A/N: This takes place a few years after the scouring of the Shire. Pippin
is just married and Merry is feeling lonely, even with being very busy with
his new miniature Palomino horses he gets from Rohan and being the new
Master of Buckland. Merry makes grand plans for these horses to improve the
breeding line of the horses of the Shire. Merry sets up a business
agreement with old man Bolger and spends a lot of time with Estella, an old
childhood friend he had known all of his life. Their old friendship
rekindles when Merry becomes very sick from a sudden illness, but has all
these new horses to handle and new colts to deliver.
Chapter 1
Merry and Estella
The garden was spectacular with all the flowers in full bloom. The Rose bushes lined neatly against the Great Smial in all colors of White, red, peach and pink. There were rows of blue iris's and Peruvian Lilies. The air was scented in the cool, morning breeze. Merry did not know which flower was the most beautiful in these gardens, perhaps the bouquet of peach Roses that Diamond carried in her hands as she marched down the isle to met Pippin just before they exchanged their vows. The peach roses against her ivory silk gown only enhanced them all the more or was it the glow in her eyes as she looked upon Pippin standing waiting for her. Merry's thought wandered as he watched the two kissing each other and then being pronounced man and wife. How lucky Pippin was finding the woman of his dreams?
Merry never felt so alone. Paladin's health was failing and it would not be long until Pippin would be the Thain, and then having a new wife, he knew he would see little of Pippin from now on. At least being the Master of Buckland would keep him busy for a time, but it was not enough to fully fill his heart.
Merry looked forward to seeing Éomer, who wrote him about the new miniature Palomino horses he just acquired recently. Merry hired twenty hobbits to help build the new corals for the small herd of Palominos. They were close in putting the finishing touches on those corals. He would be busy for months breaking the new horses. This would greatly improve the quality of bred in the horses he already had in Buckland.
Old man Bolger approached Merry as he leaned against a nearby tree sipping his glass of wine that they have just served at Pippin and Diamond's wedding reception.
"Master Merry, we've gotten a lot o' the best hay bails almost ready for ship'n. Another twenty-five bails should do it. We'd have it ready by the end o' this week"
"I am glad to hear it, Mr. Bolger. I will be expecting to hear from you then. Also we will be needed as much hay as you can deliver in the up coming months once the horses arrive. If the hay is as good as what I have already seen, I'll be paying you top dollar for it." Merry told him.
"I'll be mak'n sure of that, Master Merry. I'll not be disappointing ya now. You be count'n on the hay being the best there is." Old man Bolger proudly told him.
"Thank'ee, You can't say fairer than that." Merry shook his hand, smiling.
"Come Da, Fredegar is looking for you, I reckon its about time for the banquet to start." Estella told him. "Why hullo Merry, I've not seen you around for a time."
"Nice to see you also, Estella. How is Fredegar doing? After he lost all those pounds from being locked up when ruffians captured him. Have you managed getting him back to his proper weight yet?" Merry asked her.
"He is doing just great, but I think he likes the leaner look of himself. Then ever since he lost all that weight, the girls have been com'n around him more. That keeps him busy as well and away from the table mind ya." Estella giggled at telling him this.
Merry looked at Estella and laughed thinking about fatty Bolger, his long time childhood friend. How he has changed since they had come back to the Shire. Merry barely recognized him when they pulled him out of his lock-up when they freed the Shire of all those ruffians.
Estella had changed also, even though she was 5 years younger than Merry, she has grown into a fine looking women. He remembered how he would terrorize her when he was a child. She was the biggest tattletale that he had ever met. Which only increased his roguishness of teaser her more. She was a simple hobbit in both dress and manners. Merry hardly noticed her as he grew up in the Shire. She had soft brown hair that she kept neatly pinned up and wore a ribbon to accent her hairstyle. Merry could not remember a time he had ever seen her hair loosen about her shoulders. She always conducted herself in a very proper manner. She spent most of her time babysitting the children so their parents could have a day or evening away. She also would teach the hobbit children how to read and write. Estella was a very intelligent woman and often you would see her carrying her books about or sitting under a tree reading.
