A/N: Just because you wanted me to write them, I have two more chapters but
I won't go beyond that because then the mystery starts to go and I'm sure
you don't want to hear about everything a group of vampire hobbits would
get up to. There's some kissing in this chapter but not described in
anything that could be called detail.
Dealing in Death
More food is certainly what they had had, much to the despair of the residents of Tuckborough. But now they were walking and Pippin was catching up on all that had happened though there wasn't too much to catch up on.
"Frodo,"
"Yes Pippin?"
"I know about the Gamgees and how they went to sleep one evening and were gone in the morning. And I know about Merry and all that avenging his father business, but what happened to you? And uncle Saradoc for that matter?"
"Well, I think Merry killed him in the end."
"What? That night?"
"Oh no, later. I think they were fighting over, I'm not sure whom they were fighting over actually, I've forgotten. Merry, who did you kill your dad over?" Merry looked over to where Frodo and Pippin were walking and thought hard. He frowned as he racked his brains, he was sure the name was on the tip of his tongue.
"I really don't know, I can't think of it at the moment, ask me later."
"Right, that's one question answered, what of the other one?" pushed Pippin. Frodo smiled,
"I can't say anything about what it was that changed me because I haven't a clue, but I'll tell you what I remember and perhaps you can work something out from it, though no doubt you'll be just as in the dark as the rest of us, so to speak.
"As you probably know it was a few short weeks after Bilbo had left and I'd just sent Sam home after tea. It was getting dark and I was tired beyond belief, I don't know what it was I'd done that day, but it had tired me out no end and so I decided I'd have an early night. It wasn't an unusual occurrence and as far as I can remember I'd not done anything out of the ordinary that day at all. So there I was in bed with my mug of milk and a biscuit, just settling down when I hear a creak of the floorboards outside. Now, snug and warm in my bed and half asleep, I really didn't want to be bothered with going out to see what or who it was and Bag End is an old hole after all. So I drifted off to sleep.
"Suddenly, some time into the early morning, I wake up for no apparent reason. I hadn't heard anything and hadn't had any nightmare of any kind so I was quite annoyed with having being disturbed from what had been a beautiful sleep. But for a reason I couldn't fathom, I couldn't get back to sleep, I was suddenly and unaccountably wide-awake. I wasn't going to lie in bed tossing and turning so I headed off to the study to find a book to read. But on the way there I heard something behind me. Naturally I turned to see what was there, but there was nothing, not even a door ajar, so I put it down to my imagination and turned back again. But before I'd even taken another step, I heard another noise, and not one I could disregard: a definite clunk. I turned and found one of the doors had swung open, I began to panic, there's only so much you can put down to an old hole.
"Things start to get blurry from now on but I remember clearly the feel of breathing on my neck, of course that made me bolt though I am not sure where. From what Sam tells me there was quite the struggle, I like to think I put up a good fight. One thing I do remember after that, before waking up the next night arranged neatly in my bed, was the feeling of a thousand pinpricks running up and down my arms and finally piercing right into my neck. Judging from the bloodstains on the walls, I thought pinpricks could be quite close to the truth."
"There were bloodstains on the walls? Why didn't anyone ever tell me anything interesting like that? All I was ever told was 'Frodo's gone to a better place'" said Pippin, mocking his mother's voice. "Where are we going anyway?"
"We are going to Michel Delving." informed Merry.
"Michel Delving? Whatever for?"
"Outside the mayor's office there is a notice-board on which all missing persons notices are pinned. We like to go check who's been turned recently, see if it's anyone we know."
Pippin seemed satisfied and they continued walking. Merry and Sam were getting closer and closer together and with a jump, Pippin realised they were kissing. He watched, half sickened, half excited and very confused.
"You'll get used to it." Frodo whispered in his ear, "It just takes a while for the mind to catch up with the body. Try not to stare though, unless you think you'll come out on top in a fight." Pippin quickly averted his eyes and Frodo laughed in his ear, "I don't think you'll need to worry about those two, they did help to make you after all." Pippin still refused to look back at the pair though, if was going to have to keep eyes averted, he may as well start now.
