Airs and Graces
by NeekerBreeker(@fanficcer.zzn.com)
*
Warnings: Femslash & maleslash.
Rating: G (so far)
Summary: Pippin and his sisters visit the Brandy Hall. It's a special year for
Merry, who is turning 33 and coming of age. Pippin is of course anxious to see his best friend, but his sister Pervinca has someone in her mind as well... When children's play turns serious, and the duties of adulthood are just around the corner, four young hobbits are in for a rough time. (I suck at writing these things.)
Disclaimer: I'm J.R.R. Tolkien. Why don't you believe me?
Feedback: No, no. Hate it. Ugh. Nasty stuff.
Notes: Set in the winter of the year 1415 S.R. (14 years after Bilbo's famous birthday party.) It's winter because I like dressing hobbits up in winter clothes. *g*
****
Chapter One
"Boys", announced young Pervinca Took, "take FOREVER."
She put her small hands on her hips and glared at her little brother, who was trying to wipe some crumbs off the corner of his mouth and pull on his vest at the same time, and now bowed graciously at her to boot.
"I beg to differ, my dear sister Vinca. *Afters* take a long time. I, on the other hand, will be ready to go before you can say another word. And THAT" - he buttoned up the vest with nimble fingers and then raised his eyes to Pervinca - "is something."
Pervinca swatted him for that comment, but gently. She was never quite able to resist those innocent, laughing eyes. Somewhere in the back of her mind she told herself that Pippin knew that fact all too well and used it often to his advantage, but that didn't change the fact that he was her favourite brother, if only because he was the only one. She had a soft spot for him, though she would certainly never admit it.
"You're one to talk, Peregrin! Now hurry up to the front yard, I suspect we are already waited." Pervinca took Pippin's woolly hat from the bench nearby and hid his hazel curls, as well as half of his face, under it. "And don't take that off the moment I turn my back, understand?"
She couldn't quite keep the excitement out of her voice when she talked about the trip. Oh, how long had she waited for this? Pervinca tried to keep from jumping up and down. Her mother had at first soundly protested her idea of accompanying Pippin to Buckland, but when Pearl and Pimpernel had come to her aid, and promised to take good care of her, she had finally given her consent.
Pervinca suddenly noticed that Pippin was still standing there, looking for his other mitten (which had fallen under the bench).
"Peregrin!" she sighed and threw her hands in the air in frustration. She briskly leaned down and picked up the missing mitten, shoving it into Pippin's hand before starting to shove him out of the door. "Now get outside and wait for the rest of us! I'll be with you in a second!"
Pippin laughed, allowing her to push him out of the door and to the hall.
"And where are *you* going to? Off to comb your curls, or some other awfully important feminine business?"
Pervinca gave him one last shove.
"To get Pimpernel away from her mirror", she replied, and then trotted off along one of the many corridors of Tooks' Big Place, her home.
*
Pervinca's sister Pimpernel had always had her head in the clouds. She had to be pushed and pulled everywhere, which Pervinca was more than capable of doing, although she was the youngest of the three daughters of Paladin. Of course, Pervinca mused while she ran, sister Pimpernel's head was pretty enough to stick it through the clouds. She had fair skin, and cheeks like small apples which often took the rosy colour as she blushed. She usually had her curls tied up into a bun, which suited her, because they were never messy. No, shiny and gold-hued they were, and Pimpernel also had the patience to keep them so long they reached the small of her back. Pervinca snorted softly, blowing one of her own hazel curls off her face. HER hair was like a wild berrybush of curls that surrounded her face. She kept it as short as it was decent to keep, because mostly it was just in the way.
Hastily, Pervinca shook her head clear of thoughts and knocked soundly on the door of Pimpernel's room.
"Pimpernel, will you stop hogging the mirror and hurry up! We have to reach Brandy Hall before night time!"
"I'm coming, dear, I'm coming", Pimpernel huffed as she opened the door and came to the corridor, giving her loose hair one last brush. There was a big, bright red bow tied on the top of head, and it moved up and down when she moved. Pervinca bit back a burst of laughter.
