Flowers, Gems And Estella - Chapter XXIII
<><><><><>
For the seventh or eighth time that day, Merry came into the large dining room of Brandy Hall, making sure that all was in order – it was all decked out in celebration of his birthday, with streamers hanging from the ceiling and walls. Several chairs had been set at the long table in preparation for the guests, with rows of candles that would be lit at the start of the great party, which would include a meal such as Buckland had not seen since before the Occupation – soon enough, hobbits of all ages would be within, a great celebration not only to honor himself, but to observe what was now a whole year of being free of the Ruffians’ regime.
At the moment, however, it looked quite empty and hollow – the gargantuan ceiling of the dining room stretched far above him, which had always made conversation easy between two hobbits at opposite ends of the room. No one was gathered within, expect the few servants still preparing for the party, placing name cards at the table that denoted where each hobbit would sit. Of course his father and Master of Buckland would sit at the head of the table, and as usual his mother and himself would sit at each side at the head of the table. Next to Merry would sit Pippin, then Frodo, Sam and Rosie – beside his mother her brother, Thain Paladin Took, and his wife and daughters. Beside Rosie would sit Estella, an intentional placement on his part, with her brother Fredegar across the table from her.
Making one last check on the dining room, he came into the kitchen where the cooks were preparing the magnificent feast – and where Pippin was gorging himself on a slice of cake made especially for him. More than once had a large handful of cake gone missing when Pippin was around, and Merry had taken to ordering a smaller pastry made for him, to indulge himself on before the party. A glass of milk sat beside him at the small, wooden table, which he often took sips from before stuffing his face full again.
“Oh, ‘ello Mehhy,” he said upon his cousin’s entry, his mouth full of food.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, Pip, it doesn’t compliment you any,” Merry said as greeting, “You’ll need to wipe off your face, and change your shirt as well, before the party.”
“Mah s’irt ish fine,” he gulped, wiping his dirty hands on his vest and smearing it even more with creamy white icing, finally swallowing before saying, “Why are you so worried about the party?”
“I’m not worried – I just don’t want anything to go wrong tonight. The guests are coming to have a good time, and I want that to happen as much as they do.”
“Ish it be’ause Estella ish coming?” he said, his mouth full of food again.
“No! I mean, it’s not just her, I want it all to go great for everybody, and –” he paused here, shrugging his shoulder dejectedly, “Oh, what’s the use? Yes, Pippin, I want to impress her, very much so. And I bet you want to know why.”
“Oh, I know why – but I’d like to hear you say it.”
Merry sighed. “Because – because I love her. And I know you’re going to laugh –but don’t!”
“I’m not laughing!” he said, covering his mouth to stifle his giggles.
“You know, when you’re doing stuff like this for Diamond, I’m going to laugh my head off at you and your foolishness!”
“Perhaps, or will wooing Estella take up too much of your time?” Pippin said, a sly look in his eyes.
Merry would have retaliated with a cunning remark had his parents not had just walked through the swinging wood door into the kitchen – Mrs. Brandybuck had a deep blue party dress on, her hair pulled back in behind her ears, clutching the arm of her husband as they walked through the kitchen, surveying the progress of the night’s dinner.
“Happy birthday, Merry dear,” she said, coming up to her son and kissing him on the cheek, “You look awfully worried.”
“That’s what I told him,” Pippin said from behind her.
“It’s nothing, Mother – really,” he said.
“Ah, there’s naught wrong with the boy having a few nerves before his party,” Saradoc said, slapping his son gently on the shoulder, “Goodness, you’ve gotten tall, my lad,” he commented, as Merry stood nearly a full foot above him.
“I better go check on the tents outside,” Merry said curtly, and left immediately.
“Poor boy,” Mrs. Brandybuck commented once he was gone, “You can tell so much has happened to him, while he’s been away – like Frodo and Sam, they’ve changed greatly as well.”
“Haven’t I changed at all?” Pippin said, still eating.
“I know, dear – but those kinds of things, they’re what make him an adult. He’s got things that he needs to deal with on his own, and things he’ll have to deal with once he takes my place as Master – he’s changed, that’s true, but some of it for the better.”
“He seems wiser, like Frodo – less outspoken, like there are pains deep within him.”
“And he’s concerned that he needs to find a wife as well,” Pippin said from behind them.
