A/N: I love reviews more than life itself! On second thought, maybe not
that much, but I do like them a lot.
To Market
Ariella sat everyday in the market near the inn, keeping her face concealed, hoping for a glimpse of the tall, handsome, stranger from that night behind the inn. She could tell he was drunk then, but still wanted, somehow, just to see him again.
She didn't have long to wait; two days later he strode into market. She just stood in the lane and stared at him- he was even more handsome than she had remembered. Then –umff- he ran right into her.
"I'm sorry, miss," he said, grinning despite himself.
"No, it's alright," she managed to stutter- how had she ever been so bold before? She wondered.
Another week passed. He came again. She stood to get a better look. He was not alone; a giggling lass was on his arm.
"Excuse me, mister," she asked, nudging a shopkeeper to turn around, "but who is that hobbit over there?" She extended her finger to point to him.
"Why that's Meriadoc Brandybuck. He's the future Master of Buckland."
"And who's that lass with him?"
"That should be Estella Bolger- I don't know her by face, but they're to be married before the week is out."
"Do you know on what day?"
"I'm afraid I don't know, exactly. You might try asking up at the Hall."
"Thank you." She flashed him a smile and walked on her way. He couldn't marry that lass- he just couldn't. She burst into tears- she didn't know what she had been thinking; a smile doesn't guarantee someone will- A loud sob escaped her- he had been her only chance- now she'd have to live like this forever.
Somehow, in the time she had sat there, crying, she had managed to convince herself that she could still somehow convince Meriadoc to marry her, and not this stupid, simpering, frail little lass that seemed a permanent fixture on his arm. Determinedly, she walked up to the hall.
"Excuse me," she asked a tiny lad. "What day is Meriadoc Brandybuck's wedding?"
"Cousin Merry's marrying Estella the day after tomorrow. She's nice." The child smiled a gap-toothed smile and ran off. Great, she thought, that stupid lass is "nice." But Merry, that must be what they call him. It has a nice ring to it- Merry Brandybuck. Ariella Brandybuck sounds good too, she added in her head, smiling.
To Market
Ariella sat everyday in the market near the inn, keeping her face concealed, hoping for a glimpse of the tall, handsome, stranger from that night behind the inn. She could tell he was drunk then, but still wanted, somehow, just to see him again.
She didn't have long to wait; two days later he strode into market. She just stood in the lane and stared at him- he was even more handsome than she had remembered. Then –umff- he ran right into her.
"I'm sorry, miss," he said, grinning despite himself.
"No, it's alright," she managed to stutter- how had she ever been so bold before? She wondered.
Another week passed. He came again. She stood to get a better look. He was not alone; a giggling lass was on his arm.
"Excuse me, mister," she asked, nudging a shopkeeper to turn around, "but who is that hobbit over there?" She extended her finger to point to him.
"Why that's Meriadoc Brandybuck. He's the future Master of Buckland."
"And who's that lass with him?"
"That should be Estella Bolger- I don't know her by face, but they're to be married before the week is out."
"Do you know on what day?"
"I'm afraid I don't know, exactly. You might try asking up at the Hall."
"Thank you." She flashed him a smile and walked on her way. He couldn't marry that lass- he just couldn't. She burst into tears- she didn't know what she had been thinking; a smile doesn't guarantee someone will- A loud sob escaped her- he had been her only chance- now she'd have to live like this forever.
Somehow, in the time she had sat there, crying, she had managed to convince herself that she could still somehow convince Meriadoc to marry her, and not this stupid, simpering, frail little lass that seemed a permanent fixture on his arm. Determinedly, she walked up to the hall.
"Excuse me," she asked a tiny lad. "What day is Meriadoc Brandybuck's wedding?"
"Cousin Merry's marrying Estella the day after tomorrow. She's nice." The child smiled a gap-toothed smile and ran off. Great, she thought, that stupid lass is "nice." But Merry, that must be what they call him. It has a nice ring to it- Merry Brandybuck. Ariella Brandybuck sounds good too, she added in her head, smiling.