"I'll have you know, little sister", Pimpernel lectured while her comb disappeared somewhere into the folds of her equally red dress, "that one simply cannot go to Brandy Hall wearing a days old dress and curls pointing to every other direction. Oh, I can't *believe* you --"
She took Pervinca's sharp little chin in her hand and started wiping out the berry jam stain on her cheek. Pervinca allowed this to happen for a moment, then wriggled out of Pimpernel's reach. Her older sister folded her napkin and shoved it back in her small pocket.
"There. You will have to be presented to young lads as a potential bride in only a few years, maybe to the lads of the very Brandybuck family we are going to visit. You can't be seen as smothered and unruly as you usually are."
Pervinca stuck out her tongue in a most un-bridal way and whisked off before Pimpernel had the chance to say another word.
*
Pippin yawned and leaned his cheek on his hand. The wagon seemed as slow as a graden snail and the two ponies that pulled it even slower. There was nothing to see but endless fields of white snow, now that they had passed the forest near Woody End and turned onto the road to Buckland. His breath was white mist against the velvet blue sky as he sighed and looked up to the stars. He could make out the Netted Stars, and the Sickle. Merry had taught him how to recognise them. The memory brought a brief smile to his lips.
Then his sharp eyes caught a movement at the edge of the field, and he turned to watch a white hare hop by. He leaned so far out of the wagon that Pervinca had to catch him by his suspenders to prevent him from falling off.
"Peregrin Took! Are you trying to run away, perhaps? Sit still now, we're just about to arrive in Buckland!'
Pippin huffed, irritatedly, and jumped up to sit on the edge.
"I could've run to the Brandy Hall more quickly, I daresay I could've!"
"And so you have, you little scoundrel, ever since you could stand on your feet and distract whoever was unlucky enough to watch over you", Pearl smiled wistfully, before concentrating again in blowing some warmth in her hands.
"Or the watcher was part of the plan", Pimpernel added, looking straight at Pervinca.
"You two spend more time in Buckland than in your own dear home!"
Pervinca wiggled her toes to get her blood flowing through them again.
"So not true, Pimpernel. Mum and aunt Lily have made me knit and sew and embroider all week. And before that was uncle Ferdinand's birthday, and the hassle took at least two weeks, what with all the preparations we had to do. You can't say there's been any chance for me to visit Brandy Hall lately. I miss Melilot, I really do."
She frowned and her pretty little mouth twisted into a pout.
"Besides, *Melilot's* mother doesn't make her knit mittens all day long."
"Melilot is also not the daughter of the thain", Pimpernel snorted.
"And may I just add that she can still knit better than you. That hat is made by her, isn't it? Such lovely patterns, I might have to ask her about them."
"I can dance better", Pervinca quickly defended her pride.
"And show off your petticoats to the whole Shire while you're at it!" Pimpernel met the challenge.
"You are far too... jumpy for a good hobbit girl, Vinca. If you would just sit down and take the practice seriously, you could learn to knit well. Your fingers may be a bit clumsy, but with hard work you'll improve, I'm sure. I could teach you how to do the snowflake-decorations--"
Pippin groaned and dangled his legs.
"Oh, I'm so full of this girl talk that I might just burst! How long till we are in the Brandy Hall and I can see Merry?"
Pearl joined her sisters' laughter and eyed the driver, who without turning around answered, "Just a moment or two, Master Took. There are the lights of the Hall, see?"
And Pippin did see; it would've been hard to miss them. The whole Brandy Hall was fully lit and shone with a warm light that seemed to invite them in from the cold, dark winter night. The four siblings were all buried in fluffy wool mittens, hats and scarves, and they had their winter cloaks on (except Pippin, who insisted that his scarf and huge mittens were quite sufficient). However, the cold had begun to creep in, for they had had to sit in one place for so long. Each young Took longed for a good fire and a hot, plentiful dinner.
"Peregrin", Pervinca suddenly said, interrupting all of their daydreams. Her little brother jumped a little, as if caught doing something he shouldn't have been doing (as usual), and turned around to look at her.
"Isn't cousin Merry 33 this year?"
Pippin frowned; partly because his sister kept calling him 'Peregrin', like when he was in trouble, and partly for confusion upon her question.
"I suppose, but not until next month."
A huge, dreamy smile spread on Pervinca's face.
"He'll be an adult then. Imagine that, cousin Meriadoc Brandybuck is going to come of age! Ooh, I'm so jealous! I wish I could grow up fast and be an adult too."
