Chapter 14
Foal Trouble
A chair balanced on two of its back legs and leaned against the wall in the corridor. The wobbly legs did not seem sturdy enough to support the lad that rested upon it. With his hat pulled down in front of his face and arms folded across his chest, he appeared deeply in sleep. His servant's coat that was left open dangled over the edge of the seat and gave view of his clothing underneath it. His well-worn, white shirt and tattered green vest were nothing more than old rags. His pants seemed odd fitting that puckered and ballooned around his hips that looked two sizes bigger than what would have fit him properly.
Merry did not recognize this odd looking lad and knew that his servants at Brandy Hall dressed better than this. His mother must not have seen him or she would have sent him back to his room for proper attire. She was fussy in that way, making sure everything was in place and their servants well cared for. But knowing the havoc of the day's event has caused everyone, perhaps the lad did not have enough time to dress himself, as he should have.
Merry, Estella and Paladin paused only a moment at the door of the Master of Buckland and noticed the lad did not even wake-up from his sleep when they stood in front of him. "I guess it has been a long night for everyone, even the servants are starting to fall asleep while on duty!"
"Let the lad, sleep. Knowing my sister, she had most likely wore the lad out running too many errands," commented Paladin.
Dismissing this lad from their minds, Merry slowly opened his father's door and allowed his guests to entire first.
The candles were burning low and knew they had not been changed in some time. Two healers stood side-by-side next to the adjoining room where his father rested upon his bed, healing from his serious wounds.
With a heavy heart, Merry approached them first almost too fearful to ask them, yet needed to know, "How is my father doing?" he asked with a tremble in his voice.
"We are unsure of your father's health and he seems to be weakening by each hour. Your mother is at his bedside, but still he sleeps on. I am afraid Master Merry, your father may not awake from this."
Slowly his chin fell to his chest as did his heart and he nodded to them showing that he understood. Clinging despair closed about him and their words seemed to strangle the beating of his heart and strained his emotions to keep them deeply within himself. He caught a glimpse of Estella and Paladin that now stood by his side and reached out to him. Gentling arms encircled and encouraged him giving him their strength that he clung too.
The elder hobbit's soft calming voice seemed to shred the dark cloud of his despair with the effects of his words. "Not even healers are wise enough to understand the strength that rests in a hobbit's heart. Saradoc is strong willed and he will not give up too easily, Merry. There is hope to hold on to."
His chin slowly lifted and his soft brown eyes rested upon him, "Thank you, Paladin, after all that has happened I needed to hear that."
A kindly smile and tender eyes gazed upon him that seemed to send the strength that he needed to cling to. "Go to him, Merry and sit beside him. Even though he sleeps, he will still feel your presence. I'll be in my room and when he awakens, send someone for me." Patting his shoulder one last time, he turned and walked to the door.
Merry watched Paladin as he retreated out of the room and closed the door behind him.
Feeling the soft gently arm of his beloved around him, he rested his head upon her shoulder and sighed in weariness. Her fingers stroked the curls of his hair and nestled her cheek next to his. She too wanted Merry to believe all was not lost for his father.
She loved Saradoc as any daughter would love their own father and she could not help the tears that dripped down her cheeks at the thought of ever losing him. The warmth of her tears softly touched his cheek and he slowly lifted his head to gaze down upon her. Seeing the sorrow in her eyes, his fingers gently stroked her cheeks and smiled to her. "I'll not give up any hope for him, my love. Some how I know in my heart that he will recover. I have to believe that and I want you too!"
Giving his wife a kiss, he turned and walked into his father's bedroom.
Hearing a muffled cry, he made towards his mother that sat upon the bed and nestled her head next to her husband's still form. His heart rose in pity and he whispered softly to her calling her to him.
Esmeralda lifted her tear-streaked face to see her son standing above her. She rose and rushed to him, crying.
