Chapter 11
All Has Been Taken
The shadows stretched out long before them upon the grass and brush that they treaded upon. The sun's ray behind them hung low in the sky and spoke of the lateness of their day. While desperation clung in their hearts as they tried to reach the landing at the bottom of the foothill.
Down the sloop of the foothill the rider's followed their master. Sherimac had proven his worth with the relentless pushing from his master. Barely stopping to take a breath, Merry was consumed to reach Brandy Hall. With the thought of his wife's disappearance and his mother on top of that, sent his heart racing to reach his home.
When he crested the hill, his worst fears pierced his soul when he saw his father fall under the thrust of the knife from his assailant. Not given Sherimac any time to stop, Merry leaped from his back and almost tumbled to a halt with in a few steps to Paladin who held his father in his arms.
Crawling the short distance, Merry reached his father's side. The ghastly wound upon his chest was soaked in blood and Paladin held his hand firmly over it. His father's eyes were wide opened in fear and confusion, but eased when they rested upon his son.
Reaching his trembling hand to cress his father's cheek, Merry choked his words out to him. "Da, I'm here and everything is going to be all right!" But before he could add another word, Paladin gestured to Merry's lads to take the Master of Buckland into Brandy Hall. Having his father pulled from his arms, Merry's felt his strength falter. It was Paladin who clutched Merry's arm and brought his other around his shoulder to give him his strength that he knew he needed in that moment. Almost running the entire way with Saradoc being carried by the Bucklander lads in front of them.
The large group of hobbits burst through the doors all shouting for the healers to come at once. But it was Hatty whose strong voice barked out orders and regain control over the hysterical crowd of lads.
"Get the Master in his room!" she shouted over the roar of the crowd. "You three set kettles of boiling water on the stove and send others for my sewing basket and bandages, hurry now lads and be quick about your work!"
The crowd of hobbits poured into the hall all gathered around their fallen master while the center of the group carried Saradoc in their arms. Others rushed ahead to open his bedroom door and pull down the covers of his bed.
Gently lying him down upon his bed, Hatty rushed to her master's side. Pulling a knife from the belt of a lad who stood by her, she peeled his shirt opened and exposed the deep wound upon his chest. "Where are those bandages, needles and thread!" she yelled over her shoulder to the crowd.
Then as if a bucket-squad reassembled, they began passing the items over their heads, hand to hand until it was presented to Hatty.
Working her nibble fingers rapidly preparing the things that she needed, she shouted again at the crowd, "Clear yourselves out of this room, you'll not help the master any just standing there!"
Paladin's hand shook seeing the amount of blood his life-long friend was losing, but he did his best in trying to stop it by the pressure he placed upon the bandages that he held.
Merry knelt down next to his father upon the bed and watched his face. He could see shock setting in as his face went white and ghostly. Wildly his eyes searched those who worked above him, until they once again rested upon his son. Merry instantly took his hand and gave it a squeeze to reassure him. "Meriadoc, listen to me, I will not last long! I need you to find your mother and bring her to me. One of those lads still lives and knows what has happened to her. Before I die, I need to know that she is all right! Find her my son!"
"Yes, Da! I will find her, I promise you!" stated Merry his voice quaking in fear and sorrow for his father.
Looking at his son and knowing that this could be his final hour, Saradoc's lips parted and allowing his fear to leave him, his eyes gentled. With a calmness that cascaded over him, he smiled towards his son. "I love you Merry."
Merry's breath caught in his chest and his tears instantly filled his eyes and began to fall down his cheeks. Staring at his father's face as if putting it firmly into his mind and heart, he softly spoke to him, "and I love you too, Da!
Hatty handed Paladin another cloth wrapping to replace the other one he used to put pressure on Saradoc's wound. Quickly he traded the clothes. Hatty placed her needles into the boiling water that the servant had just brought and began to place the things that the healer would need to stitch him.