Estella blushed as the conversation suddenly died down and she could not think of anything else so say. She excused herself as she wrapped her arm around her father and led him back to the banquet.
Merry watched Estella walk away as he contemplated whether he would join the guests as they all began heading into the great hall. Merry was not hungry and his stomach was in knots. He felt awkward since he did not bring a date and most the hobbits came as a couple. He saw Pippin shaking hands and greeting some of his guests. Merry thought of an excuse he would tell Pippin and hoped he would understand that he wanted to head home early.
"Pip, I have to see to my horses and the stables. Being the master of Buckland, I just can not find enough time for myself anymore. You understand!" Merry said slowly raising his eyes from the ground, looking up into Pippin's eyes. "Anyway, you have all these guests to see to, you know how happy I am for you and Diamond. She'll make you a wonderful wife." Merry patted Pippin on the back as he slowly began to walk away.
"I do understand, Merry. I'll be seeing you around as soon as everything gets settled around here. I do want to see those new horses you will be bring in from Rohan." Pippin told him.
They both stared at each other as Merry walked backwards waving his hand one last time to Pippin, before he turned and parted his company. Old Hob Hayward opened the door and waited for Merry to enter. "To Buckland, Master Merry?" Hob asked. "No, not tonight, take me to the Green Dragon." Merry ordered.
"Very well, Master Merry, we be off to Hobbiton then." Old Hob said as he sat taking the reins, turning the horses about.
Merry's head began to ache and so did his joints. Maybe having an ale would take away the pain that was slowly setting in.
Diamond cupped her arm around Pippins and led him into the Great Smial.
~*~
When Merry entered the Green Dragon, he saw Farmer Cotton and Nibs sitting at a table drinking an ale, as Merry joined them.
"What say you, Master Merry, shouldn't you be at the Great Smial toast'n the new couple?" asked Farmer Cotton.
"I've done my toast'n for this afternoon, but now I'll be doing some drink'n." Merry said with a cocky smile and beckoning the waitress to bring him one.
"I've finished the second cutting o' hay, and Ol' Bolger bought the lot o' it. Says you'll be needing most of this year cuttings for them horses you'll be bringing from some lands away from the shire?" Nibs questioned Merry.
"Yes, tis so. Then Master Merry, wouldn't it be queer hav'n foreign horses to mix with our own?" Farmer Cotton asked.
"Not rightly so, I reckon, there are none better in all the lands as the Rohan horses." Merry told them as he continued, "My friends in Rohan are the best horsemen around. I told them of the miniatures we have in the Shire. They took great interest in them. They've acquired a group of Palominos with the strongest bloodline, they will make our herds even better."
"Say you now, seeing will be believing, if'n you ask me." Old Farmer Cotton commented.
"That you will, Farmer Cotton." Merry told him. "I'll be meeting them in a few weeks just off the boarders of the Shire. You'll be joining me, Nibs, won't ya?"
"Yes, I'll be very interested in seeing them." Nibs told him.
Hob Hayward stood at the bar drinking his ale as he waited for Merry to finish his.
"How is Hayward been working for you?" Nibs asked.
"He's a Bucklander. He has settled down some, since we drove those ruffians out of the Shire." Merry said.
"I don't know if I'd be trust'n him and all, since he turn coated on us with those ruffians." Nibs told him looking suspiciously towards Hobs.
"He's a good driver and knows the horses well. He'll do alright, you'll see." Merry said.
Merry finished his ale and patted Old Farmer Cotton on the back and said his good-byes as he and Hobs headed towards their carriage.
"You be going home now, Master Merry?" Hobs asked just before he climbed into the carriage.
"Yes, Hob. Take me home."
Merry's head ached terribly and his hands began to tremble. He lay back in the carriage and closed his eyes. The coached rocked back and forth as it made its way to Buckland.
~*~
Old Hobs open the carriage door and Merry stumbled out almost falling to the ground.
"Easy on there, Master Merry." Old Hobs helped Merry stand. "I didn't think you had that much o' the drink this night."
"I'm just a bit tired I guess, almost fell asleep in the coach." Merry blushed some feeling a little foolish from his unsteady feet. He began coughing and felt a little lightheaded as if he would pass out. His heart beat hard in his chest.
