Author's note: Frodo is 24, Merry is 11, Pippin is 3. This story takes place in the summer of 1393 S.R.
Merry was putting some pans and pots on the kitchen floor for Pippin to play with, while Frodo was gathering the ingredients they would need. He and Frodo were going to make an apple pie for elvenses.
"Now Pip, sit here like a good lad while me and Frodo work."
Everything started out fine..until Merry cut his finger.
He was cutting the apples for the filling, while listening to Pippin who was using the pots as drums, two wooden spoons as a pair of drum sticks and was singing. Merry enjoyed Pippin's singing. The little hobbit had a sweet voice and because he was only three, his speech was filled with lots of mistakes, it was rather silly.
Distracted as he was by Pippin, he must have thought one of his fingers was an apple. He suddenly yelped, threw the knife and stumbled backwards a bit. Pippin stopped what he was doing and Frodo was instantly by Merry's side.
"Let me see it, Merry." He said as he coaxed the younger hobbit to take his finger out of his mouth, where it went after the injury. "There now, it doesn't look so bad." The cut cut the back of Merry's finger horizontally, although it wasn't very deep, it was starting to bleed again. Frodo handed Merry a handkerchief, which the injured hobbit accepted gratefully, and wrapped it loosely around his finger, then they both headed for the washroom to clean and bandage the wound, with Pippin tagging along behind them.
''OW! Frodo, that is enough. I wasn't bathing my finger in the dirt." After Merry had washed his finger with some water, Frodo started cleaning and disinfecting the wound, using a cloth soaked in a mixture of wine, water and vinegar. The mixture hurt and stung and Merry had decided it was the bane of his existence, it hurt him more than the actual cut did.
"Alright, you grouch" said Frodo as he put the cloth aside and began to bandage the wound. "There," he said as he tied the fabric in a secure knot, " all done."
"You have to kiss it bettaw."
They both looked up. Pippin was standing in the room's doorway, sucking his little thumb and looking upset. He walked into the washroom and stood between his two cousins.
"When I hurt, Mama always kisses it bettaw, and it not hurt mowe."
"Can you kiss it better for me, Pip?" Merry sat on his knees and extended his finger towards the little tot. Without hesitation, Pippin kissed it a rather noisy kiss that produced a loud smack.
"Bettaw now, Mewy?"
"Yes Pippin, thank you. Now it doesn't hurt anymore." He said the last part of his statement while pointedly looking at Frodo who simply rolled his eyes. Together, they walked back to the kitchen; however, Pippin seemed to have other ideas.
He pulled at Merry's hand and kept trying to pull him out of the kitchen to go play with him outside. Frodo told Merry to go play with his young cousin, there wasn't much left to do in the pie and Frodo would be able to finish it on his own.
Soon, it was time for elvenses. After Bilbo and Paladin had come back from the market, everyone began to prepare the table and themselves for the meal. Bilbo went to the pantry to get a new jam jar as the old one had mysteriously gone poof according to Pippin, Merry and Frodo set the table and Paladin went to help his son wash his hands for the repast.
Finally, everyone was in the kitchen and sitting around the table, Paladin and Merry on one side with Pippin between them, he had a small box on his chair so that he was at the same level as the table, Bilbo and Frodo were sitting on the other side.
"Merry, what happened?" Paladin asked, his voice filled with concern.
"Oh, this?" replied Merry, looking at the white fabric around his finger. "It is nothing really, I was just cutting some apples but it seems I may need to borrow your glasses soon, uncle Pad."
Paladin grinned at his nephew's cheek. "My glasses? You are one to talk. At least I am not running around cutting my fingers."
"At least I.."
"Merry," Bilbo interrupted, "if you happen to need glasses, you can just borrow mine." Everyone around the table laughed. It was common knowledge that Bilbo Baggins didn't need glasses, his eyesight was surprisingly good despite his age, something he was quite proud of.
