Chapter 10
The Escape
The healers gestured to Euphemia to speak to her privately. When the old hobbitess walked over to him, he began to whisper to her so the servants would not hear.
After speaking to her for a long while, Euphemia thanked the healer for all his help.
The healer presented her with a handful of small bags of fine white powdered medicine.
Euphemia dabbed the corners of her eyes and felt such pity for the young tween. "Yes, certainly! We'll make sure we give her the medicine to help her!"
Euphemia wanted so much to help Poppy that she trusted what the healer had told her. She bid him farewell.
Taking the powders she gave them to the cook and swore her to secrecy. "The child gone mad from grieving for her Mama that died. These powders will help her forget and control her mad out bursts. We cannot have the girl ranting and raving her wild dreams and frightening our staff or guests of the Grand Hall!" said Euphemia.
The cook nodded her head and told her she would give the medicine with her late evening snack.
Lily backed away into the hallway after listening to what they said. Lily knew Poppy the best and if she said that her name was Estella Bolger and she came for Hobbiton, then that was the truth of it! She knew her sister was not crazy. If anything, Lily knew she had to get her sister away from the Grand Hall of Long Cleeve.
Diamond came around the corner and spotted Lily standing in the hallway. "Lily, I'm glad that I have found you. My Mama wanted me to show you to your new room. Since Poppy is very ill, she will need her rest until she is feeling much better. You can take the room next to the cook's bedroom. If you will follow me, the servants have brought your things in this room!"
Diamond led the way and escorted Lily to her new room.
~*~
The next morning Estella woke feeling very groggy and light headed. Her hands trembled slightly when she sat up trying to remember everything that had happened to her. Her last memory was of the healers making her drink the powder that they had mixed for her. Was she ill? She did not know. Again and again she tried to recall everything, sorting out which was a dream and which was not. The more she tried to remember the worse the pain throbbed in her head.
A knock came upon her bedroom door and Estella slowly staggered out of her bed to answer it. The room tilted slightly as she fought to balance herself. Within a moment her dizziness cleared and she reached the door.
Opening it, a servant bid her a good morning and brought a tray of food for her breakfast. The servant girl seemed fearful of Estella and would stare at her while she placed the tray on her table. Her hands trembled slightly trying to set the silverware from her nervousness of being in the same room with her alone. The servant was also afraid of upsetting the girl, so she kept to her work without saying anything especially after she heard all the gossip this morning about her.
Estella rubbed her brow trying to clear the fogginess of her mind. Her breakfast looked wonderful and her mouth watered when she saw a large sweet roll fresh from the oven. There were strips of bacon and hardboiled eggs on her plate. She saw a small helping of creamy butter and a scoop of apple jelly. Sitting next to the plate was a tall drink of fresh goat's milk.
Estella could not wait to eat as her stomach rumbled with hunger pain. She could not remember if she had eaten her evening meal last night and felt like she had not eaten a thing for many hours. In fact everything seemed so foggy to her.
The servant placed an apron and kitchen cap beside her tray. "Pardon, Miss! The cook ordered me to leave your kitchen livery here. You are to put these things on and join the cook directly after your breakfast." The servant's voice quivered a bit and turned to rush out of her room.
Estella could only nod her head slightly to the servant and sat down at her table and began to eat. She looked at the empty bed that was neatly made and could not remember the name of her sister.
She dropped her fork onto her tray and knew something was not right. How could she forget her sister's name? Fear pounded in her heart and knew that the powders she took from the healer had caused her memory to fail.
Estella was determined that they would never get her to take anymore powders.
Lily opened the door of Estella's bedroom and quietly closed it. She placed her bag on the floor and approaching her. "Estella?" questioned Lily.
Estella looked at Lily's round face oddly hearing the name she thought was only in her dreams. Lily knew that Estella had forgotten everything because of the powder. So Lily began to tell her about the things that had happened to her last night in the hopes of her memory returning.
Once Estella's memory began to clear, Lily ran to pack her bags and tossed them out of the window.
