[Nurumaiel]

Robin had wandered back to the room Gaddy and Daisy were in, just in time to find Gaddy go down on one knee to Daisy. The lass' mouth formed a little 'O' and she stared down at her proposer. And then she said yes.

Everyone rushed forward to congratulate them, but Robin didn't. Tears filled her eyes and she hurried away, half-running, half-walking. Why am I crying? she demanded of herself angrily as the tears slid down her cheeks. I'm happy that they're getting married and... I'm... not... jealous... I... don't... love... anyone...

Robin stepped out onto an empty balcony and looked furiously down below her, where Elves were coming and going. Her eyes strayed up to the blue sky. She stopped crying and her eyes widened in horror. "What did I say to Dinodas?" she whispered. "I don't remember... what did he say to me?"

Nothing, just that it was silly people thought you two were in love with each other, a little voice said inside her head.

And then what? And then he walked away.

Robin pounded her fists down on the railing. How could she have been so stupid? How could she have ever thought... "Thank you, Gaddy and Daisy," she breathed. "At least you made me realize the truth."

"Hullo, Robin."

The girl's heart skipped a beat. That voice was so familiar. Dinodas... Her heart began to pound wildly and the color rose to her cheeks. "Hello, Dinodas," she replied.

"I forgot to tell you something," he said, hopping up to sit on the railing. "It was before the journey, but then when Bullroarer called us for the meeting, it slipped my mind."

"What is it?"

"You know my family have never been very rich, and, well, they're poorer than ever with all this hunger going on. They can't farm because of the winter, and even if they could, they're too hungry to. So..." He turned around so he wasn't facing her. "So I've found myself a home in Bree where I'll be living three years."

"Three... years?" In vain she tried to stop the tears that threatened to come once more.

"Yes. I'll work at an inn as a server. I had to tell you first, of all our companions... well, no, I don't think I'll tell them because they wouldn't care. You're really the only close friend I have." He turned around. "Why, Robin Brandybuck, you're crying!"

"How could you leave… to Bree… for three years?" she said, sobbing. "When we - " She stopped, and blushed, putting her head down.

A strange light came into Dinodas' eyes. The same one that had been there when they had ended their tour. "When we what?" he asked gently.

"I thought you… I thought we…" She couldn't continue.

"Robin, my little Robin," said Dinodas, lifting her chin and taking both her hands in his. "I… won't go if you don't want me to."

"You'll have to go. Your parents will need you to."

"Robin… I want to say something to you… or rather, ask you something."

She looked up, her eyes shining with tears, but not tears of sorrow. He brushed one of her brown curls away from her face. "I won't make any speeches, Robin. I don't think I need to. Will you marry me?"

"Yes," she replied, her voice only a whisper. Then Dinodas took her in his arms and did what he had wanted to do for years. He kissed her. Then, hand in hand, they left the balcony together.

* * *

Robin and Daisy sat on the latter's bed together later that day, laughing. "And I can make you a beautiful wedding dress, Daisy," Robin said. "Though I'm not that wonderful a sewer."

"You did well enough on that dress you got for my birthday," Daisy replied.

"I couldn't have done it without Dinodas," she said, her eyes beginning to shine. Daisy saw.

"Robin Brandybuck, do you have a secret you're not telling me?" she asked, but the way Robin's eyes had looked when she mentioned Dinodas told Daisy everything.

Robin threw her arms around Daisy and hugged her tightly. "Oh, Daisy, I do," she laughed, drawing back once more. "I've never been so happy in my life! Dinodas and I are engaged!"

Daisy kissed Robin's cheek. "Congratulations, Robin," she said. "I'm sure we're the happiest girls in the Shire."

"No, I think we're the happiest in all of Middle-Earth."

"When will you be married?"

"Not for a few years," said Robin, and told Daisy what Dinodas had told her. "But, oh, Daisy, I could wait for a hundred years need be. I'm just so happy that I know the truth. And I have you and Gaddy to thank for that. When I saw Gaddy propose to you, and you say yes, I suddenly felt unbelievingly jealous, though I didn't know why. And then I realized, and then Dinodas came, and…"

Robin jumped off the bed and danced around the floor. "I'm so happy!" she cried.

"You've already said that!"

"Oh, but Daisy, I am! You must know how it feels."

"Of course I do, silly! I've just been engaged, as well!"

"Daisy, you're the only one who knows. Bullroarer will have the Elves hold a feast, I'd imagine, in honor of his niece's engagement, and that's when Dinodas and I will tell everyone." Robin took Daisy's hand. "When we lost our first companion, I was sure that this journey could bring nothing but evil. But do you realize it has brought us joy? If we'd never gone on this journey, you and Gaddy probably would have never met each other, and Dinodas and I wouldn't have learned to love each other."

"You're right," said Daisy.

"Now I must go!" said Robin, giving a little bow. "I don't think I could wait until this probable feast to tell Nicrabanwen. She's one of my Elf-friends here. Goodbye, and tell Gaddy the good news. But no one else, you hear me?" And she hurried out the door, her heart full of love and happiness.