They crested several hills, and as the tree and standing stone receded into the estance, Songo lingered more and more on each hilltop, looking backward. A faraway, but loud, sharp crack made them jump. As they spun around, a loud whump followed. They spurred their ponies back up the most recent hill, and looked in amazement at the distant tree, now lying on the ground. Stormy snorted and danced uncertainly around it.
Songo gave a wild shout, and his pony surged forward at a gallop. The others streamed uncertainly behind him. As he galloped towards the fallen tree trunk, Songo saw movement beside it. His pony slithered to a halt beside the fallen trunk and he threw himself off. "Bolco? Bolco?"
Bolco was crawling weakly away from the hollow tree on his elbows, retching and shuddering. Songo caught him by the shoulders and half carried, half dragged him away from it, and down off of the hill. As the rest of the company gathered around them, Songo sat on the ground and gathered Bolco tightly into his arms. Still shaking and not speaking, Bolco hid his face against his brother.
Many pairs of hands searched him for injury. They found none, but he was deadly cold. They began wrapped him in their cloaks. None of them wanted to linger, and they decided to start for the road again.
"I can take him on my pony if you like, " Toradoc offered Songo.
"You will not, " Songo said firmly, holding Bolco tighter.
"Just offering, " replied Torrie with a smile. They heaved him up onto Songo's big bay, and Songo mounted and held him. Stormy trotted beside the bay. "All right, Bolco, let's go," Songo said, and the pony's ears twitched. Toradoc hid a smile.
They made good time, got to the road, and headed towards the Shire. As they drew near the Old Forest, Songo noted that Bolco turned his head northward, and closed his eyes. He frowned. "Bolco?"
Pippin and Merry spurred their ponies up beside the big bay. "What is it about the Old Forest?" Merry asked Bolco.
Bolco blanched and struggled to speak. "It draws me, " he said.
"Draws you?"
Bolco shuddered again. "It's calling me. Calling me home. But I don't want to go there anymore."
"Anymore?"
Bolco's eyes strayed unwillingly towards Pippin, and then he looked northward again. Merry frowned. After a few moments, Bolco turned towards Tom, and Tom rode up beside them too.
"I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye to Daffodil, " he struggled.
Tom waited, but Bolco was silent. Finally Tom said, "Well, you can apologize to her yourself when you see her."
Bolco frowned, and glanced at Pippin again. Finally, three days of pent-up fury surfaced in Pippin. He tried to control it.
"Look, " Pippin began, steaming. "After all those notes and letters that you wrote to the girl, the least you could have done is given her a good explanation as to why it was suddenly so important for you to go riding off to some distant library. But this disappearing for no reason has got to stop."
"No reason..." Bolco began, with a look of surprise.
"No reason? For heavens' sake, I have a bet with Isembrand that your next letter to her will include a proposal of marriage. You certainly had me convinced that you were about to propose to her. I couldn't imagine you following that last letter with anything else! She was beside herself with hope and excitement. And then-- then you pull a stunt like this! You idiot! You daft, twaddled, addle-brained ninnyhammer! You, you, you confounded fool of a Took!" Pippin's pony began dancing nervously beneath him as his grip tightened and his voice grew shrill.
"My... my letters?" Bolco demanded, now sitting bolt upright. "You've... you've read--"
"And I have no idea where in Middle-Earth you learned to spell, " Pippin's voice got wilder still, "But it wasn't from me! Such mutilation of the Westron language I have never seen in all my travels! Devoshun-- you spell it with T-I-O-N. You end words with E-runes where there is no E-sound whatsoever. Cam-e, mor-e, hom-e, lov-e-- Camie, morie, homie, lovie? Unbelieveable! And Enuf-- what's this O-U-G-H? How do you say that? Enugguh? What's that supposed to mean? And what's wrong with the 'TH' rune? " he continued, ranting now. "Why do you insist on using the T and the H runes side by side instead of the 'TH' rune? How's the poor girl supposed to figure that out? And why use N followed by G instad of the gutteral rune? Why can't you use the 'NG' rune? Your spelling is the most atrocious mess I have ever seen in all my years of study, and I've seen some spelling mistakes in my day. The poor girl brought me note after note, letter after letter, each one more disastrously written than the one before. Disastrous. " He composed himself slightly, shook his head, and added, "Albeit quite romantic. You have a poet's soul, all right, and you've won the girl completely, but for heaven's sake, Bolco. Learn how to spell. What is so difficult about using the runes to express the sound that you speak?"
