Warnings: Violence
Estella sat next to the fireplace, reading intently while occasionally glancing out the window in hopes of seeing Merry's form. Four hours had passed since his departure and already she was growing restless. Sighing, she spun the heart pendent around her neck. Lifting it up she gazed at the engravings.
To Estella, my everlasting love, Merry.
Tired of her seat she stood, placed her book down, and headed for the door. When she opened it a gentle breeze carrying a sweet scent grazed across her face. Her ears suddenly perched when she heard something galloping in the distance. Thinking it was her returning husband, Estella strode across the lawn to come into view of the trail. The smile faded on her face. There were three shapes moving toward and the closer they came the bigger they got. Fear swarmed in Estella's mind and she instantly ran back into the house, instinctively locking it. Then, she could hear three horses pull alongside the home and the sound of stomping feet followed.
"Well, I suppose this is as good a place as any," a man said. "I only hope whomever lives in here has something worth taking, unlike the rest of the lot."
"They are halflings," another growled. "They value nature, love, food, not wealth."
"Aw, listen to him Haridur," the man chuckled. "Briggs is becoming soft on us."
"Silent, both of you," Haridur ordered.
Estella pressed her ear to the door, trying to make out their conversation. As she did so her foot slid across the floor accidentally nicking a pebble, causing it to strike the door. The sound sent a chill down Estella's back and her face quickly flushed with heat and sweat.
"I thought I heard something in there," Haridur snarled. "No matter I suppose. If anyone is in there I can deal with them."
The hobbit didn't wait to hear anymore. She took off down the hallway until she reached the bedroom. Lowering herself to the floor, Estella crawled under the bed and opened a small trap door. She lowered herself under the floorboards and closed the latch behind her. By this time the men were pounding on the door and it soon gave, echoing a loud crash as it finally fell. Three sets of footsteps followed, each separating, taking a different section of the house. One set strolled down the hall before cautiously entering the bedroom. As the man came near her Estella crawled away, unwittingly heading into the kitchen area. She clasped her hands over her ears as the house was torn apart; furniture being thrown everywhere, dishes smashing against the floor, and the dreaded sound of something being shredded to bits.
"Argh, there is nothing of value here!" a man hissed. "A complete waste of our time! We should have headed to Bree! There is always something of worth there!"
"And risk being caught you fool!" Haridur snapped. "There is a higher chance of being found out in a town then romping around a wooded area. Besides, the punishment at the hands of men is far worse then at the hands of halflings. The halflings would never catch us. They never did when we left that little fellow in the rain."
'Pippin,' Estella thought. 'Oh no.....'
The safe hiding place was now turning against the hobbit. The dust and mold was pungent and Estella's nose was soon tingling. It developed to a burning itch and all the wriggling she did would not alleviate it. She plugged her nose until the feeling passed, allowing her to let go. Estella's head jerked as the feeling came back and before she could cover her nose, a sneeze came from her.
"Did you hear that?" Haridur asked.
"I heard nothing," Briggs said. "No doubt you are imagining things."
"I definitely heard something," the other said. "Briggs must be losing his hearing."
"I think I heard it coming from over here," Haridur said, pacing away from Estella's location.
The hobbit sighed in relief as he moved away. Trying to take advantage of the opportunity, Estella crawled in direction of the front for underneath it was a trapdoor that led to the outside. She unhooked the latch and cautiously slid her head above the crack to view the men inside. Two of the men were pacing back and forth in the kitchen and when they disappeared from view Estella rose up from the trap door. Running hard, she took off for the path occasionally looking back to see if she was being followed. As she turned her head back around she caught a glimpse of tall, shadowy figure in front of her. Before she could stop herself she collided with the shape, immediately falling to the ground. There was no time to scramble away as a rough hand grasped her by the scruff her neck, pulling her up. Estella was in too much shock to put up a fight as the man dragged her back to the house. Fear and panic spread in her body as she saw one of the men waiting at the door. The man holding her tossed her over to him, whom caught Estella by the throat, deathly close to strangling her. Estella struggled desperately against the grip, glaring at the man holding her in midair while the other let out a cruel laugh. One of the men stared down at the floor, appearing sullen.
"Hm, what have we here, eh?" Haridur laughed. "Looks like we found a little mouse trying to scurry away."
A twinkle of metal around Estella's neck caught his attention. He pulled at the chain to reveal a gold heart with a ruby embedded in the middle, ignoring the heartfelt words engraved on the back.
"Halflings care not for wealth, eh Briggs?" he growled.
