~*~*~*~
Marroc's Tale
Chapter 7: Moving out, moving in
By Hippy :) Hobbit
Dedicated to Niph
~*~*~*~
Saradoc was right on the premonition that Marroc's mother would be the only person to get him to choke down a few bites, but it had only been a few.
"'Tis more then he had yesterday, to be optimistic. Sorry," Esmeralda sighed, watching how worried Maggie was for her son. He had drifted off for some more much-needed rest in his mother's arms again, shortly after he had eaten what little food they could stuff into him. She cradled his tiny body, hugging him tightly, relieved just to hold her little one again, though still fretful about his malnourishment.
"It's alright," Maggie barely whispered, "You tried your hardest from what I've heard... and he's very stubborn," she stroked her son's cold cheek with a warm hand.
"At least he's sleeping. He wasn't doing much of that either," Merry's mother whispered, "I guess he just needed his mummy," she gave Maggie a reassuring smile as she stood from the bed, "I'll let you two sleep in peace..." she left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
Maggie leaned back into the pillows, laying Marroc's head against her breast, staring at his quiescent appearance as it rose and fell with her every half-breath. It seemed as though she wanted to etch the cherubic features in her mind forever- soft, button nose; fair complexion, slightly tanned from long days playing outside; his light brown hair which was, in her mind, perfectly curled, no matter how scruffy; the smile of contentment on his lips as he snuggled closer to his mother, before yawning and stretching out his little body, fists balled up as he woke. She now savored the moment before. Her son had never been much of a cuddle bunny, though it always brought her comfort to hold him ever since she had gotten sick.
Marroc looked back up to his mother, yawning with a bemused look on his face, making Maggie smile, "Morning, baby," she cooed, pushing a stray curl out of the way of those big green eyes, before planting a small kiss on his cheek, "how are you feeling?"
Marroc gave a little moan and shook his curly head, "Tired..." he muttered. Maggie smiled in a motherly fashion and pulled him close again in a warm hug that he didn't manage to squirm out of. She softly kissed his forehead, "I've heard you haven't been sleeping much nor eating lately. Why have you been so much trouble for your aunt, you little rascal?" she smiled softly, "you've been causing this whole hall a stir of worry, you know, sweetie? Your poor aunt Esmeralda..."
Marroc didn't answer. He held his mother's eyes in a bewitching stare, "Where's da?" he asked in a flat tone with a slight nervous edge.
Maggie felt the tears in her eyes as she watched his adorable face in its brave form. She sighed, "Your father has to go away for a while, dear," she settled on saying, "we'll be staying here, with your uncle Saradoc for now."
A puzzled look came over the child's face, "Why's 'ee goin' away?" Maggie sighed again.
"Marroc, it was wrong that he hit you. Parents aren't supposed to hit their children for no reason. He didn't know what he was doing, so he's going to have to go away now. At least for a while."
Marroc's eyes seemed to deaden, "Is he coming back?"
Maggie slowly nodded.
Marroc dropped his gaze from hers, looking down to the bed sheets.
"Do you not want him to come back?" Maggie asked her son, slowly.
He didn't answer.
She slowly lifted his chin up with her index finger, until their eyes met again, "answer me, Marroc," she said, in a slightly stern tone. He shook his head.
Maggie sighed again, trying to get him to look into her eyes again as he turned away, "why not, sweetie? He'll be better. He-he wont hit you again, I promise."
"I don want him to come back, Mummy, pleasedontlethim!" Marroc cried, throwing himself at her and hugging her tightly. Maggie finally allowed the tears to spill out as she rubbed his back, "Shhh..." she whispered, quietly, "...It'll be alright...dry your tears," she whispered, looking into his eyes.
There were no tears.
~*~*~*~
Perhaps it would be easier for them to get Tarroc then any of the 6 Brandybucks thought. The Tooks' house was quiet as they stepped into the foyer, ready and on alert as though entering a den of wildcats.
"S'alright lads," came a voice. It was Tarroc. He had come down the corridor leading to the entrance hall right as they had come in, "I'm not gonna hurt you or anything. And I know why you're here, too."
"You do?" Saradoc asked, surprised.
"Yeah... Maggie told you, didn't she?" he sighed, " I didn't mean to hurt him, honest. You believe me, Saradoc? You know I have a... a problem," the speed of his voice had slowed down very much, 'till the point where he sounded like a little hobbit lad or lass, convincing their da that THEY most certainly weren't the ones tipping the cows, but with the kind of saddened tinge that they knew their alibi wasn't working well.
