Chapter Two

The Following Friday Evening

"Ouch!" exclaimed Estella. "Watch what you're doing, Diamond."

"Sorry, Estella, I'm just a bit distracted," said Diamond as she laced Estella into her yellow satin gown for the party. Estella tried to think what might be bothering her.

"It's Pippin, isn't it?"

"What makes you say that, Estella?" Diamond inquired, a hint of annoyance creeping into her voice.

"If you're sure..." Estella trailed off. Diamond would talk when she was ready.

"Of course I'm sure- well no, no I'm not- is it that obvious?" Estella could only nod her head. "Pippin and I had a fight yesterday; he's so unreliable. He'll cancel a meeting at a moments notice because he gets an idea for a prank he might pull. And while I will admit this behavior was endearing at first, now it's gotten to be down right annoying. I mean, he has to stop acting like a tweenager; he's thirty- five. He's been of age three years. So, I told him that and he said to mind my own business. Mind my own business? He only asked me to marry him. And to make matters worse, he didn't meet me for tea this afternoon at all!"

"I wish I could be more helpful, but I'm just as confused as you are, Diamond. All I can say is that I hope things will turn out soon." She did have some idea, but Diamond probably wouldn't want to hear it.

"Oh, Stella!" exclaimed Diamond, pulling her friend into a hug, "I'm sorry to burden you with all my worries. The future Master of Buckland is escorting you to a party this evening; you should be happy." Estella smiled, weakly at that; Diamond had an irritatingly vapid obsession with titles. "And getting ready," Diamond added.

Diamond finished lacing her dress and she walked over to look in the mirror. It did look quite nice, but nice dresses just… Memories of traipsing after her brother and his friends in worn-out old dresses splattered with mud and not caring in the least came to her and she couldn't help but smile at the lass she'd been then. But she couldn't tell Diamond that.

"It's beautiful! Thank you, Diamond!" Diamond knew about her terrible dress-making abilities and had adjusted one of her gowns to fit her, insisting that Estella couldn't wear that old faded dress which had until that point been her only nice outfit.

"Now, Estella, surely you aren't my friend only for my dress making abilities," she teased. "It is lovely though, if I do say so myself."

"What time is it?" she asked her, remembering that she would have to leave for the party soon.

"Time for you to go," Diamond answered.

"Alright, I'm ready." she said, taking a deep breath.

"Go out then and knock him dead!" Estella grinned.

"Thank you, Diamond!" She started to walk out the door and then stopped and shouted. "Good luck with Pippin!"

"Yes, thank you…I'll see you tomorrow, Estella!" Alright, I can do this, Estella thought to herself as she walked out the door. And there he was, standing outside the door with one of the fanciest coaches she had ever seen and his arm outstretched.

"Good evening, Mistress Estella," he said cordially. Trying to remember what one was supposed to do on such an occasion, she took his hand and he led her to the coach.

He did not seem nervous in the least, which made her even more so. She just listened while he rambled on and on about Berilac and the different guests at the party, but then she consoled herself that this must be his way of expressing nervousness, and she was calmed.

So during the ride to Brandy Hall, she started to speak as well as listen, and somehow they came to the topic of Diamond and Pippin again.

"They've gotten into a fight? Over what?" When she explained, he seemed, amused, oddly enough. "Well, there's Pippin for you, I'm sure she'll get used to it, it's just his nature."

"Do you really think so?" she inquired, and immediately felt like an idiot. I could've come to the same conclusion on my own, she thought.

"Well, there's always hope." He smiled and winked and she felt her stomach flutter. No, that can't be right, she thought. This is Merry, Estella, snap out of it.

Then the driver called out that they had arrived, at last. Merry helped her out of the coach and led her to the door of the front hall, where the party was to be held. The wealth of the Brandybucks never ceased to amaze Estella (for though they were her cousins, she had been raised in quite inferior surroundings). The grand hall was huge, with over one hundred hobbits filling it. It also seemed quite formal. She gazed at the sea of finely dressed hobbits, liking the situation less and less the more she looked. But, she reasoned, what had she expected? Merry had invited her to a party.

