Chapter 6: Not a Care
It was peaceful living at Crickhollow. There weren't many residents near by, so most days were quiet. Merry and Pippin ate breakfast and second breakfast there, but were usually out riding for the rest of the day. Sometimes they'd come home late, a little off their stool from too much ale. They also visited Brandy Hall at least once or twice a week. Merry invited Estella to go, but she refused most of the time. Though she had a few distant relatives living there and would take tea with them, she felt awkward visiting. She tried to avoid the Master and Mistress of the Hall. They knew she was living in the Crickhollow cottage with their son, and it felt to Estella that their eyes stayed on her disapprovingly. She didn't much mind if they approved or not, but she didn't have to sit under their glares.
Most days, Estella was alone in the cottage. She cleaned what needed to be cleaned, and kept up the garden. There was a gardener that came out every week, but he didn't stay long since there was not much to do. Estella ventured into town to pick up groceries and supplies, though very seldom.
The best days were when Merry and Pippin stayed home. They ate all their meals together, Estella cooking the breakfasts and dinner; her companions preparing the other three meals that hobbits ate. The three groomed their ponies together, and after, would take short rides through the countryside. Pippin had a small workshop on the second floor of the stable where he'd work on who-knows-what. He always kept his projects secret until he was ready for the grand reveals.
Merry, on the other hand, spent a lot of time in his study writing various articles in a large black book. Estella would sit in the overstuffed green chair near the hearth, and listen to him talk on whatever subject he was writing on that day (but usually it was of herb-lore). He was so enthusiastic about his findings that they never bored Estella, even if the subject could be a bit dull at times.
One afternoon, there was a knock on the front door. Merry stopped in mid-sentence, and said, "I wonder who that could be."
He and Estella went to see. A stout lad wearing a blue uniform and hexagon-shaped hat stood on the porch holding two large, white envelopes.
"Good day, sir," he greeted. "Mail for a Mr. Peregrin Took and Mr. Meriadoc Brandybuck."
"I am Meriadoc Brandybuck, and I'll accept the other one for Mr. Took." Merry accepted the envelopes, thanked the mail carrier, and closed the door.
Estella peered around his arm, curiously. "What is it?"
Merry carefully opened the seal, and drew a sheet of parchment out. The flowing letters were written in fine gold ink. Merry recognized the handwriting as his elder cousin's. He read the parchment for a moment then let out a snorted laugh. Estella threw him a sidelong look. She could read, and there was nothing funny about what this parchment had to say.
"What's so funny about a wedding invitation?" she asked, bewildered.
"Nothing." Merry shrugged. "Pip and I are standing as witnesses in it, and have known about it far longer than anyone else. I didn't think we'd both receive invitations to it." He pointed to the very bottom of the page. "It says here that you are invited as well."
Estella glanced to the bottom, and sure enough, her name was there. We cordially invite Miss Estella Bolger to attended as well. She had heard a great deal about Samwise Gamgee marrying his lifelong love, Rose Cotton. It was a popular subject in their quaint household. Merry and Pippin had been to Bag End a few times to help with preparations, or at least, provide support. They had only gone twice since she came to live with them, and both times, Estella stayed at Crickhollow. Even though they had met, she did not know Frodo Baggins or Samwise Gamgee well and had not ever met Rose Cotton. She felt it would be best to just stay put.
She could not, however, turn down the invitation to the wedding. Estella wasn't too fond of the ceremonies, but the celebrations after were quite exciting. Merry turned to her, smiling mischievously. "Looks like you have no choice but to come with us to Hobbiton now."
They rode off together two days before the wedding on May 1st. Instead of staying at Bag End, they had to settle for rooms at The Green Dragon. Merry and Pippin shared a room, but Frodo would be joining them at the inn after the wedding. He decided Sam and Rose needed to be alone in Bag End on their wedding night. Since Fredegar was also attending, Estella would stay in his room.
"Fred and I lived together all our lives. Sharing a room won't hurt us," Estella protested when Merry offered to pay for a separate room for her.
