Hey Ya'll! I'm gonna post some review answers! These don't come often so...
yeah!
ybnrml2oo5: Glad you love Persimmon! Flattered honestly, I really don't think I'm that good, but thanks anyway! OoO Scared? That's good, I think I'm getting the suspense across. Thanks about Presh, too!
MoonLit-Night: Thanks for the comment on my writing! Persimmon is based off of my recently deceased cat and everything that he does, Precious once did! It's all-good! About last night... I'll let you decide!
hope: Sorry... I'm afraid you haven't quite figured it out yet! Close but no cigar!
Estella Brandybuck: Don't we all wonder???
Okay enough, glad you all liked it and now I award thee with the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own this chapter... okay I own the chapter, but I don't own Merry and Pippin and Middle-Earth! I don't own Estella either, but... you won't tell anyone will ya? Law suit? Oh, I don't own her either then!
Chapter Three: Secret
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Merry bent over and pet the purring feline. The cat responded by purring louder and running onto the bed to sit in the lap of his beloved owner. Merry smiled at the cat and then looked up into the pale feverish face of Estella.
"Are you feeling well, Estella?" he asked coming to her side.
"Honestly? No..." she answered petting her cat absently, "I still feel... quivery and my stomach is turning about in a rather unpleasant way. I don't know what's coming over me!"
"It appears to be a type of flu," Pippin diagnosed, "I know these sort of things!"
"When did you become a healer?" asked Merry skeptically turning toward Pippin.
"I didn't, but I do know these things."
Merry rolled his eyes and turned again toward Estella and her feline companion.
Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door followed by three softer ones.
"That'll be Diamond," Estella murmured rolling her eyes and flopping over in the bed, "Just tell her I've died and be done with it!"
Merry smiled and walked quickly out of the room to answer the door. He opened it to be totally encompassed in an enormous hug and a loud shrieking squeal.
"MERRY!!!" she shrieked about five octaves higher than a normal hobbit.
"What a surprise, Diamond!" he said from under her monstrous grasp, "I didn't expect to see you."
"Of course you didn't," she explained letting him go and walking down the hallway towards the back bedroom, "I always arrive at the time I'm least expected," she paused and turned toward him smiling, "And needed most." Diamond continued down the hall and burst into the bedroom smiling from ear to ear.
"Hello my friends!" she greeted. Estella looked up from her distressed pose and Pippin chuckled to himself. Persimmon hid under the bed. "Pippin, Darling!" she cooed grasping him in a monstrous hug, "How long has it been?"
"Too long Diamond!" he smiled giving Merry a wink. Merry chuckled to himself and sat on the bed next to Estella.
"And Estella!" she smiled walking over to where she lay and embracing her friend, "I haven't seen you all week! Where have you been?"
"Oh just locked up in that hell of a hole of mine!" she smiled giving Merry a look that screamed, 'Get me out of here!'
Diamond let Estella go and then looked under the bed at Persimmon.
"Hello there cute little darling! How are you princess?"
Persimmon hissed back at her.
"He's a he!" Merry corrected.
"Oh yes, he is, isn't he?" she retorted making a face as she sat upon the bed. "Well!" she exclaimed placing her hands in her lap and smiling about the room, "I know you are just dying to tell me what all you did while you were away, but it is a story to be told over tea. So, why don't you boys go fix us ladies some tea and when you return you can talk all you want? I promise not to interrupt!"
Estella coughed loudly.
"Right away!" Merry said quickly running out of the room and pulling Pippin with him. Estella watched them go reluctantly.
"Estella, darling," Diamond said seriously causing Estella to look at her rather oddly, "Are you alright? I mean after what has all... happened?"
Estella looked down at the meaning behind her words.
"Yes... I'm fine," she said softly, "I just hope that they don't return for a long while. At least not while I'm staying here with Merry! I don't want them to end up hurting him too!"
"What do you mean?" Diamond asked, "They're gone for good Estella! They're never coming back! In fact... Merry and Pippin drove them away!"
