Introduction
This is a quite a long story! I didn't intend to call this a fan-fiction, but *sigh* that, I suppose, is what it is. I started the first draft for this about three years ago on paper. I had no concept of what a fan-fiction was, or that people did them for that matter, so you could call this rather "untainted by rivalry." I am solely a Tolkien-aficionada and absolutely do not just go off of Peter Jackson's stuff. I mean, he had some good perceptions on some things, but you can never quite compare to what the mind imagines! Middle-Earth's fantasy, morals, virtues, etc. are limitless when you read, not just when you watch. This generation is blessed to have the movie "The Hobbit" not out yet (until December) so they could at least read it first and not have good literature spoilt. No, no, no, don't get me wrong, the movies are a good visual aid for those who appreciate Tolkien's work and understand them and their meaning, and I think the most important illustration of Middle-Earth in the movies were the characters. Disagree if you would like to, but I shall not yield. So to get to the point, Part One in Two Lads and a Lass is about the lives of young Meriadoc Brandybuck, Peregrin Took and Estella Bolger. They are the main characters. Some other important characters are Fredregar (Fatty) Bolger, brother of Estella; Evrard Took, a wayward lad that doesn't know about his noble spirit; Theno Brownlock, Merry's seemingly only forever-antagonist; Frodo Baggins, Merry and Pippin's older and wiser mentor; Pearl, Pimpernel and Pervinca, Pippin's doting older sisters who pretend to be stern with him; Diamond Took, a distant relation to Merry and Pip: she could talk the head off of Morgoth himself. There are plenty of others in the story, but I thought that at least these ones should be mentioned. I will try to get the next chapter up when I can. I am not a people-pleaser and will not rush against my insights. The whole story would be ruined if I did that. Also, you can be assured that I will keep on writing even if I don't get a single review. This is basically for my enjoyment, but I would appreciate comments and criticism. I will listen to all commentary and regard and mull over it a bit, yet it will not change my way of writing. Plus, if anyone has any requests for the story, I will take those into consideration too, provided that they are rated G, G, and G! (Except for violence, I don't mind that too much, provided that it isn't completely absurd and gory. I mean, we are talking about hobbits here people.) If anyone wants to see illustrations for the fan-fiction, then I will have them up soon. I personally thought that my chapters were short, but compared to others, they seem to contain at least five stories within them! When Part Two comes along, it will be a lot more dramatic than Part One, as it will contain the Scouring of the Shire and the great tragedy of the Merry Brandybuck family. Anyone up for more after Part Two? If so, then I'll have a story named Eight's a Crowd posted. It's about the Travelers children, and it is getting to be a great fun to write! Well, I'll leave you now to read. Christ be with you; Hobbit Freak.
J.M.J
Two Lads And a Lass: PART ONE
Chapter One: An Accident And A Fight
Disclaimer: All names, places and persons are the invention of J.R.R Tolkien. I assume no recognition for anything besides the plot, and even half of that belongs to Tolkien.
"Ooh! Prickers again . . . Merry! Ma' legs hurt! Can we not go home?" Little Pippin whined, scratching as burrs clung to his clothing. "Are you some kind of a child, Peregrin Took? Merry retorted, perhaps a little harshly as he struggled with a particularly stubborn branch that was blocking his walking path. "Shall a lass out best you for the hundredth time?" Pippin kicked at toad hopping across the trail he and Merry had blazed in the woods in a rivalry, against Estella Bolger, their ever-present lass friend, who was constantly going on about competition. "I'm tired of carrying your hmm . . . let's see, your waistcoat, your overcoat, your hat, your scarf. What shall be next? Your very self, possibly?" Pippin irately huffed and puffed underneath the growing pile of clothing.
A drop of sweat trickled down the bridge of his nose. It was mid-August, and intolerably hot, especially if one is holding a pile of woolen clothes, trudging though a stuffy forest. "This isn't what you made it out to be, as usual!" Peregrin grumbled, finally realizing that he had fallen for another one of Merry and Estella's scheming ideas. "As I said before; no thirteen year-old girl is going to beat her elder . . . what the duce are you hollering about now?" Merry exclaimed, thinking that his cousin could be utterly dramatic at times. He turned around from hacking brush down to see a mass of arms, legs and clothes on the ground. "Pippin!" Merry strode over to his cousin and started yanking coats and waistcoats off. One could tell that he was not in a tolerable mood for Tooks that made him lose to a girl by the force that used tearing the articles away from the heap.
"Mm-mm, hmm-mm-mm!" came a rather familiar voice from inside. "Es'! Where did you come from?" Merry cried out in surprise at revealing a smiling Estella, brown hair and petticoats askew. He thrust a hand out to help her up, and she gripped it tightly, and Merry thought lass-hands an odd type of squashy feeling. "Oh, I just decided to drop in after winning the race." Estella nonchalantly grinned. Yet the lad could see the hidden gleam of proud victory in her amber eyes. Merry dropped her in the process of pulling her up, and she went back down, as gravity seems to work in Middle-Earth, too. A Pippin-sounding groan emitted from the bottom of the pile. "Literally . . ." it said. "How in the blazes did you get there that fast?" Merry demanded, his thoughts fogged up with the vision of Estella winning what he had set out be the victor of. She furrowed her brows, and her dark eyes grew darker. "Make an apology!" she requested, a sudden angry flush slaying her white cheeks. "For what?" Merry asked as zeal also sparked in his glance as he set his square jaw defiantly.
