I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR TAKING THIS LONG! *kneels and kisses
reviewers' feet* I humbly ask your forgiveness.
Lots of reviewers this time! Thank you everybody! *Hugs* I really don't deserve you all.
MLynnBloom: I'm glad it made you happy! :0) I was waiting forever to WRITE moment like that! *giggles*
DiamondTook3: I'm glad you liked it! :0) *hugs*
Komikitty: Yay! :0)
Herculeha: Hobbit romances ARE the BEST, aren't they? And I can't resist snuggling hobbits! :0)
Loveofthering: I'm sorry I took so long! *hugs* Here's the next chapter!
Bertiebottsgeorge: Merry does like her quite a bit. Now, the question is, does she like him? Hmm, we'll just have to find out! :0)
Black Jaguar12: *cackles also* I just couldn't resist the idea of two love birds snuggling together to stay warm. :0)
KitKatz: Yes, I had to include the bit about the pantry door. Somehow, whenever I write, the jokes always seem to repeat themselves somehow. if that makes any sense. :P
El Shark: Look! I'm mentioning you again! *hugs* Hehe. I'm glad you're enjoying it!
Concetta: Merry is a sweetie. *sigh* To bad we can't all have him.
Telpedilwen of Mirkwood: Evil laughs are fun. MWAHAHAHAHAHA! :0)
Cindy: *hugs* :0) Glad you like it!
Kylark: No, Merry didn't intend to be stuck in the room with Estella. Works out good for him though, doesn't it? Must be fate. ;)
Polychrome: And now this one had an even longer wait. *hides* I hope it's compensated by something. :0) (And I don't even have TTTEE as an excuse this time. . . . *smacks self*)
Brandybuckgirl: Believe me, you're not the only one who's gotten that idea. ;)
RosieLemondrop: Blankets! Now all we need is tea, and we're good! ;) Well, no tea in this chapter. . . I'll have to make room for it in the next one. *giggle*
SlytherinHeir52: Yes, we have the advantage of knowing how the two souls will end up. All we have to do is watch and be amused! :P
Jemimateaser: She can't stand to be in the same room together for now. But someday . . . *trails off and winks*
Iluvian: Yes, it is a reference to the earlier joke. Somehow, I can never avoid doing something like that. Hehehe. By the way, thank you for your reviews on my other stories! That means a lot to me! *hugs*
Kero: If I can find room for some Pippin/Diamond, I'll be sure to toss it in! I promise! *hugs*
WOAH! *staggers* So many reviews! *hugs everyone and gives them all fresh baked chocolate cookies* Thank you so much! *dances*
Thank you also to Mint Sauce, whom I pester into checking over my chapters for me. *hugs Minty*
Okay, okay, I'm done talking. On with the show!
*************************************************************
"Do you want to know what I think of this? I say that our present situation is just a bump in the road of life!"
"Merry, that's profound," Estella mumbled sarcastically. She was now completely slumped against him, her head lolling on his shoulder. It was Merry's sore shoulder- the one he had used to try and break down the door- but he wasn't about to tell her that.
A gust of wind blew through the window, eliciting a violent tremble from Estella. Merry pulled her tighter against him. Not that it was doing much good. Estella was still shivering, and Merry was just as cold as she was. In fact, the cold brought back some not-so-pleasant memories of Caradhras, even though it had been so much colder there. That didn't change the fact that it was still COLD.
Aware that his mind was rambling, Merry stilled his thoughts and laid his head down into the soft pillow that was Estella's mass of curls. Looking down at her lips, now nearly blue from the temperature, he was struck with the sudden desire to warm them with a kiss. 'No!' he admonished himself, 'She told you not to get any ideas, and you will honor her request!' He sagged dejectedly, his mind at war with itself. 'Don't get any ideas, she says. What about the ones I already have?'
He watched her worriedly. She was shivering fiercely. Merry took her hand from where it lay at her side, and rubbed her slender fingers gently. They felt like ice.
