“What are their names?” Diamond asked. She was lying down by the fire with one dog, an Irish wolfhound, lying down beside her, and was gently stroking it. Estella was perched on the settee arm with the other, a Golden Retriever, resting its head on her knees, while Cath had a falcon perched on her shoulder and two white rats and a mouse in her hands. Lilly and Bess were leaning against each other, each with a squirrel on their heads. Frodo was leaning on the back of the settee, absentmindedly stroking the falcons crest. Sam and Rosie were sitting in the corner of the room, talking in low tones.

“The dog you’re with is called Fingon. I think he was an elfish prince in the First Age. Estella’s got Galahad, and the falcon’s called Tulkas.”

“After the Valar of strength, I think,” Frodo smirked.

“It’s his name, don’t poke fun at it. And these two rats are Amrod and Amras, and the mouse is Aredhel. The squirrels are Fingolfin and Finarfin, and the fox is Nessa,” Cath pointed to the fox curled up next to Rosie, “You know, Sam’s getting good at that. Next he’ll dance with her.”

Bess clapped her hands, “Awww, the children are growing up!!” she exclaimed, as if Sam and Rosie were eight and seven, not twenty-two and twenty-two.

All five of them stared at her, “Yeah, and they are both older than you. You are the child around here.”

Bess scowled at Frodo, “Mister Baggins, I would really like it if you could do me the ultimate favour of shutting up. God knows you don’t act like an adult.”

Frodo pouted, “Not fair, Miss Clarker. I am older than you. The only person who is younger than you here is Cath.”

“And I act way older than you anyway.”

“Hoi! Mind it! Whose was the idea for the water tipping and getting us all soaked anyway?” There was a murmur of agreement.

“Don’t worry. Anyway, after this, those boys won’t dare cross us again, they’ll be too scared that they’ll fall down a pit!” The group laughed.

“I doubt it,” Sam told her, “The only way those two would stop causing mischief is if you threw them at the bottom of Bywater Pool tied up in a sack… and what on earth was that?”

“What?” Frodo and Diamond looked around bewilderedly. Cath was looking up at the ceiling.

“It came from up roof,” she said, confused, “What d’you reckon is it?”

“Probably rain.”

“Or a fox.”

“Bess, we would be able to see rain from the window, Lilly, would a fox make that kind of noise?”

It was a kind of slow, creaking noise, loud enough to be heard, but only just, and the kind of noise that makes you want to go and see what it is, but at the same time stay tucked up inside by the fire, with a cup of tea and a blanket round you.

“Someone ought to go and see what it is,” Estella said.

“I couldn’t agree more, ’Stell.”

“Absolutely.”

“Definitely.”

“You’re quite right.”

“Brilliant idea, Miss Bolger.”

“Estella, I congratulate you. What a great idea.”

“Best one I’ve heard all evening.”

Estella looked at each one of them, “Well, don’t everyone go off at once.”

Cath groaned,” Fine! Fine, I will come with you. But if we get kidnapped by goblins and dragged across Middle Earth for some hungry dragons snack, I shall hold you entirely responsible.”

“Cath, don’t worry! Probably it’s just the Cotton lads playing on the roof.”

“And the difference between the Cotton lads and a pack of goblins is..?”

The two made their way bickering out the door of the study, round into the hall and outside. It was very quiet, quiet enough to hear a mouse breath.

“It’s too quiet,” Cath muttered, “Far too quiet.”

Estella looked around panicking. Cath was right, it was far too quiet, and the only thing she could hear was Cath’s harsh breathing, her won breathing and the breeze blowing over the top of the grass… It was also very dark. The light was disappearing fast. In one moment it was there, the next there was just a sliver of light peeking over the top of the horizon, the next…

Pure darkness.

“Stell… WhatÂ’s that noise?”

“Just the trees.”

“And…”

“And?”

“That other noise.”

“What other noise?”

The two listened. Where there had been a noise, like footsteps, there was silence.

“My mistake. Sorry.”

“I should think so too. The last thing I need is someone telling me thereÂ’s a noise when there isnÂ’t…”

“WAAARGH!!!!”