They reached Michel Delving in the darkest hour of the night, though to them it didn't look more than a cloudy day, as they rounded the corner to the notice board, they saw three hobbit lasses standing there talking to one another. The four of them strolled up to the board quite calmly, two of the lasses glanced over their shoulders at them and the turned back and they began to giggle.
Something caught Pippin's eye and he turned his head to see a young lad, no more than nine years of age, staring out of the dark window of his house. Pippin flashed him his most charming smile and waved his hand, the child jumped back from the window, shocked, his face pale. Frodo laughed at the reaction and put his arm around Pippin's shoulder. The child came back to the window and Pippin gave him a final wink before he was out of sight.
"No hogging the board you three, anyone we know?" Said Merry, he and Sam were further ahead than Frodo and Pippin, who were obviously going at a far more leisurely pace.
"It seems someone's got Peregrin Took!" said one of the lasses, licking her lips, "Lucky them." Pippin didn't recognise the lass, but she plainly knew who he was, not that it was particularly odd for people to know who he was.
"Really? Peregrin Took? Well that is a surprise!" said Sam, his voice positively dripping with sarcasm.
"Alright Sam, what do you know that I don't?" Pippin decided this would be a good time to clear his throat.
"O, so it was you who were the lucky ones." Said the lass, her eyes roving all over Pippin's body, taking every inch of him in. Pippin looked over the lasses, two he didn't know, but the third he certainly did.
"Pearl!" he exclaimed, "Mum told me you were dead!"
"I am." she answered. Pippin rolled his eyes.
"I mean she said they found your body."
"Well she lied."
"What's the matter with you? You're dead for ten years and suddenly you can't say more than three words at a time? Wait, that actually makes sense." Pearl just shrugged. "Does this mean Pervinca's not dead?" said Pippin out of interest.
"Oh no, she's dead, I made sure of that." Pippin laughed a little, he remembered how much his two sisters disliked one another.
"Hey, Rosie, who got Cock-Robin?" said Sam, studying the notices.
"Robin Smallburrows? I think that was Bodo down Frogmorton way." Answered the first lass, who appeared to be called Rosie. "But they've left off somewhere, some say they went too near the borders and were got by the men."
"There are men around the borders?" said Pippin, his eyes bright with eagerness.
"He really is new isn't he?" said Rosie,
"Just last night." answered Sam.
"Pearl!" said Merry as though he'd just noticed she was there, "Would you happen to know why I killed Saradoc?"
"Why would I know tha- wait, I do know that. Yes, it was over me, I still have the scars."
"Yes! I remember!"
"What happened?" asked Pippin.
"Never mind, you'll find out sooner or later, some people are still talking about it. Apparently it was quite the fight. I wouldn't know, I was half dead through most of it." Pippin scowled at his sister, he was dead and still people wouldn't tell him everything! He dismissed that conversation and turned to Frodo.
"Can we go see the men?" He said like a young child talking about lambs, "I want to know what one tastes like, what do they taste like?"
"I honestly don't know Pippin, there's never been enough of us to overpower one, not to mention that they often travel in groups."
"Can we try though? Please?" Frodo looked down at his cousin's pleading face and laughed,
"Of course we can." He placed a kiss on Pippin's nose. Pippin smiled, he was glad he was still able to get his way when he wanted. "Well, if we are going to the borders, we should take our leave."
"The borders? Why are we going there?" said Sam, who had been in such a conversation with Rosie that he hadn't heard Pippin and Frodo.
"To catch us a man." said Frodo simply. Although the statement was not one likely to be heard everyday, or night as the case may be, Sam didn't seem phased at all and just shrugged. He gave Rosie a goodbye kiss and the two groups of vampires went their separate ways.