Songo and the others looked on uneasily as Bolco's eyes got wider and wider, and he looked at Pippin utterly bewildered. "You were helping her read--"
"Who else was she going to turn to?" Pippin demanded. "Somebody had to help her translate it all."
Bolco bowed his head, now thoroughly embarassed. He had spent so much time lately reading Jake's book that he had picked up the Massachusetts way of spelling things. He blushed, thinking of the proposal letter-- still in his pocket. He wondered what he had misspelled. He reached for it, and then stopped.
Pippin's eyes caught the movement and he was beside him in two strides. "Another letter."
"I--"
"Give it to me this moment."
Wide-eyed with embarassment, Bolco reached into his pocket in slow motion, and produced the letter. Pippin snatched it from him, turned his pony out of Bolco's reach, and opened the letter in a single motion, and scanned it. Bolco, open-mouthed and red with shame, looked on.
Pippin folded the letter, and stowed it in a breast-pocket, and smiled, very smugly, at Merry. "I won my bet."
"So Isembrand buys a round?"
"Oh, no. I buy. I promised I would." Pippin laughed. Then he turned to Bolco with a wryly indignant glare. "And now would you mind telling me why you were headed to Rivendell with this letter in your pocket?"
Bolco took a deep breath. "I saw you together, " he said miserably. "I saw you take her into your arms and hold her. And she looked happier than I had ever seen her. Ever."
"Well then, " Pippin replied impatiently, "go back home, and prove that she was right to be. And that I was right about what I said."
"But, Pippin--"
Pippin stared at him, puzzled and irritated still. "What?"
"I thought she had chosen you."
Pippin's jaw dropped and a silence fell. The silence lingered, hanging in the air, til the clopping of the ponies' hooves was the only sound. Pippin slowly went from anger to sadness, finally realizing what Bolco must have gone through and what had made him leave. And then he simply shook his head, and said softly with a wry smile, "No, Lad. Far from it. She was happy because she hoped that you had chosen her."
Bolco stared at the ground, stunned, and trying to grasp the thought. She had been waiting eagerly for his next letter, hoping it would contain a proposal of marriage-- and he had ridden away.
His head spun.
Pippin watched him for a few moments, and then turned softly to the rest of the company. "No-one goes back to their homes 'til I say so, " he ordered quietly, and a smile flickered round the company as they guessed what Pippin had in mind. The rest of the ride back to the Brandywine Bridge proceeded with pleasant, casual chatter and laughter.
Halfway to the bridge, Songo chuckled. Bolco, completely and totally exhausted, had fallen asleep in his arms and begun to snore. It was late anyway, so they dismounted and camped by the side of the road. THey were careful to camp on the North side, away from the forest.
*************************
August 18
The next day was uneventful and extremely quiet. Bolco still seemed dazed, and rather sick; sometimes he seemed feverish. Songo insisted that he ride with him on the bay again. He fretted over him and would not let anyone speak with him, and ordered that he ride quietly and try to nap in the saddle. When Bolco snored loudly, Songo permitted quiet conversation among the rest of the travellers. Otherwise, whisperers were sent out of earshot, and the day passed in near-silence.
When they arrived at the Bridge just before sunset, they checked into several rooms. They put Bolco, still asleep, into a bed, and left him with his brothers, his father, and Toradoc watching over him. Ned and Tom went to the Inn for an early beer. Toradoc was immensely pleased that Bunco showed no signs of wanting to join them; instead, Bunco sat by Bolco's bed and listened to him snore.
Pippin retired to his and Merry's room, sat down and wrote a letter, wrapped it together with Bolco's letter, went to the Quickpost again, and then returned to the Inn. Then he visited the other travellers and spoke briefly with them. "We set out for Tuckborough tomorrow morning, " he said simply. They were all exhausted, and retired early.
