Chapter 7: No Fear
A desperate banging boomed through the cottage waking the three occupants inside. Estella was first at the door, throwing on her night coat as she went to answer it. But, Merry grabbed her arm before she could.
"No telling whom it could be at this hour," he told her, pulling her behind him. "Let me answer it."
Estella did not argue and stood back, Pippin now beside her. Merry cracked the door open. They could see his back rise up and down in a relieved sigh. "What is so urgent to wake a whole household in the middle of the night, Doderic?"
Doderic Brandybuck stepped inside, bowing slightly. "I am sorry, Cousin Merry, to disturb you." The poor tween was flushed in the face and sweating, his eyes wide in fright.
Merry's somber expression switched to worry. "Is it my parents?" That would be the most obvious assumption since Doderic lived at Brandy Hall.
"No," Doderic replied, heaving. "About an hour ago, one of the Shirriffs in the lowest part of the East
Farthing came upon a band of ruffians who must have been keeping secret in those deep woods. The Master knew you and Peregrin would need to hear this."
Merry nodded, placing a hand on the younger hobbit's shoulder. "Thank you for riding out here to tell us."
"Merry, we must see to it those ruffians are extracted!" Pippin exclaimed, suddenly by his cousin's side.
"Was the Shirriff sure that they were ruffians he saw? Not just folk from Bree?" Merry asked Doderic, and for the moment, ignoring Pippin's rash conclusion.
Doderic nodded then gulped. "Yes. There were about four of them, looking exactly like the ruffians who use to be loitering in the Shire. They were sitting 'round a fire cursing halfings. It's a wonder Berto came across them and was not caught himself."
"All right." That was all the information Merry needed. "Go back and fetch the Shirriff and some sturdy fellows that know how to handle ruffians. We'll meet you on the road heading toward the East Farthing."
"Will do, Cousin Merry." With a bow, Doderic was out the door and gone.
"Let us get ready, Pip," Merry said as he turned, but Pippin was already halfway down the hall.
Merry followed, brushing passed Estella and giving her a solemn nod. She watched him disappear into his room, and stood rooted in place for several moments - fearful thoughts racing through her mind. She had not had the chance to see the two Captains in action the first time they'd extracted the ruffians. She was busy caring for her father and Fredegar, and barely knew what else was going on around her.
Fredegar had battled the ruffians as well when he led a small group of rebels. Estella was also in the dark when that was happening. She worried herself sick over Fred when he had led the rebellion, but could not do anything about it. She could, however, do something about this.
Now a fear for her two charges, which she had unconsciously claimed care over, were riding out into danger. She knew they could take care of themselves, but she couldn't help desire to go with them just to make sure they'd be all right.
Without even knowing for sure what she was doing, Estella rushed to her room and shut the door. She threw on Pippin's old shirt and breeches that she kept in her trunk for certain situations. She was dressed before Merry or Pippin was, and ran to the stable to ready the ponies.
Estella was just leading the ponies around the cottage when Merry and Pippin stepped outside. All three halted when they met about halfway around the cottage. Though she had seen them in their livery several times, Estella had never seen them wear their swords. Merry also wore the Horn of Rohan on his belt.
The moonlight illuminated their figures, causing long shadows that fell over Estella. There was fierceness about their presence she had not known before. They seemed more out of a dark story, and Estella drew back, her own imagined fears taking hold of her for an uncontrollable moment.
"Stella, what are you doing?" Merry's voice cut through the dimness, and Estella felt the imagined fear pass instantly.
"I've readied the ponies," she murmured, handing them their reigns.
"But, why are you dressed and leading your pony as well?" Pippin asked, taking his pony's reigns. "It appears you're coming with us."
"I am coming with you." There was no doubt in her tone, and that made Merry clinch his fist.
"No, you are not. It is too dangerous for a lass."
She stared straight at his face, a fierceness of her own in her voice. "Yes, I am. I do not fear danger. I do fear the safety of the ones I care for." For a moment, a new light fell on Estella and the image of the Lady Eowyn passed through Merry's mind eyes. He did not want her to go, but he could not command her to stay.
Taking his reigns from her, he said, "You may ride with us to the road, but from there, we'll see."
When they reached the road leading to the East Farthing, Merry tried again to convince Estella not to go. "We need to ride in haste. I do not want you in danger, Estella. Ride back to Brandy Hall."
But that did not work, and Estella was among the band as they followed the Shirriff who had seen the ruffians early that day. Doderic and his brother, Ilberic, had been assigned to watch over Estella. They made up the rear of the band, Estella riding between them. It took an hour, but they finally made it to the area the ruffians had been spotted.
