Chapter Nine
They left early the next morning, as they knew they were not far from entering the realm of Gondor. Eomer had given them all new cloaks, green of course, with a pendant having the symbol of Rohan on the clasp at the neck. It was growing colder, the hobbits could sense, as they traveled.
He also provided them with fresh food, consisting of several kinds of dried meats, lambas bread (don't know how he got a hold of that one, but rumor was he and Legolas were good friends too), and other various items. The hobbits thanked him dearly.
"Eomer, you have been overly generous to us," Merry said with a laugh as he packed their new food items.
"All in a days work. Besides, you hobbits still have almost three weeks more travel - Minas Tirith is nearly 200 miles from here," Eomer said. "And you don't have the longest legs, if it's not rude to say."
"We are the tallest of hobbits though," Pip pointed out. "And we've been averaging about fifteen miles a day.I'd say that makes for about thirteen or so more days."
Eomer's eyes widened. "You are indeed the sturdiest of hobbits. Now, run along! I will see you anon."
"Goodbye Eomer!" Merry said, and hugged him again. The rest said goodbye as well, and they were on the road again.
*
The journey seemed much more lighthearted now, and the hobbits sang various songs as they traveled. One of their favorites, "The road goes ever on and on" was brought up to sing frequently; another favorite was Merry and Pip's drinking song, which was kind of a kaleidoscope of songs. It came partially from a drinking song, partially from a bathing song, and most likely from other songs only they knew as well. Of course, singing this song gave Merry a chance to get out the beer (and for Pip to sneak in a smoke or two as he was busy drinking.)
"Hey ho to the bottle I go," they all sang. "To heal my heart and drown my woe. Rain may fall, and wind may blow, but there still be.many miles to go!"
"Sweet is the sound of the pouring rain, "Merry and Pip sang, the part they could recall dancing on many a barroom table to, "And the stream that runs from hill to plain, better than rain or rippling brook - "
Pippin took Diamond's hand. "Is a mug of beer inside these Tooks!"
Everyone laughed and shouted at that. "Well she's an honorary Took fer the time bein'," Pip said smugly.
Their travels continued, happier than ever. They did not notice the days passing, moreover, or the hand ground that they oft had to sleep on. The joy of each other's company was enough.
One night, after the fires were doused and everyone was asleep, Merry lay next to Estella, trying to keep their conversation from waking everyone up.
"Truly journeying is more fun that I thought it to be," Estella whispered to Merry.
"It's not always this way," Merry said, his face falling. "My last journey involved a huge part of it traveling with a bunch of orcs. Not really fun."
"But this is of much less import," said Estella. "I think we can handle this."
"Aye," said Merry, and he smiled at her. "Estella?"
"Yes, Merry?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Thanks."
Estella smiled peculiarly. "For what?"
"Fer comin' along. It would've been fair lonely without ye. Pip's got Diamond, and Rosie and Sam are together, so I woulda been stuck with only the kids."
Estella laughed, but tried to keep it down. "You are indeed a unique person, Merry."
Merry grinned, followed shortly by a yawn. "I'm sleepy already.go figure.musta had too much beer earlier."
"Aye, I agree with that," Estella said with a slight smirk.
Merry leaned over and kissed her. "Goodnight Estella."
"Goodnight Merry."
*
They continued on. Traveling was not exactly an exciting business to perhaps the untrained eye, but this group of travelers was likely the ones who found it the most intriguing. Perhaps their joy of it lead to their getting to Minas Tirith in only twelve days since they left Edoras; perhaps the Ol' Took sped them along. Either way, it was a quick journey.
There were no guards at the massive white gates. This perturbed the hobbits, as they did not know how to get in if no guards would open the gates. Pip tried shouting, "Hello!" a couple times, to no effect. The entire city seemed to be deserted.
Suddenly, a fanfare of trumpets blasted through the still silence. "My people!" A familiar voice rang out. "I give you the hobbits of the Fellowship of the Ring!"
There was a cheer, and the gate opened. Apparently all the people had been on the lower level, hiding behind walls. The hobbits did not expect this welcome; they did not mind it, however. They walked through, all of them, with their respected hobbit lass and in Sam's case, children, and there was much applause.
The first person Pip saw standing in the crowd was next to Aragorn and Arwen. He was smiling and cheering louder than the rest, and he had the lady Eowyn on his arm. Pip grinned.
"Faramir!" he shouted, and ran up to embrace him, almost tackling him.
Faramir laughed. "I believe I've seen the likes of you before, halfling."
Pip grinned, remembering their first meeting. He looked around and saw Legolas and Gimli as well, standing to the other side of Aragorn and Arwen.
"It is so hard to greet you all at once!" Pip shouted, and saw Sam and Merry having the same problem, as they were talking to the King and Queen. Pip ran over to Legolas and Gimli and began recounting the adventures he had in the Shire recently immediately, and as fast as he could, with many gesticulations.
Aragorn laughed as he turned and saw Pip. "I think it is time we head for the castle, and may we have more conversations there over a meal.I believe it's time for second breakfast, aye Pip?"
Pip grinned and followed the king, the rest of the hobbits not far behind. Yes. It was good to be back in Gondor.