*************************
August 19
The next morning, Bolco was awake before all of them, and sat staring silent and glassy-eyed out the window towards Tuckborough. They joked and tried to get him to laugh, but he did not, and would not talk much. They got some food into him, a little, and then rode towards Bywater.
Pippin's eyes remained fixed on the horizon, and Toradoc wondered why. Towards mid-morning, far down the road a lone figure became visible, galloping fast. Pippin's eyes sparkled, and he and Merry began to laugh and joke heartily. Bolco studied the approaching rider, suddenly growing more and more nervous. As the pony approached, they drew to a ragged halt, and Pippin dismounted, ordering Bolco to get off as well. Numbly Bolco complied, watching the approaching pony.
Foggy slithered to a halt, and Lilac vaulted off and ran towards Bolco, stopping three feet away and holding something out to him. He looked at her, uncomprehending. She thrust it at him. It was his letter.
"Yes," she said. "Yes, I accept!" A cheer went up from the company, and there was laughter, and backslapping and handshakes of gladness.
But Bolco did not move. He opened his mouth, no sound came out; he shut it again.
Lilac looked at Pippin, and he laughed worriedly, and his broad hand came down with a thump on Bolco's back. "Bolco, " he said, "Answer the girl."
Lilac looked back at Bolco, and saw shock in his eyes. "No need," she soothed him, thinking of the last time they had stood face to face. "Bolco?" She took a step closer, studying him. Pippin had warned her that he was thin and gaunt, and looked older than he should. He had understated the facts, she thought.
He watched her, wild-eyed. The last day he had stood near her, Midsummer's day, came crashing back into his memory, and he did not move.
She knew it. She could see it on his face, and she stepped closer and very gently took his hand. "Bolco, I'm sorry, " she said. "Sorry for all those things I said to you. I'm sorry, Bolco."
Numbly, he nodded, and slowly his grip on her hand tightened. He tried to speak again, but no words came out of his mouth, and so finally he pulled her forward a little, and hesitantly reached for her other hand. Finally a sound came from him. "Lilac?"
"I'm here, " she said, softly. "I'm right here. It's all right."
"Hello, Lilac," he said, but his eyes were troubled and afraid.
She gently gathered both his hands in one of hers, and reached up and touched his brow. "What's wrong, Bolco? Are you all right? What's the matter?"
Pippin clapped Bolco's shoulder again, and whispered into his ear, and then gave him a push forward; surprised, Bolco stumbled a little. Lilac steadied him, and gently guided his arms around her waist, and reached around his shoulders. She waited patiently, while he blinked, unable to believe what was happening; she reached up and ran her fingers through his curls, and spoke again. "I'm here, Bolco. Are you all right? I'm here." His eyes were glassy still, and she glanced worriedly towards Pippin.
Pippin opened his mouth to intervene again, but Toradoc spoke up. "Come, Pippin, " he said firmly, and Pippin, surprised, obeyed. Toradoc continued. "You take the company, and go on a furlong or so. I'll wait here with them. Now go on. All of you."
Pippin looked reluctant, and Toradoc grew more determined. "Give them time, " he insisted.
"You're right, Torrie, " Bunco agreed, and he met Pippin's gaze. "A furlong it is. Come on now." Rank and heritage reluctantly gave way before age and wisdom, and Pippin mounted, and headed his pony westward. The company walked slowly along, casting a few backwards glances, but knowing that the young couple needed some privacy, and hoping that Bolco would come out of his shock.
As the riders receded westward, Bolco sought Toradoc's eye. "Toradoc."
"Yes, lad."
"I was so sure that the Creator had taken her away from me."
Lilac looked up at him, startled. "What?" She half turned, listening for Toradoc's answer, suddenly afraid.
"Were you sure, Lad?"
"Yes. Yes, I was. I still am."
"What do you mean?"
"I know that I let go of her."
"Did you?"
"Yes. Yes, I did." Bolco stared at Lilac, and she gazed back at him, tears welling up in her eyes. Had she come so far only to lose him now? She studied his eyes. They were glassy, distant. She turned to Toradoc, and back to Bolco. "Bolco? Bolco? It's me. I'm here. Don't let go of me. I don't want you to let go." She stroked his cheek, his brow, his hair, and whispered his name. His eyes only looked more troubled.