"You're not serious!?"
"Why wouldn't I be? Not only was it them, Frodo Baggins, from up in Hobbition? He helped too, and his gardener. The Gaffer's son!"
Estella looked at Diamond her eyes shining for a moment. Quite abruptly she leaned forward and hugged her friend in happiness. Diamond patted her back and didn't speak.
"I was so worried," Estella said, tears coming to her eyes, "After all that's happened since Merry and Pippin have been gone. I didn't want those ruffians to hurt them. I didn't want to have to..." She trailed off and closed her eyes in agony.
"It's all right," Diamond soothed patting her dear friend's back, "You won't have to deal with that ever again. It'll be our little secret okay?"
Estella nodded and pulled out of the hug. She wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands and smiled.
"Now, what exactly have you been doing all week?" Diamond asked smiling.
Estella laughed loudly as Merry and Pippin walked back into the room.
"We've got the kettle going and tea should be ready soon!" Pippin announced placing his hands on his hips.
"Well, that's good. Now, tell all about your journey!" Diamond declared making herself more comfortable on the bed.
"I don't really think Estella wants to hear the whole thing all over again," Merry replied leaning against the doorframe.
"You mean to tell me that you've already heard it?" asked Diamond looking at Estella with pure envy.
Estella shrugged and gave a small smile.
"Well, why don't we go talk about this in the living room and let the sick one sleep," Pippin suggested.
"That's fine with me," Estella yawned, "I am a bit tired anyway." She laid down on her bed and closed her eyes for a moment. Pippin and Diamond left the room quickly and Merry stood in the doorway for a moment.
"Are they gone?" she asked opening one eye.
"Yes," he smiled coming to sit by her side.
"I love Diamond and Pippin dearly but they can be rather obnoxious," she sighed sitting up and looking at Merry's hands.
"Yes, they can be a bit too... loud at times," he agreed staring down at her hands, "They don't know you like I do, though Estella. They don't know the feelings that we've shared."
She smiled, "We have been friends most of our lives," she paused, "I'm so sorry about what was said before you left. I know I've already apologized, but it just doesn't seem like enough! I never meant anything I said and I just-"
Merry stopped her in mid rant by placing a hand upon her lips.
"I knew you never meant it the moment I walked out your door," he whispered and kissed her gently on the lips. He looked at her hands again and quietly walked out of the room.
Estella raised a hand to her lips as if to touch the kiss he had given her. She trembled, be it with sickness or joy or even fear she didn't know. Persimmon jumped on the bed next to her and mewed questioningly.
"It's fine, baby. Just fine," she answered petting him softly.
Merry entered the living room to see Diamond and Pippin talking in hushed voices.
"Whatever you're saying about me or Estella you can say out loud, we're all grown hobbit's here," he declared sitting in his chair opposite the window.
"Pippin told me what he saw in Estella's house," Diamond said gravely, "and I want an explanation from you."
"I don't have one to give you Diamond," he lied, "All I can tell is that Estella doesn't remember it and that's just fine with me."
"You've always been horrible at lying Meriadoc Brandybuck!" Pippin accused pointing his finger threateningly at his cousin, "You know better than to lie to me Merry! What happened last night?"
"We are only looking out for Estella's best interests!" Diamond pleaded.
Merry looked away, "You wouldn't understand."
"And why not?" she asked glaring at him.
"Because, you just wouldn't!"
"I'll have you know that I know plenty of things about our dear Estella and what ever you're trying to hide from me is nothing compared to what I know!" she retorted her voice rising.
"And what would that be Diamond?" he spat rising from his seat and looking at her darkly.
The lass looked at him with hate a malice pouring from her soul. "Sit down Merry," she said calmly, "If you don't you'll end up hurting yourself afterwards."
