Disclaimer: I don't own Merry, Estella or any other of JRR Tolkien's masterpieces. I'm just playing with them for a time.

All For Love

(a.k.a. The Tale of Merry and Estella)

Chapter 7

The following day, Estella was riding in a carriage with her parents on the way back to Budge Ford. Her parents were still talking about the wedding, and Estella just looked out the window. Her mind was ever dwelling on a certain Knight of Rohan. She could still hardly believe that they had kissed. It had always seemed like some far fetched fantasy to imagine kissing Merry Brandybuck. She knew now what her true feelings were, she loved him…deeply. She couldn't stop thinking about him, and their first kiss. But it could never be.

Upon reaching their hole, they were greeted by Mentha and Fred. The newly married couple was to live in the Bolger's hole, as Fred was the next heir to the family home. After sharing their greetings and eating Elevensies, Fred motioned for Estella to follow him, and they stepped into the parlor.

"Estella, what is going on between you and Merry Brandybuck?" he asked, getting right to the point he wished to discuss.

"What do you mean? He's a good friend of mine," Estella replied.

"Estella, since when have you been friends with Merry?" he asked.

"We've been friends for months now, he was a regular at the Bridge Inn,"

"You used to not want to have anything to do with him,"

"That changed dear brother,"

"I'm just going to it to you once Estella, please don't get to close to Merry. He's not always the most…responsible hobbit, even if he did help rid us of all those ruffians. I just don't want my only sister to get hurt."

"Don't worry, I won't be."

"Good, now there is something else I want to tell you but you cannot let our parents find out I told you," Fred said seriously.

"Go on," Estella replied, really wanting to know the big secret.

"Fred! Estella! We have company," Rosa said walking into the parlor.

"Too late," Fred said under his breathe and only Estella heard him.

"Estella dear, do you remember Mardo Bracegirdle?" Rosa said, and Estella looked up to see her father standing next to Mardo and his parents.

"Of course," Estella replied, really getting nervous. She'd rather just remember Merry, than the hobbit who squashed her toes.

"Well dear, these are his parents Nardo and Petunia, and we have something wonderful to tell you." Rosa said.

"Yes Estella," Odo replied smiling. "You are getting married to Mardo at the end of the month."

Estella felt like her heart had stopped beating, and her whole body had stopped functioning at that very moment. He did not just say what she thought he did. He did not just tell her she was marrying Mardo Bracegirdle of all people.

"Are you serious?" she asked, knowing it was impolite, but she didn't care.

"Of course it is, and you will be married to Mardo. He will provide and take care of you, tis a perfect match," Rosa said, still wearing a smile.

"I'm afraid, I don't feel the same way," she said, walking out of the room and into her bedroom. There she started crying silently into her pillow, while fighting the urge to scream in fury. Just when things were going so well between her and Merry, this happened. How on Middle Earth could they expect her to marry someone like Mardo Bracegirdle.

A couple of minutes later, Rosa walked into her room and sat on her bed. She smoothed Estella's hair from her face before saying softly.

"We had no choice Estella love, we don't have the money to pay off the Bracegirdles. And the only thing besides money the Bracegirdles would accept was your hand for their son. I would never have made you do this if there was any other way, but there isn't," Rosa said softly.

"But he's has the looks and personality of a troll," Estella said.

"I'm sure you won't feel that way once you get to know him a little better," Rosa replied.

"I doubt that, but I will try all the same," Estella conceded.

"Good, now let's not keep our guests waiting any longer. Here, dry your eyes and come out when you are ready," Rosa handed her daughter a handkerchief and exited the room.

Estella dried her eyes and took a deep breathe before facing the music so to speak. Her family and the Bracegirdles were sitting in the kitchen around a table drinking tea and chatting merrily. She sat down in the only place that was available, next to Mardo. She felt him reach for her hand under the table and squeeze it, rather hard actually.

Estella tried to ignore him, though it was very hard. She only spoke when spoken to and she picked at her food. She was still pretty much in shock, and listening to her parents and future in laws talking about her own wedding had the effect of making her nauseous.

Finally the Bracegirdles announced it was time to go, much to Estella's relief. However, Mardo wasn't going to let her get away so easily.

"Can I talk to you Estella?" he asked. She nodded, knowing she didn't have a choice in the matter. When they were in a different room, Mardo closed the door and turned to her.

"You listen here wench; you are going to be my wife. I know you can't stand the thought of being my wife, but you better get used to it fast. My family is doing yours a favor, so I would be grateful if I were you. You will be Estella Bracegirdle before long, and you will do everything I say. You are not to go near that arrogant Merry Brandybuck, as your fiancée I have the right to tell you so," Mardo said sternly.

