Flowers, Gems And Estella - Chapter XV
Estella had only been in Buckland a week when Celandine took it upon herself to help find a suitable dress to wear to Merry’s upcoming birthday party.
“You really don’t need to help me with this, Celandine,” Estella said, sitting in a chair next to the bed, “I have lots of dresses, I’m sure one of them will be just fine for the party – which isn’t for another five weeks!”
Only the bottom half of Celandine could be seen – the rest of her was busy looking through the closet. Every now and then a garment would fly above her head and over onto the bed. “I know, but that only gives us five weeks to find something nice – I mean really nice – for you to wear! Who knows how long that’ll take?”
Estella rose from the chair, and walked over behind Celandine. “Why are you so set on having me look stunning? And why aren’t you so concerned with what you’re going to wear?”
“Because, Estella,” she said from the closet, as a dress hit Estella in the face, “I see my cousins, nearly every single day! Whereas you – well, I think you should look nice, especially nice. And as my guest, I owe it to you to try and help you.”
“Did Mentha and Mellie set you up to this?”
“Them? No, I didn’t get it from them – I think they’re too concerned with what they’re going to wear to even care about what you’re going to wear.”
Estella walked over to the bed, and picked up several dresses, looking at them – holding them in front of her, and gazing in the mirror. “What’s wrong with all these?” She held a lovely red velvet dress up to her neck. “I think this one’s quite nice.”
“That one’s all wrong for you – that’s a dress Mellie lent to me, notice the low bodice? You don’t want to look fast in front of Merry, do you?”
“What’s so important about me looking nice for Merry?”
Celandine rose up from within the closet, a slight grin on her face. “Well – I mean, it’s not just Merry, you want to look nice for all the lads, don’t you? Now, I don’t mean you have to be like Mellie or Mentha, and flaunt yourself in front of everyone there,” she said quickly, “But – well, I don’t mean to butt in – but doesn’t it sound nice to fall in love with a lad, and marry him?”
“You’re starting to sound like my mother – this is like her difference between lads and lasses speech.”
“I’m just saying, Estella,” Celandine said, returning to the closet, “You’re old enough to marry – so why not take advantage of a good thing, when it comes up and slaps you in the face?”
“I wasn’t expecting love to just up and slap me in the face.”
Celandine laughed heartily. “It’s more like a kick in the gut, really – now, I don’t claim to have been really in love, like I wanted to marry him – but, I’ve had my share of kisses under the moonlight.”
Later that evening, after Mentha and Melilot had decided it was high time for a visit to Brandy Hall to introduce their new visitor, a cartload of six hobbits – Estella, Celandine, Doderic, Ilberic, Mentha and Melilot – rolled off of the little road leading to Newbury, and onto the main road that lead to Crickhollow and Bucklebury.
Bucklebury was the town nearest to Brandy Hall, and the largest in Buckland – like Tuckborough and Long Cleeve, it had originally been established as a market and meeting place for members of the large families, in this case the Brandybucks at Brandy Hall. Before long-term settlements were established in other parts of the Shire – as Buckland was the first area settled hundreds of years earlier – many Brandybuck lads found their wives here and in Crickhollow, the closest and oldest town.
It was early evening when they arrived outside the large hole, which looked to contain at least four floors – upon entering the foyer, the large room looked to encompass the first two floors, with an elegant cut-crystal chandelier, which shook slightly as the door closed behind them, causing little droplets of light to splash around the walls.
“You came on an evening when my parents were gone visiting,” Merry said as he met them in the living room, “I believe they’ve gone to Great Smials – business with the Thain and all.”
“Oh, that’s fine, Merry,” Melilot said, her hands wringing, “We’ll see them at the birthday party, anyway. I, uh – I wasn’t expecting to see them here.” She pulled at her dress, making sure it was low as possible.
Celandine rolled her eyes discreetly. “Well, we were showing Estella here around – I believe you know her, Merry.”
“Oh yes, Estella and I go way back – what was it I did to you? Pushed you down at hill or something?”
“And into the river too!” Estella shouted, then looked around, remembering herself, “I mean, it was so long ago – no hard feelings.”
“Well, you and I also danced at Sam and Rosie’s wedding – we were both in the wedding party, you were the maid of honor, I believe.”
Estella felt her cheeks blush slightly. “Why yes, I remember that – um, quite nice, it was, I suppose.” She waved herself with her hand. “It’s quite warm in here – may I be excused for some fresh air?”
“Of course,” Merry said, standing up, “I’ll go with you.”
“Oh no, that’s no necessary, I wouldn’t want you to, uh – to strain yourself over me. I’ll be just fine,” she said, then promptly left.
It was a cool and balmy summer night outside – a light breeze was blowing, with the scent of wildflowers adrift. Estella sat under a willow tree not far from the Hall, the overhanging boughs swaying gently before her like a soft green curtain.
Perhaps what Celandine said is true – maybe I do need to think about getting married sometime soon. But if that’s the way I behave in front of a lad, I’ll be getting nowhere fast! But it was only Merry – and I don’t plan to marry him anytime soon! It was just very hot – and Merry, talking about when we were young – nobody wants to have the most embarrassing moments of their lives talked about like tha –
Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard footsteps coming towards her – she rose from the ground quickly, wiping off the front of her dress. She looked up to see that it was Merry, brushing aside the willow branches.
“I, uh – I got my fresh air, so I’m ready to go in now,” she said, walking past him quickly.
“Hold on, you don’t have to go yet – there’s nothing wrong with the two of us out here, sitting and talking, is there?” She didn’t stop walking. “Is this because you’re afraid of me?”
His words made her stop, and look back with a look of annoyance on her face. “And why, would I be afraid of you?”
He grinned. “Well, there’s several reasons – you’re afraid I might push you into the river, in which case I assure you that you’ll be just fine with me – you’re afraid I might embarrass you with more juvenile stories, and if it bothers you so much I’ll cease and desist – or, and this one is the most unbelievable of all, you’re madly in love with me, and afraid to admit your feelings.”
“Of all the most – vile concoctions!”
“I’ll take it then it’s not the third one.”
“It most certainly is not!”
“Then which one?”
“None of them! I’m not the least bit afraid of you, Meriadoc Brandybuck! And that you would think that – ooh!” She stormed off towards Brandy Hall alone.
Merry said nothing, only smiled to himself, and followed Estella – from a distance.