"That's why we have to take you away. It's because of your problem. I know you love your son very much, and I know you would never hurt him in your right state of mind. But..." Saradoc stopped again. He had been talking slowly, as though to a child, "...you're going to need to learn how to control your anger problem. You and I both know what could happen if you lost it again..."
Tarroc looked to his feet and nodded, slowly. He thought of his son's face, the poor little rascal, and almost shed a tear. He loved him very much, his darling Marroc-Lad, and he was always proud of him. Even for a simple thing like catching a fish, even if it was just a baby. He never showed it...his pride... and now... he wished he had... what if the inevitable HAD happened that night? Tarroc would be a murderer and Marroc would be... he would be... that look of terror in his eyes...
Saradoc's next words seemed to draw Tarroc from his trance; "We're taking you to Bree. You need sometime away from your job, and from your home, and from your family."
The last words hit Tarroc hard in the heart. He could feel the tears, but did not release them. He knew he deserved it...
"What about Maggie? And..." he couldn't say Marroc's name from the shame he was feeling.
Saradoc gave a weak smile, "they'll be safe at Brandyhall while you're gone... and so will your animals. We have room in the stables..."
"Aye..." Tarroc said softly, nodding, but not bringing his eyes to meet his cousin's. He heaved a sigh, "So... where are you taking me again?"
~*~*~*~
Saradoc and the other lads he had taken with him didn't get back until 3 days later, since they had gone all the way to Bree and back, and then to the Took's place again to retrieve the half-starved animals they had forgot about. The Brandybucks were tired and hungry, and the first place they all headed to (after taking a bath. They had also been EXTREMELY smelly) was the great hall.
It was about lunchtime anyway, and the hall was filled with hungry Brandybucks. 'Twas the harvest season and all the lads that were old enough had been working out in the fields all day; while their mothers, sisters, cousins and aunts prepared for their return home by changing the sheets on their beds, washing them clean clothing, and making them a hardy, warm meal to stick to their ribs while they were out in the cold autumn air.
Upon seeing her husband (his hair still damp from the bath) enter the great hall, the mistress of the hall stood, smiling and walking over to him, only walking because she didn't want to trip, wearing such a long skirt. But she hugged him warmly and kissed him softly on the cheek as soon as they embraced.
"Dear, your hair's gone silly!" Esmeralda laughed, petting down his slightly drippy bangs. Saradoc laughed and kissed his wife again.
Maggie watched them from across the hall. She missed it when Tarroc used to do that. She missed his soft lips and his warm touch... the feel of his curly hair and his smile as she set his hand on his cheek... She missed her husband...
Some of the elders saw Maggie looking at Esmeralda and Saradoc's embrace, and knew what she was thinking.
"It's her own fault she married that idiot!" one scoffed to another, "we all warned her that he was no good, and now lookit what's gone and happened! If Tarroc had gotten totally out of control... there's no telling what could've happened to our flower."
"And her lad, too, Amaranth. You can't forget about wee Marroc."
Amaranth scoffed, "I'm sure that little queer is going to be just like his father when 'ee gets big. Didja hear how 'ee went after that Bracegirdle boy, eh? Jus' about broke his nose too, Paladin said. An I'm sure 'ee got a good whoopin' for that. Probably from Paladin himself."
Falco frowned, "Really I don't suppose he's queer. He's probably just..."
"...different? Strange? Odd?"
"Odd, I suppose. But I'm sure living here will do him some good. I remember once Lodo said the poor lad's got no friends out there. Only that goat of his. It'll be good for him to finally have some Brandybuck influence."
Amaranth snorted to show that he disagreed, but Falco said nothing in return.
After Esmeralda had wandered off to go make Saradoc some tea, he wandered over to where Maggie sat. She turned her head away quickly, back to her son, who was still refusing to eat much. A frown played on her lips, "Marroc, dear, eat your lunch."
With pleading eyes, the lad looked to his mother, "I'm full," he said, stubbornly.
Maggie looked into his eyes, as though seeing the food in him, "No, you're not full yet. You've still got a ways to go before you're full. You're only bout up to here..." she put her hand on his knee.
Marroc frowned at his mother's joke, "I'm not hungry, mummy, " he groaned, in an irritable tone. Maggie sighed again, "Marroc, why won't you eat? You've hardly taken a bite in the last few days! Aren't you starving?"
He shook his head, his curls flopping, "Uh-uh."
Maggie gave him a worried look, until she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Saradoc.