"For letting me go just like that! And poor Pippin underway!" The lass pointed to the limp furry feet sticking out from beneath her. "Do I have to get the whole lot proper, Ms. Bolger?" Merry shouted vocally, throwing his hands up in the air. Estella, looking hurt and startled by the abrupt shout, pushed herself up and slowly started to walk away. Merry realized he had let his passions get the better of him . . . again. For this was not the first time that he had made Estella upset by being resilient. He quickly went after her. "I'm sorry, Es'!" he pleaded; laying a hand on her shoulder as she sensitively stroked and clung to a nearby birch tree. Estella shrugged him away, and he noticed the livid tears collecting in her flashing eyes. "Please, Estella! I . . . I shouldn't have said such things. Forgive me?" No response. The caw of a crow up in a tree sounded ominous, and the yells of Pippin struggling to get himself untwisted were not.
"Would you come back home with us? You shouldn't be going alone, the sun's fading." Merry tried again to obtain forgiveness, yet received nothing but the cold shoulder. Estella shrugged without showing opinion, understanding that it would soon be night, and a lass alone in the woods in the darkness was a meal prospect for many of the hungry wolves that roved that countryside. Merry scolded himself quite severely inside for being so offensive in his speech to a lady. Especially if that lady just happened to be Essie. Merry was the only one in the Shire who could put her in tears, and he knew it, too. Estella was so strong and willful with everybody else when it came to her getting angry, yet when it was Merry, for some cause she only grew sad. Presently, and after coats and things were resumed to their proper places, and Pippin was thoroughly apologized to, the trio set off in what Merry thought was east, but was actually west. They tramped and stumbled in one direction for about an hour, until everything was a deep blue, and the night was swiftly approaching; all the while Pippin gabbing on and on about the injustices of being sat upon, and Merry trying to win back the friendliness of Estella.
This only made her angrier. Night had now come, and Merry was lost, though he would never admit it, even if it came to having to do some realizing about the matter. Slowly, the trees began to twist into hideous forms in the hobbits' minds as the blanket of darkness enveloped the forest. Their gnarled branches seemed to stir stealthily in the summer breeze, as if lying in wait for someone to seize hold of. The orange moon that rose overhead was suddenly covered by clouds, and to make their fright worse, a peal of thunder rolled across the land, every rumble making their hearts skip a beat. Pippin swallowed hard, and he was ringing his hands together. "Merry lad, I think you missed the last few turns a while back!" he quivered as a hoot owl called out unseen. Pippin started, tripping over Merry's feet. "Oof! Th-that was on intention, you know."
"Right." Merry and Estella said in unison. The lad tried to cast a knowing smile at her, yet she only glared at him. "Meriadoc," Peregrin said, getting up and brushing his un-tucked blouse off, ", I really do think that we are hopelessly lost. Either that, or you are trying to pull something funny."
Merry tried to put on a jolly demeanor, though he knew that they were very much gone astray. "Pip, silly boy! We are on the right track, you can bet on that. I just chose the long way this time." Estella jumped as a bolt of lightning split across the sky, and hastily wrapping her arms around Merry's middle. He in turn shakily slipped his arm around her waist. Old quarrels were forgotten now; Estella was scared stiff, and Merry was trying to act as gallant as possible. "It . . . it'll be alright, Estella! We just need to get out of this forest, and we will be safe as if we were warming our feet in front of the fireplace in a safe and cozy hole. You'll see." Estella gave a worried smile and nodded. That is when the downpour of rain began. Pippin looked at Merry as if he was holding a pig instead of a lass. "You've really done it this time, Meriadoc!" he reproached. Merry sighed. Estella sighed. Pippin even sighed. "So how would the lot of you like to spend a night in the Leaky Tree Inn?" Merry jibed, the driving rain streaming down his face in little squiggles and dripping off the ends of his curls.
"It would be better than having to bunk with you! You sleep talk so badly that I had to go and borrow Fatty's earmuffs!" Pippin exclaimed with a guffaw, taking the jacket around his waist and putting it over his head. "Oh, do dry up, Pippin!" Merry mumbled, grabbing Estella as she tripped on a root. He didn't want his blabbing cousin talking about his sleeping habits in front of Estella. "If you will be so kind as to stop the rain, then yes, I shall quickly dry up in a minute or two." Pippin was being very cheeky indeed. Before this argument could go any farther, Estella abruptly stopped. "Oi, Es'. Can't jolly well stop here!" Pippin called back, intending to go on with or with out them. Alas since it was Pippin, he was too frightened to walk much further without Merry. Merry, on the other hand, was at the moment being a bit more sympathetic. Even to the whims of a mere lass. He looked down at her. "What is it, Es'?" he asked, trying to put some concern on his face. Estella strained to see ahead through the ever-pouring rain. "I . . . I just don't feel quite right about going any further." She said, brushing a pine tree branch out of her face.
"Remember what Farmer Brockhouse told us?" she asked, "Remember, he said that in some of his pine groves, he had found some type of hole in the ground. We should turn back." "Come now, Estella . . ." Merry began, but Estella loosed herself from him and took several steps further in to a grove of pines, assuring him that they'd better be safe than sorry.