She had planned to take her to Hobbiton. Lily helped her sister to climb out of the window. Once Estella was on the ground, Lily gathered her courage and lowered herself out the window. Hanging by her fingertips, she held her breath when she let go to fall to the ground. Almost fallen on top of Estella who tried to help her down. Both girls giggled quietly at each other knowing that they had escaped without anyone seeing them.
~*~
The week passed in the lock hole and the jailers never came back to feed the prisoners. They had been abandoned to die on their own. The small barrel of water that was kept in each prisons cell was almost empty and they ration it carefully. However, with the last scoop of water, Fredegar knew there was no hope left.
Fredegar with Lobelia's determined fortitude would not let him give up no matter what. Whenever he would give into his fear or despair she was there to pull him out of it with harsh words and strong spirit of will.
"You're not going to let those good for nothing ruffians make you give up, are you, my lad?" Lobelia shouted at Fredegar. " A proud Bolger that you're claiming to be, would not let those ruffians win! You show some back bone against those spineless no good cheating ruffians! If you give up now, then you're the coward and they win! That is what they want you to do, give up, roll over and die! I'll not let them! No sir! They'll not drive Lobelia down, and I'm not going to allow them to drive you down either, Freddy!"
Fredegar glared up at Lobelia and her harsh words. "I told you not to call me Freddy. My name is Fatty!" Fredegar spoke weakly as he barely had enough strength to lift his arm. Mayor Whitfoot had not spoken for hours and he feared the worst for him. Fredegar was starving and his weak form could barley hold out any longer. He wanted to lay down and die. He felt he lost everything and their was nothing left to hold on to. All, but Lobelia's constant nagging at him. He took out the letter from his pocket of his oversize coat and tossed it to the floor. By now, Poppy was most likely married and had totally forgotten him.
"Fatty! There's no Fatty here! Just a very thin weak minded Bolger willing crawl on his belly for a few crumbs!" snapped Lobellia.
Fredegar's anger hit the boiling point with Lobellia. "We've not eaten for days! You nasty Sackville-Baggins! We're all going to die with no food and now no water! You're a villain! That's what you are! Mean to the very end! Can't you let a poor hobbit die in peace!"
Lobelia snapped back. "No, because you're not going to die, your time ain't come yet! If nasty and villain is what it takes to keep you from rolling over and giving up, then villain and nasty is what you'll get!"
Fredegar closed his eyes and his breathing came in small tiny breaths. Even Lobelia's nagging could not arouse him any further. She only hoped that the lad had not given up and died.
"Nasty Lobelia's calling you, Freddy! Do you hear me Freddy!" shouted Lobelia, trying to antagonize him. She watched the lad for any movement, but she did not see any. She shook her head slowly and felt that it was over with, he gave up.
A loud horn sounded just outside of the lock hole and Lobelia shouted in glee. "They come, the Tooks and the Bucklanders, they've come!"
Fredegar whispered softly. "That ain't the sound of Bucklander's horns nor Tooks for that matter! I've never heard the sound of that type of horn before! Most likely the horns of Big Folk! They've taken over the entire Shire! It's over with, Miss Lobelia! We're all doomed!"
"I say its Tooks a coming!" snapped Lobelia and was thankful that Fredegar was still with her.
The doors of the lock hole rattled and shook when the doors were pulled open. The light of the day beamed into the lock hole and blinded the occupants.
Both Lobelia and Fredegar shielded their eyes as they heard shouts and many feet fast approaching them. "There in here!" shouted the voices as the crowds cheered.
Fredegar heard the sound of rattling keys against the iron bars of his cell. The door opened and a taller hobbit figure bent down to him. Fredegar squinted his eyes to see who was next to him.
The gleam from a mail shirt hurt his eyes as he whispered, "Who's there?"
"Its me, Fatty!" said the voice. "Merry Brandybuck!"
