Chapter 52
Merry's Wedding
Meriadoc walked down the hallway and stopped when he came to the twin's bedroom door. He heard giggling and laughing coming from behind the door. Meriadoc quietly knocked on their door and Mirala answered it. "May I come in?"
Mirala smiled at the older, noble hobbit and ushered him in. Closing the door she approached him. "I have something I want you both to do for me. It is a secret and I do not want Merry to find this out. You must promise me!"
Both the girls nodded their heads and listened intently.
Meriadoc continue to explain his plan in great detail to them. He smiled as they giggled with delight. Meriadoc knew he could count on them as they joined each other in this great conspiracy.
Meriadoc was a mastermind in his planning.
Walking out of their bedroom, Meriadoc choked down a laugh that wanted to escape his lips. Squaring his shoulder, he headed back to the sitting room and to see to the last minute planning for Merry's wedding.
One by one, the guests began drifted into the dinning room for morning breakfast. Old Hilda had the table set with platefuls of morning fixings. There were savory tomatoes in a special sauce, fried sausages and scrambled eggs. There were other plates stacked high with breakfast cakes and freshly made syrups in many different flavors. Old Hilda out did herself with its preparations. She beamed with pride as she over heard the many complements coming from the guests. Meriadoc smiled up at Hilda and nodded to her, paying his compliment to her hard work. She stepped proudly back into the kitchen.
The servants gasped when Old Hilda entered the kitchen. Knowing her bad temper, some quickly turned back to their work. While, others tried to duck out of the kitchen to get away from the cook. They had hoped to have a few minutes to relax before they prepared the evening meal for Mr. Merry's wedding. Standing there with open mouths and staring at Old Hilda with surprise, the remaining servants rushed back to their tasks. Old Hilda's brow wrinkled as she barked out more orders. "What you be standing around fer? We got work to do! Get those pots in the tub fer washing!" She put her hands on her large hips and glared at two lazy lasses who were talking with each other when she first entered the kitchen. "You there, get those vegetables cut proper onto those trays. We have a wedding this afternoon. I'll not have lazy bones in my kitchen! Ta work now, everyone of you!"
Hilda went to her pot that was simmering on the wood burning stove and lifted the lid. She smiled with delight at the perfect seasonings that greeted her nose. She knew the Master of Buckland was going to be pleased at the wedding feast this evening.
Her cake stood tall in the center of the kitchen and she admired it when she turned from her stove. She worked long into the night decorating it and making sure it was proper for Mr. Merry and the lass he was going to wed.
Being so tired that her temper was shorter than usual, she snapped at the servants, to keep them moving until everything was in perfect order for the wedding to begin.
~*~
Pippin got up from his morning breakfast and decided to take a stroll around the grounds of Brandyhall. He took his pipe and lit it as he waded through the snow still on the ground. The morning sky was a clear blue and not a cloud no where in sight. The morning sun promised a warmer day and perhaps the melting of yesterday's snow.
Seeing that no one was about, Pippin emptied his pipe on the ground. Ducking quickly around the back, he took out a tool from his pocket and seeing Old Hilda's bedroom window began to loosen the glass from the window seal. Taking the glass from the window, he hid it behind a far tree so no one could find it. He wanted to make sure it would not break so he could replace it later once Old Hilda vacated her room.
Pippin climbed the short tree next to Old Hilda's bedroom window and cut an overhanging branch with a small saw his had in his pocket. He cut only half way through the branch and put his weight upon it to break it from the tree. It scrapped the side of the outer wall, but did not touch her window. Pippin cursed as he climbed down the tree. Picking up the branch from the ground, he shoved the branch into the window. He took a small piece of glass from his larger pocket in his woolen weskit that he had gotten from a picture frame in his bedroom. He tossed the glass hard against the tree branch so it would break into many tiny pieces and ran from the immediate area.
Servants ran into the bedroom with Old Hilda following from behind when they heard the loud crashing. Pippin rushed back to the window with the branch sticking out from it and making sure his feet went into the same tracks he left in the snow previously. Shouting from outside to the servants, Pippin told them a fabricated story. "I was just standing over there smoking my pipe and saw the branch suddenly break from the weight of the snow on it. I saw it tumbled down into the window! Is everyone all right?"
A servant nodded to Pippin and turned when Old Hilda bellowed orders to find the Master of Buckland.
One of the servants ran to get Meriadoc to tell him of the mishap.
When he entered the room, Old Hilda had her hands firmly placed on her large hips and turned to the Master of Buckland. "I'll not spend a night in this room freezing nor do I have the time to be fixing things. You promised me a new room long ago and now I'll hold you to it!"
Meriadoc looked at the broken window and the small amount of glass spread out on the floor. He looked suspiciously at Pippin who still remained outside from the broken window and had a strong feeling he was behind all of this. Meriadoc could have strangled Pippin for opening this can of worms with Old Hilda and her constant nagging for a larger room. He had wanted Old Hilda next to the kitchen to keep her within earshot of managing the servants and the goings on in Brandyhall. The servants all knew that Old Hilda had the best hearing that they had ever known and caught them many times doing things they were not suppose to. Plus her inquisitive nature in wanting to know the latest gossip, kept her ears fine tune to any whispering around Brandyhall.