Her tears sparkled in her eyes when he wrapped his arms around her, rocking her gently to calm her weeping. His whispers of his sweet smooth voice and the warmth of his embrace eased her sobbing while she leaned upon his shoulder. Holding her tenderly until time had trailed off her tears, she stood before her son as he spoke to her.
"Thank goodness you were not harmed and escaped that cave in. Estella told me all about it. This Faradom lad that Myrtle Burrows hired, did you see if he had escaped the cave-in?"
"I am not sure, Merry. Moments before it happened, that unspeakable fellow took our lanterns and walked into the tunnel leaving us in the dark. Myrtle was so frightened that she soon followed him trying to find him. The second she walked into the tunnel, the cave-in happened. There seemed no chance that the lad or Myrtle lived through it. If not for Tom, both Estella and I would not of made it out of those tunnels. He protected us by lying down upon us and used himself as a shield. Poor Tom has a hurt shoulder and arm, but I do not think anything is broken. It was Tulsi who climbed out of the crevice and found Pippin to rescue us. Myrtle hated us Merry, she brought those ruffians here to Brandy Hall. She has paid for her ill deeds and what I hear those others have paid as well. But for my dearest husband, we do not yet know what will happen to him. We can only pray now that he will recover."
Taking her back to the side of the bed and sitting her down, he pulled a chair next to her and grasped his father's hand to let him know that he was there.
XXX
Grabbing the handle of the kitchen door, she swung it open and heard loud voices shouting at the exact same-time, "Don't open the door!"
Within a second a small white foal burst running directly pass Hatty. With a scream of surprise, she had only moments to jump to the side while Diamond and Pippin bolted from the room following the small pony.
Hatty stood frozen in place staring dump-founded at the scene of them racing down the long corridor shouting for someone to head off the racing pony.
Knowing that there was nothing that she could do to help them, since running at her age was quite an impossible task. She turned and headed into her kitchen.
A loud scream echoed and then drifted down the corridor. Following the scream was loud cursing and banging of pots and pans.
"If'n I get my hands on that lad's ear, I'd give it a hank and then some!" she cursed again glaring at the huge mess near her cooking stove. There were pots turned over and a slow stream of milk that dripped from the countertop to the floor. Her small barrel of sugar was turned over and scattered throughout the kitchen. Her foot stepped into a sticky substance and when she lifted her foot long strands of it clung to it. Hopping on one foot to her countertop to grab her towel so she could wash her foot, she slipped on the grains of sugar split on the floor. This sent she sailing into the cupboard and what was left of the clean stack of pots came crashing down all around her.
Crawling on her knees and getting her skirt caught up from under her, she got a peek around the corner of her cupboard to see the other half of her kitchen. Shock and horror etched every wrinkle of her face and she began to whimper. Her fresh cleaned and pressed tablecloths were upon the dirty floor in a ball and a baby bottle dripped staining them. There were skid marks everywhere and turned over barrels and small crates of vegetables.
"Hobs!" she wailed and sobbed. "Hobs get in here and help me!"
Her husband came around the corner in his nightshirt yawing and froze looking at the scene that greeted him. Rushing to his wife's side, he bent down trying to help her to stand.
Her white pressed cap trimmed with a delicate lace that she worn upon the top of her head has slid down almost covering her brow and most of her eyes. Hobs slowly lifted her cap to reveal her angry and wet eyes that glared up at him.
"Get the mop and help me clean this kitchen!" she stated firmly. Knowing better to argue with her, he immediately turned away to find it.
XXX
Loud snoring gave evidence that his roommate was sound to sleep. Sheffield pulled his covers from off of himself and painfully crawled out of his bed. Knowing that he needed to find away to stop his once thought of brother from harming the others who lived here, he made his way out of the room. Turning to the left, he began to walk down the length of the corridor trying to get his bearings.
Staggering and feeling so light headed from the medicine that the healers had given him, he felt lost and confused by his new surroundings. He noticed the many names labeled upon the door and began to read them. "Merimac Brandybuck, Berilac Brandybuck and Emma Brandybuck."