"So far so good!" she called back. Merry rolled his eyes. "Es'! This is a waste of time! Of course it's all good; Farmer Brockhouse was just bluffing to get us out of his woods." Estella shook her head. Merry had almost convinced her to come back, and then she hurriedly decided to take one more step. She gave a short scream as the others herd some twigs snapping, and then she simply wasn't there anymore. The pine branches swung back in place, covering their view. Merry and Pippin took one look at each other, and then Merry cautiously walked up to the trees. As he peaked through the branches, all that he could see was a gaping hole filled with pitching murky water; Estella was not in sight. He began to take his heavy woolen coat off.
"Merry! Nobody in the Shire can swim!" Pippin yelled over another clap of thunder. Merry turned to Pippin and said with a dauntless smile, "And I'm from Buckland."
"Meriadoc! You'll get yourself killed. We should go for help!" Pippin pleaded, not wanting his friend to go into such danger. The young Brandybuck turned his angry gaze towards the other. "Get help? So that Estella can stay here and drown? Get help . . . my goodness Pippin! Sometimes you can be daft." He said, flinging his waistcoat aside. Before he slid down into the hole, he said sternly to Pippin, "Peregrin Took, under no circumstances are you to leave this very spot, understand? I might need your help before long. But I'll be blest if you could even have the wits to find a tree branch!" Pippin was aghast that he was by himself, so he held his head and turned in circles, muttering, "Oh dear, oh me, oh my!" Meanwhile, Merry had jumped into the hole of water, and it was deeper than he had expected. Most hobbits cannot swim; they hate the mere look of a large body of water. But the hobbits from Buckland were queer in lots of ways, and some of them would occasionally swim in the Brandywine. Meriadoc, some said, was the best swimmer of them all. Oh bother! Estella, why did you have to go and fall into a bottomless hole? To get me to have to break my back trying to find you, that's why! He thought.
"Estella!" he shouted while treading water. A little wave came and dashed itself into Merry's face. He coughed and sputtered, whipping the wet hair out of his eyes with difficulty. "Estella!" he called again, thinking that he could not tread for very much longer; his legs were giving. Thinking that she might have gone to the bottom, Merry took the biggest breath that he could manage, and dove underneath the water. Deeper and deeper he swam, striving to touch some earth. Yet his ears had begun to pop, and there was no bottom that he could feel. I need air! His mind desperately screamed to breathe. The murk looked as if beckoning him to stop straining his muscles and let go to sink to the depths. It would be so easy. Finally he pushed upwards with his legs, standing no longer the throb in his head. Merry was yanked immediately back down; his suspenders had snagged on a root. Yanking until they ripped, he frantically paddled to the top.
As he surfaced gasping for air, the young Brandybuck could barely make out a faint, "Over here!" He strained his eyes to adjust to the darkness after a recent flash of lightning had nearly blinded him. Barely making out a ledge, he pathetically swam over to it. "Hullo!" weakly said Estella, holding a hand out for Merry to pull himself up on. He grabbed it with enthusiasm. Once Merry had with great effort climbed up the slippery edge, he gave wry smile while trying to catch his breath. "We meet again, then! Whoo! Are you alright?" he asked, seeing Estella's tightly drawn lips and short breathing. "My left ankle caught a root on the way down, I imagine it's broken." Estella said with a twinge, clutching her leg. Merry bent over and examined her ankle; it was bent awkwardly to the right. He clucked and said, "Well, I'm doing more than imagining. It for sure is broken; just our luck, too!" he flopped down on his back, too weary to move or think.
Estella gritted her teeth as coursing pain went up her leg. Merry worriedly laid a hand on her shoulder; she did not shrug him off this time. Estella tried to seem cheery. "I'm . . . I'm fine, Merry. Don't worry ab-about me! You're probably overreacting, and I just have a simple sprain." Merry smiled at her pluck. "You know it's broken, Es'. I just hope we can find a way out of here before you become worse than you already are!" he said, wringing out his sleeve. "Why don't you lean up against something?" he suggested, taking his ripped suspenders off. Estella looked over at the wall of the hole with roots sticking out this way and that, and some earthworms squirming around. "I'd rather not . . ." she gulped, breathing quickly from the agony in her ankle. She gripped a broken root and squeezed it so firmly that her hand turned a bit blue. "Where . . . is Peregrin, by the way?" she asked with difficulty. Merry jerked a thumb upwards, rolling his eyes.
"Up there, going off the wall, most probably."
"You had better call for him; he can't take care . . . of himself very well." Estella gasped with a sob as the pain in her ankle grew more intense, and she was beginning to catch a chill. "Estella? Really, you must lie down or something!" Merry exclaimed. Estella shook her head, as she was determined to take care of herself. Alas, she sunk down finally with exhaustion. Merry placed her head on his lap and spoke to her. "Estella? Are you awake? My goodness! You're burning up!" Estella sighed, trying not to "make a baby" of herself. Yet she had never felt such an intense pain before; she could nearly feel bone against bone. "Yes, I suppose this rain has chilled me some. You're all wet too; try to keep warm so you don't get sick! My foot hurts awfully . . ." After a while of just being still, Estella whispered, "Merry?" "Yes?" he answered, endeavoring not to show that he had dozed off himself. "Are you going to leave?" she asked. "Perhaps in a while; I must go and find help. Pippin would have called down by now if he were still here and he doesn't know his way about the woods." Merry said gently, pushing the mud-spattered hair out of Estella's face. Estella moaned, and Merry hushed her. "Go to sleep, and if I'm not here when you awake, then just wait until I get back." Estella stirred and half opened her eyes. "You will be back, though?" she asked, and a tear slipped out of the corner of her eye, and she wished it hadn't. "Yes. I promise I shall return, and I must find that fool of a Took. Sleep now, while you can, and don't trouble yourself about me." Estella closed her eyes to the sight of Merry smiling down at her, and slumber overtook her.
