Chapter Two
The dinner that had been prepared for the quests was indeed the best the Brandybucks had to offer, which wasn't little at all. Having already had a bite before sitting at the table, Merry had to stop halfway through the afters. He leaned back in his chair, sighing contentedly, and concentrated solely on listening to the gossip. Most of it he already knew by heart - it was old news in Brandy Hall, but now that Paladin Took's children were here, it had to be dug up again for them to hear. Merry snorted and shook his head. His aunts and uncles would happily repeat their own words as many times as they were allowed.
*
His eyes caught Pearl Took's warm gaze. Pearl had been seated opposite of him on the other side of the long table and had so far not taken any part in the cheerful chattering that went on around her. She gulped down the rest of her pastry and moved her plate out of the way, leaning over the table so that Merry could hear her over the laughter and chattering around them.
"Well, well, cousin Meriadoc", she started, wiping some crumbs off the corner of her mouth, "I have to say this has been a most delightful feast, and seeing as your father is apparently busy right now, I believe I must offer my thanks to you."
Both she and Merry glanced at the end of the table, where Saradoc Brandybuck was currently laughing wholeheartedly at something he had most likely said himself. Merry raised an eyebrow when he noticed Pippin's sister Pimpernel standing next to his father, both hands covering her mouth to stiffle her laughter and cheeks flushed.
*I wonder what business Pimpernel might have with Dad*, Merry thought briefly. *And so important that it couldn't wait for the dining to end...*
Then he snapped himself out of his thoughts, and turned back to Pearl, who was smiling her renowned wistful smile. He suspected that she was thinking the same thing.
"We couldn't possibly offer less, when we receive special guests like you, dear Pearl", he replied with a twinkle in his eye - Merry knew Pearl didn't care for formalities and was not being serious, so he answered likewise.
"I want you to know that my father has invited you to a yule party in Tookborough."
Merry gave a small bow. "I suspect that father has already said how much it would please us to come, so there is little left for me to say, I'm afraid, except that I eagerly look forward to it."
"Well spoken!" Pearl congratulated him, and they finally both burst into laughter.
Pearl leaned even closer like a conspirator, seemingly now coming to the main subject. Pippin raised his eyes from his plate and pricked up his ears as he chewed on the third helping of nutbread. To be honest, he had not previously had eyes for anything but the dinner, but was now starting to be aware of his surroundings.
"Now, I would like to ask you to do me a favour, Master Brandybuck." Pearl took a sip of her spiced wine before continuing. "I have quite a few things to discuss with your father, as does Pimpernel, so I would ask you to look after my younger siblings. Now --" she raised her hand when Merry was about to open his mouth "--I have no doubts that you would do it without asking, especially in Peregrin's case, but I have a good reason for this." She turned to Pippin and spoke sternly. "And it concerns you as well, little brother."
Merry gave Pippin a look to confirm that he was listening. He was, and now also leaned closer to better hear Pearl. Her voice was always quiet and even, and a group of young Brandybucks had just thought up something incredibly funny at the table next to them and were very loud, so Pippin had to struggle to catch every word. He raised on his knees and leaned his elbows on the table, right next to Merry, pushing slightly against him. Merry noticed that the same curl he had tucked away from Pippin's face earlier was there again when Pippin's forehead was practically shoved under his nose. He chided himself at paying attention to such a silly little detail and looked back at Pearl, strangely timid.
"Me?" Pippin blinked at his sister, and then grinned.
"To be honest with you, boys", Pearl sighed, picking up a raisin and putting it in her mouth, "it's Pervinca who needs a bit of looking after. Mother was most reluctant to let her go, since it is nearly time to start looking for a nice hobbit lad for her. And she's practically living here in Brandy Hall, which makes it all the more difficult for us to concentrate on her upbringing."
Another raisin disappeared between her lips. Merry and Pippin looked at each other, unsure of how to defend Vinca's freedom. She was always fun to have around, and usually the only girl-hobbit who took part in their sometimes silly and often wild pranks.