"If the ruffians come upon us by surprise," Merry told Doderic and Ilberic, "drive Estella to safety." With that, he, Pippin, and Shirriff Berto Gobbs faded into the darkness.
It seemed every member of the band held their breath as they waited for the Captains and Shirriff to return - bows and arrows ready in their hands. Tension rose in Estella's chest, and she had to grit her teeth to keep it down. Every painful and terrifying moment of the story of the fellowship Merry had told her suddenly struck her memory. It had been worse for the Nine Travellers, but she couldn't imagine.
Her thoughts were quickly thrown away as shouts were heard at a distance. Two tall, dark figures came barreling from the woods heading straight for the band of hobbits. They were Men baring weapons resembling pipes. The armed hobbits shot at the ruffians, hitting one in the shoulder, but it was not enough to bring him down. The ruffians came pelting forward, swinging their weapons at the mounted hobbits.
Doderic let out an urgent cry, and turned his pony to ride away from the attack. Estella, however, was not by his side. His brother, Ilberic, had been caught in the mix of confusion, trying to help fend off the ruffians.
Upon the surprise attack, Estella's pony reared in fright and took off in the direction of where the ruffians materialized. A pipe narrowly missed Estella's head as she drove by one of the maddened men. Clove, her pony, galloped through the woods, dark shadows of trees flying by. Estella held tight to Clove's barrel with her knees, pulling on the reigns as hard as she could. Clove finally slowed to a trot.
"It's all right, Clove," Estella soothed after she had caught her breath. She patted the pony's neck. "We must get back." She turned Clove around, but before the pony could start off, a giant hand wrapped around Estella's waist - lifting her off the saddle. Another giant hand slapped over her mouth.
A cruel voice slithered into her ear, "H'lo, lil' filth. I got a present for you."
Estella's mind reeled. She had, had some encounters with ruffians during the invasion. A few men would come to the Bolger's doorstep, demanding her to bring out half of the household's food supply. Estella always stood her ground, never letting on at how intimidating they were to her. But, this ruffian could vanish into the black night with her, and she'd never be seen again. She had a reason to live, and she didn't want that reason to blame himself for letting her ride into danger.
Her hand grazed a handle at the ruffian's side. A dagger! She grasped the handle best she could, and struggled to pull it out. With all her strength, Estella plunged the blade into the ruffian's side. He yelped, dropping her to the ground. Estella landed on her feet, but was off balanced and fell to her knees. The ruffian was right behind her, grabbing at the dagger in his side.
Estella got to her feet, and screamed at the top of her lungs, "HELP! MERRY! PIPPIN! DODERIC! HELP!" She started to flee, not knowing which way to go, just trying to get as far away from the threat as possible. She hadn't gone far when the giant hand seized her ankle. Estella hit the ground on her belly. She tried to scream again, but the wind had been knock out of her on impact.
The ruffian tugged her onto her back using his uninjured side, and she saw his ugly, contorted face glaring down on her in the vague moonlight. As soon as she thought she would never see the light of day again, a moving shadow appeared. It slashed at the ruffian's back then stabbed him. The ruffian crumpled, nearly falling on top of Estella. She shrunk away, kicking her ankle from the man's hold.
She looked up to see a raised sword gleaming in the moonlight. The dark figure on the pony drew closer. Estella did not hear what the figure was saying. She was too caught up with staring blankly at it.
A hand touched her shoulder, making her jump. "Stella, it's me, Pippin," a familiar voice sounded close to her ear. Then an arm encircled her, and she clung to the hobbit behind her.
"Stella, are you hurt?" asked another voice. Merry emerged from the darkness, kneeling in front of them.
Estella shook her head, and replied, "No, I don't think so. Is he…?"
"Yes," Merry answered before she could finish the question. She hid her face in Pippin's shoulder. Merry frowned deeply, cursing himself for letting Estella come. Anger boiled inside him as the thought of the ruffian attacking Estella ran through his mind. He reached out to rub her shoulder, wanting dearly to hold her himself.
Just then, a pony galloped up and Doderic was at their side. "Miss Bolger, are you all right? I was about to have you flee with me, but you had disappeared and I couldn't find you in the chaos. I am terribly sorry. I should have kept watch better, but…"
"Doderic," Estella murmured, taking his flailing hand. "It's all right. My pony was spooked, and there was so much confusion about the ruffians."
Doderic nodded, and let out a sigh of relief.
