Chapter 11

The Pony Race

The bright morning sun just peaked over the Green Hills of Tuckborough and soft gentle neighing came from the far pastures from the ponies that lingered eating the tall grass with a fresh coating of thick dew.

A small cart rolled down the long corridor of the Great Smial, grinding and squeaking while servants began their morning chores. Some extinguished candles and replaced them with new ones, while other servants were rekindling the fireplace to add a little warmth from the crisp early morning air.

The stirring in the corridor awoke the sleeping young Master of Buckland and he rested within the warmth of his bed while he just listening to the sounds outside his bedroom.

After the past three days of festivals, drinking, dancing and eating. Merry was glad the day of the race was finally to begin.

Lying there and staring up at the ceiling, he began to think about Estella and the worry that plagued him. Rising from his soft feather bed, the crisp morning air gave him a chill when he tossed the quilts off and sat on the side of the bed. Running his fingers threw the tangles of curls in his hair, Merry could not help his feelings that something was just not right. Estella had not arrived as she had promised. Then for all of his worry, Pippin and Paladin kept telling him that perhaps she just changed her mind and preferred to be at the finish line at his home in Buckland. After all, many of the contestant's families said their farewells to their loved ones and began their trek to Buckland. Perhaps they were right and Estella just thought it more practical to see Merry at Brandy Hall.

Merry shrugged his shoulders and thought that it made perfect sense. Dismissing his worry once again, he headed to the dressing table to prepare himself for the race. He knew Pippin and Diamond would be there given him a send off, yet his worry still nagged at him.

After grooming and dressing himself, Merry made his way to the Great Hall for first morning breakfast. Afterwards he would see to his pony and prepare her for the race.

The closer he got to the Great Hall, he could hear Paladin's booming voice while he shouted out his displeasures.

"That conniving old fool!" shouted Paladin. "If he thinks he is going to get out of his end of the bargain, he is sadly mistaken!"

Pippin sat in the chair with his hands holding up his aching head and his father's grumbling did not help him at all. His first morning breakfast was hardly touched which was a rarity for this Took. Taking a plate offered to Merry by a servant, he joined his cousin at his table.

Sitting next to his cousin, he watched Paladin pace up and down the isles from the tables while he ate. Three of Paladin's guards stood with bewildered looks upon their faces, while their master stood there and fumed.

"You send a messenger up to Brandy Hall and make sure old Saradoc hears all about this! If Mr. Broadbelt is trying to hold on to his silver cup and his end of the purse, I'll shake it out of him!"

Merry turned to his cousin after taking a few bites of his breakfast and after hearing Paladin's words, he asked him, "What is he going on about?"

Pippin mumbled softly as not to offset the pain throbbing in his head. "Mr. Broadbelt was supposed to show up during the festival and give the silver cup and part of his purse to my Da. The old fellow never came yet."

"It is a queer thing, Pippin, I had plans to speak with Myrtle a few days past, but she had forgotten and left early. Then come to think of it, she never shown up here neither," commented Merry and he began to worry. "Something is up, Pippin. I can feel in my bones!"

"They're probably all at Brandy Hall and you could have just missed them, you'll see when you get there," Pippin told him and groaned from his efforts to speak.

"Perhaps your right, Pippin," commented Merry while he finished his breakfast and stood up. Patting his cousin on his back and seeing him cringe, he added. "The race will be starting soon. I'm going to the stable to get Snowclad ready, you'll be there to see me off?"

"I'll be there shortly, just as soon as my head stops hurting," added Pippin.

"You know you never could handle your drink there, Pip!" Merry teased him before heading out to the stable to prepare his pony.

Stepping out into the cool morning air, Merry noticed many hobbits just coming out of their tents while others were readying their ponies.

Servants began to fill long tables for the first breakfast and all ready there was a line of hobbits standing and waiting.

By the time he made it to the stables a tired stable lad yawned and stretched his arms, biding Merry a good morning, he opened the door to the stable for the young master.

Merry went down the long line of stalls searching for his pony. Seeing Whinnie prancing and neighing towards the back, he decided to head in her direction.

When Merry reached the end portion of the stable, his shoulders slumped seeing his Snowclad laying next to Pippin's black stallion. Shaking his head and scowling at her, he commented, "Snowclad, I am telling you, he is just going to break your heart. It's better if you end this courtship here and now. It is just folly being in love with a Took!"

Merry laughed at his own jest and watched her while she stood up and came over to him. Petting and stroking her gently, Merry turned and led her away from her black stallion.

After feeding, watering and brushing her, Merry took his saddle and put it on her. When he finished readying her, he climbed upon her back to walk her around limbering up her muscles.

Taking her out for a slow run around the pasture, Whinnie decided to follow them. The two ponies tried to race each other and Merry felt Snowclad wanting to run her fastest. Pulling on the reins, he slowed his pony down. "Save it for the race, my dearest Snowclad," he told her. Bringing her to a complete stop almost on top of the small hill in the pasture, he could look down upon the Great Smial and saw groups of hobbits beginning to line their ponies up.

Merry reached his hand down and petted and stroked his pony's soft furry neck and began talking to her. "Today, my pet, will be a day spoken of for many times to come. Mr. Broadbelt's lads down there will do their best to keep you blocked in between them, but we are not going to let them. I've got a plan, my Snowclad, that they will not be able to out maneuver. You just follow my lead as we have practiced."