A comforting smell awoke Estella; she opened her eyes and wondered where she was. Golden light danced on her covers as shining through the leaves of a tree, and a breath of fresh air rustled her hair. "Why, I'm home!" she joyfully exclaimed as a great relief swept over her upon looking out of her familiar round window, and seeing familiar hobbits working in the barley crop. "Merry must've gone for help, and here I am!" Estella settled back into her pillows absolutely satisfied, trying not to think about her ankle, which felt rather numb. Just as her eyelids were slowly closing again, the door started creaking open, as if not to disturb the person inside. Estella quickly feigned sleep again, letting her head fall sideways. Somebody softly stepped closer. I wonder who that is! She thought, forcing herself to not open her eyes. Perhaps Father has come to see me . . . although that is a suspicion, since he has much work to attend to in the crops.
The somebody suddenly laid a hand on Estella's forehead. "Thank goodness . . . her fever's gone!" Estella immediately knew it was Merry. Checking up on her . . . as expected. As his hand fell down the side of her face, Estella couldn't help but giggle. "Estella . . ." Merry said with a tone of good humor. She opened her eyes gradually with a broad grin, and started right off in hobbit-fashion, "Hullo! I'm in good health before you ask, and where is second breakfast, I might add? Proper clothing might be of use also!" Merry chuckled lightheartedly. "You seem to be patching up nicely! And in good spirits, too! I shall ask again whether you like it or not if you are feeling well." he said. Estella seemed all of a sudden to be very interested in the pattern on her quilt. "Thank you . . . I owe you." She whispered, regretting the slighting she had done to him the other day. Merry shrugged. "Does that mean you'll forgive me for my impolite behavior? I hope does." he said, patting her hand.
Estella's amber eyes grew large. "Of course I shall forgive you! I was such a dolt for being so wholly stubborn! Will you forgive me also?" she pleaded. Merry sighed at the thought of what relenting can do, and that he should do it more often, even if his whole spirit cried out for him to be obstinate. "Certainly, Es', did you know you . . ." "Hullo! What are you doing, Merry?" Merry winced at the sound of Pippin's voice; it meant certain humiliation. He quickly removed his hand from the kind pat he had given her, shaking it around as if he was in danger of catching a disease. "I was checking her pulse, what do you think I was doing, Peregrin? She's as sick as a dog! What did you want me to do; wait here until she was all sick n' gray looking?" Pippin smirked, coming further in. "All that I saw was you holding hands!" he cackled in his high, floating way. Merry felt his cheeks grow hot. "That is absurd, Pippin! Please don't go telling the others your version of this . . . I'm not fighting anyone unless . . ."
"Fighting!" Estella, who had been amused up until now, exclaimed.
Merry shot Pippin a heated glance. "No, no! There are these lads, and they are practically stumps compared to me," Here Pippin raised his arm above his head. ", they aren't anything to be worried about." Merry noticed Estella's nervous expression as she stared at Pippin's antics of pretending he was getting pummeled. Merry took the top of her head and turned it back towards himself. "Estella," he said with annoyance, ", don't believe that fool of a Took. I can take care of myself." Estella sighed. "Can you? Really? You and that ridiculous thing called honor! Why you lads don't act more like us girls, I really don't know." The corner of Merry's mouth slightly turned upwards as he turned the funny notion over in his mind until her realized that he was indeed a lad, and now had to go and act like one. "Well Estella, Pippin and I must be off now. So sleep a bit more, and," he bowed politely, as was required for etiquette of cousins to the forth degree, and she was a third one, "breakfast shall be brought in to you shortly." Estella grinned.
Pippin did a likewise bow, perhaps with a bit more flourish, saying, "And please beg for some wizard's trick for this fifteen-year-old who thinks he can . . ."
"PIPPIN!"
"Alright! I'm coming! Goodbye, Estella. I hope you feel better soon!"
Estella nodded and waved. Once outside the door, Merry shoved his hands deep into his pockets. "How many of them? And by the way, your big mouth is going to get you into a good deal of trouble some day, sir." he said. "I can't help it!" the very young Took exclaimed with a hint of a whine.
"You never can. I asked how many, Pip."
"I'd say five or so." Pippin responded, wincing at the thought of Merry getting battered again.
"Oh bother, not Theno again, is it?"
Pippin reluctantly nodded. Merry looked thoughtful for a moment, then after a while squared his shoulders and sucked his gut in.
"I'm going."
"Just go and hide until they leave, Merry!" Pippin begged, falling on his knees and clutching Merry's jacket-ends.
"No Pippin! You aren't supposed to run from your fears, as most do, but face them head on and defeat them."
"You aren't defeating anything; I can tell you that much Meriadoc! But you've always been like that. Too Fallowhidish." Pippin began. Merry looked out of a window that they walked past at the waiting group of lads outside.