The band of hobbits regrouped at a clearing in the woods. Two in the band were injured, but not critically. Two of the ruffians fell, but the other two escaped, though one was injured. Merry heaved as he contemplated the decision on what to do next. They would stay to search the woods for the remaining ruffians, and bury the ones who fell. Doderic, however, would be bringing Estella to safety. Her pony, Clove, had not shown itself since running off during the ruffian ambush. Estella worried until Clove finally trotted up. She rode away with Doderic, Ilberic, and the two injured hobbits.
She would stay at Brandy Hall, by Merry's orders, until the search party returned. Estella tried to talk Doderic into bringing her back to Crickhollow, but he refused, not wanting to disobey the future Master. Time at the Hall was made easier now that Estella was friends with Melilot. The worried girl wisked Estella away to her bedroom in one of the many wings of Brandy Hall, and cleaned her up. She slept in Melilot's bed most of the morning then wandered into the dining room off the kitchen around afternoon tea.
The rest of the day was spent fretting over Merry and Pippin. Estella walked the gardens with Mel, but grew tired of doing nothing and made her way to the sewing room. Sewing was one way to keep her hands and mind busy, and that was exactly what Estella needed.
It was passed supper, and the search party still had not arrived back. Estella sat on a chair in the parlor, staring at the door. She was just dozing off when the door opened. She bolted upright, any trace of sleepiness gone. Some of the hobbits she did not know walked in first, and she frowned ready to ask what had happened after she left. But then, Pippin came through the door, looking exhausted. He gave her a tired smile.
"It's good to see you, Estella," he said, hugging her.
"What happened? Did you find the ruffians?" she asked, pulling away.
Pippin lowered his head as if troubled then replied, "We found them." Then he said Merry would be in shortly and bid her a goodnight.
When he walked into the parlor, Merry stopped at the sight of Estella waiting there anxiously. He stared at her, guilt flooding his eyes. Estella shook her head, and rushed to embrace him. "It wasn't your fault. I knew the danger was high, and I went anyway. Forgive me, please."
Merry sighed, drawing her away. "You did nothing wrong, Stella. As long as you're not hurt, my mind will be at ease. I wish I could have protected you better."
"You saved my life," Estella emphasized. "You protected me well enough. Now get to your room before you fall over from exhaustion. I do not wish to see you until morning after you've had a good night's rest."
Despite his tiredness, Merry managed a cheerful smile. "Yes, m'dear."
A desperate banging boomed through the cottage waking the three occupants inside. Estella was first at the door, throwing on her night coat as she went to answer it. But, Merry grabbed her arm before she could.
"No telling whom it could be at this hour," he told her, pulling her behind him. "Let me answer it."
Estella did not argue and stood back, Pippin now beside her. Merry cracked the door open. They could see his back rise up and down in a relieved sigh. "What is so urgent to wake a whole household in the middle of the night, Doderic?"
Doderic Brandybuck stepped inside, bowing slightly. "I am sorry, Cousin Merry, to disturb you." The poor tween was flushed in the face and sweating, his eyes wide in fright.
Merry's somber expression switched to worry. "Is it my parents?" That would be the most obvious assumption since Doderic lived at Brandy Hall.
"No," Doderic replied, heaving. "About an hour ago, one of the Shirriffs in the lowest part of the East
Farthing came upon a band of ruffians who must have been keeping secret in those deep woods. The Master knew you and Peregrin would need to hear this."
Merry nodded, placing a hand on the younger hobbit's shoulder. "Thank you for riding out here to tell us."
"Merry, we must see to it those ruffians are extracted!" Pippin exclaimed, suddenly by his cousin's side.
"Was the Shirriff sure that they were ruffians he saw? Not just folk from Bree?" Merry asked Doderic, and for the moment, ignoring Pippin's rash conclusion.
Doderic nodded then gulped. "Yes. There were about four of them, looking exactly like the ruffians who use to be loitering in the Shire. They were sitting 'round a fire cursing halfings. It's a wonder Berto came across them and was not caught himself."
"All right." That was all the information Merry needed. "Go back and fetch the Shirriff and some sturdy fellows that know how to handle ruffians. We'll meet you on the road heading toward the East Farthing."
"Will do, Cousin Merry." With a bow, Doderic was out the door and gone.
"Let us get ready, Pip," Merry said as he turned, but Pippin was already halfway down the hall.
Merry followed, brushing passed Estella and giving her a solemn nod. She watched him disappear into his room, and stood rooted in place for several moments - fearful thoughts racing through her mind. She had not had the chance to see the two Captains in action the first time they'd extracted the ruffians. She was busy caring for her father and Fredegar, and barely knew what else was going on around her.