"W-well, Pearl, Vinca's really not *that* old", Pippin tried. "I mean, you're the oldest of us, and you're not married yet, are you? There's time aplenty for Vinca to find a suitable lad, in fact, with her charms, she might find a dozen before you and Pimpernel are wed."
"Her charms, indeed", Pearl repeated and gave a strange chuckle, as if she was thinking something else entirely. "Yes, one might say she is a charming lass, and I'm not worried about the lack of suitors. She just needs to start settling down, little by little if you follow me, so that it won't be such a shock to her when the duties of adulthood come."
Her gaze wandered over the room to the corner table, which was mostly occupied by little children - and two slightly older hobbit girls. Pearl quickly turned her eyes back to Merry and Pippin, who had started a second round of afters in the meanwhile.
"Keep an eye on her, that's all I ask. I'll give this task to both of you, knowing that you can hardly be separated before we have to drag you back to the wagon and home again..." She snorted softly at Pippin's huffed reply, then looked Merry straight in the eyes. Merry was somewhat startled. Pearl could look dangerously all-knowing when she wanted to, and her gentle eyes pierced through anything. "But especially to you, dear cousin. Please watch over them."
A memory washed over Merry, and he could only nod vigorously in reply. Pearl was right, it went without saying that he would look after his young cousins. After all, had it not been Pearl herself who had given the task to him, over 14 years ago?
*
====flashback====
"You don't mind, do you, cousin? I'm afraid he quite insisted on it." Pearl sighed, frowning in worry, one hand on her little brother's shoulder. "Pimpernel and I promised to help around with the serving and dishes, and I can't find Mum and Dad anywhere. So, please...?"
A loud sound like the crack of lightning cut off Merry's reply, and nearly made him spill his drink. The wizard Gandalf had apparently fired another one of his wondrous fireworks. Everyone around them glanced up to the sky, where a beautiful narcissus made of thousands of little sparks manifested itself, before gently showering down on the amazed audience. Pippin concentrated very hard on catching one glimmering spark between his hands, but when he opened them, the spark was gone and he made a disappointed sound. Merry looked at him, smiled and shoved one hand in his pocket.
"It's quite alright. I can watch over him, you run about your business."
"Are you sure this is alright?" Pearl confirmed.
"Yes, yes, now shoo!" Pippin huffed with an irresistible childish frown. "And whatever gave you the idea that I *need* looking after?"
"Oh, if I start listing the reasons, I will be standing here even tomorrow!" Pearl laughed, then ruffled his hair. "Be good, Peregrin! We have to get enough food on the tables so that everyone will be happily filling up the corners when Mr. Baggins begins his speech." And with that, she hurried off, Pimpernel following close behind.
*
Pippin reached up to take a cinnamon roll from the table, not minding that he was already holding a half-eaten one in his other hand. When he turned back to Merry, he was practically beaming.
"Now let's do something fun!"
"But nothing that involves chickens, I hope", Merry snickered, remembering their last little prank which had turned out rather... feathery.
Pippin straightened his back, trying to look much older than eleven.
"It was your idea!"
"Maybe, but I wasn't the one who let the door slip closed behind me -"
"Oh, it wasn't a matter of 'letting'! That particular door happened to be very heavy!"
"True, I guess", Merry grinned, and poked Pippin's nose. "Too heavy for a little lad like you, now was it?"
He knew that would make Pippin stand almost on his toes to appear taller. Ever since Merry had grown an extra inch practically overnight, Pippin had been trying his best to grow as tall as his friend. The sooner the better. The young Brandybucks were all a good deal taller than he, but he did his best to make up for his lack of size by being as loud as possible. Sometimes it would make the older cousins snap at him, but he was as stubborn as any Took and always had a sound reply ready. Merry had become irritated himself a couple of times, for the little Took followed right on his heels wherever he went, even when he had carefully explained that this was a Very Secret Plan To Sneak Up To Uncle Merimac While He Slept And Draw Funny Things On His Face. Sure enough, Pippin hadn't been able to keep from sneezing during that risky operation, and they had all had to run as fast as their hairy feet could carry them, to avoid being caught and thoroughly swatted. When they were hiding in the barn, hearts hammering, the young Took had just laughed and announced that it had actually been fun. Maybe it was the sheer shock and excitement that made Merry a bit edgy at that moment, and he opened his mouth to tell his young cousin what a bungler he was and that he should go home... but he never did. He knew that didn't work, not when it was Pippin. Be it stubborness or something else entirely, but Merry knew he couldn't separate the young Took from himself.