"Oh, come", Pippin laughed in his usual carefree way, nudging her, "Merry won't transform into anything big and wondrous just because he turns 33."
Right after uttering the words, Pippin suddenly froze. Pervinca chattered on with Pearl and Pimpernel, but Pippin sank into so deep thoughts it was most uncharacteristic for him. He had replied to Pervinca without thinking of what he said, but he had now remembered something that made those words seem like a lie.
*
Last summer he had spent almost entirely in the Brandy Hall, with Merry of course, and also Pervinca and a number of their young Brandybuck cousins. They spent their time roaming around Buckland, and most of the time, trouble followed in their wake. How many times had they grown tired of Brandy Hall's fine meals and sneaked out to get their own - then running as fast as they could when farmer Maggot noticed their little party and set free his dogs? It had been a wonderful summer, filled with sunshine and fields of grass, and laughter. When they heard far cousin Hugo Bolger was coming to visit Brandy Hall, they of course asked him to join their jolly party, run with them through the fields and river banks. Hugo had always been one of Merry's favourite cousins, and Pippin also liked him a great deal. But when they told him about their adventures around Buckland, Hugo shook his head slowly and smiled like adults smile when children say funny things without realising it.
"No thank you, Master Brandybuck", Hugo had finally said, to the surprise of them all, "I think I'll pass this offer. You frolic around, and have your fun, as you ought to. But count me out of it."
"But why?" Pippin had demanded.
"I'm 33 already", Hugo had shrugged, as if that would say a whole lot more than it did to the bewildered young Took.
"Maybe you Tooks and Brandybucks won't understand it, but us Bolgers wish to find stability in our lives, when we're of age and all."
Pippin still remembered clearly how his heart sank when Hugo stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned away.
Now the thought that the same could happen to Merry terrified him. Without Merry, what would the summers be like? What would life altogether be without Merry there to make mischief with him - and then protect him from the trouble afterwards? Pippin tried to think of life without their expeditions to old Maggot's fields, the game of chicken they played to see which would dare to step further into the Old Forest, all the pranks and mischief they had planned - or which just followed in their wake.
*He's a future Master of Buckland, after all*, Pippin thought sadly. *Maybe they'll start forcing him to do something boring that comes with the title, like Vinca has to knit mittens. Maybe he's expected to mellow down and take responsibility, now that he's almost adult.*
*
Pippin was so distracted that he didn't notice that the wagon had stopped. He was still curled up in his corner, face almost hidden between the woolly hat and the scarf.
*If growing up means I'm going to lose Merry, then I don't ever want to be 33. Does being a thain mean being alone? I don't even dare to think--*
"Hola, sleepyhead!"
A pesky call aroused him from his thoughts. Merry was standing next to the wagon, eyes flickering brightly at him. He reached out a hand to pull the woolly hat off from Pippin's eyes.
"Wake up, Pip, and come inside! It's cold enough to freeze the hairs on my feet stiff, and I wish to get back to the dinner table."
"Dinner!" Pippin cried, on his feet in a second's time. He hopped down from the wagon with Merry's help. Now that he stood in front of Merry, and saw that he at least didn't seem to have changed a bit, a huge weight was lifted from his heart.
"Yes, dear Pippin, dinner, and a wonderful dinner it is!" Merry laughed.
"At least the few bites I was able to get before you arrived promised an exquisite feast. Come on now and we'll get you in front of a nice fire, you're all shivering under that woolly hat."
Pippin looked around. They were the only ones still braving the freezing winter air; even the driver was taking the ponies to the stables and hurrying inside.
"Hn. Typical of my sisters to leave me here to freeze."
"Actually, Pip, Pearl sent me here to get you while she takes care of the formalities. Father will probably keep the poor lass from the dinner table until they've gone through every possible flattery."
Merry grinned.
"As for your youngest sister Vinca, she disappeared the moment you arrived. To find Melilot, I suspect."
"Oh, she'll be at the dinner table, mark my words", Pippin grinned back. He stepped in the doorway, hearing the laughter and chattering from the inside, and looked at Merry, straight in the eyes as he often did.
"Bless me, but it *is* good to see you, Merry. I don't think a week has ever been this dull in the Smials."
"Or here in the Hall", Merry made a face, joining him in the doorway.
