A/N: Natta, Jedi-hobbit, Princess-Pixie sugar-stix and Aemilia are all
running after Erling with sticks to beat him. Loveofthering whispers in
Merry's ear to stop Erling from hurting anymore hobbits..Die you evil dog,
Erling!!!! Your time is near!
Chapter 11
I'll See You Under Merry's Blade
Merry stood motionless in the valley surrounded in lush green grassy hills and the tall trees that blocked out the sunlight. His mind froze on Hatty and the last time he saw her. Since his own mothers death, just last year. Hatty was the next best thing to a mother for him. His memories of her would always be locked in his heart forever. Buckland would be such a lonely place from now on without her. His heart ached in grief and his anger grew as the same time. Locked between these two powerful emotions, Merry could not cry, but felt so numb. He needed to walk away for a moment to regain his composure. Estella wanted to go to Merry to comfort him, but she sensed that Merry needed sometime by himself.
This too effected Berilac in the same way, but he was more concerned with his wife and how much this must be hurting her. He hugged his wife tenderly and allowed himself to cry with her in his arms. For the first time Ester truly gave into her grief for her mother's death now that she was in the safety of her husbands arms.
Estella lowered her head and eyes to the ground as the impact of Hatty's death had on those she observed. Estella did not know Hatty as well as those around her, but she too would miss her greatly. She was more concern now for Merry since his life was in greater parallel.
The gravity of their situation pulled at Merry, as he began thinking how vulnerable their position was being out in the open country. An attacker could pick them off with ease from the highest tree or seeing them coming for miles from the dust the horses kicked up. His eyes darted up and down the trees as he began to think how he would keep the hobbits safe as well as his horses they were leading. He needed to know everything that Ester had to tell. He returned back to the group to find out more.
"Ester, I am so sorry about your mother, I loved her as if she was my mother too. But I need you to tell me everything." The seriousness in Merry's voice brought Ester back to her full senses and she began to explain to it all to him.
"My mother died from eating the honey that was on Estella's cake. Erling is very evil Merry, do not under estimate him. He has done terrible things most all of his life. He was the one who betrayed the hobbits when the ruffians came to the Shire and placed them into the lock-ups. He has threatened and abused me most all of my life. He is bitterly jealous of you and Berilac. He wants to see your deaths, more than anything. I do not know all of his plans, Merry, but I know he insisted on me telling Berilac to take the horses to Bywater. You mustn't go that way Merry!" Ester told him.
"Ester I need to know what hold Erling has on you, what did he use to threaten you." Merry asked her.
"That Merry I can not tell you, but first I must tell my husband in private." Ester's hands shook as she lead her husband farther down the valley of the hills so know one could hear them.
Merry leaned up against the tree and placed one foot on the trunk. He crossed his arms as he watched them closely in hopes of them giving him a clue as to their gestures.
Estella approached Merry and stood before him, "Estella, do you know anything about this?"
"No, Merry, she did not tell me anything about this."
Merry's eyes darted towards the couple as they talked, Merry could see Berilac walk away from Ester, only to turned around to face her again. Merry thought that Berilac did not like what she was telling him by the expressions on his face. Berilac would turn his face away from Ester to look anywhere, rather than at her.
The minutes passed and Merry glanced up at the surrounding hills, excepting to see his horses coming over them. He listened and watched the horizon for the dust they would be kicking up as they traveled. His eyes returned back to the couple, as he saw Berilac take his wife in his arms and kiss her tenderly. Berilac and Ester began walking back to where Merry stood.
"Merry, you will have to trust me that what Erling has been blackmailing from Ester is information that will not help you, only an attempt to destroy me and my family. Erling is purely evil and capable of anything. Do not under estimate the evil of this hobbit." Berilac's face was etched in such pain that Merry could only guess what horrible thing that existed in his heart. Merry turned to Estella, "You and Ester can not stay with us, it is too dangerous. I'll send one of the Cotton boys to see you both home."