"I've grown a *lot* since last week", Pippin announced, bringing Merry back to the here and now.
"No you've not!" Merry exclaimed, almost laughing.
"I have too!"
"Have not!"
"Have t-"
Pippin was cut off by a brown-haired hobbit girl with a green and white dress and a green hat who had run over to them.
"Oh Merry, you haven't danced once! My cousins are about to start playing another tune. Come, dance with me!"
She took Merry's hands, starting to lead him towards one corner of the field where several young Brandybucks and Tooks had got up a small orchestra. The offer was tempting, since Merry *hadn't* danced a single dance at the party and the lass holding his hands was Miss Estella Bolger, a pretty lass with sure and swift feet that were made for Springle-ring. The tune sounded lively and Merry's feet moved almost of their own accord. He took a few steps, then hesitated and turned around.
"Pippin, you stay there, okay? I'll be back in a minute."
Pippin looked at him as if he wanted to gainsay him, then closed his mouth and sat down on the soft grass, taking a bite from both of his cinnamon rolls. It was hard to tell whether he was sulking for being left alone or just unable to think up any clever reply. Merry's smile died on his lips. There was silent accusation in the little hobbit's quiet form.
*I promised*, Merry found himself thinking, *I promised I would look after him. Would he really sit here quietly and wait? Not a chance, not when it's Pippin. If he gets lost in the middle of this crowd --*
And he made his choice.
"Come on!" Estella laughed, pulling at his arms.
"Ah, I must regretfully decline", Merry smiled at her apologetically, pulling away. "You see, I have a task at hand which I must see to. I must babysit this little cousin, and were I to leave him here, I wouldn't find him when I came back."
"Oh..." Estella said, looking disappointed. Then her face brightened up with a cunning smile as she softly said, "You will have to promise me the last dance, then."
"Very well", Merry nodded, and bowed, biting back a smile when Estella turned around and went to ask his cousin Merimas. He didn't feel particularly disappointed, although he would've liked dancing. But after all, it was never dull with Pippin, either...
And speaking of the little rascal... where had he gone to?
"Pippin", Merry called, turning around. He looked all around him, but the little Took was nowhere to be seen. Merry quickly emptied his mug and put it on the table, then took a few steps towards the next table. Now he saw a very familiar-looking pair of feet sticking from under the table. Merry crouched down and whispered, "Pippin! What are you doing?"
He made way when Pippin crawled out of his little hiding place and grinned wickedly.
"You didn't", Merry looked at him, and a grin was starting to tug the corners of his own mouth.
"Yes I did and it'll work this time! Now hurry up!"
Merry had barely had the time to scramble back on his feet, when one of the older Grubbs sitting at the other end of the table, whom neither of them knew, started to get up to refill his mug - and found the ground under his feet was covered with pebbles. Losing his footing, he fell back down on the bench, his empty mug flew from his hand to the other side of the table and sent one hobbit lass who was carrying more cakes to the table jumping sideways, giving a surprised shout. The cakes were the next to fly, and Pippin and Merry managed to catch a few when they ran by, laughing at the dumbfounded older hobbits.
*
It wasn't hard to disappear into the crowd of 144 hobbits, but just to be on the safe side, they slipped back among the other young Brandybucks and Tooks, where they could not be seen through the dancing youngsters. Merry found an abandoned bench and sat down. Pippin had the biggest of smiles on his face, and in his arms were six cakes. The cream filling had smothered his party clothes, and there was even some on the top of his nose and chin. He put the cakes on the bench between him and Merry and nodded contentedly.