Estella gave a sharp yelp as Haridur snapped the chain from around her neck. Laughing, he tossed the necklace over to one of the men who placed it in a pouch.
"Take it outside and wait there," Haridur ordered. When the man left he turned his attention back to Estella. "Anything else in this household worth taking halfling?"
"Nothing you would find of value," Estella spat.
"That is quite the shame then," Haridur sighed. "I become so disappointed when I only obtain a small trinket such as a worthless necklace. And when I become disappointed I turn angry, if you get my meaning. There has to be something else in this house. Money, other jewelry, anything, you better tell me now."
"I already told you," Estella snapped, "there is nothing that you would find of value here!"
"Do not raise your voice to me, you little scum," Haridur yelled, shaking her a bit.
As he shook her Estella sank her teeth into the small of his hand, hard enough to draw blood. Haridur cried out and released his hold on the hobbit, sending her falling to the floor. Even in momentary freedom she could not scurry away fast enough. The man gripped her shoulder and spun her around before slamming his fist into her eye. Estella cowered on the floor, sobbing in pain. She could feel the stinging flesh beginning to swell. The man took another step but was stopped by Briggs.
"Haridur, please, let her be!" Briggs pleaded. "For God's sake man you already have the blood of one halfling on your hands! Do not soil them with another!"
"Oh, but I have no intention of killing her Briggs," Haridur chuckled. "Pretty little lass ain't she? Too bad she is so fat, eh?"
"Do not think of that," Briggs growled. "She is pregnant and you know it. Besides, have you not done enough? You have bruised her face and any more upset could harm the little one."
"Hm, well, I think I can take care of that," Haridur sneered.
"What?" Briggs asked, wide eyed.
Haridur hovered over Estella's form, grinning devilishly before delivering a powerful kick to her lower abdomen. She was instantly flung into the air at the force and was in so much shock that she couldn't even produce a scream. A loud thud ensued as she crashed to the wood floor, grunting in pain. Her eyes began to burn as a warm wetness ran down her legs. Ahead of her Haridur stood laughing as Briggs looked on in disgust but too frightened of his leader to help the fallen hobbit. Only when the man took another step toward Estella did Briggs over step his bounds, grasping Haridur painfully by the shoulder.
"I think you have done quite enough," he hissed. "I would not doubt that you have killed the baby."
"One can only hope," Haridur snarled, twisting loose. "These halflings are multiplying like rodents; one less in their midst will do no harm. I suggest that you not touch me again, Briggs, less you want to take an early retirement if you get my understanding." Briggs took a step back. "As I figured. You are quite the coward. If you were not skilled in thieving I would have slit your throat long ago. Now, get back outside before I change my mind."
"Yes, sir," Briggs sighed.
Reluctantly the man took is leave as Haridur bent over Estella's form. He hiked up a portion of her skirt and a wry smile formed.
"Oh, my little halfling," he snickered. "It appears as if your water has broke. I suppose birth is eminent but I think I can help with the process." Another blow struck her in the stomach, this time sending her sprawling into the wall. "Or perhaps I can help remove the little one for you by a quicker method."
Estella gazed up at the man, watching him remove his glistening blade. The horror he had planned finally dawned and she attempted to flee. The pain coursing through her body prevented her from getting far and the man was on her in an instant. She was thrown back first into the wood floor with the man's full weight atop her. His one hand snaked its way around her throat, lightly squeezing, while he used the other to nudge the sword tip into her belly, slowly. She could feel the blade starting to pierce the sensitive area along with the blood that began to trickle down. The man's wicked smile was enough alone to make her retch, seeing him take enjoyment from the agonizing torment. Her eyes gazed wildly about, trying to find a savior to spare her from this but there was no one. Any thoughts of salvation left her mind as the thought of the baby's safety flooded in. She did not know if the man intended only pierce her or impale the little one along with her. It was also a possibility that he could take the little one alive and it was that thought that sent rage through Estella's heart. No one would take her baby, especially the monster before her. She began to flay madly, swinging her nails up by the man's eyes, desperately trying to gauge him. One of the blows was a success, nailing him straight in the left eye, eliciting a yelp of pain from Haridur. Growling low, Haridur thrust the blade forward at a punishing pace. It sheathed itself deep within her gut and Estella let out a strangled cry. Smirking again, he slowly pulled the blade from her stomach, savoring her screams as the blade slid out. He rose the arm again to drive the blade deeper but a strong force knocked him from the hobbit. Estella glanced ahead to view two men fighting in the kitchen. A darkness came over her eyes before she could view the victor.
More to follow.