It was a sunny day in Hobbiton. Clear skies, a gentle breeze, and a bright sun warming the hills. A good day for reading outside, in the opinion of some. Others, however, did not agree.
Frodo Baggins was one of those hobbits that, on days like this, would grab a good book and sit in the grass for awhile. His cousin, Meriadoc Brandybuck (known as Merry), did not agree in the slightest. He'd rather be doing anything else.
Frodo was reading a book, his back resting on the base of a tree trunk, while Merry laid on the grass near him, twisting a few blades between his fingers. He looked up at his older cousin, eyeing the book. There were only a few pages left, and when the book was finished…
'He'll probably walk back up to Bag End and get another book,' Merry thought, rolling his eyes.
"What?" Frodo had seen Merry's eye roll over the top of his book.
"Nothing," Merry replied, ripping a blade of grass from the ground. Frodo shrugged and went back to reading.
"So…" Merry said, trying to make some conversation. "I think Divyan Gammbride is growing a little fond of you, don't you think?" He waited a few moments, but Frodo didn't respond. "Don't you think, Frodo?"
Frodo closed the book slowly, using his finger as a bookmark. "You mean… Divy? Who lives down near Bywater?" Merry nodded. "I don't think so," Frodo said with a chuckle.
Merry laughed as well. "You're probably right. I bet she's probably looking for someone with more than air stuffed inside their head." The young Brandybuck didn't have time to move before Frodo's book whacked him on the head. "Hey!"
"You asked for it," Frodo said, snickering. Merry glared at his cousin, but couldn't help but laugh. Not five seconds later, another young hobbit came running towards them. He skidded to a halt.
"Pippin?" The hobbit turned as Frodo called his name. "What's wrong?"
"Uh…" Pippin looked down at the object in his hands - a slingshot.
"What did you do?" Frodo asked.
"I…I hit Vinca with a rock," Pippin murmured.
Frodo shook his head, holding his face in one hand. "Pip, will you ever learn? Let's go find your mum-"
"No!" Pippin jumped away from him. "She'll kill me!"
All three pairs of hobbit eyes widened as footsteps were heard, and a shrill, female voice calling, "Peregrin Took! You come back here this instant!"
"Quick, hide!" Pippin grabbed Merry and Frodo's arms and pulled both of his cousins into a nearby bush.
"Aunt Eglantine! Aun-" Pippin slammed a hand around Frodo's mouth. All three cousins waited as the sound of Mrs. Took's feet ran past them.
"Whew!" Pippin let go of both of them. "That was close!"
Frodo narrowed his eyes at Pippin. "Wait until Uncle Paladin hears about this."
Pippin's eyes went wide. "You wouldn't!" He gasped. "You wouldn't tell my da!" He glared at Frodo. "If you tell I'll tell Bilbo that you were the one who dropped that book of his into the Bywater Pool!"
Frodo's eyes went wide as well. He narrowed his eyes. "Deal." The two hobbits shook. Merry grinned.
"Now, can we please go do something slightly interesting?"