It so happened that Fredegar was barely in the room the four days they were in Hobbiton. There was much celebrating even before the actually wedding. The first night they were there, Merry and Pippin and a small group of Sam's friends and relatives, hosted a party for Sam at The Green Dragon. It was a rowdy time, and lasted far into the night.
Estella could not sleep because of the noise, and poked her head out the door every time she heard footsteps on the stairs. One time, quite early in the evening, she saw Frodo Baggins trudging his way to his cousins' room next door. He was unsightly pale, and had a distant look in his eyes. Estella wondering if she should ask him if he was all right but put it off as having too much to drink.
The day before the wedding, Estella spent the day with Melilot Brandybuck and her older sister, Mentha. Fredegar had insisted the lasses get to know each other better. It was a matter of time, Estella figured, before Melilot became her sister-in-law, so she obliged and enjoyed her day with the (supposed) future in-laws.
Finally, it was the morning of Samwise and Rose's wedding. Hobbits were bustling around the Party Field like ants on a mound. But when twelve o'clock came, all the guests were seated and watched intently as Sam and Rose said their vows. It was a beautiful sight, the pair standing under the young, shimmering mallorn tree, clasping hands and not noticing the multitude of guest before them. A small smile crossed Estella's lips, and accidentally, her eyes met Merry's (who was standing beside Sam). She held his gaze for a moment then turned just in time to see Fred raise Melilot's hand to his lips.
There was something freeing about that moment that Estella hadn't felt in a very long time. Everyone was happy, even poor Frodo Baggins, and she couldn't help but broaden her smile.
The celebration afterwards was a grand one. Though Sam and Rose said they did not want a large reception, Frodo insisted on it and they gave in. There were dozens upon dozens of tables scattered around the field with flickering, gold lanterns hanging from tree branches. A long, extended table, longer than any hobbit had ever seen or dreamed of, was covered with every kind of food you could imagine. A raised platform held a four-piece band that played any request.
Estella was alone at a table encircling the dance area. Many of the younger hobbits were dancing the Springle-ring, or many other dances known in the Shire. After a few times around the circle, Melilot grabbed her hand, and dragged Estella out onto the grass to have a go at the next dance. Somehow she ended up with Fred during the first slow trot.
"Having a good time, Stella?" Fred asked, placing a hand on his sister's waist and taking her other hand in his.
"Yes," Estella replied, considerably light. "I am, indeed."
"Glad to hear that." Fred grinned, but there was an unsettling glint in his eye. "Are you ready to come home yet?"
Estella's fair expression instantly changed into suspicion. "No. I enjoy living at Crickhollow. Merry and Pippin are good companions, something I thought I'd never admit."
"Well," Fred started, uncomfortably. "I really wish you'd come home. Seeing you ever so often is just not enough. I miss my little sister."
Estella laughed bitterly. Fred sounded like a child. He hadn't called her his 'little sister' in many years. "I'm sorry, Freddy, but I'm staying where I'm at."
"But, Stella," Fred's tone became lower. "There are rumours going around."
"Rumours?" Estella scrunched her nose. "Like what?"
"It's not proper for an unmarried lass to live with two bachelors. Folks around Budgeford and Buckland have been lowering you down to being a maid of that household. Do you know what that says about our family? We're not servants, Estella, and I don't care if you aren't their maid, the rumours should be snuffed out. You need to come back home."
Fredegar had a talent for running the wrong way. That is why this little speech he gave did not surprise Estella. She stared at him, eyes blazing in anger. For a minute, she felt sorry for Melilot for getting involved with her brother.
"And be your maid? Fred, I don't care what other folk think. We know the truth that I'm not, and that's all that matters."
"But it does matter!" Fred voice rose, and he gaped at her.
"I don't care. Let people think I am a maid!" She pulled away from Fred, glaring hotly. "I was right about you, Fred. You are a coward, and always will be."
With that, Estella stalked away, weaving through the tables – not noticing the stares from others as she went by. She would have stormed right up to The Green Dragon and ordered a malt beer (which was highly improper for a lass to do), but her act of frustration was not meant to be. She trimmed the edge of the Party Field when a hand caught her arm nearly propelling her to the ground. Estella stared up, wide-eyed. Merry stared back at her, concern etched on his features.
