Disclaimer: First, I would like to say, that I own no one, save for a few characters. Secondly, this story start's out several months after the scourning of the Shire. Third, since Estella is never introuduced as a character, I'm making everything about her up: her looks, her intrest, her personality-everything. I think that's all. Now, on to the story!!!!
She was beautiful. Truly beautiful. How could he never had noticed before? 'Maybe because you were two busy helping her brother tie her to tree's' a nagging voice in the back his mind whispered. Merry Brandybuck scratched his chin thoughtfully, as he watched Estella Bolger laugh at something her brother, Fatty, had said. Merry liked to watch her laugh. He liked the way those small dimples appeared in her cheeks. He longed to touch her long, blonde colored hair.
"Are you okay, Merry?" His cousin and dearest friend, Pippin, asked. "You're looking a little flushed. You're not coming down with something, are you?"
Merry sighed. "No, Pip, I'm not coming down with anything." He smiled at his cousin.
Merry and Pippin had come to check on their friend, Fatty Bolger. He'd been doing poorly lately. Though he'd gained much of his normal weight back, he still remained sick on and off, ever since they rescued him from the lockholes several months before. His sister, Estella, had taken on the task of being his caretaker.
"Now, Freddie, you come sit down here with your friends." Estella was telling him, as she guided him to the table. Fatty shrugged her off.
"Stella, I'm perfectly capable of finding the table for myself." He said, rolling his eyes at his two good friends.
Estella flicked her dark blue eyes on her brother. "I know. Sorry." She turned to Merry and Pippin. "I just can't help wanting to take care of him. I guess it's the motherly instict in me."
Pippin and Fatty both laughed, but Merry felt his face turn faintly red. "Are you sure you're okay, Merry?" Pippin asked again. He turned to Estella and Fatty. "He's been looking flushed all afternoon."
Estella ruffled her brother's hair, the exact same shade of blonde as her own. "I hope you're not coming down with what Freddie has, Merry." She smiled at him, and Merry felt his heart flutter slightly.
"I've got nothing, 'Stella, except a few bad memories." Fatty chided her. "Now stop mollycodding us. Don't you have friends of you're own to visit with?" He raised his left eyebrow at her. "What about Peony? What's she doing today?"
Estella shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know....." She trailed off.
"Well, why don't you go find out?"
Estella huffed a little. "If you want me to leave, Fredegar, why don't you just say so?"
"Fine. I want you to leave."
"Fine!" Estella huffed a little more, before grabbing her cloak, and rushing out the door. She slammed it loudly behind her.
"Don't slam the door!" Fatty called after her. Merry felt a sudden sense of lose.
"She didn't have to leave." He told Fatty, in what he hoped was a non- concerning voice. Pippin shot him a strange look.
"Yes, she did." Fatty rolled his blue eyes again. "She won't leave me alone anymore!"
"She's just worried about you, Fatty." Pippin said gently. It still astounded Merry to see just how much his young cousin had grown, not just in body, but also in mind. "Did you ever find out exactly what happened to her while Sarumon took over the Shire?"
Fatty shook his head. "No. All I know is that she must have been beaten badly. I saw the scars on her back once, while she was bathing." His cheeks turned a little pink. "I walked in on her. I didn't realize she was in there."
"But she won't tell you what happened?" Merry asked, sitting his mug of ale down. Fatty shook his head. "It took me forever to get her to tell me what happened to Mother." He said sadly.
Merry nodded his head. Fatty had revealed what had happened to his parents. His Father had been one of the first ones to rebel. He had been killed immeaditly. Their Mother had died shortly after Fatty had been taken to the lockholes. According to Estella, she had gone mad at the thought's of her dead husband and her only son being locked away. She had taken her own life in the end. Estella said wasn't sure how she had even done so. All she knew was she found her Mother lying in her bed, clutching a small painting of her husband. Fatty had taken over their small Crickhollow farm when he was well enough to do so, and Estella took over the household duties.
"Maybe I was a bit too hard on the lass." Fatty mused, more to himself than to his friends. "So, have you heard from Frodo or Sam of late?" He asked, completly changing the subject.
"No, not here lately." Merry answered. "Sam and Rosie are busy with wedding plans, and Frodo..........well, Frodo hasn't been in much of a visiting mood since we returned."
Fatty nodded. Merry and Pippin had told him and Estella what had happened while they were gone. In return, Estella and Fatty(mostly Estella)filled them in on what happened in the Shire. They had asked Estella to tell them what had been done to her, but she said she couldn't talk about it. That had been several months before. Apparently, she still couldn't talk about it.
"Well, I wonder if Stella will let me work tomorrow?" Fatty asked, laughter in his voice. "I didn't expect someone to have this kind of control over me till I was married!"
Merry and Pippin smirked at each other. It was common knowledge around all of Buckland that Fatty Bolger had been courting Azaelia Chubb for quite sometime. It was expected that the two would marry before too much longer.
"Is Estella going to stay here after it happens?" Pippin asked.
"After what happens?" Fatty looked up, grinning slightly.
Pippin put his finger to his chin, as if he were in deep thought. "Hmmm. I wonder." He rolled his eyes. "After you marry Azaelia, you dolt!"
Fatty ignored the sally made at his expense. "This is her home, so she'll stay here. Until she marries her own lad."
Merry almost choked on his ale. Sputtering and coughing his looked at his friend. "Does she have any plans to do that?"
Fatty gave him a strange look, similar to the one Pippin had given him earlier. "No, not that I know of. Why?"
"Oh, I just.............wondered." Merry said. Pippin, noticing that his friend looked in need a serious help, stood up.
"Well, Master Fatty, it's been a pleasure, but I believe my sputtering companion and I should be on our way." He said. Merry sent him a grateful look.
"Yes," He added as he stood. "We have some things to do at home."
"Well, that you for visiting." Fatty told them. You two better come back soon!"
"We will. Please tell Estella we said good-bye." Pippin replied.
Once they were outside, and had mounted their ponies, Pippin glanced at his friend, who seemed to be in his own world. "Why don't you just admit it, Merry?"
Merry stared at him. "Admit what?"
Pippin grinned and dugged his heels in the his ponies sides. "That you fancy Estella Bolger." He replied, as he rode away.