Chapter 11
Esmerelda's revenge
Eventually Merry began to wonder what had happened to his cousin (s) (as Bilbo is technically Merry's cousin) and went to find his mother and father, who stood talking with Rorimac and Paladin and tugged on Esmerelda's skirt.
"Yes darling?" she asked kindly, looking down at him.
"Have you seen Frodo or Bilbo? I can't find them anywhere.they were by a tree and now they're gone."
Esmerelda's face paled. "No.I haven't seen them. Did you look all over?"
Merry nodded. "I even checked around the back to see if they were watching the games but they weren't there. You don't think they've.they've been hobbitnapped, do you?"
Esmerelda gasped. "Merry! Don't say such a thing!"
Suddenly: "Lost the little brat, eh? Good riddance.one less coddled little brat is more than enough."
Esmerelda stiffened as she realized the voice belonged to Lobelia Sackville-Baggins. Shockingly, Esmerelda did not even remember inviting that part of the Baggins family but then again, Lobelia and company tended to always show up uninvited. The Mistress of Brandy Hall slowly turned around to face the older woman, her eyes narrowed with anger and her lips in a straight line. "I simply don't know why you keep in contact with such mathoms!" (A word I learned from Lily Baggins' "Mathom"-something that hobbits feel are useless and throw away are known as Mathom's)
"What did you say?" Esmerelda snapped.
"Both of those rats are mathoms.mathoms I tell you! Not a dreaded use to our hobbit society. They don't know a turnip from a mushroom by George and I don't see what use it is to have." Before Lobelia could continue SMACK! Merry jumped in surprise as his mother slapped Lobelia clear across the face. The other guests nearby heard the slap as well (including Pearl, who was still carrying Pippin in her arms and Saradoc).
"You'll never hear the end of this, Brandybuck!" Lobelia growled once she'd recovered from the blow. "Come, Otho.Lotho. Let's get out of this retched place."
The Sackville-Bagginses left in a huff and after them the rest of the family began clapping and whistling after them. Merry gaped up at his mother-she had never hit anyone before and to go right ahead and slap one of the nastiest family members.that was unheard of! "Mum?" he asked in shock. Esmerelda cleared her throat and gazed at her slapping hand and then looked back down at her son.
"I'm sorry you had to see that, darling. But there are certain.never mind. I have an idea of where your cousins are. Go on now." She shooed him off before hurrying back into the hall, rushing right past her also astonished husband.
Esmerelda entered Brandy Hall (now empty with the exception of a few random maids who were bringing out trash bags) and immediately headed for the library. No doubt that rediculous woman had tortured both Frodo and Bilbo as she normally did, and normally Frodo's comfort had been the library. She stood in the doorway of the large room and sure enough saw Frodo sitting on Bilbo's lap, reading a story to him. "What do we have here?" Esmerelda asked, trying to hide her smile.
Both hobbits glanced up, startled. "Oh.Esmerelda. I apologize for leaving the party in such haste, but." Bilbo began.
"Never mind that. I know what happened.you had a tiff with that Lobelia. Well.I took care of her."
Frodo laughed. "How?"
"That is none of your business, Frodo. Now.would you two care to come back to the party? They've left.you're safe."
Bilbo smiled. "Truly, Esme.I am not in much of a party mood tonight. I'd rather spend some time with my favorite nephew if that is all right with you." Frodo grinned in delight as Bilbo placed a kiss on his cheek. Esmerelda came over and gave Frodo a kiss on the head.
"Not at all. Let me know if you need anything.I'll bring you up some treats from the party later."
"Thank you, Auntie." Said Frodo watching as she left the room.
Eventually Merry began to wonder what had happened to his cousin (s) (as Bilbo is technically Merry's cousin) and went to find his mother and father, who stood talking with Rorimac and Paladin and tugged on Esmerelda's skirt.
"Yes darling?" she asked kindly, looking down at him.
"Have you seen Frodo or Bilbo? I can't find them anywhere.they were by a tree and now they're gone."
Esmerelda's face paled. "No.I haven't seen them. Did you look all over?"
Merry nodded. "I even checked around the back to see if they were watching the games but they weren't there. You don't think they've.they've been hobbitnapped, do you?"
Esmerelda gasped. "Merry! Don't say such a thing!"
Suddenly: "Lost the little brat, eh? Good riddance.one less coddled little brat is more than enough."
Esmerelda stiffened as she realized the voice belonged to Lobelia Sackville-Baggins. Shockingly, Esmerelda did not even remember inviting that part of the Baggins family but then again, Lobelia and company tended to always show up uninvited. The Mistress of Brandy Hall slowly turned around to face the older woman, her eyes narrowed with anger and her lips in a straight line. "I simply don't know why you keep in contact with such mathoms!" (A word I learned from Lily Baggins' "Mathom"-something that hobbits feel are useless and throw away are known as Mathom's)
"What did you say?" Esmerelda snapped.
"Both of those rats are mathoms.mathoms I tell you! Not a dreaded use to our hobbit society. They don't know a turnip from a mushroom by George and I don't see what use it is to have." Before Lobelia could continue SMACK! Merry jumped in surprise as his mother slapped Lobelia clear across the face. The other guests nearby heard the slap as well (including Pearl, who was still carrying Pippin in her arms and Saradoc).
"You'll never hear the end of this, Brandybuck!" Lobelia growled once she'd recovered from the blow. "Come, Otho.Lotho. Let's get out of this retched place."
The Sackville-Bagginses left in a huff and after them the rest of the family began clapping and whistling after them. Merry gaped up at his mother-she had never hit anyone before and to go right ahead and slap one of the nastiest family members.that was unheard of! "Mum?" he asked in shock. Esmerelda cleared her throat and gazed at her slapping hand and then looked back down at her son.
"I'm sorry you had to see that, darling. But there are certain.never mind. I have an idea of where your cousins are. Go on now." She shooed him off before hurrying back into the hall, rushing right past her also astonished husband.
Esmerelda entered Brandy Hall (now empty with the exception of a few random maids who were bringing out trash bags) and immediately headed for the library. No doubt that rediculous woman had tortured both Frodo and Bilbo as she normally did, and normally Frodo's comfort had been the library. She stood in the doorway of the large room and sure enough saw Frodo sitting on Bilbo's lap, reading a story to him. "What do we have here?" Esmerelda asked, trying to hide her smile.
Both hobbits glanced up, startled. "Oh.Esmerelda. I apologize for leaving the party in such haste, but." Bilbo began.
"Never mind that. I know what happened.you had a tiff with that Lobelia. Well.I took care of her."
Frodo laughed. "How?"
"That is none of your business, Frodo. Now.would you two care to come back to the party? They've left.you're safe."
Bilbo smiled. "Truly, Esme.I am not in much of a party mood tonight. I'd rather spend some time with my favorite nephew if that is all right with you." Frodo grinned in delight as Bilbo placed a kiss on his cheek. Esmerelda came over and gave Frodo a kiss on the head.
"Not at all. Let me know if you need anything.I'll bring you up some treats from the party later."
"Thank you, Auntie." Said Frodo watching as she left the room.
