Chapter 54

I Know You Better

Pippin placed his head into both of his hands. "What have I done!"

Bellia sat closer to Pippin and put her arm around him. "We did not realized that this would have happened!"

Pippin looked into Bellia's eyes. "I ruined Merry's life! I'll never forgive myself! He was so happy and when he finds out what I have done." Pippin shook his head, feeling so badly. " I have lost my brother's love, all to a simple joke. I swear I'll never play another joke on anyone every again!"

Bellia stood and walked to the door and looked out into the corridor. Shaking her head, she closed their bedroom door. "Who would of thought that Menthia would try to take her sister's husband! Poor Merry, thinking that he is with Mirala. Not even he can tell them apart."

Pippin stood up suddenly as if someone had shot him. His eyes were big as saucers. "Mirala! She is still locked in that bedroom. I was so worried about Merry, I totally forgot about Mirala! I must go and let her out, try and explain things to her!"

Bellia looked just as shocked. "She will storm into Merry's room and catch her sister in Merry's arms. Their marriage will be over with!" Bellia burst out in tears crying as Pippin ran to her and held his wife.

Pippin whispered into Bellia's ear. "It's my fault! I'll have to try and see if I can fix this!"

Pippin kissed his wife as he went to the kitchen to get the key and let Mirala out.

Walking down the hallway to the kitchen, Pippin saw Beryl as he was heading to his bedroom. "Beryl, wait! I want to talk to you!"

Beryl turned around and greeted Pippin. "Why aren't you watching the door!" asked Pippin.

Beryl smiled and almost burst out laughing. "You mean you still think Mirala is in that bedroom!"

"Isn't she?" said Pippin with a questionable look on his face.

Beryl smiled again. "Then you don't know, do you!" Beryl stood back, seeing the expression on Pippin's face, he began to explain. "Mirala was really Menthia, and Menthia was really Mirala. So you see, Mirala has been with Merry the entire time. Merry has no idea what has happen because Meriadoc fixed it before anything got started!"

Pippin scratched his head as the tried to make sense of what Beryl tried to explain. "So you mean, that Merry really married Menthia and he's been in love with her all the time. Mirala is the one who likes you than!"

"No, Pippin! You have it all wrong!" said Beryl. "Mirala is married to Merry. She is the one in Merry's room, not Menthia!"

"So then Merry must of found Mirala in that bedroom!" said Pippin.

"No, Pippin. Meriadoc open the door to let Menthia out of that bedroom!"

"Oh, so then Mirala went into Merry's bedroom and then Menthia came to this bedroom!"

"No, Pippin, Menthia was in the bedroom and Mirala was with Merry!"

Pippin scratched his head again trying hard to understand just what happened. "You mean that Meriadoc took Menthia out of Merry's room and opened the door to the cook's room and got Mirala out to go to Merry's room, while Menthia locked herself in this room!"

"Stop it, Pippin! You're making it harder to understand. Just forget about it. You're just confusing me more!" shouted Beryl.

"Just tell me, who is with Merry right, now!" said Pippin.

"I told you, Mirala is with Merry!" said Beryl, as he became angry.

"Then is Merry happy!" asked Pippin.

"Yes, Pippin. Why wouldn't Merry be happy!"

"Because he slept with Menthia!" said Pippin.

"What are your talking ABOUT!" shouted Beryl.

Pippin looked at Beryl being totally confused. "I saw him, Merry went into his bedroom and Menthia was in his room. Merry never came out! He is still in there with Menthia!"

"No, Pippin! Now listen to me, Menthia is in her room and Mirala is with Merry in their room! Now, do you understand?" asked Beryl.

Pippin looked at Beryl with a blank expression. "No! How did Mirala get into Merry's bedroom?"

"Go back to your room and just go to sleep!" shouted Beryl. "You are never going to understand what happened no matter how many times I explain it to you!"

Pippin wrinkled his brow turning away from Beryl and walked slowly down the hallway. He replayed everything he could remember about what Beryl had said over and over again in his mind.

Peregrin coming from the dinning room almost bumped into Pippin. Seeing the lad totally engrossed in his thoughts, looking so confused and dumfounded. "You look a bit confused, there Pippin!"

