65. Chapter 65: Epilogue
Epilogue
September 1463
Theo carfully set the three mugs of ale on the table and took his seat across from his brother and cousin. Around him, his family was enjoying a beautiful fall day in Brandy Hall’s garden. It was a few days after Rose’s birthday part, but Ivy’s family had stayed on longer and today they were enjoying some time together.
He grinned at his son. Sar was chasing after Ivy’s twins. Legolas and Gimli were quite happy to keep him busy, keeping up the tradition that had grown between the Tooks and Brandybucks of teaching your little cousins to get into trouble. Theo realized that he’d soon have to learn how to keep a stern face as he scolded his son for some brilliant joke or prank Sar had pulled off. He’d have to ask his dad for advice on that.
He saw of his daughter, toddling along with her grandmother to look at the autumn flowers. Arwen, still unsteady on legs not used to walking, had a tight grip on Éowyn’s finger. She had to bend over quite a bit to hold Arwen’s hand, but from the smile on Éowyn’s face as she watched the little girl pat at a purple dahlia, Theo didn’t think she minded too much.
His gaze drifted to Rose, seated on a blanket with Moira and Calla. Rose briefly caught his eye and smiled, then turned back to her conversation with Moira. Rose had a lovely glow about her. It had been just a week ago that Éowyn had confirmed Rose’s suspicions. There would be another little Brandybuck arriving in the spring.
Rose and Moira both quickly leaned forward to catch Calla, who had been just about to wobble over. Calla was just sitting up by herself, now. Moira caught her daughter and propped her back up. Calla squealed and gave her mother a slobbery baby grin.
Theo heard a quiet chuckle next to him and looked over at his brother. Eomer was watching his wife and daughter with a huge smile on his face. Theo felt a pang of sadness as he looked at Eomer. They’d be moving to the farm in Bridgefields in a few weeks. Uncle Freddy and Aunt Celandine were ready to pass the farm on to Eomer and settle in at Brandy Hall to be close to their daughters and grandchildren. Though he would only be a short trip away, Theo was going to miss his brother terribly.
He glanced next at Fari. He’d miss Fari, too, now that Fari had responsibilities keeping him in Tuckborough. Theo smiled. Fari was a different hobbit now that he’d put his past to rest. He’d finally revealed he’d gone north to see Diamond that summer. He wouldn’t say what had occurred between them, only that she wouldn’t be a worry anymore. But Theo could tell that whatever had happened had changed him. Fari no longer had that sense of sadness hanging over him that he’d had since childhood.
He saw Fari’s eyes light up and a big grin appeared on his face. Theo followed Fari’s gaze. Goldi came out of the Hall carrying Perry. Theo knew that his wife and son were the biggest reasons for Fari’s happiness. He didn’t think Fari would have made it through the past year without Goldi.
Theo watched Goldi pass Perry to Pippin. Pippin was a doting grandfather--almost as bad as his own dad--and took every opportunity to hold his grandson. Theo chuckled. Well, when he could get the baby away from Ivy, that is.
Theo looked back at his companions and they both looked up at him.
“Where would we be without them?” Theo asked, cocking his head towards their families. He grinned. “Glad you gave up on bachelorhood?”
Eomer and Fari looked at each other and nodded, grins on their faces. Then Fari picked up his mug of ale. “To love,” he said.
Theo and Eomer picked up their mugs as well, tapping them against Fari’s.
“To love.”
-o-O-o-
The End
September 1463
Theo carfully set the three mugs of ale on the table and took his seat across from his brother and cousin. Around him, his family was enjoying a beautiful fall day in Brandy Hall’s garden. It was a few days after Rose’s birthday part, but Ivy’s family had stayed on longer and today they were enjoying some time together.
He grinned at his son. Sar was chasing after Ivy’s twins. Legolas and Gimli were quite happy to keep him busy, keeping up the tradition that had grown between the Tooks and Brandybucks of teaching your little cousins to get into trouble. Theo realized that he’d soon have to learn how to keep a stern face as he scolded his son for some brilliant joke or prank Sar had pulled off. He’d have to ask his dad for advice on that.
He saw of his daughter, toddling along with her grandmother to look at the autumn flowers. Arwen, still unsteady on legs not used to walking, had a tight grip on Éowyn’s finger. She had to bend over quite a bit to hold Arwen’s hand, but from the smile on Éowyn’s face as she watched the little girl pat at a purple dahlia, Theo didn’t think she minded too much.
His gaze drifted to Rose, seated on a blanket with Moira and Calla. Rose briefly caught his eye and smiled, then turned back to her conversation with Moira. Rose had a lovely glow about her. It had been just a week ago that Éowyn had confirmed Rose’s suspicions. There would be another little Brandybuck arriving in the spring.
Rose and Moira both quickly leaned forward to catch Calla, who had been just about to wobble over. Calla was just sitting up by herself, now. Moira caught her daughter and propped her back up. Calla squealed and gave her mother a slobbery baby grin.
Theo heard a quiet chuckle next to him and looked over at his brother. Eomer was watching his wife and daughter with a huge smile on his face. Theo felt a pang of sadness as he looked at Eomer. They’d be moving to the farm in Bridgefields in a few weeks. Uncle Freddy and Aunt Celandine were ready to pass the farm on to Eomer and settle in at Brandy Hall to be close to their daughters and grandchildren. Though he would only be a short trip away, Theo was going to miss his brother terribly.
He glanced next at Fari. He’d miss Fari, too, now that Fari had responsibilities keeping him in Tuckborough. Theo smiled. Fari was a different hobbit now that he’d put his past to rest. He’d finally revealed he’d gone north to see Diamond that summer. He wouldn’t say what had occurred between them, only that she wouldn’t be a worry anymore. But Theo could tell that whatever had happened had changed him. Fari no longer had that sense of sadness hanging over him that he’d had since childhood.
He saw Fari’s eyes light up and a big grin appeared on his face. Theo followed Fari’s gaze. Goldi came out of the Hall carrying Perry. Theo knew that his wife and son were the biggest reasons for Fari’s happiness. He didn’t think Fari would have made it through the past year without Goldi.
Theo watched Goldi pass Perry to Pippin. Pippin was a doting grandfather--almost as bad as his own dad--and took every opportunity to hold his grandson. Theo chuckled. Well, when he could get the baby away from Ivy, that is.
Theo looked back at his companions and they both looked up at him.
“Where would we be without them?” Theo asked, cocking his head towards their families. He grinned. “Glad you gave up on bachelorhood?”
Eomer and Fari looked at each other and nodded, grins on their faces. Then Fari picked up his mug of ale. “To love,” he said.
Theo and Eomer picked up their mugs as well, tapping them against Fari’s.
“To love.”
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.