“AAAAAAHHHH!”

Two ghostly figures jumped down from the roof and grabbed one girl each, yelling a cry and pulling them down to the ground. One of the figures, who the petrified girls could now see were cloaked in white, was having a laughing fit. The other one pulled out a pipe a lit it, shaking its head and saying,

“Feeling alright, girls?” Cath recognised that voice immediately.

“You two!” She pulled Pippin down in a headlock, “If I wasnÂ’t still trembling…”

“Ahh, yes. Oh, that went better then we expected. You should have heard yourselves. Those screams of terror… oh dear…” Here Merry collapsed in another heap of laughter. Estella grabbed him by the front of the collar.

“You dare think of doing that again, you horrid Brandybuck, and IÂ’ll… IÂ’ll…”

“Kill you,” a slightly less hysterical Pippin offered, “By cutting off our heads.”

“Dare do that again and I will,” Cath warned, “But you guys, we really should stop this. I mean, we’ve each pulled two tricks on each other, we’ve got each other back, so what say we stop?”

“Deal.” Merry stuck out his hand and Cath shook it, like two heads of important families coming to an agreement. The two lads got up from the ground and went inside, still laughing about the events. Estella spun round and grabbed Cath by the shoulder.

“Are you insane? I’m not letting those lads get away with that, no way I’m not!”

Cath smiled, a cunning little smile, “And do you think I would? I tell you, theyÂ’ll think theyÂ’re okay, but then…” She made a sharp movement, “But we need to be careful. Wait a couple of weeks, theyÂ’ll be on their guard, and that’ll be a laugh by itself. And then… letÂ’s just say I have an interesting idea…”

Estella laughed. Caths “interesting ideas” were extremely effective.

Â…Â…

“Hey, Frodo, can we have a kind of story night tonight at your house? Just for a laugh, before your birthday.”

Frodo looked up at Estella, “I don’t know, ‘Stell. I’d love to, but I really have to help prepare for the party.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, lad!” A heavily-laden-down-with-pies Bilbo came bustling in through the door, “You have this story night, and me and Gandalf will take care of the preparations.”

“But uncle, it’s your birthday too.”

“Don’t be silly. Anyway, I’ve had enough birthdays to last me lifetime. Surely my nephew can give me the pleasure of spending one birthday preparing? I’d find that rather enjoyable.”

Frodo laughed and nodded, and Bilbo went out the room, minus several large pies, “So what kind of stories are we telling?”

Estella grinned, “Spooky ones.”

Â…Â…..

Pippin stuck his head over the top of Lilly’s garden wall, “Hey, have you guys been invited to that story night Estella and Cath have come up with?”

Bess looked up, “Yeah. You going?”

“I guess. But, d’you reckon they’ll use it to play a prank on us?”

“No! Na, you guys are to old for that kind of stuff. They’ll probably have forgotten about it completely by now.” Pippin shrugged and ran off.

Lilly stared at Bess in disbelief, “THEY’LL PROBABLY HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT BY NOW??? Bess, this is Estella and Cath we a re talking about here, not two blockheaded boffins.”

Bess groaned, “Do you really think I would tell Pippin they’re going to pull a trick on them? Besides, from what I’ve heard, Cath’s spent a lot of time thinking up this one; it should be really good.”

“Do you know what they’re going to do?”

“All I know itÂ’s something to do with spooky stories… and I saw them modelling two hands with that clay… you know, the one that always feels wet.”

“Cool. With any luck, this one will be the best.”

“Yeah. And donÂ’t forget… think up some stories.”

Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…

Estella balanced herself easily on the log she was leaning on, and looked into the eyes of the hobbit lad in front of her. She didnÂ’t know what was wrong. I mean, this lad (one of the ApplecoxÂ’s, a relatively large family as hobbit families go) was charming, handsome and clever. What more could a lass want?

Nothing, that was the straightforward answer. So how come in her minds eye she could see this lads face morph easily into MerryÂ’s own face?