"Estella, what happened?" he asked, steadying her.
She shrugged him off. "Fred is being his downright shrewd self tonight. I am not in the mood to put up with it."
"But you appeared to be in a fine mood earlier," Merry exclaimed. Then his eyebrows knitted together. "What did he say that upset you?"
"Nothing of your concern," Estella hurried out.
Merry stepped closer, and held Estella's chin so she would look at him. "When it comes to you, it is my concern. I look after you, and I don't care if Fredegar is your brother and my good friend, he'll need to answer to me for upsetting you."
Out of all the things Merry had told her, this surprised Estella the most. On the verge of angry tears, she hissed through gritted teeth, "Why?"
"Because, you are a part of my family, just as Pippin or Frodo or Sam or my parents. I care about you, Estella, and I hate seeing you hurt." He did not give her time to respond to this revelation, but if he had, Estella would not have known what to say. He had left her speechless. "Come back to the reception. I haven't had the pleasure of dancing with you yet."
He clasped her hand, but she did not budge.
"I can't go back over there. I made a scene stomping off like that, and facing Fred again…" She shook her head. "I hope Sam and Rose forgive me for that. But going back, no thank you."
"I'm sure they didn't even notice being too caught up in each other. If you won't go back, then will you dance with me here?" Merry asked.
The edge of the Party Field was unoccupied, but they could still hear the band playing from the other side. Merry would not let go of her hand, and Estella didn't try to pull away. The music was slow (the bride and groom were taking their first spin as husband and wife). Merry pulled Estella to him, and she laid her head on his chest feeling rather dejected.
The music faded, and the crowd clapped for the bride and groom. It took a good thirty seconds for Estella to will herself to pull away from Merry's grasp. The warm, content feeling had returned, and she glared up at Merry mockingly.
"I should throttle you right now."
Merry screwed up his face. "And, what did I do to deserve a throttling?"
A ghost of a smile crossed Estella's lips. She poked Merry's chest with her finger. "You, for reasons unknown, know how to treat me in any mood I'm in."
"It's a gift." Merry smirked smugly.
It was peaceful living at Crickhollow. There weren't many residents near by, so most days were quiet. Merry and Pippin ate breakfast and second breakfast there, but were usually out riding for the rest of the day. Sometimes they'd come home late, a little off their stool from too much ale. They also visited Brandy Hall at least once or twice a week. Merry invited Estella to go, but she refused most of the time. Though she had a few distant relatives living there and would take tea with them, she felt awkward visiting. She tried to avoid the Master and Mistress of the Hall. They knew she was living in the Crickhollow cottage with their son, and it felt to Estella that their eyes stayed on her disapprovingly. She didn't much mind if they approved or not, but she didn't have to sit under their glares.
Most days, Estella was alone in the cottage. She cleaned what needed to be cleaned, and kept up the garden. There was a gardener that came out every week, but he didn't stay long since there was not much to do. Estella ventured into town to pick up groceries and supplies, though very seldom.
The best days were when Merry and Pippin stayed home. They ate all their meals together, Estella cooking the breakfasts and dinner; her companions preparing the other three meals that hobbits ate. The three groomed their ponies together, and after, would take short rides through the countryside. Pippin had a small workshop on the second floor of the stable where he'd work on who-knows-what. He always kept his projects secret until he was ready for the grand reveals.
Merry, on the other hand, spent a lot of time in his study writing various articles in a large black book. Estella would sit in the overstuffed green chair near the hearth, and listen to him talk on whatever subject he was writing on that day (but usually it was of herb-lore). He was so enthusiastic about his findings that they never bored Estella, even if the subject could be a bit dull at times.
One afternoon, there was a knock on the front door. Merry stopped in mid-sentence, and said, "I wonder who that could be."
He and Estella went to see. A stout lad wearing a blue uniform and hexagon-shaped hat stood on the porch holding two large, white envelopes.
"Good day, sir," he greeted. "Mail for a Mr. Peregrin Took and Mr. Meriadoc Brandybuck."
"I am Meriadoc Brandybuck, and I'll accept the other one for Mr. Took." Merry accepted the envelopes, thanked the mail carrier, and closed the door.
