Chapter 3
The Renaming of the Bolgers
The Bolger's house was completely silent and their world seemed to come to a halt. Fredegar walked around in a daze for the next week, only going through the motions of daily activities.
They had searched for Estella, for days. Every hobbit for miles came to search, but never found a trace of the little girl. She just simply vanished. Fredegar was questioned and questioned and he told his story over and over again. Each time more painful in his memory. The sounds of her screaming haunted every second he was awake and in his dreams he saw her being sucked into the swirling cloud. If only he did not fall from the tree, perhaps he could have saved his dear little sister. It was his fault, it was because he was so fat that the branch broke, it was he, who wanted to see that villainous cloud that caused his little sister to be taken away from him. Her sweet little face and soft brown eyes were now forever preserved in his memory, never to age. Tears fell in despair from his eyes. "My poor little Estella. How I loved you, my dear sweet one!" Fredegar cried into his pillow. His heart broke into pieces when her tender innocent young face came to his mind. Fredegar sobbed long into his pillow until he felt like he was going to curl up and die.
Rosamunda was inconsolable in her grief. She would not get out of her bed and cried constantly. Her heartbreaking sobs drifted throughout their house.
Fredegar could not bear the grief he witnessed from his parent's despair and only increased his sense of guilt.
When the weeks came to an end and still not a sign of Estella, it was time to set her memory to rest. They had a funeral for her with an empty casket, but it hardly felt the same knowing she was not truly buried in their family's gravesite, she was somewhere else. Her parents found no rest.
~*~
Annegrin Took came out of her home when the storm finally blew over her house. Branches covered the ground of the North Farthings of Long Cleeve. She called to the orphan children that she cared for to gather all the broken branches for their evening fire. Ten children from variety of ages climbed out of the cellar.
Annegrin stroked her gray streaked hair to straighten the few lose curls that had fallen when she raced into the cellar when the storm first hit. Her soft brown eyes roamed over the sight of debris that lay all over the ground in front of her. She pulled at her apron and retied the bow around her thin waist. She called the last child who came out of the cellar to grab the baskets and hand them out to the others. When the child handed her a basket, she began to take smaller branches and break them into smaller pieces so it would fit into her basket. She turned and watched the older girls as they stacked the bigger branches in a pile to be sawed down later in the day.
The Northern Tooks knew that if a child was orphaned they all seemed to end up at Annegrin's home. She was a kindly hobbit that loved children and never turned a child away from her door. Even if she had to thin her soup to feed the children, still there was plenty for all to eat.
Her husband Ellderbras was a gray haired hobbit with long deep wrinkles and weathered leathery skin. Even though his stature was small he was still considered a very strong hobbit. He kept his home running like the chieftain overseeing his clan of the Northern Tooks. When he barked the children snapped to attention.
He often badgered his wife for her coddling of the children. When the children found themselves in mischief, she would do her best to keep it a secret from her husband, as he would hand out discipline with a heavy hand. She never approved of his strict ways.
Annegrin bent down and gathered more branches from the ground. She heard a couple of the girl's shriek in horror. Dropping her basket she rushed to their side.
There, lying on the ground a small child covered in mud and leaves. They noticed that the girl held on to a thick branch with both her small hands. Annegrin tugged the branch from the little girl's grasp and brushed the leaves from her face and hair. She saw she was still breathing, but unconscious. She could see a large bruise on the side of her head, but no other injuries. Annegrin tried to awaken her gently but the little child would not stir. She picked her up in her arms and carried her inside.
Taking off her ragged clothing that was tore to shreds and filthy beyond all measure. "Awe, you poor dear! Another street urchin forced to live by her owns means! Don't you be worrying yourself, none! Old Anne has a home and a heart big enough to care for one more child!" Annegrin talked to the child as if she could hear every word. She looked at the bracelet on her small wrist and unclasped it. "A lucky clover! Not so lucky fer yourself, my dear, as it were!" Annegrin tucked it into her pocket for safekeeping. She knew that especially her husband would take it, if he saw the trinket and sell it to add more coins to his own pocket.
She washed the little girl and dried her in a warm thick towel. Finding a nightshirt she dressed the little girl. She added another thick quilt around the child to keep her warm.
