A Birthday Lunch, and a Proposal!

Stock Road
The peaceful wood grows deeper here, the trees encroaching on the path, their branches forming a canopy above. Off in the distance you hear a couple of birds whistling to each other. They seem to you almost like two distinct voices performing a duet and you stop to listen for a while. First one calls out then the other responds and then the first calls out again. A small rustling in the underbrush near you startles you out of your daydream. However it turns out to be nothing but a couple of squirrels running playfully along the path. As you take in this breathtaking scene you smell the sweet aroma of the many wildflowers that grow in these woods and off in the distance you swear you can hear a babbling brook.
The road continues east and west as far as the eye can see.
Obvious exits:
South, West, and East
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RL (Arizona) time is Tue Dec 09 15:56:27 2003 (+time).
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IC time is about 12 Noon (lunch time) on Monday, Blotmath (November) 29, 1430 S.R.
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IC Weather Conditions
A drizzling rain sprinkles down from the sky on this Blotmath day.
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The air is still and calm- cool, but not so much that it could be considered cold. The sun has begun to peak out through the clouds- illuminating the forest to make it full of vibrant greens. It being lunchtime now, the sun is almost directly over head though occasionally a smattering of rain will fall down at the same time of the sun shining- a sun shower, if you will...The whole scene is perfect for a picnic, despite the dampness underfoot.
Running off of the road and into the forest, comes Megan- curls flying out behind her, basket in one arm- a bright exhilarated look on her freckled face. "Come on, come on! There's a perfect little spot just ahead!" she cries, eyes alight with excitement as she turns around and waits for her companion to catch up. "Come on!!!!"

Andrick laughs, and speeds up his step, to attempt to keep up with Megan. He looks at the woods around him, and calls, "'Ere, can't a feller enjoy 'is surroundin's?" He laughs again, and approaches Megan directly. "'Yer know this place pretty well," he says, "'Ave yer bin 'ere before?"

Megan spins around- practically bursting with energy as she begins to take off again. "You can enjoy them when we get there!! And look! It's sunny and if we take much longer it'll be pouring with rain by the time we arrived!" She skips deeper into the forest, sometimes hopping backward so she can watch Andrick as she goes. "Well, once.. and some hobbits told me to come down this way for a picnic so I came down and I looked and I found the perfect little place for us!!"

Andrick nods, and grins, fixated on Megan, as he walks quickly behind her. There is a loud bird's call, and he looks up, just in time to see a brightly coloured bird flying off from the top of a nearby trip. He smiles to himself, and stops for a moment, looking up the tree. He then shrugs, and carrys on after Megan.

Seeing him stopping to watch birds, Megan frowns impatiently. "Come on! We're nearly there now! There'll be plenty of time to watch birds when we arrive!" and off she goes- running along until she reaches a large clearing where an enormous tree grows in the middle, and the grass is soft and green and bunches of wildflowers grow up from inbetween, and they are surrounded in the sounds and smells of the forest. "Here we are!!" And from the top of the basket Megan pulls a small blanket and throws it onto the floor- grinning widely to Andrick; awaiting his approval.

Andrick throws his hands up in mock-fear, and says, "Yes Ma'am!" He begins laughing, but as soon as he sets foot in the clearing, he stops. He looks around, speechless. "Yer've outdone yerself, Meg," he says, "I don't reckon I've never seen a place so fair, 'cept maybe up the top o' Bree'ill, but it's a fair while since I bin there." He sighs, wistfully, and walks towards Megan's blanket. He stops, and bows, and beams, saying, "Mind if I sit meself down, Miss?"

Megan beams proudly at his words, spreading out the blanket and setting the basket on the floor. "Well, there was all types of pretty spots along the road, and I just decided to go exploring- what with the Wolves all hunted now, it was safe, and I was wandering through and I found this place here!" Megan looks at him curiously for a moment, then tilts her head to the side and nods once. "Why, of course, good sir...I'd be delighted if you joined me in my birthday lunch..."

Andrick laughs, and sits on the blanket, legs stretched out, and faces Megan. He still looks round the clearing, breathing deeply, and says, "Well, yer certainly picked a good spot fer it." He turns to face Megan, and says, "So what fancies 'ave we for yer birthday lunch, eh?" He idly picks a nearby flower, and tosses it towards Megan.

Megan now sits on the blanket opposite Andrick, pulling the basket over and opening it up. "Hm, I've got a whole lot of stuff- the hobbits were really generous, seeing as it was my birthday and all..." now she begins to pull out food- a few pieces of seedcake, cinnamon buns, fruit tarts, chunks of bread and cheese, a bottle of some kind of fruit drink, and a few packets of sweets, all of which she sets on the blanket, along with two hobbit sized cups to go with the drink. Apparently too wrapped up in getting out all the food- she fails to notice the flower until it's hit her and bounced on to the rug- at which time she grabs it and smiles gently to Andrick.

