Thick Skin, Soft Heart by Golden
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lotrchallengesAuthor: Golden ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
golden80
Title: Thick Skin, Soft Heart
Rating: PG
Theme: light and shadow
Elements: Gapfiller: When Gandalf scolds Pippin in Rivendell for his remark about “the Lord of the Ring”, Pippin says Gandalf has been saying “lots of cheerful things” like that.
Why has Gandalf been scolding Pippin, and what else did he scold him about?
Given Words: corridor, flames, insolent
Author's Notes:
Summary: Serious times are ahead, Gandalf knows, but Pippin just doesn't seem to understand.
Word Count: 2,845
February Challenge: Shadow and light, in honour of Groundhog-day
Thick Skin, Soft Heart
By Golden
Thanks to my Beta! :)
Pippin woke up to the sound of birdsong and yellow sunbeams warming his skin. He stretched and yawned loudly. A grin spread over his face. What a nice day! Frodo would recover and soon be up and about again, the sun was shining and the smell of freshly baked goodies was floating in through the windows.
Pippin sat up and looked over at Merry´s bed. It was already made and Merry was nowhere to be seen.
“Merry?” Pippin called out, but only the birds answered him. “Thunder!” Pippin exclaimed and then quickly covered his mouth and looked guiltily about. Merry must already be in the Hall, eating breakfast. And Merry could eat a whole lot, especially now that he was in a good mood again after they had been given the good news about Frodo yesterday evening. Pippin jumped out of the bed. He had to hurry, otherwise all the good stuff would be gone when he arrived.
“Merry could have wakened me!” Pippin muttered, feeling rather betrayed by his older cousin.
He quickly splashed some water in his face and looked in the mirror. Yes that should be sufficient, he thought, as he thrust one foot into his trouser leg. Still busy doing the buttons on his shirt, braces dangling at his sides, he strode out of the room and raced down the corridor. Just when he ran around the last corner he needed to take, he crashed with a thud into someone blocking the way. Annoyed, the hungry Hobbit looked up. Who was hindering him getting to his breakfast?
Three pairs of eyes stared down at him. One pair belonging to a surprised looking Lord Elrond, the second to a not as surprised looking Strider and the third . . .
Quickly Pippin took a step back. He had already had quite a bit trouble with the wizard the last few days.
“Peregrin Took!” Gandalf thundered. “What are you doing, racing around as if you’ve been bitten by mad groundhog? Watch were you are going lad!”
Pippin looked down at his feet. “I am sorry Gandalf. Did I hurt you? It’s just that Merry is already in the Hall and….” He trailed off, sensing, that his “excuse” would certainly not serve to have the wizard nod in understanding.
But unexpectedly he got help from Strider. The Ranger smiled. “Well, then go on. We don’t want to keep you away from your breakfast, now do we?” And with an amused twinkle in his eyes Aragorn added, “If Merry has left you any, that is! He was on his third helping already when we left the Hall.”
Pippin stared up at the Ranger in shock then, with an apologetic smile to Gandalf and a quick bow to Lord Elrond, he continued on his way as fast as he dared to go while having the wizards eyes fixed on his back.
**********
Later in the day two cheerful Hobbits walked and joked around through the last homely house. Their goal was the room of their older cousin Frodo. Merry knocked at the door, while Pippin stood fidgeting behind him. He was trying to get a look over Merry´s shoulder as soon as the door opened.
“Is he awake yet?” Pippin asked excitingly as he and Merry stepped into the room.
“Hello Mister Merry. Hello Master Pippin,” said Sam, “No, as you see, he is still sleeping. But the Lord Elrond was checking on him earlier and said that his breathing is regular and calm and he is also not feeling as cold as he had been.”
“Did he say, when he expects him to wake?” Merry asked stepping to Frodo’s side and stroking his cousin’s hand softly.
“No, but it could be any hour now, I’d say. He is already stirring a bit now and then, as if he is waking.” Sam answered smiling, finally daring to feel less anxious than before.
“He should hurry a bit with waking up!” Pippin exclaimed and bent down close to Frodo´s ear, whispering. “They will be throwing you a feast, when you wake up, Fro,” then looking to Merry and Sam he added, “I overheard some elves talking about it. They will prepare everything a Hobbit might desire as soon as Frodo is recovered. I am sure there will be lots mushrooms too!” Pippin got a dreamy expression on his face. “Stuffed mushrooms, roasted mushrooms, mushroom soup, mushrooms with…”
“Pip!” Merry interrupted. “Stop talking about mushrooms, will you? You’ll make me hungry!”
