"Merry! Wait up!" Pips cried, tying her skirts above her knees. She could
just hear Esmeralda scolding her. Merry looked over his shoulder at the
little girl, then stopped. "Frodo! Stop a moment!" He called to his cousin.
Frodo stopped and turned. Pips finally caught up with them. "You're doing
it again. " Merry nodded to her skirts. "I wouldn't have to if I could keep
up with you!" She cried, looking up at him. "You are the smartest mouthed
six year old I know!" Frodo said, reaching forward and ruffling her hair.
She stuck her tongue out at him and he laughed. "Well Frodo, you have only
yourself to blame." Merry said, with a laugh. Frodo grinned. "Do you know
what mum is going to say about you following us?" Merry teased her. "Yeah
Pips, you can still go back home. As long as you don't tell anyone." Frodo
stopped there, and looked at Merry, they were thinking the same thing.
"Never mind, Pips." He said, looking back at her. "I know how you are,
you'll tell on us for not letting you come." Merry nodded. "So you might as
well come with us." Pips beamed. "And I'll get a mushroom?" She asked,
excitedly. Frodo knelt down to look into her green eyes. "Only if you're
quite. Promise to be quite?" Pips nodded. "I promise, Frodo." "Good, come
on." Frodo said, standing and taking her hand. He held her hand as they
headed toward Farmer Maggot's farm. "Just don't wake the dogs this time."
He said to Merry, who gave him an innocent look. "Now why would I go and do
something like that?" Frodo had a terrible fear of Farmer Maggots dogs. He
hated to think of what Pips would do.
They reached Farmer Maggots back fence, Merry hopped over it. Pips looked at the high gate as Frodo began to climb over. "Frodo. I can't climb it!" She cried, looking up him as he climbed over. "I know. Here you go." He reached over the fence and grabbed her around the waist, picking her up and hoisting her over the fence. She clung to his vest as she looked around. "Come on luv." He said, giving her a nudge, but she didn't move, holding on to Frodo's vest tighter. Frodo chuckled and picked her up, carrying her and catching up with Merry. Merry just shook his head.
They stowed over to the mushroom patch and Merry began picking them. Frodo put Pips down, picking up a mushroom and whipping it off, cleaning it, then handed it to her. "There you go." He said, with a smile. She beamed, taking the rather large mushroom and began munching on it, watching Frodo help Merry. Then after some time, she got bored of watching them, still munching on her mushroom. She decided to look around, to see what else she could find. Frodo and Merry never same her disappear into the fields around. There were wildflowers growing in areas, some closer to the farm house and she could see it near, as she picked the flowers. She thought the flowers were prettier then the ones around Brandyhall. Pips contented herself to pick flowers, with one hand, while she finished the mushroom with the other. She didn't see the two figures moving through the grass toward her.
Frodo looked up and around. His blue eye widened. "Oh no! OH NO!" Merry looked up from stuffing his face. "What?" "Pips is gone!" Merry looked around frantically. "How!?" "How else, really Merry, you were supposed to be watching her!" "Was not, mum told you to look after her Frodo! You're the oldest!" Frodo gave him a look. "Merry, you're mother told you, before she went out, and I quote, 'Look after Pips, and I mean it this time!' So don't pin this one on me!" "Well you could have helped! Besides, you're her favorite!" Merry said. Frodo stood, looking around. "Whatever! Look, we've got to find her!" If she gets close to the farm house, the dogs will see her!" The scream came to them then, verifying Frodo's fear. He took off running towards the direction it was in. Merry followed close behind. As he got closer, Frodo saw little Pips backed up against the gate, scared and crying. Farmer Maggots dogs were closing in on her. Frodo took a breath and fan faster, going to Pips' side. He dropped to his knees beside her. She threw her little self into Frodo 's arms, burring her face in his chest and attempting to hide from the dogs. Frodo held her tighter as they closed in. "have you got them!?" Came the voice of Farmer Maggot and Frodo couldn't decided rather that was a good thing or bad. Then out of the grass he came. "Come 'er! Let's see what kind of rabbits got caught this time! Well, well, well, if it ain't Frodo Baggins. Didn't I tell you, boy, if I ever caught you on my land again, I'd let my dogs at you?" Frodo was to scared to speak. "I.....I" "Farmer Maggot!" Merry reached them. "Well if it ain't Master Meriadoc, you're getting bigger every time I see you. I suppose this rascal is with you?" "Well, yes sir, and so is she." Merry nodded back to Frodo and Farmer Maggot looked and saw the little face of Pips, peering over Frodo's arm. "Well, if it isn't little Mistress Brighfield." He bent down. "Did these mutts scare you? I'm sorry little miss. I really am, had I know, well, I would have called them off. But if you'll let me make it up, we can go up to the house. I'm sure Mrs. Maggot has some cake." He said with a smile, holding out his hand. Pips looked at it, then at his face, then over at Merry, who nodded. So she reached out and took his hand. "You two can come too." He said to the boys. "And you three, go lay down some where!"
