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: 9 June 2002
Summary: see first chapters
Review notes: Shirebound, wow! you really like it THAT much (Rach is egocentric to the max, and is preening right now). Forest Silver, so are you an otter, too? And Melody, no, no, no, get up girl! You don't get down there for me, I just needed a LITTLE encouragement (silly!)(thanks!).
Authors Notes: Go check out some other great stories. Nilramiel's Kitzi's Tale and Mainframe's Brandywine.

Story 1 ~ Politics
Chapter 9 ~ Master Debater

So, given that Samwise truly wanted to help his master and that he had no formal schooling and little experience in politics, he threw his weight into the fight in the only way he knew how, by presenting all the arguments AGAINST the proposal that he heard or could think of. He was being an advocate in hardest way, though it was in a round about manner. Mister Frodo understood this and encouraged Sam's "opposing" views so as to get a firm grasp on what the contentions might be. But Mister Merry despised this style of debate thinking it were good time wasted.

Sam could be as stubborn as Mister Merry when it came right down to it, so some of the "discussions" had become quite heated when the two went at it. Mister Fredegar and Master Frodo had separated the two on more than one occasion. Young Peregrin usually just goaded Sam and Mister Merry by adding his support to which ever side was flagging.

He always took life as one large tease, that young 'un did. If'n that lad didn't watch out, he'd find himself cooked like a frog someday. Oh, sure, he were smart enough to realize when someone sprang a trap on him and he's jump like a frog would jump out o' boiling water if'n you dumped it in sudden like. But to boil a frog proper, you just had to set him in warm water and slowly bring up the heat. He'd just relax and think he were in a nice warm bath until it were too late to react and he'd be boiled. That's what was going to happen to Mister Pippin someday mark Sam's words - he'd get himself into something he didn't expect and then he'd be trapped. Sam hoped that for the youngster's sake he learned quick to be less careless of his ways. He was after all, his father's only son and the Old Took would take it mighty hard if something happened to his youngest. That were why, in Sam's humble opinion, the Old Took should be right harder on the lad, trying to keep him in line and out o' trouble. But nothing seemed to deter the youngster's will to be reckless. Sam just shook his head at the thought.

The tune had changed to a rather silly thing and that silly lad was singing along at full force. As were a number of other patrons in about the same state of drunkenness. Still, Sam couldn't help but tap his foot in lieu of outright clapping in time. It was a bawdy song with a double meaning. The kind one had to think about to keep from blushing as in truth there weren't nothin' amiss with the words. This one went something like "My man John had a thing that was long. My maid Mary had a thing that was hairy. My man John put his thing that was long into my maid Mary's thing that was hairy." And they were talkin' on naught but a hair brush of the Mistress's maid, Mary. It's handle had fallen out and gotten misplaced and the Master's man, John found a replacement. Oh, it were an embarrassin' song, it were, going on about "puttin' it in and knockin' it about until John grew weary and sore with the effort and shouted 'A Pox on that hole' " but everyone loved it so and would sing along. Especially Mister Peregrin, who'd sing anytime given half a chance.

Eyes still closed, head still resting on the wall, Mister Pippin was indeed enjoying himself. Sam stopped discussing politics with Frodo to marvel at this youth who *could* have been an entertainer if not relegated to being heir to the Thain, however ceremonial that position might be. Mister Pippin had missed his calling in being born to family known for its aggressive and boisterous opinions. He was terribly gentle and always forgiving.

And he was THAT good at singing. There was no mistaking it. And he was definitely quite a non-combatant for a Took. Sam could not recall a single time when the youngster had raised his fists in defiance to a slight. Something unheard of in the Took smials, as Tooks were known for their outwardness, ferociousness, and brash approach of doing whatever was necessary to protect the family honor. Peregrin was brash in actions but relied wholly on his charm and his friends to be his champions. Lately the friends had been cousin Meriadoc. And to a lesser extent, he counted on Samwise to help extradite him out of any predicament he managed to get himself in to. Mister Pippin led a charmed life. And sometimes Sam wanted to be the one to remind him with a swat on the rear that one shouldn't just assume others would bail him out.

~ End Chapter

Another Battlefield Band Song ~ I think of Bilbo and Frodo with their wanderlust ~ "The Rovin Dies Hard"
http://www.battlefieldband.co.uk/albums/homeground.htm

The lyrics I found on a Lyric Request thread:
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=33764
"And if ever I'm asked why the Scots ae beguiled
I'll lift up my glass in a health, and I'll smile
And I'll tell them that fortune's dealt Scotland the wildest of cards "

Quite an inspiring tune! Gives me chills everytime I listen to it.