A few hours down the deserted road (living things didn't walk freely by night and Frodo had such a reputation that the dead steered clear) they heard the trotting of a pony behind them. Frodo, Sam and Merry all glanced at one another and melted into the bushes at the side of the road, Leaving Pippin in the road, squinting against the bright light of the flaming torch the rider was holding. His eyes grew used to the light and his was able to discern the facial features and out of pure habit he waved, shouting "Fatty! Fatty!" The pony increased its pace to a canter, as it was still quite a way away. Before long the pony came to a halt beside Pippin, Fatty staring down at him in astonishment.
"Pippin!" he yelled, "Where have you been? The whole of Great Smials has been in an uproar!" Pippin stared at Fatty in equal astonishment; Fatty thought he was still a living hobbit! "No need to look so surprised, you know that your mother and father fret after who whenever you're out of their sight." Pippin arranged his face into what he hoped was sad but friendly.
"I know, but it's so stuffy there, I feel I'm being smothered and watched at every turn. I can't do anything without my parents being told, it's not natural for a tweenager!" Fatty smiled, sympathising with his friend.
"But that's no need to go walking outside alone, and in the dark of all times to be walking! Goodness knows how you've managed to survive for so long!"
"Perhaps I'm just lucky, but look at you talking about being out in the dark! You never told me you were allowed out at night!"
"Only to look for friends and I don't enjoy it too much, galloping past old friends fighting like wild dogs at the side of the road and having to ward off hobbits with your torch." There was a pause. "Did you know Diamond was found dead last night?"
"Yes," said Pippin dreamily, a blissful smile on his face. Then he realised he was meant to be sad about it, he pulled himself back into character and hung his head, "Yes." he said. Fatty's eyes widened.
"You didn't... see anything did you?" Pippin looked back up at Fatty.
"You could say that," said Pippin, trying desperately to keep his face straight. "Fatty, why don't you come down here, I'll get an awful neck looking at you up there."
"I'd rather not, who knows what's in those bushes," Pippin could name at least three things. "Now why don't you come up here and I'll take you home?" that sounded good to Pippin, as long as he was on the same level as Fatty it didn't matter. He stepped forward to pat the pony, but it jerked away with a nervous snort, perhaps that plan wasn't going to work, he though he could hear the faintest giggle from the bushes behind him.
"Fatty," said Pippin in a manner that suggested he was going to ask something, "Could you give me a leg up? I've been walking for ages and I'll never make it up there." Fatty looked down at Pippin, then glanced all around and finally nodded in assent. Pippin smiled in thanks and stepped back to give Fatty room.
Pippin's attention was suddenly grabbed by the noise of thundering hooves, how he'd failed to notice such a noisy approach until now was beyond him.
"FREDEGAR BOLGER!" bellowed the rider, "Don't you dare get off that horse!" Fatty, whose leg had been half over the pony's rear end just about to dismount quickly sat back down in the saddle. "Get away from him devil!" The rider yelled at Pippin. He notched an arrow from his quiver and pulled the bowstring back.
"Dad! Don't! It's Pippin! Don't shoot him!" but the call had come too late and the arrow arced through the air. Pippin was frozen, he hadn't even the sense to step back, he could hear voices in the bushes calling to him but he couldn't work out what they were telling him to do. The arrow landed, it hit him right in the foot. Fatty cringed and for a second Pippin just looked at it until an unearthly scream of pain and anger ripped itself from his throat. Fatty's horse started and backed away from Pippin, Fatty sat on its back staring in horror.
A film of red slid over Pippin's vision and he felt his teeth sharpen and grow. He yanked the arrow from his foot and threw it back like a javelin to where it had come from, he missed. Upon seeing that another arrow was being drawn he beat a hasty retreat back into the bushes where he collapsed on the ground, once again breathing hard and pointlessly.
The other three were all grins, obviously having enjoyed being spectators.