"Off with you now and get some rest. I'll see to the horses." Old Hobs watched Merry as he walked a little unsteady towards his home.
Merry fell into his bed and instantly was asleep.
Chapter 1
Merry and Estella
The garden was spectacular with all the flowers in full bloom. The Rose bushes lined neatly against the Great Smial in all colors of White, red, peach and pink. There were rows of blue iris's and Peruvian Lilies. The air was scented in the cool, morning breeze. Merry did not know which flower was the most beautiful in these gardens, perhaps the bouquet of peach Roses that Diamond carried in her hands as she marched down the isle to met Pippin just before they exchanged their vows. The peach roses against her ivory silk gown only enhanced them all the more or was it the glow in her eyes as she looked upon Pippin standing waiting for her. Merry's thought wandered as he watched the two kissing each other and then being pronounced man and wife. How lucky Pippin was finding the woman of his dreams?
Merry never felt so alone. Paladin's health was failing and it would not be long until Pippin would be the Thain, and then having a new wife, he knew he would see little of Pippin from now on. At least being the Master of Buckland would keep him busy for a time, but it was not enough to fully fill his heart.
Merry looked forward to seeing Éomer, who wrote him about the new miniature Palomino horses he just acquired recently. Merry hired twenty hobbits to help build the new corals for the small herd of Palominos. They were close in putting the finishing touches on those corals. He would be busy for months breaking the new horses. This would greatly improve the quality of bred in the horses he already had in Buckland.
Old man Bolger approached Merry as he leaned against a nearby tree sipping his glass of wine that they have just served at Pippin and Diamond's wedding reception.
"Master Merry, we've gotten a lot o' the best hay bails almost ready for ship'n. Another twenty-five bails should do it. We'd have it ready by the end o' this week"
"I am glad to hear it, Mr. Bolger. I will be expecting to hear from you then. Also we will be needed as much hay as you can deliver in the up coming months once the horses arrive. If the hay is as good as what I have already seen, I'll be paying you top dollar for it." Merry told him.
"I'll be mak'n sure of that, Master Merry. I'll not be disappointing ya now. You be count'n on the hay being the best there is." Old man Bolger proudly told him.
"Thank'ee, You can't say fairer than that." Merry shook his hand, smiling.
"Come Da, Fredegar is looking for you, I reckon its about time for the banquet to start." Estella told him. "Why hullo Merry, I've not seen you around for a time."
"Nice to see you also, Estella. How is Fredegar doing? After he lost all those pounds from being locked up when ruffians captured him. Have you managed getting him back to his proper weight yet?" Merry asked her.
"He is doing just great, but I think he likes the leaner look of himself. Then ever since he lost all that weight, the girls have been com'n around him more. That keeps him busy as well and away from the table mind ya." Estella giggled at telling him this.
Merry looked at Estella and laughed thinking about fatty Bolger, his long time childhood friend. How he has changed since they had come back to the Shire. Merry barely recognized him when they pulled him out of his lock-up when they freed the Shire of all those ruffians.
Estella had changed also, even though she was 5 years younger than Merry, she has grown into a fine looking women. He remembered how he would terrorize her when he was a child. She was the biggest tattletale that he had ever met. Which only increased his roguishness of teaser her more. She was a simple hobbit in both dress and manners. Merry hardly noticed her as he grew up in the Shire. She had soft brown hair that she kept neatly pinned up and wore a ribbon to accent her hairstyle. Merry could not remember a time he had ever seen her hair loosen about her shoulders. She always conducted herself in a very proper manner. She spent most of her time babysitting the children so their parents could have a day or evening away. She also would teach the hobbit children how to read and write. Estella was a very intelligent woman and often you would see her carrying her books about or sitting under a tree reading.
Estella blushed as the conversation suddenly died down and she could not think of anything else so say. She excused herself as she wrapped her arm around her father and led him back to the banquet.