-----
That was fun! If you're bored you can check out some fics by Mint Sauce or Pyschopanda or AngelofDarkness1566. Thanks for reading now I've got a cliffhanger to answer! -DB:D
ybnrml2oo5: Glad you love Persimmon! Flattered honestly, I really don't think I'm that good, but thanks anyway! OoO Scared? That's good, I think I'm getting the suspense across. Thanks about Presh, too!
MoonLit-Night: Thanks for the comment on my writing! Persimmon is based off of my recently deceased cat and everything that he does, Precious once did! It's all-good! About last night... I'll let you decide!
hope: Sorry... I'm afraid you haven't quite figured it out yet! Close but no cigar!
Estella Brandybuck: Don't we all wonder???
Okay enough, glad you all liked it and now I award thee with the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own this chapter... okay I own the chapter, but I don't own Merry and Pippin and Middle-Earth! I don't own Estella either, but... you won't tell anyone will ya? Law suit? Oh, I don't own her either then!
Chapter Three: Secret
-----
Merry bent over and pet the purring feline. The cat responded by purring louder and running onto the bed to sit in the lap of his beloved owner. Merry smiled at the cat and then looked up into the pale feverish face of Estella.
"Are you feeling well, Estella?" he asked coming to her side.
"Honestly? No..." she answered petting her cat absently, "I still feel... quivery and my stomach is turning about in a rather unpleasant way. I don't know what's coming over me!"
"It appears to be a type of flu," Pippin diagnosed, "I know these sort of things!"
"When did you become a healer?" asked Merry skeptically turning toward Pippin.
"I didn't, but I do know these things."
Merry rolled his eyes and turned again toward Estella and her feline companion.
Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door followed by three softer ones.
"That'll be Diamond," Estella murmured rolling her eyes and flopping over in the bed, "Just tell her I've died and be done with it!"
Merry smiled and walked quickly out of the room to answer the door. He opened it to be totally encompassed in an enormous hug and a loud shrieking squeal.
"MERRY!!!" she shrieked about five octaves higher than a normal hobbit.
"What a surprise, Diamond!" he said from under her monstrous grasp, "I didn't expect to see you."
"Of course you didn't," she explained letting him go and walking down the hallway towards the back bedroom, "I always arrive at the time I'm least expected," she paused and turned toward him smiling, "And needed most." Diamond continued down the hall and burst into the bedroom smiling from ear to ear.
"Hello my friends!" she greeted. Estella looked up from her distressed pose and Pippin chuckled to himself. Persimmon hid under the bed. "Pippin, Darling!" she cooed grasping him in a monstrous hug, "How long has it been?"
"Too long Diamond!" he smiled giving Merry a wink. Merry chuckled to himself and sat on the bed next to Estella.
"And Estella!" she smiled walking over to where she lay and embracing her friend, "I haven't seen you all week! Where have you been?"
"Oh just locked up in that hell of a hole of mine!" she smiled giving Merry a look that screamed, 'Get me out of here!'
Diamond let Estella go and then looked under the bed at Persimmon.
"Hello there cute little darling! How are you princess?"
Persimmon hissed back at her.
"He's a he!" Merry corrected.
"Oh yes, he is, isn't he?" she retorted making a face as she sat upon the bed. "Well!" she exclaimed placing her hands in her lap and smiling about the room, "I know you are just dying to tell me what all you did while you were away, but it is a story to be told over tea. So, why don't you boys go fix us ladies some tea and when you return you can talk all you want? I promise not to interrupt!"
Estella coughed loudly.
"Right away!" Merry said quickly running out of the room and pulling Pippin with him. Estella watched them go reluctantly.
"Estella, darling," Diamond said seriously causing Estella to look at her rather oddly, "Are you alright? I mean after what has all... happened?"
Estella looked down at the meaning behind her words.
"Yes... I'm fine," she said softly, "I just hope that they don't return for a long while. At least not while I'm staying here with Merry! I don't want them to end up hurting him too!"
"What do you mean?" Diamond asked, "They're gone for good Estella! They're never coming back! In fact... Merry and Pippin drove them away!"
