Disclaimer: Pippin belongs to Merry, and Merry belongs to Pippin.... Damn. You didn't believe me. Fine. If you recognize it, then Tolkien owns it.
Title: Metamorphosis 3: Decisions
Authors: Red Light District and Ezra
Summary: Observations, business trips, and the seed sprouts.
Archive: Ask and you shall recieve. We'd like to send the edited version since the originals seem full of typos.
Oh... there's style experimentation going on. Don't hurt us. Actually, it's not on purpose; the style seems to change spontaneously... is that a hazard of co-writing or are we special?
Hope this chapter isn't too confusing... there are quite a few mental conversations mixed in with speaking.
---
It had been a week since their drunken conversation. A week since Pearl's ridiculous suggestion. If it was so ridiculous, then why does it plague me so?
Life with Merry had gone on unchanged. He still pined silently, and Merry continued chasing skirts. Despite all of that, he was going on. He was living, and enjoying every moment he could spend with Merry.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
It had been a quiet day, and blissfully free from talk of lasses. Pippin was thrilled to have the old Merry back even for a day. This was the Merry he'd fallen in love with. Happy again, his mother's summons met with mixed emotions. Putting the letter down he sighed and went outdoors to find Merry.
Pippin found him trimming the grass and took a moment to watch him without fear of discovery. And once again I am grateful that Merry didn't listen to me when I suggested hiring a gardner... Does he even realize how wonderful he looks?
"Merry," called Pippin.
"Yes," he said stopping his work. "What is it?"
Pippin looked at him pensively before replying, "Mum's asked me to go to Tookborough. She says there's a land dispute I should settle since I'll be the Thain in a few years."
"Ahh... How long will you be gone?"
"A fortnight, maybe more," Pippin said casually. "Hardly enough time to miss me."
"You know I'll miss you," he protested.
"Of course you will. I just wanted you to know. I'll be inside packing since I'm to be there tonight."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
12 days later
I'm almost home! Wont' Merry be surprised to see me two days early? I can't believe that everything was settled in a day. Mum's was so proud of me. She told me that I'd do fine when the time came...
As rode down the lane to their hole, he realized that nobody was there. I'll just stable the pony and unpack then... he must have gone out... While caring for his pony he heard a muffled voice and feminine laughter from the road. It must be nice to have somebody... As they drew closer he could understand words, and he recognized Merry's voice. Pippin was torn between the desire to run and the need to see who was with *his* Merry. His need won. Quietly he ran out and flattened himself against the barn wall as he peered into the darkness. Who is that? He cursed the cloudy sky, but, as if in answer, they shifted and moonlight fell upon the couple whose voices carried clearly to the still figure.
"Are you sure I should be here?" she asked.
"I'm certain. After all, he's not to be back for another day at least." assured Merry.
"You could charm your way into anything," she laughed.
"Me?" he questioned modestly. "You know... you're the only one I've ever brought here."
"Truly?" she asked amazedly. "But there's nothing special about me..."
"Yes, there is, Laurel. When I look in your eyes... I'd do anything for you." he said earnestly.
By the time they'd stopped at the door to kiss, Pippin was sitting on the ground sobbing silently. It's another one of *them*. How could he do that to me? Why Merry? Finally, the tears subsided, and he stood up scrubbing at his face resolutely. I'm going to see Pearl.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Pippin stood on Pearl's doorstep and knocked timidly. I need to calm down. It's not as though I've never asked for her help... Did she know I'd be back? She always knows. This *has* to work... I'll have nothing left if it doesn't. But there's nothing she can't fix. This will work. She's always been able to help before...
The door swung open to reveal his older sister. She lifted a brow and seemed ready to say "I told you so", when she noticed his dirty, tearstained face. Her face softened as she let him in.
"What happened dearest?"
There was a long silence before he whispered, "she had green eyes."
"Who did?" she asked gently as she steered him to a chair. If Merry did what I think he did, then there won't be enough of him left to scrape off the road...
At first, he seemed to ignore the question but then he said softly, "Laurel Banks."
"And..." she prompted.
"He brought her home," he muttered.
"He did WHAT!?" she said furiously. I'm going to kill my dear, dear cousin for hurting Pippin like this! How could he do that? Be reasonable Pearl... he didn't know Pippin would be home. Argh! That's irrelevant. It's the principle of the thing.
Suddenly he jumped up and began pacing. "Yes! He brought a lass to our home. I was so eager to get home and see him. Mum didn't want me to leave yet, but I did anyway. I left tonight so I could be with him! Everything I do is for him and this is what I get in return!" he cried. "It's only... I mean... Love isn't supposed to hurt so much..."