Pippin looked over at Peregrin and noticed him for the first time. "I am, I just don't get what happened!"

Peregrin put his arm around him. "I'll let you in on this, Pip!" Peregrin fought back a giggle in order not to hurt Pippin's feelings. "It's easy, lad! Meriadoc over heard you telling your wife about your little prank on Merry. He told the girls to trade places right after the wedding. So, the girls went into their bedroom and exchanged dresses to through you off. You actually put Menthia in the cook's bedroom, and your wife put Mirala in Merry's bedroom, right were she should be!"

Pippin looked up at Peregrin as it finally dawned on him. His face lit up with surprise and happiness. Almost wanting to hug Peregrin from this happy news. "Then I didn't ruin Merry's life! I'm so happy!"

"You see, lad! Pranks are fun and all, but it can get too carried away!" said Peregrin. "I've learned that a time or two growing up and making a few mistakes just like you! It's best to put them aside, now that you are a respectable married hobbit!"

Pippin nodded his head in agreement. "Oh, Peregrin, sir! I've learned my lesson well tonight. I'll never again pull another prank on someone I love as much as my brother!"

Peregrin smiled, "Save it for your children, they're a lot more fun to prank!"

Pippin smiled, thinking about someday having his own children and burst out giggling.

"Goodnight, Lad!" said Peregrin as he left Pippin in the hallway to seek out his own room.

The next morning the guests began to pack their things as the coaches stood ready to take them home again.

Merry met Pippin outside as he put the last bag in his coach. Merry hugged his brother and patted him on his back. "Thanks Pip, you are much more wiser hobbit than I. After what I did for your wedding, I would have tried to get even with a better prank. Instead you stood by my side as my brother and shown more maturity than what I have. I guess being married has changed us some...."

"But, Merry!" interrupted Pippin.

Merry held up his hand to stop him, "Just a minute, Pip! I wanted to tell you how much I love you and respect you for showing a greater wisdom. I admire you, my brother!"

Pippin looked up into Merry's eyes as guilty shook him from his heart. Looked down on the ground and slowly up at his brother. "Mer, I did prank you during your wedding, but Meriadoc stopped the prank and let it back fire upon me. I don't deserve your praise of me, but rather your forgiveness. I love you, Merry and I never realized just how much until today."

Merry looked questionably at his brother. "Someday, you must tell me about your prank. You know, I do love a good joke. There is never no hard feelings among brother's, Pip. Don't forget that I know you better!"

The two brothers hugged each other as they said their good-byes.

~*~

During the months of winter, Sam was kept busy helping Peregrin at the Great Smial with the final details of the Westmarch. Findegil had come from Gondor with all the new maps and documents. They painstakingly went over each document.

With the passing of winter, the days began to warm and the beginning of spring. The planning of the spring festival was on the minds of the hobbits in Tuckborough.

Diamond observed her son sitting in the garden just underneath a shaded tree with his nose in another book reading.

She smiled thinking about her son and how much a like they were. Being a northern Took, Faramir had the same qualities as the bloodline of her family, all noble hobbits with a strong serious side to themselves. Faramir was a quiet hobbit. He listened, more than he talked and no one was ever sure just what he was thinking about. Whatever Faramir was interested in, he did those things quite well.

Playing his fiddle with his father, Faramir enjoy the soft quite tone and sweet, slow love-songs. Where Peregrin, enjoyed the funnier side of life with quick movements and joviality in his music.

Faramir loved the beauty that surrounded him and the peaceful quite serenity of nature.

Diamond and her son would sit for hours reading and writing poetry or going for long walks through the lovely hills of Tuckborough. Faramir loved Tuckborough and felt the responsibilities of the hobbits that dwelt there, being son of the Thain. He took great pride in the land that he loved.

Like the rest of the Took clan, Faramir was good with a bow as the other lads that grew up in Tuckborough. However, being Faramir, he took this very serious as well. He only hunted when there was a need and took just enough to provide a meal. He loved the competition of making his mark with his arrows with the other lads and he won a good share of prizes at the spring festival in Tuckborough.

This spring festival Faramir was hoping to win more than just a prize or ribbon.