Ellderbras walked into the bedroom and his narrow eyes glared at his wife when he looked down at the little girl. He snarled sharply. "That's it, Anne! We're not taking in another starving urchin! When she awakens, you'll be sending her on her way!" He picked up her torn filthy dress and examined it. "This one looks more poorer than the others that has wandered into our home."
"Have you forgotten, Ellderbras! My own humble beginnings, I too, grew up in the streets, ragged and starving. Not so very different from this young one here!" said Annegrin with a sadden expression upon her face when her own memories rolled back in her mind. "I know what the streets hold for this lass, and I'll not be sending her away! I'll leave meself with her, if you be forcing me!"
Ellderbra's toss the girl's filthy dress upon the clean washed floor. He knew all ready that he could never change his wife's head strong ways. He thought at least he'd have another worker to help in his fields. "Have it your way, Anne! But she'll be working the fields just like the others!" He turned and stomped off, slamming the door shut behind him.
Annegrin walked over to the stove and took out the last of the stewed canned meat and counted out the portions. Knowing she did not have enough, she took her knife and cut the small chunks of meat so everyone would have a few bites for their supper. She diced some fresh carrots and tatters to add to the stew. While it simmered on the old cook stove, Annegrin saw the little girl beginning to stir in her bed. She watched the small child and it broke her heart as she moaned in pain in her dreams.
Annegrin jumped with a start when the little girl suddenly sat up in bed with her eyes open wildly in fear and a scream that pierced the silence of the room.
Annegrin ran to the girl's side and wrapped her arms around her. Holding her tightly, Annegrin comforted her until she was calm. "You're safe, little one. Safe as can be! Old Anne is here and not letting a thing harm you none!"
Annegrin began to sing to her and her song gentled the fearfulness of the little girl.
She looked up into Annegrin's face and saw the kindest eyes that smiled down upon her.
"Tell, Old Anne, who you are?" she asked gently.
The little girl seemed to struggle as she tried to recall what her name was. "M-my name?" The little girl looked wide-eyed into Annegrin's face hoping the gently women could tell her. Her head throbbed in severe pain and she grasped her brow with her hand. Recoiling from the pain she felt from the large bruise on the side of her head, she grimaced in pain.
"There, there, now!" said Annegrin laying her down upon the bed and she began to worry for the little girl. "Don't be worrying yourself none. You got yourself a big bump to the side of your head. Mores the pity that you taken a blow from the falling branches of the storm you was in!"
Annegrin's words did not make any sense to her, nor did she understand what she was talking about. 'Storm, what storm?' she thought to herself. She had no memory of a storm and she had no memory of anything of her past. Fear raced through her heart as she became so confused and in so much pain.
Annegrin raced to her kitchen and pulled the small box from the cupboard. She looked inside and saw that she only had one pack of powder left. She worried how she was going to replace the powder if she used it now. Opening the powder, she slowly cut a small portion of it and added it to the tea for the little girl. She knew she was suffering in pain and needed this medicine to help her.
Sitting beside the little girl, Annegrin gently coaxed her to take a few sips, "This will take the pain from you and help you sleep some. Now, don't go fretting yourself none. It's the bruising upon you head and the pain that taken your memory. It'll come back fer you, when you're ready!"
Annegrin helped the little girl sip the tea. She fluffed the pillows and lying the little girl upon the pillow, she said to her, "Until your memory comes back, let Old Anne call you, Poppy! That was the name of me poor little lass that was taken from me with the sickness many years ago! Your looks are even close to me little one back then. Sweet as a flower, by my thinking!"
Annegrin stroked Poppy's face gently and hummed a sweet song until she fell asleep.
Annegrin heard the door open and the children usher in the baskets of cut branched for her cook stove.
She raced over to them and told them to quiet themselves. Pointing to the door, she waited until they were all outside before she took her rocking chair and sat it next to Poppy's bed.
~*~
Fredegar sat outside of his home when Frodo and Merry walked up to his home. Seeing Fredegar lost in his thoughts, he barely noticed them.
Frodo cleared his throat trying to get his attention. Fredegar slowly raised his tear strained eyes towards Frodo and then to Merry.
"Oh, Freddy! I am so sorry about your sister!" said Frodo and he lowered himself down to face Fredegar. He put his arm around his shoulder. "If there is anything I can do, please let me know!"
