For once, I can say I actually own these people! A decade-by-decade drabble sequence involving Celandine and her husband, Matthais. I am now considering writing drabbles about their children, if anyone is interested.....

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Twelve-year-old Celandine peered down at the lad standing at the base of the beech tree. “What?’ she hollered at him.

“I SAID WHAT ARE YOU DOING UP THERE?” he shouted back.

“Climbin’!” Celandine chirped as she climbed higher.

The boy started to climb up after.

Celandine giggled at the sounds coming from below.

“OW! HEY, HOW’D YOU GET UP THERE ANYWAYS?”

“Talent!” Celandine said, as a very dirty hobbit poked his head up. She smiled at him, hazel eyes twinkling. “Hi. I’m Celandine Took.”

“Matthias Brandybuck.” the grey-eyed lad said, sticking his hand out.

The two hobbits shook hands gravely.

Twenty-two-year-old Celandine tossed her hair as she stalked away from a depressed Matthias Brandybuck. It annoyed her that the lad so obviously liked her and tried to show it in the most irritating ways. Celandine brushed a hand through her curls to make sure all traces of flour were gone. Matty had gone too far this time, dumping an entire bag of flour on her. He had apologized earnestly, saying that he had only meant to dump a little, but Celandine was furious and had left after calling the lad irritating and rude. I’ll die before I ever forgive that...that...Brandybuck!

Thirty-two-year-old Celandine watched Matthias Brandybuck load firewood onto a cart with an amused expression on her face, remembering when the two had been tweens and poor Matty had dumped flour all over her, entirely by accident. Celandine had hated him for weeks but now…now it was different. Now Celandine and Matty both lived at Brandybuck Hall, Matty with his family and Celandine with Primula Baggins. Besides, he does look rather fine now, all grown up and everything. Maybe I should go over and talk to him. Matty looked up and grey-blue eyes met hazel. Celandine blushed. Well, maybe not. Later.

Forty-two-year-old Celandine threw her head back and laughed heartily. She and her husband Matthias were out in the garden on a summer evening and Matty was being his good old self. Celandine smiled and watched her husband reverently touch her belly, holding their first child.

“When?” Matty asked softly.

“Any day now. A trouble, since I have to deliver Esmes' any day now as well.”

Matty smiled at her and Celandine rested her head on his shoulder. “You’ve come a long way from the lad who dumped flour all over me.”

Matty winced. “I had hoped you had forgotten that…”

Fifty-two-year-old Celandine looked at her twin six-year-old daughters, who were covered in flour. “Tell me again what you were trying to do.” 

Kisa, the bolder of the two, spoke up. “We was tryin’ to bake!”

“Bake what?” Celandine asked.

The girls looked at each other. “We hadn’t figgered that out yet.” Autumn said softly.

Matthias walked in and stopped short. “Well, well well! I never thought I’d see this again. Celandine Brandybuck, white as a blizzard.”

“I appreciate the comparison, now come here and discipline your daughters.”

“My daughters?”

Celandine smiled. ‘They take after you when it comes to flour.”

Sixty-two-year-old Celandine held her two-year-old son, Birch on her hip and watched her other children gaze at Bilbo Baggins who was telling a story. Celandine smiled and turned to her husband Matthias. “I think Birch here is sleepy.” she said quietly. “I’ll go put him to bed.”

After quietly closing the bedroom door, Celandine turned and bumped into Matty.

Her husband fingered the gold oval-shaped locket he had given her for a wedding present. “It’s been nearly twenty years.” he said softly.

Celandine smiled at him. “Twenty wonderful years.”

He kissed her gently and Celandine felt like a lass again.

Seventy-two-year-old Celandine watched her oldest son, Dodinas tease Violet Banks with a sigh. ‘They’re growing up.” she said to Matty. “Before you know it, she’ll be Violet Brandybuck.”

Matty smiled at his wife. “All Brandybucks are charmers. Look at me. I won the heart of the stubbornest lass in the Shire.”

“You did not. I came of my own accord.”

“I never told you, but the day after the….flour incident, I heard you say you wouldn’t forgive that ‘nasty old Matty’.”

Celandine poked her husband in the ribs as Violet flounced away, leaving Dody behind her. Here we go again.

Eighty-two-year-old Celandine wiped away a tear as her daughter, Autumn turned and gave her mother one last smile before kissing her new husband. Celandine sighed and leaned against Matthias. “I’m not ready.” she murmured.

Matty pressed a kiss on his wifes’ temple. “Getting married doesn’t make them love you any less.” he said softly.

Celandine watched as her four tween children went to congratulate their sister. “Before you know it, Thai will be leaving.” she said, using her son, Matthias’ nickname.

Matty smiled and the two turned back to Autumn. Fareyouwell sweet Autumn. I’ll always love you, baby girl.

Ninety-two-year-old Celandine cradled her daughter, Meadows’, child. “My last baby.” she murmured.

Matthias smiled. “What was that, Cel?”

Celandine turned to her husband and daughter, who was relaxing on the bed. “This will be my last delivery.”

Matthias looked concerned. “No, Celandine. Everyone loves you.”

Celandine gave her husband a grin. “How am I supposed to enjoy my grandchildren if I’m always away? This little girl is my last.”

“Her name is Celandine.” Meadows whispered from the bed.

Matthias gently touched his wifes’ shoulder and placed a kiss in her hair.

“Thank you child.” Celandine said softly, cradling her grand-daughter.

One-hundred-and-two-year-old Celandine laughed and scooped up Lindy’s four-year-old grandson Rory.

Lindy smiled gratefully and glared reproachfully at her grandson. “Now, Rory, be nice to Auntie Celandine, she’s a very old hobbit.”

“Just because you’re five years younger…” Celandine muttered.

Lindy laughed as Rory reached out for Celandine. “Landy!” he said, squirming in his grandmothers grasp.

“Y’know, I sometimes wonder why I retired.” Celandine said, as she cuddled the lad.

“To spend more time with me, of course!” a voice said from the doorway.

Celandine turned to see her husband Matthias standing there. She smiled. “Yes I do believe that’s why.”

One-hundred-and-twelve-year-old Celandine slowly walked to where Matthias sat. She set herself down and turned to him. “What are you thinking about?” Celandine asked.

“About the day we met. It was exactly one hundred years ago today. You were in that tree and kept climbing higher and higher. I ripped my best shirt climbing after you.”

Celandine giggled. “I’ll bet your mother was mad.”

“Oh yes. She asked why I had climbed up in the first place. How was I supposed to tell her it had been a lovely pair of hazel eyes?”

Celandine smiled and the two sat silently, remembering.