A/N: Natta, Aemilia Rose, Princess-Pixie Sugar-stix and Jedi-hobbit lay in waiting at the edge of Erling's camp with their sticks in their hands waiting for any wrong move towards Ester. Erling sees this and stays away from Ester, she had too many strong friends to defend her....

Chapter 12

In The Darkness

The tall grasses in the clearing kept the horses grazing comfortably as Merry gathered his hobbits together to begin planning how to find Erling and bring Ester back home. Plus get the horses back to Buckland.

Wilcome, Tom, Fredegar and Estella would take the horses to Buckland by traveling eastward and going farther down away from Bywater. Merry, Berilac and Nibs would find Ester and capture Erling. Merry said his good-byes to Estella and told Fredegar to take good care of her. He would join them in at Buckland.

They all got on their horses and slowly moved the horses out. Merry soon found the trail that the ruffian used to take Ester to their camp. The horse prints in the dirt clearly heading in the direction of Bywater.

The Cotton boys, Estella and her brother pushed the horses as much as they dared in trying to get as much distance as possible from what sunlight they had left.

~*~

Erling now knew that Merry would be coming after him since he held Ester in his camp. He divided his men into two groups, Night eyes, a ruffian hobbit, would follow the tracks of the horse, traveling all night trying to over them. He had a special talent unlike any other hobbit. Night eyes could see in the dark as we could see in the day. He was born with a condition that made his eyes very sensitive to the light. Even his sensitive skin would blister and peal if he was exposed to too much sunlight. He only came out during the night and slept in during the light hours. Erling met him years ago when he started Shirriffing, after some hobbits complained about his late hours he would keep. Night eyes moved away to live in isolation so he could get his work done at night and not disturb anyone while doing it. Erling enlisted him as one of his ruffians to take the horses out of the shire, promising him the greater portion of the money they would get selling these horses.

Erling sat in the center of camp next to the roaring fire, sharpening his sword. This unnerved Ester with the constant grinding of stone gliding across the edge of the blade.

Erling was not new to the sword and had numerous encounters with an opponent who would challenge him when being Shirriff. This was greatly used during the time the Ruffians first appeared in the Shire with the Chief. Erling considered himself as skilled as Merry. Erling would watch the edge of his camp as darkness engulfed its boards. He grew impatient as the hour slowly passed as he a waited for Merry and his hobbit to show them selves, as he knew they would.

When Merry approached the Bywater camp, he thought this was too easy upon his first observation. There were only four other hobbits guarding the boarders of the camp and with the roaring of the campfire, they could see this camp for miles. Merry thought there was something greatly wrong with this. They should have been hiding and not out in the open. He smelled a trap. Merry looked up into the trees and he could see a hobbit with a bow sitting in the branches in the darkness. Merry motioned to Nibs and Berilac to look up into the tree. Merry took the leather strap that was attached to his traveling bag and tied it to a 'Y' shape branch he found on the ground. Picking up a good size stone. He took perfect aim and pulled the strap as far as it would go. He released the strap sending the stone hurling through the air and hitting the hobbit in the head. The stone knocked him out and he fell from the tree. Merry took the strap and tied the hobbit to the tree and gagged him. Merry knew he had to take each one of these ruffians out at a time and replace them with one of his own hobbits. Merry knew the one thing that all ruffians desired and that was a bag of money left unnoticed by it owner. He placed his pouch of money into a tree branch. One of the guards wandered close by and as he did, Merry gently touched the branch as to draw the guard's attention toward the money pouch.

The guard looked from side to side to make sure no one was watching him as he slowly edged his way into the darkness of the trees. Merry hit him with a rock he had in his hands. Berilac held his bow and arrow on the ruffian, while Merry undressed him. Nibs put on the ruffian's clothing and stepped back into the light of the camp, but kept his distance from the other ruffians so they would not get a close enough look at him.

Merry and Berilac walked around the camp. Merry thought that if the money pouch worked so well with the first ruffian, it should also work on this one. He again placed the money pouch in the tree. When the guard walked into the darkness of the trees, Merry greeted him with the same rock and took his clothes. Berilac dressed in his clothes quickly and walked out into the light of the camp. Placing his bow and arrows on the ground by his feet.