Fredegar looked at Frodo with a sad expression upon his face. "You can call me, Fatty! Fatty, is now my name that I'll be answering to from now on!"
Both Merry and Frodo looked at each other in surprise.
Frodo's face fell as he looked at his friend in confusion. "What is this all about, Freddy?"
Fredegar cast angry eyes upon Frodo and he snapped at him, "Fatty! You hear me, Frodo! You call me Fatty! Freddy is what she called me! When I hear Freddy, it tears my heart to shreds!" Fredegar burst out in tears sobbing and he covered his eyes with his thick chubby hands.
Frodo's heart broke for his friend and he gently stroked his curly brown hair. "Okay, Fatty! But I say your name with the tenderness that comes from my heart in greeting the dearest of friend!"
Fredegar nodded and placed his arm around Frodo as they both hugged each other.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
ShireElf: Hi ShireElf, I was so glad to see a review from you! You are Awesome! When I was watching a movie over the holidays, I got this idea of this story! I sure hope you will enjoy this! Poor Estella has gone on a journey that will change her life and those that knew and loved her...
Skittles Are Candy: Thank you so much for your review! It really keeps me writing in knowing that others are enjoying my little stories.
Sweetbriar: I was not aware of the maturity of the hobbits....raises eyebrow and shifts my eyes from side to side..Thinking, thinking! Loveofthering calls to Gandalf and asking him for his help! He waves his staff in the air and grants Estella and Freddy maturity of age for their young years! Loveofthering, kisses Gandalf's feet for fixing the problem. "Nice Wizardesses!" Loveofthering slithers over to the computer and strokes it gently, "My precioussssss!" Then she takes her long thin fingers to the keyboard and begins to add this chapter to the story!
Sorry about making a mess of the story so early on! I always learn something new each time I write!
MlynnBloom: What can I say, I became bored over this vacation and my Precious keeps calling me to write! Really when I was watching a movie on our VCR, I got this idea to tell Estella's story of falling in love with Merry. You know me by now, I have to put her through all sorts of twist and turns in telling this story.
Hopefully I'll keep it interesting enough to keep you interested and wanting to know more... So glad to see you back reviewing my story! Yippy! Loveofthering is dancing around and around the room cheering!
The Renaming of the Bolgers
The Bolger's house was completely silent and their world seemed to come to a halt. Fredegar walked around in a daze for the next week, only going through the motions of daily activities.
They had searched for Estella, for days. Every hobbit for miles came to search, but never found a trace of the little girl. She just simply vanished. Fredegar was questioned and questioned and he told his story over and over again. Each time more painful in his memory. The sounds of her screaming haunted every second he was awake and in his dreams he saw her being sucked into the swirling cloud. If only he did not fall from the tree, perhaps he could have saved his dear little sister. It was his fault, it was because he was so fat that the branch broke, it was he, who wanted to see that villainous cloud that caused his little sister to be taken away from him. Her sweet little face and soft brown eyes were now forever preserved in his memory, never to age. Tears fell in despair from his eyes. "My poor little Estella. How I loved you, my dear sweet one!" Fredegar cried into his pillow. His heart broke into pieces when her tender innocent young face came to his mind. Fredegar sobbed long into his pillow until he felt like he was going to curl up and die.
Rosamunda was inconsolable in her grief. She would not get out of her bed and cried constantly. Her heartbreaking sobs drifted throughout their house.
Fredegar could not bear the grief he witnessed from his parent's despair and only increased his sense of guilt.
When the weeks came to an end and still not a sign of Estella, it was time to set her memory to rest. They had a funeral for her with an empty casket, but it hardly felt the same knowing she was not truly buried in their family's gravesite, she was somewhere else. Her parents found no rest.
~*~
Annegrin Took came out of her home when the storm finally blew over her house. Branches covered the ground of the North Farthings of Long Cleeve. She called to the orphan children that she cared for to gather all the broken branches for their evening fire. Ten children from variety of ages climbed out of the cellar.
Annegrin stroked her gray streaked hair to straighten the few lose curls that had fallen when she raced into the cellar when the storm first hit. Her soft brown eyes roamed over the sight of debris that lay all over the ground in front of her. She pulled at her apron and retied the bow around her thin waist. She called the last child who came out of the cellar to grab the baskets and hand them out to the others. When the child handed her a basket, she began to take smaller branches and break them into smaller pieces so it would fit into her basket. She turned and watched the older girls as they stacked the bigger branches in a pile to be sawed down later in the day.
