Disclaimer: I'm sorry, but I still don't own em. Wish I did because then I
would be rich, famous, British (gotta love that accent), and not sitting
here in my living room watching The Simpsons while typing up a disclaimer
saying I don't own them! ::breathes heavily:: Sorry...
Estella Brandybuck-Yes, Beri should've stayed and heard more, but he thought Merry should know straight away. He was just trying to help. I actually feel bad for poor Beri.
Emerald of Long Cleeve-Um, happiness. Yes...right. Hm... Poor Merry. You just have to love little hobbits.
LOTR Board Comments:
Aww, poor Merry! I think this is a great inkling! You write beautifully, you know?!? Great!-Queen of Gondor(AWWWW, Thank you!!)
AAWWWW! That was so sweet Pip. I love little Merry and Frodo. ((Pip)) Thanks by the way!-Belladonna Took (I'm glad you love them!!)
Merry! *sniff* (((((((((pip))))))))) you are wonderful at this! Don't ever stop!-Peregrine (I'll have to stop at some point! LOL)
Pip, I'm very glad this isn't the last chapter!!!! Love it! :)-Silivren Ithildin (It is coming up though. :-( Thank you!)
Chapter Nine-Misunderstood
Merry ran to his room and threw himself on his bed, sobbing. He didn't want Frodo to go. He wondered what he could do that would make him stay, and what he had done that made him want to leave in the first place.
"Merry-love? Darling?" Essy entered the room and sat beside her son, gently rubbing his back. "What wrong?"
"My fault," he muttered into his pillow.
"What's your fault?" He sat up and wiped his eyes as she brushed back his hair. "What's your fault, love?"
"That Frodo is leaving."
Essy sighed. She had known about Bilbo's offer and had a feeling Frodo would accept. She also had a feeling Merry would react this way, but had hoped it would happen after his birthday. "Merry, it's not your fault."
"Yes, it is. Beri said..." He sniffled. "He said he heard Frodo saying he'd be glad to get away from me since I'm always following him and I'm always underfoot." He broke into a new wave of sobs. He pushed his mother away as she tried to comfort him and threw himself back on his pillow.
Essy kissed the back of his head. "I'll be right back, love. I need to speak to your cousins."
She entered the kitchen and fixed both Frodo and Beri with a hard gaze. "Frodo, Berilac. A word if you please."
"Is Merry alright?" Frodo asked as the three headed for the family room.
"He's far from alright. Sit. Both of you." She turned to Beri first. "Tell me what you told Merry."
Beri looked at Frodo for a moment before turning to Essy. "I heard Frodo tell Regi he couldn't wait to get away from here. Away from Merry."
"I never said that!" Frodo exclaimed, jumping from his seat.
"Frodo, sit and let Berilac finish."
"He said it'd be a relief to get away from here and away from all the little hobbits running around, especially Merry."
"Thank you, Berilac. Go back to the kitchen and send Regi in here."
"Yes, Aunt." He threw Frodo on last look before speeding from the room.
"Frodo, explain please."
"I decided to go live with Bilbo. Regi and I were talking. Beri didn't hear it all. I don't like the thought of leaving Merry, really. He is always underfoot, but I told Regi I wouldn't have it any other way. I did say I'd be glad to get away from it all, but I never said it was because of Merry. You know I love him."
"When did you plan on telling him you were leaving?"
"After his birthday. I didn't...I didn't want to upset him."
"You did a great job of that," Essy said, coldly.
"Aunt Essy, really...I didn't. Beri obviously didn't hear our whole conversation..."
"Excuse me," said Regi who had appeared at the door. "But Frodo's right. Beri didn't hear it all. Frodo did say he wouldn't have it any other way, Merry being around. He doesn't really want to leave, but..." Regi stopped. He'd listened to most of the discussion from the doorway. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"It's alright, Regi. I was just about to ask you what you heard. Thank you."
"Aunt Essy, please let me talk to him."
