Hello, hello! I'm back from the land of the pig farms! And I have been
cured from my computer withdrawal that I suffered from being in a place
where such things are expensive and rare commodities. :0)
DiamondTook3: They DO make such a cute couple. *wink* Gotta love hobbity romance.
Loveofthering: Well, I'm back! And ironically writing sooner than I have on previous occasions. . . hehe. :0) *hugs* I'm glad I seem to be doing okay on this story in your eyes!
KitKatz: Aw, you're so kind! *hugs* Hehe. Your favorite lines were some of my favorites too. :0)
Aragorns-gurl33: Merry does do quite an amazing job at handling her doesn't he? It was so completely meant to be, don't you think? :0)
Black Jaguar12: Oh, I wouldn't say he's that bad! Er . . . okay so maybe he is. :0)
BurnsideBabe2003: Hey, if you like this one, you should definitely delve deeper into the fabulous realm of hobbit romances! If you would like some recommendations, I've got plenty and you only need to ask! *hugs*
MLynnBloom: Merry's been the only person she's ever encountered in her life that makes her feel the way she does. :0) She most definitely feels very vulnerable about now.
Bertiebottsgeorge: Ah, but are you sure she does not already have a crush on him? *wink*
Telpedilwen of Mirkwood: Well, here's more! :0)
RosieLemondrop: Merry IS such a "gallant little gentleman" isn't he? *huggles Merry* Yes, the bet is looming over everything . . . and it's effect on the story will not become apparent until quite a bit later.
Herculeha: It's great to have you back! *hugs and throws confetti* Now while I have the chance. . . PLEASE update your story soon! *best attempt at sad puppy face* I miss that story so much! I wanna hear more!
All right. Now it's time to go on with the story. :0)
******************************************************
The schedule was as set as if it had been carved in stone. As soon as the sun rose, the Bolgers would get their belongings together, bid their gracious friends farewell, and set off on the road back home. After all, they only intended to stay for one night. It would not be polite to intrude upon their hosts any longer than they had. Unfortunately, the Bolgers, and the Brandybucks as well, were in for quite a surprise the next morning when they arose from their beds and peeked out of their windows.
The ground was blanketed in a thick layer of white. One look at the icicle- laden trees and the full gray sky confirmed the fact that there would be no travel that day.
His cloak wrapped tightly around himself, Saradoc Brandybuck hustled in through the kitchen door of Brandy Hall and shook little bits of snow from his hair. Rosamunda Bolger and Saradoc's wife, Esmerelda, who had been busy at work with some other ladies getting a hot breakfast ready for the hall's residents, immediately rushed over to him.
"Goodness!" Rosamunda exclaimed, carefully taking off his wet cloak to hang it up to dry, "How did you get it into your head to venture out there into the cold, Master Brandybuck?"
"Just checking the weather," he replied, and then turned to Rosamunda, "This snow blew in amazingly quickly. There was no sign of any bad weather until early this morning, and this much has happened already. The temperature is dropping rapidly. I'm sorry, Rosamunda, but I don't think it's safe for your family to travel back today."
She shook her head, "Oh, I don't wish to impose!"
Patting her shoulder, Saradoc said reassuringly, "Don't worry. You will not be imposing. I wouldn't dream of putting your family in danger."
"Now Saradoc," Esmerelda chided lovingly, rubbing warmth back into his stiff fingers, "You must be dreadfully cold. Let's sit you down by the fire and we can fix you up some tea to warm your bones."
*****************************************************
As Merry strode into the dining hall for breakfast, he quickly skimmed his eyes over the crowd until he spotted the dark, curly-haired head he was looking for. With an added confident bounce in his step, he came over to the table she was at and slid into the seat beside her.
"Good morning, Estella!" He said in an unbearably cheerful voice, ignoring her glare, "And how are you doing this fine day?"
She wrapped her hands tightly around her mug of hot tea and narrowed her eyes to dangerous slits, "Would you like me to exclude the fact that my room is now inhabitable?"
"Oh dear," Merry murmured, mock concern etched on his face, "and how could that have happened?"