"How you doing, dear?" he asked warmly.
She gave him a small smile, "He sleeps a lot now, but he hardly eats..."
"I meant you, Maggs. How are YOU doing?"
"Alright, I suppose, for myself...but..." she looked back to her son, "...depressed..." she muttered, then asked in a whisper so that only Saradoc would hear it, "how was Tarroc?"
"He was... alright," came the reply, "He didn't put up a fight... which is good. And he was very sincere too... he... he wanted you and Marroc to know he still loves you-"
"Did he tell you to tell Marroc he was sorry?"
"No. I think he wants to do it in person as soon as he gets his anger problem fixed. That healer in Bree seemed pretty confident he could do it."
"I hope so..." Maggie said, quietly, looking down to her feet, "I want my husband back to normal."
~I don't think he never really was normal to begin with~ Saradoc said to himself, then replied quickly, "I'm sure he'll be fine when that healer gets done with him."
"I hope so..." Maggie repeated, a small tear catching on her eyelashes, holding there for a moment, before falling off and hitting the stone floor with a small splash.
Saradoc, feeling pity, hugged his cousin tightly, rubbing her back as she began to cry more freely, burying her head in his shoulder.
~*~*~*~
A/N: Okay, I finally got a good-sized chapter up. 4 pages long, which I must say, is only a little more than about half of chapter 2 & 4, which are the longest chapters to date.
Did you like my little song? *evil cackles* Okay, I was really bored and had "Mary Had a Little Lamb" stuck in my head for some odd reason. Heh.
Niph: Yes. There's going to be a lot of angst for wee Marroc in my story ;.; Lol, no, that was a good comparison. It reminded me of when I was a lot younger just before we moved to the states, and we used to always dare each other to see how long we could hold on to the horses' electrical fence for. It hurt a lot though was oddly satisfying. One of my few memories of Ireland. Then when we moved here, there were these two electrical boxes, and being the new kids, someone dared my brother and I to put one hand on both of them at the same time. Being stupid, we did and got electrocuted! But it was pretty nifty, until my mum found out and got very angry because doing that can give you a heart attack or something. We don't listen well, though, because we still do it ^^
Adious, araviaduche, chio, astalawags, naamarie, adieu
~Hippy Hobbit
Marroc's Tale
Chapter 7: Moving out, moving in
By Hippy :) Hobbit
Dedicated to Niph
~*~*~*~
Saradoc was right on the premonition that Marroc's mother would be the only person to get him to choke down a few bites, but it had only been a few.
"'Tis more then he had yesterday, to be optimistic. Sorry," Esmeralda sighed, watching how worried Maggie was for her son. He had drifted off for some more much-needed rest in his mother's arms again, shortly after he had eaten what little food they could stuff into him. She cradled his tiny body, hugging him tightly, relieved just to hold her little one again, though still fretful about his malnourishment.
"It's alright," Maggie barely whispered, "You tried your hardest from what I've heard... and he's very stubborn," she stroked her son's cold cheek with a warm hand.
"At least he's sleeping. He wasn't doing much of that either," Merry's mother whispered, "I guess he just needed his mummy," she gave Maggie a reassuring smile as she stood from the bed, "I'll let you two sleep in peace..." she left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
Maggie leaned back into the pillows, laying Marroc's head against her breast, staring at his quiescent appearance as it rose and fell with her every half-breath. It seemed as though she wanted to etch the cherubic features in her mind forever- soft, button nose; fair complexion, slightly tanned from long days playing outside; his light brown hair which was, in her mind, perfectly curled, no matter how scruffy; the smile of contentment on his lips as he snuggled closer to his mother, before yawning and stretching out his little body, fists balled up as he woke. She now savored the moment before. Her son had never been much of a cuddle bunny, though it always brought her comfort to hold him ever since she had gotten sick.
Marroc looked back up to his mother, yawning with a bemused look on his face, making Maggie smile, "Morning, baby," she cooed, pushing a stray curl out of the way of those big green eyes, before planting a small kiss on his cheek, "how are you feeling?"
Marroc gave a little moan and shook his curly head, "Tired..." he muttered. Maggie smiled in a motherly fashion and pulled him close again in a warm hug that he didn't manage to squirm out of. She softly kissed his forehead, "I've heard you haven't been sleeping much nor eating lately. Why have you been so much trouble for your aunt, you little rascal?" she smiled softly, "you've been causing this whole hall a stir of worry, you know, sweetie? Your poor aunt Esmeralda..."
