Chapter 2

Estella. Estella. Estella.

Pippin's birthday celebration was a big party of over two hundred hobbits. Dancing, drinking and laughter. Merry and Sam talked; Pippin was dancing with Diamond of Long Cleeve.

"Mr. Pippin sure looks happy."

Merry nodded and took a long drink from his mug. He wiped his mouth clean, "You should of seen Pip earlier. He was really upset on a count of Frodo's missing, but then he saw her-"

"And he forgot all about it?"

"Exactly."

The two watched Pippin laugh and dance with the freckled hobbit girl. Soon Rosie came and dragged her own husband to the dance floor, and Merry was left alone. The same feeling of jealousy crept up on him again and he found himself drinking more than he usually did. Over two hours passed and Merry finished his seventh serving of ale. He felt dizzy and decided he would go inside and lay down for a while. He felt somebody stop him; It was a girl, maybe three to five years younger than he, with light, golden brown long hair, brown eyes, and a tiny button nose. She was an adorable hobbit and Merry had yet to see a lass who's smile was brighter than hers.

"Where are you going?" her voice chimed, "The party isn't over yet!"

Merry was speechless and embarrassed. He could hardly keep his balance and the world seemed to spin. Merry shook his head, "I'm tired... I'm just going to my room for a bit..."

"Is this your home? Are you a Brandybuck?"

Merry nodded.

"You must be Saradoc's son! Meriadoc?"

"That's me," Merry finally found his feet, "You can call me Merry though," he shook the girl's hand, lifted it, and kissed it as a young, charming gentlemen would do. Merry blushed a little, " And you are..."

The girl giggled childishly, "My name's Estella."

The world seemed to stop. And the name seemed to echo in Merry's head... Estella. Estella. Estella.

"Hullo, Estella."

"Hullo, Merry."

"Would you like to join me inside?" asked Merry. Estella nodded and the two entered the house.

Pippin and Diamond laughed as they collapsed on a near by picnic bench, "We've been dancing for hours! It's already nightfall!"

Pippin couldn't stop laughing, "I haven't had this much fun since... Since I dared my cousin Merry to eat a handful of worms!"

"Did he do it?"

"No, but he some how convinced me to! The sly devil!"

The two were silent as they watched Sam and Rosie dance. Rosie laughed as Sam stumbled here and there, for they had been dancing nearly as long as Pippin and Diamond. Diamond turned to Peregrin, "Pippin, are you having a nice birthday?"

"The best."

"Really?"

Pippin nodded, "Do I look like the type of hobbit who would lie?"

"O, I've heard tales of a mischievous young hobbit known as Peregrin Took!"

They laughed some more. "Well, I wouldn't lie to you, Diamond."

"And why is that?"

Pippin wasn't quite sure why, "Because.... because.... I like you, I suppose."

"You like me?"

"Well... it's a bit more than that..." Pippin paused, "See... I like apples and I like singing. But I like you more. I like my mother and I like you almost more than her. And I really do like my mother... but you're even better, because I feel...happy, and I feel--"

"Pippin, are you trying to say that you're in love with me?"

".... yes. Yes, love... that's the word."

"I love you too."

Merry and Estella sat on the bed in Meriadoc's room. Estella asked Merry why he was so eager to come inside, but Merry himself couldn't remember. His mind was suddenly so disorganized and he couldn't focus. The only thing his brain seemed to tell him was: Estella. Estella. Estella.

"You and your cousin Peregrin are really close, aren't you?"

"What? O, yes... almost brothers."

"I used to have tea parties and things like that with his older sister, Pervinca."

"Really?"

"Yes, and Pippin would always interrupt them with his loud craziness. He and his cousin."

Suddenly Merry knew what she was talking about, "O... that was me."

"I know."

"Sorry... I had know idea that was you..." he said with a small chuckle.

Estella laughed, "I knew I had recognized your face somewhere!"

Merry felt slightly embarrassed. He remembered visiting Pippin on weekends and the two of them would scheme up ideas to storm in on Pervinca's tea parties with Estella and one other girl too.

The two hobbits sat quietly for some long seconds. Merry was trying to put his thoughts in order. Why did he leave? He couldn't remember. Estella. What was it? Estella. He felt almost sick. Estella. Estella. Estella.

"Estella?"

"Yes?"

"Would you like to go outside and maybe dance?"

"Of course!"

Merry smiled, "Well then, come on!"

Pippin looked to where some fifty hobbits merrily danced. He saw that Merry was now entering the dance floor with a hobbit girl. He turned to Diamond, "Look, there's my cousin Merry. Hullo! Merry! Merry, come over here!"

But Merry didn't seem to hear Pippin. He was dancing with Estella.

"Merry! Hullo! Merry Brandybuck!" Pippin called.

Merry still danced.

"I suppose the music's a bit loud... he probably can't hear me."

"That must be it."

"Diamond!" a hobbit man called.

"That's my father," said Diamond, "We must be leaving." She stood, "You'll be sure to visit me, won't you?"

"Of course!" smiled Pippin, "I promise, and remember... I won't lie to you."

She smiled and looked back to her father who seemed to be growing impatient, "Well, good bye."

"Good bye."

Pippin watched Diamond walk away. For some reason he didn't want her to leave. Not yet. "Diamond!"

She turned, "What?"

".... I love you."