"Peregrin, I may not come out on top, but I shall conquer in knowing that I did the right thing." He softly said, rubbing his square jaw as if already feeling the ache of a right undercut. Pippin cast his eyes downward. "But how do you know that it is the right thing to do? I mean, Estella never will know, and even if she did, she wouldn't want you to not do this." he mumbled, shuffling his feet. Merry turned away from the window and looked at Pippin. "How do you know that chopping firewood for Ms. Brownlock in the dead of winter is the right thing to do? She would not want you to do it, but it needs to be done. You yourself don't even want to do it, but does that change what's right? No. If you can overcome the part of you that wants to be weak, then you know what the right thing to do is." Pippin beamed up at his cousin, thinking that he was wise beyond measure, for that last bit he had spoken was very important-sounding indeed.
"Merry lad, I think, then, you do need to do this, if it's the right thing to do."
Merry gave Pippin's shoulder a shove.
"Thanks. Are you going to watch me get pounded?"
Peregrin thought about it for a second, and then decided, "Yes. That would be the right thing to do. Oh yes, and please don't preach to me anymore, Meriadoc. Ma' sisters already pay me out for being born a lad." Merry chuckled and put his arm around his companion's shoulders. "Alright, Pippin. If you don't want preaching, then you're going to have to make a promise."
Pippin looked up at him, saying, "What kind of a promise? Anything for you, Merry." "Oh, nothing much . . . just stop being in every respect so stupidly lacking judgment that you're idiotic. Then I can stop preaching, and take a breath that is peaceful in knowing that you aren't out to kill, embarrass, mortify, bruise, give stitches, or very plainly fry my brain with your antics. Ah! It's alright, Pip," he said, patting the head of a still very clueless Peregrin, "Someday you'll be seventy, and by then maybe you'll have been tamed." And off they went towards the side door that led out into an old crop field. On reaching it, Merry slowly opened it. As soon as his face was in view, the bunch of lads outside stopped talking and put menacing looks on their faces. "Hey there lass-lover!" some jeered as he walked up before him, Pippin at his side. Merry didn't answer, but drew a line in the dust with his foot. "Who's first?" he asked, taking his waistcoat off and rolling up his sleeves coolly.
The rather large hobbit that was approaching just ripped his waistcoat off; buttons flew and Pippin gulped. "I am, sweet Merry-love! Unless you give up now and stop hanging around with dolly-playing girls!" This lad was obviously Theno. Merry sighed. "If you insist on having to do this the hard way, then so be it. But I shall not lose a good friend because of your jealously, perchance that is what your feeling." Theno seemed to rumble. "Have at it, then!" he furiously yelled. "And who are you?" he growled at noticing Pippin, knocking him over with one push. "Peregrin Took." Pippin feebly answered, clutching his cousin's hand hurriedly. He wanted to run, but thought better of it as he remembered what Merry had told him. "Ha! So you have a Took to follow you around, eh, Merry?" Theno obnoxiously laughed. "Are you going to spend all day poking fun at ten-year-olds, or are you going to get it over with?" Merry asked, doubling up his fists.
The fight had begun. Theno swung first, and his lot cheered. Merry ducked and gave him a wallop in the stomach, giving an open-mouthed smile to Pippin, who made a single hurrah. Theno was not happy about the stomach; he was used to winning these things. And besides, Merry Brandybuck was too cheeky for his tastes. So he grabbed Merry by the middle and flipped him over on his front, knocking the wind out of him. Theno sat upon him, shoving his face into the dirt. "Say you love Estella Bolger, and you want to . . . hold hands." Theno apparently thought this was some kind of a smasher, since he looked over at the others and they cheered again, throwing their hats in the air and clapping. "This is so very animal . . ." Merry groaned, successfully earning a mouthful of dirt. "Say it!" Theno commanded. Merry chuckled, and he would have said it if the pride of a boy had not gotten in the way. "No." he answered with a smile that was ridiculously sweet.
Theno pounded his head into the dirt a couple of times, and then demanded again for him to say it. Merry now had a bloody lip, and it hurt to have a sixteen-year-old sitting on top of you. As he refused again and again, Theno roughed him up more and more until Merry finally had to give in. But he gave in with sauce. "Alright Theno! I don't think I can stand much more of your weight on my ribs; I caught a minor cold last night having a grand adventure. So I love Estella and I want to hold her hand. Satisfied? Like to hear stuff like that? Now shove off!" Theno was about to relent with many a taunt, when he had a better idea. "I shall, Mr. Mushy," Merry winced at the title ", when you promise to show us!" A hot anger flared up in his chest at the thought of bringing these foolish lads into Estella's room, sick though she was, and humiliating himself. No. It was out of the question. Right now was one of those moments where he needed to overcome his weak side and do what was right; even if it meant a tender torso for a week.
"I shall not do anything of the like! I am the heir to the Mastership, and I won't take this from you anymore!" Merry yelled; his jokes were all spent. "Pippin!" he said. Pippin uncovered his eyes for a split second, and then plastered his hands back in front of them, whimpering, "Yes?" "See that lad, Theno?" Merry asked, struggling to get loose now that his temper had begun to blaze. Theno turned his head. "You mean that pipsqueak?" Pippin's teeth chattered noisily, alas he couldn't help but make a pun. "You mean Pipsqueak!" Merry snickered at his friend's awful wit, saying in spite of it, "He can take your whole lot on! He is much stronger than he looks!" Theno laughed until tears ran down his cheeks. Pippin fainted and dropped down with a thud and Merry groaned. How did he know that that fool of a Took would swoon like a lass right when he needed him? "Well, he has . . . err . . . frequent convulsions. So if you don't want to catch that horrid disease, you might want to back away. Achoo! Excuse me; I might be coming down with a touch of it!"
