I. SR 1406 (Berilac is 26, Camellia is 26)

She laughs as she smiles, reaching for his hand. 'Oh, pardon me,' she says, for Berilac's heart is in his eyes, misguided though Camellia knows it to be. 'Oh, forgive me, Berilac, I hadn't meant to laugh.'

His hopeful expression crumbles at the edges, and then his face falls. 'You won't, then, will you?'

'And bind us both to marriage, and neither fully loving the other? Oh, Beric, you are very dear, and a better kissing friend I couldn't ask for,' and she leans over, hand covering his, and she kisses him, softly. 'I hope to have taught you as much as you have taught me.' And he grins, at that, tilting his head one way, then the other. Then he reaches, touches her cheek, and presses his mouth to hers.

'I'm not happy,' he says. 'But you'll say, we're both young, and we'll find someone else, and then we'll look back at this, and likely have a good laugh.' He looks at her, and Camellia feels he's read her better than he might a book, and she laughs and smiles, and gives his hand a squeeze.

'That's it, yes,' she says.

That doesn't him stop from kissing her again.

II. SR 1410 (Berilac is 30, Hildibard is 25)

They pack up and ride north, pass the North-gate, but don't stop. Hildy had suggested it, and Berilac is fond of him, so he says yes. He never thought Hildy one for sleeping out underneath the stars, and he hasn't done it for some time himself, for he doesn't spend the same time with Merry or Frodo as he did when he and Merry were both younger.

Hildy is nothing at all like Merry, at least not that Berilac can tell. And it's true, he's fond enough of the lad, the tween, that when he asked Berilac to go along with him, he had said yes.

Berilac hasn't ever gone beyond the Bounds, and Hildy hasn't either. They set a camp, and have a cold supper beside a cracking fire, and then they settle down on their backs, afterwards, Berilac pointing out the stars, and their names, and the names of the constellations, too.

Hildy rolls over, propped on one elbow, and he grins down at Berilac, his eyes glinting, warm. 'Tomorrow night,' he says, leaning to kiss, 'we'll have a proper bed. But thank you,' another kiss, 'for humouring me, Beric.'

Berilac grins back at him, pulls him close.

III. SR 1415 (Hildibard is 30, Camellia is 35)

The first he kisses her, it's summer, Lithe, and her mouth tastes of berries and other sweets, and bitter red wine. The second, it's three months later, and winter has come: and before he knows it, he's spending more time with Camellia at Brandy Hall than he ever had with Berilac in the miles in between.

The third and subsequent happen in such order than Hildy can't recall them, not to act upon, not to think. But he's fallen in love, harder, faster, than he ever thought he might, though he doesn't think it possible that Camellia might love him, too. She's years older, after all (but then, Berilac is years older, too), and she seems so serious, but not as if she's looking for a husband. And anyhow, Hildy hardly thinks he's good enough, or old enough, for that.

And anyhow, Camellia couldn't love him, and he tells her that as well as how he loves her. Then she says, her voice low, 'you might be wrong,' but her kiss is sweet, sweet as dream.

He doesn't think he's wrong, and she'll see it, she will: they're good enough as kissing friends, after all, and Hildy thinks they'll be even better off as more.

IV. SR 1419 (Berilac is 39, Camellia is 39, Hildibard is 34)

Camellia finds him, afterwards, with the signatures dry on the wedding contract, with the wedding party in full swing. She's beautiful, as she should be on her wedding day, for all the days are dark. She takes his hands, kisses his cheek, and he kisses her cheek in turn. 'I wish you all happiness,' he says, as formerly as he might. Camellia gives a little laugh, tips his chin, presses her mouth to his.

This isn't how he'd wanted Hildy to find them: but Hildy hasn't anything ill to say, and before Berilac gathers wit to think, Hildy's slid one arm about him, too. In the moment after, Berilac supposes there's a lot that might be said: they wouldn't have met, if not for him, and he's told Hildy about Camellia, and no doubt, Hildy has told Camellia things about him.

'We have discussed this at length,' Hildy says. 'We wish you to spend the night with us, Beric.'

Berilac thinks of all the things he might say: but he's lonely, and left behind, and he's done his very best to stay upright, and, for Merry's sake, keep Buckland standing, too.

He says he will stay, of course he will.