Merry froze in shock as he looked at his dear friend. He was almost unrecognizable in his thin and withered form. If the guards did not tell him who they had locked up in their cell, he would have never guessed who this hobbit was. Merry blinked back his tears and slowly came closer to Fredegar.
Fredegar eyes openly widely despite the brightness that surrounded him and caused him pain. His voice quivered in a soft whisper, as he cried from joy at seeing his very best friend. "Merry!"
Merry heard his forced breath and knew that Fredegar was now sobbing. Coming closer to him, he put his arms around Fredegar and lifted his weak thin form from the floor of his cell. Cradling him gently in his arms he felt the thinness of him wasting away to nothing more than just bones. The weakness of his voice tore at Merry's heart and he tried to fight back his own tears, but they fell from the corner of his eyes anyway. His dear friend's suffering was more than what he was prepared for.
Merry set Fredegar down for a moment and pulled out his water pouch and allowed Fredegar to drink as much as he could. Supporting his friend's shoulder and back, Merry got the first really good look at how much Fredegar had suffered. His cheeks were sunk and he face was a very pale white. Dark circles appeared around his dull eyes. His hair was a matted mess of grim and dirt. Merry saw his bone thin fingers clutching onto the water bag while he drank.
Holding Fredegar and cradled him gently, Merry whispered back to his dear friend. "You would have done better, by coming with us, my freind!" Merry held him tenderly in his arms.
Once Fredegar had his fill of water, Merry again picked him up into his arms and carried him out of the lock hole.
Fredegar knew it was finally over with and that he was safe. He weakly rested his head against Merry's strong shoulder and raised his eyes up to take a good look at him.
Fredegar heard a loud cheer when Merry got him out of the lock hole and saw hundreds of hobbits waiting for him outside.
Pippin carried the Mayor in his arms while Sam followed him and was only a few paces behind Merry.
Frodo offered his arm to Lobelia and proudly guided her from the lock hole.
Merry stopped and waited for the coach to approach as Pippin stood next to Merry as he cradled the unconscious Mayor in his arms. Lobelia stood next to Merry's other side.
Fredegar saw Lobelia and he raised a weak hand to her as she grasped his hand. "Thank you, Miss Lobelia for saving me! I would have given up long ago if it was not for your nagging!"
Lobelia smiled at Fredegar, "You'll be fine now, Fredegar Bolger. It was an honor to be by your side!"
The crowd cheered for the Mayor, Fredegar and Lobelia. There loud voices echoed over Michel Delving. Lobelia heard her name being shouted with honor and pride. She almost cried as she fought back the tears with the last of her strength. Lobelia had never known the feeling of being admired and well liked. It felt wonderful to her. A feeling she would always remember.
Fredegar heard a shriek coming from the back of the crowd and the hobbit fought her way to get to him. The crowd slowly parted as a round faced hobbit suddenly appeared from the crowd.
Fredegar's mother Rosamunda ran to her son sobbing and crying out his name. "Freddy!..... Oh, my dear son! My Freddy!" She circled her arms around her son and Merry's arms that held him. She kissed his thin face and brushed his matted hair tenderly as tears streamed down her face. "What have they done to you?"
Merry looked at Rosamunda and smiled tenderly at her, "We'll take him home for you, Mrs. Bolger. You'll have him supporting a well fed stomach in no time!"
"Bless you, Merry! You've brought my boy back to me!" said Rosamunda sobbing when the coach pulled up and Merry gently laid Fredegar on the seat of the coach. Rosamunda climbed in and placed her son's head on to her lap. She stoked his brow tenderly and cooed motherly words to her son. Odovacar held his son's hand and cried seeing him alive. Merry climbed in and sat down on the other side. Fredegar raised his head and looked at Merry. "My letter, Merry! Get my letter in the cell!"
Merry told the coachman to wait and he raced back into the lock hole and searched the small cell. He found the letter and saw the name at the bottom. Merry smiled when he read the name of the girl that Fredegar loved.
Returning to the coach. Merry folded the letter and placed it into Fredegar's thin hand.