Pips sat swinging her legs back and forth under the table, as the chair was to high for even her, eating the piece of cake, Mrs. Maggot had given her. "She looks just like her mother at that age!" Mrs. Maggot said, cooing over her. "Her mother would be so proud of her!" "You knew Pips' mother?" Frodo asked her, he was sitting to one side of Pips, Merry on the other. "Of course, She was a lovely girl, married at young age though, and he was what...I believe 15 years older then her. I say he up and left her, and wasn't murdered at all, but who knows." Mrs. Maggot said, pouring Pips some more milk. "Lilac was a sweet girl, but very odd. Had all these thoughts about true love and thinking it was right for a girl to know how to read and write. Course no one would teach her, till he came along, " She was speaking of Pips' father. "He was as odd as a hobbit could be, always dreaming over other peoples and worlds, ideas and notations of adventures. Nasty things, make one late for dinner." She said. Merry nodded, but Frodo just looked out the window as he listened, only to see the sun go down. "Anyway, he taught her how to read and write and even some numbers. Well, that just did it, she was a respectable girl and could have forgotten all those notions, until he came along. He was no good for her I tell you. And poor little Legan here, left an orphan, never even got to know her mum. Such a tragedy." Mrs. Maggot said, turning her back on them. Frodo kicked Merry under the table and nodded to the window. The look on Merry's face screamed panic. They had to get home. Frodo could just imagine what Saradoc was going to say, about them keeping Pips out after dark. Hopefully he could think up an excuse on the way there. "Well, Mrs. Maggot, as great as this has been, we really need to get home. " Merry said, standing, Frodo followed. "Yes. Come on, Pips. Time to go." She yawned and climbed down from her chair. "Well, don't be a stranger, and you hurry home, sorry to have kept you so late. You just told Old Rory I had you, you wont be in trouble." Mrs. Maggot said, seeing them to the door. Pips yawned again, and Frodo took her hand as they went down the walk and out on to the lane. "Thank you Mrs. Maggot." Merry called behind them, as they headed home.
They were nearing Brandyhall, when Pips stopped, sitting down in her spot, yawning again. "To tired." She said, when they looked at her. "Oh come on, Pips!" Merry cried, frustrated. "We've got to get home. I'm hoping we can still sneak back in!" She gave him a dark look and crossed her arms. Frodo went over to her. "Come on, Pips, we're almost there, then you can go to sleep." He said, kneeling beside her. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Ok." He picked her up. Merry rolled his eyes. As Frodo carried her back to Brandyhall, she fell sleep, laying her head on his shoulder.