Meriadoc trusted her explicitly if he needed any information of the happenings in Brandyhall. Old Hilda constantly complained about her room being so small and wanted a larger room. Then with the constant visitor coming to Brandyhall at all hours of the day or night, woke her on too many occasions, which kept her grumpy.
Meriadoc knew if he would move her now, she would never return to this room again.
Meriadoc scowled at Pippin, but he also was curious what the lad had in his planning. So Meriadoc played along to find out more.
Turning to Old Hilda, who now had a big grin on her face as she waited for the Master to finally tell her she could have a new room. "Okay, Hilda. You win! You can move your things to the first guest room in the main hall!"
"If I'd known it was going to be this easy, I'd have climbed that tree meself and gave that branch a boost to breaking!" said Hilda with a giggle in her voice.
Meriadoc walked out of her room to leave her to packing her personal things and moving them to her knew room. At least Meriadoc thought it would put her in a better mood especially with all the work of cooking for a large wedding party.
Pippin smiled with delight as he headed back into Brandyhall. He knew his plan was going to work perfectly.
~*~
Meraidoc and Estella went to the front door when a servant told them that more coaches were approaching Brandyhall. Meriadoc knew it must be the Gardner's family arriving from Crickhallow.
After greeting their guests, both Estella and Meriadoc lead Sam and Rosie into the Great Hall to join the other guests.
It was but a few minutes later that more coaches pulled up with the Tooks from Tuckborough. Meriadoc turned around and greeted them.
The servants set up tables of party fixings for the guests to nibble on and many bottles of Buckland's finest wines. There were kegs of ale and trays full of mugs and wineglasses.
The servants already had the room arranged with many chairs and beautiful decorations.
Merry dressed in his finest wisket, entered the Great Hall and greeted his parents with warm hugs and receiving their best wishes.
The fiddler players arrived and began to set up their music sheets. While, tuning their fiddles, Menthia entered the Great Hall and greeted her family.
Menthia wore a long green party dress with her long, dark hair pulled back with a single matching ribbon. Her light-blue eyes sparkled seeing all the decorations in the Great Hall. She knew her sister's wedding was going to be perfect.
Beryl was soon by her side and smiled as he led her to the tables for a nibble of something to eat. He poured her a glass of wine and complimented her many times how beautiful she looked.
Menthia's father left the Great Hall in search for his other daughter to walk her down the aisle to the hobbit she would marry.
Pippin approached Merry and handed him a tall glass of wine. Merry took it unthinkingly, but stopped just before he took a sip. Looking at Pippin suspiciously he declined it. "I'm not falling for that, Pip! You either have put a sneezing power mixed in this drink or sleeping powder!" Merry looked directly into Pippin's eyes to see if he had a glimmer of mischief about him. Continuing, he told Pippin. "Nor will you get me drunk at my own wedding. I'm not drinking a drop until after the Thain has married us, good and proper!"
Pippin smiled at Merry. "What? You're not trusting your best hobbit at your wedding!"
Merry smiled back at his brother. "I love you, Pip! But trusting is another matter. Don't forget I know you better!" Merry put his arm around his younger brother and hugged him.
The Thain Peregrin stood in front of the folk that gathered around the wedding area as he looked over the vows and his speech.
Merry and Pippin soon joined him. This cued the fiddlers to play and the servants to open the doors to the Great Hall as Mirala and her father entered.
The slow beautiful music of the fiddlers softly played a love song, as Mirala held her father's arm. She wore a simple white gown that swayed with each step she took. The long sleeves of her gown were trimmed with a light pink ribbon and lace. The thin veil she wore was decorated in lovely pale pink ribbons that gave it a hint of color. She carried a single pink rose in her small hand as she approached Merry.
Merry stood frozen in place seeing the beautiful hobbit he was about to marry. Her long, dark curly hair was brushed to perfection and glimmered behind the thin veil she wore. The closer she came to Merry he could feel his heart beginning to melt with the love he had for her.
Taking her hand from her father he gazed into her beautiful, dark-blue eyes. Her long, dark eyelashes framed those magnificent eyes of hers. Mirala's soft cheeks began to blush which made her face glow with a radiance of innocence.
Walking by her side, Merry led her to the Thain Peregrin and Pippin who stood by Merry's side. Merry smiled at Pippin feeling like he could now let his guard down since nothing happened. Perhaps Pippin being married had changed him and he was not looking to get even with a practical joke. Pippin gave Merry a wink and a smile to show how happy he was for him.
The couple stood before the Thain when he began to speak. "Together we stand before these lovely hobbits to join them together as a married couple. As family and friends, we bless them in their journey of living their lives in the love that they share with each other.
Merry took Mirala's hands in his and gazed into her dark-blue eyes. "My heart has never known the kind of love that you have given me. I now know how empty my heart was until the day I met you. You are the love that I have searched for and longed for. Today is the happiest day that I will ever live because you gave your love to me, and your hand in marriage."
