A/N: Just a short, cute drabble to satisfy a 500-word, Estella/Elbereth challenge.
Stars and Potato-Sacks
When you sit in a room for weeks with a few potatoes for company, you start to love the sky. I was never one for star-gazing, mind you, but the stars were a sight prettier than the Lockholes, and Sharkey's men didn't leave me much else to see. I'd make up the constellations I didn't know: flowers, birds, trees, even a pretty lady. She had clusters of stars for her hair, a smile of stars all in a row, and two dazzling stars for eyes. I loved to watch her; I'd talk to her, sometimes sing her songs that Mum taught me. Now, before you say it, I realize that I was quite silly, singing to the sky! Still, it was a nice comfort all those nights alone, and sometimes I could've sworn that the lady smiled back at me.
Here's where I get to the bit that you won't believe, though. Y'see, I'd fallen asleep one night while talking to the star-lady, like I often did, but this time I woke up before it was even dawn. The room was aglow, and my first thought was that somehow a fire had started. Then I saw that the glow came from a fine lady, tall as a Man and sitting right there beside me! She smiled and spoke to me, but it wasn't normal language, closer to rippling water or a bird's chirping. Stranger yet, I could understand her, easy as if she was speaking Common. She told me sweet, comforting things; she even said she'd listened to my songs and liked them! Then, she leaned over and hugged me, and I wouldn't be lying if I said I've never felt anything so lovely. It was like - like standing on a hill on a fine spring day, feelin' the wind on you - but ten thousand times nicer. She kissed my forehead, and I swear that when I look in a mirror at night, I can see the same spot glowing.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Sounds like a dream, don't it? But here's why I believe it: next thing I knew, one of the Shirriffs came barrelling in, asking me if I was trying to burn the Lockholes down. Well, sure's you know it, the lady had disappeared along with her light. I would've been angry, but at least I knew that I wasn't dreaming, even if I had naught to show for it.
After I got out, I used to look every evening for the lady in the stars, but I could never find her again. Merry laughs and kisses me when I tell him, but here's the other reason I believe the memory. I was telling Frodo Baggins about the star-lady, and he pulled out a strange white crystal on a chain. "It reminds me of the protection of Elbereth," he said. Right then, quick as lightning, I saw a bright light from my forehead radiate onto his eyes and fill the room with stars.