“Yes, that too,” Mrs. Brandybuck said, still looking wistfully at the door her son had left through several minutes earlier.
“Well then, it’s understandable that he’s nervous – after all, I was in his position at one time as well,” Saradoc said.
“Really?” his wife said.
“Yes, I remember that whenever a one Esmeralda Took came over to Brandy Hall, I would make sure that everything was perfect – for I had eyes for her, you see,” he said, grinning sheepishly.
“Did you really? I wasn’t aware,” Mrs. Brandybuck said as if it were not herself that he was talking about.
“Oh yes, but I don’t think she felt the same – made fun of me quite a bit,” he said in tone of mock pain.
“Well, I’m sure she had her reasons – you weren’t the perfect little darling either, you know,” she joked, and they exited the kitchen, laughing like the old married couple that they were. Pippin shook his head, and returned to his slice of cake.
<><><><><>
Celandine held the comb in her mouth, while her hands worked to braid Estella’s long, brown hair, into a sensible but elegant design, as per Estella’s instructions.
“I want it nice – but not too nice – not all that casual, but nothing that I would wear to a wedding – you know what I mean?” she had said, with a look on her face that was none too clear of what she was talking about.
“I think I know exactly what you mean,” Celandine said with a knowing smile, and took a comb and brush to prepare her hair.
When she proclaimed herself to be finished and prompted Estella to look in the mirror, she was hardly the hobbit she’d seen in all the mirrors before this – Celandine had also worked on her face, rubbing her cheeks with a small amount of blush that make the milky-white skin look to have more life in it. This, along with the newfound confidence that she suddenly found herself in possession of, contributed to the look of radiance about her face.
“Now for the dress,” Celandine said, her own hair and garments already in order. Taking the green dress from within its carefully placed position in the closet, she helped Estella into it, spreading the skirt out carefully while Estella gazed at herself in the mirror. Her hair was arranged elegantly, some of it in a knotted bun at the back of her head, the rest cascading down her back, with a few tightly braided coils, green ribbons that matched her dress tied in to keep them from unraveling. Once the dress was on, she turned around, watching in the mirror how it lifted slightly then wafted back down to hang just below her ankles once more.
Celandine, finally finished tending to the dress, stood up, smoothing out the front of her own azure dress – her hair was curled into several ringlets which hung about her face and lay tucked behind her pointed ears. She had not paid as much attention to her own appearance as she had Estella’s, but she still looked beautiful.
“You look lovely,” she said, “Really, Celandine, I mean it – the dress is beautiful.”
“Not as nice as you, but I try,” she said shrugging, “Now come on, we’ve got a party to get to!” she said, grabbing Estella’s hand and dragging her out the door. Downstairs Fredegar, Doderic and Ilberic were already gathered, looking rather dignified, but still quite casual. Their vests were as of yet still clean, which would no doubt change as the evening went on.
“You two ready yet?” Doderic said annoyingly, stamping his foot impatiently.
“Sorry we lasses can’t be a quick as you all,” Celandine said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “But it’s not as easy as putting on some trousers and combing our hair hurriedly. We’ve got makeup to apply, hair to braid and arrange – and don’t get me started on the dress!”
“You two look nice,” Fredegar intervened before an argument broke out, and speaking to his audience, “May Estella and I talk in private?” No one argued with this, so the two of them stepped outside.
The sun was just beginning to set, and a light breeze promised for comfortable weather that evening.
“So – you’re going to tell him?” Fredegar asked pensively.
Estella nodded. “It’s as good a time as any, I suppose – I can imagine the conversation. ‘Happy birthday, Merry – by the way, I love you.’ What do you think?”
“Couldn’t have said it better,” he said, chuckling to himself, “Although I’d be concerned if I were saying it all, seeing as how I’m not a lass. Don’t worry, it’ll go great – just be confident, and don’t get verbal diarrhea.”
“I’ll try, though I have no idea what to say – I’ve being going over it in my head, seeing how different phrases fit and work out – and I have nothing.”
“I’m sure that when the moment comes, the words will come also – he will no doubt have some feelings to express as well.”
“One more thing, though, will you –”
“Make sure Pippin doesn’t interfere? I’d be honored – may luck be with you, Estella.”
“Thanks, I have a feeling I’m going to need it.”