"All right, Aster, that was very good." Delphinium's compliment was grim. Stupid Aster. Stupid, sweet, helpless, blue-eyed Aster. "Now go to the rock and back again and try not to splash so much this time."
"You're trying to drown me!" Aster complained and Del was surprised the little darling actually raised her voice.
"I can't drown you in water you can stand in." Both girls glared soggily at each other.
"Most Hobbits weren't meant for swimming. Sammie says it's all right if I can't do it. " Aster declared. Del's eyes narrowed and Aster stepped back. "Um, I mean...I'm tired...and...cold...and..."
"I'm not Sammie and it's not all right. Besides, the Brandybucks can do it. The Tooks can do it. All the Gardners are wonderful at it. Master Frodo swims like a fish and so does Sammie. And I'm as good as they are."
"Yes, but..."
"DON'T 'BUT' ME!!" Del shouted. Aster flinched. Del counted to ten. "If I can swim, you can swim. You can do everything I can do and you will." She decided to make a generous gesture and patted Aster stiffly on the arm. "Now, go to the rock and back here again and DON'T pull yourself along the bottom this time." Aster sighed, stooped and crawled back into the shallow water. "Think Water Nymph! You're a graceful, elegant Water Nymph!" As opposed to a cringing little milksop.
"Water Nymph!" Aster choked, dog-paddling earnestly towards her rock in the middle of the stream. "Water...kaff! Nymph!"
"Once you've mastered how to swim I'll teach you to climb trees!" Del called and smiled at Aster's splutter of protest. By all that was holy if Aster was going to be Sammie's choice then Del was going to make her worthy of it. Or kill her trying.
~