Oh wow, I can't believe I actually finished the second chapter. Sorry for the wait (I say to all three people that read), but, as I'm sure you've surmised, school unfortunately takes up a lot of my time and creative energy. But here it is... the long awaited the second chapter-- and already there are new original characters that belong to me. Took me long enough, right? As always, I obviously don't own any of Tolkien's characters or work. Enjoy and please review!

Shirelings

Chapter 2

Where All Hungry Adventurers Meet

A light breeze skipped across the sparkling waters of the Bywater Pool and swept past the two hobbits sitting side by side on its southern shore. Merry watched the wind lick up Estella's dark brown curls and contemplated the curve of her neck. They'd strolled all the way down the road towards the pool and decided to take a rest there while musing on where to have lunch. She'd protested weakly at first, claiming her aunt's well-being was a top priority, but relented when Merry countered that he'd seen her aunt earlier in the day tending to her own garden, looking as healthy as a hobbit half her age.

Now they sat on the more secluded side of the water watching a family of ducks engaging in their daily rituals. Estella plucked a corn muffin from her basket and began breaking it apart to toss the pieces into the water for the eager recipients.

"Oh, Estella, don't do that!" He said as she chucked a larger piece over the mother duck's head. "Why would you waste a perfectly good muffin on ducks when you have a perfectly hungry hobbit right here?"

She chuckled but continued to throw the chunks into the water. "Merry, if you want one so terribly just take one. Auntie won't mind and I certainly don't either. There's plenty more where it came from."

Merry touched her hand as she was about to send the last piece flying. "But it isn't any fun if I just take it. Throw me a piece," he said with a wink. Estella giggled and tossed him the last bit, which he skillfully caught with his mouth. He raised his arms as if expecting applause and Estella clapped appreciatively, albeit with a shake of her head. A disappointed duckling swam away from the couple seeing that no more muffin crumbs would come its way.

"Poor thing," Estella sighed, turning back around to see her feathery new friend leaving them. "Look, you made the ducks go away."

Merry made an aggravated noise in response to her pout and shouted, "Oh, would you stop worrying about the ducks?" He tackled her in one swift motion and playfully whined, "I'm absolutely starving!"

"Merry!" Estella shrieked as she pushed him off and sat back up. "Someone will see!"

"Oh, no one's here! Come back," he said, pulling her back down. "Really, I didn't think you were as cowardly as your brother. You know he thinks there's monsters in the Old Forest?"

Estella snorted but allowed herself to relax as Merry played with her hair. "I am much braver than Fatty. He wakes up several times in the night from cricket noises. That's why he's so plump- he has five midnight snacks every night."

They both had a bit of a laugh at the expense of poor Fredegar, but as presently he wasn't with them, there was clearly no harm. And had he been there, he would have probably chuckled as well. Although not with his little sister and good friend in the position they were in. Her old self consciousness slipping back in, Estella had to sit up again, much to Merry's annoyance.

He sat up as well, but before he could pull her back down, she stuck up her hand motioning him to stop. She seemed to be listening for something and he became more alert, too. He listened for half a minute before he decided there was no danger and lay back down.

"I don't reckon there's anything out there," he said putting his hands behind his head and closing his eyes. Estella continued to look around a moment longer, but then with a shrug she said, "I suppose you're right. It was probably just a squirrel."

She remained sitting but seemed significantly less tense; Merry groaned as she absentmindedly pulled out another muffin. However instead of breaking it apart and feeding it to the ducks, she handed it to him with an expression on her face that said 'See? I'm perfectly willing to be charitable to hobbits as well as ducks.'

Merry grinned and rubbed the muffin on his lapel before taking an immodest bite. Estella shook her head and took out another one for herself, as well. The two ate quietly but not without shooting each other silly and flirtacious looks.

Upon finishing, Merry pushed himself up onto one elbow and took a hold of Estella's hand, which she didn't pull away despite the pink tint creeping into her cheeks.

"So when can I come to see you at Budgeford without pretending that I want to see Fatty?" he asked in a much more serious tone than he'd been sporting all day. "You'll be of age next year; I hardly think your parents would disapprove of us being together now."

Estella sighed and stroked his head. "I know it doesn't seem like much of a difference, but I think they'd really prefer it if we didn't start courting until I'm old enough."

"'If we didn't start courting?' Then what does today fall under? Or the past year, for that matter?" cried Merry as he stood up and gesticulated with exasperation. He picked up a stone and threw it hard against the water, causing it skip nearly across the entire pool.