Toradoc spoke. "Why did you let go of her, lad?"
"Because I had let her take the Creator's place. In my center... in the center of my life."
Toradoc looked down at the two of them, the glassy-eyed lad and the panicking young lass, and pondered the statement. "I thought you said The Creator was everywhere."
Bolco nodded. "He is."
"What's in your center now?"
"Empty. Emptiness."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
"No, Bolco, " Lilac said. "You asked me. You proposed to me. Don't do this."
Toradoc considered the tears streaming down Lilac's face, and soothingly held up a hand palm outwards toward her, speaking to Bolco again. "Bolco, why is the center of your life empty?"
"Because she's not where she used to be."
"She's not?"
"No. I let go of her."
"Why?"
"Because I knew the Creator had given her away. He took her away from me; he gave her away."
"You thought he did. But that wasn't the case, was it?"
"No... but I still let go of her."
Lilac's tenuous composure began to crumble. She inwardly panicked that Bolco really was mad after all, but now she wondered if she had not caused it herself, and blamed herself for it even as she hoped that she could somehow make it right, and bring him back.
"And now what?" Toradoc prompted.
"I'm empty."
"Well, " Toradoc said, looking out at the fields and woods of the Shire, "the Creator fills all this space around us that looks empty, didn't you tell me that? Didn't you say that he's everywhere?"
"I did."
"Filling everything."
"Yes."
"Then he fills that emptiness in your center."
"I-- well-- yes. I suppose he does." Bolco struggled with the thought, and realised it was true.
"Then Lilac isn't in the wrong place anymore."
"...No. No, she's not."
"Well, " Toradoc said, straightening in his saddle, "now that she isn't in your center where she doesn't belong, and the Creator is in your center where he does belong, perhaps now Lilac is also where she does belong."
It took minutes to slowly sink in, but sink in it did. Lilac barely dared to breathe, waiting, watching for some sign of acceptance or welcome. Bolco thought about what Toradoc had said, and looked at the girl in his arms, and very slowly, his arms tightened around her waist. She searched his eyes, and saw hope flicker and grow, and warmth return, and at last he spoke her name again with a hint of the tenderness she remembered so well. "Lilac."
Now she wept in earnest, and stroked his hair, his face, his shoulders. "Yes, Bolco, I'm here. It's all right. You're all right, " she insisted, wanting to believe it. She felt his arms steadily pulling her closer. She wrapped her arms around him, put her chin on his shoulder, and held him tight.
Toradoc hid his smile, and turned his pony to casually explore the roadside. The pony dropped his head, and Toradoc let him graze wearing the bit, just this once.
"You'll marry me?" Bolco asked.
"Yes, I will, Bolco. I will; I accept, " she said.
"All right, " he said softly, and turned his face into her hair.
Toradoc turned his pony eastward, and urged him towards a further patch of grass about twenty yards away.
When he turned back several minutes later, they had not moved. He rode back to them, and they looked up at him expectantly.
"Why don't we catch up with the others?" he said softly, and they nodded, and slipped apart; but Bolco caught Lilac's hand, and walked with her to where Foggy was grazing on the roadside, and gathered the reins for her and held Foggy as she mounted. Toradoc had brought Stormy over in the meantime, and soon they were trotting westward.
When they caught up with the others, everyone was subdued, but Merry and Pippin pulled Toradoc aside. They argued a little, but eventually Toradoc gave way, and after some further discussion, Pippin urged his pony into a westward gallop and was soon gone.
Bolco and Lilac rode silently side by side, sometimes stealing glances at each other, sometimes gazing at each other, occasionally reaching out to touch hands. Lilac wept off and on. Bolco's eyes sometimes went glassy, and when that happened Lilac worried, but always his eyes cleared, and he would smile, tenuously at first, but more easily as the morning wore into afternoon.
It was sunset when they arrived at the Smials. Bolco and Lilac were surprised to see Pippin, Isembrand, and Paladin waiting for them, lounging in the front door-yard of the stable, and several stablehands nearby. Isembrand walked straight to Bolco. "A word with you, Lad."