There was no more talk about poor eyesight, and as the hobbits became more concerned about the food, any conversation died down except for Pippin's constant chattering which they didn't pay heed, for they could barely understand what he was saying, he spoke rapidly and with food in his mouth, it was impossible to figure out what he was saying; however, Merry comprehended some of what his little cousin said and Paladin and Frodo managed to make out a few phrases.
Soon, it was time to cut the pie. Bilbo looked around the table for the knife, but he couldn't see it anywhere. He decided that Frodo and Merry must have forgotten to bring it and got up to get it.
Suddenly, an ear piercing scream disturbed the tranquility of the meal. Pippin was screaming and crying and trying to reach for something with his little hands, while pointing at Bilbo who thought that the lad just wanted the first piece of the pie, but that didn't seem to calm him.
At last, when even Merry couldn't stop Pippin's temper tantrum, his father whisked him away, thinking he was tired and needed a nap.
After a good lie-down and some pie, Pippin was his normal cheerful self again, though he clinged to Merry more than usual.
During Luncheon, which consisted of Potato and onion soup, salad and scotch eggs as well as hard boiled ones, he didn't have a similar outburst, and everyone happily enjoyed the food and each other's company.
The same couldn't be said for afternoon tea. As soon as everyone had sat down around the table, Pippin had another fit. He was crying and pointing at the knife that was beside the strawberry and cream cake while pulling at Merry's shirt, trying to pull him away from the table. Getting the first piece didn't calm him this time either and in the end, Pippin, Paladin and Merry, who Pippin wouldn't let go offand kept trying to pull him away from the table, went to eat in the garden in order not to disturb the others.
It didn't take long for Merry to connect the pieces.
At first, Merry thought that Pippin had developed a fear of pies and cakes, but it didn't make sense, then Merry came up with another conclusion. Pippin was scared of knives.
That deduction made much more sense. Pippin saw what happened in the kitchen this morning and that probably scared him. He was pointing at Bilbo at elvenses because he was carrying a knife and he was crying at afternoon tea because he saw the knife on the table.
"This does explain his tantrums, Merry. You might be the first person he has ever seen get hurt while using a knife." Most likely Frodo was right. Eglantine was pretty skilled with using knives and her fruit carvings were marvellous and Pearl was following in her mother's footsteps. Pimpernel didn't usually work in the kitchen and preferred to help in the barn and farm, and Pervinca was too young.
Merry scowled at Frodo's remark which made the latter chuckle.
"So what do we do to ease his fears?" Merry asked.
The two of them looked at each other. "Don't worry, I have an idea." They said in unison.
"That is odd." Frodo said suddenly.
"What is odd?" Merry asked.
"It is quiet. Too quiet."
"It is never this quiet when Pippin is around." Merry said worriedly.
Just then, Paladin walked into the parlour, where Merry and Frodo were sitting.
"Have you lads seen Pippin?" He inquired.
"No," answered Merry, "we have just wondered where he is." Paladin blanched.
"Come," said Frodo as he stood up, " let's go look for him instead of sitting here and wondering."
Bilbo walked into the parlour, he looked confused and puzzled and a little bit vexed.
"Frodo, did Lobelia come here today? Did she have a big bag with her? All of our knives are gone." Merry and Frodo shared a troubled look, though the others didn't notice.
"No, Bilbo." Frodo reassured the older hobbit. "But it seems the knives aren't the only thing that is missing. Pippin is missing too."
"Have you checked the pantry? He is quite fond of the jam here. Maybe he is hiding there somewhere." Bilbo suggested.
"I have checked there twice, Bilbo, I am starting to think that he isn't in the smial anymore." Paladin said anxiously. Without another word, the small hobbit party set out from the parlour, looking for a wee hobbit lad, the missing knives temporarily forgotten.
TBC*
Author's note:
Reviews and constructive criticism are appreciated but not obligatory
also, I would greatly appreciate it if someone informed me whether I am writing the characters in character or not because I never know lol *oops*