Daft, that was it. She was still probably thinking about what happened when Cath was sick. Which was quite embarrassing, come to think about it. She was used to it, as Cath said, boys were attracted to her like flies to a honey pot. She didnÂ’t mind, and actually found it quite funny. But that time with Merry… it felt different. Must be the shock of it being with someone youÂ’ve known since you were a mere child, she chided herself. Nothing more.

She tuned back into the conversation with the Applecox lad. And saw Merry come up behind him. What was he doing there?

Merry tapped the lad on the back, “Uh, Tim, little something.” He signalled to the lad, and Tim, giving a shrug in Estella’s
direction, followed him.

Estella could see the two lads discuss something, Merry pointing back to the market place and Tim questioning him. It must have been important though, because Tim came back, kissed Estella’s hand, said something about “urgent business” and ran off. Merry came up to her with a goofy smile on his face.

“What,” Estella demanded, “Was that about?”

Merry looked mock-hurt, “Don’t say thank you or anything,” Estella looked
bewildered, “For saving you.”

“Saving… Saving me? Saving me from the nice and interesting conversation I was having with that kind and charming lad?”

“Yes.”

Estella groaned, “What did you say to him?”

“I told him there was urgent business in Hobbiton market for him to discuss. Good, eh?”

The lass narrowed her eyes at him, “Unless you have a very good reason as to why you did that…”

“I told you. I was saving you.”

“Merry! I am not yours to save!”

“Yes, you are.”

Estella could hardly believe her ears. Most lads would actually court you before they said such things! “Excuse me?”

“Well… I told you when Cath was ill… and you said the only reason you didnÂ’t feel that way was because she was ill…”

“I never said such a thing! Merry, for heavens sake, get it into your head! I do not feel that way for you! I like you as a friend; nothing more! And after what just happened, count yourself lucky I like you that much!”

Merry looked hurt, “But… but what about us?”

“Merry.” Estella hated doing this. The expression on his face was too much to bare, “There is no us. There never will be any us. Please, I hate doing this, but I cannot force myself to feel anything but friendship for you.”

Merry leant down and kissed her on the lips.

Estella looked horrified. All at once the memories of hearing about the bet came flooding back to her, and all her “friendship feelings” disappeared, as did the feeling sorry for him. Estella stared, shocked at the Brandybuck, before running off into the wood, leaving a slap on his face.

Â…Â….

“Wait for me, Pippin!” Cath yelled, hair streaming out behind her. Pippin turned round.

“You,” he said, slowly and
clearly, “Are nothing but a silly slowcoach.”

“Am not!”

“Are too.”

“Am not!”

“Are too!”

“Am not!”

“Are too!”

“Well, you can’t catch me anyways!” With that Cath hurtled off down the road through Hobbiton Market.

“Hey! Not fair! Cath!” The two ran neck and neck down the path. Cath was gaining…

“Ow! Cath! Give warning before you stop like that again!”

“Look!”

Pippin and Cath watched as Tim ran off, not noticing the two children hiding behind the bush. They watched, intrigued, as Merry told Estella about him “saving her.”

“Knock his head off, Stell!” Cath whispered excitedly.

“Throw him in the lake!”

“Rip his guts out!”

“Hang him upside down!”

“Punch him!”

“Kick him!”

“Look!”

Pippin groaned, “He’s not meant to say she’s his to save! You only say that after you’re courting them! That’s what Berialac said.”

“Don’t, Merry, look upset! Estella must be telling him she only likes him as a friend.”

“When lasses say that it means they fancy the lads.”

“That’s not true, Pip, and you know it.”

“Aww! Look at Estella.”

“She must be hating breaking it to
Merry. Why can’t your cousin not speak before he knows he won’t get heart-broken?!”

“DEAR GOD!”

Cath and Pippin watched, gobsmacked, as Merry leant down and kissed Estella. Cath winced at Estella’s angry expression. “HeÂ’s not going to get out of that one.”

“No way. Ouch! Estella can slap real hard. From the looks of it anyways.”

Estella marched out of the wood, grabbing Cath by the ear and dragging her away. Pippin struggled out from the middle of the bush towards his crestfallen cousin, “What happened there, Merry?”

