A/N: I had to take a little time away from the story, but I am back again.
I love reading the reviews and look forward to seeing them. Thank you for
taking the time to review. Merry is impatient to go after the stallion that
Éomer gave him. While he waits, he helps Gimili with a small battle with
the orcs and afterwards he meets up with a friend who can really help him
in tracking down his horses.
Chapter 17
By What She Says
Being under ground with no windows to look out of was not an ideal dwelling for hobbits. Then knowing that he was in a dwelling far from the ground did not make him any more comfortable. Even though his bed was almost an appropriate size for a hobbit and the other furnishing, the room was not. Dwarves liked large spacious rooms and ceilings. Where the hobbit's comfort were mostly in tight close fitting rooms, with rounded ceilings and walls. Merry enjoyed the wonderful crafts that the dwarves were well known for and he admired their skills. Beautiful vases and well-craved furniture adored his room. There were crossed axes and all different types of fine metal works that hung on the walls. Lavished rugs in bright colors lay on the floor in almost every room. There were giant hearths that heated the damp coolness of the mines.
Merry paced back and forth in his room. He thought about the stallion and feeling he should be out searching for tracks or signs. The delays only frustrated him more. Merry became startled when horns began to blow and feet outside of his room rushing by his door. Merry ran into the hallway to see what was going on. He saw the dwarves with axes in their hands racing towards the cave entrance. Grabbing his sword, he joined them with Nibs and Wilcome by his side. They ran following the dwarves. Gimili stood by the entrance swinging his ax and yelling at the approaching orcs. When one orc would fall to Gilimi's ax and another orc would take his place. There were droves of orcs fighting to get into the cave of Moria, but the dwarves held them at bay. Estella came around the corner to see what was happening. She froze in fear at the slaughter that was happening in front of her eyes. She shook to her very toes with fear that surged through her heart.
Merry lunged at the orc's who got around the dwarves cutting one orc down with his sword. Before he had a chance to remove his sword from the orc, another one was almost ready to pounce on him. Nibs thrust his sword under the orc's ribs, slitting his chest wide open. The orc howled in pain as it fell to its feet. Wilcome's hand shook so badly as he hit one of the approaching orc with his sword, that he hardly made any mark on him. The orc grabbed him around the neck, choking the life out of him as Wilcome dropped his sword that landed at the feet of Estella. She picked up the sword and closing her eyes as she struck the orc with all of her strength cutting a huge gash into his neck. The black blood of the orc poured onto Estella's pants. The orc dropped Wilcome as he fell to his knees. Grasping at the open wound of his neck and choking on the blood as he tried to breath. Estella gave way to the dizziness as she felt herself slumping to the ground. Merry seeing Estella fall, gasped in horror. He quickly stabbed and swung his sword in rapid motion cutting into as many orcs as he blade could reach. Nibs fought wildly swinging his sword as his fear overtook him with the number of orcs in the entrance of the caves. Dead bodies of the orcs piled high and some dwarves as well, were killed. Merry backed up with Nibs to let the approaching dwarves defend their caves. Merry stood over Estella, protecting her as she lay on the floor with her bloodied sword next to her. Wilcome holding onto his neck stood next to Merry. Merry and Nibs stood in waiting with their swords posed for any approaching orcs that would break free from the line of defense of the dwarves.
In the entrance of the cave, the roar of the attacks was so loud, no one could hear if the person standing next to them spoke. Only moments passed and the roar began to dwindle. Merry could hear Gimili, with a loud yell of delight at seeing the retreating orcs as they pulled back. Gimili noticed from his view that the orcs fell from the cliff, one by one as they tired to climb the ramps leading to the entrance of Moria. He looked up on the farther ledge and he could see Legolas, a safe distance away, with his bow shooting arrows at the approaching orcs.
Grubdush stood on the large rock with his sword held high above his head barked out the order to pull back. "We will return again to fight another day, dwarf." He roared as he raised his other arm, shaking his fist in the air at Gimili. Grusbdush turned and ran leading his orcs back into his cave under the lower levels of Moria.
Merry laid his sword on the ground and lifted Estella into his arms and rushed to carry her back to her room. She awoke startled in Merry's arm, began to struggle to free herself. "There now, you are all right." He gently spoke to her. Estella wrapped her arms around Merry's neck and began crying.
