Estella had been given distasteful looks from the doctor all day. She felt
shattered, wanting to stay but the world seemed to be against her wishes.
The doctor would probably jump and cheer if she left and her parents was
going to order her home as soon as they had received the letter. Even Merry
didn't seem to want her there. After hearing Paladin's plan he hadn't
really spoken to anyone. Estella could understand that, if it was her
father she wouldn't want to do it either, but still there was no other
way...
Estella had been musing over this for almost an hour when she heard a noise and looked up. There stood two very angry hobbits, Rosamunda and Odovacar Bolger.
'So this is where you've been hiding! Young lady, you are coming home immediately! Estella rose.
'No, I can't go home, you don't understand!' Odovacar looked taken aback at her standing up for herself but Rosamunda was simply furious.
'I thought this was just some innocent childsplay, I let you be with that boy for fun, but if I'd known it was going to be this serious I would never have...'
'So as soon as it's dangerous and not so easy anymore I should just leave him to handle it on his own?' Estella was shouting now as well.
'You're only fifteen dear...'
'I love him!' As soon as the words were spoken, the room went deadly quiet. Her parents exchanged glances. When her mother opened her mouth to say something, Fredegar calmly put a hand on her arm.
'Mom. Let her stay if she likes. I've seen those two together, they really do love each other. Separating them would be killing them.' She opened her mouth and closed it. Then she nodded and dragged her family out without a word. Estella gave a sigh of relief and then she made up her mind. She was going to talk to Merry.
****
Estella carefully closed the door behind her. Merry, despite the doctor's orders, were not in bed but in a chair looking down at his hands. She doubted he had even noticed her entrance. She took a few steps and then playfully tapped him on the curls. He flinched and looked up. Estella's playful expression exchanged for a serious one and she sat down with a deep sigh.
'I know Merry. We are children, we're not supposed to be handling things like this. But, here we are and there's no way out of it.' When she received no answer she continued.
'When your father took you back to Brandy Hall I was scared. When we lost you in the woods, I was devastated. When I found you, bloody and pale, barely alive I was dying. This cannot continue. Please Merry, do this for my sake at least. I couldn't bare to loose you again. I know you're frightened and scared, but if it's any comfort, so am I.' She took a brief pause, studying his reaction. He appeared puzzled, but waiting for an explanation. She took a deep breath.
'Yes I'm scared. Scared that something will actually happen. Scared that Paladin and the others might not be quick enough to stop him. But it's the only way. I love you, and we'll get through this.' She leaned down to kiss him, and when they had parted, he looked her deep in the eyes.
'You're right, it's the only way. I just wish I was more brave.'
'You are! Being brave is not that you're never afraid, but you do thing's you're scared of. I wish someone like Paladin or some other hobbit who is grown and strong could do this for you, but that wouldn't work. Only you can do this. I know it's hard, but after you've done this you'll never have to see him again.' Merry nodded thoughtfully.'
'Yes. That is of course an encouraging thought.' It was quiet for a few seconds, only birds singing could be heard outside.
'Estella?'
'Yes?'
'This is a hard question, but why do you think he started...doing that?'
'I don't know, it could be so many reasons, but...do you remember how old you were the first time?' Merry thought hard.
'I think maybe five or six. Yes, I remember now! I was afraid of the thunder, so I went to my parents bedroom. He wasn't there, so I climbed up and slept next to my mother. When he got home, he was drunk and got irritated when he found me in his bed, so he pulled me out and shoved me away so I hit my head in the wall. I started crying, which obviously irritated him more. My mother had woken up and tried to stop him, but he was just kicking me in a corner, shouting at me to be quiet. That was the first time I broke a rib, in the left arm unless I'm mistaken.'
'How many have you broken?' Merry counted.
'Thirty-four I think.'
'Thirty...did your mother take you to the doctor then? On the first occasion I mean.'
'No, he wouldn't let her. I've been to the doctor nine times, not counting this one. She usually did her best to fix it on her own.' Estella was going to say something when the door opened.
'Frodo! How great to see you and happy birthday by the way,' said Merry.
'Sorry we couldn't come to your party.'
'That's okay, you had a good excuse for your absence. Though it's not everyday you turn thirty-three.'
'How's Bilbo then?' Frodo looked down and sadness crossed his face.
'He left. To Rivendell I think to stay with the elves.'
'What?!? Why?' Frodo shrugged his shoulders.
