Chapter10
When I awoke the next morning, it was gray and hazy out. My head felt the same. I was SLOWLY learning the hard way to stay away from alcoholic drinks in Middle Earth.
As I got up, and ready for the day, I pondered on what I was going to do with myself.
I had run away from home, bartered my way into Bree, and had the exact amount of...no real money to my name. I felt a fool. What was I going to do next? Jewelry would only keep me supported for so long.
I now felt so sick with worry that I wanted to throw up. My hangover wasn't helping either. Even though it was a slight one.
I decided to head to the commons and find Aragorn. He could help me decide. Mayhap, he might even take me with him. I wouldn't be trouble.
When I reached the room, it was mostly empty. A few of the heavier drinkers with slamming hangovers were sprawled across tables and benches, but that was it. Butterbur was still behind the bar, wiping glasses.
After another look about, I noticed Aragorn was not in sight. Panic flooded me instantly. But, thinking that he just may be in the stables, I headed out there.
He wasn't there either. And for the life of me, I couldn't remember what color his horse was. I panicked even more.
Frantically I asked the stable hands if he had left. Seeing that I was in fact, FEMALE, the only answer they granted me, were curt and indistinct nods.
That made me angry. I almost kicked one of them in the shin, but remembering my size, thought better of it.
Storming away, I decided to ask Butterbur instead.
I reached him out of breath. "Where...(deep breath)...is the man...known as.... Strider?" I huffed.
The heavy man looked at me strangely. "Why would a Hobbit woman be wanting to know that?"
I let out a frustrated sigh "Tell me! It's VERY important that I find him."
Butterbur looked startled, as if one of the opposite sex had never spoken to him like that before. But he answered me all the same. "He left, a'fore dawn. Very quickly too, I might add."
I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. He left. He's gone. GONE. It was almost too much to swallow. I was alone again.
"Um....." I started, as tears began to well up behind my eyes. I swiped at them with an angry hand.
"Did, he... um...leave anything for a Merna of Long Cleeve? A message...anything?" I stuttered, biting my lip so I wouldn't cry.
Butterbur scratched his head, a thoughtful look on his face. And began to search in his pockets.
He came out with a large and heavy parchment envelope. With my name scrawled carefully across it. Wordlessly, he handed it to me.
I took it gratefully, and headed to an empty table. After cracking the thick wax seal, I upended the envelope entirely, and let its contents spill out.
Two good size handfuls of gold and silver coins were followed by a message. Folded neatly, but smudged with dirt.
Quickly I opened the message and began to read. This is what was written there (some words, I could not make out):
Merna, do not be alarmed. I am sorry I had to leave you. Something -----concerning ----happened. The coins are for you. Stay awa--- -----Bill Ferney. Keep ----- ---- the inn.
Good luck, I will be back in t-- ------time.
Strider
In spite of his warning, I was alarmed. Very much so. What did he mean? I understood most of it. Like 'stay away from Bill Ferney.' And I think he meant 'keep to the inn' but why?
I was also very glad of the coins. Now I would be ABLE to stay at the inn. And now I knew what to do next.
Walking, (now calmly) over to Butterbur, I paid him two gold and three silver coins. Which bought me room and board for two weeks. I planned to pay the same amount every two weeks, thus making it seem like I had more money than I actually did.
After counting out how much I would need for that, I had two gold ones left for spending money. I decided to buy a few sets of shirts and breeches. (In child size, of course.)
Then...I settled down to wait for Aragorn. And perhaps, Frodo and company as well.
BACK IN THE SHIRE
Pippin's POV
"I can't seem to get her off my mind, Merry. I don't know what I'm going to do." I said quietly. We were sitting at my table, having fourth breakfast.
"Well Pip, you'll have to. We have to focus on Frodo right now. He's planning on leaving the Shire, remember?" replied Merry.
"I know all that. And it's important to me. But I just can't manage to get her off my mind." I sighed. At least this whole thing hadn't interfered with my appetite. Chewing, I sighed again.
"Go see her then! Alright Pippin? Just go. I can't stand to hear you sigh anymore!" Merry said. (I guess he was starting to get annoyed of his wee little cousin. In other words, of me.)
I smiled, grabbed an apple, and made my way out the door. It was a pretty long ride from the Great Smials to Hobbiton. I'd need the apple for the road...
Merna's house...hole (you know what I mean!)