Estella rose to her feet and approached Merry cautiously as he continued skipping stones. She waited for him to stop, and then, to his surprise as well as her own, she hugged him from behind.

"I'm sorry," she murmured into the back of his orange vest. "I didn't mean for it to sound that way. I like you very much, you know."

Merry turned around and smiled despite himself. Estella wasn't this affectionate or physical most of the time. She certainly knew which buttons to press.

"I like you very much, too," he said as he wrapped his arms around her in reciprocation of her embrace. "And I thought your family was fond of me as well! I come from a good stock of Brandybucks- the heir to a rather important position, by the way. Most people seem to like me. And I don't believe I'm terribly hard on the eyes, either!"

"Oh, certainly not," Estella agreed in a mock serious voice. Then she did something supremely unexpected and kissed Merry lightly on the mouth. He stared at her for a few seconds, frozen with shock, and when she started to stammer that she was sorry, he returned the favor and effectively silenced her apologies.

Just when the two thought that the day had reached its quota of surprises, two strange and unpleasant looking hobbits stepped out from behind a large bush and approached the pair sneering. One was slightly taller than the other, but neither was taller than Merry, although they were significantly broader and stockier. The shorter one had a bushy head of curls while the taller had slicked back his limp frizzy hair, and they both had smug menacing smirks plastered on their ruddy faces.

"What's all this? Two lovebirds sneaking around on private property," clucked the shorter one sarcastically while his friend rubbed his index fingers together in a falsely admonishing manner.

"Who are you and what do you want?" said Merry sternly as Estella moved behind him instinctively. The two intruders only laughed and continued to stalk closer.

"You don't know us but we know you, Brandybuck," spat the other hobbit. The longer Merry looked at them the more he felt as if he did indeed know them- or at the very least had seen them before. However, he couldn't place their names or where he'd seen them. They were probably local rustics- patrons of the Green Dragon or the Ivy Bush.

"Just because you own all that queer land past the river, don't mean you own anything here. Don't mean you can go around on other people's land. Isn't that right, Ted?" continued the nastier ruffian. Ted Sandyman- for indeed it was the miller's son- laughed and clapped him on the back, saying, "Now, Ollie, don't get worked up, eh? This dandy ain't worth it."

"Who do you think you're talking to?" Merry shouted, getting visibly irritated. Estella, who had been hiding behind him for protection, now jumped in front of him and held him back from engaging in an unfair brawl.

"I'm sorry, we didn't know we were trespassing," she said, trying to diffuse the situation with common courtesy. "We'll just leave now," she continued as she began to pull Merry back towards the road. Unfortunately for her, Ollie had no concept of common courtesy and roughly grabbed Estella by the arm.

"You can stay, Crumpet," he said much too close to her face for comfort. "It's your friend we don't like."

Estella pulled away just as Merry came swinging at Ollie. He managed one sizable blow before Ted had his arms locked behind his back. Merry struggled in vain as the heavier hobbit successfully restrained him while his cohort landed wallop after wallop into poor Merry's stomach. The thug struck him powerfully in the face when suddenly he collapsed onto the ground gasping in pain.

Ignored and unnoticed, Estella had grabbed a large stone and thrown it hard against the side of Ollie's head- much harder than she'd been throwing the muffin bits earlier. Then with a well-aimed and extremely lucky kick just below Merry's groin, she got Ted where it hurts, leaving him curled up on the ground next to his bruised but not-broken friend.

The two still-standing hobbits ran for the road as quickly as they could before the ones that had fallen could get up and come exact revenge. Merry wheezed and had to stop a few times to catch his breath, but they safely made it to the Green Dragon, their feet having carried them there out of habit. The inn wasn't completely empty, but the few customers there ignored them as they crept into a corner and practically collapsed into their seats.

Back in Hobbiton, Pippin led Mundee to Bag End where he promised to dig up some spare clothes she could change into, since her present attire was still soaked from her earlier swim in the river. They strolled through the gate and promptly bumped into Samwise Gamgee, who'd been hard at work in Frodo's garden and didn't hear them enter. At once the humble hobbit began to apologize far more than the situation warranted.

"Oh, beg your pardon, Mr. Pippin! Didn't hear you come in, I was just so busy planting these petunias. Springtime is a busy time for gardeners, you know," rambled Sam as he clapped some of the dirt from his hands.

"Not to worry, Sam. No harm done!" Pippin replied with a laugh. "Say, do you know if Frodo is in?" he said, peering into a round window.