Pippin grinned up at Merry with a sudden gleam in his eyes that Merry knew all to well. It was the gleam he got when a mad Tookish idea had entered his mind. Merry sighted inwardly and prepared for what was to come.
“Merry!” Pippin squealed in excitement. “If we had a ring like Frodo’s, we could make ourselves invisible and go raiding the kitchens for a snack …”
“Stop talking such nonsense, Peregrin!” a loud, grumpy voice interrupted the Took’s chatter.
Pippin and the others turned around startled.
Gandalf was standing in the door, giving Pippin a stern glance. He strode in the room and stopped in front of the tween. “The Ring is no toy! And certainly not meant for any Hobbit mischief making! It is evil altogether and it will bring many dangers and fears upon us!”
During the reprimand Pippin fidgeted and looked down at his toes. Now he mumbled. “I was only joking Gandalf.”
“This is nothing to be joking about, Peregrin! Not even here under the careful watch of our friends! Keep that in your mind young Hobbit!” the wizards tone still was as strict as before.
Pippin looked up and Merry, seeing the look on his face, groaned inwardly.
“Well, maybe some joking around wouldn’t be so bad for you Gandalf. Look at your beard! It’s all grey!”
Sam paled visibly at Pippin’s words and stared up at Gandalf, expecting something terrible to happen, while Merry put his hand over his eyes, shaking his head in disbelief and horror at Pippins cheek.
Gandalf seemed frozen for a moment, but then said in a rather calm voice. “I won´t have such insolent behaviour, Pippin! That was not a nice thing to say, don´t you agree?”
Pippin, being shocked about his own words himself, ashamedly looked back down at the floor and nodded. “I am sorry, Gandalf. I didn’t mean it.”
The wizard bent down on one knee to be at the same height as the Hobbit and lifted up Pippins chin. “I know lad. This is a complicated situation and not easy to deal with.”
Pippin nodded again, not trusting himself to speak.
“Why don’t you and Merry have a look at the library? There are many interesting books, that might make the situation we are in a bit clearer to you.” Gandalf suggested.
“What a splendid idea!” Merry put in, wanting nothing more than to get Pippin away from the wizard. “Come on Pip, let’s have a look!”
“All right,” Pippin, said, still looking quite downcast and started to follow Merry from the room. At the door he stopped and turned around again. “Gandalf?” he asked in an insecure tone. “Are you still angry with me?”
A gentle glimmer appeared in the wizard’s eyes when he regarded the contrite Hobbit staring up at him with sad eyes.
“No, Pippin.” He answered. “I am not. And besides…my beard truly is rather grey, but I daresay,” the wizard added with twinkling eyes, “it would be less grey, if I did not have to deal with such impossible Tooks all the time.”
Pippin grinned up at him, knowing just how to take the comment. “Well, be glad for it. A red or brown beard would look rather strange on a grey wizard after all.” And with that Pippin ran out the door, followed by Gandalf amused chuckles.
***********
“All this racket in Frodo’s room and he still didn’t wake up,” sighed Merry as he looked sidelong at Pippin. “You can be glad about that. If Frodo had seen how you’ve behaved, he would have given you quite a big piece of his mind.”
Pippin rolled his eyes. “I got my scolding right from Gandalf, Mer. You don’t need to add yours to it!”
“Alright, alright,” Merry said. “Ah, look there’s the library!”
Merry was soon engrossed in all the books and maps he had found and he studied them with growing fascination and understanding. Pippin, however, had randomly picked out a book here and there for a while without truly reading them. He soon sat at Merry’s side bored and staring into the flames that were dancing in the fire place.
“Merry, aren’t you done yet?” he asked for what seemed like the hundredth time. “No, Pip, I am not. If you’d just take a real look at these books as Gandalf suggested you might find them interesting too.”
Pippin yawned and looked longingly outside.
Merry sighed. “Well, on the other hand, why don’t you go for a stroll in the garden? It’s a nice day.”
“Yes. Yes I might just do that,” Pippin said, jumping up from is chair. “And you really don’t want to join . . .” Pippin trailed off when Merry gave him an annoyed look.