A plan began to come to his mind in how he could protect the elder Took, since what Faradom had told him what he was going to do. He had hoped to find the Took's door and exchange the labels to through his brother off.
He stopped and decided to turn around and head back to where he had just came from. Knowing that he was placed in the guestroom section and knowing that the Thain was also a guest he wondered if he could be staying in the same section. Sure enough, just as he thought, there were the names of the guests upon their door. Seeing Paladin's name, he took it off and all the other guest names with his. He decided to switch some of the sections that divided the residence from the guests.
Soon the Thain Paladin's name was exchanged with Berilac Brandybuck and Peregrin Took was exchanged with Merimac Brandybuck, then so on and so on until the entire section was finished. When he exchanged his nameplates with another resident Brandybuck, he tore the hem of his nightshirt and tied it around the door handle so he would know which bedroom was his.
Standing back and gazing at what used to be the Thain's bedroom and seeing Berilac Brandybucks name upon it, he was satisfied with his work. Hearing footsteps coming down the corridor, Sheffield backed away and hid in the shadow of the doorway. Seeing the elderly Took, he stepped out into the light of the hall. Paladin seemed startled seeing the young lad standing there in his nightshirt in the front of his door, he approached him cautiously.
"Sorry to startle you, sir" stated Sheffield. "I was lost trying ta find me way ta the kitchen fer a drink. I read yer name upon da door and recognizin' yer name, I thought ta knock fer instructions."
Paladin stood back and observed the lad for a moment and thought about what he was telling him. Believing what he had said, he pointed to the direction of the kitchen.
"Oh, thankee, kind sir," he commented. "I'd o' never found it by meself. This place is a bit confusing, to say the least. Allow me to repay yer kindness and open yer door fer ya!"
Sheffield stood in front of the nameplate so he could not see it. Ushering him in, Sheffield bowed slightly as Paladin walked into his room and glaring at the lad. Bidding him a good night, he shut the door and held his hand upon his chest to slow down the drumming of his heartbeat.
Creeping back to his bedroom, he turned the handle and walked in. Before he shut his door, he decided to take one more peek into the hallway. Seeing a lurking figure down the corridor who was reading the names on the doors, he recognized his brother. He thanked his lucky stars that Faradom followed the name labels into the wrong section and away from the Thain's door. Quickly, he closed his door and wiped the sweat away from his brow. The hobbit would be safe at least for the night and hopefully by tomorrow when everyone figured out the nameplates were exchanged that he would think of something else.
He walked pass his sleeping roommate and over to the window to get a breath of fresh air. When he opened the window he first heard the pounding of many ponies' hooves hitting the ground and he turned his head in the direction in which the sound came from. Seeing a large group of hobbits riding into the courtyard of Brandy Hall and dismounting, he could see the rush of stable lads coming out of the larger stable to tend them. The group of hobbits followed each other into the great hall and soon the quietness of the night returned. Sheffield closed the window and returned back to his own bed.
XXX
Pippin carried the foal to his bedroom door, but stopped when it read a different name upon it. Turning to his wife, he commented to her. "I must be more tired than I first thought. I could have sworn this use to be our room."
Diamond stared at the door feeling the same thing, but believed what she read. "We must have taken a wrong turn in the hallway. Perhaps we are only off just a bit!"
The two walked further down and finally found their label upon their door. Diamond opened it and helped her husband in with the foal in his arms. Lighting the candle, they both realized that they were in the wrong room.
"What is going on here?" Pippin stated in confusion looking around the strange room and items that did not belong to him. "This looks to be Merimac's room, I recognize his books, weaponry and things over there."
Pippin's arms were weary and set the foal down in the room. Walking over to the door he opened it to read the name once more, sure enough it said Peregrin Took. Scratching his head he looked at Diamond not know what they should do next. It took the foal only a moment to make a dash through the door and back into the corridor to escape those who held her captive.