"No, he went for a walk. I reckon he'll be back soon, though," said Sam looking thoughtful as he tried to remember how long ago his master had left. Suddenly Mundee's presence registered in his head as she sniffled loudly and dripped onto his newly planted petunias- that changed things somewhat.

"Now see here, I don't think Master Frodo would approve of whatever shenanigans you've got in mind," he said as he marched up to Pippin, waggling his finger scoldingly. Mundee snickered as Pippin put his hands on Sam's shoulders in what he thought to be a comforting motion.

"Sam, I swear on my second breakfast that I am not up to any shenanigans," he assured the servant. "I'll only be in for a moment- you see my friend, Mundee, here fell into the Water before and she will surely catch cold if she doesn't put on something dry."

"Merry rescued me," Mundee chimed in, to which Pippin rolled his eyes. More or less appeased, Sam let them in and continued tending to the flowers, although not without muttering that he was just doing his job and didn't need trouble from silly young Tooks.

Pippin led Mundee down Bag End's various hallways to the guestroom he was sharing with Merry. It was easy to tell which bed was which: one was impeccably tidy, with its sheets all folded carefully and a single rucksack sitting on the edge, while the other was in a state of utter disarray. Pippin dove into the pile on the latter bed in search of clean garments. Mundee busied herself by casually glancing into Merry's bag.

"Aha, this should do," Pippin said triumphantly as he pulled out a cream-colored shirt and a pair of tan trousers. His smile fell away when he saw Mundee sifting through his cousin's things. "Oi, have you no concept of privacy?" he cried, as he threw the clothes at her head. "Stop snooping and put these on."

Mundee stuck out her tongue at him as he walked out of the room to let her change. In the meantime, he would have a bit of a snack; Frodo certainly wouldn't mind or notice if food went missing. These days he seemed to have other things on his mind.

Pippin traipsed over to the kitchen and found a sandwich lying around on the table, practically waiting for him. He had barely begun to chew his first bite when Sam's head popped out of the window. He just about choked from fright.

"So who is your lady-friend?" he asked casually as if he hadn't just jumped out of the bushes.

"Heavens, Sam! You certainly know how to give a fellow a scare!" Pippin responded as he recovered from the shock. "And I told you: she's a friend. Just some girl I met today."

"Mr. Pippin sure does move quickly, bringing home lasses he's just met," Sam remarked almost to himself.

"First of all, this isn't my home," Pippin said while shaking the sandwich as he spoke. "And second, it's one lass. And if you tell anyone anything different I might have to tell Rosie Cotton that Merry and I spied you talking to Gardenia Bracegirdle. In hushed tones, no less."

"All right, you win," Sam admitted looking sheepish. "But tell me one more thing."

"Anything at all, Sam," Pippin said smugly while taking another grand bite.

"What are you doing scarfing down my lunch?" Sam said pointing at the sandwich, which Pippin carefully turned over to examine.

"Oh, is this yours? It's very tasty. But I'm afraid it's my lunch now," he said saucily before taking another bite.

"And now it's mine!" said Mundee suddenly as she grabbed the sandwich away from Pippin. He scowled at her thievery (but moreso because he wondered how long she'd been standing in the room and eavesdropping) and began to leave.

"Well, now that you're ready, we can head out and let Sam finish his gardening," he said as he headed for the exit. Mundee quickly followed behind, finishing what was left of Sam's meal. As they walked towards the gate, Pippin called out, "Goodbye, Sam! No hard feelings about the sandwich!"

Sam waved at them and smiled while muttering under his breath and plotting how to best get back at Pippin for this most ungallant and devious deed.

The two young hobbits strolled down the road past the smaller but equally charming dwellings on Bagshot Row. At number 3, Sam's Gaffer sat on a bench smoking with his neighbor, Daddy Twofoot. Pippin waved at the old fellows, though they seemed curious and confused about his oddly dressed companion.

Mundee frowned and tugged at her (well, Pippin's) loose shirt. "They must think I'm a boy. I'm quite a sorry sight, aren't I?" she said to Pippin while gesturing at the ridiculous outfit.

"No, you look fine," Pippin lied. "So how about a real lunch? Half a sandwich is hardly enough to tide me over." He decided to change the topic lest she continue to press him. He got enough questions about dresses and hairstyles from his sisters, he didn't need a sartorial discussion now.

"Oh, you read my mind," Mundee exclaimed with delight, much to his relief. "Where should we go? What do you recommend?"