“Uhm . . . I’ll . . . just leave you to all these lovely books then, shall I? Have fun Mer!” he called and walked quickly out of the door.
*************
Pippin ran happily through the garden. Even though it was November, it still seemed to be early autumn in the most in this valley. There were still flowers blooming and the tress had just begun to change their green gowns into red and yellow ones. Pippin picked up a stick from the ground and began playing with it as if he had a sword, attacking unseen enemies.
“I will get you!” he shouted and whirled his stick through the air. “When he came by a grey stone he started hitting it with his stick. “Take this, you old troll!” he cried.
He was so enchanted with his sword-play that he didn’t notice the Ranger sitting under a tree quite near to him and observing his every step.
“The Hobbit has potential!” Aragorn thought. “He is small, but he is very nimble and fast.” He looked around for a stick like Pippin had. He saw one lying just an arms-length away. Picking it up, he crept up on the Hobbit and when Pippin whirled around once more, parried his attack. Startled, Pippin let go of his stick and glanced up at Aragorn astonished and unsure, not knowing if he was in trouble again.
“Pick up your stick, Pippin!” Aragorn grinned. “A warrior should never let go of his weapon. That is rule number one of sword fighting.”
Grinning with relief Pippin took his stick back in his hand. “What is rule number two? And how many rules are there anyway? Can you show me some moves?” he asked, looking up eagerly at the Ranger.
Aragorn laughed. “One thing at a time, Pippin,” he said and started to explain to the Hobbit the basic rules of sword-play.
Soon they could be seen stick-sparring and Aragorn was not disappointed. Pippin learned quickly and determinedly.
Two hours later the ranger had to take his leave and bowed before the Hobbit.
“Thank you for the bout, Pippin.”
Pippin imitated Aragorns bow. “Thank you too!” he said. “Can we do it tomorrow again?”
The ranger chuckled. “Perhaps, but till then, why don’t you go through some of the moves I have shown you for yourself?”
“I will, I will!” Pippin nodded eagerly and got to work.
Time passed by and Pippin was still busy training what Aragorn had shown him to perfection. Pictures of the Black riders were coming into his head; how they hurt Frodo and how he himself was so scared. Anger boiled up in him. How he wished to be able to fight them. To just wipe them of the face of middle earth so that Frodo had fewer enemies to worry about.
“You cannot win Black Rider,” he shouted and twirled through the air, poking the stick in the breast of his invisible enemy. Just this time the enemy wasn’t that invisible and his stick landed a real hit.
Pippin, stared with big eyes at the wizard that was standing in front of him.
Oh no! he thought, where had Gandalf so suddenly come from? Now he was in trouble again!
The wizard grumbled a little and bent Pippin’s stick down with one hand. “I am not a Black Rider, Peregrin Took, and I doubt you would be so bold if I were! Now I hope you have worked off some of your energy! Come. Your cousin has awakened. We will be waiting for him to join us on the terrace shortly.”
Pippin beamed up at the wizard and gave a shout of joy. Then raced to the terrace where Merry was already waiting.
**********
“Hurray!” cried Pippin, springing up. “Here is our noble cousin! Make way for Frodo, Lord of the Ring!”
“Hush!” said Gandalf from the shadows at the back of the porch. “Evil things do not come into this valley; but all the same we should not name them. The Lord of the Ring is not Frodo, but the master of the Dark Tower of Mordor, whose power is again stretching out over the world. We are sitting in a fortress. Outside it is getting dark.”
“Gandalf has been saying many cheerful things like that,” said Pippin. “He thinks I need keeping in order. But it seems impossible, somehow, to feel gloomy or depressed in this place. I feel I could sing, if I knew the right song for the occasion.”
“I feel like singing myself,” laughed Frodo. “Though at the moment I feel more like eating and drinking.”
“That will soon be cured,” said Pippin. “You have shown your usual cunning in getting up just in time for a meal.”
“More than a meal! A feast!” said Merry. “As soon as Gandalf reported that you were recovered, the preparartions began.” He had hardly finished speaking when they were summoned to the hall by the ringing of many bells.*
And a feast it was indeed. After many hours of food, drink and talk the elves decided it was time to move on to the Hall of Fire where songs and poetry would bring the evening to an peaceful ending. Frodo looked for his friends and saw them still seated at the table.