"I, Merry Gardner, take you, Mirala Broadbelt, to be my wife and my love of my life. I give you my heart, my love and my life to share with you until the ending of our days. I will protect you and care for you. To keep you by my side. I love you, Mirala and I take you as my wife."
Mirala smiled sweetly as she gazed into Merry's soft-brown eyes as she spoke. "You are my love that I will treasure all the days of my life. I will always be by your side, to care for you and love you. My heart now knows this special love that we will always share together. I love you, Merry!"
"I, Mirala Broadbelt, take your Merry, to be my husband and my love of my life. I give you my heart, my love and my life to share with you until the ending of our days. I will always love you and honor you, as my husband."
The Thain Peregrin spoke: "By my blessings this couple is now wed. Merry, you may now kiss your bride!"
Merry encircled her into his arms and gently kissed her lips.
The crowd of hobbits cheered as Pippin stood next to Merry and hugged his brother, giving him his best wishes. Turning, Merry was surrounded by his family as they congratulated him and hugged their new daughter in-law.
The Broadbelts shook Merry's hand and welcomed him into their family.
The servant announced the tables were ready for seating and the crowd of Hobbits began to follow them into the dinning room. They prepared a beautiful table to honor the newly wed couple.
Old Hilda was at her best in the planning and making for the wedding feast as each hobbit ate to their hearts content. Talking and laughter echoed in the dinning room as each table was filled with family and friends of the Brandybucks, Gardners and the Tooks.
Sam looked down the long table of his family and saw that the increasing numbers growing of his five married children. His family was getting bigger and Bag End was getting emptier. Seeing their happy faces made Sam smile, as he was proud of each one of his children.
After the meal the hobbits returned to the great hall where the fiddlers began playing the first dance for the newly wed couple. Merry escorted his wife onto the dance floor and held her tightly as he gazed into her dark- blue eyes. "I love you, Mrs. Gardner!" and lightly kissed her lips. The hobbit clapped their hands and watched the couple dancing.
When the dance ended and Merry brought his wife back their table. Menthia approached her sister.
Mirala saw that she was crying. "Menthia, what is it? What is wrong?"
Menthia wiped her tears from her eyes and looked up at her sister. "Mirala, I am just so happy for you and sad for myself. Da, just told me that we must return to the Westmarch first thing in the morning. We have never been separated before. I will miss you so much! I want to tell you good-bye while I had a chance and give you a gift to remember me by. I have it in our room. Will you come with me, so I am give it to you?"
Mirala cried as she hugged her twin sister. "Yes, of course!"
Mirala looked at Merry. "It's all right, Mirala. I'll wait for you here. Hurry back, my love!"
The sister walked from the Great Hall arm and arm.
Pippin tapped his wife's arm to get her attention and then escorted her to a quiet area in the Great Hall. "I think this would be the perfect time to talk to those sisters. Don't you think so, my love? Merry is going to be so surprised!" Pippin giggled thinking about it.
Pippin and Bellia waited outside of the twin's bedroom until their door opened. Seeing the long white wedding dress that Mirala wore, Pippin approached her.
"Mirala! Merry has asked me to escort you to his room. He is saying his farewells to the guests and told me that he'll join you shortly. The servants have prepared a special wedding chamber for the both of you, so you'll not be disturbed. It is just down the hall a little ways."
Pippin held his arm to her to take and led her down the hallway. Her light- blue eyes searched Pippin's face and she smiled knowing that Pippin was Merry's closest brother. Pippin turned to Merry's wife and said, "While your waiting for Merry, I'll send the for some wine to be brought to your room."
"Thank you, Pippin. I know Merry will like that."
~*~
Bellia saw the long green dress and dark brown hair pulled back with a single ribbon. Bellia knew this had to be Menthia because Pippin had pointed her out to her. Bellia smiled and introduced herself to her.
"Menthia, Master Meriadoc has asked me to escort you to another room for the night. The servant has spotted a rat in the closet area of your room. You didn't see it while you were in there did you?"
Her dark-blue eyes looked at Bellia with shock, "No! Oh my! I would have fainted over seeing a rat!"
Bellia pointed down the hallway. "I'll show you to your new room. The servants have all ready moved your luggage to this room. Master Meriadoc is saying his farewells to all the guests. These halls will be full of hobbits seeking their own rooms in a few minutes."
Bellia led the way and opened Merry's bedroom door. The candles were already lit and gave the room a warm glow. Looking around she saw the luggage sitting on the floor. Smiling, she turned to Bellia and thanked her. Bellia smiled sweetly and bid her a goodnight. Closing the door Bellia broke out in laughter.
Pippin rushed back into the Great Hall as Meriadoc began to say his farewells to his guests. Seeing Merry, he could tell his was still waiting for Mirala to return. Pippin walked up to his brother. "Merry, Bellia just saw Mirala in the hallway. She asked my wife to tell you that she has a headache. Bellia was kind enough to take her to your room so she could rest."
Merry smiled at Pippin. "Thanks, Pip! I'll go at once to see how she is feeling!"