They walked over to an older couple, who seemed to be watching over the events in the hall.

"Good evening, Uncle Merimac, Aunt Marigold, allow me to introduce Miss Estella Bolger." I curtsied in an attempt to seem elegant and poised.

"Oh, Miss Bolger, I remember you," said Merry's Aunt Marigold. "Your mother was Rosamunda Took, was she not?"

"Yes, she was." She leaned over and whispered in Estella's ear.

"Well I'm glad to see you with Meriadoc, here—he needs a lass in his life—and you look so sweet together," she said, a little too loudly. Estella squirmed at this appraisal. Merry's aunt didn't seem to notice. She just smiled and handed her a beautifully embroidered handkerchief.

"Thank you," Estella replied, suddenly anxious to join the party.

"I'm glad you like it," Merry's aunt said.

"If you'll excuse us," said Merry, who was only now beginning to fade from the lovely shade of crimson he had turned with her earlier comment. He turned to Estella.

"Would you like to dance, Estella?" he asked.

"Maybe just this first one," she replied, nervously.

The dance was something that she supposed would be easy for most, and Merry seemed to have no problem with it, but Estella was a terrible dancer (in fact, it was once joked, the most terrible in the East Farthing). She kept stepping on his feet and running into people.

"I'm sorry, Merry," she managed to say, when the dance finally ended.

"Maybe we'll skip the next one," he said, with a strained smile. Estella tried to smile back, but found herself unable.

They sat down at a nearby table after greeting Berilac, while he was between dances.

About twenty minutes later, dinner was finally served, much to Estella's relief. First bread and hot soup, and then chicken, meatloaf, corn, and mushrooms. It was all delicious. Then before cake, it was time for Berilac's speech.

"All my dear friends and relatives, we are here gathered to celebrate my forty-fifth birthday. I trust you are enjoying yourselves?" With this a great cheer went up. "I haven't really much to say. Bring out the cake!" More cheers filled the air.

The cake was one of the most delicious Estella had ever tasted. It was sweet with butter cream frosting.

"Good cake," she remarked in between bites.

"It is good," Merry replied, already on his second slice.

The rest of the party was uneventful, but for the part when Ilberic tripped and landed in the punch bowl, causing uproarious laughter and a firm scolding for his brother Doderic from the Merry's mother, otherwise known as the Mistress of the Hall, who being the seeming cause of this was the recipient of many furtive congratulations for the excellent prank.

The party ended after several more hours of just sitting and talking with Merry, which seemed to fly by for Estella. When it was over he walked her out to the coach, and they chatted away the return journey.

Nonetheless, she was relieved when they finally pulled up to her hole, with its neat rows of flowers in the front and its peeling red door, though she was also sad that the evening was ending. Merry, ever the proper gentlehobbit, climbed out of the coach with her and walked her to her door.

"Goodnight, Merry," she said, and then surprised even herself by leaning forward and kissing him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her closer to him, kissing her gently, but firmly. It was at last Estella who broke the kiss and she looked up into his eyes. They were a thoughtful light grey, and seemed focused intently on her.

"It's a ways back to Crickhollow or Brandy Hall, or wherever it is you're staying." He smiled at that. "Would you like to stay here?" she suggested. "We have an extra room, we could put you up."

"Thank you," he said, excepting her offer, "I'd be much obliged."

"Follow me," Estella replied and opened the door. Light from the porch streamed into the empty front parlor. "Try not to wake my father or Fredegar, they'll be sleeping now," she whispered. He nodded and followed behind her.

"Here." she slowly opened the door, taking care not to make a sound.

"Goodnight again, Merry," she whispered.

"Goodnight Estella." She beamed, and gave him a peck on the cheek. Then she walked down the hall to her own bedroom and shut the door almost silently behind her.

She fell asleep almost immediately that night, and dreamt of Merry.