The Escape
The healers gestured to Euphemia to speak to her privately. When the old hobbitess walked over to him, he began to whisper to her so the servants would not hear.
After speaking to her for a long while, Euphemia thanked the healer for all his help.
The healer presented her with a handful of small bags of fine white powdered medicine.
Euphemia dabbed the corners of her eyes and felt such pity for the young tween. "Yes, certainly! We'll make sure we give her the medicine to help her!"
Euphemia wanted so much to help Poppy that she trusted what the healer had told her. She bid him farewell.
Taking the powders she gave them to the cook and swore her to secrecy. "The child gone mad from grieving for her Mama that died. These powders will help her forget and control her mad out bursts. We cannot have the girl ranting and raving her wild dreams and frightening our staff or guests of the Grand Hall!" said Euphemia.
The cook nodded her head and told her she would give the medicine with her late evening snack.
Lily backed away into the hallway after listening to what they said. Lily knew Poppy the best and if she said that her name was Estella Bolger and she came for Hobbiton, then that was the truth of it! She knew her sister was not crazy. If anything, Lily knew she had to get her sister away from the Grand Hall of Long Cleeve.
Diamond came around the corner and spotted Lily standing in the hallway. "Lily, I'm glad that I have found you. My Mama wanted me to show you to your new room. Since Poppy is very ill, she will need her rest until she is feeling much better. You can take the room next to the cook's bedroom. If you will follow me, the servants have brought your things in this room!"
Diamond led the way and escorted Lily to her new room.
~*~
The next morning Estella woke feeling very groggy and light headed. Her hands trembled slightly when she sat up trying to remember everything that had happened to her. Her last memory was of the healers making her drink the powder that they had mixed for her. Was she ill? She did not know. Again and again she tried to recall everything, sorting out which was a dream and which was not. The more she tried to remember the worse the pain throbbed in her head.
A knock came upon her bedroom door and Estella slowly staggered out of her bed to answer it. The room tilted slightly as she fought to balance herself. Within a moment her dizziness cleared and she reached the door.
Opening it, a servant bid her a good morning and brought a tray of food for her breakfast. The servant girl seemed fearful of Estella and would stare at her while she placed the tray on her table. Her hands trembled slightly trying to set the silverware from her nervousness of being in the same room with her alone. The servant was also afraid of upsetting the girl, so she kept to her work without saying anything especially after she heard all the gossip this morning about her.
Estella rubbed her brow trying to clear the fogginess of her mind. Her breakfast looked wonderful and her mouth watered when she saw a large sweet roll fresh from the oven. There were strips of bacon and hardboiled eggs on her plate. She saw a small helping of creamy butter and a scoop of apple jelly. Sitting next to the plate was a tall drink of fresh goat's milk.
Estella could not wait to eat as her stomach rumbled with hunger pain. She could not remember if she had eaten her evening meal last night and felt like she had not eaten a thing for many hours. In fact everything seemed so foggy to her.
The servant placed an apron and kitchen cap beside her tray. "Pardon, Miss! The cook ordered me to leave your kitchen livery here. You are to put these things on and join the cook directly after your breakfast." The servant's voice quivered a bit and turned to rush out of her room.
Estella could only nod her head slightly to the servant and sat down at her table and began to eat. She looked at the empty bed that was neatly made and could not remember the name of her sister.
She dropped her fork onto her tray and knew something was not right. How could she forget her sister's name? Fear pounded in her heart and knew that the powders she took from the healer had caused her memory to fail.
Estella was determined that they would never get her to take anymore powders.
Lily opened the door of Estella's bedroom and quietly closed it. She placed her bag on the floor and approaching her. "Estella?" questioned Lily.
Estella looked at Lily's round face oddly hearing the name she thought was only in her dreams. Lily knew that Estella had forgotten everything because of the powder. So Lily began to tell her about the things that had happened to her last night in the hopes of her memory returning.
Once Estella's memory began to clear, Lily ran to pack her bags and tossed them out of the window.
