She reached into the chest and brought out a soft, padded red satin bag tied up tightly with orange and yellow knotted ribbons. At the end of each ribbon was a sparkling crystal. The gift was rolled upon itself like a jellyroll. When Daisy loost the ribbons, the bag suddenly unrolled with a tremendous noise of tinkling bells and jangling crystals.

“Oh my!” Daisy squeaked. “Oh! I hope I didn’t break anything! Oh! Uncle Frodo will kill me if I’ve broken anything!”

“Don’t worry,” Faramir said, “Uncle Frodo’s not here to witness your racket.”

“I think he’s dead anyway,” Tom whispered to Robin.

“I don’t think so,” Robin whispered back. “I think he’s still alive at that place Dad’s sailing to. Tol whatever-it-is.”

“I hope Uncle Frodo’s there waiting for Daddy,” Primrose said. “I would hate to think that Dad suffered going to Sea and braving all that awful bouncing green water for nothing. He’s so uncomfortable around boats. I never thought he would get on that ship once he saw the Sea. But he did.”

“And now he’s gone, and Mother’s gone, and it’s just us,” Frodo sighed.

“Oh, stop it, everyone!” Daisy stomped her foot on the floor. “You are ruining my letter with all this gloomy talk.”

“What letter?” Bilbo shot back. “You don’t have a letter.”

“What!!!” Daisy yelped. “I don’t have a letter?!?”

Bilbo laughed and waved an envelop in his sister’s flushed face.

“You…. You liar, you!” Daisy snatched the letter out of Bilbo’s hands and huffed her way back to the satin package. She plopped down on the rag rug, crossing her legs in a most unladylike fashion. “Whoops,” she said, rearranging her skirt so that her underwear was not showing.

Ruby giggled and shifted positions. “Oh, stop it, Daisy. You’re making me laugh, and now I have to pee.”

“Pregnant lasses always have to pee,” Merry laughed. “You of all people should know.”

“Oh, do be quiet and let me read this,” Daisy interrupted.

My darling Daisy,

Another golden child. But golden with the kiss of fiery red in both hair and temperament. How I should love to caress your soft hair by the firelight. But alas, I shall have to leave that joy for another, much younger hobbit, if he suits your fancy. Make them wait, my dear. Make them wait. You are worth the wait.

Your love of life and beautiful feet are a joy to all who are fortunate enough to see you dancing in the firelight, oh child of the flames. Open your gift now, if you haven’t already. You know where it is.

“How DOES he do that?” Merry exclaimed.

“Shut up, Mer, and let Daisy finish,” Goldilocks laughed. She tied the silly bonnet’s ribbons under her chin, causing Faramir to burst into an uncontrollable fit of giggling. He stifled it behind his hands.

There were three compartments in the soft satin bag. Daisy untied the first compartment, reached in, and was rewarded with the high-pitched sound of bells. She pulled out a tangle of tiny golden bells suspended upon a couple of ankle bracelets. “Ooooo….” She couldn’t help herself. She quickly rolled them between her hands, untangling the knots, and slipped them about her shapely legs. They tinkled soft music against her tanned skin and slightly reddish curls of hair on her feet.

She reached into the middle pouch, and again was rewarded with the muffled sound of tintinnabulation. This time the little golden bells were embroidered into a bright amber silk bodice. Happy ribbons of red and green undulated about the fabric, creating an intoxicating rhythm all its own to compliment the music of the golden bells. “Ooooooooooooo…..”

Daisy stood up and put the lovely bodice on over her own dull brown one. She sparkled in the late afternoon sunlight pouring into the room though the leaded glass window.

“Go on,” Elanor said, “give us a dance, Daisy.” She started clapping out a fast rhythm and her siblings joined in, laughing and whistling.

Daisy twirled about in time to the percussion, causing the ankle bracelets to chime a merry tune. She was the embodiment of youth and happiness. Her reddish-gold hair bounced in the dancing. Daisy suddenly stopped and dropped to the floor. “I have to find out what’s in the last one.”

It was heavier than the others. She finally managed to undo the knot, and pulled out a mass of clear pink rose quartz crystals. Each had been drilled through at the top of the crystal, and all were attached at various lengths to a plate of the finest pure mithril. Daisy held it up to the light, and it flashed with an inner fire like unto the brightest diamonds. And as each crystal struck its neighbor, an ethereal and all-together exquisitely lovely melody was born.

“A wind chime,” Pippin said. “I could make you a stand for that, Daze.”

She was dumbfounded. “It’s so beautiful. So perfect. Oh, how did he know?” She returned to finish the letter.

Now everyone can see and hear what I have seen and heard in the mirrors. Now they may also hear your joy at life. I wish I could see you dance in person, oh beloved of the fire. But your father and I will hear your music across the Sea, and laugh with our own joy.

Love,
Uncle Frodo