"What . . . what are you doing?" Estella asked, shifting slightly in his arms.
Merry did not falter, even when he responded, "I'm trying to bring some life back into the icicles that were once your fingers."
She jerkily pulled her hand away, "And your attempts are failing utterly, since your fingers are just as cold. Why don't you do something useful? Like try to find a way out of this mess, perhaps?"
"If my memory serves me correctly, my last attempt didn't turn out very well."
She gave an exasperated sigh, "Then try something new! I don't know . . . make some loud noise to attract someone's attention and maybe they'll come investigate."
Merry took a quick moment to look around the room, and then replied, "I don't think there are any more glass bowls to throw against walls."
Shutting her eyes tightly, Estella struggled to maintain composure, "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that. Now go try and be noisy."
"What do you want me to do? The furniture is too heavy for even both of us to lift, let alone throw."
"Try squawking like a chicken."
"I beg your pardon?"
"They'll come to investigate," Estella insisted, her mirth twinkling in her eyes, "They'll want to know what a chicken is doing inside the guest quarters of Brandy Hall."
"I'd like to know what I'm doing inside the guest quarters," Merry sighed, "All I wanted to do was bring you breakfast, simple as that . . ."
She rolled her eyes, "Don't you think I could have fed myself, if I wanted to? I don't have to be taken care of like a small infant!"
"I have no doubt that you could," Merry said softly, "but . . ."
"No buts!" Estella demanded sharply, "It's bad enough we're stuck in here! I will NOT have you starting arguments, all right?"
"Sounds like you're the one starting arguments," Merry muttered.
Her voice dropped to a hiss, "What did you say?"
He waved a hand dismissively, "Nothing, don't worry about it."
"What RIGHT do you have," Estella's words were nearly shouts, "to SAY such things, and in all TRUTH, you're . . ."
". . . Estella . . .?" Came a muffled voice through the door.
"FATTY!" Both of them exclaimed, tripping over each other's feet in a mad scramble to reach the door.
"Estella?" Fatty asked, sounding bewildered, "What on Earth is taking you so long in there? Mother has had your new room prepared for an hour now."
"Fatty!" Merry shouted breathlessly, "Don't you dare move a muscle! We need your help!"
If anything, Fatty sounded even more bewildered than before, "Merry? What are you doing in my sister's bedroom?"
"Believe me Fatty, It's a long story. It started this morning, when I came down to breakfast . . ."
"SHUT YOUR MOUTHS!" Estella's scream ripped any words from Merry's throat before he could say them. She took a deep breath, and then continued more calmly, "Fatty, the door won't open. Could you be a dear and go fetch an axe?"
"Uh, I guess so Estella. Wait you just a few moments! I'll be back soon!" They could hear him running down the hallway, his footsteps fading away.
"Now," Estella stated, smoothing her skirts, "as long as my dear brother doesn't knock himself out with a coat hanger, we should be out of here in no time."
"Knock himself out with a coat hanger?" Asked Merry, raising an eyebrow in skepticism.
Estella nodded her head, "You'd be surprised what he's capable of accomplishing."
"That's not a very nice thing to say about your brother."
"Oh?" Estella's mouth curved into a small grin, "I could say worse things about you."
Merry's mouth shot open to speak, then he hesitated and said instead, "I should have seen that one coming."
The small grin slowly became a full-out smile, and to Merry's complete astonishment, Estella winked at him. Merry didn't know what to say, so he chose to simply stay silent.
It was only a few minutes before Fatty returned with Merry's father and Odovacar.
"Stand back!" Saradoc warned, before he attacked the door with his axe.
As the first few blows began to fall, Estella turned to Merry and whispered, "To be honest, when I got stuck with you in here, I thought it was going to be terrible. Well, it was still terrible, but not as bad as I thought it would be."
Before Merry could reply, the door caved in and let through a rush of warmth from the hallway, easing his freezing limbs.
