Chapter 6-Suspisions

Frodo and Sam brought Jessica into her room after she had fallen asleep. Sam looked at his sister and wondered whether he would have the need to protect her. He thought of Pippin and thought how accident-prone and all- around stupid he could sometimes be and shuddered. Then, he saw the pile of rocks lying on the table and a thought occurred to him. He realized Merry had a crush on Jessica and thanked God that there was a better candidate the Pippin.

"Frodo, do you think Pippin would be hurt if I tried to set Merry and Jessica up?" Sam looked at his friend with a devilish look in his eye.

"Pippin wouldn't even know what was going on! Face it, he's not all in the head a majority of the time." Frodo started to leave for his hobbit hole when Sam spoke a warning.

"Take good care of Holly. I know she means a lot to my sister and I would be just as hurt as Jessica if I found out you weren't treating Holly properly.

Frodo smiled at his best friend and nodded. He left and walked along a trail of footprints left by Pippin, Holly, and Merry.

Meanwhile, a few miles ahead, Holly was making sure Pippin got to the bed before he passed out. It seemed that Pippin wasn't really that drunk because he knew who was hanging over him, placing the covers of his bed over his cold body. In fact, he was sober enough to grab Holly by the hand and give her a large, sloppy kiss right on her lips. Holly looked up with wide, surprised eyes and looked horrified towards Pippin.

"I keeeeeeep yerrrrrrrrrrr drawing 'cussssssssss you drewwww it." Pippin said, and then his head rolled to the side as he passed out.

Holly walked with teary eyes towards the door and decided that the first thing she would do the next day was tell Frodo what happened. She made up her mind that this kiss was not as passionate, nor as perfect as the one with Frodo. She had just lost all feelings she ever had about Pippin through one simple kiss, but decided to try her best to stay friends with the darling hobbit.

Holly ran the rest of the way home and ran straight into Merry's arms, who was standing out at the doorway, waiting for his sister to return.

"What took you so long...are you crying?" Merry stroked her hair and brought her inside.

"Sweet darling brother..." Holly started, but couldn't figure out what she should say. "I walked Pippin home and it took me a while to get him into his bed...and then he really surprised me with a kiss on my lips!" Holly started crying and couldn't stop until Merry gave some advice.

"If you love Frodo and not Pippin, you should have nothing to worry about. Pippin was just drunk, and, I know that he likes you, but I don't think he would kiss you when he knew that you were with Frodo. Besides, I'm also sure that he's starting to have feelings for Jessica." Merry said this with disgust, and looked down at the ground again.

"Oh, poor you, she didn't show any signs of interest, I take it..." Holly hugged her brother closely and wondered how Jessica could be attracted by Pippin. He just didn't seem her type.

Merry and Holly soon fell asleep in their own rooms and waited for the morning to come while having peaceful dreams.

Holly woke with a start when she felt a knife held to her chest. She couldn't tell who it was at first, and when it saw that she was awake, it ran away, not allowing Holly to make out who it was. Holly woke up, feeling nervous from the close encounter, and went to find Merry to make sure he was all right.

To her relief, Merry was more than fine; he was up and cooking breakfast. He smiled cheerfully at her and offered her some food. Holly refused it, saying she didn't feel hungry.

"I just had a bad dream that was all," Holly thought back to the shadowed figure and wondered what on Middle-Earth that creature could have been. To Holly's curiosity, she went to the museum to fetch some trinkets for Bilbo, and heard talk about a mysterious elf roaming around the Shire. Holly wondered whether the elf was the one who had stalked her this morning, maybe even possibly last night.

Holly received the trinkets and carefully walked over to Bilbo's hobbit hole, taking in every detail and making sure that this mysterious elf was not still stalking her. She arrived at the hobbit hole just as Bilbo was cooking second breakfast, and stayed to keep the old man company.

"I hear my son is taking you to my birthday party. I was very pleased with his choice!" Bilbo looked at her faced and noticed she seemed preoccupied. "What is it that troubles you, my child?"

"I awoke today to a knife held at my chest. I could not see who it was that held the knife, but I have a feeling it might be the mysterious elf who has been the center of attention lately." Holly paused when Frodo came in through the doorway to Bag End.

"Holly, what a pleasant surprise to see you here!" Frodo noticed something was wrong when Holly looked less happy than usual.

Holly quickly explained what had happened to Frodo and went on with her story. "So, I don't think I shall be sleeping peacefully for a while. I need to master the skill of appearing to be asleep. I will catch this knife-bearer!" Holly leaned on her hand and looked to Frodo and Bilbo for help.

"You should sleep somewhere other than your bed tonight. Why don't you stay over Frodo's hole for the night?" Bilbo suggested this, knowing neither would object.

"That sounds like a splendid idea. You'll protect me, won't you Frodo?" Holly laughed when Frodo blushed at the idea.

The two hobbits walked out into the noontime sun and held hands the entire way to Frodo's hobbit hole. They talked about adventures and poetry. Holly realized that Merry would worry about her when she wouldn't return, so she sent Bilbo to give the message to him. Holly and Frodo sat on a chair and embraced in a moment of passion as Frodo stroked Holly's head and laid his lips on hers.