"You're not serious!?"
"Why wouldn't I be? Not only was it them, Frodo Baggins, from up in Hobbition? He helped too, and his gardener. The Gaffer's son!"
Estella looked at Diamond her eyes shining for a moment. Quite abruptly she leaned forward and hugged her friend in happiness. Diamond patted her back and didn't speak.
"I was so worried," Estella said, tears coming to her eyes, "After all that's happened since Merry and Pippin have been gone. I didn't want those ruffians to hurt them. I didn't want to have to..." She trailed off and closed her eyes in agony.
"It's all right," Diamond soothed patting her dear friend's back, "You won't have to deal with that ever again. It'll be our little secret okay?"
Estella nodded and pulled out of the hug. She wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands and smiled.
"Now, what exactly have you been doing all week?" Diamond asked smiling.
Estella laughed loudly as Merry and Pippin walked back into the room.
"We've got the kettle going and tea should be ready soon!" Pippin announced placing his hands on his hips.
"Well, that's good. Now, tell all about your journey!" Diamond declared making herself more comfortable on the bed.
"I don't really think Estella wants to hear the whole thing all over again," Merry replied leaning against the doorframe.
"You mean to tell me that you've already heard it?" asked Diamond looking at Estella with pure envy.
Estella shrugged and gave a small smile.
"Well, why don't we go talk about this in the living room and let the sick one sleep," Pippin suggested.
"That's fine with me," Estella yawned, "I am a bit tired anyway." She laid down on her bed and closed her eyes for a moment. Pippin and Diamond left the room quickly and Merry stood in the doorway for a moment.
"Are they gone?" she asked opening one eye.
"Yes," he smiled coming to sit by her side.
"I love Diamond and Pippin dearly but they can be rather obnoxious," she sighed sitting up and looking at Merry's hands.
"Yes, they can be a bit too... loud at times," he agreed staring down at her hands, "They don't know you like I do, though Estella. They don't know the feelings that we've shared."
She smiled, "We have been friends most of our lives," she paused, "I'm so sorry about what was said before you left. I know I've already apologized, but it just doesn't seem like enough! I never meant anything I said and I just-"
Merry stopped her in mid rant by placing a hand upon her lips.
"I knew you never meant it the moment I walked out your door," he whispered and kissed her gently on the lips. He looked at her hands again and quietly walked out of the room.
Estella raised a hand to her lips as if to touch the kiss he had given her. She trembled, be it with sickness or joy or even fear she didn't know. Persimmon jumped on the bed next to her and mewed questioningly.
"It's fine, baby. Just fine," she answered petting him softly.
Merry entered the living room to see Diamond and Pippin talking in hushed voices.
"Whatever you're saying about me or Estella you can say out loud, we're all grown hobbit's here," he declared sitting in his chair opposite the window.
"Pippin told me what he saw in Estella's house," Diamond said gravely, "and I want an explanation from you."
"I don't have one to give you Diamond," he lied, "All I can tell is that Estella doesn't remember it and that's just fine with me."
"You've always been horrible at lying Meriadoc Brandybuck!" Pippin accused pointing his finger threateningly at his cousin, "You know better than to lie to me Merry! What happened last night?"
"We are only looking out for Estella's best interests!" Diamond pleaded.
Merry looked away, "You wouldn't understand."
"And why not?" she asked glaring at him.
"Because, you just wouldn't!"
"I'll have you know that I know plenty of things about our dear Estella and what ever you're trying to hide from me is nothing compared to what I know!" she retorted her voice rising.
"And what would that be Diamond?" he spat rising from his seat and looking at her darkly.
The lass looked at him with hate a malice pouring from her soul. "Sit down Merry," she said calmly, "If you don't you'll end up hurting yourself afterwards."
-----
That was fun! If you're bored you can check out some fics by Mint Sauce or Pyschopanda or AngelofDarkness1566. Thanks for reading now I've got a cliffhanger to answer! -DB:D