Chapter 2 - Something Different

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"Estella! Estella, where are you going?"

Estella turned the pony she rode to face her mother, who stood on the front step of their house. "Mister Baggins and the others are going to Michel Delving to free everyone who was put in the lockholes. I want to see Fatty and make sure he's all right." As she turned the pony around again and sent him galloping down the road, she called behind her, "I'll be back with him soon!"

As the pony quickly took her down the road towards Michel Delving, Estella's thoughts went back to the previous day, to the battle with the ruffians in Bywater and the death of Sharkey right outside of Bag End. Estella had not been around to witness either of these events, but her father and uncle had seen them both, and had recounted everything to their wives and Estella after returning home the night before.

"We lost a lot of good lives, but it could've gone much worse," her father had said. "I'd hate to think of what would've happened had Mister Meriadoc and young Peregrin not been there."

Estella had bitten back a comment on this. She had always thought of Merry as senseless and obnoxious, and a shiny sword was not going to change her opinion of him. She did not necessarily hate him, of course; she had to at least tolerate him, as he was a friend of her brother. The same went for her brother's other friend, Pippin Took. Estella considered him just as senseless and obnoxious as Merry, but as he was only a tweenager, she decided it was excusable, and tolerated him as well. As for Fredegar's eldest friend, Frodo Baggins, Estella was actually quite fond of him. He was much more reserved than his younger friends, and always had fascinating stories to tell.

I wonder if they've brought back any more stories from wherever they'd gotten to all this time, Estella mused as she neared Michel Delving. The disappearance of the four hobbits had been the talk of the Shire for many weeks, and was still brought up from time to time when conversation topics were scarce. Fredegar had been the last to see the Travelers before they left the Shire, but if he had known their purpose or destination, he had given no indication even to his sister. Estella had guessed that he did have some knowledge on the subject, but had either been sworn to secrecy or simply did not wish to discuss it, perhaps both. When last she'd seen her brother, Fredegar seemed to have been losing hope that his friends would ever return, as was the common belief throughout the Shire - with the exception of Estella's good friend Rose Cotton. Estella had admired Rosie's enduring faith as the months stretched on and the hearts of other hobbits were becoming heavy. And Rosie's patience had payed off, as Estella had seen the previous day when she had gone to visit her friend, while most of the lads had gone to Hobbiton to deal with Sharkey.

When Estella had found her friend in the kitchen of the Cotton's home, Rosie had been drying dishes, humming to herself, and wearing quite a peculiar smile.

* * *

"Rosie dear?" Estella prodded gently.

Rosie turned to see Estella entering the doorway to the kitchen, and her smile widened into a grin. "Hello, Estella!"

Looking around at the empty kitchen, Estella said, "I take it your father and brothers are in Hobbiton, dealing with old Lotho?"

Rosie nodded, putting away a stack of plates. "All but Nibbs." She laughed suddenly, an expression of pure joy shining on her face. "Oh, isn't it wonderful, Stella? The ruffians are finally being chased off, everything's going to be green and beautiful again, and--" Her grin widened, and she looked as though she could take flight at any moment. "And he came back, Stella!" She collapsed into a nearby chair, her eyes alight with happiness that Estella had not seen in her for many months.

Estella could not help but return the grin as she took a seat next to Rosie. "So he did go to visit you last night, didn't he?"

Rosie responded with a heavy sigh of content. "I wish I could describe the way my heart swelled as I watched him ride up. And looking like a heroic knight out of a storybook, no less!" It took her a moment to realize her friend was laughing.

"Oh Rosie, I have never seen a lass so hopelessly in love as you!"

Blushing, a flustered Rosie inquired as casually as she could (which wasn't very), "Nonsense, who said anything about love?"

Estella's grin became mischevious. "Your eyes say plenty, my dear."

Rosie's smile slowly returned, and she said, "I am quite hopeless, aren't I?"

* * *

Estella smiled at the memory of that conversation. She hoped Sam and the others would be quick with tying up any loose ends so that he and Rosie could begin wedding plans as soon as possible. Estella belived that, after so many months of faith and patience, Rosie should not be kept waiting for any longer than was necessary.

I shall have to speak to Samwise about that - after I see to poor old Fatty, of course.

When Estella neared the center of the town of Michel Delving, she found a great number of hobbits were crowded around what she assumed were the infamous lockholes of the ruffians. After all but jumping off the pony, she rushed as closely towards the center of the crowd as she could get. When she could go no further, she stood on her toes in an effort to see the thin, wobbling hobbits who were being lead out of the large, unsightly shed. After barely a minute of waiting, she was rewarded by the voice of Pippin Took mentioning her brother's name.

"You would have done better to come with us after all, poor old Fredegar!"

As soon as the name "Fredegar" had left Pippin's mouth, Estella had shoved her way none too gently through the crowd of onlookers just in time to hear her brother's response.

"Who's this young giant with the loud voice? Not little Pippin! What's your size in hats now?"

"Fredegar!" Estella cried, her voice torn between joy and sorrow at seeing her brother's worn and weary figure. She rushed up and embraced him gently. When she pulled away, she gave him a brave smile and said, "Well, it looks as though we shall have to find you a new nickname, my dear brother, as it seems 'Fatty' will no longer suffice!"

Fredegar smiled weakly. "Oh, you needn't worry about that, Stella. Mother's cooking should bring me back to my normal state in no time."

Pippin allowed Estella to take his place supporting her brother's right side, but Merry stayed where he was at Fredegar's left. "He's too weak to walk, Estella," Merry said to her. "I'll help you take him to your pony over there."

Estella normally took great pains to avoid help from others, but she knew she was not strong enough to support Fredegar on her own, even in his current state. So for her brother's sake, she allowed Merry to accompany them to where her pony waited. There, he helped Fredegar onto the saddle, and after making sure his friend was secure, he stepped back to let Estella mount the pony behind her brother.

"Thank you, Mister Merry," she said as she settled herself into the saddle, keeping her voice as neutral as possible.

"Thank you, Merry," said Fredegar softly, smiling gratefully at his friend.

Merry returned the smile and replied firmly, "You think nothing of it, my dear Fredegar. I am simply glad to see you out of that place."

Estella carefully regarded Merry as he spoke; in his eyes especially there was the most evidence of a profound change having touched the young hobbit. It was obvious that those eyes had seen a great many things.

"Merry..." she began, unsure of what she wanted to say. Merry turned to consider her.

Finally, she said, her voice rather solemn, "You look older."

Merry held her gaze for some time, his face unreadable. "As do you." His brows furrowed. "There's something different about you, Estella. I can't quite place it."

For some reason, Estella did no like the way he now looked at her. "Well, there are many somethings different about you, Merry, most of which I can't quite place either." She let the pony walked ahead a few steps before stopping him and turning back to look at Merry, her expression grave. "Oh, and I would like you to pass on a message for me - tell Master Samwise that there is a lass at the Cotton farm who he should visit as soon and as often as possible. I think he has kept her waiting quite long enough, after all."

Merry grinned. "Will do. And you take good care of old Fredegar." He gave the pony an affectionate pat before turning and walking back towards the lockholes.

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