Fredegar brought the horses to Merry and Berilac as they all mounted their horses and rode off to find the herd. When they breached the next hill Merry could see the herd heading their way. Merry rode up to Wilcome Cotton and told him too take the women home. Also to tell Robin Smallburrow, Hobbiton's Shirriff, to get some men and join them at Bywater. Merry rode up to Estells sitting on her horse. He pulled his only knife he had tucked in his belt and gave this to her. "Be careful, I will send for you when we get the horses to Buckland." Merry kicked his horse to join the other hobbits. Berilac squeezed his wife's hand and said good-bye to her. He rode off to join Merry.
With a loud whistle, Merry called to Tom, Bowman, Nibs, Fredegar and Berilac to join them. Merry looked at them and surveyed the few weapons that they carried. Two swords, three knives and one bow, were all they had.
~*~
Two ruffian hobbits dashed up a tree as they watched three riders enter the clearing that they just came from and they were heading in their direction. They sat in waiting until the riders would pass under their tree. When the first horse was under them, one of the ruffians dropped down knocking Wilcome to the ground. Wilcome hit his head against the tree trunk, knocking him out. The second ruffian jumped upon the third rider and knocked her to the ground. Estella kicked her horse and ran a short distance, but stopped and turned around. She could not leave her friends to these ruffians. She got off her horse and placed her hand on the handle of the knife tucked into her belt. She could hear Ester screaming, but Wilcome did not move. Her heart races rapidly as the first ruffian began to approach her. She took a couple of steps backward and suddenly tripped on the tree root, just as the ruffian hobbit leaped towards her. She pulled the knife in her hands as she fell backwards and the ruffian hobbit landed directly onto the blade of the knife, killing him. Estella wiggled out from underneath him still holding the bloody knife in her hands and the ruffian's blood over her shirt.
The other ruffian, that struggled to hold on to Ester, threw her over his shoulder and climbed on the nearest horse and took off with her.
Estella ran to Wilcome who was just coming around. His head was bleeding, running down the side of his face. "Wilcome are you all right?"
"Yes, I think so, but my head really hurts." He stood still a little dazed.
"They have taken Ester away, you ride on to find some others to help us in Hobbiton, while I ride back to Merry and warn him that Erling has ruffians to help him. Now go, Hurray!" Estelle grabbed her horse and climber back on. She turned her horse around and kicking her horse, racing back to Merry.
~*~
Merry's heart beat rapidly when he saw Estella racing towards him alone and the blood on her shirt.
Merry jumped from his horse even before it stopped and raced toward Estella, pulling her from her horse.
"Where are you hurt?" Merry screamed.
"I am not wounded, two ruffians over took us just a few miles away, Wilcome got knocked out, but he is okay now. I sent him to get more help. The ruffian took Ester away. Merry, Erling has ruffians with him, he is not alone." Estella told him.
"I thought as much, I had hoped to avoid Erling until we got the horses home, but it looks like they have found were we are. Now that they have Ester we are going to have to fight." Merry said and then asked, "Whose blood is on your shirt."
"I accidentally killed a ruffian when I drew your knife on him and he landed on it." Estella shook as she told him.
Merry looked at Estella in awe and admiration of her bravery and courage. This hobbit that he loved was something every special.
Berilac froze in fear for his wife in the hands of Erling.
~*~
A horse with two riders raced into the Bywater camp and halted to a stop. Dismounting and pulling his captive down from the horse. Erling approached looking down at his sister as she sat on her knees before him.
"We found the camp of horses. I captured your sister, but Ol' Gus was kilt by the other hobbit with them." The Ruffian told him.
"So sister, I should of cut out your tongue when I had the chance. I reckon, Merry knows everything by now." Erling viciously glared at his sister.
"Yes, you devil, Merry is coming after you and he will get you, you monster! I just want to know why you had to kill our mother?" Ester screamed at him.
"Mama is dead?" Erling face dropped and he moved away in thought. "I did not kill her, I love Mama and Da. This was not suppose to happen." Erling suddenly remembered the cake that Estella did not eat, covered in honey. He forgot to throw it away. He was so worried about getting the honey off the floor and making sure the honey jar was tossed in the garbage.
"You are poison Erling, everything that you touch, you destroy. You destroyed Mama, and she loved you. I hate you Erling and I will see you under Merry's blade."