She had planned to take her to Hobbiton. Lily helped her sister to climb out of the window. Once Estella was on the ground, Lily gathered her courage and lowered herself out the window. Hanging by her fingertips, she held her breath when she let go to fall to the ground. Almost fallen on top of Estella who tried to help her down. Both girls giggled quietly at each other knowing that they had escaped without anyone seeing them.
~*~
The week passed in the lock hole and the jailers never came back to feed the prisoners. They had been abandoned to die on their own. The small barrel of water that was kept in each prisons cell was almost empty and they ration it carefully. However, with the last scoop of water, Fredegar knew there was no hope left.
Fredegar with Lobelia's determined fortitude would not let him give up no matter what. Whenever he would give into his fear or despair she was there to pull him out of it with harsh words and strong spirit of will.
"You're not going to let those good for nothing ruffians make you give up, are you, my lad?" Lobelia shouted at Fredegar. " A proud Bolger that you're claiming to be, would not let those ruffians win! You show some back bone against those spineless no good cheating ruffians! If you give up now, then you're the coward and they win! That is what they want you to do, give up, roll over and die! I'll not let them! No sir! They'll not drive Lobelia down, and I'm not going to allow them to drive you down either, Freddy!"
Fredegar glared up at Lobelia and her harsh words. "I told you not to call me Freddy. My name is Fatty!" Fredegar spoke weakly as he barely had enough strength to lift his arm. Mayor Whitfoot had not spoken for hours and he feared the worst for him. Fredegar was starving and his weak form could barley hold out any longer. He wanted to lay down and die. He felt he lost everything and their was nothing left to hold on to. All, but Lobelia's constant nagging at him. He took out the letter from his pocket of his oversize coat and tossed it to the floor. By now, Poppy was most likely married and had totally forgotten him.
"Fatty! There's no Fatty here! Just a very thin weak minded Bolger willing crawl on his belly for a few crumbs!" snapped Lobellia.
Fredegar's anger hit the boiling point with Lobellia. "We've not eaten for days! You nasty Sackville-Baggins! We're all going to die with no food and now no water! You're a villain! That's what you are! Mean to the very end! Can't you let a poor hobbit die in peace!"
Lobelia snapped back. "No, because you're not going to die, your time ain't come yet! If nasty and villain is what it takes to keep you from rolling over and giving up, then villain and nasty is what you'll get!"
Fredegar closed his eyes and his breathing came in small tiny breaths. Even Lobelia's nagging could not arouse him any further. She only hoped that the lad had not given up and died.
"Nasty Lobelia's calling you, Freddy! Do you hear me Freddy!" shouted Lobelia, trying to antagonize him. She watched the lad for any movement, but she did not see any. She shook her head slowly and felt that it was over with, he gave up.
A loud horn sounded just outside of the lock hole and Lobelia shouted in glee. "They come, the Tooks and the Bucklanders, they've come!"
Fredegar whispered softly. "That ain't the sound of Bucklander's horns nor Tooks for that matter! I've never heard the sound of that type of horn before! Most likely the horns of Big Folk! They've taken over the entire Shire! It's over with, Miss Lobelia! We're all doomed!"
"I say its Tooks a coming!" snapped Lobelia and was thankful that Fredegar was still with her.
The doors of the lock hole rattled and shook when the doors were pulled open. The light of the day beamed into the lock hole and blinded the occupants.
Both Lobelia and Fredegar shielded their eyes as they heard shouts and many feet fast approaching them. "There in here!" shouted the voices as the crowds cheered.
Fredegar heard the sound of rattling keys against the iron bars of his cell. The door opened and a taller hobbit figure bent down to him. Fredegar squinted his eyes to see who was next to him.
The gleam from a mail shirt hurt his eyes as he whispered, "Who's there?"
"Its me, Fatty!" said the voice. "Merry Brandybuck!"