Merry approached his father and mother to say his good-byes to them as they were rounding up their tweenagers to take them back to Crickhallow. Rosie kissed Merry's cheek and congratulated him again. "I am so happy for you Merry. Mirala is such a wonderful girl. I know she will make you a good wife."
"Thank you, Mama. This is the happiest day of my life!" said Merry.
Sam smiled and patted Merry on the back and said his good-byes.
Merry turned as a big smile crossed his face. Dashing from the Great Hall he ran down the hallway to his room.
Opening the bedroom door, he saw Mirala sitting on the bed in her nightgown. She was brushing her long, dark-brown hair. Seeing Merry standing in the doorway, she put the brush on the table and held her arms open for him. Merry shut the door and walked over to his wife. Putting his arms around her, he looked deeply into her dark-blue eyes and kissed her lips.
~*~
Pippin saw Beryl standing by the table and pouring himself a full mug of ale. Pippin approached him. "Beryl, Meriadoc asked me to tell you to watch the cooks door tonight. He locked Old Hilda in her room after they got into an argument over her wanting another room. They've been fighting over this for sometime. No matter what anyone else tells you, you must not open that door. Meriadoc will have your head if you open it. If you see my brother, Merry, you tell him for me, that I have an envelope for him in the kitchen with a key. He will know what I mean!"
Pippin giggled as he walked away to find Bellia.
Seeing Bellia in the dinning room, they poured themselves a glass of wine. Walking back into the Great Hall, they sat down to enjoy watching Merry wander throughout the corridor of Brandyhall in search for Mirala. They both giggled in anticipation and counted the minutes down until Merry would soon discover that Menthia had taking Mirala's place in his bedroom.
Meriadoc walked down the hallway to inspect Old Hilda's bedroom off from the kitchen. He knew that Pippin was very interested in this room and went to great lengths to convince Meriadoc that the tree branch broke the glass in the window. But Meriadoc knew that if the window did in fact break by the branch, there would have been more glass found on the floor and frame of the window.
Turning the corner in the hallway, Meriadoc saw Beryl standing outside of the door.
Beryl saw Meriadoc slowly approaching him. "Don't worry, Master Merry. I got Old Hilda locked up good and proper!"
"What are you talking about, Beryl!" snapped Meriadoc. "Open this door at once!"
Beryl looked shocked as he stared at Meriadoc. "I-I-I don't have the key. Pippin told me that if I see Merry, that he's to go into the kitchen. There is an envelope waiting for him with a key!"
"Oh, he did now, did he!" said Meriadoc as he rounded the hallway and went into the kitchen. Finding the envelope, Meriadoc open it and read the note. He giggled in knowing for sure that he had spoiled Pippin's plan. Taking the key in his hands and stuffing the note into his pocket. Meriadoc returned to let Menthia out of the cook's old bedroom. Menthia sat on the bed and smiled as Meriadoc walked in.
Meriadoc seeing the lovely girl sitting there, greeted her. "Are you all right, Menthia?"
Menthia nodded to Meriadoc and smiled when she saw Beryl sating behind him with a shocked expression on his face.
Meriadoc turned to Beryl. "See to it that you escort Menthia to her proper room, but make sure that Pippin and Bellia do not see her!"
Menthia lifted the skirt of the wedding dress and took off the veil from her head. Smiling at Beryl she took his arm as he led her from the room.
Meriadoc returned to the dinning room to pour two mugs of ale, while his servants began to clean up the rooms.
After Peregrin Took escorted his wife to their room, he excused himself and headed back to the dinning room to meet Meriadoc there.
Sitting down next to his cousin and best friend, Peregrin smiled at Meriadoc. "How long do you think Pippin and Bellia will wait before they figure out that the twins traded places before he had a chance to pull his prank?"
Meriadoc lit his pipe and took a long draw from it. Blowing out the smoke, he thought a minute. "Knowing Pippin, he's thinking how he is going to tell Merry that he had slept with the wrong lass!"
Peregrin Took burst out laughing.
~*~*~*~
A/N: in the next chapters, Faramir Took is going to put it all on the line for the hobbit he loves in order for him to finally win her. And hopefully I will have enough room to finish Bilbo and Druzy's encounter. I cannot continue to bore you will every detail of Sam's remaining children, so I am thinking of advancing the story by Sam's narration of those events. Please remember that in chapter one, the opening of this story, Sam is 109 and thinking back over his life by being reminded of his earlier life with Rosie and the birth of Ham when he takes the rainmaker in his hands.
I guess I made a fatal mistake in writing this story by not referring back to this as I advanced this story along in previous chapters. I guess I totally got lost in writing this. Something else I learned about writing.. I am still rather green at writing and it is a learning process for me. I thank you all for your advice and encouragement with writing this really long story.
I am going to take a little time away from this story.so I can get caught up with everything that I need to do...I promise it won't be too big of a break because I do not want to lose my focus on this story. I want to be at my best when I write the death of Rosie and Sam going to the Grey Havens. Aemilia Rose knows I'm really nervous about those upcoming chapters. Perhaps it might help others to get caught up on the chapters...I will never leave a story unfinished! But for now, I really need a break! Bye for now...