Estella had never seen an orc before, let alone strike one with a sword. She had never seen any violent act against another since this whole this began. Fear seized her as her memories of poor Wilcome almost dying at the hands of an ocr. The orange eyes and the hissing creature that stood only a couple of feet from her almost made her mind snap as she instinctively grabbed Wilcome's sword and strike this horrifying creature. At the sight of the black oozing blood that squirted and poured from it's neck was more than what her mind could take as she fainted to the ground from such fear.
Tom and Fredegar came around the corner and were shocked at seeing Estella being carried off by Merry and Nibs trying his help his older brother. Soon Berilac raced around the corner almost bumping into Tom who stood frozen in shock seeing the Dwarves beginning to dump the bodies of the orc's over the ledge of the entrances cliff. Their eyes even widen further when an elf suddenly entered the cave entrance and was embraced by Gimili.
Tom, Fredegar and Berilac were in the far cave watching the dwarves with their craftsmanship making some fine metal designs. They were fascinated at the skills of the dwarves. When the horns blew, the dwarves told the hobbit to stay put as they raced to defend Moria. The hobbits only waited for a few moments before their natural curiosity took over and they tried to find there way back to the entrance of the mine.
Merry laid Estella on her bed. She rolled away from him grabbing her pillow sobbing into it. Merry tried to comfort her and reached his hand down to stroke her hair. Estella snapped back at him as she yelled, "Leave me alone and get out of here!"
Merry pulled his hand away and stood up from her bed and yelled back at her, "Fine then, I told you, you should not of come and how dangerous these places we were going too!"
"Get out of here!" She screamed again at him.
Merry turned and walked out of her room, slamming her door shut. Merry was furious with her as he only tried to help her and she so coldly dismissed him. Merry looked at the ground as he rapidly walked down the corridor heading back towards the entrance to see about Wilcome. Without warning Merry smacked right into a larger form that raced around the corner. Merry fell to his butt being knocked so hard against that person. "You stupid ass, watch where're going!" Merry said snidely. He looked up to see Legolas standing before him.
"Now is that how you greet a friend that you have not seen is sometime, Merry!" Legolas informed him sounding a bit offended by his manners.
A big smile broke from Merry's lips as his dark mood suddenly was dispelled.
Merry jumped up and greeted his friend. Nibs and Tom supported Wilcome in their arms and tried to help him back to his room. They all stopped for a moment to look up seeing Merry greet this awesome elf. They had never seen an elf and watched him in wonderment. They had heard all the magnificent stories of folklore about the elves and were awe struck in finally seeing one. Berilac and Fredegar stopped also to admire the elf.
Merry turned and introduced his hobbits to Legolas. They had a hard time in finding their voices to greet the elf. Legolas only smiled at them as they each shook his hand. The hobbits only admired Merry more and knew from that point on, that all of Merry's stories were true and never to be doubted again. These foreign lands were terrifying, but at the same time was an amazement.
Tom and Nibs helped Wilcome back to his room and saw to his injury.
"Come my friends, after a grand battle as we had today, we all could use a hefty glass of our finest malt beer." Gimili smiled as he lead the way down the corridor to the dinning room.
"Here, Legolas, this is our finest malt beer that was ever produced in these mines of Moria. A flavor unlike any other that you'd ever tasted. I myself, saw too the brewing of what you hold in your mug. Now drink my friends." Gimili stood close to Legolas watching the elf gulping the malt beer and he waited patiently for him to finish.
Legolas turned to Merry and asked him, "I am surprised to see you here, Merry. I did not think that once you returned to the Shire that you would ever leave their borders." Legolas totally ignored Gimili and knew his friend was seeking a compliment of his fine beer. Legolas thought he would make his friend wait a little longer.
"I have followed some horses that was stolen away from me, here to Moria." Merry began, but was interrupted by Gimili.
"Well, my elvish friend, what say you on my beer?" Gimili insisted that Legolas tell him.
"It is a good beer, Gimili." Legolas gave only a very slight hint of a smile, knowing full well that Gimili wanted a larger compliment.
"Good, for God sakes my elf lad, how can you even say such a thing. Good! That is not a good beer you hold, that is the greatest malt beer there is! Have you been in the wilderness so long that you have forgotten what a beer is suppose to taste like?" Gimili gruffly snarled at Legolas and continued after a pause to see if the elf would change his compliment of his beer. "Well, here have another glass full, and this time instead of inhaling it, you might open your taste buds and really think about what you are drinking!"