"Quite a nice catch, I daresay."
Merry added his own three cakes to the pile.
"Quite. How did you know that particular chap had had enough ale to lose his footing so easily?"
Pippin shrugged cheerfully and took a bite of one cake.
"I didn't. But he was the only one who didn't keep his feet on the ground at the time."
"It's a shame Vinca wasn't here to see it", Merry chuckled, also taking one of the trophies of their perfectly successful prank. "It was her idea."
"She must be very sick to not to come here", Pippin nodded, his mouth full. "I don't know what disease it was, Pearl had some tongue-twisting name for it, but I can't remember it, but anyway she can't even leave the bed, poor lass. Do you suppose we could take some of these cakes home to her? As an, um, what is the word? You know, for things you bring home from journeys?"
Pippin frowned in concentration, and looked very funny with the speck of cream filling on his nose. Merry laughed; he couldn't help it.
"You're totally smothered! Pearl will have me for afters if we let her see you like this."
Pippin touched his stained vest, only now realising the mess he had made, then jumped up, announcing, "I need to go wash this off! Now where's the nearest -- "
Merry grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. "No, don't go anywhere! You'll just get lost. Here, let me help, we can manage without water." He let go of Pippin's arm to unfold his napkin.
Pippin jumped back up and started at another direction. "But there's water and soap over there where they wash the dishes! I'll just -- "
Merry ran after him and stopped him again. "NO, Pippin! No means no! There's not only soap and water but also Pearl, and she'll have my hide if you walk up there looking like this!"
Pippin struggled to free his other arm from Merry's tight grasp. "But we don't have to go where she is, there's bound to be another place where - *Merry*, what are you doing?!"
Seeing that nothing else worked, Merry had slipped his arms around Pippin and then promptly carried him back to the bench, sat him down in front of himself and held his shoulders firmly. The young Took looked rather taken aback and blinked at him in confusion, his eyes big as saucers.
"Peregrin Took. Sit. Still." Merry emphasized the words by squeezing Pippin's shoulders a little harder.
"Okay", Pippin squeaked, fearing that Merry was angry. But his cousin just took his napkin and started wiping out the stains from Pippin's face and clothes, shaking his head and muttering, "Honestly, you're a handful..."
*
He let Pippin finish up the cakes and sat at the end of the bench, leaning his cheek on his hand. He watched the many Brandybucks and Tooks and a few Bolgers of his age chat and laugh and eat and dance around him, and wondered why he wasn't among them, but instead sitting here with an impossible Took to watch over.
*The chains of duty*, he thought, sighing. *I don't suppose I will be released from this particular duty for a while.*
He glanced back at Pippin, who was finishing the last cake and licking his fingers. Feeling Merry's eyes at him, he met his gaze and grinned. There was such light, such brightness and inner spark in Pippin's entire being that Merry couldn't help grinning in return.
*Well. He *did* pull the prank off quite well, and there is just no way to ever be gloomy around him... Yes, I suppose there are worse chains than the one that holds me to him.*
The hobbits quieted down gradually, waiting for the Speech to begin at any moment. It was already quite late, and only the lights of the many lamps and fires kept the dark at bay, lighting the field in the warm colours of glorious summer sunsets. Merry caught a glimpse of old Bilbo as he got up from his seat and made his way to the Party Tree.
"The Speech! Buck up, Pip!" he said, nudging Pippin, whose eyes had begun to glaze over. His young cousin yawned and dropped his head against Merry's arm.
"'Pip'? It's *Pippin*, y'know... I don't think I've heard that version before..."
"Well, you've heard it now, Pip."
Merry gave him more room, and Pippin snuggled comfortably against him, small, nimble hands clutching the sleeve of Merry's shirt. Merry completely forgot Bilbo's speech for a while, instead watching the content look on his little cousin's face fondly.
*You may be a burden, but you're a burden I carry voluntarily. I may be chained to you... but by my heart.*
Together, they pricked up their ears and listened when Bilbo started,
"My dear Bagginses and Boffins..."