"They just won't let me forget that I'll be 33 soon. Dad's even made me accompany him on some important meetings."
Pippin's heart sank again at the reminder. He lowered his eyes to the ground and bit his lip. He couldn't keep his thoughts off his face, and Merry saw his confusion and sadness and frowned in worry.
"Pip?"
Pippin shook his head quickly, then magicked a quick smile on his face.
"I'm just hungry. Where is this exquisite meal you're keeping me from attacking?"
But Merry wasn't fooled. He knew Pippin better. His face broke into a small, warm smile and he took good hold of Pippin's shoulders to make him look at him.
"Listen, Pip, even if Dad decides to share with me the secret of how to be the perfect Master of Buckland tonight, I won't allow it. You're here, and I want very much to forget the whole ordeal. Now stop pouting, that isn't like you."
Pippin sniffled.
"I'm alright. Now, the dinner?"
"Oh, right, right, the dinner."
Merry laughed and let go of Pippin's shoulders. Gods, but Pippin could be so quick sometimes that even he couldn't quite follow. So sad and crestfallen that he could make even a troll feel some sympathy for his apparent great grief, and then suddenly returning to his usual, radiant and outgoing self. Merry couldn't help the silly smile that crept on his face as he watched his younger cousin now.
Something very strange happened during the next few heartbeats, something that gave his thoughts a sudden stop. Merry's right hand lingered in mid-air, twitching oddly, as if it had a will of its own and his mind was resisting it. It moved towards Pippin's face, and light as a whisper, brushed off the few curls that peeked out from under the hat's rim. Pippin held his breath, and he could almost feel the fingertips touching his cheek, and there was some strange light burning in Merry's familiar eyes... But then Merry abruptly pulled his hand off. Pippin remembered to breathe again, and whisked inside, feeling awkward.
Merry shoved his hands nervously behind his back and followed the hungry little Took. Pippin kept giving him questioning, even wondering looks over his shoulder when he greeted his other Brandybuck relatives, but Merry ignored them as best as he could, which was rather easy in the middle of all the hassle. He was uncharacteristically quiet when he sat at the table next to his best friend, wondering what on earth was it that he had been about to do.
****
by NeekerBreeker(@fanficcer.zzn.com)
*
Warnings: Femslash & maleslash.
Rating: G (so far)
Summary: Pippin and his sisters visit the Brandy Hall. It's a special year for
Merry, who is turning 33 and coming of age. Pippin is of course anxious to see his best friend, but his sister Pervinca has someone in her mind as well... When children's play turns serious, and the duties of adulthood are just around the corner, four young hobbits are in for a rough time. (I suck at writing these things.)
Disclaimer: I'm J.R.R. Tolkien. Why don't you believe me?
Feedback: No, no. Hate it. Ugh. Nasty stuff.
Notes: Set in the winter of the year 1415 S.R. (14 years after Bilbo's famous birthday party.) It's winter because I like dressing hobbits up in winter clothes. *g*
****
Chapter One
"Boys", announced young Pervinca Took, "take FOREVER."
She put her small hands on her hips and glared at her little brother, who was trying to wipe some crumbs off the corner of his mouth and pull on his vest at the same time, and now bowed graciously at her to boot.
"I beg to differ, my dear sister Vinca. *Afters* take a long time. I, on the other hand, will be ready to go before you can say another word. And THAT" - he buttoned up the vest with nimble fingers and then raised his eyes to Pervinca - "is something."
Pervinca swatted him for that comment, but gently. She was never quite able to resist those innocent, laughing eyes. Somewhere in the back of her mind she told herself that Pippin knew that fact all too well and used it often to his advantage, but that didn't change the fact that he was her favourite brother, if only because he was the only one. She had a soft spot for him, though she would certainly never admit it.
"You're one to talk, Peregrin! Now hurry up to the front yard, I suspect we are already waited." Pervinca took Pippin's woolly hat from the bench nearby and hid his hazel curls, as well as half of his face, under it. "And don't take that off the moment I turn my back, understand?"
She couldn't quite keep the excitement out of her voice when she talked about the trip. Oh, how long had she waited for this? Pervinca tried to keep from jumping up and down. Her mother had at first soundly protested her idea of accompanying Pippin to Buckland, but when Pearl and Pimpernel had come to her aid, and promised to take good care of her, she had finally given her consent.