Legolas gave Merry a wink and a bit of a smile, when Gimili turned to fill his glass again. Merry muffled a hearty laugh that was on the verge of spilling out and cupped his hand over his mouth to contain himself.
Legolas took another long drink and almost finished that glass full. "I better have another so I can be sure of its quality."
"Quality is it?" Gimili's face turned a bright red as his temper was surging in him. "You'll not be getting another! I'll not waste a great malt beer on someone so dense that it would never be appreciated for what is it."
"Now, Gimili, surely you know I only jest. I would die if I could not get another glass of the most wonderful beer such as this. There is no other malt beer that I have ever tasted as great as this one. You have truly out did yourself in making this splendid beer." Legolas placed his hand on Gimili's shoulder to sooth his friend. Legolas gave out a roar of a belch to honor his friend in knowing his custom.
A great smile broke Gimili's face and he filled all their glasses full.
"So Merry, tell of these horses that were stolen from you." Legolas asked Merry taking a chair and sat down placing his beer on the table. They all joined each other at the table and Merry began telling Legolas all about his horses.
"I saw a stallion running to leave the valley of Moria as I approached, a horse of which you described. I will be more than happy to help you catch him. I also know of a valley of miniature horses by Mirkwood. Perhaps this stallion is heading to these herds."
Merry sat straight in his chair in hearing Legolas tell of these herds and about his stallion. He could barely contain himself with excitement in traveling with Legolas to see these herds.
"Then we will leave at first light tomorrow, for Mirkwood." Legolas said to the hobbits.
"Gimili, I have a favor to ask of you, will you allow Estella to stay with the dwarves, until I return. She cannot handle another mishap or danger. Please see to it that she is carefully taking care of." Merry asked.
"Why yes, my friend, hobbits are more than welcome to stay here at Moria for as long as they wish. I will see that she has the best of care while she is here with us." Gimili said.
Estella burst into the dinning room and screamed at Merry, "I need no one to take care of me, you stupid ass! Nor will I stay in Moria! I am coming with you to find the horses and I will not hear any different, do you hear me!" Estella turned and stormed out of the dinning room.
Merry jumped from his chair and ran after her.
"Is she Merry's wife?" asked Legolas assuming by their reactions towards each other and the familiarity of their tempers.
"If Merry is not careful, she will soon be." Gimili said from knowing by experience that when a man can be moved by what a female says, then that man is doomed to fall in love with her.
Chapter 17
By What She Says
Being under ground with no windows to look out of was not an ideal dwelling for hobbits. Then knowing that he was in a dwelling far from the ground did not make him any more comfortable. Even though his bed was almost an appropriate size for a hobbit and the other furnishing, the room was not. Dwarves liked large spacious rooms and ceilings. Where the hobbit's comfort were mostly in tight close fitting rooms, with rounded ceilings and walls. Merry enjoyed the wonderful crafts that the dwarves were well known for and he admired their skills. Beautiful vases and well-craved furniture adored his room. There were crossed axes and all different types of fine metal works that hung on the walls. Lavished rugs in bright colors lay on the floor in almost every room. There were giant hearths that heated the damp coolness of the mines.
Merry paced back and forth in his room. He thought about the stallion and feeling he should be out searching for tracks or signs. The delays only frustrated him more. Merry became startled when horns began to blow and feet outside of his room rushing by his door. Merry ran into the hallway to see what was going on. He saw the dwarves with axes in their hands racing towards the cave entrance. Grabbing his sword, he joined them with Nibs and Wilcome by his side. They ran following the dwarves. Gimili stood by the entrance swinging his ax and yelling at the approaching orcs. When one orc would fall to Gilimi's ax and another orc would take his place. There were droves of orcs fighting to get into the cave of Moria, but the dwarves held them at bay. Estella came around the corner to see what was happening. She froze in fear at the slaughter that was happening in front of her eyes. She shook to her very toes with fear that surged through her heart.