"Come on," Odovacar gestured to them quickly, "Let's get you warmed up before your mothers find out."
TBC
Lots of reviewers this time! Thank you everybody! *Hugs* I really don't deserve you all.
MLynnBloom: I'm glad it made you happy! :0) I was waiting forever to WRITE moment like that! *giggles*
DiamondTook3: I'm glad you liked it! :0) *hugs*
Komikitty: Yay! :0)
Herculeha: Hobbit romances ARE the BEST, aren't they? And I can't resist snuggling hobbits! :0)
Loveofthering: I'm sorry I took so long! *hugs* Here's the next chapter!
Bertiebottsgeorge: Merry does like her quite a bit. Now, the question is, does she like him? Hmm, we'll just have to find out! :0)
Black Jaguar12: *cackles also* I just couldn't resist the idea of two love birds snuggling together to stay warm. :0)
KitKatz: Yes, I had to include the bit about the pantry door. Somehow, whenever I write, the jokes always seem to repeat themselves somehow. if that makes any sense. :P
El Shark: Look! I'm mentioning you again! *hugs* Hehe. I'm glad you're enjoying it!
Concetta: Merry is a sweetie. *sigh* To bad we can't all have him.
Telpedilwen of Mirkwood: Evil laughs are fun. MWAHAHAHAHAHA! :0)
Cindy: *hugs* :0) Glad you like it!
Kylark: No, Merry didn't intend to be stuck in the room with Estella. Works out good for him though, doesn't it? Must be fate. ;)
Polychrome: And now this one had an even longer wait. *hides* I hope it's compensated by something. :0) (And I don't even have TTTEE as an excuse this time. . . . *smacks self*)
Brandybuckgirl: Believe me, you're not the only one who's gotten that idea. ;)
RosieLemondrop: Blankets! Now all we need is tea, and we're good! ;) Well, no tea in this chapter. . . I'll have to make room for it in the next one. *giggle*
SlytherinHeir52: Yes, we have the advantage of knowing how the two souls will end up. All we have to do is watch and be amused! :P
Jemimateaser: She can't stand to be in the same room together for now. But someday . . . *trails off and winks*
Iluvian: Yes, it is a reference to the earlier joke. Somehow, I can never avoid doing something like that. Hehehe. By the way, thank you for your reviews on my other stories! That means a lot to me! *hugs*
Kero: If I can find room for some Pippin/Diamond, I'll be sure to toss it in! I promise! *hugs*
WOAH! *staggers* So many reviews! *hugs everyone and gives them all fresh baked chocolate cookies* Thank you so much! *dances*
Thank you also to Mint Sauce, whom I pester into checking over my chapters for me. *hugs Minty*
Okay, okay, I'm done talking. On with the show!
*************************************************************
"Do you want to know what I think of this? I say that our present situation is just a bump in the road of life!"
"Merry, that's profound," Estella mumbled sarcastically. She was now completely slumped against him, her head lolling on his shoulder. It was Merry's sore shoulder- the one he had used to try and break down the door- but he wasn't about to tell her that.
A gust of wind blew through the window, eliciting a violent tremble from Estella. Merry pulled her tighter against him. Not that it was doing much good. Estella was still shivering, and Merry was just as cold as she was. In fact, the cold brought back some not-so-pleasant memories of Caradhras, even though it had been so much colder there. That didn't change the fact that it was still COLD.
Aware that his mind was rambling, Merry stilled his thoughts and laid his head down into the soft pillow that was Estella's mass of curls. Looking down at her lips, now nearly blue from the temperature, he was struck with the sudden desire to warm them with a kiss. 'No!' he admonished himself, 'She told you not to get any ideas, and you will honor her request!' He sagged dejectedly, his mind at war with itself. 'Don't get any ideas, she says. What about the ones I already have?'
He watched her worriedly. She was shivering fiercely. Merry took her hand from where it lay at her side, and rubbed her slender fingers gently. They felt like ice.
"What . . . what are you doing?" Estella asked, shifting slightly in his arms.