Theno rolled off of him, wiping his hands on his trousers. "What's a conpultion? Is he dead?" he questioned with wide, fearful eyes. Merry stood up, flexing his neck. "Mayhap in a week or two, he shall be. Sad story of how he caught . . ." Before Merry could say another word, the others were gone. "Ha! He laughed, setting his hands on his hips and savoring his cleverness. "Get up, Pippin!" he kicked at the sprawled out figure. Pippin groggily awoke. "Mum?" he murmured. "I am most certainly not!" Merry affirmed. Pippin sat up and rubbed his eyes. "I had a most horrible dream about you and . . ." he looked up and saw Merry's un-tucked, dirty blouse and bloody, yet victorious, face. "That wasn't a dream!" "State the evident, Pip." Merry said. "What?" Pippin scratched his head, confused as always. Merry suddenly realized that he was out in the open, and Mrs. Brandybuck could be looking out of any window. "I need to go and clean up before Mum sees me; I'll get a lecture."
"Ahhhhh . . . then thoo I thop this, Edthagar?"
"Just as soon as . . ."
"Ah! That hurths! Doh poke me, Thatty!"
"I didn't poke you!"
"Thy thoo I need to thoo this, anthythays? I'm thot thick!"
"Of course you're not thick, um, sick. I am just making sure before you get up."
Fredregar removed the tongue depressor from Estella's mouth. "You look alright, I guess." he said uncertainly as Estella stretched her stiff tongue.
"I am most very much fine, for your information! My ankle feels as good as gold." His sister smiled, flexing her ankle and peering down at it with concentration, her long and dark hair falling in front of her face. Fatty sighed, thinking that she very well might kill herself someday as he was a bit overprotective of his sister. Yet, he agreed to help her take her first steps in six weeks. Or requested to. "Well then, put your arm around me, and we will take it slow, mind you, slow!" Estella's heartbeat quickened as she swung her legs over and off the side of the bed. "How does it feel?" Fredregar asked as Estella stood up hesitantly. Estella put more weight on her foot, leaning to one side. "Feels good as ever to me, a bit new, if you get my meaning. Let me walk by myself, I don't need a nursemaid!"
Fredregar was reluctant to let her go, but he did as he realized she did not need to be cosseted. Estella took a deep breath, and then put out her left foot. She shakily took a step, gasping with the delight of being able to walk again. "Are you alright, Es'?" Fatty rushed to her side. Estella laughed, pushing him away.
"I'm fine, Fatty!"
She carefully walked over to the door, determined to make her way out alone. Fredregar opened the door for her, wringing his hands in anticipation. Estella started to feel a bit unsteady as she took a confidant stride out in to the hall. "Whoa!" she cried out, losing her balance altogether. Fredregar winced, waiting for the anticipated thud. But none came . . . laughter did, though.
He hurriedly stepped out from behind the door and saw Merry holding Estella up; their voices rang out in merriment. "Oh you were . . . ha, ha! . . . right in time!" Estella giggled. "Indeed! I had no idea that you were getting up and about this lovely morning!" Merry chuckled. "Mm-hm!" Fatty coughed from the doorway. Merry hastily set Estella up against the wall.
"Um, hello Fatty! I was just assisting your fascinating sister . . . see you later today Es', goodbye!"
And he left with a mock-serious nod to Fredregar and a wink to Estella. "Fascinating?" Fredregar mumbled. Estella shook her head and heaved an amused sigh.
"That scoundrel is in high spirits today! How shall we survive when the harvesting is over and he is gone, Fatty?"
Fredregar scowled, straightening his jacket. "Very well, thank you! He does live in Buckland, and you do seem to make it over there at least twice a week." he huffed. Estella rolled her eyes.
"You are very much jealous, whether you like to admit it or not!"
She took a defiant step in advance and stumbled. Fatty rushed forward to assist her. "Are you alright?" he asked worriedly, his irritability nowhere to be found. "Very well, thank you!" Estella mocked her brother, furrowing her brows and setting her jaw, as he had done. To counter her remark, Fatty said, "You are very much in need of help, whether you like to admit it or not!" Estella and Fredregar looked at each other and laughed out loud.
"Come on Essie, I shall not begrudge Meriadoc for his fondness of you if you'll only let me help you to the kitchen, where you are sorely missed." Fatty said.
"Of course, Fredregar."
As soon as the words left her lips, Fredregar scooped her up like a baby.
"Fatty! This is . . ."
"Hush, can't I take care of you?" he gently reproached.
"You may, I'm sorry for being a pighead." Estella apologized, twisting her hair as they walked along. "You are nothing to do with a pig, Estella." He joked.
"I am so! The most pigheaded hobbit you will ever know." Estella tossed her head, almost proud of the fact.
"I can name someone who is worse!" Fatty said.
"Who so?"
"Meriadoc Brandybuck is ten times worse than . . ."
Estella's glare made him stop short.
"You said not another mean word! You promised!" she exclaimed. Fatty bit his lip to keep from saying something much worse about him, even though Merry was one of his very good friends, Merry was greatest friends with his sister as they were so much alike. "We are here at the kitchen; you can put me down now, Fredregar!" Estella said, worried that someone might see her being cradled.
"Okay, okay! Here you go, nice and easy like. It was good for me anyways; I need to work off some of my own."