He went over to them. “Will you come too?” he asked, but then chuckled when Merry hushed him, gesturing for him to not speak so loud then pointing at Pippin. The Took had fallen asleep practically in his food, which was rather atypical for the ever hungry tween, but then . . . this was Pippin, not just any tween.
“So, I guess that means Pippin at least will not end the evening with some Elvish poetry, eh?” Frodo asked with a fond smile on his face.
Merry laughed. “I am sure Pippin will be dreadfully sorry to miss it. You know how he loves to sit still and listen to endless verses in a language he doesn’t understand.”
Now all of them giggled and Merry bent forward to give Pippin a gentle shake. “Come on, Sleepy, lets get you to bed now, shall we?” he said in his best elder cousin tone and Pippin looked up at him with bleary eyes, mumbling something incomprehensible, but getting up from his chair.
Merry winked at Frodo. “At least I don’t have to carry him, like a wee faunt.” he joked, but Pippin was too tired to even recognize his cousin’s teasing.
“Good night, you two!” Merry said to Frodo and Sam. “When I have Pippin tucked up in bed, I think I will get some sleep myself.” And with that he guided Pippin out of the Hall.
Gandalf, waiting by the door for the Hobbits to join the company, had observed the scene and a sad smile had crept up on his face.
“They are so innocent…all of them.” he thought. “But Peregrin… he is so young, just a lad.” He sighed deeply. “But he also has to understand the seriousness of it all and must be prepared for what might . . .”
The wizard sighed again, but did not finish his dark thoughts. Tonight he would not worry. Tonight all his dear Hobbits were safe. His sad smile was replaced with a warm one as his gaze followed the two departing Hobbits. Merry with his arm around Pippin and Pippin, more asleep then awake, leaning his head against his cousin’s shoulder.
Still smiling, he turned to Frodo and Sam. “Lets go then, shall we? I am sure you both will enjoy the Elven singing very much and there is a surprise for you, Frodo.” He said with a sly smile, than showed the Hobbits the way to the Hall of Fire.
- The End –
*LOTR Book2 “Many Meetings”
golden80Title: Thick Skin, Soft Heart
Rating: PG
Theme: light and shadow
Elements: Gapfiller: When Gandalf scolds Pippin in Rivendell for his remark about “the Lord of the Ring”, Pippin says Gandalf has been saying “lots of cheerful things” like that.
Why has Gandalf been scolding Pippin, and what else did he scold him about?
Given Words: corridor, flames, insolent
Author's Notes:
Summary: Serious times are ahead, Gandalf knows, but Pippin just doesn't seem to understand.
Word Count: 2,845
February Challenge: Shadow and light, in honour of Groundhog-day
Thick Skin, Soft Heart
By Golden
Thanks to my Beta! :)
Pippin woke up to the sound of birdsong and yellow sunbeams warming his skin. He stretched and yawned loudly. A grin spread over his face. What a nice day! Frodo would recover and soon be up and about again, the sun was shining and the smell of freshly baked goodies was floating in through the windows.
Pippin sat up and looked over at Merry´s bed. It was already made and Merry was nowhere to be seen.
“Merry?” Pippin called out, but only the birds answered him. “Thunder!” Pippin exclaimed and then quickly covered his mouth and looked guiltily about. Merry must already be in the Hall, eating breakfast. And Merry could eat a whole lot, especially now that he was in a good mood again after they had been given the good news about Frodo yesterday evening. Pippin jumped out of the bed. He had to hurry, otherwise all the good stuff would be gone when he arrived.
“Merry could have wakened me!” Pippin muttered, feeling rather betrayed by his older cousin.
He quickly splashed some water in his face and looked in the mirror. Yes that should be sufficient, he thought, as he thrust one foot into his trouser leg. Still busy doing the buttons on his shirt, braces dangling at his sides, he strode out of the room and raced down the corridor. Just when he ran around the last corner he needed to take, he crashed with a thud into someone blocking the way. Annoyed, the hungry Hobbit looked up. Who was hindering him getting to his breakfast?
Three pairs of eyes stared down at him. One pair belonging to a surprised looking Lord Elrond, the second to a not as surprised looking Strider and the third . . .
Quickly Pippin took a step back. He had already had quite a bit trouble with the wizard the last few days.
“Peregrin Took!” Gandalf thundered. “What are you doing, racing around as if you’ve been bitten by mad groundhog? Watch were you are going lad!”
