It's Shinny.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Lord of the Rings.
The One Ring had been destroyed. Sauron was defeated. Aragorn became king. Everything was as it should be in middle-earth.
Four hobbits were headed home. Their names were Frodo Baggins, Sam Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took. It was Frodo who had destroyed the One Ring. He did this by casting it into the fires of Mount Doom.
Their return had been uneventful thus far. Then Merry turned to face Pippin.
"Can I ask you a question?" said Merry. "Sure", said Pippin. "Ask away." "Okay", said Merry. "Do you remember that thing that Gandalf told you not to touch, yet you touched it anyway?" he asked.
"You mean the Palantir?" asked Pippin. "Yeah, that", said Merry. "What's a Palantir?" asked Sam. "I know what that is", said Frodo. "Gandalf told me about them. They are orbs that show the future. But if you're not careful, they can drive you to madness. Kind of like the ring, he thought to himself.
"Right", said Merry. "So Pippin, why were you so captivated by the Palantir?" he asked. "I can't tell you", said Pippin. "Why not?" asked Sam. "Because you'll laugh at me", said Pippin. "No we won't", said Frodo. "I promise."
"Alright", said Pippin. "I'll tell you." "The reason I was so drawn to the Palantir was because it was shinny."
Frodo and Sam just stood there, with dumbfounded looks on their faces. Merry was barely able to control himself from laughing. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard", he said between giggles.
"I knew I shouldn't have told you guys that", said Pippin. "It's ok", said Merry. "I just find it incredibly odd."
"Why is it odd?" asked Pippin. "You've seen plenty of shinny things in your life", said Merry. "And you've never been obsessed with them."
"Like what?" asked Pippin. "The sun", replied Merry. "The ring", said Frodo. "Legolas' hair", said Sam. Frodo, Merry and Pippin stared at him. "What?" asked Sam, smiling innocently. "Never mind", said Frodo.
Then Pippin suddenly became very thoughtful. "I guess you're right", he said. "All those things were shinny. They didn't posses me." "Shall we continue on our way home?" he asked.
The 3 other hobbits looked at each other. They nodded in agreement. Then all four of them continued their way back home to the Shire.
The End.
A/N: 1. I'm pretty sure that was NOT the reason Pippin was so drawn to the Palantir. I don't think anybody really knows why. And if you do know, or at least think you know, tell me. I'd like to hear it. I just put it down as being shinny because it seamed like the funniest reason.
2: I meant no offence by the "Legolas' hair being shinny joke." So fan girls of his, don't kill me. I'm one of you myself. Legolas is my favorite character. But you have to admit it, his hair IS shinny.
3. This is the first story I've ever written for The Lord of the Rings. It will also possibly be my last one too. Though I like it, it's kind of hard for me to think of anymore stories about it.