"No Ester, you will see Merry under mine. Take her away and tie her up." Erling told his Ruffian.
Chapter 11
I'll See You Under Merry's Blade
Merry stood motionless in the valley surrounded in lush green grassy hills and the tall trees that blocked out the sunlight. His mind froze on Hatty and the last time he saw her. Since his own mothers death, just last year. Hatty was the next best thing to a mother for him. His memories of her would always be locked in his heart forever. Buckland would be such a lonely place from now on without her. His heart ached in grief and his anger grew as the same time. Locked between these two powerful emotions, Merry could not cry, but felt so numb. He needed to walk away for a moment to regain his composure. Estella wanted to go to Merry to comfort him, but she sensed that Merry needed sometime by himself.
This too effected Berilac in the same way, but he was more concerned with his wife and how much this must be hurting her. He hugged his wife tenderly and allowed himself to cry with her in his arms. For the first time Ester truly gave into her grief for her mother's death now that she was in the safety of her husbands arms.
Estella lowered her head and eyes to the ground as the impact of Hatty's death had on those she observed. Estella did not know Hatty as well as those around her, but she too would miss her greatly. She was more concern now for Merry since his life was in greater parallel.
The gravity of their situation pulled at Merry, as he began thinking how vulnerable their position was being out in the open country. An attacker could pick them off with ease from the highest tree or seeing them coming for miles from the dust the horses kicked up. His eyes darted up and down the trees as he began to think how he would keep the hobbits safe as well as his horses they were leading. He needed to know everything that Ester had to tell. He returned back to the group to find out more.
"Ester, I am so sorry about your mother, I loved her as if she was my mother too. But I need you to tell me everything." The seriousness in Merry's voice brought Ester back to her full senses and she began to explain to it all to him.
"My mother died from eating the honey that was on Estella's cake. Erling is very evil Merry, do not under estimate him. He has done terrible things most all of his life. He was the one who betrayed the hobbits when the ruffians came to the Shire and placed them into the lock-ups. He has threatened and abused me most all of my life. He is bitterly jealous of you and Berilac. He wants to see your deaths, more than anything. I do not know all of his plans, Merry, but I know he insisted on me telling Berilac to take the horses to Bywater. You mustn't go that way Merry!" Ester told him.
"Ester I need to know what hold Erling has on you, what did he use to threaten you." Merry asked her.
"That Merry I can not tell you, but first I must tell my husband in private." Ester's hands shook as she lead her husband farther down the valley of the hills so know one could hear them.
Merry leaned up against the tree and placed one foot on the trunk. He crossed his arms as he watched them closely in hopes of them giving him a clue as to their gestures.
Estella approached Merry and stood before him, "Estella, do you know anything about this?"
"No, Merry, she did not tell me anything about this."
Merry's eyes darted towards the couple as they talked, Merry could see Berilac walk away from Ester, only to turned around to face her again. Merry thought that Berilac did not like what she was telling him by the expressions on his face. Berilac would turn his face away from Ester to look anywhere, rather than at her.
The minutes passed and Merry glanced up at the surrounding hills, excepting to see his horses coming over them. He listened and watched the horizon for the dust they would be kicking up as they traveled. His eyes returned back to the couple, as he saw Berilac take his wife in his arms and kiss her tenderly. Berilac and Ester began walking back to where Merry stood.
"Merry, you will have to trust me that what Erling has been blackmailing from Ester is information that will not help you, only an attempt to destroy me and my family. Erling is purely evil and capable of anything. Do not under estimate the evil of this hobbit." Berilac's face was etched in such pain that Merry could only guess what horrible thing that existed in his heart. Merry turned to Estella, "You and Ester can not stay with us, it is too dangerous. I'll send one of the Cotton boys to see you both home."
Fredegar brought the horses to Merry and Berilac as they all mounted their horses and rode off to find the herd. When they breached the next hill Merry could see the herd heading their way. Merry rode up to Wilcome Cotton and told him too take the women home. Also to tell Robin Smallburrow, Hobbiton's Shirriff, to get some men and join them at Bywater. Merry rode up to Estells sitting on her horse. He pulled his only knife he had tucked in his belt and gave this to her. "Be careful, I will send for you when we get the horses to Buckland." Merry kicked his horse to join the other hobbits. Berilac squeezed his wife's hand and said good-bye to her. He rode off to join Merry.