At least he agrees with me... "Pippin," she continued more calmly, "I'm glad you realize that he's not worth all of this heartache. You don't need somebody who treats you like that. Even though you aren't in a romantic relationship he should have more respect for you as his housemate."
"Barely a week ago that you were telling me to pursue him," he reminded tartly.
"Well, I was wrong then! You were right; and I was wrong. It was a half-baked scheme, and I should have held my tongue. It would have better if I'd said nothing. I'm sorry, Pippin. Forget about the whole thing."
But during her apology he'd gotten *that* look on his face. The one that meant he'd had a revelation. So it came as no surprise when he exclaimed, "No! I can't do that! He is worth all of this, and I want to try! I need to try at least once... Please Pearl, you promised that you'd always be here if I changed my mind."
"But---"
"Pearl," he said firmly, "I've changed my mind."
She studied his face for long moments and saw the heartbreak, the utter love, but above all the determination. She sighed heavily. "You're going to do this with or without my help aren't you?"
"I'll go to Celandine if I need to." that'll get her.
I can't let him do that! There's no telling what he may do under *her* guidance... She'd probably tell him that the best thing would be to ravish Merry. I've never broken a promise to him before, and I can't start now... "Fine," she said.
"You can stay the night here. Tomorrow we start."
"Thank you." I'd do anything for you Merry.... I'll make you see that I can be everything you need.
---
TBC in Chapter four: Lessons
Hey Amy, there's your favorite line! Did they sound more hobbity?
We hope that everyone's enjoying this as much as we are writing it. The first few chapters have been a bit slow, but hopefully we'll get to the more interesting bits now.
We have no maps of the shire. So we have no real idea about time and distance. From what we've been told, we assume it will take about 5 days of hard riding to go to and from Tookborough. Let's also assume that mail arrives around noonish. This is to clarify the time frame of the little trip Pippin went on.
We used the term fortnight. The Shire calendar has six days in a week and comes from the King's Reckoning. That also has six days in a week. Now, the term fortnight means two weeks. According to that definition a shire fortnight would be 12 days, but we aren't using that definition. The word fortnight came from the Middle English fourtenight which is derived from fourtene night. We absolutely refuse to get into languages right now so we'll just ask you to assume that Westron is something comparable to Middle English. Therefore, Shire fortnight and Present time fortnight both mean fourteen days. Our use of fortnight has now been justified.
Title: Metamorphosis 3: Decisions
Authors: Red Light District and Ezra
Summary: Observations, business trips, and the seed sprouts.
Archive: Ask and you shall recieve. We'd like to send the edited version since the originals seem full of typos.
Oh... there's style experimentation going on. Don't hurt us. Actually, it's not on purpose; the style seems to change spontaneously... is that a hazard of co-writing or are we special?
Hope this chapter isn't too confusing... there are quite a few mental conversations mixed in with speaking.
---
It had been a week since their drunken conversation. A week since Pearl's ridiculous suggestion. If it was so ridiculous, then why does it plague me so?
Life with Merry had gone on unchanged. He still pined silently, and Merry continued chasing skirts. Despite all of that, he was going on. He was living, and enjoying every moment he could spend with Merry.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
It had been a quiet day, and blissfully free from talk of lasses. Pippin was thrilled to have the old Merry back even for a day. This was the Merry he'd fallen in love with. Happy again, his mother's summons met with mixed emotions. Putting the letter down he sighed and went outdoors to find Merry.
Pippin found him trimming the grass and took a moment to watch him without fear of discovery. And once again I am grateful that Merry didn't listen to me when I suggested hiring a gardner... Does he even realize how wonderful he looks?
"Merry," called Pippin.
"Yes," he said stopping his work. "What is it?"
Pippin looked at him pensively before replying, "Mum's asked me to go to Tookborough. She says there's a land dispute I should settle since I'll be the Thain in a few years."
"Ahh... How long will you be gone?"
"A fortnight, maybe more," Pippin said casually. "Hardly enough time to miss me."
"You know I'll miss you," he protested.
"Of course you will. I just wanted you to know. I'll be inside packing since I'm to be there tonight."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
12 days later
I'm almost home! Wont' Merry be surprised to see me two days early? I can't believe that everything was settled in a day. Mum's was so proud of me. She told me that I'd do fine when the time came...
As rode down the lane to their hole, he realized that nobody was there. I'll just stable the pony and unpack then... he must have gone out... While caring for his pony he heard a muffled voice and feminine laughter from the road. It must be nice to have somebody... As they drew closer he could understand words, and he recognized Merry's voice. Pippin was torn between the desire to run and the need to see who was with *his* Merry. His need won. Quietly he ran out and flattened himself against the barn wall as he peered into the darkness. Who is that? He cursed the cloudy sky, but, as if in answer, they shifted and moonlight fell upon the couple whose voices carried clearly to the still figure.