====end flashback====
***
The dinner that had been prepared for the quests was indeed the best the Brandybucks had to offer, which wasn't little at all. Having already had a bite before sitting at the table, Merry had to stop halfway through the afters. He leaned back in his chair, sighing contentedly, and concentrated solely on listening to the gossip. Most of it he already knew by heart - it was old news in Brandy Hall, but now that Paladin Took's children were here, it had to be dug up again for them to hear. Merry snorted and shook his head. His aunts and uncles would happily repeat their own words as many times as they were allowed.
*
His eyes caught Pearl Took's warm gaze. Pearl had been seated opposite of him on the other side of the long table and had so far not taken any part in the cheerful chattering that went on around her. She gulped down the rest of her pastry and moved her plate out of the way, leaning over the table so that Merry could hear her over the laughter and chattering around them.
"Well, well, cousin Meriadoc", she started, wiping some crumbs off the corner of her mouth, "I have to say this has been a most delightful feast, and seeing as your father is apparently busy right now, I believe I must offer my thanks to you."
Both she and Merry glanced at the end of the table, where Saradoc Brandybuck was currently laughing wholeheartedly at something he had most likely said himself. Merry raised an eyebrow when he noticed Pippin's sister Pimpernel standing next to his father, both hands covering her mouth to stiffle her laughter and cheeks flushed.
*I wonder what business Pimpernel might have with Dad*, Merry thought briefly. *And so important that it couldn't wait for the dining to end...*
Then he snapped himself out of his thoughts, and turned back to Pearl, who was smiling her renowned wistful smile. He suspected that she was thinking the same thing.
"We couldn't possibly offer less, when we receive special guests like you, dear Pearl", he replied with a twinkle in his eye - Merry knew Pearl didn't care for formalities and was not being serious, so he answered likewise.
"I want you to know that my father has invited you to a yule party in Tookborough."
Merry gave a small bow. "I suspect that father has already said how much it would please us to come, so there is little left for me to say, I'm afraid, except that I eagerly look forward to it."
"Well spoken!" Pearl congratulated him, and they finally both burst into laughter.
Pearl leaned even closer like a conspirator, seemingly now coming to the main subject. Pippin raised his eyes from his plate and pricked up his ears as he chewed on the third helping of nutbread. To be honest, he had not previously had eyes for anything but the dinner, but was now starting to be aware of his surroundings.
"Now, I would like to ask you to do me a favour, Master Brandybuck." Pearl took a sip of her spiced wine before continuing. "I have quite a few things to discuss with your father, as does Pimpernel, so I would ask you to look after my younger siblings. Now --" she raised her hand when Merry was about to open his mouth "--I have no doubts that you would do it without asking, especially in Peregrin's case, but I have a good reason for this." She turned to Pippin and spoke sternly. "And it concerns you as well, little brother."
Merry gave Pippin a look to confirm that he was listening. He was, and now also leaned closer to better hear Pearl. Her voice was always quiet and even, and a group of young Brandybucks had just thought up something incredibly funny at the table next to them and were very loud, so Pippin had to struggle to catch every word. He raised on his knees and leaned his elbows on the table, right next to Merry, pushing slightly against him. Merry noticed that the same curl he had tucked away from Pippin's face earlier was there again when Pippin's forehead was practically shoved under his nose. He chided himself at paying attention to such a silly little detail and looked back at Pearl, strangely timid.
"Me?" Pippin blinked at his sister, and then grinned.
"To be honest with you, boys", Pearl sighed, picking up a raisin and putting it in her mouth, "it's Pervinca who needs a bit of looking after. Mother was most reluctant to let her go, since it is nearly time to start looking for a nice hobbit lad for her. And she's practically living here in Brandy Hall, which makes it all the more difficult for us to concentrate on her upbringing."
Another raisin disappeared between her lips. Merry and Pippin looked at each other, unsure of how to defend Vinca's freedom. She was always fun to have around, and usually the only girl-hobbit who took part in their sometimes silly and often wild pranks.
