Why, hello everyone! I hope you all hade a very Merry (and Pippin)
Christmas (or any other holiday you celebrate)!
Unfortunately, this will be my last post for a while, since I will be going on a short vacation in a couple days. (Of course, with the rate I'm updating, it will probably make no difference whatsoever, so none of you have to fret about it.) :0)
And everyone cheer for ROTK! *cheers*
*hugs all reviewers*
DiamondTook3: Merry can't say he didn't enjoy that. In fact, I don't think Estella can either. *wink*
Arwen Baggins: Of course, Merry will always turn everything around and make it work for him. :0)
Aragorns-gurl33: Thank you very much! *hugs* I'm sure the plot bunnies will attack for more Sam/Rosie stuff eventually.
Telpedilwen of Mirkwood: Who wouldn't enjoy a kiss from Merry? It's only a matter of whether she'll admit it. :0)
Loveofthering: Thank you! *hugs* I had so much fun writing the end to that last chapter. :0)
RosieLemondrop: I LOVED Merry and Pippin dancing on the tables. And I loved Pippin singing. In fact, I'm not sure if there was anything I didn't love. (And the count of viewings is three now *wink*) :0) I glad you liked that chapter! I sure did have a great time writing it. *dances*
MLynnBloom: Thank you! :0) As for what Merry's going to do about it. . . you'll see in this chapter!
KitKatz: Hehe! I'm glad you liked it! *hugs* Here's more!
Polychrome: See? Here's more! I told you I wouldn't fail you! *wink* I'm glad you're enjoying it! :0)
Twanda: *hugs* Thank you for your kind words! And yes, ROTK was AWESOME! :0)
Bertiebottsgeorge: I'm glad you like it! *hugs*
***: Interesting name there. . . *wink* Hey, if you wouldn't mind, could you refrain from cursing in your reviews? I'm really really glad you're enjoying it, but I'm a little miss goody goody and curse words tend to make me cringe. :0)
Concetta: Hehe. I'm surprised Merry's head hasn't fallen off. *wink*
Okay, I'm done rambling. On with the story!
************************************************************
Fatty Bolger ambled slowly into the library at Brandy Hall; his hands were deep in his pockets and his shoulders slumped. He had kept the knowledge of his horrible sister from his friends for as long as he could. Who could blame him? If Merry and Pippin had known of Estella when they were younger, Fatty feared they would never have wanted to be with him, for fear that they would have to deal with her all the time.
And that night's events had proved it. If only Merry had not gotten such a horrible idea in his head! How could he possible even want to win Estella's feelings? Or at least the few feelings she possessed.
Exhausted, his mother and father had already taken to their beds. Estella had stormed off to the room the Brandybucks had provided for her, but who knew what she was doing in there. Frankly, Fatty didn't care in the slightest.
A light in the library caused Fatty to pause slightly. He didn't know anyone else was still awake.
"Hello?" He called out softly, "Who's there?"
"Fatty!" Came Merry's voice from the corner of the room, "I didn't know you were still up."
"And I thought I was the only one," Fatty replied, coming close enough to see Merry's face illuminated by the light of a single wavering candle. He was sitting in a large, aged chair and was flipping through a large book. As Fatty drew closer, Merry shut the book gently.
"A Tale of a Dreaming Love," Fatty read the title incredulously.
Merry sat back in his chair, "It's actually quite a good book."
"Cousin? Have you suffered any substantial head injuries lately?"
Laughing, Merry shook his head, "No, Fatty, I have not gone nuts. I'm just trying to do some research."
Fatty froze, "Please tell me this is not about Estella." When the only answer he received was a small grin, he began to plead, "Merry! You have no idea what you're trying to do! You've doomed yourself!"
"Only if I fail," Merry replied with surety, "And I don't intend to."
***************************************************************
The silence of the night was broken by a persistent clicking sound on the side of Brandy Hall. Just as one would think it had stopped completely, it would start up again, clicking away like a woodpecker knocking against a tree one click at a time. One more click echoed through the dark. Then another.
And then there was a sudden sound of shattering glass.
Startled from her sleep by the noise, Estella Bolger stumbled out of bed and peered out through the jagged bits of glass that was once her window. She was clearly startled by what she saw, and even rubbed furiously at her eyes to make certain that grogginess was not deceiving her. Once she realized this was not the case, her face twisted into a scowl.
"Meriadoc Brandybuck!" She hissed, trying to keep her voice down as much as she was able, "I am aware of your lack of common sense, but why on earth are you up breaking windows at this hour?"
Merry let the small stone he was holding fall from his hand, and he brushed back his bed-mussed curls, "Good evening Estella. Don't worry your little head. I was only tossing tiny stones."
Estella shot a sidelong glace at her broken window, "Pardon me, but no tiny stone could manage that."
Shrugging, Merry muttered awkwardly, "All right, maybe they were a little too big, but they did work."
"What?" Estella's mouth dropped open, "If you were TRYING to break my window, Meriadoc, I swear . . ."
"No, no, no," Merry explained quickly, his hands raised as if in surrender, "I only meant to get your attention."