Glancing at the father and then the son, Paladin could clearly see the panic on Merry's face. Not wanting Merry to give up his hope, he commented to them. "Come now, Saradoc. You've been through harder times than this. We'll have you mended in no time and you'll be back to your stubborn self barking orders at anyone who'd give you any listen."
Saradoc slightly nodded knowing what Paladin was trying to do. Placing a smile upon his lips trying to be strong for his son. "I'm counting on you to help the lad, if need be, Paladin."
"That's something that does not need saying, dear brother-in-law!" commented Paladin. "You rest yourself now and let those who will tend you, heal you!"
His eyelid felt heavy and they fluttered and then closed for a moment. A great weakness over took him being too exhausted to speak any more.
Hearing rapid pace of feet that entered his room, Paladin looked up to see the healers that rushed in and approached their master upon the bed. Merry struggled to let go of his father's hand and looked desperately at Hatty as if wanting a solemn oath from her that his father will not die, he set pleading eyes upon her.
Just then, Hatty nodded as if reading his every thought, "I'll do all that I am able. Your father is as strong as I have seen any!"
The healers forced Paladin and Merry to retreat away from bed and they stood watching a moment while they worked feverishly upon Saradoc. Hatty did her best to control the bleeding, while the healers took out their small bottles of medicines and mixed them together. Holding the small bottle to his father's white lips, they watched as he drank as much of it as he could. Slowly Saradoc fell deeper into sleep.
It was not long until Saradoc was unconscious and they began sewing up his wound.
Seeing his father's lifeless form upon the bed while the healer pulled the needle and thread sewing first from the inside and working to the outside of his wound. Merry grimaced in pain that he felt deep within his heart.
Seeing the immense despair that had taken over Merry, Paladin put his arms around him and held him tightly. Feeling Merry shutter in his arms, he knew he gave way to his tears, it was Paladin who softly spoke to him and eased his sorrow. "Come lad, let those who have the skill at healing your father help him now. We'll use our skills in finding your mother and your wife!"
Merry slowly nodded his head and dried his eyes. Taking a moment to collect himself, he squared his shoulders and the two walked out of Saradoc's room. Merry knew for himself that Hatty would keep her promise and watch over him making sure everything was done for him. He now needed to fulfill his promise he made to his father and find his mother and his wife. They went in search for Sheffield and what he could tell them.
XXX
Little Faramir ran down the hall with one of Paladin's fishing hats upon his head. The hat was too big for the small lad and it almost covered his entire head. Just then as Merry and Paladin were turning the corner, he ran directly into them and teetered, almost falling from his feet. Paladin reached down to grasped the lad and bent down taking the hat from his head.
"What ever are you doing with my fishing hat upon your head, Faramir?"
His rounded eyes looked up angrily at his grandfather and crossed his little arms in front of himself. "You're not suppose to know it was me! I am playing a game and I am suppose to be a fisherman hobbit, now I'm going to lose!" he snapped at him.
"Oh, so that is what you are doing," commented Paladin nodding his head and given Merry a wink. "If you want to be a fisherman hobbit, then you'll be needing a fishing pole to go with that hat, then no one could guess otherwise. Go back to your mother and ask her for my fishing pole, but you must promise to play in your room with it so your mother can watch you!"
A bright smile suddenly crossed his lips as he jumped for joy in his excitement. Reaching up, he wrapped his small arms around his grandfather's neck and thanked him.
Turning around he raced back down the hall to his room.
XXX
Sheffield rested upon the ground in front of the burnt stables that was now coming under control from the fire. The servants took shovels and picks breaking down walls and roof so the fire would not regain any strength. Thick smoke smolders in piles of burnt lumber and wet hay. Their faces were covered in soot and ash, as were their clothes and hands, but still they continued their work shoveling dirt and putting out smaller fires.
Shimmering raced up to Sherimac and nuzzled closely by him as if seeking his protection and calming her frazzled nerves.
