Chapter 3

Nightmares and Naughty Hobbits

Lily woke up; a cold sweat had come across her. She trembled as she remembered the haunting visions of her dream. It had been years since she'd had a dream like that. She was forced to relive that horrible day over and over again. Creeping out of bed, she fed the fire, which was burning low. She watched the flames, getting lost in her thoughts. Merry turned in bed, but Lily didn't move, she stared at the fire, as if determined she would find an answer to her problems there. She jumped as a hand rested on her shoulder. She turned to find Merry there.

"Lily, what are you doing up?" he asked as he took a seat beside her.

"Feeding the fire, you know I've always loved fire." She said. Lily was always one to play with fire, she'd jump over it, feed it at celebrations, she found it soothing, the crackling of the twigs catching flame calmed her heart, she didn't know why, but it did.

"Aye, very true" he said. "Well, come on, we'd best get to bed, who knows what hour of the morning it is!" he said as he headed her towards the bed. They climbed in and Lily found herself in Merry's arms. They lay there, feeling the soft touch of each other's skin. Merry watched Lily sleep. She was beautiful as always. How can she go through so much heartbreak, and still keep a smile? Merry thought. He knew that deep down inside somewhere, the pain was tucked away, hidden, and one day, she was going to explode. He watched as a smile crept onto her face. And he couldn't help but smile too. He shut his eyes, happy to have Lily here to keep him company, these nights had gotten lonesome, and he felt alone in the darkness of the night. Lily sighed softly, moving her hand across his waist, hugging him to her, as if thinking that if she let go, he would leave. Rest came upon Merry, and he wearily closed his eyes, reflecting on Lily and courage rose in his heart, he would tell Lily his feelings, he would tell the world. He needed to; he felt that if he didn't, his heart would explode with love. He slipped into a sound sleep. Lily found that morning came too soon for her liking. She'd always been one to sleep late, an unusual habit, since most Hobbits were early risers. She woke to Merry's singing voice and she smiled slightly; he wasn't known for his astonishing voice. She crept up behind him and poked him slightly. He turned and grabbed her arms and spun her around, they laughed as they twirled and danced. The sun shining in the windows accented the joy on their faces. Their delight was short-lived as a grim faced Frodo and Sam knocked hurriedly on Merry's door. Lily felt herself growing uneasy, she knew this was no good news they brought.

"You must come quickly, your cottage, it's been ransacked!" Frodo blurted. Merry grabbed Lily's hand and they flew. They came upon Gandalf standing at Lily's house. He gestured her inside. She walked slowly up the steps, not knowing if she wanted to find out what happened. She entered, and let out a shriek of terror. Everything was ruined! Her things lay broken and thrown all over the place. She ran to her room, her clothes lay all over; her dresses were not ripped, just strewn about. She walked from room to room, open mouth and her eyes wide. She was speechless.

"It is definite, Lily, you are not to return here until we can ensure you're safety," Gandalf declared.

"But-" Lily started to declare.

"Gather your things, Lilian; if it is okay with Merry, you will continue to stay at his home." Gandalf said sternly, he'd forgotten how stubborn Lily could be. Merry nodded as he watched Lily gather some dresses, her nightgown, and other things she'd need. Merry had mixed emotions, he was happy he could spend all this time with Lily, but sad because her beautiful house had been destroyed. He helped her pack her things and they loaded them into Merry's house. Lily's head was filled with thoughts and ideas. She didn't speak at all as they made their way to their normal place. Merry and Pippin played games in the water, while Lily sat and thought. She watched Merry and Pippin splash in the water, and she smiled, this is where she belonged. When her family had died, her Aunt Dolly had come to take care of her, which didn't work out. Dolly wanted Lily to be ladylike, to sit up straight and cook and clean, while Lily wanted to go play with the boys, she wanted to run and climb trees and continue to be one of the boys, like she'd always been. Dolly, frustrated by the way Lily was, left her with the Tooks and went back to her home in East Farthing. Lily dived into the water alongside Pippin, and they laughed and played in the water until mid-afternoon. They made plans to meet later at the celebration to welcome Gandalf. Pippin left to go change, Merry and Lily went to go change as well. They wandered the streets, watching the Hobbits prepare for the celebration. They opened the door to Merry's house; Lily took her emerald green dress and went to change. When they had finished changing and hanging the wet things out to dry, they decided to sit and talk. They walked to the meadows, the perfect place to just sit and talk, for no one would find them, save Pippin, who could find them anywhere. They sat in silence for a while, just watching and listen, and in their own way, talking without words. Merry turned towards Lily, who smiled at him. He took her hand, and to his surprise, she didn't pull away. Lily smiled, her eyes glowing warmly as her face filled with color. Merry brought his face closer to Lily's. Her stomach turned into knots as their lips softly touched. They kissed, Merry's hand slid onto her face, as her hand came to a rest on his wrist. They pulled apart and smiled. Both of them had dreamed of this day, but neither thought it would happen. The breeze hit their faces, almost as if it had been holding its breath as they kissed. They walked hand in hand towards Hobbiton, to help cook and set up. The Hobbits smiled as they saw Lily and Merry draw near, they had been waiting for this for some time. Lily helped cook, which she was quite good at, but never liked to do. Merry, helped chop wood, and set up the decorations, we all know that Hobbits' parties where always the best decorated. Pippin showed up, not helping, but just sitting, drinking and smoking as he watched the others work. He noticed the way in which Lily and Merry looked at each other, and knew something had happened, but couldn't put his finger on it. When Lily had finished help cook, she started to play with the children, who loved Lily dearly. She was very good with little ones.

"Miss Lily, Tell us a story!" the children begged, they loved to hear Lily's stories, filled with adventure and danger, they were always the best, even the grown Hobbits would stop and listen as she unfolded another adventure.

"Well, let's see, There once was a Hobbit by the name of Orboc, and Orboc was a very curious Hobbit," She began as the children listened intently.

"Was Orboc a naughty Hobbit?" a voice piped up.

"He was indeed! He would do all sorts of naughty things"

"Like stealing pies,"

"And playing in the dirt after he'd gotten clean?"

"Or chasing the birds in spring?" They said.

"Yes, all of them, and many more!" Lily laughed; she loved the children, for they had such bright imaginations.

"He was walking around Hobbiton one day, deciding what bad things he was to do that day, when he smelled a delicious smell, and he followed that scent till he came to a pie cooling on a window, he stuck his finger in and popped it into his mouth…. Cranberry…His favorite! When a hand came smacking down on his head. Oh poor Orboc had a lump the size of a tater! His mother had seen him tasting the pie, and she picked him up and threw him right into the lake she did! Orboc was furious! That night, he slipped away and traveled into the woods, the Forbidden Woods, and he walked and walked, Orboc was frightened of the sounds he heard-"

"Did he hear Orcs?" Rose asked in a hushed tone.

"No, Rose, Orcs haven't come here in many ages." She reassured the small child.

"She heard the sounds of snapping bushes, and his stomach growling, for he had been sent to bed without supper, but he kept walking, until he came upon a small cottage. He knocked on the door and was met by none other than a witch!" The children gasped.

"Did she turn him to stone?"

"No, she did something worse, she turned him into a frog, and Orboc tried to go home and his mother shrieked in disgust! She threw him out of the house, and Orboc lived the rest of his days as a frog, all because he was a very naughty hobbit." She finished. If that were true, Merry, Pip and I would have been frogs along time ago. She thought. The sun sank in the sky, exploding colors of soft blue and orange among the stars as the celebration took place