"A rather rude hobbit," she declared viciously, "awoke me in the middle of the night and broke my window."
"Pity. I wonder who it could have been?"
Estella stood suddenly, knocking her chair over behind her, "Have you nothing better to do," she demanded, slamming her fist down on the table, "then follow me around and make me miserable!"
"But my dear Estella," Merry said cajolingly, "I prefer the term 'enjoy the presence of' rather than 'follow,' and I believe that you may be the one making yourself miserable." He stood and walked around behind her, lifting her chair up off the ground and setting it right, "Now, why don't you just calm yourself and sit back down. You're drawing stares."
Estella slumped down into her seat and took a long sip of her tea, "Let them stare," she muttered harshly, "they have nothing better to do."
"Oh, I'm sure they do. But now we come to new matters, for I believe I have found the problem!" Merry exclaimed, grinning widely, "You need to have a more positive attitude, Estella!"
"Right," she mumbled, obviously not convinced.
Merry put a hand on her shoulder, "Try this. Let me see you smile! Just once!"
"You're being foolish," she rebuked, shrugging away from his hand.
"All right," Merry said disappointedly, "Maybe I am."
"What?" Estella was startled. She hadn't expected him to give up so fast.
Smirking, he cocked his head playfully, "Why do you seem confused after I agree with you? Aren't you supposed to say something else cruel to me now?"
Immediately, she opened her mouth to speak . . . but she didn't know what to say. Merry seemed to have an odd ability to steal words from her tongue right as she was about to say them. What was it about him that made her feel so open and exposed? It wasn't fair.
"What did you say, Estella?"
She jerked, spilling some of her tea on the table, "What? I didn't say anything!"
"Yes you did," Merry prompted, "You said something wasn't fair."
Oh no . . . she had said that out loud? How much did she say? Her mouth worked soundlessly for a long moment before she finally blurted, "Well, it's none of your business!"
"No need to get flustered, dear lass, I was only asking," Merry laughed a little, leaning back in his seat. Estella, however, decided that she had definitely had enough of him. Shortly after the previous conversation, she stood abruptly and left the room without even waiting for breakfast.
******************************************************
A knock at the door to her room brought Estella's head up from her packing. Wrapping her thick cloak around her more tightly, she let out an annoyed sigh. Her warm breath came out as mist in the frigid air of her room.
"Whoever it is," she declared firmly, "Go away."
'Whoever it was' certainly had no intention of 'going away.' Just as she had expected, the person completely ignored her order (or advice, as she thought it) and opened the creaking door and came right in. And, and she had also been expecting, it was the last person on the planet she wanted to see: Merry.
"My goodness, Estella," he said gently, "Do really have to be so . . . my goodness, Estella, it's so COLD in here!" Quickly setting down the small sack he was holding, he hugged his shivering arms close to himself.
Her hands on her hips, Estella asked in a spiteful voice, "And whose fault is that?"
Merry cringed as he looked over her shoulder at the shattered window, "All right, I'm really sorry about the window."
"What's wrong with you?" she asked, scowling in disdain, "How dare you come here just to rub in my face the fact that you have only succeeded in making my time here dreadful? Just get out. Now."
"But, Estella," Merry once again picked up the small sack he had brought in, "I noticed this morning that you did not get any breakfast. I brought up some bread and apples in case you wanted some."
"Why thank you, Merry!" She smiled and took the bag from him before he could react, "How very thoughtful of you!" She reached in and took out a large apple and rubbed her fingers over it thoughtfully. Merry noticed with alarm that she had a scheming gleam in her eye. "I wonder," she said aloud, her eyes never leaving the apple in her hand, "How many of these it would take to chase you from this room?"
"What do you mean . . ." and then Merry understood. Backing away slowly, he said shakily, "Now Estella, you don't need to . . ."
But it was too late. Even as he was speaking, she hurled the apple at him forcefully. Seeing it whistling through the air towards his face, Merry barely had time to jump out of the way. However, fate had other plans that day, for Merry had been standing directly in front of the closed door. The apple that had been intended for him hit the wooden knob on the door and knocked it clean off.