"After her!" he shouted.
"Why did you open the door to look! You always have to look!" she scowled him firmly and lifted the hem of her skirt to race down the corridor again after the spirited young pony.
XXX
Berilac and his father Merimac tossed their pack onto the floor in the entrance by the great doors, while their kinsfolk filed in on either side of them, all seeking their own rooms.
"I can't believe what those lads told us, Berilac. Poor Saradoc, my dearest brother, we must go to him and see if there is anything we can do for Esmeralda and Merry. I could not sleep not knowing how he fairs."
"We'd have done better by them if we would have stayed behind instead of going on a goose chase all the way down the StandElf," commented Berilac.
"What's done is done, my son. How would we have known any different."
They walked around the corner in the corridor and down the length of the long hallway. A clatter of noise arose and before Berilac realized what was happening next, a young pony came dashing towards him. Holding his arms out to block the fast approaching pony and with Merimac's help, they stop her in her tracks. Berilac stroked her soft white fur and gentled her with his soft voice. Soon Pippin and Diamond came running around the corner. Seeing that Berilac had the elusive pony in his arms, they slowed their steps and approached him.
Berilac had a beaming smile upon his face holding the soft white foal. It seemed to Pippin that the young colt was taken with her captive.
"Well, it seems one of Merry's pony has finally found favors with you, son," Merimac chuckled while standing close to him and reached out petting the small pony.
"And runs from the sight of me!" commented Pippin out of breath. Diamond pulled the baby bottle from her pocket and handed it to Berilac. "See if she'll take the bottle from you, Berilac. We've tried everything we can think of to feed her."
Berilac smiled taking the bottle and holding it up to the pony's mouth. Instantly the young pony began to suck on the nipple and relaxed in his arms. He gently stroked her and spoke kind words to her.
Merimac patted his son on his back and smiled at him knowing how much he loved Merry's ponies and finally getting one that accepted him. "Looks like you got yourself a friend there. Take care of the pony, lad. I'm going to see how Saradoc is doing."
Berilac nodded to his father and with a delightful smile returned his gaze back to the foal. He giggled watching how fast she drank her bottle.
"Lets get her back to my room so she can sleep. She must be exhausted after being chased through Brandy Hall," said Berilac.
"There a problem with the rooms, Berilac. It seems that the nameplates have been switched. I know where your father's room is, but as for yours. I'm not sure who could be in there. The plate reads Thain Paladin and if he were sleeping in your room, I'd not want to wake him. Let's take her to Merimac's room until the mystery of the switched nameplates is solved," added Pippin.
Berilac nodded and lifted the young foal into his arms and carried her to his father's room.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BedTimeMonster : Oh, I think Faradom is going to have a few surprises that comes his way in the up coming chapters of this story. My evil little mind is planning and thinking of all sorts of things for his demise, but who will bring his down fall, only the muse will say....... You haven't seen it lying around anywhere, have you? Hehehehe......LOL!
Lowri Brandybuck: When someone is kind enough to review my writing, I will always repay that kindness and review your story. I believe what goes around comes around, so to speak! LOL! Sorry to confuse you with my OC plot, but if I introduce someone, I always have a plot for them.... That little plot will really help the ending of this story that will be coming up in the next few chapters. Hopefully you'll stop back to find what I have planned for that! Loveofthering gives you a wink....hehehe
ShireElf: Cheers! I am so glad you are back from your vacation. I hope you had a great time and really enjoyed yourself. I read you latest chapter and it was totally awesome! Hum.....loveofthering is thinking and thinking about vacation and wondering what this is? It must be were the muse lives or flies off too when writers block seizes you. I must try this vocation thing you speak of...LOL!!!!
Really no vacations here, just work and more work! Farm living sucks!
Your eyes are just too sharp for me or I'm just too impatient in my writing skills always tipping off my surprises. I have so much to learn about writing....I am humbled at your feet ShireElf, you're an awesome writer!