Estella peered around his arm, curiously. "What is it?"
Merry carefully opened the seal, and drew a sheet of parchment out. The flowing letters were written in fine gold ink. Merry recognized the handwriting as his elder cousin's. He read the parchment for a moment then let out a snorted laugh. Estella threw him a sidelong look. She could read, and there was nothing funny about what this parchment had to say.
"What's so funny about a wedding invitation?" she asked, bewildered.
"Nothing." Merry shrugged. "Pip and I are standing as witnesses in it, and have known about it far longer than anyone else. I didn't think we'd both receive invitations to it." He pointed to the very bottom of the page. "It says here that you are invited as well."
Estella glanced to the bottom, and sure enough, her name was there. We cordially invite Miss Estella Bolger to attended as well. She had heard a great deal about Samwise Gamgee marrying his lifelong love, Rose Cotton. It was a popular subject in their quaint household. Merry and Pippin had been to Bag End a few times to help with preparations, or at least, provide support. They had only gone twice since she came to live with them, and both times, Estella stayed at Crickhollow. Even though they had met, she did not know Frodo Baggins or Samwise Gamgee well and had not ever met Rose Cotton. She felt it would be best to just stay put.
She could not, however, turn down the invitation to the wedding. Estella wasn't too fond of the ceremonies, but the celebrations after were quite exciting. Merry turned to her, smiling mischievously. "Looks like you have no choice but to come with us to Hobbiton now."
They rode off together two days before the wedding on May 1st. Instead of staying at Bag End, they had to settle for rooms at The Green Dragon. Merry and Pippin shared a room, but Frodo would be joining them at the inn after the wedding. He decided Sam and Rose needed to be alone in Bag End on their wedding night. Since Fredegar was also attending, Estella would stay in his room.
"Fred and I lived together all our lives. Sharing a room won't hurt us," Estella protested when Merry offered to pay for a separate room for her.
It so happened that Fredegar was barely in the room the four days they were in Hobbiton. There was much celebrating even before the actually wedding. The first night they were there, Merry and Pippin and a small group of Sam's friends and relatives, hosted a party for Sam at The Green Dragon. It was a rowdy time, and lasted far into the night.
Estella could not sleep because of the noise, and poked her head out the door every time she heard footsteps on the stairs. One time, quite early in the evening, she saw Frodo Baggins trudging his way to his cousins' room next door. He was unsightly pale, and had a distant look in his eyes. Estella wondering if she should ask him if he was all right but put it off as having too much to drink.
The day before the wedding, Estella spent the day with Melilot Brandybuck and her older sister, Mentha. Fredegar had insisted the lasses get to know each other better. It was a matter of time, Estella figured, before Melilot became her sister-in-law, so she obliged and enjoyed her day with the (supposed) future in-laws.
Finally, it was the morning of Samwise and Rose's wedding. Hobbits were bustling around the Party Field like ants on a mound. But when twelve o'clock came, all the guests were seated and watched intently as Sam and Rose said their vows. It was a beautiful sight, the pair standing under the young, shimmering mallorn tree, clasping hands and not noticing the multitude of guest before them. A small smile crossed Estella's lips, and accidentally, her eyes met Merry's (who was standing beside Sam). She held his gaze for a moment then turned just in time to see Fred raise Melilot's hand to his lips.
There was something freeing about that moment that Estella hadn't felt in a very long time. Everyone was happy, even poor Frodo Baggins, and she couldn't help but broaden her smile.
The celebration afterwards was a grand one. Though Sam and Rose said they did not want a large reception, Frodo insisted on it and they gave in. There were dozens upon dozens of tables scattered around the field with flickering, gold lanterns hanging from tree branches. A long, extended table, longer than any hobbit had ever seen or dreamed of, was covered with every kind of food you could imagine. A raised platform held a four-piece band that played any request.
Estella was alone at a table encircling the dance area. Many of the younger hobbits were dancing the Springle-ring, or many other dances known in the Shire. After a few times around the circle, Melilot grabbed her hand, and dragged Estella out onto the grass to have a go at the next dance. Somehow she ended up with Fred during the first slow trot.
