THANKYOU all my loyal reviewers!!! To Linriel, Bunny Hooded Bombchu, Estella Brandybuck(I'm trying!), roguemagic 13, and BedTimeMonster! I really appreciate your actual interest in my story... though a couple of you are reading it just cuz you're my friends(Sorry, roguemagic 13, I know you're my friend too. Hehe, oops)... but that's okay!
I realize now that I have done something that I really shouldn't have... I've put myself in this story. Not entirely on purpose, but you have to admit, when writing a story, 'tis a lot easier to write the people to do as you would. Which character am I, do you ask? Well, I suppose it might be kinda obvious... at least to those who know me, I... am Essie, Estella. We are one and the same. If I were in her situation, I'd probably be doing the exact same things... probably. Maybe if I was a little bolder. But 'tis me, so yeah... Anyway, thanks again for all the reviews! ON WITH THE STORY!!!
After breakfast the next morning, Estella decided to go to her favorite thinking spot. No one knew where it was but her, for it was hidden away in the forest of Buckland, in a small glen. In this little clearing grew many different kinds of fruits and vegetables, as well as a glorious array of beautiful flowers. Near one side of this garden, a tall willow spread its branches over a small creek that ran through the clearing. Against this was where Estella loved to sit and read a book, nap, or just think things over. She was curious as to who may have tended this small stretch of land, when she never saw anyone else out there, because the fruits were always the best she had ever eaten.
So, Estella went off here that morning to think about the night before. Why had she kissed Merry... even if it was only on his cheek? Come to think of it, his cheeks were kind of squishy... but then that was Merry, he'd always been a cheeky fellow. Estella laughed out loud. Oh, Merry! Why did life have to become complicated right now? Why couldn't it have waited until AFTER Diamond and Pippin were married?
"Why do you look so troubled, my dear?" Came a soothing, willowy voice from behind her. Estella jumped up.
"W-who are you?" she called out, looking around. "WHERE are you?"
"I am right behind you," the voice said. Estella looked around, but still she saw no one.
"I still can't see you... are you in the woods somewhere?"
The voice heaved a great sigh. "Here," it said, "I shall show you." All of a sudden a branch entwined around Estella's waist and her feet lifted from the ground. She gasped. The voice seemed to be coming from the tree behind her... but it was more than just a tree. Two green eyes sparkled from the top of the trunk, and a womanly face appeared bellow them. She had a smile on her lips and, as Estella looked closer, arms and legs branching out. A kind of moss played about the woman-tree's body, except for her arms and face. Estella was immediately reminded of Merry and Pippin's description of an Ent, but this one was more graceful, and beautiful than any they had told her of.
"Are, are you an Ent?" Estella asked, wonderingly. The woman-Ent smiled.
"No, my dear. I am an Entwife."
"Oh!" Estella breathed. Merry and Pippin had also explained about the Entwives. They had said that Treebeard told them all of the Entwives had been lost, but that he had also mentioned that they would have liked a place like the Shire for a home. Understanding dawned on Estella as she realized that it was this Entwife who had been tending this lovely garden.
"Do you know of any Ents?" the Entwife said, all of a sudden very exited.
"Well, Merry told me about Treebeard..." Merry! He would know what to do!
The Entwife peered at her. "Do you know where this Merry might be found?" she asked, her voice echoing around the clearing.
"Yes, yes! I could bring him here..." She looked questioningly at the Entwife.
"I am called Fimbrethil, or Wandlimb, in your language. Who might you be?"
"I'm Estella." Estella said breathlessly. Wandlimb set her down.
"Please find Merry for me, my young Estella."
"Okay! I won't be long!" Estella promised. She raced into the woods to Merry's home, adrenaline pumping fast in her veins, all memories of the night before totally forgotten. She had seen an Entwife! A real, actual ENTWIFE! Not even Merry and Pippin had seen one! When she finally reached Merry's house, she rapped on the door, completely winded. Merry answered the door.
"Estella!" he exclaimed, blushing a little and slightly worried as to her messy state if arrival. "What's wrong? What happened?"
"You... Come with me..." she said, gasping for air, "Wandlimb..."
Merry looked at her confused. Had she lost it? Wandlimb? What did that mean? "Estella...?" he said, worrying for her sanity.
"I, I met... an Entwife..." she said. Merry looked shocked.
"What?!? But you can't have?" Estella nodded. "Where?" She pulled on his arm.
"In Buckland forest. In a little glade I go to sometimes." She tugged even harder. "Come, I'll show you!" Merry grabbed his sword from the hall.
"Okay! Let's go!" he said, buckling on his sword-belt. They ran through the forest, not stopping until they reached the spot in the little clearing where Estella had met Wandlimb. Merry, wondering along the way. Wandlimb... that name sounds familiar... The Entwife was still there and she looked down at the two disheveled hobbits.
"Are you Merry?" she asked.
