Lily's parents met in the most romantic way. Or at least Lily thinks they did. If many other people knew the story, they wouldn't think so. But Lily's an odd child from an even odder family so how they met makes perfect sense to her.
Dora Loamsdown was a rather unordinary girl. She spent most of her life out in the forest and not enough time learning useful skills. When she reached the age of 33, she has spent more of her life hiding in trees and burrowing in holes than baking in the kitchen and sewing in the parlour. Most boys, expecting her to be a typical Loamsdown girl, were shocked by her strange attitudes and would have nothing to do with her. Dora was all too happy to be left alone by Hobbits. She liked nature more anyways.
Often, she would spend days in the woods, walking among the wilderness and daydreaming. During one of these rambles, she came across a spider, larger than any she had seen before.
It was a pity that Dora had never heard Mr. Bilbo Baggins’ stories; otherwise she might had recognized it as being the bastard offspring of a Mirkwood Spider.
She stepped too close to the spider, trying to decide if it was real, and was bit. By the time she managed to return to her home, the poison had coursed though her system and she collapsed on her parent's doorstep, leg swelled up and mostly dead.
Dora was declared dead by all who saw her and the Funeral Hobbits of Bindbale Wood were called to take care of the body, since none of Dora's family was able to do so. Her body was left in the care of young Merimac Brambleburr.
Merimac wasn't an ugly child, but he wasn't what most hobbits would consider handsome. His skin was far too pale and his hair was greasy and barely curly. At most parties, Merimac could be found hiding at the table furthest from the crowd and his words were punctuated by a stutter so strong that most Hobbits didn't have the time or patience to try understand anything he was saying.
Because of this, he spent more time with the dead than with the living. And this was how Merimac met Dora.
It was love at first sight, or at least for Merimac. He had never felt anything for girls before, but this one was different. Her hair was red as a ripe strawberry, a colour that was rare in Bindbale Wood, and her skin was soft to touch. And Marimac was so smitten at the sight of Dora that he just had to give her a kiss.
And when Dora woke to the sensation of lips pressed against hers, and looked at the green-eyed Merimac, she finally understood why her sisters had been so boy-crazy. And, not knowing where she was or why she was naked, she kissed back.
There was a bit of a panic when Dora walked out of the Bramblerburr home, completely alive. Dora's mother had fainted and bashed her head on the ground rather bad, and it took almost two weeks before Dora's youngest sister believed that Dora really was alive and healthy.
It was a rather quick courting for Dora and Merimac, both of them spending any extra minute of time with each other. They were married after only a month, much to the displeasure of the Loamsdowns, all who refused to attend any ceremony or even acknowledge that it was happening. The Brambleburrs were only too happy to receive Dora into their family, hoping that someone like her would be able to bring their quiet son out of his shell.
And when little Lily Nightshade was born, a month earlier than most other babies, there were a few wagging tongues. And a few whispers about what sorts of things those Undertakers did. But if Merimac and Dora ever heard the rumours, they didn't pay them any heed.
They were happy with their business and their little girl and really couldn't care less about anyone else.
~