Merry's Wedding
Meriadoc walked down the hallway and stopped when he came to the twin's bedroom door. He heard giggling and laughing coming from behind the door. Meriadoc quietly knocked on their door and Mirala answered it. "May I come in?"
Mirala smiled at the older, noble hobbit and ushered him in. Closing the door she approached him. "I have something I want you both to do for me. It is a secret and I do not want Merry to find this out. You must promise me!"
Both the girls nodded their heads and listened intently.
Meriadoc continue to explain his plan in great detail to them. He smiled as they giggled with delight. Meriadoc knew he could count on them as they joined each other in this great conspiracy.
Meriadoc was a mastermind in his planning.
Walking out of their bedroom, Meriadoc choked down a laugh that wanted to escape his lips. Squaring his shoulder, he headed back to the sitting room and to see to the last minute planning for Merry's wedding.
One by one, the guests began drifted into the dinning room for morning breakfast. Old Hilda had the table set with platefuls of morning fixings. There were savory tomatoes in a special sauce, fried sausages and scrambled eggs. There were other plates stacked high with breakfast cakes and freshly made syrups in many different flavors. Old Hilda out did herself with its preparations. She beamed with pride as she over heard the many complements coming from the guests. Meriadoc smiled up at Hilda and nodded to her, paying his compliment to her hard work. She stepped proudly back into the kitchen.
The servants gasped when Old Hilda entered the kitchen. Knowing her bad temper, some quickly turned back to their work. While, others tried to duck out of the kitchen to get away from the cook. They had hoped to have a few minutes to relax before they prepared the evening meal for Mr. Merry's wedding. Standing there with open mouths and staring at Old Hilda with surprise, the remaining servants rushed back to their tasks. Old Hilda's brow wrinkled as she barked out more orders. "What you be standing around fer? We got work to do! Get those pots in the tub fer washing!" She put her hands on her large hips and glared at two lazy lasses who were talking with each other when she first entered the kitchen. "You there, get those vegetables cut proper onto those trays. We have a wedding this afternoon. I'll not have lazy bones in my kitchen! Ta work now, everyone of you!"
Hilda went to her pot that was simmering on the wood burning stove and lifted the lid. She smiled with delight at the perfect seasonings that greeted her nose. She knew the Master of Buckland was going to be pleased at the wedding feast this evening.
Her cake stood tall in the center of the kitchen and she admired it when she turned from her stove. She worked long into the night decorating it and making sure it was proper for Mr. Merry and the lass he was going to wed.
Being so tired that her temper was shorter than usual, she snapped at the servants, to keep them moving until everything was in perfect order for the wedding to begin.
~*~
Pippin got up from his morning breakfast and decided to take a stroll around the grounds of Brandyhall. He took his pipe and lit it as he waded through the snow still on the ground. The morning sky was a clear blue and not a cloud no where in sight. The morning sun promised a warmer day and perhaps the melting of yesterday's snow.
Seeing that no one was about, Pippin emptied his pipe on the ground. Ducking quickly around the back, he took out a tool from his pocket and seeing Old Hilda's bedroom window began to loosen the glass from the window seal. Taking the glass from the window, he hid it behind a far tree so no one could find it. He wanted to make sure it would not break so he could replace it later once Old Hilda vacated her room.
Pippin climbed the short tree next to Old Hilda's bedroom window and cut an overhanging branch with a small saw his had in his pocket. He cut only half way through the branch and put his weight upon it to break it from the tree. It scrapped the side of the outer wall, but did not touch her window. Pippin cursed as he climbed down the tree. Picking up the branch from the ground, he shoved the branch into the window. He took a small piece of glass from his larger pocket in his woolen weskit that he had gotten from a picture frame in his bedroom. He tossed the glass hard against the tree branch so it would break into many tiny pieces and ran from the immediate area.
Servants ran into the bedroom with Old Hilda following from behind when they heard the loud crashing. Pippin rushed back to the window with the branch sticking out from it and making sure his feet went into the same tracks he left in the snow previously. Shouting from outside to the servants, Pippin told them a fabricated story. "I was just standing over there smoking my pipe and saw the branch suddenly break from the weight of the snow on it. I saw it tumbled down into the window! Is everyone all right?"
A servant nodded to Pippin and turned when Old Hilda bellowed orders to find the Master of Buckland.
One of the servants ran to get Meriadoc to tell him of the mishap.
When he entered the room, Old Hilda had her hands firmly placed on her large hips and turned to the Master of Buckland. "I'll not spend a night in this room freezing nor do I have the time to be fixing things. You promised me a new room long ago and now I'll hold you to it!"
Meriadoc looked at the broken window and the small amount of glass spread out on the floor. He looked suspiciously at Pippin who still remained outside from the broken window and had a strong feeling he was behind all of this. Meriadoc could have strangled Pippin for opening this can of worms with Old Hilda and her constant nagging for a larger room. He had wanted Old Hilda next to the kitchen to keep her within earshot of managing the servants and the goings on in Brandyhall. The servants all knew that Old Hilda had the best hearing that they had ever known and caught them many times doing things they were not suppose to. Plus her inquisitive nature in wanting to know the latest gossip, kept her ears fine tune to any whispering around Brandyhall.