Merry lunged at the orc's who got around the dwarves cutting one orc down with his sword. Before he had a chance to remove his sword from the orc, another one was almost ready to pounce on him. Nibs thrust his sword under the orc's ribs, slitting his chest wide open. The orc howled in pain as it fell to its feet. Wilcome's hand shook so badly as he hit one of the approaching orc with his sword, that he hardly made any mark on him. The orc grabbed him around the neck, choking the life out of him as Wilcome dropped his sword that landed at the feet of Estella. She picked up the sword and closing her eyes as she struck the orc with all of her strength cutting a huge gash into his neck. The black blood of the orc poured onto Estella's pants. The orc dropped Wilcome as he fell to his knees. Grasping at the open wound of his neck and choking on the blood as he tried to breath. Estella gave way to the dizziness as she felt herself slumping to the ground. Merry seeing Estella fall, gasped in horror. He quickly stabbed and swung his sword in rapid motion cutting into as many orcs as he blade could reach. Nibs fought wildly swinging his sword as his fear overtook him with the number of orcs in the entrance of the caves. Dead bodies of the orcs piled high and some dwarves as well, were killed. Merry backed up with Nibs to let the approaching dwarves defend their caves. Merry stood over Estella, protecting her as she lay on the floor with her bloodied sword next to her. Wilcome holding onto his neck stood next to Merry. Merry and Nibs stood in waiting with their swords posed for any approaching orcs that would break free from the line of defense of the dwarves.
In the entrance of the cave, the roar of the attacks was so loud, no one could hear if the person standing next to them spoke. Only moments passed and the roar began to dwindle. Merry could hear Gimili, with a loud yell of delight at seeing the retreating orcs as they pulled back. Gimili noticed from his view that the orcs fell from the cliff, one by one as they tired to climb the ramps leading to the entrance of Moria. He looked up on the farther ledge and he could see Legolas, a safe distance away, with his bow shooting arrows at the approaching orcs.
Grubdush stood on the large rock with his sword held high above his head barked out the order to pull back. "We will return again to fight another day, dwarf." He roared as he raised his other arm, shaking his fist in the air at Gimili. Grusbdush turned and ran leading his orcs back into his cave under the lower levels of Moria.
Merry laid his sword on the ground and lifted Estella into his arms and rushed to carry her back to her room. She awoke startled in Merry's arm, began to struggle to free herself. "There now, you are all right." He gently spoke to her. Estella wrapped her arms around Merry's neck and began crying.
Estella had never seen an orc before, let alone strike one with a sword. She had never seen any violent act against another since this whole this began. Fear seized her as her memories of poor Wilcome almost dying at the hands of an ocr. The orange eyes and the hissing creature that stood only a couple of feet from her almost made her mind snap as she instinctively grabbed Wilcome's sword and strike this horrifying creature. At the sight of the black oozing blood that squirted and poured from it's neck was more than what her mind could take as she fainted to the ground from such fear.
Tom and Fredegar came around the corner and were shocked at seeing Estella being carried off by Merry and Nibs trying his help his older brother. Soon Berilac raced around the corner almost bumping into Tom who stood frozen in shock seeing the Dwarves beginning to dump the bodies of the orc's over the ledge of the entrances cliff. Their eyes even widen further when an elf suddenly entered the cave entrance and was embraced by Gimili.
Tom, Fredegar and Berilac were in the far cave watching the dwarves with their craftsmanship making some fine metal designs. They were fascinated at the skills of the dwarves. When the horns blew, the dwarves told the hobbit to stay put as they raced to defend Moria. The hobbits only waited for a few moments before their natural curiosity took over and they tried to find there way back to the entrance of the mine.
Merry laid Estella on her bed. She rolled away from him grabbing her pillow sobbing into it. Merry tried to comfort her and reached his hand down to stroke her hair. Estella snapped back at him as she yelled, "Leave me alone and get out of here!"
Merry pulled his hand away and stood up from her bed and yelled back at her, "Fine then, I told you, you should not of come and how dangerous these places we were going too!"
"Get out of here!" She screamed again at him.
Merry turned and walked out of her room, slamming her door shut. Merry was furious with her as he only tried to help her and she so coldly dismissed him. Merry looked at the ground as he rapidly walked down the corridor heading back towards the entrance to see about Wilcome. Without warning Merry smacked right into a larger form that raced around the corner. Merry fell to his butt being knocked so hard against that person. "You stupid ass, watch where're going!" Merry said snidely. He looked up to see Legolas standing before him.
"Now is that how you greet a friend that you have not seen is sometime, Merry!" Legolas informed him sounding a bit offended by his manners.
A big smile broke from Merry's lips as his dark mood suddenly was dispelled.
Merry jumped up and greeted his friend. Nibs and Tom supported Wilcome in their arms and tried to help him back to his room. They all stopped for a moment to look up seeing Merry greet this awesome elf. They had never seen an elf and watched him in wonderment. They had heard all the magnificent stories of folklore about the elves and were awe struck in finally seeing one. Berilac and Fredegar stopped also to admire the elf.