With a loud whistle, Merry called to Tom, Bowman, Nibs, Fredegar and Berilac to join them. Merry looked at them and surveyed the few weapons that they carried. Two swords, three knives and one bow, were all they had.
~*~
Two ruffian hobbits dashed up a tree as they watched three riders enter the clearing that they just came from and they were heading in their direction. They sat in waiting until the riders would pass under their tree. When the first horse was under them, one of the ruffians dropped down knocking Wilcome to the ground. Wilcome hit his head against the tree trunk, knocking him out. The second ruffian jumped upon the third rider and knocked her to the ground. Estella kicked her horse and ran a short distance, but stopped and turned around. She could not leave her friends to these ruffians. She got off her horse and placed her hand on the handle of the knife tucked into her belt. She could hear Ester screaming, but Wilcome did not move. Her heart races rapidly as the first ruffian began to approach her. She took a couple of steps backward and suddenly tripped on the tree root, just as the ruffian hobbit leaped towards her. She pulled the knife in her hands as she fell backwards and the ruffian hobbit landed directly onto the blade of the knife, killing him. Estella wiggled out from underneath him still holding the bloody knife in her hands and the ruffian's blood over her shirt.
The other ruffian, that struggled to hold on to Ester, threw her over his shoulder and climbed on the nearest horse and took off with her.
Estella ran to Wilcome who was just coming around. His head was bleeding, running down the side of his face. "Wilcome are you all right?"
"Yes, I think so, but my head really hurts." He stood still a little dazed.
"They have taken Ester away, you ride on to find some others to help us in Hobbiton, while I ride back to Merry and warn him that Erling has ruffians to help him. Now go, Hurray!" Estelle grabbed her horse and climber back on. She turned her horse around and kicking her horse, racing back to Merry.
~*~
Merry's heart beat rapidly when he saw Estella racing towards him alone and the blood on her shirt.
Merry jumped from his horse even before it stopped and raced toward Estella, pulling her from her horse.
"Where are you hurt?" Merry screamed.
"I am not wounded, two ruffians over took us just a few miles away, Wilcome got knocked out, but he is okay now. I sent him to get more help. The ruffian took Ester away. Merry, Erling has ruffians with him, he is not alone." Estella told him.
"I thought as much, I had hoped to avoid Erling until we got the horses home, but it looks like they have found were we are. Now that they have Ester we are going to have to fight." Merry said and then asked, "Whose blood is on your shirt."
"I accidentally killed a ruffian when I drew your knife on him and he landed on it." Estella shook as she told him.
Merry looked at Estella in awe and admiration of her bravery and courage. This hobbit that he loved was something every special.
Berilac froze in fear for his wife in the hands of Erling.
~*~
A horse with two riders raced into the Bywater camp and halted to a stop. Dismounting and pulling his captive down from the horse. Erling approached looking down at his sister as she sat on her knees before him.
"We found the camp of horses. I captured your sister, but Ol' Gus was kilt by the other hobbit with them." The Ruffian told him.
"So sister, I should of cut out your tongue when I had the chance. I reckon, Merry knows everything by now." Erling viciously glared at his sister.
"Yes, you devil, Merry is coming after you and he will get you, you monster! I just want to know why you had to kill our mother?" Ester screamed at him.
"Mama is dead?" Erling face dropped and he moved away in thought. "I did not kill her, I love Mama and Da. This was not suppose to happen." Erling suddenly remembered the cake that Estella did not eat, covered in honey. He forgot to throw it away. He was so worried about getting the honey off the floor and making sure the honey jar was tossed in the garbage.
"You are poison Erling, everything that you touch, you destroy. You destroyed Mama, and she loved you. I hate you Erling and I will see you under Merry's blade."
"No Ester, you will see Merry under mine. Take her away and tie her up." Erling told his Ruffian.