"Well, you did," Estella stated with no small amount of sarcasm, "And why is my attention so direly needed this late at night? Did you have a nightmare? I'm sorry, but that would be your mother's business."
"Do you enjoy making me feel daft?"
"Sometimes."
Merry took a deep breath, and let it out slowly in a long sigh, as if preparing himself for something. At last, he turned imploring eyes up to girl glaring down at him through the shards of glass. "Estella, why did you kiss me?"
If her eyes had opened up any more from Merry's question, they surely would have fallen out of her head. "You must be joking!" She nearly shouted, "That argument between me and my family would have awoken Odo Proudfoot after a dozen tankards of ale!"
"I won't disagree with that."
If anything, Estella's eyes grew colder, "Then what's your point?"
"Why did you kiss me?" Merry persisted, "I'm sure I am not incorrect in assuming that you have dealt with such arguments many times before. Surely there could have been some other way for you to get back at your family for what they said."
"So," her eyes were dangerously close to blazing, "You have a problem with the way I treat my family?"
"Well, I may just have a problem with how your family treats you."
Estella's fierce mask seems to falter, and she did not respond.
"Just answer me," he asked a final time, "Why did you kiss me?"
"Why should you care?" Estella countered softly.
"Why shouldn't I?" Said Merry, suddenly avoiding her gaze, "I have to be honest with you. I have been kissed by lasses before, but it was never . . . quite. . . like that . . ."
She rolled her eyes, "That's because you have most likely never been kissed by someone who hates you."
"That's just it!" Merry exclaimed, a cocky grin finding its way onto his face, "Estella, I don't think you hate me."
"I DO think you're highly delusional."
"And you know what else I think?" Merry asked, his eyes twinkling, "I think you enjoyed that kiss."
"BITE YOUR TONGUE!" Estella screamed, a wild fire in her countenance, "Is this what you are up to at this hour of the night? Coming to my bedroom window and making me look like a lovesick damsel!"
"Well, you like to make me look daft, so I guess we're even."
"But I never come to your bedroom and throw stones at your window!" She raged.
Merry sighed teasingly, "Don't you ever read any storybooks?"
"No!" Estella declared with furious finality, "And I don't think I care to!"
"They can be quite good actually," mused Merry, stroking his chin thoughtfully, "I know there was one cousin Frodo enjoyed about a . . ."
"Good night Merry!" snarled Estella, "I hope your sleep is full of nightmares!" She paused before adding, "And you better find someone to fix my window!" With that, she spun away, and a few seconds later, Merry could hear a door slam shut as she left her room.
"That went well," He smiled to himself. Indeed it had, for through her own vicious defense of herself, she had let it slip.
Merry knew he had a chance.
TBC
Unfortunately, this will be my last post for a while, since I will be going on a short vacation in a couple days. (Of course, with the rate I'm updating, it will probably make no difference whatsoever, so none of you have to fret about it.) :0)
And everyone cheer for ROTK! *cheers*
*hugs all reviewers*
DiamondTook3: Merry can't say he didn't enjoy that. In fact, I don't think Estella can either. *wink*
Arwen Baggins: Of course, Merry will always turn everything around and make it work for him. :0)
Aragorns-gurl33: Thank you very much! *hugs* I'm sure the plot bunnies will attack for more Sam/Rosie stuff eventually.
Telpedilwen of Mirkwood: Who wouldn't enjoy a kiss from Merry? It's only a matter of whether she'll admit it. :0)
Loveofthering: Thank you! *hugs* I had so much fun writing the end to that last chapter. :0)
RosieLemondrop: I LOVED Merry and Pippin dancing on the tables. And I loved Pippin singing. In fact, I'm not sure if there was anything I didn't love. (And the count of viewings is three now *wink*) :0) I glad you liked that chapter! I sure did have a great time writing it. *dances*
MLynnBloom: Thank you! :0) As for what Merry's going to do about it. . . you'll see in this chapter!
KitKatz: Hehe! I'm glad you liked it! *hugs* Here's more!
Polychrome: See? Here's more! I told you I wouldn't fail you! *wink* I'm glad you're enjoying it! :0)
Twanda: *hugs* Thank you for your kind words! And yes, ROTK was AWESOME! :0)
Bertiebottsgeorge: I'm glad you like it! *hugs*
***: Interesting name there. . . *wink* Hey, if you wouldn't mind, could you refrain from cursing in your reviews? I'm really really glad you're enjoying it, but I'm a little miss goody goody and curse words tend to make me cringe. :0)
Concetta: Hehe. I'm surprised Merry's head hasn't fallen off. *wink*
Okay, I'm done rambling. On with the story!
************************************************************
Fatty Bolger ambled slowly into the library at Brandy Hall; his hands were deep in his pockets and his shoulders slumped. He had kept the knowledge of his horrible sister from his friends for as long as he could. Who could blame him? If Merry and Pippin had known of Estella when they were younger, Fatty feared they would never have wanted to be with him, for fear that they would have to deal with her all the time.
And that night's events had proved it. If only Merry had not gotten such a horrible idea in his head! How could he possible even want to win Estella's feelings? Or at least the few feelings she possessed.