Pervinca suddenly noticed that Pippin was still standing there, looking for his other mitten (which had fallen under the bench).
"Peregrin!" she sighed and threw her hands in the air in frustration. She briskly leaned down and picked up the missing mitten, shoving it into Pippin's hand before starting to shove him out of the door. "Now get outside and wait for the rest of us! I'll be with you in a second!"
Pippin laughed, allowing her to push him out of the door and to the hall.
"And where are *you* going to? Off to comb your curls, or some other awfully important feminine business?"
Pervinca gave him one last shove.
"To get Pimpernel away from her mirror", she replied, and then trotted off along one of the many corridors of Tooks' Big Place, her home.
*
Pervinca's sister Pimpernel had always had her head in the clouds. She had to be pushed and pulled everywhere, which Pervinca was more than capable of doing, although she was the youngest of the three daughters of Paladin. Of course, Pervinca mused while she ran, sister Pimpernel's head was pretty enough to stick it through the clouds. She had fair skin, and cheeks like small apples which often took the rosy colour as she blushed. She usually had her curls tied up into a bun, which suited her, because they were never messy. No, shiny and gold-hued they were, and Pimpernel also had the patience to keep them so long they reached the small of her back. Pervinca snorted softly, blowing one of her own hazel curls off her face. HER hair was like a wild berrybush of curls that surrounded her face. She kept it as short as it was decent to keep, because mostly it was just in the way.
Hastily, Pervinca shook her head clear of thoughts and knocked soundly on the door of Pimpernel's room.
"Pimpernel, will you stop hogging the mirror and hurry up! We have to reach Brandy Hall before night time!"
"I'm coming, dear, I'm coming", Pimpernel huffed as she opened the door and came to the corridor, giving her loose hair one last brush. There was a big, bright red bow tied on the top of head, and it moved up and down when she moved. Pervinca bit back a burst of laughter.
"I'll have you know, little sister", Pimpernel lectured while her comb disappeared somewhere into the folds of her equally red dress, "that one simply cannot go to Brandy Hall wearing a days old dress and curls pointing to every other direction. Oh, I can't *believe* you --"
She took Pervinca's sharp little chin in her hand and started wiping out the berry jam stain on her cheek. Pervinca allowed this to happen for a moment, then wriggled out of Pimpernel's reach. Her older sister folded her napkin and shoved it back in her small pocket.
"There. You will have to be presented to young lads as a potential bride in only a few years, maybe to the lads of the very Brandybuck family we are going to visit. You can't be seen as smothered and unruly as you usually are."
Pervinca stuck out her tongue in a most un-bridal way and whisked off before Pimpernel had the chance to say another word.
*
Pippin yawned and leaned his cheek on his hand. The wagon seemed as slow as a graden snail and the two ponies that pulled it even slower. There was nothing to see but endless fields of white snow, now that they had passed the forest near Woody End and turned onto the road to Buckland. His breath was white mist against the velvet blue sky as he sighed and looked up to the stars. He could make out the Netted Stars, and the Sickle. Merry had taught him how to recognise them. The memory brought a brief smile to his lips.
Then his sharp eyes caught a movement at the edge of the field, and he turned to watch a white hare hop by. He leaned so far out of the wagon that Pervinca had to catch him by his suspenders to prevent him from falling off.
"Peregrin Took! Are you trying to run away, perhaps? Sit still now, we're just about to arrive in Buckland!'
Pippin huffed, irritatedly, and jumped up to sit on the edge.
"I could've run to the Brandy Hall more quickly, I daresay I could've!"
"And so you have, you little scoundrel, ever since you could stand on your feet and distract whoever was unlucky enough to watch over you", Pearl smiled wistfully, before concentrating again in blowing some warmth in her hands.
"Or the watcher was part of the plan", Pimpernel added, looking straight at Pervinca.
"You two spend more time in Buckland than in your own dear home!"
Pervinca wiggled her toes to get her blood flowing through them again.
"So not true, Pimpernel. Mum and aunt Lily have made me knit and sew and embroider all week. And before that was uncle Ferdinand's birthday, and the hassle took at least two weeks, what with all the preparations we had to do. You can't say there's been any chance for me to visit Brandy Hall lately. I miss Melilot, I really do."