Meriadoc trusted her explicitly if he needed any information of the happenings in Brandyhall. Old Hilda constantly complained about her room being so small and wanted a larger room. Then with the constant visitor coming to Brandyhall at all hours of the day or night, woke her on too many occasions, which kept her grumpy.
Meriadoc knew if he would move her now, she would never return to this room again.
Meriadoc scowled at Pippin, but he also was curious what the lad had in his planning. So Meriadoc played along to find out more.
Turning to Old Hilda, who now had a big grin on her face as she waited for the Master to finally tell her she could have a new room. "Okay, Hilda. You win! You can move your things to the first guest room in the main hall!"
"If I'd known it was going to be this easy, I'd have climbed that tree meself and gave that branch a boost to breaking!" said Hilda with a giggle in her voice.
Meriadoc walked out of her room to leave her to packing her personal things and moving them to her knew room. At least Meriadoc thought it would put her in a better mood especially with all the work of cooking for a large wedding party.
Pippin smiled with delight as he headed back into Brandyhall. He knew his plan was going to work perfectly.
~*~
Meraidoc and Estella went to the front door when a servant told them that more coaches were approaching Brandyhall. Meriadoc knew it must be the Gardner's family arriving from Crickhallow.
After greeting their guests, both Estella and Meriadoc lead Sam and Rosie into the Great Hall to join the other guests.
It was but a few minutes later that more coaches pulled up with the Tooks from Tuckborough. Meriadoc turned around and greeted them.
The servants set up tables of party fixings for the guests to nibble on and many bottles of Buckland's finest wines. There were kegs of ale and trays full of mugs and wineglasses.
The servants already had the room arranged with many chairs and beautiful decorations.
Merry dressed in his finest wisket, entered the Great Hall and greeted his parents with warm hugs and receiving their best wishes.
The fiddler players arrived and began to set up their music sheets. While, tuning their fiddles, Menthia entered the Great Hall and greeted her family.
Menthia wore a long green party dress with her long, dark hair pulled back with a single matching ribbon. Her light-blue eyes sparkled seeing all the decorations in the Great Hall. She knew her sister's wedding was going to be perfect.
Beryl was soon by her side and smiled as he led her to the tables for a nibble of something to eat. He poured her a glass of wine and complimented her many times how beautiful she looked.
Menthia's father left the Great Hall in search for his other daughter to walk her down the aisle to the hobbit she would marry.
Pippin approached Merry and handed him a tall glass of wine. Merry took it unthinkingly, but stopped just before he took a sip. Looking at Pippin suspiciously he declined it. "I'm not falling for that, Pip! You either have put a sneezing power mixed in this drink or sleeping powder!" Merry looked directly into Pippin's eyes to see if he had a glimmer of mischief about him. Continuing, he told Pippin. "Nor will you get me drunk at my own wedding. I'm not drinking a drop until after the Thain has married us, good and proper!"
Pippin smiled at Merry. "What? You're not trusting your best hobbit at your wedding!"
Merry smiled back at his brother. "I love you, Pip! But trusting is another matter. Don't forget I know you better!" Merry put his arm around his younger brother and hugged him.
The Thain Peregrin stood in front of the folk that gathered around the wedding area as he looked over the vows and his speech.
Merry and Pippin soon joined him. This cued the fiddlers to play and the servants to open the doors to the Great Hall as Mirala and her father entered.
The slow beautiful music of the fiddlers softly played a love song, as Mirala held her father's arm. She wore a simple white gown that swayed with each step she took. The long sleeves of her gown were trimmed with a light pink ribbon and lace. The thin veil she wore was decorated in lovely pale pink ribbons that gave it a hint of color. She carried a single pink rose in her small hand as she approached Merry.
Merry stood frozen in place seeing the beautiful hobbit he was about to marry. Her long, dark curly hair was brushed to perfection and glimmered behind the thin veil she wore. The closer she came to Merry he could feel his heart beginning to melt with the love he had for her.
Taking her hand from her father he gazed into her beautiful, dark-blue eyes. Her long, dark eyelashes framed those magnificent eyes of hers. Mirala's soft cheeks began to blush which made her face glow with a radiance of innocence.
Walking by her side, Merry led her to the Thain Peregrin and Pippin who stood by Merry's side. Merry smiled at Pippin feeling like he could now let his guard down since nothing happened. Perhaps Pippin being married had changed him and he was not looking to get even with a practical joke. Pippin gave Merry a wink and a smile to show how happy he was for him.
The couple stood before the Thain when he began to speak. "Together we stand before these lovely hobbits to join them together as a married couple. As family and friends, we bless them in their journey of living their lives in the love that they share with each other.
Merry took Mirala's hands in his and gazed into her dark-blue eyes. "My heart has never known the kind of love that you have given me. I now know how empty my heart was until the day I met you. You are the love that I have searched for and longed for. Today is the happiest day that I will ever live because you gave your love to me, and your hand in marriage."