Essy sighed and nodded. "I know you didn't mean to hurt him, Frodo. I see how much you love him. You may talk to him. Just try not to upset him any further. It is his birthday tomorrow."
Frodo got up and smiled at Regi as he headed for Merry's room. He hesitated slightly before going in. "Merry?" he said softly as he walked toward the bed.
"Go away," Merry muttered, his face buried in his pillow.
"No. We have to talk, Merry-Mer." He sat down next to his cousin. "Come on. Look at me."
Merry sat up and sniffled. His face was covered in tears and his eyes were blood-shot from crying. "You're leaving."
"Yes, Merry, but not until my birthday."
"Cause of me?" He fixed his grey eyes on Frodo, pleading with his dear older cousin for it not to be true.
Frodo sighed. "No, it's not because of you, Merry. I'd take you with me if I could."
Merry started crying again. Frodo gathered him up in his arms and held him.
"I don't want you to go, Frodo."
"Shh. I know, but..." He sighed. "Merry, I have to."
"I'll be good, I mean it. I'll stop following you. I won't..."
"Hush, Merry." He held his little cousin tighter. "It's not your fault. I love looking behind and seeing you peeking from behind a tree. I love when you sit next to me when I read. I'll miss you so much, but I will coming to visit. And you can visit me."
"I want you here always, Frodo. We can't be brothers if you aren't here."
Frodo pulled Merry away from his chest. He looked his little cousin right in the eyes. "Merry-lad, you will always be my brother. No matter where I go. We are brothers, in every way but blood. Remember that."
Merry buried his face in Frodo's shirt. "I'll miss you."
"I'm not going anywhere for a while, Merry. I'm not planning to leave until after my birthday."
"Mean old Beri. He lied." Merry laid his head on Frodo's shoulder and sniffled.
"Now, Merry, don't be sour at your cousin. He didn't lie, he just only heard part of a longer conversation. He thought he was helping. Remember, he had to leave you and me behind when he moved, and you still have me, at least for a little while." He pulled Merry back and wiped the tears from his eyes.
"First he leaves, and now you! I won't have any cousins if you all keep leaving me." The little hobbit threw his arms up in exasperation.
"We're still your cousins, Merry. No matter what." He put a finger under Merry's chin and raised his head up so their eyes met. He kissed the little hobbit on his nose. "Now, think you can come back to dinner?"
Merry nodded. "I'm hungry."
Frodo smiled. "I thought so. Come on." He took Merry's hand and the two went back to the dining room.
Beri walked over to them as they entered. He stared at his feet. "I'm sorry, Merry. Really."
"And?" said Merimac, looking sharply at his son.
"And I'm sorry, Frodo."
Frodo knelt down before Beri. "I know, and it's alright, Ber. I know you were just trying to help, but next time," He leaned forward so their faces were just inches apart. "Talk to me first, alright." He kissed him on the forehead.
Beri smiled. "Alright."
"Merry? What do you say?" Frodo asked, pushing Merry forward.
Merry didn't say anything. He just hugged Beri. "Thank you for trying to help me, cousin," he whispered after a moment.
Beri brushed the tears from his eyes as Merry pulled away. He went and sat next to his father who pulled him to his side. "That's my lad," Merimac said, kissing Beri on the top of his head. "No more listening to other's conversations, alright?"
Beri nodded in reply. "Alright, Father."
"Good lad."
Merry sat between Frodo and Ferdi. After a few minutes, he tugged on Frodo's sleeve.
"Yes, Merry?"
"Can I stay in your room tonight?"
"Sure, Merry." He kissed the top of his head. "Sure."
Merry looked over at Beri. He remembered the words his cousin had spoken the day Beri told him he was moving. 'You don't have to worry about me anymore.' He felt bad. He'd never told Beri how much he love him. "Frodo, can Beri stay, too?"
Frodo looked down at Merry and then over at Beri. Merimac smiled and nodded. "Sure, Merry. He can stay, too."
"And.."
"No, Ferdi can stay with Regi."
"How'd you know I was going to ask that?" He gazed up at his cousin.