Foal Trouble
A chair balanced on two of its back legs and leaned against the wall in the corridor. The wobbly legs did not seem sturdy enough to support the lad that rested upon it. With his hat pulled down in front of his face and arms folded across his chest, he appeared deeply in sleep. His servant's coat that was left open dangled over the edge of the seat and gave view of his clothing underneath it. His well-worn, white shirt and tattered green vest were nothing more than old rags. His pants seemed odd fitting that puckered and ballooned around his hips that looked two sizes bigger than what would have fit him properly.
Merry did not recognize this odd looking lad and knew that his servants at Brandy Hall dressed better than this. His mother must not have seen him or she would have sent him back to his room for proper attire. She was fussy in that way, making sure everything was in place and their servants well cared for. But knowing the havoc of the day's event has caused everyone, perhaps the lad did not have enough time to dress himself, as he should have.
Merry, Estella and Paladin paused only a moment at the door of the Master of Buckland and noticed the lad did not even wake-up from his sleep when they stood in front of him. "I guess it has been a long night for everyone, even the servants are starting to fall asleep while on duty!"
"Let the lad, sleep. Knowing my sister, she had most likely wore the lad out running too many errands," commented Paladin.
Dismissing this lad from their minds, Merry slowly opened his father's door and allowed his guests to entire first.
The candles were burning low and knew they had not been changed in some time. Two healers stood side-by-side next to the adjoining room where his father rested upon his bed, healing from his serious wounds.
With a heavy heart, Merry approached them first almost too fearful to ask them, yet needed to know, "How is my father doing?" he asked with a tremble in his voice.
"We are unsure of your father's health and he seems to be weakening by each hour. Your mother is at his bedside, but still he sleeps on. I am afraid Master Merry, your father may not awake from this."
Slowly his chin fell to his chest as did his heart and he nodded to them showing that he understood. Clinging despair closed about him and their words seemed to strangle the beating of his heart and strained his emotions to keep them deeply within himself. He caught a glimpse of Estella and Paladin that now stood by his side and reached out to him. Gentling arms encircled and encouraged him giving him their strength that he clung too.
The elder hobbit's soft calming voice seemed to shred the dark cloud of his despair with the effects of his words. "Not even healers are wise enough to understand the strength that rests in a hobbit's heart. Saradoc is strong willed and he will not give up too easily, Merry. There is hope to hold on to."
His chin slowly lifted and his soft brown eyes rested upon him, "Thank you, Paladin, after all that has happened I needed to hear that."
A kindly smile and tender eyes gazed upon him that seemed to send the strength that he needed to cling to. "Go to him, Merry and sit beside him. Even though he sleeps, he will still feel your presence. I'll be in my room and when he awakens, send someone for me." Patting his shoulder one last time, he turned and walked to the door.
Merry watched Paladin as he retreated out of the room and closed the door behind him.
Feeling the soft gently arm of his beloved around him, he rested his head upon her shoulder and sighed in weariness. Her fingers stroked the curls of his hair and nestled her cheek next to his. She too wanted Merry to believe all was not lost for his father.
She loved Saradoc as any daughter would love their own father and she could not help the tears that dripped down her cheeks at the thought of ever losing him. The warmth of her tears softly touched his cheek and he slowly lifted his head to gaze down upon her. Seeing the sorrow in her eyes, his fingers gently stroked her cheeks and smiled to her. "I'll not give up any hope for him, my love. Some how I know in my heart that he will recover. I have to believe that and I want you too!"
Giving his wife a kiss, he turned and walked into his father's bedroom.
Hearing a muffled cry, he made towards his mother that sat upon the bed and nestled her head next to her husband's still form. His heart rose in pity and he whispered softly to her calling her to him.
Esmeralda lifted her tear-streaked face to see her son standing above her. She rose and rushed to him, crying.