“I just got dumped in the middle of emotional hell.” Merry looked up, a sad smile on his face, “Pip, whatever you do, never get into an argument with a lass. They’re always right. I don’t have any chance with Estella. I really should stop trying.”

Pippin shook Merry, “No! Come on, are you really going to give up on her that easily? No! Is that how the elves talked when the odds were immeasurable and they were almost dead? Is that how the men talked when they were trapped in pits and all they hoped for was impossible to get? Is that how Bilbo talked when he was stuck in Mirkwood with spiders all around him and his friends lives were at stake? No!”

Merry looked up, “Thanks, Pip. Thanks a lot.”

Pippin grinned, “No problem, cous.”

Â…Â….

Estella rammed the hand on the end of her prop viciously. Cath watched with a worried expression, “Stell, I know youÂ’re angry because Merry was doing that thing with the betting and the kissing and everything… but…” Estella was watching her angrily. SheÂ’d better watch what she said, “…but maybe thatÂ’s not the reason he kissed you. Maybe he kissed you because he loves you.”

“Loves me? Yeah right, I’m sure he does. Cath, you don’t understand, you’re too young. Love is when you don’t bet on something like that, when all you feel about the person is precious and dear to you.” Estella half-turned, “Cath, the door.”

Cath hurriedly hid the hands in one of the old chests in Bag End and opened the door. There was Lilly, Bess, Sam, Rosie, Merry and Pippin. Everyone there.

“Frodo! They’re here!” Cath beckoned to the others and they followed her, Estella, Diamond and Frodo into the living room. Bilbo and Gandalf were gathering up some papers, which to Cath looked suspiciously like maps.

“We wonÂ’t disturb you young ones anymore now,” Bilbo told them, a grin on his face. The whole company settled down, Merry and Estella sitting on opposite sides of the room. It was ten o’clock, and the light was almost all gone.

“Any stories, anyone?” Bess launched into a story about a haunted doll. Merry and Pippin shuddered at the noises. Estella caught Cath’s eye and grinned. How would the lads react at their story?

Two hours, twenty-four stories and nine larder breaks later, the gang was very tired. Frodo finished his second story (one about the old elf in Mirkwood) and yawned, “Well, I should say that’s it for tonight guys. Unless anyone has any really good stories?”

Cath stuck up her hand, “I have one,” she said, and Lilly nudged Bess, “It’s creepy.”

She coughed, and began, in a haunting voice, “Once, this whole Shire was deserted. The only things here were souls, souls of the dead who haunted it. Their nails were long, and their teeth sharp. They had an oath to kill any living soul that entered the Shire.” She looked around, and saw with satisfaction that everyone had sunk deeper into their seats, “Now, these souls had been here for over a century, when a family of hobbits came to the Shire. Now, these souls had their oath, but when they saw the family, they could not bear to kill them. But on one condition.

This was that they could not take any vegetable from the north of the Shire, for they had powers you could not dream of. So they told the family the deal, and they agreed.

Now, this family had a little hobbit lad as their youngest lad. He was mischievous, and liked nothing better than to cause trouble. So he sneaked over to the north, and stole a whole sack full of vegetables. The only things that saw him were the three guard dogs.”

Merry swallowed, “You said… in the north?”

“Yeah. I think it’s where Farmer Maggots farm is now.” Cath watched eagerly as Pippin gulped, and slip further down into his seat.

“Anyway, the guard dogs informed the souls of this crime, and they went to the hole where the family lived. They found the bag in which the vegetables had been put, and slashed it into pieces in an angry rage.”

Bess bit her lip, “Bag End?”

“Yes. The souls entered the house, where everyone was sleeping. The lad, Timmy, tossed in his sleep, and as he did he heard…

Timmy… we want our food back.

Timmy… we want our food back.

Timmy… we want our food back.

He got up, and a chill air came across him. Suddenly, he felt a grip on his hand. Whatever it was… had stained it green. He turned round and…

Nobody really knows where the little lad went. All his family found when they got up was a single, green handprint.”

(Ooh look! Could it possibly be… It is! A review button!)