Pippin looked down at his feet. “I am sorry Gandalf. Did I hurt you? It’s just that Merry is already in the Hall and….” He trailed off, sensing, that his “excuse” would certainly not serve to have the wizard nod in understanding.
But unexpectedly he got help from Strider. The Ranger smiled. “Well, then go on. We don’t want to keep you away from your breakfast, now do we?” And with an amused twinkle in his eyes Aragorn added, “If Merry has left you any, that is! He was on his third helping already when we left the Hall.”
Pippin stared up at the Ranger in shock then, with an apologetic smile to Gandalf and a quick bow to Lord Elrond, he continued on his way as fast as he dared to go while having the wizards eyes fixed on his back.
**********
Later in the day two cheerful Hobbits walked and joked around through the last homely house. Their goal was the room of their older cousin Frodo. Merry knocked at the door, while Pippin stood fidgeting behind him. He was trying to get a look over Merry´s shoulder as soon as the door opened.
“Is he awake yet?” Pippin asked excitingly as he and Merry stepped into the room.
“Hello Mister Merry. Hello Master Pippin,” said Sam, “No, as you see, he is still sleeping. But the Lord Elrond was checking on him earlier and said that his breathing is regular and calm and he is also not feeling as cold as he had been.”
“Did he say, when he expects him to wake?” Merry asked stepping to Frodo’s side and stroking his cousin’s hand softly.
“No, but it could be any hour now, I’d say. He is already stirring a bit now and then, as if he is waking.” Sam answered smiling, finally daring to feel less anxious than before.
“He should hurry a bit with waking up!” Pippin exclaimed and bent down close to Frodo´s ear, whispering. “They will be throwing you a feast, when you wake up, Fro,” then looking to Merry and Sam he added, “I overheard some elves talking about it. They will prepare everything a Hobbit might desire as soon as Frodo is recovered. I am sure there will be lots mushrooms too!” Pippin got a dreamy expression on his face. “Stuffed mushrooms, roasted mushrooms, mushroom soup, mushrooms with…”
“Pip!” Merry interrupted. “Stop talking about mushrooms, will you? You’ll make me hungry!”
Pippin grinned up at Merry with a sudden gleam in his eyes that Merry knew all to well. It was the gleam he got when a mad Tookish idea had entered his mind. Merry sighted inwardly and prepared for what was to come.
“Merry!” Pippin squealed in excitement. “If we had a ring like Frodo’s, we could make ourselves invisible and go raiding the kitchens for a snack …”
“Stop talking such nonsense, Peregrin!” a loud, grumpy voice interrupted the Took’s chatter.
Pippin and the others turned around startled.
Gandalf was standing in the door, giving Pippin a stern glance. He strode in the room and stopped in front of the tween. “The Ring is no toy! And certainly not meant for any Hobbit mischief making! It is evil altogether and it will bring many dangers and fears upon us!”
During the reprimand Pippin fidgeted and looked down at his toes. Now he mumbled. “I was only joking Gandalf.”
“This is nothing to be joking about, Peregrin! Not even here under the careful watch of our friends! Keep that in your mind young Hobbit!” the wizards tone still was as strict as before.
Pippin looked up and Merry, seeing the look on his face, groaned inwardly.
“Well, maybe some joking around wouldn’t be so bad for you Gandalf. Look at your beard! It’s all grey!”
Sam paled visibly at Pippin’s words and stared up at Gandalf, expecting something terrible to happen, while Merry put his hand over his eyes, shaking his head in disbelief and horror at Pippins cheek.
Gandalf seemed frozen for a moment, but then said in a rather calm voice. “I won´t have such insolent behaviour, Pippin! That was not a nice thing to say, don´t you agree?”
Pippin, being shocked about his own words himself, ashamedly looked back down at the floor and nodded. “I am sorry, Gandalf. I didn’t mean it.”
The wizard bent down on one knee to be at the same height as the Hobbit and lifted up Pippins chin. “I know lad. This is a complicated situation and not easy to deal with.”
Pippin nodded again, not trusting himself to speak.
“Why don’t you and Merry have a look at the library? There are many interesting books, that might make the situation we are in a bit clearer to you.” Gandalf suggested.
“What a splendid idea!” Merry put in, wanting nothing more than to get Pippin away from the wizard. “Come on Pip, let’s have a look!”