Merry saw the soot and ash upon his snow-white foal and he approached his smallest pony, gently stroking her soft mane. A stable lad walked over to them and greeted his master. "That lad over there with the healer saved Shimmering. If'n not fer him going into 'at burning barn after her, she'd been a gonner fer sure!"
Merry nodded politely and looked over to where the healer was working on the lad upon the ground. "Where's Tom? Shouldn't he been here?"
The stable lad shook his head, "We don't know what happened to Tom, haven't seen him since you lit out of here this morning!"
"That's not like Tom to leave Shimmering alone, he wasn't in the barn when it caught fire?"
"No, sir, the lads have checked every square inch of the barn and there was not a soul in 'em after the fire was put out."
"No others have been hurt then, have they?" asked Merry.
"No, sir, except a few scrapes and burnt fingers, all others are accounted fer."
"Good then, take Shimmering and Sherimac out to the pasture with the other ponies and I want you watching over them."
The stable lad nodded and took Sherimac's reins and led her towards the pasture with Shimmering following him.
Paladin strolled with Merry over to the lad on the ground. Standing in front of him, they watched as the healers applied a thick herbal paste upon his chest.
Sheffield gnashed his teeth in pain when the healer applied it. When a huge blister would break open just from the slightest touch of the healer's fingertips, he would bellow out. Sitting the lad up, he began to wrap long bandages around and around his chest.
Merry knelt down to the lad and saw Sheffield's tears falling from his eyes as he looked up at him. "I'm sorry fer the harm me family has caused ya, Master Meriadoc," he said in between clenched teeth. Taking another deep breath, he continued. "I tried ta stop 'em, but they'd not listen to a word 'at I said!"
Merry looked at the lad with pity in his heart and knew he was not to blame for all that had occurred. "Tell me what you know about my wife and mother?" he asked. "Where has your family taken them?"
Sheffield shook his head, "I don't know 'at, Master Meriadoc! It was the plan o' the mistress that hired us ta take her, but not yer mother, ta be sure."
"Which mistress hired you?" he asked in disbelief from first hearing this.
"Me father called her........... Burrows;. is all I'd be knowin'," he told him in between a grunt of pain.
"Burrows, you say! There's many Burrow families that live in Brandy Hall. Why would a Burrow's family want to take my wife?" Merry asked him.
"All I know is 'at she has a score ta settle with ya because ya cast her family and herself out o' Buckland and banished her ta Bree!" he commented.
"Myrtle Burrows!" said Merry standing up in totally surprise. "It has been years since that had happened, why did she choice now to do this foul deed!"
Pulling himself up to a sitting position and sucking in his breath from the sharp pain of his burns. Beads of sweat began to form on his brow and he waited a moment until the pain lessened. "Somethin' about being the mistress o' Brandy Hall. That she was goin' to stop ya from ever marrin' any other, so no one would ever become its mistress or yer wife! She also order that yer pony be taken to draw you away from Brandy Hall. But I must tell ya, Master Meriadoc, my brothers hurt yer poor pony seeing how she was a fighter. She lays in the stable at Crickhallow in an abandon cottage just a ways from the town."
"Snowclad! What did they do to her?" asked Merry.
"I fought 'em, but they bested me.......... held me down while.................I can hardly get the words out from me own mouth..........they cut her tendons in her front legs and left her there to die! She'll never walk again!" said Sheffield and burst into tears thinking about the poor pony.
Horror seized Merry's mind and he shook with the thought of his beloved pony. He knew then that he was within inches of her when the messengers had reached him. Tears again stung his eyes and a deep sobbing exploded in his chest. Almost willing himself to split into two, one at the side of his beloved pony and the other here at Brandy Hall. Then hearing the cruelty that Sheffield's family possessed, his mind turned to his wife and mother and he wondered if whether they were more than just missing, but now in fact dead. His stomach rolled as if he was hit hard in his belly and his knees wanted to buckle from under him. His entire body shook and trembled. Thinking that everything that he had loved in his life was taken away from him. Desperation poured through him and took control of him. Wanting and needing to know about his wife and mother he grasped Sheffield's arm firmly. "Which of your brothers were ordered to take my wife?" he asked him.
