The Pub Series
Title: The Pub Series ~ Story 1 Politics
Author: Rachel Stonebreaker
Email: redirect@beckyswebdesign.com
Rating: G
Characters: Frodo, Pippin, Sam, Fatty, Lotho, and Merry.
Date: 5 May 2002
Summary: see previous chapters
Disclaimer: see previous chapters
Story Notes: see previous chapters
Review notes: Thank you for coming through, I was getting worried there after 4 chapters... Welcome SarWolf. And thank you for coming back to my stories Fool of Tookand Lia.
Story 1 ~ Politics
Chapter 5 ~ Red Herring
Ah, those were the days. Now Pippin was too big for those exacting tasks but the older lads continued to invite him along. It had become habit. He was still quite young and acted it, far too often for some, but Pip didn't really care. Even now, he had no fear, no caution and no worries. Unlike Frodo and Merry. Ay! where WAS Merry? Late not like him, not at all. Must be working hard on convincing someone of Frodo's plan. Merry'd do anything for Frodo and supporting this initiative was something Merry was taking serious. Well, he'd better get here soon if he expected any ale to be left! Pip opened both eyes and took a look around. No Merry. No Fatty. No Folco. No Moro. Just Frodo and Sam. Frodo caught his eye and winked, noticing the very empty mug.
"Another one, Pippin-lad?" Frodo asked as he collected up all three empties.
Sam frowned. "I think the lad's had a few too many as it is, Mr. Frodo, if you don't mind my saying. We'll be rolling him home as it is."
"What do you mean, Samwise Gamgee! I can still see your face, so I'm not drunk enough!" laughed Pippin, joking with the gardener's son turned personal servant, turned good friend of Pippin's benefactor, who was now ambling up to the bar with the three mugs.
"Oh, you IMP! You never give, do you? Some day that mouth of yours is going to get you in a load o' trouble, if your actions don't go beatin' you to it! You outta know your place." Sam felt more like an older brother to the young Took than his proper station, servant to Master Peregrin's cousin. Pippin never stood on formalities, they made him uncomfortable, so he urged Sam to speak his mind and be on a somewhat friendly basis with him. So, sometimes, in private, Sam would drop the formalities with Pippin especially when he saw the Took heading for trouble. Big brothers were supposed to watch out for little ones. It was something they were both comfortable with though Sam was cautious not to do it in public.
Pippin just ignored Sam, as he always did. Sam could be quite officious sometimes but Pippin didn't mind. He was a genuine lad and took care of Frodo's gardens and home very nicely. And more importantly he managed to drag Frodo away from whatever book or treatise he was reading and out to the pub occasionally, which suited Pip because Frodo always bought and always included Pippin. He watched Frodo turn from the bar with the ales. One of the barmaids spied him trying to balance the unwieldy mugs and charmingly plucked them from his hands before they spilt. Of course this maneuver was a studied ploy. Frodo had carried more than three mugs of ale at one time before. He smiled his thanks to the very pretty barmaid. She smiled back with a flirt and wink. This caused Sam to blush furiously as both he and Pippin were watching the exchange.
Sam always blushed whenever he looked at a lass! He'd never be getting one of his own if he didn't pluck up his courage and take after Frodo a bit. Frodo was a candle to a moth when it came to the lasses. All he had to do was look their way and they tittered behind their hands. Pippin was taking lessons. One thing he liked of Frodo's style over that of Merry (who was lucky because he was bold and sassy and just a little dangerous) was that Frodo promised with a look and never offended with a touch. It made the lasses feel safe that he never reached out for a pinch or a feel. They'd come sit in his lap if he'd let them, he was that handsome and they felt that confident with him.
Pippin was practicing this technique and so far it had worked. The barmaid with the bright yellow bodice had come over last week and nearly ran her hand through his hair. He thought he was going to faint when she gave him a look that said, "later". He hadn't enough experience to give an answering look and she'd gone her way with a little laugh. As the ales arrived in the capable hands of the delightful wait-staff, Pippin gave an exact copy of Frodo's smile up at her. He carefully kept his hand off hers as he reached out for his mug. She did a double take at the smile. Put off guard by Pippin's now completely innocent look she beamed a smile back at him. Pip nearly shouted at the success. It wasn't lost on either Sam or Frodo. Sam ducked his head in sheer embarrassment and Frodo looked up at the ceiling. Pippin pushed it one step further and lowered his eyes for a second and then looked back up under his lashes. He was rewarded with the sweetest look he'd ever been given and he chalked up a true victory in the act of courting. A sharp hail from the bartender sent the lass to jump and she was off in a flash but not without a promising glance back over her shoulder at the shy young lad sitting at the back table now humming quietly to himself. She didn't know it was an act. Pippin was far from shy. If shy was her liking then she'd do better to lend her attentions to the other lad sitting at the table, who had turned 15 shades of red when she'd walked up. Poor Sam.
"Aren't you a bit young for that game?" chided Frodo as he sat down, trying to keep from laughing out loud.
"Just practicing what I see as a winning move, Frodo" Pippin answered after a mouthful of ale. "Thanks, by the by, this is JUST what I needed" and he'd sighed as he resumed his previous position, head back, eyes closed, smile on his lips. Silence settled over the trio for a moment. Finally Pippin looked up, serious now, and the other two took note of the change. "Say, Frodo if you don't mind me asking. why is it that you've not picked up on any of the Shire beauties? I mean, you could have your choice. I've been watching for years now"
"And taking notes, I see" Frodo smirked trying to deflect the conversation. He knew were it was heading. He had it before with his Uncle Bilbo, with Merry, with Sam, Stars in the Sky, with Fatty and with his well meaning Aunt Peony, even. "You're actually getting quite good at flirting. Now, will you teach Sam here? He needs some help! He's been eyeing Rosie Cotton for what seems a century!"
"SIR! Don't go talkin' like that! You're a terrible one, you are! Now you know, I'm just good friends with young Rosie's brothers. I don't intend on . on. OH!" and Sam turned even redder than conceivable. Frodo's ploy had worked, he'd thrown Pippin off the scent.
~ end Chapter