Exhausted, his mother and father had already taken to their beds. Estella had stormed off to the room the Brandybucks had provided for her, but who knew what she was doing in there. Frankly, Fatty didn't care in the slightest.
A light in the library caused Fatty to pause slightly. He didn't know anyone else was still awake.
"Hello?" He called out softly, "Who's there?"
"Fatty!" Came Merry's voice from the corner of the room, "I didn't know you were still up."
"And I thought I was the only one," Fatty replied, coming close enough to see Merry's face illuminated by the light of a single wavering candle. He was sitting in a large, aged chair and was flipping through a large book. As Fatty drew closer, Merry shut the book gently.
"A Tale of a Dreaming Love," Fatty read the title incredulously.
Merry sat back in his chair, "It's actually quite a good book."
"Cousin? Have you suffered any substantial head injuries lately?"
Laughing, Merry shook his head, "No, Fatty, I have not gone nuts. I'm just trying to do some research."
Fatty froze, "Please tell me this is not about Estella." When the only answer he received was a small grin, he began to plead, "Merry! You have no idea what you're trying to do! You've doomed yourself!"
"Only if I fail," Merry replied with surety, "And I don't intend to."
***************************************************************
The silence of the night was broken by a persistent clicking sound on the side of Brandy Hall. Just as one would think it had stopped completely, it would start up again, clicking away like a woodpecker knocking against a tree one click at a time. One more click echoed through the dark. Then another.
And then there was a sudden sound of shattering glass.
Startled from her sleep by the noise, Estella Bolger stumbled out of bed and peered out through the jagged bits of glass that was once her window. She was clearly startled by what she saw, and even rubbed furiously at her eyes to make certain that grogginess was not deceiving her. Once she realized this was not the case, her face twisted into a scowl.
"Meriadoc Brandybuck!" She hissed, trying to keep her voice down as much as she was able, "I am aware of your lack of common sense, but why on earth are you up breaking windows at this hour?"
Merry let the small stone he was holding fall from his hand, and he brushed back his bed-mussed curls, "Good evening Estella. Don't worry your little head. I was only tossing tiny stones."
Estella shot a sidelong glace at her broken window, "Pardon me, but no tiny stone could manage that."
Shrugging, Merry muttered awkwardly, "All right, maybe they were a little too big, but they did work."
"What?" Estella's mouth dropped open, "If you were TRYING to break my window, Meriadoc, I swear . . ."
"No, no, no," Merry explained quickly, his hands raised as if in surrender, "I only meant to get your attention."
"Well, you did," Estella stated with no small amount of sarcasm, "And why is my attention so direly needed this late at night? Did you have a nightmare? I'm sorry, but that would be your mother's business."
"Do you enjoy making me feel daft?"
"Sometimes."
Merry took a deep breath, and let it out slowly in a long sigh, as if preparing himself for something. At last, he turned imploring eyes up to girl glaring down at him through the shards of glass. "Estella, why did you kiss me?"
If her eyes had opened up any more from Merry's question, they surely would have fallen out of her head. "You must be joking!" She nearly shouted, "That argument between me and my family would have awoken Odo Proudfoot after a dozen tankards of ale!"
"I won't disagree with that."
If anything, Estella's eyes grew colder, "Then what's your point?"
"Why did you kiss me?" Merry persisted, "I'm sure I am not incorrect in assuming that you have dealt with such arguments many times before. Surely there could have been some other way for you to get back at your family for what they said."
"So," her eyes were dangerously close to blazing, "You have a problem with the way I treat my family?"
"Well, I may just have a problem with how your family treats you."
Estella's fierce mask seems to falter, and she did not respond.
"Just answer me," he asked a final time, "Why did you kiss me?"
"Why should you care?" Estella countered softly.
"Why shouldn't I?" Said Merry, suddenly avoiding her gaze, "I have to be honest with you. I have been kissed by lasses before, but it was never . . . quite. . . like that . . ."
She rolled her eyes, "That's because you have most likely never been kissed by someone who hates you."
"That's just it!" Merry exclaimed, a cocky grin finding its way onto his face, "Estella, I don't think you hate me."
"I DO think you're highly delusional."
"And you know what else I think?" Merry asked, his eyes twinkling, "I think you enjoyed that kiss."
"BITE YOUR TONGUE!" Estella screamed, a wild fire in her countenance, "Is this what you are up to at this hour of the night? Coming to my bedroom window and making me look like a lovesick damsel!"
"Well, you like to make me look daft, so I guess we're even."
"But I never come to your bedroom and throw stones at your window!" She raged.
Merry sighed teasingly, "Don't you ever read any storybooks?"
"No!" Estella declared with furious finality, "And I don't think I care to!"
"They can be quite good actually," mused Merry, stroking his chin thoughtfully, "I know there was one cousin Frodo enjoyed about a . . ."
"Good night Merry!" snarled Estella, "I hope your sleep is full of nightmares!" She paused before adding, "And you better find someone to fix my window!" With that, she spun away, and a few seconds later, Merry could hear a door slam shut as she left her room.
"That went well," He smiled to himself. Indeed it had, for through her own vicious defense of herself, she had let it slip.
Merry knew he had a chance.
TBC