Sheffield looked around the crowd of hobbits and noticed a familiar face of a lad with a shovel in his hand and within earshot of them. The lad turned his back to them and took another scoop of dirt and tossed it onto a pile.
Gulping, Sheffield trembled in fear and fell backward onto the ground groaning in agonizing pain and tears.
"Tell me now, Lad, where is my mother and my wife!" Merry shouted at him.
The healer grasped Merry's wrist for him to loosen his hold on the lad and looked directly into his master's face. "He's had enough, Master Meriadoc. The lad can not take no more!"
"Take him into Brandy Hall to one of the guests bedrooms," Merry ordered him and stood up. Taking a few rapid steps away and suddenly stopped, he began sobbing feeling so helpless and lost.
Merry raked his fingers through his hair and paced trying to think what else he could do. He raised his head and saw his lads pushing a cart with the three dead bodies of Sheffield's family.
Paladin walked over to Merry and stood next to him watching the cart roll by them. "I had no choice but to take them out, Merry. Now I wish I would have taken better aim and only wounded them."
"It's want you had to do, Paladin. Those were dangerous hobbits that would have killed anyone who stood in their way. I do not put no blame on you!"
"Do you think the lad is telling you everything he knows?" asked Paladin.
"Yes, I trust him. A lad putting his life on the line for a pony has a good heart!" commented Merry. "They have to be some where in Brandy Hall. As soon as the fire is out, we will begin a search through every corner of Brandy Hall! I will find Estella and my mother! I swear I will find them alive!"
Seeing one of his lads with a quiver strapped to his back and taking his pony to the pasture, Merry knew what he must do immediately. With a heavy heart, he approached the lad to speak with him. Paladin could see the lad taking off his quiver and handing it to Merry. Strapping it upon his back, he climbed upon the lad's pony. Merry walked the pony over to Paladin to speak with him while holding the bow in his hand. "I know where my pony is at, I'm going to Crickhallow. I'll be back shortly before they have the fire out and they begin the search. Watch over my father for me, Paladin, tell him I'll see him soon!"
Paladin looked at the bow and then back up at Merry. He knew what the lad had planned to do and he wondered how Merry was ever going to get the courage to do what he must for his pony. Nodding, Paladin stepped away and stood to the side watching Merry ride off. Pride in this lad surged through his heart and he knew if it came to it, that Merry would become the finest Master that ever held the tittle from Buckland.
With a sharp kick to the pony's side, he dashed back to Crickhallow.
XXX
A group of riders raced their ponies down the path next to the Brandywine River. The waves of the water seemed to slow in it course as one riders observed since the pace of his pony was equal to the rush of the water.
The flat open land next to the Brandywine River gave way to the foothills of Buck Hill just a head of them. Pippin led his riders to them and pushed them onward not wanting to stop after hearing from the messenger that his son was taken with Esmeralda and Estella. He knew that by now Merry had to have made it back to Brandy Hall and once he crossed these hills, he too would be there.
Cresting the final foothill of Buckleberry and after passing the small township, Pippin stopped his pony and waited while his lads caught up with him. Surprise registered across his face looking down into the small valley. The familiar land had seemed to change from the last time he had crossed this land. It seemed to have sunk into a nice rectangular fashion. Seeming so odd for this to happen, he carefully approached this site.
There were great crevices and fissures in the sunken landmass and he slowly walked his pony around it. If not for the worry about his only son, Pippin would have stopped to get a closer look at the unusual event.
One of his lads pulled his pony to a stop and climbed down. Something seemed to catch the lad's attention as he descended into the sunken cracked land. Pippin quickly looked over his shoulder and saw the lad jumping across one large fissure.
"We've not the time to go exploring! Get back onto your pony, we need to ride to Brandy Hall!"