Pippin instantly regretted posing the question as now it was his responsibility to decide where to eat... which would, of course, reflect on his judgment and character. His initial thought would be one of the pubs on the outskirts of town, but now he wondered whether he ought to take her somewhere less... rowdy. There was at least one small eatery in the village that served pastries and tea, but it was the sort of place his sisters would describe as "quaint" or "adorable." He decided to go with his gut, in every sense of the word.

"How do you feel about the Green Dragon?" he asked, expecting a grimace and finding instead a look of recognition and enthusiasm.

"Oh, I love it there. They've got the best ale," she said grinning.

"Aren't you a bit young for that stuff?" he said with a laugh. She blew a raspberry at him and skipped up the road towards the tavern. "I refuse to skip!" he called out after her. "We Southern Tooks deem it unseemly!" After a moment, he decided to run and catch up to her, but found himself sprinting ahead.

They raced all the way to Bywater, where at last they stopped by a fence to rest. Mundee insisted that she'd beat him there, but Pippin knew the truth, even if it had been toe to toe. They stopped bickering to watch Estella and a very haggard-looking Merry stagger into the Green Dragon. Mundee and Pippin exchanged a look of curiosity and wandered in after the first pair.

No sooner had Merry and Estella ordered their drinks than Pippin and the drowning girl from earlier had walked into the tavern and joined them at their table in the corner. Merry tried to smile, but he only succeeded in looking like he was wincing in pain... which, to a certain degree, he was. Estella pulled out a chair for the girl, but she took the one nearest to him instead, which thankfully Estella gracefully ignored. Pippin sat across from Merry and gave him a questioning look, but Merry didn't feel like revisiting the fight and decided he'd go into details later when they were alone.

"I'm fine, really," he fibbed. "What have you sprites been up to? Looking sufficiently dry, I see," he said, directing the latter comment at the girl, who looked ready to climb onto his lap. Pippin seemed aware of this invasion of his personal space and thankfully pulled her chair closer to his own.

"Mundee and I stopped at Bag End. I lent her some of my things," said Pippin when the apparently tongue-tied girl failed to answer.

"They suit you well," Estella chimed in pleasantly. Mundee scowled in response. "What, are you suggesting that I look like a boy?" Estella looked stunned and there was an awkward moment of silence before she managed to stammer a suitable reply. "Oh, dear, no! I meant it as a compliment," she said, looking for agreement from Merry and Pippin.

Merry was only able to let out a hearty laugh at the ridiculous situation, which fortunately lightened the group's mood considerably. A barmaid approached the table with Merry and Estella's drinks and Pippin ordered two more. Soon enough they were all eating, drinking and laughing, having forgotten all previous grievances and worries. Mundee continued to stare starry-eyed at Merry and Merry continued to scoot closer to Estella, but otherwise it was a very pleasant lunch.

"Listen, I have a joke! You- listen," said Pippin, tapping Mundee on the shoulder as she downed half a pint. "An elf, a dwarf, and a hobbit walk into a tavern-"

"I've heard this one before!" Mundee shouted a bit too loudly as she teetered on her seat. She'd probably had a bit more than her frame could stand.

"No, you haven't," said Pippin as he tried to keep her from falling over backwards. "I just made this one up. So, as I was saying, an elf, a dwarf, and a hobbit-"

"Diamond! What are you doing drinking ale?" This time Pippin's joke was cut off by a shout from a middle-aged hobbit who looked strangely familiar. The portly fellow marched over from the staircase leading to the inn's guestrooms and pulled Mundee up from her seat.

"Hullo, Dad!" she slurred at her infuriated father. "Meet my new friends. This is Pippin, this is Merry, and I can't remember her name, but-"

"Who got her these drinks?" Mundee's father demanded, pointing at the three mugs she'd finished. Merry and Estella instantly pointed at Pippin who tried not to look as frightened as he felt.

"Well, technically, she was going to pay for them..." Pippin rambled, trying to defend himself.

"She's only twenty two!" shouted the red-faced hobbit. "I've heard enough. Up the stairs, Diamond! What will your mother say when she hears about this," he said as he marched his daughter away. Mundee looked forlornly back at the table and shrugged her shoulders apologetically before disappearing into the second floor.

"Ooh, she's so young," Estella finally said, breaking the terrible silence. "It's no wonder she couldn't hold her liquor."

"Well, I suppose we won't be seeing much more of her, eh, Pip?" said Merry as he returned to his potatoes and sausage.

"No, I suppose not," said Pippin before taking a mighty gulp of his ale.

Thanks for reading all of that! I hope you've enjoyed and are looking forward to the rest as much as I am. Please let me know what you thought in a review-- it only takes two seconds and totally encourages me to hurry up with the next chapter. :)