Flowers, Gems And Estella - Chapter XVI
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Estella was still fuming the next day, but only told Celandine when she was over to her house shortly after breakfast. She had been successful in losing Mentha and Melilot to a visiting friend of their father’s – apparently, Rosie’s mother had been right in saying that Sancho Proudfoot’s father was quite the looker, if Sancho looked anything like his father.
“And now, Merry no doubt thinks I’m in love with him!” Estella said, putting down the embroidery she had been working on.
“If I know my cousin – and I like to think that I do – he may seem heartless and mischievous on the outside, but he’s a sweet and thoughtful gentlehobbit on the inside.”
“He’s about as sweet and thoughtful as a thorn bush.”
“Yes, but don’t thorn bushes often have roses?”
Celandine continued talking, about the upcoming party, and about Merry – she didn’t even notice her brothers Doderic and Ilberic appear in the doorway, as her back was turned towards them. Putting their fingers to their lips to signal Estella, who got the message, they sneaked towards Celandine, still submerged in the closet.
“So, we’re going to need to put up your hair – maybe a bun? Perhaps a twist, with curls hanging down around your face. What do you think, Estella? You haven’t said too much.”
She was lifted off her feet then, screaming with fear, as Doderic and Ilberic carried her over to the bed and proceeded to tickle her.
“Stop! Stop!” she laughed, kicking at them.
“Not unless you do us a little favor, baby sister,” they said maliciously.
Since Estella had met them, she’d seen Doderic and Ilberic play several pranks on Celandine, Melilot and Mentha – she supposed they hadn’t played any of her because she was a guest. Though they never went to far with a joke, they were still good fun to be around.
“What’s the favor you want?” Celandine said breathlessly.
“Well, while Estella is downstairs, talking to Merry – by the way Estella, Merry’s here, he says he wants to talk to you – you, baby sister, are going to get something for us.”
“You mean steal?” Celandine asked.
“What does he want to talk about?” Estella asked.
“He didn’t say – probably about last night, or something,” Ilberic said, turning towards her while still gripping Celandine by the arm.
Estella sighed. “Does everybody know about that?”
“Well, everybody who’s anybody – or just us, you know. Don’t worry, Mellie and Mentha don’t know – or else all of Buckland would know before nightfall,” Doderic said.
“You sure you don’t want to help me out here, Estella?” Celandine, held by the arms between her two brothers, said.
Estella laughed. “Nah, I think I’ll go down, and, uh – see what Merry wants.”
Doderic and Ilberic marched Celandine out the room and into the hallway to, Estella assumed, their bedrooms. Estella watched them until they were out of sight, then retreated downstairs.
Merry was in the living room, looking out the window with his hands behind his back – he was adjusting his weight from one foot to another, as if nervous. Estella laughed, attracting Merry’s attention – he looked to see her standing at the bottom of the staircase.
“Hello, Estella,” he said, smiling wide, “Um – how are you today?”
“Fine, I guess – um, and you?”
“Oh, I’ve been great! Pip came over after you all left last night and we went out for a drink, and had a bit too much. As a result, Pip and I – well, maybe I shouldn’t tell you that part. But we went fishing early this morning, and Pip caught a huge grayling – I didn’t catch anything, though. But – you don’t really want to hear this, do you?”
“Oh, it’s not so bad – but I don’t think that’s what you came to talk about.”
“Well, no. I, uh – I wanted to apologize, for last night. It wasn’t very big of me, or very courteous – I, uh, I realize I’m not an eleven-year-old anymore, and should behave as the adult that I am – my birthday’s coming up, and I’ll be almost forty, so I am beyond such childish deeds –”
“Is Frodo there at Brandy Hall?”
“Excuse me?”
“Frodo. At Brandy Hall. Am I right?”
“Oh yeah, he’s there – he’s visiting with us, because my parents are gone I guess. Maybe he thinks Pip and I need supervision, because he came as soon as Pip did.”
“Thought so. Your apology wasn’t very – Merry-esque, if that’s even a word.”
“Guess not – well, um, what are you, uh – doing this evening?”
“Oh? You mean me and Celandine, and her brother – and Mellie and Ment –”
“Um, I guess – I was, just thinking about, um – just you. But we can have supper here, and dinner too – now that I think about, it would be better here, and we don’t have to be alone, and –”
“Merry! You still here?”
Estella looked up to see Doderic, Ilberic and Celandine at the top of the staircase, making their way down to the living room.
“Merry, you must stay for supper!” Celandine said, running down the stairs, “Mother is making steamed beets, your favorite!”
“Sounds delicious – I was just talking to Estella about my staying for the evening, as she suggested that I dine with you all tonight – if that’s okay with you?”
“Why certainly!” Celandine said, “Estella comes up with all the great ideas – you did apologize to her, didn’t you? She told me how immature you behaved last night!”
“Well, that must be a quality of all Brandybucks, as I’ve known quite a few occasion where you – and you two as well,” he said, gesturing to Doderic and Ilberic, “Acted quite immature yourselves!”
“Ha! When was that – when you convinced us to replace the flour with salt, and ruined your mother’s birthday cake?” Ilberic said, “Sorry Merry, but that counts are your stupidity too.”
“No actually, my dear cousin,” Merry said, patting him on the back, “I was thinking of the time when you and Doderic – while my father and I were plowing the fields – decided to tamper with the pony that was pulling the plow.”
“I-I don’t know what y-you’re talking about,” Doderic said, his hands and face sweating, “Telling lies will get you nowhere, Merry – right, Estella?” Estella looked up, surprised they had been talking to her – she looked confused, and thoroughly believed that Doderic was lying.
“Oh, it’s not a lie – you snuck up behind us, with a very hot metal rod, gotten from the blacksmith’s I suppose – and stuck it –”
“That’s enough!” the two of them shouted, rushing to cover Merry’s mouth with their hands, “I think we all know what happens next, so there’s no need for you to go any further with this story – so let’s just eat now!”
They all headed towards the back of the hole, except for Merry, who stayed behind and looked hopeful that Estella might do the same. She noticed this, and stopped, speaking to him. “Merry?”
“Um, before we go in to eat,” he said, pointing towards the kitchen – he looked down at his feet, and sighed, “I really am sorry – I don’t know what got into me, but it was something very immature. There’s going to be absolutely no more of that – no more of what happened last night. And this time, it isn’t Frodo speaking.”
“Well, then it’s not Frodo that I forgive – I’ve done stupid things too, I think, immature things that I regretted later on. Our minds must think alike, then.”
“Guess so,” he said, grinning largely, “So, you don’t hate me?”
She shook her head, almost laughing. “I never hated you, Merry – sometimes, I think I like the jokes that you play. As long as they’re not played on me – you know, on people like Doderic or Ilberic, someone who would appreciate it – or at least no hate it. Especially since they deserve it.”
“So you do hate that?”
“Well – no, not really. As long as it’s never anything like pushing me in a river – you know, just making minor verbal humor, a pun or something – something everyone can laugh at. No one’s that heartless – me, least of all.”
“Well, that’s, uh – that’s nice to know. Thanks.”
“For what?”
“I don’t know,” he said, laughing, “Just – thanks.” He cleared his throat – the others were probably waiting for them. “Lasses first, then.” He held out his hands in a gesture of courtesy.
Estella smiled as she headed into the kitchen, Merry following her.