'I don't know. Maybe he still has got this longing for adventures or something. I just hope I'll see him again sometime. Anyway, I'll leave you two alone now, it's getting late.'
When Frodo had left the room, he put his hand in his pocket and fingered on the golden ring Bilbo had left him.
TBC
Estella had been musing over this for almost an hour when she heard a noise and looked up. There stood two very angry hobbits, Rosamunda and Odovacar Bolger.
'So this is where you've been hiding! Young lady, you are coming home immediately! Estella rose.
'No, I can't go home, you don't understand!' Odovacar looked taken aback at her standing up for herself but Rosamunda was simply furious.
'I thought this was just some innocent childsplay, I let you be with that boy for fun, but if I'd known it was going to be this serious I would never have...'
'So as soon as it's dangerous and not so easy anymore I should just leave him to handle it on his own?' Estella was shouting now as well.
'You're only fifteen dear...'
'I love him!' As soon as the words were spoken, the room went deadly quiet. Her parents exchanged glances. When her mother opened her mouth to say something, Fredegar calmly put a hand on her arm.
'Mom. Let her stay if she likes. I've seen those two together, they really do love each other. Separating them would be killing them.' She opened her mouth and closed it. Then she nodded and dragged her family out without a word. Estella gave a sigh of relief and then she made up her mind. She was going to talk to Merry.
****
Estella carefully closed the door behind her. Merry, despite the doctor's orders, were not in bed but in a chair looking down at his hands. She doubted he had even noticed her entrance. She took a few steps and then playfully tapped him on the curls. He flinched and looked up. Estella's playful expression exchanged for a serious one and she sat down with a deep sigh.
'I know Merry. We are children, we're not supposed to be handling things like this. But, here we are and there's no way out of it.' When she received no answer she continued.
'When your father took you back to Brandy Hall I was scared. When we lost you in the woods, I was devastated. When I found you, bloody and pale, barely alive I was dying. This cannot continue. Please Merry, do this for my sake at least. I couldn't bare to loose you again. I know you're frightened and scared, but if it's any comfort, so am I.' She took a brief pause, studying his reaction. He appeared puzzled, but waiting for an explanation. She took a deep breath.
'Yes I'm scared. Scared that something will actually happen. Scared that Paladin and the others might not be quick enough to stop him. But it's the only way. I love you, and we'll get through this.' She leaned down to kiss him, and when they had parted, he looked her deep in the eyes.
'You're right, it's the only way. I just wish I was more brave.'
'You are! Being brave is not that you're never afraid, but you do thing's you're scared of. I wish someone like Paladin or some other hobbit who is grown and strong could do this for you, but that wouldn't work. Only you can do this. I know it's hard, but after you've done this you'll never have to see him again.' Merry nodded thoughtfully.'
'Yes. That is of course an encouraging thought.' It was quiet for a few seconds, only birds singing could be heard outside.
'Estella?'
'Yes?'
'This is a hard question, but why do you think he started...doing that?'
'I don't know, it could be so many reasons, but...do you remember how old you were the first time?' Merry thought hard.
'I think maybe five or six. Yes, I remember now! I was afraid of the thunder, so I went to my parents bedroom. He wasn't there, so I climbed up and slept next to my mother. When he got home, he was drunk and got irritated when he found me in his bed, so he pulled me out and shoved me away so I hit my head in the wall. I started crying, which obviously irritated him more. My mother had woken up and tried to stop him, but he was just kicking me in a corner, shouting at me to be quiet. That was the first time I broke a rib, in the left arm unless I'm mistaken.'
'How many have you broken?' Merry counted.
'Thirty-four I think.'
'Thirty...did your mother take you to the doctor then? On the first occasion I mean.'
'No, he wouldn't let her. I've been to the doctor nine times, not counting this one. She usually did her best to fix it on her own.' Estella was going to say something when the door opened.
'Frodo! How great to see you and happy birthday by the way,' said Merry.
'Sorry we couldn't come to your party.'
'That's okay, you had a good excuse for your absence. Though it's not everyday you turn thirty-three.'
'How's Bilbo then?' Frodo looked down and sadness crossed his face.
'He left. To Rivendell I think to stay with the elves.'
'What?!? Why?' Frodo shrugged his shoulders.
'I don't know. Maybe he still has got this longing for adventures or something. I just hope I'll see him again sometime. Anyway, I'll leave you two alone now, it's getting late.'
When Frodo had left the room, he put his hand in his pocket and fingered on the golden ring Bilbo had left him.
TBC