Chapter 8

Searching His Heart

Round puffy red cheeks and a thick belly bounced and wiggled while his hairy feet tried to keep up to his sister. His breath came in quick panting, huffing and puffing when he got around the stone gate leading into the Brandybuck's garden.

Estella stopped when she noticed that Merry stood up waiting for her to approach. She turned to see if her brother had caught up to her and within a moment he was breathlessly by her side.

In one arm, Estella held a brown wrapped box and with her other, she took her brother's arm allowing him to lead her to where Merry waited.

Merry could not take his eyes from her and watched her intently as she approached him. The smile on his face was noticed by those who stood next to him until Estella reached them.

Merry took her extended hand and shook it in greeting her.

"Welcome, Estella and Freddy, I am so glad to see the both of you!" said Merry sincerely. Taking Fredegar's extended hand he greeted him, "It has been sometime since I've seen you and you look to be your old self once again."

"And I am, Merry!" chuckled Fredegar and patted his over-sized belly. "Thanks to you for saving me from those lockholds."

Merry laughed with Fredegar at his own jest and returned his attention back to Estella and offered his arm to her, "May I present you to my father," he asked staring into her beautiful eyes and then gently taking her hand to guide her to his father.

"Da, this is Mrs. Tobias Brownlocks from Stock."

Estella looked at Merry in shock and turned to Merry's father and smiled reluctantly at him saying, "Miss Estella Bolger, to correct your son. I fear he has come to the wrong conclusion from the last time that we have spoken."

Merry's face froze with the realization that what he believed was not true and a what he had begun to feel in his heart for this lass came to the surface. A brilliant smile was replaced upon his lips as he watched his father greet her.

Saradoc was also lost in the clear blueness of her eyes and loveliness of her face that he stared into. "You will have to forgive my son, Miss Bolger, when finding such an outstanding treasure as yourself, that should have been his first question."

Estella giggled and blushed at Saradoc's compliment and his assessment of her and his son's error.

"Da, this is Fredegar Bolger from Hobbiton. Both are very good friends of mine from my childhood when I use to stay with Frodo Baggins during the summer. They are brother and sister."

Saradoc extended his hand to the chubby fellow and remembered his son's story of Mr. Bolger. "I remember you well and Merry has spoken of you often."

Shaking his hand, Saradoc returned his attention to Myrtle and her father. "This is Miss Broadbelt and her father, Mr. Broadbelt, also from Stock."

Estella placed her package on the table that she carried and extended her hand to Myrtle.

Myrtle lightly clasped her hand and immediately withdrew it.

"I know most all hobbits from Stock, but I can not recall any Bolger's living there?" Myrtle asked.

"Perhaps you know the Brownlocks. They are my uncle and aunt. I have recently come to live with them to help care for their children," informed Estella proudly.

Merry's heart jumped its beat and he beamed another brilliant smile now knowing the answers to his questions that he should have asked her.

"Yes, I have heard of the Brownlock's. They are country folk that barely can make ends meet on their small little acreage. It's a wonder that they can afford you or offer you any wages for the number of children that they have," commented Myrtle doing her best to make Estella seemed less in the eyes of the Brandybucks.

Merry came to her defense immediately by adding, "On the contrary, Myrtle, Miss Bolger and her family have one of the finest stores in Hobbiton that is well respected throughout the entire Shire."

Myrtle smiled sweetly at Estella and returned another comment, "I always have admired store folk who work so hard to supply all the wonderful things that I enjoy purchasing at my leisure." Again, Myrtle seemed to put Estella in a lesser standing from her position.

"Then you must stop by our store when visiting Hobbiton. Freddy has shelves of the finest trinkets that you would find most interesting. He does a great business within the Shire and is expanding his stores to other townships," added Estella and turned back to Merry.

"I have brought you a package of something that belongs to you," commented Estella reaching for her package to present to Merry.

Merry smiled and knew exactly what it was. He remembered leaving his vest in her home and did not want to go back to get it. Now he was glad that he had done so.

The servant cleared his throat to gain the Master of Buckland's attention. When Saradoc looked in his direction of the servant, he spoke directly to him. "Hatty has sent me ta tell ya yer coach is readied and stands await'n fer yer guests."

Saradoc nodded to the servant and turned to Mr. Broadbelt and Myrtle. "Well then, since Merry has guests that he wishes to speak to, I will escort you both to your rooms so you can prepare for your departure."

Myrtle glared at her father, but he quickly took her arm and led her with the Master of Buckland to their rooms.

Merry watched Myrtle and Mr. Broadbelt following his father into the Brandy Hall, before he turned back to his guests and offered them some tea and biscuits.

Xxx

Myrtle watched from her window while the three hobbits laughed and joked with each other. She noticed the look on Merry's face when he spoke to Miss Bolger, as if he was endearing her face into his heart. For all of Myrtle's charm, she could never get that same type of look from him.

Estella was a lovely lass and for Myrtle, her jealously began to burn inside her.

A knock came upon her door and she left the window to answer it. Her father ushered himself in and closed the door, but not before making sure no one was about. Taking his daughter's arm, he escorted further into her room.

"Myrtle we must act quickly. That race is going to be starting within the next week. I have to know which path Meridoc is planning on taking to cross the Shire back to Buckland. He must be stopped! If my ponies lose this race, we stand to lose everything we have. Word has it from my lads is that his pony is very fast. In fact they have not seen anything like it. He had overtaken my best ponies by a quarter of mile and that was on the hills. He must not take the flat road to Frogmorton and then bypasses Stock. You must convince him to takes the Green Hills road that curves around the Marish and then into Stock. I will have my lads waiting for him there."

"How are you planning on taking that pony away from Merry?" she asked.