"W-well, Pearl, Vinca's really not *that* old", Pippin tried. "I mean, you're the oldest of us, and you're not married yet, are you? There's time aplenty for Vinca to find a suitable lad, in fact, with her charms, she might find a dozen before you and Pimpernel are wed."
"Her charms, indeed", Pearl repeated and gave a strange chuckle, as if she was thinking something else entirely. "Yes, one might say she is a charming lass, and I'm not worried about the lack of suitors. She just needs to start settling down, little by little if you follow me, so that it won't be such a shock to her when the duties of adulthood come."
Her gaze wandered over the room to the corner table, which was mostly occupied by little children - and two slightly older hobbit girls. Pearl quickly turned her eyes back to Merry and Pippin, who had started a second round of afters in the meanwhile.
"Keep an eye on her, that's all I ask. I'll give this task to both of you, knowing that you can hardly be separated before we have to drag you back to the wagon and home again..." She snorted softly at Pippin's huffed reply, then looked Merry straight in the eyes. Merry was somewhat startled. Pearl could look dangerously all-knowing when she wanted to, and her gentle eyes pierced through anything. "But especially to you, dear cousin. Please watch over them."
A memory washed over Merry, and he could only nod vigorously in reply. Pearl was right, it went without saying that he would look after his young cousins. After all, had it not been Pearl herself who had given the task to him, over 14 years ago?
*
====flashback====
"You don't mind, do you, cousin? I'm afraid he quite insisted on it." Pearl sighed, frowning in worry, one hand on her little brother's shoulder. "Pimpernel and I promised to help around with the serving and dishes, and I can't find Mum and Dad anywhere. So, please...?"
A loud sound like the crack of lightning cut off Merry's reply, and nearly made him spill his drink. The wizard Gandalf had apparently fired another one of his wondrous fireworks. Everyone around them glanced up to the sky, where a beautiful narcissus made of thousands of little sparks manifested itself, before gently showering down on the amazed audience. Pippin concentrated very hard on catching one glimmering spark between his hands, but when he opened them, the spark was gone and he made a disappointed sound. Merry looked at him, smiled and shoved one hand in his pocket.
"It's quite alright. I can watch over him, you run about your business."
"Are you sure this is alright?" Pearl confirmed.
"Yes, yes, now shoo!" Pippin huffed with an irresistible childish frown. "And whatever gave you the idea that I *need* looking after?"
"Oh, if I start listing the reasons, I will be standing here even tomorrow!" Pearl laughed, then ruffled his hair. "Be good, Peregrin! We have to get enough food on the tables so that everyone will be happily filling up the corners when Mr. Baggins begins his speech." And with that, she hurried off, Pimpernel following close behind.
*
Pippin reached up to take a cinnamon roll from the table, not minding that he was already holding a half-eaten one in his other hand. When he turned back to Merry, he was practically beaming.
"Now let's do something fun!"
"But nothing that involves chickens, I hope", Merry snickered, remembering their last little prank which had turned out rather... feathery.
Pippin straightened his back, trying to look much older than eleven.
"It was your idea!"
"Maybe, but I wasn't the one who let the door slip closed behind me -"
"Oh, it wasn't a matter of 'letting'! That particular door happened to be very heavy!"
"True, I guess", Merry grinned, and poked Pippin's nose. "Too heavy for a little lad like you, now was it?"
He knew that would make Pippin stand almost on his toes to appear taller. Ever since Merry had grown an extra inch practically overnight, Pippin had been trying his best to grow as tall as his friend. The sooner the better. The young Brandybucks were all a good deal taller than he, but he did his best to make up for his lack of size by being as loud as possible. Sometimes it would make the older cousins snap at him, but he was as stubborn as any Took and always had a sound reply ready. Merry had become irritated himself a couple of times, for the little Took followed right on his heels wherever he went, even when he had carefully explained that this was a Very Secret Plan To Sneak Up To Uncle Merimac While He Slept And Draw Funny Things On His Face. Sure enough, Pippin hadn't been able to keep from sneezing during that risky operation, and they had all had to run as fast as their hairy feet could carry them, to avoid being caught and thoroughly swatted. When they were hiding in the barn, hearts hammering, the young Took had just laughed and announced that it had actually been fun. Maybe it was the sheer shock and excitement that made Merry a bit edgy at that moment, and he opened his mouth to tell his young cousin what a bungler he was and that he should go home... but he never did. He knew that didn't work, not when it was Pippin. Be it stubborness or something else entirely, but Merry knew he couldn't separate the young Took from himself.