Startled, Bolco assented, and one of the stablehands took Stormy from Bolco and began to look after him. Lilac watched Bolco and Isembrand from the stable door, dallying, wanting to know what the long discussion was about, until another stablehand took Foggy from her and began caring for him; she climbed up on a nearby low bank, sat down, and waited. Bolco looked very stunned.
Impatiently, Pippin came to Lilac, and beckoned her, and marched with her to Isembrand's side. "Well?"
"He's a bit surprised, " Isembrand hedged.
"Do I have to make it an order, for crying out loud? I want this settled."
"Oh, I wouldn't go that far, " Isembrand demurred.
"What?" asked Lilac.
"Now that you've spoken with Bolco, do you have any objections?" Pippin urged Isembrand.
Isembrand took a deep breath, and studied Bolco's haggard features. "Well, normally I'd say he was on the young side, but, " he chuckled sadly, "That hardly seems the case, now does it?"
"Young for what?" Lilac persisted.
"Well, that's settled then, unless Father has any objections, " Pippin said.
"I'm staying out of this one, " Paladin said firmly.
"You can't, " Pippin argued.
"Oh, I'll perform the ceremony all right, " Paladin aquiesced magnanimously, with a wry twinkle in his eye. Toradoc studied Paladin curiously as the Took deliberately crossed his arms over his chest and waited, watching Pippin with a careful eye.
"We can sort out all the official details later, after a good night's sleep," Pippin replied. "But as for the promises, I say the sooner the better. "
Lilac bit back tears of joy, and looked up hopefully at Bolco. Bolco looked at Lilac, and brushed her tears away, and said, "It's a little sudden. Can't we wait a day? "
"Look, " Pippin said sternly. "You can both do nothing but sleep for a week straight-- or for a month as far as I'm concerned, but I want these promises made. And I'd rather you do that sooner than later, if you get my meaning. Not to mention that everyone is here, to witness it."
"But I'm so tired, " Bolco apologised.
"Just stand up and make the vows, and deal with the rest of it later, " Pippin said. "Think of it as an official betrothal if you'd like. But if you run off again before you two are married once and for all, I'll have your throat."
Bolco took a deep breath, and then lifted Lilac's chin. "Will you mind if I really do sleep for a week?" he whispered.
"I'll bring you meals, " she said, drying her tears, and smiling.
He nodded, and kissed her cheek. "The promises, then. All right. Where?"
Lilac blushed. Bolco was amazed, but happy, and not so bewildered by the turn of events that he was unable to appreciate the joy of the moment. He drew her close with one arm and brushed away her joyful tears with the other hand. She buried her head against his neck.
"You did say yes, right?" Bolco gently reminded her.
"Of course I did, " she said squeakily, still crying, into his neck.
"Find him some clean clothes, then, " Paladin ordered. "And you, lass, best put on your best dress. " He turned, and announced, "Seven o'clock, then, in the Library."
Songo and Bunco came forward, and flanked Bolco. "All right then, Master Pippin, we'll need a place to clean up, " Bunco said. Pippin nodded. They all marched to the Smials together.
It took a lot longer than Paladin had guessed to get everyone cleaned up and presentable. Pippin began barking out orders; kettles were put on and tubs were filled, and messengers were sent to search for clean clothes of the right particular dimensions. Dozens of stout hobbits came forward offering their best finery for the occasion. Slender hobbits were harder to find, but in the end, Pippin remembered some of his own clothes from before the war that had been packed away and forgotten; he hastily summoned his tailor and had them adjusted for Bolco. Bolco tried to be patient as the tailor stitched and fussed. Lilac put on her best dress; her friends braided her long hair into a crown, and tucked in some pure white cosmos, white ribbons, and a few pink snapdragons. One of her friends offered to cut her a bouquet of roses, but she indignantly refused, and sent the girl with specific instructions to bring her a bouquet of pink snapdragons.
The wedding ceremony did not happen til nine-thirty at night, by which time Tom had been able to ride home and return with all the field hands, Missus Pansy, and a bleary-eyed Daffodil. Bolco held Daffodil in a tight embrace and wept while the tailor fussed and spluttered with frustration.