Estella bit her tongue, trying to hold back her temper. This hobbit absolutely infuriated her, who did he think he was anyways? Sharkey? If he thought she would treat him with respect, he had another thing coming. And as for Merry, well she wasn't going to stop being his friend.

"I am my own person, thank you very much. As your wife I will respect you, but right now I am my own hobbit and I will not be manipulated. Now I believe your parents are waiting for you in the carriage," Estella said in a controlled tone.

Mardo growled in anger and grabbed her arm squeezing it painfully. "You better watch yourself, I'm not someone to be trifled with," he said gruffly, and then he walked away.

Estella rubbed her bruised arm and once again the tears began to flow. Why was this happening to her?

For the next couple of weeks, Estella spent most of her time indoors. She seldom talked lately, and when she did she snapped at people. She wrote a long letter to Melilot, explaining everything, but as much as she tried, she couldn't bring herself to write Merry one.

She had mostly busied herself in the kitchen and with her sewing, but it still didn't keep her mind of what was happening to her. She refused to do anything that had to do with her upcoming marriage, so she mended a shirt as she watched her mother and Mentha write the invitations. She was worried to know what Merry's reaction was going to be, he was the one person she dreaded to face besides Mardo.

As it turned out, she didn't have to wait long at all to find out what Merry thought of it all. Melilot wrote a letter to Estella saying how Merry, went "all quiet" when he heard the news of the engagement. Then the very next day she encountered him.

Estella was running to the market to pick up a couple of items for her mother, when all of a sudden she saw Merry come walking out of the forest dressed in his armor. He looked upset already, but when he spotted Estella, his expression turned furious.

"Well if it isn't the future Mrs. Mardo Bracegirdle," Merry said in a annoyed tone.

"Merry, let me explain," Estella said calmly.

"No Estella, there is nothing to explain. You led me on, and now you are getting married to someone else. I understand perfectly Estella…Bracegirdle," he shouted as he darted back into the woods, leaving a very depressed Estella in his wake.

She forgot all about her errand, and ran home. Entering her room she lay on the bed, and once again cried into her pillow. Rosamunda and Mentha kept trying to ask Estella what was wrong, but this time she refused to answer. Rosa would never have guessed that that very moment Estella's heart was shattering.

Merry stormed inside the house at Crickhollow and slammed the door shut behind him. Pippin who had been taking a sip of ale, nearly choked on it.

"Merry? What's wrong?" asked a puzzled Pippin.

"I don't want to talk about it Pip," Merry snapped.

"Then let me guess, you just talked to Estella," Pippin guessed.

"Yes," he replied angrily. Then sobering, Merry looked sad. "I really thought that she was the one for me. But instead she's marrying some Bracegirdle from Hardbottle. What did I do wrong?" Merry asked hopelessly.

"I don't know Mer," Pippin replied. "But I'm going to find out" he thought.

Merry had always been the brother Pippin never had. And to see him so depressed also made Pippin feel that way. He figured the best place to find out answers regarding Estella, would be to ask her best friend Melilot Brandybuck.

Pippin told Merry that he was going to visit the Great Smials, but then he really went to Brandy Hall. He tried to slip in unnoticed, but being the famous Pippin Took really didn't do him any favors. He finally found Melilot and motioned for her to follow him. She got the hint and followed him to the deserted library.

"Ok, so how may I help you Peregrin Took?" Melilot asked.

"I was hoping you would tell me what is happening with Estella. Merry's heart is broken, and I want to know why," he replied.

"Well then you should know, he heart is just as shattered if not more. She didn't have a choice in the matter of her marriage," said Melilot.

"What do you mean she didn't have a choice?"

"It is an arranged marriage,"

Arranged marriage is such an absurd custom, Pippin thought. Hobbits in the old days used to arrange marriages all the time, but now it was becoming less frequent. It was still used by some of the older aristocratic families, but it was an option hardly anyone used anymore.

"I didn't know that, and I don't think Merry does either. Why did her parents set her up an arranged marriage?" he asked.

"That is none of your business, but because I know you are only looking out for the well being of your cousin I will tell you. Her family owes a huge debt to the Bracegirdles since the time of the occupation. And now the Bracegirdles are demanding payment, and they will take the farm unless they get paid or Estella marries their son. So you see, she has no choice in the matter," Melilot stated.

"I understand now, but we must get those two back together," said Pippin.

"How would we ever do that?" Melilot asked, feeling her friend was in a hopeless situation.

"I'll think of something, but for now I'm going to talk to Merry. Farewell and thank you," Pippin said leaving the room and exiting Brandy Hall.