Okay this is my first Estella fic. I usually use an O.C. but my name for
her sucked and I was tired. So she is now Estella. YAY!
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or anything related. Be it by merchandise or any other form I am making no profit. This is only some strange infatuation I have. Sorry...
About Last Night
Chapter One: Lucky
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"Estella?" the voice called. She stirred in her sleep and felt herself become aware of her surroundings.
"Estella?" the voice asked again, with urgency. A small sound came from her throat. The being sighed and playfully shoved her shoulder.
"Estella, wake up you lazy beast!" it teased. Her eyes fluttered open instantly. Through her mass of auburn curls she could see a face. A face, which belonged to her very best friend in all of Middle Earth.
"Merry?" she asked sitting up and rubbing her chocolate eyes.
"Aye?" He smiled that cheeky smile he had always had.
"You imbecile!" she shrieked jumping up and hugging the lad furiously.
"They said you'd died, that you were crazy, and that you'd never return. They were wrong I can't believe it!" she sputtered holding him at arms length.
"It's nice to see you too," he teased.
"Oh Merry!" she smiled and kissed his forehead. She looked around to see a spare bedroom in Merry's hole in Buckland. The four-poster had been her bed on late nights when she'd stayed long past nightfall and was too afraid to journey back home. The vanity had been her mirror on the mornings of those nights before she had even begun to sleep as the light of the sun crept over the horizon.
"Why am I not at home, Merry?" she asked her joy turning to suspicion.
"Do you not remember?" he asked his face changing quite suddenly. The expression on his face was a mingle of fear and hope and was unreadable beyond that.
"Well, no..." she trailed off looking into his eyes for the answer. He blinked and grasped her hand in his.
"We... we went for a walk and you fell asleep while we were talking under the stars. Of course since we strolled closer to my hole I thought it would be easier for you to stay here." His eyes bored into hers and asked for her to trust him.
"How late was it when you returned?"
"Well into the early hours of the morning, you were fast asleep when I came upon your house. I wanted to see you first and tell you all about what I've done!"
"You wanted..." she paused emotion coming over her, "to tell me first?"
"Of course!"
"I don't believe it!"
"Well, do, because it's the absolute truth!" She laughed clear and shrill.
"Yes, and I know you would never lie to me Meriadoc!" His face changed again, but she didn't notice in her glee.
"Well, Master Brandybuck, since I have found your story hard to handle last night I feel that I must ask you to tell it again today when we go on a 'welcome back,' picnic!" she exclaimed getting up out of the bed. Estella stood for a moment next to the bed then promptly fell over. Merry rushed to her side worry lining his face.
"Oh my," she breathed. Her hand flew to her forehead in shock as her chest heaved, "I feel as if I've been running for hours!"
"I believe our talk last night caused you to fall ill," he said quickly, "Don't worry I'll help you back into bed right away. And I insist that you stay with me till you are better."
"Merry, I can't, you've only just returned!" she protested.
"All the more reason. This way I can better tell you my story and you can tell me what adventures you have been up to!"
"I have seen no adventures, Master Merry."
"I bet you have, and you wouldn't even realize it!" a fire burned in his eyes that stirred her soul.
"Well, I just hope your little trip didn't change you, I liked you fine just the way you were."
"Only time will tell Estella. Now let's get you back into bed and I will go and fix you a nice hearty breakfast. We can both eat in here if you like?"
"Oh, that sounds just lovely, Merry!" she cooed as he helped her to stand. Merry helped her into the bed and after much wrestling with the sheets Estella was very comfortable.
"Do you remember what I said the day you left, Merry?" she asked, as he was just about to leave. He stood at the door and thought for moment. The sad memory rushed into his mind.
"Yes, I do Estella," he said softly.
"I didn't mean it," she explained.
"Neither did I," the hobbit assured her.
"Good."
"Good." He walked out of the room and quickly pushed the old memory aside.
Merry placed more wood on the fire in the stove. As he waited for that to kindle he walked to the cupboard and pulled out bread, bacon, and some fresh eggs. He set them on the counter and reached over the stove where he kept his skillets and pulled two down. After he checked the fire once again he cracked a few eggs in the first skillet and placed some bacon in the second. When the breakfast was roaring away he sat at his table and just stared.
The fire reflected in his eyes. He remembered last night, he remembered it so well that he was reliving now. The sound of her voice, her screams, her contempt toward him, her... The thoughts overwhelmed him, and a tear fell down his cheek.
She didn't remember so it would just be best that she didn't know. He knew that Estella did not need the memory of an event like that hanging over her shoulders. Besides, if her mind had already blocked out the events, why did he need to go and stir them all up again. Merry didn't really see the point in it.