"I've grown a *lot* since last week", Pippin announced, bringing Merry back to the here and now.
"No you've not!" Merry exclaimed, almost laughing.
"I have too!"
"Have not!"
"Have t-"
Pippin was cut off by a brown-haired hobbit girl with a green and white dress and a green hat who had run over to them.
"Oh Merry, you haven't danced once! My cousins are about to start playing another tune. Come, dance with me!"
She took Merry's hands, starting to lead him towards one corner of the field where several young Brandybucks and Tooks had got up a small orchestra. The offer was tempting, since Merry *hadn't* danced a single dance at the party and the lass holding his hands was Miss Estella Bolger, a pretty lass with sure and swift feet that were made for Springle-ring. The tune sounded lively and Merry's feet moved almost of their own accord. He took a few steps, then hesitated and turned around.
"Pippin, you stay there, okay? I'll be back in a minute."
Pippin looked at him as if he wanted to gainsay him, then closed his mouth and sat down on the soft grass, taking a bite from both of his cinnamon rolls. It was hard to tell whether he was sulking for being left alone or just unable to think up any clever reply. Merry's smile died on his lips. There was silent accusation in the little hobbit's quiet form.
*I promised*, Merry found himself thinking, *I promised I would look after him. Would he really sit here quietly and wait? Not a chance, not when it's Pippin. If he gets lost in the middle of this crowd --*
And he made his choice.
"Come on!" Estella laughed, pulling at his arms.
"Ah, I must regretfully decline", Merry smiled at her apologetically, pulling away. "You see, I have a task at hand which I must see to. I must babysit this little cousin, and were I to leave him here, I wouldn't find him when I came back."
"Oh..." Estella said, looking disappointed. Then her face brightened up with a cunning smile as she softly said, "You will have to promise me the last dance, then."
"Very well", Merry nodded, and bowed, biting back a smile when Estella turned around and went to ask his cousin Merimas. He didn't feel particularly disappointed, although he would've liked dancing. But after all, it was never dull with Pippin, either...
And speaking of the little rascal... where had he gone to?
"Pippin", Merry called, turning around. He looked all around him, but the little Took was nowhere to be seen. Merry quickly emptied his mug and put it on the table, then took a few steps towards the next table. Now he saw a very familiar-looking pair of feet sticking from under the table. Merry crouched down and whispered, "Pippin! What are you doing?"
He made way when Pippin crawled out of his little hiding place and grinned wickedly.
"You didn't", Merry looked at him, and a grin was starting to tug the corners of his own mouth.
"Yes I did and it'll work this time! Now hurry up!"
Merry had barely had the time to scramble back on his feet, when one of the older Grubbs sitting at the other end of the table, whom neither of them knew, started to get up to refill his mug - and found the ground under his feet was covered with pebbles. Losing his footing, he fell back down on the bench, his empty mug flew from his hand to the other side of the table and sent one hobbit lass who was carrying more cakes to the table jumping sideways, giving a surprised shout. The cakes were the next to fly, and Pippin and Merry managed to catch a few when they ran by, laughing at the dumbfounded older hobbits.
*
It wasn't hard to disappear into the crowd of 144 hobbits, but just to be on the safe side, they slipped back among the other young Brandybucks and Tooks, where they could not be seen through the dancing youngsters. Merry found an abandoned bench and sat down. Pippin had the biggest of smiles on his face, and in his arms were six cakes. The cream filling had smothered his party clothes, and there was even some on the top of his nose and chin. He put the cakes on the bench between him and Merry and nodded contentedly.
