Ch. 10 –Goodnight



Gilly slowly made her way home. That was the last place in the whole of Middle Earth that she wanted to be but she couldn't very well spend the night in the forest.

As Gilly came upon her familiar home she felt the sudden urge to turn back, go to Rosie's, Gilly knew she could stay there--no questions asked-- until things cooled down. Then Gilly saw her mother, she was in the front window, peering out into the dusk. When their eyes met Gilly set her mouth and Matilda left the window only to open the door a few moments later.

"We were wondering where you were," Matilda said kindly.

Gilly kept her eyes trained on the ground, "I was in the forest," she was surprised to find her voice sharp and harsh. Gilly sighed and said, "I needed some time by myself," more gently.

"Your father was nearly beside himself with worry," Matilda said, she laughed but it sounded forced. "You know how he is."

"I do," Gilly replied, she wasn't in the mood for small talk, even if her mother meant to mend things. Gilly knew perhaps it was selfish, but she wanted to allow herself to be angry at her mother for a little while longer.

"Gilly," Matilda began, "I--"

"I'm tired," Gilly interrupted her mother, "I think I'll have a bath and go to bed."

Matilda sighed and Gilly thought she saw tears shining in her mothers eyes. "If that's what you want..." She said softly, "I saved you some supper."

"Thank you but I'm not hungry," Gilly said pushing past her mother into her home.

Despite what Gilly had said about not being hungry she found a tray with a plate of chicken, beans, potatoes and carrots on her bed as well as a pot of steaming tea and large slice of spice cake after her bath.

Gilly flicked her hair over her shoulder, it was wet and she had it pulled into a braid. She fell onto her bed and almost upset the tea pot.

"Blast," she cursed as tea sloshed onto her blankets.

She pushed her tray out of the way and sat up, she took the tea pot and poured herself a mug. She put the pot down on her dresser. A cup of tea had always settled Gilly's nerves and tonight was no exception. By her third cup she was feeling much better. She managed a small smile as she started her dinner which, all though it had grown cold, was still just as tasty.

Gilly lay down on her bed with a full stomach, she'd just finished her slice of spice cake and figured she'd rest for a moment before having another few mugs of tea.

Just as she was about to fall asleep she heard a noise, she opened her eyes. 'It's nothing', she told herself, turning towards the wall.

There it was again, it sounded as if someone were tapping on her window. Gilly sighed and climbed out of her bed, she walked over to her window and pushed apart the curtains.

"BAAAIIIEEEEE!!!" She screamed at the face peering into her window. She heard her Father in the sitting room curse and she pulled the curtains closed. Her door flung open.

"What on Middle Earth is the matter child?" Geoffrey exclaimed.

Gilly heard a very familiar snort. "Nothing," Gilly lied, "I just thought I saw something outside." Her Father furrowed his brow, Gilly forced a laugh. "Silly me. It's all right Father go to bed."

"Well...I don't know Gilly. Only if you're sure."

Gilly nodded, "I am," she feigned a yawn. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Geoffrey said, he kissed her cheek and left her room closing the door.

Gilly waited until she heard him console her mother and close the door to their room before she flung open the curtain. She pushed open her window and swatted Merry upside the head. He was trying very unsuccessfully to conceal his laughter. She slapped him again.

"What's the matter with you?"

Merry wiped tears from his cheeks, "you should have seen your face," the memory set him off all over again.

Gilly gave him a look and went to close her window.

"Wait, I'm sorry for frightening you."

"You didn't..." she saw Merry's smirk, "if you tell anyone about this Merry I'll tell Farmer Maggot who's been raiding his crop."

"Nah," Merry replied, "you'd incriminate yourself."

"Is there any reason why you're here?"

Merry looked stumped, he blinked. "I don't rightly know."

"Do you often knock on the window's of hobbitess' late at night?" Gilly found herself oddly pleased when Merry blushed. Then she remembered what happened in the forest and her own cheeks flushed with colour.

"Just walking home, thought I'd come and see if you were feeling any better."

"I am."

"Well then," Merry stepped away into the shadows, "goodnight."

It was Gilly's turn to blink, "goodnight." She closed the window and shut the curtains.

'That was strange'...suddenly a thought occurred to her. 'Merry couldn't possibly-- No! Of course not!' Merry was the last person in the world to feel that way for Gilly, certainly.

Gilly sighed and poured herself another cup of tea. She blew out her candle, left to ponder her thoughts in the darkness.



Let me know what you think, but no flames please!