They left early the next morning, as they knew they were not far from entering the realm of Gondor. Eomer had given them all new cloaks, green of course, with a pendant having the symbol of Rohan on the clasp at the neck. It was growing colder, the hobbits could sense, as they traveled.
He also provided them with fresh food, consisting of several kinds of dried meats, lambas bread (don't know how he got a hold of that one, but rumor was he and Legolas were good friends too), and other various items. The hobbits thanked him dearly.
"Eomer, you have been overly generous to us," Merry said with a laugh as he packed their new food items.
"All in a days work. Besides, you hobbits still have almost three weeks more travel - Minas Tirith is nearly 200 miles from here," Eomer said. "And you don't have the longest legs, if it's not rude to say."
"We are the tallest of hobbits though," Pip pointed out. "And we've been averaging about fifteen miles a day.I'd say that makes for about thirteen or so more days."
Eomer's eyes widened. "You are indeed the sturdiest of hobbits. Now, run along! I will see you anon."
"Goodbye Eomer!" Merry said, and hugged him again. The rest said goodbye as well, and they were on the road again.
*
The journey seemed much more lighthearted now, and the hobbits sang various songs as they traveled. One of their favorites, "The road goes ever on and on" was brought up to sing frequently; another favorite was Merry and Pip's drinking song, which was kind of a kaleidoscope of songs. It came partially from a drinking song, partially from a bathing song, and most likely from other songs only they knew as well. Of course, singing this song gave Merry a chance to get out the beer (and for Pip to sneak in a smoke or two as he was busy drinking.)
"Hey ho to the bottle I go," they all sang. "To heal my heart and drown my woe. Rain may fall, and wind may blow, but there still be.many miles to go!"
"Sweet is the sound of the pouring rain, "Merry and Pip sang, the part they could recall dancing on many a barroom table to, "And the stream that runs from hill to plain, better than rain or rippling brook - "
Pippin took Diamond's hand. "Is a mug of beer inside these Tooks!"
Everyone laughed and shouted at that. "Well she's an honorary Took fer the time bein'," Pip said smugly.
Their travels continued, happier than ever. They did not notice the days passing, moreover, or the hand ground that they oft had to sleep on. The joy of each other's company was enough.
One night, after the fires were doused and everyone was asleep, Merry lay next to Estella, trying to keep their conversation from waking everyone up.
"Truly journeying is more fun that I thought it to be," Estella whispered to Merry.
"It's not always this way," Merry said, his face falling. "My last journey involved a huge part of it traveling with a bunch of orcs. Not really fun."
"But this is of much less import," said Estella. "I think we can handle this."
"Aye," said Merry, and he smiled at her. "Estella?"
"Yes, Merry?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Thanks."
Estella smiled peculiarly. "For what?"
"Fer comin' along. It would've been fair lonely without ye. Pip's got Diamond, and Rosie and Sam are together, so I woulda been stuck with only the kids."
Estella laughed, but tried to keep it down. "You are indeed a unique person, Merry."
Merry grinned, followed shortly by a yawn. "I'm sleepy already.go figure.musta had too much beer earlier."
"Aye, I agree with that," Estella said with a slight smirk.
Merry leaned over and kissed her. "Goodnight Estella."
"Goodnight Merry."
*
They continued on. Traveling was not exactly an exciting business to perhaps the untrained eye, but this group of travelers was likely the ones who found it the most intriguing. Perhaps their joy of it lead to their getting to Minas Tirith in only twelve days since they left Edoras; perhaps the Ol' Took sped them along. Either way, it was a quick journey.
There were no guards at the massive white gates. This perturbed the hobbits, as they did not know how to get in if no guards would open the gates. Pip tried shouting, "Hello!" a couple times, to no effect. The entire city seemed to be deserted.
Suddenly, a fanfare of trumpets blasted through the still silence. "My people!" A familiar voice rang out. "I give you the hobbits of the Fellowship of the Ring!"
There was a cheer, and the gate opened. Apparently all the people had been on the lower level, hiding behind walls. The hobbits did not expect this welcome; they did not mind it, however. They walked through, all of them, with their respected hobbit lass and in Sam's case, children, and there was much applause.
The first person Pip saw standing in the crowd was next to Aragorn and Arwen. He was smiling and cheering louder than the rest, and he had the lady Eowyn on his arm. Pip grinned.
"Faramir!" he shouted, and ran up to embrace him, almost tackling him.
Faramir laughed. "I believe I've seen the likes of you before, halfling."
Pip grinned, remembering their first meeting. He looked around and saw Legolas and Gimli as well, standing to the other side of Aragorn and Arwen.
"It is so hard to greet you all at once!" Pip shouted, and saw Sam and Merry having the same problem, as they were talking to the King and Queen. Pip ran over to Legolas and Gimli and began recounting the adventures he had in the Shire recently immediately, and as fast as he could, with many gesticulations.
Aragorn laughed as he turned and saw Pip. "I think it is time we head for the castle, and may we have more conversations there over a meal.I believe it's time for second breakfast, aye Pip?"
Pip grinned and followed the king, the rest of the hobbits not far behind. Yes. It was good to be back in Gondor.