"Dad," Pippin heard Fatty saying the other side of the bushes, "He was a... he was trying to... he was going to eat me!" When he heard that, Pippin couldn't help smiling and soon all four of the burst into laughter as they slunk away from the road.
Dealing in Death
More food is certainly what they had had, much to the despair of the residents of Tuckborough. But now they were walking and Pippin was catching up on all that had happened though there wasn't too much to catch up on.
"Frodo,"
"Yes Pippin?"
"I know about the Gamgees and how they went to sleep one evening and were gone in the morning. And I know about Merry and all that avenging his father business, but what happened to you? And uncle Saradoc for that matter?"
"Well, I think Merry killed him in the end."
"What? That night?"
"Oh no, later. I think they were fighting over, I'm not sure whom they were fighting over actually, I've forgotten. Merry, who did you kill your dad over?" Merry looked over to where Frodo and Pippin were walking and thought hard. He frowned as he racked his brains, he was sure the name was on the tip of his tongue.
"I really don't know, I can't think of it at the moment, ask me later."
"Right, that's one question answered, what of the other one?" pushed Pippin. Frodo smiled,
"I can't say anything about what it was that changed me because I haven't a clue, but I'll tell you what I remember and perhaps you can work something out from it, though no doubt you'll be just as in the dark as the rest of us, so to speak.
"As you probably know it was a few short weeks after Bilbo had left and I'd just sent Sam home after tea. It was getting dark and I was tired beyond belief, I don't know what it was I'd done that day, but it had tired me out no end and so I decided I'd have an early night. It wasn't an unusual occurrence and as far as I can remember I'd not done anything out of the ordinary that day at all. So there I was in bed with my mug of milk and a biscuit, just settling down when I hear a creak of the floorboards outside. Now, snug and warm in my bed and half asleep, I really didn't want to be bothered with going out to see what or who it was and Bag End is an old hole after all. So I drifted off to sleep.
"Suddenly, some time into the early morning, I wake up for no apparent reason. I hadn't heard anything and hadn't had any nightmare of any kind so I was quite annoyed with having being disturbed from what had been a beautiful sleep. But for a reason I couldn't fathom, I couldn't get back to sleep, I was suddenly and unaccountably wide-awake. I wasn't going to lie in bed tossing and turning so I headed off to the study to find a book to read. But on the way there I heard something behind me. Naturally I turned to see what was there, but there was nothing, not even a door ajar, so I put it down to my imagination and turned back again. But before I'd even taken another step, I heard another noise, and not one I could disregard: a definite clunk. I turned and found one of the doors had swung open, I began to panic, there's only so much you can put down to an old hole.
"Things start to get blurry from now on but I remember clearly the feel of breathing on my neck, of course that made me bolt though I am not sure where. From what Sam tells me there was quite the struggle, I like to think I put up a good fight. One thing I do remember after that, before waking up the next night arranged neatly in my bed, was the feeling of a thousand pinpricks running up and down my arms and finally piercing right into my neck. Judging from the bloodstains on the walls, I thought pinpricks could be quite close to the truth."
"There were bloodstains on the walls? Why didn't anyone ever tell me anything interesting like that? All I was ever told was 'Frodo's gone to a better place'" said Pippin, mocking his mother's voice. "Where are we going anyway?"
"We are going to Michel Delving." informed Merry.
"Michel Delving? Whatever for?"
"Outside the mayor's office there is a notice-board on which all missing persons notices are pinned. We like to go check who's been turned recently, see if it's anyone we know."
Pippin seemed satisfied and they continued walking. Merry and Sam were getting closer and closer together and with a jump, Pippin realised they were kissing. He watched, half sickened, half excited and very confused.
"You'll get used to it." Frodo whispered in his ear, "It just takes a while for the mind to catch up with the body. Try not to stare though, unless you think you'll come out on top in a fight." Pippin quickly averted his eyes and Frodo laughed in his ear, "I don't think you'll need to worry about those two, they did help to make you after all." Pippin still refused to look back at the pair though, if was going to have to keep eyes averted, he may as well start now.
