"Scarecrows? Why?" asked Mel.
"You'll see," smirked Lyra. "Are you a good actress?"
"Me? Not really," answered Mel.
"Do you know anyone who is?" pressed Lyra.
"Marieke's quite good," said Mel. "Why?"
"Yeah, what are you thinking about?" enquired Toni.
"A very good idea," grinned Lyra. She whispered the plan into Toni's ear. Toni laughed.
"Wow, that's really good," praised Toni.
"I know," said Lyra. "So, let's go find Marieke. And Mel, I need you to tell Merry, Pippin and whoever you think will enjoy a good joke, that there's going to be a little gathering tonight."
"A gathering? What for?" asked Mel.
"Oh you know, just a campfire and us lot sitting around telling ghost stories," said Toni. "But don't mention anything about a joke to Merry and Pippin."
Before Mel could ask any more questions, Lyra and Toni ran off in search of Marieke. Mel hesitated for a second, and then went to tell everyone about the event that night. Lyra and Toni eventually reached Marieke's house, and rapped hard on the door. Marieke opened the door, and her face instantly changed when she saw who it was.
"What are you two doing here? You're supposed to be helping Bilbo out," she said.
"Yeah, but we need your help," said Toni.
"What for?" asked Marieke suspiciously.
"We're gonna play a joke on Merry and Pippin," said Lyra.
"No way then. I'm not getting involved in all this. I'll get into trouble like you two did yesterday," said Marieke.
"But we've got a good reason," protested Toni. "Merry pushed Mel in the river this morning and she wants to get back at him. So she came to us for help."
"Oh, I guess I could do something then," said Marieke reluctantly. "Since Mel is a friend of mine. So what do you want me to do?"
Whilst Lyra and Toni explained the idea to Marieke, Mel was busy going round telling the others about later. The first house she went to would have been Rosie's, but she took a little detour so that it would be Frodo's first, as she had a very big crush on him. She knocked on the door, which he answered moments later.
"Back again?" he smiled.
"Yeah," blushed Mel. "Lyra, Toni and me have been thinking that we need to arrange something for us all to get to know one another a little better. I suggested something like a meal together, but being the fun-loving creatures they are, they wanted us to get together late tonight and tell ghost stories."
"Ghost stories? That's a bit extreme, isn't it?" said Frodo.
"Yeah I know," agreed Mel. "But you know what they're like."
"OK, I'll be there," said Frodo. "So where and when is it?"
"Erm," Mel hesitated. Lyra and Toni hadn't said anything about this. She'd have to make it up. "On the left side of the cornfields, at eleven tonight."
"OK. I'll see you then," said Frodo.
"Bye," waved Mel.
And so the same routine went for when she visited Sam, Rosie, Lizzie, Merry and Pippin. Afterwards, she went to find Lyra and Toni. She eventually found them outside the house that they were staying in.
"So did you tell everyone?" asked Lyra eagerly.
"Yep," replied Mel. "Only one problem."
"What?" asked Toni.
"You didn't tell me a place or a time. So I told everyone that it was on the left side of the cornfields at eleven," said Mel. Lyra and Toni looked at one another. "I'm really sorry, but I didn't know what else to say. I can go back round and tell them different, if you like."
"No need," said Toni. "That's brilliant."
"Yeah," agreed Lyra. "It means that everyone will have to come through the cornfields to get back to the Shire after."
"And that's a good thing?" asked Mel.
"It will definitely suit our plan," said Lyra.
"Hey guys!" waved Sam, coming over to them. "Are you all coming tonight?"
"Yeah," said Mel.
"We're not," Lyra indicated to herself and Toni.
"Why?" enquired Sam.
"We've gotta help Bilbo out tonight. Remember our punishment?" reminded Lyra.
"Yeah, but I got Bilbo to let you off this morning," said Mel.
"He changed his mind. He's got lots to do tonight and needs someone to help him," lied Toni. "You know what he's like."
"But you helped to organise it," pointed out Sam.
"Oh well, you can all have fun without us," said Toni.
"And you won't have to sit through Toni continuously saying 'I'm hungry'," grinned Lyra.
"Hey!" protested Toni.
"We'll get that anyway from Pippin," laughed Sam. "Anyway I've gotta go, I'll see you tonight Mel."
