I HATE not having free time! I finally was able to get this up. Hope you enjoy!

*************************

I knocked on the door of Tulip's room, shifting uneasily from foot to foot until it opened. Tulip stared at me as she beckoned me in.

"You look..disheveled," she commented lightly.

Shooting her a cold look, I shot back, "Really? How could you tell?"

She laughed and closed the door. "Got roped into washing dishes for the old grannies, did we?"

I collapsed across her bed and moaned in reply.

"Get off my nice clean bed!" Tulip yelped, nearly dislocating my arm when she hauled me up. "You're covered in suds and grease - no! Don't wipe it on me!"

"Quit your shrieking. You're such a baby," I sneered. Grimacing in disgust, Tulip gingerly wiped her hand on one of the few clean patches of my sleeve.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" she questioned. "Why aren't you getting ready? Supper's being served in an hour and a half down at the hall."

I sighed. "I know. I have a slight problem."

"What's that?" Tulip quirked an eyebrow.

I squirmed awkwardly. "I don't have a dress."

"You don't have a dress?" Tulip repeated incredulously, a hint of panic in her voice.

"Well, I do," I amended hurriedly, "but not a nice one. They're all old and a bit worn. I was planning on having a little more time to get a new one. I suppose I could just wear one I brought."

"Absolutely not," Tulip cut in. "Somewhere in this monstrosity of a house there must be a pretty dress for you. Wait here." Before I could stop her or even speak, she was out the door.

I sank back down on the bed. It was best to humor Tulip, anyway. And if she, by some miracle, actually found a dress I could wear, I was not going to turn it down.

To my surprise, Tulip returned within a few minutes, breathless and grinning. "Good news!" she squealed. "I asked Aunt Pearl if there was a suitable dress for you - I explained it all - and she said she knew just the one. And best of all, it's Garnet's!"

I stared at her blankly for a moment, then realized that she was serious. A grin tugged at the corners of my mouth as I said, "When she sees me - in her own dress, and probably an expensive one at that, knowing her - she will be so mad she won't be able to see straight!"

Tulip giggled with more than a hint of mischief. "Oh, I know! I can't wait to see her face!"

I sobered suddenly, remembering my earlier conversation with Garnet. "Tulip - is it true that she's getting married?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Tulip replied, rolling her eyes. "Within the next few weeks, I think. I'm relieved to see her go, but I feel sorry for poor Mosco. He's a decent fellow, I suppose, but not as bright as some; and he thinks he's got himself quite a nice catch."

I shook my head. "He's in for a rude awakening."

"I don't know," replied Tulip. She cocked her head to one side and went on, "They really do seem happy around each other, even Garnet. I know it sounds crazy, but maybe they bring out the best in one another. Stranger things have happened in the name of love."

I regarded her skeptically. Tulip caught my look and laughed. "Who knows? Maybe, if the right lad comes along, even you, Estella Bolger, might find yourself acting sentimentally."

I could not help snorting in disbelief, but I managed to reply, "Right, Tulip. Come on; you know I'm not a romantic by anyone's reckoning."

"I know, I know," she returned lightly. "But still, you never know. That's all I'm saying."

I was about to throw a pillow at her when Aunt Pearl appeared in the doorway. "I heard that a certain young lady was in desperate need of a dress tonight," she announced, eyes twinkling, and held out a cascade of flowing blue fabric. I gasped in delight and shock, leaping to finger the material, and then realized that I was still covered in various reminders of my hours spent washing dishes.

"I need to wash up," I began. "I can't - "

"I understand," Aunt Pearl interrupted. "Take this with you." She held out the dress; I took it gingerly.

"Thank you so much," I said fervently.

Aunt Pearl smiled. "Any time, dear."

I flashed a broad grin and took off for my room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Here we are, Stella," sand Tulip with more glee than was strictly necessary.

"You don't have to yell," I hissed. "I don't need an announcement. I feel like enough of a fool already."

"Oh, hush." She grinned. "You look wonderful. Enjoy yourself."

I gave her a dubious look, smoothed my skirt nervously, and stepped out of the cart. I felt more awkward than I had in a long time - I'd never been much for frills, and rarely attended cotillions; certainly not major social events such as this one. I loved the dress, a finely made skirt, bodice, and blouse ensemble, but aside from that, everything about me seemed out of place.

However, it was too late to back out now. Tulip led the way through a pair of magnificent oak doors that had been flung open, light spilling out onto the darkening street. The hall itself was packed with hobbits of all ages, and the combined chatter was so loud I could barely hear myself think; I was relieved when Tulip pulled me through the crush to the lawn outside. A large pavilion had been set up, lit by hanging lanterns and the occasional firefly that wandered through. Hobbits were seated along several sizable tables, and Tulip and I quickly spotted our group, consisting of most of the current inhabitants of Uncle Ferdinand's house. We hurried over and managed to find two adjacent seats.

"Where have you been?" teased Fred, across the table from me. "You obviously didn't spend all that time making yourself pretty."

I stuck my tongue out at him but batted my eyelashes. "At least we can recognize pretty when it stares us in the face."

Fred clapped a hand to his heart. "M'lady, you've deeply wounded me."

"Forgive me for my utter lack of pity."

"You can make it up to me by passing the rolls."

I obliged, helping myself to one as well. There was little conversation from then on: the feast had been provided by a sort of potluck, and with so many families in attendance, there was no shortage of fare. We all tucked in with vigor; every so often lasses would pass by, setting down more serving trays and removing empty ones.