Each of them looked with shocked faces at the now useless door. Merry was the first to voice the thought that was on both of their minds.
"This can't be good."
TBC
DiamondTook3: They DO make such a cute couple. *wink* Gotta love hobbity romance.
Loveofthering: Well, I'm back! And ironically writing sooner than I have on previous occasions. . . hehe. :0) *hugs* I'm glad I seem to be doing okay on this story in your eyes!
KitKatz: Aw, you're so kind! *hugs* Hehe. Your favorite lines were some of my favorites too. :0)
Aragorns-gurl33: Merry does do quite an amazing job at handling her doesn't he? It was so completely meant to be, don't you think? :0)
Black Jaguar12: Oh, I wouldn't say he's that bad! Er . . . okay so maybe he is. :0)
BurnsideBabe2003: Hey, if you like this one, you should definitely delve deeper into the fabulous realm of hobbit romances! If you would like some recommendations, I've got plenty and you only need to ask! *hugs*
MLynnBloom: Merry's been the only person she's ever encountered in her life that makes her feel the way she does. :0) She most definitely feels very vulnerable about now.
Bertiebottsgeorge: Ah, but are you sure she does not already have a crush on him? *wink*
Telpedilwen of Mirkwood: Well, here's more! :0)
RosieLemondrop: Merry IS such a "gallant little gentleman" isn't he? *huggles Merry* Yes, the bet is looming over everything . . . and it's effect on the story will not become apparent until quite a bit later.
Herculeha: It's great to have you back! *hugs and throws confetti* Now while I have the chance. . . PLEASE update your story soon! *best attempt at sad puppy face* I miss that story so much! I wanna hear more!
All right. Now it's time to go on with the story. :0)
******************************************************
The schedule was as set as if it had been carved in stone. As soon as the sun rose, the Bolgers would get their belongings together, bid their gracious friends farewell, and set off on the road back home. After all, they only intended to stay for one night. It would not be polite to intrude upon their hosts any longer than they had. Unfortunately, the Bolgers, and the Brandybucks as well, were in for quite a surprise the next morning when they arose from their beds and peeked out of their windows.
The ground was blanketed in a thick layer of white. One look at the icicle- laden trees and the full gray sky confirmed the fact that there would be no travel that day.
His cloak wrapped tightly around himself, Saradoc Brandybuck hustled in through the kitchen door of Brandy Hall and shook little bits of snow from his hair. Rosamunda Bolger and Saradoc's wife, Esmerelda, who had been busy at work with some other ladies getting a hot breakfast ready for the hall's residents, immediately rushed over to him.
"Goodness!" Rosamunda exclaimed, carefully taking off his wet cloak to hang it up to dry, "How did you get it into your head to venture out there into the cold, Master Brandybuck?"
"Just checking the weather," he replied, and then turned to Rosamunda, "This snow blew in amazingly quickly. There was no sign of any bad weather until early this morning, and this much has happened already. The temperature is dropping rapidly. I'm sorry, Rosamunda, but I don't think it's safe for your family to travel back today."
She shook her head, "Oh, I don't wish to impose!"
Patting her shoulder, Saradoc said reassuringly, "Don't worry. You will not be imposing. I wouldn't dream of putting your family in danger."
"Now Saradoc," Esmerelda chided lovingly, rubbing warmth back into his stiff fingers, "You must be dreadfully cold. Let's sit you down by the fire and we can fix you up some tea to warm your bones."
*****************************************************
As Merry strode into the dining hall for breakfast, he quickly skimmed his eyes over the crowd until he spotted the dark, curly-haired head he was looking for. With an added confident bounce in his step, he came over to the table she was at and slid into the seat beside her.
"Good morning, Estella!" He said in an unbearably cheerful voice, ignoring her glare, "And how are you doing this fine day?"
She wrapped her hands tightly around her mug of hot tea and narrowed her eyes to dangerous slits, "Would you like me to exclude the fact that my room is now inhabitable?"
"Oh dear," Merry murmured, mock concern etched on his face, "and how could that have happened?"
"A rather rude hobbit," she declared viciously, "awoke me in the middle of the night and broke my window."
"Pity. I wonder who it could have been?"