"Anyway that is necessary," her father answered. "My friends in Bree will keep the pony there. There will be no hiding that pony in the Shire. They can get a good price for it, that is, if we can get it to Bree."

"I have that all ready arranged," she told him. "However, I will not have Merry being harmed! I can not become Mistress of Brandy Hall if he is dead!"

Mr. Broadbelt went to the window and peered out, "Nor will you if he loves another!"

Myrtle's eyes fell into a tight evil squint while she glared at Estella Bolger from the window who was laughing and giggling at Merry's jokes. "I will personally take care of our Miss Bolger. You need not worry yourself about that!"

Myrtle walked away from the window and over to her bed to picking up her new dress that she was planning on wearing to the opening festival at Tuckborough at the start of the pony race. "Besides, when Merry sees me in the spectacular dress, he will soon forget about that simple dressed hobbit and her simple ways!"

Mr. Broadbelt patted his daughter on her back. "I know you well enough, my daughter. If anyone could, my money would be on you!"

He walked over to the door and opened it. "Come with me to speak with Mistress Esmeralda, she has invited us to tea and cakes. We must say are proper farewells before we pack and be off on our way."

When the door closed in Myrtles room, another door opened from her closet. Two smaller pair of hairy feet popped out from the darkest corner and tipped-toes across the room. Waiting for a few minutes by her front door, she opened it and ran into the corridor to find her own room. She had to think of what she needed to do next.

Xxx

Before the tea and biscuits had ended, Merry had convinced his guests to stay the night or two before heading back to their home in Stock. Having Estella by his side in Brandy Hall, brought a new excitement of feelings within his heart. He felt light as a feather and he began to understand what his cousin talked about being with Diamond Took. He wondered if her kisses would be sweeter than any honey that he had ever tasted. He toyed with the idea in his mind.

When Hatty approached him in the garden, Merry knew it was time for the Broadbelt's departure and he had to say his good-byes to them. Asking Hatty to show his guests to their rooms, he promised Estella he would call upon her when dinner was serves and escorted her and her brother to the Great Hall.

Waving to his guests, he stood by the flowers and watched Estella walk with her brother into Brandy Hall. His heartbeat rapidly within the confines of his chest, just watching her and waves of feelings of being overjoyed danced throughout him. Even the sound of her name seemed more like music than words and Merry knew without question, that he was falling in love with Estella Bolger. That thought scared and enticed him all at the same time. His mixed emotions began to collide with his inner thoughts while he tried to reason this out. He knew if he did not watch himself carefully, that he would end up just like Pippin and all of his dreams of adventure and travel would never happen if he were married. His father would see him taking over Brandy Hall behind his desk trapped for the rest of his life and never venturing any further than the garden in which he stood. But his heart seemed to tell him that with Estella beside him, would he want to venture any further from her. Would the land of Rohan in which he dreamed of seeing once again, or the old Forest with Treebeard or even the white tower of Minas Tirith hold more than what he was beginning to feel within his own heart for this lass. Merry closed his eyes as this battled raged between his heart and mind.

He heard a group of voices that seemed to be gathering in the front of Brandy Hall and it pulled him from his thoughts. The Broadbelts were leaving and he must say his farewells.

Myrtle was another issue that he knew that needed his immediate attention. This fake courtship had to end and he would speak to his father first, soon after the Broadbelts have left.

Myrtle put on a brilliant smile seeing Merry who joined them at their coach. Merry kissed her cheek and shook Mr. Broadbelt's hand in saying his farewells. While Mr. Broadbelt helped his wife, Pitty into the coach, Merril stood to the side and hoped that Merry would soon notice her to say his farewells to her.

Seeing Merrill with downcast eyes and a rather large pout upon her lips, Merry bent down in front of her. "Well little one, did you enjoy your stay at Brandy Hall?" Merry asked her. He noticed the bright smile that broke her pout when he spoke to her.

"Oh, yes, Merry, I did in deed!" she exclaimed.

Merry picked a flower and handed to the young lass. "This is for you, so you can remember me by," commented Merry and gave her a small wink.

Merril's heart seemed to leap in her chest at Merry's grand gesture and she through her arms around his neck, hugging him and started crying.

"There, there now," pleaded Merry patting the young lass's back. "It is only just a flower and no need for tears. I will see you again really soon."

"Promise me, Merry," she said so softly.

"Yes, Merril," commented Merry pulling her away from him to look her directly eye to eye.

"I have something very important to tell you before the pony race begins," she whispered to him softly so her family did not hear her. "You must promise me before you race your pony that I speak with you first!"

Merry nodded and thought the young lass was playing another childhood game with him and patted her upon the top of her head. "I promise little one, I'll be there."

Merril hugged Merry again and whispered, "I love you, Meridoc Brandybuck!"

Picking her up into his arms, Merry lifted Merrill into the coach. "You take good care of your Mum and Myrtle and I'll see you at the pony races."

When Merry turned from the coach, Myrtle stood before him. Merry took her hands and patted them. "We are good friends, right Myrtle?" asked Merry.

"Yes, of course Merry," she questioned. "Why ever are you questioning that?"

"I just want to make sure that we understand each other properly," added Merry. "If you please, I would like very much to stop by for a visit before I go on to Tuckborough. I have something I wish to speak to you about."

"I will look forward to your visit," she commented. "You must bring Winnie with you when you visit. I would very much love to show my father that magnificent pony. Will you do that for me, Merry?"

"Yes, of course. I would love nothing better than to convince your father of the value of my ponies," he added. "Until then, Myrtle, I will say my fondest farewells."

Merry helped her into his coach and closed the door. Waving to the Broadbelts, he stood and watched the coach pull out from Brandy Hall.

Turning, Merry headed into his home in search of his father.

A/N: Today is my birthday and in the tradition of the hobbits, they give presents to others. This chapter, I will do the same….Hehehehehe