Chapter 23-Of Pippin's Giant Shirt
Diamond awoke the following morning, the coldness off the winter morning forcing her awake. She shivered and snuggled closer to Pippins naked body, trying to ignore the draughts whisking across the floor. Pip burrowed into her shoulder. 'Schnorfle' he said. She supposed he was just still asleep.
The fire had gone out ages ago. The embers weren't even glowing. She stroked Pippin's hair and lay still. At last she decided to get up. Her clothes were still strewn about the floor. She shifted position and stood up. Pippin whimpered behind her, eyes closed, clutching at thin air instead of her. Diamond sighed and wrapped the nearest garment to hand round herself- Pippin's shirt, which was about twelve sizes too large, and lay down beside him again.
Pippin wrapped his arms around her again. She felt like some kind of beloved cuddly toy. Compared to the five-foot-seven man-hobbit, she was just about the perfect size for one anyway.
Pippin sleepily opened one eye. He wasn't quite sure what to say. If he'd been Merry, he would have found something marvellously romantic and charming to say. He couldn't think of anything so he just kissed her good morning. Diamond giggled and said 'Pip, you're glowing! Look at you,'. 'Whit?' 'Oh dear, somebody's sure to notice. You just...look different.' 'Diamoan'. Ah. Don't. Care. Last night is naebody's business exceept oors. Its no' a crime tae want tae love someboady. Let th' hale of hoabbittan gossip 'til theer tongues drap aff, ah woan't care cause ah love ye more ainiway.'
Diamond thought this incredibly sweet. Hell, that was just the sort of thing that Malva would snort with laughter at and that she was moved by, because Pip was saying it about her. They lay there for a while longer, because getting up seeming utterly pointless when they could laze around and make love to each other all day instead.
But the clock in the hall struck nine and Pippin began to think Merry would worry if he was away for much longer. Slowly and groggily, he got to his furry feet and stumbled about the room, retrieving his clothes. Diamond handed him his shirt back and gathered her own clothes up, then went away to her own room to get dressed.
Pippin didn't want to leave her, but on the other hand didn't want people to know where he'd been the previous night, so he declined her offer of breakfast. He hugged her for ages on the doorstep, making her promise she'd come round to his house at least that afternoon, if not sooner. He glanced back at her, looking alone and forlorn already, shivering on the snowy doorstep. She looked like an angel.
Diamond awoke the following morning, the coldness off the winter morning forcing her awake. She shivered and snuggled closer to Pippins naked body, trying to ignore the draughts whisking across the floor. Pip burrowed into her shoulder. 'Schnorfle' he said. She supposed he was just still asleep.
The fire had gone out ages ago. The embers weren't even glowing. She stroked Pippin's hair and lay still. At last she decided to get up. Her clothes were still strewn about the floor. She shifted position and stood up. Pippin whimpered behind her, eyes closed, clutching at thin air instead of her. Diamond sighed and wrapped the nearest garment to hand round herself- Pippin's shirt, which was about twelve sizes too large, and lay down beside him again.
Pippin wrapped his arms around her again. She felt like some kind of beloved cuddly toy. Compared to the five-foot-seven man-hobbit, she was just about the perfect size for one anyway.
Pippin sleepily opened one eye. He wasn't quite sure what to say. If he'd been Merry, he would have found something marvellously romantic and charming to say. He couldn't think of anything so he just kissed her good morning. Diamond giggled and said 'Pip, you're glowing! Look at you,'. 'Whit?' 'Oh dear, somebody's sure to notice. You just...look different.' 'Diamoan'. Ah. Don't. Care. Last night is naebody's business exceept oors. Its no' a crime tae want tae love someboady. Let th' hale of hoabbittan gossip 'til theer tongues drap aff, ah woan't care cause ah love ye more ainiway.'
Diamond thought this incredibly sweet. Hell, that was just the sort of thing that Malva would snort with laughter at and that she was moved by, because Pip was saying it about her. They lay there for a while longer, because getting up seeming utterly pointless when they could laze around and make love to each other all day instead.
But the clock in the hall struck nine and Pippin began to think Merry would worry if he was away for much longer. Slowly and groggily, he got to his furry feet and stumbled about the room, retrieving his clothes. Diamond handed him his shirt back and gathered her own clothes up, then went away to her own room to get dressed.
Pippin didn't want to leave her, but on the other hand didn't want people to know where he'd been the previous night, so he declined her offer of breakfast. He hugged her for ages on the doorstep, making her promise she'd come round to his house at least that afternoon, if not sooner. He glanced back at her, looking alone and forlorn already, shivering on the snowy doorstep. She looked like an angel.