She frowned and her pretty little mouth twisted into a pout.
"Besides, *Melilot's* mother doesn't make her knit mittens all day long."
"Melilot is also not the daughter of the thain", Pimpernel snorted.
"And may I just add that she can still knit better than you. That hat is made by her, isn't it? Such lovely patterns, I might have to ask her about them."
"I can dance better", Pervinca quickly defended her pride.
"And show off your petticoats to the whole Shire while you're at it!" Pimpernel met the challenge.
"You are far too... jumpy for a good hobbit girl, Vinca. If you would just sit down and take the practice seriously, you could learn to knit well. Your fingers may be a bit clumsy, but with hard work you'll improve, I'm sure. I could teach you how to do the snowflake-decorations--"
Pippin groaned and dangled his legs.
"Oh, I'm so full of this girl talk that I might just burst! How long till we are in the Brandy Hall and I can see Merry?"
Pearl joined her sisters' laughter and eyed the driver, who without turning around answered, "Just a moment or two, Master Took. There are the lights of the Hall, see?"
And Pippin did see; it would've been hard to miss them. The whole Brandy Hall was fully lit and shone with a warm light that seemed to invite them in from the cold, dark winter night. The four siblings were all buried in fluffy wool mittens, hats and scarves, and they had their winter cloaks on (except Pippin, who insisted that his scarf and huge mittens were quite sufficient). However, the cold had begun to creep in, for they had had to sit in one place for so long. Each young Took longed for a good fire and a hot, plentiful dinner.
"Peregrin", Pervinca suddenly said, interrupting all of their daydreams. Her little brother jumped a little, as if caught doing something he shouldn't have been doing (as usual), and turned around to look at her.
"Isn't cousin Merry 33 this year?"
Pippin frowned; partly because his sister kept calling him 'Peregrin', like when he was in trouble, and partly for confusion upon her question.
"I suppose, but not until next month."
A huge, dreamy smile spread on Pervinca's face.
"He'll be an adult then. Imagine that, cousin Meriadoc Brandybuck is going to come of age! Ooh, I'm so jealous! I wish I could grow up fast and be an adult too."
"Oh, come", Pippin laughed in his usual carefree way, nudging her, "Merry won't transform into anything big and wondrous just because he turns 33."
Right after uttering the words, Pippin suddenly froze. Pervinca chattered on with Pearl and Pimpernel, but Pippin sank into so deep thoughts it was most uncharacteristic for him. He had replied to Pervinca without thinking of what he said, but he had now remembered something that made those words seem like a lie.
*
Last summer he had spent almost entirely in the Brandy Hall, with Merry of course, and also Pervinca and a number of their young Brandybuck cousins. They spent their time roaming around Buckland, and most of the time, trouble followed in their wake. How many times had they grown tired of Brandy Hall's fine meals and sneaked out to get their own - then running as fast as they could when farmer Maggot noticed their little party and set free his dogs? It had been a wonderful summer, filled with sunshine and fields of grass, and laughter. When they heard far cousin Hugo Bolger was coming to visit Brandy Hall, they of course asked him to join their jolly party, run with them through the fields and river banks. Hugo had always been one of Merry's favourite cousins, and Pippin also liked him a great deal. But when they told him about their adventures around Buckland, Hugo shook his head slowly and smiled like adults smile when children say funny things without realising it.
"No thank you, Master Brandybuck", Hugo had finally said, to the surprise of them all, "I think I'll pass this offer. You frolic around, and have your fun, as you ought to. But count me out of it."
"But why?" Pippin had demanded.
"I'm 33 already", Hugo had shrugged, as if that would say a whole lot more than it did to the bewildered young Took.
"Maybe you Tooks and Brandybucks won't understand it, but us Bolgers wish to find stability in our lives, when we're of age and all."
Pippin still remembered clearly how his heart sank when Hugo stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned away.
Now the thought that the same could happen to Merry terrified him. Without Merry, what would the summers be like? What would life altogether be without Merry there to make mischief with him - and then protect him from the trouble afterwards? Pippin tried to think of life without their expeditions to old Maggot's fields, the game of chicken they played to see which would dare to step further into the Old Forest, all the pranks and mischief they had planned - or which just followed in their wake.