Merry did not falter, even when he responded, "I'm trying to bring some life back into the icicles that were once your fingers."
She jerkily pulled her hand away, "And your attempts are failing utterly, since your fingers are just as cold. Why don't you do something useful? Like try to find a way out of this mess, perhaps?"
"If my memory serves me correctly, my last attempt didn't turn out very well."
She gave an exasperated sigh, "Then try something new! I don't know . . . make some loud noise to attract someone's attention and maybe they'll come investigate."
Merry took a quick moment to look around the room, and then replied, "I don't think there are any more glass bowls to throw against walls."
Shutting her eyes tightly, Estella struggled to maintain composure, "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that. Now go try and be noisy."
"What do you want me to do? The furniture is too heavy for even both of us to lift, let alone throw."
"Try squawking like a chicken."
"I beg your pardon?"
"They'll come to investigate," Estella insisted, her mirth twinkling in her eyes, "They'll want to know what a chicken is doing inside the guest quarters of Brandy Hall."
"I'd like to know what I'm doing inside the guest quarters," Merry sighed, "All I wanted to do was bring you breakfast, simple as that . . ."
She rolled her eyes, "Don't you think I could have fed myself, if I wanted to? I don't have to be taken care of like a small infant!"
"I have no doubt that you could," Merry said softly, "but . . ."
"No buts!" Estella demanded sharply, "It's bad enough we're stuck in here! I will NOT have you starting arguments, all right?"
"Sounds like you're the one starting arguments," Merry muttered.
Her voice dropped to a hiss, "What did you say?"
He waved a hand dismissively, "Nothing, don't worry about it."
"What RIGHT do you have," Estella's words were nearly shouts, "to SAY such things, and in all TRUTH, you're . . ."
". . . Estella . . .?" Came a muffled voice through the door.
"FATTY!" Both of them exclaimed, tripping over each other's feet in a mad scramble to reach the door.
"Estella?" Fatty asked, sounding bewildered, "What on Earth is taking you so long in there? Mother has had your new room prepared for an hour now."
"Fatty!" Merry shouted breathlessly, "Don't you dare move a muscle! We need your help!"
If anything, Fatty sounded even more bewildered than before, "Merry? What are you doing in my sister's bedroom?"
"Believe me Fatty, It's a long story. It started this morning, when I came down to breakfast . . ."
"SHUT YOUR MOUTHS!" Estella's scream ripped any words from Merry's throat before he could say them. She took a deep breath, and then continued more calmly, "Fatty, the door won't open. Could you be a dear and go fetch an axe?"
"Uh, I guess so Estella. Wait you just a few moments! I'll be back soon!" They could hear him running down the hallway, his footsteps fading away.
"Now," Estella stated, smoothing her skirts, "as long as my dear brother doesn't knock himself out with a coat hanger, we should be out of here in no time."
"Knock himself out with a coat hanger?" Asked Merry, raising an eyebrow in skepticism.
Estella nodded her head, "You'd be surprised what he's capable of accomplishing."
"That's not a very nice thing to say about your brother."
"Oh?" Estella's mouth curved into a small grin, "I could say worse things about you."
Merry's mouth shot open to speak, then he hesitated and said instead, "I should have seen that one coming."
The small grin slowly became a full-out smile, and to Merry's complete astonishment, Estella winked at him. Merry didn't know what to say, so he chose to simply stay silent.
It was only a few minutes before Fatty returned with Merry's father and Odovacar.
"Stand back!" Saradoc warned, before he attacked the door with his axe.
As the first few blows began to fall, Estella turned to Merry and whispered, "To be honest, when I got stuck with you in here, I thought it was going to be terrible. Well, it was still terrible, but not as bad as I thought it would be."
Before Merry could reply, the door caved in and let through a rush of warmth from the hallway, easing his freezing limbs.
"Come on," Odovacar gestured to them quickly, "Let's get you warmed up before your mothers find out."
TBC