A/N: Alrighty, it's the first of the post-Quest chapters! It's related to the chapter 'Dating', so you might wish to re-read that one quickly just to refresh your memory of it!

Enjoy…

26: You're the last to find out

Pippin stood in between Sam and Merry as he watched Frodo carry the crown of Gondor to Gandalf, who then placed it upon Aragorn's head, proclaiming him king.

'Never thought I'd see the day when Strider became King!' Pippin laughed under his breath. He received two elbows in his ribs simultaneously as both Merry and Sam told him to be quiet.

'Ow!' Pippin squeaked. 'Alright. I'll be quiet…'

Pippin's silence lasted for approximately two minutes, until Aragorn began to sing an ancient song, first sung by Elendil when he first arrived on the shores of Middle-earth.

'Strider can sing?' Pippin gasped. 'I didn't know that!'

Merry and Sam shot him death glares, and Pippin shrunk back, shutting up once more.

'I'm sorry! But no one ever tells me things…' Pippin muttered, so quietly that the other two didn't hear him.

When Aragorn stood proudly, tall and graceful as the kings of old, Pippin clapped as loudly as the rest of the city. Until something caught his attention.

'Merry, Sam, look! There's the elves! Don't they all look beautiful. Oh, and would you look at that, there's Lord Elrond and the Lady Arwen. Hey, she's staring at Aragorn again! Too bad for her, he'll have tons of noble ladies hounding him now…!' Pippin kept up a running commentary, and Sam and Merry sighed at the inane babble coming out of Pippin's mouth. But they both looked at him at the last bit.

'Pip, no-' Merry began.

'Oh my, Merry, look! Aragorn is heading towards Arwen! Look! He's going to tell her, I just know it…' Pippin interrupted, desperately pointing towards the new King and the beautiful elf.

'Pippin, really-' Merry sounded quite exasperated, but Pippin took no notice.

'Wait for it, wait for it... What?'

Pippin's previously excited voice was now full of surprise.

Sam and Merry looked up, to see Aragorn pulling Arwen into an embrace and kissing her passionately. Pippin stared in utter confusion.

'But, Merry…' Pippin was in shock.

Merry laughed at the look on his young cousin's face.

'I was trying to tell you, Pip! But you didn't listen!'

'You knew?' Pippin rounded on Merry.

'Of course I knew! Samwise here knew too. So did old Frodo. It's just you who didn't!' Merry couldn't stop laughing. Oh poor dear unobservant Pippin.

'Sam? You knew too?' Pippin turned to Sam and asked in a small voice.

'Um, yes, Mr Pippin sir. Overheard him talking with Gandalf one night, I did, but didn't think as it was my place to say anything,' Sam said uncomfortably.

'But… Merry, how did you find out?'

'Saw them! As we were leaving Rivendell, after you were all so rude to me, Peregrin, I saw them look at each other. You should have seen the way he was looking at her, Pip. There was absolutely no doubt, after that!' Merry had managed to stop laughing now, but it was a close thing; the look on Pippin's face was so forlorn that it wouldn't take very much for Merry to begin again.

'And Frodo knows…. How?

'I'm not sure exactly, but I think he heard it from Strider himself,' Sam said.

Pippin crossed his arms.

'And you didn't tell me because you think I'm too young, don't you? You thought I'd say something silly? Well, I'm not and I won't!'

Pippin turned back to where the King stood, his lovely elven partner by his side.

'I'm going to go and have a word with Strider…'

With that, Pippin wriggled into the crowd and Merry and Sam were too late to stop him.

'Oops,' Merry muttered.

San shuffled his feet. 'Well, it wasn't rightly us as told him, Mr Merry. Strider did just show everyone, anyhow…'

With that, the two followed Pippin, to stop him confronting Strider and upsetting the show. At this rate, perhaps it would have been better if they had told him beforehand…

A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Silly Pippin! :D Please review and let let me know what you thought :)

Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing so far, your support has been incredible! I really do hope you liked this chapter :)