"Someone calls to us from the Crevice!" the lad shouted out.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
All Has Been Taken
The shadows stretched out long before them upon the grass and brush that they treaded upon. The sun's ray behind them hung low in the sky and spoke of the lateness of their day. While desperation clung in their hearts as they tried to reach the landing at the bottom of the foothill.
Down the sloop of the foothill the rider's followed their master. Sherimac had proven his worth with the relentless pushing from his master. Barely stopping to take a breath, Merry was consumed to reach Brandy Hall. With the thought of his wife's disappearance and his mother on top of that, sent his heart racing to reach his home.
When he crested the hill, his worst fears pierced his soul when he saw his father fall under the thrust of the knife from his assailant. Not given Sherimac any time to stop, Merry leaped from his back and almost tumbled to a halt with in a few steps to Paladin who held his father in his arms.
Crawling the short distance, Merry reached his father's side. The ghastly wound upon his chest was soaked in blood and Paladin held his hand firmly over it. His father's eyes were wide opened in fear and confusion, but eased when they rested upon his son.
Reaching his trembling hand to cress his father's cheek, Merry choked his words out to him. "Da, I'm here and everything is going to be all right!" But before he could add another word, Paladin gestured to Merry's lads to take the Master of Buckland into Brandy Hall. Having his father pulled from his arms, Merry's felt his strength falter. It was Paladin who clutched Merry's arm and brought his other around his shoulder to give him his strength that he knew he needed in that moment. Almost running the entire way with Saradoc being carried by the Bucklander lads in front of them.
The large group of hobbits burst through the doors all shouting for the healers to come at once. But it was Hatty whose strong voice barked out orders and regain control over the hysterical crowd of lads.
"Get the Master in his room!" she shouted over the roar of the crowd. "You three set kettles of boiling water on the stove and send others for my sewing basket and bandages, hurry now lads and be quick about your work!"
The crowd of hobbits poured into the hall all gathered around their fallen master while the center of the group carried Saradoc in their arms. Others rushed ahead to open his bedroom door and pull down the covers of his bed.
Gently lying him down upon his bed, Hatty rushed to her master's side. Pulling a knife from the belt of a lad who stood by her, she peeled his shirt opened and exposed the deep wound upon his chest. "Where are those bandages, needles and thread!" she yelled over her shoulder to the crowd.
Then as if a bucket-squad reassembled, they began passing the items over their heads, hand to hand until it was presented to Hatty.
Working her nibble fingers rapidly preparing the things that she needed, she shouted again at the crowd, "Clear yourselves out of this room, you'll not help the master any just standing there!"
Paladin's hand shook seeing the amount of blood his life-long friend was losing, but he did his best in trying to stop it by the pressure he placed upon the bandages that he held.
Merry knelt down next to his father upon the bed and watched his face. He could see shock setting in as his face went white and ghostly. Wildly his eyes searched those who worked above him, until they once again rested upon his son. Merry instantly took his hand and gave it a squeeze to reassure him. "Meriadoc, listen to me, I will not last long! I need you to find your mother and bring her to me. One of those lads still lives and knows what has happened to her. Before I die, I need to know that she is all right! Find her my son!"
"Yes, Da! I will find her, I promise you!" stated Merry his voice quaking in fear and sorrow for his father.
Looking at his son and knowing that this could be his final hour, Saradoc's lips parted and allowing his fear to leave him, his eyes gentled. With a calmness that cascaded over him, he smiled towards his son. "I love you Merry."
Merry's breath caught in his chest and his tears instantly filled his eyes and began to fall down his cheeks. Staring at his father's face as if putting it firmly into his mind and heart, he softly spoke to him, "and I love you too, Da!
Hatty handed Paladin another cloth wrapping to replace the other one he used to put pressure on Saradoc's wound. Quickly he traded the clothes. Hatty placed her needles into the boiling water that the servant had just brought and began to place the things that the healer would need to stitch him.