Merry turned and introduced his hobbits to Legolas. They had a hard time in finding their voices to greet the elf. Legolas only smiled at them as they each shook his hand. The hobbits only admired Merry more and knew from that point on, that all of Merry's stories were true and never to be doubted again. These foreign lands were terrifying, but at the same time was an amazement.
Tom and Nibs helped Wilcome back to his room and saw to his injury.
"Come my friends, after a grand battle as we had today, we all could use a hefty glass of our finest malt beer." Gimili smiled as he lead the way down the corridor to the dinning room.
"Here, Legolas, this is our finest malt beer that was ever produced in these mines of Moria. A flavor unlike any other that you'd ever tasted. I myself, saw too the brewing of what you hold in your mug. Now drink my friends." Gimili stood close to Legolas watching the elf gulping the malt beer and he waited patiently for him to finish.
Legolas turned to Merry and asked him, "I am surprised to see you here, Merry. I did not think that once you returned to the Shire that you would ever leave their borders." Legolas totally ignored Gimili and knew his friend was seeking a compliment of his fine beer. Legolas thought he would make his friend wait a little longer.
"I have followed some horses that was stolen away from me, here to Moria." Merry began, but was interrupted by Gimili.
"Well, my elvish friend, what say you on my beer?" Gimili insisted that Legolas tell him.
"It is a good beer, Gimili." Legolas gave only a very slight hint of a smile, knowing full well that Gimili wanted a larger compliment.
"Good, for God sakes my elf lad, how can you even say such a thing. Good! That is not a good beer you hold, that is the greatest malt beer there is! Have you been in the wilderness so long that you have forgotten what a beer is suppose to taste like?" Gimili gruffly snarled at Legolas and continued after a pause to see if the elf would change his compliment of his beer. "Well, here have another glass full, and this time instead of inhaling it, you might open your taste buds and really think about what you are drinking!"
Legolas gave Merry a wink and a bit of a smile, when Gimili turned to fill his glass again. Merry muffled a hearty laugh that was on the verge of spilling out and cupped his hand over his mouth to contain himself.
Legolas took another long drink and almost finished that glass full. "I better have another so I can be sure of its quality."
"Quality is it?" Gimili's face turned a bright red as his temper was surging in him. "You'll not be getting another! I'll not waste a great malt beer on someone so dense that it would never be appreciated for what is it."
"Now, Gimili, surely you know I only jest. I would die if I could not get another glass of the most wonderful beer such as this. There is no other malt beer that I have ever tasted as great as this one. You have truly out did yourself in making this splendid beer." Legolas placed his hand on Gimili's shoulder to sooth his friend. Legolas gave out a roar of a belch to honor his friend in knowing his custom.
A great smile broke Gimili's face and he filled all their glasses full.
"So Merry, tell of these horses that were stolen from you." Legolas asked Merry taking a chair and sat down placing his beer on the table. They all joined each other at the table and Merry began telling Legolas all about his horses.
"I saw a stallion running to leave the valley of Moria as I approached, a horse of which you described. I will be more than happy to help you catch him. I also know of a valley of miniature horses by Mirkwood. Perhaps this stallion is heading to these herds."
Merry sat straight in his chair in hearing Legolas tell of these herds and about his stallion. He could barely contain himself with excitement in traveling with Legolas to see these herds.
"Then we will leave at first light tomorrow, for Mirkwood." Legolas said to the hobbits.
"Gimili, I have a favor to ask of you, will you allow Estella to stay with the dwarves, until I return. She cannot handle another mishap or danger. Please see to it that she is carefully taking care of." Merry asked.
"Why yes, my friend, hobbits are more than welcome to stay here at Moria for as long as they wish. I will see that she has the best of care while she is here with us." Gimili said.
Estella burst into the dinning room and screamed at Merry, "I need no one to take care of me, you stupid ass! Nor will I stay in Moria! I am coming with you to find the horses and I will not hear any different, do you hear me!" Estella turned and stormed out of the dinning room.
Merry jumped from his chair and ran after her.
"Is she Merry's wife?" asked Legolas assuming by their reactions towards each other and the familiarity of their tempers.
"If Merry is not careful, she will soon be." Gimili said from knowing by experience that when a man can be moved by what a female says, then that man is doomed to fall in love with her.