Erling looked up at his ruffians who guarded the camp and he smiled as he picked up his stone to glide it against the blade of his sword.

Merry looked at Nibs and Berilac as they stood unnoticed at their positions they guarded, sizing them up. Berilac was very emotionally involved with his wife being held hostage. After his reluctance with the men of Rohan, Merry was not sure that Berilac's gentle spirit would be able to use his bow against an attacker and killing him, if need be. While Nibs would not have a problem with this, but his young age and his cocky spirit, he could jump too soon, giving his hand away. Merry worried as he walked directly into the center of the camp holding his sword out in front of him. This drew Erling's attention towards Merry and surprised him by Merry's bold approach.

"You are a bigger fool, then what I estimated. Guards take this fool!" Erling screamed at his men. However, nothing happened. Erling looked up into the trees, but his Bowman was gone, he looked towards his guards who now he no longer recognized their faces. Berilac stood with his arrow cocked and aimed at the one guard that they could not get to. Nibs ran over and began tying him up. Then walked over to Ester to untie her. Erling's sweat began to form around his upper lip as he seized the handle of his sword holding it tightly.

Merry raised his sword up in front of him as his attacker made the first lunge with his sword. Merry blocked this attempt as the swords clanged loudly in the air. Merry swiftly moved to the side throwing off Erling's balance as he used more strength with his sword, where Merry used more cunning. Just as Aragorn has taught him, Merry spun and slashed his sword rapidly driving his opponent backwards trying his best to defend himself against such swift moves. Erling almost tripped as he retreated, but side stepped, getting away from Merry's skillful maneuvering of his attacks.

Merry's heart pounded with in the confines of his chest as he fought the aggressive attacks from Erling. With sudden speed, Merry turned and spun around; with a full body thrust Merry brought his sword down, knocking Erlings sword from his hand and swiftly placed the tip of his blade against Erling's throat. Merry stopped himself for cutting his throat and took a moment to look into Erling's face. He was profusely sweating and his eyes wildly opened as he glared up at Merry. Merry pressed the sword tighter against his neck and he could smell the fear coming from Erling. Merry stepped back and lowered his sword to his side.

"It is better you rot in prison, than die by my sword." Merry walked backwards away from Erling as he fell to his knees, cowering in defeat. Merry turned to find his horse and allow Nibs and Berilac to bind this snake. With lighting speed Erling's hand reached behind him and pulled a knife. A loud hiss pierced the quietness of the still night as the arrow thudding into Erling's heart killing him instantly.

Merry looked towards the direction for the arrow and he saw Berilac just lowering his bow. Ester ran to her husband and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly.

Berilac and Merry's eyes locked on each other. Merry gave a firm nod in silence admiration towards his older cousin. Nibs brought the horses into camp and Merry climbed on his horse kicking it, the horse trotted off into the stillness of the dark night.

Merry could not wait until morning light to find his horses and his group of hobbits who watched him. He lowered his head to the side of the horse's neck to watch the terrain and keep the horse on the path heading towards Buckland.

~*~

Night eyes lead the Ruffian's in single file as he maneuvered them through the darkness, over hills and thick bushes, large rocks and crevices of the earth. They followed the tracks of the horses for hours in total silence.

Estella could not sleep and lying on her blanket listening to the night sounds of the horses as they moved quietly grazing in the darkness of the night. Fredegar sat on a rock near the herd of horses, watching for any signs of would-be attackers. Fredegar jumped and twitched with each hoot of an owl or a croak of a toad. The darkness of the night echoed all sorts of ghostly howls. He could hear the horses slowly moving about. Fredegar spun around as a crack from a tree branch and footsteps sent his heart racing out of control.

"Relax Freddy, it is just me." Estella said as she approached him.

"You scared me sneaking up on me like that." Fredegar snarled at her for scaring him.

"I am sorry about that, it is a frightful night to be sure." She tried to comfort his nerves to calm him down some and added, "I am worried about Merry, do you think he is okay?"

"If anyone of us hobbits can handle themselves, it is Merry Brandybuck. I am sure he is doing just fine." Fredegar tried to reassure her. "I'll feel more at ease at first morning light."

Dark hands reached out from the blackness of the night and seized Estella and Fredegar around their mouths to prevent them from screaming.