Retirement
"Merry, I'm bored."
I raised my head from the book I'd borrowed from Aragorn's library and and looked over at my cousin, already worrying. Those were the worst possible words to come out of Pippin's mouth because they were always followed by some sort of trouble even after all these years. "What do you want me to do about it?"
"Well, you're the one that has all the good ideas." Pippin said as he fiddled with his pipe.
"Pippin, you're not a tween anymore and frankly, both of us are too old to be even thinking about causing trouble. Besides I don't have the energy." We'd only been in Minas Tirith for a month after journeying from the Shire where we left our sons as Master and Thain, and it was a wonder that Pippin hadn't fallen into his old habits sooner.
"I don't want to cause trouble, I just want to do something. Everyone is busy with the delegations from Umbar and Harad, and I've told the children all the stories I remember." The pipe went back in his pocket without being lit, a sure sign that Peregrin Took was restless.
He got up from his chair and walked over the balcony, the brisk wind tugging at his nearly pure white hair. After a moment I joined him. The view was lovely, looking down over the circles of the city and across the Pelennor towards the Anduin. As we stood there the wind blew a piece of colorful cloth, perhaps a pillow slip or table cover up from one of the lower circles, where it had pulled it from a washing line. I smiled, almost hearing my dear Estella complaining what a nuisance such wind was as she'd tried in vain to keep it from stealing her best lace cap during our last visit before she passed away.
Then I was brought back to the present when Pippin stiffened and said, "I know!"
"You know what?"
"I know just the thing to do on such an afternoon. Do you want to come along?" Honestly, despite the passing of years, my dearest cousin's expression when planning something hadn't changed from when he was an irresponsible tween.
"No, I don't think I have the energy to deal with whatever mischief you're planning. I'm staying here and trying to finish my book." I returned to my comfortable chair and found my place. "Just be back in time for supper or I won't leave you any."
"No fear, cousin. I will see you later."
And he was off.
Some time later, I was disturbed by the chattering and laughter of children in the circle below. I looked up from my book—or rather I opened my eyes from the nap I took with the book lying over my stomach—and found a half a dozen kites dancing in the sky before the balcony. Slowly getting to my feet, I focused on the colorful shapes and leant against the balcony rail.
"Ho, Merry! What do you think?"
I looked down to see Pippin holding the string of a dragon shaped kite made out of some red cloth that looked suspiciously like the table cover that had been on the tea table in our sitting room. He was surrounded by a group of children of varying ages who were flying their own kites. I grinned down at him as he hastily rescued his dragon from an imminent collision with a green leaf shaped kite.
He definitely didn't seem bored now.