"I just did, Merry. Eat."
Regi chuckled on Frodo's other side. "Good call. I don't think all five of us could fit in your bed," he whispered.
Estella Brandybuck-Yes, Beri should've stayed and heard more, but he thought Merry should know straight away. He was just trying to help. I actually feel bad for poor Beri.
Emerald of Long Cleeve-Um, happiness. Yes...right. Hm... Poor Merry. You just have to love little hobbits.
LOTR Board Comments:
Aww, poor Merry! I think this is a great inkling! You write beautifully, you know?!? Great!-Queen of Gondor(AWWWW, Thank you!!)
AAWWWW! That was so sweet Pip. I love little Merry and Frodo. ((Pip)) Thanks by the way!-Belladonna Took (I'm glad you love them!!)
Merry! *sniff* (((((((((pip))))))))) you are wonderful at this! Don't ever stop!-Peregrine (I'll have to stop at some point! LOL)
Pip, I'm very glad this isn't the last chapter!!!! Love it! :)-Silivren Ithildin (It is coming up though. :-( Thank you!)
Chapter Nine-Misunderstood
Merry ran to his room and threw himself on his bed, sobbing. He didn't want Frodo to go. He wondered what he could do that would make him stay, and what he had done that made him want to leave in the first place.
"Merry-love? Darling?" Essy entered the room and sat beside her son, gently rubbing his back. "What wrong?"
"My fault," he muttered into his pillow.
"What's your fault?" He sat up and wiped his eyes as she brushed back his hair. "What's your fault, love?"
"That Frodo is leaving."
Essy sighed. She had known about Bilbo's offer and had a feeling Frodo would accept. She also had a feeling Merry would react this way, but had hoped it would happen after his birthday. "Merry, it's not your fault."
"Yes, it is. Beri said..." He sniffled. "He said he heard Frodo saying he'd be glad to get away from me since I'm always following him and I'm always underfoot." He broke into a new wave of sobs. He pushed his mother away as she tried to comfort him and threw himself back on his pillow.
Essy kissed the back of his head. "I'll be right back, love. I need to speak to your cousins."
She entered the kitchen and fixed both Frodo and Beri with a hard gaze. "Frodo, Berilac. A word if you please."
"Is Merry alright?" Frodo asked as the three headed for the family room.
"He's far from alright. Sit. Both of you." She turned to Beri first. "Tell me what you told Merry."
Beri looked at Frodo for a moment before turning to Essy. "I heard Frodo tell Regi he couldn't wait to get away from here. Away from Merry."
"I never said that!" Frodo exclaimed, jumping from his seat.
"Frodo, sit and let Berilac finish."
"He said it'd be a relief to get away from here and away from all the little hobbits running around, especially Merry."
"Thank you, Berilac. Go back to the kitchen and send Regi in here."
"Yes, Aunt." He threw Frodo on last look before speeding from the room.
"Frodo, explain please."
"I decided to go live with Bilbo. Regi and I were talking. Beri didn't hear it all. I don't like the thought of leaving Merry, really. He is always underfoot, but I told Regi I wouldn't have it any other way. I did say I'd be glad to get away from it all, but I never said it was because of Merry. You know I love him."
"When did you plan on telling him you were leaving?"
"After his birthday. I didn't...I didn't want to upset him."
"You did a great job of that," Essy said, coldly.
"Aunt Essy, really...I didn't. Beri obviously didn't hear our whole conversation..."
"Excuse me," said Regi who had appeared at the door. "But Frodo's right. Beri didn't hear it all. Frodo did say he wouldn't have it any other way, Merry being around. He doesn't really want to leave, but..." Regi stopped. He'd listened to most of the discussion from the doorway. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"It's alright, Regi. I was just about to ask you what you heard. Thank you."
"Aunt Essy, please let me talk to him."
Essy sighed and nodded. "I know you didn't mean to hurt him, Frodo. I see how much you love him. You may talk to him. Just try not to upset him any further. It is his birthday tomorrow."