They reached Michel Delving in the darkest hour of the night, though to them it didn't look more than a cloudy day, as they rounded the corner to the notice board, they saw three hobbit lasses standing there talking to one another. The four of them strolled up to the board quite calmly, two of the lasses glanced over their shoulders at them and the turned back and they began to giggle.
Something caught Pippin's eye and he turned his head to see a young lad, no more than nine years of age, staring out of the dark window of his house. Pippin flashed him his most charming smile and waved his hand, the child jumped back from the window, shocked, his face pale. Frodo laughed at the reaction and put his arm around Pippin's shoulder. The child came back to the window and Pippin gave him a final wink before he was out of sight.
"No hogging the board you three, anyone we know?" Said Merry, he and Sam were further ahead than Frodo and Pippin, who were obviously going at a far more leisurely pace.
"It seems someone's got Peregrin Took!" said one of the lasses, licking her lips, "Lucky them." Pippin didn't recognise the lass, but she plainly knew who he was, not that it was particularly odd for people to know who he was.
"Really? Peregrin Took? Well that is a surprise!" said Sam, his voice positively dripping with sarcasm.
"Alright Sam, what do you know that I don't?" Pippin decided this would be a good time to clear his throat.
"O, so it was you who were the lucky ones." Said the lass, her eyes roving all over Pippin's body, taking every inch of him in. Pippin looked over the lasses, two he didn't know, but the third he certainly did.
"Pearl!" he exclaimed, "Mum told me you were dead!"
"I am." she answered. Pippin rolled his eyes.
"I mean she said they found your body."
"Well she lied."
"What's the matter with you? You're dead for ten years and suddenly you can't say more than three words at a time? Wait, that actually makes sense." Pearl just shrugged. "Does this mean Pervinca's not dead?" said Pippin out of interest.
"Oh no, she's dead, I made sure of that." Pippin laughed a little, he remembered how much his two sisters disliked one another.
"Hey, Rosie, who got Cock-Robin?" said Sam, studying the notices.
"Robin Smallburrows? I think that was Bodo down Frogmorton way." Answered the first lass, who appeared to be called Rosie. "But they've left off somewhere, some say they went too near the borders and were got by the men."
"There are men around the borders?" said Pippin, his eyes bright with eagerness.
"He really is new isn't he?" said Rosie,
"Just last night." answered Sam.
"Pearl!" said Merry as though he'd just noticed she was there, "Would you happen to know why I killed Saradoc?"
"Why would I know tha- wait, I do know that. Yes, it was over me, I still have the scars."
"Yes! I remember!"
"What happened?" asked Pippin.
"Never mind, you'll find out sooner or later, some people are still talking about it. Apparently it was quite the fight. I wouldn't know, I was half dead through most of it." Pippin scowled at his sister, he was dead and still people wouldn't tell him everything! He dismissed that conversation and turned to Frodo.
"Can we go see the men?" He said like a young child talking about lambs, "I want to know what one tastes like, what do they taste like?"
"I honestly don't know Pippin, there's never been enough of us to overpower one, not to mention that they often travel in groups."
"Can we try though? Please?" Frodo looked down at his cousin's pleading face and laughed,
"Of course we can." He placed a kiss on Pippin's nose. Pippin smiled, he was glad he was still able to get his way when he wanted. "Well, if we are going to the borders, we should take our leave."
"The borders? Why are we going there?" said Sam, who had been in such a conversation with Rosie that he hadn't heard Pippin and Frodo.
"To catch us a man." said Frodo simply. Although the statement was not one likely to be heard everyday, or night as the case may be, Sam didn't seem phased at all and just shrugged. He gave Rosie a goodbye kiss and the two groups of vampires went their separate ways.