What if she does remember? He couldn't think of that. If the event were even half as traumatic as it really was then her body would shut it out easily. How many people actually go through that and want to remember? If it had happened to him he knew that he would have blocked it out consciously. The fact that her mind had done it subconsciously was just all the better.
Merry stood up and checked on the eggs and bacon. Grabbing a spatula from next to the cupboard he flipped the bacon and scrambled the eggs. As the bacon finished sizzling, he emptied the contents of the other skillet onto two plates and then set to slicing the bread.
I don't see what it'll hurt, I mean she is a grown woman; there should be nothing wrong with me keeping this one tiny secret from her. His knife sliced two pieces of bread, and he placed them on the plates with the eggs.
"What's the harm?" he said aloud to himself as he drained the fat from the bacon.
"Harm in what?" asked a voice from the open window. Merry jumped flinging a strip of bacon in the air.
"Aren't we a bit out of our skin?" asked Pippin his arms rested on the windowsill.
"Pip, you should know better than to scare me like that!" Merry chided going back to his preparation.
"Sorry Merry," he apologized, "Just thought I'd stop by and join you for breakfast. It looks like you've got enough for two!"
"Yes, but not for three."
"Three?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowing.
"Yes, Estella's fallen ill and she's in the back bedroom," he placed the remaining bacon on their plates and nodded for Pippin to come in.
"What is she doing here?" the young hobbit asked walking into the back door.
"It's a long story, I'll tell you another time. Come and join us anyways, you can eat off my plate." Merry walked down the hallway and into the bedroom where Estella sat looking out the window from her bed.
"Peregrin!" she shouted almost leaping up, "Two friendly faces in one morning! Aren't I a lucky lass?"
"One would think," Pippin answered bowing, "I'd decided to join our friend Merry for breakfast but instead I arrived to see that you beat me to it!"
"Sorry, Pippin, but you're welcome to any food on my plate!" she exclaimed beaming happily.
"Two plates to eat from, I believe I am the lucky one!" he laughed. Estella answered laughing, and Merry also joined their happy chorus.
"I made scrambled eggs, Estella," Merry explained laying a plate on the bed in front of her, "If I remember correctly that is how you like your eggs?"
"Yes, it is indeed!" She beamed and dug into her breakfast eating almost as fast as her male friends.
-----
Well, there you go. That's all I wrote. There's not much more for me to say! Review please, and thank you for your time!
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or anything related. Be it by merchandise or any other form I am making no profit. This is only some strange infatuation I have. Sorry...
About Last Night
Chapter One: Lucky
-----
"Estella?" the voice called. She stirred in her sleep and felt herself become aware of her surroundings.
"Estella?" the voice asked again, with urgency. A small sound came from her throat. The being sighed and playfully shoved her shoulder.
"Estella, wake up you lazy beast!" it teased. Her eyes fluttered open instantly. Through her mass of auburn curls she could see a face. A face, which belonged to her very best friend in all of Middle Earth.
"Merry?" she asked sitting up and rubbing her chocolate eyes.
"Aye?" He smiled that cheeky smile he had always had.
"You imbecile!" she shrieked jumping up and hugging the lad furiously.
"They said you'd died, that you were crazy, and that you'd never return. They were wrong I can't believe it!" she sputtered holding him at arms length.
"It's nice to see you too," he teased.
"Oh Merry!" she smiled and kissed his forehead. She looked around to see a spare bedroom in Merry's hole in Buckland. The four-poster had been her bed on late nights when she'd stayed long past nightfall and was too afraid to journey back home. The vanity had been her mirror on the mornings of those nights before she had even begun to sleep as the light of the sun crept over the horizon.
"Why am I not at home, Merry?" she asked her joy turning to suspicion.
"Do you not remember?" he asked his face changing quite suddenly. The expression on his face was a mingle of fear and hope and was unreadable beyond that.
"Well, no..." she trailed off looking into his eyes for the answer. He blinked and grasped her hand in his.
"We... we went for a walk and you fell asleep while we were talking under the stars. Of course since we strolled closer to my hole I thought it would be easier for you to stay here." His eyes bored into hers and asked for her to trust him.
"How late was it when you returned?"
"Well into the early hours of the morning, you were fast asleep when I came upon your house. I wanted to see you first and tell you all about what I've done!"
"You wanted..." she paused emotion coming over her, "to tell me first?"
"Of course!"
"I don't believe it!"
"Well, do, because it's the absolute truth!" She laughed clear and shrill.
"Yes, and I know you would never lie to me Meriadoc!" His face changed again, but she didn't notice in her glee.