Sam went off. After a while, Mel headed off home, and Lyra and Toni went inside.
~*~
At about half past eleven that night, Marieke, Lizzie, Mel, Frodo, Sam, Rosie, Merry and Pippin were all sitting around a campfire on the left side of the cornfields. They'd already heard several ghost stories from one another.
"So who's next?" asked Rosie.
"Me," volunteered Frodo. He started to rattle off a story about a haunted black rose.
Meanwhile, Lyra and Toni had made their way to the cornfield right next to were the others were. They crept over to where two abandoned scarecrows were standing. They whispered to one another and giggled quietly, as they removed the straw from the scarecrows and hid it in the rows of corn. They slowly pulled on the scarecrows' clothes and stood in the same position that the scarecrows had been in.
Back with the others, Frodo had just finished his story.
"My turn now," said Marieke. "I know a really good story, and it's one hundred percent true."
"Go on then," encouraged the others.
"Hundreds of years ago, when hobbits had just started to live in the Shire, it was the time of Sarumon's great-great grandfather. Scarecrows were always used here, and were very useful. Sarumon's ancestor was angry to see the hobbits so happy, so he put a curse on the scarecrows. Of course, the hobbits didn't know about this and went on with their daily routine. But one day, several hobbits went into the cornfields. In fact, it was these very cornfields."
Marieke paused and indicated the cornfields besides them. She looked at the others. She could tell that they were all scared although they were pretending not to be.
"So anyway, several hobbits went into the cornfields. And they started picking the corn right next to the cursed scarecrows. And whilst they were busy, the scarecrows slowly tore away from their posts, and grabbed the hobbits and strangled them to death. After, the scarecrows threw the dead hobbits into the river, where they rotted away. Soon, the other hobbits found what had happened and burnt all the scarecrows. However, two of the scarecrows escaped, and they are supposedly still in the cornfields to this very day."
Marieke finished and couldn't help laughing. The atmosphere could have been cut with a knife. The look of terror on everyone's faces was hilarious.
"So that story's true?" whispered Lizzie.
"Yeah," lied Marieke, crossing her fingers behind her back.
"Well I'm not scared of a couple of scarecrows," announced Pippin.
"Neither am I," agreed Merry.
The others raised their eyebrows.
"Really? So you wouldn't mind if us lot went and left you two to get back to the Shire on your own?" grinned Mel.
"Nope, that's fine. You go ahead and do that," said Pippin bravely. Merry elbowed him hard, but Pippin ignored him.
"OK then, we will," said Marieke, getting up. "Come on guys."
The others looked confused, but they got up obediently.
"And don't bother cheating," said Mel. "You've gotta wait until we've fully gone from the cornfields before you come through."
"OK," agreed Pippin, beginning to regret his decision. Merry just kept quiet.
"See you then," said Marieke.
They all walked off through the cornfields leaving Merry and Pippin alone by the campfire.
"I don't wanna walk through here now," moaned Sam.
"Don't worry, the scarecrow story isn't real," said Marieke.
"But you told us it was," pointed out Frodo.
"I know, I know, but it was just to scare Merry and Pippin. And we've gotta come and hide over here," said Marieke, as soon as she saw two scarecrow-like figures.
"Don't! They're scarecrows!" cried Rosie.
"No we're not," laughed Lyra and Toni.
"Why are you dressed as scarecrows?" asked Mel.
"All part of our plan," smirked Lyra. "Now go and hide, we need to be ready."
Marieke, Lizzie, Mel, Frodo, Sam and Rosie all hid amongst the corn, and Lyra and Toni resumed their positions. Not long after, Merry and Pippin came creeping through the field.
"Do you think they'll be back at the Shire by now?" asked Merry.
"I'm not sure, let's hope they are," replied Pippin.
"Look, scarecrows," pointed Merry. "Best creep around, just in case they're the cursed ones."
Lyra and Toni had difficulty stopping themselves from laughing at that point.
"Be really quiet," whispered Merry.
As Merry and Pippin were just tiptoeing past, Lyra and Toni jumped away from their posts making funny noises. Lyra grabbed Merry around the throat, and Toni grabbed Pippin. Merry and Pippin yelled at the top of their voices, pulled away, and disappeared through the corn. The others came out of their hiding place and fell about laughing with Lyra and Toni.