Fatty gently set her on her feet. Estella wobbled and clutched his shoulders. She looked him in the eye, very gravely. "You are fat, Fredregar." she said. Fredregar laughed jollily.
"You shall need to learn to re-walk all over again! Are you steady? Fine, just fine; see you around, Essie!"
And with that, Fatty went around the corner of the hall, most likely to go and search the far pantries for a pie. Estella sighed; she didn't feel like talking with the rest of the lasses in the kitchen, and she knew for certain that Melda was going to poke a great bit of fun at her.
"Stupid kitchens . . . I very much wish that I could leave unnoticed to those bothersome lasses." Estella said to herself, "Chitter-chatter, chitter-chatter and hearsay and giggle and blah, blah, blah. After a month and a half of that in my room, I want to go for a grand romp in the woods . . . no I don't. There might be another hole to fall down! Fishing sounds nice, but the look of that much water is sickening after that pit of the stuff. Ah-ha! Climbing up the rocks just out of the Marish! No, no! No ledges. Well, I suppose just a plain, simple, basic, boring, safe to Fatty's pleasure, stroll through the garden will suffice . . . by myself." "What about with a friend?" There came a small voice from behind. Estella whipped around, if clumsily. "Pippin! Hullo, I haven't seen much of you lately."
Pippin smiled sheepishly, turning his straw hat over in his hands as he had just come from harvesting. "Without a doubt, I wish could've visited you more often, but father's been pushing us harder these days so we can get home to Tuckborough earlier this year. But if you would like some company in the garden, then I would be much obliged, as I have the rest of the day off." His speech was unusually polite. Estella's face brightened. "The pleasure would be all mine! It shall be nice to talk with someone besides a lass, for a change." Once they were out in the garden, in full bloom with late summer roses and lilacs, Pippin mused, "So I should be right in guessing that your visitors were limited to mostly the lasses of the Marish? If so, that indeed is a tragedy." Estella plucked a blossom off of a rowan tree as they passed by its low-hanging branches, responding, "Yes . . . besides Fatty, that is. Merry has made himself inconspicuous these past weeks; I think he has something up his sleeve! But then again, Merry always has something up his sleeve."
She smiled, sucking on the rowan blossom. Pippin quickly looked over and away at her. "Do . . . do you like it when people always have something up their sleeve, Es'?" he asked earnestly, his childish face twisted with some sort of bother. "Well . . . not usually. I like knowing about things beforehand! But Merry's practical jokes aren't your normal thing; as a rule they turn out to be surprises." Estella said, and was about to say more, when a pair of hands came down over her eyes. "I would love to hear you talk more about me, as always, but as I must speak to you alone for a moment, so you'll have to stop." The person behind her said in a jovial voice. Estella sighed. "Surprises indeed; two of them! Will you release me now?" she pleaded. "In a moment, you must brace yourself for more bolts from the blue! Now, Peregrin, thank you for excusing this pile of rubbish for disrupting you, but I must steal Estella for a moment."
Pippin nodded good-naturedly, trying to cover up his irritation that every time he seemed to be talking to Estella, Merry had to come and butt in. "Sure thing, Merry." He said, and then turned to Estella, looking up and lifting one of Merry's hands temporarily before leaving. "I hope we can walk again sometime before I head back to Tuckborough." Merry looked after him as he tipped his hat and skipped away. "Have you ever noticed something?" Estella said. "No, what?" The lad answered. "You are going to be the death of that boy." she clucked, feeling rather sorry that Merry had come; Pippin could be such an adorable ten-year-old at times. Merry exclaimed wholeheartedly that "being the death of that boy" would be a particularly pleasurable experience. When he had led Estella for a long distance, all the while with her eyes covered, Estella heard no more clinking of plowshares or whinnying of ponies, but the soft twitter of field swallows as a gentle breeze touched her cheek.
"Where in the world are we? And what is this "bolt out of the blue" that you're going to show me? I have a slight feeling that you are up to no good!"
She could feel that they were on the edge of a steep hill, hearing the rocks crumble and fall as she shuffled her feet.
"I'm now guessing that you are going to push me off of the edge of a cliff . . . correct?"
Merry lifted his hands from her face. As Estella adjusted to the brightness of the day, a wide and sweeping highland opened before her, the shadows of clouds slowly moving across the fields of rippling grass. Far in the distance, one could see the village of Rushy, rays of sunlight streamed down upon the rolling hills dotted with little round doors and smoke from chimneys.
Even though she lived here, she had never known about this place, and it was a beautiful change from the dreary, thorny, wet landscape that was the usual for the Marish. Estella looked over at Merry saying quietly, "This is how I should like to remember the Shire for always . . . green and good." Merry nodded.
"Yes, you see, I have been coming here about everyday for a month now. Especially when things got rather tense with the lads fighting about me and all."
He slapped a hand over his mouth, realizing that he had let it run on too much. Estella scoffed, shoving Merry. "You said there was nothing like that going on! How could you feint to me?" she exclaimed, giving a hurt look. Merry, flustered, gave her a push back. It was a little too hard, as she leaned rearward, tottered on the edge of the hill, then fell backwards head over heels with a short scream.
"Oh bother . . ." Merry rolled his eyes and groaned at himself. Estella had apparently got to the bottom of the hill since she was now using old malicious Stoorish names for the Master of Buckland.