Merry got the kitchen door and held it open for Frodo and he carried Pips in. Esmaralda was standing there waiting for them. "Where have you been?" She sounded angry, but she was really angry when she saw Pips. "And what were you doing with her outside after dark!?" She asked, her hands on her hips. "Mum, it's ok, we were..." Merry looked at Frodo for an excuse. "We went walking this afternoon and stopped to talk to Mrs. Maggot, she insisted we come in and gave Pips cake." Esmaralda sighed. "Never mind I asked. That woman can talk your ear off. I suppose she had to go over Pips' family tree?" Frodo and Merry didn't answer, they didn't have to. "Go and put her to bed, Frodo. Then you two come back here and have some dinner." Frodo took Pips and carried her down the hall, to the left of the kitchen, the hall where most of the children's rooms where, and pushed Pips' door open to her little room. Her room was just across the hall from his. It used to be his room, but Old Rory moved him across the hall, and Pips insisted, at five years old, to have his old room and Old Rory allowed it. With one hand, he pulled back the blankets on the bed, then gently placed her in it, easing out of her little arms. He pulled the covers over her, looking at her sleeping face for a moment. She was precious, very dear to him. In many ways, a lot like himself. Orphaned at a young age. Adventures at a young age, even considered odd. But he didn't want her to be alone, like he had been. True, Merry was a good friend, and his cousin, but Merry was a lot younger then him, and for a long time, he hadn't had any friends. He supposed that's why he let Pips tag along with them, but he was always looking out for her, and was very protective of her. He pushed the hair from her face, and leaned down, kissing her forehead. "Good night Legan." He said softly. He raised up and left the room silently.
Merry was already in the kitchen when Frodo joined them and Esmaralda got him some dinner. "Frodo, I don't want you taking Pips around Farmer Maggots anymore." She said, Frodo looked up at her, questioningly. "Despite what she says, she was not found of Lilac, one of the chief ladies to complain about her. And to make matters worse, she's been trying to convince the Mayor that we're not taking good enough care of her, and she wants to take Pips." "She can't!" Frodo cried, coming to his feet. "She being taken care of her very well! She's happy here!" Frodo said. "Yes, Frodo, I know. This is why I don't want her anywhere around there. Do you understand?" "Yes ma'am." Frodo answered. "Good, now eat up and wash up and then to bed." she said. "Yes ma'am." They both answered.
After he'd eaten, he'd gotten washed up then changed for sleep, crawling into his bed. The moonlight was drifting through his window and he lay watching it for awhile, thinking about what Merry's mother had told him. How could anyone think Pips wasn't taken care of well, everyone here loved her, Frodo especially. He frowned, he wasn't about to let that happen. He closed his eyes and was just drifting off to sleep, when he heard his door creak open. He opened his eyes, looking towards it. A little shadow was played across the wall, and the little figure moved slowly, tiptoeing towards his bed. "I had a bad dream." Pips whispered, stopping right in front of him, against the bed. "You had a bad dream?" She nodded. "'Bout the dogs." She pouted. Frodo looked at her, then scooted over in his bed, patting the room beside him. Pips grinned and climbed up on the bed, settling down under the blanket beside him, cuddling closer. He wrapped on arm around her, the other under his head and watched her settle herself down and soon fall sleep. Frodo smiled softly and settled down himself for sleep.
They reached Farmer Maggots back fence, Merry hopped over it. Pips looked at the high gate as Frodo began to climb over. "Frodo. I can't climb it!" She cried, looking up him as he climbed over. "I know. Here you go." He reached over the fence and grabbed her around the waist, picking her up and hoisting her over the fence. She clung to his vest as she looked around. "Come on luv." He said, giving her a nudge, but she didn't move, holding on to Frodo's vest tighter. Frodo chuckled and picked her up, carrying her and catching up with Merry. Merry just shook his head.
They stowed over to the mushroom patch and Merry began picking them. Frodo put Pips down, picking up a mushroom and whipping it off, cleaning it, then handed it to her. "There you go." He said, with a smile. She beamed, taking the rather large mushroom and began munching on it, watching Frodo help Merry. Then after some time, she got bored of watching them, still munching on her mushroom. She decided to look around, to see what else she could find. Frodo and Merry never same her disappear into the fields around. There were wildflowers growing in areas, some closer to the farm house and she could see it near, as she picked the flowers. She thought the flowers were prettier then the ones around Brandyhall. Pips contented herself to pick flowers, with one hand, while she finished the mushroom with the other. She didn't see the two figures moving through the grass toward her.