Glancing at the father and then the son, Paladin could clearly see the panic on Merry's face. Not wanting Merry to give up his hope, he commented to them. "Come now, Saradoc. You've been through harder times than this. We'll have you mended in no time and you'll be back to your stubborn self barking orders at anyone who'd give you any listen."
Saradoc slightly nodded knowing what Paladin was trying to do. Placing a smile upon his lips trying to be strong for his son. "I'm counting on you to help the lad, if need be, Paladin."
"That's something that does not need saying, dear brother-in-law!" commented Paladin. "You rest yourself now and let those who will tend you, heal you!"
His eyelid felt heavy and they fluttered and then closed for a moment. A great weakness over took him being too exhausted to speak any more.
Hearing rapid pace of feet that entered his room, Paladin looked up to see the healers that rushed in and approached their master upon the bed. Merry struggled to let go of his father's hand and looked desperately at Hatty as if wanting a solemn oath from her that his father will not die, he set pleading eyes upon her.
Just then, Hatty nodded as if reading his every thought, "I'll do all that I am able. Your father is as strong as I have seen any!"
The healers forced Paladin and Merry to retreat away from bed and they stood watching a moment while they worked feverishly upon Saradoc. Hatty did her best to control the bleeding, while the healers took out their small bottles of medicines and mixed them together. Holding the small bottle to his father's white lips, they watched as he drank as much of it as he could. Slowly Saradoc fell deeper into sleep.
It was not long until Saradoc was unconscious and they began sewing up his wound.
Seeing his father's lifeless form upon the bed while the healer pulled the needle and thread sewing first from the inside and working to the outside of his wound. Merry grimaced in pain that he felt deep within his heart.
Seeing the immense despair that had taken over Merry, Paladin put his arms around him and held him tightly. Feeling Merry shutter in his arms, he knew he gave way to his tears, it was Paladin who softly spoke to him and eased his sorrow. "Come lad, let those who have the skill at healing your father help him now. We'll use our skills in finding your mother and your wife!"
Merry slowly nodded his head and dried his eyes. Taking a moment to collect himself, he squared his shoulders and the two walked out of Saradoc's room. Merry knew for himself that Hatty would keep her promise and watch over him making sure everything was done for him. He now needed to fulfill his promise he made to his father and find his mother and his wife. They went in search for Sheffield and what he could tell them.
XXX
Little Faramir ran down the hall with one of Paladin's fishing hats upon his head. The hat was too big for the small lad and it almost covered his entire head. Just then as Merry and Paladin were turning the corner, he ran directly into them and teetered, almost falling from his feet. Paladin reached down to grasped the lad and bent down taking the hat from his head.
"What ever are you doing with my fishing hat upon your head, Faramir?"
His rounded eyes looked up angrily at his grandfather and crossed his little arms in front of himself. "You're not suppose to know it was me! I am playing a game and I am suppose to be a fisherman hobbit, now I'm going to lose!" he snapped at him.
"Oh, so that is what you are doing," commented Paladin nodding his head and given Merry a wink. "If you want to be a fisherman hobbit, then you'll be needing a fishing pole to go with that hat, then no one could guess otherwise. Go back to your mother and ask her for my fishing pole, but you must promise to play in your room with it so your mother can watch you!"
A bright smile suddenly crossed his lips as he jumped for joy in his excitement. Reaching up, he wrapped his small arms around his grandfather's neck and thanked him.
Turning around he raced back down the hall to his room.
XXX
Sheffield rested upon the ground in front of the burnt stables that was now coming under control from the fire. The servants took shovels and picks breaking down walls and roof so the fire would not regain any strength. Thick smoke smolders in piles of burnt lumber and wet hay. Their faces were covered in soot and ash, as were their clothes and hands, but still they continued their work shoveling dirt and putting out smaller fires.
Shimmering raced up to Sherimac and nuzzled closely by him as if seeking his protection and calming her frazzled nerves.