I walked up to the door uncertainly; I do not know why I let Merry talk me into doing this. But I figured I couldn't just stand in front of her door all day. I'd look even more foolish than I felt.
So I knocked. Nothing happened. I knocked again, and heard footsteps. Merna's father Saefas opened the door. His eyes looked red and puffy. Like he hadn't had enough sleep. Then I realized he must have been crying.
"Oh, Peregrin...what a... surprise." He looked around quickly. Then back at me. "Would you like to come in?"
Not knowing what else to do, I nodded and stepped inside. Saefas shut the door tight, and almost bolted it, but thought better of it.
"Um... I was actually hoping...that I could see Merna. Is she here?" I asked.
That seemed to startle her father. He jumped like a rabbit. And his eyes got suddenly brighter. I wondered what was wrong.
"No." Was all he said to me.
"Uh......No, I can't see her?" I asked uncertainly. He shook his head.
"No, she's not here. She's gone. Left us. I don't think she's coming back." He said, voice strained.
"What?" I said loudly. So loudly in fact, that Merna's mother entered the room.
"What's all this?" she said sharply. She looked surprisingly normal, and calm. For someone whose daughter is missing.
"I came to see your daughter, Merna. But she's not here. Do you know where she is?" I asked just as sharp. There was something about this woman that bothered me.
She studied me for a short time before answering. "No. I do not know where my daughter is. She is capable of taking care of herself. If she wishes to come back, she will. Until then, we are not responsible for her."
She cast a sharp look at her husband, and suddenly I felt even more out of place than I had minutes ago.
With a polite goodbye to the both of them, I left. And made my way hastily back home, to ponder what I had learned............
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Author: I am so so so soooo SORRY it took me this long to update! But I had almost no computer access over the past couple of weeks. I hope you all liked the chapter though. I'll keep them coming. And I could use some more reviews people, chop chop. SMILE.
This was also the first time this story was told form someone other than Merna's POV. I will probably keep this technique up in the future until the hobbits all meet up in Bree.
Please let me know what you think.
Thanx...Pippinsgal011890.
(Also, in the last chapter I have noticed that it seemed as though Merna disclosed info to Aragorn, because she was "intoxicated". That is NOT what I meant it to seem like. She was only disclosing her information, out of TRUST )
Thanx again.
When I awoke the next morning, it was gray and hazy out. My head felt the same. I was SLOWLY learning the hard way to stay away from alcoholic drinks in Middle Earth.
As I got up, and ready for the day, I pondered on what I was going to do with myself.
I had run away from home, bartered my way into Bree, and had the exact amount of...no real money to my name. I felt a fool. What was I going to do next? Jewelry would only keep me supported for so long.
I now felt so sick with worry that I wanted to throw up. My hangover wasn't helping either. Even though it was a slight one.
I decided to head to the commons and find Aragorn. He could help me decide. Mayhap, he might even take me with him. I wouldn't be trouble.
When I reached the room, it was mostly empty. A few of the heavier drinkers with slamming hangovers were sprawled across tables and benches, but that was it. Butterbur was still behind the bar, wiping glasses.
After another look about, I noticed Aragorn was not in sight. Panic flooded me instantly. But, thinking that he just may be in the stables, I headed out there.
He wasn't there either. And for the life of me, I couldn't remember what color his horse was. I panicked even more.
Frantically I asked the stable hands if he had left. Seeing that I was in fact, FEMALE, the only answer they granted me, were curt and indistinct nods.
That made me angry. I almost kicked one of them in the shin, but remembering my size, thought better of it.
Storming away, I decided to ask Butterbur instead.
I reached him out of breath. "Where...(deep breath)...is the man...known as.... Strider?" I huffed.
The heavy man looked at me strangely. "Why would a Hobbit woman be wanting to know that?"
I let out a frustrated sigh "Tell me! It's VERY important that I find him."
Butterbur looked startled, as if one of the opposite sex had never spoken to him like that before. But he answered me all the same. "He left, a'fore dawn. Very quickly too, I might add."
I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. He left. He's gone. GONE. It was almost too much to swallow. I was alone again.
"Um....." I started, as tears began to well up behind my eyes. I swiped at them with an angry hand.
"Did, he... um...leave anything for a Merna of Long Cleeve? A message...anything?" I stuttered, biting my lip so I wouldn't cry.
Butterbur scratched his head, a thoughtful look on his face. And began to search in his pockets.
He came out with a large and heavy parchment envelope. With my name scrawled carefully across it. Wordlessly, he handed it to me.