Merry watched Estella walk away as he contemplated whether he would join the guests as they all began heading into the great hall. Merry was not hungry and his stomach was in knots. He felt awkward since he did not bring a date and most the hobbits came as a couple. He saw Pippin shaking hands and greeting some of his guests. Merry thought of an excuse he would tell Pippin and hoped he would understand that he wanted to head home early.
"Pip, I have to see to my horses and the stables. Being the master of Buckland, I just can not find enough time for myself anymore. You understand!" Merry said slowly raising his eyes from the ground, looking up into Pippin's eyes. "Anyway, you have all these guests to see to, you know how happy I am for you and Diamond. She'll make you a wonderful wife." Merry patted Pippin on the back as he slowly began to walk away.
"I do understand, Merry. I'll be seeing you around as soon as everything gets settled around here. I do want to see those new horses you will be bring in from Rohan." Pippin told him.
They both stared at each other as Merry walked backwards waving his hand one last time to Pippin, before he turned and parted his company. Old Hob Hayward opened the door and waited for Merry to enter. "To Buckland, Master Merry?" Hob asked. "No, not tonight, take me to the Green Dragon." Merry ordered.
"Very well, Master Merry, we be off to Hobbiton then." Old Hob said as he sat taking the reins, turning the horses about.
Merry's head began to ache and so did his joints. Maybe having an ale would take away the pain that was slowly setting in.
Diamond cupped her arm around Pippins and led him into the Great Smial.
~*~
When Merry entered the Green Dragon, he saw Farmer Cotton and Nibs sitting at a table drinking an ale, as Merry joined them.
"What say you, Master Merry, shouldn't you be at the Great Smial toast'n the new couple?" asked Farmer Cotton.
"I've done my toast'n for this afternoon, but now I'll be doing some drink'n." Merry said with a cocky smile and beckoning the waitress to bring him one.
"I've finished the second cutting o' hay, and Ol' Bolger bought the lot o' it. Says you'll be needing most of this year cuttings for them horses you'll be bringing from some lands away from the shire?" Nibs questioned Merry.
"Yes, tis so. Then Master Merry, wouldn't it be queer hav'n foreign horses to mix with our own?" Farmer Cotton asked.
"Not rightly so, I reckon, there are none better in all the lands as the Rohan horses." Merry told them as he continued, "My friends in Rohan are the best horsemen around. I told them of the miniatures we have in the Shire. They took great interest in them. They've acquired a group of Palominos with the strongest bloodline, they will make our herds even better."
"Say you now, seeing will be believing, if'n you ask me." Old Farmer Cotton commented.
"That you will, Farmer Cotton." Merry told him. "I'll be meeting them in a few weeks just off the boarders of the Shire. You'll be joining me, Nibs, won't ya?"
"Yes, I'll be very interested in seeing them." Nibs told him.
Hob Hayward stood at the bar drinking his ale as he waited for Merry to finish his.
"How is Hayward been working for you?" Nibs asked.
"He's a Bucklander. He has settled down some, since we drove those ruffians out of the Shire." Merry said.
"I don't know if I'd be trust'n him and all, since he turn coated on us with those ruffians." Nibs told him looking suspiciously towards Hobs.
"He's a good driver and knows the horses well. He'll do alright, you'll see." Merry said.
Merry finished his ale and patted Old Farmer Cotton on the back and said his good-byes as he and Hobs headed towards their carriage.
"You be going home now, Master Merry?" Hobs asked just before he climbed into the carriage.
"Yes, Hob. Take me home."
Merry's head ached terribly and his hands began to tremble. He lay back in the carriage and closed his eyes. The coached rocked back and forth as it made its way to Buckland.
~*~
Old Hobs open the carriage door and Merry stumbled out almost falling to the ground.
"Easy on there, Master Merry." Old Hobs helped Merry stand. "I didn't think you had that much o' the drink this night."
"I'm just a bit tired I guess, almost fell asleep in the coach." Merry blushed some feeling a little foolish from his unsteady feet. He began coughing and felt a little lightheaded as if he would pass out. His heart beat hard in his chest.
"Off with you now and get some rest. I'll see to the horses." Old Hobs watched Merry as he walked a little unsteady towards his home.
Merry fell into his bed and instantly was asleep.