3rd person pov
"I love you, Pippin." The words came out Amanda's mouth before she realized their true impact. She froze up, getting tense. Half of her was desperately hoping she was too quiet and he didn't catch what she said, but the other half was glad she was finally verbalizing her feelings. Her argument with Alyssa had reminded her that Pippin wasn't going to be able to wait around forever- she had to make her move before any other obnoxious teenage girl tried to get her hands on him. (*cough* Alyssa *cough*)
While still in his embrace, Amanda felt Pip tense up as well. It was a long moment before he released a long, happy sigh.
"I love you as well, Amanda." He said, pulling away to make eye contact. Amanda did her best to keep his gaze. "I assumed that's why we have been engaged in courtship."
"Wait, what?" Amanda said, shocked by this fact. How could they have been in courtship? Isn't that dating? Were they dating and she didn't even know about it?!
Suddenly, Amanda remembered back to times before Middle Earth when Rachael had studied Hobbit facts, including courtship. According to hobbit custom, courtship only involves giving each other gifts and doing activities with each other. Examples of this could be sharing frostys and going for walks as they sometimes had done in Lothlórien. Or sharing hot chocolate and waking each other up in the morning, as had often occurred. Or even sharing regular chocolate and falling right on top of him.
Amanda was startled by how far back she could remember examples, and it filled her with disbelief. She had technically had a boyfriend this entire time and not even known it! Despite her sudden guilt at being a bad girlfriend, she was elated to know Pippin was definitely HER boyfriend now.
"I mean, yeah." Amanda said, taking his hand in hers, amazed how well they fit. He seemed shocked but pleased at this new physical contact, looking at her to continue. "I just never thought to put a label to it. And where I'm from, we call it dating instead of courting."
"Are we dating, then?" Pippin asked, tilting his head.
"Yes." Amanda clarified. "But call it courting, because that sounds a thousand times cuter- especially coming from you."
"Whatever makes you happy, Miss Amanda, you shall have." Pippin said, flashing his adorable smile.
"Good, because you make me happy." Amanda grinned right back, causing the hobbit to turn red to the tips of his ears in mixed excitement and embarrassment. "Oh, this is so exciting! I'm so glad we made it official, you know? I mean, everyone knew we'd get together who was smart. But apparently sometimes you have to get all official about it to keep the jealous away. Know what I mean?" As she ranted, she seemed to become more irritated and had a sly smirk. It was making Pip slightly nervous, but she always made him nervous.
The hobbit just shook his head. "I have no idea what you're saying."
"Didn't really expect you to." Amanda shrugged, suddenly feeling devious. "Hey, Pippin?"
"Yes, Amanda?"
"You should know that a common dating …err, ritual we have in my world is that as soon as you become an official couple, you tell as many people you can." Amanda said. "So, make sure you tell everyone. I want all of Middle Earth to know we're together."
"As do I!" Pippin replied, not knowing Amanda was simply planting a seed so the news would reach Alyssa through the grapevine.
"Fantastic!" Amanda said, trying to get the idea of boasting out of her head to focus on what was right in front of her. Sure she got Pippin and yes she was definitely going to gloat right in Alyssa's face about it, but now was a moment for being happy with her new/old boyfriend.
"You know, we should probably do something to commemorate this." Amanda said, glancing around.
"Like what?" Pippin asked, up for anything.
"Uh, here." Amanda said, grabbing something from behind her on the ground at random. "Have this…plant thing. I hereby decree that from this day forward, plant thing shall be a symbol of our courtship!" Pippin laughed.
"That's an Arbutus branch." Pippin identified. "We have them back in the shire, and they grow edible berries that are sometimes used in breweries."
"All hail the alcohol branch!" Amanda declared, raising it higher. Pippin laughed, and Amanda laughed too. If this was what it would always be like, Amanda could picture spending the rest of her life with him.
Then again, maybe she shouldn't get ahead of herself. Only yesterday she wasn't 100% sure of her feelings.
As Pippin secured the branch to his side like a sword, Amanda commented on how he made and adorable knight.
"Seriously, you are so adorable!" Amanda squealed at her short boyfriend. Boyfriend. This was so exciting!
"No, I'm a brave knight." Pippin scoffed, trying to puff out his chest.
"Sure you are." Amanda rolled her eyes playfully.
"Hey!" Pippin protested. "I have to be brave so I can save you, fair maiden."
"Tell you what." Amanda grinned like a Cheshire Cat. "I'll be the knight and you are the fair maiden." Pippin just shook his head in disbelief, and Amanda laughed before remembering that she'd have to help break him out of gender stereotypes. In this relationship, she was totally the knight.
As Amanda started to lecture Pippin on why he would make an excellent damsel in distress ("But I already save your butt!" "Exactly! I need a turn too, Amanda."), Merry came sprinting towards them.
"Hello, Merry-O." Amanda the knight was in a cheerful mood. "Pippin and I are an item now."
"Wh...what?" Merry said, panting for breath as he put his hands on his knees.
"Miss Amanda and I have officially declared courtship." Pippin explained.
"I thought… you were already…" Merry wheezed.
"Catch your breath, man!" Amanda lectured. "And I suppose we were, we just officially labeled it today." Merry took a moment to collect both his breath and his thoughts.
"You two must come at once." He informed them. "The Ents are moving to attack Isengard. Treebeard is waiting for us with Lady Alyssa."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Amanda said, jumping up and pulling Pippin to his feet quickly in her excitement to be doing something once again. "Let's go kick some enemy butt!" The three of them ran off, occasionally slowing to help poor Merry breathe after sprinting this distance twice now.
"There you are!" Alyssa giggled, looking straight at Pippin. "We were waiting for you." Amanda scoffed in annoyance. Quickly Treebeard picked the four of them up and stomped off towards Isengard with his fellow Ents, faster than Amanda would have imagined what with the amount of times she was told to 'not be hasty'.
"LET'S BE HASTY!" Amanda yelled, pumping her fist in the air. Treebeard gave a battle roar in agreement, causing them to cover their ears at the sheer volume.
(Arbutus flowers are symbolic for "you are the only one I love.")
READERS: Yay fluff! I know, two chapters in a month? Who am I?! I was going to have this be only little details, and then I discovered hobbit courting rituals (This was due to her amazing friend who found her computer *cough cough*). Yay accidental dating! ONTO REVIEWS! (which I have a lot of due to suspicious plot points) Wolfhound22 grr stop pointing out my mistakes! Actually thank you, but ugh I'm just stupid. Sorry, don't know who that is. But I have made my horizons unlimited! Otakuchamasherlockluvr see? Updated just for you! I like your weird accent, and I like you're system of getting reviews. And I loved Inside-Out and got your reference. And btw, I also love Ouran and read your fanfic last night when I was supposed to be sleeping/typing. Blue Jay of Night *fake innocent voice* plot? What plot? Yeaaaah…. The original plot kind of just got thrown out the window. But hey- anyone who's read the first 50 chapters is in too deep to quit on me now! (I hope) And we will still stay on plot for a while. WritingMiracles break all the fourth walls! You know, my mind has already gone in a similar direction…*wink* Thank you for all your wonderful reviews, and I hope my quick update happily surprises you all! (except for elfcat, because she knew it was coming) PLEASE REVIEW!