Andrick picks up one of the cups, and looks at it, barely filling his palm. He smiles, and looks at the rest of the spread. "Yer really 'ave outdone yerself in all respects Meg, a fine spot, a wonderful spread. I 'ope this'll be yer best birthday ever. All old, yer now, eh?"

Megan picks up her own cup and fills it with the fruit-drink, another smile-full of pride graces her face again as she holds out the bottle for him. "It should be.. I think it will be... Thank you for coming with me.." another gentle smile, and she reaches down to take a cinnamon bun- raising her eyebrow at his question. "Well, not /old/!! But, well.. I'm not so young any more.." she says- and falls into silence for a moment, as if reminiscing over her last 18 years.

Andrick takes the bottle, and smiles, as he pours its contents. He says, "I'd not 'ave it any other way Meg, yer know that. Can't 'ave yer alone on yer eighteenth birthday, can we now?" He, too, takes a cinnamon bun, and eats of it, apparently approving of it, judging by the expression of it. He drinks the fruit juice, and smiles, "They certainly know 'ow to make good food an' drink, these 'obbits." He says.

Megan seems occupied with eating her cinnamon bun now, occasionally sipping from the little cup- a contented look on her face and she gives a nod. "That they do... I think I'll miss Shire food when we go home.." a gentle sigh and Megan bites her lip- glancing up and around them- at the trees- their leaves falling, reds and yellows and greens. Something is on her mind but whatever it is she's keeping locked away- apparently happy looking around their little clearing.

Andrick nods, and says, in between chews on the bun, "We'll 'ave to take some of it 'ome with us." He finishes the bun, and immediately starts on a cake. "Erm," he says, "I, er..." His attempts at conversation are none too fluent. "If yer could 'ave anythin' as a birthday present, what would yer 'ave?" He looks up at the blue sky, and the coloured leaves, "Other'n a beautiful picnic in a beatiful place." He adds, grinning.

Snapped back to reality, and Megan gives a slight nod. "Yes, we will..." Now she looks at him curiously, finishing off her cinnamon bun before giving a shrug.. "Uhm.. Well.. I don't know, I don't really mind.." she pauses- thinking, flitting expressions on her face telling of all the thoughts she's having; all the different presents she's imagining.. "I really don't know.. Anything is fine.."

Andrick nods, slowly, and says, "Aye. Erm," he fumbles in speech, and his hands tremble a little nervously, as he fishes out a small leather pouch from his pocket, which he offers to Megan. The pouch contains a small, gold ring, with a small, well polished, and smartly cut, green gem set in it. He nervously says, "I thought yer might like somethin' like this, so I got one o' them dwarves, 'angin' round in Buckland to make it for yer."

Megan watches curiously- even slightly amusedly at the whole situation, though the look of amusement fades as she takes the leather pouch and peers inside- her mouth forming an "o".. "Oh.. Andrick.." she takes it out of the little pouch, and for a long time appears unable to say very much, but turns it in her hands- before she moves forward to embrace him tightly. "Thank you so much!"

Andrick watches, nervously, as Megan inspects the ring, and breathes a sigh of relief when her approval is made obvious. He returns the embrace, a little awkwardly, and says, "I'm glad you like it. I'd 'oped you would. I...erm..." He falls silent, without saying whatever it was he wanted to say.

Megan beams- almost glowing now. "Well of course I like it! It's beautiful" and now, as she sits back into her place, she slips it onto her finger and stretches her hands out to inspect it. Glancing up, she tilts her head slightly to the side. "You what?" her tone is curious, yet there is a hint of teasing hidden beneath- perhaps at his discomfort..

"I...I." This is evidently not an experience Andrick is enjoying, nor finding easy, "I was..erm..wond'rin', if yer'd...Well, I got that ring, it were more'n jus' a simple birthday present, as it were." He breathes in deeply, and attempts to continue, "Well, I...well, yer know 'ow we're plannin' on gettin' together in business, an' the likes? Well, 'ow 'bout if we got together in other ways, if yer follow me?"

Megan's face softens, and becomes sympathetic as he stuggles along, and though she may have understood where he was going all along, it's not until he's finished that she sits back and looks to be in a state of shock. "Oh gosh..." Now she looks across at him; considering.. thinking- a thousand different expressions flittering across her features again, and she bites her lip. Now- she drops the mask, and for a moment appears completely lost, before gathering her thoughts about her again.. "Well.. well yes, I want to! I mean, well.. the thing is.. I'm afraid.." the last words are said in a pained voice- admitting her own weaknesses!