Goldilocks was constant on his mind. Many Took families have tried to get Faramir interested in one of their daughters, but Faramir barely noticed them. He was not only interested in Goldilocks beauty which attracted him, but more that just that. She shared the same qualities as he. They both loved reading and the beauty of nature. Through all the year of growing up in and around the Gardner family as they spent most holidays and parties gathered together. Faramir would notice all those things that had interested Goldilocks, her love of soft music and quiet serene nights in the shire. He would sit back and listen to her read the poems to her sisters as they gathered around the hearth on cold winter nights. Poems that Faramir knew all too well.

He also noticed other things about Goldilocks that drove him to the brink of frustration. She loved attention from others and always wanted to be the center of any group. Her natural beauty and charm would draw the hobbits to her. This infuriated Faramir and caused many rifts between the two. Faramir was lost as to what to do about it.

Faramir just could not understand her attraction to the Hobbiton lads that were constantly around her. From his standpoint these lads had nothing in common with the lovely Goldilocks, other than constantly buzzing around her as bees to honey. They were fools and barely understood the more complicated side of Goldilocks that he already loved.

However, he was dumfounded as to how to get next to her to prove to her how much he understood her. Every time he tried one of those lads had always seemed to come in between them. Then all he seemed to do was cause another argument or stomp away after a bout of angry words. No wonder Goldilocks hated him, he thought. All she saw was his angry side.

Faramir laid his book open on the next chair to him. Seeing his mother he walked over to her and kissed her cheek. "Good morning, Mama!"

Diamond stroked her son's cheek and gave him a hug. "We'll have a busy day, Faramir. The Hobbitess's will be here soon to begin making quilts for this years spring festival. We also are going to try some new things this year by added a basket sale. Rosie came up with it yesterday when we arranged the planning for the festival. We are going to raise coins for the poor and orphan child of the shire. Rosie suggested to auction off the baskets of young lass's who will make a luncheon and the buyer will get to eat a private lunch with the lass who owned the basket that he had bid the highest for. However, the lad will not know whose basket he is bidding on as this will be a secret! Doesn't that sound like so much fun!"

Faramir smiled at his mother and knew how she enjoyed getting involved to help others. "That should raise the coins to help the poor!"

"Rosie and I are spreading the word to see if we can get the lass's interesting in this worthy event," said Diamond.

Faramir laughed as a thought came into his head. "With all of Gardner and Cotton daughters, they could have enough by themselves to give this years charities off to a great start!"

Diamond smiled as she looked at her son and having a wonderful idea pop into her head. "I have much to do this morning to prepare, so I'll see you later this evening!"

Faramir kissed his mother on her brow as he walked to the front of the Smial to practice with his bow. Faramir's cousin Palinard, road up on his pony and saw Faramir beginning to practice with his bow. Climbing off his pony, Palinard joined his cousin as he pulled his bow and arrow.

Faramir leaned against a tree when he saw the Gardner coach pull to a stop at the front of the Great Smial. His cousin Palinard drew back his bow and hit the center target. Turning around to his cousin he exclaimed, "Did you see that shot, Faramir! A dead center! A couple more shots like that and I'll have you beat!" Palinard noticed that Faramir did not hear a word that he said. "Faramir!"

Faramir glanced at his cousin. "What did you say?"

"Nothing! It's your turn! Perhaps you could miss a shot so I can get caught up with you!" said Palinard.

Faramir pulled back his bow with his arrow and let it fly. He totally missed the entire target and sent the arrow flying into the wooded area making the worst shot that Palinard had ever seen.

Goldilocks burst out laughing as Faramir slowly turned around to the sound of her laughter.

Rosa Cotton took Goldilocks's hand as both girls turned around and headed into the Great Smial.

"What kind of shot was that, Faramir!" shouted Palinard. "I wanted to beat you with some friendly competition, but having you lose on purpose just to please me is humiliating!"

Faramir cringed knowing he missed the shot because he was not focusing on his target, but rather Goldilocks appearance had caused his nerves to flounder. "I'm sorry, Palinard. I guess my mind is on other things today!"

Palinard looked at the Great Smial and then at the coach as other lasses were climbing out to go inside. Palinard smiled as he returned his glance back at Faramir. "Such a lovely distraction. Perhaps we should end our little game for a time since the Great Smial has so many lovely flowers in their halls!"