Estella stood suddenly, knocking her chair over behind her, "Have you nothing better to do," she demanded, slamming her fist down on the table, "then follow me around and make me miserable!"
"But my dear Estella," Merry said cajolingly, "I prefer the term 'enjoy the presence of' rather than 'follow,' and I believe that you may be the one making yourself miserable." He stood and walked around behind her, lifting her chair up off the ground and setting it right, "Now, why don't you just calm yourself and sit back down. You're drawing stares."
Estella slumped down into her seat and took a long sip of her tea, "Let them stare," she muttered harshly, "they have nothing better to do."
"Oh, I'm sure they do. But now we come to new matters, for I believe I have found the problem!" Merry exclaimed, grinning widely, "You need to have a more positive attitude, Estella!"
"Right," she mumbled, obviously not convinced.
Merry put a hand on her shoulder, "Try this. Let me see you smile! Just once!"
"You're being foolish," she rebuked, shrugging away from his hand.
"All right," Merry said disappointedly, "Maybe I am."
"What?" Estella was startled. She hadn't expected him to give up so fast.
Smirking, he cocked his head playfully, "Why do you seem confused after I agree with you? Aren't you supposed to say something else cruel to me now?"
Immediately, she opened her mouth to speak . . . but she didn't know what to say. Merry seemed to have an odd ability to steal words from her tongue right as she was about to say them. What was it about him that made her feel so open and exposed? It wasn't fair.
"What did you say, Estella?"
She jerked, spilling some of her tea on the table, "What? I didn't say anything!"
"Yes you did," Merry prompted, "You said something wasn't fair."
Oh no . . . she had said that out loud? How much did she say? Her mouth worked soundlessly for a long moment before she finally blurted, "Well, it's none of your business!"
"No need to get flustered, dear lass, I was only asking," Merry laughed a little, leaning back in his seat. Estella, however, decided that she had definitely had enough of him. Shortly after the previous conversation, she stood abruptly and left the room without even waiting for breakfast.
******************************************************
A knock at the door to her room brought Estella's head up from her packing. Wrapping her thick cloak around her more tightly, she let out an annoyed sigh. Her warm breath came out as mist in the frigid air of her room.
"Whoever it is," she declared firmly, "Go away."
'Whoever it was' certainly had no intention of 'going away.' Just as she had expected, the person completely ignored her order (or advice, as she thought it) and opened the creaking door and came right in. And, and she had also been expecting, it was the last person on the planet she wanted to see: Merry.
"My goodness, Estella," he said gently, "Do really have to be so . . . my goodness, Estella, it's so COLD in here!" Quickly setting down the small sack he was holding, he hugged his shivering arms close to himself.
Her hands on her hips, Estella asked in a spiteful voice, "And whose fault is that?"
Merry cringed as he looked over her shoulder at the shattered window, "All right, I'm really sorry about the window."
"What's wrong with you?" she asked, scowling in disdain, "How dare you come here just to rub in my face the fact that you have only succeeded in making my time here dreadful? Just get out. Now."
"But, Estella," Merry once again picked up the small sack he had brought in, "I noticed this morning that you did not get any breakfast. I brought up some bread and apples in case you wanted some."
"Why thank you, Merry!" She smiled and took the bag from him before he could react, "How very thoughtful of you!" She reached in and took out a large apple and rubbed her fingers over it thoughtfully. Merry noticed with alarm that she had a scheming gleam in her eye. "I wonder," she said aloud, her eyes never leaving the apple in her hand, "How many of these it would take to chase you from this room?"
"What do you mean . . ." and then Merry understood. Backing away slowly, he said shakily, "Now Estella, you don't need to . . ."
But it was too late. Even as he was speaking, she hurled the apple at him forcefully. Seeing it whistling through the air towards his face, Merry barely had time to jump out of the way. However, fate had other plans that day, for Merry had been standing directly in front of the closed door. The apple that had been intended for him hit the wooden knob on the door and knocked it clean off.
Each of them looked with shocked faces at the now useless door. Merry was the first to voice the thought that was on both of their minds.
"This can't be good."
TBC