Frodo got up and smiled at Regi as he headed for Merry's room. He hesitated slightly before going in. "Merry?" he said softly as he walked toward the bed.
"Go away," Merry muttered, his face buried in his pillow.
"No. We have to talk, Merry-Mer." He sat down next to his cousin. "Come on. Look at me."
Merry sat up and sniffled. His face was covered in tears and his eyes were blood-shot from crying. "You're leaving."
"Yes, Merry, but not until my birthday."
"Cause of me?" He fixed his grey eyes on Frodo, pleading with his dear older cousin for it not to be true.
Frodo sighed. "No, it's not because of you, Merry. I'd take you with me if I could."
Merry started crying again. Frodo gathered him up in his arms and held him.
"I don't want you to go, Frodo."
"Shh. I know, but..." He sighed. "Merry, I have to."
"I'll be good, I mean it. I'll stop following you. I won't..."
"Hush, Merry." He held his little cousin tighter. "It's not your fault. I love looking behind and seeing you peeking from behind a tree. I love when you sit next to me when I read. I'll miss you so much, but I will coming to visit. And you can visit me."
"I want you here always, Frodo. We can't be brothers if you aren't here."
Frodo pulled Merry away from his chest. He looked his little cousin right in the eyes. "Merry-lad, you will always be my brother. No matter where I go. We are brothers, in every way but blood. Remember that."
Merry buried his face in Frodo's shirt. "I'll miss you."
"I'm not going anywhere for a while, Merry. I'm not planning to leave until after my birthday."
"Mean old Beri. He lied." Merry laid his head on Frodo's shoulder and sniffled.
"Now, Merry, don't be sour at your cousin. He didn't lie, he just only heard part of a longer conversation. He thought he was helping. Remember, he had to leave you and me behind when he moved, and you still have me, at least for a little while." He pulled Merry back and wiped the tears from his eyes.
"First he leaves, and now you! I won't have any cousins if you all keep leaving me." The little hobbit threw his arms up in exasperation.
"We're still your cousins, Merry. No matter what." He put a finger under Merry's chin and raised his head up so their eyes met. He kissed the little hobbit on his nose. "Now, think you can come back to dinner?"
Merry nodded. "I'm hungry."
Frodo smiled. "I thought so. Come on." He took Merry's hand and the two went back to the dining room.
Beri walked over to them as they entered. He stared at his feet. "I'm sorry, Merry. Really."
"And?" said Merimac, looking sharply at his son.
"And I'm sorry, Frodo."
Frodo knelt down before Beri. "I know, and it's alright, Ber. I know you were just trying to help, but next time," He leaned forward so their faces were just inches apart. "Talk to me first, alright." He kissed him on the forehead.
Beri smiled. "Alright."
"Merry? What do you say?" Frodo asked, pushing Merry forward.
Merry didn't say anything. He just hugged Beri. "Thank you for trying to help me, cousin," he whispered after a moment.
Beri brushed the tears from his eyes as Merry pulled away. He went and sat next to his father who pulled him to his side. "That's my lad," Merimac said, kissing Beri on the top of his head. "No more listening to other's conversations, alright?"
Beri nodded in reply. "Alright, Father."
"Good lad."
Merry sat between Frodo and Ferdi. After a few minutes, he tugged on Frodo's sleeve.
"Yes, Merry?"
"Can I stay in your room tonight?"
"Sure, Merry." He kissed the top of his head. "Sure."
Merry looked over at Beri. He remembered the words his cousin had spoken the day Beri told him he was moving. 'You don't have to worry about me anymore.' He felt bad. He'd never told Beri how much he love him. "Frodo, can Beri stay, too?"
Frodo looked down at Merry and then over at Beri. Merimac smiled and nodded. "Sure, Merry. He can stay, too."
"And.."
"No, Ferdi can stay with Regi."
"How'd you know I was going to ask that?" He gazed up at his cousin.
"I just did, Merry. Eat."
Regi chuckled on Frodo's other side. "Good call. I don't think all five of us could fit in your bed," he whispered.