"I have promised my father to help him with some parchments that he is preparing, so I guess I should tend to those. I'll see you later, Palinard!" said Faramir as he waved at his cousin and heading into the Great Smial.

Pippin and Peregrin were working in his office when Faramir walked in.

Looking up from a stack of parchment that Pippin was working on with Peregrin, he saw his son. "Faramir! I'm so glad you are here. I needed these documents read through for a final draft. We sure could use your help!"

Faramir held out his hand as he nodded to his father. Accepting the stack of papers from his father, he flipped through them and scanning them. Faramir walked over to a desk and began reading through them. Taking a quill and ink-well he began to set the final draft for his father. Peregrin smiled at his son, seeing him working along side of himself. They worked long into the afternoon, before Peregrin decided that they had enough work for the day.

~*~

Goldilocks stood up from her sewing and excused herself from the other hobbitess's while they put the finishing touches on their quilt. "Mama. I am going outside for awhile to get some fresh air."

Rosie nodded as Rosa Cotton asked permission to go with Goldilocks.

Both girls walked into the hallway and saw the far door that led to the garden and backyard. The girls walked outside and saw the comfortable chairs lined up underneath a thick shaded tree. Walking over to them the girls sat down.

Goldilocks spotted a book of poems left open face down on the next chair. Picking it up she began to read it out loud to her cousin.

"I sit beside the fire and think

of all that I have seen,

of meadow-flowers and butterflies

in summers that have been

Faramir slowly approached the two girls and finished the second verse from memory.

Of yellow leaves and gossamer

In autumns that there were,

With morning mist and silver sun

And wind upon my hair

Goldilocks looked up and listened to his words. Faramir silver voice spoke eloquently and made Goldilocks smile. "Is this your book?"

"Yes, among many!" said Faramir.

"Have you memorized them all?" asked Goldilocks.

Faramir shook his head and looked down upon the ground. He slowly raised his eyes to meet hers. "One comes to my mind." Faramir reached down and took a long strand of her golden hair between his fingers as he quoted a poem that he had read many times whenever he had thought of her.

"Of cloudless sky and the blueness so light;

And tresses that are golden and bright

Meet in her presence and her eyes

and mellowed to the tender skies

A love so written upon her face,

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place."

Goldilocks looked up at Faramir and was instantly speechless and touched by his tender words.

Looking into her light blue-eyes, Faramir could not continue on with the poem. He could feel his heart within his chest and the love he had always felt for her.

Faramir stepped away from Goldilocks and sat down on a chair next to her.

Regaining her composure, she smiled at Faramir. "That was lovely, Faramir and you spoke it so nicely."

"It is one of my favorite poems," said Faramir.

Goldilocks looked down at the book in her hand and handed it back to Faramir. "You must show me your library sometime. I would love to see your books of poems someday."

Diamond stood in the kitchen and put another glass upon her tray. Looking out from the window she spotted Faramir talking to Goldilocks. Diamond turned to Rosie who stood a couple steps from her. She waved Rosie over to her and pointed out the window. Rosie watched Faramir as the talked with her daughter. Rosie smiled seeing them together and what a beautiful couple they would make.

Diamond looked at Rosie and told her of an idea she was thinking about earlier in the day.

"Rosie, what color of ribbon does Goldilocks like?"

Rosie turned to Daimond as stared at her as she thought. "I think Goldilocks prefers yellow. Why do you ask?"

"I was wondering if perhaps that you put a special ribbon on Goldilocks's basket of which I know of. That way I can tell Faramir to bid the highest for this basket. Those two could have a private lunch with each other at the festival and perhaps to finally get a chance to really get to know each other." Diamond smiled a mischievous grin at Rosie.

Rosie nodded in agreement. "That sounds perfect, Diamond!"

Diamond raced to her sewing basket and pulled a beautiful yellow ribbon. "Here tuck this into your pocket, Rosie. This way I will be able to recognize the ribbon on her basket and get Faramir to make a good bid for it!"

Rosie tucked it into her pocket and smiled.

Rosie and Diamond came outside with a tray of cool drinks. Soon the garden was full of hobbitess's as they finished their sewing. Faramir excused himself as he went back inside.