My life has taken another twist, a half-turn. It is amazing how many things can happen to a hobbit in just one day!
A while ago Amorey left the Shire, sold her house and left Bramblebury, leaving me behind, devastated. I could not bear to see the house where once we both lived go into other hands, so on the spur of the moment I bought it. Walking through the empty deserted burrow made me more sad then I already was. I moved some basic furniture in but when the night came, I could not bring myself to sleep there. With all those memories, I could not sleep there alone. I had written a note to Amorey to tell her that I had bought the house. I thought she'd better learn from me then from anyone else. But I got an letter back that made no mistake: "Go away! Leave me be!". Incredibly sad as it made me, I realised it was for both our best not to contact her anymore. I was completely cut off from the lass I loved so much and who I missed every minute of my waking hours as well as in my haunted dreams.
But I had not hit rock bottom yet. Shire Rose, the one thing that still linked me to her, got disbanded. I was now truly alone. But love is not like a candle that you can blow out. How could I ever forget the fair lass that I had so many adventures with, so many lovely hours together? I had to deal with it and tried anger. I got mad at her for leaving me and treating me like she did. It did not work, I still felt the need to be with her. I tried hard work. I went out of bounds seeking danger, I went to the Bramblebury Gazette's office and started the preparations for it's anniversary. I lost my temper over the fact that no one seemed to care that our deputy mayor was missing and would soon be declared dead. Did it help? No, if anything it reminded me constantly of two other persons that were missing in my life: my sister and my beloved Amorey. I tried music. I looked up members of the Bramblebury Band that was still nameless, although.. "Bramblebury Band" seemed to indicate to all who were meant. With them I played a lovely song dedicated to Amorey on a Green Dragon Friday. So no, this did not help to forget either.
I realised I could not forget because I did not want to forget. I had lovely support from hobbits who will always be dear friends to me. I will name only one of them: Miss Tibba took time out of her busy business life to sit and listen to me and comforted me with wise words. She made me Roasted Taters, which I appreciated so very much. No, I had no lack of people who really cared about me and my fate.
But then came a day with many events and big changes! Byco, my full cousin, visited me almost daily because he also cares about me and feared for my well-being. What I did not know is that he was still in contact with yule, former chief of the former kinship of Shire Rose. I don't know what they all talked or wrote about, but last night he said he heard that Amorey was not well. I jumped up, demanded more information, but he could not give that. Yule will know more, he said and promised to arrange a meeting between me and her.
I met Yule the next day in the Bird and baby Inn. But it was too crowded there to her liking and she invited me to her wagon, stationed in Ravenvale. It was put in a garden of a house there and to my amazement the nameplate on the door read: Amorey! But I had more urgent matters to ask Yule. How was Amorey? Was she really not well? Where was she, so I could go and try to heal her!
Yule smiled and calmed me down. First things first. She told me things then that made my jaw drop. I cannot go in detail here, but Amorey sent me away for my own safety! Apparently she attracted danger, Shire Rose did even, and Yule and Amorey were given the order to disband and stay away from everyone not directly involved in... well, what I don't even totally understand myself.
But Amorey never ceased to love me, she only had to pretend. and this felt so hard for her it affected her whole being. She was in a bad condition. The only positive news was, she did still eat. I was reminded of one of the most difficult episodes of my own life, where I did not want to eat, just wanted to sleep, wanted to not exist, basically. Amorey had all those signs, except the not wanting to eat. I needed to see her and urged Yule to tell me where she was. Yule told me, that I was the right person to go and heal her, but thought it better that Byco would first go to her, so I went home and waited impatiently for his return.
Overhill! She was in Overhill. I could have guessed that! I rode as fast as Avornbelt could carry me and knocked at her parent's front door. No reply, but there were faint fragments of harp music blown by the wind to reach my ears. There I saw her, standing on a rock, playing the most lovely harpmusic I had ever heard. I ran towards her. She kept playing as if she did not notice me at first, with glassy eyes she gave me an empty stare. Her clothes were mere rags, her hair uncombed and unwashed as was the rest of her. I feared she was indeed in the same stupor that I was in in that dark period of my life.
But look, she noticed me! She put away her harp and we fell into a long embrace. I could not believe I was holding my beloved in my arms again. It was like a dream! She told me she had never stopped loving me and I hastily declared the same to her. Her kisses tasted sweet as ever. I could not hold back my tears, tears of relief and joy. A nightmare ended here!
I looked her deep into those beautiful eyes and I asked her, again, "Will you marry me, Amorey?". "Ofcourse I will", she said happily smiling, "and I want the world to know that I love you! It will be the biggest wedding ever!". She was a bit worried about gaining weight lately. She ate a lot, she said, because she was genuinly hungry. I looked at her, but all I saw was my beloved Amorey. I made myself a solemn vow, that I would never ever leave this lassie, as well as never let her go. The love that had never died was now fully awake again, burning in my heart, our heart. Hobbit Heart beat again like crazy!
After she had taken a bath and put on clean clothes, we visited the market in Michel Delving. Many surprised faces turned around and soon cheers were heard: "Amorey and Peppy!" Yes, those names will be eternally linked now, but we will not hide away like we did, we want to be a big part of the life in the Shire. We returned home to rest. "Come to Ravenvale". We sat by the fire and had a long talk. It was all coming back, memories of happy days.
It was getting very late. Clumsily I asked: "Where shall I sleep?" Her answer was simply: "In my arms would be the best place".
Amorey, I will always love you!