In saying that, Snowclad appeared to understand his words. She began neighing and nodding her head. Her thick white mane bounced with the motions of her head and neck. Merry laughed at his pony's gestures. "Lets go give those lads a run for their money!"

With that Merry kicked his pony and Snowclad lunged forward, galloping fast down the hill and headed towards the Great Smial. Whinnie followed prancing and galloping behind them.

Pippin was standing with his family at the starting line and was shaking his father's hand. Still dressed in his full Gondorian costume, sword and all, he walked over to the lad's holding his black stallion.

Merry galloped his pony until he was along side of Pippin's pony, and when Pippin got on him, Merry asked him, "Don't tell me you have entered this race?"

"Why not, Merry?" asked Pippin. "My pony here is as foreign as yours and isn't it a race between Shire bred and foreign pony to see which can go the distance?"

Merry leaned on the horn of his saddle, bending over so just Pippin could hear him. "You are not going to win!" he insisted.

"It does not matter much to me if we win or not. It's the adventure in it that has my interest," Pippin added.

"Then to each his own, Pippin, I'll see you at the finish line," said Merry.

Snowclad gave a nip at Pippin's pony, while the black stallion tried to rear up showing off to his mare.

Merry turned his pony around and came in behind Pippin. Then just as Merry told Snowclad, the Broadbelt's hired lads came in on both side of the young master of Buckland.

Merry prepared himself for Paladin's call to race.

From the far distance, upon a dirt path and on top of the hill that crested the Great Smial, a pony and rider came running at full speed. Paladin stood from his mark and waited for the rider to approach.

Seeing it was a young lass upon her pony, Paladin dismissed it and turned and readied the riders. Holding up his arm he began his count. "Ten, Nine, Eight…"

The young lass weaved in between the riders desperately to get close enough to Merry.

Shouting, she called towards the young Master of Buckland. "Merry!" she shouted, "Please wait! I have to tell you something!" she begged.

Merry noticed Merril and the look of desperation upon her young face. Feeling something was very wrong, he pushed his pony away from the group that had him hemmed in. "Merril the race is going to start in a few seconds!"

"Myrtle has taken Estella and she plans on harming her!" she shouted at him.

Merry looked at Merril in shock and horror.

"Five, Four, Three…."counted Paladin.

"Tell me where?" Merry shouted.

"The old abandon cottage in the Marish!" she shouted.

"Two, One!" shouted Paladin and let his arm go.

Within seconds the ponies leaped forwards all lunging into a full gallop all at the same time. Snowclad and Merry were pushed forward with the crowd of ponies and it took everything Merry had to control his pony in keeping pace with them.

"Merry!" Merril shouted louder almost screaming and pulling her pony back away from the riders. She watched Merry for a moment, but in desperations she yelled out her warning. "They mean to harm you as well, you'll be riding into a trap!"

her voice died down and she knew that he did not hear her. "Be careful, Merry," she whispered to herself.

Turning around her exhausted pony, she knew that he did not have anything left to keep up with the pace of riders in the race. Frantically her eyes searched the remaining ponies without riders and her eyes caught a fresh pony that stood neighing in excitement while she watched the other ponies speeding away.

Merril kicked her pony and trotted her over to that pony and quickly jumped onto her back. Taking the rope from her bridle that the neighing pony wore, and riding bare back, Merril kicked the pony soundly and took off in a bolt of speed after Merry. She was amazed at the strength this little pony processed.

Merry kicked Snowclad again to catch up to the black stallion running ahead of the pack of ponies. Faster and faster, Snowclad ran passing the Shire breeds and weaving in and out from them. Lads tried in vain to gather their ponies in a group with the hope to block Merry from getting around them. But Merry faked a quick left turn, throwing them off while they pushed their ponies towards the left. Snowclad felt Merry's pull upon the reins, his master's lean towards the right and his nudge of his right foot. Quickly, just like they had practiced, Snowclad stopped quickly and pivoted upon her back hooves and reared and paused a single moment, then turned, bolting towards the right. Within seconds, his fast pony dashed, leaving them in her dust. Still Merry urged his pony on, pushing her even harder. Snowclad's trust and love of Merry, made her pull herself even harder and she pushed her strength almost to her limits in the speed of her strong legs.

Merry finally caught up to Pippin who was holding on with everything he had to stay upon his black stallion's back while he approached the fork in the road. To the left was the road to Frogmorton and the other, to the Marish. Riding side by side with is cousin, Merry shouted at him.

"They've taken Estella, Pippin, they tend to harm her!"

Pippin almost slipped from the back of his racing pony at Merry's fearful words. All Merry could do was to reach over and grab his cousin by the waist of his tunic to re-sit him. When Merry's hand hit the handle of Pippin's sword, Merry grasped it and pulled his sword from its sheath.

Nodding to Pippin to follow him, the two turned their pony's from the Frogmorton road to the road heading towards the Marish, while the other riders all passed them.

"You're going the wrong way!" shouted some of the riders seeing the two splitting from the ranks.

A/N: Merry Christmas everyone! Sending you a Christmas present…another chapter!

Since the next chapters may be getting a little darker….it is best not on Christmas….

I hope you enjoy this chapter…and again, Merry Christmas!