Fredegar had battled the ruffians as well when he led a small group of rebels. Estella was also in the dark when that was happening. She worried herself sick over Fred when he had led the rebellion, but could not do anything about it. She could, however, do something about this.
Now a fear for her two charges, which she had unconsciously claimed care over, were riding out into danger. She knew they could take care of themselves, but she couldn't help desire to go with them just to make sure they'd be all right.
Without even knowing for sure what she was doing, Estella rushed to her room and shut the door. She threw on Pippin's old shirt and breeches that she kept in her trunk for certain situations. She was dressed before Merry or Pippin was, and ran to the stable to ready the ponies.
Estella was just leading the ponies around the cottage when Merry and Pippin stepped outside. All three halted when they met about halfway around the cottage. Though she had seen them in their livery several times, Estella had never seen them wear their swords. Merry also wore the Horn of Rohan on his belt.
The moonlight illuminated their figures, causing long shadows that fell over Estella. There was fierceness about their presence she had not known before. They seemed more out of a dark story, and Estella drew back, her own imagined fears taking hold of her for an uncontrollable moment.
"Stella, what are you doing?" Merry's voice cut through the dimness, and Estella felt the imagined fear pass instantly.
"I've readied the ponies," she murmured, handing them their reigns.
"But, why are you dressed and leading your pony as well?" Pippin asked, taking his pony's reigns. "It appears you're coming with us."
"I am coming with you." There was no doubt in her tone, and that made Merry clinch his fist.
"No, you are not. It is too dangerous for a lass."
She stared straight at his face, a fierceness of her own in her voice. "Yes, I am. I do not fear danger. I do fear the safety of the ones I care for." For a moment, a new light fell on Estella and the image of the Lady Eowyn passed through Merry's mind eyes. He did not want her to go, but he could not command her to stay.
Taking his reigns from her, he said, "You may ride with us to the road, but from there, we'll see."
When they reached the road leading to the East Farthing, Merry tried again to convince Estella not to go. "We need to ride in haste. I do not want you in danger, Estella. Ride back to Brandy Hall."
But that did not work, and Estella was among the band as they followed the Shirriff who had seen the ruffians early that day. Doderic and his brother, Ilberic, had been assigned to watch over Estella. They made up the rear of the band, Estella riding between them. It took an hour, but they finally made it to the area the ruffians had been spotted.
"If the ruffians come upon us by surprise," Merry told Doderic and Ilberic, "drive Estella to safety." With that, he, Pippin, and Shirriff Berto Gobbs faded into the darkness.
It seemed every member of the band held their breath as they waited for the Captains and Shirriff to return - bows and arrows ready in their hands. Tension rose in Estella's chest, and she had to grit her teeth to keep it down. Every painful and terrifying moment of the story of the fellowship Merry had told her suddenly struck her memory. It had been worse for the Nine Travellers, but she couldn't imagine.
Her thoughts were quickly thrown away as shouts were heard at a distance. Two tall, dark figures came barreling from the woods heading straight for the band of hobbits. They were Men baring weapons resembling pipes. The armed hobbits shot at the ruffians, hitting one in the shoulder, but it was not enough to bring him down. The ruffians came pelting forward, swinging their weapons at the mounted hobbits.
Doderic let out an urgent cry, and turned his pony to ride away from the attack. Estella, however, was not by his side. His brother, Ilberic, had been caught in the mix of confusion, trying to help fend off the ruffians.
Upon the surprise attack, Estella's pony reared in fright and took off in the direction of where the ruffians materialized. A pipe narrowly missed Estella's head as she drove by one of the maddened men. Clove, her pony, galloped through the woods, dark shadows of trees flying by. Estella held tight to Clove's barrel with her knees, pulling on the reigns as hard as she could. Clove finally slowed to a trot.
"It's all right, Clove," Estella soothed after she had caught her breath. She patted the pony's neck. "We must get back." She turned Clove around, but before the pony could start off, a giant hand wrapped around Estella's waist - lifting her off the saddle. Another giant hand slapped over her mouth.
A cruel voice slithered into her ear, "H'lo, lil' filth. I got a present for you."
Estella's mind reeled. She had, had some encounters with ruffians during the invasion. A few men would come to the Bolger's doorstep, demanding her to bring out half of the household's food supply. Estella always stood her ground, never letting on at how intimidating they were to her. But, this ruffian could vanish into the black night with her, and she'd never be seen again. She had a reason to live, and she didn't want that reason to blame himself for letting her ride into danger.
