A/N: Sarah here- This is my first story...inspired by WhispersofaNamlessFear's "Frodo and Sam". I loved how she made it so close to the book, including dialogue. Hats off to her! I am not planning on adding more to this ficlet...but with the right inspiration I just might. This does not necessarily mean more reviews, although that may give me an idea of whether people like it. Thanks...Sarah

A New Beginning...

Getting ready for afternoon tea, Estella Bolger started at the sound of a horn call. It was a beautiful sound, and she felt it pull her outside. She ran to the clearing where hobbits were slowly congregating. She heard a vaguely familiar voice shouting, raising the hobbits. "Awake! Awake! Fear, Fire, Foes! Awake! Fire, Foes! Awake!"

It was Merry Brandybuck! Back from the Old Forest! He looks different, older... she thought. Taller! Estella circled around the growing group, watching Merry shout orders as the sky turned pink from the setting sun.

Merry looked around while waiting for the rest of the hobbits to congregate. He saw a shining head of blackest-black hair bobbing around. Then he met a pair of clear green eyes. He couldn't draw away from them as conversation went on around him. "...reckon there's not above three hundred of them in the Shire all told, and maybe less. We can master them, if we stick together." Farmer Cotton was saying.

"Have they got any weapons?" Merry asked. Apparently the ruffians only had whips, knives, clubs, and some bows.

"They've shot one or two of our folk," Cotton finished.

"There you are Frodo!" said Merry. "I knew we should have to fight. Well, they started the killing." It was revealed that the Tooks had started the fighting and the Smials were now under tight watch. Pippin left to rouse Tuckborough with about six others on ponies, and as they left Merry blew a horn-call after them as they rode off into the growing darkness. Everyone hooted and cheered.

"All the same," said Frodo, "I wish for no killing; not even of the ruffians, unless it must be done, to prevent them from hurting hobbits."

"All right! Merry said. "But we shall be having a visit from the Hobbiton gang any time now." He looked over the community. "They won't come just to talk things over. We'll try to deal with them neatly," he said, glancing at Frodo, "but we must be prepared for the worst." He caught Estella's gaze, which had been watching him very closely. "Now I've got a plan."

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While everyone waited for the ruffians to arrive, Merry went in search of the emerald-eyed Estella. He found her waiting in behind a bush, with a small dagger, ready for action.

Estella jumped when she heard a voice. "I think you should go home, Miss Estella. This is not the place for beautiful young hobbit-lasses." She snickered, thinking it funny to be called beautiful. "Well then, if I see any, I will tell them to leave," she replied.

Merry was taken aback. How could this gorgeous girl (he had to admit, he'd always thought so) with raven locks and greenest-green eyes insinuate being anything other than beautiful? "Estella," he began, but she cut him off.

"I want to fight, Meriadoc." He winced at his full name. "I love the Shire just as much as these gentle-hobbits, if not more. I want to fight for the things I love." She expressed this so passionately that Merry had no choice but to yield. He remembered a time not so long ago when he had felt the same way.

"Fine. I understand how you feel, but I cannot let you fight by yourself," he said. Estella began to protest, but Merry continued. "Therefore, I will fight at your side." He wanted an excuse to be near her.
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The Battle of Bywater ended before the night was over, though it took effort to run off the ruffians. Unfortunately, some hobbits were killed, more wounded, but the scoundrels got the bitter end of the fight.

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Thanks for reading!