*He's a future Master of Buckland, after all*, Pippin thought sadly. *Maybe they'll start forcing him to do something boring that comes with the title, like Vinca has to knit mittens. Maybe he's expected to mellow down and take responsibility, now that he's almost adult.*
*
Pippin was so distracted that he didn't notice that the wagon had stopped. He was still curled up in his corner, face almost hidden between the woolly hat and the scarf.
*If growing up means I'm going to lose Merry, then I don't ever want to be 33. Does being a thain mean being alone? I don't even dare to think--*
"Hola, sleepyhead!"
A pesky call aroused him from his thoughts. Merry was standing next to the wagon, eyes flickering brightly at him. He reached out a hand to pull the woolly hat off from Pippin's eyes.
"Wake up, Pip, and come inside! It's cold enough to freeze the hairs on my feet stiff, and I wish to get back to the dinner table."
"Dinner!" Pippin cried, on his feet in a second's time. He hopped down from the wagon with Merry's help. Now that he stood in front of Merry, and saw that he at least didn't seem to have changed a bit, a huge weight was lifted from his heart.
"Yes, dear Pippin, dinner, and a wonderful dinner it is!" Merry laughed.
"At least the few bites I was able to get before you arrived promised an exquisite feast. Come on now and we'll get you in front of a nice fire, you're all shivering under that woolly hat."
Pippin looked around. They were the only ones still braving the freezing winter air; even the driver was taking the ponies to the stables and hurrying inside.
"Hn. Typical of my sisters to leave me here to freeze."
"Actually, Pip, Pearl sent me here to get you while she takes care of the formalities. Father will probably keep the poor lass from the dinner table until they've gone through every possible flattery."
Merry grinned.
"As for your youngest sister Vinca, she disappeared the moment you arrived. To find Melilot, I suspect."
"Oh, she'll be at the dinner table, mark my words", Pippin grinned back. He stepped in the doorway, hearing the laughter and chattering from the inside, and looked at Merry, straight in the eyes as he often did.
"Bless me, but it *is* good to see you, Merry. I don't think a week has ever been this dull in the Smials."
"Or here in the Hall", Merry made a face, joining him in the doorway.
"They just won't let me forget that I'll be 33 soon. Dad's even made me accompany him on some important meetings."
Pippin's heart sank again at the reminder. He lowered his eyes to the ground and bit his lip. He couldn't keep his thoughts off his face, and Merry saw his confusion and sadness and frowned in worry.
"Pip?"
Pippin shook his head quickly, then magicked a quick smile on his face.
"I'm just hungry. Where is this exquisite meal you're keeping me from attacking?"
But Merry wasn't fooled. He knew Pippin better. His face broke into a small, warm smile and he took good hold of Pippin's shoulders to make him look at him.
"Listen, Pip, even if Dad decides to share with me the secret of how to be the perfect Master of Buckland tonight, I won't allow it. You're here, and I want very much to forget the whole ordeal. Now stop pouting, that isn't like you."
Pippin sniffled.
"I'm alright. Now, the dinner?"
"Oh, right, right, the dinner."
Merry laughed and let go of Pippin's shoulders. Gods, but Pippin could be so quick sometimes that even he couldn't quite follow. So sad and crestfallen that he could make even a troll feel some sympathy for his apparent great grief, and then suddenly returning to his usual, radiant and outgoing self. Merry couldn't help the silly smile that crept on his face as he watched his younger cousin now.
Something very strange happened during the next few heartbeats, something that gave his thoughts a sudden stop. Merry's right hand lingered in mid-air, twitching oddly, as if it had a will of its own and his mind was resisting it. It moved towards Pippin's face, and light as a whisper, brushed off the few curls that peeked out from under the hat's rim. Pippin held his breath, and he could almost feel the fingertips touching his cheek, and there was some strange light burning in Merry's familiar eyes... But then Merry abruptly pulled his hand off. Pippin remembered to breathe again, and whisked inside, feeling awkward.
Merry shoved his hands nervously behind his back and followed the hungry little Took. Pippin kept giving him questioning, even wondering looks over his shoulder when he greeted his other Brandybuck relatives, but Merry ignored them as best as he could, which was rather easy in the middle of all the hassle. He was uncharacteristically quiet when he sat at the table next to his best friend, wondering what on earth was it that he had been about to do.
****