“All right,” Pippin, said, still looking quite downcast and started to follow Merry from the room. At the door he stopped and turned around again. “Gandalf?” he asked in an insecure tone. “Are you still angry with me?”
A gentle glimmer appeared in the wizard’s eyes when he regarded the contrite Hobbit staring up at him with sad eyes.
“No, Pippin.” He answered. “I am not. And besides…my beard truly is rather grey, but I daresay,” the wizard added with twinkling eyes, “it would be less grey, if I did not have to deal with such impossible Tooks all the time.”
Pippin grinned up at him, knowing just how to take the comment. “Well, be glad for it. A red or brown beard would look rather strange on a grey wizard after all.” And with that Pippin ran out the door, followed by Gandalf amused chuckles.
***********
“All this racket in Frodo’s room and he still didn’t wake up,” sighed Merry as he looked sidelong at Pippin. “You can be glad about that. If Frodo had seen how you’ve behaved, he would have given you quite a big piece of his mind.”
Pippin rolled his eyes. “I got my scolding right from Gandalf, Mer. You don’t need to add yours to it!”
“Alright, alright,” Merry said. “Ah, look there’s the library!”
Merry was soon engrossed in all the books and maps he had found and he studied them with growing fascination and understanding. Pippin, however, had randomly picked out a book here and there for a while without truly reading them. He soon sat at Merry’s side bored and staring into the flames that were dancing in the fire place.
“Merry, aren’t you done yet?” he asked for what seemed like the hundredth time. “No, Pip, I am not. If you’d just take a real look at these books as Gandalf suggested you might find them interesting too.”
Pippin yawned and looked longingly outside.
Merry sighed. “Well, on the other hand, why don’t you go for a stroll in the garden? It’s a nice day.”
“Yes. Yes I might just do that,” Pippin said, jumping up from is chair. “And you really don’t want to join . . .” Pippin trailed off when Merry gave him an annoyed look.
“Uhm . . . I’ll . . . just leave you to all these lovely books then, shall I? Have fun Mer!” he called and walked quickly out of the door.
*************
Pippin ran happily through the garden. Even though it was November, it still seemed to be early autumn in the most in this valley. There were still flowers blooming and the tress had just begun to change their green gowns into red and yellow ones. Pippin picked up a stick from the ground and began playing with it as if he had a sword, attacking unseen enemies.
“I will get you!” he shouted and whirled his stick through the air. “When he came by a grey stone he started hitting it with his stick. “Take this, you old troll!” he cried.
He was so enchanted with his sword-play that he didn’t notice the Ranger sitting under a tree quite near to him and observing his every step.
“The Hobbit has potential!” Aragorn thought. “He is small, but he is very nimble and fast.” He looked around for a stick like Pippin had. He saw one lying just an arms-length away. Picking it up, he crept up on the Hobbit and when Pippin whirled around once more, parried his attack. Startled, Pippin let go of his stick and glanced up at Aragorn astonished and unsure, not knowing if he was in trouble again.
“Pick up your stick, Pippin!” Aragorn grinned. “A warrior should never let go of his weapon. That is rule number one of sword fighting.”
Grinning with relief Pippin took his stick back in his hand. “What is rule number two? And how many rules are there anyway? Can you show me some moves?” he asked, looking up eagerly at the Ranger.
Aragorn laughed. “One thing at a time, Pippin,” he said and started to explain to the Hobbit the basic rules of sword-play.
Soon they could be seen stick-sparring and Aragorn was not disappointed. Pippin learned quickly and determinedly.
Two hours later the ranger had to take his leave and bowed before the Hobbit.
“Thank you for the bout, Pippin.”
Pippin imitated Aragorns bow. “Thank you too!” he said. “Can we do it tomorrow again?”
The ranger chuckled. “Perhaps, but till then, why don’t you go through some of the moves I have shown you for yourself?”
“I will, I will!” Pippin nodded eagerly and got to work.
Time passed by and Pippin was still busy training what Aragorn had shown him to perfection. Pictures of the Black riders were coming into his head; how they hurt Frodo and how he himself was so scared. Anger boiled up in him. How he wished to be able to fight them. To just wipe them of the face of middle earth so that Frodo had fewer enemies to worry about.
“You cannot win Black Rider,” he shouted and twirled through the air, poking the stick in the breast of his invisible enemy. Just this time the enemy wasn’t that invisible and his stick landed a real hit.
Pippin, stared with big eyes at the wizard that was standing in front of him.