Her tears sparkled in her eyes when he wrapped his arms around her, rocking her gently to calm her weeping. His whispers of his sweet smooth voice and the warmth of his embrace eased her sobbing while she leaned upon his shoulder. Holding her tenderly until time had trailed off her tears, she stood before her son as he spoke to her.
"Thank goodness you were not harmed and escaped that cave in. Estella told me all about it. This Faradom lad that Myrtle Burrows hired, did you see if he had escaped the cave-in?"
"I am not sure, Merry. Moments before it happened, that unspeakable fellow took our lanterns and walked into the tunnel leaving us in the dark. Myrtle was so frightened that she soon followed him trying to find him. The second she walked into the tunnel, the cave-in happened. There seemed no chance that the lad or Myrtle lived through it. If not for Tom, both Estella and I would not of made it out of those tunnels. He protected us by lying down upon us and used himself as a shield. Poor Tom has a hurt shoulder and arm, but I do not think anything is broken. It was Tulsi who climbed out of the crevice and found Pippin to rescue us. Myrtle hated us Merry, she brought those ruffians here to Brandy Hall. She has paid for her ill deeds and what I hear those others have paid as well. But for my dearest husband, we do not yet know what will happen to him. We can only pray now that he will recover."
Taking her back to the side of the bed and sitting her down, he pulled a chair next to her and grasped his father's hand to let him know that he was there.
XXX
Grabbing the handle of the kitchen door, she swung it open and heard loud voices shouting at the exact same-time, "Don't open the door!"
Within a second a small white foal burst running directly pass Hatty. With a scream of surprise, she had only moments to jump to the side while Diamond and Pippin bolted from the room following the small pony.
Hatty stood frozen in place staring dump-founded at the scene of them racing down the long corridor shouting for someone to head off the racing pony.
Knowing that there was nothing that she could do to help them, since running at her age was quite an impossible task. She turned and headed into her kitchen.
A loud scream echoed and then drifted down the corridor. Following the scream was loud cursing and banging of pots and pans.
"If'n I get my hands on that lad's ear, I'd give it a hank and then some!" she cursed again glaring at the huge mess near her cooking stove. There were pots turned over and a slow stream of milk that dripped from the countertop to the floor. Her small barrel of sugar was turned over and scattered throughout the kitchen. Her foot stepped into a sticky substance and when she lifted her foot long strands of it clung to it. Hopping on one foot to her countertop to grab her towel so she could wash her foot, she slipped on the grains of sugar split on the floor. This sent she sailing into the cupboard and what was left of the clean stack of pots came crashing down all around her.
Crawling on her knees and getting her skirt caught up from under her, she got a peek around the corner of her cupboard to see the other half of her kitchen. Shock and horror etched every wrinkle of her face and she began to whimper. Her fresh cleaned and pressed tablecloths were upon the dirty floor in a ball and a baby bottle dripped staining them. There were skid marks everywhere and turned over barrels and small crates of vegetables.
"Hobs!" she wailed and sobbed. "Hobs get in here and help me!"
Her husband came around the corner in his nightshirt yawing and froze looking at the scene that greeted him. Rushing to his wife's side, he bent down trying to help her to stand.
Her white pressed cap trimmed with a delicate lace that she worn upon the top of her head has slid down almost covering her brow and most of her eyes. Hobs slowly lifted her cap to reveal her angry and wet eyes that glared up at him.
"Get the mop and help me clean this kitchen!" she stated firmly. Knowing better to argue with her, he immediately turned away to find it.
XXX
Loud snoring gave evidence that his roommate was sound to sleep. Sheffield pulled his covers from off of himself and painfully crawled out of his bed. Knowing that he needed to find away to stop his once thought of brother from harming the others who lived here, he made his way out of the room. Turning to the left, he began to walk down the length of the corridor trying to get his bearings.
Staggering and feeling so light headed from the medicine that the healers had given him, he felt lost and confused by his new surroundings. He noticed the many names labeled upon the door and began to read them. "Merimac Brandybuck, Berilac Brandybuck and Emma Brandybuck."