"Are you sure I should be here?" she asked.
"I'm certain. After all, he's not to be back for another day at least." assured Merry.
"You could charm your way into anything," she laughed.
"Me?" he questioned modestly. "You know... you're the only one I've ever brought here."
"Truly?" she asked amazedly. "But there's nothing special about me..."
"Yes, there is, Laurel. When I look in your eyes... I'd do anything for you." he said earnestly.
By the time they'd stopped at the door to kiss, Pippin was sitting on the ground sobbing silently. It's another one of *them*. How could he do that to me? Why Merry? Finally, the tears subsided, and he stood up scrubbing at his face resolutely. I'm going to see Pearl.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Pippin stood on Pearl's doorstep and knocked timidly. I need to calm down. It's not as though I've never asked for her help... Did she know I'd be back? She always knows. This *has* to work... I'll have nothing left if it doesn't. But there's nothing she can't fix. This will work. She's always been able to help before...
The door swung open to reveal his older sister. She lifted a brow and seemed ready to say "I told you so", when she noticed his dirty, tearstained face. Her face softened as she let him in.
"What happened dearest?"
There was a long silence before he whispered, "she had green eyes."
"Who did?" she asked gently as she steered him to a chair. If Merry did what I think he did, then there won't be enough of him left to scrape off the road...
At first, he seemed to ignore the question but then he said softly, "Laurel Banks."
"And..." she prompted.
"He brought her home," he muttered.
"He did WHAT!?" she said furiously. I'm going to kill my dear, dear cousin for hurting Pippin like this! How could he do that? Be reasonable Pearl... he didn't know Pippin would be home. Argh! That's irrelevant. It's the principle of the thing.
Suddenly he jumped up and began pacing. "Yes! He brought a lass to our home. I was so eager to get home and see him. Mum didn't want me to leave yet, but I did anyway. I left tonight so I could be with him! Everything I do is for him and this is what I get in return!" he cried. "It's only... I mean... Love isn't supposed to hurt so much..."
At least he agrees with me... "Pippin," she continued more calmly, "I'm glad you realize that he's not worth all of this heartache. You don't need somebody who treats you like that. Even though you aren't in a romantic relationship he should have more respect for you as his housemate."
"Barely a week ago that you were telling me to pursue him," he reminded tartly.
"Well, I was wrong then! You were right; and I was wrong. It was a half-baked scheme, and I should have held my tongue. It would have better if I'd said nothing. I'm sorry, Pippin. Forget about the whole thing."
But during her apology he'd gotten *that* look on his face. The one that meant he'd had a revelation. So it came as no surprise when he exclaimed, "No! I can't do that! He is worth all of this, and I want to try! I need to try at least once... Please Pearl, you promised that you'd always be here if I changed my mind."
"But---"
"Pearl," he said firmly, "I've changed my mind."
She studied his face for long moments and saw the heartbreak, the utter love, but above all the determination. She sighed heavily. "You're going to do this with or without my help aren't you?"
"I'll go to Celandine if I need to." that'll get her.
I can't let him do that! There's no telling what he may do under *her* guidance... She'd probably tell him that the best thing would be to ravish Merry. I've never broken a promise to him before, and I can't start now... "Fine," she said.
"You can stay the night here. Tomorrow we start."
"Thank you." I'd do anything for you Merry.... I'll make you see that I can be everything you need.
---
TBC in Chapter four: Lessons
Hey Amy, there's your favorite line! Did they sound more hobbity?
We hope that everyone's enjoying this as much as we are writing it. The first few chapters have been a bit slow, but hopefully we'll get to the more interesting bits now.
We have no maps of the shire. So we have no real idea about time and distance. From what we've been told, we assume it will take about 5 days of hard riding to go to and from Tookborough. Let's also assume that mail arrives around noonish. This is to clarify the time frame of the little trip Pippin went on.
We used the term fortnight. The Shire calendar has six days in a week and comes from the King's Reckoning. That also has six days in a week. Now, the term fortnight means two weeks. According to that definition a shire fortnight would be 12 days, but we aren't using that definition. The word fortnight came from the Middle English fourtenight which is derived from fourtene night. We absolutely refuse to get into languages right now so we'll just ask you to assume that Westron is something comparable to Middle English. Therefore, Shire fortnight and Present time fortnight both mean fourteen days. Our use of fortnight has now been justified.