"Yes," he said, looking up at her in amazement. Estella looked at him triumphantly, then, the past night's events coming back to her, she quickly looked away and blushed.
"Estella told me you knew of Treebeard." Wandlimb said expectantly.
"Treebeard? Yes, Pippin and I met him in Fanghorn forest." He said, glancing at Estella.
Wandlimb smiled, remembering. "Treebeard, he and I were acquainted a long time ago."
Suddenly Merry looked up at her, remembering something Treebeard had told him a while back. "You knew each other! Treebeard spoke of you when Pippin asked about the Entwives. But he said you were lost... that he couldn't find you."
Wandlimb's smile deepened. "He spoke of me?" Merry nodded. "I should dearly like to see him again." She looked at the two hobbits. "Thank you for telling me of this. You may go now. And remember that you may always return to this place if you would like. I shall journey to Fanghorn and meet with my Treebeard again."
Estella looked slightly sad. "Are you leaving so soon?"
"Yes, my child."
"Well, we could come with you!" Merry said suddenly.
"No, there is no need. I shall come back and visit you. And perhaps Treebeard will come with me." Wandlimb laughed, the sound like a chorus of woodwind instruments. "Do not be sad, little ones, for much happiness is in store for the two of you." Merry and Estella looked at each other and blushed. "Farewell, my friends! We shall meet again!" With that, she strode off in the direction of Fanghorn. Merry and Estella looked at each other.
"That was odd." Merry put in.
"We should tell Diamond and Pippin!" Estella said excitedly. "Come on!" she grabbed his wrist.
"Uhh... okaaaaaay!" he said as she sped off. Essie sure was dragging him along today, wasn't she? So they set off again, towards Pippin and Diamond's new home. When they got there, Diamond opened the door and looked at them with a wry smile on her lips.
"Where've you two been? Out romping in the woods?" Estella quickly let go of Merry's wrist as both their faces reddened. Diamond giggled. "Oh, come on in, you two! Don't just stand there like startled rabbits!" She led them in and sat them down at the table, where Pippin was finishing up breakfast. Diamond poured them some tea while Estella explained to them all about their meeting with Wandlimb and how she was setting out to meet with Treebeard.
"So, you actually met an Entwife?" Pippin exclaimed. "Why didn't you get us? Remember, Merry wasn't the only one who met Treebeard!"
Diamond smiled mischievously. "Oh, because Merry was just on her mind, that's all."
"No!" Estella said quickly as Merry blushed into his tea and Pippin laughed. "Merry was... closer! He, he lives closer to Buckland forest! So... yeah..." She reddened, glaring at her friend.
"Oh, you and your silly excuses!" Diamond said, giggling at Merry and Estella's obvious embarrassment. "Whatever, I hope you'll stay for elevensies!"
"Okay!" Estella said. "All that running made me hungry!"
"Here, you can help me, Estella." They walked into the kitchen, where Estella was immediately set upon by her friend. "Sooo..." Diamond said. "What happened with you and Merry last night? Or for that matter, this morning?"
"Well, last night he gave me a ride home and I... well, I kissed him." She said blushing profusely.
"You did WHAT!?!?"
"It was only on the cheek! And nothing really happened this morning!"
Diamond eyed her friend skeptically. "Sure. You do know he likes you, right?"
"Well, I thought he might... maybe. But, but he's never told me! And I would have thought he'd ask... Besides, he's courted many other girls, why wouldn't he ask me?"
"Because you two are friends, because he probably didn't want to ruin the relationship you already had. Because he like you more than as just some girl he's kind of interested in1 He LOVES you, Estella! And it you can't see that, then you're not as smart as I thought you were!"
"He, he loves me?"
"YES!!! And you love him! It's been driving Pippin and me CRAZY, because you two are obviously meant for each other! Like Pip and I are meant for each other. I just with you two'd just admit it, so we can all stop fussing over this!"
"Oh, I never... I didn't know you felt that way." Estella looked away. "I just, I don't want to tell him! Well, no. That's not true. I do, it's just..."
"Yes, I DO know how you're feeling, Essie. After all, remember when I'd first met Pippin?" Estella laughed. "EXACTLY! It's the same way with you and Merry. Though, we weren't friends before he asked me to court him... I suppose that could make a little difference..."
"See! Besides, shouldn't it be Merry who does the asking... I mean... well, you know."
"Yes I do. That's why, I'm going to get Pip to make him ask you!"
"Diamond! I'd feel bad if Merry asked me out just because you and Pippin made him do it!"
"Okay, okay! I'll have Pippin SUGGEST it to Merry. Will that work for you?"
" I guess... Thanks Diamond!"
"No problem, I'll be happy when you two crazy love-birds finally get together!" Estella blushed. "Now help me with these sandwiches!"
YEY!!! Another chapter completed! Sorry, it took me longer than the others to get up! I've been busy getting ready for school... it's coming!!! RUN AWAY!!! Oh well!
REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REIVEW!!!