Paladin announced that the paperwork would be put off til the morrow, and the ceremony was brief and succinct. Pippin worried at first that Bolco would be too glassy-eyed to make his promises, but he was remarkably lucid, and smiled and laughed. The impromptu celebration began immediately afterwards. It started off small, but word spread quickly throughout the Smials, and since everybody in the Smials knew Lilac, they all considered themselves invited. Paladin ordered many casks opened; and many Tookish hobbits got a second second dinner that night, and drank one marriage toast after another.
Not long after the vows were complete, Bolco's groggy and glassy-eyed look returned. Long before the impromptu festivities began to show any signs of slowing down, Lilac brought the exhausted Bolco to her room, where he immediately collapsed into a deep sleep. She set her bouquet of pink snapdragons carefully into a vase and added some water to it, then quietly curled up beside Bolco, lay her head on his shoulder, and thought, I wonder how long it takes to get used to a husband's snoring.
Before the dawn, she wondered if she ever, ever would.
****************
The sun was well up when Bolco stirred; he woke puzzled, and then startled, and then confused, and studied Lilac beside him. She still had flowers in her hair, and her bouquet of pink snapdragons was in a vase on the table by the bed. Slowly yesterday's events returned. He shed a few brief tears of gratitude, and then composed himself. He touched her shoulder and prayed silently for her and for their future.
Then he whispered her name, but after a restless night, she had finally found oblivion, and a gentle whisper did not rouse her. He decided to let her sleep, carefully climbed out of bed and left the room softly. He washed up and went to the nearest parlor (there were lots of them in the Smials) and found a cup of tea. Although he saw numerous hobbits that had celebrated his wedding last night (long after he had gone; he wondered if some of them had never retired) still, they did not know what to say to him, and he felt more out of place than ever. He took his tea back towards Lilac's room. But passing Isembrand's door, he heard voices. He paused, and softly knocked.
"Come in...? Ah, good morning, Lad! Come in, and welcome! Have a seat."
Bolco was relieved to see Bunco and Toradoc there. Bunco vacated his chair and sat on the edge of the bed; Bolco shot him a groggy smile and took the chair.
There was an awkward silence which everyone hoped someone else would break. Then Toradoc cleared his throat, and said, "How is Lilac this morning?"
Relieved, Bolco nodded. "She's still asleep, " he said, grateful. "She seems very tired. I can understand that. I, I mean, it's been a tiring couple of days." He sipped from his tea.
They nodded. There was another awkward silence, and then Isembrand said, "You'll both be fine, lad. You'll both be all right."
Bolco laughed, embarassed. "I, uh, ... I think I'm going to have some questions."
There was a brief pause, and then Isembrand said quietly, "Well, that's good. If you didn't have any questions, I'd be worried on several counts."
Bolco blushed crimson, and drew the back of his hand over his eyes.
Isembrand and Bunco exchanged glances. Toradoc stood as if to leave. But Bunco waved him back into his seat. "Bolco, we'll answer whatever questions you have, I'm sure, " he said, with a glance at Isembrand. "But first, we've got a question for you. Something to think over."
"I'd like Lilac to hear the question too, if you're about to ask it, " Isembrand said, standing. Bolco nervously wondered what the question was, and listened uneasily to Isembrand pounding on Lilac's door, her groggy reply, and his admonishment that she come next door and discuss something important. She grumbled, but quickly washed her face and shook out her long, wavy brown hair and tied it quickly with a ribbon, and appeared wearily in the doorway. Toradoc vacated his seat for her. She sank into it with a wan smile towards Bolco.
"Well, to be brief, " Bunco said, "I'd like the three of you to come north."
Bolco looked at Lilac, stunned, who looked at Isembrand, who nodded at Bunco.
"We've had no time to tell you, " Bunco addressed his son, "but Banco is engaged to Emerald, now, and he'll be moving out of the smial soon to be getting his new one ready. Isembrand here is welcome to take Banco's old room if he'd like. And you know there's plenty of south-facing slopes where new holes can be dug, old-style; no need to build above ground in Long Cleeve! And we've gardens to tend to, " he said with a nod at Lilac, "and fields to manage, " he nodded at Bolco. "And I happen to know there's a large attraction for you some hour's ride to the north."
