Chapter Thirteen
Pip was led through the halls of the castle, but he could not tell where he was going. He was, to put it mildly, quite bewildered. Such an impromptu marriage baffled him.his hobbit sense, what little he had, was kicking in...
He found himself in the courtyard at Minas Tirith. There awaited Faramir, Eowyn, Aragorn, Arwen, Sam and his family, Estella, Merry, Gimli, Legolas...
But one face surprised him more than any other could possibly manage.
Sitting, propped up against the White Tree, was Gandalf the White.
Pip ran over to him as fast as his legs could manage. Merry sat by Gandalf, talking excitedly. Sam was next to him, nodding in accordance to Merry's stories. Gimli and Legolas stood by him, taking in perhaps just the presence of the renown wizard whom they had become such wonderful friends with. Pip jumped on the old wizard, and hugged him with such ferocity that his dear friend was taken aback.
"Peregrin Took! What trouble have you gotten into this time?" Gandalf said seriously.
"For once, none!" Pippin laughed. "How'd you - I mean, did you - "
"I return from across the sea for an event concerning the remnants of the Fellowship," said Gandalf. "I don't believe anything else could've drawn me back, save the fact that Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took had found wives."
Pippin grinned. "How is Frodo?"
"He's wonderful, and awaits the coming of Sam, Legolas, and Gimli with great anticipation," said Gandalf. "Though it be not for many years yet. He only wishes you two could come as well, but you are destined for another path, when that time comes." Gandalf looked to Gimli. "I believe Galadriel said something about your coming."
Gimli gulped. "Did she now?"
Gandalf smiled. "She cares for you deeply...as a wonderful friend."
Gimli nodded. "Aye," he said, with a catch in his throat.
Gandalf stood. "Well, we mustn't wait around all day. Plenty of time for stories later."
At this time, Pip looked to Diamond. "I thought ye said ye wanted an indoor wedding."
She gave him an exasperated look. "Cover-up! Besides, I knew ye wanted an outdoor wedding, like any normal hobbit."
Pip grinned.
Gandalf performed a joint ceremony for the four hobbits, seeming only proper for so close of friends. Pippin could not remember the details later, but he did remember the cheering at the end when he got to kiss his bride.
Afterwards there was food and drink for all, and stories to Gandalf of the events in the Shire since his departure. Pip also made the wizard promise that before he left, he could write a letter to Frodo, that Gandalf could deliver for him. Merry took up on this offer as well.
Late that night, when all were in their rooms, Pippin wrote a letter that made him seriously think about the events as they had happened recently.
Dear Frodo,
I don't think you realize this, but we miss you greatly here. The Shire is not the same without you, though that's not where I am currently. I am in Minas Tirith, and have gotten married! Can you believe it? To Miss Diamond of Long Cleeve...Diamond Took, now. I'm sure you remember her. And I'm Thain! All this has happened...it makes me feel like somehow we're trying to feel an empty spot in the Shire, if you take my meaning. The peculiar thing is, it takes three of us to fill a spot where one left. You are truly amazing, Frodo...Diamond is reading your story; she thinks you write beautifully. I have to agree, I told her it ran in the family, to which she thought I was making a reference to our relation...
But anyways, I must be going now, for this is my wedding night, and it is not to be spent like this, if you take my drift. I will deliver this to Gandalf straightaway, and get on with the festivities. You are sorely missed, Frodo.
Yours, Pip
He sealed the letter, and left it under the door, as Gandalf had told him to. He then returned to his bed, where Diamond was yet again reading the book.
"Can't put it down, can ye?" Pip grinned. "Is it that wonderful?"
"I could put it down, I suppose," said Diamond. "But it'd have to be for something quite special."
"Would someone quite special work just as well."
"Why yes, I believe they would."
Pip was led through the halls of the castle, but he could not tell where he was going. He was, to put it mildly, quite bewildered. Such an impromptu marriage baffled him.his hobbit sense, what little he had, was kicking in...
He found himself in the courtyard at Minas Tirith. There awaited Faramir, Eowyn, Aragorn, Arwen, Sam and his family, Estella, Merry, Gimli, Legolas...
But one face surprised him more than any other could possibly manage.
Sitting, propped up against the White Tree, was Gandalf the White.
Pip ran over to him as fast as his legs could manage. Merry sat by Gandalf, talking excitedly. Sam was next to him, nodding in accordance to Merry's stories. Gimli and Legolas stood by him, taking in perhaps just the presence of the renown wizard whom they had become such wonderful friends with. Pip jumped on the old wizard, and hugged him with such ferocity that his dear friend was taken aback.
"Peregrin Took! What trouble have you gotten into this time?" Gandalf said seriously.
"For once, none!" Pippin laughed. "How'd you - I mean, did you - "
"I return from across the sea for an event concerning the remnants of the Fellowship," said Gandalf. "I don't believe anything else could've drawn me back, save the fact that Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took had found wives."
Pippin grinned. "How is Frodo?"
"He's wonderful, and awaits the coming of Sam, Legolas, and Gimli with great anticipation," said Gandalf. "Though it be not for many years yet. He only wishes you two could come as well, but you are destined for another path, when that time comes." Gandalf looked to Gimli. "I believe Galadriel said something about your coming."
Gimli gulped. "Did she now?"
Gandalf smiled. "She cares for you deeply...as a wonderful friend."
Gimli nodded. "Aye," he said, with a catch in his throat.
Gandalf stood. "Well, we mustn't wait around all day. Plenty of time for stories later."
At this time, Pip looked to Diamond. "I thought ye said ye wanted an indoor wedding."
She gave him an exasperated look. "Cover-up! Besides, I knew ye wanted an outdoor wedding, like any normal hobbit."
Pip grinned.
Gandalf performed a joint ceremony for the four hobbits, seeming only proper for so close of friends. Pippin could not remember the details later, but he did remember the cheering at the end when he got to kiss his bride.
Afterwards there was food and drink for all, and stories to Gandalf of the events in the Shire since his departure. Pip also made the wizard promise that before he left, he could write a letter to Frodo, that Gandalf could deliver for him. Merry took up on this offer as well.
Late that night, when all were in their rooms, Pippin wrote a letter that made him seriously think about the events as they had happened recently.
Dear Frodo,
I don't think you realize this, but we miss you greatly here. The Shire is not the same without you, though that's not where I am currently. I am in Minas Tirith, and have gotten married! Can you believe it? To Miss Diamond of Long Cleeve...Diamond Took, now. I'm sure you remember her. And I'm Thain! All this has happened...it makes me feel like somehow we're trying to feel an empty spot in the Shire, if you take my meaning. The peculiar thing is, it takes three of us to fill a spot where one left. You are truly amazing, Frodo...Diamond is reading your story; she thinks you write beautifully. I have to agree, I told her it ran in the family, to which she thought I was making a reference to our relation...
But anyways, I must be going now, for this is my wedding night, and it is not to be spent like this, if you take my drift. I will deliver this to Gandalf straightaway, and get on with the festivities. You are sorely missed, Frodo.
Yours, Pip
He sealed the letter, and left it under the door, as Gandalf had told him to. He then returned to his bed, where Diamond was yet again reading the book.
"Can't put it down, can ye?" Pip grinned. "Is it that wonderful?"
"I could put it down, I suppose," said Diamond. "But it'd have to be for something quite special."
"Would someone quite special work just as well."
"Why yes, I believe they would."