The Northern Tooks knew that if a child was orphaned they all seemed to end up at Annegrin's home. She was a kindly hobbit that loved children and never turned a child away from her door. Even if she had to thin her soup to feed the children, still there was plenty for all to eat.
Her husband Ellderbras was a gray haired hobbit with long deep wrinkles and weathered leathery skin. Even though his stature was small he was still considered a very strong hobbit. He kept his home running like the chieftain overseeing his clan of the Northern Tooks. When he barked the children snapped to attention.
He often badgered his wife for her coddling of the children. When the children found themselves in mischief, she would do her best to keep it a secret from her husband, as he would hand out discipline with a heavy hand. She never approved of his strict ways.
Annegrin bent down and gathered more branches from the ground. She heard a couple of the girl's shriek in horror. Dropping her basket she rushed to their side.
There, lying on the ground a small child covered in mud and leaves. They noticed that the girl held on to a thick branch with both her small hands. Annegrin tugged the branch from the little girl's grasp and brushed the leaves from her face and hair. She saw she was still breathing, but unconscious. She could see a large bruise on the side of her head, but no other injuries. Annegrin tried to awaken her gently but the little child would not stir. She picked her up in her arms and carried her inside.
Taking off her ragged clothing that was tore to shreds and filthy beyond all measure. "Awe, you poor dear! Another street urchin forced to live by her owns means! Don't you be worrying yourself, none! Old Anne has a home and a heart big enough to care for one more child!" Annegrin talked to the child as if she could hear every word. She looked at the bracelet on her small wrist and unclasped it. "A lucky clover! Not so lucky fer yourself, my dear, as it were!" Annegrin tucked it into her pocket for safekeeping. She knew that especially her husband would take it, if he saw the trinket and sell it to add more coins to his own pocket.
She washed the little girl and dried her in a warm thick towel. Finding a nightshirt she dressed the little girl. She added another thick quilt around the child to keep her warm.
Ellderbras walked into the bedroom and his narrow eyes glared at his wife when he looked down at the little girl. He snarled sharply. "That's it, Anne! We're not taking in another starving urchin! When she awakens, you'll be sending her on her way!" He picked up her torn filthy dress and examined it. "This one looks more poorer than the others that has wandered into our home."
"Have you forgotten, Ellderbras! My own humble beginnings, I too, grew up in the streets, ragged and starving. Not so very different from this young one here!" said Annegrin with a sadden expression upon her face when her own memories rolled back in her mind. "I know what the streets hold for this lass, and I'll not be sending her away! I'll leave meself with her, if you be forcing me!"
Ellderbra's toss the girl's filthy dress upon the clean washed floor. He knew all ready that he could never change his wife's head strong ways. He thought at least he'd have another worker to help in his fields. "Have it your way, Anne! But she'll be working the fields just like the others!" He turned and stomped off, slamming the door shut behind him.
Annegrin walked over to the stove and took out the last of the stewed canned meat and counted out the portions. Knowing she did not have enough, she took her knife and cut the small chunks of meat so everyone would have a few bites for their supper. She diced some fresh carrots and tatters to add to the stew. While it simmered on the old cook stove, Annegrin saw the little girl beginning to stir in her bed. She watched the small child and it broke her heart as she moaned in pain in her dreams.
Annegrin jumped with a start when the little girl suddenly sat up in bed with her eyes open wildly in fear and a scream that pierced the silence of the room.
Annegrin ran to the girl's side and wrapped her arms around her. Holding her tightly, Annegrin comforted her until she was calm. "You're safe, little one. Safe as can be! Old Anne is here and not letting a thing harm you none!"
Annegrin began to sing to her and her song gentled the fearfulness of the little girl.
She looked up into Annegrin's face and saw the kindest eyes that smiled down upon her.
"Tell, Old Anne, who you are?" she asked gently.
The little girl seemed to struggle as she tried to recall what her name was. "M-my name?" The little girl looked wide-eyed into Annegrin's face hoping the gently women could tell her. Her head throbbed in severe pain and she grasped her brow with her hand. Recoiling from the pain she felt from the large bruise on the side of her head, she grimaced in pain.