"I, Merry Gardner, take you, Mirala Broadbelt, to be my wife and my love of my life. I give you my heart, my love and my life to share with you until the ending of our days. I will protect you and care for you. To keep you by my side. I love you, Mirala and I take you as my wife."
Mirala smiled sweetly as she gazed into Merry's soft-brown eyes as she spoke. "You are my love that I will treasure all the days of my life. I will always be by your side, to care for you and love you. My heart now knows this special love that we will always share together. I love you, Merry!"
"I, Mirala Broadbelt, take your Merry, to be my husband and my love of my life. I give you my heart, my love and my life to share with you until the ending of our days. I will always love you and honor you, as my husband."
The Thain Peregrin spoke: "By my blessings this couple is now wed. Merry, you may now kiss your bride!"
Merry encircled her into his arms and gently kissed her lips.
The crowd of hobbits cheered as Pippin stood next to Merry and hugged his brother, giving him his best wishes. Turning, Merry was surrounded by his family as they congratulated him and hugged their new daughter in-law.
The Broadbelts shook Merry's hand and welcomed him into their family.
The servant announced the tables were ready for seating and the crowd of Hobbits began to follow them into the dinning room. They prepared a beautiful table to honor the newly wed couple.
Old Hilda was at her best in the planning and making for the wedding feast as each hobbit ate to their hearts content. Talking and laughter echoed in the dinning room as each table was filled with family and friends of the Brandybucks, Gardners and the Tooks.
Sam looked down the long table of his family and saw that the increasing numbers growing of his five married children. His family was getting bigger and Bag End was getting emptier. Seeing their happy faces made Sam smile, as he was proud of each one of his children.
After the meal the hobbits returned to the great hall where the fiddlers began playing the first dance for the newly wed couple. Merry escorted his wife onto the dance floor and held her tightly as he gazed into her dark- blue eyes. "I love you, Mrs. Gardner!" and lightly kissed her lips. The hobbit clapped their hands and watched the couple dancing.
When the dance ended and Merry brought his wife back their table. Menthia approached her sister.
Mirala saw that she was crying. "Menthia, what is it? What is wrong?"
Menthia wiped her tears from her eyes and looked up at her sister. "Mirala, I am just so happy for you and sad for myself. Da, just told me that we must return to the Westmarch first thing in the morning. We have never been separated before. I will miss you so much! I want to tell you good-bye while I had a chance and give you a gift to remember me by. I have it in our room. Will you come with me, so I am give it to you?"
Mirala cried as she hugged her twin sister. "Yes, of course!"
Mirala looked at Merry. "It's all right, Mirala. I'll wait for you here. Hurry back, my love!"
The sister walked from the Great Hall arm and arm.
Pippin tapped his wife's arm to get her attention and then escorted her to a quiet area in the Great Hall. "I think this would be the perfect time to talk to those sisters. Don't you think so, my love? Merry is going to be so surprised!" Pippin giggled thinking about it.
Pippin and Bellia waited outside of the twin's bedroom until their door opened. Seeing the long white wedding dress that Mirala wore, Pippin approached her.
"Mirala! Merry has asked me to escort you to his room. He is saying his farewells to the guests and told me that he'll join you shortly. The servants have prepared a special wedding chamber for the both of you, so you'll not be disturbed. It is just down the hall a little ways."
Pippin held his arm to her to take and led her down the hallway. Her light- blue eyes searched Pippin's face and she smiled knowing that Pippin was Merry's closest brother. Pippin turned to Merry's wife and said, "While your waiting for Merry, I'll send the for some wine to be brought to your room."
"Thank you, Pippin. I know Merry will like that."
~*~
Bellia saw the long green dress and dark brown hair pulled back with a single ribbon. Bellia knew this had to be Menthia because Pippin had pointed her out to her. Bellia smiled and introduced herself to her.
"Menthia, Master Meriadoc has asked me to escort you to another room for the night. The servant has spotted a rat in the closet area of your room. You didn't see it while you were in there did you?"
Her dark-blue eyes looked at Bellia with shock, "No! Oh my! I would have fainted over seeing a rat!"
Bellia pointed down the hallway. "I'll show you to your new room. The servants have all ready moved your luggage to this room. Master Meriadoc is saying his farewells to all the guests. These halls will be full of hobbits seeking their own rooms in a few minutes."
Bellia led the way and opened Merry's bedroom door. The candles were already lit and gave the room a warm glow. Looking around she saw the luggage sitting on the floor. Smiling, she turned to Bellia and thanked her. Bellia smiled sweetly and bid her a goodnight. Closing the door Bellia broke out in laughter.
Pippin rushed back into the Great Hall as Meriadoc began to say his farewells to his guests. Seeing Merry, he could tell his was still waiting for Mirala to return. Pippin walked up to his brother. "Merry, Bellia just saw Mirala in the hallway. She asked my wife to tell you that she has a headache. Bellia was kind enough to take her to your room so she could rest."
Merry smiled at Pippin. "Thanks, Pip! I'll go at once to see how she is feeling!"