"Quite a nice catch, I daresay."
Merry added his own three cakes to the pile.
"Quite. How did you know that particular chap had had enough ale to lose his footing so easily?"
Pippin shrugged cheerfully and took a bite of one cake.
"I didn't. But he was the only one who didn't keep his feet on the ground at the time."
"It's a shame Vinca wasn't here to see it", Merry chuckled, also taking one of the trophies of their perfectly successful prank. "It was her idea."
"She must be very sick to not to come here", Pippin nodded, his mouth full. "I don't know what disease it was, Pearl had some tongue-twisting name for it, but I can't remember it, but anyway she can't even leave the bed, poor lass. Do you suppose we could take some of these cakes home to her? As an, um, what is the word? You know, for things you bring home from journeys?"
Pippin frowned in concentration, and looked very funny with the speck of cream filling on his nose. Merry laughed; he couldn't help it.
"You're totally smothered! Pearl will have me for afters if we let her see you like this."
Pippin touched his stained vest, only now realising the mess he had made, then jumped up, announcing, "I need to go wash this off! Now where's the nearest -- "
Merry grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. "No, don't go anywhere! You'll just get lost. Here, let me help, we can manage without water." He let go of Pippin's arm to unfold his napkin.
Pippin jumped back up and started at another direction. "But there's water and soap over there where they wash the dishes! I'll just -- "
Merry ran after him and stopped him again. "NO, Pippin! No means no! There's not only soap and water but also Pearl, and she'll have my hide if you walk up there looking like this!"
Pippin struggled to free his other arm from Merry's tight grasp. "But we don't have to go where she is, there's bound to be another place where - *Merry*, what are you doing?!"
Seeing that nothing else worked, Merry had slipped his arms around Pippin and then promptly carried him back to the bench, sat him down in front of himself and held his shoulders firmly. The young Took looked rather taken aback and blinked at him in confusion, his eyes big as saucers.
"Peregrin Took. Sit. Still." Merry emphasized the words by squeezing Pippin's shoulders a little harder.
"Okay", Pippin squeaked, fearing that Merry was angry. But his cousin just took his napkin and started wiping out the stains from Pippin's face and clothes, shaking his head and muttering, "Honestly, you're a handful..."
*
He let Pippin finish up the cakes and sat at the end of the bench, leaning his cheek on his hand. He watched the many Brandybucks and Tooks and a few Bolgers of his age chat and laugh and eat and dance around him, and wondered why he wasn't among them, but instead sitting here with an impossible Took to watch over.
*The chains of duty*, he thought, sighing. *I don't suppose I will be released from this particular duty for a while.*
He glanced back at Pippin, who was finishing the last cake and licking his fingers. Feeling Merry's eyes at him, he met his gaze and grinned. There was such light, such brightness and inner spark in Pippin's entire being that Merry couldn't help grinning in return.
*Well. He *did* pull the prank off quite well, and there is just no way to ever be gloomy around him... Yes, I suppose there are worse chains than the one that holds me to him.*
The hobbits quieted down gradually, waiting for the Speech to begin at any moment. It was already quite late, and only the lights of the many lamps and fires kept the dark at bay, lighting the field in the warm colours of glorious summer sunsets. Merry caught a glimpse of old Bilbo as he got up from his seat and made his way to the Party Tree.
"The Speech! Buck up, Pip!" he said, nudging Pippin, whose eyes had begun to glaze over. His young cousin yawned and dropped his head against Merry's arm.
"'Pip'? It's *Pippin*, y'know... I don't think I've heard that version before..."
"Well, you've heard it now, Pip."
Merry gave him more room, and Pippin snuggled comfortably against him, small, nimble hands clutching the sleeve of Merry's shirt. Merry completely forgot Bilbo's speech for a while, instead watching the content look on his little cousin's face fondly.
*You may be a burden, but you're a burden I carry voluntarily. I may be chained to you... but by my heart.*
Together, they pricked up their ears and listened when Bilbo started,
"My dear Bagginses and Boffins..."
====end flashback====
***