"Es'! Don't say such things!" Merry called down the hill, wincing at the reply he got. "Estella Bolger! That is not polite!" He gasped, although his was really laughing tremendously inside. "Confusticate that girl . . . Whoa!" Merry tripped over his own feet while pacing about, and followed Estella down the hill. "Oof! Ow! Ouch! Ah! Ow! Help!" he cried out as he rolled over and over, finally crashing right into Estella and knocking her off of the feet that she had just got up on. "Hullo." Merry dismally moaned at getting a taste of his own medicine.
Merry quickly scrambled farther away. "Sorry, I'm sorry!" he apologized quickly. Estella flopped back down and sighed, "What am I going to do with you, Meriadoc? Pushing lasses down hills . . . your mother should know about this!"
"Forgive and forget, my dear. This lad is a sorry excuse for a friend, and he hopes that you will find it in your heart to pardon my foolhardy behavior."
Merry knelt down and struck his breast. Estella chuckled, "That is pathetic . . ." Merry gave a mock gasp, fell down upon his back and tucked his head into his knees, claiming that he would never come out again. Estella threw a pebble at his head. "And I'm not forgiving you." She stated. Merry lifted an arm and opened an eye. "Estella, if you will not forgive me, I shall carry a heavy heart for eternity."
He then droned on and on about how he couldn't possibly imagine a life not being forgiven. Although Estella herself couldn't see this, as every farmer in Tuckborough despised him thoroughly. (He kept on very good terms with the Marish farmers, though!) "Oh stop being poetic!" The lass laughed. "I'm not forgiving you because there is nothing to forgive! You are not at fault; all you did was try and keep me from thinking that I was causing problems. And that push was just an accident . . . possibly."
"It was! It was! I promise! I suppose I don't know my own strength." Merry said, raising his eyebrows and flexing his arm. Estella shook her head, running a hand down her face. "Have your own opinion, but we must be back to my hole!" she exclaimed on seeing the late sun.
"By the Oldbucks, you are right! Can't miss supper, don't you know."
Merry jumped up upon his feet, pulled Estella up, and started up the hill.
As they walked along, wading through the wheat crops and talking about the agricultural prospects of that year, Merry unexpectedly came to a halt. "We can't stop here, slowpoke. What is it?" Estella asked, as a curious expression wandered across his face. "I felt some metal thing a moment ago." Merry said. Estella laughed lightly, saying, "What? Perhaps . . . oh I don't know . . . a horseshoe? Come on, Merry! We are already late enough as it is." Merry traced his steps backwards a few paces. "It didn't feel like a horseshoe or anything; it felt smooth and little." "Merry! If we stopped for every smooth and little metal thing, we should never reach home!" Estella protested. "Not here . . . not here, ah! There it is!" Merry shouted out, seeing something sparkling in the dirt. He stooped and picked it up. "What is it?" Estella called. Merry turned the thing over in his fingers. He whistled low as he saw that it was indeed far from a horseshoe or anything of the like; it was three beautiful sapphire stones set in a long, intertwining silver braid and had odd letters on it.
It hung on a lengthy chain of thin, yet sturdy make. Merry walked over to Estella, all the while inspecting the necklace. "Look at this, Es'." He said, opening his hand to reveal his discovery. Estella tenderly took it up off of his palm and held it up to the light. "It is very beautiful, Merry. How ever did you spot this?" As she handed the necklace back to the sharp-eyed Brandybuck, he said, "I have always had an eye for such things, and look at the writing on the silver." Merry held it closer to Estella's face. "I saw something like this in a book of Bilbo's the one time I was in Bag End." The girl said, nodding her head in remembrance. Merry started, too startled to speak at the moment.
"You . . . you saw his book?"
He swallowed, his face turning rather white. "Are you alright, Merry? You don't look well." Estella said, thinking that he got curiouser and curiouser every day. Yet this smacked of mystery.
"Is there something secret about it? Something secret about that green leather book?" she excitedly said. A look of relief passed over Merry's face. "Translations from the Elvish . . ." he muttered, knowing that Estella hadn't seen "The Book." "But here, where am I at?" he again said, smiling brightly, trying to cover up his pervious worry. "These letters are Elvish, the Tengwar, to be exact. I do not know what they say, as I am not learned in such matters. But my friend Frodo will know; he and his uncle are quite the odd ones! That reminds me, has your family received an invitation yet for the party?" "Yes, it will be wonderful to go to such a magnificent thing after this year's hard work. You lads have brought in an abundant harvest this year." But here she sighed. "Alas, mother is making me wear a corset to the party, something I am dreading! She says that I must wear green, yet doesn't everyone? So it is a bittersweet thing for a lass, going to a party!"
Merry seemed to be considering something for a moment. "Green . . . what shade, pray?" he inquired. Estella again looked startled, answering, "Well . . . a bright grass colored type, I suppose."
"Yes, that shall work." Merry said, and before Estella could say another thing, he took the elvish necklace and clasped it around her neck, and the long chain dropped limp. It shone pale and bright up against the dark trim on her bodice. "Perfect." Merry admired, stepping back for a better view. "Meriadoc, I couldn't, really, I am much too simple for such a thing!" Estella protested. "Simple maybe, and rather rough with too thick of eyebrows for one of your specimen." Merry smiled, running his fingers down the length of the silver braid. "Flattery does not become you, Merry."
Estella folded her arms and looked as if she would become very angry very soon. She at last stopped looking severe and laughed. "Alright you Brandybuck! Thank you once again for everything." And the lass reached over and grabbed his hand, pulling him along towards home and supper.