Chapter 12-Of Green Dragons and Good Company
The Dragon was a friendly place, light and cheerful, not like some of the smoky dens in Bree and suchlike. Diamond knew most of the people in the room, now: where was Pippin, that was the question. She saw him, across the crowded room, sitting opposite his Brandybuck friend. She thought how lovely he looked, a lot better groomed than the last time she'd seen him, and thankfully minus cake crumbs. She waved, and yanked Malva over with her. The Took looked round and grinned so hard the top of his head nearly fell off. There was Diamond, beautiful as he remembered. He stood up to greet her.
'Hullo! Och, ye look beautifule!' 'Thanks! Hey, is this Meriadoc then?' said Diamond, shyness disappearing. 'Call me Merry. Hi, nice dress!' Merry called cheekily. Diamond didn't think so, and wasn't sure why he di..oh yeah. It was rather revealing, wasn't it? He would, of course. 'Why thank you, Merry. Nice.. erm , yes, just...generally...nice. Ahem.' Diamond finished lamely, oh so glad the Dragon was quite noisy tonight and he'd not heard her straight.
Malva seemed more than struck with 'the friend'. Loudly she asked: 'Well, what's for drinking?' Pippin signalled the Landlord over. It wasn't a very busy evening, and he didn't look so hasseled as he usually did.
'Right, two half-pints of ale.'started Merry 'Very good. And what does your Tookish friend want?' said The Landlord jokingly, who knew the pair quite well. 'Very funny! And for our lady friends...?' 'The same' said Malva firmly, grinning at Diamond. 'Er.. alright then, the same!' retorted Diamond, even though she knew it went to her head and made her say some very odd things. 'Make a fool of your self and you can throw yourself in the Brandywine' she told herself. But this was Company; you might as well try and impress.
The evening wore on, quite pleasantly, Pippin and her talking in earnest and cracking jokes with Merry and Malva. And there was a sudden quiet from the other side of the room. It seemed somebody had called for a song.
The Dragon was a friendly place, light and cheerful, not like some of the smoky dens in Bree and suchlike. Diamond knew most of the people in the room, now: where was Pippin, that was the question. She saw him, across the crowded room, sitting opposite his Brandybuck friend. She thought how lovely he looked, a lot better groomed than the last time she'd seen him, and thankfully minus cake crumbs. She waved, and yanked Malva over with her. The Took looked round and grinned so hard the top of his head nearly fell off. There was Diamond, beautiful as he remembered. He stood up to greet her.
'Hullo! Och, ye look beautifule!' 'Thanks! Hey, is this Meriadoc then?' said Diamond, shyness disappearing. 'Call me Merry. Hi, nice dress!' Merry called cheekily. Diamond didn't think so, and wasn't sure why he di..oh yeah. It was rather revealing, wasn't it? He would, of course. 'Why thank you, Merry. Nice.. erm , yes, just...generally...nice. Ahem.' Diamond finished lamely, oh so glad the Dragon was quite noisy tonight and he'd not heard her straight.
Malva seemed more than struck with 'the friend'. Loudly she asked: 'Well, what's for drinking?' Pippin signalled the Landlord over. It wasn't a very busy evening, and he didn't look so hasseled as he usually did.
'Right, two half-pints of ale.'started Merry 'Very good. And what does your Tookish friend want?' said The Landlord jokingly, who knew the pair quite well. 'Very funny! And for our lady friends...?' 'The same' said Malva firmly, grinning at Diamond. 'Er.. alright then, the same!' retorted Diamond, even though she knew it went to her head and made her say some very odd things. 'Make a fool of your self and you can throw yourself in the Brandywine' she told herself. But this was Company; you might as well try and impress.
The evening wore on, quite pleasantly, Pippin and her talking in earnest and cracking jokes with Merry and Malva. And there was a sudden quiet from the other side of the room. It seemed somebody had called for a song.