Merry saw the soot and ash upon his snow-white foal and he approached his smallest pony, gently stroking her soft mane. A stable lad walked over to them and greeted his master. "That lad over there with the healer saved Shimmering. If'n not fer him going into 'at burning barn after her, she'd been a gonner fer sure!"
Merry nodded politely and looked over to where the healer was working on the lad upon the ground. "Where's Tom? Shouldn't he been here?"
The stable lad shook his head, "We don't know what happened to Tom, haven't seen him since you lit out of here this morning!"
"That's not like Tom to leave Shimmering alone, he wasn't in the barn when it caught fire?"
"No, sir, the lads have checked every square inch of the barn and there was not a soul in 'em after the fire was put out."
"No others have been hurt then, have they?" asked Merry.
"No, sir, except a few scrapes and burnt fingers, all others are accounted fer."
"Good then, take Shimmering and Sherimac out to the pasture with the other ponies and I want you watching over them."
The stable lad nodded and took Sherimac's reins and led her towards the pasture with Shimmering following him.
Paladin strolled with Merry over to the lad on the ground. Standing in front of him, they watched as the healers applied a thick herbal paste upon his chest.
Sheffield gnashed his teeth in pain when the healer applied it. When a huge blister would break open just from the slightest touch of the healer's fingertips, he would bellow out. Sitting the lad up, he began to wrap long bandages around and around his chest.
Merry knelt down to the lad and saw Sheffield's tears falling from his eyes as he looked up at him. "I'm sorry fer the harm me family has caused ya, Master Meriadoc," he said in between clenched teeth. Taking another deep breath, he continued. "I tried ta stop 'em, but they'd not listen to a word 'at I said!"
Merry looked at the lad with pity in his heart and knew he was not to blame for all that had occurred. "Tell me what you know about my wife and mother?" he asked. "Where has your family taken them?"
Sheffield shook his head, "I don't know 'at, Master Meriadoc! It was the plan o' the mistress that hired us ta take her, but not yer mother, ta be sure."
"Which mistress hired you?" he asked in disbelief from first hearing this.
"Me father called her........... Burrows;. is all I'd be knowin'," he told him in between a grunt of pain.
"Burrows, you say! There's many Burrow families that live in Brandy Hall. Why would a Burrow's family want to take my wife?" Merry asked him.
"All I know is 'at she has a score ta settle with ya because ya cast her family and herself out o' Buckland and banished her ta Bree!" he commented.
"Myrtle Burrows!" said Merry standing up in totally surprise. "It has been years since that had happened, why did she choice now to do this foul deed!"
Pulling himself up to a sitting position and sucking in his breath from the sharp pain of his burns. Beads of sweat began to form on his brow and he waited a moment until the pain lessened. "Somethin' about being the mistress o' Brandy Hall. That she was goin' to stop ya from ever marrin' any other, so no one would ever become its mistress or yer wife! She also order that yer pony be taken to draw you away from Brandy Hall. But I must tell ya, Master Meriadoc, my brothers hurt yer poor pony seeing how she was a fighter. She lays in the stable at Crickhallow in an abandon cottage just a ways from the town."
"Snowclad! What did they do to her?" asked Merry.
"I fought 'em, but they bested me.......... held me down while.................I can hardly get the words out from me own mouth..........they cut her tendons in her front legs and left her there to die! She'll never walk again!" said Sheffield and burst into tears thinking about the poor pony.
Horror seized Merry's mind and he shook with the thought of his beloved pony. He knew then that he was within inches of her when the messengers had reached him. Tears again stung his eyes and a deep sobbing exploded in his chest. Almost willing himself to split into two, one at the side of his beloved pony and the other here at Brandy Hall. Then hearing the cruelty that Sheffield's family possessed, his mind turned to his wife and mother and he wondered if whether they were more than just missing, but now in fact dead. His stomach rolled as if he was hit hard in his belly and his knees wanted to buckle from under him. His entire body shook and trembled. Thinking that everything that he had loved in his life was taken away from him. Desperation poured through him and took control of him. Wanting and needing to know about his wife and mother he grasped Sheffield's arm firmly. "Which of your brothers were ordered to take my wife?" he asked him.