I took it gratefully, and headed to an empty table. After cracking the thick wax seal, I upended the envelope entirely, and let its contents spill out.
Two good size handfuls of gold and silver coins were followed by a message. Folded neatly, but smudged with dirt.
Quickly I opened the message and began to read. This is what was written there (some words, I could not make out):
Merna, do not be alarmed. I am sorry I had to leave you. Something -----concerning ----happened. The coins are for you. Stay awa--- -----Bill Ferney. Keep ----- ---- the inn.
Good luck, I will be back in t-- ------time.
Strider
In spite of his warning, I was alarmed. Very much so. What did he mean? I understood most of it. Like 'stay away from Bill Ferney.' And I think he meant 'keep to the inn' but why?
I was also very glad of the coins. Now I would be ABLE to stay at the inn. And now I knew what to do next.
Walking, (now calmly) over to Butterbur, I paid him two gold and three silver coins. Which bought me room and board for two weeks. I planned to pay the same amount every two weeks, thus making it seem like I had more money than I actually did.
After counting out how much I would need for that, I had two gold ones left for spending money. I decided to buy a few sets of shirts and breeches. (In child size, of course.)
Then...I settled down to wait for Aragorn. And perhaps, Frodo and company as well.
BACK IN THE SHIRE
Pippin's POV
"I can't seem to get her off my mind, Merry. I don't know what I'm going to do." I said quietly. We were sitting at my table, having fourth breakfast.
"Well Pip, you'll have to. We have to focus on Frodo right now. He's planning on leaving the Shire, remember?" replied Merry.
"I know all that. And it's important to me. But I just can't manage to get her off my mind." I sighed. At least this whole thing hadn't interfered with my appetite. Chewing, I sighed again.
"Go see her then! Alright Pippin? Just go. I can't stand to hear you sigh anymore!" Merry said. (I guess he was starting to get annoyed of his wee little cousin. In other words, of me.)
I smiled, grabbed an apple, and made my way out the door. It was a pretty long ride from the Great Smials to Hobbiton. I'd need the apple for the road...
Merna's house...hole (you know what I mean!)
I walked up to the door uncertainly; I do not know why I let Merry talk me into doing this. But I figured I couldn't just stand in front of her door all day. I'd look even more foolish than I felt.
So I knocked. Nothing happened. I knocked again, and heard footsteps. Merna's father Saefas opened the door. His eyes looked red and puffy. Like he hadn't had enough sleep. Then I realized he must have been crying.
"Oh, Peregrin...what a... surprise." He looked around quickly. Then back at me. "Would you like to come in?"
Not knowing what else to do, I nodded and stepped inside. Saefas shut the door tight, and almost bolted it, but thought better of it.
"Um... I was actually hoping...that I could see Merna. Is she here?" I asked.
That seemed to startle her father. He jumped like a rabbit. And his eyes got suddenly brighter. I wondered what was wrong.
"No." Was all he said to me.
"Uh......No, I can't see her?" I asked uncertainly. He shook his head.
"No, she's not here. She's gone. Left us. I don't think she's coming back." He said, voice strained.
"What?" I said loudly. So loudly in fact, that Merna's mother entered the room.
"What's all this?" she said sharply. She looked surprisingly normal, and calm. For someone whose daughter is missing.
"I came to see your daughter, Merna. But she's not here. Do you know where she is?" I asked just as sharp. There was something about this woman that bothered me.
She studied me for a short time before answering. "No. I do not know where my daughter is. She is capable of taking care of herself. If she wishes to come back, she will. Until then, we are not responsible for her."
She cast a sharp look at her husband, and suddenly I felt even more out of place than I had minutes ago.
With a polite goodbye to the both of them, I left. And made my way hastily back home, to ponder what I had learned............
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Author: I am so so so soooo SORRY it took me this long to update! But I had almost no computer access over the past couple of weeks. I hope you all liked the chapter though. I'll keep them coming. And I could use some more reviews people, chop chop. SMILE.
This was also the first time this story was told form someone other than Merna's POV. I will probably keep this technique up in the future until the hobbits all meet up in Bree.
Please let me know what you think.
Thanx...Pippinsgal011890.
(Also, in the last chapter I have noticed that it seemed as though Merna disclosed info to Aragorn, because she was "intoxicated". That is NOT what I meant it to seem like. She was only disclosing her information, out of TRUST )
Thanx again.