"Having a good time, Stella?" Fred asked, placing a hand on his sister's waist and taking her other hand in his.
"Yes," Estella replied, considerably light. "I am, indeed."
"Glad to hear that." Fred grinned, but there was an unsettling glint in his eye. "Are you ready to come home yet?"
Estella's fair expression instantly changed into suspicion. "No. I enjoy living at Crickhollow. Merry and Pippin are good companions, something I thought I'd never admit."
"Well," Fred started, uncomfortably. "I really wish you'd come home. Seeing you ever so often is just not enough. I miss my little sister."
Estella laughed bitterly. Fred sounded like a child. He hadn't called her his 'little sister' in many years. "I'm sorry, Freddy, but I'm staying where I'm at."
"But, Stella," Fred's tone became lower. "There are rumours going around."
"Rumours?" Estella scrunched her nose. "Like what?"
"It's not proper for an unmarried lass to live with two bachelors. Folks around Budgeford and Buckland have been lowering you down to being a maid of that household. Do you know what that says about our family? We're not servants, Estella, and I don't care if you aren't their maid, the rumours should be snuffed out. You need to come back home."
Fredegar had a talent for running the wrong way. That is why this little speech he gave did not surprise Estella. She stared at him, eyes blazing in anger. For a minute, she felt sorry for Melilot for getting involved with her brother.
"And be your maid? Fred, I don't care what other folk think. We know the truth that I'm not, and that's all that matters."
"But it does matter!" Fred voice rose, and he gaped at her.
"I don't care. Let people think I am a maid!" She pulled away from Fred, glaring hotly. "I was right about you, Fred. You are a coward, and always will be."
With that, Estella stalked away, weaving through the tables – not noticing the stares from others as she went by. She would have stormed right up to The Green Dragon and ordered a malt beer (which was highly improper for a lass to do), but her act of frustration was not meant to be. She trimmed the edge of the Party Field when a hand caught her arm nearly propelling her to the ground. Estella stared up, wide-eyed. Merry stared back at her, concern etched on his features.
"Estella, what happened?" he asked, steadying her.
She shrugged him off. "Fred is being his downright shrewd self tonight. I am not in the mood to put up with it."
"But you appeared to be in a fine mood earlier," Merry exclaimed. Then his eyebrows knitted together. "What did he say that upset you?"
"Nothing of your concern," Estella hurried out.
Merry stepped closer, and held Estella's chin so she would look at him. "When it comes to you, it is my concern. I look after you, and I don't care if Fredegar is your brother and my good friend, he'll need to answer to me for upsetting you."
Out of all the things Merry had told her, this surprised Estella the most. On the verge of angry tears, she hissed through gritted teeth, "Why?"
"Because, you are a part of my family, just as Pippin or Frodo or Sam or my parents. I care about you, Estella, and I hate seeing you hurt." He did not give her time to respond to this revelation, but if he had, Estella would not have known what to say. He had left her speechless. "Come back to the reception. I haven't had the pleasure of dancing with you yet."
He clasped her hand, but she did not budge.
"I can't go back over there. I made a scene stomping off like that, and facing Fred again…" She shook her head. "I hope Sam and Rose forgive me for that. But going back, no thank you."
"I'm sure they didn't even notice being too caught up in each other. If you won't go back, then will you dance with me here?" Merry asked.
The edge of the Party Field was unoccupied, but they could still hear the band playing from the other side. Merry would not let go of her hand, and Estella didn't try to pull away. The music was slow (the bride and groom were taking their first spin as husband and wife). Merry pulled Estella to him, and she laid her head on his chest feeling rather dejected.
The music faded, and the crowd clapped for the bride and groom. It took a good thirty seconds for Estella to will herself to pull away from Merry's grasp. The warm, content feeling had returned, and she glared up at Merry mockingly.
"I should throttle you right now."
Merry screwed up his face. "And, what did I do to deserve a throttling?"
A ghost of a smile crossed Estella's lips. She poked Merry's chest with her finger. "You, for reasons unknown, know how to treat me in any mood I'm in."
"It's a gift." Merry smirked smugly.