"Well, Master Brandybuck, since I have found your story hard to handle last night I feel that I must ask you to tell it again today when we go on a 'welcome back,' picnic!" she exclaimed getting up out of the bed. Estella stood for a moment next to the bed then promptly fell over. Merry rushed to her side worry lining his face.
"Oh my," she breathed. Her hand flew to her forehead in shock as her chest heaved, "I feel as if I've been running for hours!"
"I believe our talk last night caused you to fall ill," he said quickly, "Don't worry I'll help you back into bed right away. And I insist that you stay with me till you are better."
"Merry, I can't, you've only just returned!" she protested.
"All the more reason. This way I can better tell you my story and you can tell me what adventures you have been up to!"
"I have seen no adventures, Master Merry."
"I bet you have, and you wouldn't even realize it!" a fire burned in his eyes that stirred her soul.
"Well, I just hope your little trip didn't change you, I liked you fine just the way you were."
"Only time will tell Estella. Now let's get you back into bed and I will go and fix you a nice hearty breakfast. We can both eat in here if you like?"
"Oh, that sounds just lovely, Merry!" she cooed as he helped her to stand. Merry helped her into the bed and after much wrestling with the sheets Estella was very comfortable.
"Do you remember what I said the day you left, Merry?" she asked, as he was just about to leave. He stood at the door and thought for moment. The sad memory rushed into his mind.
"Yes, I do Estella," he said softly.
"I didn't mean it," she explained.
"Neither did I," the hobbit assured her.
"Good."
"Good." He walked out of the room and quickly pushed the old memory aside.
Merry placed more wood on the fire in the stove. As he waited for that to kindle he walked to the cupboard and pulled out bread, bacon, and some fresh eggs. He set them on the counter and reached over the stove where he kept his skillets and pulled two down. After he checked the fire once again he cracked a few eggs in the first skillet and placed some bacon in the second. When the breakfast was roaring away he sat at his table and just stared.
The fire reflected in his eyes. He remembered last night, he remembered it so well that he was reliving now. The sound of her voice, her screams, her contempt toward him, her... The thoughts overwhelmed him, and a tear fell down his cheek.
She didn't remember so it would just be best that she didn't know. He knew that Estella did not need the memory of an event like that hanging over her shoulders. Besides, if her mind had already blocked out the events, why did he need to go and stir them all up again. Merry didn't really see the point in it.
What if she does remember? He couldn't think of that. If the event were even half as traumatic as it really was then her body would shut it out easily. How many people actually go through that and want to remember? If it had happened to him he knew that he would have blocked it out consciously. The fact that her mind had done it subconsciously was just all the better.
Merry stood up and checked on the eggs and bacon. Grabbing a spatula from next to the cupboard he flipped the bacon and scrambled the eggs. As the bacon finished sizzling, he emptied the contents of the other skillet onto two plates and then set to slicing the bread.
I don't see what it'll hurt, I mean she is a grown woman; there should be nothing wrong with me keeping this one tiny secret from her. His knife sliced two pieces of bread, and he placed them on the plates with the eggs.
"What's the harm?" he said aloud to himself as he drained the fat from the bacon.
"Harm in what?" asked a voice from the open window. Merry jumped flinging a strip of bacon in the air.
"Aren't we a bit out of our skin?" asked Pippin his arms rested on the windowsill.
"Pip, you should know better than to scare me like that!" Merry chided going back to his preparation.
"Sorry Merry," he apologized, "Just thought I'd stop by and join you for breakfast. It looks like you've got enough for two!"
"Yes, but not for three."
"Three?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowing.
"Yes, Estella's fallen ill and she's in the back bedroom," he placed the remaining bacon on their plates and nodded for Pippin to come in.
"What is she doing here?" the young hobbit asked walking into the back door.
"It's a long story, I'll tell you another time. Come and join us anyways, you can eat off my plate." Merry walked down the hallway and into the bedroom where Estella sat looking out the window from her bed.
"Peregrin!" she shouted almost leaping up, "Two friendly faces in one morning! Aren't I a lucky lass?"
"One would think," Pippin answered bowing, "I'd decided to join our friend Merry for breakfast but instead I arrived to see that you beat me to it!"
"Sorry, Pippin, but you're welcome to any food on my plate!" she exclaimed beaming happily.
"Two plates to eat from, I believe I am the lucky one!" he laughed. Estella answered laughing, and Merry also joined their happy chorus.
"I made scrambled eggs, Estella," Merry explained laying a plate on the bed in front of her, "If I remember correctly that is how you like your eggs?"
"Yes, it is indeed!" She beamed and dug into her breakfast eating almost as fast as her male friends.
-----
Well, there you go. That's all I wrote. There's not much more for me to say! Review please, and thank you for your time!