Chapter II: An Unexpected House Call
Merry opened the door and ushered in his sopping wet cousin. After he had prepared some tea, he sat down to hear what Pippin had to say.
"I couldn't do it, and I made a fool out of myself and upset her at the same time." He sighed. "I've been avoiding her for three days because of it."
"What happened?" Merry questioned.
"I don't want to talk about it." Pippin rested his head on the table. "All I know is she hates me now."
Merry stood up suddenly. "Someone's at the door. I'll be right back."
Pippin heard the door creak as it opened and closed. He only looked up when Merry called his name.
"Pippin, you have a visitor."
"What do you mean? No one knows that I'm here -" He stopped short. "Diamond." He stood up and tried to make himself look halfway decent. "I haven't seen you for a few days, how are you?"
"Fine, Peregrin, absolutely fine." She glanced at Merry. "Peregrin, could I have a private word with you?"
Pippin nodded and Merry left the room. "What? Is something wrong?"
Diamond inhaled deeply. "I found out last night that my parents are trying to arrange a marriage for me. They say I'm 'getting too old and soon nobody will have' me. They say they've found a nice Bracegirdle lad."
Pippin nodded, and trying to sound sincere, said, "Oh, well, that's wonderful, I'm sure, for you. I hope you'll be happy together."
Her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed with anger. "Papa was right! Peregrin Took, you are a fool!" And with that, she stormed out the door.
Pippin reached for a chair to support himself, but missed and landed on the hard wooden floor. He propped his head up with his hand. "Wonderful."
"I take it didn't go so well," Merry said quietly. He shut the door Diamond had left open in her anger, and sat down beside his cousin. "Wouldn't care to talk about it, would you?"
"I don't even know what's going on anymore," Pippin admitted. "One minute she's telling me she's getting married, the next, she's yelling at me."
"Married?" Merry asked incredulously.
"Her parents are arranging one with some Bracegirdle," Pippin said sadly. "Probably that Doderic, his parents have been trying to marry him off for years."
Merry thought a moment. "So…why is Diamond mad at you?"
"How would I know?" Pippin asked. "When she told me about the marriage, I tried to sound happy for her. Then she said her father was right and that I'm a fool, and she left."
After a few minutes, Merry smiled. "But Pippin, you are a fool."
Pippin looked up. "Huh?"
"Don't you see? Diamond's angry with you because you didn't protest to her marriage!"
Pippin shook his head. "I don't follow."
Merry exhaled loudly. "How can I put this? I think she likes you, Pip, more than a friend, I mean. Why else would she react that way?"
Pippin got to his feet. "I've got to tell her." He rushed to the door and swung it open. "I hope you're right, Merry."
"Good luck." He walked to the door and watched his cousin run out into the pouring rain. Then, laughing softly to himself, he closed the door. "I hope I'm right too."