Sheffield looked around the crowd of hobbits and noticed a familiar face of a lad with a shovel in his hand and within earshot of them. The lad turned his back to them and took another scoop of dirt and tossed it onto a pile.
Gulping, Sheffield trembled in fear and fell backward onto the ground groaning in agonizing pain and tears.
"Tell me now, Lad, where is my mother and my wife!" Merry shouted at him.
The healer grasped Merry's wrist for him to loosen his hold on the lad and looked directly into his master's face. "He's had enough, Master Meriadoc. The lad can not take no more!"
"Take him into Brandy Hall to one of the guests bedrooms," Merry ordered him and stood up. Taking a few rapid steps away and suddenly stopped, he began sobbing feeling so helpless and lost.
Merry raked his fingers through his hair and paced trying to think what else he could do. He raised his head and saw his lads pushing a cart with the three dead bodies of Sheffield's family.
Paladin walked over to Merry and stood next to him watching the cart roll by them. "I had no choice but to take them out, Merry. Now I wish I would have taken better aim and only wounded them."
"It's want you had to do, Paladin. Those were dangerous hobbits that would have killed anyone who stood in their way. I do not put no blame on you!"
"Do you think the lad is telling you everything he knows?" asked Paladin.
"Yes, I trust him. A lad putting his life on the line for a pony has a good heart!" commented Merry. "They have to be some where in Brandy Hall. As soon as the fire is out, we will begin a search through every corner of Brandy Hall! I will find Estella and my mother! I swear I will find them alive!"
Seeing one of his lads with a quiver strapped to his back and taking his pony to the pasture, Merry knew what he must do immediately. With a heavy heart, he approached the lad to speak with him. Paladin could see the lad taking off his quiver and handing it to Merry. Strapping it upon his back, he climbed upon the lad's pony. Merry walked the pony over to Paladin to speak with him while holding the bow in his hand. "I know where my pony is at, I'm going to Crickhallow. I'll be back shortly before they have the fire out and they begin the search. Watch over my father for me, Paladin, tell him I'll see him soon!"
Paladin looked at the bow and then back up at Merry. He knew what the lad had planned to do and he wondered how Merry was ever going to get the courage to do what he must for his pony. Nodding, Paladin stepped away and stood to the side watching Merry ride off. Pride in this lad surged through his heart and he knew if it came to it, that Merry would become the finest Master that ever held the tittle from Buckland.
With a sharp kick to the pony's side, he dashed back to Crickhallow.
XXX
A group of riders raced their ponies down the path next to the Brandywine River. The waves of the water seemed to slow in it course as one riders observed since the pace of his pony was equal to the rush of the water.
The flat open land next to the Brandywine River gave way to the foothills of Buck Hill just a head of them. Pippin led his riders to them and pushed them onward not wanting to stop after hearing from the messenger that his son was taken with Esmeralda and Estella. He knew that by now Merry had to have made it back to Brandy Hall and once he crossed these hills, he too would be there.
Cresting the final foothill of Buckleberry and after passing the small township, Pippin stopped his pony and waited while his lads caught up with him. Surprise registered across his face looking down into the small valley. The familiar land had seemed to change from the last time he had crossed this land. It seemed to have sunk into a nice rectangular fashion. Seeming so odd for this to happen, he carefully approached this site.
There were great crevices and fissures in the sunken landmass and he slowly walked his pony around it. If not for the worry about his only son, Pippin would have stopped to get a closer look at the unusual event.
One of his lads pulled his pony to a stop and climbed down. Something seemed to catch the lad's attention as he descended into the sunken cracked land. Pippin quickly looked over his shoulder and saw the lad jumping across one large fissure.
"We've not the time to go exploring! Get back onto your pony, we need to ride to Brandy Hall!"
"Someone calls to us from the Crevice!" the lad shouted out.
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