Chapter Eleven

Azalea returned from the privy and went back into the sitting room, where and Merry and Pippin were alone. "What happened to Estella?"

Pippin held back a smile. "She, um, went to talk to her brother."

"Oh." She sat back down next to Merry and poured herself some tea. "Well, I hope she comes back soon." She took a sip of tea. "I know I've said this before, but I'm just so glad that I've met you. I wish my life could be as interesting as yours are. I wish I could have seen and done all of the things that you did."

"You wouldn't want to experience all of those things," Merry said. "Be glad that you didn't go on the journey. Some of the things I've been through are too terrible to tell a young lady about."

"Really?" Her blue eyes were wide. "I'm sorry you had to go through those things then, even though I don't know what they are. Are you all right?"

Pippin hastily took a swig of tea in order to stifle his laugh.

Merry raised his eyebrows at Azalea. "Er, yes. I'm fine."

"Well I just wanted to be sure," she said. "I heard that your journey was really dangerous. I hope you didn't get hurt."

"He survived it, don't worry," said Pippin.

Azalea was now looking at Merry in concern. "Oh no, you did get hurt? How?"

"You don't need to know how," Merry said. "It has to do with things that someone as innocent as you shouldn't know about. You don't need to know anything of evil, or darkness. Don't worry about me. I completely recovered, I assure you."

"Recovered from what?" Freddie asked. He had just entered the room, along with Estella, Frodo, and Sam.

"Azalea was just concerned about Merry's encounter with the Witch-King and his fight against the Black Breath," Pippin said, a mischievous look in his eyes.

Freddie shuddered. "Please don't talk about that. Those Black Rider things still frighten me, even if they are gone."

Estella's curiosity had been sparked and she was looking excitedly at her friends, forgetting all about her irritated feelings towards Azalea and Merry. "What happened? Who are the Black Riders and what's the Black Breath?"

Frodo shook his head. "No, Estella. It's too horrible for you to hear about."

Estella felt angry at Frodo, which in turn made her feel angry with herself since there was usually no reason to be upset with Frodo. He was the most gentlemanly hobbit she had ever met. But he had irritated her now. "Haven't any of you noticed that I'm mature enough to handle these things? I'm of age now, and I saw what the ruffians had done to the Shire! I've seen horrible things happen too, so you aren't the only ones!"

Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin all exchanged looks. "I think Estella's right," Pippin said. "I don't see why we're so against her hearing these things."

"Thank you, Pippin," Estella said. He was usually on her side, even though the others hardly ever were.

"Well, I suppose it would be all right," Frodo said. "We can discuss it later."

"Why not now?" Pippin asked.

Frodo looked at Pippin and then jerked his head towards Azalea. Pippin nodded and said no more on the subject.

Freddie looked at the clock on the mantelpiece. "Well, I think we should be going soon. Azalea's family probably won't want her staying out too long."

Azalea got to her feet and set down her teacup. "Oh, all right. But I can visit some time soon, right?"

"Of course," Frodo said. "We'll be happy to see you again."

"I'll be in the carriage," said Estella. "Goodbye, everyone." She left the room and went outside into the carriage. Nobody stopped her or commented on her eagerness to leave.

"Well, come Azalea," Freddie said.

"Goodbye, Azalea," said Pippin.

Azalea said goodbye to each of them, bidding farewell to Merry last of all, looking at him ardently. "It was so nice to talk to you, Merry. You're one of the nicest people I've ever met and I really hope to see you soon." She then followed Freddie out of the house and they got into the carriage.

"Well, Azalea seems quite interested in you, Merry," Frodo said with a grin.

"What do you mean? I'm sure she isn't," Merry insisted. "She can't possibly like me that way. She just met me!"

"Oh, nonsense, Mr. Merry," said Sam. "I knew I was in love with Rosie when I first met her."

"Well I don't know what to do," Merry said. "I don't feel that way about her. But I can't tell her that because I don't want to upset her."

"You can always just explain to her that your heart belongs to another lass," said Pippin with a wicked look in his eyes.

Merry threw a pillow at him. "You had better not be talking about Estella! I don't care for her that way! Every single time we talk, we always argue. How can I love a girl who I can't even have a civil conversation with? We don't get along and we never will."

Frodo laughed. "Oh, you and Estella didn't always hate each other. I remember when you were just children and you got along fine. You started to fight with each when you entered the age when lads and lasses usually start to notice each other. How funny."

Merry was now blushing furiously. "You've all gone mad. That's the only explanation."

"All right, Mr. Frodo, don't tease him," Sam said. "I know what it's like to be teased for liking a girl and-"

Now it was Sam's turn to get a pillow thrown at him. "I've told you all more than once! I don't like her!" Merry insisted.

"All right, we'll leave you alone, Merry," said Frodo, not wanting to get hit with a pillow. "Though next time there is a guest, please try to be nicer to Estella."

"I'll try," Merry said. "I'm not making any promises. Once again, I've been told to 'be nicer to Estella'. People have told me the exact same thing over and over again. Can't everyone just leave me alone about her?"

"I thought you were the one who didn't want to discuss it anymore," Pippin said. "Now it's you who is bringing the subject up again."

"Well, I wouldn't be talking about her if you weren't talking about her first," Merry said. "Now enough of this talk."

"All right, we'll discuss something else," Pippin said. "Though I agree and Frodo and I must give you this advice yet again. You really shouldn't be so horrible to Estella. She loves you, after all, and you're breaking her heart by-"

At those words, Merry got up out of his seat. "I have to use the privy!" He ran off and disappeared.

Pippin shook his head. "He and Estella are so much alike. They really are soul mates."