"There, there, now!" said Annegrin laying her down upon the bed and she began to worry for the little girl. "Don't be worrying yourself none. You got yourself a big bump to the side of your head. Mores the pity that you taken a blow from the falling branches of the storm you was in!"
Annegrin's words did not make any sense to her, nor did she understand what she was talking about. 'Storm, what storm?' she thought to herself. She had no memory of a storm and she had no memory of anything of her past. Fear raced through her heart as she became so confused and in so much pain.
Annegrin raced to her kitchen and pulled the small box from the cupboard. She looked inside and saw that she only had one pack of powder left. She worried how she was going to replace the powder if she used it now. Opening the powder, she slowly cut a small portion of it and added it to the tea for the little girl. She knew she was suffering in pain and needed this medicine to help her.
Sitting beside the little girl, Annegrin gently coaxed her to take a few sips, "This will take the pain from you and help you sleep some. Now, don't go fretting yourself none. It's the bruising upon you head and the pain that taken your memory. It'll come back fer you, when you're ready!"
Annegrin helped the little girl sip the tea. She fluffed the pillows and lying the little girl upon the pillow, she said to her, "Until your memory comes back, let Old Anne call you, Poppy! That was the name of me poor little lass that was taken from me with the sickness many years ago! Your looks are even close to me little one back then. Sweet as a flower, by my thinking!"
Annegrin stroked Poppy's face gently and hummed a sweet song until she fell asleep.
Annegrin heard the door open and the children usher in the baskets of cut branched for her cook stove.
She raced over to them and told them to quiet themselves. Pointing to the door, she waited until they were all outside before she took her rocking chair and sat it next to Poppy's bed.
~*~
Fredegar sat outside of his home when Frodo and Merry walked up to his home. Seeing Fredegar lost in his thoughts, he barely noticed them.
Frodo cleared his throat trying to get his attention. Fredegar slowly raised his tear strained eyes towards Frodo and then to Merry.
"Oh, Freddy! I am so sorry about your sister!" said Frodo and he lowered himself down to face Fredegar. He put his arm around his shoulder. "If there is anything I can do, please let me know!"
Fredegar looked at Frodo with a sad expression upon his face. "You can call me, Fatty! Fatty, is now my name that I'll be answering to from now on!"
Both Merry and Frodo looked at each other in surprise.
Frodo's face fell as he looked at his friend in confusion. "What is this all about, Freddy?"
Fredegar cast angry eyes upon Frodo and he snapped at him, "Fatty! You hear me, Frodo! You call me Fatty! Freddy is what she called me! When I hear Freddy, it tears my heart to shreds!" Fredegar burst out in tears sobbing and he covered his eyes with his thick chubby hands.
Frodo's heart broke for his friend and he gently stroked his curly brown hair. "Okay, Fatty! But I say your name with the tenderness that comes from my heart in greeting the dearest of friend!"
Fredegar nodded and placed his arm around Frodo as they both hugged each other.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
ShireElf: Hi ShireElf, I was so glad to see a review from you! You are Awesome! When I was watching a movie over the holidays, I got this idea of this story! I sure hope you will enjoy this! Poor Estella has gone on a journey that will change her life and those that knew and loved her...
Skittles Are Candy: Thank you so much for your review! It really keeps me writing in knowing that others are enjoying my little stories.
Sweetbriar: I was not aware of the maturity of the hobbits....raises eyebrow and shifts my eyes from side to side..Thinking, thinking! Loveofthering calls to Gandalf and asking him for his help! He waves his staff in the air and grants Estella and Freddy maturity of age for their young years! Loveofthering, kisses Gandalf's feet for fixing the problem. "Nice Wizardesses!" Loveofthering slithers over to the computer and strokes it gently, "My precioussssss!" Then she takes her long thin fingers to the keyboard and begins to add this chapter to the story!
Sorry about making a mess of the story so early on! I always learn something new each time I write!
MlynnBloom: What can I say, I became bored over this vacation and my Precious keeps calling me to write! Really when I was watching a movie on our VCR, I got this idea to tell Estella's story of falling in love with Merry. You know me by now, I have to put her through all sorts of twist and turns in telling this story.
Hopefully I'll keep it interesting enough to keep you interested and wanting to know more... So glad to see you back reviewing my story! Yippy! Loveofthering is dancing around and around the room cheering!