Andrick breathes out, deeply, evidently very relieved, then sits up, straight, now excited. He says, "I, oh, that's grand, that is Meg. Thank you!" He reaches out to take Megan's hand, the one with the ring, and says, "I know, in a way, I'm afraid too, but, that don't make it any the less right. What is it yer afraid of?"

Megan watches everything going on very quietly, taking his hand carefully in her own- though she's almost shaking, and at his question, she bites her lip.. "Well.. it's just.. I don't know that I exactly know who I am anymore, see... and, you must see it yourself.." she stumbles over the words, unsure of exactly how she wants to explain this.. "And I'm afraid that.. well, with you, I don't have to hide any more.. and when I don't hide, I get hurt... and.." it looks as though the girl is close to tears now- too many dark secrets and too much truth and for a moment it looks as though she'll falter and put the mask back up.. "Do you understand?"

Andrick nods slowly, silently for a moment, then says, "I...I think so. But," He looks at the ringed finger in his hand, and says, "But, yer know, I'd never do anythin' to 'urt you Meg. Nothin'. Ever. Yer know that, don't yer?" He raises his other hand to Megan's face, and says in what he hopes is a supportive voice, "Yer don't 'ave to 'ide Meg, not from me." He smiles, and says, "An' jus' think of all the other fun we can 'ave together!"

Megan keeps her eyes lowered for a long time- perhaps to stop any tears that are lurking there, though finally she looks up and gives a weak smile. "I know... it's still hard.. but.. you'll help me, won't you?" Another tiny smile and she glances away for a moment. Looking back, any trace of tears are gone, and there is a bright smile on her freckled face. "We will have fun, and think of what they're all going to say back in Bree!"

Andrick nods, quickly, and says, sincerely, "O' course I will, Meg. Whatever yer need me to be, that's what I'll be." He grins, then laughs, and says, "I 'ope they've a good deal to say, though I'm sure we won't 'ave to worry 'bout that, not as long as Malorie Foxglove's around!" He chuckles, then comes over with a more serious expression. "I s'pose I ought to ask again, a bit more properly, as it were." He says, with only a very faint smile on his face.

Megan smiles brightly and nods eagerly. "I hope so too. It'll be funny to see their faces.. and mam, she loves gossip too- she'll be happy to tell all her friends.." Megan's eyes shine with delight as she imagines what's going to confront them when they return home... Now she looks across at him- her own smile faint on her lips and she gives a gentle shrug. "I suppose you should.."

Andrick nods and gulps. He breathes deeply a few times, then begins. He is only mildly less nervous this time than the last. "Miss Megan Tassleberry," he says, "Would you, do me the honour, of be...no, of allowin' me, to become your 'usband?" He lets out a small sigh of relief, having got the formalities over with, and gives his wide grin, then says, "There. I asked."

Megan smiles lightly, though for a moment it appears as though she has to think- as if making sure this exactly what she wants to do.. With a quiet giggle at all his formalities, she nods quickly, "Yes.. yes, of course I will.." now Megan appears to be glowing again, a wide, goofy-stupid grin on her face, and she squeezes his hand gently.

Andrick smiles, a smile that slowly creeps from the centre of his face to his ears, seemingly, and says, simply, "Thank you, Meg." He laughs, and strokes the hand squeezing his. Suddenly, he leans forward quickly to embrace Megan once more.

Megan smiles brightly- though somewhat amusedly almost as her bright eyes look from Andrick's face, to their hands and then back again. "And thank you.." She mutters, embracing him tightly and breathing a deep contented sigh.. "This has been an amazing birthday.." she murmurs during the embrace,

Andrick smiles, and watches over Megan's shoulder as two more birds fly up out of a tree, and he laughs, pointing at them. "Happy Birthday Megan Tasselberry." He says, then, grinning all over his face once more, adds, "Unless you want me to call you Megan Thatcher, now." He takes the two cups, and pours some juice into each. He then holds one out to Megan, and holds the other up.

Megan turns quickly as the birds fly out of the trees, a wide smile on her face as she takes in the scene surrounding them. "Wow... I'm going to be Mrs. Thatcher..." Megan frowns thoughtfully, then scrunches up her nose. "That'll be strange.. I'll miss being a Tasselberry.." there is indeed a hint of sadness that is in her voice- after all, it's not just a name she'll have to give up, but all the things being a Tasselberry involves; all the connitations that comes with it..Still she takes a cup and holds it up

Andrick nods, and smiles, saying, as he taps his cup against Megan's, "You could always be Tasselberry-Thatcher. That's what me mam did at first, she called 'erself Rose Greenfield-Thatcher, so I s'pose you could do that, if you preferred." He drains his cup, and wipes his mouth on his sleeve. "Honestly Meg," he says, "I jus' want yer to do whatever makes you 'appiest."

Note: We didn't get to actually wrap this up cos I had to run, but it'll do. ;)