Frodo looked up and around. His blue eye widened. "Oh no! OH NO!" Merry looked up from stuffing his face. "What?" "Pips is gone!" Merry looked around frantically. "How!?" "How else, really Merry, you were supposed to be watching her!" "Was not, mum told you to look after her Frodo! You're the oldest!" Frodo gave him a look. "Merry, you're mother told you, before she went out, and I quote, 'Look after Pips, and I mean it this time!' So don't pin this one on me!" "Well you could have helped! Besides, you're her favorite!" Merry said. Frodo stood, looking around. "Whatever! Look, we've got to find her!" If she gets close to the farm house, the dogs will see her!" The scream came to them then, verifying Frodo's fear. He took off running towards the direction it was in. Merry followed close behind. As he got closer, Frodo saw little Pips backed up against the gate, scared and crying. Farmer Maggots dogs were closing in on her. Frodo took a breath and fan faster, going to Pips' side. He dropped to his knees beside her. She threw her little self into Frodo 's arms, burring her face in his chest and attempting to hide from the dogs. Frodo held her tighter as they closed in. "have you got them!?" Came the voice of Farmer Maggot and Frodo couldn't decided rather that was a good thing or bad. Then out of the grass he came. "Come 'er! Let's see what kind of rabbits got caught this time! Well, well, well, if it ain't Frodo Baggins. Didn't I tell you, boy, if I ever caught you on my land again, I'd let my dogs at you?" Frodo was to scared to speak. "I.....I" "Farmer Maggot!" Merry reached them. "Well if it ain't Master Meriadoc, you're getting bigger every time I see you. I suppose this rascal is with you?" "Well, yes sir, and so is she." Merry nodded back to Frodo and Farmer Maggot looked and saw the little face of Pips, peering over Frodo's arm. "Well, if it isn't little Mistress Brighfield." He bent down. "Did these mutts scare you? I'm sorry little miss. I really am, had I know, well, I would have called them off. But if you'll let me make it up, we can go up to the house. I'm sure Mrs. Maggot has some cake." He said with a smile, holding out his hand. Pips looked at it, then at his face, then over at Merry, who nodded. So she reached out and took his hand. "You two can come too." He said to the boys. "And you three, go lay down some where!"
Pips sat swinging her legs back and forth under the table, as the chair was to high for even her, eating the piece of cake, Mrs. Maggot had given her. "She looks just like her mother at that age!" Mrs. Maggot said, cooing over her. "Her mother would be so proud of her!" "You knew Pips' mother?" Frodo asked her, he was sitting to one side of Pips, Merry on the other. "Of course, She was a lovely girl, married at young age though, and he was what...I believe 15 years older then her. I say he up and left her, and wasn't murdered at all, but who knows." Mrs. Maggot said, pouring Pips some more milk. "Lilac was a sweet girl, but very odd. Had all these thoughts about true love and thinking it was right for a girl to know how to read and write. Course no one would teach her, till he came along, " She was speaking of Pips' father. "He was as odd as a hobbit could be, always dreaming over other peoples and worlds, ideas and notations of adventures. Nasty things, make one late for dinner." She said. Merry nodded, but Frodo just looked out the window as he listened, only to see the sun go down. "Anyway, he taught her how to read and write and even some numbers. Well, that just did it, she was a respectable girl and could have forgotten all those notions, until he came along. He was no good for her I tell you. And poor little Legan here, left an orphan, never even got to know her mum. Such a tragedy." Mrs. Maggot said, turning her back on them. Frodo kicked Merry under the table and nodded to the window. The look on Merry's face screamed panic. They had to get home. Frodo could just imagine what Saradoc was going to say, about them keeping Pips out after dark. Hopefully he could think up an excuse on the way there. "Well, Mrs. Maggot, as great as this has been, we really need to get home. " Merry said, standing, Frodo followed. "Yes. Come on, Pips. Time to go." She yawned and climbed down from her chair. "Well, don't be a stranger, and you hurry home, sorry to have kept you so late. You just told Old Rory I had you, you wont be in trouble." Mrs. Maggot said, seeing them to the door. Pips yawned again, and Frodo took her hand as they went down the walk and out on to the lane. "Thank you Mrs. Maggot." Merry called behind them, as they headed home.