A plan began to come to his mind in how he could protect the elder Took, since what Faradom had told him what he was going to do. He had hoped to find the Took's door and exchange the labels to through his brother off.
He stopped and decided to turn around and head back to where he had just came from. Knowing that he was placed in the guestroom section and knowing that the Thain was also a guest he wondered if he could be staying in the same section. Sure enough, just as he thought, there were the names of the guests upon their door. Seeing Paladin's name, he took it off and all the other guest names with his. He decided to switch some of the sections that divided the residence from the guests.
Soon the Thain Paladin's name was exchanged with Berilac Brandybuck and Peregrin Took was exchanged with Merimac Brandybuck, then so on and so on until the entire section was finished. When he exchanged his nameplates with another resident Brandybuck, he tore the hem of his nightshirt and tied it around the door handle so he would know which bedroom was his.
Standing back and gazing at what used to be the Thain's bedroom and seeing Berilac Brandybucks name upon it, he was satisfied with his work. Hearing footsteps coming down the corridor, Sheffield backed away and hid in the shadow of the doorway. Seeing the elderly Took, he stepped out into the light of the hall. Paladin seemed startled seeing the young lad standing there in his nightshirt in the front of his door, he approached him cautiously.
"Sorry to startle you, sir" stated Sheffield. "I was lost trying ta find me way ta the kitchen fer a drink. I read yer name upon da door and recognizin' yer name, I thought ta knock fer instructions."
Paladin stood back and observed the lad for a moment and thought about what he was telling him. Believing what he had said, he pointed to the direction of the kitchen.
"Oh, thankee, kind sir," he commented. "I'd o' never found it by meself. This place is a bit confusing, to say the least. Allow me to repay yer kindness and open yer door fer ya!"
Sheffield stood in front of the nameplate so he could not see it. Ushering him in, Sheffield bowed slightly as Paladin walked into his room and glaring at the lad. Bidding him a good night, he shut the door and held his hand upon his chest to slow down the drumming of his heartbeat.
Creeping back to his bedroom, he turned the handle and walked in. Before he shut his door, he decided to take one more peek into the hallway. Seeing a lurking figure down the corridor who was reading the names on the doors, he recognized his brother. He thanked his lucky stars that Faradom followed the name labels into the wrong section and away from the Thain's door. Quickly, he closed his door and wiped the sweat away from his brow. The hobbit would be safe at least for the night and hopefully by tomorrow when everyone figured out the nameplates were exchanged that he would think of something else.
He walked pass his sleeping roommate and over to the window to get a breath of fresh air. When he opened the window he first heard the pounding of many ponies' hooves hitting the ground and he turned his head in the direction in which the sound came from. Seeing a large group of hobbits riding into the courtyard of Brandy Hall and dismounting, he could see the rush of stable lads coming out of the larger stable to tend them. The group of hobbits followed each other into the great hall and soon the quietness of the night returned. Sheffield closed the window and returned back to his own bed.
XXX
Pippin carried the foal to his bedroom door, but stopped when it read a different name upon it. Turning to his wife, he commented to her. "I must be more tired than I first thought. I could have sworn this use to be our room."
Diamond stared at the door feeling the same thing, but believed what she read. "We must have taken a wrong turn in the hallway. Perhaps we are only off just a bit!"
The two walked further down and finally found their label upon their door. Diamond opened it and helped her husband in with the foal in his arms. Lighting the candle, they both realized that they were in the wrong room.
"What is going on here?" Pippin stated in confusion looking around the strange room and items that did not belong to him. "This looks to be Merimac's room, I recognize his books, weaponry and things over there."
Pippin's arms were weary and set the foal down in the room. Walking over to the door he opened it to read the name once more, sure enough it said Peregrin Took. Scratching his head he looked at Diamond not know what they should do next. It took the foal only a moment to make a dash through the door and back into the corridor to escape those who held her captive.
