"Oh thank you, no, I know where to put it."

"Ah." They paused, examining their feet for a moment. Esmeralda looked up. "Would you like some tea?"

A smile flashed across Eglantine's face. "Oh that would be lovely, yes."

The visitor followed her host through the labyrinth of halls and side rooms, her traveling cloak dragging slightly on the ground. The silence grew oppressive to Eglantine's ear, and she hurried up to her sister-in-law's side. "How've you been?" she inquired hesitantly, watching Esmeralda's face.

The Lady of Buckland tried to smile. "Oh, all right, really. And you?"

"I'm managing," she answered quietly.

The pair came to a small drinking room, with an ashy hearth and a kettle hanging a bit off-balance from a peg. A battered pipe sat abandoned in the center of the table. Esmeralda stopped with a small gasp. Eglantine furrowed her brow and put a hand on her shoulder. "What is it?"

"Oh," Esmeralda said in a small voice. "It's... it's..." The voice dropped to a whisper. "It's one of Merry's old pipes." She stood, staring at the little reminder of her missing son; Eglantine looked down again. Finally, her host said stoically, "Why don't I get that water going."

She poked at the charcoal left from a long-forgotten fire, while Eglantine shuffled around to find some tea. "How is my brother?" Esmeralda asked as she took down the kettle.

Eglantine smiled. "Oh, grouchy and glum, as usual. You know how he is," she added with a little wink.

The joke worked: Esmeralda gave a rusty laugh, and a sincere smile cracked her face. "I trust he's keeping Tuckborough on its toes, then! The very idea of Paladin being..." She trailed off, and chuckled. She filled the kettle with water and hung it over the hearth. She struck some flint and tinder and lit a fire. Eglantine opened a cupboard here and there, until she found two likeable ceramic mugs.

They sat down opposite each other while they waited for the water to boil, using their idle hands to play with their cups. "I should come back to Great Smials sometime soon," Esmeralda mused. "It's been ages since I saw my family."

"Actually, I came over to ask if you would like to come," Eglantine replied. "It's Paladin's birthday in four days, and you would certainly be missed if you weren't there."

"Is it really that soon?" Esmeralda shook her head. "Dear me, I've been so distracted I barely notice anything anymore. Why, just the other day, Scattergold had to ask me three times to pass the butter at elevensies."

Eglantine glanced down at her mug, and then over at the pipe, which she'd discreetly set on a shelf at the back of the room. It was no secret what haunted Esmeralda's eyes; the same distant, worried expression confronted her every time she passed a looking glass. It was the beginning of February, and their sons had not been seen in the Shire since September.

They both knew each other's cheer for a charade: their hearts had been bleeding for nearly half a year now, though neither spoke anything of their wounds. Eglantine bit her lower lip, and avoided Esmeralda's gaze. She spoke in a different tone. "Esmeralda... how are you really? I know that I..." She didn't quite know how to finish: she looked up and met the other hobbit's eyes. She was not surprised to see them shining, although the intensity of the hurt they displayed ached within her.

For once, the Tookish-born Esmeralda was lost for words. Her shoulders slumped a little, and she looked into the fire. By the flickering light, Eglantine could see new lines around her eyes and her mouth and on her brow.

"I wish I knew what's become of them," she finally said. "My nephew Berilac says they went off to raid the Farmer Maggot's fields that day, and they just... haven't come back." She raised her head. "Don't you think they'd send us some word if they were safe?" she asked pleadingly.

Eglantine slowly shook her head. "I don't know. All I'm sure of is our home is so much emptier without Pippin running about causing trouble and making us all laugh."

Esmeralda's stare hardened on a spot on the tabletop. "Yes," she breathed harshly, "but at least you have your other three to keep you busy." She choked on her words a little. "We waited so long for him... it seemed a miracle he came at all..."

Guilt-stricken, Eglantine reached out across the table. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." Esmeralda clasped the proffered hand. They spoke nothing for the next few minutes.

Eglantine gulped. "Poor Bell Gamgee is just as bad off. I've been to see her this week. Her Samwise went to the Green Dragon with Frodo Baggins one night and just never returned." She straightened a little. "Poor Frodo. Bell has been weeping for him as well, as he hasn't got any parents to do so himself."

A small sob escaped Esmeralda's lips. She met Eglantine's eye. "Frodo is like another son to me," she said thickly. "I'll never forget the look on his face when he saw poor Drogo and Primula, all laid out soaking wet on the--" She stopped herself, and shuddered, swallowing another cry.

Eglantine began shaking her head. "I shouldn't have brought it up, I'm sorry, Esmeralda. I shouldn't have come." In truth, she could hardly stand to see her sister-in-law in such a state, and know that she'd brought it on. She stood, reaching for her cloak.

A hand wrapped itself around her wrist. "Sit down," Esmeralda said through slightly clenched teeth. "We need to do this." They stared at each other for a minute. The kettle began to whistle. "Water's ready," she said redundantly, just to say something. Eglantine nodded, and turned to reach for the potholders. Esmeralda quickly got to her feet and insisted upon doing it herself.

Neither one seemed to feel ready to speak again until the tea was served. They sat together, sipping, their thoughts elsewhere. Esmeralda closed her eyes, cradling the mug and letting the heat steep through her hands. The hot afterburn of the tea lingered in her throat: it was cathartic, in its way.

Outside, the wind died down and the air began to warm up. Eglantine watched Esmeralda open her eyes. "I'm ready," the Brandybuck said quietly.

"Me too," the Took replied.

They sat back in their seats, and began to talk.