They were nearing Brandyhall, when Pips stopped, sitting down in her spot, yawning again. "To tired." She said, when they looked at her. "Oh come on, Pips!" Merry cried, frustrated. "We've got to get home. I'm hoping we can still sneak back in!" She gave him a dark look and crossed her arms. Frodo went over to her. "Come on, Pips, we're almost there, then you can go to sleep." He said, kneeling beside her. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Ok." He picked her up. Merry rolled his eyes. As Frodo carried her back to Brandyhall, she fell sleep, laying her head on his shoulder.
Merry got the kitchen door and held it open for Frodo and he carried Pips in. Esmaralda was standing there waiting for them. "Where have you been?" She sounded angry, but she was really angry when she saw Pips. "And what were you doing with her outside after dark!?" She asked, her hands on her hips. "Mum, it's ok, we were..." Merry looked at Frodo for an excuse. "We went walking this afternoon and stopped to talk to Mrs. Maggot, she insisted we come in and gave Pips cake." Esmaralda sighed. "Never mind I asked. That woman can talk your ear off. I suppose she had to go over Pips' family tree?" Frodo and Merry didn't answer, they didn't have to. "Go and put her to bed, Frodo. Then you two come back here and have some dinner." Frodo took Pips and carried her down the hall, to the left of the kitchen, the hall where most of the children's rooms where, and pushed Pips' door open to her little room. Her room was just across the hall from his. It used to be his room, but Old Rory moved him across the hall, and Pips insisted, at five years old, to have his old room and Old Rory allowed it. With one hand, he pulled back the blankets on the bed, then gently placed her in it, easing out of her little arms. He pulled the covers over her, looking at her sleeping face for a moment. She was precious, very dear to him. In many ways, a lot like himself. Orphaned at a young age. Adventures at a young age, even considered odd. But he didn't want her to be alone, like he had been. True, Merry was a good friend, and his cousin, but Merry was a lot younger then him, and for a long time, he hadn't had any friends. He supposed that's why he let Pips tag along with them, but he was always looking out for her, and was very protective of her. He pushed the hair from her face, and leaned down, kissing her forehead. "Good night Legan." He said softly. He raised up and left the room silently.
Merry was already in the kitchen when Frodo joined them and Esmaralda got him some dinner. "Frodo, I don't want you taking Pips around Farmer Maggots anymore." She said, Frodo looked up at her, questioningly. "Despite what she says, she was not found of Lilac, one of the chief ladies to complain about her. And to make matters worse, she's been trying to convince the Mayor that we're not taking good enough care of her, and she wants to take Pips." "She can't!" Frodo cried, coming to his feet. "She being taken care of her very well! She's happy here!" Frodo said. "Yes, Frodo, I know. This is why I don't want her anywhere around there. Do you understand?" "Yes ma'am." Frodo answered. "Good, now eat up and wash up and then to bed." she said. "Yes ma'am." They both answered.
After he'd eaten, he'd gotten washed up then changed for sleep, crawling into his bed. The moonlight was drifting through his window and he lay watching it for awhile, thinking about what Merry's mother had told him. How could anyone think Pips wasn't taken care of well, everyone here loved her, Frodo especially. He frowned, he wasn't about to let that happen. He closed his eyes and was just drifting off to sleep, when he heard his door creak open. He opened his eyes, looking towards it. A little shadow was played across the wall, and the little figure moved slowly, tiptoeing towards his bed. "I had a bad dream." Pips whispered, stopping right in front of him, against the bed. "You had a bad dream?" She nodded. "'Bout the dogs." She pouted. Frodo looked at her, then scooted over in his bed, patting the room beside him. Pips grinned and climbed up on the bed, settling down under the blanket beside him, cuddling closer. He wrapped on arm around her, the other under his head and watched her settle herself down and soon fall sleep. Frodo smiled softly and settled down himself for sleep.