"After her!" he shouted.
"Why did you open the door to look! You always have to look!" she scowled him firmly and lifted the hem of her skirt to race down the corridor again after the spirited young pony.
XXX
Berilac and his father Merimac tossed their pack onto the floor in the entrance by the great doors, while their kinsfolk filed in on either side of them, all seeking their own rooms.
"I can't believe what those lads told us, Berilac. Poor Saradoc, my dearest brother, we must go to him and see if there is anything we can do for Esmeralda and Merry. I could not sleep not knowing how he fairs."
"We'd have done better by them if we would have stayed behind instead of going on a goose chase all the way down the StandElf," commented Berilac.
"What's done is done, my son. How would we have known any different."
They walked around the corner in the corridor and down the length of the long hallway. A clatter of noise arose and before Berilac realized what was happening next, a young pony came dashing towards him. Holding his arms out to block the fast approaching pony and with Merimac's help, they stop her in her tracks. Berilac stroked her soft white fur and gentled her with his soft voice. Soon Pippin and Diamond came running around the corner. Seeing that Berilac had the elusive pony in his arms, they slowed their steps and approached him.
Berilac had a beaming smile upon his face holding the soft white foal. It seemed to Pippin that the young colt was taken with her captive.
"Well, it seems one of Merry's pony has finally found favors with you, son," Merimac chuckled while standing close to him and reached out petting the small pony.
"And runs from the sight of me!" commented Pippin out of breath. Diamond pulled the baby bottle from her pocket and handed it to Berilac. "See if she'll take the bottle from you, Berilac. We've tried everything we can think of to feed her."
Berilac smiled taking the bottle and holding it up to the pony's mouth. Instantly the young pony began to suck on the nipple and relaxed in his arms. He gently stroked her and spoke kind words to her.
Merimac patted his son on his back and smiled at him knowing how much he loved Merry's ponies and finally getting one that accepted him. "Looks like you got yourself a friend there. Take care of the pony, lad. I'm going to see how Saradoc is doing."
Berilac nodded to his father and with a delightful smile returned his gaze back to the foal. He giggled watching how fast she drank her bottle.
"Lets get her back to my room so she can sleep. She must be exhausted after being chased through Brandy Hall," said Berilac.
"There a problem with the rooms, Berilac. It seems that the nameplates have been switched. I know where your father's room is, but as for yours. I'm not sure who could be in there. The plate reads Thain Paladin and if he were sleeping in your room, I'd not want to wake him. Let's take her to Merimac's room until the mystery of the switched nameplates is solved," added Pippin.
Berilac nodded and lifted the young foal into his arms and carried her to his father's room.
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BedTimeMonster : Oh, I think Faradom is going to have a few surprises that comes his way in the up coming chapters of this story. My evil little mind is planning and thinking of all sorts of things for his demise, but who will bring his down fall, only the muse will say....... You haven't seen it lying around anywhere, have you? Hehehehe......LOL!
Lowri Brandybuck: When someone is kind enough to review my writing, I will always repay that kindness and review your story. I believe what goes around comes around, so to speak! LOL! Sorry to confuse you with my OC plot, but if I introduce someone, I always have a plot for them.... That little plot will really help the ending of this story that will be coming up in the next few chapters. Hopefully you'll stop back to find what I have planned for that! Loveofthering gives you a wink....hehehe
ShireElf: Cheers! I am so glad you are back from your vacation. I hope you had a great time and really enjoyed yourself. I read you latest chapter and it was totally awesome! Hum.....loveofthering is thinking and thinking about vacation and wondering what this is? It must be were the muse lives or flies off too when writers block seizes you. I must try this vocation thing you speak of...LOL!!!!
Really no vacations here, just work and more work! Farm living sucks!
Your eyes are just too sharp for me or I'm just too impatient in my writing skills always tipping off my surprises. I have so much to learn about writing....I am humbled at your feet ShireElf, you're an awesome writer!