Oh no! he thought, where had Gandalf so suddenly come from? Now he was in trouble again!
The wizard grumbled a little and bent Pippin’s stick down with one hand. “I am not a Black Rider, Peregrin Took, and I doubt you would be so bold if I were! Now I hope you have worked off some of your energy! Come. Your cousin has awakened. We will be waiting for him to join us on the terrace shortly.”
Pippin beamed up at the wizard and gave a shout of joy. Then raced to the terrace where Merry was already waiting.
**********
“Hurray!” cried Pippin, springing up. “Here is our noble cousin! Make way for Frodo, Lord of the Ring!”
“Hush!” said Gandalf from the shadows at the back of the porch. “Evil things do not come into this valley; but all the same we should not name them. The Lord of the Ring is not Frodo, but the master of the Dark Tower of Mordor, whose power is again stretching out over the world. We are sitting in a fortress. Outside it is getting dark.”
“Gandalf has been saying many cheerful things like that,” said Pippin. “He thinks I need keeping in order. But it seems impossible, somehow, to feel gloomy or depressed in this place. I feel I could sing, if I knew the right song for the occasion.”
“I feel like singing myself,” laughed Frodo. “Though at the moment I feel more like eating and drinking.”
“That will soon be cured,” said Pippin. “You have shown your usual cunning in getting up just in time for a meal.”
“More than a meal! A feast!” said Merry. “As soon as Gandalf reported that you were recovered, the preparartions began.” He had hardly finished speaking when they were summoned to the hall by the ringing of many bells.*
And a feast it was indeed. After many hours of food, drink and talk the elves decided it was time to move on to the Hall of Fire where songs and poetry would bring the evening to an peaceful ending. Frodo looked for his friends and saw them still seated at the table.
He went over to them. “Will you come too?” he asked, but then chuckled when Merry hushed him, gesturing for him to not speak so loud then pointing at Pippin. The Took had fallen asleep practically in his food, which was rather atypical for the ever hungry tween, but then . . . this was Pippin, not just any tween.
“So, I guess that means Pippin at least will not end the evening with some Elvish poetry, eh?” Frodo asked with a fond smile on his face.
Merry laughed. “I am sure Pippin will be dreadfully sorry to miss it. You know how he loves to sit still and listen to endless verses in a language he doesn’t understand.”
Now all of them giggled and Merry bent forward to give Pippin a gentle shake. “Come on, Sleepy, lets get you to bed now, shall we?” he said in his best elder cousin tone and Pippin looked up at him with bleary eyes, mumbling something incomprehensible, but getting up from his chair.
Merry winked at Frodo. “At least I don’t have to carry him, like a wee faunt.” he joked, but Pippin was too tired to even recognize his cousin’s teasing.
“Good night, you two!” Merry said to Frodo and Sam. “When I have Pippin tucked up in bed, I think I will get some sleep myself.” And with that he guided Pippin out of the Hall.
Gandalf, waiting by the door for the Hobbits to join the company, had observed the scene and a sad smile had crept up on his face.
“They are so innocent…all of them.” he thought. “But Peregrin… he is so young, just a lad.” He sighed deeply. “But he also has to understand the seriousness of it all and must be prepared for what might . . .”
The wizard sighed again, but did not finish his dark thoughts. Tonight he would not worry. Tonight all his dear Hobbits were safe. His sad smile was replaced with a warm one as his gaze followed the two departing Hobbits. Merry with his arm around Pippin and Pippin, more asleep then awake, leaning his head against his cousin’s shoulder.
Still smiling, he turned to Frodo and Sam. “Lets go then, shall we? I am sure you both will enjoy the Elven singing very much and there is a surprise for you, Frodo.” He said with a sly smile, than showed the Hobbits the way to the Hall of Fire.
- The End –
*LOTR Book2 “Many Meetings”
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Date: 2009-02-23 10:15 pm (UTC)A wonderful gap-filler!
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Date: 2009-02-25 12:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-23 10:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-25 12:19 pm (UTC)Thanks for reading!
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Date: 2009-02-23 10:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-25 12:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-23 11:46 pm (UTC)Beautiful job, dear!
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Date: 2009-02-25 12:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-24 03:20 am (UTC)And love Aragorn's teaching of him!
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Date: 2009-02-25 12:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-24 05:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-25 12:26 pm (UTC)