Marroc didn't answer. He held his mother's eyes in a bewitching stare, "Where's da?" he asked in a flat tone with a slight nervous edge.
Maggie felt the tears in her eyes as she watched his adorable face in its brave form. She sighed, "Your father has to go away for a while, dear," she settled on saying, "we'll be staying here, with your uncle Saradoc for now."
A puzzled look came over the child's face, "Why's 'ee goin' away?" Maggie sighed again.
"Marroc, it was wrong that he hit you. Parents aren't supposed to hit their children for no reason. He didn't know what he was doing, so he's going to have to go away now. At least for a while."
Marroc's eyes seemed to deaden, "Is he coming back?"
Maggie slowly nodded.
Marroc dropped his gaze from hers, looking down to the bed sheets.
"Do you not want him to come back?" Maggie asked her son, slowly.
He didn't answer.
She slowly lifted his chin up with her index finger, until their eyes met again, "answer me, Marroc," she said, in a slightly stern tone. He shook his head.
Maggie sighed again, trying to get him to look into her eyes again as he turned away, "why not, sweetie? He'll be better. He-he wont hit you again, I promise."
"I don want him to come back, Mummy, pleasedontlethim!" Marroc cried, throwing himself at her and hugging her tightly. Maggie finally allowed the tears to spill out as she rubbed his back, "Shhh..." she whispered, quietly, "...It'll be alright...dry your tears," she whispered, looking into his eyes.
There were no tears.
~*~*~*~
Perhaps it would be easier for them to get Tarroc then any of the 6 Brandybucks thought. The Tooks' house was quiet as they stepped into the foyer, ready and on alert as though entering a den of wildcats.
"S'alright lads," came a voice. It was Tarroc. He had come down the corridor leading to the entrance hall right as they had come in, "I'm not gonna hurt you or anything. And I know why you're here, too."
"You do?" Saradoc asked, surprised.
"Yeah... Maggie told you, didn't she?" he sighed, " I didn't mean to hurt him, honest. You believe me, Saradoc? You know I have a... a problem," the speed of his voice had slowed down very much, 'till the point where he sounded like a little hobbit lad or lass, convincing their da that THEY most certainly weren't the ones tipping the cows, but with the kind of saddened tinge that they knew their alibi wasn't working well.
"That's why we have to take you away. It's because of your problem. I know you love your son very much, and I know you would never hurt him in your right state of mind. But..." Saradoc stopped again. He had been talking slowly, as though to a child, "...you're going to need to learn how to control your anger problem. You and I both know what could happen if you lost it again..."
Tarroc looked to his feet and nodded, slowly. He thought of his son's face, the poor little rascal, and almost shed a tear. He loved him very much, his darling Marroc-Lad, and he was always proud of him. Even for a simple thing like catching a fish, even if it was just a baby. He never showed it...his pride... and now... he wished he had... what if the inevitable HAD happened that night? Tarroc would be a murderer and Marroc would be... he would be... that look of terror in his eyes...
Saradoc's next words seemed to draw Tarroc from his trance; "We're taking you to Bree. You need sometime away from your job, and from your home, and from your family."
The last words hit Tarroc hard in the heart. He could feel the tears, but did not release them. He knew he deserved it...
"What about Maggie? And..." he couldn't say Marroc's name from the shame he was feeling.
Saradoc gave a weak smile, "they'll be safe at Brandyhall while you're gone... and so will your animals. We have room in the stables..."
"Aye..." Tarroc said softly, nodding, but not bringing his eyes to meet his cousin's. He heaved a sigh, "So... where are you taking me again?"
~*~*~*~
Saradoc and the other lads he had taken with him didn't get back until 3 days later, since they had gone all the way to Bree and back, and then to the Took's place again to retrieve the half-starved animals they had forgot about. The Brandybucks were tired and hungry, and the first place they all headed to (after taking a bath. They had also been EXTREMELY smelly) was the great hall.
It was about lunchtime anyway, and the hall was filled with hungry Brandybucks. 'Twas the harvest season and all the lads that were old enough had been working out in the fields all day; while their mothers, sisters, cousins and aunts prepared for their return home by changing the sheets on their beds, washing them clean clothing, and making them a hardy, warm meal to stick to their ribs while they were out in the cold autumn air.
Upon seeing her husband (his hair still damp from the bath) enter the great hall, the mistress of the hall stood, smiling and walking over to him, only walking because she didn't want to trip, wearing such a long skirt. But she hugged him warmly and kissed him softly on the cheek as soon as they embraced.
