Chapter Two - Hasty Plans

"Oh, Ferne," Esmeralda shook her head as she rolled out dough for making tarts, "we won't be needing all those loaves of bread. I'm sorry; there's been a change in family plans. I'm taking Merry to visit my brother near Tuckborough today."

Ferne sighed, looking at the six loaves of bread cooling on the board, "What shall I do with them, Mistress?"

Esmeralda shrugged, "Give them to Uncle Saradas, he's always needing bread these days with that growing teenager!"

Ferne smiled in agreement, "That I can do!"

"Good!" Answered Esmeralda. "Now...where are those jars of blackberry preserves that I set here?"

"Right where you left them, Mistress." Ferne reached behind the cruet from Esmeralda's view on the table and placed them before her.

Esmeralda stared at the jars. "I...I don't know what's gotten into me today, Ferne."

The elder cook put her hand on Esemralda's shoulder, but said nothing. She wasn't going to meddle in affairs that weren't hers, but the troubles between Esmeralda and Saradoc weren't exactly a secret.

Just then the ladies could hear a couple of young voices coming towards the kitchen singing a song.

Frodo swung open the door; he and Merry were singing a not-so-nice ditty. "Lots of cabbages for the lasses, let the air pass through--", and he froze when he saw the ladies--tongue and all. Undaunted, little Merry entered the kitchen from behind his cousin and casually finished it off.

"Meriadoc!" Esmeralda reprimanded her son, "I've asked you not to sing that limerick anymore! It is not fitting for any child to be singing those sort of...words." She eyed young Frodo.

Merry climbed onto his chair with the small stack of books bound together with string, "Yes, Mummy."

"Frodo, dear, please don't teach him anymore of those songs."

Frodo sat down blushing next to his young cousin. "Yes, Ma'am."

Ferne busied herself with setting breakfast before the lads and then retired to the pantry to plan elevenses.

Esmeralda poured herself a cup of hot tea and sat down next to her son. "Merry," She looked at him, "wouldn't you like to visit with Uncle Paladin?"

Merry only looked at her, chewing a mouthful of food.

"Don't you remember your Uncle Paladin?" He shook his head.

"Well, he's tall and has dark hair." Esmeralda motioned with her hands and touched her hair as she spoke.

Merry shook his head.

"He doesn't remember." Frodo said.

"I suppose that's to be expected," She sighed, "It's been a while since he's seen my brother."

Frodo drank the milk from his mug, then slowly set it down, "How long will he be away?"

Esmeralda didn't want to discuss a lengthy visit in front of her son, "Merry, sweetie, run into the larder, please, and tell Miss Ferne that we will be needing provisions for our visit to Uncle Paladin."

"Yes, Mummy." Merry was quick to jump down from the chair and do his mother's bidding; she was the one person in this world Merry felt loved by, besides his cousin Frodo of course.

Esmeralda watched as her son left the kitchen and disappeared into the next room. She leaned across the table to speak in hushed tones, "Merry has never been away from home, from us ever in his life, and I thought to leave him with my brother for a few days while I came back here and got his father straightened out." Frodo nodded. "I can't see him staying with Paladin for more than a week without me, so I don't see more than a week."

"I understand." The teen answered. "I do want to see him happy."

Esmeralda put her hand on Frodo's and returned his smile, "I know, and I, too, of course; that is why I feel the need to do this."

Just then, Merry came back in from the larder. "Miss Ferne says 'yes, Misstress', and that she will see to it." Merry scooted back onto his chair, kneeling atop the books used to boost him to the table as he emptied his mug of milk. "Can I go outside, Mummy?"

"Why don't you and Frodo go for a nice walk around the gardens?"

"The gardens? I want to go exploring!" Merry wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

"I have an idea!" Frodo said, "Why don't we go down by the river, and while we dip our feet in the cool water, I can read one of Cousin Bilbo's letters about his adventures!"

"Yes!" Merry smiled with delight. "Read to me the one about the trolls!"

Frodo caught Esmeralda's eye as he got up to leave. She mouthed the words, "Thank you."