Bolco had already thought of it. Evendim. His eyes glowed, his lips parted, his heart quickened. And Bunco smiled, knowing he had only one more person to convince.
She looked at the glow on Bolco's face, and it only took a moment's thought. He clearly wanted to go to Long Cleeve. She had had enough of giving him sorrow and wanted no more of it; the water made him happy, she knew, and that made the decision simple. And--to be mistress of her own smial, and have a garden of her very own to tend... the thought had crossed her mind, but she had not seen how it could be done.
As tired as she was, it took a little longer for the resolve in her heart to show on her face. But she nodded, and said, "I'm willing."
"Well, that's settled, " Isembrand smiled. "We can settle out the particulars later. And now--"
"And now, " Bolco said, "How about breakfast? And then I think I'll need a nap. I'm still very tired. " He took Lilac's hand, and she groggily agreed. Bolco turned to his father. "We can chat again this afternoon, don't you think? Perhaps at afternoon tea."
Bunco nodded. "Aye. Maybe it'll be a bit easier over a beer."
Isembrand chuckled, and Bolco blushed. Toradoc coughed, and said, "Well, that's settled; I wonder if we've missed first breakfast with all our chatter." And he marched resolutely out the door. Bolco and Lilac followed him hand in hand, and Isembrand and Bunco followed after discussing Banco's wedding schedule and moving plans.
"You're quite sure about this, " Isembrand said.
"It's time the lad came home, " Bunco said softly, watching the curious, skeptical glances that various Tooks were sending Bolco's way.
"Aye, " Isembrand agreed, noticing the same thing. "It'll be quieter for him there."
"And there's another thing, " Bunco continued.
"What's that?"
"He's started teaching my other boys to swim. He'd better come north and complete the job, before they drown."
Isembrand didn't know what to say.
Bolco and Lilac stood side by side filling a teapot by the fireplace, and Bolco whispered, "Wait 'til you see it."
"Evendim?" she asked, finishing pouring carefully. When she was done, she put the kettle back onto its hook and then looked up into his eyes.
There was the old Bolco she had known. He eyes sparkled dreamily, his smile was faraway, and he gazed into her eyes, waiting, searching. She smiled and nodded. "That's it, isn't it. That's what is pulling you back there."
He set the teapot down, carefully, letting it brew; while he was waiting he spread some jam on two still-warm rolls fresh from the kitchen, and got them each a bit of cheese. By then the tea was done. He took her tea-mug from her hand and fixed her tea the way she liked it, and then fixed his own; handing her tea, cheese, and roll to her, he picked his up, and nodded at the door. Many eyes followed them as they headed out the door, but by the time they sat under the plum tree on the bench, they were alone. The morning was warm, the sun filtering through the leaves of the plum tree now heavy with fruit. Lilac smiled, looking around the little garden, noticing that her bouquet of pink snapdragons had taken a toll on the appearance of it. Leaning down, she carefully broke off a blossom ,and smiling, held it for Bolco to sniff. He inhaled deeply, and then kissed her hand.
He took a sip of his tea and then set his breakfast aside, and turned his full attention back to Lilac, his gaze intensifying. "Lilac, wait 'til you see Evendim. There's nothing like it anywhere else in the Shire. Wait til you see it."
She studied him happily, watching his soul shining in his eyes.
"I'll teach you to swim, " he said.
"All right, " she said, pleased. "I can bring Foggy with me to Long Cleeve, can't I?"
"You'll need him. Yes, " he laughed.
"Good, " she said.
She is adventurous, he thought proudly. The Scotts would be proud of her; Anne would like her; no, Anne would love her. They all would. But not as much as I do. Not nearly as much.
He took one more deep drink from her eyes, and then stood, gently took her teacup from her hands and set it on the bench, raised her to her feet, gathered her into his arms, and kissed her, drinking from her lips. Taking her hand, he held her hand over his heart, and led her into the full sunlight. Then he loosed the ribbon from her hair, and it cascaded rippling and shining down her back. Running his hand under her hair, he spread it over his arm, and held it up shimmering and glistening in the morning breeze.
Like Evendim.
Soon, he thought. Soon.