"Dear, your hair's gone silly!" Esmeralda laughed, petting down his slightly drippy bangs. Saradoc laughed and kissed his wife again.
Maggie watched them from across the hall. She missed it when Tarroc used to do that. She missed his soft lips and his warm touch... the feel of his curly hair and his smile as she set his hand on his cheek... She missed her husband...
Some of the elders saw Maggie looking at Esmeralda and Saradoc's embrace, and knew what she was thinking.
"It's her own fault she married that idiot!" one scoffed to another, "we all warned her that he was no good, and now lookit what's gone and happened! If Tarroc had gotten totally out of control... there's no telling what could've happened to our flower."
"And her lad, too, Amaranth. You can't forget about wee Marroc."
Amaranth scoffed, "I'm sure that little queer is going to be just like his father when 'ee gets big. Didja hear how 'ee went after that Bracegirdle boy, eh? Jus' about broke his nose too, Paladin said. An I'm sure 'ee got a good whoopin' for that. Probably from Paladin himself."
Falco frowned, "Really I don't suppose he's queer. He's probably just..."
"...different? Strange? Odd?"
"Odd, I suppose. But I'm sure living here will do him some good. I remember once Lodo said the poor lad's got no friends out there. Only that goat of his. It'll be good for him to finally have some Brandybuck influence."
Amaranth snorted to show that he disagreed, but Falco said nothing in return.
After Esmeralda had wandered off to go make Saradoc some tea, he wandered over to where Maggie sat. She turned her head away quickly, back to her son, who was still refusing to eat much. A frown played on her lips, "Marroc, dear, eat your lunch."
With pleading eyes, the lad looked to his mother, "I'm full," he said, stubbornly.
Maggie looked into his eyes, as though seeing the food in him, "No, you're not full yet. You've still got a ways to go before you're full. You're only bout up to here..." she put her hand on his knee.
Marroc frowned at his mother's joke, "I'm not hungry, mummy, " he groaned, in an irritable tone. Maggie sighed again, "Marroc, why won't you eat? You've hardly taken a bite in the last few days! Aren't you starving?"
He shook his head, his curls flopping, "Uh-uh."
Maggie gave him a worried look, until she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Saradoc.
"How you doing, dear?" he asked warmly.
She gave him a small smile, "He sleeps a lot now, but he hardly eats..."
"I meant you, Maggs. How are YOU doing?"
"Alright, I suppose, for myself...but..." she looked back to her son, "...depressed..." she muttered, then asked in a whisper so that only Saradoc would hear it, "how was Tarroc?"
"He was... alright," came the reply, "He didn't put up a fight... which is good. And he was very sincere too... he... he wanted you and Marroc to know he still loves you-"
"Did he tell you to tell Marroc he was sorry?"
"No. I think he wants to do it in person as soon as he gets his anger problem fixed. That healer in Bree seemed pretty confident he could do it."
"I hope so..." Maggie said, quietly, looking down to her feet, "I want my husband back to normal."
~I don't think he never really was normal to begin with~ Saradoc said to himself, then replied quickly, "I'm sure he'll be fine when that healer gets done with him."
"I hope so..." Maggie repeated, a small tear catching on her eyelashes, holding there for a moment, before falling off and hitting the stone floor with a small splash.
Saradoc, feeling pity, hugged his cousin tightly, rubbing her back as she began to cry more freely, burying her head in his shoulder.
~*~*~*~
A/N: Okay, I finally got a good-sized chapter up. 4 pages long, which I must say, is only a little more than about half of chapter 2 & 4, which are the longest chapters to date.
Did you like my little song? *evil cackles* Okay, I was really bored and had "Mary Had a Little Lamb" stuck in my head for some odd reason. Heh.
Niph: Yes. There's going to be a lot of angst for wee Marroc in my story ;.; Lol, no, that was a good comparison. It reminded me of when I was a lot younger just before we moved to the states, and we used to always dare each other to see how long we could hold on to the horses' electrical fence for. It hurt a lot though was oddly satisfying. One of my few memories of Ireland. Then when we moved here, there were these two electrical boxes, and being the new kids, someone dared my brother and I to put one hand on both of them at the same time. Being stupid, we did and got electrocuted! But it was pretty nifty, until my mum found out and got very angry because doing that can give you a heart attack or something. We don't listen well, though, because we still do it ^^
Adious, araviaduche, chio, astalawags, naamarie, adieu
~Hippy Hobbit