"You'll see," smirked Lyra. "Are you a good actress?"
"Me? Not really," answered Mel.
"Do you know anyone who is?" pressed Lyra.
"Marieke's quite good," said Mel. "Why?"
"Yeah, what are you thinking about?" enquired Toni.
"A very good idea," grinned Lyra. She whispered the plan into Toni's ear. Toni laughed.
"Wow, that's really good," praised Toni.
"I know," said Lyra. "So, let's go find Marieke. And Mel, I need you to tell Merry, Pippin and whoever you think will enjoy a good joke, that there's going to be a little gathering tonight."
"A gathering? What for?" asked Mel.
"Oh you know, just a campfire and us lot sitting around telling ghost stories," said Toni. "But don't mention anything about a joke to Merry and Pippin."
Before Mel could ask any more questions, Lyra and Toni ran off in search of Marieke. Mel hesitated for a second, and then went to tell everyone about the event that night. Lyra and Toni eventually reached Marieke's house, and rapped hard on the door. Marieke opened the door, and her face instantly changed when she saw who it was.
"What are you two doing here? You're supposed to be helping Bilbo out," she said.
"Yeah, but we need your help," said Toni.
"What for?" asked Marieke suspiciously.
"We're gonna play a joke on Merry and Pippin," said Lyra.
"No way then. I'm not getting involved in all this. I'll get into trouble like you two did yesterday," said Marieke.
"But we've got a good reason," protested Toni. "Merry pushed Mel in the river this morning and she wants to get back at him. So she came to us for help."
"Oh, I guess I could do something then," said Marieke reluctantly. "Since Mel is a friend of mine. So what do you want me to do?"
Whilst Lyra and Toni explained the idea to Marieke, Mel was busy going round telling the others about later. The first house she went to would have been Rosie's, but she took a little detour so that it would be Frodo's first, as she had a very big crush on him. She knocked on the door, which he answered moments later.
"Back again?" he smiled.
"Yeah," blushed Mel. "Lyra, Toni and me have been thinking that we need to arrange something for us all to get to know one another a little better. I suggested something like a meal together, but being the fun-loving creatures they are, they wanted us to get together late tonight and tell ghost stories."
"Ghost stories? That's a bit extreme, isn't it?" said Frodo.
"Yeah I know," agreed Mel. "But you know what they're like."
"OK, I'll be there," said Frodo. "So where and when is it?"
"Erm," Mel hesitated. Lyra and Toni hadn't said anything about this. She'd have to make it up. "On the left side of the cornfields, at eleven tonight."
"OK. I'll see you then," said Frodo.
"Bye," waved Mel.
And so the same routine went for when she visited Sam, Rosie, Lizzie, Merry and Pippin. Afterwards, she went to find Lyra and Toni. She eventually found them outside the house that they were staying in.
"So did you tell everyone?" asked Lyra eagerly.
"Yep," replied Mel. "Only one problem."
"What?" asked Toni.
"You didn't tell me a place or a time. So I told everyone that it was on the left side of the cornfields at eleven," said Mel. Lyra and Toni looked at one another. "I'm really sorry, but I didn't know what else to say. I can go back round and tell them different, if you like."
"No need," said Toni. "That's brilliant."
"Yeah," agreed Lyra. "It means that everyone will have to come through the cornfields to get back to the Shire after."
"And that's a good thing?" asked Mel.
"It will definitely suit our plan," said Lyra.
"Hey guys!" waved Sam, coming over to them. "Are you all coming tonight?"
"Yeah," said Mel.
"We're not," Lyra indicated to herself and Toni.
"Why?" enquired Sam.
"We've gotta help Bilbo out tonight. Remember our punishment?" reminded Lyra.
"Yeah, but I got Bilbo to let you off this morning," said Mel.
"He changed his mind. He's got lots to do tonight and needs someone to help him," lied Toni. "You know what he's like."
"But you helped to organise it," pointed out Sam.
"Oh well, you can all have fun without us," said Toni.
"And you won't have to sit through Toni continuously saying 'I'm hungry'," grinned Lyra.
"Hey!" protested Toni.
"We'll get that anyway from Pippin," laughed Sam. "Anyway I've gotta go, I'll see you tonight Mel."