Merry froze in shock as he looked at his dear friend. He was almost unrecognizable in his thin and withered form. If the guards did not tell him who they had locked up in their cell, he would have never guessed who this hobbit was. Merry blinked back his tears and slowly came closer to Fredegar.
Fredegar eyes openly widely despite the brightness that surrounded him and caused him pain. His voice quivered in a soft whisper, as he cried from joy at seeing his very best friend. "Merry!"
Merry heard his forced breath and knew that Fredegar was now sobbing. Coming closer to him, he put his arms around Fredegar and lifted his weak thin form from the floor of his cell. Cradling him gently in his arms he felt the thinness of him wasting away to nothing more than just bones. The weakness of his voice tore at Merry's heart and he tried to fight back his own tears, but they fell from the corner of his eyes anyway. His dear friend's suffering was more than what he was prepared for.
Merry set Fredegar down for a moment and pulled out his water pouch and allowed Fredegar to drink as much as he could. Supporting his friend's shoulder and back, Merry got the first really good look at how much Fredegar had suffered. His cheeks were sunk and he face was a very pale white. Dark circles appeared around his dull eyes. His hair was a matted mess of grim and dirt. Merry saw his bone thin fingers clutching onto the water bag while he drank.
Holding Fredegar and cradled him gently, Merry whispered back to his dear friend. "You would have done better, by coming with us, my freind!" Merry held him tenderly in his arms.
Once Fredegar had his fill of water, Merry again picked him up into his arms and carried him out of the lock hole.
Fredegar knew it was finally over with and that he was safe. He weakly rested his head against Merry's strong shoulder and raised his eyes up to take a good look at him.
Fredegar heard a loud cheer when Merry got him out of the lock hole and saw hundreds of hobbits waiting for him outside.
Pippin carried the Mayor in his arms while Sam followed him and was only a few paces behind Merry.
Frodo offered his arm to Lobelia and proudly guided her from the lock hole.
Merry stopped and waited for the coach to approach as Pippin stood next to Merry as he cradled the unconscious Mayor in his arms. Lobelia stood next to Merry's other side.
Fredegar saw Lobelia and he raised a weak hand to her as she grasped his hand. "Thank you, Miss Lobelia for saving me! I would have given up long ago if it was not for your nagging!"
Lobelia smiled at Fredegar, "You'll be fine now, Fredegar Bolger. It was an honor to be by your side!"
The crowd cheered for the Mayor, Fredegar and Lobelia. There loud voices echoed over Michel Delving. Lobelia heard her name being shouted with honor and pride. She almost cried as she fought back the tears with the last of her strength. Lobelia had never known the feeling of being admired and well liked. It felt wonderful to her. A feeling she would always remember.
Fredegar heard a shriek coming from the back of the crowd and the hobbit fought her way to get to him. The crowd slowly parted as a round faced hobbit suddenly appeared from the crowd.
Fredegar's mother Rosamunda ran to her son sobbing and crying out his name. "Freddy!..... Oh, my dear son! My Freddy!" She circled her arms around her son and Merry's arms that held him. She kissed his thin face and brushed his matted hair tenderly as tears streamed down her face. "What have they done to you?"
Merry looked at Rosamunda and smiled tenderly at her, "We'll take him home for you, Mrs. Bolger. You'll have him supporting a well fed stomach in no time!"
"Bless you, Merry! You've brought my boy back to me!" said Rosamunda sobbing when the coach pulled up and Merry gently laid Fredegar on the seat of the coach. Rosamunda climbed in and placed her son's head on to her lap. She stoked his brow tenderly and cooed motherly words to her son. Odovacar held his son's hand and cried seeing him alive. Merry climbed in and sat down on the other side. Fredegar raised his head and looked at Merry. "My letter, Merry! Get my letter in the cell!"
Merry told the coachman to wait and he raced back into the lock hole and searched the small cell. He found the letter and saw the name at the bottom. Merry smiled when he read the name of the girl that Fredegar loved.
Returning to the coach. Merry folded the letter and placed it into Fredegar's thin hand.