was no chance of rainfall that April morning – above the crowd gathered was a pristine robin’s-egg-blue sky, with no trace of clouds, only the brightly shining sun.
Most of the guests were gathered in the pavilion just outside Brandy Hall when the groomsmen filed out, Merry in front of them – from her place at the window Estella watched their progression, until all were gathered and waiting.
“Guess it’s our turn then,” Estella said to Rosie beside her, and gathering her bouquet in her hands, lined up behind the rest of the bridesmaids. With Rosie in front of her, and her father beside her, she stood, swaying side to side in her place.
“Nervous, dear?” her father said.
“Well, maybe a little – but not out of thought that I’m doing the wrong thing –”
“Of course you’re not. Merely just nerves, and excitement – nothing to worry about.”
Despite her father’s comforting words, it seemed an eternity to Estella before they were finally walking the petal-strewn path – once outside, she glimpsed the smiling faces of those gathered turn towards hers, faces that bore expressions as joyous as hers, the happiest of which she saw on the features of her soon-to-be husband. It was not long before she was standing beside him, with Saradoc Brandybuck before them to start the ceremony.
“Family, friends and otherwise – we are gathered here today, to share in the happiness of these two hobbits – Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Estella Bolger – as they devote their lives to one another in the joyful union of marriage. The union of these two concerns all of Buckland, for Meriadoc is to take the title of Master, and by dedicating her life to him, Estella accepts these responsibilities as well – and whether they encounter happiness or hardship in their future, they will encounter it together.”
Merry, whose eyes had not left Estella’s face since she entered the pavilion, listened not to his father’s words – indeed, he seemed lost in his own happy thoughts, until he heard his father clear his throat.
“Huh?” he said, looking up.
“Say your vows, son,” Saradoc whispered quickly.
“Oh,” he said, and straightening up, began, “Estella, even though we did not start out as the best of friends, I’m thankful that you were able to see past my faults, and I’m thankful that you were willing to give me a chance to love you, and to give yourself a chance to be loved. Though we are two very different beings, our diversities only strengthen our love, as do our similarities – and though it may not be perfect, I’m certain our future will be spent for the best, and be full of love.”
Estella’s smile before, though blissful, could not have held a candle to the reaction caused by Merry’s words – her eyes watered over with happy tears that threatened to spill over as she spoke her vows next.
“For some time, I considered it impossible that I would ever find happiness, most likely the result of my own stubbornness, an aspect that I assumed would impede my chance of finding love. But you, Merry, proved me wrong, for which I am very thankful – your courage and compassion for those that you love is nothing short of admirable, and I am honored that you would feel such sentiments for me, and love me as I love you.”
Few eyes were left still dry by this time, and as Saradoc continued to speak, there was no lack of happy tears on the faces of the audience. “May the vows you’ve spoken hold true in your future together, as Meriadoc and Estella Brandybuck.”
Amidst the cheers from the crowd, congratulating the couple, Merry thought only of Estella, whom he embraced lovingly as they shared their first kiss together as husband and wife.
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The toasts were finished quickly, much to the enjoyment of those present, who wanted nothing more than to tend to their meal, or retreat to the dancing floor. As was custom, though, the dancing was not to commence until the bride and groom themselves were on the floor – however, Merry and Estella were of the first to be on the floor that evening, and the band immediately played up a lively, fast-paced tune.
“So, you got this necklace especially for me, all those months ago?” Estella said, referring to the beautiful pendant hanging from her neck.
“Of course,” Merry replied, “What, you don’t believe me?”
“It’s just strange – that was over a year ago, and even then you thought enough of me to purchase an expensive necklace such as this?”
“Well, why wouldn’t I think of you then? I did have feelings for you before admitting them, you know.”
“I know you did,” Estella said, grinning.
“Did you? How exactly did you know?” Merry said with raised eyebrows.
“Well,” she said, weighing her words carefully, “You seem to always wear your heart on your sleeve, do you not?” Perhaps it’s best that Merry not know of Celandine’s drunken mistake.
Merry sighed. “I guess that is the tragic flaw of us heroes, is it not? We knights of Rohan have many emotions, courage and love included, my dear.”
“As well as embarrassment, I believe you got quite red during Pippin’s speech.”
“I told him never to repeat that story – but I suppose it can be forgotten until later.”
“Later?”
“Tomorrow, specifically. For tonight, my thoughts could not be further from my immature cousin.”
“Yes, they are instead on your stubborn wife.”
Merry smiled, and hugged Estella close to him. “As is expected.”