Merry approached his father and mother to say his good-byes to them as they were rounding up their tweenagers to take them back to Crickhallow. Rosie kissed Merry's cheek and congratulated him again. "I am so happy for you Merry. Mirala is such a wonderful girl. I know she will make you a good wife."
"Thank you, Mama. This is the happiest day of my life!" said Merry.
Sam smiled and patted Merry on the back and said his good-byes.
Merry turned as a big smile crossed his face. Dashing from the Great Hall he ran down the hallway to his room.
Opening the bedroom door, he saw Mirala sitting on the bed in her nightgown. She was brushing her long, dark-brown hair. Seeing Merry standing in the doorway, she put the brush on the table and held her arms open for him. Merry shut the door and walked over to his wife. Putting his arms around her, he looked deeply into her dark-blue eyes and kissed her lips.
~*~
Pippin saw Beryl standing by the table and pouring himself a full mug of ale. Pippin approached him. "Beryl, Meriadoc asked me to tell you to watch the cooks door tonight. He locked Old Hilda in her room after they got into an argument over her wanting another room. They've been fighting over this for sometime. No matter what anyone else tells you, you must not open that door. Meriadoc will have your head if you open it. If you see my brother, Merry, you tell him for me, that I have an envelope for him in the kitchen with a key. He will know what I mean!"
Pippin giggled as he walked away to find Bellia.
Seeing Bellia in the dinning room, they poured themselves a glass of wine. Walking back into the Great Hall, they sat down to enjoy watching Merry wander throughout the corridor of Brandyhall in search for Mirala. They both giggled in anticipation and counted the minutes down until Merry would soon discover that Menthia had taking Mirala's place in his bedroom.
Meriadoc walked down the hallway to inspect Old Hilda's bedroom off from the kitchen. He knew that Pippin was very interested in this room and went to great lengths to convince Meriadoc that the tree branch broke the glass in the window. But Meriadoc knew that if the window did in fact break by the branch, there would have been more glass found on the floor and frame of the window.
Turning the corner in the hallway, Meriadoc saw Beryl standing outside of the door.
Beryl saw Meriadoc slowly approaching him. "Don't worry, Master Merry. I got Old Hilda locked up good and proper!"
"What are you talking about, Beryl!" snapped Meriadoc. "Open this door at once!"
Beryl looked shocked as he stared at Meriadoc. "I-I-I don't have the key. Pippin told me that if I see Merry, that he's to go into the kitchen. There is an envelope waiting for him with a key!"
"Oh, he did now, did he!" said Meriadoc as he rounded the hallway and went into the kitchen. Finding the envelope, Meriadoc open it and read the note. He giggled in knowing for sure that he had spoiled Pippin's plan. Taking the key in his hands and stuffing the note into his pocket. Meriadoc returned to let Menthia out of the cook's old bedroom. Menthia sat on the bed and smiled as Meriadoc walked in.
Meriadoc seeing the lovely girl sitting there, greeted her. "Are you all right, Menthia?"
Menthia nodded to Meriadoc and smiled when she saw Beryl sating behind him with a shocked expression on his face.
Meriadoc turned to Beryl. "See to it that you escort Menthia to her proper room, but make sure that Pippin and Bellia do not see her!"
Menthia lifted the skirt of the wedding dress and took off the veil from her head. Smiling at Beryl she took his arm as he led her from the room.
Meriadoc returned to the dinning room to pour two mugs of ale, while his servants began to clean up the rooms.
After Peregrin Took escorted his wife to their room, he excused himself and headed back to the dinning room to meet Meriadoc there.
Sitting down next to his cousin and best friend, Peregrin smiled at Meriadoc. "How long do you think Pippin and Bellia will wait before they figure out that the twins traded places before he had a chance to pull his prank?"
Meriadoc lit his pipe and took a long draw from it. Blowing out the smoke, he thought a minute. "Knowing Pippin, he's thinking how he is going to tell Merry that he had slept with the wrong lass!"
Peregrin Took burst out laughing.
~*~*~*~
A/N: in the next chapters, Faramir Took is going to put it all on the line for the hobbit he loves in order for him to finally win her. And hopefully I will have enough room to finish Bilbo and Druzy's encounter. I cannot continue to bore you will every detail of Sam's remaining children, so I am thinking of advancing the story by Sam's narration of those events. Please remember that in chapter one, the opening of this story, Sam is 109 and thinking back over his life by being reminded of his earlier life with Rosie and the birth of Ham when he takes the rainmaker in his hands.
I guess I made a fatal mistake in writing this story by not referring back to this as I advanced this story along in previous chapters. I guess I totally got lost in writing this. Something else I learned about writing.. I am still rather green at writing and it is a learning process for me. I thank you all for your advice and encouragement with writing this really long story.
I am going to take a little time away from this story.so I can get caught up with everything that I need to do...I promise it won't be too big of a break because I do not want to lose my focus on this story. I want to be at my best when I write the death of Rosie and Sam going to the Grey Havens. Aemilia Rose knows I'm really nervous about those upcoming chapters. Perhaps it might help others to get caught up on the chapters...I will never leave a story unfinished! But for now, I really need a break! Bye for now...
