Author's note: Thanks to my two reviewers. Feedback is the lifeblood of a
writer.
***
Pippin felt lonely as he walked out into the streets of Minas Tirith. He missed Merry already. Since the quest had begun they had been together, even with the orcs Pippin had gained some comfort from the fact that he wasn't alone. Now though, there was no one. Even the voice in his mind had gone silent, though after the incident with the palatir, he was glad to be alone in his mind.
As he walked down the street he passed two women, watching him. Pippin's sharp ears caught what one whispered to the other.
"Ernil i Pheriannath." Pippin froze for a moment, then continued to walk, hoping they hadn't noticed him stop. He knew that phrase. He'd heard it before. He struggled to remember, searching the back of his mind. Suddenly he knew. Prince of Halflings. Little prince. It was what the voice had called him in the darkness. Aragorn had said it was in the language of Gondor, but he hadn't expected to hear himself spoken of by that title.
"Peregrin Took?" Pippin snapped out of his thoughts to see a tall man standing nearby. "My name in Beregond," the man said, "I was sent to see if there was anything you needed."
"Gandalf. Mithrandir," Pippin corrected, "asked that I see his horse is taken care of." And then, because he was a hobbit after all, "I am hungry. I had some cakes with the steward, however I was questioned hard and that is hungry work."
Beregond laughed, "Very well. We shall see to the horse, and then I will see what food is available for a hungry hobbit."
***
It was later that day when Beregond took Pippin to eat with the rest of his company, when he once again remembered the voice.
"The rumour in the city is that you are a prince of halflings," one soldier said, "come to form an allegiance with Gondor. They say that when Rohan comes, each rider will bear a halfling from the north."
"I am no prince," Pippin said, "and I am afraid that there won't be any halfling soldiers joining your army." The soldier looked disappointed. Through the meal they talked of many things. Pippin was able to satisfy his curiosity about Gondor, and answer their questions about the Shire. Indeed, it was quite hard for him not to talk too much. He remembered Gandalf's warning, and tried not to talk about the quest and the ring.
One thing he couldn't accept was that throughout the conversation, they kept on calling him a prince. He protested this, but Beregond replied, "You are a prince by your actions if not your birth." Pippin remembered what the voice had said, about him having the potential to be a prince. Perhaps this was what he had meant. The voice called him 'little prince' because that was how he appeared to the people of Gondor. The voice had called him that before the he performed the deeds that made these people call him a prince.
"What are you thinking?" one of the soldiers asked.
"I am wondering what it takes to be a prince," Pippin said.
"Courage and kindness," one said.
"I am not very brave," Pippin said, "I've been afraid since I left the Shire."
"Even the bravest soldier is afraid before battle. Unless he is a fool." Pippin wondered if he should tell them that Gandalf often thought of him as a fool. As the soldiers discussed what it meant to be a prince, the voice returned to Pippin's mind.
"Many born to kings are spoiled and heartless," the voice said, "they are not princes, though they bear the title. You have the potential to become a true prince. Fulfil it."
***
Pippin felt lonely as he walked out into the streets of Minas Tirith. He missed Merry already. Since the quest had begun they had been together, even with the orcs Pippin had gained some comfort from the fact that he wasn't alone. Now though, there was no one. Even the voice in his mind had gone silent, though after the incident with the palatir, he was glad to be alone in his mind.
As he walked down the street he passed two women, watching him. Pippin's sharp ears caught what one whispered to the other.
"Ernil i Pheriannath." Pippin froze for a moment, then continued to walk, hoping they hadn't noticed him stop. He knew that phrase. He'd heard it before. He struggled to remember, searching the back of his mind. Suddenly he knew. Prince of Halflings. Little prince. It was what the voice had called him in the darkness. Aragorn had said it was in the language of Gondor, but he hadn't expected to hear himself spoken of by that title.
"Peregrin Took?" Pippin snapped out of his thoughts to see a tall man standing nearby. "My name in Beregond," the man said, "I was sent to see if there was anything you needed."
"Gandalf. Mithrandir," Pippin corrected, "asked that I see his horse is taken care of." And then, because he was a hobbit after all, "I am hungry. I had some cakes with the steward, however I was questioned hard and that is hungry work."
Beregond laughed, "Very well. We shall see to the horse, and then I will see what food is available for a hungry hobbit."
***
It was later that day when Beregond took Pippin to eat with the rest of his company, when he once again remembered the voice.
"The rumour in the city is that you are a prince of halflings," one soldier said, "come to form an allegiance with Gondor. They say that when Rohan comes, each rider will bear a halfling from the north."
"I am no prince," Pippin said, "and I am afraid that there won't be any halfling soldiers joining your army." The soldier looked disappointed. Through the meal they talked of many things. Pippin was able to satisfy his curiosity about Gondor, and answer their questions about the Shire. Indeed, it was quite hard for him not to talk too much. He remembered Gandalf's warning, and tried not to talk about the quest and the ring.
One thing he couldn't accept was that throughout the conversation, they kept on calling him a prince. He protested this, but Beregond replied, "You are a prince by your actions if not your birth." Pippin remembered what the voice had said, about him having the potential to be a prince. Perhaps this was what he had meant. The voice called him 'little prince' because that was how he appeared to the people of Gondor. The voice had called him that before the he performed the deeds that made these people call him a prince.
"What are you thinking?" one of the soldiers asked.
"I am wondering what it takes to be a prince," Pippin said.
"Courage and kindness," one said.
"I am not very brave," Pippin said, "I've been afraid since I left the Shire."
"Even the bravest soldier is afraid before battle. Unless he is a fool." Pippin wondered if he should tell them that Gandalf often thought of him as a fool. As the soldiers discussed what it meant to be a prince, the voice returned to Pippin's mind.
"Many born to kings are spoiled and heartless," the voice said, "they are not princes, though they bear the title. You have the potential to become a true prince. Fulfil it."