When the pace had slowed slightly, I nudged Tulip. "All right. Who's here?" The tables were quickly filling as we ate, and although I recognized some of the faces, many were unfamiliar.

Tulip craned her neck, scanning the surrounding tables. "You know everyone here, obviously." She indicated our own table. "Over there on the right - um, some various Tooks: Pearl, Peregrin...Diamond of Long Cleeve's with them. And some Brandybucks: Celandine, Meriadoc, Melilot..." She squinted in the other direction. "A few Burrowses - ah, there's old Mosco now. Where's Garnet, I wonder?"

"Right here," Garnet purred. She'd appeared from nowhere, it seemed, and was leaning over my shoulder to set down a platter of meat and cheese. "Someone has to keep the tables supplied. Careful, Fatty," she chided as Fred reached for the serving fork. "There are several hundred other hobbits here who'd like to eat, too."

Fred and I both flushed - Fred with embarrassment, I with anger. I could not resist giving Garnet's arm a vicious pinch as she withdrew; she shot me an icy glare but, to my surprise, did not retaliate. Turning back to Tulip, I attempted to strike up another conversation, but within a few moments Garnet was approaching again, this time with a large flagon of ale. She leaned over me as if to place it on the table, but suddenly she let out a very forced-sounding "Oh!" and the flagon slipped from her hands. It landed on my lap, having emptied all of its contents over me in the process.

Dripping ale, I shrieked in shock and rage and sprang up. Lunging for Garnet, I succeeded in relieving her of a handful of her hair before she sent me reeling backwards with a slap. Most of the hobbits at my table had jumped up and surrounded Garnet and me, but curiously enough, no one seemed willing to interfere as we now circled each other warily.

"You poisonous little rat," I hissed in a low but dangerous voice.

"I'm the poisonous one?" Garnet forced a laugh. "I think not. It's not my fault you're jealous."

"Jealous?" I retorted. "I'm afraid you're wrong there. I cannot for the life of me explain why Mosco agreed to marry you, though there is the possibility that you threatened him. In any case, I am exceedingly grateful to him for removing you from my sight!"

Garnet leaped forward and with a clever sidestep managed to twist my arm up behind my back. "The feeling is mutual," she spat, her face a scant three inches from mine.

I smiled sweetly in return and kicked her in the shin. Yelping, she staggered back, and I was raising my hand to slap her when my arm was seized from behind.

"Fred!" I wailed, struggling wildly but not taking my eyes off of Garnet. "Let me go!"

Mosco Burrows himself pushed through the circle of onlookers and hurried to Garnet's side. She gave me a final frosty glare before turning to leave with Mosco.

I strained forward, but I was held fast. Jerking my arm wildly behind me, I tried to wrench it free. Instead, I felt the back of my hand connect with a face. I was instantly released, but I whirled in alarm, my hands to my mouth. "Fred!" I cried. "I'm so sorry - !" I broke off suddenly.

Fred had not been the one holding my arm. Instead, a tall hobbit that I did not recognize held a hand to his swiftly reddening cheek.

Scrambling to recover, I babbled, "Oh, I am so sorry, I had no idea - I mean, I thought you were my brother - I'm really sorry; please - "

He held up a hand and, to my surprise, grinned: a genuine smile. "Perfectly understandable, under the circumstances." He wiggled his jaw experimentally. "No lasting damages seems to have been done, so..." he paused, and peered at me more closely. "Estella?"

I blinked in surprise and nodded warily. Now that I came to think of it, he did look familiar, but I couldn't connect a name with his face.

Fred finally appeared through the dissipating crowd in time to hear the stranger's last query, and he clapped him on the back with a jovial grin. "Dear sister," he exclaimed, "don't tell me you don't recognize my old friend Merry Brandybuck?"

I did a mental double-take. "Master - Master Merry," I stammered, "I didn't realize - you're so tall!"

Merry laughed. "A comment I've heard more times than I can count in the last year. Don't worry about it. Look at you," he added. "Last time we met you were barely in your tweens!"

I shrugged, suddenly feeling less than conversational. I knew I was being rude, but I had a low tolerance for embarrassment, and a blush was already creeping across my face. To my relief, Fred flashed me a grin and a quick, "You don't mind, do you, Stella?" before steering Merry away. Merry gave a slight bow and turned to go.

I slowly returned to my chair and sat down heavily.

"Well," commented Tulip. "That was interesting. You certainly succeeded in drawing attention to yourself. Although I can't say you chose the best method."

"Oh, shut up," I replied wearily. "I can't help it is Garnet is a snake." I moaned. "I just realized that's the first understandable sentence I've said in the past fifteen minutes."

Raising an eyebrow, Garnet returned, "Maybe you can't help Garnet being nasty, but you can refrain from attacking her." Seeing my look of indignation, she hurriedly added, "Even if she deserved it. At least you managed to attract the attentions of Master Merry."

I groaned again. "Don't start."

Tulip shrugged, with a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "All right, all right. But you might as well know that I am not going to let you sit here alone all night, or ever, for that matter."

"Thank you for informing me of that fact," I replied. "But for now, just let me reflect on my grossly inappropriate conduct."

"No. Come on, let's get you cleaned up." Tulip dragged me out of my seat by one arm. I sighed and followed toward the hall.
*********

I'm sorry, I know this chapter was pretty shoddy. But I got through it *phew*! And look! Merry IS in this story! ::gasps in disbelief:: No!

I swear it'll start getting interesting next chapter. Swear! :D