A few hours down the deserted road (living things didn't walk freely by night and Frodo had such a reputation that the dead steered clear) they heard the trotting of a pony behind them. Frodo, Sam and Merry all glanced at one another and melted into the bushes at the side of the road, Leaving Pippin in the road, squinting against the bright light of the flaming torch the rider was holding. His eyes grew used to the light and his was able to discern the facial features and out of pure habit he waved, shouting "Fatty! Fatty!" The pony increased its pace to a canter, as it was still quite a way away. Before long the pony came to a halt beside Pippin, Fatty staring down at him in astonishment.
"Pippin!" he yelled, "Where have you been? The whole of Great Smials has been in an uproar!" Pippin stared at Fatty in equal astonishment; Fatty thought he was still a living hobbit! "No need to look so surprised, you know that your mother and father fret after who whenever you're out of their sight." Pippin arranged his face into what he hoped was sad but friendly.
"I know, but it's so stuffy there, I feel I'm being smothered and watched at every turn. I can't do anything without my parents being told, it's not natural for a tweenager!" Fatty smiled, sympathising with his friend.
"But that's no need to go walking outside alone, and in the dark of all times to be walking! Goodness knows how you've managed to survive for so long!"
"Perhaps I'm just lucky, but look at you talking about being out in the dark! You never told me you were allowed out at night!"
"Only to look for friends and I don't enjoy it too much, galloping past old friends fighting like wild dogs at the side of the road and having to ward off hobbits with your torch." There was a pause. "Did you know Diamond was found dead last night?"
"Yes," said Pippin dreamily, a blissful smile on his face. Then he realised he was meant to be sad about it, he pulled himself back into character and hung his head, "Yes." he said. Fatty's eyes widened.
"You didn't... see anything did you?" Pippin looked back up at Fatty.
"You could say that," said Pippin, trying desperately to keep his face straight. "Fatty, why don't you come down here, I'll get an awful neck looking at you up there."
"I'd rather not, who knows what's in those bushes," Pippin could name at least three things. "Now why don't you come up here and I'll take you home?" that sounded good to Pippin, as long as he was on the same level as Fatty it didn't matter. He stepped forward to pat the pony, but it jerked away with a nervous snort, perhaps that plan wasn't going to work, he though he could hear the faintest giggle from the bushes behind him.
"Fatty," said Pippin in a manner that suggested he was going to ask something, "Could you give me a leg up? I've been walking for ages and I'll never make it up there." Fatty looked down at Pippin, then glanced all around and finally nodded in assent. Pippin smiled in thanks and stepped back to give Fatty room.
Pippin's attention was suddenly grabbed by the noise of thundering hooves, how he'd failed to notice such a noisy approach until now was beyond him.
"FREDEGAR BOLGER!" bellowed the rider, "Don't you dare get off that horse!" Fatty, whose leg had been half over the pony's rear end just about to dismount quickly sat back down in the saddle. "Get away from him devil!" The rider yelled at Pippin. He notched an arrow from his quiver and pulled the bowstring back.
"Dad! Don't! It's Pippin! Don't shoot him!" but the call had come too late and the arrow arced through the air. Pippin was frozen, he hadn't even the sense to step back, he could hear voices in the bushes calling to him but he couldn't work out what they were telling him to do. The arrow landed, it hit him right in the foot. Fatty cringed and for a second Pippin just looked at it until an unearthly scream of pain and anger ripped itself from his throat. Fatty's horse started and backed away from Pippin, Fatty sat on its back staring in horror.
A film of red slid over Pippin's vision and he felt his teeth sharpen and grow. He yanked the arrow from his foot and threw it back like a javelin to where it had come from, he missed. Upon seeing that another arrow was being drawn he beat a hasty retreat back into the bushes where he collapsed on the ground, once again breathing hard and pointlessly.
The other three were all grins, obviously having enjoyed being spectators.
"Dad," Pippin heard Fatty saying the other side of the bushes, "He was a... he was trying to... he was going to eat me!" When he heard that, Pippin couldn't help smiling and soon all four of the burst into laughter as they slunk away from the road.