Her hand grazed a handle at the ruffian's side. A dagger! She grasped the handle best she could, and struggled to pull it out. With all her strength, Estella plunged the blade into the ruffian's side. He yelped, dropping her to the ground. Estella landed on her feet, but was off balanced and fell to her knees. The ruffian was right behind her, grabbing at the dagger in his side.
Estella got to her feet, and screamed at the top of her lungs, "HELP! MERRY! PIPPIN! DODERIC! HELP!" She started to flee, not knowing which way to go, just trying to get as far away from the threat as possible. She hadn't gone far when the giant hand seized her ankle. Estella hit the ground on her belly. She tried to scream again, but the wind had been knock out of her on impact.
The ruffian tugged her onto her back using his uninjured side, and she saw his ugly, contorted face glaring down on her in the vague moonlight. As soon as she thought she would never see the light of day again, a moving shadow appeared. It slashed at the ruffian's back then stabbed him. The ruffian crumpled, nearly falling on top of Estella. She shrunk away, kicking her ankle from the man's hold.
She looked up to see a raised sword gleaming in the moonlight. The dark figure on the pony drew closer. Estella did not hear what the figure was saying. She was too caught up with staring blankly at it.
A hand touched her shoulder, making her jump. "Stella, it's me, Pippin," a familiar voice sounded close to her ear. Then an arm encircled her, and she clung to the hobbit behind her.
"Stella, are you hurt?" asked another voice. Merry emerged from the darkness, kneeling in front of them.
Estella shook her head, and replied, "No, I don't think so. Is he…?"
"Yes," Merry answered before she could finish the question. She hid her face in Pippin's shoulder. Merry frowned deeply, cursing himself for letting Estella come. Anger boiled inside him as the thought of the ruffian attacking Estella ran through his mind. He reached out to rub her shoulder, wanting dearly to hold her himself.
Just then, a pony galloped up and Doderic was at their side. "Miss Bolger, are you all right? I was about to have you flee with me, but you had disappeared and I couldn't find you in the chaos. I am terribly sorry. I should have kept watch better, but…"
"Doderic," Estella murmured, taking his flailing hand. "It's all right. My pony was spooked, and there was so much confusion about the ruffians."
Doderic nodded, and let out a sigh of relief.
The band of hobbits regrouped at a clearing in the woods. Two in the band were injured, but not critically. Two of the ruffians fell, but the other two escaped, though one was injured. Merry heaved as he contemplated the decision on what to do next. They would stay to search the woods for the remaining ruffians, and bury the ones who fell. Doderic, however, would be bringing Estella to safety. Her pony, Clove, had not shown itself since running off during the ruffian ambush. Estella worried until Clove finally trotted up. She rode away with Doderic, Ilberic, and the two injured hobbits.
She would stay at Brandy Hall, by Merry's orders, until the search party returned. Estella tried to talk Doderic into bringing her back to Crickhollow, but he refused, not wanting to disobey the future Master. Time at the Hall was made easier now that Estella was friends with Melilot. The worried girl wisked Estella away to her bedroom in one of the many wings of Brandy Hall, and cleaned her up. She slept in Melilot's bed most of the morning then wandered into the dining room off the kitchen around afternoon tea.
The rest of the day was spent fretting over Merry and Pippin. Estella walked the gardens with Mel, but grew tired of doing nothing and made her way to the sewing room. Sewing was one way to keep her hands and mind busy, and that was exactly what Estella needed.
It was passed supper, and the search party still had not arrived back. Estella sat on a chair in the parlor, staring at the door. She was just dozing off when the door opened. She bolted upright, any trace of sleepiness gone. Some of the hobbits she did not know walked in first, and she frowned ready to ask what had happened after she left. But then, Pippin came through the door, looking exhausted. He gave her a tired smile.
"It's good to see you, Estella," he said, hugging her.
"What happened? Did you find the ruffians?" she asked, pulling away.
Pippin lowered his head as if troubled then replied, "We found them." Then he said Merry would be in shortly and bid her a goodnight.
When he walked into the parlor, Merry stopped at the sight of Estella waiting there anxiously. He stared at her, guilt flooding his eyes. Estella shook her head, and rushed to embrace him. "It wasn't your fault. I knew the danger was high, and I went anyway. Forgive me, please."
Merry sighed, drawing her away. "You did nothing wrong, Stella. As long as you're not hurt, my mind will be at ease. I wish I could have protected you better."
"You saved my life," Estella emphasized. "You protected me well enough. Now get to your room before you fall over from exhaustion. I do not wish to see you until morning after you've had a good night's rest."
Despite his tiredness, Merry managed a cheerful smile. "Yes, m'dear."