Sam went off. After a while, Mel headed off home, and Lyra and Toni went inside.
~*~
At about half past eleven that night, Marieke, Lizzie, Mel, Frodo, Sam, Rosie, Merry and Pippin were all sitting around a campfire on the left side of the cornfields. They'd already heard several ghost stories from one another.
"So who's next?" asked Rosie.
"Me," volunteered Frodo. He started to rattle off a story about a haunted black rose.
Meanwhile, Lyra and Toni had made their way to the cornfield right next to were the others were. They crept over to where two abandoned scarecrows were standing. They whispered to one another and giggled quietly, as they removed the straw from the scarecrows and hid it in the rows of corn. They slowly pulled on the scarecrows' clothes and stood in the same position that the scarecrows had been in.
Back with the others, Frodo had just finished his story.
"My turn now," said Marieke. "I know a really good story, and it's one hundred percent true."
"Go on then," encouraged the others.
"Hundreds of years ago, when hobbits had just started to live in the Shire, it was the time of Sarumon's great-great grandfather. Scarecrows were always used here, and were very useful. Sarumon's ancestor was angry to see the hobbits so happy, so he put a curse on the scarecrows. Of course, the hobbits didn't know about this and went on with their daily routine. But one day, several hobbits went into the cornfields. In fact, it was these very cornfields."
Marieke paused and indicated the cornfields besides them. She looked at the others. She could tell that they were all scared although they were pretending not to be.
"So anyway, several hobbits went into the cornfields. And they started picking the corn right next to the cursed scarecrows. And whilst they were busy, the scarecrows slowly tore away from their posts, and grabbed the hobbits and strangled them to death. After, the scarecrows threw the dead hobbits into the river, where they rotted away. Soon, the other hobbits found what had happened and burnt all the scarecrows. However, two of the scarecrows escaped, and they are supposedly still in the cornfields to this very day."
Marieke finished and couldn't help laughing. The atmosphere could have been cut with a knife. The look of terror on everyone's faces was hilarious.
"So that story's true?" whispered Lizzie.
"Yeah," lied Marieke, crossing her fingers behind her back.
"Well I'm not scared of a couple of scarecrows," announced Pippin.
"Neither am I," agreed Merry.
The others raised their eyebrows.
"Really? So you wouldn't mind if us lot went and left you two to get back to the Shire on your own?" grinned Mel.
"Nope, that's fine. You go ahead and do that," said Pippin bravely. Merry elbowed him hard, but Pippin ignored him.
"OK then, we will," said Marieke, getting up. "Come on guys."
The others looked confused, but they got up obediently.
"And don't bother cheating," said Mel. "You've gotta wait until we've fully gone from the cornfields before you come through."
"OK," agreed Pippin, beginning to regret his decision. Merry just kept quiet.
"See you then," said Marieke.
They all walked off through the cornfields leaving Merry and Pippin alone by the campfire.
"I don't wanna walk through here now," moaned Sam.
"Don't worry, the scarecrow story isn't real," said Marieke.
"But you told us it was," pointed out Frodo.
"I know, I know, but it was just to scare Merry and Pippin. And we've gotta come and hide over here," said Marieke, as soon as she saw two scarecrow-like figures.
"Don't! They're scarecrows!" cried Rosie.
"No we're not," laughed Lyra and Toni.
"Why are you dressed as scarecrows?" asked Mel.
"All part of our plan," smirked Lyra. "Now go and hide, we need to be ready."
Marieke, Lizzie, Mel, Frodo, Sam and Rosie all hid amongst the corn, and Lyra and Toni resumed their positions. Not long after, Merry and Pippin came creeping through the field.
"Do you think they'll be back at the Shire by now?" asked Merry.
"I'm not sure, let's hope they are," replied Pippin.
"Look, scarecrows," pointed Merry. "Best creep around, just in case they're the cursed ones."
Lyra and Toni had difficulty stopping themselves from laughing at that point.
"Be really quiet," whispered Merry.
As Merry and Pippin were just tiptoeing past, Lyra and Toni jumped away from their posts making funny noises. Lyra grabbed Merry around the throat, and Toni grabbed Pippin. Merry and Pippin yelled at the top of their voices, pulled away, and disappeared through the corn. The others came out of their hiding place and fell about laughing with Lyra and Toni.